Disclaimer: Sorry for not updating yesterday. I was running on very little sleep, and I had a bit of writers block.
Chapter 36:
When Kyle got over to Yuiko and her dad he saw that his friend was trying to hold it together.
"She looks ready to snap."
Kyle thought, watching as Yuiko's eye twitched as her father went on and on about something.
Seeing that he friend was close to breaking, Kyle decided to make his presence known.
"Hi Yuiko, hi Mr. Akagi."
Kyle greeted, waving to the pair.
"Hello Kyle, how are you this evening?"
Mr. Akagi asked.
"I'm well, thank you. How are you?"
"I'm doing pretty well myself. Why don't you join us?"
"Oh no, I couldn't. Besides I wouldn't want to impose on your visit with Yuiko."
"It's really no trouble at all. Please join us, I insist."
"Well uhhhhhh...okay."
Kyle then took a seat across from Yuiko and her father. Yuiko then mouthed a silent thank you to him, for getting her out of the conversation she was currently having with the man she loathed so much.
As Kyle and her father chatted, Yuiko took the opportunity to sneak away.
Meanwhile, Setsuna had just finished up her conversation with the doctor and had joined the rest of her family in visiting with Haruka.
"How have you been holdin' up?"
Setsuna asked, giving Haruka a hug.
"I've been okay. I just wish I could go home though."
"I know. And speaking of which, I wanted to talk to you about that."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Michiru asked.
"I'd rather see find out sooner than later."
Haruka looked at both women with confusion.
"What's going on? Why do you need to talk to me about my going home? I'm coming home in three days, right?"
"The hospital won't release you to me, until I get my foster care license."
"So I have to stay with my dad?"
"That's what I was discussing with the doctor. He filed the report against your dad, and a social worker is coming by tomorrow to talk with you. You're gonna need to be open and honest with them about everything, is that understood?"
Haruka gave a nod.
"Good. Now as far as your time here goes you were originally going to stay until I got my foster care license."
"How long would that take?"
"Three to six months."
"What?!"
"I figured that would your reaction, but at the time it was the only way you wouldn't go to your dad. However, a third option has opened up."
"What's the third option?"
"The doctor knows a couple that does foster care. He talked to them about you and they'd be willing to take you in. So instead of staying here for three to six months, you'll get out in two days, provided of course you behave and then you'll go live with them until I get my license."
Haruka sat in silence, trying her best to process all the information she had just been given to her.
"Are you alright?"
Setsuna asked, giving Haruka's hand a gentle squeeze.
"I don't want to go live with strangers. I want to go home."
Haruka sniffled, feeling another breakdown coming.
Setsuna then instructed Hotaru to go sit on Michiru's lap. She then pulled Haruka into her lap and held her close.
"I know you want to, but unfortunately you can't. Right now the most important thing is keeping you safe. Also, the doctor assured me that the couple that's willing to take you in is very nice. He's also arranged for them to meet with you tomorrow along with the social worker."
"Okay."
"I know you're upset, but right now this is for the best."
"Are you going to come visit me in the foster home?"
"We'll try to visit you as much as we can. But the thing is, you'll be ten hours away."
"I don't want to be that far away."
Haruka was now in tears and crying in Setsuna's arms.
"Shh, shh it's okay."
Setsuna whispered, rubbing Haruka's back and gently rocking her back and forth.
Within a few moments Haruka's sobs had died down into quiet sniffles.
"How did you do that?"
A nurse that had been observing them asked.
"It's easy. Whenever she gets upset, it's best to hold her and comfort her. I'll warn you though, she'll probably resist you at first. She used to push me away all the time when I tried to hold her while she was upset. Now she pretty much goes right to me whenever she's upset."
"That's good to know. It's probably a good thing she was asleep when we put the feeding tube in."
"How long do I have to wear it for?"
Haruka asked.
"That's entirely up to you. If you start eating on your own then we'll take the tube out. Until then you'll have to have it in."
"Oh, okay."
"How about we take the tube out tomorrow during dinner and see how you do, okay?"
"Okay, but what if I don't eat?"
"Then the tube will go back in until you do. I'm hoping you do eat though, we usually only like to tube feed people for a short period of time."
"Please eat something, Haruka-papa."
Hotaru pleaded, giving Haruka her best puppy dog pout.
"You taught her that, didn't you?"
Haruka asked, giving Michiru a deadpan look.
"I haven't the foggiest idea as to what you're talking about."
Michiru said, feigning innocence. Haruka just rolled her eyes at her.
"Oh don't sit there and try to act so innocent. You've used that same puppy dog look on me before."
"It was only once. You on the other hand have used it multiple times."
"She's got you there."
Hotaru said.
"Whose side are you on?"
"You know I'm always on your side, Haruka-papa. But Michiru does have a point about you use the puppy dog pout more than once."
"It's not my fault she falls for it every time I use it."
"I can't help it that I think you're cute."
Haruka crossed her arms, then glared at Michiru.
"I'm not cute."
"Keep telling yourself that."
Michiru said, patting Haruka's head. Haruka grumbled out a few profanities and swatted Michiru's hand away.
"Perhaps me being away for three to six month will be good for me. You tease me too much."
"Oh hush now, you love it when I tease you."
"Only during sex."
"I didn't need to hear that."
Hotaru said, looking disgusted.
"What's worse, the comment your Haruka-papa just made or having to watch that video in your health class yesterday?"
Setsuna asked.
"Definitely the video."
"What video was it?"
Haruka asked.
"The Miracle of Life."
Hotaru said, watching as Haruka visibly shuddered.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm okay. It's just, that movie. Oh god I can't believe I had to watch that."
"Actually you've only see half of it. You got sick halfway through the video and Setsuna had to bring you home."
"Half was enough. Besides I'm gay, I don't need to see how babies are made. I was perfectly fine thinking the stork brought me, but no. My innocence just had to be ruined."
"I believe hime-chan's was ruined more, she saw the whole video."
Michiru said.
"It was very...educational."
Hotaru said, looking ill.
"My poor baby."
Haruka said, patting Hotaru's head. Haruka and the rest of her family then used the rest of their visiting time to talk about how things have been going for everyone so far.
End of chapter 36:
A/N: Finally finished with this chapter, and I have an idea for the next one so I'll get working on it soon. Until next time, this is PokémonSoulMaster93 signing out.