A/N- So the first thing I have to say is Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. Not only is this the most I have ever received for a story, but also for a single chapter. I must tell you that I have been in a blissful state of euphoria all day. I can't tell you how much your words mean to me. The only reason I started writing is because back in November I injured myself at work and was on workers comp, which I have only recently partially gotten off of(Working only 4 hour days right now), and I was quite bored. I had read most of the stories offered to me on and still had an absurd amount of time to fill. For a person used to working 60 hours a week, going down to 0 is quite the fall. So I decided why not try writing something myself? It was something to do. Now as I have mentioned several times I have never been a writer… I am a reader. I never really liked writing, but now I find that I can't seem to get enough of it. And the reason for that is you guys… the readers. This wouldn't be half as much fun as it is if you guys weren't reviewing and encouraging me even when I think my own work is Garbage. That is the reason I have been updating so quickly… that and I haven't slept a lot this past week, but that's beside the point. The point is I will continue to write as long as you guys want me to. Look at me rambling on like some crazy fool. I apologize to those of you who don't give a damn about my current thoughts and simply want to read the story. I just needed to express my most heartfelt gratitude to you guys. So that having been done I hope you like this chapter.
Life Ch 6
Haruka woke up the next morning when the sun coming in from the balcony doors fell upon her face. She opened her eyes blinking into the bright light. That was when she noticed Michiru fast asleep, her head resting on Haruka's chest and her arm over Haruka's stomach. Immediately her face turned crimson red.
'Am I still asleep?' She thought as she gazed upon Michiru's face which looked so angelic bathed in the morning light. She tried pushing herself up a bit and had to bite her lip to prevent herself from screaming as pain reverberated through her hand. 'Nope definitely awake.'
"Ruka? Are you alright?" Michiru asked as she quickly removed herself from Haruka after realizing what position she was in. Haruka turned to look at her, a light tinge of pink on her face that matched Michiru's.
"Yeah, I'm fine I just forgot for a second that my hand is slightly fractured." She smiled and held up her hand.
"At least it looks like the swelling has gone down." Michiru said as she took Haruka's hand and examined it. This was doing nothing to help Haruka's blush.
"Yeah. I guess I have you to thank for that." Haruka said as she picked up the fallen ice pack. She stood from the couch and went to the kitchen replacing the ice pack in the freezer. Michiru had followed her and suddenly gasped. Haruka whirled around to look at Michiru.
"What? What's wrong?" Haruka asked as she looked around trying to pinpoint what Michiru was looking at and saw it was the clock on the stove.
"Haruka it's Monday… we're late for school!" (A/N-Yeah I know… I kept track of the days. Even I'm impressed.) Michiru ran out of the kitchen and was scrambling around trying to gather all her school things. Haruka intercepted her as she tried to go down the hall grabbing her in a firm, yet gentle grasp.
"Michiru, calm down. You don't have to go to school today."
"What?"
"I said you don't have to go to school today. I called the school yesterday and left a message saying that both of us would not be there for a few days due to private matters."
"Why would you do that? I'm perfectly capable of attending class. I'm not an invalid." Michiru said as she started to get annoyed. To her Haruka was over reacting to the situation. She felt fine.
"I know you're not an invalid, but I figured that you would like some time to rest from the ordeal. I don't think you're ready to deal with school just yet." Haruka said as she tried to lead Michiru back to the living room only to have Michiru break free from her grasp and stand her ground not moving with a very pissed off look on her face.
"I will be the judge of whether or not I am ready to go back to school. And I say that I am ready."
"Really?" Haruka asked getting annoyed at Michiru's behavior. "Are you ready to answer all the questions that no doubt await you? 'What happened to you?' 'Why are there bruises around your neck?' 'What happened to your forehead?' Do you really think you'll be able to handle that?" Haruka got her answer as Michiru sank to the floor crying. Haruka's expression quickly softened as she followed Michiru to the floor and took her in her arms. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so blunt. I just don't want you to get hurt more then you already are."
"No, I'm sorry Haruka. You're right. I just thought that maybe if I tried to carry on as if nothing happened then I would feel better, but I know there's no way that can happen." Michiru said as he continued to sob into Haruka's shoulder. "I don't think I would be able to answer those questions. I don't want to answer those questions."
"So we're agreed that you'll take at least a few days off?" Haruka asked as she pulled away lifting Michiru's chin enough to look her in the eyes. Michiru stared back into those teal eyes that held so much compassion and nodded.
"As long as you stay with me… I don't really want to be alone right now."
"I won't leave… I'll never leave you." Haruka said as she brought Michiru's head to her chest so her head was resting on top of Michiru's. Michiru couldn't help but feel more and more attracted to Haruka each time she spoke. Every word out of her mouth was so caring… so loving. Once again Michiru couldn't help, but wondered if Haruka was in fact in love with her, but once again brushed that thought to the back of her mind making herself believe that Haruka was only doing this because of what had just happened… still Haruka always acted this way towards her, so compassionate and wonderful. The more Michiru thought about it the more she couldn't believe that the person she was in love with had always been there in front of her eyes and it was Haruka. Never in Michiru's life did she ever think that she would fall in love with a woman, let alone her best friend. The last two days had been an emotional roller coaster for Michiru and it was tearing her apart.
They stayed holding each other on the floor for what felt like eternity, but in actuality was ten minutes, when Haruka stood up pulling Michiru with her. "How about some breakfast?"
"I would like that." Michiru said as she tried to wipe away the remaining tears.
"Alright, how about I go get us something from that western style café you like?"
"No."
"No? I thought you liked that place?"
"No I meant… Please don't leave." Haruka nodded understanding that Michiru was still scared.
"Alright well… I think they deliver. Is that ok with you?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"No problem. Have a seat while I go order." Michiru did as instructed taking a seat on the couch in the living room. She watched as Haruka found the number in the phone book and dialed, ordering breakfast for the two of them. After she hung up Haruka walked back into the living room and sat down next to Michiru who immediately leaned against the blonde. Haruka at first didn't react, but eventually put her arm around Michiru drawing her in closer. Haruka was fairly certain that Michiru was just being clingy because she was afraid to really be alone, but even so Haruka was happy just to have her there next to her.
Michiru was in fact scared to be alone right now and being in Haruka's arms certainly was a place she felt secure, but more then that she felt she belonged there. She felt safe, warm, happy and most of all she felt loved.
Neither of them said anything, instead they just enjoyed being with each other, neither realizing that the other was harboring the same feelings. Eventually there was a knock at the door. Michiru shifted allowing Haruka to get up and move towards the door. Minutes later Haruka returned holding in her left hand a brown paper bag and a tray that held two drinks. She set them down on the table as she sat back on the couch.
"Alright you have your choice…" Haruka said as she produced two Styrofoam containers. She held the first one up. "Pancakes with blueberries or…" She put the first container down and picked up the second. "A vegetable omelet."
"May I have the pancakes?"
"Of course. Here you go." Haruka handed her the container and a small plastic package that contained a knife, fork and napkin. "Also I remembered how you liked those vanilla latte things they make so I got you one as well." Michiru accepted the offered drink and smiled at Haruka.
"Thank you Haruka." Haruka simply nodded and started to consume her breakfast.
The day went by with the two of them not even really moving from the couch. They watched some movies only stopping to make some supper. Later in the evening Haruka had gone to take a shower leaving Michiru sitting alone in the living room. She wished she could have made Haruka stay with her, but she knew that was unfair. Haruka had done so much already how could Michiru possibly deny her a simple shower? She knew she was going to have to pull herself together and find some way to get over what had happened, but she wasn't sure how to do that. She wasn't even really sure how she ended up in this mess in the first place. Michiru thought back to what Takashi had said to her when he had first started his attack.
"I'm tired of being second to that dyke!"
Was that really true? Did she really put Haruka before him all the time? She searched her memory trying to find some answers. Sure enough she could think of several times when she had declined going out on a date with Takashi because she has already made arrangements with Haruka. She has also refused to do anything when Haruka had a race saying that she never missed one of Haruka's races just as Haruka never missed one of her concerts. She should have noticed that Takashi was getting annoyed especially after she had left in the middle of a date because Haruka had gotten into a small accident on her motorcycle and while Haruka had said she was fine Michiru had insisted on going home to check on her. She had gotten into an argument with Takashi the next day when he complained that Haruka had Michiru on a short leash and that she should stop spending so much time with her. She had argued that Haruka was her best friend and that no matter what she would always be there for her. He had later apologized saying that he had just been under a lot of stress from work. After that things had pretty much gone back to normal… That is till last night. Tears started to make there way down Michiru's cheek as she couldn't help but think of the attack. She could still feel his hands around her throat and the feel of his hand making contact with her cheek. She couldn't help it and broke down sobbing while holding her knees up to her chest. It wasn't long until she heard rapid footsteps coming down the hall.
"Michi?" Haruka called out as she turned the corner into the living room. She had just gotten out of the shower and put on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt and started drying her hair with a towel when she heard what sounded like Michiru crying. She walked quickly from the bathroom and sure enough she was met with a heart wrenching sight. Haruka dropped to her knees in front on Michiru and placed her hands over Michiru's that were clasped around her knees. "Michi? Michi look at me." Slowly Michiru lifted her head and looked at Haruka. Before Haruka could say anything else Michiru had flung herself off the couch into Haruka's arms almost knocking Haruka into the coffee table. Haruka held Michiru tightly trying to comfort the aqua haired girl. Eventually Michiru calmed down enough to talk.
"God I'm sorry Haruka."
"Michi you have nothing to be sorry about."
"I hate this. I hate feeling so weak and frightened. I hate the fact that I can't stop thinking about… about that bastard and what he did to me… What he almost did to me."
"I know Michi… I know, but you have to trust me that you will get through this. You're just going to have to be patient. It's going to take some time, but you'll get there and I will be here every step of the way. So for now just get this all out of your system."
As if accepting Haruka's offer Michiru sobbed harder into Haruka's shoulder, clutching at the white t-shirt desperately trying to rid her self of this awful feeling she had.
Haruka felt terrible as she watched the woman she loved break down before her. She wished she could do more then just hold her and say meaningless words. She wanted to believe what she her self had said, that Michiru would get through this, but deep inside she didn't really know if that was true. Takashi had given Haruka quite the beating and though she was suffering… it was merely a physical pain. Michiru was hurting on the outside, but more on the inside. Haruka knew that the emotional trauma was making a mark on Michiru. It was leaving a stain upon her heart that seemed as indelible as the blood that had seeped into the walls. She almost wished that she had killed Takashi for what he had done, but on the other hand she knew that she could never do such a thing. While Haruka had been deep in thought Michiru had calmed down and had actually fallen asleep. Haruka looked down at her tear stained face and smiled a sad smile.
'I will do everything in my power to help you through this Michiru… Be strong.'
Carefully Haruka stood up taking Michiru into her arms. She cursed under her breath as the weight of Michiru on her fractured hand, that was now without a splint as she had taken it off to shower, sent sharp pains shooting through it. She ignored it though and carried Michiru down the hall. She stopped halfway and stared at the two doors in front of her. One led to her room and the other to Michiru's. She knew that Michiru wasn't ready to go back into her room so she took Michiru into her room and placed her on the bed which was still unmade from when Michiru had taken a nap in it yesterday. She pulled the covers over the violinist and sat on the bed next to her. She sighed as she turned and looked at the night table. She took the splint and tape that had been lying there and proceeded to fix her now throbbing hand back up. If she wasn't careful there would be permanent damage. The doctor had told her to take it easy and try to avoid using the hand so it could heal, and thus far she had completely ignored his words. She made a mental vow to be more careful and take better care of her self so she wouldn't be jeopardizing not only her piano playing, but her racing. She stood up from the bed and was about to leave and go sleep on the couch when she heard Michiru call her name softly. She sat back down and placed a hand on Michiru's cheek.
"Yeah Michi?"
"Please stay here… sleep with me tonight. I don't want to be alone." Haruka only nodded and slipped into the covers beside Michiru. She hesitated for a moment and then placed her arm around Michiru's stomach. Almost immediately Michiru curled into Haruka's body placing her own hand over Haruka's. Soon they were both asleep.
A/N- I know, I know I already wrote a damn epic up there at the top, but I wanted to mention that if you guys have any questions at all about what's going on or why this happened or didn't happen in the story, please don't hesitate to ask me in a review or private message. I welcome it and I will try my best to answer them… and if I don't have an answer… I have an answer for not having the answer and that is that I'm an idiot and didn't know what I was doing and created a plot hole. Sorry! And I thank Silentking for his/her(I apologize profusely, but I'm not sure if you're a guy or a girl because you're profile mentions nothing) amazing review because it really opened my eyes to some of my flaws in this story and I hope I solved some of them… at least to some extent. Anyways once again I hope you enjoyed this and can forgive my incessant prattling on about nothing important.
