Michiru's pov:

the little girl buried her face against me as I watched Haruka walk away, though she seemed a little bit relaxed with me but sad.

"hey, you'll see her again. There's no need to cry." I whispered and she looked up, her purple eyes boring into my very soul, though she was trying her hardest to stop crying.

"'here...we'll let you get a little more control then we're going shopping to get you some clothes and toys." I stated and she glanced at me disbelievingly.

"really?" she asked and I laughed,

"yes sweetheart. This is your home now and I am going to do my best to make you happy here." I answered and she hugged me, her small arms tight around me.

"thank you." she whispered and I picked her up, careful to not hurt the bruises that Haruka had mention that decorated her body.

"You are very welcomed." I replied gently,

while we were walking

I noticed that the girl was calming down and was finally acting like any child her age, chatting aimlessly about anything and everything. However when we got into the store she became timid again.

Hardly even nodding when I asked her if she wanted something.

"Hotaru, I want you to tell me." I stated in a whisper as I knelt to her height as I continued "I want you to be completely honest with me, if you don't like something by all means tell me alright?"

She nodded and I smiled, ruffling her hair as I stood back up.

We spent a few more minutes collecting whatever I thought that the girl needed then we went to the checkout, though the girl seemed as nervous as ever.

"You can call Haruka when we get home...I'm sure she'd like to hear from you." I replied and she instantly brightened.

"You know, you're the first person I ever saw Haruka care about. She's always so cold at school but today she was so different." I decided to say, trying to start a conversation and Hotaru looked up.

"Ruka-san told me that she has to be like that because people aren't very nice to her." she stated and I nodded.

"well how about I make a promise to you that I won't let Haruka be stuck alone anymore." I stated and Hotaru glanced up at me and smiled.

"I think that she could use a friend." she replied and I nodded.

As we walked back to the house I noticed that Hotaru was again acting like any child her age, which re-leaved me.

Once we got home I found her a room right next to mine so that she wouldn't get lost if she needed me in the night.

"you'd need a map to make your way through this house." I heard her mutter as I showed her around.

"that's what I said when my parents moved here...for as short a time that was." I retorted and she glanced up at me, concerned.

"Michiru-san? Why doesn't your parents stay home?" she asked softly, voice quivering slightly.

"their work took them to America and they left me here since they didn't want me to go to any other school." I answered, trying not to sound too hurt by their decision and the thought of the secret reason that drove them away.

"can't they get in trouble for that?" she asked suddenly, and I shook my head.

"No, I am seventeen and can legally live on my own. Besides that I have been emancipated or given legal freedom from my parents. I could move if I wanted but my father insists that I keep the house." I explained though thoughts began to fill my mind.

Father, he was the only reason that I was still here since mother would have had me thrown out if it was left up to her.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Hotaru hugged me, catching me off guard.

"I'm sorry I asked Kaiou-san. I didn't mean to make you sad." she whispered and I noticed that a stray tear had began to make its way down my face.

"you didn't, its just me and my parents had a fight about something important before they left and I was remembering that." I answered as I wiped the stubborn moister from my cheek and knelt down, returning the girl's hug.

Haruka's pov:

When I got home Mom was waiting on me.

"are you crying?" she asked and I glared at her, it wasn't any of her business if I was or not.

"No." I snapped in half truth because I had been, after I left them I had let my eyes spill over because something about the way the child acted toward me drove a stake right through my very core.

"you know you'll still get to see her right? Its not like she's in another country." Mom replied as she crossed the room, placing a soft hand on my shoulder.

"I know...can you please just leave me a lone for right now?" I asked and she smiled sympathetically

"of course." she answered, hugging me slightly before walking up the stairs.

That's what I truly liked about Setsuna, if I needed to be alone she wouldn't hover but if I wanted her around I could always count on her. As I headed to my room I couldn't help but to think of how lucky I was to have a home like this since not many people would adopt someone who had been dubbed a 'problem child'.

I lay in bed thinking things through for what seemed like forever and soon I let my consciousness drift from me.

"Haruka! You have a phone call!" Setsuna's voice shook me awake as I shot up out of bed, almost falling form surprise.

"Mom! Did you have to scream right beside of me?" I growled, causing her to laugh.

"I tried everything else to get you up...well besides dumping water over your head." she retorted and I glared at her as I snatched the phone from her hand.

"hello?" I growled into the receiver and was surprised when I heard innocent giggles coming from the other side.

"sorry to wake you up Haruka-san." Hotaru's voice stated between laughter.

"its quite alright kiddo. So do you like your new home?" I replied and she began to tell me everything that they had done and that her and Michiru had just finished baking a cake.

"wow, she's really nice huh?" I asked, chuckling. Hotaru seemed to at least opened up to Michiru.

"yeah, she is." the girl answered and I fell back onto the bed, listening to the child's excited chatter.