Disclaimer: Same as before
"talking"
Italics means thoughts
Chapter 3: Grandparents
Before Haruka even gets to say anything Michiru starts "Ruka if you can't come over its okay there will be other times I'm sure I was just getting selfish." Even though Michiru said it all with a smile Haruka can't help but see that Michiru was hurting with every word she was saying.
"Michi you are by far one of the least selfish people I have met and as far as the weekend goes my grandparents said I could," now says Haruka with a smile from ear to ear which causes Michiru to smile a heart warming smile. Only thing is it was not a pretty phone call but you're worth it Michi……………
"Momma said it was okay too I already asked for you," says a happy Michiru, who suddenly gets a confused look on her face.
"What is it," asked an even more confused Haruka at her friend's sudden change.
"Well how are you going to swim without a suit?"
"Don't worry I'll take care of that."
"Okay lets go momma might be done cause I only wait a little bit on Fridays."
The two head off to the auditorium to meet up with Michiru's mother. Once they get there they see Miss Kaioh locking up her office. Michiru runs over to her momma gives her leg a hug and happily says "Momma, Haruka says she can come over today, but she has no suit to swim with."
Looking down at her daughter she can't help but smile "Okay sweet-pea lets get going," she then looks up at Haruka with the same smile. Before realizing Haruka might have someone she needs to call, "Haruka do you need to use the phone before we leave?"
Haruka meanwhile was watching the whole interaction with mother and daughter with a forlorn eyes wondering 'why can't my parents be like them, just loving.'
Hearing the question she simply nods her head in a definite 'No'. Before any more questions can be asked Haruka's backpack starts to ring and proceeds to dig out the source of it which is a navy blue cell phone with golden initials on the back that say H. T.
Meanwhile Michiru is watching with eyes the size of saucers that her friend has a cell phone but her mother on the other hand doesn't seem surprised at all.
"Hello," answers Haruka with a face void of emotions.
"Yes, that's fine we're headed to the parking lot now I'll see you shortly," says Haruka with a tone of superiority and then hangs up her phone putting back into her backpack.
Looking at the two Kaiohs, Haruka just smile and asks, "Shall we?"
Miss Kaioh is the first to answer with, "Sure thing if this one is done with her jaw being on the floor."
Michiru realizes she has been staring and is being made fun of says "Well why can't I have one too, hmph, you two are mean?" She then proceeds to walk out leaving mother and friend behind.
Haruka bewildered by this begins to follow Michiru to the parking lot with Miss Kaioh following behind with a smile on her face. "Don't worry Haruka, she's just kidding," says Miss Kaioh.
Haruka relived by this catches up with her friend and whispers in her ear "if you want I will get on for your birthday when you turn 9, but you have to promise to call me."
Michiru blushes a little and says "I'd call, promise."
Which causes Haruka to smile, but that smile soon leaves her face as walks out into the parking lot and sees a familiar black sedan. She proceeds over to the car and opens the door drops her backpack and grabs a different bag and then goes over to the two Kaiohs who are waiting for her at a blue car. Where Michiru has a confused face on her as she watches her friend walks over with only a gym bag and a cell phone in hand.
Michiru being as curious as most five year olds are asks "who was that Ruka?"
"Oh that was just one of my uh, cousin dropping off some clothes if it's okay Miss Kaioh I told my grandparents I would be staying until Sunday," says a rather nervous Haruka. I know I was only invited to play but I might not get another chance to spend a weekend with Michiru.
Miss Kaioh only smiles as if she can hear Haruka's thoughts cause she knows who Haruka grandparents are and says "it's find as long as my daughter her doesn't mind having you all weekend."
Michiru only smiles and nods her approval. Wow I get Ruka for a whole weekend, but why does she have to ask her grandparents, I wonder if she doesn't have parents. I'll ask later I have a whole weekend to get to know her……hee hee……
Later that evening after swimming and practicing together we find at the dinner table two Kaiohs and Haruka.
Haruka asks "Will Miss Katherine not be here?"
Miss Kaioh replies "She had a swim meet tonight but she should be home in about two more hours after it's over."
"Yep and when Mom gets here we can go swimming again she is real good and it's not cold outside yet, so it's okay, right momma," says Michiru while putting more food into her already full mouth.
"Oh," says Haruka while looking down at her plate with down cast eyes. I wonder if they didn't go cause I'm here tonight.
As if hearing her thoughts again Miss Kaioh says with a smile "Haruka don't worry we hardly go cause 'other people' Michiru sometimes goes but I think she doesn't mind this time and neither will Katherine."
"Yep, momma right I can go another time and besides maybe one time you can come too."
Haruka smiles and says "we'll see."
After dinner Miss Kaioh tells the two that they can watch two movies and that she will be in the study finishing some work. Haruka and Michiru spend about two minutes before they both agree on watching 'Little Mermaid' and 'Prince and the Pauper'. (A.N. gotta love Disney)…..Just as the 'Little Mermaid nearing the end Katherine walks in the front door. Michiru hearing the door paused the movie and runs over to her and jumps right into her arms.
"Mom guess what, guess what," squeals a giggling Michiru as Katherine spins her around.
"What munchkin," says Katherine with a smile on her face while she sets Michiru down.
"Haruka gets to stay til Sunday momma said it was okay and can we please, please go swimming with you now that you're home," begs Michiru with a pout of perfection.
Upon hearing this and understanding her daughter Katherine looks in the living room towards the couch in front of the T.V. and sees Haruka's head sticking up looking at the two with a bemused smile on her face. Once Haruka is caught staring at them she nods her head at Katherine who only nods her reply back and looks down at her daughter and says, "Finish your movie and let me change then we'll go swimming, kay."
"kay, yay," yells a happy Michiru and runs back to the couch to finish the movie.
10 mins later they're in the pool again swimming only this time it was for 45 mins since it was almost 10:00 p.m.
"Alright munchkin enough for today, tomorrow we'll swim more. You and Haruka both go take a shower then we'll watch a movie," says Katherine.
"Oh, okay mom," says Michiru.
Haruka already out the pool drying off looks over at her friend and smiles. 'She really is a little mermaid'
Michiru gets out the pool and is greeted by a warm fluffy towel and a grinning Haruka.
"For the little mermaid princess," offers Haruka.
"Why thank you my prince," answers Michiru with a smile.
After the kids are showered and dressed in pj's, Michiru's looks like an over grown T-shirt that comes to her mid-shins with a faded picture of a violinist and Haruka is short sleeved flannel with long pants. They meet in the living room where Katherine asks "what movie are we watching?"
Michiru is the first to say anything "Prince and the Pauper, cause Ruka picked it so it's only fair."
"It's okay Michi we can watch whatever your moms want," replies Haruka very quickly while closing her eyes and smiling. I wish I had family like this or at least a family.
Both Katherine and Miss Kaioh look at the kids and think the same thoughts 'Ruka, Michi'
Katherine is the first to recover from her thoughts and says "Nope we have a standing rule that everyone gets a say in the movie and since one has already been picked we're watching it. Plus I like Mickey Mouse so good pick."
"Yes, I agree with Katherine," says Miss Kaioh.
Halfway through the movie Michiru seems to fall asleep with her head resting on Haruka's shoulders. Haruka grabs one of the many little pillows next to her and puts it on her lap. She then gently guides Michiru's head to rest on the pillow. All this is witness by the other two occupants in the room. Miss Kaioh gets up and grabs a blanket from the linen closet and drapes it over Michiru.
Katherine looks at Haruka with eyes that couldn't be identify and asks "you won't hurt her will you?"
Haruka looks over long forgetting the movie and in the process letting her fingers get lost in Michiru's hair and shake her head 'NO'.
With a very determined look and such intense eyes she looks over to both mothers and says with all the conviction she can muster above a slight whisper "I swear to you both that as long as I am allowed to be her friend I will be there and once I am no longer allowed I will still be there. The only difference is she can't know about it. I will protect her with my life."
Miss Kaioh can tell that it isn't an empty promise Haruka is making and simply smiles and nods her head in approval. Katherine however, isn't satisfied "What about your family, I know how money is I us to be in that world."
Upon hearing that Haruka's face turns into surprise and panic. Miss Kaioh sees this and knows where this conversation is headed and decides to leave the two alone to talk.
"Honey don't be too harsh on Haruka she can't help the family she comes from and Haruka don't worry about Michiru she can sleep through a train wreck, as for myself I am going to bed, good-night," and leaves the two to have a talk.
"Miss Katherine I can't help my family, but I do know that my grandparents care for me. However, I can't say the same for my mother and father. I think that they care more for what I will gain when I become of age to take it. I've always heard them tell me that one day I will become so great that I will make them proud, never have they said I've made them proud. However, they will cause no harm to Michiru for if they do they will lose everything I will gain. My grandparents have always told me to do what makes me happy and not everyone else therefore, they're allowing to have this time. Well long story short I get to stay the weekend but I have a Sunday brunch to attend and a meeting on Monday morning and I'm worried about Michiru cause the Kou brothers will be back," explains Haruka.
"I understand and as far as Monday goes don't worry I think you scared them according to what Michiru has told me, so they should leave her alone for a little bit," says Katherine smiling fondly at the memory of her daughter telling her about her friend beating up her tormentors.
"Haruka what did you mean about your grandparents allowing you to have this time?"
"Well they agreed to let me go to a public school to allow me to be more rounded, that's how my tutor phrased it, and Ms. Meioh has a way with words. The truth however, is that they wanted me to have some semblance of a normal life for a little bit before my other life took over. Although I am who I am and supposedly have everything, I truly envy others cause I have nothing and they have everything. Therefore, when Michiru asked to be my friend I don't think I can explain why I was drawn to her but I'm glad I was. I can tell you a lot about corporations but nothing about being a friend or kid. I've sat in meeting since I was her age," says Haruka while playing with Michiru's hair and getting lost in her thoughts.
Since Haruka is looking down at Michiru she doesn't see the smile looming on Katherine's face but looks up when she hears Katherine mutter a simple "Hmm."
"What is it," ask Haruka seeing the questioning look on Katherine's face.
"Well I was just wondering about you tutor she sounds like she cares about you more then you know, this Ms. Meioh does she have a first name and a child?"
"Yes it's Hikari Meioh, if I recall correctly her daughter named is Setsuna she showed me a picture of her once when I was younger."
"I thought as much, I teach her daughter Setsuna and not too long ago she wrote a poem called 'The Eyes of a Child Alone'. When I spoke to her after class about submitting her work in a contest she declined. I asked about her inspiration and she said it was a rich, lonely, child her mother tutored. She told me that she had only seen the child once years ago at the Tenoh Manor but the look in the child's eyes spoke of years of being alone. I'll be sure to let you read it one day. I'm glad you two became friends. Well the movie is almost over feel free to finish it, don't worry about turning off the T.V. it has a timer to go off by its self in 1 hr. I'm going to bed now."
As Katherine gets up she goes over and ruffles Haruka's hair and says "you're welcomed in this family anytime as long as you don't hurt her."
Haruka is too stunned to comment on that but before Katherine is out of the room Haruka asks "Are Kou's related to Hiroshi Kou?"
Katherine doesn't even bother to turn around and says very serious "Yes, good luck with the battle that awaits you." I'm not stupid I know that Tenoh Empire has been trying to take Kou Enterprise though good luck Haruka cause I fear you have more battles then that ahead of you if my suspicions are correct.
"Thank you Katherine for everything and don't worry I'll win," says Haruka. My family. Now it seems I have far more reason to squash that annoying bug of a business man.
A few minutes later we find Michiru stirring and looking up at Haruka with eyes that one couldn't fathom finding the depth of.
"Ready to go to bed princess," asks Haruka with a smirk tugging her lips. I hope that she didn't hear us talking.
Michiru simply smiles and sits up and replies "only if my prince will be there to keep me safe in the dark." When you're ready I'll be here to listen and I am you're friend forever.
"Of course I will princess." Anything you wish.
The two go to sleep in Michiru's room together simply holding hands both with the thoughts of how long this will last for each of them.
Haruka I hope nothing bad happens to you and that I can make you happy I hope we can always stay like this.
Michiru I hope that you'll always be happy and that I never I have become who I am.
Both mothers check on the two kids and are greeted with the sight of two angels smiling peacefully. Once back in their own room Katherine is the first to speak, "you know that Monday Haruka won't be at school she has a meeting."
"Yes, honey I know I was listening at the steps and I also know that the Kou's will be back, but Michiru doesn't like to miss school."
"Baby how about I take her with me to class and write her a sick note. Besides I have a bad feeling about Monday. It's all over the news about Tenoh Empires meeting with Kou Enterprise. Tenoh is doing a hostile take over since they couldn't come to an agreement for a merger. I guess Monday is one of those meetings Haruka has to go to."
"Honey, how about we worry about it come Monday and enjoy our weekend for now?"
"Okay baby, good-night."
A.N.- Thank you to all who read, even more thanks to those of you who reviewed. I do have most of Chapter 5 written. I had a friend die on Thanksgiving so I have been away from my laptop. I apologize for all who were waiting for this Chapter. The next one will be out in 48 hrs. if my laptop isn't acting crazy and I get to upload it. Also, I am working on my spelling/grammar errors, it's not that I dislike the English language it's just difficult for me, I'm still learning.
Papapapuffy: Once again thank you for the review.
LitaDelacour: Well they say you can't judge a book by the cover, I'm glad you like my story. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a flop.
Ten'ousai: I hope you didn't hurt yourself falling. However it's nice to know I have another reader. I wasn't kidding about the suggestion part, I'm open for them. My e-mail is listed on my profile open for all to use.