Chapter 6: Chained Together
Haruka heard how the vase shattered, followed by a loud thumping noise. Slowly, the blonde turned around, and her eyes widened when she saw Michiru standing over the motionless body of her brother. "What…" the blonde started, but Michiru interrupted her by grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door. "We have to get away, now." The aqua haired girl commanded. Haruka just gaped, allowing Michiru to pull her towards the door. They nearly were out of the house when Haruka regained her sense and pulled her hand out of Michirus grasp, causing the aqua haired girl to turn around and look at her. "Wrong. I have to go. You stay." The blonde commanded. "Are you crazy?" Michiru shot back. "Hello, I just knocked out my brother with a vase, I can't stay!" "Then go, for Heaven's sake, but not with me!" Haruka replied, angered. "Oh, and why not?" Michiru shot back, her voice full of fury now. "I saved your butt right now, remember?" "And I'm thankful for it." Haruka replied, in a softer, friendlier voice all of a sudden. "But it's too dangerous for you to come with me. The army will chase me and will try to get me back into their lab, and I can't take the risk of them catching you, too." "They won't catch us, not if we stick together." Michiru replied, giving the blonde a warm smile. Haruka sighed and shook her head. "Nope. You go somewhere else. See you." The blonde turned her back on Michiru when all of a sudden something cold closed around her right wrist. She gasped and turned back, just in time to see Michiru closing the other handcuff around her own left wrist. "What are you doing?" the blonde cried out, her eyes widening until they were almost as big as plates. "Well, if you don't want to take me with you out of free will, I guess I have to chain myself to you." Michiru replied, smiling a little. Haruka gave an experimental tug at the handcuff around her wrist, but soon realized that it had no use. She was strong, but obviously not strong enough to break the cuff. "Don't worry, you're still able to shoot your web." Michiru informed her, grinning. "I can't believe you actually think of this as funny." Haruka grumbled. Michiru shrugged, grinning even broader. "I suggest we take my brother's car. Can you drive?" she then asked.
Harukas right hand laid on the gear change, while she steered with her other, free hand. Michiru sat in the passenger's seat, letting her left hand dangle relaxed next to Harukas. "How long do you want to keep me chained?" Haruka asked, sounding annoyed. "Until we are far enough away from the house." Michiru replied, looking at the road in front of her. Haruka just sighed and continued to drive. "You are strange." She finally spoke. Michiru looked at her, smiling. "I know. But you're not one to talk, Haruka." Haruka huffed. "Hey, it's not my fault that I'm strange. But you're doing it on purpose." She then accused. Michiru shrugged, causing the chain between the two cuffs to clink. "Where are we going, anyway?" the aqua haired girl asked after a few moments of silence. "To a hotel." Haruka replied, her eyes glued to the road. "Where we can spend the night. It'll get dark already…and…" the last part of the sentence was mumbled, so Michiru didn't understand a word. "What was that?" she asked, frowning. "My back hurts." Haruka finally admitted. "The shot wounds." Michiru gently patted her shoulder. "They'll be healed soon. They weren't that deep, after all." She tried to comfort Haruka. The blonde gave her a short glance and smiled a little, for the first time since their run away from Michiru and Ichiros house. "Look, look." Michiru suddenly spoke, smiling. "Haruka Tenoh can smile after all." Haruka shot her another glance, her expression growing serious all of a sudden again. Much to Michirus shock, her eyes filled with a sadness and pain so deep and essential that it seemed to pain her physically. "Haruka…Haruka, I didn't want to hurt you." Michiru stammered. "It's okay." Haruka replied, her voice even hoarser than usual. The reason for the change of tone caused even more shock for the aqua haired girl: Harukas eyes were glistening with unshed tears. The blonde quickly pulled over to the right and brought the car to a halt, closing her eyes as soon as the vehicle stood. A heavy, shaky breath erupted from her chest, along with a strange sounding noise. It took Michiru a few moments until she realized that the noise actually had been a sob. "Haruka…" she spoke, placing her free hand gently on the taller woman's shoulder. "Haruka, I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to…" Haruka shook her head, looking at Michiru with red eyes. "No. Don't apologize…it's not your fault." The blonde spoke hoarsely before swallowing a few times, biting her tears back. "It's just…ever since I was taken into that lab…I wasn't able to smile or laugh at all anymore. But you…seems like you gave me that ability back." Michiru gave the blonde a gentle smile and patted her shoulder. Without saying anymore, Haruka brought the car back on the street and drove on. Michiru stayed silent too, but inside, she was nearly singing. After all, Haruka slowly started to trust her.