Sight Unseen

Chapter 3

Michiru smiled at the scent in Haruka's apartment. "Vanilla candles?"

"None other. If you promise you'll be careful, I'll let you wander around. This is a new place to you." Haruka closed the door to her split level apartment.

"I promise." Michiru reached out and drug her fingers along the wall as she made her way around the apartment. She picked up nearly every statue on the mantel to examine it. "I like this one. A faerie?"

Haruka smiled and moved to her side. "Yes, one of my exes gave it to me, I just couldn't get rid of it when she broke up with me."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine why anyone would want to break up with you." she blushed and moved on.

Haruka watched her for a moment, thinking she was safe as she went into her bedroom to pack some more clothes. What she heard a few minutes later caused her heart to stop. She heard Michiru let out a shrill cry, soon followed by the thuds of her helpless body falling down the steps into the lower level of the apartment. "Oh god!" Haruka ran to the top of the steps. "Oh my god." she was relieved when she saw Michiru's body move slightly. "Thank god." she ran down the steps. "Michi I'm here, I'm so sorry."

Michiru looked in Haruka's direction, her voice was shaky when she spoke. "My legs hurt Haruka. They hurt a lot." she forced a slight smile when Haruka gripped her hand, then stayed silent, listening to the phone conversation Haruka had with the ambulance dispatcher.

"I have to go unlock the front door for them Michi, I promise I'll be right back."

Michiru heard Haruka's quick footsteps climb the steps. She was scared, she'd never been hurt before, she never had to worry about steps. But why didn't Haruka tell her that the apartment was split level? "Ruka?" she yelled a few seconds later. "Haruka!" her voice lowered a little as she heard someone on the steps. "Why didn't you tell me about the steps Ruka?"

"I rarely come down here, I completely forgot about them. Please don't hate me Michi." Haruka was fighting off tears, Michiru could hear it in her voice...

Haruka paced back and forth in the emergency room, waiting for a doctor. It had already been an hour since they arrived. She was hoping that there wasn't any other damage.

"Miss Tenou?" a doctor approached her. "Miss Kaiou has been moved up to a room. If you'll follow me I'll take you up there."

"How bad is she doctor?" Haruka quickly followed him to the elevator.

"She broke both her legs in the fall. She's quite lucky it wasn't any worse. She's right in here Miss Tenou." The doctor pushed open the door. "You've got a guest Michiru."

"Haruka?" she carefully set her glass on the table next to her bed. "Is that you Ruka?"

Haruka smiled, thanked the doctor and closed the door before sitting next to Michiru's bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a girl with two broken legs." Michiru smiled some. "They don't hurt now, they gave me some medicine before putting the casts on."

Haruka gently reached up and stroked her cheek "I'm so sorry about this Michi." She laid her head next to Michiru's hip on the bed.

"It's not a big deal Haruka, I'll heal, and be able to walk again." she fought off a yawn.

"You should get some sleep. I'll stay here with you tonight. I promise." Haruka gripped Michiru's hand as they both fell asleep.