Chapter Six
Haruko, Kaizen, and Raisuke walked back to the house. They stopped as they witnessed a scene going on. Haruko's mother, held back by her father, seemed to be yelling at Tanaka-sensei.
"Michiru, calm down! They just came to visit Haruko!" her father exclaimed.
"I don't care! They want to take my child from me, I can tell! You won't get her, Kyoya! Not again!" Michiru yelled as she tried to break free.
"Michiru, we'll bring her back every once in a while. Just please allow me to train her; she needs to be with kids her own age, and she was doing great under my care," Kyoya replied.
"No! I refuse! I refuse to allow you the pleasure of stealing my daughter! You can have her over my dead body!" Michiru yelled.
"You don't mean that, Chiru-chan," Kyoya replied, smiling.
Michiru finally managed to free herself from Ryou, Haruko's father. She turned to Haruko, who fell to her knees, sobbing loudly. Raisuke tried to calm her while Kaizen angrily walked towards Michiru. Michiru stepped back slightly.
"Hey! You aren't a good parent, you know. Haruko is miserable here! Your methods don't work! Haruko is one of my best friends. She's the greatest friend anyone's ever had, and she doesn't deserve to be alone just because you were!" Kaizen yelled.
Michiru looked at him, shocked to hear these things from a young child. She looked to her daughter, who seemed to be a bit calmer now. She looked to Kyoya; she looked to Ryou; she looked back to Kaizen before walking over to Haruko and kneeling in front of her.
"Haruko, all this time I…I just wanted the best for you… When I was your age, they did the same thing to me, and they told me it was the best thing for me. They said that friends would distract me; I was alone for most of my childhood. Haruko, you're different from me, and yet, you're the same. In you, I see myself as a child; I see the same sadness and wanting that I felt, and I'm just as cold as my mother was. Please Haruko, please forgive me."
Michiru began crying as she suddenly hugged her daughter. Haruko ceased her sobbing in shock. Her mother hadn't hugged her in a long time. She didn't know what to say or do, except hug her mother in return. Ryou walked over to them and smiled. Kaizen ran over and began laughing. Raisuke nudged him in the stomach and gave him a "this isn't the time" look. Kaizen stopped as Michiru stood up. She wiped her eyes and walked to Kaizen and Raisuke.
"Which one of you is Kaizen?" she asked, regaining her composure.
Kaizen raised his hand slightly; he wasn't sure what she would do to him. Michiru just smiled brighter and hugged him. Kaizen was embarrassed, and everyone could see it on his face as Michiru released him.
"You two, take care of her. She's a bit of a handful, but I'm sure you can handle her. Kaizen, you better not hurt her. Treat her well, or I'll come after you," she said.
Haruko stood up and looked to Kyoya and her father.
"Otousan, Tanaka-sensei, she…she's…and…I…and…" she said, confused.
"Haruko, just know that your mother and I support you every step of the way," Ryou answered, hugging her gently.
She smiled as her released her and walked over to Kaizen and Raisuke.
"You guys, I can't go back with you,' she said.
Everyone looked at Haruko with surprised expressions.
"Why the hell not?" Kaizen yelled.
"Kai-chan, watch your mouth," Kyoya sang.
"I'm tired; we'll have to go back in the morning. You know I don't like traveling at night!" Haruko exclaimed as she walked back to the house.
She turned around and stuck out her tongue before Kaizen got angry enough to chase after her. Raisuke followed them into the house. Michiru giggled before Ryou held her gently and kissed her.
"I'm glad you see it my way," he whispered.
She smiled and suddenly looked at Kyoya, who looked ready to start laughing.
"Kyoya, if I attacked you, what would you do?" Michiru asked.
"Hmm…I don't know. Why don't you see and find out?" Kyoya answered.
"Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe it is; maybe it isn't…hmmm…"
The next morning, Haruko woke up the earliest. She saw the children playing below her as she sat on her roof.
"Neechan is it true?" a small voice asked.
Haruko jumped down and landed next to the small girl. She kneeled in front of her and smiled weakly.
"I'm leaving, yes. But, I'll come back, so wait for me, okay?" Haruko asked.
The little girl forcefully hugged her as she started to cry.
"My name is Kikuhara Satsuki. Please come back, neechan!" she sobbed.
"Satsuki, my name is Shikari Haruko. I'll be famous one day, you know. I promise you, I'll come back just for you," Haruko replied.
Satsuki let go of her and looked up, blinking. Haruko smiled back and nodded to confirm her questioned expression.
"Haruko-chan, I want to be like you when I grow up!" Satsuki cheered before running away.
Haruko smiled and threw a kunai behind her without looking. Kaizen dodged it and disappeared. He reappeared behind her and tried to kick her in the face, but she ducked and tried to kick his feet from under him. He flipped back and caught her foot just as she stood up and tried to kick him in the face. She growled and kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to let go. She flipped backwards and took out two kunai. Kaizen jumped up and did the same. Both of them were panting, waiting for the other to make their move. Haruko stepped forward slightly; Kaizen prepared to attack. She moved forward as if she would sprint towards him; then suddenly, she disappeared. Kaizen looked around, but didn't see her. He suddenly jumped back as the two kunai flew at him. He threw his two kunai in the air, but they just came back down. Haruko suddenly tackled him from behind. They rolled on the ground before Haruko ended up on top of Kaizen. She smiled through her heavy breathing.
"I win again. That's twenty to eighteen, Kai-baka," she panted.
He angrily threw her off and sat on the ground with his arms folded. Haruko crawled to him, sitting in front of him. He refused to look at her. Raisuke came outside, trying not to laugh as he watched Haruko crawl around Kaizen, trying to get him to look at her.
"Rai-kun, he's mad at meee! I just beat him, and he's mad at me!" Haruko whined.
"That's because he's a sore loser. Try doing what I told you," Raisuke replied as he scratched Kuro behind the ears.
Kuro stood up, mewed, and ran to Haruko. Haruko laughed and put Kuro up to Kaizen's face. She licked his lips and mewed. Kaizen's eyes opened and widened. He jumped back and spat on the ground.
"Gross! What was that for?" he asked.
"That's…not what I meant, Haruko…" Raisuke said.
"Kaizen, stop being a sore loser. I think that Haruko should be praised. You can be hard to beat sometimes."
"Kai-kun, are you really mad at me?" Haruko asked in her sweetest voice.
Kaizen looked at her and sat down beside her.
"I'm sorry…for being a sore loser," he mumbled.
"All is for-" Haruko started.
"Haruko-chan, my beloved daughter!" Tanaka-sensei yelled.
"Kyoya, she's still my daughter! You can't have my angel!" Ryou exclaimed.
"Yes, Haruko belongs to us, so don't adopt her while we're still alive," Michiru added.
Haruko stood up and ran to them, Kuro following close behind.
"Okaasan, Otousan, I'll miss you…" she said.
"Then, you should come back home as often as you can. Kaizen, Raisuke, you two are welcome here anytime," Michiru replied.
Haruko hugged both of her parents. She smiled her brightest as she let them go.
"Kyoya, I want to hear about everything," Ryou said.
"Don't worry, I'll fill you in on everything," Kyoya winked.
Haruko looked up to the sky as she walked with Tanaka-sensei, Raisuke, Kaizen, and Kuro. She looked back often, as if expecting her parents to be right behind her, but they weren't. She was leaving them, not forever, but for a while. Her wish came true; they did save her from the nightmare, and it became a happy reality that felt like a dream. Her mother finally supported her, and she could be with her friends, her family away from home. Tears of joy fell down her cheeks as she stopped walking. Kaizen looked at her and ran back to her while the others walked on.
"Haruko, let's go home, okay?" he asked.
She cried harder as she forcefully hugged him. He smiled and kissed her. She stopped crying and blushed violently, releasing him quickly.
"I knew that would shut you up," he laughed.
"Kai-baka! I'll get you!" she yelled.
Kaizen started running as she chased him. They ran past Raisuke, Tanaka-sensei, and Kuro.
"Raisuke, she's crazy!" Kaizen yelled.
Raisuke and Tanaka-sensei laughed. Things between them hadn't changed at all. Now that everyone was back together, they were ready for more adventures. Haruko, no everyone could see that many adventures lie ahead, and they couldn't be more excited.
A new home, a new family, a new beginning…that's what awaited Shikari Haruko, and that's exactly what she wanted.
Owari
