The alarm rang out, cutting into the soft morning sounds, and
Setsuna fumbled about for the alarm clock. A soft click as someone
else turned it off, and then a familiar voice softly said, "It's time
to get up, love." A gentle hand shook her shoulder, "You've got to go
to work."
Setsuna opened her eyes a bit, smiling happily at the
slightly messy Arisugawa Juri who was laying beside her on the bed.
The long orange hair was sticking up a bit, there was some sleep in
her eyes, but to Setsuna she still looked gorgeous.
"Thanks," Setsuna sat up on the bed, rubbing at her own
sleepy eyes while waves of black hair fell over her shoulders, a
green tint showing in the morning light. Her movement sent the
blankets pooling around her waist, revealing her nudity.
"Now there's a lovely sight," Juri murmured, clearly enjoying
Setsuna's slight blush. She slid from the blankets, and once again
Setsuna was reminded why Juri had been called the panther in her
school days as the nude woman gracefully grabbed her pajama bottoms.
"You're tempting me to call in sick today," Setsuna said to
her softly, a wicked little smile teasing her lips.
"Me, too," Juri admitted. She pulled down one of her older
robes from a hanger and belted it around her, "I think I'd better go
see if they need any help making up breakfast, or neither of us are
going to be leaving."
"Spoil sport," Setsuna smiled, and Juri just laughed.
Haruka sat at the large kitchen table, the sandy haired woman
looking oddly fatherly as she drank her cup of coffee. Sitting in the
chair right beside her Hotaru was drinking a glass of milk, the young
girl's gestures echoing Haruka's. Over by the stove Michiru was
smiling to herself slightly, helping prepare breakfast for them all.
"Good morning," Michiru smiled as Juri came in, her green
hair pulled back from her face by two hair clips.
"Good morning," Juri agreed, "I think Setsuna should be up in
a minute." She got a bit closer to the stove, taking a deep breath of
the wonderful scents. "You know," Juri offered the suggestion a bit
tentatively, "considering how often I have my breakfast here, maybe I
should take a turn cooking it one morning."
"Oh, no," Haruka quickly spoke up, "you wouldn't be doing us
any favors, Arisugawa." She paused, "I've had your cooking."
"It wasn't that bad," Juri blushed.
"Oh, yes it was," Michiru answered, but her voice was fond.
Haruka had a bit more of her coffee before quietly
saying, "By the way, thank you for agreeing to move in with Setsuna,
Juri. It means a lot to her."
"To me, too," Juri murmured. She looked out the window, able
to see part of the new addition that she and Setsuna would soon be
moving into, "I hope that the construction hasn't been too much of a
bother."
"Surprisingly, no," Michiru stirred around some sausages she
was heating, "they only work during the day, when all of us are gone."
"Haruka, how bad was Juri's cooking?" Hotaru asked curiously,
her long black hair swirling around her as she looked up at Haruka.
"I took a look in Juri's kitchen once," Haruka quietly
confided to her daughter, "her shelves were stocked full of instant
ramen, and her fridge was packed with frozen dinners." She
sighed, "Then Juri decided to make dinner for Michiru and I."
"You do have to give her points for trying," Michiru offered,
smiling slightly as the blushing Juri got a cup of coffee.
"Well, yes," Haruka admitted, "but.." She trailed off,
shuddering visibly.
Juri made a face, "I learned my lesson, thank you. That's why
I only take Setsuna out to dinner, not dining in."
"Don't worry love," Setsuna softly murmured as she passed by
Juri on her way over to the coffee pot, "you have talents that more
than make up for an inability to cook."
"What talents?" Hotaru asked innocently, having the sharp
hearing of precocious young children everywhere.
"Uh," Juri blushed fiercely, while Setsuna opened up her
mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
"Oh," Hotaru nodded thoughtfully, "that."
Haruka snickered softly, Michiru quickly giving her a
scolding look. The green haired woman began to dish up the food, Juri
getting up to help carry the plates over to the dining table. "Thank
you," Michiru smiled.
Juri just smiled, putting a plate in front of Setsuna, then
one beside her for herself. The happy smile Setsuna gave her more
than explained Juri's eagerness to help. The rest of them were
served, and with a great deal of enjoyment they settled in to eat.
"How's clearing out the apartment going?" Haruka asked Juri,
munching on some toast, "Do you need a hand?"
"Not bad," Juri smiled wryly, "the biggest problem is going
to be figuring out what to do with all the stuff that I don't want."
She chuckled, "I was seriously considering holding the first
annual 'Arisugawa's Locket Garage Sale' but I thought it might be a
bit much."
"Might be kind of fun, though," Michiru offered. She smiled
slightly, "You could always do it as a charity event of some kind."
Setsuna chuckled to herself softly. When Haruka and Michiru
looked at her she quietly explained, "Juri is already donating to
both the Woman's shelter and GLBT society."
Feeling three gazes resting on her Juri softly
explained, "Under Nabiki's expert financial management the Locket has
been making a tidy little profit, and with my inheritance I certainly
don't need the money."
Hotaru had a little frown on her face. "GLBT?" she finally
asked.
"It's short for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual,"
Haruka quietly explained. She looked over at Juri, "I heard they were
having some financial difficulties. Were you the one that helped bail
them out?"
"Right after Nabiki volunteered to go over their books," Juri
said wryly. "I may be generous," she explained, "but I'm not stupid."
Changing the subject Michiru asked, "Do you have help ready
for when you move?"
"A bunch of us from the Locket are going to," Juri
smiled, "but I wouldn't mind any extra help. I'm going to try to keep
it fun, if possible."
"Count me in, of course," Setsuna smiled, putting her hand
over Juri's.
Haruka gave Michiru a look, and at her lover's nod she
said, "Us, too."
"And me," Hotaru finished her milk.
"Glad to have you," Juri raised her cup in a toast, and the
others clinked their mugs and glass together gently.
To be continued..
Characters in this Episode: Arisugawa Juri is from Revolutionary Girl
Utena. Setsuna, Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru are from Sailor Moon. And
finally, Tendo Nabiki is from Ranma 1/2.
Author's Note: To be honest, I don't know if Tokyo actually has a
GLBT society. I would assume so, but I really don't know. If anyone
has that info, pass it on...
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