This chapter is a little short, and yes, it took long to put up, *BAD HOTARU CHAN!* ::whacks self:: but I've been busy. ::mutters:: Terrorists.
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Three is a Crowd.....Four is a Family
Episode 2: Silence

"Himme-chan?" Michiru rubbed Hotaru's back as she bent over at her bowl of rice. Hotaru's hair had been chopped off because of the injury to her neck. She looked up at Michiru with dark circles around her eyes.
"I'm not hungry."
"Hotaru, you haven't ate anything for days!"
"I'm fine, okaasan."She stood up very weakly, Michiru almost dragging her up, and began to limp from the table to the stairs. Michiru sighed and leaned against the table.
"What's wrong, Michi-sama?" Setsuna asked very casually as she walked by. She rubbed her temples and replied
"Two words; Hotaru Tenoh."
"Ahh.....it will be four words in a few moments."
"Don't even say; Haruka."
"Tenoh." Setsuna gave Michiru her most sympathetic look as she left the kitchen with her usual cup of green tea, letting Haruka into the kitchen to sit in her now usual spot.
Michiru nodded at her and reached into the cabinet for another bowl. She put it down in front of her and lifted Haruka's chin up.
"I told you to rest, Haruka. Your legs won't get any better if your walking around, moping. And look, you have rings around your eyes, just like Hotaru." Haruka looked at her blankly as she released herself from Michiru's hand. She sighed.
"You'll never learn, Haruka."
"Maybe not." She lifted her tea cup to her lips as Michiru hugged her around her neck.
"Eventually I'll make you learn." She gave Haruka a light smile and put a pair of chopsticks beside her bowl, then filled it to the top. "And you won't leave the kitchen until every bite is gone."
"You treat me like a child." She tried her best to suppress a smile.
"That's because your stubborn like a child." Haruka gave her puppy eyes.
"Will you feed it to me?" Michiru burst out laughing and pulled up a chair beside Haruka.
Upstairs~
Hotaru sat curled up in the corner, playing with her necklace. She quietly sobbed as she tried to get up a few times.
"I can't do anything anymore. I can't even stand up." She wiped the tears away from her dark eyes and surppressed a few pain-filled whimpers.
"I'm useless."
~
"Hotaru...will you please come out?" Setsuna knocked on the door again.
She heard a faint "Go away."
"Hotaru Saruka Tenoh, you have been locked in that room for 2 weeks! Come OUT! You HAVE TO EAT SOMETHING!"
"I don't want to. I had a bowl of rice 4 days ago Michiru squeezed under the door." Setsuna beat on the door.
"Open THIS DOOR! Do NOT make me BUST IT DOWN!"
"You couldn't bust it down if you tried." Haruka, hoping not to have to get into it, limped on both feet quietly down the hall.
"HARUKA YOU TALK SOME SENSE INTO HER!" Setsuna gave up and tropped down the stairs. Haruka sighed and got up next to the door that said in katakana 'The Silent Destroyer'.
"Hotaru, if you come out now, I promise I'll let you do my hair."
"No."
"I'll let you get anything you want from the mall."
"No."
"I'll buy you a car."
"No."
Haruka shrugged and sighed, out of ideas and went into her and Michiru's room.
"No luck huh?" Haruka shook her head. Michiru tried to change the subject.
"You seem to be getting better."
"I feel like trash." She sat down at the edge of the bed. Michiru put her arms around her.
"It'll work out, Haruka-san. Hotaru will feel better and you can start racing again."
"It's my fault, Michiru." Haruka put her head on Michiru's shoulder. Haruka seldom cried......about anything.
Downstairs~
"This is fabulous." Setsuna sat at the large table, mixing her green tea. "Everyone's confused and Hotaru's on a depressed breakdown." Suddenly, she looked up.
"That's funny....I could swear I just heard Haruka's car leave....."
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So how'd ya like it? I'll try to work faster on Episode 3, and make it longer. ^^ Ja.....for NOW!