Mahoromatic – New Beginnings
By Dr. Memory
(AKA Carl A. Potaczala)
Disclaimer
Mahoromatic and all associated characters are the property of Gainax, TBS, Pioneer LDC and the character creators, Ditama and Nakayama. This story is not written for personal profit, but as a tribute to a wonderful story that I think ended poorly and knowing that as long as I write, Mahoro lives. Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.
Episode 23: Harune
Show opens with the regular theme
Show opens with scene of Mahoro, Suguru, Kaito, Riku, Minawa and Hamaji around the dining room table, eating breakfast.
Suguru: So why did you decide to spend the night here instead of at home, Hamaji-kun?
Hamaji: I don't want to talk about it.
Minawa: I don't think that Hamaji-kun's parents were expecting him to come home last night.
Suguru: Did they lock the door so you couldn't get in?
Hamaji: It would have been better if that is what they had done.
Minawa: I think they had been celebrating after the festival.
Hamaji: They had been doing far too much celebrating.
Mahoro: So what did they do that Hamaji-kun didn't want to stay?
Minawa: They were being quite… ahhh… intimate in the living room.
Mahoro: Intimate?
Minawa: They were having sex in the living room.
Mahoro: Oh! My!
Minawa: They even invited us to join them.
Suguru almost sprays the coffee he is drinking.
Suguru: (Wiping his face) I'm not sure that is something I want to visualize.
Hamaji: What, My parents having sex in the living room?
Suguru: No, you joining them.
Hamaji: Enough of that. I don't want to think about it.
Kaito: Then it is not normal to have sex in the living room?
Suguru: Ahhh… No… Not Really
Kaito: I'll have to keep that in mind.
Hamaji and Suguru turn to look at each other and shake their heads
Mahoro: Kaito-kun, do you have plans for today?
Kaito: Nothing special. It's Chizu-chan's parents first day back from their trip and they would like to spend the day with her.
Suguru: I would expect that. Did Chizu-chan's parents get to see her dance last night?
Kaito: Chizu-chan said that they got there for the last half hour, but they had come straight for the airport, so they didn't stay around. Suguru-kun, what is an airport?
Suguru: It's a place where airplanes take off and land… and airplanes are another form of transportation, like a train, but they move through the air.
Riku: Like a space ship?
Suguru: Sort of. It will be easier to show you at some point, but they are used to travel long distances on Earth.
Mahoro: Riku-kun, didn't you say that you and Miyuki-chan have something planned for the day?
Riku: Miyuki-chan goes to visit her grandparents to help them with things around the house. She and I are going there today.
Mahoro: That sounds nice. Hamaji-kun, do you and Minawa-chan have anything planned?
Hamaji: I'm going to try spending the day not thinking about last night. Actually I need to go home and have a long conversation with them. That was embarrassing.
Suguru: (Laughing) It seems funny for a son to have a long heart to heart conversation about sex at inappropriate times with his parents.
Hamaji: Don't make it any worse than it already is.
Doorbell rings
Riku: I'll get it. It's probably Miyuki-chan.
Riku gets up from the table and goes to the door and opens it. Miyuki is standing there, but she is not smiling.
Riku: Good morning Miyuki-chan.
Miyuki: (In a voice that is less than happy) Good morning, Riku-kun.
Suddenly the reason for Miyuki's unhappiness bursts past Miyuki and into the house, running straight for Suguru.
Harune: Suguru-kun!
Suguru barely has a moment to react before Harune throws her arms around Suguru and gives him a hug.
Harune: It's been so long since I've seen you. You never come to visit us at the bathes any more.
Suguru: Harune-chan, you're welcome to visit Mahoro and me here any time you like.
Harune: (Obviously not happy at the mention of Mahoro) Yeah, I guess I could do that.
Suguru: Maybe we'll make the point of getting to the bathes this week. (To Miyuki) So what's going on, Miyuki-chan?
Miyuki: Riku-kun and I were supposed to take a walk to my mother's parents house today to help with the chores, but it turns out we have to take Harune-chan with us.
Harune: It wasn't my idea. I can't help it if grandma asked for me to come along. I'd rather stay at home and help my sisters scrub the bathes.
Mahoro: Don't you like your grandma?
Harune: It's not that I don't like her, it's just that I don't really want to go with Onee-chan and her boyfriend.
Miyuki: I'd rather you didn't have to come along too, but we're stuck with each other. (To Riku) I hope you don't mind, Riku-kun.
Riku: It won't be a problem. I don't mind having your sister along.
Slash enters the dining room from the kitchen.
Harune: Slashy!
Slash turns to return to the kitchen, but is not fast enough and Harune pounces on him.
Harune: Slashy, I haven't seen you in so long. You're so cute. It's too bad that he couldn't come with us today. It would be someone nice to keep me company.
Mahoro: Maybe Slash would like to go with you. (Slash glaring at Mahoro) Although, maybe not. Since we really don't have anything else going on today, I was thinking that Slash and Guri-chan could both use a bath.
Slash continues to glare at Mahoro, but he knows that he is defeated.
Harune: Could he come with us?
Mahoro: I think it will be all right. We can find time to give him a bath another day.
Suguru: Miyuki-chan, why are your sisters cleaning the bathes again?
Miyuki: Mom caught them sneaking peeks in the men's bath when Ryuga-sensei was there. It serves them right.
Suguru: Don't tell me you never sneaked peeks.
Miyuki: I didn't say that. I just never got caught. Well we better get going. Come on, Harune-chan.
Harune: Come on Slashy. I'll see you later Suguru-kun.
Suguru: I'll see you later, Harune-chan.
Riku, Miyuki, Harune and Slash exit.
Suguru: Harune-chan is a cute little girl.
Minawa: (To Mahoro) I think somebody really likes Suguru-kun.
Mahoro: I think you're right.
Scene shifts to Miyuki and Riku who are walking together. Harune is walking about ten paces behind them with Slash at her side.
Miyuki: I'm sorry about having to bring Harune-chan with us.
Riku: It really isn't a problem.
Miyuki: I had been hoping that it would be just the two of us. Then after the chores were done at my grandparents, we could spend some time together… by ourselves… without the little children hanging around.
Riku: It's OK. I like Harune-chan.
Miyuki: I'm not sure that she likes you.
Riku: I don't understand.
Miyuki: You saw how she was with Suguru-kun. Before Mahoro-san came to work as Suguru-kun's maid, he would come to our house all the time. He would spend time with her and play with her. I think she kind of likes him. But after Mahoro-san came, Suguru-kun didn't come to the house as often. And now that I'm spending my time with you, she gets to see Suguru-kun even less.
Riku: So it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm not from Earth?
Miyuki: Nothing at all.
Riku: Well then, maybe with time she'll get over it. So, what type of chores need to be done?
Miyuki: My grandparents still move around very well, but there are some things that are getting a little difficult for them. I usually wash the second floor windows for them and do some garden work… Just a lot of little things that need to be done around the house.
Riku: It still amazes me how different life is here on Earth. There is nothing like a house on our ships.
Miyuki: Where did you live?
Riku: When our parents were alive, we lived in something like you would call an apartment. It had a kitchen, living room, bathroom and shower, with two sleeping quarters, very much like the ones on Sera-san's and Ryuga-san's ship. It was on a corridor with nineteen other apartments and each corridor had a common area. After our parents died, we were moved into sleeping quarters exactly like on the ship. We shared a kitchen, dining room and bathroom-shower with about thirty other men.
Miyuki: I was… ahhh… wondering, Riku-kun. How did your parents die?
Riku: We lived on an agricultural ship. Our parents worked in the water reprocessing area. After the water is used, it has to be filtered and oxygen is pumped through it to kill any bacteria. Normally the excess oxygen is vented to prevent a buildup, but the venting system failed and there was a spark that started a fire. Our parents and nine other people died.
Miyuki: I'm so sorry.
Riku: It's OK. Kaito-kun and I have learned to accept that they have died, but that they are with the greater spirit now.
Miyuki senses that Harune is beginning to lag behind. She turns around and finds that Harune is at least twenty paces behind.
Harune: (Noticing that Miyuki has turned around) That's OK, You can keep ignoring me. I like it that way.
Miyuki: Come on. Get up here. Don't be such a pill. We're almost to grandma's.
Harune: (As she catches up with Miyuki and Riku) Yeah, I know… Be pleasant for Grandma and Grandpa.
They continue to walk and come to an area where the building is fenced off. As the walk past, there is a definite smell of something burned.
Riku: What happened here?
Miyuki: It was an old apartment building. It's been vacant for a long time, but last week there was a fire. No one was hurt, but they are going to tear it down starting tomorrow and build some new apartments in its place.
Riku: No one was hurt?
Miyuki: No, the building had been empty… We're almost there. We turn left at the next corner and their house is two blocks down.
The remainder of the walk is uneventful. Miyuki and Riku walk hand in hand. Harune follows behind, completely unhappy with her sister and her boyfriend.
Scene shifts to the front door of Miyuki's grandparents' house. Miyuki and Riku walk up to the front door and Miyuki presses the door bell button. After a few seconds the door opens.
Miyuki's Grandmother: Welcome… Welcome, Miyuki-chan! I see you brought some help with you. Is this your brand new husband I've heard your mother talk about?
Miyuki: Grandmother!
Riku: Don't worry, Miyuki-chan.
Miyuki: Grandmother, this is Riku-kun.
Miyuki's Grandmother: A fine looking young man. And where is my little Harune-chan?
Harune approaches the front door with Slash.
Harune: (Unenthusiastically) Here I am Grandmother.
Miyuki's Grandmother: (Seeing Slash) My! What a ferocious looking beast!
Harune: Grandma, this is Slash.
Slash: (To himself) Well, she finally got the name right.
Miyuki: Slash is the pet of my friend Suguru-kun.
Slash glares at Miyuki at the mention of the word 'pet'.
Miyuki's Grandmother: Ah, yes. That other boy you used to come here with.
Miyuki: Yes, grandma.
Miyuki's Grandmother: He still looks quite mean.
Miyuki: He is really quite gentle (Slash glares again) and he is really very, very intelligent.
Slash: (To himself) You have that right.
Miyuki's Grandmother: Well come in. Grandfather already has things ready for you. And since you brought some extra help, maybe you could help bring some things down out of the attic. Your grandfather and I want to start sorting some of the things there.
Miyuki: No problem.
Miyuki's Grandmother: And Harune-chan, I have a special project for you and your friend there.
Harune: Yes Grandma.
All enter the house and the door closes.
Scene shifts to Riku and Miyuki's Grandfather in the attic.
Miyuki's Grandfather: I guess these are the boxes that my wife wants brought downstairs… Miyuki-chan tells me that you aren't from around here. What part of Japan do you come from?
Riku: I'm not from Japan, sir.
Miyuki's Grandfather: Not from Japan. You speak perfect Japanese, even better than most natives here.
Riku: No sir. I'm from a people known as Saint.
Miyuki's Grandfather: You're from the Vatican?
Riku: No, I'm from space. From a spaceship in space.
Miyuki's Grandfather: Oh! Your from that place in the United States where they launch the space ships, but I didn't think that was in Saint Petersburg.
Riku: No…
Scene shifts to Miyuki, Riku, Harune and Slash walking away from Miyuki's grandparents house.
Miyuki: That didn't take very long and we got quite a bit done for them.
Riku: I can't believe how many things they have accumulated in the attic. On the ship there was never that much space to save things.
Miyuki: People on Earth tend to be pack rats… maybe because we do have the space.
Riku: Your grandfather is quite funny. I was trying to explain to him where I came from, but he kept getting it wrong. I didn't really understand most of the thing he said, but I could tell that he was joking and some of the ways he twisted what I had said were quite funny.
Miyuki: I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. My grandfather can get quite irritating at times. Well, it is still quite early. Is there something you would like to do Riku-kun?
Riku: Nothing special. How about you Harune-chan? Is there something you would like to do?
Harune: (Defiantly) Nothing!
Miyuki: Harune-chan, what is your problem? You've been nasty all day. You were very impolite to Grandma and Grandpa. What is your problem?
Harune: Like I said before, I didn't want to come with you. I would have rather stayed at home and helped my sisters. I don't want to be here with you and I especially don't want to be here with your boyfriend.
Miyuki: You apologize for that this minute Harune!
Riku: Miyuki-chan, that's OK.
Harune: Why should I apologize? All I hear about is Miyuki-chan and her boyfriend. I have to be on my best behavior because Miyuki-chan's boyfriend is coming to dinner. Miyuki-chan and her boyfriend are so cute together. You got to go into space and stay on vacation. All our sisters talk about is how many times you had sex while you were away.
Miyuki: Harune!
Harune: Why can't it be the way it was before… before your boyfriend came… before Mahoro came? (Sobbing) Why can't it be like when Suguru-kun would come over and play with us? When Suguru-kun would come and help at Grandma's? Why can't it be like that again?
Miyuki: Because it can't. We can't go back in time. We can't change what has happened. There were times I thought the same way, until I met Riku-kun. But we can't go back. I don't want to go back.
Harune: (Screaming and sobbing) I don't care. I don't want to hear it. I hate the way things are now. I hate your boyfriend and I hate you. I hate you… I hate you. I don't want to be with you any more. I don't want to be with anyone any more.
Before Miyuki can do anything about it, Harune turns and begins to run away.
Miyuki: Damn! Slash can you follow her?
Slash: No problem.
Slash takes off after Harune and Miyuki and Riku begin to run after Slash.
Harune is running blindly, but finally ends up by the burned out building. Knowing that she is being chased, she looks for somewhere to hide and finds a small opening in the fence that surrounds the building. She slips inside the fence and runs to one of the partially boarded up openings in the building.
Slash is able to track her to the fence, but the opening is to small for Slash to fit through quickly, so he takes a few steps back and jumps over the fence. The trail to the opening in the building is still discernable, but once Slash enters the building, he loses the trail since the floor is still covered with water from the fire being put out. Slash stops and listens. He can hear Harune running and her sobbing, but the sound is echoing through the hollowed out building making it difficult for Slash to get a fix on Harune's location.
Harune stops, suddenly realizing she has no idea where she is. It is pitch black in the building and it is wet. She stands there sobbing.
Slash detects that Harune is no longer moving. He focuses in on her sobbing and is able to pinpoint her location. He begins to move silently toward her location. With Slash's enhanced vision, he can see that the building is not stable. Slash enters the room where Harune is standing. He can see her infrared image clearly.
Harune: (Sensing something or someone is in the room with her) Who's there?
Slash remains silent, but moves closer to Harune. He can see there is debris behind her hanging down from the ceiling. Harune backs away from the presence she can feel, moving closer to a board hanging down from the ceiling.
Harune: (Continuing to back away) Who is it? Stay away from me.
Harune takes another step backwards, but her foot lands on a piece of debris on the floor, throwing her off balance. She windmills her arms in an attempt to keep her footing, but in the process falls against the board hanging down behind her. This disrupts the ceiling above her and debris begins to fall all around her.
Slash: Harune, look out!
Cut to mid-show break.
View of room through Slash's eyes. Room is dark, but items are visible through Slash's enhanced vision.
Slash: (To himself; viewing items as mentioned) Not to much damage. Auto-repair should take of it in one hundred and seventeen seconds. I managed to block anything from hitting Harune-chan's head and upper body, but it looks as if her legs are pinned under quite a bit of debris. The remaining structure is too unstable for me to move the debris without help. Most of the ceiling came down. The exit is blocked. She must have hit her head. She is still unconscious. Her body vitals are stable but weak. Commlink is down. No way to get help until auto-repair is complete.
Harune s still unconscious but beginning to stir
Harune: (Moaning at first) Oooo! … Ouch! (Sob) It hurts! … (Attempting to free herself, but some debris falls) I can't move.
Slash: Harune-chan, don't try to move.
Harune: (Startled) Who is that?
Slash: I'm Slash.
Harune: Slash! Then I didn't imagine it. You did yell for me to watch out. You can talk! … or is this all a dream?
Slash: No, it's not a dream… more like a nightmare. Harune-chan, you can't move around. You have injuries that you can make worse if you move and I think more of the ceiling will come down if you move too much.
Harune: OK. (Sob) It hurts. My legs hurt.
Slash: I know. I will get help as soon as I can.
Harune: Slash, are you hurt?
Slash: I sustained some injuries, but my internal systems will have them repaired in less than a minute.
Harune: I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I don't know why I got so angry. (Sob) But why do things have to change? (Sob) Why can't it be the way it was before? (Sob) Why can't it be like when Suguru-kun would come to the house all of the time? (Sob) I want it back the way it was. (Starts to cry)
Slash: Harune-chan… Harune-chan… You have to remain still.
Harune: (Sniffle) OK.
Slash: Harune-chan, things are always changing. It's just the way the world is… You really like Suguru-kun, don't you?
Harune: Well… When he used to come to the house, he always made sure that I was included in whatever we were doing, even if my sisters didn't want me to. I always thought that he and Miyuki-chan would end up being boyfriend and girlfriend, but that won't happen now.
Slash: Just because Suguru-kun and Mahoro-san are getting married, doesn't mean he won't want to see you, and I can tell you that Mahoro-san is a very nice person too.
Harune: I know she is… I feel so stupid… Slash, may I ask you something?
Slash: Of course.
Harune: What are you? You aren't a cat. Are you one of the aliens?
Slash: No, I am from Earth, but you are right. I'm not a cat. I am what is called a battle mecha.
Harune: A battle mecha?
Slash: You've heard about the war that was going on that involved the people from space called Saint against another group of people from Earth?
Harune: Something about it.
Slash: I fought along side Mahoro-san in that war.
Harune: Mahoro-san is a soldier? But she's a girl and she's so young.
Slash: It's difficult to explain. Maybe sometime after we get out of here.
Harune: But, what exactly are you?
Slash: I'm part machine and part flesh and blood. Again, it's difficult to explain.
Harune: Slash, my legs feel funny… almost like they aren't there.
Slash: Darn! I need to do something the get the weight of those beams off of you legs. Harune-chan, I'm going to move a little bit. I want you to put your hands over your face and head. I'm going to try to lift these beams a little.
Harune: OK.
Harune puts her hands over her face and head. Slash hunches down as low as he can and slowly backs himself under the lowest most beam. Then slowly he begins to raise himself. He is able to raise the beam about an inch before debris begins to fall again.
Harune: Ow! My legs feel funny again and they hurt.
Slash: OK, I won't move anymore. Hmmm… my commlink seems to be up again. Let me see if I can reach anyone.
Scene shifts to outside the building. Miyuki and Riku are trying to figure how to get into the building when they hear a rumbling sound from inside the building
Miyuki: What was that?
Riku: I don't know. It sound like something fell.
Miyuki: Or something caved in. (Shouting) HARUNE-CHAN! SLASH! HARUNE-CHAN!
Riku: (Also shouting) HARUNE-CHAN! HARUNE-CHAN!
There is no response.
Miyuki: We need to get help! You stay here, Riku-kun. I'm going to run back to my grandparents and call the police and my parents.
Riku: OK.
Miyuki runs back toward her grandparent's house
Riku: HARUNE-CHAN!
Scene fades back to inside the building.
Slash: Open link Mahoro… Open link Mahoro… Come on Mahoro-san, where are you when I need you?
Voice of Mahoro: Slash? This is Mahoro. I'm sorry I didn't answer before, but I was at the market with Kaito-kun and I really couldn't answer.
Slash: Mahoro, I have an emergency. Harune-chan and I are trapped in an abandoned building. Harune-chan is injured and trapped under quite a bit of debris. I'm trying to bear some of the weight, but if I move this too much, the rest of the building is going to come down on top of us.
Voice of Mahoro: Is Harune-chan doing well?
Slash: Her vitals are stable, and moderate, but she may have suffered a concussion. I don't think there is any external blood loss, but there may be internal bleeding.
Voice of Mahoro: I understand. Where are Miyuki-chan and Riku-kun?
Slash: They are outside of the building and I'm assuming at least one of them has gone to get help. I have heard Riku-kun call several times, but I don't think it would be a good idea for us to call back.
Voice of Mahoro: I'll assemble a team.
Slash: Mahoro-san, please hurry. I'll keep this commlink open.
Voice of Mahoro: I have a fix on your location. I will be there as soon as possible.
Slash: Thank you Mahoro-san… Lock commlink open. Accept all incoming communication. (To Harune) Mahoro-san will have us out of here soon.
Scene shifts to Mahoro who is standing with Kaito between two buildings away from the sidewalk.
Kaito: What is wrong, Mahoro-san?
Mahoro: There is an emergency. We need to get home as quickly as possible, but first I need to get in contact with some people. (Using her wrist band) Open commlink Ryuga… Open commlink Sera… Priority access!
Voice of Ryuga: What is it Mahoro-san?
Voice of Sera: Sera here Mahoro-san, what's up?
Mahoro: Ryuga-san, do you have your battle armor here?
Voice of Ryuga: Of course I do. What's wrong?
Mahoro: We have an emergency. I'll meet you at my house. Sera-san, we're going to need tech co-ordination.
Voice of Sera: Sure thing, I'll meet you at your house.
Voice of Ryuga: I'm already on my way.
Mahoro: Keep your links open in case there needs to be any changes of plans. Open commlink Suguru… Come on Suguru, be wearing your wrist band. Open commlink Suguru.
Voice of Suguru: Link open. What is it Mahoro?
Mahoro: Is Minawa-chan there?
Voice of Suguru: No, she went with Hamaji-kun to his house.
Mahoro: Call Hamaji-kun's house. Harune-chan and Slash are in trouble and I'm going to need all of the help I can find.
Voice of Suguru: I'll do it.
Mahoro: (To Kaito) Can you take care of the groceries? I'm going to run home.
Kaito: Is my brother all right?
Mahoro: Your brother is fine. Now take care of these (handing him the groceries) and I will see you later.
Mahoro is a blur as she leaves Kaito holding the groceries.
Scene shifts inside of building to Harune and Slash
Slash: Harune-chan… HARUNE-CHAN…
Harune: Huh… Oh, Slash… I'm feeling so tired.
Slash: Harune-chan, you need to stay awake!
Harune: But I'm feeling so sleepy… Slash, am I dying?
Slash: No Harune-chan, no you're not dying. Harune-chan, you need to keep talking, you need to stay awake!
Harune: Slash, will you tell Miyuki-chan that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I caused so much trouble for her and Riku-kun. Tell her I don't hate her. Tell her I love her. Please tell her that.
Slash: Harune-chan, you'll be all right, just hang in there and stay awake.
Harune: Will you tell Suguru-kun that I love him? And Slash, I love you too. Oh! I'm so sleepy…
Slash: Harune-chan! Wake up! Harune-chan! Stay awake! HARUNE-CHAN! HARUNE-CHAN! HARUNE-CHAN DON'T DIE! PLEASE DON'T DIE!
Scene shifts outside of the building where Riku is waiting. Miyuki is just returning with her grandparents as the first police car arrives.
Miyuki: Anything?
Riku: Sorry, Miyuki-chan. Nothing.
Police Officer #1: What happened?
Miyuki: My little sister got angry at me and she ran into the building. Then we heard some noise like something falling. We've been calling for her, but we haven't heard any answer.
Other police cars arrive along with an ambulance. Also running up is Miyuki's father, with her mother not too far behind.
Mr. Sakura: Where is Harune-chan? Is she OK?
Miyuki: I don't know. She's somewhere in the building. I don't know.
Mr. Sakura: What happened?
Miyuki: I scolded her for being impolite. I shouldn't have, but she got angry at me and ran away. Slash followed her into the building.
Police Officer #1: Slash?
Miyuki: A pet cat… a large pet cat… that belongs to a friend of mine. We think we heard something collapse in there and we haven't heard anything else. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have scolded her. She was right. This is all my fault.
Police Officer #2: We have search teams assembled, but they are trying to find the site superintendent to unlock the gates.
Mahoro, Ryuga, Sera and Minawa arrive in battle garb. Along with them are Suguru and Hamaji.
Miyuki: Mahoro-san, how did you find out?
Mahoro: Slash contacted me. I have a pinpoint on his position and he is with Harune-chan.
Mr. Sakura: Mahoro-san, what are you going to do?
Mahoro: We're here to get Harune-chan out of there.
Police Office #1: Excuse me. Who are you and what are you doing here? We have professional search and rescue personnel here to look for her. Leave this to us.
Mahoro: Do you have any idea of where she is in the building? I know exactly where Harune-chan is. Let's get in there and get her.
Police Office #2: We're waiting for someone to come to unlock the gate.
Mahoro: Sera-san, what are Harune-chan's vitals?
Sera: They are starting to weaken.
Mahoro: Minawa-chan, would you open the gate for us?
Minawa: Yes, Onee-chan.
Minawa extends her right arm pointing it at the top of the fence. With a slight twist of her hand a bright beam of light shoots from the device on her battle armor located at her wrist. She makes a circular motion with her arm and the beam disappears. A section of the fence falls away. The police officers just stand and stare.
Mahoro: We have an open gate. Sera-san, you stay out here and monitor Harune-chan's vitals and any structural concerns with the building. I'm on lead. Minawa-chan, Ryuga-san, you're with me. Officer, if you could have your people follow with some of those board there. We may need them to shore up the ceiling. And have the medics bring a back board. Hold all commlinks open. Let's go.
Scene shifts to inside the building.
Slash: Harune-chan, it won't be long now. You just have to hang in there for a few more minutes. Just a few more minutes.
Harune: Slash, is that you?
Slash: Yes, it's me, Harune-chan.
Harune: Oh, Slash! I just had the most wonderful dream. I was sitting and crying because I had hurt myself, and Mahoro-san and Suguru-kun came along and Mahoro-san wiped the tears from my eyes and said that I needed to be strong because soon the pain would be gone. She helped me to stand up and we walked and talked about all sorts of things and then they said it was time for me to go and Mahoro-san gave me a hug and Suguru-kun gave me a kiss on the forehead and all of my pain went away.
Slash: Everything will be fine, we'll be out of here soon.
Harune: Thank you Slash. I do love you.
Lights can be seen though the debris.
Voice of Mahoro: Harune-chan! Harune-chan!
Harune: Mahoro-san, I'm here. So is Slash.
Slash: Harune-chan, Mahoro-san and the others know that I can talk and what I am, but there are others who still would not understand. That I can talk has to be our secret.
Harune: I understand.
Voice of Mahoro: We'll have you out in a minute or two. How do you feel?
Harune: My legs hurt, but otherwise I feel OK. I took a little nap and now I feel better.
Voice of Mahoro: Just hang on…
Scene shifts to Harune in a hospital bed. She is attached to a great deal of monitoring equipment and an IV. There is a nurse in the room with her check the monitoring equipment.
Harune: (Awakening from sleep, and trying to sit up) Where am I?
Nurse Hanaki: Please don't move. You're in the hospital, but you have to lie still. Your parents and sisters are outside. Give me a few minutes and they will be able to come in.
Harune: Where is Slash?
Nurse Hanaki: (Slash gets up from the foot of the bed and stands next to the nurse) You mean your pet cat? He's right here. I don't think we could get rid of him even if we wanted to. He's been with you the whole time. He rode here in the ambulance with you and has been at the foot of your bed. He is something special. They say he saved your life.
Harune: Slash…
Scene shifts to a consultation room. The doctor is there with Harune's parents, Miyuki, Riku, Miyuki's other sisters, Mahoro, Ryuga and Minawa (still in battle armor), Sera, Suguru and Hamaji Enter Leesha and Eimi (in her Vesper uniform).
Leesha: We got here as soon as we could.
Eimi: We were monitoring the commlink, so we have a good idea of what is going on.
Doctor: Usually I only do this type of consultation with family members.
Mr. Sakura: It's fine. They are all sort of part of the family.
Doctor: Then I'll get to the point. The prognosis is not good. Although there appears to be no spinal damage, there has been extensive trauma to her legs. There is damage because of the restricted blood flow and there are clots forming causing further restriction of blood flow. There is also the chance that a clot could break free. These is surgery we could do now that might prevent the need to amputate, but the risk is quite high. And even if the surgery is successful, there is little chance that she will be able to walk without assistance.
Mrs. Sakura lowers her head into her hands, crying. Mr. Sakura attempts to comfort her.
Leesha: Sera-san, do you have telemetry?
Sera: Slash is in the room with Harune-chan.
Leesha: What are her vitals?
Sera: Vitals are stable and getting stronger. She is awake. Blood flow to her right leg is at 37 and stable, but the flow to her left leg is at 23 and slowly dropping.
Doctor: How do you know that?
Leesha: Eimi-san, can you get a link for me, two way, wide band with telemetry and link it to Sera-san.
Eimi: Of course. (Pulling what looks like a cell phone from her pocket)
Doctor: (Protesting) You can't use a cell phone in the hospital.
Eimi: This isn't a cell phone. (Into communicator) Open class zero commlink, authorization Eimi Shina 8675309. (Everyone looks at Eimi) What? It was easy for me to remember. (Into communicator) Cross commlink, Sera… and hold this connection. Priority access to Commander Hayato.
Eimi hands the communicator to Leesha.
Voice of Hayato: Commander Hayato here.
Leesha: Commander, this is Leesha. I need a connection with the Command Ship, wide band, high priority and the faster the better. We're got a race against time.
Doctor: Command ship, what is going on here? We don't have time to play.
Minawa steps up to the doctor.
Minawa: Doctor, please let them try. They saved my life.
Miyuki's father looks at Minawa and then at Leesha. Miyuki's father takes his wife by the hand as they realize what Minawa has said.
Cut to ending theme
Preview:
Scene opens with Mahoro, Suguru, Minawa, Hamaji, Miyuki, Riku, Sera, Ryuga, Leesha, Eimi, Mr. Sakura and Mrs. Sakura in the consulting room with the doctor. Scene shifts Harune's hospital room with the doctor and Leesha standing next to the hospital bed with Miyuki, Riku, Mahoro, Suguru, Slash and Mister and Missus Sakura in the background. Leesha is talking to Harune. Scene shifts to the shocked image of Mister and Missus Sakura. Scene shifts to Miyuki, Riku, Mahoro, Suguru and Slash talking with Harune. Scene shifts to Miyuki blushing brightly.
Voice Over
Voice of Rin: I hope Harune-chan will be all right.
Voice of Kiyomi: I think she will… especially with Leesha getting involved.
Voice of Karen: Well, whatever they are doing, Harune-chan seems to be happy with it.
Voice of Kiyomi: And whatever Harune-chan said, it really took her parents by surprise.
Voice of Rin: At least it looks like Miyuki-chan and Harune-chan have worked out some of their differences.
Voice of Kiyomi: Will you look at Miyuki-chan though. I haven't seen anybody blush like that since Hamaji-kun walked in on his…
Voice of Hamaji: Don't say it! I don't want to think about it!
Episode 24: Revelations