Disclaimer: Don't own the characters.
A/N: italics-flashback
As I walked downstairs I saw that the young girl was curled up under a thick blanket on the couch, barely awake.
I sat in the recliner and watched her sleep, recalling everything that had happened in my own life prior to my life now.
Thunder rumbled through the angry clouds, lightening dancing across the skies. However in a scream of tires and the sounds of shattering glass and then screams and blood.
"Haruka...honey. Are you okay?" Setsuna whispered, her hand enveloping my shoulder and I nodded.
"Sorry." I muttered and she chuckled.
"Haruka...I think you should clear out...the questions that they'll ask the girl might cause you some unpleasant memories." she whispered concerned and I groaned.
"I'm not a baby anymore Mom." I growled and she sighed and sent me a pleading look.
"I just don't want you getting upset." she answered kindly just as there was a knock at the door and woke Hotaru up.
"Who is that?" she asked and I sighed and glanced over at the tall man that stood there.
"Please Hotaru, answer all of his questions." I whispered and then with pleading eyes she looked up at me, full of disdain.
"will you stay in here with me?" she whimpered and I sighed.
One part of me wanted to pull away from her and walked away but the other part of me wanted to stay by her side.
I felt angry at myself for the soft feelings that I was beginning to get but looking down at her sad violet eyes I recalled how lost I had felt.
"Sure." I answered softly, sitting beside of her and letting her sit on my lap, since it was the least I could do.
As I sat and listened to her recall how her father, who was the professor that was teaching advanced classes to the juniors and seniors at my school had treated her, causing my own thoughts to whirl to my own past.
Blood was covering everything and I was screaming, begging for my parents to wake up. Broken glass was etching itself into my flesh.
"then Haruka-san found me." Hotaru's voice stated softly, calling me out of my thoughts.
The cop, smiled at me and then turned back to Hotaru "I guess you have a guardian angel huh?" he asked kindly then turned to my mother before stating "she has distant relatives who is are to take her in, they have a daughter by the name of Michiru Kaiou."
I froze at this, Michiru was not only the most popular girl in my grade but also the class president and all out perfect.
"she can stay here until her family comes to get her then...I'd prefer it until charges are pressed." Setsuna stated then looked at me, smiling slightly.
I glared back, Setsuna was always teasing me about one thing or another and Michiru was just the most recent reason.
After the cops finally left Setsuna called me into the kitchen, saying that she wanted to talk with me for a moment.
"Look sets, I'm sorry...I know I am not allowed to smoke or leave the house but look what good it did." I stated, trying to avoid the lecture I knew was coming.
She glared at me and sighed, shaking her head "your parents would be so disappointed at you for even picking up the habit of smoking. I understand why you get into fights but have some self control Haruka..." she began and I instantly felt tears sting at my eyes.
"What do you know? You didn't even know my parents!" I snapped as I stood up and bolted up the stairs and slammed the door to my bedroom.
It was about four minutes later Setsuna came walking up, unlocking my door with the key she kept.
"you ready to be civil yet or do I need to put you in time out like a five year old?" she asked softly, though sternness decorated her tone.
I just kept my face buried in the pillow, I did not want to talk to her.
I felt her hand slowly rub my back for a few minutes and she whispered "I'm sorry I brought that up sweetie."
I looked up, hoping I wasn't too big of a mess from crying and she smiled sympathetically.
"No you're right...they would be. My dad would probably whip my ass for it too." I replied though Setsuna sent me a dirty look at my choice of word.
"I don't ask much of you Ruka but please stop smoking." she stated and I nodded, too upset to really care.
She smiled as she hugged me and then whispered "maybe I should start spanking you for crap like this...seems like it worked for your father."
it was said teasingly, Setsuna was the type that would rather say something to embarrass the shit out of you than to actually scold you and she had never even threatened me before.
"you try it old woman. I can take you." I joked back, though she only smacked me in back of the head.
"have I ever raised my hand to you? Well besides that time when you were thirteen?" she asked.
"No, but what do you call what you just did?" I retorted and she rolled her eyes.
"that you are a big baby." Setsuna retorted playfully as she walked toward the door.
"what do you want for dinner?" she asked and my thoughts returned to the young girl.
"go ask Hotaru." I answered as my foster mom/best friend turned to me with a surprised look.
"aren't you miss generous today." she stated with a smile and I laughed, getting off the bed.
"yeah well Hotaru's just a kid and after all that she's been through..." I began however the red eyed woman only turned and rolled her eyes at me "Haruka, admit it...you have a crush on Michiru."
I could feel the blood rushing to my face as I heard this.
"Mom! No! Michiru is a stuck up...arrogant..." I began, though I couldn't think of any insults for her since in reality she was a nice, quite, calm person.
"yep Tenou you have a crush." Setsuna stated with a smile as she headed out the door.
"I do not!" I yelled running after her, though I knew my face was still red.
"Don't what Haruka-San?" Hotaru asked timidly, eyes still downcast.
"Setsuna's teasing me about somebody she thinks I like." I answered.
"You do like her." Sets stated, not giving me a chance in hell to win this.
"Do not!" I argued, though we stopped when we heard Hotaru start giggling softly.
"you think its funny huh?" I asked, ruffling her hair a bit as I gave up arguing about it.
"yeah." the little girl said honestly.
"I suppose it is." I stated then knelt to the child's high "what do you want for dinner, Setsuna will make anything you want."
The little girl shrugged nervously as she glanced away, looking sad suddenly.
"hey now...what's wrong? We're not gonna hurt ya." I whispered, surprised at how soft my own voice sounded.
"I...I...can't repay you..." she stammered, tears in her eyes and I sighed, remembering all too well how that feeling was.
"Hotaru-Chan? Can you be my friend? If you can do that it'll be payment enough." I replied to her and she looked out me, a mix of shock and happiness across her face.
"O...okay." she answered and I smiled as I repeated my question "What is it you want? There has to be something."
"Nihon soba." she said in a voice so low that I could barely hear her.
However Setsuna could evidently hear her because she said "alright, it'll be done in half an hour."
How Mom could do that I don't know but she had almost always busted me when I would try to sneak out late at night.
"What do you want to do while we wait?" I asked and again was answered with a shrug.
"I think it stopped raining, we could go outside for a little while." I suggested and she nodded, though still looking nervous.
"Mom! We're going for a short walk, just around the block a bit." I called as I grabbed one of my jackets and handed it to the girl.
"It swallows you whole but it'll keep you warm." I stated and she smiled and took my hand, which made my heart stop.
Everyone feared me, the freak, the girl who doesn't like men. However this little girl who bore deep bruises all over her small, frail body trusted me.
I pulled on my track jacket and lead her out of the door.
As we walked I noticed that the little girl had a bad limp.
"here...climb on." I stated as I knelt down and Hotaru timidly did just that.
"Man you're light." I commented, holding her tight on my shoulders as I walked.
"Haruka? Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked softly and I sighed.
"well first off you're a kid, second we're friends now remember? And third...well I was in the same boat as you before Setsuna took me in." I answered and she sighed.
"I...I feel like a bother." she whimpered and I sighed.
"you feel like a bother? Well you're not." I retorted then picked up speed a little as rain began to drizzle again.
"hang on tight kiddo, we have to get back in a hurry!" I stated and she laughed, a bell-like sound that surprised me, how could I make her laugh? I was a monster...I lived when I shouldn't have.
I piggybacked her all the way to the house then knelt beside the couch so she could just slid down.
"glad that my coat ate ya now huh? You're dry while I am soaked." I laughed as I grabbed a towel from the rack in the hallway.
The little girl smiled up at me, her violet eyes seemingly aglow with happiness and my heart melted, I can't explain it but in this short time the little dark haired girl had wormed her way past all of my defenses and into my heart.