Chapter 7: Pain Attack
After Harukas short break-down, the two women didn't talk much on their way to the hotel. Haruka was concentrating on the road while Michiru silently wondered where she put the key for the handcuffs that held her and the blonde together; she was sure that she had taken it with her, but she couldn't remember where she was keeping it. Suddenly, Haruka startled her by asking a blunt question: "Are you reading my mind?" "What?!" Michiru cried out, staring at the blonde with big round eyes. Haruka shot her a short glance and repeated her question. "I want to know if you're reading my mind." "Of course not." Michiru protested, sounding slightly angered. "I can do that, if you want to know, but I never do it without asking for permission first." Haruka just snorted, then bothered to reply: "Good thing. I don't like it when people read my mind without asking first." Michiru huffed and answered: "I thought you trust me, Haruka. Why are you asking that now?" Haruka drove up to the right again and stopped the car once more, looking at Michiru. "Listen, girl, I do not trust you." She stated bluntly. Before Michiru had the chance to say anything, Haruka talked on. "I just drag you along because you chained yourself to me. As soon as you decide to take that thing off", she raised her handcuffed wrist for emphasis, "our ways will part. Got it?" Michiru nodded, knowing that she would burst into tears if she opened her mouth now. "Good." Haruka mumbled and reached for the ignition key to start the car again when all of a sudden a terrible flash of pain ran through her head. She let out a pain filled gasped and doubled over, nearly hitting the steering wheel with her forehead, pressing both hands against the sides of her head. "Haruka!" Michiru called out, shocked. "Haruka, what's wrong?" Haruka just groaned in reply, her whole body shaking. "Haruka!" Michiru screamed, by now in great fear. Her fear increased when all of a sudden Harukas nose started to bleed heavily, and big red drops fell on the driver's seat. Quickly, Michiru started to dig through her pockets until she found the key of the handcuffs. She unlocked the one that was closed around Harukas wrist, then grabbed her shoulders. "Haruka, can you hear me?!" she cried out, suddenly fearing that Haruka could die in her arms. "Don't…don't worry." Haruka finally managed to press out between gritted teeth. She leaned back, her eyes closed, blood running from her nose in two small, constant rivers, her chest rising and falling with her heavy breaths. "Don't worry." She repeated, her voice steady again. "It happens often…I'm used to it." "What, you have such pain attacks?" Michiru asked, disbelief in her voice. "Yeah…ever since they started their experiments on me." Haruka replied, finally opening her eyes again. She looked at Michiru questioningly and raised her now unchained hand. "You unchained me?" she asked. Michiru nodded, unlocked the handcuff that still dangled from her wrist and placed it in her pocket. "Yeah, I did." She then admitted. Haruka frowned. "You do know that I simply could throw you out of the car now, and maybe even tie you to some tree with my web?" Michiru nodded again and smiled at Haruka, giving her the cutest pair of puppy dog eyes she managed to produce. "But you won't do that, right?" she chirped. Haruka sighed and started the car again. "You know, you can be pretty annoying." She stated while driving back on the road. "But I guess I owe you one for helping me when your brother turned out to be a traitorous little fool, so I'll be grateful and take you with me." Michiru smiled and performed a cute little bow. "Thanks a lot, Haruka-sama!" she then cried out. Haruka shot her a look, combined with a frown. "You are really strange." She then informed the aqua haired girl, before concentrating on the road again.
"A double room for…Ryo and Kaori Saeba, please." Haruka spoke to the receptionist of the Sunset Hotel, earning a surprised look from Michiru. "One second, Sir." The receptionist replied before he took a look at the reservations book. "You're lucky, we have a double room free. How long do you intend to stay?" "Only that night. We'll leave again tomorrow." Haruka replied. The clerk handed her the key and told her where she found the room before he took her money for the one night. "Sleep well, Sir and Madam." He then spoke, bowing to the two women. Haruka and Michiru nodded, and Michiru took Harukas hand to look like a real married couple. Haruka glanced at her before the two made their way over to the stairs and walked up to their room. As soon as they were out of the receptionists sight, Michiru expected Haruka to pull her hand back, but much to the surprise of the aqua haired girl, the blonde didn't. She held Michirus hand until they reached their room, and let go when they entered. While the blonde studied the double bed and the couch, Michiru stood next to her, wondering if she really didn't trust her, like she had said, or if maybe she just was afraid to get to close.