A/N- Holy crap I left this one for awhile didn't I? Sorry guys, my bad! Got distracted by… umm… Smexx! That's right Smexx! Yeah only a select few will understand that…Anyways. So this chapter is kinda…Bland? Boring? Crap? Ah well I'll let you guys choose.
Family Life Ch 8
Haruka sat on the sand and stared at the waves that crashed to the shore. The waters were choppy and restless; a turmoil that reflected how Haruka was feeling at the moment.
After the meeting at the track she had spent at least an hour behind the main building crying. Finally getting herself together she had jumped in her car and raced towards the beach. She always felt a little better sitting there. However today, the beach seemed just as upset as she did. This, however, didn't stop her from spending a few hours just sitting there and staring blankly over the water, the wind whipping her hair about her face.
"Ruka?" Haruka jumped as she heard the soft voice to her left. She turned her head and saw Michiru standing there, her dress blowing around her knees in the wind, as her hair played wildly across her face while she used a hand to try to control it.
"Hey… what are you doing here?" Michiru sat down next to the blonde and placed her head on Haruka's shoulder.
"Soichiro-San called and asked if you were alright after the meeting… He told me what happened. I told him you hadn't come home yet… I figured you would be here." Haruka put her arm around Michiru's shoulder and pulled her close while burying her face in her aqua hair.
"You know me so well Michi." Haruka mumbled. She pulled her face away so she was once again staring out over the water. "I really don't know what I'm going to do now…"
"We'll figure something out Ruka."
"I know… I just… I love racing so much… I never really thought that I would ever not be able to do it anymore." Michiru took Haruka's hand that had been in her lap and held it reassuringly.
"It was a big shock to everyone." They sat there for awhile in silence, trying to take comfort in each other's presence. Finally Michiru spoke again. "Come on… we have to go pick up Hotaru. I'm sure she misses us and I'm sure Arian could use a break."
"Yeah… you're right." They got up and walked back along the beach to where they had both parked. "We'll go back to the house and drop off you car and then pick Hotaru up together?" Michiru nodded and they both got in their vehicles and drove away.
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Haruka pressed the buzzer at the entrance to an apartment building and waited for a reply. The speaker crackled,
"Hello?"
"It's us." There was click and then a buzz. Haruka opened the door and held it while Michiru walked ahead of her. They went up to the 4th floor and knocked on 407. The door opened and a black mass jumped out the door right at Haruka's legs. "Oomph… Hey there Hime-Chan… you miss us?" The black haired girl nodded as Haruka picked her up.
"Did you have a good time with Arian sweetie?" Michiru asked as she stroked her daughter's hair.
"Hai… I had a lot of fun. Auntie Riska took us to a movie last night. It was really funny." Michiru smiled at her daughter.
"Well that was nice of her."
"Do you guys want to come in for a bit… have a cup of tea?" Arian asked from her position leaning against the doorway. Michiru looked over to Haruka, who was smiling a real smile. It was amazing what a child could do.
"Sure Arian… That would be great." They walked in and went into the living room, sitting down. Arian went to the kitchen to start making tea. Hotaru was busy telling them how much fun she had had the past night, but Haruka wasn't listening. Instead she was busy straining to hear a conversation that was going on in the next room. It sounded like Riska was on the phone with someone and talking very excitedly.
Arian came back into the room with two cups of tea, handing one to Michiru and one to Haruka. She gave Haruka and odd look.
"What are you doing Haruka?"
"What? Oh sorry… I… umm, is that Riska on the phone I hear?" Arian turned in the direction of her bedroom.
"Yes… I think she's on the phone with work. They called right before you two got here. I don't know what about, but it sounds important." Right at that moment the door opened and Riska stepped out. She smiled as she walked towards them.
"Hello Haruka… Michiru. How are you both?" Haruka offered a small smile.
"Well things could certainly be better… but alright I guess." Riska nodded and then turned to Michiru.
"What about you Michiru? Has this affected your career at all?" Haruka's eyes suddenly widened. She completely forgot that she wasn't the only one who all this affected. Michiru was surely having a hard time as well. Haruka felt even worse now, if that was possible, as she waited with baited breath for Michiru's response.
"I've had a few venues cancel… they're not ok with a Lesbian performing. But that's only a few. Most of my concerts are still scheduled and ticket sales have only dropped slightly. So it's not that bad." She turned to face Haruka who was looking at her.
"Michi… I'm so sorry. I've been so concerned with myself and my raci-" She stopped talking as Michiru placed a finger on her lips.
"Don't worry about it Ruka. You asked me before any of this happened if I would be ok with you telling the truth and I told you yes. All of this with my music was expected. If I was in your position I would be just as consumed as you… It's alright." Michiru removed her finger.
"Still…" Haruka sighed. "I should have asked you what was happening. I'm sorry."
"Haruka it's ok… really. If anything major had happened I would have told you, but this was all expected." They turned their attention to Riska when she cleared her throat.
"Haruka what did the lawyer tell you about that rule in the charter?"
"Not much. Just that the rule was valid and there was no loophole to go around it."
"Well then I guess we just have to change the rule don't we?" They all stared at Riska with confused faces. "I had some of my people run around yesterday an-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Arian interrupted, waving her arms around. "You have people?" Riska smirked.
"I do. And yesterday I sent them around with a petition to change the rule to allow female racers. They just called me and they think we have enough to do it." Haruka sat there staring at Riska with a shocked face. She didn't know what to say.
"Are you serious?" The blonde finally uttered.
"Yes. As we speak they're meeting with a lawyer and then… they're going to talk to the racing commission and see if they'll change it."
"I… I don't believe it." Haruka stammered, still dumbfounded that there might be a way for her to race again.
"Well don't hold your breath, because the final decision does still lie with the commission. Hopefully they'll see that there are many fans out there that don't care if women race and want to see you continue to do so." Haruka stood up from the couch and extended her hand to Riska. She took it and was pulled into a tight hug by the blond.
"Thank you Riska. Thank you so much. This… is incredible of you to have done." As they parted Riska was blushing slightly.
"Hey it was nothing. I couldn't stand by and watch my girlfriend's best friend getting railroaded while there was something I could do." Arian suddenly pounced on Riska knocking her back on the couch behind them and kissing her.
"You… are the bet thing that has ever happened to me." Arian said, her lips still almost touching Riska's.
"Ouch to me." They turned to look at Haruka who was standing there with mock hurt on her face. "I thought I was the best thing that ever happened to you?"
"Yeah… well as much as I love being insulted by you and all… Riska has the position of best thing to ever happen to me." Haruka shrugged.
"Fair enough. After all… I do have Michiru. Who is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me." The violinist who had gotten up and was now standing next to Haruka leaned up and kissed the racer. Their moment was interrupted as Riska's Phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket and answered.
"Moshi Moshi… Yeah… Excllent. We'll meet you there tomorrow then." She hung up and turned to look at the waiting faces in the room. "We have a meeting in front of the racing commission tomorrow morning at ten. Don't be late."
"We won't. Thank you again Riska."
"Don't worry about it."
"Alright well we should take this one home then." Haruka said pointing to Hotaru who had been sitting quietly on the couch watching them.
"So we'll see you tomorrow morning then at ten."
"Indeed. Thanks for watching Hotaru and everything else guys."
"It's our pleasure. Have a good night."
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It was 9:55 and Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Arian, Riska and her 'people' were all seated in a large room where a long table sat in the front. Slowly a group of men filed in and sat behind the table looking out to their small audience.
A man with graying black hair, who sat in the middle of the five, spoke first.
"So it says here that you are attempting to have the rule that states the only men may race changed to allow women to race as well." One of the men sitting near Riska got up. He was the lawyer they had talked to.
"That is correct sir. We have here a petition that has been signed by almost a thousand people here in the Tokyo area. We also have an online petition that has thousands of names from all over the globe that state that women, such as Haruka Tenoh, should be allowed to race." Haruka looked over to Riska at this. She had no idea that so many people signed. She could feel tears starting to form, but she fought them back for now.
"Well we shall take a moment to discuss this and shall return with our verdict." The panel stood up and exited the room. Haruka let out the breath she had been holding in. She then turned to Riska.
"How did you get that many signatures?"
"Haruka you're the top racer in Japan and you have a huge fan based the world round. It wasn't that hard at all. Barely anyone cares about the fact that you're a woman or a lesbian. However the ones who are opposed are always the loudest so these things get blown way out of proportion. Had this rule not existed or been brought up, then I don't doubt you would have had no problems."
"Except with the sponsors… they all dropped me, aside from one, as soon as word got out. Even if this rule gets changed that's still going to be a problem." As soon as the words left her lips they turned to the sound of the door opening and watched the panel sit down again.
"Well the amount of signatures you've gotten is impressive." The same man spoke. "And as this rule is so old and outdated… we've decided to annul it. Gender is no longer an issue in racing here in Japan." A loud cheer broke out as everyone stood and shouted… except Haruka. She was so overjoyed she didn't even know how to react so she sat there and let silent tears of joy fall down her cheek. Suddenly she was pulled up by Michiru and found herself in a tight hug that was soon joined by Arian and Riska. Haruka felt a tugging on her pants and looked down to see Hotaru struggling through the crowd. She bent down and lifted the little girl into her arms holding her tight.
"So you can race again Haruka-Papa?" Haruka nodded, smiling.
"Yes Hotaru… I can race again… that is…" Haruka's face fell for a second. "I need a new sponsor… I only have one and it's a small company… it's not enough." She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it Haruka… my company is going to sponsor you. I've already talked to them about it and they would love to back up Japan's number one racer."
"Arian?" Haruka called over the small crowd.
"Yeah Haru-Chan?"
"If you don't marry this woman I am going to kick your ass… I mean it." They all laughed.
"Well I don't plan on letting her go anytime soon." She replied as she clung to Riska's side and stole a kiss. Haruka smiled as she watched her two friends, but soon felt a hand on her cheek turning her face. She found herself staring into two deep blue eyes.
"I told you this would all work out Ruka." Michiru said softly.
"You did… and I should know that you're always right." Michiru smiled and leaned up to meet Haruka's lips with her own.
A/N- Well I hope you guys enjoyed it. Sorry once again that it took me so long. Well please read and review guys, you know I do so love when you do that.