Disclaimer: Wow, I can't believe how close we are to the ending of this story. And yet, the ending still seems so far. I've also been thinking about a possible sequel, but would like some opinions.

Chapter 52:

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

Haruka asked, sitting on the back porch with Yuiko.

"About this."

Yuiko said, taking hold of Haruka's bandaged wrist.

"Why did you do it?"

Haruka let out a heavy sigh and looked at the ground.

"Hotaru asked why Michiru had brought me home from the hospital early. I couldn't bear to say the words, so I asked Michiru and Setsuna to fill her in. I then left and tried not to think about that night, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I needed something else to focus on. So I pulled out a razor and cut myself. It was supposed to be just one cut, but I decided to make a few more. I then sat there and watched the blood seep out of the wounds I had made. Hotaru tried to get my attention, but I was too lost to answer her. I never meant for her to see me in such a state."

Yuiko was silent for a moment, taking all the information her friend had given her.

"What happened to the razor that you used?"

"Michiru had Hotaru get rid of it."

"I see. Was it the only one you had on you?"

Haruka waited a moment before shaking her head.

"I tend to keep two on me at a time."

"Do you have one on you right now?"

Haruka gave a nod.

"Let me see it."

Yuiko then held her hand out to Haruka. Haruka placed her hand into her pocket, but then kept it there. Having the razor gave her a sense of safety and security that she did not want to part with.

"Come on, just give me the razor."

Haruka still did not move.

"Look, I know you might feel safe having it, but you don't need it."

"How do you know I don't need it?"

"Because you're done with this."

Yuiko said, gesturing to Haruka's bandaged wrist.

"Okay, you're done with having to feel like you need to harm yourself to make things be okay. I know quitting self harming isn't easy. There are gonna be days where you'll miss it and want to go back to it. But no matter what you can't go back. You can't let it be what defines you as a person. You are a strong individual, and you need to start showing that more. And the first step is by letting go of the thing that's been a crutch for you."

Haruka took a deep breath and pulled the razor out of her pocket.

"Here, I'll throw it away for you."

Yuiko said, holding her hand out to Haruka. Haruka shook her head and stood up.

"I want to throw it away myself."

Haruka then walked over to the fence, closed her eyes and threw the razor over it. She then turned around, opened her eyes and walked back over to Yuiko. Not even bothering see where the razor had landed.

"How do you feel?"

"Good, but I kinda want to go back and get it."

"That's what it feels like at first. It feels like you're throwing away a part of you, but you're not. That's not who you are."

"I know, but what's to stop me from going out later and grabbing the razor from wherever it landed? Or just going out and getting a new one?"

"That."

Yuiko said, pointing to Haruka's engagement ring.

"You've got something in life to look forward to and a reason for living. Don't throw that all away now. You need to be strong and fight through this."

"What if I can't be strong though?"

"Then you look to that."

Yuiko was now pointing to the ring she had given Haruka.

"That ring symbolizes courage. Something I know you have inside you, but you have a hard time showing it. Whenever you're feeling afraid though I want you to look to it and know that you have the power to overcome anything."

Haruka didn't say anything at first and just wrapped her friend in a warm embrace.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Yuiko returned the hug, glad that Haruka was taking the first step towards a better life.

"Come on, let's go back inside."

Yuiko then lead Haruka inside.

When they got inside they saw that Kyle, Michiru, and Setsuna were all engrossed in a rousing game of Monopoly.

Michiru was clearly winning and is was frustrating Kyle beyond words.

"How the fuck do you keep buying so many properties? We're you a real-estate agent in another life?"

"Nope, I just have a talent for this game. Now give me my money."

Kyle grumbled out a few choice words as he forked over the cash to Michiru.

He then looked up from the board to see that Haruka and Yuiko had walked into the room.

"Oh good, you're back. Perhaps one of you can put an end to her winning streak. It's not natural to be this good at Monopoly."

"Actually for her it's very possible. It's kind of a talent of hers."

Haruka said.

"It's true, she's never lost a game."

Setsuna said.

"Never?"

Kyle and Yuiko asked in unison.

"Well...she did come close to losing once."

Haruka said, a playful smile gracing her features.

"That time doesn't count. You were distracting me."

Michiru said, sounding somewhat defensive.

"How did she distract you?"

Yuiko asked.

"She more or less fucked me during a game once. It was very difficult to concentrate with her head between my legs."

Kyle let out a low whistle.

"Damn, anything to win eh Ru?"

"Oh, I wasn't even playing. It was her against Sets. I was merely entertaining myself."

"Oh really now? That's not what you told me when I asked you why you did it."

"What did she tell you?"

Kyle asked.

"That she was lonely and needed me."

"Aww, that is adorable."

Haruka folded her arms over her chest and a blush graced her features.

"You weren't supposed to tell anyone that. I don't want people going around thinking I'm adorable."

Michiru stood up and walked over to Haruka. She then wrapped her arms around her waist.

"I'm sorry, forgive me?"

Michiru asked, kissing the nape of Haruka's neck.

"I suppose I can this time."

Michiru scoffed and swatted Haruka playfully on the arm.

"Whatever, you know you can't stay mad at me for long."

"True, but that's bound to change someday."

"What, are you planning to stay mad at me for something?"

"Maybe."

Haruka then gave Michiru a playful smirk, causing the aqua haired beauty to roll her eyes.

Yuiko just shook her head at the couple.

"So, have the two of you decided when you're going to get married?"

"We haven't discussed it yet. Honestly the proposal came as a bit of a surprise."

Haruka said, causing Michiru to giggle.

"That's how proposals work. They're supposed to be a surprise. What, was I supposed to tell you I was going to propose?"

"You know I feel iffy about surprises."

"Okay, next time I propose to you I'll give you a heads up."

"That's all I ask."

Michiru just shook her head. Sometimes her fiancée could be really weird.

"You know, speaking of proposals we still haven't told Elza yet."

Michiru said.

"You're right. We should pay her a visit."

"Who's Elza?"

Kyle asked.

"She's one of my best friends."

Haruka said.

"Hold the phone. You got engaged and telling your best friend didn't come immediately after that?"

"Nope. I mean we could've told her today at school, but neither of us went."

"How come neither of you went to school?"

Yuiko asked.

Haruka didn't say a word and just stood there blushing along with Michiru.

"Oh, I see. Decided to hit the honeymoon stage early, huh?"

"Ahem...would you look at the time? It's time to pick Hotaru up from school."

Haruka then grabbed Michiru by the hand and ran out the door with her.

End of chapter 52:

A/N: I was going to have this posted yesterday, but I kept tripping over some writers block.