Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After one hour of playing, laughing and making fun of each other, Michiru finally shooed Hotaru out of Haruka's room. "Your papa needs her rest, Hotaru. Let her sleep now, okay?" "Okay, Michiru-mama!" Hotaru jumped from the bed and kissed her papa good night. "Sleep well, papa!" "You too, Hime-chan." Haruka smiled, and Hotaru left the room. Michiru sighed and took a seat on the edge of the bed. "Haruka…I need to talk to you." Haruka raised her eyebrow. "Yeah?" Michiru gently took Harukas hand and looked into her eyes. "I'll ask you a very important question now, Haruka, and I want you to answer honestly. Okay?" Slowly, Haruka got nervous. "Okay…" she answered. Michiru sighed again and avoided her partners gaze when she asked: "Haruka, do you love me?"

There was dead silence in the room. Michiru didn't dare to look up, and Haruka didn't know what to say. Her mind was racing. "If I tell her no, she'll notice that I lie. If I tell her yes, she'll hate me. Oh God, oh God…" Finally Haruka made her decision and answered Michirus question. "Yes." The reply was almost inaudible, but Michiru heard it. Again there was silence, until Michiru started to speak. "Listen Haruka….I know that this will hurt you. But I don't love you." Haruka opened her mouth to say something, but Michiru interrupted her: "Don't say something now, Haruka. Just listen. I'm sorry if you're hurt now, but I can't change it." "Does this mean that you…." Haruka's voice cracked, and she had to swallow hard a few times before she could talk on. "That you will never return my feelings? Don't I have the slightest chance…?" "Haruka I'm sorry, I…" Michiru started, but stopped again when she looked in Harukas face. It was full of sorrow and grief. "It's okay." The blonde now said, tears shimmering in her teal eyes. "Just…just leave me alone now, will you?" Michiru silently nodded, got up and left the room. Before walking out of the door she turned to look at Haruka one more time and whispered: "I'm sorry, Haruka." Then she left. As soon as the door had closed, Harukas tears started to fall.

Michiru walked into her bedroom, trying to hold back her tears. "She'll hate me now…how am I supposed to live with her if I know that she loves me?" Michiru plopped down on her bed and finally started to cry. She really didn't know what to do now. After one hour of crying, she drifted into sleep.

Trevor awoke with a dull headache. He looked outside the window only to find that it was in the middle of the night. "How long did I sleep?" the racer wondered. "Eight hours, son." The voice – his father? – said. "Eight hours? Terrible!" Trevor called out. "Don't worry, son. I found someone who is willing to kill Tenoh. Look at your bedside table." Trevor looked to the right and saw a sheet of paper sitting on the small desk. He grabbed it and read the name and the phone number on it. "Hiroshi, 01465387. Is that he a killer?" "Yes, son. Call him, but don't say your name. If he gets caught, he won't be able to say who assigned him." "Okay dad." Trevor answered, before hesitating for a moment. "Are you my dad?" The voice sounded loving when it answered: "Yes, son."

Haruka and Michiru didn't see each other until the next morning when Haruka acted against the advise of her doctor by getting up from bed. She was walking into the bathroom when Michiru came out of her room. "Good morning." Haruka greeted, just as if their talk never happened. "Good morning." Michiru also answered in a friendly tone, deciding that she just would forget their talking. "You shouldn't be walking around, Haruka." Michiru scolded her friend, only to be rewarded with a shrug. "I have to pee, can't avoid getting up." Haruka defended herself before vanishing into the bathroom. Michiru just shook her head and sighed. She turned around to walk into the kitchen when suddenly a pain filled groan could be heard from the bath. And then something heavy fell to the ground. "Haruka!" Michiru called out, running to the bathroom door. It was locked. "Damn!" the usually calm and reserved Michiru called out. "Haruka! Haruka, can you hear me? Answer me!" Another painful groan. "Can you unlock the door?" Michiru screamed, feeling panic rise inside her. She could hear Haruka struggling to get up, then the door was unlocked. Michiru opened it within a second to find Haruka lying on the floor. "Oh my god!" The aqua haired woman called out while kneeling down next to her friend. "Haruka! What happened?" Haruka just coughed while trying to get on her hands and knees, but failed miserable and landed on the floor again. "Hurts…too…breathe.." The blonde finally managed to say, and Michiru made a dash for the phone.

"You made a false diagnosis!" Michiru screamed at Dr. Jackson, causing him to back up against the wall. "Her lungs did get hurt!" "I…I'm sorry…" the doctor stammered, fearing the aqua haired girls rage. "Sorry?" Michiru hissed. "You are sorry? Haruka could have died, I hope you are aware of that!" The doctor just stayed silent, and Michiru calmed down a little. "Sorry for attacking you." She apologized. "But Haruka means a lot to me, and…" "It's okay, Miss Kaioh. Miss Tenoh will be alright." The doctor assured her. Michiru let a sigh of relief. "But she will have to stay here for a few nights. We had to do an operation." "Can I see her?" Michiru asked hopefully. "Sure. Just walk down this hallway, room number 164. It's on the left." "Thank you." Michiru answered, dashing down the hallway to Haruka's room.