A/N- Wow! I am impressed with how fast those reviews came. Seriously you guys rock! However it seems that I have some people out there angry at me for my little cliffhanger last chapter and I'm gonna say this… blame RukaMichi92… she wanted more drama. Lol. Just kidding. But seeing as how you guys were so awesome with the reviews this time I'm updating sooner then I normally would have. See how this works? The faster you review the faster I update. Anyways hope you enjoy this chapter. This is actually the first chapter I wrote. Don't ask me why, cause I don't even know myself… Anyways hope you like it and don't forget to review. ; )

Life Ch 4

"Michi! Michi speak to me!" Haruka demanded as she bounded up the stairs. After hearing no response she flipped her phone closed and clenched it in her fist. She willed herself to go faster and soon found herself on the fourth and top floor. She ran down the hall and skidded to a stop in front of her apartment door. She tried the doorknob and found that it was locked. Cursing under her breath she started searching her pockets for her keys when she heard a scream from inside. "Aw screw it!" She took a step back and kicked the door right at the handle, breaking it from the frame. She pushed past the door and stepped into the apartment looking around as she entered. She didn't see Michiru in the living room or kitchen so she ran down the hall to her bedroom. The door was closed and locked as well. She pounded her fists on the door. "Michiru can you hear me?"

"Haruka! Get out… Call the pol…" But she never finished her sentence and all Haruka could hear was the loud thud of something falling to the floor. Haruka ran at the door and put her shoulder into it again splintering the door from the frame. She stopped dead in her tracks as she looked down to the floor to find Michiru's unconscious form lying there. She then turned her eyes up to look at the man who had cause all this. They locked eyes for a moment until Takashi lunged at Haruka pinning her against the wall. She brought her knee up to his stomach causing him to release his grip on her and clutch his gut. When he did Haruka took advantage and drove her fist into his face. He stumbled back and tripped over a chair falling on his back. Haruka took this brief moment to check on Michiru. She dropped to her knees and rolled Michiru from her side to her back so she could get a good look at her. Her face and neck were starting to bruise from where Takashi had laid his hands on her and above her left eye was a gash that was still trickling blood. Haruka guessed that it was this that caused Michiru's unconsciousness. She brushed the hair from Michiru's face but was interrupted when she was roughly pulled up by her neck by Takashi. He spun her around till her back hit the wall and unleashed a volley of punches to her face and stomach.

"That bitch deserved it!" He spat as he once again rammed his fist into her abdomen. "Always more worried about you then she was about me. She cared more for a damn dyke then she did for her boyfriend." He was about to make contact again when Haruka caught his fist and twisted his arm back.

"Never… Ever call her that again!" She said in a low dangerous voice as she punched him in the face sending him backwards. She continued punching him till he toppled to the floor, but Haruka wasn't done yet. She continued pummeling his face until a timid sound caught her attention.

"Ru…ka…" Haruka stopped her battery of punches and turned to look at Michiru, who was slowly trying to push herself up. Haruka leapt from her position on top of Takashi's chest and dropped down by Michiru's side.

"Michi!" She breathed in relief as she took Michiru into her arms. "Are you alright?" She asked as she brought Michiru to arms length to look her in the eyes. Michiru only nodded as tears started flowing from her eyes. Haruka brought Michiru into a tight embrace pressing her head to her chest and stroking her hair in an effort to comfort the distraught girl. She felt Michiru turn her head and when she looked down she saw that Michiru was staring at something. She followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the bloodied face of Takashi. Haruka slowly stood up pulling Michiru with her and led her past Takashi out into the hall, finally making their way to the living room where Haruka gently sat Michiru down. She kneeled in front of her and lifted her chin so Michiru would look into her eyes. "I'll be right back ok?" Once again Michiru only nodded in response. Haruka rose and then placed a soft kiss on the top of Michiru's head. She left and proceeded back down the hall, into Michiru's room. She stood in the doorway and watched Takashi's labored breathing. She reached down and picked up her cell phone that had fallen when he had first attacked her. She dialed 911 and waited for an operator to pick up, the entire time still keeping an eye on the body at her feet.

"911 emergency. How may I direct your call?"

"My name is Haruka Tenoh, my address is 401 Sakura drive, and my friend and I were just attacked. The perpetrator is still here, but he's unconscious."

"Alright I'll send some officers right away. Is any one other then the attacker in need of medical attention?"

"Yes my friend… and I suppose myself."

"Alright paramedics are on the way as well. They should be there within the next few minutes so just stay where you are."

"Ok. Thank you." With that Haruka closed her phone and put it in her pocket. Looking at Takashi she thought that he didn't look like he would be getting up to go anywhere so she went back down the hall to where Michiru was. She sat beside her on the couch and pulled her into a hug. They stayed like that in relative silence, the only sound being the occasional sob from Michiru, until the door that had been hanging loosely from its hinges was pushed open and two officers came in.

"Haruka Tenoh?" The first officer asked. Haruka nodded and rose from the couch to approach him. "Where's the attacker?"

"Over here." Haruka led them to the room where Takashi lay. One of the officers moved in and turned him over so he could handcuff his hands. Once that was done they all went back to the living room. Haruka sat next to Michiru and took her hand in hers. The officers started questioning them about what had unfolded and due to Michiru's distraught state Haruka answered most of the questions. They were shortly interrupted by the paramedics who had just arrived. One of the officers led them to the room. They returned a few minutes later with Takashi on a backboard and disappeared through the front door. The questioning went on and Michiru, with some gentle prodding from Haruka, answered the rest of the questions. As if on cue the paramedics returned and tended to their wounds. For the most part they were fine. Haruka had quite a few bruises, a cut lip, black eye and the worst of it was her hands which were in pretty bad shape considering the force and the amount of times she had punched Takashi. The paramedic assumed she had fractured some of the fingers in her right hand and told her she should probably go to the hospital to get it x-rayed. Michiru was bruised as well, mostly on her face where Takashi had slapped her, but also on her neck from when he had tried to strangle her. The gash on her forehead was cleaned and bandaged, and again the paramedic told her she should go to the hospital to have it stitched up. Reluctantly Haruka agreed to get a lift with the police officers to the hospital, seeing as Takashi would be in the ambulance.

Two hours later they were released from the hospital. Michiru's cut had been stitched up and was covered with a clean white bandage. Haruka's hand had a few hairline fractures so the doctor taped up her hand in splint. They left the hospital and Haruka decided they needed to make a couple stops before heading home. Michiru begged, and pleaded with Haruka to just take her home, but Haruka knew that they needed some things first. They stopped in a hardware store where Haruka bought a new doorknob and lock for the two doors that she had broken down in her haste. After that they went to the grocery store and Haruka picked up some things to make them supper that night. After that Haruka hailed a cab to take them home.

They walked through the door and Haruka led Michiru to her own room instead of Michiru's bedroom which was still in disarray. She told Michiru to sit down and then went next door, returning moments later with a pair of pajamas she had found in one of Michiru's drawers. They were ones that she had never seen Michiru in before and probably for a reason. They were flannel and not the most flattering, but they did look comfortable and Haruka figured that's what Michiru needed right now more than anything… comfort. She returned to her room and handed them to Michiru who took them, but still sat completely still. Haruka sat next to her.

"Michiru he can't hurt you anymore. As soon as her gets out of the hospital he's going to be sent to jail. You'll never have to see him again." As soon as Haruka finished speaking Michiru spoke in barely more than a whisper.

"I thought he cared for me…"

"What?"

"I thought he cared for me and that he loved me. I really thought he did, but he only wanted to… to…" but Michiru couldn't continue. She broke down in tears sobbing as Haruka pulled her once again into a strong hug.

"I know you're hurting Michi, but he's not worth these tears. Trust me… you deserve a lot more than that jerk. Anyone that hurts you like this is… is… well they obviously just don't see how amazing you are. Don't worry. One day you'll find someone… someone who is deserving of your love… and you'll be happy with… 'him'." To say those words was one of the hardest things Haruka had ever had to do. She felt Michiru stop shaking and the sobbing had quieted down. Michiru pushed herself out of Haruka's embrace.

"Thank you Haruka… I think I need to lie down for a bit." Michiru got up to go to her room, but Haruka grabbed he arm as she stood as well.

"Use my room… yours is still a little messy and I need to fix the door." Michiru gave Haruka a weak smile as she watched her leave the room and close the door. Michiru sighed as she changed into the pajamas that Haruka had brought her and then crawled into Haruka's bed. The pillow smelled like Haruka and she felt safe there as she drifted of to sleep. On the other side of the door Haruka was leaning against the door sighing as well. Why couldn't she just say the words? Why did she always chicken out? Haruka growled in frustration as she pushed off the door and started her long task of cleaning and fixing.

A/N- Alright so this time I've reread this chapter to make corrections and I think it's alright. I keep making the mistake of posting and then rereading and cursing every few seconds as I find ridiculously stupid mistakes. Oh well… I'm not perfect and you guys are just gonna have to deal with that. Lol. Please review.