Majestic Weirdo: Thanks to Amnesia Nymph, Oceantamer, and Rayna Darkstorm for reviewing the last chapter. A note: I did not say so, but the last chapter was during Michiru's third moth of pregnancy, therefore the beginning of this chapter is in that same month or beginning of the fourth. The last part of the chapter is during the sixth month. By the way, Oceantamer, the end of this chapter should please you. I hope it pleases all of you, in fact.
3 months earlier
"Excuse me, Sir, you can't sleep here."
Haruka glanced in the direction of the firm, female voice. The officer was looking down at what appeared to be a homeless man sleeping on a public park bench. The woman showed a bit of sympathy, but remained firm.
"This is not a place for-"
"Please help me," Haruka moaned and clutched at her side that had been recently found to be bruised along with the rest of her body. "I'm lost. I don't even know how I got here. My wife- Michiru, Michiru's pregnant, and something might have gone wrong and-"
The woman took a closer look at Haruka.
"Please help me," she tried again. Haruka thought about what she must have looked like if she was feeling so down.
"Tenoh, Haruka?"
Haruka shielded her ears again and wept at the decent image that she used to represent. "Please take me back to my Michiru. I swear, I didn't mean to do it. I shouldn't have. Michiru- Michiru is the one suffering, and I just left her there. And our baby, what if-"
"I should call an ambulance." The woman noticed that the bruised flesh Haruka held was leaking red.
"No please. I need to be home. I need to be with Michiru."
"I can't just leave you like that. Who did this to you?"
Haruka couldn't find an answer, but found herself being slowly helped into a vehicle. Her tattered shirt was lifted for a bandage to be wrapped around her battered abdomen. Then the car was in motion.
"Just rest, I know where you live. You don't know how many letters I have had to send there. My daughter's a fan."
The officer left Haruka at the gate like she had promised in the car and drove away to leave her alone with Michiru. Haruka walked slowly up the steps to the ornate door and pressed the button for the attendant's attention. She glanced up at the camera overhead and pressed the button again. Haruka pressed the button over and over like a child until she simply gave up with that. She tried turning the doorknob, but found no response. Haruka tried not cry and began to walk around the manor for a sign of human life.
She came to the garden and found the climbing roses encircling it to be brown and dead. Haruka didn't bother looking inside of the fence. Her car was still outside. It had gathered quite a coat of dust and bird dung after only two days. Then Haruka knew that it couldn't have been two days. A wave of panic hit Haruka. It had been at least two weeks, probably more. Haruka had had no intention to spend a long amount of time away. She had just wanted to clear her mind. Now Michiru had been killed…and Megumi…and the attendant that had been only been working for her sister's treatment. They were all dead, and it was all because Haruka had left them behind.
Natsuko noticed that Haruka was wandering outside as she opened the balcony door to let in some fresh air. She looked back at Michiru on the bed.
"She's here. Should I help her in, Michiru?"
Haruka could hear the negative answer from where she stood two stories down. Haruka looked up with restored hope. Michiru was alive.
"Michiru! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-"
Natsuko closed the door at Michiru request, making Haruka's pleading inaudible.
"Michiru, she's injured."
"I don't care. Let her suffer."
Michiru took a sip of the lemonade she held and then sat it back down on the nightstand. She slid underneath the covers and ignored the rest of Natsuko's details. Haruka had betrayed her. Didn't she know how worried she had been those three long weeks? She had missed a concert, the early news that they were having a girl, and three weeks that Michiru did not have to waste. However, besides for Haruka's betrayal and the constant tiredness, Michiru felt relatively well. But Haruka was injured.
Michiru pulled the sheets from around her and sat up. "Where is she hurt?"
"She was bleeding," Natsuko replied. "She really looked bad, Michiru. I can't just watch her die."
Michiru stood up at the word. She looked out of the door to see the filthy woman collapse. Michiru let out a startle gasp. She leaned over the balcony rail and called her wife's name. There was no response. Michiru rushed down the stairs after Natsuko.
Natsuko felt for Haruka's pulse. It was as steady as her breath. She undid the shirt to find the bandage wrapped around her body. The bleeding had been contained, but the shirt had still been stained. Michiru stifled a cry as her eyes feel upon the numerous gashes and black-purple marks on Haruka's skin. Her lower lip was busted and chapped, her eyes were swollen and blackened in the sunburned face. Still, Haruka hadn't lost much blood. She had either passed out from exhaustion or from the pain.
Haruka was lifted into the manor while Michiru waited on the long, unmaintained grass. She could smell the alcohol that still lingered in the air after Haruka was moved. She had gotten drunk because of her, and she had allowed that to happen. Michiru found no reason to hate Haruka. Everything had been her fault.
Natsuko hastily called Ami as Michiru began to wail outside. Haruka's condition was beyond her training, and something needed to be done if Michiru was not to lose the baby.
Haruka watched Michiru browse through the racks of baby clothes. She looked so peaceful now. Ami had released them both after a week and things had mended enough for the time being. Haruka couldn't wait on the bench any longer. She refused to lie to herself and accepted the fact that she wanted nothing more than to always be with Michiru. Haruka allowed herself to kiss Michiru's lips without a thought of who might be watching. Michiru kissed back and the two stayed like that before the management suggested otherwise.
Haruka and Michiru left the store with four bags, three of them containing Haruka's selections. She walked slowly to the refreshment stand and purchased the several foods and drinks that Michiru had been craving. Haruka happily waited when an overly concerned woman asked how many months far Michiru was. They both replied "Six months," in unison. Michiru still hadn't told Haruka when her time was, but she had assured that it was not soon, and Haruka could accept the answer for the time being. Things were almost better than they had been before, except for the fact that Michiru was getting closer to death with each merry day that passed.