A/N: Sorry this took so long. It's just. . . I'm lost and don't have many ideas. ^, But NO FEAR! ((Said the parrot? in Swan Princess)) I'm just gonna slap whatever's in my head on piece o' paper and computer typing, and hope it comes out good! Yeah!

DISCLAIMER: After all this time, I still don't own Sailor Moon, since they and characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. BUT I got claim to Kiroto! ^^

Settling In

"You WHAT?"

Haruka winced, backing away cautiously from the frothing-at-the-mouth man and holding her hands up in a safety precaution. All five of them were now back at the main office of Planet Inc., a roundabout front for the secret Senshi Inc. behind it all, and they were currently being cross-examined by Mehido-san the top dog retired man himself.

"Hime-chan here, formally known as Hotaru Tomoe, was locked in some kind of seal under the pool and we freed her. Mehido-san, all the fat cats in political upheaval have used her millionaire name to get away with everything under the sun, and Kiroto here, from another company, used it also to try to get behind the scenes and grab some facts."

Hard eyes of steel silver scrutinized said blonde, and Kiroto smiled nervously as she waved a small 'hi!'. Haruka tried to swallow her laugh when Mehido's inner weakness for younger women appeared in a blush.

The man was an absolute otaku and went gaga over girls and anything that had anime or manga in it. Over forty-eight, he'd seen the first risings of Planet and Senshi Inc. from up out of the ashes, and he had a good foothold in the other companies around them in persuasion.

Kiroto was no match for him.

"So. . Kiroto-chan, do tell, did you have good intentions when you first started using the name 'Meijin Hanzai' and permeated the home of said female?"

Even without all her facade and bravado, Haruka could tell Kiroto was sincere as she stared at the man, matching his tone in all seriousness and placing a comforting hand on Hotaru's shoulder where the girl sat on Michiru's lap.

"I did, and I still do. After I'd revealed what was happening from behind the scenes, I'd let Hotaru-chan here reclaim her name and clear hers and mine from any blame. I will still do that, with or without your consent in this."

Kiroto was now in Mehido's space, frowning as she growled her truth.

Suddenly, Setsuna was in front of Kiroto, smiling apologetically at the older man and turning to face the younger girl. Her red eyes were smiling, though her voice held a small tinge of reproval. Kiroto seemed to shrink under her gaze, glancing over flittingly at Haruka.

"She means everything well, Mehido-san. Right now, though, we have all talked this situation over and have come to the conclusion Haru-chan here and Michiru-chan will adopt Hotaru here and welcome Kiro-chan here and me in their home. IF that's okay with you."

Mehido stared up into red eyes, the orbs deadly serious. He knew the case was hot, and with Haruka and Michiru, the company's most prospering partner living with the girl in dangered question, then it was a good deal.

Nodding, Mehido allowed a smile to come over his crinkled face, bowing slightly as silver hair lashed down over his right eye.

"One condition: I will give you two weeks to find whatever and whoever stole the name of Hotaru Tomoe and to clear it. Only then will I let you off house-free and everything. Besides,"

Mehido stopped in mid-sentence, twirling back from walking to the door and departing, smiling over at them and giving them a rather handsome wink, a small wave to Hotaru.

"it's way too early for you guys to be retiring."

Everyone blinked.

Before any of them could say or correct the silver-haired man, he was gone. Turning to Michiru and Setsuna, Haruka pulled Hotaru into her lap and looked over the dark-haired crown to Kiroto. Pulling Hotaru's cheeks in a gentle tug to make her grin, Haruka peered up at her childhood enemy.

"Kiro-chan, will you live with us? For now? You DID promise security to Hime-chan's name, and I'm sure we'll all have enough room. Besides, we're not ready to retire, and we can spar any time we want. Sets-chan'll be there, too, y'know, don't'cha 'member when you had the biggest cru-"

"OKAY! Jeez, Haru-chan, all ya had'ta do was ASK! I-I mean, just WHO with a HEART could resist this cute, adowable wittle fashe!"

"I'm sure you, Kiroto-chan, which is why Haru-chan used Hota-chan's 'adowable' face as bait."

Setsuna appeared next to Hotaru, kneeling at Haruka's feet and pinching the little girl on her lap. Her face was set in a smile, and Haruka grinned when Kiroto's breath hitched on the wind. After all the transformation action, Haruka had gained a bond with the winds and sky, and she was sure Michiru did the same with the water and ocean.

Rising, Haruka shifted Hotaru with ease from arm to arm and enjoyed her little girl's squeals of happiness. Michiru rose with her, and they headed out the door, laughing as Hotaru tumbled over Haruka's back and did a small flip into Kiroto's surprised arms.

With a small blush, blonde mischief-maker handed Hotaru over to Setsuna. Turning around the corner and bidding Mehido-san's secretary good-bye, they stepped into the elavator.

Michiru suddenly tugged on their arms, bringing all of them to an abrupt halt and lurching as the elavator made its way upwards into the real world and out into Planet Inc. and the world of humans and unlimited opportunities.

"Um. . guys? Where exactly are we going to stay?"

No one had an answer to that, but then Haruka noticed a newspaper floating on the winds. Inside, something called to that piece of paper, made her hands itch, and she willed it to swirl, willed the wind to make a path directly to them.

The paper drifted, seemingly teasing her, but Haruka grasped Hotaru's little hands and directed it at the colored slip, telling the small girl to watch it. Hotaru did, and soon the paper came down onto the head of Setsuna.

With a knowing grin at Michiru and Kiroto, Setsuna took it from her head and handed it casually to Hotaru, smiling at Haruka.

"Well, looks like we'll be staying here."

The ocean soothed the white sand, drawing its salty essence up onto the glistening wet beaches' smooth expanse, and all five females let out a collective sigh.

A lone seagull cried out its joy as the wind toyed with its wings, bringing in its playmates and letting it soar as the waves crashed gently against the entrance to the small cove right below the ancient cliff with the large weather-hewn boulders.

There seemed to be a magical quality about the secluded area, and even with the main highway a couple minutes' run from the sea's side, it was quiet. Haruka turned to her family and nodded at the hut clinging to the side of the coast.

It was almost dark, the stars coming out to a faint wind, the sea swirling languidly, restless despite all the attention the five girls were giving them. Turning under the dark sky, all of them let out a high whoop and raced for the cove, straight to their new home.

Somehow, trust had been in their souls at that very moment, and Haruka had raced her fingers over the soft pads of her cell phone, pressing the button for speaker phone and grinning as all of them crowded around the small device.

"Hello? Yes, this is Haruka Teno'h. . I'm calling to buy your house."

And that was that.

Now they stood in front of the majestic hut, its coconut-leaved roof waving cheerily at them as it beckoned them inside, inviting them to check out their new home. Stepping inside, Kiroto reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small flashlight, taking in her surroundings as she reached around and flicked on a switch.

"Cool!"

Hotaru's excited voice sounded, and the room that was filled with all kinds of dark, swirling lights, then easing down into a soft throb of purple and red color became something nice and welcome to the older women.

The furniture seemed to be mismatching lumps of comfort, and Kiroto gave a squeal as Haruka picked her up and whirled her into a nearby couch, then tackling Setsuna into a plump green chair. Dark red eyes flashed, and Setsuna grinned, beckoning Hotaru over.

With a bounce, Hotaru let go of the small bubble-head tiger she'd found among the small collection of bubble-head animals and jumped onto Setsuna's lap. Haruka smiled and lounged happily on the flowing water bed.

"Michiru! C'mere, it's just your style!"

The aqua-haired violinist peered startledly into the dark and smiled when she saw the mischievous twinkle in her partner's eyes. Catching the unsaid dare, Michiru stepped over a couple of throw pillows and landed on the bed beside the racer.

Gentle winds swirled into the house, and all of them shivered as they looked up and gazed into the see-through leaves of coconut branches, sighing as the skies opened up and a built-in heater blasted them with a nice warmth.

Serenity flowed through them, and all five of them about dozed into sleep right then and there. Then Setsuna stood up with a soft groan and peered into the next room. Hearing her childhood friend's gasp of wonder, Haruka stood, pulling Michiru with her and walking over to her housemate.

Kiroto followed, Hotaru pouncing on her and glomping on for a piggy-back.

"W-Wow. . ."

In the back room was something made out of dreams. All sorts of magical animals peered out at them from behind fake bushes, the paintings artistically real and vibrant as the newcomers stared around in awe.

Michiru broke the silence, padding forwards and reverently running her fingertips over the sacred carvings and brush strokes. With tears in her eyes, Michiru let out a soft breath and leaned against a strong pillar of sanded wood, relaxing and closing her eyes.

Haruka and Hotaru appeared at her side, a bit amused by their partner and new mom's reaction to the beautiful art stored throughout the whole room.

"You okay there, Michiru-mama?"

With a smiled sigh, Michiru nodded and bent down, brushing her lips onto the dark crown of Hotaru's head. Picking the smiling child up, Michiru nodded and turned back to the painting. It was of a mermaid, her blue, blue eyes staring deep into her soul and seemingly winking at her.

"Yes, Hotaru-chan. I'm wonderful. This is an amazing house, so far."

Kiroto tramped over to another painting and stared suspiciously at it, her pool-blue eyes narrowing. Reaching out a hand, she expected to stroke soft, coarse fur. Instead, she encountered drawn marble. Laughing self-consciously, the blonde straightened under Setsuna's questing gaze.

"I-I was looking for Jezul. For a minute there, that wolf looked exactly like hi-"

"That IS me, Kiroto-chan. Jeez, for a beast master, you could at least recognize one of your chosen."

Kiroto jumped, her head whipping back to stare at the great wolf emerging behind the broad frame, his grey pelt rippling as he left the painting. Nudging his master's shocked leg, Jezul twined himself around Kiroto and seemed to smirk at Setsuna when the woman glanced briefly at him.

"J-Jezul, where did you. .? How?"

"Kiroto-chan, I'm part faerie, 'member? Sheesh, even the kids can't seem to remember anything nowadays."

By now every one of them was staring at the large wolf curled in about himself, his proud tail swishing in agitation. Green eyes somehow flickered in annoyance at upcoming blue, then flashed black when he saw everyone staring at him, and Jezul snapped at the air, his fangs showing.

"What? Can't a faerie wolf have a bit of privacy?"

Setsuna seemed to smile then and leaned down, reaching for Kiroto's hand and pulling her to give the large wolf a big bear hug. Jezul leaned up into the hug gratefully, his large pelt trembling in a purr, and Haruka couldn't help but chuckle.

Suddenly, a thought occured to her.

"Jezul-kun, earlier, when we'd transformed and. . . Neptune and Uranus came to us in different forms, was there some sort of connection between that and faerie?"

Pure grey orbs looked deeply into her being and Haruka blinked, confused at the simple answer.

"Yep."

Before she could ask the most obvious question of how and what, Jezul was gone, back into the painted statue and rippling out the other side and who knows where. Kiroto rounded on Haruka, but before the blonde could patronize her for running the wolf off, Setsuna stepped in.

Calmly pushing Kiroto back into the front room, Setsuna called back a casual, "Look the house over for us, guys, I've got some stuff to talk about with Kiroto-chan here!"

Haruka shot Michiru a look but shrugged and hoisted her grinning Hime-chan onto her shoulders. Stomping around the room a good bit, Haruka nodded, satisfied that she'd looked everything over and pulled Michiru after her to look at the next room.

What she saw there left her speechless.

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"O-hohohooo! This's GOTTA be a dream, don't pinch me Michiru, this is too good to be true! OW! Hime-chan, no, no, it hurts- oh! It's not a dream! Yes, yes, YES!"

Haruka pranced around the room, her hands over her head and shaking her hips and butt as she surveyed their new home. In the new room, there were cars everywhere. Seemingly of all shapes and sizes of perfection gleamed at her, the wheels rugged and purely circled as they hugged the flat of ground and gripped the earth in something akin to worship.

Sleek lines dominated all cars, but Haruka was speedily sizing up which ones had fatal flaws and clapping her hands in glee. While all of them were in perfect condition, the racer could see small tweaks a mechanic and car lover would love to get their hands on.

Oh, baby. .!

"Er-hem."

Racer turned and smiled sheepishly, rubbing her hands together and on a spare rag the last owner had hung on the nearby wall. The wall itself was covered in wrenches and simple but efficient tools and supplies, and inwardly Haruka screamed in joy.

Michiru and Hotaru were looking amused at her actions, but something in their gazes told Haruka to tone it down a little. Aww, what the heck. Laughing, Haruka ran to pick up her little girl and twirled her around. Michiru giggled at their side, and Hotaru leaned down and whispered into her ear.

She nodded, grinning.

"Michiru-mama! Haruka-papa gets to lift you now!"

Haruka almost laughed at Michiru's trapped expression turning into one puzzled smile. Setting Hotaru down, racer winked at their daughter and turned to Michiru. Holding out both her arms, Haruka gathered her precious partner and hugged her, allowing her to settle down before lifting her slightly.

Michiru's breath caught, and Haruka almost forgot to breathe herself.

Heaven.

Skin to skin, touch to touch, they were partners, in danger and in fun, they would forever be.

"Haru-chan! Michiru-chan! Us too, us too!"

Kiroto and Setsuna burst in on them, their faces split into the biggest grins one could have. Haruka laughed and put Michiru down, snuggling a soft nudge into the folds of her hair and letting go. Pouncing on Kiroto, she hefted her up and threw her to Setsuna, who grumbled but caught her with ease.

Hotaru tugged on her pinky, a big grin on her lips.

"C'mon, Haruka-papa! We need to check out the rest of the house!"

Haruka smiled.

This was home, because ever since they'd stepped in, it had revealed their secrets.

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A/N: Meh. . . the plot's running away like a pair of horses being driven by a squirrel pumped full of coffee. . ^^; Still, I'll get back to it one day. As of now, let's just plunk them all in the house, where it seems to fill their one and every desire! .