[center][b][i]What A Night...
Leading up to something unfortunate...

A collaboration between Little Alice and Shadowcatcher[/i][/b][/center]

[hider=Pains]Limping home, it was already midnight. Mika panted. The cuts and other wounds were still fresh. The blood might have dried up, but the pain was still present. All the way, she had been limping back to her home. It was even a struggle to open the door with her keys. A shiver went through her body as she went through the door opening. It was dark inside, as she had made sure that Haruhi was in bed when she had went towards the Mizukage Office. Managing to close the door behind her, Mika trembled. Checking if the door was locked, the woman started to limp towards her own room, something warm flowing down her cheeks.

Haruhi was slightly awake, teetering between sleep and consciousness. Earlier that night she'd woken up from a dream she'd been having alot recently. It was wierd. She would never remember anything but the end: Haruhi was stood over her villiage, hundreds of feet tall, and trapped inside something to watch it burn beneath her. It was unsettling to say the least, but what was even more unsettling than that, she heard the light click of a door in a place that should have been silent. Sliding out of bed, Haruhi retrieved a kunai from her things before slowly making her way to the door and opening it.

It was odd that anyone aware of who lived here would try to break in, but she was sure if it were her sensei, not a sound would have been heard. Stepping into the hall, her foot landed in something warm and wet. Bending down through her knees, she reached out to touch the odd liquid. Seeing the dark red color on her fingers she held in a gasp and stood. Not caring if an intruder was here or not, she ran as fast as she could to Mika's room. Swinging the door open, Haruhi's knees got weak at the sight before her and the kunai slipped from her fingers.

Hearing the sounds, Mika kept on going on. She was breathing heavily as she was trying to bandage some deep cuts. Hissing right at the moment that Haruhi came in, Mika looked up. [b]"Go to.. bed.''[/b] Mika said on a hoarse tone. It still was painful for her to talk. The pressure on her body was still there, straining her and causing everything to hurt. Returning her attention to her wounds, Mika felt something else than the pain. Guilt. Guilt and bitter regret. She shouldn't be alive. Why hadn't she pressed on? Why hadn't she back then continued, to show her resolve? Maybe Mika would have been spared this fate. [b]''Go...''[/b] Mika tried to order Haruhi again, but knowing that it wasn't going to work.

Haruhi pressed a hand to her mouth to keep in a scream she otherwise would have let out. She ran back to her room to get her ointments and bandages then the bathroom to get the things she needed for stitches. As she picked up the small needle with trembling hands, she couldn't think of anyone who could have hurt her sensei like that. Grabbing a drink of water and a pain pill along with a damp towel, she walked back to her sensei's room to help her, ignoring her protests. 

After giving her sensei the pill and water to drink, she ordered her to lay on her bed, then immediately took the towel and sutures to her deep cuts. Thanking her mom for teaching her this, she was able to sucessfully patch them up adding ointment and bandages. Even after all this time, she felt uneasy at the sight of blood. But her hands moved mechanically and delicately. Haruhi didnt even waste a single moment to speak, simply kept focus on her task. She was no medical nin, however, so it did take a bit of time to finish with...average results.

Laying on her back, Mika tried to relax her breathing. Closing her eyes, she let Haruhi. Would she else be able to send her to bed? No. Right now, she wasn't able to order Haruhi to go to her own room. She wasn't able to comfort her. Like she had been unable to protect her. The bitter taste of defeat came back in Mika's mouth as she realized how much of a failure she had became. [b]''Haruhi...''[/b] Mika whispered. The woman wanted her to go away. To not see her like this, but more.

To not be the cause for Haruhi to grow worried. After all, she had made a promise something like this wouldn't happen. The question of Rika came back in Mika's mind. If she was a fine sensei? Seems now the answer was pretty clear, Mika thought bitter and saddened.... [b]"I'm not leaving you."[/b] was the determined reply to her weak teachers calling of her name. [b]"Whatever happened...dont worry. You're here now and i'll protect you."[/b] she said now moving onto her smaller cuts. Haruhi guessed that Mika didn't want to feel like a burden, so with tear brimmed eyes she said quietly, [b]"Its okay...this is no trouble at all. You are important to me so, nothing you do can upset me or be a burden to me, got that?"[/b] she stopped speaking and wiped Mika's face with the cleanest part of the towel. 

When she was finished, Haruhi let out a small sigh and stood, climbing into bed next to her sensei. She didn't bother cleaning up or putting anything away, nor did she care her hands were crusted with a bit of blood. She simply lay down, facing her teacher, and stayed quiet. The words of Haruhi had an impact on Mika. Even though she had faced death several times, without any fear, she had done it this time with it. Fearing that she wouldn't be able to be there for Haruhi anymore. And now that she was with the person she wanted to protect from harm, she knew that she had been too weak. When Haruhi told her that she would be protected, Mika sniffed. Tears welled up at the eyes of the woman as she hugged Haruhi tightly. [b]''I'm so..sorry.''[/b] Mika whispered. She felt how the tears kept rolling down her cheek. Feeling only worse that Haruhi had the strength to protect her, she had no idea how much pain she was causing with those words.

For a brief second, Mika was willing to tell Haruhi what had happened. What would happen. That they should try and go find a life somewhere else. Trying to stay out of Kirigakure's reach. To keep avoiding to be found by the Hunter nin of the Mist. Mika knew how they worked and could likely be able to avoid being caught. But Haruhi didn't. And it had became pretty clear that she couldn't protect the girl. [b]''I love you.''[/b] Mika whispered as she kept holding Haruhi tight and close. Haruhi's tears had started to fall as Mika spoke and pulled her into a hug. 

[b]"Wh...why does it sound like your saying goodbye? Your not leaving me are you? You cant leave...! We...we're the best team. We can do anything together..."[/b] she said the last part just as she started crying softly, so it was a little less understandable. In this situation, her sensei seeming so broken in more ways than one, Haruhi didn't know what to think. Her fear allowed her mind to race and she thought for a moment maybe Mika was dying or something. After she got herself under control she looked at Mika.

[b]"Sensei, please...tell me whats wrong?"[/b]

Hearing Haruhi's reply, Mika shushed her. Patting the girl's head, Mika tried to think what she could say. The truth wasn't a choice. She rather wanted to give Haruhi a better night rest than wasting that. [b]''I am not....''[/b] She said, trying to form a full sentence. The pain was still bothering her, making it hard for her to talk normally. [b]''I am not going...to...to leave you.''[/b] Slowly, Mika managed to form a smile as she tried to calm down Haruhi. [b]''Sleep.''[/b] Saying the word, Mika pulled Haruhi closer again, closing her own eyes. Already she saw the images of what tomorrow would bring. Haruhi listened to her sensei, saying nothing but closing her eyes. It was oddly comforting to hear she would not be left alone. Snuggling in closer, she forced herself to comply, just go back to sleep.

[i]All this must be a dream...i'll wake up tomorrow, and everything will be fine again.[/i] she thought to herself as she slowly drifted back to sleep.[/hider]