The days passed by but I never got used to seeing that empty room. I never got used to seeing those rustling untouched magazines. I never got used to seeing the house so clean. I never got used to waking up in the mornings with no noise. I never got used to walk into an empty house and not smell weird foods in the kitchen. I never got used to living without my sister. A month after the accident I was sitting in the living room. I had stopped eating a lot and I had stopped going out. The phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi Michiru-chan! It's Suma!"

"Hey Suma-chan,"

"Well I was going to ask you a favor."

"Oh?"

"Well see how Kuchiri used to work with us?" I stiffened.

"Yeah?"

"Well I was wondering if you could fill her spot at the day care. We really need someone and I know that you are reliable." She said hurriedly, as if life was rushing by her. One thing that scared me was how easily people were willing to replace Kuchiri. I could never do that.

"Well I am not sure..."

"Please?" she pleaded, "Look as soon as we get a replacement, someone reliable, and you can leave. We will pay you considerably well. Please?"

"Ok I'll do it." I told her sighing.

"Thank you so much Michiru!" she said breathing in relief, "Come in from tomorrow and start as soon as possible. See you then."

"Yes, see you." I replied. After I hung up, I thought about it for a minute. The only time I left the house was when I visited the counselor. My paintings were sold through the agent. It was a good opportunity to go out and breathe some fresh air. Maybe it was a good idea.

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"Well that is great news, but I don't have a baby sitter now." I said looking solemnly at Usagi.

"Oh I am so sorry Haruka-san!" Usagi said her eyes glowing like she had the whole universe in her hand. Hotaru took wobbly steps around the room paying no attention.

"This is what I have always wished for." Usagi said, "I just can't believe that they called me right in the middle of the year. I actually thought I had no chance after they refused my application in the beginning of summer!"

"I am really happy for you Usagi." I smiled, "I guess I will just have to drop Hotaru at the day care then. I never like those places, but that's where she will be until I get a new baby sitter."

"Yeah, I guess so." Usagi said crooning over her dream of going to university. I watched Hotaru giggle and play.

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"Michiru so glad you can make it!" Suma said when I walked in.

"Thanks." I said softly.

"Now we got a whole bunch of kids. But we got a new kid in today and she won't stop crying. Maybe you can handle her, see if you can get her to stop crying. God, her wails are so loud." Now that she mentioned it I could hear wails all the way into her office. I cringed at the thought of crying babies all day.

When we walked into the children's room, I saw a girl trying to handle a squirming baby. Looking closer I suddenly realized that this was the same dark haired baby that I had met at the hospital.

"What's her name?" I asked.

"It's Hotaru."

"Hey Hotaru!" I said and walked closer to her. Suddenly she stopped squirming and looked at me with large tear filled eyes. Then her lower lip protruded and she got ready to cry again.

"Aw, come on you naughty little firefly." I said and took her in my arms. She sniffed and looked at me, then reached up and slapped my face.

"Ow!" I said and Suma and the other girl jumped up to my aid.

"No," I told them, "Let her. Let's see what she does." She kept looking at me for five seconds then she took a handful of my hair and grinned at me, pulling it lightly. Her toothless mouth had one tiny tooth in it now.

"She likes you!" Suma exclaimed.

"Yeah, no one else could handle her." The girl said, "I am Tumoko."

"I am Michiru." I said smiling.

"Yeah, I heard. I knew Kuchiri and I truly miss her. You have talent with kids just like she did." She said smiling.

"Thanks." I said. I didn't know what else to say when people started to feel pity for me. Hotaru pulled gently at my hair again.

"You want to take responsibility for that one?" Tumoko asked, "Since she would not let anyone else touch her." With this Tumoko reached out to touch Hotaru's cheek and as if to prove Tumoko's words true, Hotaru turned her cheek away and pressed her face into my shoulder. I could feel wetness start at my shoulder. This was going to be a long day.

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I was extremely tired. I had to work overtime today and I hated it so much. Now I had to go to the day care center and pick Hotaru up. Sighing I drove toward the place. When I got there, most of the kids were gone.

"Hello Suma-san," I smiled at the day care manager.

"Haruka-san!" she said, "Hotaru is in the play room."

"Did she give you too much trouble?"

"Well at the beginning yes, but then she got attached to one of the girls and it was fine." Suma smiled at me.

"I heard that you also assign baby sitters?"

"Yeah," she replied, "Why? Do you need one?"

"Yeah," I replied, "My baby sitter just had to go away. So I need a new one."

"Ok, I will find someone."

"Make sure it's someone who can handle her good." I said to her, "She was really attached to the last baby sitter. She usually takes a long time to like people."

"Ok then." Suma nodded and I smiled and went to look for Hotaru.

I found Hotaru sitting on the ground trying to build a block tower. I watched as she placed a blue block on the top and then clapped. Then she rammed her hands into the tower making it tumble down on her. She squealed loudly as it did.

"Ok that's enough tower destroying for you today, little Godzilla." I said chuckling and she looked at me and reached her hands out. As soon as I picked her up she wrapped her arms around my neck tightly.

"You missed me, didn't you?" I asked. No reply. I walked toward outside. Then I felt her grip loosen. She was sleeping. I smiled as I strapped her into the car seat and kissed her forehead. Then I drove home.