Disclaimer: Holy crap, it's been ages since I updated this story. I don't even remember when I wrote this particular chapter. Just that I wrote it, but never got around to posting it. Hell, I don't even know if people are still reading this story. If anyone is though, thank you.
Chapter 39:
Meanwhile in another part of the treatment center, the rest of Haruka's family and friends were still being shown the fish by Usagi.
"This one is my favorite, it's just so cute."
Usagi said, pointing to a small pink and white fish.
"Oh, and Luna told me that one is her favorite."
Usagi said, pointing to a medium sized orange fish with red spots.
"Wait a minute, what do you mean Luna told you?"
Kyle asked.
"Easy, she opened her mouth and then the words came out."
"She opened her mouth? Usagi she's a stuffed animal, she can't ta-"
Yuiko slapped her hand over Kyle's mouth, effectively cutting him off.
"She thinks the cat can talk, let's just let her think that it can."
Yuiko whispered, lowering her hand from Kyle's mouth.
"But Yui, stuffed animals can't talk."
Kyle whispered.
"I know that, but Usagi seems happy thinking that Luna can talk, so let's just let her think that she can."
"Bu-"
Yuiko held up her hand and gave Kyle a drop it look. Kyle considered arguing the matter further, but decided against it. He then turned his attention back to Usagi.
"So aside from fish, and obviously patients and doctors, what else is there to see around here?"
Kyle asked.
"There's a really beautiful garden. Come on, we'll show it to you."
Usagi said, grabbing Kyle by the arm and pulling him along.
"Hey, wait for us!"
Yuiko exclaimed, running after Kyle and Usagi. Michiru and Hotaru were just about to follow behind, when Michiru's phone suddenly rang.
She then answered the phone, and Hotaru watched as Michiru's face suddenly had a look of worry on it.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Michiru then hung up the phone, and turned her attention to Hotaru.
"Hime-chan, I need you to go with the others, I've gotta get back to the visitation room."
"Is Haruka-papa okay?"
"She will be, just please go with others."
Hotaru wanted to protest, but the urgency in Michiru's voice told her that it would be unwise to. She then headed off in the direction that everyone else had gone in, and Michiru headed to the visitation room.
When she made it there, she found Setsuna holding Haruka in a tight embrace.
"What's going on?"
Michiru asked, as she approached the two.
Setsuna then filled Michiru in on all that had happened while she was away. She then handed Haruka over to Michiru, hoping she could snap Haruka out of her current state.
"Haruka, it's Michiru. Can you look at me, please?"
Michiru softly spoke, placing her hands firmly yet gently onto Haruka's shoulders.
After a few more minutes of waiting, Haruka finally opened her eyes and lowered her hands down to her side. She then said nothing, as she wrapped her arms tightly around Michiru and let out a shaky breath.
"Let's sit down."
Michiru said, leading Haruka over to a chair. She then sat down with Haruka in her lap.
"Thanks for calling me."
Michiru said, glancing over at Setsuna who had taken a seat across from the couple.
"You're welcome."
Setsuna said, giving a soft smile. She then turned her attention to Haruka.
"Do you feel comfortable telling what happened?"
Haruka took a deep breath, and leaned closer into Michiru's loving embrace.
"My dad wanted me to break the window."
"Why did he want you to break the window?"
"He wanted me to use the broken glass to get out of here. He wanted me to use it to hurt anyone that would try to stop me from leaving."
"Where did he want you to go?"
"To Genjiro."
"Why him?"
Haruka fell silent, but pointed to her file that lay on the table in front of them. Setsuna then picked it up.
"My hallucinations aren't the only thing that's been going on. There's something else."
"What else is going on?"
"Do you remember when Usagi mentioned something about me needing immediate medical attention?"
"Yes, but wasn't that about your hallucinations?"
Haruka shook her head.
"What was it about then?"
"Read the last page of the file."
Setsuna did, and upon doing so her jaw dropped.
"You were found hanging in your room?! Why didn't you say anything sooner?! Do you know how serious this is?!"
Haruka flinched at Setsuna's tone, and the older woman quickly composed herself.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be yelling. I guess I'm just in shock is all. But wait, why wasn't I informed of that when I received the phone call?"
Haruka shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess since I survived, maybe they thought it would be pointless to mention it. Or maybe they felt it was more of an in person conversation, rather than an over the phone conversation."
Setsuna considered Haruka's words for a moment, before speaking.
"Well whatever the reason may be, I'm glad you're still here with us. I'm extremely worried about you too though. You seemed like you were doing fairly well, but then you dropped this bombshell. For God's sake, Haruka, why did you try to hang yourself?"
Haruka chewed the inside of her cheek, and shifted her gaze to the floor. She was silent for what felt like a millennium.
"Haruka, whatever the reason is, you can tell us. We're here for you and we just want you to be okay."
Michiru said, giving Haruka a comforting squeeze. Haruka stayed silent a bit longer, then dropped yet another bombshell.
"I don't want to get better."
Neither Michiru nor Setsuna were prepared for what they had just heard.
"What do you mean you don't want to get better?!"
Michiru was unable to hide the shock in her voice.
"Well I was doing alright. At least I felt like I was. But it seems that the better I do, the worse things get. I know people say things always get worse before they get better, but I just want the getting better part. I don't want to deal with all the other crap. And then there's the possibility of relapsing. What am I supposed to do if I recover, but then completely fuck it all because I got triggered? I guess I thought that if I don't recover, then I won't have to worry about relapsing. I won't feel like a failure."
This time it was Setsuna's and Michiru's turns to sit in silence. They couldn't believe what Haruka had just revealed to them. They felt completely at a loss for words. They wanted to tell Haruka that things would get better, but deep down they knew they'd just be kicking a dead horse.
So they did the only thing they could think of in that moment. They hugged Haruka as tightly as they possibly could. Silently hoping that their hugs would let Haruka know just how much they needed her to keep fighting.
End of chapter 39:
A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed this long overdue update. Hopefully the next update won't take 3 years. Until then, this is PokémonSoulMaster93 signing out.
