Like a Cactus Flower
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor make any profit from OHSHC
Haruhi Fujioka, as Morinozuka Takashi mused was an enigma. Standing by the window watching the after activities of the host club, Takashi fought down the slightest of blushes at this unusual thought. Although he would never allow anyone to notice his fascination, it was true that he was…fascinated. Haruhi was unlike any of the other girls at Ouran. She was clever, exceedingly so. She had after all, managed to completely blow away the board of directors. None of whom had initially wanted to admit a commoner to Ouran Academy. Mori smiled at the thought of those stuck up board members (with the exception of Tamaki's father) gaping in shock at Haruhi's application.
A cactus, thought Mori lazily. Haruhi was like a cactus. Mori then snorted at his own ridiculousness, was this the best comparison he could come up with? But then he realized; as he watched Haruhi fend off the twins and their insane antics, that he was right.
Haruhi Fujioka was independent; she stood alone in her mind, much like a hardy cactus in the middle of a sand dune. She not only refused to accept any help from anyone, but she rarely needed it. This tended to frustrate the other Host club members who had tendencies to wanted to do everything for her, as if she was a doll they were afraid to break. Mori often felt the need to protect Haruhi, but he never showed it. He knew she wouldn't appreciate it, so he stayed at a distance, watching, waiting for the moment when he knew she would need help. Because, despite her insistence to be independent, the entire Host club was standing behind her, willing to stand with her through anything. At least, Mori knew he was. But when he watched them, he was nearly positive the others shared his feelings. With the possible exception of Kyouya.
Having successfully freed herself from the twins Haruhi made a beeline for Huni's table. She sat down with a sigh and smiled at Huni offering her a slice of strawberry cake. Haruhi accepted gracefully, causing Mori to smile inwardly. Apart from himself Mori knew Haruhi was the only one Mitsukuni would share a piece of strawberry cake with. Haruhi just had that effect on people. People trusted her. And despite her bluntness the Host club liked Haruhi, a lot.
She was endlessly blunt, some might even have considered her harsh, but Mori knew better. Her attitude could prick people like cacti thorns, but she was never cruel. Tamaki especially, seemed to get pricked the hardest by her thorns. This was because of his 'family' act he was constantly insisting on. Playing Daddy to poor Haruhi who just stared blankly at him and would say. "You are not my Father Tamaki-sempai."
Across the room Mori heard Tamaki moaning in apparent anguish, clutching his shirt theatrically.
"How can a daughter be so mean to her Daddy?" wailed Tamaki, as Haruhi supposedly rejected him yet again. Tamaki went off to his corner of woe to sulk.
Takashi inwardly rolled his eyes at the dramatic leader of the host club. He was unable to see how Tamaki was so oblivious to his own feelings, to perceptive Mori, it was clear Tamaki liked Haruhi, a lot. Tamaki was more blind than Haruhi at times. Something twitched in Mori at the thought of Tamaki's feelings. He wasn't jealous. Haruhi wouldn't like someone as wild as Tamaki anyway. Right? He thought to himself, as he turned away from the Host club scene to stare out the window into the gardens.
Haruhi was not without her flaws. She was somewhat gluttonous, Mori admitted with a tiny chuckle glancing over to see her fantasize about the fancy tuna the twins were taunting her with. Although Mori found this trait of hers to be rather amusing, as her body was so petite. Haruhi was usually rewarded with fancy tuna from the twins or Kyouya as payment for participating in some far-fetched scheme. Mori remembered Haruhi shoveling high-class tuna down her throat, on numerous occasions. It was very much like the way a cactus might consume water after a long drought in the desert, and then would shoot up afterwards. Haruhi always looked immensely satisfied after a meal, she was much happier and more likely to go along with whatever the Host club (Kyouya) had planned. Especially if her meal had just been seafood. Namely sushi or tuna.
Haruhi's open laugh drew his attention back to her. Kyouya had joined them at the table with his laptop and Haruhi was laughing at him. Then she turned pale and looked like she might retch. Mori saw Kyouya smiling deviously and suspected he had just added another ten percent to Haruhi's debt. Though Haruhi might not know it, she didn't have a chance of paying off that debt before she left school. Even if Kyouya dropped it by fifty percent. This made Mori selfishly happy, Haruhi would have hang around the host club for a while longer it seemed.
As Mori watched his friends and Haruhi together, he noticed-not for the first time-how beautiful she was. She was not and extravagant beauty, as daffodils or lilies are. Hers was a simply natural beauty, the beauty that makes everyone smile, like a daisy or a cactus flower. She had a delicate facial structure, that went with a small body and pixie haircut. She was petite in every sense of the word. Mori couldn't take his eyes off her.
Haruhi was truly on a level somewhat of her own. With the hardship of her past, her smarts, her beauty, and even her flaws, Haruhi was different, from everyone. Fascinating. She was a contradiction within herself. A tough girl with a smile everyone loved. Like a cactus, a survivor, with flowers so beautiful they'd take your breath away.
As if Haruhi could hear his thoughts she looked over at him standing alone by the window. The Morinozuka saw the near invisible blush touch her face. Haruhi looked away quickly and hurridly started asking Huni questions about an upcoming Kendo tournament. No one else seemed to notice her slightly flushed state. Mori continued to watch her, and after a few minutes walked over to the table to remind Mitsukuni not to eat to much before dinner. "Ok Taka-chan!" said Mitsukuni happily, "Hey Haru-chan! Why don't you come with us to the Kendo tournament this weekend?" asked Huni excitedly.
"Oh." Haruhi thought about it for a minute. Mori could almost see her going through her mental schedule. A time for homework, household chores, groceries, cooking... "I suppose I could do that…"
"If Haruhi goes then her father must accompany her!" yelled Tamaki breaking into the conversation. The King put an authoritative hand on Haruhi's shoulder which she promptly shrugged off, causing Tamaki to deflate a little. Kyouya sighed and Mori heard him mutter, "Here we go again with the Mommy crap."
And sure enough a split second later - "Mommy, Don't you agree? We could ALL go to the Kendo tournament together!" Exclaimed Tamaki fairly bouncing with excitement giving Kyouya a pleading look.
"Fine. I will make arrangments for us all to have seats." Said Kyouya scribbling figures into his notebook. "Yay! We get see Taka-chan win the tournament!" Said Mitsukuni, "Alright!" Said the twins high-five-ing each other.
Haruhi smiled at the enthusiam, then she turned Mori, "Well it's thats it I suppose, we'll all come to the tournament tomorrow Mori-sempai."
A bit later when the Host club was packing up to go home, Kyouya passed Takashi walking down the hallway on the way out; with a request to, "Remind Haruhi to lock up when she's done cleaning will you?"
Mori nodded. He turned to Mitsukuni, "I'll meet you at the car." Huni merely nodded happily and skipped off holding Usa-chan. Mori reversed his steps and softly pushed open the door to the music room, almost hitting Haruhi in the face. "Oh! Mori-san, gomen, I didn't see you coming in." Mori hastily stepped back from the door so Haruhi could step out.
"Hn. Kyouya wanted to remind you to lock up when you're finished." Mori could feel his heartbeat increase slightly. She was only standing about a foot away, and though he didn't know why, he wanted to lean forward and smell her strawberry scented shampoo that was wafting deliciously from her person.
"Oh, ok then." said Haruhi jolting Mori from his fantasy. As she closed and locked the doors to the 3rd Music Room Mori inwardly smacked himself for acting like a fool. Though on the outside his face had remained unchanged, his insides were wriggling.
They walked together down through the courtyards to Ouran's gates where a limousine waited for Mori. "Well, mata ashita Mori-sempai!" Haruhi turned to walk away, "Hn. Haruhi."
Haruhi stopped and looked back at him questioningly. "Yes?"
"You should ride with us. We can take you home."
Haruhi smiled, but shook her head slightly, "No, really, that's OK. I'll just walk."
Mori frowned, staring at her sternly, as if to say-It's dangerous to walk alone, ride with us. As if she read his mind Haruhi said, "It's not very far, Mori-sempai I'll be fine." Mori blinked and continued to look at her. She was so stubborn. Haruhi laughed, and turned to walk away. "Oyasumi, Mori-sempai."
Mori's stoic mask slipped a little and he smiled. "Oyasumi Haruhi." He called after her quietly, Mori wondered if she'd even heard him.
Takashi allowed the chauffer to open the door for him, and he climbed into the limousine to watch Haruhi as they drove away. Across from him he noticed Mitsukuni grinning slyly into his stuffed bunny.
A blush spread over Takashi's cheeks, as he realized Hani knew. "Hn."
Mitsukuni's smile only widened.