The Dream House

"Our new home is so big!" Hotaru shot out of the car door as soon as Ryoji parked. She stopped in front of the two-story house that loomed over her. The dollhouse was a cheerful shade of baby blue, and the door and window frames were white. I got out of the car and Haruhi, Mom, and Ryoji did too.

"Isn't it lovely?" My mother smiled as she looked at me. I nodded, and then walked over to Hotaru, who was grinning ear-to-ear.

"Onee-san, do I get my own room?"

"I don't know, ask mom." My eyes roved about, taking in the house and its surroundings. There was a small yard on the front, and a couple of hydrangea bushes. The leaves stirred. Squinting my eyes, I noticed a small, black shadow crawl out from it. It was a black cat. Hotaru skipped away towards the car again, and seeing that everyone was busy, I quietly approached the stray.

The cat was limping, and it's gold eyes flashed when it saw me. Before I could get too close, it dragged itself away to the neighbor's yard.

"The moving trucks are here!" Ryoji said. Jerking my head towards the street, two rumbling trucks thundered towards us. The monstrous noise halted when the they came into a screeching stop as it parked right behind Ryoji's car. I ran over towards where everyone else was at. I snuck a couple of glances back towards the bush with the image of the cat still in my brain.

"Maybe we should help out," Haruhi said as she eyed the gray trucks.

"Yeah," I shoved my hands into my jean pockets. I can't believe it's already been two weeks. Mom and Ryoji are married now.

Five men jumped out from the trucks, all wearing t-shirts and jeans. Ryoji went over to talk to them, and mom trailed after him. My eyes followed hers, which were trained on Ryoji. Ever since mom broke the news to us about her and Ryoji, there was a radiant sparkle in her eyes that never dimmed. Her expression was always bright, just like back then. A ghost of a smile always lingered on her lips, and a playful aura surrounded her. I continued watching mom as her form grew smaller as she neared her new husband.

Hotaru giggled. My eyes flicked onto her, only finding her small form leaning over to pick a daisy from the side of the road.

I dropped my gaze to the dirt ground, and kicked at a small pebble. Why didn't I notice the change in her before now? Was it because I rarely saw her? For the longest time, all I could remember was the ocean of sadness that constantly swam in her honey eyes. The image of her calloused hands and blank expression stuck with me, even when they started disappearing.

BANG!

I snapped my head up. The moving men opened up the truck's trunks, and started lowering the ramps.

"Hey Haruhi! Hitomi! Could you two come and help out?" Ryoji called over to us.

"Sure!" Haruhi called back. I slipped my hands out from my pockets, and started walking towards the trucks next to her.

"I want to help too!" Hotaru jogged to catch up with our strides, and soon we stood right in front of the trucks. Ryoji beamed at her, and then kneeled down so that he was eye-level with her.

"Some of the boxes are too heavy for you. But don't worry, we will call you to help when there's something small to carry. Kay?" Hotaru smiled back, and tucked the daisy she had plucked into Ryoji's hair.

"Okay daddy!" A sweet, closed-eye smile lit up her chubby face. I almost flinched, and turned away.

"Awwwww! You sweet angel!" Ryoji picked her up and spun her around, and Hotaru giggled.

"She's cute." Haruhi said. She wore a small smile on her face, and a warm twinkle was present in her mocha eyes. Mom chuckled, her eyes also glimmering and fixed on the pair.

"Ryoji is a good man." She placed her slim hand on Haruhi's shoulder. Haruhi and mom then looked at each other, their soft expressions unfaltering. I tore my gaze away, and briskly strolled up the ramp. I grabbed the first box, and started going down.

"Careful, you don't wanna hurt your back." One of the men said. I gave him a curt nod, while continuing my way.

"Hey hon, could you open the front door?" Ryoji called over to mom, while placing Hotaru down.

"Sure. Toss me the keys." Mom replied. Ryoji dug around his pocket, before throwing them. Mom caught them with both hands, then jogged away towards the front door.

Hotaru stayed near the car, out of the way from the movers men. Haruhi, Ryoji, mom and I all helped out, and so unloading took only two hours. The inside of the house was mostly white, and the floors were wood. The design looked more western than Japanese, and there weren't any sliding doors. The house seemed to be relatively new, maybe three or five years old.

The house had three bedrooms and three bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a dining room.

We all stood on the front lawn, watching as Ryoji paid the movers men. Afterwards, they drove away.

"Now it's time to unpack!" Mom sighed while clapping her hands together.

"Unpacking! Unpacking!" Hotaru hopped up and down, her pigtails bouncing with her. Ryoji groaned while popping his back and neck.

"First, nappy time." He yawned.

"Dad." Haruhi arched an eyebrow. "There's nowhere to take a nap right now. And it's almost lunchtime." She crossed her arms, and Ryoji walked past her towards the inside of the house.

"I can just sleep on the floor." He said. We all trailed behind him and went inside.

"Girls, how about you start unpacking your things for your bedrooms?" Mom said. I nodded.

"Alright." Said Haruhi.

"Do I get my own room?" Asked Hotaru again.

"Sorry darling, but you're going to have to share with someone, okay? And besides. You're scared of the dark." Mom leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"Can I sleep with you and daddy then?" She asked. Mom beamed.

"Of course, sweetheart." She grabbed Hotaru's hand while standing up. I went up the stairs and into the room with all of Hotaru and my boxes in it. The dressers were in place, but the futons were still in one of the big boxes. I skimmed the towers of packed items, until I saw a box that read "clothes" in sharpie.

A muted, burst of laughter came from downstairs where everyone else was. My head snapped towards the sound, but I only saw the top of the empty staircase. Ryoji's voice was the loudest, and mom's laughter echoed in my ears. I turned back to the box of clothes.

Sighing, I opened it up, and started unpacking.