Home for the Holidays
Author's note: YES, this is the story of an Outer Senshi bringing
another home for Christmas, but it is NOT Rei-chan's fanfic about the
same thing! Whole different story. Usual warnings, yes this is a
Michiru and Haruka 'fic, can't seem to help it, they're a lot more
interesting characters than I am. Some offensive language... you'll
see why. All characters that don't belong to me I don't have the
copyright for (I only made Michiru's family up), but I'm not making
money off this, so please don't sue me. (Mizuno Ami/Meredith)
email me at pbangart@julian.uwo.ca !!!
*
"Moshimoshi, darling."
"Mother?" Michiru signaled for Haruka to be quiet.
"I haven't spoken to you for so long!"
"No, it's been a while." Michiru tried to shoo her sweat-drop
away. *This is the last thing I need!*
"Michiru-chan, I was wondering if you could possibly come home
for Christmas this year."
"Well," she hedged, "I'd been planning on having a quiet
evening with a friend of mine..."
"Oh, that's okay! You can bring the friend with you!"
Michiru gave in. "Sure, but only if I can be back home for
Christmas Eve."
"That's wonderful! I can't wait to see you again and meet
your friend." There was a pause. "Dear, is this friend... a
boyfriend?"
Michiru sighed. "No, Mama, Haruka's a girl."
"Oh. You know, dear, I really wish you'd get a boyfriend."
"Yes, I know."
"It's not right for someone as nice and pretty as you to be
alone."
*I'm NOT alone.* "Mother, will you please stop prying into my
sex life?"
There was a startled silence. *Probably can't believe I know
what that is.* "Did I say something wrong?"
"Mama, I have to go. See you the week before Christmas."
Michiru hung up. She stared at the phone for a few moments.
"Haruka, we're going to visit my family before Christmas."
"So I gathered." Haruka wrapped her arms around Michiru and
pulled her into her lap. "Is this bad?"
"If your mother told you to bring me home, what would you do?"
Haruka blanched. "I wouldn't show."
"Why?"
"Well... I'd feel I had to make the announcement about you and
me."
Michiru put her head on Haruka's shoulder. "Exactly," she said
gloomily.
*
"You're sure you don't mind?" Michiru asked in a depressed
tone.
Setsuna gave a nervous laugh. "No, no. You go ahead. I'll
just stay here with Hotaru."
"Positive?" Michiru pressed.
"Ha! I won't get in your family's way. Er. I meant, I won't
get in the way of your vacation. Yeah."
Michiru sighed. "Can Haruka and I still have our private time
on Christmas Eve?"
"Of course. After the four of us have our family time, Hotaru
was going to sleep over with Chibi-Usa and I thought I'd visit the
Neo-Queen.
*And Endymion, no doubt.* "Thank you so much," Michiru said
sweetly.
"No problem," Setsuna replied, just as sweetly.
"Michiru, I've finished packing." Haruka walked in, with
Hotaru tagging along.
"I helped," the little girl informed them.
Haruka and Michiru paused reluctantly. "Well," Haruka said
eventually, "we should leave."
"Hug first," Hotaru demanded. They hugged her.
They pulled out of the driveway slowly. "Are you sure this is
a good idea?" Haruka asked.
"No. It isn't."
*
Michiru's brother, Koshi, smiled dreamily. Michiru was
bringing a friend. A female friend.
*Wasn't it nice of sister dear to bring me a present?*
*
As they entered the district where her parents lived, Michiru
turned to Haruka. "I should warn you about my brother."
"Oh?"
"He's sex mad."
"Great." *This is all I need.* "Are you sure this is a good
idea?"
The temperature in the car changed and Haruka realized that
she probably shouldn't have said that.
"No!" Michiru shrieked. "This is a terrible idea! The
worst! Horrible! Because now my brother is going to hit on you and
I can't kill him and my mother wants me to get a boyfriend and my
father thinks I DO have one and am hiding the fact and he probably
thinks I'm f***ing pregnant and I'm gonna introduce you as my friend
but will eventually have to explain that you're my lover and I'm a
lesbian and all their hopes for having grandchildren out of me are
ruined and in fact ALL their dreams for me being the child they always
wanted are ruined and," Michiru took a sobbing breath, "I DON'T
WANNA!!!"
Haruka had pulled over and was staring at Michiru. *She has a
point.*
Michiru closed her eyes for a few seconds, then opened them
and spoke in a calm tone. "Anyway, now that I've got that display of
immaturity over with, shall we continue on our way?"
*
Michiru stared at the door for a long moment. Haruka squeezed
her hand before dropping it. Michiru smiled nervously at her and
knocked.
It was opened immediately. "It's been so long," Michiru's
mother gushed.
"Yeah. Nice to see you, too."
"How's my beautiful girl?" Michiru's father winked at her.
She groaned mentally, seeing him glance at her waistline. *Why am I
stuck with a family like this?!?*
"Fine. Okaa-san, Otou-san, Koshi-kun, I'd like you to meet
Ten'ou Haruka."
"A pleasure. You and Michiru-chan are good friends?" her
mother asked.
"Yes, very close," Haruka replied nervously.
"In that case, I hope you won't be distant with us," her
father joked. Koshi cracked up. *Great. They actually found that
funny.*
"Er," Haruka said.
"Dear," Michiru's mother told her father, "They've driven a
long way, and they're probably not up to your humor right now." She
turned to Haruka. "Darling child, I'm sorry, but we don't have any
rooms free. Do you mind terribly sharing with Michiru?"
*Oh, good. At least she called her 'darling child'.*
"Well, it will be difficult, but I think I can manage," Haruka
said with a straight face. *Bitch,* Michiru thought at her. Haruka
gave her a thumbs up behind her back.
Koshi looked disappointed. Michiru stuck her tongue out at
him when she thought no one was looking. *Little brother DOESN'T get
to catch her alone in a bedroom.*
"Is it okay if we put are bags away and then get some rest?
It's been a long day." *Please, I can't deal with this right now!*
"Oh, of course, dear. I put a matress on the floor for one of
you."
"But..." Haruka began. Michiru grabbed her and pulled her
into the bedroom. "But it's the middle of the day."
*
Michiru viciously shoved clothes into drawers. "We're going
to have to share drawers. I'll help you unpack."
They unpacked in silence for a while. Michiru, digging through
Haruka's stuff, turned and raised an eyebrow, dangling a lacy teddy
from one finger. "Hmm?"
Haruka shrugged bashfully. "They might go out sometime,
and..."
"We can hope." Michiru winked, smirking. A blush coloured
Haruka's cheeks. *She's so cute when she does that,* Michiru thought.
There was more silence, then Haruka sighed. "Michi-love -- I
mean, Michiru, I feel sweaty. Would you mind if I took a bath?"
"No, go ahead. If the parents don't stop you.
*
Haruka lay back in the bath with a relieved sigh. She could
feel stress climbing onto her back, and the bath seemed to relax her.
She scooped up water and watched it trickle through her
fingers, seeing Michiru's hair instead. *Oh, my love, this is going
to be such a trial for both of us.*
She had relaxed enough that she had started to drift into
sleep when a voice whispered in her ear. "May I wash your back?"
*Koshi.*
Haruka sat upright but his hands were on her shoulders,
pulling her back to him. "Please relax," he murmured. "I promise I
won't hurt you." One of his hands slipped around her front, cupping
the curve of a breast.
Haruka elbowed him in the solar plexus, then stood up as he
began to fall and kneed him in the face. She grabbed a bucket of
water and dumped it on him.
She pulled on a robe and knelt to his level. She grabbed his
head by one ear and made him look at her. "The only reason I haven't
killed you is because you are Michiru's brother," she hissed.
"Remember that." She dropped his head and looked at him for a moment,
then kicked him in the groin, hard. That done, she left the bathroom,
closing the door softly behind her.
*
"Grrrrrr.... if he wasn't..."
Michiru looked up as Haruka stormed in. "Who?"
"Koshi."
"What?"
Haruka explained.
"I see. Excuse me, love."
Michiru hunted him down.
*
Koshi had just been picking himself up off the floor, groaning,
when Michiru skidded in and shoved him against the wall, demonstrating
amazing strength. "Koshi?"
"Gyngh?"
Michiru loosened her grip. "Never touch Haruka again."
"Why not?" Koshi actually sounded puzzled.
"Haruka already has a partner, and she's very loyal," Michiru
said, "and if you do that again... IF you survive what Haruka does to
you... I'll kill you."
"Oh." Koshi rubbed his neck as Michiru left.
*
Michiru's father leaned over at the dinner table. "So,
Haruka-kun, I hear you have a partner."
"Um..." Haruka said, desperately trying to avoid that subject,
"please... It's 'Haruka-chan' among friends."
"Oh," Michiru's mother sighed, "that's nice of you. What's
his name?"
"His..." Haruka looked to Michiru hopelessly. Michiru
shrugged. "Mamoru!" Haruka gasped. Michiru raised an eyebrow.
"I guess he must keep all his promises to you, then," Michiru's
father said.
"Er," Haruka said.
"Actually," Michiru broke in, "they've been having a bit of a
fight... but I'm sure they'll be back together soon, right lo...
Haruka?"
"Right!" Haruka squeaked.
"Oh, my, I hope it doesn't last long," her mother said.
"Right!"
They escaped as soon as possible after dinner.
*
Haruka ran her brush through her hair one more time with a
sigh. *This is so difficult. We could be having a nice, quiet
evening at home.* She thought about Michiru's smile, her graceful
body, and the fact that they were going to have to be really good for
the next week. *Well, not THAT quiet.*
She really couldn't hide in the bathroom any longer; she hoped
she could make it to Michiru's bedroom quickly. She opened the door
and stepped out.
"Waugh!" Koshi screamed as he bumped into her, spilling his
glass of water all over her white nightgown. "Gomen Na...s...ai..."
He stared at Haruka's busom, practically drooling.
Covering her chest with her arms, she ran for the bedroom.
*
"Nice," Michiru commented as Haruka sat on the matress on the
floor wearing the lacy teddy, "but don't you think it's a bit...
early... for my parents to handle it?"
"Shut up," Haruka muttered, instantly regretting doing so,
"What's the matter?" Michiru asked, concerned.
"It's just... there's so much pressure...
"I'll tell them this week, love. I promise. Just a little
while longer."
*
*Three days.*
*Three whole days.*
Haruka stared at her reflection, having again hidden herself
in the washroom. *Three days of hiding. Three days of pretending not
to love Michiru. Three days of waltzing around certain subjects.*
*How the hell can it only have been three days!?!*
Haruka slowly slipped on her robe and tied it. Her nightgown
seemed to have disappeared sometime into the washing machine and she'd
been wearing the teddy to bed every night. *I think I'm going insane.*
She stepped outside the bathroom.
"Excuse me."
She turned. *Not again. Doesn't he ever learn?*
"Um..." Koshi mumbled. "You know, I've been thinking... your
boyfriend really doesn't sound like a nice guy. If there's anything I
can do to help you with him... threats or whatever... I'm willing to
help."
Haruka just looked at him. "Koshi-kun. Face it. I am NOT
sleeping with you."
"I'm not..." Koshi said indignantly. He actually looked hurt.
"I didn't mean..."
Surprised at herself, Haruka found herself believing him.
*Well, he is Michiru's brother.* "Yeah, whatever." Haruka turned and
went into Michiru's bedroom.
*
Outside, Koshi's brow creased in thought.
Michiru insisting that she bring Haruka.
Haruka attacking Koshi when he hit on her.
Michiru's subsequent attacking Koshi when she found out that
he had hit on Haruka.
Haruka panicking when asked her boyfriend's name.
Michiru had almost called her something... love?
Haruka really didn't like thinking about sleeping with him.
Michiru had never had a boyfriend.
*I wonder... surely Michiru... well, no harm in asking...*
He knocked on the door.
*
On the other side, Michiru froze, then rolled away. "Em, just
a minute!!!"
*
Koshi rolled his eyes and opened the door. "It isn't like I
haven't seen both of you nude before... er... nice teddy...
Haruka was sprawled back on the matress with one hand covering
her ear. Michiru sat on the edge on the same matress, flushed and
slightly disheveled. "What...do you want?"
"To ask a question." He took a deep breath. "You two are...
um... ahem..."
"We are..." Michiru prompted, running her hands through her
hair.
"You are... well..."
"What?" Haruka began to look like she was enjoying herself.
"You..." Koshi coughed. "You two are..." He poked two
fingers together. "...right?"
"I don't understand," Michiru complained.
"You do too! You're my sister! You've got too much of a
dirty mind NOT to understand!"
"He's got you there," Haruka pointed out.
"Shush." Michiru threw a pillow at her. "Now, just ask your
question."
Koshi closed his eyes. "Are you two lovers?" He peeked to
see them look at each other. "C'mon, I got up the guts to ask!"
"Yes," Haruka said finally. "I love her very much."
"But please don't tell Mama and Papa... I plan to tell them
soon," Michiru begged.
"Of course not! What do you think I am?!"
Michiru looked relieved. "Arigatoh."
"I just have one thing to say: you and I obviously like the
same type of girl."
"Oh? Any who pass by?"
"Tall blondes who look cute in lacy red teddies."
Michiru smirked. "Doesn't she, though?"
"Hello?" Haruka asked. "I AM here."
"Although I like them a little less violent."
"Aggressive girls are very attractive!"
"Yeah, but she's not aggressive towards you, is she?"
"No, but she's so cute when she's angry."
Haruka blushed. "Do you mind?"
"And she's cute when she blushes, too," Michiru added.
"If I agree, will you kill me?"
"Yes."
"Ah."
Haruka pouted. "I give up. You two are definately related."
"Can you get her to pout again?" Koshi asked.
"Grrrrr..." Michiru snarled. "MINE!"
"Woah! Let's get violent, shall we?"
Michiru got Koshi in a strangle-hold, until Haruka seperated
them with a hand on each of their chests (perfectly innocent with
Koshi, less so with where her hand ended up on Michiru). She smirked
at them. "Now, now. I know that I am absolutely gorgeous, but there
is no reason to fight over me."
Koshi fell to one knee, eyes starry. "Please... let me fight
for you... I will be yours forever!"
Haruka looked uncertain of what to do until Michiru handed her
a pillow and attacked Koshi with another.
*
Michiru's mother and father looked up from their game of 'Go
Moku' as Koshi's shout of "No fair!" came ringing down the hall.
"How nice," her mother said vaguely. "The children seem to be
having fun."
*
"Otou-san, Okaa-san..." Michiru toyed with the food on her
dinner plate. "I -- there's something I need to tell you..."
"Yes, dear, what is it?"
"Well...I...Haruka..."
The phone rang.
"Just a second." Her mother went to answer it, and came back
with a strange expression on her face. "It's some little girl asking
for 'Michiru-mama'. What... does this mean?"
"Ask Haruka!" Michiru squeaked and hurried off to the phone.
"Er," Haruka began to babble, "we were friends of her family
and then there was an accident... she had no surviving kin... Michiru
and I and a friend of ours, Setsuna, take care of her, and she calls
us Michiru-mama, Setsuna-mama, and..."
"Haruka-mama?" Michiru's mother suggested.
"Well, no, actually, Haruka-papa. Er. Both her father and I
have short, white-blond hair, and..."
"Mama?" Michiru asked, poking her head in.
"Yes, dear?"
"Um... the friend of ours taking care of Hotaru-chan has to go
away for a day, and she'd like to know if you can take care of her
along with us. Setsuna will drop her off and pick her up."
"Hotaru?" her father said. "She must light up your life."
"Er," Haruka said.
"That's wonderful! I'm sure I'd love to meet this adopted
child. Only, where would she sleep?"
"Oh," Michiru said distantly, "Haruka and I have been on
sleep-overs before. Would you mind awfully sharing my bed for that
one night so Hotaru could get the matress?"
"Not at all, anything for our Hime-chan." Haruka pounded
Koshi on the back as he choked on his food.
As Michiru sat down, her mother sighed happily. "So, what
were you going to tell me?"
Michiru stared at her plate. "Nothing," she muttered.
*
Michiru's mother got to the door first when Hotaru arrived.
"Oh, you must be Hotaru-chan. I'm so glad to meet you. Since you
consider Michiru your mother, you might as well call me Obaa-san."
Hotaru bowed politely. "Konnichi wa, Obaa-san."
"Oh, what a kawaii child," Michiru's mother confided to
Michiru. "Do you need any help with your bags?"
"It's okay, I only have the one."
Haruka hoisted Hotaru onto her shoulders. "Let's go unpack,
hmm? Then it's an early bed for you, Hime-chan. You've had a long
trip."
"But Haruka-papa..." Hotaru protested, and yawned. Michiru's
father pulled Michiru to one side. "'Hime-chan'? You two must love
her very much."
Michiru watched as Haruka ducked under the doorframe to make
sure Hotaru didn't hurt her head. "We do," she said proudly.
*
Michiru and Haruka both rummaged through the cupboards to find
something for themselves as Hotaru poured herself some Froot Loops for
breakfast.
"So," Michiru's mother asked the little girl, "do you get to
see both your Michiru-mama and your Haruka-papa a lot?"
"Of course," Hotaru said, puzzled. "I live with them."
"Oh? Her father asked. "They're roommates? Of course, they
have to share a bed here..."
"Yep," Hotaru said happily, "just like home."
Haruka dropped the Cheerios, and Michiru slumped. Koshi
slapped his head. Michiru's mother and father stared at Hotaru.
"They sleep together?" Michiru's mother asked.
"Yeah, why not? They love each... oth...er..." Hotaru had
noticed the way everyone was looking at her and began to cry softly.
"Michiru-mama? Haruka-papa? Did I say something wrong? I
thought..." She ran to Haruka and curled up on the ground beside her,
crying. "I'm sorry! You said you'd tell them! I'm sorry!"
Haruka knelt to her level and put her arms around the little
girl. "It's okay, Hime-chan. We were going to tell them soon anyway."
Michiru's mother turned to Michiru. "What?" she hissed.
Michiru straightened and took a deep breath. "Okaa-san,
Otou-san, I'd like to re-introduce you. This is the most wonderful
person in the world, my lover, Haruka."
Michiru's mother walked towards Haruka, who let go of Hotaru,
extending a hand and smiling hopefully. "I..."
Michiru's mother punched Haruka.
Caught off guard, Haruka pitched backwards, landing on her
rear, hard.
"You... you..." Michiru's mother screamed, "you WORM! How
DARE you seduce MY DAUGHTER like that?!? You fucking bitch! Living
off our hospitality, and then saying, oh, yeah, I've been screwing
your daughter, have a nice day! I'll kill you!" Michiru's mother
stepped towards Haruka again.
Before anyone else was able to do anything, Hotaru had jumped
up and was between her and Haruka. "I won't let you hurt my
Haruka-papa," she whimpered.
"Move away, Hime-chan," Haruka said softly. "It isn't safe."
"I don't care! I don't want you to get hurt, Haruka-papa! I
love you!"
"Maybe after the child is gone?" Michiru's father suggested
to her mother.
"Yes." Michiru's mother kept her gaze, eyes narrowed, on
Haruka.
*
Michiru watched Setsuna take Hotaru away, a sickening feeling
in the pit of her stomach. On one side was her lover, and on the
other was Koshi. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. *Easy.
You will survive this. You survived the Death Busters and Pharoh
Ninety, you survived Neherenia, the Sailor Animamates, and Galaxia,
you'll survive this. Probably.*
"Well?" her mother said coldly.
"I can explain." Michiru felt cold and hot at the same time.
"Really."
"I doubt it," her mother said, at the same time her father
said:
"Go on."
*If either of them will support me, it will be him.* "I fell
in love."
Her father shook his head sadly and turned away.
"You little slut," her mother snarled. "I hope you are just
repressing bad memories... if you actually willingly let her into your
pants... how much did she pay you, anyway?"
Michiru reeled in shock. Haruka took a step forward, fists
balled. *Typical Haruka. When attacked herself, she won't hurt my
family... but when I'M insulted...*
Surprisingly, it was Koshi who got the first word in.
"Okaa-san, I won't let you talk to my sister that way."
Their mother looked surprised. "What?"
He put a protective arm around Michiru. "I think it's great
that Michiru loves someone and someone loves her."
"But... a WOMAN..."
Koshi sighed and stepped forward, putting a hand on his
mother's shoulder. "Okaa-san, face it. Michiru's a lesbian. She
prefers girls. That's all there is to it."
"I suppose, Michiru's father said reluctantly. "If she had
to... to be this way, it's better that she like a girl who... who
cares about her and that... their child."
Michiru's mother looked panicky. "Ten'ou Haruka, I don't know
how you seduced my whole family, but..."
"But she didn't," Michiru said. "When we first got together,
I was the one who approached her. Until we spent more time together
and I told her how I felt, she wouldn't... get close to me."
"I was afraid of what I felt for you," Haruka whispered.
"It isn't just sex," Michiru told her family, "I love her. I
want to spend the rest of my life with her. And beyond. Ever since
we've been together, I've been truly happy. I feel... I feel like the
luckiest person alive. And whether or not you approve won't decide
whether I stay with her or not. I'm staying. I want your approval --
you're my family, and I don't want to lose you -- but if I have to live
without it, I will." She felt tears rise to her eyes and leaned into
Haruka's arms, knees feeling weak. "I love her. I'm not giving that
up."
Haruka held her tightly, face buried in Michiru's hair.
"Oh, mama," Koshi said, running his hand over his eyes, "I
don't know how you can hate her after something like that. Can't you
see that she's the best match ever for Michiru?"
Michiru's father looked at Haruka. "Do you love her?"
Haruka met his gaze. "More than the world."
"But... but..." Michiru's mother whimpered, deprived of a
target, "but... I want a grandchild..." She burst into tears.
*
"Mama?" Michiru pulled away from Haruka and ran to her
mother. "Mama, I'm sorry, but I can't... I'm sorry."
Haruka opened her mouth to say something apologetic, but found
other words emerging. "You've got a son like Koshi-kun, and you're
worried about not having grandchildren?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Koshi demanded.
"Well," Michiru pointed out, "you ARE somewhat womanized."
"No, I'm not!"
"You aren't?" Haruka asked pointedly.
"Okay, so I DID jump you in the bath, but I'm not..."
"You what?!" Michiru's mother demanded.
"A chip off the old block, hmm?" Michiru's father winked at
her mother. She coloured.
*I don't even WANT to know,* Haruka thought.
"What really gets me," Haruka said aloud, "was that long
discussion you two had on the types of girls you like."
"Okay, okay, I think you've proven that I like the OPPOSITE
gender."
Michiru leaned forward, hair tumbling into her eyes. "Mama,
I -- it's okay if you don't approve, so long as you just accept it."
Her mother looked at Michiru and Haruka for a long while, then
reached out and embraced Haruka fiercely. "Take care of my little
girl," she whispered, tears running down her face.
*
In the middle of the night, Michiru's mother opened the door
to Michiru's door a crack and peered in. Michiru lay asleep in
Haruka's arms, a small smile on her face.
[Both of her parents had been upset at this new sleeping
arrangement, but Koshi had pointed out that they'd slept together the
night before, anyway. "All right," her father said eventually, "but
no dirty stuff. None of that in MY household." Koshi had said that
there had obviously been SOME dirty stuff in th household before, or
they wouldn't have ended up with two children.]
A frown creased Michiru's face as the light from the hall
disturbed her sleep, but the other girl unconciously tightened her
arms and stroked Michiru's back.
Michiru's mother swallowed back anger at the thought of
another woman touching her Michiru. *Haruka loves her,* she thought,
seeing Haruka guarding Michiru's dreams from all that could harm her.
*She truly loves her.*
Footsteps came up behind her, and she felt her husband's hand
on her shoulder. "Will you come to bed now?" he asked quietly.
She wiped her eyes, smiled, and nodded.
*
"Since you have to go, I'd better show you my trick now," Koshi
told Michiru.
"What, bringing girlie pictures to life?"
"Ha, ha, funny." Koshi took out a teacup and balanced it on
the end of a stick.
"Seen that before," Michiru said in a bored tone.
Koshi scowled and began to spin the cup. He took one step
back, and another, until he hit Haruka, who had just appeared in the
doorway. The teacup smashed to the floor.
"Hey, watch it," Haruka said belatedly.
"Grrr..." he snarled. "I'll get you for that -- and I know
where you live!"
"Um," Haruka agreed thoughtfully. She picked up the Froot
Loops and brought it to the table.
"Heh," Michiru's father said. "I guess when YOU eat them,
they really ARE 'Fruit' Loops, right?"
"Er," Haruka mumbled, "um, not... really..."
Koshi sighed. "Papa, that's for men."
"Okay, then, I bet you and Michiru don't take long, romantic
walks along the beach, you take long, romantic walks along the dykes."
"Er... sorry, what was the question?" Haruka wiped sleep guck
out of her eyes.
Michiru's father sighed, sweatdropping. "Never mind."
*
"Are you sure you have to leave?" Michiru's mother asked.
"Hotaru and Setsuna are waiting for us," Michiru said, a little
sad to go.
"Wouldn't want to keep some beautiful ladies waiting, hmm?"
Koshi wiggled his eyebrows.
"You should know," Haruka said sarcastically.
"Yeah. Tell Setsuna she's cute."
"You never met Setsuna," Michiru said, "you were getting a
snack when she picked Hotaru up."
"So? Tell her anyway."
Haruka and Michiru got in the car and rolled down the window
to shout a farewell.
As Michiru's parents returned it, Koshi ran a few feet forward
and cupped his hands to his mouth.
"Hey, babe, by the way... nice teddy!"
*
Michiru sipped at her wine. It was quiet in the house with
only her and Haruka -- Hotaru was with Chibi-Usa, and Setsuna was with
Serenity and Endy-san. "Ara, what a week, beloved."
"Yes." Haruka swirled the wine in her glass, not taking her
eyes off Michiru. "I like your brother. He's annoying but he means
well." She paused, then added, "Not that I'd tell HIM that."
Michiru laughed. "Yes. It was tough, and I'm glad it's over,
but... I'm also glad it happened."
"Yes."
Michiru looked at Haruka over the rim of her glass. "So," she
murmured. "It's Christmas Eve. Do you have a present for me tonight
as well as tomorrow?"
Before she could blink, Haruka had taken the wineglass out of
her hand and picked her up. Carrying her to the bedroom, Haruka
kissed her soft lips, then pulled back and smiled at her. "Merry
Christmas," she murmured, leaning to kiss her again.
(
geocities.com/tokyo/field) (
geocities.com/tokyo)