College Life Part 12: Never a daimon around when you need one by Greenbeans Disclaimers: There are references to Haruka's childhood that were laid out in Tim Nolan's "Awakenings." Plus I'm using his timeline for how long Haruka & Michiru have been together. Thanks Tim :) Mild cursing (Haruka ;) If the thought of Haruka and Michiru kissing, hugging, or being playful (NO hentai, baka) makes you uncomfortable, skip this one. Comments, thoughts, complaints, compliments, ramblings, and flames are all accepted. But the latter two stand a serious chance of being printed out and turned into rat cage lining. All characters are property of their respective holders. I belong to myself, thank you, and have a nice day :) ********** Friday morning ********** "Thanks a bundle for this Michiru," Beans' voice said over the telephone. "It's quite alright. Bring them over around 9." She hung up. "I can't believe that you agreed for us to watch Beans' cousins," Haruka said from the kitchen table. "I wanted tomorrow to be just us." "It will be just us after 3," she came out of the kitchen to lace her arms around her partner's neck. "Beans needs our help." Haruka grumbled some, then buried her head into Michiru's blouse. "Fine," Michiru heard from the folds of cloth. "Oi! Haruka, that tickles!" She exclaimed laughing. Lightly she kissed the top of her head. "I know," came the muffled reply. "Silly, do you want breakfast or not?" "Maybe. Depends on what I can get instead." She looked up at her with a wicked gleam in her eyes. Michiru kissed her forehead. "This morning: breakfast or nothing. Tomorrow is a different story," she added to forestall the disappointment on Haruka's face. Haruka snuggled her for several moments before releasing her. "I can wait a day." "Good, because you're not getting anything until your birthday," Michiru returned to the kitchen smiling suggestively. "Cold hearted woman." She chuckled at her friend's complaint. "I'm sure that you'll test that theory." "Count on it." ***** I wondered again at my great good luck. I know that Haruka's birthday is tomorrow so I figured that they were a long shot for babysitting. My aunt had called me yesterday evening and pretty much dumped the 'lil darlings into my lap. I hate small children. In my opinion, they should be stuffed into a closet until they're 12. Plus I have a project to finish. I told Michiru about the project, and I'm sure that she was reading between the lines for my motivation. I didn't want to be around the little brats. Kids give me the creeps. Lucky for me, she said yes, and my problem was solved. My aunt wouldn't mind since she was desperate for a sitter. Face it, would you trust your children to someone who hated kids if you weren't in a pinch? I finished tossing my books into my pack before running down to the cafateria for a quick bite to eat. ********** Saturday morning ********** Haruka smiled cockily at the reflection in the mirror. She was looking sharp today and knew it. She tweaked the collar of her button up shirt, then straightened out the vest she wore. Setsuna had made it for her. The dark reds and blues of the vest contrast nicely with the tan slacks she'd chosen for today. "And you say that *I* spend too much time in front of the mirror," Michiru slipped her arms around her slim waist. She laughed at the jibe. Michiru had her there. "I can't help my occasional vanity." Michiru put her chin up onto her shoulder. She bent her knees so that she wouldn't have to stretch. "That's better," Michiru whispered in her ear then kissed her cheek lightly. Haruka chuckled. "And who's the one that's always telling me to behave?" "We're even then." she kissed her cheek. The doorbell rang. Michiru released her, but Haruka held onto her arms. "Dammit, leave her on the doorstep." She squeezed her tight before pulling free. "Behave," she drawled. Haruka purred as Michiru left the room. "Behave," she called behind her. Haruka laughed while Michiru answered the door. She returned to admiring her reflection. Damn she was vain, but she had to admit that she *was* good looking. She tossed her soft hair back. "Hum," a small smile crossed her lips. "For today, sure," she opened a small wooden box that held her jewelry. There wasn't much in it. She put on her gold cross and then a gold loop earring into her left earlobe. It had been a gift from Michiru that she received not long after their meeting. She finished accessorizing with a belt to hold her slacks up properly. She laughed again at the image before her. At 22 she had come quite a ways from the 13-year-old tomboy that she had once been. She had held true to herself while maturing under Michiru's gentle infulence. Yes, if she had not met Michiru she would still be much like that 13-year-old: standing against the world; defiant and alone. Michiru had freed her of that loneliness to become her support, steadfast advocate, best friend, and lover. "I don't tell her often enough just how much she means to me." She was the world to her. Life would return to being unbearable without Michiru there. She loved her carefully worded jibes, her soft turquoise hair, the way she laughed at her ill timed outbursts. No one understood her like Michiru did. "How long has it been?" She mused to herself while brushing her hair back one more time. Not because it was out of place, but for the feel of the brush through her sandy blonde locks. Eight years. It has been eight years since Michiru had captured her heart with it quickly approaching nine. "I sound like an old man," she put the brush down. They were both young and alive. "More alive because I found my soul mate when I had." She looked at the now serious reflection in the mirror. "I don't say 'I love you' often enough." ***** "Oh, hey, Michiru! Thanks again for doing this," Beans said quickly. She held a baby in her arms while proding two children forward. "These are my cousins. Liz," she held up the baby. "Rick," she nodded over to the boy that look to be about eight. "And Annie," the little girl that was clinging to her leg. "She's still a little shy," Beans explained. "She's a baby!" Rick announced loudly. Annie hugged tighter. "Everyone, this is Michiru. Where's Haruka?" "She's still getting dressed." Michiru put on her most charming smile; the one she used at formal banquets. "Come in Rick, Annie. Here, I'll take Liz from you," she gently relieved Beans of her burden. She smiled gratefully at her. Rick ran into the house. "Come on, Annie," Beans detached her from her leg to carried her in. "Hey!" Rick ran right into Haruka. "Who are you?!" "I could ask the same thing," she smiled tolerantly. "I'm Haruka." "Are you a guy or a girl?" [Eyebrow twitch] "I'm a woman," she answered. "You look like a guy," Rick stated bluntly. [Eyebrow twitch] "Charming child, Beans," she said dryly. "What's his name?" "Rick! My name's Rick." He came right up to her. He would have had his nose in her face if he had been tall enough. Haruka leaned down to his level. "A pleasure to meet you," she drawled slowly. "You have a funny accent," he laughed over-exaggeratedly at her. "Charming child," she repeated in Japanese. "Oh wow! What language was that?" Rick grabbed onto her arm pulling for her attention. "Rick! Leave Haruka alone," Beans ordered. "Japanese," Michiru answered patiently once the boy had released Haruka. "I gotta go, here." Beans handed Annie over to the tall woman. "Her name is Annie," she introduced. "You're lookin' good today, Haruka," she added into her linage. "Now, you all be good and I'll be back to pick you up at 3 o'clock." She left a choatic scene behind her. "Hey, hey, how do you know Japanese?" Rick relatched onto her arm. Annie was clung around her neck crying onto her shoulder. Annie's crying got Liz started also. Michiru took Liz into the guest room to lay her down to sleep leaving her with the two older children. She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Rick followed seating himself next to her. "Hush Annie. Beans will be back soon," she crooned sweetly. "Hey!" Rick shattered the calm mood she was trying to set. "I know Japanese because I am from Japan," she answered calmly. "Really! You're too tall to be a Jap. I saw a Jap once. She was real short and had black hair and --" "Not all Americans look the same, why should we?" She challenged mildly. "Because you're a Jap!" "Rick, we are Japanese, not Japs, okay?" She growled annoyed. "Oh," he said meekly. "It's alright," she said softly. "Are you feeling any better Annie?" The girl lifted her head off of her shoulder, a trail of mucus remained between her nose and her vest. She cringed on the inside. It was her birthday gift that she'd slimed! "Yes," she whispered. "Good," Haruka plastered on her most reassuring smile. "Let's take you to the bathroom and get you cleaned up some." She carried the little girl into the bathroom. The door was closed behind them before Rick could follow them into the small room. ***** Michiru let the last notes of the lulliby she sang die off slowly. Liz had been easy to calm down once she was removed from all the noise. She watched the small figure before her sleeping peacefully. It brought back memories of her time raising Hotaru and Minako. Her heart longed to have a child of her own. It's part of her dream. It was hard for her to put this dream into words so that someone else could understand it and still feel the full range of emotions behind it. Words weren't her chosen median of expression any ways. She was currently working on a painting that, through a careful blend of colors, would show the pain of longing and joy of having a child. She was very good at conveying the emotions that she wanted though her work, and was excited about the outcome of this piece. She carefully studied Liz wrapped up in her blanket. Yes, she would be a good model for this painting. She left the room quietly to go get her sketch book and to tell Haruka what she would be doing. ***** "That's better," Haruka had taken off the vest and cleaned it while Annie watched her. She wouldn't make that mistake twice. She carefully hung it onto the hook for bathrobes. "Let's go find your brother," carefully she put Annie to the floor from sitting on the counter. They returned to an empty living room. "Rick?" Haruka called out. No one answered. "Rick!" "Haruka," Michiru came into the room. "I'm going to be in the guest room doing a study of Liz, will you keep an eye on Rick and Annie please?" She smiled at her partner. As soon as she had seen the baby, she knew that Michiru would want to study her more. It was the one thing that she wanted to give her, but couldn't. "Yeah, I'll keep an eye on the tykes," she answered. Michiru smiled appreciatively. She was warmed by that gentle look that she knew would always be just for her. Michiru walked back down the hall. She stood there in reflective admiration of the woman that she loved. "Haruka, let's find Rick," Annie's soft voice broke her daydreaming. "Yeah, let's go find him," she said while still in a mild daze. Haruka looked in every room calling out for Rick. She went through the house again looking in every odd spot that she could think of; under the beds, in closets, etc. She looked out the window. There had been a strong storm last night that had dumped at least 3 inches of snow. Sighing, she went to the closet to get her coat. The stinker may have gone outside to play without telling her. Annie pulled onto her pant leg. "What is it honey?" She asked before slipping on her winter coat. "'Ruka, I don't think he's outside," she said quietly. "And why's that?" She knelt down to the little girls' level when talking to her. The girl immediately hugged around her neck. It was an instinctual reaction as far as Haruka could figure because Hotaru did the same thing whenever she knelt to the girls' level. She was too blasted cute, so she picked the girl up off the floor when she stood up. "'Cause his jacket is still here," she pointed to a crumpled blue jacket in a corner near the door. "You're right," she looked around her. Then where he could be sent a chill down her spine. The garage! She charged through the kitchen to the garage door with Annie on her hip. The thought of the multiple hazards that may befall him in there weren't her major concern. She was worried that he may have played with her motorcycle or car. If he scratched either of them, Beans would return one cousin less than she left. She stopped long enough to slip some sandels on before throwing the door open. "Rick?!" The boy in question froze like a deer caught in a cars headlights. She walked into the garage scanning the relative well being of her vehicles. They were fine as far as she could see. Quickly, she was behind him to see what he had found so interesting. Her eyes bulged. She barely managed not to drop Annie while fighting back to urge to strangle Rick. "Like how I reorginized your tools? I put the big ones in the bottom shelf and the little ones in the upper drawer," he said proudly. He had sized them, irregardless to type. Wrenches, sockets, screw driver, hammers, *everything* was mixed! Her tool chest wasn't the only thing he had been in. Shop rags were everywhere. It looked like he had spilled some antifreeze that she'd gotten to put in the motorcycle. "Did you get any of the green goop on you?" She asked. She was pissed, but she didn't want him hurt either. "A little," he held out his shirt for her to examine. "Alright, let's take you inside and get you a clean shirt. You also need a thorough washing," she escorted him into the house. He had gotten most of the antifreeze cleaned up with the shop rags. She could clean the rest of it up once Michiru was done with Liz. She could also reorginize her tools. [Eyebrow twitch] She set Annie down at the kitchen table with Rick remaining off the carpet. She told both of them to stay put while she got Rick a shirt. "A shirt, a shirt," she searched through her draws for a tee shirt that wouldn't cover Rick like a blanket. "I guess this will work," she found a white cotton undershirt. And it wouldn't matter if he managed to do anything to this one or not. She was mildly amazed when she returned to the kitchen and they were still where she had left them. "Here's a shirt. Give me yours and I'll try to get the stains washed out," she did have some experience in washing out the stains of a shop, but antifreeze could be tricky. "Turn around," he insisted before he would take his shirt off. "Jeez," she hissed to herself while doing as asked. 'What a time to suddenly get shy,' she finished the thought annoyed. "Okay!" She turned around and kept herself from laughing. He was swimming in it. "Here, give me your shirt. Both of you stay at the table until I get back," she pinched the sleeve of his shirt to not get any of it on herself. "Rick, don't touch your eyes or eat anything with your hands until you're cleaned up. I'll be right back." She returned to the garage. The urge to at least clean up the spilled antifreeze got to her. She made short work of the task and threw the rags in with his shirt into the washer. Liberal amounts of detergent followed the soiled clothes into the mix. When she came back into the kitchen, they were still as she had left them. Maybe they weren't as bad as she had thought. "C'mon Rick," Haruka took him to the bathroom to draw him a bath, that was the best way to make sure that he was thoroughly cleansed of the antifreeze. "I don't wanna take a bath!" He protested when she pulled a towel and soap out of the closet for him. "Then you shouldn't have gotten into antifreeze," she replied unsymathically. He had gotten under her skin by rearranging her tools, and now she had to take care of him. "Haruka!!" He protested again. She glared down at him. "Don't press me boy. I can guarentee that *I* will win." He sniffled a little, trying the sympathy ploy next, but she wasn't going for it. "The water will be cold if you keep standing there," she hinted pointedly. He was about to try protesting again, but her icy glare halted any further outbursts. Sulkily he took off his clothes and stepped into the warm water. 'Of course now the little twit doesn't have a problem with changing in front of me,' she thought to herself. She took a sponge and gave him a good scrubbing. A large bathtub was one of the features that had drawn them to this house. It was large enough for two. A smile crossed her lips that she was quick to hide from the lad. Rick had gotten over being mad about the bath and was now enjoying himself while playing with the bubbles. She got him rinsed off and wrapped in a towel when she realized that she had left Annie all alone in the kitchen. She instructed Rick to get dressed while she went to find Annie. The little girl was not in the kitchen where she had left her. "Not again," she moaned to herself. If she and Michiru were going to have children, it was going to be one, and only one! She stomped down the hallway, ready to begin the search pattern that she had established earlier when Michiru called out to her. "Haruka?" Her light voice caused her to back track down the hall and into the room she was studying Liz in. "Michiru, have you seen --" Annie was sitting on the bed watching Michiru as she sketched. She was relieved that the girl was in good hands. "Haruka, why are you wet?" Michiru put a hand out to touch her rolled up shirt sleeve. [Eyebrow twitch] "I had to give Rick a bath. He got into some antifreeze." She sat there puzzled at how he had managed it. "We can discuss that later. Send him in here once he's dressed. Then you can go change into something dry," she smiled. "Good idea," she closed the door softly behind her. She knocked on the bathroom door before entering the room. Rick was dressed and sitting on the toilet lid waiting for her. "Go across the hall to Michiru. I'll clean things up here," she bent over, drying the floor with Rick's towel. He shook his head. "I wanna stay with you," he crossed his arms and tried to look stubborn. She stopped cleaning to glare at him. He lifted his chin up slightly in an attempt to look big. "Fine," she finished in the bathroom. He followed her down the hall and into the room she shared with Michiru. Haruka decided to give up on trying to look good this afternoon, she could always change later on. With that in mind, she pulled a racing team tee shirt out of a drawer. Out of a lower drawer she pulled a pair of jeans. She turned to face the boy that insisted on watching her. Instead of asking him to leave the room, she unbottoned the dress shirt she wore. His eyes buldged until he saw that she was also wearing an undershirt. "You aren't going to make me leave?" He asked as she pulled the shirts from being tucked in. She took the dress shirt off and carefully put it away for washing before answering. "Why would I? You're a big boy and you are obviously curious since you haven't left yet. I wouldn't want to send you away disappointed." She stopped to grin wickedly at him. His jaw almost hit the bed he was sitting on. "I-- I think I'll go see what Annie is doing," he slid off the bed and ran out of the room. "Good idea," she said after the door had shut. She chuckled. Who knows what kind of deep psychological damage she had just caused him? She laughed out loud at the thought of him sitting in a couselor's office years from now telling how she had almost stripped before him. 'It was horrible! This handsome, exotic, Japanese woman was in front of me changing!' 'What happened then?' 'I ran out to check on my sister.' She laughed again. It was cruel, but she was in too good of a mood today to care. She wasn't going to take her clothes off in front of him anyway. Maybe lift her shirt up to her belly, but no more. If the kid was that much of a hentai to have stayed, she wasn't going to give him any satisfation in seeing her. If he tells Michiru, she'll be in trouble, but again, she didn't care today. She didn't need Michiru to tell her that she was being immature, she'd tell herself that. "Shimatta," she cursed softly. "Fighting Daimons was easier than this," she tucked the shirt in firmly. She went across the hall to Michiru. Michiru arched an eyebrow at her choice of clothing. She smiled and answered the silent question by saying, "I'll change later on." Michiru nodded. "It's nearly lunch time now. Let's go out to the kitchen and make something to eat." The children ran out of the room to the kitchen with Haruka following. Michiru came after gathering up Liz. Rick and Annie sat at the table. "Hum..." Haruka looked in the fridge and cupbords, trying to decide what to make for lunch. 'Most the stuff Michiru and I like is out.' She pictured Rick trying to eat sashimi. He wouldn't be able to choke down the raw fish. She chuckled some at the limited palettes that most Americans tended to have. Michiru set Liz down before joining her in the kitchen. "What do you think, Haruka?" "Sashimi," she grinned evilly. Michiru *looked* at her. [Sweat drop] "Er- you guys like grilled cheese?" The two older children agreed to it. Michiru worked on preparing a bottle for Liz as she cooked. "Blasted!" She cut off the rest of the curse after getting the sandwich scraped off of the skillet. Michiru watched her amused. "You can do it better?" She growled, annoyed, at her in Japanese. "You're doing just fine, love," she answered back sweetly. Haruka sighed and turned the cooking over to Michiru. "I know that tone." Michiru smiled kindly at her acceptance of defeat. She handed her a towel and a bottle to feed to Liz. Haruka sat at the table with the towel over she shoulder and the small child in her arms. Liz seemed more interested in grabbing her fingers than the bottle she was being offered. Haruka gave up the bottle. Instead, she stuck out a finger for the girl to grab on to. She gurgled happily. Softly, Haruka crooned at her. It may have been work, but she really did enjoy raising Hotaru and Minako. Most wouldn't credit her with a soft heart, but somethings did affect her and babies were one of them. Michiru smiled at her partner and she was engrossed with the child in her arms. She had a peaceful look to her that was all too rare. Michiru finished the sandwiches. She sliced some fruit to go along with it and placed the meal onto the table. "What're we goin' to do next?" Rick asked with his mouth full of sandwich. "Perhaps you should go take a nap," Michiru suggested. She had a fairly good idea that it had been an adventurous morning and was proud of Haruka for her patience. "Aw, c'mon, I wanna go play in the snow," he plead with her. "'Ruka, I want to color with Michi," Annie said quietly. Michiru thought about it briefly. "It's okay if you want to come draw with me Annie. I'll put Liz down for a nap. If Haruka wants to, you can go play out in the snow with her." "Michiru," Haruka said with a tinge of doubt to her voice. Michiru *smiled* at her. She realized then that she was going to be out in the snow playing with Rick. She bowed her head in acceptance and looked down at Liz. "Want this now?" Haruka offered her the bottle again. Liz sucked on it hungrily. She chuckled. "I thought so." ***** "Just a bit more..." I smiled at the 'project' we, the techies, had been working on for the last month. Only Andy, John, and myself had put together just who 'Ten'ou Haruka' was. We had come up with this idea for a gift with the others helping as they could. Together, we had built a model of Haruka's car. It was awesome, in my biased opinion. We had started with buying one of those expensive model kits that you had to special order. We had gotten the base paint on and the frame built when someone had come up with the wild idea of putting a small motor in it and making it remote controlled. That had taken some work since the model wasn't designed for it. The important thing was it worked! I carefully packed the car into a box. I would give it to her on behalf of everyone when I went to pick up my cousins. ***** THWACK! Haruka smirked at the satisfying sound of the snowball slamming into a nearby tree. "Wow," Rick marveled. He tossed a snowball at the tree also, but it didn't splat nearly as well as hers did. He looked slightly disappointed at the results, but didn't let is get to him. "Let's build a snow fort!" He tugged onto Haruka's arm. "I've never built one," she admitted, hoping to discourage the idea. "Really?" He asked amazed. "It's easy! You take the snow like this," he pushed it into a mound. "Pat it down," he worked with his actions. "And work to get it high." "Seems simple enough. But the wall would be a lot firmer if you made a bunch of large balls and used them as a base," she pointed out. "Yeah, yeah! Let's build one quick and ambush Beans when she comes to get us!" He snickered. "I'm not sure she would appreciate that," Haruka said. "Aw, it'd be fun! Beans likes to have fun," he began to make large snowballs for the fort. Haruka stood there watching for a few moments before giving in. ***** "Aunt, I'm glad to see you," I feinted as they entered. My aunt and uncle looked around my room. I had told them that someone else would be watching Liz, Annie, and Rick, but not who. "We got finished early," my uncle explained. "Let's go pick up the children." "Ah," I scratched the back of my head. "You two must have had a hard day. Why don't you wait here and I'll go get them," I suggested. "Nonsense, Beans," my aunt said. "We want to thank your friends and pay them." "Um, right," I smiled. I was in trouble now... Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time. "Let's go get them." ***** Michiru smiled at the girl as she colored a simple design she had sketched out for her. It wasn't often that she got to share her talent with others in this manner. "I'll be back in just a moment, Annie," Michiru left the kitchen table to go look out the livingroom windows. Her smile broadened as she watched Haruka playfully lob a snowball at an unsuspecting Rick. The boy wasn't as unprepared as she had thought because he whipped around and threw one right back at her. The result being Haruka's lob dodged and her having to wipe snow off of her face. Haruka quickly made another snowball and threw it at him. "Michiru," Annie called out for her. "Coming," Michiru responded. Haruka was such a kid at heart... ***** Rick was about to throw another snowball at Haruka when he spotted a van coming up the drive. "'Ruka, they're here! Hide!" The car pulled to a stop in front of the house. The sound of car doors opening and closing could be heard. Haruka could also heard Rick snickering nearby. "Eat snow!" Was Rick's battle cry. Haruka jumped from behind the tree and threw. Then she realized who was with Beans. Rick's throw had been far off, but not hers. Beans blocked with the deflected ball hitting the man standing besides her. "Daddy!" Rick ran to his father. "Councilman," Haruka said under her breath. "Beans," there was a definite note of displeasure in his voice. Fine, after he had his words with her, she would have her turn. "Let's go inside," Beans suggested sheepishly. She took a box out of the back of the van before joining everyone inside. "Miss Kaioh," Beans' uncle greeted Michiru. "Councilman," she said politely. "Kaioh?" Her aunt asked. Then it dawned on her who she was. "You remember Haruka and Michiru I see." Beans blushed a little. "I do," he said mildly. "Daddy, daddy!" Annie ran up to her father and hugged his legs. "Daddy, I colored a picture. Do you want to see?" He picked her up. "Sure, honey." He walked over to the table and looked at the drawing. "Michi drew it for me and I colored it," she said proudly. "Very good, honey. We'll hang it on the fridge when we get home," her mother said. "Yeah, I had a blast today! Can 'Ruka and Michi babysit us more often?" Rick tugged on his father sleeve. "They're great!" He grinned wide. His father had a slightly stunned look. "Is that so?" Annie nodded and snuggled up against him. "I like 'Ruka and Michi." "I'm glad that you're happy, honey," he hugged her. His attitude had softened from the distrust he had first felt at having this pair watch his children. "Thank you for watching them," he smiled slightly. He then pulled out his wallet to pay them. "There's no need for that, sir," Michiru put her hand up. "It was our pleasure." "Well then, let's get you three out to the van. We will wait for you out there, Beans," he nodded to her. They left the three of them to talk. "Beans," Haruka growled slightly. "You didn't tell us that it was *that* aunt and uncle." "How many people do you think I'm related to?" She asked. "You're a very forgiving person, Michiru." "What happened wasn't his fault. There's no reason to be angry with him," she sat down on the couch. Haruka and Beans joined her standing in the living room. "I'm glad that you feel that way. Here," she handed the box to Haruka. "This is from all of us at the dorms." "What?" Haruka was surprised that they even knew that it was her birthday. Of course, they probably had her figured out for things like that a while ago. Beans smiled at them and headed for the door. "Happy Birthday, Haruka," Beans said as she closed the door behind her. "She didn't want to watch you open your gift?" Michiru asked. "Maybe she figured that she had intruded upon us enough," Haruka sat down besides her with the box in her lap. She took the lid off to reveal a model of her Formula 1 car and a remote. The note inside the box said: 'Sorry, this one won't quite make 300kph, but it does go.' It was signed by many of the people who lived in the dorms. "This is cool," Haruka took the car out. She flipped on the motor and tried it out. The car sped across the carpet and into the kitchen. She turned it around to have it return to her feet. "You are a kid at heart," Michiru laughed as she played with her new toy. "Am not," Haruka defended as she skillfully avoided a floor plant. The car stopped. It's operator was distracted as her partner kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I need a nap," Haruka decided. She stood up and picked the car up off of the floor. "Those kids exhausted me." "You're getting old," Michiru teased. "You used to fight daimons day in and day out, and now 3 children leave you wanting to nap?" Haruka chuckled. "Yep. Of course, the nap would be nicer if I weren't alone." She grinned wickedly. "You will never grow up, Haruka," Michiru rose off of the couch gracefully. "If growing up means that I have to lose what I have now, than I hope that I never do," she proclaimed. She put an arm around Michiru waist as they walked to the back of the house. **********End part 12********** Whoa! Got it ^_^; I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for being patient with me and this long delayed part. I had to get school outta the way before I could refocus back onto writing. I would like to especially thank Tim, Jackie, Conner, Lord Charon, Minna, and Adam, who all wrote me and told me in their own ways to get off my lazy butt and finish this! I would like to invite y'all to visit my somewhat new webpage. If nothing else, the links on it are to cool pages. Plus my fics are there (yay). http://www.tyrlen.org/gbeans/homepage/ This part is dedicated to the memory of Velvet the Rat (formally known as Spaz), who died June 10, 1997 of natural causes. I will miss your scratching me. Okay, I didn't list my favorite authors in this one. If you haven't figured them out yet, look at a previous part. Plus their fics are on my page (which makes me very happy :)