Disclaimers

Category: Sailor Moon
Pairing: Michiru/Haruka
Copyright: "Sailor Moon" is copyrighted by DiC, Toei, Kodansha, and Naoko Takeuchi. The characters of Sailor Moon are used here without permission - for entertainment, not for profit.
The story and all its original characters are property of the author.
Fiction Rating: T
Author's Note: -chan, -kun, -san, -sensei are titles.

San - neutral, used in most situations
Kun - informal, used for boys and men younger than oneself
Chan - informal, used for young children and very close friends or family members
Sensei - used for teachers, doctors, people with a higher education

Author's E-Mail: kinkaze @ hotmail.com

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Mail

by Kin-Kaze

PART 3

The sound of keys in the door signaled Setsuna's arrival. That hadn't been long. How well would she react to the present company, I wondered? Especially if she had brought some guy back… perhaps we should leave… ? I looked down at the cooled liquid in my mug, not wanting to be the one responsible for an explanation. Setsuna nudged open the door with an elbow, her arms were full. Quicker steps sounded approaching the entry. Was she babysitting Chibi-Usa today? I caught my breath.

"Haruka-papa! Michiru-mama!" She had grown so much, but still seemed little.

"Hime-chan?" My embrace was fierce, any minute expecting this vision to pass if I didn't hold onto it.

"Hotaru." Michiru practically breathed the word. This girl who had left her so devastated. "How long have you… ?" She seemed suddenly guilty, as though some how her avoidance had cost her moments with her daughter. And I had thought we would never be like this again…

"Setsuna-mama just collected me from the bus depot. I wouldn't let her drive all the way to the airport so early in the morning!"

"Ara, Setsuna!"

"I could say the same."

"I'm sorry, I have sort of dropped in uninvited… I think there has been a lot of misunderstanding. And I think that may be my own fault. I should have at least kept contact with you… "

"Huh?" The violet eyes of our daughter seemed questioning. For a moment she was the same little girl who had held a letter. But she wasn't, her clothes were unfamiliar, her manner more reserved, she was maturing. All without our help she had grown into a young woman. I had to snap from my train of thought.

"Uh, Setsuna, let me take those, are they to go up to her room? I'm sure you'll want to… catch up."

It was a good escape. Not the easiest, as it required the removal of five rather cumbersome items of luggage, but easier still than explaining the situation we were in. Completely awkward. I really should get changed, showered. I fought the irrational fear that if I left for even that time I might find my dining room empty on my return. Of course I wouldn't. Perhaps just a quick shower. I couldn't stop grinning, for all this mess, I felt like laughing out loud. No it would never be how it was, soon we would all take our own cues in separate directions. But for now…

My hair was towel dried fiercely, then re-examined and smoothed down. I could take my time. I could spend a few seconds longer, not look like an idiot and they would still be there. I swatted through the clothes hangers in my wardrobe. Akiko's generosity in the fashion department had helped to close the void left by the missing articles of Michiru's. I couldn't bring myself to wear any of her designs just then. I'm not sure why. It just felt… I think I wanted to pretend that there hadn't been all that time to pass and change us. That I could wear an old sports jacket from three years ago and pretend we had all never been apart.

Returning, Hotaru appeared to have lapsed into… well, for want of a better term, a sulk.

"Hime-chan?"

"What. Happened?" This was not a good reaction from the soldier of destruction. Past the point of concern or fury, she was morbidly controlled.

"Sorry?"

"Michiru-mama doesn't… What happened!?" Oh Gods. This is never easy. Setsuna and Michiru avoided any sort of eye contact. They must have had their own attempts at explanation thrown back at them.

"Hotaru-chan, grown-ups sometimes… we met when we were very young, people sometimes grow apart… "

"Yes, sometimes people grow apart. Adults grow apart… But not you… ?" She was tearful. I guess it made sense; children never want to see their support structure fall to pieces. But we weren't really a family. And she was never really…

"Hey, c'mon." I held the angrily rigid back. "You must be tired after your trip, and you weren't expecting this… Hey, I wasn't expecting so many guests either. Do you think I'd wait around in my boxers if I knew so many cute girls would be turning up?" She giggled drawing back. That same sweet face I knew so well.

"Yeah, those were the ones we picked out for Father's day… " She looked away.

"Yep!" She was hoisted up onto my hip with a delighted shriek.

"Geez, you had all that time to grow but you still couldn't get big enough that I couldn't pick you up, huh?"

"Yeah? And how long shall you be staying here with us, your majesty?"

"Three weeks."

"Three weeks? Awesome! So you see, we'll have plenty of time to all do things together… " I shot a pleading look to Michiru who smiled an affirmation.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." The promise directed at Hotaru as I lowered her back to the ground. "In fact, Setsuna and I were just thinking of going down to the park for an ice cream… perhaps you could drag your Haruka-papa along, too?"

The violet eyes looked up at me. Akiko would probably need help… she hadn't said concrete but…

"'Course. Just let me get my jacket." I turned off my cel.

x

How old was she now? This was surreal. This was happening. Michiru and Setsuna were walking slightly behind, the indiscernible conversation of that same rhythm as if there had never been a lapse in the friendship. Hotaru had my hand and was leading the direction down the path. The park hadn't changed, a few touch-ups to the benches, a few more rubbish bins, a few more people, perhaps… but it was still as if we could have left it a week ago.

"What's your new school like?"

"Pretty good." She was distracted.

"Is that all?"

"Mm… Haruka-papa?"

"Yes?"

"You know how you aren't living with Michiru-mama… Are you going to keep our house?"

"I… yes. For the moment. I like our house.

"Maybe still when I'm finished school?"

"Perhaps. Why do you ask?"

"I was talking to Papa. About universities… really I think I want to study in Tokyo… "

"There are good universities here." I nodded.

"He said it was fine, that I should ask you in case you wouldn't… Can I come back and stay with you when I finish school? I know I left you guys… maybe I shouldn't ask favors… "

"Hey, don't be silly. Of course you can live with us. If that's what you decide, I'll make sure to keep our house… I'll even give your room a new paint job at no extra cost, kiddo."

"Thank you Haruka-papa!" Again, the leg-clasping thing. This really was getting dangerous, my being out of practice. I narrowly avoided falling sideways, mid stride, just as Setsuna and Michiru narrowly missed bumping into the stationary tangle we had formed.

"Whoa. Thanks for what now?" Setsuna teased.

"Probably gone and promised a sports car for her next birthday." Michiru joined in feigning distaste.

"Yeah. You two make fun. We're going to be flat mates." I lifted my chin, turned to the laughing child and raced her down to the ice-cream vendor.

x

Hotaru, deliriously happy with ice cream, jet lag and the compound attention of three adults, was now engrossed in discussion with Setsuna. Comfortably leaving me in the uncomfortable position of walking beside my ex-lover, attempting small talk over a scoop of vanilla. God's why do kids eat ice cream so early in the morning?

"So when's the big day?"

"The what? Oh… I… can't remember if Hiroshi set a date… ? Not for a while… He's really into the planning side of things. I would be. Work just keeps coming up, I guess."

"Oh." I can't imagine her not being excited about a wedding, Her own wedding.

"I'll be sure to send you an invite." She poked my side teasingly, eliciting a half grin.

"Well good!" No way could I be at her wedding.

"Setsuna tells me Akiko has a launch this evening. That must be stressful… ?"

"Oh yeah." I smile imagining her. "Yeah, she probably has a completely calm exterior until one too many models have an emotional collapse and then all hell will break loose. I was going to help with errands but… " I nodded in Hotaru's direction. "Any way, I'm sure she doesn't need me."

We stay in silence for a while. I try not to watch her, but I can't stop. Her dress unsurprisingly impeccable. Her hair longer, glossy in the morning sun, pushed from her face with the smooth pace of her step. It's cute watching a woman such as this, as she must seem to all the world, a sophisticated, renowned musician, completely engulfed in considering the practicalities of eating strawberry ice cream without allowing it to drip. All to appease a dark-haired girl. Her lips meeting the cold surface cleanly, an almost child-like earnestness in her eyes. That is what I missed. If it were one thing I could say I missed to distraction, it was her face. But I can't say that. Because I missed her voice, her music, her body. I still sleep only on my half of the bed. Akiko sprawls out unpredictably. But on my own, I always sleep on the left.

"Ara, I almost forgot. I was supposed to ring Papa when I arrived."

"Right." I broke my concentration to dig around in my pockets, handing the cell phone to Hotaru. It was a gift from a sponsor; some of its functions eluded even me. Surprisingly expertly my 'daughter' activated and made a brief call. That's my kid. It seemed she was met with an answering service. Cocking her head, concentrating on the sound of the gadget, she looked in my direction.

"You have four new messages… "

"Thanks." I made a quick attempt to grasp the phone. She didn't know about Akiko yet.

"All from the same number… ?"

"Uh, better let me check it," The phone was released reluctantly. A suspicious glower shot in my direction. "Thanks."

First message received at. Ten. Oh. Nine. AM…

"Doesn't need you huh?" I cringed. The stress level in her voice escalating with each new message. I cut it short.

"Sorry, Hime-chan... Setsuna, I'd better get to the studio before the first lady commits multiple homicide." I looked at Michiru, uncertain of what to say. "It was nice… to see you."

"Always." Her smile lingered in my mind as I dashed towards the taxi rank. The ice cream cone discarded to a one of those refurbished bins.

x

"Hello, gorgeous." Her demeanor never betrayed her mood. "Couldn't put your skillful hands to some use… ?"

"Anytime." I smirked.

"Brilliant. You see Maiko over there?" She indicated a young girl kneeling beside the runway.

"Yeah… ?"

"She needs some help with the set up. I have some doubts about her past experience with, ah… any tools whatsoever… " A resounding thump punctuated her explanation appropriately.

"Right." I could be out in the park, in the sun right now… I felt like a seven year old kid again. In the heat of the afternoon, being made to sit inside in the shadowy music suite and practise mindless scales when I'd rather be outside, and up a tree. My politest rendition of "Pleased to meet you Maiko, I'm told you might need a hand?" Was met with a sudden blush and profuse apology following the inadvertent release and consequent connection with my foot of a particularly large spanner. I clenched my teeth, nodded an 'it's okay, I'm fine' type-nod, as my vocal cords were occupied swallowing down obscenities at the intense pain.

x

The stage got fixed. The seamstress calmed her nerves. The models sucked it up and sucked it in… and Akiko had her lingerie launch with present and obnoxious pit crews included as promised. It had been a long, trying day. Maiko almost ready to burst into tears. I wanted to go home. There it was. Akiko was brimming with enthusiasm at this latest success, and as per usual there would be post launch drinks at one of the more notorious clubs. As per usual, I would be the present at the woman of the moment's side. A united front for every interviewer, every photographer. But tonight it wasn't usual. I was surrounded by the excitement, a celebration of a lingerie promotion, and it was all somehow dimmed. All I actually wanted was to be at home, see my daughter tucked in, hear her last thoughts before slumber stole her away…

An insinuating hand trailed down the length of my back.

"Going to join us in the limo… Champ?"

"Ha, of course."

Part 2 | Part 4