A Sisterly Reunion
Bold= flashbacks
Italics= thoughts
Haruka kept her hand on the steering wheel in a vise-like grip; a tenseness lining her normally laid back and relaxed features. As she drove toward home in the residential area of Tokyo and a certain teal-haired beauty Haruka was deep in thought.
As she walked through the front door laughter was heard. Haruka recognized Michiru's voice instantly. With a smile, the tomboyish blonde made her way to the kitchen. "Hello love." said Haruka, embracing her girlfriend from behind.
Bell-sounding giggles sounded from the deep sea senshi. "Hi Ruka." Michiru smiled. "How was your day at the track?" Haruka smiled back at the smaller woman. "Busy. The car needed some work and then Soichiro had me do some spins around the track."
Looking towards the kitchen table, the blonde spotted her little girl. "Hey Firefly. How was school?" All she got in response was a shrug from the raven haired eight-year-old. Puzzled and slightly concerned, Haruka looked to Michiru who had a matching expression on her face.
Coming out of her reverie of the previous day, Haruka noticed she was about to pull up to the mansion that her, Michiru, Setsuna, and Hotaru called home. Pulling up and putting her car in to park, the blonde racer killed the engine. Upon entering the house, Haruka slowly took off her coat and shoes, putting her keys in the bowl on the sideboard.
"I'm home!" she called out, grinning as she walked in the direction of the kitchen, knowing what was coming. "Haruka-papa!" cried Hotaru, tackling her 'papa' in a hug. Chuckling, Haruka returned the embrace.
"Hello Hime-chan, and how was your day?" the blond responded. Hotaru smiled brightly. "It was fine. Art class was fun, and Chibiusa and I made friends with the new kids in the class." Haruka listened as Hotaru continued on about the rest of her day.
Just then Michiru came down the stairs. "I thought I heard someone." said the teal-haired woman, and then as if just noticing her, added, "Oh, it was you, Haruka." Michiru grinned, walking toward her partner. After kissing Haruka briefly, Michiru sent Hotaru to play, seeing past her loves smiling pretense.
In the kitchen Michiru turned to blond and said firmly, "Alright, out with it. Something's bothering you." Haruka sighed. "Did Hotaru seem…off to you yesterday? When I asked her how school was all I got was a shrug."
Michiru thought for a moment before answering, "Actually, she was quieter than usual when I picked her up. Maybe it was a rough day? Wouldn't be the first time." Haruka leaned against the counter, lost in thought.
"Maybe," she finally answered, "but I think it's something else. Notice how yesterday she wouldn't even look at me?" Michiru nodded, conceding her partners point. It was silent for a few a minutes before it was broken by a small voice.
"Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama I'll tell you, just, please don't be angry." A very nervous Hotaru spoke up. Teal eyes landed on the little girl in front of her. "What happened, Hime-chan?" Haruka asked, gently taking the child's hand in her own.
That's all it took for Hotaru to begin explaining through her tears.
"T-they kept s-saying I was a fr-freak." she sobbed, "Th-that my p-parents only pr-pretend to love me." As Hotaru finished telling them what happened, how they said her family was weird and that her mama's and 'papa's' love was fake because of what they do, Haruka and Michiru became shocked.
"Hotaru," Michiru said softly, "we really do love you, it isn't faked." She put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "And you aren't a freak just because your parents are different from what most consider normal."
Haruka nodded firm agreement. "She's right Hime-chan. Our love for you is as real as if you were ours by birth. Understand kiddo?" Hotaru nodded, attempting to dry her tears. "I understand Papa." The child stammered, slowly calming down.
Pulling the girl into a hug, the blond smiled in to Hotaru's hair. "Good, because that was all a pack of lies they told you. Now, why don't we do something while your mama makes supper?"
The violet eyed child nodded into her father figures chest. "Okay Haruka-papa. Can we go outside and watch the clouds? That's what I like doing at recess." Haruka chuckled. "Of course sweetheart, anything you want."
As the twosome made their way to the back door, the doorbell rang. "I got it Michi!" Haruka called to her girlfriend. Opening the door, Haruka was shocked speechless.
"Hello Haruka." A blond girl who could've been the taller girl's twin said, smiling shyly.
"Haniko," the blond answered, slowly overcoming her shock at seeing her sister for the first time since she was thirteen. "What are you doing here?" A hint of icy coldness entered her voice.
Haniko stared at the ground, trying to figure out what to say. Finally the younger blond answered, "Probably what you did when you were kicked out." Her voice held a tone of sadness. Before Haruka could respond she continued.
"I can't take living with Mom and Dad anymore." The younger Tenou stated. Immediately Haruka's expression and tone softened. "What happened, Hani-chan?" she asked as she led her sister to the couch after asking Hotaru to see if Michiru needed help.
Setting her bag down, Haniko sighed and sat next to her sister as she began to explain. "A friend of mine recently came out about being gay and when Mom and Dad found out they freaked and said that I'd become and I quote, "a disgrace like your good-for-nothing sister"."
There was a brief pause as Haruka waited patiently for her sister to continue, though she was silently seething with anger towards her parents.
Finally Haniko continued. "When they called you good for nothing I snapped and told them to shut up and that they knew nothing. You see, ever since you became known in the F1 racing community I've been a huge fan but I didn't realize who you were at first."
"But once I did I remembered how you were treated when you came out and have regretted not being able to say goodbye and apologize for what I said the night before. I want to try and accept you as you are, especially if you have a, uh, girlfriend." Again, Haniko fell silent for a moment.
Haruka took this opportunity to respond to what she had just been told. Finally finding her voice, she said, "Hani-chan I forgave what you said and did that night a long time ago. I know that Father made you say all those things." A small spread across the older girl's face.
"I'm just glad you're here," the tomboyish blond continued, "that I have my little sister back and that you're trying to accept me." Tears sprang to Haniko's eyes as she heard that. "Sissy!" she said as she began to sob in to her older sisters shoulder.
Haruka wrapped her arms around her younger sibling, knowing she had to hold emotion back when she was around their parents. "Shh, it's okay Hani-chan, it's okay. You'll be staying here as long as you need."
As Haniko cried the older girl ran her fingers through the young girl's hair. Soon enough she calmed down and tried for a small smile towards the blond seventeen year old causing Haruka to smile back.
A moment later Haruka got up to inform her lover of their guest. Worried that her sister was going to leave her, Haniko reached for the blonde's hand. Turning back to the younger Tenou, Haruka said, smiling reassuringly, "I'm just letting Michiru and Hotaru know that you're staying here. Setsuna will be back later."
The smaller blond nodded and got up to follow her sister. "I'd like to meet them properly if that's okay." Haruka nodded, still smiling and walked to the kitchen, Haniko behind her.
In the kitchen Haruka brought her little sister in front of her. "Michi, Hotaru, meet my little sister, Haniko Tenou. She needs a place to stay so if you ladies don't mind Haniko will stay here." Michiru broke out in a smile. "I'm Michiru, it's nice to meet the sister I've heard so much about."
Turning to the black haired child she added, "And this is Hotaru, our daughter." Haniko smiled as she replied, "It's nice to me you both. I'm sorry for just showing up like this." Haruka turned to her sister as she heard the apology.
"There's no need to apologize for needing a place to stay," the older Tenou retorted, "especially considering the reason that brought you here." Haniko nodded as her sister slung an arm around her shoulders, leaning into the racer's touch.
There was silence for a few minutes as Michiru checked the food and the Tenou sister just stood there. "Dinner's ready," the aqua haired teen announced. "Ruka could please set the table?" she requested on the side.
As the blond went to do as was asked of her, Setsuna walked in the door. "Whatever you made Michiru," the dark green haired woman said, "it smells great." As she set her bag down and hung up her coat, the time gaurdian noticed Haniko standing next to the wind senshi.
"Who's your young friend Haruka?" Setsuna asked, as she noted that the two could almost be called twins. Smiling, Haruka answered, "Setsuna, meet Haniko, my little sister. Haniko, this is Setsuna, our friend and housemate. Although, she's more like an annoying older sister."
Giggling at how her sister introduced the older woman, Haniko said, "Nice to meet you." Setsuna smiled at the young blond. "And you," she replied, "Haruka's told us quite a bit about you."
Haniko smiled back. "Good things, I hope." Haruka smirked, a mischievous look in her eyes. "Nah, I told them what an imp you are." She said with a wink. A few minutes later everyone was seated at the dinner table, digging in to the delicious meal.
Once everyone had a chance to eat some food Haniko responded to her sister's earlier tease. "If I'm an imp, what does that make you?" the younger Tenou adopted an innocent expression, causing laughter to ring out around the table.
A/N this a slight AU just to warn you. Enjoy!