Fourteen Days with my Family by Hotaru Tomoe.
Chapter Four: Tuesday I.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Have you ever had one of those days where you just wanted to go back to bed, pull the covers over your head, and stay there for a few months? That was basically today in a nutshell for me.
It started out quietly enough although there was a thunderstorm raging outside. Since Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, and I were going to the recording studio today, Setsuna-mama decided to go to the Time Gate. Hoshiko asked if she could join her so she could check on the progress of a few of the Star Seeds.
"Sure, I'd be glad to help." Setsuna-mama replied. Hoshiko smiled and thanked her. They left right after breakfast.
"Have fun! Don't do anything we wouldn't do!" Haruka-papa called as the two of them left. Setsuna-mama just glared at her before they stepped into the portal and disappeared, but not before Hoshiko asked a question.
"What did Haruka mean by that?" She asked. Setsuna-mama muttered something in reply. "Oh!" Hoshiko exclaimed, and they were gone.
"What?" Haruka-papa demanded as Michiru-mama and I glared at her. Michiru-mama let out an exasperated sigh.
"Let's just go to the recording studio, okay?"
After packing our stuff and setting out a few cushions for Setsuna-mama and Hoshiko to land safely on when they came back (Setsuna-mama has a tendency to tumble haphazardly out of the time portal when she comes home. None of us know why.) We headed out.
Things started to go wrong from the start. First, Haruka-papa refused to take the mini-van, which was a much better vehicle to drive in this kind of weather, at least in Michiru-mama and my opinion anyway. But Haruka-papa was being stubborn and Michiru-mama didn't want to be late because Mr. Tanaka, the producer, was a stickler for punctuality. So, reluctantly, we piled into the car and took off.
The second problem was Papa's car, specifically the retractable canopy, which leaked. It leaked into the back seat where I was sitting naturally, nothing major, just a slow, steady dripping on my head that I found very annoying and said so to Haruka-papa. As soon as we stooped at a light, I shuffled over and sat behind Michiru-mama.
"Don't worry Hime-chan, we're almost there." Haruka-papa assured me when she saw that I was buckled in safely. This is, of course, when the tire blew out. So, long and short of it, Haruka-papa and I went to fix the tire while Michiru-mama tried to patch the leak with duct tape. Why did I go to help Haruka-papa you ask? Because I'm a big believer in the phrase 'misery loves company' that's why. Believe me, after several minutes of the two of us changing the tire, with Haruka-papa using words I can't print here, and Michiru-mama telling her not to use that kind of language, we were wet, cold, and very miserable by the time we got back into the car and got back on the road. At least Michiru-mama had insisted that we each pack a change of clothes just in case.
We arrived at the studio nearly ten minutes late, not to mention soaked, and Haruka-papa grumbling about the upholstery the remainder of the trip, grabbed our stuff, and headed inside. We then spent the next ten minutes trying to explain to the receptionist who we were, what we were doing there, and why we were late.
Haruka-papa was about to hop over the desk and beat up the receptionist, when a man that Michiru-mama knew as Mr. Tanaka's assistant came up and rescued us. Or was he rescuing the receptionist, who knows? Anyway, he led us to a room where we could dry off and change before going into the studio.
"You are late Miss Kaioh." An unhappy voice stated. Duh! Ya think? I thought as a short, fat, middle-aged, balding man in a grey suit waddled up to us. Michiru-mama smiled her most disarming smile and bowed politely while Papa just folded her arms and glared at the man. I just kept quiet and tried to smile.
"Please forgive us Mr. Tanaka, we ran into some car troubles on the way here." Michiru-mama began, but Mr. Tanaka cut her off.
"Yes, and next you will say that it won't happen again." Mr. Tanaka replied testily. "It costs a lot of money to keep a studio waiting you know." He proceeded to go on a long tangent about money and young people these days showing no respect, etc. Michiru-mama kept smiling but she was starting to get annoyed, while Haruka-papa was well past annoyed and moving on to wanting to inflict physical damage. I just stood there and held onto her arm.
Finally he stopped his monologue and sighed. "Well, I guess that since you are finally here we can start the recording session." Gee, thanks. We reluctantly followed him to the studio with him lecturing us the whole way.
We walked into the studio together and saw that everything had been set up and waiting for us. There were two music stands with microphones set up for me and Michiru-mama, and a baby grand piano for Haruka-papa. A few technicians smiled in greeting and gave us sympathetic looks as we walked in behind Mr. Tanaka.
"Where is the second violinist that you promised to bring with you today, Miss Kaioh?" He demanded.
"She's right here." Michiru-mama replied as she paced a hand on my shoulder. "This is my daughter Hotaru." I looked up at him and tried to smile as warmly as possible under the circumstances. He scowled back at me, obviously not impressed with what he was looking at. Finally he shrugged.
"Well if there isn't anyone more experienced available, I guess she'll have to do." I really wanted to strangle him at this point.
"Mr. Tanaka, let me assure you that what Hotaru lacks in experience, she more than makes up for in talent." Michiru-mama said a definite edge in her voice.
"In other words, she's the best we've got, deal with it." Haruka-papa added as she got in his face and glared at him. She towered over him by several inches and could take him out with one hand and he knew it. He swallowed nervously, took a few steps back, and allowed us to play. Who says people don't listen to reason?
We spent the next few hours playing and recording. Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa even let me solo a few times, much to Mr. Tanaka's chagrin and the other's delight. We managed to record several tracks successfully with as few mistakes and do-overs as possible until the director were satisfied that we were done for the day. Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, the technicians and I sat there basking in the satisfaction of a job well done. That wouldn't last long though.
"I suppose that was adequate, given your daughter's total lack of experience." Mr. Tanaka commented. Adequate? Adequate! Is that the best you can say? Haruka -papa and I looked at each other and thought the same thing; let's get him! But it was Mama who got in his face.
"Now you listen to me you pompous, arrogant, jerk, I've had enough of you and your snide remarks and put-downs! Yes we were late, but that is no excuse for your rude behavior. You can say what you will about me, I've heard worse believe me, but you do not insult my daughter and get away with it. You will apologize and you will do it right now, do you understand?" Michiru-mama's voice was calm and even, but her expression was so angry it was scary. Haruka-papa just stood there glowering at him and cracking her knuckles slowly, one by one. Mr. Tanaka was sweating profusely by this point as he looked at the three of us. The technicians stood there in open mouthed shock. Finally he took the hint and apologized.
"I apologize for my behavior, young lady. It was very rude and selfish of me, it will not happen again." He bowed deeply as he said this.
"We'll be leaving now." Michiru-mama said in a dismissive tone. He just nodded in reply. A few of the technicians were grinning from ear to ear. It seemed that they'd wanted to see this happen for a long time. The director gave us a thumbs-up as we left.
We grabbed our stuff from the change room and left, only pausing long enough for Haruka-papa to glower at the receptionist as we passed. She turned very pale I'm happy to say.
It had stopped raining by the time we got outside and got into the car. We ended up putting a blanket over the back seat because Michiru-mama's patch didn't hold very well. Haruka-papa looked a bit annoyed at the mess on her car's normally immaculate upholstery.
"Let's go have lunch before we go home, I think I'd prefer to patch the roof on a full stomach." She said. Michiru-mama and I nodded and we got into the car just as our communicators went off. Great, now what?
Michiru-mama answered for us, as Minako's face popped up on the screen. "Hello Minako, what's going on?" We could hear a fight in the background.
"Hey guys, sorry if I interrupted your session, but we have a yoma in the park near the river. Makoto and Ami are with me, but the others aren't here yet." Minako replied.
"We're on our way, don't worry." Haruka-papa assured her as she put the car in gear and we took off. A yoma! Perfect! Just what we needed to blow off some steam. I saw that both –Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama had the same notion as they had their transformation wands out. Have I mentioned how thankful I am for tinted windows? We transformed en route.
"Thanks guys! Rei's here, no sign of Usagi yet." Minako was interrupted by an explosion.
"Hang on, we're almost there!" I shouted.
"Thanks Hotaru, Usagi's here as well, YOW!" Minako shouted and the transmission was cut off.
"Damn it!" Haruka-papa growled, thumping the steering wheel. As we arrived we saw the usual signs of a yoma attack, panicking people running away from the explosions in the distance. We managed to find a safe place to park and headed into the fray.
Haruka-papa was out of the car and halfway there before Michiru-mama and I were out of the car. Michiru-mama called for her to wait up as we sprinted after her. Have I also mentioned how much I hate running?
We caught up to Haruka-papa and jogged in at a more sedate pace. We arrived in time to see Rei get blasted off her feet and land almost at ours as we arrived. She jumped slightly as we reached down to help her up. She turned and looked at us.
"About time you showed up!" Rei growled, but we knew she was relieved to see us.
"Oh I don't know." Haruka-papa replied with a wink towards us. "By the looks of things you seem to have the situation well in hand. I guess we can go to lunch now. Later."
Rei's reply was cut off by several screams and a loud growl from the yoma. This creature looked like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, atall, thin, scaly amphibian with seaweed covering its dark green body. It ran around, roared, shot blasts of hard water at anything that moved, the usual stuff that monsters do. The four of us looked at each other and nodded. We joined the others who were surrounding the creature. Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama, along with Makoto and Rei, faced the creature head-on while the rest of us flanked it. I found myself next to Ami with a very steep looking and muddy hill behind us. I looked down for a second and thought that landing n the big muddy mess below would not be fun. I turned to Ami who smiled at me while analyzing the creature with her mini-computer and visor. She looked a bit tired and I said so.
"My cousins arrived yesterday." She replied, a bit testily. I giggled a bit as we watched as Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa started their attacks staggering the creature. Minako wrapped her Love-Me Chain around it while Re blasted it with a Flame Sniper as it prepared to fire at Michiru-mama.
The blast went wild and hit the ground in front of Ami causing her to jump backwards and hit me, startling me enough to drop my Silence Glaive and stagger backwards. My feet caught on some loose gravel and I lost my footing. Arms flailing madly I reached out to Ami and the two of us went tumbling down the hill and into the mud below with loud cries of 'WHAAAA!'
The two of us tumbled bum over tea kettle down the slope until we hit the bottom in a messy heap. I was lying on something soft and I opened my eyes to find that I had my head on Ami's breast. Suffice it to say I sat up and scrambled off her in a hurry.
"Ami, are you okay?" I asked. She muttered something and sat up. She was covered from head to toe in mud, as I gathered I was. She deactivated her visor and ran one hand over her self to make sure nothing was broken. The other hand picked up a mud encrusted object that I figured was her mini-computer which she gave a disdainful look.
"I'm all right Hotaru. But my poor computer will never be the same." Ami pouted. Despite everything I laughed and put my arms around her. Soon she started to laugh as well. We heard the battle wind down and then the others leaned over the top of the hill and peered down at us as we sat there giggling and hugging each other.
"Ah, are you two okay?" Usagi asked, looking very concerned.
Ami's laughter subsided. "Yeah, we're fine." She called.
"Okay, I'm throwing my Love Me Chain down to pull you out." Minako called. She did so and soon we were standing in front of the whole gang. We must have looked quite the sight as we were coated with gooey, sticky mud and we were still giggling like crazy.
"Mama? Papa? Can we go home now?" I asked between giggles.
"Sure we can sweetheart." Michiru-mama replied.
"There is no way you are getting into my car like that." Haruka-papa growled. Ami and I both glared at her and tossed handfuls of mud at her that hit her in the chest. She stood there looking at the mess then she glared at us, which caused us to burst out laughing again.
"You are so grounded young lady." Haruka-papa growled.
After some pleading and coaxing from Ami and me, not to mention some whispered words from Michiru-mama, Haruka-papa took Ami home before we went home. Ami's Mom knew all our identities and between us we cooked up a good story as to why Ami was coming home all covered in mud. She'd been caught out in the rain and had slipped and fallen while running home. All we had to do was muddy up her raincoat a lot. We then went home so I could take a long bath and several showers.
A while later, I went downstairs dressed in my pajamas, white socks, and my new purple bathrobe that had my initials embroidered on it. I found Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa in the kitchen.
"How are you feeling Princess?" Haruka-papa asked.
"A lot better now, thanks Papa. Um, am I still grounded?"
She laughed. "Nah, but you are going to help me clean the car, inside and out, tomorrow, since the weatherman says that it's not raining tomorrow, finally."
"That sounds like fun, Papa." I was starting to feel better already. "Have Mama and Hoshiko come home yet?"
"No, not yet." Michiru-mama replied. "I'm going to start dinner now. Hopefully they'll be home by then. Oh, and Ami called to let you know that she's okay and she'll call you tomorrow. She has to entertain her cousins and clean her computer."
I laughed, poor Ami. "Ok, thanks Mama. I'll go and watch TV until then." I hugged both of them and went into the living room. On the way the phone rang and I answered it, hoping it was Ami again. "Hello?"
"I know your secret." The creepy voice again.
"Baka." I replied and hung up. It had been a long day and I wasn't in any mood for stupid jokes anymore. As I headed for the sofa I suddenly heard a loud whooshing noise overhead.
"What the…?" I exclaimed. I then noticed I was standing on the cushions we had set out earlier. I looked up and saw Setsuna-mama and Hoshiko.
"Aw crap!" I managed to say before they both landed on me, knocking me silly, first Hoshiko (in full armor of course) followed by Setsuna-mama. The next thing I remember was lying on my back on the floor with the two of them on top of me and Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama running into the room.
"Hotaru! Are you all right?" I heard Setsuna-mama yell.
"I am so sorry! Please forgive me little one!" Hoshiko added.
I sat up slowly and glowered at all of them. "That's it! I'm going to bed!"
So I'm now writing this in my room, with the door locked, and my dresser pushed up against the door. Sometimes it really isn't worth getting out of bed.