Chapter 10: Leaving It All Behind
"Here, I made you some tea." Haruka spoke while she put the tray down, careful, since she didn't want the hot liquid to spill out of the cup. "Thanks." Michiru whispered, taking the cup into her shaking hands. "Hey." Haruka spoke, sitting down next to her. The blonde put one arm around her lover, pulling her close. Michiru snuggled up to her, letting out a shaky sigh. "Stop worrying." Haruka spoke into her ear, gently stroking the long aqua colored locks of her lover. "It's over, honey." "Yeah…at least for tonight." Michiru replied. When she looked up at the taller blonde, tears were shimmering in her eyes. "Michiru!" Haruka called out, obviously shocked. "They'll continue attacking us." Michiru whispered, the tears finally running down her cheeks. "They already hurt you…" her fingers traveled over the white bandage that covered Harukas rib cage, then wandered on to her right lower arm, where another bandage was wrapped around. "…and one of them tried to rape me. And they won't stop doing that to us until they had what they want." She finished her sentence, her voice almost inaudible now. "And what do you think they want?" Haruka asked, her voice shaking a little. Michiru shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they want us to break up…or to move away…" "Then we will." Haruka suddenly spoke. Michiru looked at her shocked. "Will what? Break up?" she asked, her eyes showing such a deep fear and hurt that Harukas heart nearly broke in two. "Of course not break up." She replied. "But move away. Leave this awful place…and move to a town where we both are accepted for what we are." "But how are we supposed to do this?" Michiru replied, near tears once more. "Haruka, I can only travel at night…" "I know. And I'll find a way." The blonde promised, gently rubbing Michirus shoulder. "I have a driving license, so we can drive a car at night and sleep in motels during the day. Until we reach the town we are heading for." Michiru closed her eyes, leaning against Harukas shoulder. "I've lived here for all my life." She finally started to speak after a long silence. "And it was fine for years…until Mayor Taroshi came." Haruka just held her close and waited for her to talk on. "It was him who made my life here so lonely." Michiru spoke on, her eyes focused on the wall. "He started to spread rumors…he started to call me freak and vampire and such. And soon, the other people started it too. Mostly because they were friends of they mayor…and those who weren't started because they were scared of him." Finally, Michiru looked up at Haruka again. "You are right. We should leave this place." Haruka nodded, placing a gentle kiss on Michirus forehead. "I know where we can go." She then whispered. "To the town where I was born. My parents surely will let us stay with them until we found some place to stay." "And you're sure that your parents won't mind…us?" Michiru asked, her voice fearful all of sudden again. Haruka smiled at her and shook her head. "Nope. They know that I'm gay…and my mom has been trying to set me up for months until I told her to stop." Michiru chuckled at the thought of Haruka and her mother visiting a lesbian bar. "You're not serious now, are you?" the aqua haired girl then asked, still giggling. "Yes I am!" Haruka replied. "My mom dragged me to every gay bar in town." Michiru couldn't help herself anymore and broke into a laughter fit. Haruka watched her for a few moments, frowning, then the corners of her mouth started to twitch. And finally, the blonde laughed, too, laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Oh, come on!" Michiru cried out, frustrated, while staring down at the object that caused her frustration. Haruka came walking into the room, carrying two suitcases. "Love, what's with the ruckus?" the blonde asked, leaning against the doorframe. "The evil suitcase won't close!" Michiru complained, pointing at the said piece of luggage. Haruka just smiled, walked over to where her lover sat on the floor and knelt down on the suitcase. "Now you can close it." She then spoke. Michiru grinned at her and pulled the zipper close, before she pulled Haruka off the suitcase and kissed her long and lovingly. "Thanks, Love." She whispered after the kiss. "You're welcome." Haruka replied, not much louder. "I love you." The blonde then added while pulling her girlfriend into a hug. "More than anything." "I love you too." Michiru replied, leaning against her. Finally, after a long time of holding each other, Haruka let go of Michiru and came to her feet. "Let's bring the luggage out to the car and leave this shitty place." She suggested. Michiru nodded, and Haruka picked up the suitcases. The blonde walked out, followed by Michiru. Both women were ready to leave it all behind.