A loud cry of baby tore the tranquility of Sunday morning. At the gate of the Tokyo orphanage were standing a young brown-hair girl with a little baby on her arms, little red-hair twins and a tall black haired boy
"Are you abandoning him?" one of the twins with tearful eyes gritted his teeth in anger. Just hearing that, the other twin standing next to him burst out crying. The dark haired boy didn't cry out loud but tears were streaming down on his cheeks. There was no peace on this street because of children' cries. The girl slowly wiped her tears away
"I don't abandon him, Hikaru. We just let him stay here for a couple days. When I find a shelter for all of us, I will take him back" The girl said in a tremble voice. "Stop crying, Kaoru and you too, Mori" It was not easy to let her little brother behind in this orphanage but she didn't have a choice. How could life be so cruel on her and her little brothers? They lost their parents in a car accident then were kicked out of their apartment with only few dollars. With the wage from her part-time job, she was luckily able to afford their food but not a new residence. The last month, she and her brothers lived at her friend's house. Mei's parents were kind enough to let them lived in a vacant room of the house. It wasn't that they needed much space. Hani was only one and a half year old. He would be quiet as long as there was something sweet in his mouth. Hikaru and Kaoru were six-year-old twins while Mori was ten. And she, Haruhi, was the freshman of Ouran University, Law School. Whenever she went for school or worked at the restaurant, Mori took care of Hani. He even helped Mei's parents with their housework. Mori and the twins quitted their schools after their parents' death, which was Haruhi's biggest concern. She promised herself that she would work hard to have enough money for her brothers going back to school. Just until last night, she by chance overheard Mei's parents' talk. They couldn't let them live in their house forever. That was right. A month was long enough to show their kindness. They had their own life so did Haruhi and her brothers. So this morning, 5 of them left from very early to look for a new place to stay. It was ok for Mori and the twins to follow wherever she went but Hani was too young. He needed a roof, a warm place to sleep, to eat. For his best, the orphanage was the only choice.
"YOU, LIAR" Hikaru burst out loud "After abandoning him, you will abandon us, won't you?" Kaoru cried louder so did Hani. Haruhi knelt down pulled the twins in a hug to comfort them
"No, I will never abandon you, ever. You are my brothers, my family." The word family tightened her heart. They had had a happy family before with their parents. "Kaoru, what does family mean?" She asked the younger twins
"Family means…" Kaoru answered in tears "Family means no one is left behind or forgotten." It was what their mother had told them. No one was left behind. But what was she doing? She was going to leave her youngest brother behind. She was the most terrible sister in this world.
"I won't leave you behind, Hani. No matter how hard it is, I won't leave you behind. None of you." Haruhi assured her brothers. "Let's go. Let's find a new place for all of us to stay together, ne?" The baby and the twins stopped crying. Kaoru wiped his tears and looked up at his sister
"Why don't we live at Mei-san's house, Haruhi-neechan?" Haruhi was speechless for a second then she smiled at the younger twin
"Because that room isn't big enough for 5 people. Don't you find it too small?"
"Yes, it's too small." Hikaru chimed in agreement but Kaoru frowned and mumbled
"I find it ok as long as we have a place to stay"
Haruhi's smile faded away. She didn't want her brothers to worry about their life. They were too young to worry about anything. They were still at the age of being carefree. But this cruel life didn't think so.
Haruhi was working at the restaurant while the twins and Mori were playing with Hani in the staff's room. They had better not to be seen as her boss didn't like her bringing her 'family' to work. But where could they go when they couldn't return to Mei's house and hadn't found a new place yet? Put her problem a side, she recalled the talk with Mori this morning
*flashback*
Haruhi pulled Mori to a corner to have a private talk without the twins' hearing "I'm sorry, Mori-chan. I never want to abandon Hani" She always knew between Mori and Hani, there was a strong thread that tied them together. "I didn't mean to tear you two apart"
"I know" Mori replied in a monotone voice. He didn't say much as usual. However she could see the sadness in his eyes.
"Mori-chan, I am really…" before she finished her sentences, Mori cut her off
"I know we've been through a rough time. And I know you are doing for our sake. So no matter what you decide, I won't blame you. You're my family." Haruhi was shocked that Mori spoke to her more than 10 words. The only person made him talk that long was their mother. Soon the surprise was over the happiness came. She was happy that Mori said she was his family. Pulling him to a hug, Haruhi whispered to his ear
"Thank you" Maybe from now on this brother was big enough for her to lean on.
*end flashback*
"You left when we was sleeping?" Mei emerged from nowhere made Haruhi jump and almost dropped the cup in her hand.
"You scare me" Haruhi frowned at her friend "And don't bug me when I am working" Haruhi walked past Mei. Her boss didn't like Mei, either.
"I woke up and you, the boys, your luggage were nowhere to be seen" Mei caught up her and Haruhi decide to take a break to have a talk with Mei. Anyway, this morning she was so rude to leave without a word. They sat down on a bench outside the restaurant
"You know that we can't live at your house forever" Haruhi sighed while staring at the ground
"Did my parents say something?" Mei clenched her fist "I did tell them to not say anything"
"No, Mei. They said nothing. I left because I want to. Your brother is coming back and we must return his room."
"He won't come back for the next week, Haruhi. You must only leave after have found a new place. Don't you think of your brothers?"
"I will find it soon"
"So you haven't found yet. Come back to my house, Haruhi. It's not for you but for the twins and Hani."
"I can't. We can't, Mei. We just … can't." Haruhi would never return once she had left. She knew her hard head would make her brothers suffer but she couldn't help it. At least she and her brothers had had a place to sleep tonight. It was the storage of the restaurant. She didn't ask her boss but she had had the guard's acceptance. Mei just sighed in defeat. Haruhi was Haruhi always
"I know I can't convince you so I bring you this" Mei pulled from her bag a paper "They are looking for a housemaid" Mei gave it to her and Haruhi scanned it quickly "The housemaid will have free meals and a place to stay so I think it's what you are looking for. But I don't know if they allow the 'extra gifts' of you."
Haruhi ignored Mei even though she called her brothers 'extra gifts'. Haruhi focused on the ads on her hand. They did provide the meals and the place to stay as Mei said. They also opened this job for students and allowed the employee to go to school, providing that she finished her tasks. The salary was 100,000 yens per month. Was this a dreamy job? Haruhi didn't hesitate a second, she dialed the telephone number at the bottom of the ads.
"Hello" A male voice said from the other line
"Good afternoon, sir. Are you looking for a housemaid?"
"Ah, yes. Do you know anyone who can take this job?"
'This man is so weird' Haruhi stated in her mind but she kept her politeness "Sir, I am calling you for the job. Would you mind…?" Before she could finish, the man interrupted
"So you want this job? Hearing your voice, I am sure you're a beautiful young lady. Why do want the job of a housemaid?"
'He is so so so weird' Haruhi patiently answered "I am a poor student…" The man on the other line cut in again
"Oh, a poor student? You must struggle so much to survive in this world. Do you have to wear worn-out clothes? Do you have enough food to eat? Do you have to live in a roofless house?"
"Sir…" Haruhi didn't know how to stop this man blabbering.
"Poor you, poor you. Ok. This job belongs to you. You will have 3 meals a day, a nice place to live. And you can continue your study to achieve your dream, overcome your poverty. Tomorrow, 10 o'clock at number 3 Yashima street; I would like to meet you and present your work. Goodbye."
"Goodbye and have a nice day sir" Haruhi said in disbelief. What the world had happened?
"How is it, Haruhi?" Mei snapped her back to reality
"I got the job" Haruhi was still bewildered
"So fast? You haven't presented you yet?" Mei asked in surprise.
"I don't understand what he was saying. I just know that I got the job. And what did he said? 10 am at number 3 Yashima Street. I must write it down." Haruhi quickly noted the address while Mei stared at her
"Wait, Haruhi. Don't you think this job is too suspicious? They accept you without knowing who you are."
"But it's you who gave me the ads"
"Because I thought it's a normal job, Haruhi. But think carefully, it's not normal at all. I don't think it's a good idea you take it. What's about your brothers? If there's anything happen to you, who will take care of them?" Mei tried to make her friend think logically. She found the fact Haruhi got the job easily was something suspicious, something dangerous.
"Mei" Looking deep into Mei's eyes, Haruhi assured "I'm old enough to know what is harmful to me. This is the only chance for me and my brothers. I must take it" even if I have to go to hell. Haruhi thought.
It took her the whole afternoon to convince Mei that everything would be ok. However, Haruhi wasn't sure about this job, either. She tossed and turned that night on the floor of the storage.
"Tomorrow, I will come and see the state of that job. If it's not like the ads, I will deny and leave. There is nothing to lose" She told to herself then drifted off after an eventful day. In her sleep, Haruhi's arm still reached for her brothers. Right now, she only cared about them.
Somewhere in a nice mansion a young blonde man was scolded terribly
"Did you lose your mind? A housemaid is someone lives with us, everyday. And you just accepted her as she said she was a poor student? I shouldn't have let you be in charge of this. Your host mode must only use with the crazy fan girls of you not in work. How many times I have to tell you about it"
"Tomorrow we will know who she is" The blonde said softly, didn't want to make his friend angrier.
"Of course. And if I waste time to meet her then fire her, you will pay for it" The black hair man snapped "Hadn't I told him to find a housemaid, I wouldn't have to waste my precious time on a trivial thing like this" He sighed in annoyance "Idiot, Tamaki"
Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC