Chapter 6: Getting To Know Her

When Haruka awoke again, she found herself – much to her surprise – lying in her bed. Groaning, the blonde closed her eyes again and tried to remember what had happened. The last thing she could think about was that she had wanted to get some papers from the living room, then everything was black. Her attention was torn from her thoughts when the door to her bedroom opened and Michiru poked her head in. "Hey, you're awake." The aqua haired girl spoke as soon as she noticed that Haruka had her eyes open, entering the room. Haruka just nodded before a heavy coughing fit shook her. Michiru sat down on the edge of her bed and gave her a worried look. "You are really ill, Tenoh-san." She finally spoke. "The doctor said that you have to stay in bed for two weeks, and…" "Two weeks?" Haruka shouted, though she immediately regretted it, since another coughing fit shook her athletic body. Michiru flinched at the sudden outburst of her boss, but nodded. "Yes." She replied, already fearing another outburst from the blonde. "You see, you developed a pretty bad case of influenza, and…" "I can't stay in bed for two weeks!" Haruka interrupted her again, sounding angered. "I have a company to run!" Now Michiru got angry, too. "Well, fine then, if you want to play with your life, get out of bed and run your company." She shot back, furious. "But just to inform you, it is possible to die from influenza, and that's what will happen to you if you don't stay in bed and do what the doctor tells you." Michirus voice became softer when she spoke the next sentence. "Hotaru already lost her mom, do you want her to loose her daddy, too?" Haruka opened her mouth to reply something, then realized that she didn't know what to say, and closed it again. "You're so like my mother." She finally spoke, earning a cute little giggle from Michiru. "I guess I can live with that. Now, do you want something to eat? I made soup." Haruka made a face. "Actually, I don't really like soup…but…okay, I'll have some." Michiru smiled and stood up to get the soup; as soon as she was out of the door, Hotaru burst into the room, smiling broadly. "You're awake, Daddy! I was so worried." The little girl spoke while jumping on the bed and climbing on her papas lap, who now sat up. "No need to, Hotaru. You know, I'm a tough one." The blonde replied, winking at her daughter. Hotaru giggled and hugged her daddy. "I know, Daddy. But I was still worried!" Haruka smiled and tousled Hotarus hair in reply. That was when the door opened again and Michiru entered the room, carrying a tray with a plate of steaming hot soup and a glass of tea on it. "Here you go, Tenoh-san." She spoke smiling before sitting tray down on Harukas legs. "Thanks." The blonde mumbled. Hotaru climbed off her lap, so she could eat, and sat down in the empty half of the double bed. Haruka started to eat, and to her surprise, she even liked the soup, although she normally hated it. "Do you like it?" Michiru asked, a mixture of hope and fear in her voice. Haruka nodded, and the aqua haired girl broke into a wide smile. Soon, Haruka had finished the soup, and Michiru made her take her medicine. "I hate pills." Haruka grumbled as soon as she had swallowed them all. Michiru gave her a sympathetic look. "Me too. But if you don't take them, you'll be ill forever." "I know that!" Haruka snapped, returning to her cold and unfriendly ego for a second. She saw the hurt look in Michirus eyes and let out a little sigh. "Sorry." She finally spoke. Michiru stayed silent and picked up the tray to carry it back into the kitchen. She left the room, and Haruka let out a little sigh. "You shouldn't be so mean to Michiru, Daddy." Hotaru suddenly piped up. "She's just worried for you." Haruka let out another sigh. "I know." She then spoke. Hotaru hugged her again, then climbed off the bed. "You need to sleep, Daddy. I'll let you rest now." With that, the little girl left the room, and Haruka let fall herself back on the pillow. Soon, she was fast asleep again.

While Haruka wandered off into dreamland, Michiru sat in the kitchen, trying to hold her tears back. She didn't know why Harukas cold behavior upset her so much, but what she knew was that it had hurt when Haruka had snapped at her before. "I just want to help her." Michiru thought to herself. "Is that so wrong? Why doesn't she let me help her?" Hotaru entered the kitchen, interrupting the aqua haired girls thoughts. "Michiru? Are you okay?" the little girl asked, looking up at her nanny. Michiru sniffled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry." "Daddy didn't mean to snap at you." Hotaru now spoke. "She never means it. You know, sometimes, she does it to me, too. As soon as you're getting to know her better, you'll understand." Michiru gave her a smile and nodded. "Getting to know her…I guess this will be easy now, seeing that she has to stay in bed for two weeks, right?" the aqua haired girl then spoke. Hotaru giggled and nodded. "Yes Michiru! Way to go!" Michiru laughed and patted Hotaru's head. "You're a wonderful girl, Hotaru." She then said. Hotaru gave her a smile and replied: "And my Daddy is wonderful, too. You'll see!"