Note: This is the last chapter. I hope this story has been enjoyable. I apologize for the long time it took me to finish, but you know how that all goes. I don't own these characters, etc. Well, that's it. Enjoy!
Chapter Six: The Long Road Home
"But I thought—" began Haruka, but her inquiry faltered. As if anticipating her question and in answer to it Michiru kissed her. All her doubts and fears faded away into nothing, as she returned the kiss and swept Michiru into her arms.
She carried her like that off the boat and down the docks, into her waiting car. Michirus bags were already there, brought down by the doorman. They got into the car and began to drive away.
"Where are we going?" Michiru asked.
"First to the doctor, and then to your house."
Michiru looked horrified.
"We won't stay there long," Haruka reassured her, reading her expression. "But we need to resolve everything." As they pulled into the hospital parking garage, she could see that Michiru still looked uneasy. She squeezed her hand to reassure her and scooped the smaller girl once again into her arms.
They were in the hospital less than an hour before they were released. As it turned out, Michiru had sprained her ankle, though not badly, so it would heal in just a few short weeks.
It was very late when they arrived at Michirus house. In that light, the tall pillars and large front door looked all the more menacing. They approached slowly, Michiru limping and Haruka supporting her with one arm. When they opened the door, the house appeared empty. Michiru was relieved. Perhaps she would escape this confrontation with her mother.
"Where is your room, Michiru?"
"Upstairs, first door on your left. Why?"
"We need to get your things. Do you think you can make it up the stairs?"
Michiru tried to step and winced. She shook her head. "You can get my things for me." She directed Haruka to where she could find everything she would need.
"Okay, I'll get everything and you sit down and rest a bit." Haruka headed upstairs.
Michiru sat there for ten minutes and then she heard footsteps coming downstairs. 'That was fast,' she thought. She smiled and looked up "Haru—" she stopped there.
"Why are you home so soon, dear?" her mother asked with a tone of mockery in her voice.
"I—"
"I don't want to hear your foolish and selfish excuses. I was on the phone with Brads father! You knew how important this was for me. All you had to do was be nice to that boy. But you couldn't do that, could you? This is the respect that you show your own mother?!"
Michiru sat there, mouth opened, unable to think, unable to speak. There was no mistaking the tears that were rolling down her cheeks, but her mother did not heed them. "You selfish little brat! I gave birth to you, raise you and take care of you, and what thanks do I get? None! This is your fault! You are filth, a waste of space and oxygen that should never have been born! Well, we can fix that, can't we?" she was hysterical. She grabbed a pillow and tried to smother her daughter with it, but was jerked violently backward.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you enter my house without my leave! You are trespassing!" She seemed to have forgotten that Michiru was even there. Her eyes seemed to widen. "You!" she cried, "You're the one who's made my daughter an ungrateful, impudent brat. Well, I for one don't care how famous or fast you are! You need to die!" She rushed at Haruka, eyes blazing, but suddenly there was a thud and she fell unconscious to the floor.
Michiru stood, shaking and gasping, holding a candlestick in her hand. She let it fall to the floor and sunk to the ground herself. "What have I done?" she started moaning. "I couldn't let her, I had to—but what have I done?"
Haruka rushed over and gathered her into her arms. "She'll be alright," she assured her, "It'll all be alright. We'll be alright." They were both crying now, but Haruka said "Don't cry, please don't." She kissed Michiru softly on the lid of each eye.
After a few moments, Michiru whispered "we must get out of here." Her bags lay on the floor and they gathered them up and brought them to the car. Haruka called an ambulance from the house and they got into the car and sped away.
They drove a long way on deserted roads that night. Michiru seemed to be asleep, but opened her eyes a little. "Haruka?"
"Yes?"
"Where are we going now?"
"Home." She hadn't needed the answer. She just wanted to hear Haruka say it. There was a long road ahead, and they both knew it, but at least now they would be facing it together.
