Because I never properly thanked all of my readers. :)

It's Been a Long Time

"Michiru…" Haruka fumbled with the cloth around her neck and frowned, "Michiru…" She peeked out of the bathroom door, "Mich,"

"Yes, Haruka?" An amused Michiru came from the other side of the bedroom having just finished dressing. She watched the pouting Haruka carefully before crossing her arms.

Haruka lifted her chin and kept playing with the knot of a tie she had created, "Help?"

Michiru laughed softly and approached the tall blonde with a smile, "You still don't know how to do it?"

Haruka frowned, "No…"

"You'll have to learn someday."

"Maybe when you're not there to do it for me…which is never, right?" Haruka flashed the other girl a smile.

"You…" Regardless of what she said, Michiru undid the terrible knot Haruka had tied her garment into and instead, properly slid it into place along her neckline, smiling at her work.

Haruka turned from the other woman and checked the mirror. She gave one last tug for good measure before nodding and giving Michiru a thumbs up. Haruka ran a large hand through her hair before smiling wryly at Michiru, "How do I look?"

Michiru looked her lover over before laughing and tilting her head to the side, "Like the perfect 'husband'." Haruka frowned. Michiru just loved to tease her about that.

After grumbling, Haruka turned back to the mirror to fix her tie. She felt Michiru wrap her arms around her and sighed.

"But I like you the way you are…if you weren't something you are right now…I probably wouldn't be here, standing next to you." Haruka smiled at the words and laughed.

"Hey, I'm supposed to be the sweet talker in this relationship." Michiru let go of the tall blonde and stood next to her, checking her own get up. A pale blue dress the color of her eyes, and no make up to be seen. She contrasted with Haruka, who wore a red button up tucked into plain black slacks.

From the other room, both Michiru and Haruka could hear the obvious sound of Hiro refusing to dress in what his sister was trying to get him in. It wasn't long before a certain half naked blonde hair green eyed child came running into the couple's bathroom, a defiant frown on his face, and a fierce determination in his eyes.

Haruka looked down at the child clutching at her pant leg and sighed. Hana came in not long after with a frown on her face, and a white button up in her hands, "Hiro!" She turned to Haruka and Michiru before pouting, "He won't dress!" The couple smiled. Ever since their move, Hana had slowly begun acting like a normal teenager. Mood swings, shyness around boys, which Haruka was glad of, but still as reliable as ever.

Haruka sighed again and bent down to pick up the half dressed boy, "Haruka-papa, I don't wanna wear that shirt! It itches! It's uncomfy, I don't wanna!" Haruka winced as the child thrashed in her arms.

Michiru laughed and approached the two, "Hiro." She smiled at him.

The boy frowned and defiantly crossed his arms, "Don't wanna…"

Haruka raised an eyebrow before turning the boy to face her, "Well…what if, we got ice cream on the way back?"

Immediately, the child's eyes lit up, "Really?" His eyes darted from his Haruka-papa to his Michiru-mama.

Michiru was reluctant, but after an encouraging smile from Haruka, she sighed and nodded, "Ok."

Hana sighed herself and chided her own parents, "Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, you shouldn't spoil him like that…"

Haruka walked over to the young lady and teased, "Jealous, Hana? We love you equally, you know that, right?" Haruka received a huff and a white button up thrown in her face as her oldest walked out of their bedroom, a fresh pout on her face.

Haruka shook her head and put Hiro down, "Michiru-mama will help you get dressed, so be nice to her, okay?" Hiro nodded and took the shirt he was handed before running towards his mama and calling her name. Michiru gladly picked the child up and headed back into the bedroom, a smile on her lips.

Haruka turned back to the mirror and watched the reflection looking back at her. A short haired blonde, a proud chin, masculine features, but so obviously feminine, and the most dazzling green eyes the world could have ever seen. She looked the same as she always looked. Before the war, and after. But for some reason, when she looked into the mirror these days, she would often find herself asking, "Who is that?"

Haruka frowned and touched her face lightly, as if it could be marred by a simple touch. Something about her just didn't seem like her. Something in her eyes. Like Michiru said, 'your eyes…' Something from her spirit, from her soul. She had changed, so much.

Haruka was pulled from her thoughts when Michiru called her from the other room. Shaking her head, Haruka smiled to herself and called back, "Yeah! I'm coming." After taking one last glance at the stranger in the mirror, Haruka shut the lights and closed the door behind her, immediately being tackled by a now fully dressed Hiro.

"Hey! Watch it!" She smiled lifted the boy up into the air before putting him down and patting the top of his head. Hana re-entered wearing a very girlish and cute pink dress. Michiru's eyes softened at the sight.

"My, someone's looking extra pretty tonight."

Hana winked, "Well, My grandparents have to know what a pretty grand daughter they have don't they?"

The couple laughed, "Yes, yes. Princess Hana, the beautiful. We need to hurry up, we'll be late. Haruka checked the time.

The other three nodded at her and began their trek down the stairs. Michiru gave Haruka a lingering kiss before leaving the blonde in their bedroom. One year had passed since they moved. Hana and Hiro had been enrolled to their respective grades, and were studying like normal, Japanese students.

Haruka found a job as a mechanic for one of the city's biggest garages, also inheriting whatever was left of Matt's funds and belongings. Michiru went back to college to study music, using the funds she had saved up to pay for it. They weren't rich, but they were happy.

A two story three bedroom and two bath room home belonged to them, along with a four dour sedan. The family of four packed into said sedan, and Haruka turned from the driver's seat to acknowledge her family, "Okay, ready?"

Her two 'children' nodded at her, and Haruka started the engine. One year, and it was finally time to face them again. As the scenery passed by, Haruka's thoughts wandered over to the two people she had avoided for 7 years. The two people who took care of her, and the two people who she assumed, still loved her.

Haruka felt a little guilty for leaving the way she did, but she knew it was for the best. It wasn't the fact that they would have tried to get her to stay, but it was the fact that seeing their faces when she left would have broken her resolve, and she never would have left.

Draping her arm outside the window of the car, Haruka smiled. She could already smell her mother's cooking. Her favorite beef stew and dumplings. She licked her lips. She didn't know how they would react. Would they be angry at her she shows up at their door with a happy family? No, she knew her parents better than that.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to smile at Michiru, "Nervous?"

Haruka laughed a little and sighed, "A little."

"I told you, you should've called."

"Nah. Trust me, calling would have made it even worse. My parents like being surprised."

"You're sure?" Michiru's smile fell a little, "7 years, Haruka. People change, you know."

"Maybe." The blonde gave a reassuring smile.

Michiru touched her arm and faced the window once more. Hana's voice drifted form the backseat, "Haruka-papa…"

"Hmm?"

"…nothing." The girl blushed and looked away.

Haruka looked suspiciously up into the rearview mirror, but did nothing to act on it. Michiru instead turned on her seat and gave Hana a pushy look. The girl clenched her fists and shook her head, the blush still fresh on her cheeks.

The drive continued for nearly four hours, and by the time the car came to a halt, her three family members were fast asleep, wrinkling their clothes. Since no one had awoken, Haruka shut the engine off and smiled at them before carefully getting out of the car.

She walked around and stared up at the old styled house with the garden out front. A nostalgic smile graced her lips, and Haruka read the name on the plate. It still read 'Tenoh' with the middle of the 'T' a little cut off. She ran her hands lightly over the plate and took a deep breath.

She pushed open the front gate. Her palms became sweaty. She idly ran a hand through her hair as she fixed up her jacket. Shaky hands reached out to knock, but she hesitated. Gulping, Haruka made her resolve, and in the next second a knocking sound rung out.

Footsteps approached from the other side, and Haruka felt like running away. She was nervous. She became fidgety. The door opened, and a middle aged woman wearing an orange and red Kimono opened the door. Her slightly brownish blonde hair was as healthy as Haruka remembered it, and her green eyes were filled with the same mirth and mischievousness as Haruka remembered.

The woman turned her head up to look at her guest, and her expression turned blank. Haruka fidgeted under her mother's gaze. Her expression was so unreadable. The woman known as Tenoh Hikari suddenly had a jolt of realization, and the same soft smile Haruka remembered from so long ago graced her features, "My, I'm sorry. What kind of mother am I? My child comes home, and I have no food to give her…"

There was no sense of sadness in her voice, no sense of ever being apart. She didn't give a surprised reaction. She didn't bawl and throw herself on Haruka. She didn't yell or chide her. Tenoh Hikari did what any good mother should. She welcomed her child home with open arms. Haruka could feel the tears build, but before she could do anything, another familiar voice came up, along with strong footsteps, "Oya, Hikari, who's at the door?"

The woman stepped aside to let a man with jet black hair and the strongest pair of brown eyes stepped into the doorway, "Oh, well look who it is." The man smiled and put a hand on his wife's shoulders, "What are we doing, Hikari, don't let Haruka stand outside for so long, it's cold outside." The winter wind blew softly.

Haruka stepped into her old home after removing her shoes, and she just couldn't hold it in anymore. Haruka threw herself onto her parents, tears escaping her hold, "Mother…father…"

Kenzo and Hikari held their daughter with smiles. The long haired blonde woman patted her daughter's shoulder affectionately, "There there, Haru-chan…there there."

Her father laughed heartily, "Oya oya, what's wrong? I haven't seen you cry since you were just two feet tall." Haruka moved away from the embrace and looked at her parents with a teary smile. She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes.

Her mother looked past her and raised an eyebrow, "My, Haruka, who is that pretty girl you've brought with you?" Her old mischievousness was back again.

Haruka immediately wiped her eyes and walked back out to meet Michiru. She took the other woman by the waist and presented her to her parents, "Mother, father, this is Kaioh Michiru, my fiancé."

Michiru bowed and smiled at them, a sense of nervousness rising up in her, "Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Tenoh. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Hikari clapped her hands together, "My, what a proper young lady. I am Tenoh Hikari, and this is my husband Kenzo. And please, the pleasure is all ours." She winked, "Thank you for taming our Haruka." Michiru laughed lightly, and Haruka blushed.

Michiru turned to Haruka and whispered furiously, "Haruka, why didn't you wake me up?!" Haruka laughed nervously.

"W-well, you all looked so peaceful sleeping in there…"

Kenzo raised his eyebrows, " 'all'?"

Michiru and Haruka nodded. Haruka ran back to the car and gently woke up a sleeping Hiro and Hana. She hefted a still sleepy Hiro into her arms while an angry Hana quipped about her hair being messy and how Haruka should've woken her up. Haruka only laughed nervously again, and soon, the trio emerged from the car.

Hikari's eyes, if it were even possible, lit up even more so than the moment she saw Haruka again, "My! What an adorable little boy!" She looked at Hana, "And such a pretty young lady! Who might these wonderful people be, Haru-chan?"

Haruka scratched her cheek with her index finger and stuttered, so Michiru answered for her, "They are our children. Adopted, of course, but I feel like they are of my own flesh and blood, right Haruka?"

"Right!" Haruka mentally thanked Michiru for the short and sweet explanation.

Hikari cooed, "Ara, he's so cute." Hiro slowly awoke and stretched in his 'papa's arms. He lapped his tongue and blinked his eyes, "And what might your name be, little one?"

Hiro looked up at the lady who looked like his Haruka-papa and called out, "Haruka-papa…since when did you become a Haruka-mama…?"

Everyone laughed, and Haruka set the child on his feet, "My, I'm your grandmother, little one. I'm Hikari, what's your name?"

Hiro nervously looked up at his parents, and after a reassuring nod, Haruka let go of his hand and pushed him towards his grandmother, "H-Hiro." He bowed quickly and ran back to hid behind Haruka's pant legs.

Both Hikari and Kenzo laughed, "Haru, he reminds me of you when you were a child!" Kenzo laughed.

Hikari then approached Hana, "Hello, young lady,"

Hana dropped into a nearly ninety degree bow and said nervously, "My name is Hana. It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Tenoh."

Hikari laughed lightly and made the girl look up at her, "Grandmother will do. My, what a pretty young girl, I'm sure there are a lot of boys after you." Hikari's glint returned, and she ushered Hana in, a knowing look in her eyes, "Well, should we all go inside now? Hana and I will prepare something to eat, won't we?" Hikari gave the girl a sly glance, and Hana squeaked before blushing.

Kenzo led the family into the home, and took Hiro and Haruka to witness his sword collection, in which the small child loved. Michiru left to help Hikari and Hana. Haruka took Hiro into her old bedroom, which she found was unchanged, except for the fact that her mother had cleaned everything up.

She and her father dug through numerous boxes in search of her old toys. They soon got into a harmless argument about where it was kept, and when Hikari walked in with Hana and Michiru, she laughed, "Already at it?"

They pointed at each other accusingly, "She/He started it!"

The next moment, Hiro, covered in dust, crawled out of the closet with a box of toys, "Haruka-papa, Kenzo-jii-chan, I found it!"

The small child sat down in front of the box of toys, and Michiru, no matter how much she wanted to frown at how dirty her child was, smiled. Numerous toys ranging from race cars to action figures were pulled out of the box, and stories were shared.

Haruka watched as her father was telling another story on the floor of her bedroom. She smiled fondly, and looked up when Michiru sat down next to her. They shared the same smile and Michiru noted softly, "They're wonderful people."

"I know…" 7 years. Even after 7 years, they were the same. They didn't ask questions. They knew she would tell them when she was ready, and if that time was on her, or their deathbed, then so be it. They cared about the 'here and now', not the 'then and later'.

Hikari stood up after the story ended, and the room was roaring in laughter. Hiro let his grandfather play race cars with him, and Michiru laughed and how childish Haruka's parents were. Hikari dug in Haruka's closet and pulled out a pile of neatly hung kimonos. Haruka groaned.

"Hana, these were Haru-chan's." Hana spared a glance at her 'papa' and laughed when the woman crossed her arms, puffed her cheeks, and looked away, "I think she was your height and measurements, besides, we can always shorten it if we want to…"

The small room was then cramped with Hiro and Kenzo running around rolling toy cars along furniture, the floor, and the walls. Hikari and Hana were busy dressing Hana in the kimono, and Haruka was yelling at Michiru to stop teasing her as the woman laughed.

Hours later, the family of six made their way to the dining room, where to Haruka's joy, beef stew and dumplings was served along with rice and vegetables, in which Hiro was reluctant to consume. The dinner was rowdy, noisy, and Haruka witnessed what she had missed. Her parents were so proper with the outside world, dressed in kimonos and standing with proper posture, but when they were at home, they were no better than your local high school kids.

When dinner was over, everyone sat at their seats, content and filled. Hikari smiled and glanced at Hana, "Ok, now that dinner is over, Hana has an announcement."

Michiru joined in the smile, and Hana immediately blushed before gulping, "Haru-Haruka-papa."

Haruka glanced up at her adoptive daughter and asked, "What is it?" To be honest, she was a little afraid of what she was about to say.

Hana gulped again, "W-well, I'm in my high school senior year…"

Haruka sat at the edge of her seat, "Yes…"

"W-well…There's this…this…boy…"

Haruka's face paled, "B-boy?"

Hana nodded meekly, "H-his name is…Katou Yuuji…and…" Hana turned her eyes to her mother and grandmother. They urged her to continue.

"And…" Haruka prodded.

"He asked me to go out with him this Friday." The sentence was blurted out so fast, that the table went silent.

"Let me get this straight, you want to go out with a boy this Friday?"

Hana nodded meekly.

"Hmm…ask your mother." Hana turned to Michiru with pleading eyes.

She glanced at Haruka, who warned her, but looked back at Hana, "Yes."

Haruka glared at the woman, "Michiru…"

"Haruka…she needs a social life. Stop being such a grouch."

Hikari sighed, "Ahh, my grand daughter will go on her first date this Friday, Michiru, you will call and tell me all about it, won't you?"

Michiru smiled and nodded, and both Haruka and Kenzo scoffed in disgust, "Boys. Young ladies like you should be focusing on her studies, not testosterone driven wild animals! No offence, father." Her father shook his head.

"None taken. Hana, boys are...different than girls," Hikari shook her head.

"Here we go. Kenzo gave Haru-chan this exact same speech when she was a teenager."

"Right! And look where she is now! No man near her! In fact, she's got a lovely young lady who's 'not' some boy!" He looked proud of his statement.

Hikari shushed her husband and went on with her own speech, "Now don't listen to him, he's old."

"You're not getting any younger either."

Haruka watched as her family battled and laughed about who was right. Kenzo was losing though. It was three to one, and he had no chance. She sighed. She was going to lose her daughter to some boy.

Haruka sighed again and turned to Hiro, "How about it Hiro, am I going to lose 'you' to some girl or boy in the future am I?" she laughed and Hiro beamed at her.

"Haruka-papa. All this talk about boys and girls reminded me." Haruka grinned and turned to her son.

"What's that?"

"Takumi Yori told me she thinks I'm cute!" He shivered, "Girls are icky! Eww!"

Haruka laughed and patted the top of her son's head, "That's the spirit, son. That's the spirit."

Littlemichiru – thank you for reading and reviewing each chapter! Wow, I feel honored that you read my story and enjoyed it. you're awesome.

Thenightwithin – Ah, thank you for your support, and I look forward to meeting you again in future fics. ;)

Akira-kun – I can't believe I finished this either xD and yeah, last chapter was hanging in the air wasn't it? Thanks again, and 'til we meet again!

Konekokoi – Well epilogue it is then Thank you for reading with us, drive safely xD

Vanessa Riverton – Thank you for your continued patronage here at Pillows93 fics, please enjoy this gold membership card on our behalf. xD, really, thank you. :)

UtsuroKuri – Ah thank you, and I too felt that some things kind of flew by. Thanks for sticking with me 'til then end. :D

Akuma – thank you very much for that…exciting review xD I'm glad you enjoyed it and stuck with me.

Petiyaka – It's one of those, 'ignorance is bliss' kinds of things. I don't know, I haven't been in a war, and wouldn't know how it feels. It's harder for some to put in the past than others. :) thanks for reading and reviewing.

Reusch17 – There is your epilogue full of fluff! And no! I will not quit my whining! It's what I do. ;) Thanks for your continued support, and I will see you when I see you eh?

KaE – Yeah. I felt that way too. Here things are more resolved, I think. :) thank you.

Haruka127 – Ask, and you shall receive. Was this to your liking? How about Haruka's parents? xD sorry for launching these questions at ya. :P thanks for reading and reviewing.

Starscream – I understand…well, I knew something like this would happen. My sincere apologies. I don't know much, and what I researched, it was all over the place. One site said one thing while another said something else. But the blame is on me. In any case, I want to thank you so much. You've helped me with this story and have continued to support me. I am grateful. :)

Okay, so that's the 'real' closing. One angst and drama free chapter. Haruka's parents are what made me want to write this chapter. I wanted to write them as people who couldn't care less if a hundred years had passed. They would still welcome Haruka with open arms. Thank you again to everyone. The ride's been bumpy, but we made it safely. Please watch your step.

Also, Thank you to all my reviewers. I'm not exaggerating at all when I say I would be nothing without you. You are all awesome. Period.

-P93