Chapter 2
"Uncle Haruka! Uncle Haruka, wake up!" Haruka groaned as she felt a light weight jump on her back. Turning her head, sliding her tousled hair from beneath the large pillow, she cast a sleepy glare to the excited five-year-old. "Auntie Michi, Uncle Haruka's awake!" Hotaru called as she proceeded to throw the pillow from her uncle's hands and shake roughly at Haruka's shoulders'.
Michiru entered from the bathroom she'd slipped into moments before and smiled at her grumbling lover. "Haruka, don't tell me you forgot Sestuna had us taking care of Hotaru for the next two weeks." She leaned against the door lightly, Haruka felt wakefulness slap her in the face as she saw Michiru.
Michiru's aqua hair was still wet from the bath she'd just gotten out of, a blue towel wrapped around her loosely. Haruka's eyes followed a water drop down Michiru's long neck before it slipped beneath the towel. "Uncle Haruka!" Hotaru's sudden yell into her ear broke Haruka of her fantasizing.
"Hey, Hime-Chan." Haruka said as she tousled her nieces' hair playfully. "How are you?" Hotaru babbled after the open-ended question was asked, seeming to tick things off on her small fingers. Haruka chuckled and nodded at the right times, eyes flickering between the hyper child and her amused lover. "That's great, Hime-Chan. But could you do something for me?" Hotaru quickly quieted and stared wide-eyed up at the blonde. "Get me a glass of water from the kitchen? Thank you, Hime-Chan." Haruka called as Hotaru ran from the room.
"You did remember we said we'd have her for the next two weeks, right?" Michiru asked quietly as she slid the towel from around her body and slid on her clothing for the day.
"Yeah. Just didn't know those two weeks, where These two weeks." Haruka explained, running her hands through her hair and across her face before she stood and went to the bathroom.
"You don't mind, do you?" Haruka shot her a look after Michiru asked the question. Michiru smiled and nodded, moving a piece of blonde hair behind Haruka's ear. "Good. Get dress, Hotaru will be back soon."
"Hey!" Haruka yelped, causing Michiru to turn around from her pursuit to the bedroom. "You forgot something." Michiru tapped a finger to her lips as she looked thoughtful, eyes playfully looking around the room.
"I did? Now what could I forget?" Michiru finally asked, her eyes landing purposefully on Haruka's pouting features. "Oh, that's right." She moved closer to the blonde, reaching up to her cheek. "I forgot to give you a morning kiss." Haruka nodded exaggeratedly and puckered her lips. Michiru laughed and gave her a rather deep kiss. "Hotaru, you dress." She said when she pulled away—the little girl could be heard in their bedroom. Haruka chuckled when she saw the clothes neatly piled on the bathroom counter.
A quick shower and clothes' change later the threesome sat at the dining room table, eating breakfast while Hotaru babbled away about the time spent sense their last visit. Haruka nodded and chuckled, attention caught between her small niece and the phone that refused to ring. Michiru seemed to notice her split attention and grabbed Hotaru 's babble towards her.
"Do you want to go to the new amusement park, Hime-Chan?" Haruka asked when Hotaru took a breath. Michiru shot her a look around the table, something between 'is-everything-okay' and 'you-know-what-Setsuna-would-say'.
"Really? Can we, Uncle Haruka, Auntie Michiru?" Hotaru asked, wide-eyed as she looked between them.
"Of course, Hotaru." Michiru said with a smile as Haruka nodded. Hotaru squealed, jumping from her chair to squeeze Michiru in a hug before running to Haruka and jumping in her lap to explain what she wanted to do there. "Hotaru, will you help me collect plates'?" Hotaru pouted a little bit but conceded when she felt Haruka pat her back a little in encouragement.
Haruka lifted her hands up when Michiru stood in front of her. "I know what your going to say—"
"Do you? Well I'll say it anyway, Haruka you are going to be responsible when Setsuna hears about this, because you know she will." Michiru stated calmly, giving her surprised blonde a smile. "I wouldn't make Hotaru sad, but I don't want to face Setsuna's wrath." Haruka simply nodded, watching Michiru walk away as Hotaru called for her.
--
Makoto woke with a jerk, a hard kick to her stomach rolling her from the steps. "Wake up!" The husky voice was nothing more than a growl that promised violence. She blinked, squinting up as a black form followed down the steps. "Come on, get up." When Makoto slowly got her eyes adjusted and stood she noticed the man was an unshaven, beer belly cop whose uniform was notably too tight for his arm and stomach. And the tie he wore seemed to be choking him, his face red and forever in a scowl.
"Now, what have I told you vermin about being seen in public." That's when Makoto saw the baton in his hand, she winced every time it smacked into the open palm of his other hand. "Now I have to bring you in, file papers', and waist my time." A smile split his thin lips, spittle pooled at the corner of his lips. "Or you could do me a favor." Instead of waiting for her answer he grabbed her arm and pulled her around the corner.
"See," He growled as Makoto leaned against the wall he'd thrown her to, "I can be fair to everyone." Makoto's almost lifeless green eyes narrowed a bit as he started unzipping his pants. Makoto growled and tipped her head down, thoughts running through her head. "Hey! Look at your superior!" He yelled, grabbing for the baton he'd slid back into his belt. Makoto looked up, but as she did she almost moved her hands. "What are you—" His words where cut off when Makoto's hands around his neck tightened. His wide, watery eyes bulged even more, red face turning purple.
She didn't say anything as she let him go, breathing a sigh of mixed relief and disappointment when she heard him unconsciously gasping for breath. She walked away, to the subway she knew no one would probably be on right now, maybe she could get some more sleep before hunger took over again.
Just as she'd predicted no one but a few scattered business and college students where around, waiting for the train. When the train approached she winced at the bright lights when she got on. She moved to the only empty car and stretched her long body out on a seat, wincing at the aches and pains she knew where from where the officer had obviously been trying to wake her up before.
The next stop required Makoto to open her eyes briefly. Only a small woman with short blue hair, looking tired and physically weary, entered the car she was on. The woman took the seat across from Makoto, giving her a smile when she saw Makoto's green eyes looking at her. Makoto quickly gave a small smile back, surprised at her eagerness, before she bit it back and closed her eyes. The blue-haired woman didn't say anything, simply took her book out and read.
Makoto snoozed through the ride, again opening her eyes at the next two stops, but the woman didn't leave and no one else entered the car. The thirst stop the woman stood and Makoto felt her heart drop a little, she'd enjoyed watching the young woman while she'd read. But instead of doing anything she just opened her eyes briefly than closed them again.
"Here." Makoto opened her eyes in surprise at hearing a soft voice speak directly above her. The blue-haired woman was holding out a neatly wrapped sandwich to her. "You look hungry." Was all she said before she set the sandwich down on the seat beside Makoto and exited the car. Makoto watched her with wide eyes before looking at the sandwich. Maybe she wouldn't go as hungry today. Makoto thanked the woman in her mind as she unwrapped a corner of the sandwich. She moaned quietly at the first real food she'd had in what seemed like forever.