(16) Everybody bleeds
"Maybe we should ask Dr. Tomoe-san if it's okay to give her such a big gift so shortly before Christmas." Wondered Michiru aloud and snickered as she glanced over to her best friend carrying a big teddy bear. The sun was shinning from a blue sky so they decided to walk to the hospital and to visit little Hotaru. But as Haruka made a small detour to the arcade and headed straight towards the toy shop, Michiru got the idea that the blonde would have walked no matter if it would have rained, snowed or even if a volcano would have broken out. Without their car they were faster in and out again and Haruka did not mind to carry the big cuddly toy around. No, she did even seem to be proud to have such a nice gift for Hotaru, even if that would spoil the little girl. But Michiru had the slight feeling that their Hime-chan had never been spoiled a lot in her young life; she deserved to have two crazy friends.
At least she's not dressed up as Santa Clause.
Michiru could not stifle her laugh and got an irritated look from Haruka.
"I'm sure he won't mind. Besides, such a hospital bed is lonely, she needs someone to cuddle!" Haruka was determined. No one would stand in her way, or better, the teddy's way, to make a little girl happy.
"Poor Mamoru." Michiru grinned and walked around a frozen puddle. They were in the side streets of Tokyo and although there were many families living in nice houses along the road, no one had gritted the pavement.
"Why's he involved in Hime-chan's toy?" Haruka frowned and held the teddy tighter as it tried to escape her arms to live a short but happy life in the cold snow.
"Now he has to buy such a teddy for Usagi and Chibiusa, as well. I can almost hear them scream when they see it the first time."
"I'll never understand why he's still her boyfriend. As Sailor Moon she's strong, sure, but there's still a long way to go before she'll ever be a graceful queen."
"Because he loves her."
Dark green and deep blue eyes met, then Haruka looked away. There was a faint blush on her cheeks, but she covered it while fighting with the huge teddy bear.
"When's Hime-chan's dismissed from hospital?"
"You mean, discharged, right? She's not in prison, you know." Michiru noticed Haruka's swift change of topic but did not go any deeper into it.
"Hospital is a prison. Bad food, hard beds and niggling nurses."
"I thought the nurses there are quite nice. But as you are an expert on…" Michiru never got the chance to finish her sentence. There was a flash before her eyes and she reacted by instinct. Long months of fighting against youmas told her what to do.
"Sailor Neptune… make up!"
Again she was too busy to be annoyed by that stupid motto. Instead she raised her henshin, hardly noticing that she was wearing her furry winter jacket over her fuku. Probably her body decided that it was too cold to fight in a short skirt and a thin blouse. However, she had no time to wonder. The youma, an ugly mixture of a car and a Doberman, was growling dangerously at her. Michiru liked dogs, every dog, no matter if it was a small or a big one. But she did not like this youma, definitely did not like those sharp teeth pointing at her.
"Deep Submerge!" She screamed her spell, but the monster was faster. Her wave missed it and Neptune turned around to run away, at least for ten steps. Her weapon was useless if she had not space to throw it. The youma, however was faster. It jumped and caught her arm. Pain flashed through her body and she screamed. Instinctively she hit the Doberman-car left-handed with her henshin over its head and it let go of her arm.
"Earth Shaking!"
She heard her partner's cry and hoped that Uranus was able to defeat the ugly monster, because she did not feel like fighting any longer. Her arm hurt and she was not able hold her henshin with her right hand any longer. Suddenly she felt dizzy and went on her knees. Warm liquid was running over her fingers and she needed some moments to realize that it was blood. Her blood. Leaking out of her jacket's sleeve into the snow.
Like snow white.
Only that she did not have black hair.
"Michi?" Haruka's soft voice penetrated her confused mind slowly. She raised her head and looked at Uranus standing next to her. Although Michiru remembered that the sun had shone merely minutes ago, she could not see it any longer. Darkness crept into the world and all she could see were snowflakes whirling around. The wind blew harder; it seemed that another storm was coming.
"Michi? Are you alright?"
Uranus was standing beside her, looking worriedly down at her. Probably she had defeated the youma; at least it did not attack any longer.
"I'm… dizzy…" Michiru raised her hurting arm and dark green eyes grew wide. The next moment Uranus was kneeling next to her partner in the cold snow.
"You're hurt."
"It's just a scratch." Tried Michiru to reassure Haruka, and herself, but her legs did not carry her as she tried to stand up. If her best friend would not have caught her, she would have fallen back onto the street.
"That's more, Michi." Haruka transformed back into her normal clothes and Michiru wanted to do the same, but found that she did not have enough strength left. Darkness waited at the rim of her eyes and she felt extremely tired out of a sudden.
There's so much blood…"Michi!" Warm arms lifted her body, then she knew no more.
"Michi!"