Chapter 2: The Nanny

In the next morning, Haruka called a well-known company which provided nannies and other household employees to their customers. "Yeah…well, as fast as possible. Tomorrow? Yeah, that would be good." The blonde spoke into the receiver, while Hotaru stood next to her, holding her hand. Haruka looked down at her daughter and gave her a smile before she continued talking with the office clerk. "Okay, she'll be here at nine then? That's fine with me. Thanks a lot…bye." Haruka hung up the receiver and knelt down until she was eye to eye with her daughter. "Your Nanny will come tomorrow morning, at nine. I'll stay until she's here to find out if she's the right one for you, then I will go to work, okay?" Hotaru nodded and hugged her papa. "Okay, Daddy." She agreed. Haruka smiled and stood up again. "Now, shall we go and see if we can find some fancy restaurant for breakfast?" she suggested. Hotaru squealed with joy and hugged her Daddys legs. "That would be too cool, Daddy!" she cried out. Haruka picked her up on her strong arms – one hour of working out every day had led to the build up of pretty good muscles – and walked into the garage, where her car stood.

After a great breakfast, a stroll down the shopping street and a great lunch, Haruka and Hotaru made their way back home. Haruka was deep in thought while she drove down the street, and Hotaru stayed silent, listening to the radio. "I wonder what she is like." The little girl suddenly said. "Who?" Haruka replied absent-mindedly, earning a giggle and a light poke from Hotaru. "The nanny, of course!" "Oh." Haruka replied intelligently. "Well…if she isn't a nice lady, I'll send her away and make sure we get another one." She then promised. Hotaru nodded and smiled. "Thanks, Daddy." She then said. Haruka gave her a little smile and drove on.

The next morning, Haruka stood up at half past eight, put on her navy blue bathrobe – Miko had given it to her for her birthday, and looking at it brought another flash of pain to her heart – and woke Hotaru up. "Hey, Hotaru, get up. The nanny will be here soon." Haruka spoke, shaking her daughter. Hotaru opened her eyes and looked at her Daddy, feeling groggy. "Huh?" she responded. Haruka rolled her eyes and started again. "The nanny…" she got interrupted when the doorbell rang. "…is here." The blonde finished her sentence. Hotaru yawned and nodded. "I'll be up soon, Daddy." Haruka nodded and left the room, hurrying down the stairs and over to the front door. Upon opening it, Haruka found herself face to face with a young, beautiful woman, looking at her with a shy smile. "Tenoh Haruka?" the woman now spoke. Haruka just nodded, eyeing the girl suspiciously. "I'm Kaioh Michiru, the nanny for your daughter." The aqua haired woman now introduced herself. "Hello." Haruka finally spoke. "Come in." After one short look at the blonde, Michiru nodded and entered the house. Haruka closed the door behind her and spoke: "I'll be right back. You wait here." Michiru nodded, and the blonde walked away, leaving Michiru behind pondering. "My, when she opened the door, I got almost scared." The aqua haired girl thought to herself. The reason that she almost got scared wasn't Harukas face, though; it was the coldness and the hard expression in the blondes teal eyes that sent cold chills down Michirus spine. Slowly, the aqua haired girl started to look around, awing at the size and the beautiful furniture of the huge house. "Man, that woman has to be rich…" Michiru mused, her eyes glued to a painting that hung on the wall. She recognized the signature even from her position, which was pretty far away from the piece of art. "Van Gogh, I can't believe it." She talked out loud. "Why not?" the low, husky voice that came from behind startled Michiru, and she spun around on her heels, eyes wide. Haruka, now dressed in a gray Armani suit combined with white shirt and matching tie, stood behind her, a little girl at her side. Before Michiru could answer, the little girl already spoke up: "Are you my nanny?" "Yes." Michiru replied, smiling. She knelt down until she was at eyelevel with Hotaru and gave her a bright grin. "I'm Michiru. Do you want to tell me your name?" "Hotaru!" the girl cried out before pointing at Haruka. "And that's my Daddy, Haruka." Haruka eyed the aqua haired girl curiously, waiting for her reaction when Hotaru called her "Daddy". "That's nice." Michiru now spoke, still smiling. "And your mommy? Is she here too?" All of a sudden, Hotaru looked at Haruka worried, much to Michirus surprise. Harukas eyes darkened, and she pulled in a deep breath. "I have to go to work now." The blonde finally pressed out between clenched teeth. "Michiru, I want you take good care of Hotaru." Her voice was so cold that Michiru nearly shivered. "Yes, Tenoh-san." The aqua haired girl quickly spoke, straightening up and bowing. Haruka didn't say anymore, but turned around and walked so fast that she nearly ran out of the house, over to her car. Michiru and Hotaru were left behind, Michiru wondering what she had done wrong and Hotaru worrying over her Daddy.