Chapter 8: Confusion
„Kenshi, please stop!" Michiru cried out, trying to avoid the belt, but with no avail. The hard leather was pulled over her back, and she screamed in pain. "This is what you deserve, bitch!" Kenshi hollered, lashing out to hit his wife again. All of a sudden, he could feel how someone grabbed his belt, and then a sudden yank pulled him backwards, causing him nearly to fall. "What the…" he spun around, just in time to see a flash of blonde and a fist flying towards his face. Then, the punch landed on his nose, he could hear it cracking, before his world became black.
Michiru stared in awe and relief when she saw how her husband fell to the floor unconscious, and her relief grew when she saw who had knocked him out. "Did he hurt you? Are you okay?" Haruka now asked, concern in her voice, rubbing her knuckles. Instead of an answer, Michiru flung herself forward, right into the blondes arms. Haruka let out a sharp gasp at the sudden unexpected pain that flashed up in her still bruised rib cage, but pulled Michiru into a gentle embrace. "Haruka…" Michiru sobbed, hiding her face in the taller woman's chest. „Shht. It's okay." Haruka whispered, trying to calm Michiru down so they could leave before Kenshi woke up again. "We should get moving." The blonde now spoke. Michiru nodded, and Haruka gently put one arm around her shoulders. "Come on, Michiru. Takeshi is waiting outside." The two women left the house, not bothering to waste a single look at Kenshi.
The car drive back to Harukas house was taken in silence. Takeshi drove the vehicle, while Haruka sat next to him in the passenger's seat and Michiru in the back, staring out of the window. Finally, the trio reached the house, and Takeshi stopped the car. "We're here." He spoke, causing both Haruka and Michiru to flinch. "Thanks for driving us." Haruka finally spoke, giving her friend a thankful look. "Anytime, Haruka-san." Takeshi replied, smirking. Both Haruka and Michiru got out of the car and made their way over to the house, Michiru walking a few steps behind her tall blonde friend. Haruka unlocked the door, turned off the alarm equipment before it went off, and closed the door as soon as Michiru had entered. The aqua haired girl had been awfully quiet ever since they had left Kenshi's house, and Haruka was beginning to worry. "Hey, you okay?" the blonde asked, placing one hand on Michirus shoulder. Michiru nodded, looking down. "Yes. Haruka…I'm sorry." Harukas eyebrows went up. "Sorry? Sorry for what?" "For running away before. After…after the kiss." Michiru replied, not daring to look up. "Hey." Haruka gently spoke. "Look at me." Slowly, Michirus gaze came up, and her eyes met Harukas. "You don't have to be sorry for anything." Haruka spoke, holding Michirus gaze with hers. "It was my mistake to kiss you. I should be the one who says sorry, not you." "No!" Michiru cried out, startling Haruka. "No." the aqua haired girl repeated in a softer tone. "Don't be sorry, Haruka. It's just…I'm so confused." The last words were nearly inaudible, and to her shock, Haruka had to see that sudden tears shimmered in Michirus eyes. "I don't know what I am." The aqua haired girl now whispered. "I don't know…if I love you…or if I just want comfort…I don't know anything!" Haruka pulled Michiru into a gentle hug, holding her close. "It's okay." She whispered. "You are save here, you have all the time you need to think things over." "And what if I come to the conclusion that I don't love you?" Michiru asked, looking at her friend with fearful eyes. "What if I decide that I just want us to be friends, and not more? I know that you have feelings for me, and I'm…scared that you'll hate me if I don't return them…" "Michiru, no." Haruka replied, making her look up at her again. "I could never hate you, do you hear? Never." "Thanks." Michiru spoke softly, allowing herself to enjoy the embrace of Haruka once more. "Thank you so much, Haruka…" Haruka just smiled, but deep inside, fear filled her heart. Fear that Michiru decided to be just friends with her, and not more.
Dusk had come over the city, causing the light in Harukas house to become dim. Haruka was in the garage, working on one of her cars, while Michiru busied herself in the kitchen, cooking dinner. As soon as she was done, she wiped her hands at the apron she had found and made her way into the garage. For one second, she couldn't see Haruka, then spotted the two legs that stuck out from underneath a black City Rover. "Haruka?" the aqua haired girl asked, smiling. Haruka rolled out from underneath the car and looked up at her. "Yes?" "Dinner is ready." Michiru informed her. Haruka nodded and stood up from the trolley she had been lying on, wiping her hands clean on her already oil-stained overall. "Just let me get cleaned up, I'll be there in a minute." Michiru nodded and left the room. Haruka stood next to the black car, looking after her, a pained expression on her face. "I just wish that we could be lovers." The blonde thought to herself, letting out a small sigh. "That's all I want…I want you to love me." Finally, the blonde tore herself out of her trance and cleaned herself up before she left the garage to have dinner.