Chapter 11: Attacking What She Loves
"I said, leave me alone!" Haruka yelled into the receiver of her phone before she slammed it down, letting out a frustrated sigh. Ever since the Tokyo Sports Magazine had wrote that special headline, she hadn't been able to find a single second of peace; the phone rang 24/7, and when she left the house, the reporters literally jumped her. Letting out another sigh, Haruka stared at her phone for a few seconds before she unplugged it. As if the reporters weren't enough already, Michiru called everyday, trying to convince her that she had nothing to do with what had happened. "Well, she won't have any luck with that." Haruka mumbled to herself, determined to forget the aqua-haired beauty and move on, which was harder than she had thought. Although Michiru had betrayed her in such an evil way, the blonde still had deep feelings for her; sometimes, she awoke in the middle of the night, her heart filled with the burning desire to hold and kiss the aqua-haired girl. Letting out another sigh, Haruka just wanted to turn away from the phone and walk into her room, when the doorbell rang, causing her to jump in surprise. After collecting herself again, Haruka called out: "Who is it?"
"It's me." Michiru's soft voice came through the closed door. Haruka closed her eyes for a moment before she replied: "I told you to leave me alone, didn't I?"
"Yes." Michiru answered, her voice full of sadness all of a sudden. "But please, Haruka, talk to me … just once … please, listen to me!" The aqua-haired girl stood in front of the door, waiting for Haruka to answer. When the blonde didn't speak up, her heart sank. "That's it. She'll hate me forever …" Suddenly, the sound of a key turning in a lock could be heard, and then the door opened. Haruka looked at her with sceptic eyes, but at least she had opened the door. "Come in." The blonde finally spoke, not all too friendly, but it was a start. Michiru gave her a small, hesitating smile before she stepped into the house, Haruka closing and locking the door again as soon as she had entered. "So what do you want?" The blonde then asked, sounding impatient while she leaned against the wall. "Haruka …" Michiru started before she gulped, her mouth feeling awfully dry suddenly. "Could I … could I have something to drink first?" The aqua-haired girl then asked, as shy as she had been when she had met the blonde for the first time. Haruka let out a sigh and nodded. "Sure. C'mon." The two women walked into the kitchen, where Haruka opened the fridge and pulled a can of iced tea out of it, handing it to Michiru. "There ya go." Michiru gave her another small, unsure smile, her heart sinking again when it wasn't returned, before opening the can and taking a long gulp from it. "Thanks." She softly spoke afterwards, though Haruka didn't really react to it. "Tell me what you want." The blonde demanded, desperately trying to keep her calm and cold expression and not to let her desires show. "I didn't tell anyone." Michiru softly spoke, her eyes not leaving Haruka's. Haruka let out a sigh and replied: "Prove it There aren't many other people who know. Only my father and myself, to be exact."
"Why should I do something like that?" Michiru suddenly cried out, her eyes filling with tears. "Why, Haruka? Tell me! I love you, for Heaven's sake, so why should I do something like that?"
"How can I know?" Haruka shot back, feeling angered and touched at the same time. Angered because Michiru still denied what she had done, and touched because of the love confession the aqua-haired girl had just made. "Please …" Michiru now continued, the tears slowly running down her cheeks. "Why can't you believe me?" Haruka let out a frustrated sigh and closed her eyes for a second before she answered. "Listen, Michiru … I don't think that my father told the newspaper about it. So ..." Michiru looked down at her feet, letting out a small sob. "I love you, Haruka." The aqua-haired girl then added, her eyes coming up again to meet those of the blonde once more. "I wish you would believe me …" Haruka looked away, and after one last desperate look, Michiru turned around and left the apartment, crying on her way out. Haruka waited until she was sure that the aqua-haired girl was gone, then she allowed herself to cry too.
Michiru walked away from Haruka's house, her head hanging low since she didn't want any pedestrians to see her tears. From time to time, a small sob would escape her throat, but luckily nobody heard it. The last thing Michiru needed now was fake sympathy from some stranger. As if on cue, a somehow familiar voice came from behind, making her jump. "Need help, young lady?" Michiru turned around and looked at the man who had spoken to her, surprise in her eyes. "Hey … what are you doing …" Before she had a chance to finish her sentence, the man suddenly threw himself forward. For one second, Michiru could see something silver glinting in his hand, then terrible pain rushed through her body. She let out a small yelp and fell to her knees, staring in shock at the bloodied knife her attacker still held. "What ..? Why ..?" She stammered while blood started to run from the wound in her stomach. "You …"
"Shht." The attacker whispered, stepping closer to her and running one hand down her face. "It's necessary; now close your eyes … I'll make it quick." And then, the knife came down again.