Great, I'm getting some positive thoughts! Cool, well, here's the 8th chapter…
(Hey, once again, if you don't like the story, don't criticize too much and please don't flame…I am a person with a weak heart…)
"Haruka?" Michiru's astonished expression looked up.
Haruka stared unbelievingly at the familiar face. She quickly stood up and said slowly, "Michiru? Is…it…you?"
Michiru's eyes filled with shining tears and stood up as well, facing Haruka sadly. "Haruka…" She flung herself at the figure before her, forgetting everything. Haruka let out a sigh of relief and joy and embraced Michiru. At last! Things started to look better. After a moment more of tears and hugging, they pulled apart. "Oh, Michiru, I've finally found you!" Haruka grinned happily. But her smile faded when she saw that Michiru was looking sorrowfully at the floor. "What's wrong? Did…did Kuyou do anything to you?!" Haruka frowned, remembering the heartless king.
Michiru glanced up at Haruka, mixed feelings in her heart. She was so happy that Haruka was here, but she could never forget what would happen if they left together. And she had decided that the castle would be where she lived for a while…yes, there was no choice. "Haruka…you must go." Michiru looked away, tears rising again.
Haruka stared, confused and a little hurt. "What…? Go? You mean…now?"
"Yes. Forget about me. If we leave, you'll get hurt. Please…go…" Michiru trailed off. Haruka frowned, not following very clearly. "But…what are you talking about?"
"I know what will happen in the future if we both leave…we…we wouldn't have gotten rescued, ever. And…" Michiru paused, not wanting to say anymore. But Haruka deserved to know the truth…the real and horrible truth. "And…you would not have…survived…" Michiru looked away shamefully. Haruka stepped back, shocked to hear this come out. "Michiru…how do you know this? How are you so sure?"
"It was me, okay?! I went crazy and killed you!! Oh, Haruka, I'm so sorry!!" Michiru burst out, tears flowing down her face. Stunned, Haruka took a few more steps back. "Michiru? Are you all right? Look, I'm not going anywhere, okay? Don't worry. And…where are you getting these ideas?"
Michiru flung herself at Haruka again and cried into the taller girl's arms. "Oh, Kuyou showed it all to me! He knows what'll happen!! I'm so sorry!!" Haruka held Michiru, frowning oddly. "Michiru…it'll be all right, okay? I'm here, you're with me, that's all that matters," she replied gently. There was hardly any time to think over facts and details. All they had to do was slip out of the castle unnoticed, a pretty easy task at the moment. There was no one around. Haruka slowly pulled away and gave some quick instructions. "Here, we have to go now. There's not much time. Once we get out of this castle, a…friend I met will help us away from here. Come on, let's hurry." Haruka started speeding towards the end of the hall. She looked back hastily and saw to her surprise that Michiru was still standing there, motionless. "Michiru! Come on! What's the matter?" Michiru looked down and whispered quietly, "I can't go."
Haruka sighed in exasperation but patiently walked back to her. "Michiru…you're worried about…us not getting rescued…and me not surviving?"
"Y-yes…and you know I can't bear to see you hurt! Oh, please, don't make me go! You know I wouldn't abandon you, but think of the consequences! Don't risk your life just for me, Haruka! No!!!" Suddenly, Michiru stopped. Her eyes darted nervously towards the stairs. She grabbed Haruka and pulled her into a nearby room. Haruka looked at Michiru in surprise, but she obeyed and cooperated. "Don't…say…a…word," Michiru whispered, barely audible. "Someone's coming…I think it's Kuyou…" She led Haruka behind a wall and casually walked out the door. From inside, Michiru's voice was faintly heard. "Oh, hello, Kuyou. I was exploring a bit…did you want something?" Haruka waited and strained to hear the reply. "Ah, Michiru. Yes, it's nice to see you. I thought I heard several voices conversing from up here. I came to take a stroll myself. Is there, by any chance, someone here?"
"Oh, there is no one at all, except maybe for a few servants…the voices you heard were probably just me…I was exclaiming over this magnificent castle."
A pause. Then, "Well, all right, I shall be going. Oh, yes…I also came up here to inform you of something. Anybody that you happen to meet from the forest in here…is not welcomed. They are a danger to this peaceful place and you should tell them that they are taking high chances. If I happen to catch them…well, just warn them they will not survive for very long. Please, do yourself a favor and report to me any signs of intruders around." Haruka was afraid Michiru would break down and start crying, but she breathed a sigh of relief when Michiru answered calmly and collected. "Why yes, Kuyou, of course. I wouldn't want to risk anyone's safety. Well then, I will see you around."
"Yes, I will be meeting you later." And Haruka heard sounds of footsteps growing fainter. After a few minutes, Michiru came around the corner and signaled that it was all right. As soon as they were composed, Haruka jumped in. "Kuyou's not hurting you, then? He has treated you all right? Oh, please, Michiru. Just come with me. Don't worry if we're not saved. I don't care, as long as we live on away from here. It wouldn't matter what happened… Please, just forget about Kuyou and let's get out of here,"
Michiru wouldn't budge. "No," she said firmly. There was a newer strength about her that declared her position and would be immovable. "I promised Kuyou that I would stay here to ensure your safety. If I can't go, you must go and live. This way, I will never be given a chance to take your life."
Haruka was about to protest when she suddenly had a creeping sensation that they were being watched. She whirled around and took a step back. Kuyou was facing her, an unbearable sneer on his face. "Well, well, well. I thought I'd never see the day when you, Haruka, would take such drastic steps and risk both you and Michiru's lives. But Haruka, it is a pleasant surprise to see you. I notice that you have met up with Michiru here. You do know that she will not be leaving…?" Kuyou stepped closer to Haruka and looked her in the eye. They were very close in height, and when the stare passed between them, it was most intimidating. Haruka noticed uneasily how cold and dark the black eyes were, but she glared right back, not about to be scared of this monster. "Kuyou," she replied shortly. "What do you want?" She took a few steps toward Michiru protectively. Kuyou laughed unemotionally. "Oh, Haruka. Do you wish for me to explain it? You are trespassing, and you are speaking with…my Michiru. That's already breaking several ground restrictions. Please, when you are here, follow my rules. Otherwise, you don't know what could happen…"
Haruka glared fiercely at Kuyou. How dare this despicable man say that Michiru was his! It was like talking about owning a person! "Is that some sort of a threat? So what are you going to do now, huh?" Kuyou laughed again, and this time it was a triumphant one.
"You see, there is a place called…the dungeon. It is most agreeable down there, and I think you will enjoy your stay. For you know, you will not be leaving there ever again. And unlike Michiru who will also be staying, you will live in the most unpleasant conditions. That is what I will do." Kuyou smiled frostily at Haruka's growing anger. "Guards!" Five uniformed men came trudging up the stairs at this command. They stood in line behind Kuyou, awaiting further directions. "Take this intruder as prisoner in the dungeons." The men advanced on Haruka, who had not moved from her place by Michiru. She stood before them and got into a ready position to attack. Michiru by this time was screaming with panic and begging Kuyou to leave Haruka alone. But Kuyou did not seem to see or hear her and laughed manically while Haruka struggled to fight off the guards. Michiru rushed to Kuyou's side and grabbed his sleeve. "Oh, please, Kuyou, don't!! I'm staying already, why take Haruka?" she cried desperately. Kuyou took a glance at her. "It's because Haruka is the more determined sort. She will come again and attack again. We do not want that happening now, do we? My dear, since you have already agreed to stay, why bother with Haruka? Do not mind her, and now I order you to never look for her again," Kuyou answered unsympathetically. By now, Haruka was exhausted from fighting, and was close to giving up. The guards had steel grips and would not let go. Kuyou nodded at them, and they began to march Haruka down the stairs. Michiru ran to follow, but a strong pair of arms caught her and held her back. "NO!! HARUKA!!!!" she screamed, her voice echoing all around her. Haruka fought to look back, and saw that Michiru was being pushed away. "Michiru!! Kuyou, you won't get away with this!!!!" She managed to yell this out before all of a sudden, one of the guards struck her violently on the head and Haruka sunk into a pit of blackness.
"Oh, what do I do now??" Michiru paced her room furiously, trying to concoct up an idea to save Haruka, "I can't believe I just stood there and let Kuyou do that…oh, why didn't I just agree to go in the first place?!" Because you don't want Haruka to die, that's why… The words rang calmly inside Michiru's mind. "But she's still suffering…and it's my fault…" She sat down on the bed, but immediately jumped back up. "No, no, no! I am not going to just sit here…I have to think of something!" Her thoughts were interrupted when a soft knock came at the door. "Who is it?" Michiru asked suspiciously. If it was Kuyou… "I-it's…Kai…" A quiet voice answered hesitantly. Michiru breathed a sigh of relief. "You may come in." The door opened and the young girl entered. "Is there something you wanted?" Michiru inquired.
"Oh, yes…I was wondering if I could talk to you…" Kai looked down at the floor. Such a shy girl, Michiru thought. Or maybe just trained to keep quiet… "Why, of course! What do you wish to discuss?"
"I know where Haruka is," came the faint answer. "I could help you get to her…" Michiru gasped in surprise. How did Kai know who Haruka was and why would she want to help? "R-really? But…how…?" Michiru stuttered uncertainly. Kai smiled in understanding. "Well, I am helping you and Haruka to try and escape…I'm a friend of Rena's. I am aware that you have heard the name before. From Kuyou, I suspect. He will have given a mistaken description of Rena. I hope you trust enough in me to believe that Rena is a good person and she is on your side. She has given Haruka specific instructions to come save you, but…Kuyou has interfered, and now things are more complicated. I must get you to see Haruka and you two shall devise a plan." Michiru stared at Kai in surprise. She couldn't believe that this shy, timid girl would do go so far to save while disobeying her king and breaking rules. And yes…Rena did come up, in just the way Kai had predicted. Well, Michiru would believe anything now to get closer to saving Haruka. Kai was offering to help, and Michiru didn't want to miss the chance. "All right. Tell me what to do."
Haruka groaned as she slowly opened her eyes and stared at a blank, dirty ceiling. She sat up quickly and a flash of pain sliced through her head. She lifted her hand up to her hair and was startled to feel a wet, sticky substance. Blood. The events earlier came chasing up, and Haruka remembered leaving Michiru because Kuyou ordered her to be taken to…the dungeon? She looked around and realized that it Kuyou's order had been fulfilled. The walls making up the cell were gray stone and reached high up. There were no windows. Old straw was scattered around the floor and the place smelled like horse manure. Then this was the dungeon. I wonder what Kuyou is planning…Haruka decided not to stand up, because the throbbing in her head was growing. She sighed and leaned against the cold, hard wall and stared at nowhere in particular. She had gotten this far, but the startling problem was that Michiru didn't want to go… She remembered that Michiru kept mentioning the future and how they would never get rescued. Then…Michiru would murder her… There was no way that the prediction could be true, Haruka thought angrily. It must be one of Kuyou's silly persuasion plans. And the unfortunate thing was that Michiru believed him. Kuyou…wait till I get my hands on you…