Author's Note: Here's the next chapter that a few people have been hanging
out for. I hope you all like it.
A pair of teal eyes scanned over the web page in front of them, brow furrowed as they read through one of the 200 pages of the accident report that happened only 3 months ago. Even now, the whole investigation wasn't complete, nowhere near done. But this was all that Haruka Tenoh had left of the one she had shared close to 6 years with, the summary of a brilliant life that had "Tragically been cut short."
"It is the preliminary finding of this investigation that the destruction of flight QF214 was caused by an improved explosive device, most probably planted by someone unassociated with any terrorist groups."
"Daddy?" came a small voice from the door of the study. Haruka quickly closed down the window, there was no reason for her daughter to be traumatized by the truth of her mother's death.
"What's up Himme-chan? Had another nightmare?" Haruka asked the little 5 year old was pressing herself against the doorframe, her favorite stuffed animal, a rat by the name of Roland Rat that she had been given by her 'daddy' when she was born, clutched in one hand. With a quick nod, the small girl ran over to the chair where Haruka was sitting, launching herself at her daddy and settled herself into the strong arms that had always given her comfort after these nightmares.
"Was it the same one sweetie?" Haruka asked again as she held her daughter close and gently stroked the dark hairs on the pale girl's head, knowing how distressed she could get after 'seeing' her mum's plane go down in flames.
Haruka breathed deeply as she remembered her own nightmares about her wife's death, she was supposed to have flown the aircraft that night but Hotaru's babysitter fell ill and so Haruka had to call in sick. Hotaru herself had also caught a fever that day so Haruka had been up, nursing the child, when the shrill ring of the phone broke the silence of the large house and was the bearer of bad news. Sara Tomoe and the other 154 people on board QF214 bound for Tokyo, Japan from Perth, Australia were killed when the plane seemingly fell to earth after a large fireball lit up the sky. Haruka had been tempted to take Hotaru down to Jandakot, the secondary airport, and join the rescue search herself but was calmed down by her good friend Nick and ignored that previous thought when the now ex-Qantas Captain went down and joined the effort himself.
Hotaru had slept easier that night with Nick's 6-year-old son, John, there. The young boy wore a solemn look on his face all night and attempted to comfort his distraught uncle.
The next morning after fitful bursts of sleep, Haruka was greeted with two faces that she knew as well as her own. Yaten and Taiki Kou were standing on the doorstep looking very haggard themselves and both wrapped the blonde pilot in a group bear hug. The two singers, who had been on a Three Lights reunion tour had heard about the crash in the early hours of the Japanese morning, ditched their brother once again and took the next flight to be with their friend. Both knew how hard Haruka would be taking it as the were her best men when she and Sara had gotten married in Hawaii just over 5 years before. It had been another welcome surprise when a bush of pink hair had joined them in the hug, trying to comfort her Uncle Haruka as well. From Chibi-Usa, Haruka looked up to see the rest of her friends and some new additions to the 'family' as the always called themselves.
There was Rei's husband Chad, Motoki and Minako's 2 year-old daughter Akane, as well as Ami and Makoto's 12 month old twins, a blue haired, green eyed boy named Matsaki and a brown haired, blue eyed girl whom they called Ruki.
Haruka was grateful for the support that they gave her over the following two weeks, her often going out to the crash site and coming back an emotional mess. Especially at the funeral, which was held a week and a half after the crash as the investigators refused to hand the body over. It almost came to punches before they allowed Sara's body to be buried.
Hotaru had also enjoyed getting to know her Aunts, Uncles and cousins before Rei and Chad had to go back to attend to the temple, Ami and Matsaki going with them as Ami had to return to work at the hospital. Makoto and Ruki left two days after with Motoki, Minako and Akane. The Chiba family stayed with Haruka and Hotaru for two more weeks before Mamoru's leave with the University's Hospital ended and they had to leave as well.
Haruka was awoken from her reverie by the munching that was coming from the doorway. Looking up from her sleeping daughter to the hallway, the blonde saw Yaten leaning on the frame, his hands in a crisp packet as he watched the two.
Then there was also Yaten and Taiki who "insisted" on staying with the two.
"The poor kid." Yaten sighed as he pushed off the frame and sat on the edge of the large mahogany desk situated in the middle of the oversized room,
"You don't look much better Haru-chan." The person in question simply rubbed a hand over her face and picked the small child in her arms up, both walking out of the room and upstairs to the bedrooms.
The silver haired former singer groaned as he removed himself from the desk, turned out the light and followed the two out, noticing the neon digits from the clock behind him, the time of 2:43 am jeering at him. He plodded up the stairs and watched with a smile on his face as his best friend kissed hi Goddaughter on the forehead before pulling the duvet over her.
"You've really got to get more sleep Haruka and I'm being deadly serious this time." Yaten told her after the pilot quietly closed the door to Hotaru's bedroom,
"You're not doing Hotaru or yourself any favors by running yourself down. Haruka you've got to stop punishing yourself for Sara's death, there couldn't have been anything you could have done to change the outcome apart from Himme-chan having two dead parents instead of just one. Don't let her loose her living parent through Sara's departure."
Haruka sighed deeply before nodding her head and placing a thankful hand on the shorter man's shoulder,
"You're right Yaten. Thanks."
The younger man waved her off as he yawned loudly, rubbing his head as he said,
"Don't worry about it, just so long as you don't keep me up this late for the next 3 days."
"So you and Taiki finally shipping out?" the blonde asked jokingly as she walked towards her bedroom.
Yaten smiled slightly as he nodded his head,
"Unfortunately, Qantas want us to Vancouver to shoot their new promotional video. It'll be hard to leave you and Himme-chan like this though."
This time Haruka waved his concern off with a flick of her wrist as she opened the door. "We'll be fine now Yaten-kun. I'm already searching for a new job, although I'm eternally grateful for everything you and Taiki have done for us."
Another smile answered the pilot as both friends entered their rooms, saying goodnight as the doors closed.
"Yaten! Get your ass back here! That's my muslei, you can get your own!" Taiki's voice broke the calm of the morning, chasing his brother around the kitchen table with the tie of his suit still undone.
"Hey! Watch the language!" snapped Haruka before continuing to pour a juice for her daughter who in the meantime was being entertained by her uncle's display.
"You've got the box in your hand baka, just pour some more!" Yaten threw back before taking a seat next to Hotaru. The taller brother grumbled as he sat down and had his breakfast.
"Hotaru and I are walking through the door in 30 minutes you two. If you aren't ready by then you can find your own way to the airport." The two were informed as Haruka went to have her shower and get ready and Hotaru planted herself in her leather chair and watched the morning cartoons.
The two former singers quickly finished their food and packed the last of their bags before joining their Goddaughter in front of the T.V.
Haruka exited her room and walked downstairs, straightening her collar as she walked into the lounge room. A smile lit up her face as she watched her two best friends join her daughter in one of the Wiggles dances.
"Maybe you two should start in child's entertainment." Haruka chuckled as the two spin around, waving their hands in the air. Both blushed bright red at having been caught and turned off the T.V.
"Time to go?" Taiki asked as he picked Hotaru up and placed her on his broad shoulders.
Haruka laughed at her daughter's squeal and replied in the affirmative before picking up Hotaru's backpack and Taiki's suitcase and placed them into the trunk of her gold, latest edition Mitsubishi Evolution IV. She would have loved to take her silver Ferrari F355 but there wasn't enough room with the amount that the Kou brothers took with them.
"I'll see you in a couple of hours, O.K. Himme-chan?" The blonde asked as she hugged her daughter and handed her the backpack.
"O.K. Daddy." Hotaru replied as she pulled the pack on and turned to her uncles.
"Now you be good for your Daddy Himme-chan." Yaten told her as he picked the small girl up and hugged her tightly.
"I will Uncle Yaten." Hotaru replied as she hugged him back.
"And don't let the other kids pick on you." Taiki said as he took Hotaru from his brother's arms and hugged her himself.
"Uncle Taiki, you've bee telling me that for the past months. I know!" she told him exasperated and rolled her eyes to prove the point. The three adults laughed at this.
"Hey, Uncle Haruka!" came a voice form the school gate and they saw John standing there, "Can Hotaru come and play?"
Haruka smiled at the request and nodded her head, Hotaru jumped from Taiki's embrace and ran over to her friend, waving at her family as she went.
"Well, let's get you two to Vancouver." Haruka announced as she sighed and the three friends walked back to the car.
"Look after yourself Haru-kun." Taiki said as he shook his best friend's hand and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I will Tai-kun, so long as the two of you watch over each other."
"You must be kidding me." Came the voice of Yaten as he walked out of the newsagency with a new paperback for Taiki to read, "He'd sooner drop dead than admit he needed my help."
Haruka shook her head and a smile adorned her face as she shook hands with the shorter man and was surprised when the two brothers enveloped her in a similar group hug to the one hey first greeted her with.
"Would all passengers seated in rows 54 to 43 and all business class passengers for flight QF 841 to Sydney please make their way to Gate 5 for boarding." The announcement came over the PA system and the three best friends all said goodbye, Haruka saying a small prayer for their safety as she waved them down the gangway.
A pair of teal eyes scanned over the web page in front of them, brow furrowed as they read through one of the 200 pages of the accident report that happened only 3 months ago. Even now, the whole investigation wasn't complete, nowhere near done. But this was all that Haruka Tenoh had left of the one she had shared close to 6 years with, the summary of a brilliant life that had "Tragically been cut short."
"It is the preliminary finding of this investigation that the destruction of flight QF214 was caused by an improved explosive device, most probably planted by someone unassociated with any terrorist groups."
"Daddy?" came a small voice from the door of the study. Haruka quickly closed down the window, there was no reason for her daughter to be traumatized by the truth of her mother's death.
"What's up Himme-chan? Had another nightmare?" Haruka asked the little 5 year old was pressing herself against the doorframe, her favorite stuffed animal, a rat by the name of Roland Rat that she had been given by her 'daddy' when she was born, clutched in one hand. With a quick nod, the small girl ran over to the chair where Haruka was sitting, launching herself at her daddy and settled herself into the strong arms that had always given her comfort after these nightmares.
"Was it the same one sweetie?" Haruka asked again as she held her daughter close and gently stroked the dark hairs on the pale girl's head, knowing how distressed she could get after 'seeing' her mum's plane go down in flames.
Haruka breathed deeply as she remembered her own nightmares about her wife's death, she was supposed to have flown the aircraft that night but Hotaru's babysitter fell ill and so Haruka had to call in sick. Hotaru herself had also caught a fever that day so Haruka had been up, nursing the child, when the shrill ring of the phone broke the silence of the large house and was the bearer of bad news. Sara Tomoe and the other 154 people on board QF214 bound for Tokyo, Japan from Perth, Australia were killed when the plane seemingly fell to earth after a large fireball lit up the sky. Haruka had been tempted to take Hotaru down to Jandakot, the secondary airport, and join the rescue search herself but was calmed down by her good friend Nick and ignored that previous thought when the now ex-Qantas Captain went down and joined the effort himself.
Hotaru had slept easier that night with Nick's 6-year-old son, John, there. The young boy wore a solemn look on his face all night and attempted to comfort his distraught uncle.
The next morning after fitful bursts of sleep, Haruka was greeted with two faces that she knew as well as her own. Yaten and Taiki Kou were standing on the doorstep looking very haggard themselves and both wrapped the blonde pilot in a group bear hug. The two singers, who had been on a Three Lights reunion tour had heard about the crash in the early hours of the Japanese morning, ditched their brother once again and took the next flight to be with their friend. Both knew how hard Haruka would be taking it as the were her best men when she and Sara had gotten married in Hawaii just over 5 years before. It had been another welcome surprise when a bush of pink hair had joined them in the hug, trying to comfort her Uncle Haruka as well. From Chibi-Usa, Haruka looked up to see the rest of her friends and some new additions to the 'family' as the always called themselves.
There was Rei's husband Chad, Motoki and Minako's 2 year-old daughter Akane, as well as Ami and Makoto's 12 month old twins, a blue haired, green eyed boy named Matsaki and a brown haired, blue eyed girl whom they called Ruki.
Haruka was grateful for the support that they gave her over the following two weeks, her often going out to the crash site and coming back an emotional mess. Especially at the funeral, which was held a week and a half after the crash as the investigators refused to hand the body over. It almost came to punches before they allowed Sara's body to be buried.
Hotaru had also enjoyed getting to know her Aunts, Uncles and cousins before Rei and Chad had to go back to attend to the temple, Ami and Matsaki going with them as Ami had to return to work at the hospital. Makoto and Ruki left two days after with Motoki, Minako and Akane. The Chiba family stayed with Haruka and Hotaru for two more weeks before Mamoru's leave with the University's Hospital ended and they had to leave as well.
Haruka was awoken from her reverie by the munching that was coming from the doorway. Looking up from her sleeping daughter to the hallway, the blonde saw Yaten leaning on the frame, his hands in a crisp packet as he watched the two.
Then there was also Yaten and Taiki who "insisted" on staying with the two.
"The poor kid." Yaten sighed as he pushed off the frame and sat on the edge of the large mahogany desk situated in the middle of the oversized room,
"You don't look much better Haru-chan." The person in question simply rubbed a hand over her face and picked the small child in her arms up, both walking out of the room and upstairs to the bedrooms.
The silver haired former singer groaned as he removed himself from the desk, turned out the light and followed the two out, noticing the neon digits from the clock behind him, the time of 2:43 am jeering at him. He plodded up the stairs and watched with a smile on his face as his best friend kissed hi Goddaughter on the forehead before pulling the duvet over her.
"You've really got to get more sleep Haruka and I'm being deadly serious this time." Yaten told her after the pilot quietly closed the door to Hotaru's bedroom,
"You're not doing Hotaru or yourself any favors by running yourself down. Haruka you've got to stop punishing yourself for Sara's death, there couldn't have been anything you could have done to change the outcome apart from Himme-chan having two dead parents instead of just one. Don't let her loose her living parent through Sara's departure."
Haruka sighed deeply before nodding her head and placing a thankful hand on the shorter man's shoulder,
"You're right Yaten. Thanks."
The younger man waved her off as he yawned loudly, rubbing his head as he said,
"Don't worry about it, just so long as you don't keep me up this late for the next 3 days."
"So you and Taiki finally shipping out?" the blonde asked jokingly as she walked towards her bedroom.
Yaten smiled slightly as he nodded his head,
"Unfortunately, Qantas want us to Vancouver to shoot their new promotional video. It'll be hard to leave you and Himme-chan like this though."
This time Haruka waved his concern off with a flick of her wrist as she opened the door. "We'll be fine now Yaten-kun. I'm already searching for a new job, although I'm eternally grateful for everything you and Taiki have done for us."
Another smile answered the pilot as both friends entered their rooms, saying goodnight as the doors closed.
"Yaten! Get your ass back here! That's my muslei, you can get your own!" Taiki's voice broke the calm of the morning, chasing his brother around the kitchen table with the tie of his suit still undone.
"Hey! Watch the language!" snapped Haruka before continuing to pour a juice for her daughter who in the meantime was being entertained by her uncle's display.
"You've got the box in your hand baka, just pour some more!" Yaten threw back before taking a seat next to Hotaru. The taller brother grumbled as he sat down and had his breakfast.
"Hotaru and I are walking through the door in 30 minutes you two. If you aren't ready by then you can find your own way to the airport." The two were informed as Haruka went to have her shower and get ready and Hotaru planted herself in her leather chair and watched the morning cartoons.
The two former singers quickly finished their food and packed the last of their bags before joining their Goddaughter in front of the T.V.
Haruka exited her room and walked downstairs, straightening her collar as she walked into the lounge room. A smile lit up her face as she watched her two best friends join her daughter in one of the Wiggles dances.
"Maybe you two should start in child's entertainment." Haruka chuckled as the two spin around, waving their hands in the air. Both blushed bright red at having been caught and turned off the T.V.
"Time to go?" Taiki asked as he picked Hotaru up and placed her on his broad shoulders.
Haruka laughed at her daughter's squeal and replied in the affirmative before picking up Hotaru's backpack and Taiki's suitcase and placed them into the trunk of her gold, latest edition Mitsubishi Evolution IV. She would have loved to take her silver Ferrari F355 but there wasn't enough room with the amount that the Kou brothers took with them.
"I'll see you in a couple of hours, O.K. Himme-chan?" The blonde asked as she hugged her daughter and handed her the backpack.
"O.K. Daddy." Hotaru replied as she pulled the pack on and turned to her uncles.
"Now you be good for your Daddy Himme-chan." Yaten told her as he picked the small girl up and hugged her tightly.
"I will Uncle Yaten." Hotaru replied as she hugged him back.
"And don't let the other kids pick on you." Taiki said as he took Hotaru from his brother's arms and hugged her himself.
"Uncle Taiki, you've bee telling me that for the past months. I know!" she told him exasperated and rolled her eyes to prove the point. The three adults laughed at this.
"Hey, Uncle Haruka!" came a voice form the school gate and they saw John standing there, "Can Hotaru come and play?"
Haruka smiled at the request and nodded her head, Hotaru jumped from Taiki's embrace and ran over to her friend, waving at her family as she went.
"Well, let's get you two to Vancouver." Haruka announced as she sighed and the three friends walked back to the car.
"Look after yourself Haru-kun." Taiki said as he shook his best friend's hand and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I will Tai-kun, so long as the two of you watch over each other."
"You must be kidding me." Came the voice of Yaten as he walked out of the newsagency with a new paperback for Taiki to read, "He'd sooner drop dead than admit he needed my help."
Haruka shook her head and a smile adorned her face as she shook hands with the shorter man and was surprised when the two brothers enveloped her in a similar group hug to the one hey first greeted her with.
"Would all passengers seated in rows 54 to 43 and all business class passengers for flight QF 841 to Sydney please make their way to Gate 5 for boarding." The announcement came over the PA system and the three best friends all said goodbye, Haruka saying a small prayer for their safety as she waved them down the gangway.