Harumichi BatB Chapter 15! Here is the masterpost, here is the chapter, HAPPY FRIDAY.

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Michiru was in two minds as she left Minako alone in the entryway– one to go somewhere she would not be found, and one to go somewhere she could. The later won out, her stupid heart clinging to its stupid hope, and she fled to her chambers.

Haruka would not come after her.

She would let her go.

It was the right thing, but it was not the thing Michiru wanted. No, as she entered the chamber, she wanted Haruka more than anything. Damn the curse and damn breaking it, for a moment none of it had mattered, and perhaps she had learned nothing after all for that desire consumed her. Her heart raged against its confines, go to her, fight for her, show her you are worthy.

But I am not worthy. She picked up a shard of mirror off the floor. Misery loved no company more than its own face.

In the reflection, she saw the gun seconds before it went off.

Fragments of her mind scattered around the pain. First, her unfailing superiority, marvelling that the shooter had the opportunity for a headshot and instead hit her scale-protected shoulder, where she didn’t even have to rely on Usagi to heal. Second, confusion. It was not Minako in her doorway. Haruka had only mentioned Minako. This was another woman, short dark hair, pale skin. Knowing eyes.

Third– rage. Pure, vindictive rage. This woman would hurt for this.

Michiru slid her body to the ground, one hand on her bleeding shoulder, and waited. The woman stepped up, trigger finger at the ready for another shot. “All this pain you’ve caused,” she said, more venom in her voice than Michiru had expected. “And it’s this easy to be rid of you?”

Michiru tried to piece that together. Poisonous tendrils of despair wound their way around her heart. This woman was unsurprised to see her. This woman was prepared. This woman knew far too much on what to expect.

Michiru had been set up. It was too obvious in hindsight. No one, and most certainly not someone like Haruka, would ever be gentle towards her without some hidden motive.

She wanted to scream, or cry, but instead she asked, voice low, “How did she tell you about me?” There had been a clever woman, once, who’d found a way to use the forest birds as carrier pigeons. Another had tried to paint a distress message on the wall outside her window, though she had been caught.

“There are stories about you,” the woman said. “And now that we’ve found you, there won’t be any more.”

That would be true. Michiru would never open her doors or her heart again. But she would not give this sneak the satisfaction of killing her.

She was a beast, after all. What could a beast do but fight to survive?

Quick as a snake, she shot up and grabbed the gun, crushing  the barrel in her claws. The woman’s face lost all color. Michiru threw it aside. She took the woman by the neck. “Your way is quite a dirty method of hunting a monster, isn’t it?” She tightened her grip as the woman gasped. “Did you think you could convince me I was too human to fight you? Did you think I’d fall in love and just lie down to die when you took it away?”

“Michiru!”

Michiru let the woman collapse and turned on Haruka before she could enter the room. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”

Haruka shook her head, stepping back down the hall.

“I should have known. You could have no real interest in me. It was a game. You wanted my guard down so that you and your friends could have a bit of sport.”

“No, I don’t know who that is, Michiru, please—“

“Why should I believe you?” She grabbed the front of Haruka’s shirt, claws raking over and into the soft skin beneath. “Do you think I’m so gullible as to think it’s a coincidence this happens as soon as your friend shows up?” She shoved her against the wall. “You nearly played me for a fool. You nearly had me.”

“No I—“

“Don’t!” She threw Haruka to the ground. “You denied my monstrousness to hide your own. Leave this place.”

“Michi—“

She swung her claws into the wall, leaving scores in the stone. “I will not be humiliated further!”

Uneven footsteps sounded down the hall. Michiru turned at just the moment for a thrown object to smack her across the face.

Minako stopped and removed her other shoe. “Let her go.”

Michiru looked at the shoe on the floor, then back to Minako. “You’re unarmed.” She laughed. “Oh, you did think you played the game well, didn’t you?” She approached slowly. There was a perverse joy, sometimes, in being a monster. There were moments where she felt sweet vindication in how the world saw her, and whatever self hatred would come after, those times washed over her tongue like well-aged wine.

Minako kicked, and Michiru let her heel catch her chin. The cut of her teeth against her cheek felt right. A lady never made the first strike. And now—

And now Haruka was at their feet, bleeding on the ground between them. “Don’t.” She looked from Michiru to Minako and back again. “Please don’t.”

“I’m not letting her hurt you more,” Mina said, still brandishing her shoe as though it were a weapon.

“Mina, please.”

It hit Michiru like another bullet. Something inside her burst and bled.

Haruka plead for them both. Haruka had not lied.

Minako had believed Haruka was in danger. And Michiru had proved her right.

“No,” she whispered, retreating. “No.” She tore at the shoulders of her dress with her claws. “No.”

“Michiru…” Haruka stood, shaky.

“No. Stay away.” Every worst thing she’d ever believed about herself had been right. Everything except that she was unlovable, and that was much, much worse. “Stay away from me.”

“I didn’t—“

“I know.” Her claws raked through the gown, against her scales, it did not matter. “Don’t get any closer.”

Haruka stopped, listening to caution, it seemed, for once in her life. It was good, it was right, and still Michiru’s heart sunk lower.

“Rei!”

Michiru did not turn in time to see the prompt for Minako’s exclamation. She heard the gun, and this time whoever it was was smart enough to go for a headshot.