This story was originally finished. 12-28-04
Edited. 5-1-08
I was wondering if I should ultimately continue this story even though it is complete…I kind of liked it and left the ending open for addition. I probably won't though. Enjoy you're read
Chapter 01: No Pads, No Helmets, Just Balls.
"Haruka, ever thought about adopting a child?" Michiru asked, as she snuggly sat wrapped in Haruka's arms.
"We've got Hotaru and Darkmoon. What do we need to adopt for?" Haruka replied.
"Well, I enjoyed helping to raise Hotaru; I want to do it again."
"But most little kids aren't like Hotaru was."
"So you don't like the Idea?"
"I don't mind but I think you should get a little more experience first."
"And how do you suppose I do that?" Michiru raised an eyebrow.
"You should help Minako out at the Nursery. Remember all the outers children are young. It is easy up until they learn to walk. It might be a good way to show you what it's like to have to chase something around twice as fast, six times smaller than you are, and won't hesitate to fight back." Haruka joked.
"Alright I'll ask her if she needs any help tomorrow."
"Are you sure? Tomorrow's Wednesday she'll have all of them…."
"I get your point; she'll need help with all of them I'm sure."
"Yeah but she'll have her kids too Alanna, Fawn, and Sora. That's a handful she's used to you're not."
"Are you saying I can't handle it," Michiru asked, half frustrated.
"I'm just saying it's overwhelming. By the first day you'll hate little kids." Haruka tried to reassure her.
"Ok, fine."
Haruka kissed her on the cheek. "I got to go I promised I'd pick a Mokato's children today"
"Tell Keitaru, Kailey, and Alan I said hello!" Michiru said waving bye to her love.
"I'll prove to her I can handle it." Michiru thought "First thing in the morning."
--
"Oh hello Michiru," Minako greeted her at the door to the nursery.
"Morning, I was wondering if you'd like some help today." Michiru said cheerfully.
"I'd love some help, Hotaru should be here in a little while with Elijah. Poor child is afraid of everything." Minako smiled, when a small silver hair boy walked over to her. He was not as young as the other ones; he was about eight years old.
"What can I do for you Keitaru?" Minako asked.
He looked down at his feet embarrassed.
"I forgot Alan's lunch in the car." Keitaru replied.
Before Minako could respond, Mokato walked through the door, wearing a white chef's uniform. In her hands was a lunch pail with a golden griffin on it. Over her shoulder was a black backpack.
"You forgot this also." Mokato said. Handing him the backpack; and Minako the lunch pail.
"Sorry," he said, pouting slightly.
"It's alright," she smiled, before messing up his shoulder length hair.
She turned to Minako. "Would you cut his hair for me? Not all the way but just to wear it's shorter in the front than it is in the back?"
"Sure, I don't think he'd have it any other way." She replied looking down and Keitaru.
"Hello Michiru, you volunteering to help today." She questioned.
Michiru nodded.
"You poor thing." Mokato said laughing, before looking at her children. "If I here you drove Michiru crazy I won't make brownies for a week."
They all nodded. Even the children that were not her kids nodded.
"See ya," She said walking out.
"Here let me show you around."
Michiru followed Minako around. Taking in where everything was. How it work and what time it was used.
The nursery was large. In main room, where she would spend most of her day the first wall she looked at was pained like the sky on a beautiful day. On another wall, there was a painting a thunderstorm.
She remembered the day she painted them, just as excited as every one else about the new arrivals.
The third wall was littered with pictures and finger paintings the children had done while they spent their time in the nursery. The last wall that one furthest from Michiru's was not as professionally done as the other walls. Against it there were four platforms with bar is high enough to keep a child from falling off but not climbing over. It looks as if each child had their own section that they got to paint.
Every thing around the room was labeled. There were four low bookcases, each one filled with different levels of books. There at least ten high school level books, that the 7-year-old children Marth and Irvine had read.
"I bet those two could put together an airplane if they tried hard enough." Michiru thought amused.
Beside that, we have all kinds of chairs and benches for them to sit on while reading.
In the corner across from that were six shelves high enough for even the youngest child to reach where all sorts of puzzles, baskets of different sized balls, some building blocks with the alphabet written on the sides. There were stuffed bears.
She noted the Keitaru had been holding one sense he walked in and giggled.
There was a whole collection of Tonka fire engines, compacts cars, and pickup trucks. It was Haruka's contribution to the Nursery. Next to that, there were animal cages. There was a small garden snake, a bird, and a ferret. Against the wall, there was an ant farm. A doghouse sat on the floor.
Michiru looked around for its owner. In the distance, playing with the small red head child, she knew as Alan; Mokato's youngest son was a well-groomed terrier mix.
Following Minako out of the main room, they entered a small kitchen. Insides were all the things a normal kitchen would have. The table short in order for the children to be able to see over it. There was an opening to a large yard with Three Picnic tables a jungle gym, and a swing set. There was also a mini basketball court and soccer goals.
In the next two rooms Minako showed her were where daily naps where held. The rooms were big enough for four bunk beds each, so there were eight children per room. Older children like Marth, Irvine, and Keitaru made it known that naps were for babies and therefore did not need beds for naps. Instead choosing to sleep in one of the large arms chairs with a book in hand.
Just when Michiru thought the tour was over Minako showed her the bathrooms. Then closet where all of the children's coats and extra blankets were. She then showed her another room much like the bathroom with a large tub in it.
"Dirt is their best friend." Minako said smiling.
"I can only imagine." Michiru shuddered.
The last room was really plan. It was all white and had a shelf with books and balls.
"This is the time out room; I rarely ever have to use it. Sometimes they chose to be difficult, and I have to send them here." Minako explained.
Michiru took one final look around; as they entered, the main room to find at least six more children had come during the tour.
"I'll warn you now; you might want to change cloths. If you leave the ones you have on now on, they will not look the same later. Trust me." Minako motioned for her to follow her to a room she had not shown Michiru before. "You can change into anything in here if you'd like. It'll save your clothes from disaster."
As Minako walked out Michiru opened the door that led to a walk in closet. Inside were all kinds of clothes all shapes and sizes she walked to the back in search of Minako's clothing. Towards the ends, she found shirts and a bunch of sweat pants, and a few pairs of jeans.
She pulled out gray sweats, and a white T-shirt.
Walking out she closed all the doors before going into the main room again.
"Hey that's mine!" one kid yelled.
"No, it's not!" a black haired girl yelled back at him.
"Well, now its mine" Minako said, taking the innocent turtle.
A small pale girl; with Purple eyes and raven black hair that dragged along the floor, walked towards Minako. Grabbing her pant leg the tugged lightly.
"Yes Elijah?" Minako answered looking down at her.
"She's really mine, mommy got her yesterday," she said, while playing with her fingers.
Minako smiled, and handed her the animal. "Keep an eye on her; you know how things around here get broken."
The girl nodded. Minako looked over at Michiru.
"Elijah you know Michiru"
"She's my grandma" Elijah replied, pretending to be interested in her turtle.
"Hey Elijah, what kind of turtle is that?" Keitaru asked. Taking her away to talk.
"Sea turtle," she said.
"Don't hit me!" Alan yelled, at a boy around his age.
This boy had cropped bluish blackish hair that hung just above his eyes. He was about 3 feet 4 inches tall, and had green eyes.
"Then don't hit me!" James yelled back.
"How about one of you goes and plays over there." Minako pointed toward the blocks.
"I'll go," Alan said picking up his things and putting them back.
Four blue balls flew passed Michiru. Turning she saw the culprits. Laughing they took the basket off the shelf. They each took four balls a different color for each kid. Marth held blue, Irvine held red, James held green, and Alan held yellow. They grinned wolfishly. Marth was the first one to throw her Balls at Michiru. Before she could block them three of them hit, Alan was next to throw his Balls at Michiru who blocked two but were hit in the side and the head with the other two. Before she could recover, James had thrown his four, while Irvine got ready to throw and Marth and Alan got four more of their color balls. They throw the rest of the balls all her, and giggled.
"Why you little…" she growled. Running toward them.
They laughed and ran in different directions.
Michiru chased Marth all over the place. Under tables, on the platforms, outside, through the kitchen. She was close to grabbing her when 12 balls flew at her. She stopped and turned to find three new culprits. Katy, Kailey, and Jennifer.
"No fair," Michiru mumbled.
"Just wait until we paint," an undertone voice said.
She looked down to find Elijah.
"I can only imagine,"
"No, you can't," Elijah said Matter-of-factly.
"And why can't I?"
"They like you, therefore you weep what you sow." Elijah replied.
"How about you give me a heads up on who does what, and how they normally act." Michiru implied.
"Sure, but it won't help," She looked past Michiru, at Marth who held four balls. Elijah glared at her for a second, before Marth dropped the balls pretending she never had them and walked off.
"Marth," She pointed at the tinted green haired girl. "Is intelligent and sneaky, she doesn't like being talked down to, and she hates being treated like the seven year old she is. Irvine…"
She pointed at Marth's red headed brother. "Is her right hand man, where ever she was he's there or somewhere close by. He is just as smart as she is, but do not underestimate him. He is fiercely loyal to his sister, and likes to be treated the same way she does. Alan…"
She pointed at Mokato's youngest redheaded son. "He's affected by anything people do. He is just getting used to being around large groups of kids. However, he is nice until you hit him or something. Then he starts to cry, he is sort of a baby. Keitaru…"
She pointed at Mokato's oldest. "He gets along well with everyone except his younger brother who he thinks is trying to replace him. However, you know Keitaru I am sure. Every one does. Kailey..."
She pointed at Mokato's Middle child. "Is Alan's protector, she protects him from Keitaru who picks on him for being such a wimp all the time. She is nice and well mannered. Nevertheless, do not take her kindness for granted. She has a temper like Haruka's and it flares quickly. James..."
She pointed at the boy who had thrown the green balls at her.
"I used to think his name was demon. He is bad, and does not like anyone. He does not mean to be the way he is. He just generally hates every one. He has a hard time following orders, and he talks back. He has his share of tantrums. However, Minako has ways of dealing with those. Camille..."
She pointed at a small girl in the corner putting together a puzzle. "She very forward and won't hesitate to tell you what's on her mind. However, watch out she notices and hears everything. She senses fear and nervousness and will poke at it every chase she gets. Chloe…"
She pointed at another girl who was trying to decide which book she would read next. "She rarely every pays attention to what's happening around her. Yet she can tell you everything that did happen and most likely will. She is kind of like our spy what ever goes down anywhere she knows about it or can find out. She is just as cunning as Marth. Jenny…"
She pointed at yet another girl who was having a conversation with someone else. "Very observant and catches on to things quickly. She is also very nimble. Katy…"
She pointed at the girl talking to Jenny. "All around friendly and she are very talkative. Alanna…"
She pointed At Minako's oldest child. "Everything I just said about every one except James applies for her. She is not afraid of anything. You hit her she will hit you back. She always has her wits about. You get five questions…"
Michiru started at the young girl. "What about you?"
"I am Unpredictable. Four more questions…" She said, her eyes scanning the room.
"How do you think I'll do?"
"Must I really answer that question?" she said, answering a question with a question.
"Thanks for the support," Michiru said sarcastically.
"Supporting you is Haruka's job. Not mine," She replied.
She looked over at where she had left her turtle and found James getting ready to draw on her. She walked over a picked up her turtle.
"Hey put that back," He said balling up his fist ready to hit her.
"No," She said looking him square in the eyes.
He quickly balled his fingers into a fist and lunged for her; before he could touch her, every child, except who wasn't paying attention Keitaru, in the room jumped him.
Minako, Keitaru, and Michiru ran over to break them up.
Each of them grabbed a collar. As Keitaru roughly grabbed James picking him up by his shirt.
"Don't you ever ball a fist up at her again! Or I'll personally kick you ass," he threatened dropping him.
"Watch your language," Minako said. patiently she stared down at James. "Now what were you going to do with that marker?" she asked him half expecting a lie.
"I was going to draw." He answered.
"On?" Minako asked.
He pointed at Elijah's turtle.
"Now why in the world would you draw on her turtle?"
"Cause its ugly."
"You have no right to talk," Elijah mumbled.
"Shut up." James said earning a kick from Keitaru.
"Don't kick him," Michiru scolded.
"I told you not to draw on anything besides paper. Did I not?"
"Yes"
"Time out," She pointed to the back room.
"No! I won't try again I promise." He started to beg.
"Time out." she said firmly.
"No!" he yelled at her.
"Ten minutes…"
"I'm not going!" he continued to scream.
"Fifteen…"
"No." he said, still refusing.
"Twenty…" She snapped and Keitaru grabbed him.
"Fight me I dare you," Keitaru said.
James socked him in the arm trying to twist out of the eight year olds grip. Never letting go, Keitaru pulled him in a headlock and dragged him towards the timeout room. Opening the door a pushed him inside.
"Go read or something." Keitaru said. Closing the door.
He smiled at Elijah on the way back.
"What are you going to name her?" He asked indicating to the turtle.
"Mokato" she joked.
"No really," he said frowning.
"I was thinking about naming her X-ray," Elijah said looking at the animal.
"Why X-ray?" he asked.
"It looks like she's looking through you."
"Then we should call you X-ray" he said still smiling. "You look through us."
"I don't look through you." She said, his smile brightening even more.
"Yay," He said, pulling her into conversation about something else.
"For an eight year old she scares me," Michiru said, causing Minako to laugh.
"You'll get used to it. I have," Minako said watching the two. "He has such a huge crush on her."
"That's obvious" Michiru giggled. "You're not really going to leave him in there for ten minutes are you?"
"Would I torture a child like that?" Minako smiled.
"I don't know any more."
Alanna walked over to Michiru.
"They're planning something." She said pointing toward Irvine, Marth and Alan.
"Thanks" she walked over the three huddled little people and picked up Marth. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing," Marth lied.
"Awe come on you can tell me." Michiru coaxed.
"We're not planning anything" Marth insisted.
"Out trick the trickster." A low voice behind her spoke.
Marth had obviously not heard it.
"Well then you can hang out with me for a little while." Michiru smiled. Walking away with her. She looked behind her to see Irvine following them. "He's fiercely loyal." she remembered Elijah's words.
"Hang out, huh?" Marth asked suspiciously. "What if I don't want to hang out?"
"Then you'll be miserable, just like I was when you through those balls at me."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope,"
"How long is this going to last?"
"Until you tell me what you're up too,"
"Are you kidding me?" she whined.
"No."
"Irvine caught up to her."
"I got to go," he said.
"Go where,"
"Go you know,"
"He has to take a whiz," Marth said bluntly.
"Suck language for a lady." Michiru shook her head and sat Marth down.
"You can't go by yourself?" She asked.
"No, it will eat me unless you stand outside the door." he said,
"Duh, everyone knows the toilet is evil," Marth peeped in.
"Fine," Michiru followed Irvine to the bath. Standing out side. He came out two minutes later.
"I missed."
"You missed?" Michiru asked raising her eyebrow.
"I missed."
"Missed what?"
"The toilet."
"The toilet?"
"Right…"
"How'd you miss? the toilets huge for someone you size! How can you possibly miss?"
"I missed. My aim was a bit off."
Michiru opened the bathroom door to see at least three puddles of urine.
"Did any of it make it in?"
"Just a few squirts," he replied.
Marth laughed. Falling over onto the floor, she held her stomach.
"Okay how you are going to get that up," Michiru asked him.
"What'd you mean how's he going to get it up. That's your job." Marth said between gasps.
"Oh no. I'm not cleaning that," Michiru said shaking her head. As Minako walked into the bathroom.
"Michiru could you clean this up please?" Minako gave her puppy eyes.
"Umm."
"Thanks, I'll get lunch ready." Minako hurried away not giving Michiru time to say "no."
"Get to work," Marth said sticking her tongue out at her.
"I'll get you two for this." Michiru sighed. He did this to free his sister.
"This isn't so bad," Michiru walked away from the scene to get cleaning materials.
"Shame on you," Elijah stated. "Letting them get the best of you like that."
"And what would you have done." Michiru asked slightly annoyed.
"It's not a question of what I would have done, because I will never have too." Elijah retorted.
"Do you always sound like your mother?"
"If I'm lucky,"
Grabbing the mops she went back only to find that once again someone had come in and missed, but at least this time it did not look like it was on purpose. Wetting the broom, she mopped the floor.
"You have to dry it too." Chloe said from the doorway. "I can help if you'd like."
"No, it's alright." Michiru said shaking her head.
"Marth never acts like that. She must really dislike you." Chloe remarked.
"She doesn't even know me," Michiru said.
"She doesn't have to know you," Chloe retorted.
"Can you tell me about Elijah?"
"You don't know your own granddaughter?"
"She's never spoken that much."
"Well, there really only one word to describe her…"
"Let me guess, unpredictable?"
"Will you let me answer the question?" Chloe asked frustrated. "Paradoxical, was what I was going to say."
"Lunch," Minako called, as she walked down the hall toward the time out room to let James out.
"Do I eat also or give my food over to Marth?" Michiru sighed.
"If you don't eat I'm sure Haruka would have my head." Minako laughed. "By the way she called."
"What'd you say?" Michiru began to worry.
"I told her you weren't here," Minako laughed.
"Why'd you tell her that?"
"Because if you had wanted her to know you were here, she wouldn't have called asking if you were." Minako notified her. "I'm not as dumb as everyone thinks I am."
"But you have to admit. The myth isn't a total lie," Michiru giggled. "I think Haruka's life goal is to prove me wrong. She does the weirdest things every morning."
"Do I even want to know?"
"Well she gets up every morning and looks in the mirror and the only thing she concentrates on is her…"
"Can we eat now?" James yelled at Minako, cutting off Michiru.
"You can eat when you learn some manners." Michiru replied.
He lifted his foot and kicked her in the knee before screaming, "Nobody asked you!"
Michiru glared at the little boy, the grip on her knee tightening; pretending it was his neck. It was not working. She lunged out for him.
"I'll make sure Ami wishes she never had you!" Michiru said running after him.
"Michiru!" Minako screamed running after them. "You're not allowed to break him."
Minako ran faster. Hoping to catch up with Michiru before she hurt the small boy.
They ran out side, through the main room and into the napping area. Where she found Michiru holding the boy face down on the floor.
"Michiru, you're acting like Marth." Minako said, grabbing Michiru's arms and pulling her off James.
"He hurt my knee." Michiru whined.
"He's hurt my knee more times then he'll ever hurt yours." Minako said trying to catch her breath. "And I don't think Ami will appreciate you killing her only child."
"She can have another one," Michiru snapped. Glaring at the child huddled in the corner trying to get as far away from Michiru as possible.
"I'll call Haruka and tell her to come and get you." Minako warned.
"Fine" Michiru said glaring at him one more time before untangling herself from Minako and walking into the kitchen where Elijah sat at the table eating a sandwich. The other kids sat outside eating their lunches on the picnic table.
"You shouldn't have acted so irrationally." Elijah scolded.
"Thanks, I needed to hear that from a eight year old." Michiru sighed. "This isn't working out."
"Then stop stooping to their level," Elijah replied.
"What are you purposing I do?"
"A resolution is in order." Elijah drawled.
"If I don't think of anything that sounds promising I'll come back."
"You have three questions left," Elijah informed her. "Start with the quieter ones first"
--
"I have a bad feeling about this," Haruka said looking across the table at Setsuna.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because, I really don't think she'll drop this subject." Haruka sighed.
"Oh believe me, she'll hate it" Setsuna said confidently.
"And what makes you so sure?" Haruka asked suspiciously.
"I've helped Minako a few times, and never was it the walk in the park raising Hotaru was."
"Setsuna…" Haruka growled.
"What? For once I'm not up to anything." Setsuna said with a smirk.
"I've known you far to long, to ignore the feeling 'I'm getting out of this conversation." Haruka grinned. "I would hate having a child in the house to ruin our fun."
"If you're lucky the children will rain supreme." Setsuna raised her glass in toast, grinning evilly.
Keitaru 8,
Kailey 6,
Alan 4
Alanna 7,
Sora 6,
Fawn 4.
Marth 7,
Irvine 7
Elijah 9
James 5
Camille 7
Chloe 5
Jenny 5
Katy 5