Authoress note: It's been a while, I know, but hopefully you guys will forgive me and still enjoy the story. Hopefully, it won't be as long to post another chapter. Thanks for reading!

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Chapter 7 - Responsibility

Michiru was nearly numb from fatigue and the horror of what had occurred in the last few hours, but she could not bring herself to stand still. She paced from room to room, arms firmly crossed against her chest to stop them from shaking. She didn't want to remember, but the images of what she had done just kept coming.

The poor man… he was still alive, but barely. It was her fault that he now lay in a hospital bed. The power that had erupted from within her was so strong, so dangerous… She understood now how important her mission was, but it didn't make her feel any better. If that man died… it would be her responsibility.

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The day was still and clear, but Haruka felt a storm brewing inside of her. Michiru had not come to school and no one seemed to know where to find her. If something had happened to her… I would never forgive myself…

"Tenoh-san?"

Snapping out of her daze, Haruka found herself staring into a pair of dark-blue eyes. "Gray-san…" she said, after a lengthy silence.

"Yes…" Elsa confirmed with a nod, but Haruka's eyes were still distant, as if her mind was somewhere else. "Is something wrong?"

"What? No, I just- Do you know where I can find Michiru?" Haruka replied, shaking her head to clear it.

"She should be here… Have you looked around?"

"Yes, I even asked a few people, but no one has seen her and I really need to talk to her."

"Hum, that's strange… it doesn't sound like her to skip school."

"Do you know where she lives?"

"Kaioh-san is a very private person… What is it you want to talk to her about?" Elsa's posture was relaxed, but Haruka could see how her eyes bore into hers, trying to glean her hidden intentions.

"Please, Gray-san, it really is important", Haruka insisted, trying to stifle her impatience. "I think something might have happened to Michiru, and I need to be sure that she is ok."

Her tone and the urgency of her manner made Elsa put aside all the questions that had sprang to her mind. "I don't have her address, but…" She fumbled around in her bag for an instant and then took out a notepad and a pen. "…here is her phone number…" She scribbled the numbers and then ripped the page from the pad to offer it to Haruka.

"Thank you, Gray-san, this really helps."

"I hope so… If you do find Michiru, please ask her to call me as soon as possible. I want to make sure that she is ok too."

"Of course…" With a nod, Haruka turned around and headed for the exit. She could feel Elsa's apprehensive eyes on her back, but she didn't blame the pink-haired girl for not trusting her. She had let Michiru down in the past, but that was a mistake she was not willing to repeat.

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The frigid wind wrapped around her and when she breathed in, it filled her with ice. She should be at school, but she just didn't have the strength to put on a smile and pretend that nothing was wrong. Going to the hospital to check on the man had probably been a bad idea, but she had to make sure that he was still clinging to life. She had not been the one turning him into a monster, but her actions had thrown him into that bed.

Shaking her head in disgust at herself, Michiru crossed the road and headed for a tall building. Her spirit was growing restless, and she needed a distraction, something to immerse herself in.

Sighing, she pushed the heavy door open and stepped into a lobby that was almost empty; her steps echoed loudly as she made her way towards the elevators. A pale girl with brown-hair followed her inside the elevator and after pressing the button for floor 7, Michiru asked politely: "Which one?"

"Oh, the same floor, thank you", the girl replied with a smile.

Michiru nodded, but she was surprised – and not entirely pleased – to see another person there at such an early hour. But when the doors opened, Michiru forgot about the girl. She stepped out into a small, round room, and her eyes darted in every direction, mesmerized. So many colors… it was impossible to resist the beautiful effects created by the water and the fish that swam in it.

As if guided by an invisible force, Michiru pressed her palm against the cool glass and circled the central aquarium, smiling as the fish scattered before her.

After circling it once, she drew back a couple of steps and sat cross-legged on the floor, rummaging in her bag for a note pad and a pencil; her knuckles brushed the pen that had turned her into a warrior the previous night and she stiffened.

'DEEP SUBMERGE!'

The ball of light hit the creature and knocked it backwards, but when it faded, it revealed a man, writhing in pain on the ground.

"No…" For a moment, all Michiru could do was stare, but then she lunged forward and dropped to her knees. "Please, don't be dead, please don't be dead…" He wasn't, but his heartbeat was very faint. Cradling his head on her lap, she looked around frantically, but there was no one she could ask for help.

"Haruka… HARUKA!"

But Haruka had not come.

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"Dammit!" Haruka slammed the phone after calling for the third time with no success. Where are you, Michiru? Haruka's disquiet had grown in proportion to the passing hours and now bordered on alarm.

She sighed and pinched her nose with her thumb and forefinger. Think, Haruka, think. But try as she might, concentration continued to elude her. Thoughts swirled inside her head, but every time she tried to grasp them, they escaped, leaving nothing but frustration and confusion.

If something had happened to Michiru… no, she would not allow that idea to linger on her mind. Exhaling sharply, she picked up the phone and dialed Michiru's number one more time.

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Just as Michiru pushed the door open, the phone stopped ringing. It was probably from the school, and she simply did not have the energy to come up with a convincing explanation as to why she hadn't attended classes today. She would deal with them tomorrow, and with her spotless record, it wouldn't be a problem.

The aquarium had soothed her anxiety to some extent, but it was a precarious feeling. Michiru could feel the tension already starting to build up, but she was determined to fight it for as long as she could.

After getting rid of her bag and shoes, she slowly made her way to the bathroom; a nice, long bath seemed like the best way to preserve her relaxed state. As she immersed herself in the hot water, the phone started ringing again, but with the door closed, Michiru couldn't hear it.

Fifteen minutes later she emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body and another in her hands to dry her hair. She was halfway to her room when the phone rang again.

Michiru stopped and turned to glare at the phone, as if her will-power was enough to silence the irritating sound. Finally, she blew out a sigh and went over to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Finally, I have been trying to call you for hours!"

"Gray-san?" The urgency in Elsa's voice almost made it impossible to recognize her.

"Yes, Kaioh-san! Where have you been?"

"Well…" Michiru pushed wet hair off her face and then said: "I wasn't feeling very well, so I went to see a doctor…"

It was a lie, and not a very good one, but Elsa didn't seem to notice anything unusual. "Oh, and what did he say?"

"It's nothing to worry about, just a cold; I should be back to school by Monday."

"I'm glad it's nothing serious, but I was worried about you, you know? It is so unlike you to miss school without a warning, and then I couldn't reach you, and Tenoh-san said she was worried about you too-"

"What?" Michiru's heart beat slightly faster. "When did you talk to Haruka?"

"This morning, at school; she was looking for you, and she seemed desperate. I-" Elsa paused a moment, as if to ponder her next words. "I hope you don't mind, but I gave her your phone number. She said she was worried about you and that she feared something might have happened to you…"

She knows… Michiru had doubted her, but Haruka had been looking for her. She feared something might have happened to you... Somehow, someway, Haruka had known she needed her.

A relief like she had never felt before burst in her chest, and her legs became so wobbly she had to crouch down with her back to the wall to stop them from shaking.

"I knew you would be upset! I'm sorry, Kaioh-san, I shouldn't hav-"

"What? No, Gray-san, it's alright, I'm not upset", Michiru said with a shaky laugh.

"You're not?"

"No, not at all, you did the right thing."

"I didn't see that coming…" Elsa cleared her throat and then asked: "What is going on with you two, anyway?"

Michiru felt her cheeks growing hot. "Nothing…" she replied with a smile in her voice.

"Right… nothing", Elsa replied back with a chuckle. "Keep your secrets, Kaioh-san, but you cannot fool me. I still remember when you asked me to introduce her to you, and I knew then it wasn't just because you wanted to draw her."

"Gray-san!" Michiru had to clamp a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.

"All I'm saying is… be careful. You are a good person, Michiru, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

At her last words, Michiru's expression darkened. Would Elsa still think she was such a good person if she knew what she had done to that man?

"But", the pink-haired girl continued, "if you know what you're doing, I heard that a certain someone will be at the race tracks tomorrow…"

"Gray-san, you are the best!"

"Yes, I am. Just remember to be careful, ok?"

"Always am. And, Gray-san… thank you."

"Don't mention it. See you on Monday, Kaioh-san, and I hope that cold goes away soon. Bye!"

As Michiru put down the phone, she realized that Elsa had known all along she had lied about the cold, but had chosen not to press her for the truth. You really are the best, Gray-san…

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The practice was finally over, and for the first time since she had begun racing, Haruka felt relieved. She had failed to contact Michiru on the day before, and her night had been spent rolling around in bed, hoping with all her heart that it wasn't too late. She would call her as many times as she could during the weekend, until Michiru finally answered. But first she needed a long shower and a change of clothes.

The garage seemed empty when she first walked in, but then a chill went up her spine and she froze; something was terribly wrong. "Is someone there?"

"H- help m-me."

Haruka's eyes found the young man crouching against the wall; his hands were clutching his head and he was rocking back and forth. "Help me!" he moaned again, and Haruka rushed to him and knelt by his side: "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

But he was not alright.

To be continued…