Note: Sorry this is a little late in coming. This website has not been very friendly! There's one more chapter after this one. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Five: The Big Splash

Right away she knew that something was dreadfully wrong. There was a strong stench of alcohol on his breath and a rage in his eyes unlike any she had yet seen in him. Brad began to advance on her and in two swift steps, they were standing face-to-face, very close.

'Too close,' thought Michiru and she moved back a pace. His chest was heaving furiously, his face was set like stone. Brad grabbed her before she could retreat further and with his other hand struck her full across the face.

"Bitch!" he hollered, "Whore!" He was now wild with rage. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from that guy? WELL, didn't I???!"

Michiru was speechless, for she had no idea what Brad was talking about. 'He certainly could not mean Haruka,' she thought frantically. After all, they hadn't even spoken since the day at the race. She looked genuinely puzzled, but the expression grew once again to terror as he advanced once more on her. She screamed as he shoved her roughly and viciously across the deck. She nearly flew and was left sprawled on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes before she could regain her composure.

She rose from the floor and steadied herself. That had hurt. She had fallen awkwardly and her ankle would not support her properly. She winced at the pain as she began to advance on Brad and had to grab hold of the rail. She could not fight him. It would have been a desperate attempt in the best of times, but she could hardly walk now and she felt queasy.

As Brad came toward her once again, the same look of fire and madness in his eyes, she feared for the worst. He was crazy, he was angry, and he was after her. With no defenses and no one to help her, there was really very little hope.

Michiru cringed as he came near her and as he stooped to hit her, she covered her face wither her hands. But the blow never came. She heard Brad yell and there was a loud crash (she didn't dare uncover her eyes), there was a sound of struggling and Brads voice was cursing. His voice was getting louder along with the sound of pounding feet; he was coming at her again. But there was more than one set of feet running and thud. Brad yelled again and then another voice screamed. The struggle continued for perhaps 30 seconds where Michiru could still not bring herself to look up, and then she heard an unmistakable splash. Something or someone had been thrown overboard. She feared it was the latter. What had Brad done?

Michiru felt a hand on hers, and gently it removed her fingers from in front of her eyes. She looked up and standing above her was Haruka. She was standing tall and upright before her and stretched her hand to Michiru to help her up.

"What happened to Brad?" asked Michiru.

Haruka smiled and with her free hand grabbed a lifesaver and tossed it over the railing. There was Brad bobbing up and down with the waves. "Man overboard," Haruka called. "He'll be fine," she said, beaming at Michiru once again, "but are you okay? What happened? Why don't we—" but then she stopped. "You're hurt," she gasped, finally seeing how awkwardly Michiru stood on her ankle. Tears began to well up in her eyes.

Michiru extended her left hand, (for her right was still grasping Harukas), and wiped them away. "It's fine, I only want to be able to see your eyes," she said.