Chapter 3: Fatherly Visits

Much to Harukas annoyance, Michiru came to check on her every hour; she didn't measure her heartbeat every time, but kept asking her how she felt and if she needed anything. There was only one time where Haruka was kind of grateful when the aqua haired woman appeared in the doorframe again, three hours after she had woken up. Her hands where throbbing with dull pain at that time, and she knew that if she didn't ask for a painkiller, the dull pain would turn into flaming pain, probably worse enough to make her fall unconscious, or at least to make her scream. So this time, when Michiru asked if she needed another painkiller, the blonde nodded, giving her doctor a thankful look when she brought the small pink capsule and a glass of water. Quickly, Haruka threw the capsule into her mouth, washing it down with a big gulp of water. "Thanks." She then softly mumbled, her eyes avoiding those of Michiru. "That's my job." Michiru replied, trying to sound cheerful. "I'm here to make you as comfortable as possible, Tenoh-san." Haruka didn't make any comment about that; she just leaned back in her pillow and waited for the medication to work. Michiru said her usual words – that Haruka should ring for her if she needed anything, and that she would be back later – before she left the room again. Only two minutes later, the door opened again, and Haruka looked over surprised, thinking that Michiru had forgotten something. Instead of the doctor, her father came rushing in, his face going pale when he saw his daughter. "Oh Haruka, my dear!" the elderly man cried out, almost falling to his knees next to the bed. "Hey Dad." Haruka softly spoke while her father decided that kneeling wasn't a very good idea and instead sat down on the chair Michiru had been using before. He reached out to take one of her hands, then remembered what had happened and pulled back, looking awfully insecure for a second. "Your doctor called me and told me what happened." He finally spoke, his eyes never leaving the face of his daughter while he folded his hands in his lap. "God, Haruka, I wish I could have kept this from happening to you somehow…" Haruka sighed and looked at her father. "I know, Dad. But there was nothing you could have done…no one ever thought that something like that would…be done to me." Her father nodded, looking down at his feet for a moment before his eyes came up again, meeting those of his daughter once more. "Do you have any idea who could have done this?" he then asked, his voice clearly showing that he hoped for Haruka to say something like "Yes, of course I know. It was…" Instead, Haruka replied: "No…not a clue. I didn't look at the sender of the package, and even if it was there…I doubt that anything of the paper it was written on is still left." Her father sighed and leaned back in the chair. "We'll have to trust the police then…I just hope they find the bastard and put him to jail for the rest of his life." Haruka nodded, although she was pretty much aware of the fact that the culprit – whoever it was – wouldn't go into prison for the rest of his life. He probably would get something between ten and twenty years, then be all nice and good in prison and get out five years before the actual date of release. "Did they tell you when you will be able to leave?" her father now asked, causing Haruka to stare at him for a few seconds while she tried to follow the fast change of topic. "Umm…no." she finally spoke. "You'll have to ask my doctor…Dr. Kaioh." "I will before I leave…but now I just want to be there for you. Now and later, when you get out." "Thanks." Haruka replied, her voice hoarse all of a sudden. "I don't know how to cope with this Dad…that fucking bomb blew off four of my fingers, I'll never be able to play again…I…" The rest of the words she had intended to say vanished in a strangled sob, her chest rising and falling heavily. "God, Haruka…" her father whispered, carefully hugging her, making sure he didn't poke her hurt hands by accident. "It will be okay." He whispered into her ear while he held her tight, letting her cry into his shirt. "It will be okay, sweetie, it will be okay…I promise it will be okay."

Two hours later, Dr. Kaioh appeared in the room again, telling Haruka and her father that she really regretted this, but Tenoh-kun really had to leave now. Harukas father just nodded, promised his daughter that he would come again the next day, said his goodbye to Michiru and left while Michiru sat down on the chair that now was free again. "Are you feeling a little better now?" she gently asked, earning a slight nod in reply from her patient. "Yes…a little bit. I still wish I could turn back time and throw that damned package out of the window instead of opening it, but I guess that's not an option, right?" The last words were accompanied by a bitter smile, causing Michiru to give her patient a worried look while she nodded slightly. "Unfortunately not, Tenoh-san…I wish there was more I could do for you then give you painkillers and change the bandage every six hours, but…" "Change the bandage?!" Haruka asked, suddenly sounding very alarmed. Michiru looked at her, raising one eyebrow, and nodded. "Yes, change the bandages to keep the wounds clean…why? Does that worry you?" Much to her surprise, Haruka – who had been pretty reserved towards her during the first of hours of knowing each other – was honest enough to nod. "Why?" Michiru gently asked, reaching out and putting one hand on the blondes forearm. Haruka looked at the doctors fingers for a moment, then back up to her face. "I…" she started, only to stop speaking almost immediately again and swallowing heavily for a few times. "I don't want to see." She then admitted, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible. "I understand that." Michiru replied, hoping that she sounded convincing enough. "And you don't have to watch…you can look at your hands when you are ready for it. No one will force you to see something you don't want to see." Haruka let out a short, bitter laugh and shrugged. "I will have to see them everyday as soon as I get out of here, so I guess I can get used to the sight as early as possible, right?" Michiru shrugged and rose from her chair, looking down at her patient. "It's your decision, Tenoh-san…but I would recommend not to. It still looks very bad, seeing that the stitches are still there and all…it only would give you an unnecessary shock." With that, the aqua haired woman left the room and closed the door behind her, leaving Haruka behind, staring after her with a mixture of shock and surprise in her teal eyes.