(18)That's the beauty of it
"It's been only two days, but I can't wait to get home." Michiru put her nightgown, her washing bag and the other things she needed urgently at hospital – a book, her walkman and diverse classic cassettes – with her healthy hand into her bag, but Haruka took it away from her before she could put it around her uninjured shoulder.
"You are ill. Let me carry that."
"If you're so eager." Michiru looked again at her night table in the case that she would forgot something. Then she turned around very slowly. Today her arm was not as swollen as it had been yesterday, but still it hurt and she did not want to scare Haruka in making funny faces, gasping for breath or even groaning in pain.
"Always to your service, Kaioh-san." Haruka grinned and walked out of the door. She was already heading towards the exit's direction when Michiru's left hand grabbed her thick pullover's sleeve.
"I know you've been busy the past days, mainly because of me." Michiru raised her index finger to Haruka's mouth to stop her from protesting. "And I know that it's been a crazy day after the youma's attack, but there's someone who wants to see you."
Haruka frowned but followed her best friend nonetheless.
"She's finally allowed to leave her bed. Of course she did visit me this morning, but you've been at school then, or at least you should have been at school." Michiru glanced at Haruka who had the honesty to blush. The sea blonde rolled her eyes and made a mental note to talk to Dr. Tomoe to give Haruka an attest – or she would spend her entire Christmas holidays in detention. Michiru wanted to celebrate Christmas with her best friend in their small apartment – and not in a class room.
"She wants to thank you for your gift."
Haruka's frown deepened even more, but then her face brightened up. They peered through the half opened door into another hospital room. Two small girls were sitting on the bed, talking, gesticulating, giggling. One of them was holding a big teddy proudly in her frail arms, hugging it tenderly.
My Hime-chan.
Haruka did not need to voice her thoughts, Michiru could see them in sparkling green eyes. The blonde let go of the bag and leaned against the door frame, only looking at the laughing girl. A recovering girl. A living girl.
Our Hime-chan.
How close they came of losing her. For the split of a second Haruka had been prepared to sacrifice this girl for the sake of the rest of the world. For millions of other people. Meaningless people. Unimportant in comparison to little Hotaru. Haruka had never said it and Michiru had never been sure if the blonde really liked the sick child or if she only stayed around to look for youmas. However, Haruka's behaviour over the past days, the way she was looking at Hotaru right now showed clearly that she loved that little girl. Dearly. Like an older sister or even like a parent. Like the parents she herself never really had known.
"I've almost…" Haruka gulped, but Michiru did not let her finish the sentence. She squeezed Haruka's shoulder and smiled at her in understanding.
"No, you've fought for her and with Sailor Moon's help you were able to rescue her."
The blonde looked at her for a long moment, then she nodded slowly. Silently she watched again Hotaru and Chibiusa who giggled even louder. They were best friends and Chibiusa was as happy as the rest of them that her Taru was still there, that she did not leave her – and that she was finally allowed again to play with her. Cards covered the bed's blanket and the way Chibiusa sulked jokingly it looked as if Hotaru was winning. In a smashing victory.
"Dr. Tomoe-san had a lot to do so he could not meet you personally. But he told me to tell you that he's thanking you for the teddy. It made his daughter happy and he doesn't mind if we spoil her from time to time, as long as it has its limits."
"Fine." Haruka tightened up her shoulders and stepped into the room. She had been too busy with a hurt Michiru that she put the teddy bear into one of the nurses' hands and asked her to take it to Tomoe Hotaru. So this was the first time she met Hotaru after her heart attack, after she almost killed her, and after Sailor Moon rescued her.
"Hime-chan?" Her voice was soft, a little bit unsure. However, Hotaru's reaction swept all her doubts away.
"Ruka!" It was a nickname Michiru introduced to her best friend and whenever Hotaru was excited or overjoyed she adopted it. "Ruka!"
The little girl jumped from her bed and literally flew into Haruka's wide opened arms. She was still holding her teddy tight so the blonde was hugging the both of them.
"Arigatou, Ruka. Mister Snuffles is great!"
"Great you like it, Hime-chan."
Haruka beamed at Hotaru and the little girl giggled happily, holding her cuddly toy right into her taller friend's face, winking with its furry paw.
"Say hell to Mister Snuffles, Ruka."
How could we have ever forgotten that life can be so beautiful?
Michiru snickered as Haruka sneezed and carefully shook the toy's paw and talked with a funny voice to it.
"Hello, Mister Snuffles."
How could we have ever doubted in the future and in a happy ending?
Michiru entered the room and went over to the two most important persons in her life.