Michiru yawned and put the pencil away. She checked over the notes she had scribbled down on the piece of paper, sighed and threw it into the wastepaper basket. Ever since Harukas disappearance, she was unable to write new songs. If she ever managed to finish one, it turned out to be a dark and sad tune, nothing people would like to hear. Except maybe they were going through a state of depression, but Michiru didn't care about that. She sighed again and decided to go home now, since she wouldn't bring any notes down tonight. Michiru put on her darkblue coat and left her office; it was already dark outside, and so she walked fast in fear of being mugged or something worse.
"It's time for the tank." The red-haired woman said. James just nodded and pressed a button on his panel. The steel cuffs that held Haruka on the desk snapped open, and James bent over her to pick her up. Suddenly the blonde's head jerked up, and she sent James to the floor with a strong header that broke his nose. Haruka jumped from the desk and ran out, grabbing a lab coat in the process since she had been naked. The woman just stood there, watching, and smiled when the blonde had left. She went over to James and helped him getting to his feet. "Ouch!" The man complained when his boss checked his nose. "Don't worry, James, it will heal fast. And the plan works out well." The woman smiled. James also smiled, and his broken nose healed with crunching noises.
Michiru finally reached the house where her apartment was in; just before she could unlock the door, a small moan came from the next alley. Michiru flinched and spun around, only to see a strangely familiar figure lying on the floor. The short blonde hair of the person was greasy and dirty, she wore a white lab coat…realization struck Michiru like a bolt of lightning, and she cried out: "Haruka!" Haruka looked up, her face sweaty and flushed, pain in her eyes. "Please…" the blonde whispered, "please help me…" Michiru rushed to her long-missed lover's side and put a gentle hand on her cheek. Noticing that Haruka was practically burning with high fever. "Dear God, Haruka, you are almost smoldering!" the aqua haired woman called out in shock. Haruka just moaned, obviously not recognizing her girlfriend. "Come on, I have to get you up." Michiru now said in her most gentle voice. She helped Haruka to her feet, and the two of them walked into the house. Or, better said, Michiru walked, dragging Haruka almost with her. Michiru pressed the button that got the elevator down, and when it arrived, the two got in. Haruka tried to keep standing, but she slumped against the wall of the lift, moaning and clutching her head in pain. Michiru knelt down in front of her, talking. "Haruka, do you know who I am?" Haruka looked at her, and first there was no sign that she knew who Michiru was. But then, realization shone up in her teal eyes. "Mi…Michiru?" "Yes!" Michiru called out, happy that Haruka knew who she was now. The elevator stopped in the fourth level, and the doors opened. Michiru helped Haruka up again and supported her until they reached the door to Michirus apartment. Michiru rang the bell, and shortly afterwards a small voice piped inside: "Who's there?" "It's me, Hotaru." Michiru answered. Harukas head came up at the last word, and again realization dawned in her eyes. The door opened, and when Hotaru saw who was hanging at her mama's shoulders, her eyes grew wide. "Haruka-papa!" Haruka managed a weak smile. "Hotaru." Was the last word she said before she collapsed to the floor unconscious.
Michiru dipped the cloth into the bowl that stood next to the bed, soaking the piece of fabric with ice cold water, and put it on her lover's burning forehead. Hotaru pulled the clinical thermometer out of her papas armpit, and her eyes went wide when she saw the result. "Mama, look at that!" Hotaru yelped. Michiru took the thermometer from her daughter, and she almost dropped it when she looked at it. According to it, Haruka had a temperature of 45 Centigrade. "Hotaru, go and call the doctor." Michiru now said, her voice shaking. "Your papa is seriously ill, I fear." Hotaru nodded and ran to the phone while Michiru looked at her unconscious lover for a long time. "What happened to you in the last three years, Haruka?" the aqua haired woman thought to herself. "Why are you so sick? Who did this to you? And why?" Michiru was ripped out of her thoughts when Haruka gave a small moan, and her hands started to twitch. "No…no, don't…" The words spilled out of Harukas mouth in a tone of pure fear and agony, and Michiru felt horror creeping up inside her while Haruka talked on in her sleep. "No…stop it, please! Please!!" That last cry-out was all Michiru could take. "Haruka, wake up!" The aqua haired woman grabbed her love's shoulders and shook her, hoping to tear her out of her dream. "Wake up, you're dreaming! It's just a dream!" "Nooo!" Letting out a last, terrified scream, Haruka sat bolt upright in the bed, panting and crying. The tears ran down her cheeks like two small rivers, and it broke Michirus heart to see her love like this. "Oh God, Haruka…" The aqua haired woman sobbed, hugging Haruka close. "What happened to you…please, talk to me!" Her words had no effort. Haruka just sat there, staring at the wall, caught in her own personal hell of memories.
