I awoke to find my hair being slathered in gel.

"what on earth are you doing monkey!" I laughe pulling her down onto the bed beside me and tickled her. She stopped laughing after a little while and looked up at me with a sheepish shine in her face.

"Mommy told me to wake you up." she admited and I chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"Well you managed to do that little rat." I joked as I got out of bed.

As soon as we walked into the kitchen Michiru started to laugh, though she gave Hotaru a half hearted glare "Hotaru! I told you to wake her up not...well make her to look like a porcupine." she lectured through her laughter. Hotaru only giggled and then glanced up at me and said

"Sorry Papa!"

I retorted by gently messing up her hair, causing her to groan and say "Momma fixed my hair this morning!"

Both Michiru and I laughed at this.

"What do you think? You made me look like a hedgehog!" I retorted, tickling her a little.

"both of you come eat before it gets cold." she ordered with a smile, giving hotaru a playful pat. I saw that Hotaru only stuck her tongue out at Michiru, who only made a face back to cause the girl to giggle.

As we ate I noticed that their little banter continued lightly. Hotaru seemed happy, her fear the night before seemingly erased as their playful acts became redirected at me.

"Just wait until I get my hands on you!" I threatened with a smile, pointing my fork at her though she only smiled.

"Yeah Papa probably would hang you upside down." Michiru stated with a wink, only to get the child to roll her eyes though she gave me the same cheeky look she had sent Michiru earlier.

"That's it!" I growled, trying to fight laughter as I got up and walked over to her before scooping her into my arms. Michiru chuckled a little as she watched as I goofed off with the child who was laughing harder than I thought I would ever be able to make someone.

"Now go finish eating." I ordered after I finally set her back on her feet and she glanced up at me with shining eyes with a smile before she reseated herself at the table.

"You know you're really different than you try to act. Why don't you just let people see this side of you?" Michiru asked with a thin grin toward me and I shrugged.

"wouldn't matter." I argued and she scoffed.

"Well it matters with me Haruka Tenoh!" she retorted and I chuckled

"fine, but only with you." I retorted and she smiled and took my hand under the table, rubbing her thumb across the back of my hand. I felt heat crawl into my face and gently moved away from her touch.

"Sorry." I muttered but she only giggled behind her hand.

"you're so shy." she stated with a smirk before she returned to her meal.

After we finally finished eating I stayed behind to help clean up.

"May I help?" Hotaru asked and Michiru knelt down.

"why don't you go watch cartoons? Your ribs are still a bit tender and we don't need you getting hurt." she replied gingerly as she ruffled the girl's hair. Hotaru only nodded before running off toward the living room.

"She's so sweet...always wanting to help." the mermaid like beauty stated as she got up and then smiled at me as I began to wash the dishes.

"Yeah, but she really needs to learn that she's just a little girl and that she doesn't have to work so hard to earn approval anymore." I stated and I felt Michiru come up beside of me.

"It'll take time but we can help her." she stated as she started drying the dishes.

I nodded in reply as I continued to work, trying not to pay any attention to what Michiru was doing until she wiped suds across my face, startling me out of my trance.

"Hey!"

She started laughing, probably at the look at my face before she threw a towel at me.

"I couldn't resist." she stated, putting both hands up in front of her in defense.

"I'm going to get you for that!" I stated throwing the towel back at her.

As I neared her she backed against the table and looked slightly panicked, though a smile was faintly painted on her lips. I was careful with grabbing her wrists so that I wouldn't hurt her.

"Oh what are you going to do? Beat me up?" her tone was playful and her eyes sparking playfully as she basically went limp so that there was no risk of me hurting her.

"Maybe." I joked, just before I started tickling her. Her bell-like laughter filling the room.

I wondered breifly if I was out of line but she didn't try to fight me, and she had started it. As soon as I stopped she glared up at me before quickly pulling out of my grip and then somehow managed to knock me back against the table.

"you should not have done that." she whispered trying to sound angry however then she smiled to show that she wasn't and before I knew what was going on her and I were both soon on the floor laughing.

"Okay I give!" I laughed as she and I lay on the cold tile, glad that Hotaru was so absorbed in her tv show that she had ignored our bantering.

"so I defeated you? I thought you were stronger than any other girl?" Michiru teased, her lips lightly touching my cheek, causing my face to grow hot.

"I...I guess you did." I managed to stammer in answer and she smiled as she got up.

"Don't worry, I wont tell." she vowed with a smile as she offered me a hand as she stood up.

As soon as we were standing Michiru gave me a light glare and then said "You better call me later or I will be upset!" she stated then added "You might want to call your mom before she thinks you ran away."

I blushed at this but nodded and sighed "yeah I should be going...How about we meet up later this week? Just you and me?" I replied and she smiled.

"I'd like that Haruka." she retorted then she added "you don't have to worry about me...I have no one who'll care who or what I date."

I understood the hidden meaning in her words and I sighed as I turned to her.

"you wont need anyone because I will protect you and I wont hurt you...I swear." I stated and she smiled slightly though it didn't reach her eyes.

"I know that Haruka."

hearing her say those words caused my pulse to began to race and I wanted so much to take her into my arms and never let her go however I settled only to put my arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss into her mane of hair.

"Don't worry...I wont let anyone hurt you." I whispered and I felt her lean slightly into me though not completely relying on me to hold her weight. I knew that she trusted me and I knew that I could never fail her.