Don't Own Characters***
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Haruhi sat blankly staring out into the abyss of ocean that stretched far beyond her eyes could see. The sun sat high in the clouded stratosphere of sky above. This was her last day of freedom before reality rained down on her oh so wonderful parade. She sighed heavily at the realization, but continued to look out from her balcony.
Since graduating Ouran Academy her life had changed quite drastically aside from the company she kept. They were her only constant, and the only thing that resisted the change. She strummed her fingers eloquently along the balcony railing in a melodic tune that she remembered Tamaki playing at some point and had even bothered to teach her a few times. She only knew bits and pieces of the ballad but it was a tie to the bachelor that kept them together.
"Haruhi?" a familiar voice sounded from behind her and allowed her to snap out of her reverie.
She smiled at the face that met hers. His dark grey eyes stoic as ever, deceiving her of any emotion that may be present. "Yes Mori-senpai?" she asked keeping her voice light and bubbly.
He placed his hand on the small of her back and gave the slight smile she received on rare occasions. "We should get going, they'll be here any minute and I don't believe that any of us want to experience that," he gestured to the door as he spoke. Although in his past he was a man of few words, as they had grown older together secrets and silence became a thing of the past.
Many things had changed since Ouran, and even more had changed since they had all began their adult lives. "Too much has changed," Haruhi whispered under her breath hoping Takashi wouldn't notice.
He tilted his head but didn't make anything of her slight. Haruhi followed Takashi through the French doors and down the grand staircase of their shared beach house. Nothing compared to the beaches of France. Her eyes glanced over the details of the house that would be destroyed as soon as they left, filled with bullet holes and men dressed in black. Neither wasted any time reaching the cars that were parked at the back of the expensive house. With only a moment of hesitation Haruhi climbed into the silver Porsche that sat idling as Takashi slid into the driver's seat.
The road rushed by in a grey blur as each car took up the entirety of the small city streets in their attempt to reach Tamaki's private jet. Haruhi and Takashi led the way in the silver Porsche while the twins were second in line driving their jet black Aston Martin, followed by Tamaki who held their bags and other items in his less conspicuous range rover, then followed lastly by Honey who kept the tail in a lime green Lamborghini. Haruhi pinched her nose at the luxury cars following behind her that screamed for attention.
"We are in France Haruhi, there are more than enough people with money that own homes here. We are much less extravagant than you may expect," Takashi comforted while resting a hand over her thigh.
An icy glare from Haruhi's chocolate eyes caused the hand to retract and rest on the stick shift. "Now is not the time for that. How can you be so calm?" she pressed keeping her eyes darting around in wait for the black cars to appear at their flanks.
Takashi didn't humor her with words and instead shrugged in response, a smirk forming slightly over his lips. Haruhi glared.
The caravan made their way to the jet, ever once in a while switching positions as they sped and weaved in and out of the roadways. After a short hour they approached the jet that sat in the distance. A few armored cars sat strategically placed along the tarmac. Haruhi's heart fluttered in anticipation to be up in the air and out of harms way. She didn't dare relax, as the plane was now only a few hundreds of feet away. Exact copies of their cars waited on the outskirts.
Leave it to Kyoya to have every detail covered. Haruhi couldn't help but smirk at the thought of him not having everything carefully planned out from the beginning. Every move, down to the blink of their eyes, was calculated by their true boss. He was cunning and the one and only Kyoya Ootori.
Mixed in her thoughts Haruhi gasped slightly when a hand pulled on her arm in attempt to bring her out of the car. When her gaze met two sets of amber eyes, she let her guard down and followed suit into the jet. Within minutes they were all in the air and seated with a glass of champagne in their hands.
"Congratulations everyone on another job, mostly, well done," Kyoya purred to his team.
Two years prior:
"You did what?!" Haruhi yelled in the hushed library.
Kyoya quickly brought his slender finger to her lips and glared harshly into her soul. "I'm going to only tell you once to keep your voice down Haruhi," he chided.
Haruhi nodded her head and gulped down the lump in her throat. Her stomach was flipping and it took everything within her being to keep from raising her voice. "How did you-" she began only to be cut off by another finger to her lips. She looked to Kyoya confused, he shook his head in response and motioned for her to follow him out of the library.
She obliged his silent request and they made their way out of the library and into Kyoya's car. It oozed the appearance of money. The Aston was a sleek bullet covered in a deep amethyst finish. Once safely in the confines of the car Haruhi was finally able to organize her thoughts and speak freely.
"Tell me everything Kyoya," she commanded holding his dark gaze.
He huffed and shrugged back into his leather seat. "I own my father's assets," he whispered.
Haruhi wondered as to why he wasn't elated by the fact that he had finally achieved his long awaited goal. Her brows furrowed as she waited for Kyoya to continue.
"I finally did it. But he doesn't have enough to even cover the cost of your tuition," he admitted in a sigh.
"Are you serious?" she asked dumbfounded by the notion that the great Ootori family was actually broke.
Kyoya shook his head in shame and pulled his glasses off his face to pinch the bridge of his nose. He looked as if he were made of glass. Haruhi paused hesitantly wondering if she touched him that he would shatter into a thousand pieces. "All that is left is my share. But even that is a loss," he choked.
"What do you mean? How can your father be broke?" she carefully and delicately placed her hand on his arm, relieved when he stayed in one piece…mostly.
"That fucking bastard owes multiple bosses for old gambling bets and unpaid debts to fucking hookers!" Kyoya nearly cried. His voice shook with each word and Haruhi could feel his pain echo through the car. "While he was pressuring me into becoming better and standing up to meet the expectations of the Ootori name, that scumbag was pissing away money. Ootori means nothing to him!" he shouted.
Haruhi froze unsure how to comfort her long time friend. He was the only one of their group that constantly had it put together. Everything had merit, and everything was a chess piece on Kyoya's board. He had no idea his dad wasn't even playing the same game.
"Kyoya I-I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say," she admitted quietly casting her eyes to the floor. His hand grasped hers and squeezed gently.
"I need to ask you a favor," he whispered barely audible to Haruhi's ears.
She turned her head and saw the wreck that he had truly become. "Anything for my friend," she assured him.
"Are you sure? I can't guarantee your safety, or that this will go well," he cautioned. His brown eyes meeting Haruhi's fully as the fragility washed away from his face, hardened by the seriousness of his warning.
Haruhi internally contemplated all of her options…she was secretly failing law school and didn't have much of a back up plan, certainly Kyoya knew of that fact. But he did imply it was a dangerous request, Kyoya had never steered her wrong in the past and the man was second to the Hitachiin's in the best friend department. Slowly, she nodded her head in compliance. "Yes. You are my friend Kyoya and I don't doubt your ability to think things through," she said firmly.
He nodded before throwing the car in gear and pulling out of the university parking lot. Haruhi clung to her seat as he whisked them through the roads. "Kyoya what the hell?" she asked practically terrified for her life.
"We have to meet the others. You were the last to agree and I was unsure as to whether you would agree or not," he chuckled.
"You ass, you rehearsed this all didn't you? Are you actually even broke?" she fumed.
"Haruhi, everything I said was true. I did go over what I was going to say to you, but the emotions I presented to you are never to leave this car. You are the most stubborn out of the group and cannot be easily bribed like the others. It was the most logical course of action," he replied. His gaze never left the road as Haruhi gaped at his audacity to string her along.
"I will only say this once, so listen to me very carefully. I. Am. Not. A. Pawn," she huffed before crossing her arms in anger.
"Dually noted," Kyoya smirked before going silent for the remainder of their ride.
Haruhi still fumed as she entered the familiar marble floors of the Hitachiin estate she knew far too well. As she followed Kyoya to the study where the others awaited she noticed that the guys had renovated once again, this time following a classical French renaissance style. She began to wonder if Tamaki had anything to do with the décor.
Lost in her admiration of the expensive vases and rugs, she hardly noticed when four sets of arms encompassed her slender frame.
"Haruhi! My darling daughter!" Tamaki sang as he tightened his grip.
Haruhi gasped for air as Tamaki squeezed her uncomfortably tight. The twins had to cut their embrace short to pry the blonde from Haruhi who stood coughing as her lungs breathed in much welcomed oxygen.
Honey was the second to embrace her but his short and sweet, much like the blonde she remembered from Ouran Academy. "Haru-chan!" he exclaimed in a much less high pitched voice. He had even grown a few inches taller than Haruhi and she even had to admit he had become quite handsome.
She smiled brightly as he stood before her. "Honey-senpai, I haven't seen you since my graduation," she replied before hugging him back.
"A lot of things have changed since then, I've been busy running the Haninozuka endeavors. We expanded and well, you know how crazy life can get Haru-chan. How are your studies going at university?" he asked as they all took their seats.
"Oh, well um-"
"We can reminisce and catch up after we discuss the matters at hand Honey," Kyoya interjected, cutting Haruhi off mid sentence. He sent her a quick look before facing everyone.
He definitely knows… Haruhi sighed unsure as to how that bit of information would play out in Kyoya's favor before turning her attention to the scheming man of the hour.
"As you all know I'm in a bit of a pinch. As of late I've been hashing out plans for a couple of clients. I will caution you all once more that this is not a weak task," Kyoya began.
Tamaki was the first in the group to speak up, "We all are friends Kyoya, and friends help each other when one friend is in any sort of trouble. It's what friends do!"
Kyoya curtly nodded and adjusted his glasses. "Alright then, now what I am about to propose may seem a bit insane but it's just what will be. This endeavor will not only help me might I add. It would be beneficial for you all," he concluded.
Haruhi glanced around the room taking in everyone's face. The only one that caught her attention was Mori's. He seemed more forlorn than she knew him to be, and something about the way he casted his eyes away made her chest tighten in anxiety. He sat in a chair near the antique, marble fireplace. It was as far away as he could possibly get without leaving the room. She began to wonder how Kyoya had convinced him to participate, or if he was only there simply because of Honey.
"We will be attending an event hosted by a sister company, now you are all to occupy the host and monitor the security. I will do the rest. There really is no need for any of you to know the minor details, so I will leave it at that. I suggest Haruhi that you wear something extra…distracting. That is all," he said keeping his attention pointed towards Haruhi.
She rolled her eyes and knew she would be turned into the twin's doll in no time.
"Don't worry, we have the perfect thing in mind," Hikaru replied to Kyoya's implication causing Haruhi to gulp.
"You're going to look amazing," Kaoru added with a wink and a devious smirk.
"Well with that, I believe Tamaki had some food that he ordered arriving shortly?" Kyoya asked only to confirm his question when Tamaki nodded vigorously.
While they waited each former host mingled and caught up with each other. After a long squeezing session from an all too giddy Tamaki, Haruhi quickly sought solace in Mori's company. He welcomed her with open arms, and completely devoid of excessive squeezing.
"Haruhi," he nodded as she stood before him.
It almost seemed dismissive but Haruhi knew that was simply how Takashi Morinozuka conversed with people. She gave him a bright smile and leaned against the frame of the fireplace. "Hi Mori-senpai."
He frowned at her formality "You can call me Takashi, I think it's about time."
Haruhi averted his gaze by admiring the white stone of the fireplace and its intricate detailing. "So what did Kyoya do to get you to come here? I can't imagine he bribed you with anything," she said trailing the curve of the mantle with her index finger.
Takashi gave a hint of a smirk. "You always were quite intuitive. He didn't bribe me, no, he simply convinced Mitskuni and I found his proposition intriguing." He slightly shifted his position so they were standing closer and away from prying ears. "And how may I ask did he get you to attend?" he asked in a hushed tone.
Haruhi was almost jittery with the close proximity of Takashi. He had told her exactly what her suspicions had figured from the start, but did she really want to tell him the truth? He succeeded in everything he did, and she somewhat had looked up to him in their high school days. Surely he would find no honor in her failing law school when she was perfectly capable of doing so. Amidst her thoughts she had failed to notice Takashi patiently waiting for her response until she saw him begin to trail the mantle of the fireplace as well. The soft touch of his hand brought her fully out of her own head.
"Oh, um sorry Mori-sen-, um Takashi…Kyoya basically gave me a sob story and I would do anything for any of you if you were in trouble. But I'm sure he knows something that even I don't know that he could potentially hold against me. It was in my best interest to say yes anyways," she rambled.
Takashi gave her a silent nod, his eyes filled with scrutiny. Haruhi didn't have to look hard to conclude that he was only buying half of what she was selling. But she simply couldn't say the truth, at least not yet anyways.
"You're a good friend to us all Haruhi," Takashi finally said with a small smile. The rare smile that she had only seen on a handful of occasions. One being when she was accepted into law-school and the twins insisted on throwing her a party. How she loved that sparse gesture.
"Thank you Takashi," she said giving him a smile in return.
Tamaki returned with a cart filled with food from everyone's favorite restaurant. One after the other, they each took their plate and sat around the coffee table that was placed in the middle of the room. Haruhi managed to sit between Takashi and Honey, avoiding having to sit between the twins or next to Tamaki. She was thankful she could enjoy her meal in relative peace.
"So Kyoya, how did your dad lose the money?" Kaoru was the first to ask the question that had been sitting on everyone's lips.
Haurhi knitted her brows together, Kyoya had only told her apparently. The knotted feeling in her gut grew larger. The twins could be just as cold and calculating as Kyoya, yet even she wouldn't have asked that particular question just yet.
"Bad investments I suppose one could say. The man really should learn to spend his money on more important things than hookers, and car racing." Kyoya said in a cool and collected tone.
Haruhi began to wonder just how put together her conniving friend could be. It was his nature after all. She glanced in his direction before quickly averting her eyes back towards her meal. She could feel a few sets of eyes set on her, and frankly it was getting on her last nerve.
The rest of the meal was eaten in relative peace, aside from Honey's constant whining about wanting more sweets and the twin's sarcasm towards Tamaki. She felt like she was home again, with her boys that she hadn't realized she missed so much. As the night died down, and everyone had been informed of what was expected of them for the days to come, Haruhi found herself on a balcony near her room in the Hitachiin estate. The night wind caught her hair and whipped it past her face, engulfing her in a cool breeze. She breathed in the fresh air and exhaled in an attempt to bring the knot a bit looser in her stomach. Haruhi knew that there was a chance that this could all go so very wrong, but she had constantly pushed the doubt aside in an attempt to focus on the days that lay ahead. As her thoughts traveled they took a sharp turn and a set of warm eyes filled her brain.
A/N: Well a new story, please read and review and tell me what you think! I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. I can wait to give you all more of this story! Updates will be regular. Thank you for reading! Message me if you have any questions! Kay bye! ^.^