-Haruka-
Haruka was just in the middle of driving home after dropping off the Kaioh's at Michiru's apartment when her phone rang.
She picked up and Michiru's voice filled the car over the speaker system.
"Haruka are you safely home yet?" the violinist asked quietly.
"Not yet. Why? Want me to pick you up again, so you can tug me in as promised?" Haruka smirked.
"Not funny." Michiru chastised the blonde.
"You did say, you'd tug me in when you see me next and I believe I did see you tonight in a very sexy dress, unless, of course, I have been hallucinating all night and it wasn't you who was sitting next to me and smelled slightly of lavender and ylang ylang." Haruka chuckled.
"You know that that isn't really possible while my parents are here. But that is beside the point" Michiru interrupted Haruka.
"Need me to get us a room for you to come to your point? Or…. to find your point for you?" Haruka smirked.
"Haruka, can you think of anything else besides getting me between the sheets when we are talking?" Michiru asked slightly flustered.
"I can, but I don't want to." Haruka responded unapologetically.
Haruka could hear Michiru sigh and laughed. "Ok, ok. Relax, I am all business now. How may I be of ….."
Suddenly the emergency line on her phone lit up.
"Michiru, I will have to call you back later or just write me a message." And with that she hung up and switched lines.
"Haruka someone tried to unhook Sayuri earlier and I implemented safety protocol. Then someone tried to break back into her room." Yaten's concerned voice came through the speakers. "Taiki has been trying to get in touch with Ichiro-san but no luck so far and Kakyuu went to the hospital a while ago to check what is going on but she hasn't gotten back yet." Yaten explained the situation.
"I'm driving straight to the hospital. You stay there, get into the hospital system and keep me updated." Haruka instructed the silver haired man.
She hung up and swung the car around in direction of the hospital Sayuri stayed in.
She was only moments away when her phone rang again.
"Yes?" Haruka answered curt.
"Haruka….Soichi has lost his mind." Kakyuu's whispers came through speakers.
"Why are you whispering?" Haruka asked concerned.
"I am here with Hotaru, she got away from Soichi and we are hiding in my office." Kakyuu explained.
"How is Hotaru? What's going on?" Haruka continued to ask.
"She is scared but unharmed. I hid her in the cupboard I am under my desk. Soichi took Ichiro hostage and Ichiro is wearing a vest with explosives. Soichi is demanding to see Sayuri to give her the drug." Kakyuu continued to whisper.
"Does he …. Is there a chance it could work?" Haruka asked tentatively.
"There is no way Haruka that this would work. We talked about this, Sayuri has been gone since the day of her fall. There is no conceivable way for her to ever wake up again." Kakyuu insisted.
"I'm coming. Stay down and turn your phone to silent. I might need call you back later." Haruka instructed the red haired doctor before she hung up and dialled Taiki.
"Haruka, do you know what is going on? I can't get through to Ichiro and Sachiko hasn't seen him since this afternoon." Taiki asked hastily.
"You and Seiya, pack your gear, we have a hostage situation. Hotaru, Kakyuu and Ichiro are definitely stuck in Sayuri's hospital. I will try everything to get everyone else out of the vicinity before heading in myself." Haruka explained.
"What?!" Taiki panicked.
"LISTEN! FOCUS! I need you to get into Kakyuu's office and get Kakyuu and Hotaru out unseen and I need Seiya to cover me from the building opposite to Sayuri's room. Can you get that done?" Haruka asked Taiki calmly.
"Yes." Taiki responded quick.
"Take the helicopter. We have no time to waste." Haruka continued with her instructions.
-Ichiro-
Ichiro was sitting dazed in a wheelchair in front of Sayuri's room. He couldn't move, couldn't talk and his vision was close to non-existent. He started to panic when he suddenly could hear Haruka's calm voice coming from somewhere in the distance.
"Soichi-san, what have you done with Ichiro-san?" Haruka's voice was calm and even.
"MY BROTHER WANTS TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!" Soichi screamed.
"Who does he want to take away from you Soichi-san?" Haruka asked calmly and her voice was coming closer.
"He wants to take Sayuri away from me, YOU ALL WANT TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!" Soichi seemed hysterical.
"Soichi-san, I ask you again, what have you done with Ichiro-san?" Haruka's voice was so calm, Ichiro just wanted to scream at her that things weren't right, that something felt off, that something had happened and that she had no reason to be this calm, but his dazed mind and his numb body wouldn't let him.
"I have just sedated him. He is still alive. YOU SEE THIS? This is a dead man switch when I let go, he won't be alive anymore. I WANT MY SAYURI BACK!" Soichi screamed again and Ichiro just wanted to get up and tell him that he didn't have Sayuri, that Sayuri was still where she had been for the past two years.
"But she is right there, she isn't going anywhere Soichi-san." Haruka pointed out evenly.
"I need to get to her. I NEED TO SEE HER!" Soichi's speech was erratic.
"She is right there. Look, look through the window, she is right there, she isn't going anywhere." Ichiro envied Haruka for her seemingly unchanged demeanour.
"I need to give her this. I need to wake her up." Soichi started to mumble.
Ichiro tried hard to look up and focus on scene in front of him but everything was blurred. He suddenly felt a familiar hand on his shoulder and Haruka's calm seemed to pass onto him.
"How can you inject her when you have a hand on that switch. Give it to me, and you can give Sayuri-nee her medicine." Haruka suggested.
"NO, you just take everything away from me! Like you took Sayuri from me! IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT." Soichi was getting hysterical.
"I know. How about you let everyone go and we can talk about it." Haruka stayed calm.
"NO, they need to know it is all your fault. They need to know YOU caused all of this. YOU always wanted to keep her for yourself Haruto! YOU took her away from me!" Soichi kept saying frantically.
'Haruto?' Ichiro thought to himself. 'This is not Haruto, this is clearly Haruka.' His mind kept telling him. Maybe this all was just a bizarre dream and he would wake up any moment now.
"I never took her away from you Soichi-san, she was always yours." Haruka's voice stated clearly.
"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Soichi screamed.
"Soichi-san, look at me, do I look like I am lying? You have all the power right now, what advantage would I get from lying to you?" Haruka pointed out.
"I have seen how you looked at her! I have seen how you made her laugh and you made her forget about me." Soichi insisted on his delusions.
"Soichi-san, how could she possibly forget about you? You and her have a daughter together. Remember? Little Hotaru-chan." Haruka reminded the scientist who had clearly gone insane.
"She isn't my daughter. She is yours, I know it. She doesn't look anything like me. Don't think that you can lie to me." Soichi said angrily.
"How could she be mine, if I never touched Sayuri-nee?" Haruka asked in return.
"I have seen you both, I have seen you!" Soichi kept mumbling.
"What have you seen Soichi-san?" Haruka kept asking.
"I saw you two kiss!" Soichi burst out in anger.
"When?" Haruka asked calmly
"The day before Sayuri fell down." Soichi said spitefully.
"Look Soichi-san, you are only angry with me and no one else here, so I am going to tell everyone to go now." Haruka informed him evenly.
"I will blow all of us up!" Soichi threatened.
"And then what? You won't get to see Sayuri and won't be able to give her the medicine. Look to prove to you that I am not going to run away or going to trick you in any other way, I put on the vest and you can let Ichiro-san and everyone else go." Haruka suggested.
"And what makes you think you can get me in there?" Soichi asked the blonde sceptically.
"I am the only one with the password to Sayuri-nee's room. If I don't get you in there you can still blow us both up so you and I can see her on the other side. Let them and Ichiro go and I will give you the password." Haruka stated calmly.
"Ok" Soichi agreed.
Ichiro could feel him being moved and a weight taken off his shoulder. He wanted to speak up, he wanted to stop this, he wanted to do something but he had no power over his body.
-Yaten-
Yaten couldn't believe what his eyes saw on the screens in front of him: Haruka was taking off the bomb vest from Ichiro and put it on herself before sent everyone out. Soichi had clearly lost all his marbles and a couple extra to boot.
Haruto had been dead for months before Sayuri had her accident.
"Haruka, Haruka have you gone mad?" he screamed into the communicator.
-Haruka-
Haruka winced when she heard Yaten's words ringing in her ears.
"Do you finally regret it?" Soichi asked her as she saw her wincing.
"What is there to regret?" Haruka asked coolly.
"That you took her away from me."
"I never did take her away from you Soichi-san" Haruka responded calmly as she input the password to Sayuri's room.
The door opened and they both walked into the unconscious woman's room.
"Give me the syringe, so I can inject her." Haruka said calmly
"No!" Soichi said defiantly.
"How will you inject her while you are holding the detonator." Haruka asked Soichi cynically.
"I am sick and tired of you being the hero Haruto. All day Sayuri would only talk about you. Haruto this and Haruto that. Even her last word before she closed her eyes was 'Haruto'." Soichi said bitterly.
"How do you know that?" Haruka asked in a dangerous tone.
"I WAS THERE. I asked her about your kiss and she kept denying it. IT IS YOUR FAULT I GOT ANGRY. IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Soichi resumed his screaming.
Something inside Haruka just snapped.
-Seiya-
Seiya watched the whole scene unfold through his rifle's scope and listened to the whole exchange over their communication system. He watched closely for Haruka's signal, but the moment he spotted that all too familiar glint in her eyes as she turned around to face Professor Tomoe after they entered Sayuri's room, he knew that this was going to go south faster than a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier.
"Yaten" he spoke into his communicator as he hastily packed up and left his vantage point on the other building. "I am leaving my post and I am going in" Seiya informed his younger brother.
"That is even more insane than what Haruka just did. Are you all trying to die on me?" Yaten responded agitated.
"Listen, Haruka just snapped. It is only a matter of moments before she forgets all around her and does something just as reckless as the professor." Seiya explained as he ran into the hospital, passed escaping people, up the stairs to Sayuri's room's floor, silently hoping that he wouldn't be too late.
The fight was in full swing by the time he reached the room.
-Taiki-
Taiki had just gotten Hotaru and and Kakyuu to safety when Yaten suddenly called him.
"Taiki, you need to get back to Haruka now or something really bad is going to happen."
"What is she doing?" he asked Yaten.
"She is beating the living daylights out of the professor while she is still wearing the vest!" Yaten explained panicked.
"I am in" Seiya interrupted.
Taiki knew that Seiya alone would never be able to stop Haruka, once she was in rage mode.
He ensured that Kakyuu and Hotaru were fine before rushing back inside, just to find Seiya already putting all his weight into holding Haruka back from bashing Soichi Tomoe's face in any further.
The room had visible signs of struggle. Machines and furniture were strewn all around blood was sprayed and smeared across the walls and the floor.
Worst of all there was the monotonous beep sound of Sayuri's heart monitor. Her heart had finally failed her.
The professor was lying on the ground and Haruka was towering over him. Her left hand was gripping his right hand with the detonator shut. Her right fist struggled against Seiya who had a hard time holding her back.
"He killed her." Haruka growled.
"I know." Seiya tried to calm her down. "Killing him won't bring her back for Hotaru-chan" Seiya tried to appeal to Haruka's sensibility.
Taiki jumped in and took hold of Haruka's left hand.
"I got this Haruka, let him go and take off that damn vest." He told her with a firm grip. "Do it for Hotaru-chan. You don't want her to lose her father as well." Taiki reminded Haruka.
Haruka stopped struggling and slowly stood up to walk away.
"Hotaru .. has ..no..father ….She's..not..my…daughter…"the professor croaked from the ground.
Haruka turned around and kicked him one more time for good measures before Seiya could drag her out of reach.
-Kakashi-
It was only Sunday, the sun had not risen so far and yet he was called out to an incident at the hospital by Yaten. Sighing he entered the hospital. The police chief was already awaiting him at the entrance and Kakashi suppressed a sigh. Both men greeted the each other respectfully before Kakashi was led to through the empty hospital hallways. He kept his usual serious and stoic demeanour throughout the short but yet very chastising speech by the wizened police chief on the way they shared through the hospital.
He was led to Ichiro who was being examined in a private room.
"Chief Sato, please stop reprimanding Takahashi-san" Ichiro spoke up when they reached his room
"But it was very reckless what his subordinates did." Police chief Kenichi Sato objected.
"His people did all they needed to keep me safe. I am the one who asked them to. Takahashi-san was not informed of my discretion of calling them instead of him for my usual protection detail." Ichiro explained matter-of-factly.
"Very well then." Chief Sato gritted his teeth. "I will let this incident go, but I expect no repetition of tonight's events."
"Of course" Ichiro and Kakashi agreed.
"I will be taking my leave then. I wish you a speedy recovery Tomoe-san." Sato curtly bid his goodbye and left the room.
"What happened here?" Kakashi asked with the slight irritation in his voice unmissable.
Ichiro leaned back on the hospital bed and started to explain. "I only wanted to take Hotaru to visit my brother in the afternoon and the topic of Sayuri came up." Ichiro made a pause and looked out of the window into the distance for a moment. "I had been informed by her physician that her heart wasn't doing well and there wasn't much left that they could do so I wanted to urge Soichi to say his goodbyes as long there was the chance to and take up his responsibilities with Hotaru-chan. That is when he lost it and knocked me out." Ichiro explained.
"Where was your security detail?" Kakashi interrupted him as he sat down on the chair adjacent to the bed.
"I am in my hometown and was visiting my brother, not going on a business errand. I should not need a security detail when I meet my younger brother." Ichiro answered defensively.
"Clearly, that didn't work out." Kakashi stated dryly.
"Do you want to know what happened or are you just here to chastise me as well, because I will already get an earful from Sachiko when I get home, and that is going to be plenty for me." Ichiro complained.
"I am sorry. Keep going" Kakashi leaned forward in his chair.
"Long story short, my brother took me hostage to gain access to Sayuri, and Haruka-san came to get me out of it. So, don't reprimand her." Ichiro urged him. "Sayuri died tonight." He added quietly.
"Where is Haruka now?" Kakashi asked his friend.
"In Abe-sensei's consultation room." Ichiro informed him.
"And where is your brother?" Kakashi continued to ask.
"In surgery." Ichiro answered short.
"How bad?" Kakashi sighed.
"He'll survive." Ichiro cringed.
"Will you be OK here?" Kakashi looked at his friend concerned.
"Just awaiting my blood test results." Ichiro shrugged.
"I just quickly go and check on the kids." Kakashi stood up again.
"Do that." Ichiro nodded understandingly.
Kakashi left the room and went down the hall to Kakyuu's consultation room.
"Why is it that you do look worse every time I see you Haruka?" He asked her as Hotaru stuck a panda bear plaster on the cut on the bridge of her nose.
"Don't you like pandas Kakashi-jii? Kakyuu-nee has also pink bunny plasters." Hotaru informed him.
"Why don't you go to Kakyuu-nee and ask her for some of those to show them to Kakashi-jii, Hime-chan?" Haruka asked Hotaru as she took her off her lap and sent her next door to Kakyuu's office.
"Will you need to talk a lot of adult talk or just a little Haruka-papa?" Hotaru asked Haruka.
"You know, Kakyuu-nee has candy in the second drawer on the left side of her desk. When you are done with one of those, you can show Kakashi-jii the pink bunnies." Haruka explained to her.
"Ok" Hotaru went off to see Kakyuu.
Haruka watched Hotaru disappear through the door before she turned towards Kakashi.
"I am redeeming one of those favours that you owe me." The blonde stated evenly.
"I thought you might want to do that. Have you told her of Sayuri yet?" Kakashi asked her.
"How did you do it?" Haruka asked in return.
"I can't remember." Kakashi admitted.
"But I do. I remember it was an autumn day. I remember the black pants and the green shirt you wore. I remember your shocked and sad face. I remember you sitting down with us in front of the TV after we finished an episode of Tom and Jerry. I remember how you told us that our mum and dad could not to come and get us anymore. How your voice trembled when you told us that they died in a tragic attack by bad people and that they had gone where grandma had gone. But you know what? I also remember besides the tears you fought, I remember thinking that all is going to be fine because I had Haruto and you. But who does Hotaru have? Her mother just died and her father doesn't acknowledge her..." Haruka's voice grew quieter and Kakashi could see her struggling with her emotions.
"She is still a Tomoe, she still has Ichiro and his family. Sachiko will not abandon her little sister's child." Kakashi tried to help.
"I knew that Haruto was hopelessly in love with Sayuri-nee." Haruka admitted quietly. "And I knew that she was lonely with Soichi loving is work more than his own life." Haruka continued.
"Do you really think Hotaru is…." Kakashi asked tentatively.
"All that I know is that Hotaru is Hotaru and that is all that I care about." Haruka said resolutely.
Kakashi stayed quiet for a moment before he spoke again: "I might not remember how I told you about your parents, but I do remember thinking that I wanted to be there for you when you got the news and that I wanted to do everything that I could to help you to get through it. Don't you want that for Hotaru-chan?" Kakashi asked.
"But it is my fault her parents are dead. It wasn't your fault that our parents died, Kakashi-jii. I don't even think I have the right to see her right now… or ever again." Haruka was at her limit and her eyes watered slightly.
"Don't you think that that is a decision she has to make for herself if she wants to see you or not?" Kakashi suggested.
"She is four. She doesn't understand it yet. But one day she will….." Haruka struggled to keep her tears from falling.
"What matters right now is what she needs right now. Let's worry about the future during daylight. There is no point worrying about it now." Kakashi interrupted her and wiped her eyes with his soft handkerchief the way he used to do it when she was little.
Before Haruka could reply anything, Hotaru burst back into the counselling room.
"I finished the candy Haruka-papa. You know you can finish it faster when you chew it really fast Haruka-papa. Look Kakashi-jii. These are the pink bunny plaster." She exclaimed happily as she waved them in the air.
"Hime-chan, come here, there is something I need to tell you." Haruka started and Kakashi left the room so that they could have a private moment together.
Kakashi stood outside of the hospital and lit himself a rare but well deserved cigarette. This was not how this day was supposed to have started nor yesterday should have ended for the blonde, he thought to himself as he took a long drag and exhaled the blue smoke. Ichiro eventually joined him and when Haruka and Hotaru came, the blonde called the two men to drive them home.
Kakashi was sitting in the back of Haruka's Aston Martin with Hotaru sleeping soundly next to him as she was driving Ichiro back to his estate.
Haruka checked on Hotaru through the rear-view mirror before she started to speak "Ichiro-san… about Hotaru…."
"She is a Tomoe…until she chooses to carry someone else's name one day. And even that doesn't change the fact that she will always be Sayuri's daughter, Sachiko's little sister's child and my beloved niece." Ichiro interrupted her.
"Hmm" Haruka nodded and pulled up in front of the Tomoe estate.
They all got out of the car and were greeted by a bereaved looking Sachiko who hugged her husband as soon as he was in reach.
Kakashi stepped up behind them and expressed his condolences to her.
Haruka carried Hotaru safely on her arm as Sachiko approached her.
"Have you told her?" She asked still with tears in her eyes.
Haruka just nodded and said: "I take her to her room. You just take care of yourself right now, I am sorry I couldn't do more"
Sachiko hugged Haruka and Hotaru, and Haruka comforted the quietly sobbing woman with her free arm until she was ready to let go.
"Please stay for some tea." Sachiko asked as she dried her tears.
"Thank you, Sachiko-san, but it has been a long day for all of us. I think we all need some rest." Kakashi said gently.
She nodded understandingly and after Haruka had brought Hotaru to her room, they got back into the car and drove off.
The drive to Kakashi's apartment was quiet and before he left the car, the turned to Haruka and told her: "You did good today kid."
She just nodded silently and he stayed by the side of the road watching her driving off.
-Michiru-
It was Monday and Michiru was sitting in her office awaiting Haruka.
It was already 9.15 a.m. and Haruka was positively late. Theoretically Haruka never agreed to meeting her today, but she was still irritated by the lack of response of the blonde to her messages.
She never called her back since their call on Saturday night.
Unreliability was something Michiru couldn't tolerate. The day of the of the Council meeting was getting closer and it was essential to get all the details right. Impatient, she sorted out the files on her desk again. After the fifth time of moving all the files from left to right, she had made up her mind. She pulled out her phone and dialled the blonde's number again.
Six attempts later and still no response. Against her better judgement she even tried to track down the location of Haruka's phone, but it seemed to be turned off.
She had no choice but to see Kakashi about another person to plan the mission with. As much as she liked the blonde, she would have to request a more professional support for the mission of this importance if this was supposed to get done properly.
She called Minako and asked her if Kakashi could see her for a moment
At 11 a.m. she was sitting in his office.
"So, what is the problem with Tenoh-san?" Kakashi asked.
"I have made an appointment with her today, but she hasn't turned up and I have not been able to get in contact with her. I think with the Council meeting moving ever closer, that I need another partner who is more reliable to plan this with, or more time to get this mission planning done. " Michiru explained.
"Well if she hasn't come then you need to go to her" Kakashi said as he picked up his phone and made a call to ask where Haruka was.
His frown was deep and pensive when hung up again.
Then he picked up the office phone and dialled again.
"Setsuna, I need Hino-san for a bit. Can you lend her to me? ...Great, just send her to my office now." He hung up again and turned his focus back to Michiru.
"Hino-san will take you to Tenoh-san. I have to go to a meeting now, but feel free to wait here for Hino-san." He said as he got up from his desk, bid his goodbye and left his office.
Only moments later Rei was knocking on the door and they both went to take one of the agency's cars.
"How come you know where Tenoh-san is supposed to be." Michiru asked Rei as she pulled out of her parking lot.
"I actually don't, but I think Takahashi-san thinks that she has gone to visit her family and to get there, you need to get pass my grandfather. The Tenoh's have been the Hino's and the temple's benefactors for generations and we are taking care of their family graves." Rei explained while they drove to the temple that was under her family's care.
Once at the temple complex, both took off their shoes and entered. They greeted were by Rei's grandfather and he led them to the back of the temple.
"I don't usually do this and I need to ask you two to please be very respectful and not to approach unless there is an opportune moment for it. Also please be very quiet, because sound travel very far here." Rei's grandfather said sternly.
Both women were led into one of the back rooms that overlooked the graves behind the temple. Rei walked towards the paper sliding doors that led outside and opened it quietly. Michiru spotted Haruka's exhausted figure, kneeling in front of a big tombstone, straightaway. She was still wearing the same suit from Saturday night, that was slightly dishevelled, her face had several cuts and her hands were bandaged. Her typically wild hair was limp and her usually mischievous eyes were hidden by her sunglasses. A tall brunette man approached Haruka from behind and spoke softly to her: "So you were here the whole time?"
"The rain doesn't seem to want to stop" Haruka's voice cracked and Michiru's heart broke a little as she noticed the tears that ran down the blonde's face.
"Hmmm" the other agreed.
"I have failed my little brother again. I didn't manage to protect her for him." Haruka said quietly.
Michiru was surprised how well sound travelled here and how clearly she could hear them both. Out of reflex she retreated deeper into the shadows of the room she was in and observed the scene in front of her. Watching Haruka looking so beaten, hurt in Michiru's chest.
"There was nothing you could have done." The tall brunette countered.
"I should have known; I should have seen the signs." Haruka mumbled.
The brunette sighed and pulled a box of incense out of his jacket.
"At least bring offerings when you go and visit them." He passed her the box and she pulled out some incense and lit it.
They both remained silent in front of the grave for a couple of more minutes before the brunette spoke again: "The funeral is tomorrow. You can't be there like this for Hotaru-chan."
Haruka nodded and stood up to bid her goodbye to the grave before she followed the brunette through a small gate at the side of the cemetery.
"Sayuri-Tomoe has died on the night of Saturday to Sunday." Rei's grandfather informed the women standing next to him. "If you have any urgent business with Tenoh-dono, then I would say you need to go now." He suggested.
Michiru shook her head. "The matter can wait." She whispered, more to herself than the Hinos.
-Haruka-
After the funeral, Ichiro pulled Haruka aside.
"It was a very beautiful service" Haruka commented.
"Haruka-san, Hotaru-chan hasn't eaten nor slept properly since her mother's death and no matter what Sachiko and I do, she always says that she is fine but, as you can see, she getting weaker. Maybe you can talk to her?" Ichiro asked her concerned.
Haruka watched the little girl standing with her cousins, talking to Yaten, carefully. Indeed, she had lost a lot of colour.
"I am not particular busy at the moment. I can take her for a while, if you let me. It would also give Sachiko-san a bit more time for herself." Haruka offered.
"I will call the maid and ask her to pack all Hotaru needs and her Kindergarten schedule." Ichiro answered gratefully.
"Thank you. How is Sachiko-san fairing so far?" Haruka asked.
"We have always known that Sayuri's chances were slim, but no matter how much you think you are prepared for it, when it actually comes, it still hurts. She has been very quiet and put on a strong front, mainly for Hotaru-chan's benefit, I think." Ichiro admitted.
"And, how are you?" Haruka continued to ask
"I am ok. I haven't really lost anyone." Ichiro shrugged.
"How is your brother?" Haruka persisted.
"I would love to say that I don't have one, but we are bound by blood. I have arranged for him to be institutionalised and for us to have full custody of Hotaru-chan. I have waited too long with this step." Ichiro said remorseful.
"Better late than never" Haruka patted his back. "You better get back to Sachiko-san, she needs you. I will talk to Hotaru-chan and ask her if she wants to come with me for a while." Haruka smiled at him reassuringly.
They went their different ways and Haruka kneeled down next to Hotaru who was watching a bug on the ground.
"Hime-chan?" Haruka called gently.
"Yes, Haruka papa?" Hotaru responded when she looked up.
"Want to come and live with me for a while?" Haruka asked.
"Yes!" Hotaru responded prompt as her eyes lit up.
Seiya, who stood nearby, interrupted them. "Haruka, you can't be serious. How are we supposed to take care of her?" Seiya asked slightly panicked.
"Oh? What 'we' are we talking about? I didn't ask you to take care of her." Haruka answered evenly.
"But, whatever concerns you, concerns us, too. What does she eat? What will we feed her? Who will clean her? We can barely take care of ourselves." Seiya raised his concerns.
"I believe human food is most suitable. I like especially ice cream and chicken nuggets." Hotaru answered cheekily.
"Hotaru-chan is coming to live with us?" Yaten butted in.
"Yes Yaten-jii, but Seiya-jii doesn't want me to." Hotaru pouted.
"Why?" Yaten asked surprised.
"He thinks I am troublesome." Hotaru explained.
"I never said that." Seiya defended himself.
"I know what I heard Seiya-jii, I am four, not deaf nor dumb." Hotaru countered evenly.
Yaten was grinning wide and fist bumped with the cheeky four-year-old.
"If she gets ice cream and chicken nuggets then I want a revision of our diet plans!" Seiya demanded.
"What is that with ice cream and chicken nuggets? That is not a balanced meal choice and it will ruin the whole training schedule." Taiki joined the conversation.
"People, I am not attending a problem sale! This is not a buy a problem and get ten for free." Haruka cut them all off before they could continue the discussion. "All that is happening is just that Hotaru is going to stay with me, or with us for that matter, for a while. She will still have to go to kindergarten and clean up after herself. And you will eat all the wonderful balanced meals with us, that Taiki-jii has scheduled and chosen for us." Haruka said while looking at Hotaru.
"Does that schedule have Ice-cream in it, too, Taiki-jii?" Hotaru looked up at the brunette with big puppy eyes.
"I guess ... I could add it once a week." Taiki mumbled before he walked off.
"See, Seiya-jii? Having me around is great." Hotaru grinned.
After picking some of Hotaru's things up from the Tomoe estate, the five drove home and Haruka took Hotaru up to her apartment.
Haruka cleared some space for Hotaru in her walk in closet and told her: "You can put your clothes here, Hime-chan. Do you remember where the bathroom and the kitchen are?" Haruka asked for good measures.
"Yes, Haruka-papa." Hotaru nodded.
"That's good." Haruka smiled approvingly.
"Ne, Haruka-papa?" Hotaru started to ask.
"Hmm? What is it Hime-chan?" Haruka asked in return.
"Can I put my mum where you keep your mum and dad and Haruto-jii?" Hotaru asked while holding Sayuri's memorial tablet in her hands.
"Of course." Haruka took Hotaru by the hand and led her up the stairs to the mezzanine before she opened the simple Butsudan in which the other memorial plates rested already.
Hotaru put Sayuri's memorial plate next Haruto's and smiled satisfied at Haruka.
The next morning Haruka got up early and prepared Hotaru's bento, as required by her Kindergarten. She had nearly everything together until it came down to vegetables.
'Note to self, buy more vegetables' she thought to herself. But the burning question was, where would she get them now, at 6.30 in the morning.
The communal fridge in the office!
She quickly put on a hoody, took the elevator down to the office level and entered the kitchen, just to find her three colleagues already fighting over the last cherry tomatoes in the fridge.
"What on earth is going on here?" Haruka demanded to know.
"I bought them, so I get first pick." Taiki stated evenly.
"You don't even like them. I need these tomatoes for my sandwich." Seiya said
"But you had some yesterday. It's my turn." Yaten argued.
"Guys, you can go out and buy some, I am taking these for Hotaru-chan's bento." Haruka interrupted them all.
"But I am already making her one." All three said in unison.
Awkward silence filled the room.
"We need to organise this better" Haruka said rubbing her temple.
Eventually, all four consolidated their creations and Hotaru got a colourful bento with cherry tomatoes.
After struggling to get Hotaru ready, Haruka drove her to her Kindergarten.
Standing in front of it Haruka kneeled down to Hotaru.
"Got your painting shirt?" the blonde asked.
"Yes" Hotaru nodded.
"Got your bento?" Haruka continued.
"Yes" Horaru confirmed.
"Will you finish your bento?" Haruka asked.
"Of course" Hotaru grinned.
"No throwing away food, ok?" Haruka reminded Hotaru.
"Of course not." Hotaru beamed.
"Going to give me a kiss before you go in?" Haruka asked her and Hotaru gave her a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Have a good day and learn a lot Hime-chan" Haruka smiled.
"You have a good day, too, Haruka-papa" with that Hotaru went inside.
Haruka watched the little girl waving to her one more time before she went into the building and waved back.
-Michiru-
Michiru watched the endearing scene from the gates in front of Hotaru's Kindergarten and waited for the blonde to turn around.
"Michiru…" Haruka said surprised.
"So that is the woman who stole you away from me." Michiru teased. "I understand your choice; she has way cuter plasters than I do." She pointed out the panda on Haruka's nose.
"Yea, sorry for not calling you back earlier" Haruka apologised, sheepishly scratching her head.
"We do have work that needs to get done." Michiru reminded her.
"And here I thought you missed me. Anyway, how did you find me?" Haruka smirked
"What kind of agent do you think I am, that I wouldn't be able to find you?" Michiru smirked in return.
Haruka just chuckled and led Michiru to her car.
"Ok, you decide what we do, but I decide where we do it." Haruka winked.
"Where are we going?" Michiru asked in return as she climbed into the car.
"A little place I keep by the beach." Haruka smirked as she started to drive out of the city.
"So why can't we have the planning sessions in my office?" Michiru asked.
"Back in my days, it could have been that I pissed off a couple people at the agency. Therefor would be of a disadvantage to you, if they found out that you are associating with me." Haruka grinned sheepishly.
"How is it that you couldn't possibly strike me as someone who would intentionally rub people the wrong way." Michiru commented dryly.
"Oh, that's because my rubbing always hits the spot and is never the wrong way." Haruka snickered.
"So, is that what happened to you, for you to need so many pandas and bunnies?" Michiru countered. "Rubbing the 'right way'?"
"Oh, you know, it was just one of those regular drunken Saturday night brawls. I just had too much energy left over that night, since someone wouldn't tug me into bed as promised." Haruka smirked shamelessly.
Haruka pulled into a garage of a small, lonesome looking beach dwelling and they stepped out of the car.
At the door to the main house Haruka opened a hidden panel to the left of it, stepped up to the Iris scanner and got her right eye scanned.
A mechanical voice announced: "Welcome back Tenoh-sama, please enter your code" The voice instructed the blonde.
Haruka quickly typed in a number combination and the door opened.
They stepped into a tastefully furnished open plan living space and Haruka took off her shoes before she walked towards the kitchen.
"Make yourself at home. Would you like something to drink? I can make you some tea, but I should also have some coffee, juices and water as well if you prefer those." She asked from the kitchen area.
"Tea sounds good." Michiru answered as she sat down on the couch that faced the floor to ceiling windows that gave an open view of the beach and Haruka got busy with the kettle and the tea pot.
The beach was deserted and Michiru could watch the waves come and go undisturbed.
"I hope you don't mind this Sencha, it seems I am freshly out of Matcha and Kocha." Haruka told her as sat down next to Michiru a couple of minutes later and poured her a cup of tea before Haruka passed it to her.
"That's fine." Michiru replied before she carefully sipped the smooth tasting tea.
"Shall we start?" Haruka asked before she took a sip of her own tea cup.
"How? The files are in my office and here's no equipment with which we could do any simulation." Michiru noted.
"I have read up on all the Council members already. A good strategy can only be planned when we know all about the team that we are working with. I know myself and my people but I don't know you and your people. So, take this as a simple getting to know each other first. So, who are you and who will you take with you on this?" Haruka started to ask.
"Shouldn't you have read up about all of that as well as former Agent Tenoh?" Michiru asked sceptically.
"I have; miss top-graduate of the Nagoya branch Agent Kaioh, but there is knowing and knowing." Haruka smirked. "Numbers can only tell you that much. I have not even agreed to work with you yet and deep down you are only taking an order from above. Unlike you, I am free to choose to work with you or not to do so and since it is my life and the life of my people on the line here, I want to be sure what I am getting into." Haruka stated evenly.
"I am glad the feeling is mutual." Michiru smirked. "I tell you what you want to know if you tell me what I want to know." Michiru suggested.
"Ok. Ladies first" Haruka chuckled as she leaned back on the couch. "What do you want to know?" Haruka asked.
"Why did you quit?" Michiru asked promply.
"The agency wasn't the right fit anymore. Why did you join?" Haruka asked in return.
"When I was a teenager I was kidnapped with another person after one of the orchestra's performances and held for ransom. Setsuna-san rescued me and I realised, music alone didn't do it for me anymore. So why didn't it fit for you anymore?" Michiru asked evenly.
"I didn't agree with the decisions of the ruling politics of the agency at the time. Why did you choose security over tactical offense? Your scores are spectacular after all" Haruka noted.
"I prefer to keep things safe, rather than to destroy a status quo. Why didn't you agree with the politics?" Michiru asked curiously.
"Humans aren't disposables. So, you prefer to keep things safe, is that why you never got involved with anyone?" Haruka chuckled.
"How did you know that?" Michiru asked suspiciously.
"You didn't answer my question." Haruka smirked.
"Getting involved with other people just creates openings that others will use against you. So, how did you know that?" Michiru asked in return.
"I can read it in your eyes when you talk about and to other people. You are close to Setsuna-nee and care for Ami-chan but there is that invisible wall between you and them. How many people truly know the Michiru Kaioh that loves to swim, enjoys Sashimi, thinks the Mona Lisa is fascinating and yet overrated and has last truly laughed melodiously from her heart and let go of her worries in Paris?" Haruka threw her off with that long winded question.
Michiru didn't know why she suddenly blushed. "You are pretty full of yourself." Michiru replied defensively.
"I know that you came to get me from the grave of my family the other day. The light breeze carried your scent to me when I was there. How long were you watching?" Haruka continued to ask, her voice ever so husky.
"I ….." Michiru averted her eyes.
Haruka leaned over and lifted Michiru's face with her bandaged hand. Michiru could feel the smooth fingers and the rough bandage on her cheek as her voice failed her.
"I truly appreciate it that you let me have my moment with my family there in peace. I don't care about your scores; I don't care about the missions you completed, all I care about is, if you truly want to work with me despite all that you know about me." Haruka asked evenly as she looked deeply into Michiru's eyes and the knot in Michiru's throat tightened.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything." Haruka reassured the violinist.
"Why not?" Michiru asked surprised.
"Because we both need to want it, not just me." Haruka said evenly, never averting her intense gaze from Michiru.
Michiru looked into Haruka's teal eyes that had stripped her so easily of all her defences and decided to just give in for now, before she leaned in and kissed Haruka deeply.
"Does this answer your question?" Michiru smiled seductively.
"Yes." Haruka smirked satisfied.
