Haruka heard the scream before she realized where it came from, though upon whirling around she saw it was Hotaru who had snuck up on her.

"Relax, it's me. I couldn't sleep."

She stated, going over to the little girl who took a full step back.

"What's wrong?"

Haruka asked, kneeling down only to have the little girl cling to her an second later.

"Haruka? Hotaru? What happened?" Michiru asked, flipping on a light as she rushed in.

"Hotaru must have came down here and got startled." Haruka answered softly, lifting the little girl up.

"Nightmare….thought Ruka was….."

The child sniffled, hiding her face against Haruka's shirt though she didn't continue.

"Hey, I'm not that scary am I?" the blonde asked softly, slightly teasing as she glanced over at Michiru who just smiled slightly.

"Haruka won't hurt you Hotaru, not like she did."

Michiru stated earning a muttered

"I know."

Haruka was confused though she didn't say anything.

Once Hotaru was calmer Haruka handed her off to Michiru who just smiled.

"Come on Hotaru, Let's go back to bed okay? I'll stay with you until you are back asleep."

Michiru came back downstairs a few minutes later, sighing.

"I am sorry about her, but her father's assistant decided to take her in for a while and…..Well….She was quite abusive. It lasted a month before I got a call from the social worker, asking me to foster her but I just couldn't stop there, not after I met her."

Michiru stated, earning a nod from Haruka.

"She's one special little girl." Haruka stated with a sigh before adding "you're lucky really, that you have her and not that monster of an assistant."