--by Michiru

"Oh, Haruka!"

"Doctor, is she alright?!" Michiru cried, grasping the doctor by the arm. Her face was tear-stained, her eyes puffy from crying.
"We certainly hope so. It was a bad accident. We have her in X-ray now, and we've treated the burns. She's still unconscious, however. Your burns have been looked after?"
Michiru gently rubbed the bandages on her arms. "Yes. Hurts like crazy."
"They had to be second degree burns. Don't worry. Most of Haruka's burns were only first degree. That racing suit of hers was designed to insulate, and it was flame retardant. She wouldn't have survived the explosion, however."
"Will she be Ok?"
"I believe so. There's no reason why she wouldn't be alright. She's strong. When she gets out of X-ray, you can see her again.
Michiru nodded, and sat back down.
Suddenly, a hot cup of steaming tea was pushed into her hand. "You need this," she heard a voice say.
Michiru looked up to see Haruka's grandmother sitting beside her. Malachite was next to her. "Hi."
"Hello, sweetling. How are you?"
"I've been better."
"I couldn't get in contact with 'Ruka's parents, unfortunately. But I had to come, and dragged Malachite with me."
"I woulda come anyway, it's just, you couldn't pay me to get into a car with Grandma driving, unless you dragged me. She's the one that taught Haruka! Might I add, at the tender age of six?!"
"She sat in my lap and steered. She couldn't reach the pedals until she was eight."
Michiru managed a smile. She was wearing Haruka's long sleeved white shirts, because the blouse she had worn to the track was a bit under the weather.
"Want to tell me what happened?" Haruka's Grandmother asked softly.
"Just a race day. Haruka won two, and decided on a third, because the pot had been pretty big. I wanted to leave, because I was hungry, and Haruka promised me supper at the Marina if she won. She even made reservations in advance. She knew she'd win. She won the third race, too. Doesn't matter what state the car is in when it crosses the line, as long as it's first.
"She was going along pretty good. The announcer said that when she passed the time-clock, it had registered her speed as a record of hers and the tracks. As she neared the finish line, something happened, and flames started coming from the exhaust. The car quickly burst into flames as she crossed the finish line. In first place," Michiru added wryly. She fought back tears, as she told the story, minus a million little details.
"Have you eaten, dearest?"
"No," Michiru sniffed.
"Go and get something for the girl to eat," she barked at Malachite. "Can't have her fade to a wraith. Get her something Indian. Spicy. Good for the stomach."
Malachite winced at the thought of very spicy food being good for the stomach, but got up anyway, and took the money his grandmother gave to him.
"That's all they're worth, you know?" The woman said conversationally.
"What?"
"Men. They're only worth errands and stuff like that. Come here, hon," she said, pulling Michiru gently onto her lap. Tell the old lady the horrid details. I can handle them."
"You're not old."
"I like you."
Michiru smiled, slightly.
"We went in early. Haruka wanted to fiddle around with the car a bit. I wasn't bored. I liked watching her fiddle with the car," Michiru giggled a bit, laying her head on her shoulder.
"The races went on as normal. Then I decided we had to leave. Not wanted to. HAD to. Haruka wanted to run the last race. I insisted, and she overruled me. She had made a lot because there were so many entries in the races she won. She felt she could afford the last one, and win the big cash. I told her that I didn't give a damn about the big cash. I wanted to GO. And NOW. She went to run the race anyway.
"Every lap she drove made me feel worse about allowing her to stay. I really was itching to go. I guess that's the best word for it. Itching. It was that strong.
"I moved through the pits to the edge of the track. That's as far as I'm allowed to go. The tracks are strange. They'll let wives and girlfriends only so far. I'm allowed into the garages, and even to the pits, but not out back," Michiru wandered in her tale a bit, but Haruka's grandmother nodded and listened.
"I was as close to the finish line as they'd allow me. The guards tried to push me back a couple times, even. Haruka's car rounded the corner, and I saw the reddish orange flash of flame coming from the exhaust pipe. Funny that. I know more about a whole car now than I ever knew about the backseat of my limo. Haruka's been a strange influence in my life. I love her so much it hurts, though. We're completely opposite, but... I guess that might be the attraction. She SO different from me.
"The flames engulfed the car. I screamed, of course. My throat is a bit sore from that, still. The tea helped. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I thought she'd died instantly. I know about the suit and the helmet, but I still thought she'd died. They slowed the race up, I guess. I ran past the guard for the car. Hmph. Maybe I knew she was alive. A couple guys were using the extinguishers on the car. But no one was trying to get her out! I couldn't believe it. I yanked on the handle, but it wouldn't open. Part of the window was down. Haruka loves to hear the wind whistle by when she races. I got my hands in there, and I dropped down. My weight pulled the window down. I'm not heavy, really, but... I'm still over 100 pounds. Not much though," she said quickly.
"No. Not more than 115."
"About that," Michiru nodded. "Haruka's 125 exactly. She's a big girl. But so slender. Willowy. I reached in and unbuckled the belt. She's driven me in that damned car, and taught me to do up the safety belts. Lots to do. Connect the one up front, the left shoulder strap and then the right shoulder strap. I undid them, and pulled Haruka out of the car. She wasn't conscious. I knew I shouldn't move her, but I knew if I didn't, she's die for sure. I pulled her away from the car. And then it blew up. I felt it go, too. It was like a very heavy sigh from a 30 foot man. The two guys trying to put the damned thing out died. Haruka has first degree burns, mostly on the legs where I dragged her for a moment, before I picked her up. She has some on her arms, too. But she's Ok." Michiru began to sob.
"Are you?" Haruka's grandmother asked.
"Oh, yeah. Some burns on my arms, and an expensive blouse down the tubes, but Ok."
"How about emotionally?"
"I've done better. I could have lost her, today. Maybe this will teach her that when I get a feeling about something, the best thing to do is NOT ignore it. I'm a bit psychic, and I know she knows that. But she has to have that 3000 bucks. Well, she got it. And we'll spend half of it on hospital bills," Michiru laughed without humour.
"Don't worry about that, child. I've put you and Haruka on my insurance. You won't pay a cent, either of you. Keep that money for yourselves."
"A good part, sort of, in all this is that for some reason or another, I decided not to wear my engagement ring today. I might have lost it, or it might have gotten hurt."
"She give that to you already? The scamp. She works fast. When's the wedding?"
"Two months, three weeks. It's going to be small. We've just gotten the invitations back yesterday. Sent them out this morning. We were going to stop by her parent's place, and tell them, and call you after dinner tonight."
"Well, I know now, so you don't have to call me. Are you excited?"
"Very. There almost wasn't a wedding," Michiru frowned.
"But there will be because you're both alright. So snap out of the mood your in and feel thankful instead of what iffing," Haruka's grandmother lost her sympathetic manner.
Michiru smiled a bit. "You're something else. I'm not sure what, but you're something else."
"So are you. My granddaughter is a very lucky girl. You're a wonderful, beautiful lady. The family is due for someone like you. After all those shameless, brainless twits my grandsons married, you are a breath of fresh air. But then, I didn't expect anything less of Haruka."
"I'm shameless."
"Only around her. And in private. And what lady isn't, around their loved one? The Ten'ou line will stay good because of you. Thank you for loving my granddaughter. I want a great-grandson, by the way."
"How do you know we want kids?"
"Haruka does."
"I know. She loves kids a lot. They adore her. I'd be happy to give you a great-grandson."
"Good. See that you do. He'll be a fine boy with blonde hair and green eyes. A proper Ten'ou. Not many of them around. Malachite almost made it. But those blue eyes make him hopeless. Haruka and I are the only 2 at the moment. There hasn't been a proper male Ten'ou in a while."
"Then I'll try and give you one. What if his hair is green?"
"How could that happen?"
"I'd hit you, but it would hurt me more."
She laughed heartily at that, as a doctor walked into the waiting room. Michiru was in front of him in an instant. "Haruka?"
"She's fine. She's in room 226."
"Thank you!" Michiru called as she zipped down the hall.
She slipped into the private room, to see Haruka sleeping quietly on the bed. The stark surroundings made her look pale and lifeless.
Michiru sat in a chair beside her. "Haruka, love. The doctor said you were Ok."
Long lashes fluttered open, and the starkness of the room was relieved by two beautiful, bright green eyes. "Hi, doll."
"Hi," Michiru smiled warmly.
"What happened?"
"Your car died. A bad death. You burned up."
"Did I win?"
"Trust you to think of that," Haruka's grandmother laughed as she came in, followed by Malachite.
"Yeah, you won," Michiru shook her head.
"Grandma!"
"Twit. If you do what Michiru tells you, you won't go wrong."
"But then I'll be perfect, and boring. Good girls are dull."
"Thanks."
"Not you. You aren't perfect, anyway."
"Thanks."
"Crap. Foot in mouth disease."
"No kisses for you, then. I don't want to catch it," Michiru quipped. Haruka's grandmother laughed.
"You're a lucky one, 'Ruka, m'dear. This girl loves you more than anyone else could. She pulled you out of the flaming wreckage of that car with her bare hands. By all rights, she should be in that bed, not you."
"Come now, it isn't that bad," Michiru said demurely.
"No? Haruka, you've a bit of shock, and light burns on your arms and legs."
"No kidding," Haruka said dryly.
"The doctor tells me Michiru has second degree burns up her arms, some across her chest, and third degree burns on her hands."
"Michi, you didn't... your hands!!"
"Doc said about ten seconds after she cleared you from that car, the thing blew up."
"My hands or your life. No contest. I'd cut my hands off to save your life," Michiru said softly.
"Here's your food," Malachite put it on the bed in front of Michiru.
"Way to spoil a melodramatic moment, bro."
"I don't go in for melodrama. She saved your life. Thank her, apologize that she had to hurt herself in doing so, and move on. Eat your food. Get married, have babies. Blah blah blah blah blah."
"Malachite, you have no soul. How did I end up with a soulless grand-son?"
"Michiru," Haruka murmured, sitting up. She gently touched one of Michiru's bandaged hands, and put it to her cheek. "I thank you with all my heart. I should have listened to you. I'm a fool. I hope you'll forgive me for both the mental and physical pain I've caused you today."
"Don't be silly. Of course I can. I did it because I love you. You'd better keep me occupied, though, or I'll go nuts. I can't paint or draw or play or do any real swimming. You took all my hobbies away at once."
"Well, not all," Haruka leered.
Michiru cuffed her lightly, and the pain it caused, made her world turn slightly grey for a moment. She fell over into Haruka's lap with a strangled cry of pain.
"Michiru!" Haruka cried, stroking her hair.
Michiru opened her eyes to see two sets of identical green eyes hovering over her, with identical looks of worry.
"I'm seeing double," she moaned.
"I think she'll be alright," one set of eyes moved back, and she saw the face was grandmother's.
"Are you alright, honey?"
"Make sure I do not do that again, will you?"
"Yes, darling. I'm sorry."
"That's alright," Michiru sat up. "I love you anyway."
"Thank everything in the world."
"I was so scared, Haruka," Michiru whispered. "I've never been so scared in my life."
"I'm not going to leave you, Michiru. Nothing could ever tear me away."
"I hope I can say the same thing. The day we get married, I will."
"Why not now?" Haruka asked softly.
"Because of my father."
"Well, we'll just make sure that he doesn't find you," Haruka's grandmother said cheerfully. "I think I can arrange to make sure that any inquiries to your whereabouts provide nothing."
"Thank you, grandmother," Haruka said, eyes shining happily.
"Very much so," Michiru added, feeling better about the situation.
"We'll still have to get you married quickly, though. I can arrange to have it done with no problem. Leave it all up to me."

"I had no idea," Haruka said softly.
"About my dad?"
"Mm. I didn't even think of trouble through your family."
"They're loaded, 'Ruka-dearest. While your family is very well off, it wouldn't be enough for my dad. If your dad owned a few businesses, and didn't have to work, it'd be fine. Effectively, you're poor, and my dad would be scandalized by our relationship. I love you."
"I love you, too," Haruka smiled, giving her a gentle hug.
Michiru lay next to Haruka on the hospital bed, nursing her arms. She put her head on Haruka's head, and breathed in her scent. The smoke smell was prevalent but she could still smell her cologne, and under it, the musky scent of Haruka herself.
"I love your smell. You smell sooo good," Michiru said in a whisper.
"You smell delicate. And exotic."
"Paris perfume. Where will we go on our honeymoon?"
"I know it's not Paris, but how about my gram's cottage?"
"It's not in the middle of the woods, is it?" Michiru asked in dismay.
"No," Haruka laughed. "It's at the beach."
"Haruka, as much as I love you, I have to tell you. You're stupid sometimes."
"Whazzat mean?" Haruka asked in a wounded tone.
"The beach? Why would I object to that?"
"Right!" Haruka hugged her close. She winced at the pressure on her arms, but enjoyed the embrace. "You feel so good. You make my blood boil."
"You're sexy," Michiru said simply. "Don't ever crash again. You scared the hell out of me."
"Thank you, Michiru. You saved my life."
"I had to."
"No. Not everyone would have done that, even for the person they love. Thank you so much, my love."
"It's almost redundant, Haruka. I wouldn't live without you. If I hadn't been able to get you out of there in time, I wouldn't have saved myself."
"Don't be overdramatic."
"I'm not. I just love you more than anything else in this world. I love to live, but I love you more than that desire."
"I think," Haruka said slowly, "that in the same situation, reversed, I'd feel the same." She hugged Michiru close, loving the familiarity and warmth of her body.
Haruka's doctor took that moment to walk in. "Hello ladies. I'm just going to take a look at you now, Haruka," he said, indicating to Michiru that she should move.
She sat in the chair next to Haruka, suddenly very happy. Even though her burns ached, she looked around her, soaking in every sight. The smell of the doctor was a nice aftershave smell. The room didn't look stark, but nice and warm, the whiteness brightening up the room. The sun setting outside cast rosy shadows on the floor, and covering her feet with a luxurious warmth. The breeze from outside was gentle and smelled like the ocean. Haruka complaining in the bed was music to her ears. Haruka was alive, and she was alive, and very happy.
"Let's take a look at your arms," the doctor said, squatting in front of her. She smiled graciously at him, and allowed him to gently take her left arm. He began to unwind the bandages.
"Very lovely girlfriend you have here, Haruka."
"She's my fiancee. I'm very proud to have her."
"Have I become a belonging without my knowledge?" Michiru asked, amused.
"No- I- um- well," Haruka sputtered.
Michiru giggled softly, then hissed as the last of the wrap came off her raw skin.
"This isn't too bad," the doctor said, carefully applying a cream that felt silken.
"That feels so good." Michiru sighed, closing her eyes. "How are my hands?"
"Burnt," the doctor said bluntly. "But I think that they'll be fine. The nerve endings are very painful, which is very good. Means no damage."
"Will I play my violin again?"
"Oh, quite certainly," the doctor smiled at the beautiful girl. He re-wrapped her arm in new bandages, then did the second arm. "Well, I think I can safely let you both out of here. If those burns were worse, though, I'd keep you here, Michiru. Haruka's better off, so you let her serve you, Ok?"
"Fine by me," Michiru grinned.
"Be off with you, then," he grinned. "You take care of that beautiful lady," he told Haruka softly. "A find like her is priceless."
"I will, and I know," Haruka said, looking lovingly at Michiru's retreating back. "I'm very lucky, and I know it. I'll never do anything to hurt her. Ever."

--by Michiru