Haruka lay on the couch, zoned out as she watched her daughter playing with a bucket of blocks that she had lugged into the room.
"Look Papa!" the child exclaimed causing the woman to glance over and smile.
"that's nice princess...Now please be a good girl and try not to make a mess." Haruka stated lightly as she reached over to muss up the child's hair.
"you tired Haruka-papa?" the child questioned looking up at Haruka and chuckled a bit.
"a little. But I can wait. We don't get to spend time together much." she stated then sat up, suddenly having an idea as she added "I think it'd be okay if we went outside and played in the rain just this once...as long as we don't make a mess inside with mud because I don't think either of us want to scrub floors."
Hotaru's eyes lit up with happiness as she heard this "really Papa? We can?" the child exclaimed in disbelief.
"sure...its a warm day and we can wash off outside with the garden hose if we have to." the blonde replied with a small smile as she lifted her child up and swung her around, earning a squeal of laughter.
Haruka chuckled at the child's actions and threw her into the air, gently catching her before putting her down.
"Now go grab your jacket and rain boots...then we can go out and play."
Haruka watched her daughter stumble along and fight on her jacket and shoes.
"ready Papa!"
Haruka couldn't help the laugh that built in her throat.
"Okay little princess."
The tomboy couldn't help but smile as she lifted her energetic daughter up into a strong embrace. It was the first time that she had felt whole in a while and she would take a beating before she would go back to shunning everyone even her young daughter.