What makes a family?
Chapter One
Haruka had been at work when the call came for her to return home as soon as possible, the urgency in her lover's voice compelling her to leave right before her lunch break with the promise that she would work double over the next few days to make up for the quarter shift.
I hope something didn't happen.
She thought as she sped down the highway toward the large victorian house that she shared with her lover and their best friend.
As she turned into the drive she noticed a black cadillac parked in her usual spot.
What the hell?
She wondered, pulling alongside it and putting it into park.
As soon as she walked into the door she was met by Michiru, who pulled her to the side.
"Haruka, we didn't want to make any large changes without consulting you first but do you remember Setsuna's cousin Keiko?"
The aqua haired girl asked, her voice almost too low for even Haruka to hear.
"What about her?" The blonde responded, her voice just as low as her brow knitted in confusion at how her lover was acting.
"Both Souichi and Keiko were killed earlier today in an accident. Their eight year old daughter was left with no other relatives besides Setsuna…."
Michiru trailed off, seemingly almost unsure of how to even bring this up in conversation with the blonde who only sighed.
"Then there is no choice is there? The kid deserves to be with family and I have heard enough horror stories about the foster system to know that I wouldn't want that for a child." Haruka responded.
Haruka felt her heart ache as she walked into the living room, noticing that a small girl dressed in a dark green school uniform sat on the window seat; head hung and face shielded by a wall of shoulder length black hair.
"Have you talked to her?" Setsuna asked as soon as she noticed that they had entered.
"Yes and we've decided that it would be best if you did gain custody of the girl." Michiru answered, her voice low and smooth as if she didn't want to cause Hotaru even more pain by reminding her of the events of earlier that day.
Haruka's eyes never left the eight year old, who hadn't so much as looked up as the adults talked.
Poor kid, she lost everything at such a young age.
As the more conversation turned more serious Setsuna, Michiru and the social worker moved to the kitchen leaving Haruka in the parlor with Hotaru.
Walking into the kitchen Haruka removed two bottles of Ramune from the fridge before returning to the living room.
"Here, I know you probably don't feel like it but I hate eating in front of people." she said softly, only to find herself almost being knocked over by the little girl who suddenly clung to her.
Haruka almost instantly knelt down, wrapping her arms around the girl.
Haruka wasn't sure what to say to the child or even if she had any right to say anything at all. However when the little girl clung to her, crying into the jacket that she had on Haruka was sure that she wasn't going to just let the child grieve alone.