Part I; Tragic Beginnings
"I can see the sun setting, it's casting shadows on the sea…."
She has an incredible understanding of people, she always has. But most of what she has learned was from her days in the Host Club. The day she said her farewells to the club was one of the most painful in her life. But they all had their own paths to take and she had worked far too long and hard to waste any time now.
When the invitation comes from the Ootori family, she nearly declines, knowing what's coming. Instead, since that is the way she is, she accepts and plans to put on her best dress and smile. When she arrives she is slightly shocked to find that it isn't an engagement party, but instead a birthday celebration for Kyouya. She should have known; he always was the most difficult one to gauge. His intended-to-be is at his side for a majority of the night. She is a beautiful girl with all of the right smiles and the perfect poise. She suits him well, Haruhi thinks as she turns in the direction of the balcony.
Towards the end of the party, Kyouya's maid informs her that her quarters will be the same as usual. She will be welcome to stay, and she walks back into the house and disappears into what's left of the crowd. With a sigh, Haruhi realizes that she most likely will be staying, as it's now quite a long drive back to her apartment. She takes one last deep breath of the garden scented air and turns to prepare herself for bed.
After washing her face, brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas she finally crawls onto the bed. A knock on the door startles her and she gets up to answer when she hears his voice.
"Haruhi?" is all he says, but she knows it is him. So she invites him in and perches herself on the edge of the mattress. As he walks up to her, she sees that he has had a bit too much to drink. There are dark circles under his eyes, a slight sway to his usually graceful step, a small downwards tug to his normally smirking lips. And a quaint sadness that didn't suit him in the least.
She notices that there is something hidden behind the slightly dulled eyes and stands to question him. But he takes the last two steps in one stride and grabs her wrists. As he is twirling her around and the sheets are tossed to the side, she remembers a time many years ago and would have smiled if not for that look on his face. He slams her wrists onto the bed, splayed above her and leans in close. She can smell a hint of sake on his breath and his eyes are glistening when he speaks. "You were wrong." He chokes out, voice husky with emotion and cracking from the force of his words. "There would be so much more than mere merit." When her eyes widen in understanding, he averts his gaze to her mouth, waiting for her to speak.