Haruka and Michiru walked through the forest, holding hands, while Rover and Lord were running far ahead of them. Haruka was in an unusually good mood; she whistled while the two women walked through the wood, and a little bit later she suddenly growled at Michiru and yelled: "Here comes the forest monster!" Michiru shrieked and ran away, chased from her lover, until they reached a small glade. Haruka tackled her girlfriend, and the two of them landed in the soft grass, Michiru on top of Haruka. Haruka looked up at her lover smiling and ran a hand through her aqua colored hair, and Michiru bent down. The couple shared a long, gentle kiss while the two dogs barked in the distance. A small moan escaped Michiru when Harukas tongue entered her mouth and the kiss deepened. Finally, the two women broke apart, both out of breath. "I love you." Haruka whispered hoarsely. Michiru smiled. "I love you too, Haruka." The couple kissed again before they stood up. Haruka whistled for Rover and Lord, and the two animals came running with their tongues hanging out. "Time to go back." Haruka informed her two friends. She took Michirus hand into hers, and all four of them made their way back home.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon when the doorbell rang. "Honey, I think your mother is here!" Haruka called out to Michiru who was taking a shower. "Thanks sweetie!" Michiru shouted back, quickly jumped out of the shower, dried herself off and put on her long dark green bathrobe. Haruka took a seat in the living room, feeling extremely uncomfortable again. Meanwhile, Michiru opened the door and greeted the woman that stood on the doorstep. She looked a lot like Michiru; their eyes were the same, but her hair was a hint darker and already had gray streaks in. "Michiru, honey!" the woman now called out, and Michiru smiled and hugged her mother. "Welcome, mother." "Thanks, honey." The two of them smiled before Michiru took her mothers hand. "Haruka is in the living room. Do you want to go to her while I get dressed?" "Sure, I'm keen on meeting the person you love." Her mother grinned, and Michiru smiled. "Fine. I'll be right with you, just give me two minutes." The older woman nodded and walked into the living room. Haruka, who sat on the couch, literally jumped up to greet here. "Oh, you must be Haruka!" the older woman called out, rushing over to the stunned blonde. "Well…yes, yes I am." She stammered. Her surprise got even bigger when Michirus mother grabbed her and pulled her down to her, kissing her on both cheeks. "I'm Sakura." She informed the speechless blonde. "N-nice to meet you." Haruka stammered, blushing. "My pleasure." Sakura grinned. That was when Michiru entered the room, finally finished with getting dressed. "Mother, don't embarrass her!" she scolded when she saw Harukas red face. Sakura chuckled amused. "But why, dear, I didn't embarrass her." Haruka just stood there, gaping at the two woman in sheer disbelief. "Oh yes, you did." Michiru answered sternly. "Excuse me", Haruka suddenly butted in, "but…are you two always like that?" "Yes." Came the unison answer, and Haruka grinned from ear to ear. "Good. I think I like that."
Later that day, it happened that Sakura and Haruka were alone in the kitchen, since Michiru had developed the sudden urge to go down in the village and buy something for dinner. Haruka leaned on the table, her arms crossed over her chest, and watched how Sakura cleaned the whole place. "Hey", the older woman suddenly said, looking at Haruka smiling. "Could you help me here please? I have to remove that cupboard, so I can mop the dust away." "Sure." Haruka replied, walked over to Sakura and pushed the cupboard aside. "I'm happy my daughter chose you." Sakura suddenly said, catching Haruka completely off-guard. "Really?" the blonde asked surprised. "Yes. You seem to be a very nice and kind person, Haruka. The kind of person my daughter deserves." Haruka looked down on the floor, asking the question that was on her mind since Sakura had arrived. "And you don't mind…that?" the blonde asked, making a vague gesture at her scarred face. Sakura laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up. "Honestly, no I don't. I judge people after their character. And yours seems to be a good one." Haruka gave a weak smile. "Your daughter said the same thing to me. But I'm afraid that someone will try to hurt her because she's with me." Sakura smiled and patted Harukas back. "If anyone hurts my daughter, I'll rip his head off." She stated matter-of-factly. That was when the phone rang. Haruka went over and picked up the receiver: "Moshi moshi?" "Haruka, it's Goemon." The old shop owner panted into the phone. "Come down here fast. Michiru is in trouble." Haruka slammed the receiver down, grabbed her jacket and ran out to her car, followed by a fearful Sakura.
