It's been a few days now. Life goes on, and even up and down sometimes. Nice enough normally, and maybe even stunning now. These past few days with Viluy feel wonderful, as if you've really made a connection on an emotional level.
The love making is pretty good, too. It's like a dam opened up on both of you for a little while, and this was one flood you didn't mind a bit.
Late Friday afternoon as you enjoy sitting on the couch in Viluy's living room, half drowsing under a blanket as you smell dinner cooking...mmm....
Fuck. Door bell ring. Fuck. Wake up back. Argh. Yet it rings once then twice, someone clearly trying to get your attention.
"Viluy, get the door," Haruka calls out sleepily. "Viluy?" she tries again.
Hearing no reply and with the doorbell still ringing she forces herself to wriggle out of bed and make her way down the stairs on wobbly legs, grumbling all the way.
Pausing in front of the door. Who the heck could it be, Haruka wonders, while yawning and rubbing the last remnants of sleep from her eyes before pulling the door open.
Wearing a heavy winter coat and hauling two suitcases with her, the woman's short, bobbed silver hair is familiar. Her slightly harried and tired expression, hidden by a blue scarf, is also familiar. You've met her a time or two before, though never for overly long.
"Ah...Haruka," she asks, struggling a moment with the name. "Where's Viluy? I came home early since no one could make the business trip thanks to this blizzard."
Haruka initially cocks her head curiously, wondering where she's met the woman before recognition flashes in her eyes.
"Viluy should be in the kitchen, I think," she replies, taking a sniff to confirm her claim before nodding. "Here, let me get those for you," Haruka tells Viluy's mother (the name escaping her, for *cough* some reason...), reaching for the pair of suitcases.
"Thanks," she nods, moving past. That name...oh yes, it comes to you now, as she takes off her coat and hangs it up nearby. Yasuko, that's it. She hands her coat up, then heads right into the kitchen. Also, her suitcases are reasonably heavy, she must have packed a lot of warm winter clothes in there or other knick knacks.
Haruka grunts slightly, the effort needed being a bit more than what she expected. Nonetheless, she manages to manuver the hefty luggage into the house, closing the door with her foot as she goes.
With that task done she decides to follow after Yasuko to the kitchen.
She has discarded her scarf, revealing a flattering business suit to her slim waist yet full bosom, a trait her daughter shares. "Viluy," she calls, the girl standing bold upright a moment before relaxing at her mother's voice.
"Oh, Mom..." she says, halfhearted just a second, before smiling. "You're back early." Putting down the pan she was removing from the oven on the cooler rack, she braces as Yasuko goes on.
"No one made it thanks to the blizzard,"she snorts. "You have Haruka over again? I'm glad you have more friends now, but you should invite different ones over."
Haruka pauses when she catches some of the conversation. Not really wanting to intrude on the moment she pulls back slightly to lean against the wall behind her.
Oh. Right. She doesn't have a clue about... Haruka begins her thought before shaking her head. Good grief, this could get ugly.
Viluy blushes darkly, staring down. "Yes, Mom,"s he says quietly. "Haruka and I are close, that's all."
Yasuko nods absently, already walking away. "Make a third plate for dinner," she calls, going off, past you, and towards the stairway upstairs. Her expression is distant, barely even noticing you. Viluy closes her eyes and sighs once she's gone, shaking her head in frusteration.
"Hmm. That went well. I guess," Haruka comments on seeing Viluy's reaction to the whole exchange.
She walks up to Viluy patting her on the shoulder. "You okay? You seem a little... distressed?" Haruka wondered if that was the right term, but it seemed to fit.
Tense under you rhand, like her shoulders are held taunt. Viluy isn't happy at all, you can tell. "No..." she sighs, closing her eyes again. "I just didn't expect her yet, and she caught me off guard." Her voice is filled with even more tension, raw and thick.
Well, there was nothing she could do about her mother coming back sooner than expected, but Haruka supposed she could help in some manner. "Relax. Breathe deeply," she tells the hopelessly tense girl, kneading her stiffened shoulders slightly.
"Take a seat while I finish here," Haruka orders, pushing Viluy towards an open chair as she sets herself to finishing the preparation and placement for dinner.
"Yes, yes," Viluy says peevishly, though she does smile once you go to finish her labors. Her shoulders didn't really relax under your touch, either. Once she sits down, you hear her taking several deep breaths before she turns and puts on a fairly plastic but stable smile. "Sorry, Haruka," she goes on. "It's just that...she's not home often, let alone early. I was surprised."
"Eh, don't worry about it," Haruka tells Viluy easily enough, while grabbing the necessary tableware and food to plate for three. Waving away her companion's worried gloom, "Everyone has issues that can get under their skin so it's reasonable."
"Yeah..." Viluy replies, watching you do you work, yet finding no real comfort in it.
---
Her mother returns momentarily, having discarded her bulky winter wear for her lighter clothes beneath. "You cooked, Viluy," she asks, "Salmon again? Really, I think you'd turn into a fish if you cooked for yourself all the time." So noting as she sits, you see Viluy's hands clench the tablecloth a moment.
"Yes, mother," she manages quietly.
Noting Viluy's subtle reactions, Haruka offers her a sympathetic glance. She hoped that this uncomfortable atmosphere wasn't the norm, but by the looks of things, it seemed such was the case.
Never a companion to long standing silence, Haruka wore a discomforted look as seconds seemed to stretch on to hours of silence in her mind.
"So..." Haruka begins, trying to break the awkward period of conversational recession, "how have you been lately, Mrs. Bidou? It's been some time since I've seen you last."
Oh please let this lighten the air, if even by a smidge, she silently prayed.
"Busy," is the reply, as she watches her daughter serve the meal. "Computer sales keep rising, so I'm on the go. It's almost enough to make me desire for them to hire an assisstant marketing director." With that, she turns to you.
Viluy silently serves the meal, her fingers gripping the spatula she uses quite hard. "After all," Yasuko goes on, "I should spend more than two days a week at home, hm?"
Haruka gives Viluy a quick glance at Yasuko's comment before offering her reply, "I suppose."
After a brief pause she adds, "Then again my dad would be gone for weeks on end sometimes when he'd be busy with work so not seeing each other much seems normal to me," Haruka finishes with a shrug.
"Ah, you poor girl," she notes, seemingly sincere. Starting her meal, "Your parents travel a fair deal, Haruka? I suppose that's why you and Viluy spend so much time together lately?"
Haruka then smiles at Yasuko's assumption, "Something like that," she responds, shooting Viluy an amused look. "She always tries to make sure I don't get too lonely."
"My dad comes and goes as he pleases. He's a musician," Haruka clarifies for Yasuko's sake, "so he's out of the house a lot."
She was slightly taken back at the sympathy displayed by Viluy's mom. Not that it wasn't welcome, but being apart from family was a rather normal part of life for Haruka - something she saw as being natural almost.
Yasuko smiles, clearly interested by that. "Really," she asks, showing honest interest, or so you think. "What sort of music does he play? He isn't well known at all, is he?" So asking, she quietly pushes aside her dinner and gives you her full attention.
Viluy stares on, tersely taking a bite of the fish as she watches. Her expression is faintly icy now in her mother's general direction.
"Classical, jazz... a bunch of stuff, really." Haruka answers after some thought. "You might've heard of him. Akiyoshi Uchida?"
She hummed aloud trying to drudge a few more details if the name alone wasn't enough. "I know he's played at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo with the Yomiuri Nippon a while ago.... Sorry, I never really kept up with his exploits so this probably isn't helping much," Haruka says a bit embarassedly.
Yasuko perks up even more at this, "Dear, your his child," she asks fondly, already showing you more warmth than she has her own daughter. Said Viluy stews quietly, watching the scene mutely and probably coming close to breaking her chopsticks.
"He's wonderful. You have to tell him how much I appreciate his sort of music on long business trips to Europe or America," she gushes.
Haruka nods at that. "I'm sure he'll appreciate the sentiments. I'll be sure to tell him when I see him next," she tells Yasuko as she digests her seemingly gushing review of his work.
Sure she knew her father was good, but it wasn't really a conscious realization. To her, he was always the eccentric, lazy, slob of a father that she'd grown up with. He never really flaunted (or even made known, Haruka noted) his accolades so all this was rather strange.
Pushing her now empty plate aside, Haruka turns to regard the seething girl to her right. "That was a great meal. I'm glad you invited me over," she tells Viluy with a smile.
Viluy breaths slowly, nasally and with as much control as she can manage. Lightly touching her forehead with her fingertips, "You're welcome," she answers, rising and gathering the plates rather quickly. "I'll wash the dishes," she says plainly as possible, so overstressed that it's clearly bogus.
Yasuko nods, turning away from Viluy without a thought. "Why don't we go into my music room upstairs," she offers to Haruka. "I have a wonderful collection, if you'd be interested."
Haruka was feeling a bit torn as to whether it was best to stay with Viluy to help calm her down or to go with Viluy's mother to take the source of irritation away from her to allow her to calm down.
She glanced at Viluy's back as she scrubbed furiously, there was no doubt that stains weren't on her mind as she tackled the dishes vigorously. I wish you'd asked me to come and help you, she thought, turning now to Yasuko. "Sure," Haruka replied.
There was far too much friction in the air to her liking - needing only a propellant to set things off into a righteous conflagration. The whole situation was setting her ill at ease.
Leading you upstairs and away from your girlfriend - who is currently scrubbing a pan like she's trying to find out of metal can get off, hard and fast - Yasuko takes you to a small little study that you haven't been in yet. The door is usually closed and it's away from Viluy's and the guest room, so you've never had leisure to poke in. A nice musical setup is here, speakers and soft chairs, along with a pleasantly low level of lighting form a small ceiling fixture. A bookshelf houses various records, CDs, and other items of interest.
You are herded into a seat, as she starts to go on about her collection, putting on a familiar CD. It's opening piece is one your father practiced when you were younger, as it took him a long time to get it right. "So," Yasuko goes on, "This is it. It's nice to have a relaxing atmosphere when hearing music, don't you think?"
Haruka nods almost absently as the song tugs nostalgically at her. "I haven't listened to this in a long, long time," she comments.
She lies back, allowing the chair to mold to her form. Haruka close her eyes for a brief moment, losing herself to the fond memories that the familiar song coaxes to the surface of her mind.
"It took him forever and a half to get the introductory portion worked out," she finds herself freely commenting as the tune shifts to the next movement.
Sitting more erectly than Haruka, Yasuko leans forward. "Really," she asks, lightly prodding you to go on. "It's such wonderful music."
"If you listen to the piece it's supposed to be happy and fairly upbeat," Haruka points out, "but it didn't sound anything like this before because he didn't really put his feelings into the song. Your appearance on the outside can get affected if it doesn't match the inside, you know?" She looks at Yasuko to see if she understood any of what she just said.
She nods along, showing what might be understanding. It also may be simply a 'yes, yes, go on' sort of nod, but you can't tell cleanly. "That makes sense," she allows, waiting for you to continue, prodding.
"I think he missed whoever my mother was," Haruka says after a lingering pause, "and he was trying to use music to try and get over it. To force himself to cheer up."
"Oh, I see..." she nods, understanding. As the music shifts and goes into a less personally attached segment, "Tell me...you aren't the one who talked Viluy into that godawful hair dying, are you," she asks, making a face. "That girl, I swear that she'll get herself in trouble if she goes on like that."
"No, I didn't talk her into a hair dye," Haruka replies, smiling on the inside at Yasuko's complaint. "I rather like it though. I'll admit I was surprised when I first saw it, but I've always been partial to such a shade, personally."
"She looks like a deliquent with it," Yasuko says, frowning. "I'm amazed they let her go to school like that, especially at such a pretigious university!" A small snort there, "Perhaps she knows someone...A special assisstant, isn't it?"
"To Professor Tomoe," Haruka fills in, nodding her confirmation.
She nods. "I suppose spending all day in front of a computer did her some small good," she comments cuttingly. "I swear, she'd grow roots if it wasn't for that. She's lucky she has a good metabolism, too, or she'd weight three hundred pounds." Snickering, "Oh, Viluy. I'm still amazed you even have a few friends some days, dear."
"How closely have you watched her lately?" Haruka asks out of curiosity. She made careful sure to weed out any accusatory tones, but she'd be darned if she wasn't going to defend Viluy some.
"She hasn't hunkered down in front of the computer for a while now. In fact, she's been doing a lot of swimming afterschool, going to salons, and generally being a sociable person."
"You're kidding," she blinks in surprise. "I can't even get her to go out with me to the grocery story most days, let alone something social," Yasuko shakes her silvery haired head. For a moment, she stares, before a knowing smile comes over her face.
"Oooooh, of course," she says, like she was an idiot to miss it before. "She has a boyfriend now, doesn't she?"
Guh. This is getting awkward....
"You think so?" Haruka asks, feigning ignorance. "I was pretty sure that she was just trying to follow the example she has close at home," she says, looking at Yasuko with that.
Dodge the issue! Evade, distract, and flee!
Once again she bemoaned the inability to communicate mentally with Viluy as the Inners could seemingly accomplish amongst themselves.
"I can't think of anything else that would pry her away from her beloved computer," Yasuko says, rolling her eyes. "That girl skipped her own birthday party to take apart an old computer one time, yet to think she's suddenly having a life? It must be a boyfriend," she nods. Almost entirely ignoring your words, she presses on. "So...is he cute?"
"It's not my place to say," Haruka says resolutely. "If she does or doesn't want to say is up to her."
"Oh, come on. I'm her mother, afterall," she asserts. "I just hope it's not some gang member...that hair..." she frowns, then shrugs. "In fact, I'll go talk to her about it right now." With that, she rises and moves to leave the room.
Haruka shakes her head and curses mentally, not liking where this is going at all - not one bit. She could feel pressure behind her eyes building to a headache, which only added to her irritation.
Haruka stood and followed after the suddenly energetic and determined woman, as each step brought with it a sense of dread and took them ultimately closer to confrontation.
You see her going for the stairs - she didn't move quite quick enough, if you want to try and stop her march.
Haruka chews on her bottom lip as indecision occupies her mind. Should she allow Viluy's mom to continue her course and coax an answer from Viluy, or should she just reveal it here and now.
She sighed, her decision made. With dread determination, "She does have someone she likes," Haruka says, just as Yasuko begins making her way down the steps.
She stops, turning and peering at you, "Reaaally," she asks, warming up. "I knew it! So, who's the guy? It isn't some gang member, is it?"
"The person Viluy likes is..." seeing her so animated and happy about Viluy and the going on in her life made what she was about to say that much more difficult, "...me."
That gets a reaction, at least. That's a good thing...right?
Yasuko stops, blinking once. "You're it," she smiles broadly, "That's wonderful!" With that, she runs downstairs, yelling, "Viluy, why didn't yout ell me?"
Haruka stands rooted in her spot atop the stairs, mouth agape. That definitely was NOT the reaction she was expecting. Watching the back of the quickly scampering Yasuko, Haruka didn't know what to say.
The dramas sure are different from reality, she thought to herself as she made her way down the steps to join Viluy.
You miss your love's first comment, but Yasuko is louder, as she hugs the girl. "Haruka's a wonderful man, dear," she smiles broadly. "Why didn't you tell me you liked him? I'd have made a nice dinner for the two of you, or given you my charge card to go out."
Viluy stares on, stunned at this. Her eyebrows twich, especially at the 'man' part.
Haruka skids to a halt, her mind processing the going ons.
Haruka's a wonderful MAN? Why didn't you tell me you liked HIM?
She slapped a palm against her head as a migraine seemed to be on the horizon. Crap crap crappity crap CRAP! I'm not in a DRAMA, it's a COMEDY!!
Haruka wanted so very much to find a deep, dark hole to hide in for a while, but walked into Viluy's sight. She gave the currently motherly embraced girl a sickly smile, communicating the dread she was feeling.
Viluy is paralysed in indecision as her mothers her, shaking. "Ah...ah...." Viluy fumbles openly, sending you a look of pure shock and confusion. "Yes, Mother," she finally murmurs, mouthing to you, 'HELP'.
Haruka coughs, trying to draw Yasuko's attention away from the rattled Viluy.
She turns to you, releasing Viluy - who slumps into a nearby chair, shaken. "Oh, Haruka," she smiles. "Have you been dating Viluy for long? You should have told me earlier, dear...I'd have gladly given you money to go out instead of sitting around here for dinner."
Now how to approach this.... Seeing the woman before her so overjoyed really did make this gender misunderstanding suck. Slowly and as clearly as possible, Haruka said, "I'm not a man."
Yasuko blinks. "Don't be so hard on yourself," she smiles, "I know you're young, but you look man enough." Nodding, she goes to the purse she left nearby, reaching in and taking out a charge card. "Now," she walks forward, pressing it into your hands. "Why don't you take Viluy out someone nice, hm?"
Haruka wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry as she shot Viluy a look. She was TRYING her best to let the woman know as gently as possible, really, but subtlety was having as much effect as waving a plush knife in front of an invading horde.
Pushing the charge card back to Yasuko, she clasped her hands around the woman's own, trying to make her understand. "That's not what I said, no, it's not what I meant," Haruka was getting a tad irritated with her own fumblings, "What I'm trying to say is that I'm a--"
Just before the fatal words leave your lips, Viluy cuts you off. "What she means is that s, er, he'll love to do it," she panics, rushing over, nodding, and taking the card. "Now...ah, go upstairs and we'll have a good time, okay?" Now waiting for a reply, she half shoves her a good way up the stairs, turning to you once she does so.
Panic rages on her face as she says, "Haruka, dear?" she asks. "Could we not tell my mother unprepared? Please?"
Haruka blinks a few times incredulously. "First you want to feminize me and now you want me to become your 'man' again, eh?" she asks, shooting Viluy an amused look.
"Sure, we can play this game," Haruka tells her, pulling the frazzled girl into a comforting hug. "Oh the things I do for you.... Just don't let this bite you in the butt," she whispers in warning.
She melts into your arms, a tense and overwrackled bundle indeed. "Haruka..." she begins, holding the card. "LEt's just go out...I want to think, and so close to her...okay," she smiles weakly. "Besides, she told my boyfriend to take me on a date."
"Sure. It's not as if I'm going to turn down a date," Haruka says, rubbing Viluy's back, "but wherever shall we go, minus car?"
"Just...out of here," she blurts, waving her hands. "Down to the nearest tea house for all I care. Just away from here," So nodding, she grabs your hands. "Do you really want her to change her mind and come back downstairs?"
"I don't know. I might enjoy trying to convince her I'm your manly man," Haruka tells her, taking advantage of their closeness to tease Viluy with maximum effect.
Just as she notices the slight flush in her captive's cheeks, she releases her. "But I guess you're right. To the teahouse then," Haruka announces, heading for her coat to brave the weather.
---
The walk is bearable enough, if still highly ass freezing cold. Arriving at the place and getting a quiet table, Viluy seems to relax somewhat from her bundle of nerves state.
Sipping at her drink, "Now what," she asks you, to point.
"We drink tea and maybe eat some cake," Haruka says with a nod. "Then we have to look into a way to break this to your mom," then a smirk, "or you look for a way to turn me into a real guy, I guess."
Viluy blushes deeply, shaking her head. "Heh..heh...heh...Weeeellll...At least you've got the looking like a guy part down," she ventures, then deflates. "Yeah, telling her," she nods. "Right. I hope she doesn't take it poorly..."
"Do you think she's going to take it poorly?" Haruka asks, playing with the rim of her teacup with her finger.
A pause, before she smiles. "I don't know...Mother can be...erratic at times," she concludes. "She clearly wants a boyfriend for me, though...and she doesn't like being dissapointed."
"And if your mother dissaproves, what then? What will you do?" Haruka asks expectantly, waiting for Viluy's reply.
"Well..." she pauses, kicking her feet around. "I guess...well...she'll have to get used to it," she comments.
"Want to stay over at my place tonight?" Haruka asks, noting at the growing dark outside of the shop window. She wasn't really sure she wanted to go back to Viluy's place today with how... weird things were getting.
"We could always tell her we're trying to make her grandkids," Haruka offers jokingly with a crooked smile.
That gets Viluy to light up like a Christmas tree, blushing. "HaruKA!" she protests, trying to hold in her own scandalized giggle.
Haruka chuckles as Viluy blushes to her ears. "You're far too easy to tease sometimes," she tells her in good cheer, draining the last of her tea.
"You certainly take advantage of that," she says, blush still burning as she sips her own drink lightly. "I'd like to take you up on that offer, though, to stay at your apartment."
"You know you're always welcome," she tells her with a nod. "Which reminds me..." Haruka digs through her pocket and retrieves a key which she holds out to Viluy. "You can stop by any time now."
She takes it, "Thank you," she smiles, "I'll take advantage of it..." she trails off, a somewhat less...innocent smile working there.
"Oh ho!" Haruka exclaims accusingly, pointing to the smile that adorned Viluy's face. "So the coy sheep is actually a wolf in disguise? Should I fear for my safety?" she asks, crossing her arms over her chest protectively.
Blushing, she does manage a, "Maybe I'll surprise you with that," she comments.
"Promises, promises," Haruka waves off her claims with a chuckle as she flags down the waitress for the bill.
As you head to your apartment, Viluy is quiet, before a tinkling of laughter passes her lips. Turning in anticipation, "Just...you could even pass as a man to anything but a personal examination," she notes.
"Ouch," Haruka says with an expression of mock hurt. "While I do like my charming boyish exterior, I do have some feminine pride as well, you know," she shoots back with a sniff.
On earning a raised eyebrow of incredulity from Viluy she exclaims, "It's just hidden deep down," with the unchanging expression returned to her, "It's there darn it!" Haruka turns away with a grumble.
"Why don't you come over tomorrow in a frilly dress and petticoat," Viluy smiles sweetly back, seeing Haruka unable to respond. "Scarlett O'Hara...."
Haruka places the back of her hand on her forehead, getting into the part. She then rolls her eyes upward with a flourish and meltingly sighs, "Oh, I'll think about that tomorrow, Rhett."
Smiling as the two of you go on, "But...you really could pass as a man, you know," she goes on. "You even talk like one when you want to."
Haruka ticks off points with her fingers, "I look like a guy, talk like a guy, act like a guy, but am not a guy," cocking her head quizzically, "I think you've got all the points covered, but..." she trails off, training her gaze on Viluy now.
"...what are you trying to tell me, Viluy?" Haruka asks with an arched eyebrow. Sure she wasn't all that sharp on the uptake when subtle hints were concerned, but Haruka was sure the vagueness was out in full force tonight.
"Well..." she blushes. "If someone doesn't know you're not a woman and you encourage them to think you're a man..." she goes right on from that, not giving you a chance ot speak. "If Mom gets to know you before she finds out you're not a man, it'll make the transition easier, won't it?"
"Or make her see me as an untrustworthy liar who can't come out with the truth off the bat," Haruka says with a nod, voicing the concern that's been gnawing away at her. "But your plan does have its merits as well," she admits as well.
"Careful planning was never my forte, so if you think this'll work, I'm with you." The memory of a certain mission involving a certain Witch, with a certain flamethrower, and a particular shop window came to mind....
Blowing out a relieved breath, she nods. "Then..." she begins, thinking aloud. "Just get to know her, make sure she likes you...
She's already off to a strong start on that," she notes, frowning slightly.
Haruka blinks, a puzzled expression crossing her feature. "Huh? What do you mean?" she asks seeming to be honestly confused.
"Well...she liked you enough to take you upstairs and leave me with the dishes," she notes simply, chewing her lip.
"You seemed so upset that I thought she just wanted to give you some space, or something..." Haruka replies awkwardly, scratching her chin idly at that. In retrospect, she guessed it could have been construed as being kind of weird.
"Or something," Viluy comments, mood starting to darken.
Yes, of course....leave me alone while you run off with Haruka's attention. Wonderful, mother. Stupid bit....
Taking a breath to compose herself and bring her acidic line of thought under control, "Anyway," she puts on an at least half fake smile. "She should get to know you so it's an easy transition."
"Yes, dear," Haruka answers with a smile. She plunges her hands into the pocket of her jacket as she stared distractedly at her breath fogging in the chill air. To be honest, she was simply trying to keep from being distintegrated by Viluy's current... unhappy state.
You walk on a little more in a dually frigid silence, until Viluy takes your hand. "Thanks," she whispers. "You probably think I'm being silly with this, don't you?"
Sharing the warmth of their hands brings about a content air around Haruka. "Not really," she tells Viluy. "You want your mother's approval and acceptance. I can understand that."
"I wonder if I would have done something like that for my mom..." she asked herself aloud in musing.
Smiling at your approval, "is...your mother still alive, or did she leave," Viluy asks carefully. "If she is, have you ever considered trying to find her?" So asking, she stays close to you and seems even happier now. Maybe not all fake, even.
"I'm not sure actually," Haruka says, a bit irritated by that fact. "After all these years I still haven't gotten a straight answer from my father."
She shifts her gaze from Viluy to the cloudless night sky before bringing it back down to face her again. "Whenever I try to touch on the topic, he gets moody and avoids me until I drop the issue..." she mutters with a cross look.
"I see..." she murmurs. "I..you should force the issue," she comments. "You should find out, even if it's a dissapointment. I know it might be, but...you might also meet a parent you like more, like...Dad," Viluy finishes.
Haruka noticeably doesn't agree or disagree, simply giving Viluy a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She squeezes the smaller girl's hands, urging her without words to cheer up, even if she herself didn't feel that same cheer.
Following along, Viluy seems to sense your reticence. "I won't try to force you, but...you should. You might meet someone wonderful, someone you wish you'd had all this time, or...still had," Viluy sighs slightly at that.
After letting some silence hang long between them, "I always just imagined that my mother would be dead," she begins with some hesitation, unsure if she wanted to continue, "but if she's not, it means there's a chance that she didn't even... want me."
A silent nod there, then, "I don't think any mother wouldn't want their baby. She might have been scared, or confused or just too young to support you," she offers. "I don't know if I could keep a baby if I got pregnant right now. I'm only 16!"
"I suppose," Haruka replies noncomittally, which seemed to speak volumes to what she felt about that notion. She gives Viluy a wan smile, "I thought I got over this a while ago, but I guess I still want to know even if a part of me doesn't want to. But everytime I see anyone with their mother it just kinda... comes out."
"...Haruka," Viluy says finally, stopping as you begin to get close to your apartment. "If it's still bothering you, you should try. Take the plunge," she urges. "Even if you get along with her as I do my Mom, you still filled that hole, right?"
A pause there. "Maybe you can help?" Haruka asks finally. "I might need someone as stubborn and pushy as you to keep me going with this misadventure," she quips with a smile, trying to mask the quiver of nervousness in her belly with the teasing.
"I'm there," she promises with a firm nod, as you reach your apartment proper. "We'll start in the morning...Okay?" Stopping at the entrance steps, "We'll find your mother, or die trying," the corner of her mouth twitches upward in a smile to that.
Haruka simply chuckles nervously at that, wondering if what she said was a good or bad thing....
---
It's a nice wind down and nice morning. With nothing to get up for, the both of you sleep in together, bodily warmth making it a chore to finally get up and have breakfast. But yet you do, the two of you dressed lightly - Viluy in one of your more male shirts and little else, you in a simple pair of loose sweatpants you use for sleeping clothes one in awhile. "Mmmm," Viluy muses. "Is your father around right now, or will we have to contact him another way," she asks, getting to business.
"I suppose I can give his assistant a call," she tells Viluy.
On saying that she leaves the room to make the call and returns a few minutes later. "Sachiko-san says he should be at home. She mentioned he doesn't have anything scheduled for the rest of the week."
"Good...we'll go in a little while," she nods. "Say...can we go get your car for this? It should finally be good to go, if we take the bus to the mall," she notes, as you settle back in.
"Sure," she replies, liking that notion greatly. It's been far too long since she's been nestled snugly in the comforts of her car.
It's not a bad bus ride out, for what it's worth. Your car is waiting, snow still clinging to the sides in a few places but otherwise as you left it.
Thank Goodness. If Celcia had gotten this, too...
A relieved breath leaves her as she fishes her keys out. "It won't take us long," Haruka tells Viluy as she slides into the freezing tomb disguised as her car. "The heat kicking in; however, is going to take a bit..." she groused to her companion as she slid into her seat.
"It's better than it being an iceblock," she reassures you, as your baby begins to heat up....
---
From there, it's not long until you finally have you car going again. Oh, relief!
OOC - Set up to your father's place from here.
Funny how certain terms can be so relative or subjective even. Such were the musings going through Viluy's mind as the drive which was supposed to be - in Haruka's words - 'not long' didn't match her mental vocabulary in the slightest.
City landscape quickly gave way to one dotted with the greenery of nature. A point that the blonde behind the wheel was seemingly oblivious to from Viluy's perspective, as twists and turns finally ended at a nice sized house.
Big, but not overly so. It was situated in a way to be away from casual observers, as if the building itself was trying to hide amongst the trees. The house sat overlooking a lake, which saw some use if the kayak sitting against the side of the house was evidence.
"Coming?" Haruka asks from the door at Viluy who hadn't moved from where she was standing - caught up in observation.
The interior was cozy, about what Viluy had expected. Nothing flashy in the room at all, a surprise to her given Haruka's... unique taste in furniture and design. The only thing in her view that caught her notice was the piano which sat off to the corner by the window and the multitude of pictures - photos and artwork.
"He's either out on the back porch or in his study. I'll get him," Haruka says, to which she simply nodded as she studied the room.
As Haruka enters the study, she finds her goal. Dressed in a loose white T-shirt and old black slacks - appearing as if he fell asleep in orchestra garb and hadn't changed yet. A tangle of wild, unruly blonde hair sits atop his head as he seems to pour over musical score sheets from his desk.
He glances up, striking brown eyes meeting yours. "Haruka?" he asks, slightly caught off guard at this. Running a hand through his unbrushed and starting to get long mane of hair, "Good to see you...been awhile, hasn't it?"
"A bit," Haruka replies with a smirk, glad to see him well as always. "Come on out to the living room, I've got a guest."
She pauses at the door and eyes his current state and rolls her eyes as she tuts. "Such a slob.... What would you do without me and Sachiko-san around?" she comments exasperatedly, though with good humor, "It's a damn miracle that I didn't pick up the habit." Haruka always found it easy to fall back into this comfortable groove around her father.
"BAH, you and her have no sense of keeping things in order," he says, kicking a sheet of paper on the floor as he rises. Grumbling in good nature with you, "I can't find any of my work whenever either of you get going." Letting it settle into a faux glare, "I'll be get a haircut next, or shave," he grouses, rubbing his at least week old bearding stubble.
Haruka waves off his usual retort with a snort. "Cluttered desk, cluttered mind," she returns casually, fully expecting a retort as she continues, "See about dragging your old man bones out to the couch, while I go make us some tea," she finishes as she turns to head for the kitchen.
"Feh," he snorts. "You think you know everything at 16," he retorts, stopping as you leave - seeing Viluy and seeming to strike up a conversation, going into his more charming social host mode.
"Keep your paws off of her, Old Man," Haruka warns from the kitchen, "or I'm taking you out back and drowning ya!" The water now boiled she gathers up the tea set and enters the living room to join Viluy and her father, the snake oil salesman.
He's chatting up Viluy with a cocky smile as you enter. "Y'know, Haruka," he calls as you enter. "I appreciate you bringing over a date for me." That gets your girlfriend to blush like she was just exposed in public, nude and horny, humiliation flowering - almost. "But I don't need your handouts, 'ruka."
"Shrivel up and die," is Haruka's succinct reply, said with a completely serene expression that would make one stop short and wonder if they'd heard right. She sets the tea and snacks out then promptly drags Viluy to sit on the couch facing opposite her father.
He simply chuckles, waving his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. Your old man has embarrssed you in front of your friend period is over," he smiles. "So...what's the point of this get together," he asks, as tea is handed out.
Viluy just stays mute, still broadsided by the last few commentaries.
Haruka sighs, hating having to deflate the happy balloon with this, but... "I want to know about Mother," she tells him bluntly.
Father's eyes tighten at this, his smile vanishing like a pretty melody marred by a sour note. "Haruka," he begins, voice low. "This is rather sudden. Why the friend with it?"
Viluy recovers enough to turn her attention to the two of you, but lets this family matter stay between daughter andf ather for now. Her gaze is supportive to you, though.
"Security blanket," Haruka replies with a weak smirk as she squeezes Viluy's hand. Her father's voice, lacking the usual cheer; however, sends a defeatist quiver through her spine.
"I've asked you this before," she begins slowly. Her tongue was like sandpaper with her mouth having gone dry. "And I've always let it drop because I didn't like how sad you'd get, but I want to know. No, I *need* to know. I really do..." Haruka trails off, dropping her gaze to the tabletop.
"And you should let the past stay dropped," he says gruffly, turning away. HIs own voice is lacking his normal cheer, but also lacking any real force He turns into himself, "Haruka...don't. Be happy with what you have."
Viluy squeezes your hand back, "So? If your daughter wants to meet her mother," she points out, "Why should you get in the way? Haruka deserves to meet her!" she adds with just a touch of convinction fueled heat.
Haruka smiles at the words of her fiery pepper pot as she gathers her courage to face her father. With her head raised back up high now she looks across at the one person she so respects with eyes that clearly show that she didn't intend to back down this time.
"The past makes up who we are, and there's a big part of my past that's missing - a part of me that's missing because of it." She softens her stance and manner, now smiling at the man, "Even if what I find isn't what I like, I still have a right to know, don't I?"
"........Damn it," he sighs in annoyance. "You really have it in your head to find your mother, don't you?" Running a hand through his mop of blonde strands, "Just can't leave good enough alone, you have to go like a bat out of hell after this."
Turning to you, "If you really want to know...fine."
Haruka let out a long, relieved breath and collapses back onto the cushions of the couch as the stress began to bleed out of her.
"Her name is..." he begins gruffly, though his voice melts as her pronouces her name. "Megumi." Eyeing you, "Megumi, ffom the recording studio where I made my first cassette..." He smiles distantly at that, as if it stirred up great memories.
"Do you know how I can get in touch with her?" Haruka asks, trying not to throttle the man for being so stingy and vague on the details.
"No, but...her name is Megumi Kushui," he goes on. "We haven't seen each other in a very long time, so the rest is up to you." Rising abruptly, "There isn't much else to tell....that should be enough to find your mother, anything else is simply an old story."
"Music Heaven Studio, Megumi Kushui..." Haruka repeats to herself as her father leaves the room. Turning her head lazily to her companion, "It's not much to work with, but it's at least a start. Thanks for coming with me, Viluy."
"Haruka Kushui," she murmurs, as if tasting it, before giving you a smile. "You don't need to thank me...and you have a start, too. Are you going to go there today?"
"Most likely," Haruka replies with a nod.
And thus, the two of you depart. Once in the car, you get to work on finding Music Heaven Stuidos. It takes most of the morning to find it, puttering around Tokyo. When you finally do, it feels rewarding - it's in a rather large highrise, a construction of glass, steel and archtexture that soars into the sky as so many things in Tokyo do.
Parking and going into it, you find that it's on the 23rd floor from the main directory. "I suppose it's a fairly successful studio to affort a place in a skyscraper," Viluy notes as you walk along.
"So you would think," Haruka replies with a smirk. "You need to present a professional front, after all, and what better way than to put your office up in the clouds."
Viluy nods. "In the clouds...Music Heaven Studios," she resists a laugh, voice light. "The clouds do fit, don't they? Looking for Megumi in Music Heaven Studios..."
"And of course, "Ten'oh", works well with the current theme, doesn't it?" Haruka quips with a chuckle. "I'd almost suspect some kind of force was at work with this strange design on mind."
"Perhaps it means your mother is the Goddess of Heaven," she says lightly, "And this will signify your ascent above?" The last of that comes with a good natured chuckle. "Or the gods of irony are running rampant on your poor life."
Haruka snorts. "Or something," she says with an amused roll of her eyes.
"My mother a goddess..." she repeats, mirth in her tone. "So what would that make me then, hmm?" Haruka gives Viluy an amused look, playing this game.
Tapping her chin thoughtfully, "A demigoddess. Which means that you're half goddess and half human. So...you'd go between living here and doing all sorts of things up in the sky?"
"Right," Haruka drawls, giving Viluy a look. "You just earned geek points with that one," she teases, finding amusement in the pout that makes its way onto her cohort's face.
She was grateful for the small distraction. It gave her the time to sort out her thoughts on all this. The meeting with father, getting mother's name, and now being here? Things were progressing at light-speed as far as she was concerned.
In good nature, "Yes, yes. It's the 23rd floor, isn't it," she asks. "May as well go instead of standing around here."
Haruka simply nods as she enters the elevator with Viluy. Pressing '23', she stares idly at the display as the numbers climb lazily upwards to what was hopefully a meaningful first meeting.
Your hand is in Viluy's as the elevator does it's thing, even when people come in. Rising up, onto destiny?
---
With a clean mechanical ping, the door opens to your destination. Ahead is a little front lobby, with various pictures, signed by music stars, hung about. A front desk is there, along with chairs with tables loaded down with music magazines. Nice place, really, the receptionist clean and smiling.
Stopping in front of the receptionist, "I'm looking for Megumi Kushui. I was told I might be able to find her here."
"I'm sorry, but Id on't know anyone here by that name," she replies. "Not a client or a worker. I'm rather new, though," she admits. "Um...let me call my supervisor, ok?"
"Sure, thanks," Haruka smiles her gratitude at the woman's efforts.
She proceeds to make a call, which goes as, "Uh huh, yes...Megumi Kuishu...yes...oh, I see...thank you, sir." Hanging up the phone, "Megumi Kuishu left the company a few years ago, I'm afraid," she offers. "Took another job."
Haruka drops her head and sighs at that news. "I knew it wasn't going to be this easy..." she grumbles, running a hand tiredly through her hair.
"You wouldn't happen to know where this new job might be at, would you?" she asked the receptionist. Grasping at straws now, but....
"I'm afraid not," is her answer. "She did leave a forwarding address in case business mail reaches her here..." she comments, going to her computer and typing away. "Ah, it's 349 Moonbrook Apartment," she notes.
Haruka jots that down on a handy scrap paper. "Thanks, you've been a bit help," she tells the woman. With address now in hand, she had her next destination set.
Heading down again in the elevator, Viluy blows out a breath that is likely joined by one of her love's. "I hope this isn't a dead end," she notes quietly. "If we're playing against time..."
"Maybe you can find something via the inter-web?" Haruka asks Viluy hopefully. She leans back against the wall of the elevator, the solid structure giving her slight comfort, sporting a casual look.
Inside, however, was another matter. It was like having a tantalizing prize danging high overhead just out of reach. Where your fingers could just brush against the surface, but nowhere near enough to give you a firm grasp.
Her mind supplied her with a good summation: This blew.
But Haruka Ten'oh was far, far too stubborn to let this matter drop so easily though.
Oh no.
After what it took to get her father to cough up the clues that he did, she'd be damned if she was going to fail in this. She'd flip the world upside down and shake something loose if she needed to.
Oh yes.
Once in the car, "Um...I don't think it's a long drive to Moonbrook Apartments," she offers, after fishing out a map from your glove compartment. "We could be there in a half hour if we don't get sidetracked. Did you want to go today?"
A quirky smile works its way onto Haruka's face as she turns to regard Viluy. "Of course," she tells her matter of factly as she starts the engine, revs the engine, and punches the car in gear.
And awaaaaaaaaay they went!
Downtown Tokyo is generally considered stylish and modern - the Moonbrook apartments are no exception. While not top tier and reasonably modest if anything, they are still impressive. The apartments are crammed into one 7 story building.
A quick question to a resident waiting for the elevator tells you that 349 is on the third floor.
Haruka stares at some imaginary point on the ceiling before entering the elevator with Viluy. Just two floors seperates her from an eventual meeting with--
With who? her mind asks.
With mother? she supplies in answer.
The woman who left you behind?
A cross look and THAT line of thought was quickly buried with a knife in its back.
What are you going to say?
She had no answer.
What are you going to do?
Still no answer.
What if she doesn't even want to meet you? What if you don't measure up? What if she doesn't measure up? What if, what if, what if....
Well damn. Now she was officially - out of her freaking mind - nervous. It seemed it was her own doubts and worries that decided to flip her upside down and shake something loose.
Haruka encircles Viluy with her arms from behind and draws comfort from the other girl's presence. She hoped it was enough to put to rest the incessant doubts plaguing her mind.
After a secondary pause, "It'll be fine, Haruka," Viluy reassures you, as the elevator continues to rise up. "It's still better than not knowing..."
As she speaks this, the ping of the elevator door rouses you, as the third floor presents itself.
"I hope so," Haruka returns with a tinge of gratitude for Viluy's encouragement in her voice. She steps out of the elevator and into the arms of uncertainty.
It's a short walk to room 349. The door is undecorated, a simple metal knocker attached only. As it if's waiting for your touch, to open the door to your destiny...
Viluy beats you do it, however, using it to rap twice on the door.
Haruka stares curiously at Viluy as she waits for someone to answer the door. "Would you like to introduce yourself as Haruka Ten'oh as well or will you be leaving that for me?" she asks, poking fun.
The nervous inner outburst from before seemed to have done some measure of good for her as the wild butterfly swarm had settled to a more gentle, yet still present, flutter.
"I don't have on the right clothes for it," she smiles back, stepping back so that you are the only one in front of the door. "I'm just anxious too, I suppose."
And thus, the door opens....!
A middle aged man, small, mousy and squinting with a slim pair of glasses, opens the door. "Yes," he asks, brushing at the front of his dressy shirt and pants. He looks like a banker if anything.
"I'm wondering if a Megumi Kushui lives here," Haruka asks the man standing before her.
Did she remarry? she wonders.
"Oh, that's the woman whom I keep getting letters for," he notes. "Oh...I believe she was the last tenant here before me," he explains. "Left a few months ago, but I still get mail for her once in awhile." Taking off and polishing his wireframe glasses, "Do you want to come in? I have a forwarding address if you want it."
"Thank you," Haruka tells him, bowing her head in thanks at his generosity as she accepts his invitation.
INside is a tidy, clean apartment. The decor is minimal and almost sterile. No sign of a woman's touch is about, only cleasened and dry surroundings. The couch isn't too bad to sit on, at least. "Ah, yes..." he goes to a drawer nearby, rustling. "I still get letters for her all the time - even a package once. It's a shame...shipping further than Tokyo costs money," he notes, coming back.
Haruka nods politely, taking everything in stride. "Did you want me to take them off your hand?" she asks, regarding all the mail he's been saddled with. "I'm sure my mom would like to look through the stuff, though I'm not sure what she can do if there are any bills mingled in," she finishes.
"Oh, she's your mother," he smiles, handing you a goodly pile of envelopes. "Here, then...it's easier than sending them back through the postal. Atop it is another slip of paper, an address written on it. "The forwarding address she left is a P.O. box in Osaka," he notes. "I vaguely recall the landlord mentioning she was going overseas. If you're going to meet up with her..."
He taps his knee as he sits, thinking. "I want to say that they mentioned England, or was it France...or Germany. Somewhere in Europe."
Haruka takes the bundle and glances at the address briefly before nodding to the man. "Europe...?" she echoes with a touch of frustration in her voice. Running a hand through her hair with a huff, "Man... she sure makes getting a hold of her a challenge."
A shake of her head in disbelief then Haruka stands thanking the man for his time. After a quick question regarding where to find the landlord she gets ready to head on out.
With a polite goodbye and passing out into the hallway..."Europe," Viluy muses, putting great meaning into the word. "Not so easy at all, I suppose," she smiles to you despite that. "We'll find her, though."
Haruka smiles and nods, not arguing her encouragement. "After the chat with the landlord, I think I'm going to call it a day. I'm not up for an Osaka roadtrip right here and now," she tells Viluy.
She nods. "And if we have to go to Europe..." she muses. "The Twins can save us the plane ticket, I suppose. It can't be harder to go across the Earth than it is to go to the Moon."
The thought of this misadventure now going international coaxes an unpleasant grimace from Haruka at that. "Maybe how difficult this is getting is a sign to give it up..." she mutters distractedly, punctuated by a tired sigh.
This WAS getting frustrating, unbelivably so. It felt like some higher power was jerking her chain for kicks just to see how much further she'd go on.
"No," Viluy shakes her green trussed head. "It's not a big deal - even if we have to take a plane or even a boat, it's worth it. Don't you want to meet your mother," she asks, as you come to where the landlord lives.
"I thought I did, but every roadblock we run into makes Father's words seem so right," Haruka tells Viluy, before she shakes her head to dispel further negative thought on the matter. She was going to talk to the landlord, get whatever she could from the man then rest, and hope things would be better come round 2.
Before you can get a reply from her, the door to the next apartment opens. The landlord, an older, cranky woman, "Yeah," she asks. "Come for the open apartment?"
"Actually," Haruka begins before a 'sales pitch' gets underway, "I was told by the tenant in 349 that you might have information on where my mom - Megumi Kushui - might have gone? He mentioned something about a European vacation?" She waited somewhat expectantly, though she knew to keep her excitement in check lest she get burned by an unfavorable response.
"Yeah, her. Went off 'cross Europe for some job. Paris." she nods, rubbing her back. "You're her brat," she then asks, peering at you. "You got 'er eyes and nose, surely enough."
"Paris..." Haruka repeats, touching her nose at the woman's remark to its likeness. "You wouldn't happen to have any more information, like where in Paris she might be? I'm looking for her, you see."
"Nope!" she exclaims, a shake of her head. "Just that she's goin' off to Paris to for some job. Lucky...her new company paid the entire way. That's what it takes for a girl to get to go to grand old Europe these days." Shaking her head, "She won't be comin' back here, 'cept if she wants to pick up the mail that old man Hiei doesn't have the yen to ship."
With that, she nods, stepping back from her perch at the front door. "So, if you aren't here for the apartment..."
"Thanks," Haruka tells her with a wave, allowing the woman to slink back into her cave to wait for the next unwary victim....
"Paris, huh?" she says, hoping that repeating the word would somehow make the task that sat before her less daunting. "At least I've been there a few times, but still.... Gah. This is going to take a while, are you sure you're up for riding shotgun on this roadtrip?" Haruka asks, turning to regard Viluy.
"I am," she assures you, smiling again. "Besides, I've never been to Paris, and I'd love to go."
She pauses, "You've been there? What's it like?"
"Like any other city, really," Haruka replies unsure how to quite describe it. "The 'feel' of the place is different. There's a type of relaxed energy that flows through Paris. It makes you feel like you're walking through a dream with the leisure pace that everything seems to move in."
Haruka shrugs. "That's at least my take on it. It was raining a lot while I was there too so it gave it a different atmosphere. You'll see when we get there," she tells Viluy.
Listening with piqued interest at your description, Viluy nods. "We'll see, then," she agrees. "But...did you want to take a plane, or should I call the twins," she asks, as you head back outside and into the chilly weather.
At least Paris should be warmer than this.
Haruka thinks about it for a moment before simply shaking her head. "I don't know yet, honestly," she tells Viluy with a tired sigh. "I suppose we can give the Twins a call tomorrow. This is after I've at least let dad know what the situation and plan is."
A nod there, as you reach your car. "Yeah...let's call it a day," she agrees, sensing your various emotions. "Your apartment again?"
"Yeah," Haruka replies warily before fishing in her pocket for her keys that she casually flips to Viluy. "Take the wheel though. I've got stuff swimming in my head and I'm tired, a bad combination," she tells Viluy with a tired smile.
Home is a welcome relief. The rest of the day passes well as can be expected, decompression in the form of normality and relaxation. Viluy stays around you, and the two of you do nothing special to kill the afternoon.
That evening, after dinner, you call your father. It goes well enough for what you expected - he doesn't seem overwhemlingly surprised that she's in Europe, but doesn't fork over any details despite your best efforts.
Slightly later that evening, Viluy comes back into the bedroom as you lie back - having changed to your sleeping clothes for the moment, you note she hasn't yet. If anything, she's chewing on her upper lip. On entering, you can clearly see something is wrong...
"Something up?" Haruka asks curiously, turning her head so as to give full attention and study.
"The Twins said Ami's having a rough time," she replies, coming to sit on the bed next to you. Falling right back afterwards, and across your feet, she lays out.
"I don't know how serious it is, but she's up on the Moon over something."
"A... 'rough time of it'? What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Haruka asks a bit worriedly now as she sits up. "And on the moon? What in the heck happened?" she asks, rather annoyed that she may have been too wrapped up in personal affairs to notice any trouble brewing.
"I'm not entirely sure," she goes on. "They said they'd talk about it tomorrow, and that Usagi had it under control." With that, she sighs. "I feel bad for her," Viluy goes on, the her obvious but debatable. "She reminds me of myself, have I ever told you that?"
"No," Haruka replies to Viluy as she makes sure to keep the information regarding Usagi and Ami on mind until tomorrow. A grin then creeps its way onto her face. "Everytime the topic of Ami came up you'd give me a glare and a snarl so I learned not to bring her up as a conversational piece."
Viluy stops, almost seeming to blush before she laughs awkwardly. "Oh...yes, I'd forgotten in all the shuffle..." she murmurs, tone low and embarrassed. "I mean, that when I think about it, she does," Fumbling along, Viluy slumps harder onto the bed. "If that makes sense."
"Makes some sense, I guess. Want to elaborate?" Haruka asks, settling herself back to rest on her bed in preparation for 'story time' with Viluy Bidou.
Sitting up, Viluy rises. "Sure...," she says, going into the nearest drawer to get out a shirt she can use for sleeping time. "I guess..." she begins, starting to ruffle through, "Quiet, shy, studious and almost meek when she doesn't feel confident.
Not counting what Germatou did, that was me more than I realised at the time."
Haruka scrutinizes the girl with a critical eye before cocking her head in a baffled manner. "Quiet, shy, meek? I don't see a shred of that Viluy left. Whereever did she go then, I wonder?"
"Though I suppose Michiru helped some in that," she comments, taking a fond glance at the book that Setsuna had given her that sat on the shelf to Viluy's right.
"That's some of it," she says, coming up with just a loose white T-shirt. "Dad never let me cut myself off, and then I got invovled with people at Mugen.
Not all of that was good, but..." A shrug, as she takes off her top to switch. "I grew up, but I remember being that way. Michiru probably only helped cement it, if it needed any more cementing." With that, she discards her upper garb of feminine restraint for nightly freedom. The shirt follows right after, slipping on.
Haruka nods at her words. "I'm glad for the changes," she comments, not that the other change Viluy undewent in front of her was not noteworthy as well.
"Nowdays you always seem to be confident and sure of yourself," Haruka begins to say before a thought comes to her, "I think that was why a lot of your mom's comments seemed weird. As if they didn't fit the current you at all."
Her frown returns at that, but she agrees readily enough. "Yes, Mom hasn't registered I'm not a ten year old any more." With that, she discards her long skirt and goes with a shirt and panties, though the latter are hidden by the longer upper body wear.
"Oh, you won't have to worry about me thinking of you as a ten year old," Haruka comments with a cough at the brief show. With that aside...
"Well, let's get our rest and see about tackling another day tomorrow. I want to get some answers as to what in the heck is going on over there with Ami and the others," she comments as she squirms under the warm comforts of the blankets.
And thus, the next day comes. Rather late, actually, as your newfound physical relationship blooms after an innocent bit of teasing as you get up. It's rather pleasant, and a nice counterpoint to yesterday. After a morning bath and breakfast...
"The Twins should be over soon," Viluy explains. "I hope it's not anything serious with Ami," she follows up with, thoughtful.
"I hope it's not bad either," Haruka replies as well from her spot on the couch, a fine example of composed anxiety. Her face may have spoke of calm, but her body said different.
A nod of agreement, Viluy settling in. As advertised, the doorbell is rung perhaps a few minutes later. Cyprine and Ptilol enter, simple red and blue matching skirts and blouses worn.
After a murmured greeting, Viluy turns to you, as if yielding so you can ask a question.
"So what exactly *is* going on over there, girls?" Haruka asks sharing her gaze between the pair.
"It's..." Cyprine begins, before her sister takes up the line of conversation. "Celcia wasn't as well restrained as we thought she was," is the simple yet lacking explanation. "Ami's Talisman wasn't a full proof prison.'"
Haruka's expression grows grim with that update. "And have Professor Tomoe, Usagi, or Rei come up with a plan for this?" she asks, hoping that they at least this would leave her feeling a bit better for the situation.
Ptilol nods. "All three of them are working on it," she confirms. "If anyone can help Ami..."
Haruka nods at the pair, feeling some relief at their news, although... "This is going to put the European trip on hold then," she tells Viluy. "I don't want to go off looking for mom while all this is going on with Ami. It's... just not right."
Viluy turns to you, and agrees with a small nod. "Alright," she says after a moment. "We'll go after Ami recovers."
"It should be soon, we hope," Cyprine adds. "Ami's strong enough to do it, or so we all think."
"Maybe we should at least go and make a visit," Haruka asks Viluy before quickly shifting her glance to Cyprine and Ptilol, "on the moon, you said?"
"Ami's on the moon," Ptilol confirms. "We can go whenever you want...she's probably still asleep."
"Let's do that then," Haruka says with a nod, "even if she's still asleep it's the thought that counts."
"And along the way, we can discuss how a short field trip to France would sit with the two of you," she tells the twins, getting set to indulge in some storyteller time to fill them in on the situation.
OOC - New thread shortly.