The next morning I was woken up by a soft hand shaking me.
"Haruka what the heck?" Setsuna whispered, though her eyes was sparkling with the pent back laughter. I glanced down at Hotaru and sighed as I sighed and sat up, though I was careful not to wake up Hotaru.
"she had a nightmare so I let her sleep down here with me." I answered and the green haired woman smiled then noticed my hand. "what happened?"
"lets just say I made hot coco for the kid and managed to literally bump into a knife." I answered and she chuckled as she looked me square in the eye, unnerving me a bit.
"please tell me you didn't scare the child when you saw blood." she stated softly and I sighed, she knew how out of control I got and I couldn't lie to her.
"I snapped at her but she...I told her...what happened and why I flip at the sight of blood...I...I think I can tell you now." I admitted and the look on mom's face was a mix between shock and relief and I smiled, I had to act strong for her...at least until Hotaru was safe with the Kaiou's.
Suddenly Hotaru began to stir, then her violet eyes creaked open, though when she saw setsuna she flinched a little.
"sleep well little one?" Mom asked with a smile before she headed into the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Uh...yes ma'am." Hotaru replied as she slowly got up,looking at me expectantly.
"why don't you go watch cartoons or something while I put everything away?" I asked and she nodded and went to do just that while I cleaned up.
I had just gotten everything folded and put away when Setsuna called us to the kitchen to eat. Hotaru ate a lot despite her reluctance the night before.
Setsuna glanced between the two and asked Hotaru "I hope you slept well last night, even if miss tough guy decided to lose her temper?"
the little dark haired girl only laughed at Setsuna's statement about me and glanced at me, as if seeing if she had permission to talk.
"Yeah...Ruka-san is really a nice person." she replied and I laughed, almost choking on the tea I was drinking.
"Haruka, I know you have better manners than that?" Setsuna chided though I knew she was teasing me, like she always did when I managed to embarrass myself.
"shut up Mom." I grumbled, glaring at parent figure who only smirked
Hotaru glanced at me and sighed as she stated "you and Miss. Meiou are really close."
No one else probably could see the repressed longing that the child's eyes revealed but I could see that emotion no matter how deeply it was held.
"Do you know anything about the Kaiou's?" I asked and she sighed and shook her head.
"I...I know they're my distant cousins and that they work all the time." The little girl answered and I nodded, that would explain why Michiru seemed lonely all the time.
"Well I kinda know Michiru, I mean we're not friends exactly but we are in the same class and she is a really nice person and really smart." I stated and she looked almost hopeful.
"really? I don't remember her much." Hotaru stated and I sighed and nodded, the girl was afraid of going to her new home, a feeling I knew all too well.
"yeah, she even took p for me once." I replied as I finished breakfast and stood up and walked toward the backyard.
"May I come too?" Hotaru whimpered and I turned to her, almost surprised.
"sure kid." I replied as I let her follow me.
Once we where outside I forgot my previous reason of going out and turned to Hotaru.
"I know you're nervous but I promise Hotaru, the first sign that someone hurts you I will take matters into my own hands. But I seriously doubt that Michiru will let anyone hurt you." I said suddenly and she sighed.
"are you sure?" she whimpered and I knelt in front of her, placing my hand on her shoulder.
"yes. Michiru is one of the nicest people you meet." I assured then smiled as I lifted her into my arms then added "now stop worrying okay? I'll be able to keep an check on you and if one thing is out of place I'll get you out of there."
I wanted that shine to return to her eyes, I wanted her to smile at least because something about her worried expression crushed my very soul.
"you know Hime-chan, I want to show you my secret place...please don't tell anyone okay?" I whispered and her eyes grew wide with the childish awe of knowing something so important.
"I promise." she stated and I smiled.
"Setsuna! I'm going to take her up the hill, if Michiru comes you can tell her where we're at!" I called through the door before heading toward the steep incline that was located beyond the fence.
As we walked I made small conversation with her, learning that her favorite color was purple, she hated the dark and that she hated milk as much as I hated natto.
"close your eyes Hotaru, I want you to be surprised when you see this place." I whispered as I surprised myself by kissing the top of her head.
She snuggled closer to me and gripped at my clothes as we walked into the fenced in area.
"you can look now." I whispered and I heard her audibly gasp as she glanced around at the large flowered field that even had a small pond.
"Haruka? Did you make this?" she asked and I nodded.
"yeah, when I was thirteen I started on it and its only now recently that I got it done." I answered and she smiled as I let her down though I wrapped my arms around her shoulders.
"you can come here any time you want kiddo. This place is for me and anyone I trust." I said and she smiled and nuzzled against me.
I sat down in the grass and pulled the little girl onto my lap, tickling her a little.
Hotaru began to giggle, the sound seemed to be the only thing that would ease the uncomfortable pain that was in my soul right now.
Soon she decided to push me over, crouching over me laughing, it made me happy to see her have fun for what probably was the first time.
I grabbed her gently and pulled her tight against me, careful not to hurt her as I kissed her forehead as I lay back, letting her rest with her head on my chest.
"Can I come visit?" she asked suddenly and I glanced over at her.
"Sure, anytime." I answered and she smiled as she kissed me on the cheek, which surprised me.
When I looked down she was blushing and I smiled as I pulled her a little tighter against me.
We lay there for what seemed like hours however our bliss was interrupted by a soft angelic voice saying "Why Haruka, I never knew that you were such a softy."
I looked up and there stood Michiru, looking like an angel.
"uh hi Michiru." I stated, blushing and she laughed, a melodic sound.
"Hi Haruka. Is this Hotaru?" the aqua haired teen asked and I nodded.
"yeah she's a little shy." I answered and she smiled and knelt down, not even caring that her dress was becoming dirty.
"I won't hurt her, but I understand that she doesn't trust many people...kinda like a certain tomboy I know." Michiru replied as she gently ran her hand through Hotaru's hair.
"wait...what did that mean?" I asked and the aqua haired girl sighed and smiled
"you seem lonely at school and even a little scared. I know why people don't trust you but there are some of us that would still be your friend if you'd just open up a little to us." Michiru stated with a smile and I sighed and I saw the gentleness that shone in her sapphire eyes.
We sat up there just talking, Hotaru slowly gaining trust in the mermaid like teen that was sitting in front of us.
By the late afternoon Hotaru had full trust in Michiru like she did with me and I finally had a friend my own age.
"Want to go out with us for lunch? I'm buying." she asked suddenly and I sighed, I didn't want to impose but Hotaru grabbed my hand.
"pretty Please Ruka-san?" she pleaded and I couldn't help but smile.
"sure why not." I replied and the young girl smiled and hugged me, hurting her bruised ribs.
"easy princess, we don't need you hurt any more than you are." I stated as I ruffled her hair.
I could feel eyes trained on me and when I looked up I saw that Michiru was staring at me with a smile.
'What is your problem?" I asked and she shook her head.
"its just I never thought I'd ever see you be this gentle." she replied and I laughed.
"yeah well there isn't that much that people know about me." I answered and she smiled.
"yeah, I believe that." she stated as we began to walk, though I lifted Hotaru onto my shoulders because I knew that her leg was still hurt.
As we made our way Michiru and I had a conversation about school and even about my fighting.
"you know, you wouldn't have to fight if you'd just talk to a few people?" Michiru stated with a smile and I sighed as I glanced down and replied
"yeah but who would accept a freak like me?" I grumbled and she rolled her eyes.
"Do you honestly think you're the only one at our school?" she asked, shocking me.
"who else is?" I asked and she laughed.
"lets see...Makoto, Elza was, Seiya, and Taiki." Michiru answers and I glanced at her in disbelief.
"What those three are female?" I asked and the aqua haired goddess laughed.
"yes, Seiya is transgender, Yaten is straight as far as I know but she just dresses like that because the clothes are more comfortable. Taiki is like you." she answered and I sighed.
"okay...nice to know." I retorted just as Hotaru asked softly
"What does transgender mean?"
I groaned as I looked at Michiru who shrugged a little and answered "someone born with the mind of a gender different than their body."
I knew that confused the little girl since it confused me when I was thirteen and had first heard that word when trying to figure out why I liked girls.
"an example is Seiya, she's a girl who has the mind of a guy." I tried to explain and she seemed to understand a bit.
"Okay...so are you...that?" she asked and I laughed out loud.
"No, but you're too young to talk about that." I chuckled as I felt heat creeping back into my face.
Michiru gave a little laugh and reached over and ruffled Hotaru's hair.
"Some people just like boy clothes and chose to dress like a man...Haruka isn't a trans-sexual but she is a little different than most girls." the green haired girl replied kindly.
"Okay." the little girl replied, though she was still unsure.
"You know what they say, Curiosity kills the cat Hime-chan." I teased and she giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck a little tighter for a minute.
As soon as we got to the restaurant I let Hotaru off my shoulders but kept her in my arms so that she wasn't hurting her leg anymore.
"what do you want to eat?" I asked and the young girl shrugged.
"really shy huh? Well what do you like Hotaru?" Michiru asked the child who glanced down.
"I don't know." she whimpered and both Michiru and I shared a look.
"just order her whatever you think she'd like, she's doesn't like milk though." I stated and Michiru smiled.
"Okay. I'm glad you are so close to her." Michiru told me and I was surprised at this.
After we got our food and had found a table we sat and ate, and I found it easy to relax around Michiru who wasn't really that stuck up, just a bit aloof at times.
However Hotaru was even warmer to her now and when we started to leave the restaurant she wanted to hold both of our hands but walk on her own.
"if your leg starts hurting one of us will be carrying you." Michiru warned gently as we caved into her wants.
As we walked back toward Michiru's house Hotaru becomes almost excited as she saw the large house. However when it was time for me to go home she seemed to be withdrawn again.
"Haruka can come by to visit any time she wants and you can spend time at her house too on the weekends if you're good and if Miss Meiou doesn't mind." the princess like teen stated and Hotaru looked up at me hopefully.
"Setsuna won't mind, she loves kids and was just happy that I stopped cussing so much." I stated and Michiru smiled and then chuckled.
"see? You'll see her again. I promise you that and I will not keep you away from your friend." she then whispered to a now almost crying Hotaru.
"I'll come by tomorrow after school so we can play a little while." I assured as I knelt down and hugged the little girl.
"Really?" the child sniffled as she glanced up at me, eyes pleading and it broke my heart to leave her there but I knew that it was for the best for her to remain with the gentle girl that was trying to comfort her even now.
"Yes really and sometimes on the weekend I might stay over to spend time with you." I assured as I gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead.
"See Hotaru? You're worried for nothing." Michiru whispered, kissing the little girl's hair as well.
"I have to go home now Hime-chan, be good for Michiru okay? You see she's a really nice person and wont let anything hurt you." I said after a few minutes and Michiru picked the little girl up.
"she's a good girl, you don't have to worry about that and I wont ever hurt her...ever and my parents are on a business trip but they wont hurt her either and if someone does I'll call you Haruka and let you beat them up." Michiru stated and Hotaru glanced up at her, before she clung to the aqua haired girl.
"you know what? Get me a pen and I'll write down my number so she can call me later." I stated, suddenly recalling how my real dad would get me to calm down when I was very young and he had to work away.
And after depositing Hotaru back into my arms Michiru went inside and then came back with a notepad and a pen. Where I quickly wrote my number.
"now you see? You can call me any time you want." I whisper to the distraught girl as I pressed one final kiss into her hair before handing her back to Michiru.
However as I was walking away I heard my name called and when I turned around Michiru motioned me back so I turned around.
"she wanted to give you a proper goodbye." Michiru teased as Hotaru broke away from her side and hugged me tight around what she could reach of my waist.
"See you later Haruka-san!" she sobbed and I sank back to my knees as I returned her embrace.
"Tomorrow firefly, I promise." I whispered, fighting tears of my own as I nuzzled into her hair.
Finally though I was calm enough to gently pry her away and say "goodbye firefly, I'll see you tomorrow." before I left, this time without looking back in the fear of my own tears.