Disclaimer: We all know it's not mine at this point

A/N: Thank you to everyone who's still reading, I'm sorry I take so long! Double thanks to everyone who reviews!

Chapter Nine

Yukino left the council room as soon as Shizuru agreed to Reito's proposal, her hands trembling from the adrenalin of the confrontation. She'd actually done it, she'd defended Haruka! Maybe she hadn't "I'm going to get put in a coma doing this" defended her, but she'd at least been able to do something.

Now she just had to find her friend and let her know…

"YOU WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN? YOU DELINQUENT PUNK!"

There she was! The mousy girl hurried towards the furious shouting, until she came across Haruka verbally pinning a boy against a wall.

"I SHOULD HAVE YOUR MOUTH SCRUBBED WITH BLEACH! YOU'D LEARN TO KEEP YOUR OPINIONS QUIET THEN!"

"Soap Haruka-chan! I think you mean so-"

"I KNOW WHAT I MEAN!"

The blonde rounded furiously on Yukino, who held her hands up –in defence or appeasement, at that moment she wasn't quite sure. Haruka fixed Yukino with a solid glare, a finger angrily pointed at the boy who was shrinking back as though he wished the wall would swallow him. Her tone was quieter – not wanting to scream at her friend – but it was still dangerously on edge

"First this…this miscreant steals panties, and now he's spouting his mouth off-"

"-I just wanted to know if Kuga-san is-"

Haruka's hand went from pointing to almost instantly being a flat palm at the side of the boy's head, her face glowering ominously directly in front of him, "You do NOT speak. I know all about you Takeda-san. You're nothing but a pervert waving around a big stick! You think you can say anything you like, well let's see how well you talk when-"

"HARUKA-CHAN!"

The mousy brunette raising her voice was a rarity, and it silenced all chatter. Everyone was used to hearing Haruka yell, and had been ignoring her except for sneaky glances – not wanting to get caught up in her wrath. When Yukino shouted though, everyone stopped and stared.

Her cheeks were flushed, and when she gripped Haruka's shoulder her fingers dug in, making the blonde wince.

"That's enough! If he wants to talk, let him talk Haruka-chan."

"But he-"

"No! He clearly needs to get something off his chest," she pulled Haruka back from the Kendo captain, and then addressed him herself, "You will be free to talk as much as you want. To Sister."

The look of horror that overtook his face was pitiful,"Kikukawa-san, please, no, not that!"

"You will report to her direct after classes, and stay until she decides it is appropriate for you to leave. Goodness knows when that will be, considering you clearly haven't learnt from last time."

"But I swear I just-"

"No arguments."

"But-"

"Go."

His face looked ghostly, his eyes panicked, and he stiffly turned and left – walking as quickly as he could without getting into more trouble.

As he made his exit, Yukino released Haruka's shoulder, aware that her friend was eyeing her with annoyance, "Haruka-chan…" her voice was regretful, slipping back to its normal cautious timbre, "Can we…we need to talk. Let's get out of the hall?"

Her sempai looked ready to refuse, rubbing her shoulder in a pointed way, and the guilt on Yukino's face was as obvious as her glasses. It was that, the slightly scared guilt, that softened Haruka just enough to gruffly lead them into an empty classroom. The door closed with a soft click, and neither one of them spoke for a moment. Haruka had stopped rubbing her shoulder, and instead her hand was just resting on it, and Yukino's eyes were too.

"…I'm sorry Haruka-chan…"

Haruka's hand came up from her shoulder sharply, jerking into a stop gesture, "I don't want to hear it. If you were sorry you wouldn't have done it in the first place. Just say whatever else you have to say before-"

"But I am sorry! I didn't have a choice Haruka-chan, I swear!"

"Of course you had a choice, you chose to grip me like a crab! That hurt Yukino!"

"But you were going to get yourself in trouble-"

"-I'm already in trouble! What does it matter anymore? That snake has seen to it, she's never acknowledged me before now – and now she has she's taken away everything! I might as well give whoever's replacing me a loud-"

"-Haruka-chan stop it! No-one's replacing you, nothing's been taken. That's why I had to stop you like I did – you're still the Executive Director!"

A long silence formed between them like a wall, Haruka deflating and sinking into a chair and Yukino wanting to go to her, to comfort her. She didn't know if it would be welcome though – instead she just watched as Haruka rested her face in her hands, the tips of her fingers curling into her hair. The brunette's heart ached to see her friend in such a state, and she wished she had the courage to kneel before her again, like before the whole mess of the inquiry. She wished she were bold enough to take Haruka's hands, to wrap them in her own, and to make her friend look at her, to tell her that it would all be okay – that she didn't have to take everything on by herself, that Yukino was there for her, would always be there for her, because she…

But how could she? She couldn't even finish the sentiment in her own head. Not even to comfort the woman who'd been comforting her for most of their lives. Even knowing that Haruka would only take it that way too, as an expression of their deep platonic connection. Yukino knew different, and the weight of the pain in her chest kept her voiceless. Just watching. Waiting for Haruka to gather herself and take control again, like always.

How could she stand up to Fujino-san, someone so scary behind a painted smile, and then become so cowardly again less than ten minutes later? How…

"How?"

Yukino's silent questions were interrupted by Haruka actually verbalising one.

"H-how what Haruka-chan?"

"How am I…the bubuzuke was clear on her verdict before the inquiry even began. I left in the middle of Kanzaki-san's questioning. How am I still…?"

Haruka had lifted her head enough to stare into Yukino's eyes, confused and somehow more fragile than Yukino has ever seen her. The blonde never showed vulnerability, was always able to hide it behind her brash nature, so to see her like this…Yukino went to her. On her knees, her hands on her own thighs, just enough distance to be safe. A timidly reassuring smile.

"Fujino-san isn't the whole council, and when you left…Reito-san was sympathetic. I…it was pointed out that it would be unfair to hold you accountable for an accident…and that's that Haruka-chan."

Of course, that wasn't that…Fujino definitely wasn't going to let it go. She'd probably be quizzing Kuga as soon as the biker was awake…but Haruka didn't need to know that. Yukino knew that Haruka had done nothing wrong, had seen as much, and Yukino was confident that all of Fujino's questioning would go nowhere. No need to worry her friend unnecessarily…although seeing Haruka's head go back into her hands worried her for a second until…

"Bwahahaha!" the laugh erupted from the blonde as she sprang to her feet, one hand on her hip, the other on Yukino's shoulder. Her eyes were manic and her smile gleeful, "I wish I'd seen the look on the bubuzuke's face! She doesn't take down Suzushiro Haruka that easily!"

Haruka pulled Yukino up and clasped both of the brunette's hands in her own, having caught the slip in what Yukino had told her, catching on as to what it meant, "Watch yourself though Yukino, let me know if she starts on you instead – I'll fix her if she does!"

With that, she released Yukino's hands and clapped her friend on the back heartily. The rush of vindication she was feeling was amazing, and her smile was all the brighter knowing that Yukino was on her side. Even though she'd been sitting with the enemy, Haruka felt silly that she'd ever doubted her. They were best friends, of course Yukino was on her side! It was like all of her worries floated away, even if only for a few minutes, and she felt the tension ebb out of her in a way it hadn't since the "explosion".

She refused to let herself think of that, not when her brunette companion had taken such a risk for her, she had to stay happy and victorious! This was a moment of triumph!

The first bell rang, signalling that students should start heading back to class, and the blonde swung both of their bags over her shoulder. "Come on, I'll walk you to class. Don't want the snake getting to you, bwahaha!"

She dropped Yukino off with a somewhat crazed grin and thumbs up, then hurried to her own classroom – her expression becoming a tad more sombre. It was easy to be happy in the company of the mousy girl, and easier to ignore the uncultured masses that thought they were being subtle when they stared. She locked her features in a stern expression, not wanting her cheerfulness to cause sudden agitation after her mood in the morning. She had to be careful – there were enough rumours about everything without her adding to them.

She half considered not going straight to the hospital after school, wondering if it would quiet people down or make them louder if she stomped around with her deputy in tow like normal. It didn't take long for her to discount the idea though – she couldn't leave Natsuki…Kuga…alone any longer than absolutely necessary.

A part of her felt as though she were being irresponsible – neglecting her duties to play nurse. Like something out of a bad manga, waiting for those green eyes to flutter open and see her waiting there…to realise she'd been waiting all of that time, and to…do what?! Bah! Ridiculous!

She squashed that part of herself like she were slamming closed a hard back book. It was the lack of sleep, clearly! As if she'd be so pathetic! She was not some wanton coquette who fantasised about helplessly sleeping people, she was a professional! She was only at Natsuki's bedside so she could retrieve pertinent information at the earliest opportunity! And okay, as she'd told the inquiry, she blamed herself for the blunette being injured, so another part of her staying by her bedside was a sense of responsibility - but that was it!

Clearly she was letting the gossipmongers get to her, if her own brain could be so…so whimsical! Over something so serious! And it wasn't Natsuki – it was Kuga! They weren't so familiar after one detention and near death experience to be throwing around first names! Even if they had already kissed…which meant nothing anyway! It was a mistake, an impulse to fill the silence, meant to stop Kuga from scoring points. Stupid mayo-breath delinquent!

Haruka was going to sit by the biker's side, for as long as it took, and then she'd get the information she needed – maybe send Kuga to Sister for any future punishments – and they would be done with each other. Finished. Over. Not that anything had begun in the first place!

All of her cheerfulness was gone, an angry scowl twisting at her lips. She went through five different pens as the day wore on, spasms of annoyance at herself interrupting her note taking. She was disgusted with herself for even thinking about that idiotic kiss, especially while the other party was unconscious – and she was sure Kuga would be horrified too, if she ever found out, which she wouldn't. Even the bubuzuke wouldn't stoop so low.

Her foul mood followed her all the way to the hospital, and as she sat heavily by Natsuki's bedside she couldn't shift her scowl. Looking at the comatose blunette though, her frustration started turning from herself to the red-eyed bane of her school-life.

"Why do you get on so much with that bubuzuke huh?" she demanded, harrumphing to herself, "How do you put up with her? Do you even know she's a snake? You think I'm bad! Well at least I take responsibility for myself, and my duties, and her ones too!"

Shifting so she was sitting straight, she twisted her lips into the most overwrought smile she could muster, flicking her hair with a hand that struggled to be dainty, "Oh ara ara, I leave it in your hands Haruka-chan, you're more than capable Haruka-chan," she drawled in an overly thick Kyoto-ben, "Ookini for doing my job, while I do nothing and still have everyone love me!"

Her simpering tone gave way to growling anger, and she stood abruptly to begin pacing – pausing only to gesture accusingly at Natsuki occasionally, "You know her better than most people, why? Why does everyone love her? She's ridiculous! I do most of her work, even if I have to wait for her say so – which she always gives! She has no vision, and I give so much, and everyone fawns over her like drooling apes! But I always saw through her, even if I'm the only one – she needs me even if she won't admit it, won't even acknowledge me – well she acknowledged me today, because of you! She tried to take away everything I worked for because of you! Why are you so special?!"

Her rambling gave way to yelling, and she leant over Natsuki's prone form, her hair falling forwards almost against Natsuki's cheek, half expecting a reply. Her heart was thumping so loudly she could hear it, like her ear drums were being played by a samba band, and in return from Natsuki there was…silence.

Of course there was silence.

Pulling herself back, she patted down her uniform and lightly smacked her head, reprimanding herself mentally before stiffly sitting back down. She was acting unreasonably rowdy, in a hospital, to an unconscious person, and if she didn't calm herself she suspected she'd be made to leave. Inhaling deeply, she tried to remember what she'd been talking to Natsuki about before she'd gone to school and gotten all riled up.

Thinking…thinking…the student code of conduct, that was it! Pursing her lips she sharply informed herself that she clearly needed a reminder as well, and then she began.

"…And that leads to Section 36: Article 5, pertaining to appropriate use of sports equipment, outside of sports club areas, which states that the only time sports specific equipment may be used outside of sports club areas is within designated time-restricted approved zones, which shall only be approved given evidence of such use being conducive to an educational outcome. Any other use shall be punishable by-"

"Daughter! Do you have a moment?"

Haruka looked up, expecting her father to be standing seriously. Not…peeking through a gap between the door and its frame, his eyes obscured by his floppy hair. Which really should have been her expectation, given it wasn't unusual when he thought he was disturbing her. It was actually more unusual for him to announce himself.

Sighing, she stretched as she stood, walking over to him with only a single controlled backwards glance at the blunette, "Of course father."

He straightened up as Haruka reached him, shifting awkwardly from one foot to another, forming the starts of words with his mouth before thinking better of them. She waited patiently, knowing there was no point hurrying him as she might hurry a student – it'd only make him take longer. Sometimes she wondered how he could be such a successful business man, when at home he had the forcefulness of a particularly dopey puppy.

"Haruka I was…wondering…" he started, tailed off, and then with sudden conviction, "Do you actually want Kuga-san to wake up?"

He held her hands and her gaze with the same level of earnestness as he might if he were asking her if she really wanted to marry someone. Haruka's right eyebrow twitched.

"…Why would you think I don't?"

"Well…you seem quite intent on boring her to death."

Haruka took a deep breath, mentally counting to ten with her lips tightly pursed. She could see him fidgeting, and exhaled with a loud sigh, "You know her record. I thought it might…help when she wakes up…she might remember some of it."

"Ah, but we need her to wake up first. The doctors say that familiar sounds and such could help wake her sooner, and like you say, that rule book of yours might not quite fit." His tone was much more confident, repeating "what doctors say" giving him a stronger voice of his own.

Haruka considered him, and then sighed again, "Well what do you suggest?"

His face darkened slightly, and he seemed to hesitate, chewing on his bottom lip before he pushed himself to actually speak, "I don't want to upset you…but, well, Kuga-san's apartment…I imagine you already have an idea of the state it's in…and her father…"

Haruka cocked her head to the side. She already had an idea of what he was going to say, having overheard his end of the conversation she was sure he was going to reference…but it was still strange to see him so serious, "What about her father? Is he coming here?"

She already knew he wasn't, and almost answered her own question to spare her father the strain of saying it – she could see him sagging under the weight – but he pushed on before she could.

"He's not…no…nor does he seem as though he's going to make alternative accommodation arrangements for her," he paused again, his eyes on the floor before he lifted them with a ghost of a smile, "So Kuga-san will be staying with us."

He waited, allowing time for Haruka to absorb the information, and she dutifully looked surprised – pretending it was the first she knew of it. It wasn't that she thought he would be annoyed that she'd overheard his conversation, but with it clearly being difficult for him to talk about, it was her way of showing her appreciation even if he didn't know that's what it was – "She's going to stay with us?"

"The builders are going to start with repairs tomorrow, so it will be a temporary situation of course – but that's not what I actually wanted to talk to you about, or at least not entirely."

"Then what?"

"With the building starting tomorrow, Kuga-san's apartment isn't going to be accessible – so I thought that perhaps you should maybe go and pick up some of her things?"

That did surprise her.

"Me?! Why would I go?"

Now it was his turn to look surprised.

"I would have thought you'd want to? I'd go with you of course, but…ah… with Kuga-san being a young lady like yourself…I thought it may not be appropriate," he paused, his face slightly red, "That's why I wouldn't want to send one of the staff either. I wouldn't want her to be embarrassed by strangers having rummaged through her things, and with you two being friends…"

Haruka had to bite down on her tongue to stop herself correcting him. He knew her too well though, and read her face like one of the business proposals he saw each day – quickly, and not missing the details.

"You're not? I imagined with you being at her apartment, and staying by her bedside?"

"It was school related. We're not…close or anything."

Saying it out loud, her gaze glancing to her feet, Haruka was surprised to find that it bothered her – something else her father didn't miss. He smiled inside, keeping his face schooled into a pondering expression.

"In that case, is there someone else you think would be more suitable for the task?"

Red eyes flashed in Haruka's mind, and she started suddenly, "No!"

The smile pushed at the corners of Suzushiro-san's lips, "Ah! Well good, the car's waiting!"

Haruka hurried past her father without saying anything else, and he grinned after her.

A suitcase was waiting on the backseat, and Haruka slid in next to it. Inwardly she scolded herself or her outburst – she was acting less and less like herself where Nat-Kuga was concerned. Huffing through her nose, she decided that she didn't like it. And resolved herself to stopping. Clearly the drama of seeing whatever the monster was, and of being a useless damsel to Kuga's knight in shining leather, it had all gone to her head.

She was sure that the biker would have done the same for anyone, and she needed to stop herself from getting carried away. Besides, she still needed to lecture her for the tone she'd taken – Haruka certainly did not appreciate being ordered about, even if she appreciated what had followed.

She'd just finished that train of thought - which had chugged along for a while - as the driver pulled up outside of the blunette's apartment block.

More of the building had fallen since she'd last been there – the hole where Kuga's living room window had been gaped wider than ever, and the brickwork from above had clearly been crumbling from the damage. There was some scaffolding shoring up the rest to stop it from following, but it was obvious that the work required to properly repair everything was going to be extensive.

Haruka shuddered.

"Would you like me to come up and help Ojou-sama?"

The sound of the driver's voice snapped Haruka back to attention, and she hummed in annoyance.

"I'm perfectly capable," she bit out, and then with an afterthought to politeness, "Thank you though."

She got out of the car before he could reply, dragging the suitcase after her. It was light, which made her acutely aware of how heavy her feet were. The closer she got to the door, the harder it was to move them, and she probably would have paused at the threshold if she didn't know the driver was watching her with concern. As it stood, she didn't pause until she was inside and out of sight.

Looking up the stairs, she felt her palms begin to sweat and her chest tighten. She squeezed her eyes shut in a long blink, taking in a deep breath, and as she opened her eyes and exhaled she also forced herself to take the first step up. Then the next, and the next, one after the other with feet like lead.

The closer she got to Kuga's apartment door, the more a sense of dread managed to dig its roots into her mind, and when she reached it she paused again. A niggling part of her was afraid, sounding off panic alarms at the idea of pushing the door open, scared of what she might find.

She'd seen Kuga destroy the creature that had attacked them, but as far as she knew it could come back – or worse, like a squashed wasp, its death could have attracted more. Who knew how many could be in there? The one she'd seen before had been loud, but there could be a sneaky one, or five, or more. Then what would she do?

The blonde squared her shoulders at that thought – she was Haruka Suzushiro! Whatever was in there, she would deal with it – it was what she did!

Squashing her nerves and scoffing loudly at herself, she pushed on the door, walking in determinedly when it opened with no resistance.

There was nothing there.

Well, more accurately, Kuga's things were there. So was a mess of rubble – mostly swept into a corner with any broken glass. There was also a large soaked-in bloodstain, which would need bleach and a new carpet to be fully gotten rid of, but she pointedly looked away from it and focused on the importance of what wasn't there.

There were no monsters.

Scoffing at herself yet again, she reminded herself that she was there for a reason, and it wasn't to be childishly worrying about imagined dangers.

Still irritated with herself, she left the suitcase and stalked over to the first of two doors, opening it with more force than strictly needed and making it slam into something. Scanning the space now visible before her, she realised she'd found the bathroom, she quickly decided it would be best to start there anyway.

Taking a step in – and it could only be one step because the room was a cramped cube – she noticed with an increasingly familiar sense of surprise that the room was spotless. She'd been so sure that Kuga was going to be a slob. It would have made sense, in line with her delinquent behaviour, and yet there didn't seem to be a thing out of place.

Tugging open a cabinet above the sink, she quickly picked out the only toothbrush, and then hesitated before also grabbing an array of pill bottles and bandages. Knowing as little as she did, with the experiences they'd recently shared, she ordered herself not to ask questions until the biker could provide answers.

Backing out with full arms, she hurried over to the suitcase before realising with chagrin that she'd left it upright. Dropping to her knees, she unloaded herself before tugging the suitcase down with a thump - unzipping it as if it had personally affronted her. Once it was open she scooped up everything from the bathroom, dropped everything in on one side, and gave the case a kick as she stood back up. Then she turned her back on it. Then kicked backwards at it again. Then chided herself for being irrational.

She was getting far too frustrated for such a simple task. A combination of vexation, embarrassment, and a smidge of residual fear - it was beyond exasperating. She was the Executive Director for pity's sake, she really wasn't meant to let herself get in such a state!

Practicing a few calming breaths, she grabbed the suitcase and turned to the next door – Kuga's bedroom door – and pushed it open strongly, striding in before she could get agitated again. Identifying the sliding doors of the closet, she checked in one side – pointedly ignoring the futon that was revealed – and then checked the other. Bingo! She grabbed the clothes closest to the front – a couple of uniforms, a biker suit, and an assortment of tops, skirts, and trousers – and dropped them into the suitcase.

She'd tried not to look too closely, but when she opened the drawer beneath the hanging area…she couldn't help but stare. It was the underwear drawer, and as her eyes skipped over lace and things that didn't look designed to cover much of anything, a remembered image of the biker's trouser clad rear slipped through her moral guard. Her mouth dried as she tried not to imagine what style of underwear from the selection Natsuki would have worn…she didn't remember any panty lines…

Argh!

She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and she couldn't get the images to leave her head! Since when had her moral centre corroded so much? That the sight of bras and panties could make her imagination betray her so completely! Her only defence, and it was a thin one, was that she herself didn't own anything like what she'd just seen. Sure, she liked the occasional lace trim, but the things Natsuki owned…the only other time she'd seen such expensive and – damn it – sensual looking lingerie had been when they were looking for the panty thief…in fact the range had been even broader then…thanks to an anonymous donation…oh dear Kami! That had all be the blunette's as well! Everyone had seen it!

A jealous growl almost made it out of Haruka's throat, before she managed to reassure herself that nobody else knew it had belonged to Natsuki, so nobody else would have the link she now had, and therefore shouldn't be able to envision anything too clearly…except for one person…

"Bah! Enough! Enough, it doesn't matter, I have no right!" she shouted at herself, keeping her face turned away as she grabbed handfuls of lace and cotton and silk, shoving them under the other clothes in the suitcase so she couldn't look at them by mistake. Any more stimulation and she wouldn't be able to look at Nat- no! She wouldn't be able to look at Kuga-san in the face, and she had to, because with her corrupted mind's eye it would be dangerous to look anywhere else!

Kuga really needed to wake up soon, because if she didn't do something to remind Haruka that she was an irritating, argumentative, indecent person soon…the blonde was afraid she'd forget.

Swallowing a sigh, she glanced one last time around the room, noticed some well-thumbed comics on a side table and went to get them – keeping her father's advice in mind.

"Batman? Maybe I can read her these…"

One moment Natsuki was drifting peacefully, her arms wrapped around Duran, and the next her feet were landing hard on the ground and Duran was nowhere to be seen or felt – though she certainly felt something, something all over her. Taking a startled look down at herself, she quickly realised that the strange sensation was an outfit, specifically one made of PVC with odd white stitches.

"What the…?"

In one hand she felt the weight of a bullwhip, and though she was sure she'd never used one before, it felt oddly natural. Glancing around and not noticing anyone else in sight, she gave it an experimental crack – jumping when she knocked the head of a mannequin, before laughing and striking the heads off of three more.

"A catsuit and a whip huh? Never saw myself as her…so then this place is…which means two security guards right…about…now."

On cue, two guards rounded an aisle, noticing her with surprise before drawing their guns on her. Mentally she already knew the joke they were going to make before they made it – one about not knowing whether to shoot or fall in love.

Her response slipped out before she knew she was speaking, "You poor guys ... always confusing your pistols with your privates," and then as if by instinct she'd used the whip to disarm them. As they stammered out a plea for mercy, and as she told them to beat it, Natsuki more fully comprehended what was going on.

Skipping around (she found herself unable to walk, which she felt should have annoyed her), she smashed glass cases and collected spray paint with glee that she couldn't explain, except by acknowledging she wasn't being herself. That being said, as she tore open a gas pipe and shoved the canisters into a microwave, she couldn't deny the fact she was enjoying herself.

Running towards the exit, then nimbly backflipping towards two figures already outside (which, part of her knew, she shouldn't be able to do for some reason), she landed and dryly purred out a 'meow' – and then the explosion behind her was deafening.

It also very suddenly changed things.

Dropping to her knees, her lungs burned and her chest was agony as she tried to suck in air. Looking to the two figures in front of her, she grasped for something familiar. One was in a top hat, carrying an umbrella, with a monocle framing one of two dark red eyes.

"Shi…zu…ru?"

"Shizuru? That's the Snake!" boomed the second person, blonde hair escaping a bat-like cowl. Natsuki's eyes widened – of all the things she'd been going along with, this was…this was…

"Why are…you…Batman?!" the exclamation escaped her weakly, the pain that had seeped into her dream now intensified, her eyes blinking open then squeezing shut again against the brightness of the room around her.

"Natsuki!" the same bellowing tone, accompanied by a screeching chair, "You're awake!"

"Didn't…answer my question," she muttered, her tone unmistakably accusative, her mind still foggy, "why…are you…Batman?"

There was a drawn out pause, punctuated by a concerned hum – "They didn't mention brain damage…"

"Brain damage…what?" carefully squinting until she adjusted to the light, it took a moment to register where she was, and that she was lying down, and that Haruka was standing by her bedside. Holding an open Batman comic. The connection clicked immediately, and Natsuki reached out for it – not that she could reach far, the agony shooting through her ribs wouldn't let her – "You read Batman?"

Haruka misinterpreted the reach, putting the comic down and carefully sitting next to Natsuki, asking "You heard me?" as she gently took hold of the biker's hand.

Natsuki's eyes opened wide at that, and she instinctively pulled her hand back, so focused on that that she missed the look of hurt that crossed Haruka's face. "You read…to me? What?"

Silence, except for the uncomfortable squeak of the bed as Haruka shifted, and then "…How much do you remember? About what happened?"

"Eh?"

"We were attacked Kuga-san, you defended me."

"Attacked? Wha-" she broke off the question as it all came flooding back, the heart rate monitor unleashing a flurry of rapid beeps as she suddenly sat up, grunting with watering eyes at how difficult and painful it was, taking back Haruka's hand from where it was still laying on the bed, "It, ow, was it, ah, the only one?"

An expression caught between concern and annoyance flitted across the blonde's face, and she firmly pushed Natsuki back down, "Baka! You're going to hurt yourself – more! Yes it was the only one – you nearly died, and I don't know what it was, so if there were more do you really think we'd be talking? Baka! I've already been sitting here for days, so keep still and don't make it worse!"

Natsuki couldn't hide her surprise, and actually stopped to look at Haruka properly before blurting out "No wonder you look rough!"

It was true but stinging, and Haruka stood up abruptly, "You don't look fantastic either, you inconsiderate…I'm going to get the doctor, and when you've been checked over you've got some questions to answer!"

Just as abruptly as she'd stood, she turned and left the room.

Natsuki had been awake less than 10 minutes, and she had already upset the Executive Director again – and again she felt bad about it. She hadn't meant it to sound insulting! There were just bags under Haruka's eyes, like she hadn't slept well for a while, and if anything the biker was expressing concern! The blonde didn't need to get so snarky…though if she hadn't been sleeping well…

Damn it!

Another thing to make up for, on top of the disastrous detention and putting the blonde – a civilian - in danger and making her worry…though at least Haruka didn't seem to have been hurt. There was that. Still…she should probably start by apologizing…

The door swung open, and the word 'sorry' was on the tip of her tongue, but the person who came in wasn't Haruka. Instead a doctor busied himself with questions, poking, and prodding, trying to assess Natsuki's state and how it was that she was conscious – she counted five times that he mentioned that it was miraculous that she was alive, let alone awake. After 20 minutes of it the frustration got to her, "When will Suzushiro-san be back?"

"Hm? Well, I'm done here for now – your recovery is remarkable, really remarkable – so I'll make the call now! You're not the only one eager to talk! It's surprising you can so soon after such a serious accident - really it is remarkable! Why, at this rate you might even be dischargeable by the end of the week!"

The doctor left, still muttering 'remarkable', and Natsuki waited with impatient discomfort.

It seemed to take forever before the door opened again, and again the word 'sorry' was pulled back when another man entered the room.

"Where's Suzushiro-san?" she asked, getting irritated by Haruka's sudden disappearance and her corresponding inability to alleviate the guilt she was feeling. To add to her annoyance and confusion, the man smiled broadly at her.

"Ah! I thought it was strange when the doctor said you wanted to speak to me!"

"I asked for Suzushiro-san, I don't get the mix-up," she muttered darkly, the look of bemusement on the man's face really not improving her mood.

"You've got one Kuga-chan – you don't mind the '-chan' I hope?"

"I've got…what…eh?"

"A Suzushiro! And I'm so happy to see you're awake! I've finally been able to send Haruka to get some proper sleep, not that that's the only reason I'm happy you're back with us!"

"…Eh?"

Finally he took pity on her, "Forgive my manners – my name is Hiroshi Suzushiro, and I'm Haruka's father." As he addressed her his tone became suddenly more formal, though the twinkling smile never left his eyes, "You and I need to talk Kuga-chan."