Disclaimer: I own nothing except a few oddly named electronics and a falling apart bookshelf.
/Prologue/
Every woman gets a feeling when she becomes a mother. For some it is slow to build but eventually fills every crevice with warmth. With others it is a blast of emotion, sudden as a lightning strike, but equally satisfying but different still. And while Yuzuha had given birth multiple times that night, she didn't feel complete yet.
Staring down at her sleeping sons, mirror images of each other, she wondered what was missing. All of her children were in this room, all were safe. But why did she feel like there was something waiting to happen. Something life-altering. That was when she saw it.
A nurse was leaving, a normal occurrence in her room, which was bustling with extra care her husband had insisted upon, but what was different was the bundle she was carrying. It shifted as the nurse left the room and from it popped an infant's arm. Yuzuha's heart clenched violently.
"Naoki!" She said frantically, "Where is she?" Taking her eyes off of the nurse, she looked to her husband. "Where's she taking her?"
He placed a hand on her arm. "Most likely for tests, she is the smallest." He tried to be soothing but quickly realized that it wasn't working.
"No, No, NO! Bring her back. They can do any damn test they want HERE!" Seeing the fear in her face and the uneasiness of his recently awoken sons, he acquiesced with a nod.
Signaling one of the nurses to follow him, he walked out, leaving his wife in her bed to calm the boys.
When Naoki reentered the room he was a defeated man. Hi shoulders were slumped and head hanging low. Yuzuha saw him and tears sprung to her eyes, making them glisten threateningly. The two officers from the Shinjuku police department who stepped in after Naoki, though, were what caused her to break down into violent sobs.
Sensing her distress and not understanding the feeling of loneliness held within, the remaining siblings began wailing adding to Yuzuha's pain. The sound washed over Naoki, who had fallen to his knees, in a cacophony of sorrow.
Underneath the crying there was a phantom whimper, which was only heard by two of the rooms occupants. This sound caused them to unconsciously clasp hands, their subconscious weary of separation.
"Ryoji?"It was her tone of voice that alerted Ryoji that something was up with his wife. "Do you remember last week when you said that you always wanted children?"
Furrowing his brow and shifting his grip on the phone, he decided to go along with it. "Yes, but do remember that I was drunk."
"Well I'm taking it as a Freudian slip. So anyways, you know the woman I was defending on a drug charge and how I thought we'd lose?" Realizing that she had most likely confused him she pushed on, not waiting for a response. "I went to her apartment today as she missed her appointment with me to prep for trial… And I'm bringing home her baby because she is in a coma. I'll be there soon; I have to stop for diapers and some food. Love you!" With a cheery farewell, she hung up her office phone before he could respond.
Laughing lightly Kotoka smiled down at the little girl held in her arms. "He won't be mad… We'll just consider you a dry run until your mommy gets better. You'll be much better off with us than in the stinky old foster system. Yes, you will!" Grabbing her bag, the young lawyer left her office, not knowing how much a difference she just made in the little girl's life, nor how much her own would change.
It wasn't her fault. Nope, not her fault at all, though if it was anyone's fault it was Jiro's. It was Jiro who called her a girl. She wasn't a girl. Well, yes she was but not in the way he meant it. So really, it's all Jiro's fault that she fell out of the tree. And it was Jiro's fault that her arm was throbbing. And it was Jiro's fault that it was raining… just to be thorough.
Turning the corner, Haruhi could see home, and standing in the entry way was her mother. Walking up the street, she could see that her mom was not happy. Apparently it's frowned upon to be gone two hours when you promised to be back in 10 minutes. Steeling herself, Haruhi pulled her left arm closer, hugging her body, but with that movement it jostled her elbow. This caused her to hiss violently and cringe.
"Haruhi!" Her mother yelled startled. "What happened? Are you okay?" Rushing down the road, Kotoka met her daughter and knelt.
"Yeah mom, I'm fine."Haruhi smiled, though it came out as more of a grimace. Unfortunately for her, a car back fired, sending a loud bang throughout the neighborhood, startling her and causing another jolt to her arm. Wincing she closed her eyes. "My cover is blown isn't it?"
Caringly growling like only a mother can, Kotoka picked up her daughter. "Oh, most definitely; and right now we are going to go to the hospital but after that you are going to explain what happened. Then, we are going to have a LONG discussion about hiding things and how it is not recommended and why. Then, and then, you are going to tell your father everything."
Haruhi had solemnly nodded to each of her mother's demands until she said the last one, the little girl just gasped. "No!"
Smirking evilly as she placed her daughter in the passenger seat of her car, Kotoka mocked Haruhi with the same gasp, "Yes!"
Whimpering, not in pain she was feeling but in pity for herself. "But, but, he gets so sad when I get hurt, and he cries, then he, he looks at me!" Hearing her mother snort in laughter as she drove, Haruhi explained. "You know what I'm talking about. It's that look, like you just killed his favorite puppy, then preformed necromancy, then killed it again, all in front of him." She looked up at her mother, while still cradling her arm. "Do I have to?" Channeling her father she pouted and tried her best to look like a wounded puppy, which, thinking about it, wasn't too hard to do.
Glancing down, Kotoka just laughed. "No way, don't even think of using that look. Your father does it all the time, and it doesn't work, even with his many, many years of practice. We're here now so no more attempts at negotiating." Her focus was entirely on her daughter who, even as she was wincing in pain from the movement of her arm, was still arguing. So she missed the arrival of a shiny escalade, out of which came a harried elegantly dressed woman followed by two boys; two boys who resemble Haruhi, if not in appearance than in their stance.
Both were holding their left arm possessively tight to their body, while they angled themselves towards each other. Their mother frantically pounced on the first doctor she saw, cutting off Haruhi and Kotoka who just walked around the trio and walked to the front desk, ignoring the almost hysterical woman. "Doctor! Doctor! Help my sons, please? I don't know what happened, one minute they were fine in their rooms than the next they were both clutching their arms in pain! Can you look at them?"
While their mother battered the poor Doctor, Hikaru and Kaoru took the moment to look around. Both were in pain but it wasn't a strong pain, just a moderate ache. Though it was enough to set off their over protective mother. Scanning the crowds Kaoru quickly noticed the little girl. She was the only other child around their ages in the waiting from. She was sitting quietly in one of the provided chairs and had a small pout on her face. He smirked and nudged his brother then nodded to her.
Hikaru grinned, "Looks like someone didn't get their way." His grin disappeared as he noticed their mother was gesturing to them. "Come on, seems like mom wore down the doctor."
As they left, Haruhi's head shot up, looking for something, but not quite knowing what it was. Before she found it, her mother came over with a nurse. "Come along, brave one. Nurse Sato is going to bring us to a room to wait there, the doctor got tied up."
While they waited, Haruhi took the opportunity to wear her mother down; forgetting the fleeting feeling that something missing was just within her grasp. When the Doctor entered he looked quite tired. Saying the first thing on her mind Haruhi spoke. "Doctor, are you alright?"
He grinned, "I think I'm supposed to ask you that, little lady. Now what's wrong?" He picked up her chart and before she could answer, spoke again. "Another problem with the left arm; wow, odd, that makes it three in a row. Let us hope it is growing pains as well. Hold out you arm." Walking to her, she lifted her arm at the shoulder, not able to extend it without feeling extreme pain. "Guess not." Writing on her chart he turned to Kotoka. "I'm going to send her for an x-ray. It'll take about 30 minutes for the results to be back, but until then, I'll send in some ibuprofen. That should take care of the pain. So I'll see you in half an hour."
The door closing was Kotoka's signal; she looked at her daughter with serious eyes. "I didn't forget, just so you know. How did this happen?"
Groaning, Haruhi dropped her head to her chest. Stupid Jiro.
The sky was ominous. Its glow was eerie, giving off just enough light to silhouette two boys standing in front of the window in their room. They had an arm around each other's waist, holding tightly. They didn't react when their father entered the room, nor when he placed a hand on either shoulder.
"What's wrong?" He asked quiet and careful. Inside his head, he was questioning. His two sons were many things, but solemn wasn't one of them.
It was the more observant of the two, Kaoru, who answered. "Today is a bad day."
This quiet declaration was confirmed by Hikaru as he nodded.
The males of the Hitachiin family stood there for a moment that just seemed to stretch. Finally, Naoki left, leaving his sons to solitude with a quick grip on their shoulders.
When he closed the door, he made a note to tell the household that the children's rooms were off limits today and they were only to be bothered if they asked it. Walking swiftly, he paused outside his wife's work room, taking a deep breath to fortify himself, he entered. Still having no idea how he was to contain Yuzuha's smothering mothering.
Across the city, there stood another child, just as quiet, just as solemn. Though there was a difference. This child was standing in the middle of the storm, at the edge of a grave. Behind her there sat a man, her father.
She had stood silent for hours, watching the rain pour, listening to the thunder crack, and not feeling a thing. Eventually, the downpour slowed to a trickle until all that was left was the sharp smell of ozone, remnants of the lightning that had lit the heavens. It was then that the little girl moved, slowly she bowed, steady and strong, holding it for what seemed to be minutes. When once again straight, she turned, reaching out her right hand, she grasped that of her fathers. Speaking firmly, she pulled at her father. "Come on Papa, it's time to go home. You have work in the morning and I have school. Mother wouldn't want us to slack."
Staring shockingly up at his daughter, Ryoji stood, and smiled sadly. Even though she had never been her biological mother, Haruhi was entirely made up of what made Kotoka shine.
The twins were nervous. They glanced at each other repeatedly during class, not knowing why. In retaliation to the feeling they kept in constant contact, be it a brush of their hands, or the knock of ankles. It continued to nag at their subconscious all morning.
That is until they finished lunch, and the feeling all but disappeared. Eyes filled with confusion they linked arms and returned to their homeroom, fully intent on discussing the weirdness that had overcome their senses. That plan was derailed when Hikaru found his seat occupied.
Smirking, Kaoru slipped into his as he watched the small teen look at him suspiciously. It was that moment that Hikaru tapped the stranger on the shoulder. "What's your name?"
Brow furrowed in confusion, the student answered. "Fujioka Haruhi, can I help you?"
Chuckling softly, Hikaru leaned in close, one hand on the back of his chair the other flat on the desk. His voice soft and fluid, he spoke. "No but I can help you. Luckily you are in the right place." He lifted his hand off the top of the desk and slid it to the edge then inched it down. "Now, I don't know what you learned in your previous school, but at Ouran, we have a particularly hard curriculum." At the moment Hikaru said hard, he grasped something firmly. "First thing you learn here, is how to read." Pulling back abruptly he returned his voice to normal and pulled out his school books from where they had been resting, inside his desk. Dropping them in front of the transfer student, he pointed. "I'm not the top student, but I'm pretty sure that says Hitachiin not Fujioka. So scram, New Kid."
With that Hikaru tugged on Haruhi's arm gently pulling the invader out of his seat and plopped down himself.
Grumbling Haruhi gathered her bag from the back of what she had assumed as an empty chair and walked down a few rows to the back of the class, this time talking a moment to check the innards of the desk for personal effects. Sitting roughly, she glared momentarily at the identical heads of her new classmates, and then sighed. Realizing that he had been entirely in the right to do what he did, and truthfully, could have been a lot ruder. Dismissing the memory, she pulled out her books and settled in to studying.
Smiling, she flipped a page, glad to have finally finished the placement tests the school had surprisingly forced upon her this morning, which had, truth be told, filled her with more stress than she had had during the entrance exams.
Glancing up one last time, she stared apprehensively at the boys in front, who had their heads bowed together in discussion. Haruhi fretfully hoped not to get off on such a bad foot with the rest of her classmates. Hostility was really not conducive to a healthy learning environment. Shaking her head to clear the petty thoughts, she quickly returned to her book, only looking up again when the teacher called for attention.