A/N: Hello, all! This might be a somewhat long author's note but bear with me.
I've been on fanfiction a long time ( ten years) and written fanfics for everything from Teen Titans (2008 to 2011) to Breakfast club and Sherlock, to Harry Potter and Labyrinth. I am a little all over in and enjoy just about anything.
That being said I have NEVER tried to write for an anime/manga/dorama so this is completely new. The research is constant and time consuming and this story will only be three or four chapters ….but each chapter will be long...for example….this chapter is thirty pages long.
I did my best to keep true to the characters, the environment and individual personalities but I am not well versed in Japanese culture, (though I have really enjoyed doing the research.)
I have only watched the anime, not read the manga or watched the dorama so I will only be playing within the world of the anime (on Netflix) and everything will be relatively based on AU. Relationships will be somewhat compliant….ish…..this is a TamakiXHaruhi for sure, may dabble with Kyoya but not sure yet. (Kyoya is my favorite)
Lastly, I do tend to write darker stories, blood and gore, mental instability, assault….etc etc etc…..but this story will be relatively tame….however I will be placing a warning at the beginning of each chapter as it is warranted so you all know what to expect. I will try not to take this story down too dark a path, focusing mainly on mind games, manipulation, sexuality and stalking. But I will try to keep this from going M in rating while allowing for some of the mature situations we see our teens get into.
All that being said, I do love feedback, so if I got something wrong, if I fall outside of a character feel free to let me know. Though, I do not like flames, so please refrain.
Updates will be slow as I have several other stories I am working on but as there will only be a handful of chapters I am hoping to complete this by the end of the month. Feel free to browse my page to see if I have any other stories you might like.
Lastly, I am going to write this as if season one was one year, and this story takes place after the final events of the last episode, at the beginning of the new school year. (Best way I could simplify, so, sorry if that bothers you.)
Read, review and enjoy!
Chapter One
The Enemy of the Fujioka's!
Haruhi Fujioka peered absently through the glass out onto the school grounds. Her brown eyes not really seeing or taking anything in, save for how bright and beautiful the day was.
A light chill in the air which was crisp and clean, with a rich blue sky and streaming sun made the outside world seem to beckon. Her mind wondered, but no real thoughts came.
She wondered what the day would bring, surely a day so resplendent would hold within its grasp something wonderful. The Host club was planning a night of stargazing, for a meteor show was due and Tamaki could not be subdued in his wish to enchant all the girls of Ouran Academy with such a show as that.
The night was anticipated, but the day, holding so much promise had nothing planned, save for classes and her eventual return to Music Room 3 after school. Considering the only other thing that was going to happen today was rather low on Haruhi's list and contained the possibility of dreadful daydreams, part of her truly wished for something spectacularly good to happen.
The faintest sigh escapes her lips and though students were not supposed to use their phones during class or in the halls during school hours, save for emergencies, when her cell vibrates quietly in her pocket Haruhi answers.
She has been waiting here in this deserted hall, staring out the large window for this very reason. The beautiful view before her just a bonus considering she knows who is calling and why.
Normally a calm and practical girl, Haruhi feels her heartbeat increase, a small swirl of dread in her stomach and her hands tremble just barely as she flips open her phone and presses the device to her ear.
"Hey, dad."
"Haruhi-" but he stops, the feminine tone that often accompanies his rather melodious voice isn't present. There is hesitancy when he says her name, a desire given in that one utterance that he does not want to confirm his daughters fears, does not want to give her the bad news.
But, as was acknowledged a paragraph before, Haruhi is a practical girl, and so, she takes the responsibility upon herself and says, "He was released, wasn't he." it's a statement, one that comes out in a rather indifferent tone.
"Yes." her father says, a sorrowful affirmation that has the barest hint of rage hidden far below.
In the back of her mind she hears the faintest of music, a piano, Chopin. Memories coming unbidden that send a shiver through her body, yet her face remains stoic.
"It's been nine years, Dad. I'm not surprised, especially since he didn't-"
"Don't you dare, Haruhi!" the man says with frustration and the girl looks down at her shoes, eyes half-lidded as she prepares for the oft repeated speech she has heard so many times over the years.
"Do not soft-pedal what that man did to you, how he acted. He may not have physically hurt you, but he acted inappropriately towards you on levels I will not even begin to discuss with you over the phone! He manipulated you."
"Dad, please, just….calm down." Haruhi says softly, not wanting to get into this particular pontification, especially with her father. Lord knew, when she got to the Host Club tonight she would get enough of it from Tamaki.
"Haruhi-" Her father suddenly says and the girl's focus slowly returns to the soft and gentle tone of her father, "Yes, dad?"
"Did you give the Order of Protection I sent with you to the headmaster?"
Haruhi felt heat rush to her cheeks and a bead of sweat rolled down her temple at the memory, her eyes clamping shut hard as she lets out a sigh, "Yes. I explained the situation, but asked him not to tell anyone aside from my teachers. I don't want-" she stops.
Thoughts of people finding out suddenly praying on her mind, though, it really shouldn't. She wasn't the type to care what others thought, the only thing that mattered is what is on the inside, yet, for some reason, this one thing….she just doesn't want others to know, especially the over-privileged and rather judgmental children of the rich and famous.
It's just too personal-
"I understand, sweetie. Are you going to tell the boys?" and the question is an innocent one but Haruhi finds her mind going blank and her eyes staring wide out the window. She hadn't even thought about whether to tell them the situation.
"I- I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it. I don't know if I want to tell them, Tamaki and the others...it's… kind of personal. Though, knowing Kyoya, he might already know." She says truthfully.
"Well, in my opinion, after everything you have all been through the last year, telling them, may be just the thing to help you feel comfortable and safe. Those boys wouldn't let anything happen to you….especially Tamaki-" her father says the Host Club King's name with venom and Haruhi nearly smiles, but it fades again within seconds.
Such a beautiful day, to have such a bad thing happen, I'd say it was unfair if I wasn't so mature-
"You might find telling them will bring you some peace of mind. They are your friends afters all."
"Thanks, dad. I will keep that in mind. I have to go now, okay?"
"Alright, but Haruhi-"
"Yeah?"
"You will call me the instant you feel unsafe, you call me if you see him and you will tell the headmaster, yes?"
"Of course. Don't worry, dad. But it's been years, right? I doubt he would know how to find me, and I am sure he isn't interested in me anymore. I mean, Dr. Sato wouldn't be so stupid as to-"
"Do not underestimate him. The man was sick, no telling if his time in prison made him better or only made him worse. You promise me right now, young lady, the instant you feel unsafe….if you see anyone who even resembles him-"
"Yes, okay, calm down, dad. I promise, alright? I swear." and Haruhi looks to the clock on the wall behind her before glancing out the window one more time, "I really have to go. Love you."
"Alright, love you too, sweetheart."
She ends the call swiftly, pockets the phone and picks up her pack from the ground, turning to head towards her final class of the day, hoping that aside from Dr. Sato's release from prison, nothing else will go wrong on such a beautiful day.
PAGE BREAK
It had not occurred to Kyoya that the conversation might have been better left unheard. While he was never one to breech his friends trust, nor dig into their background in anyway other than what was expected of him for the Host Club, he finds himself now in a rather peculiar situation.
He makes it his business to know the business of others, though even he has a moral center he does not often ignore….unless of course there is something to gain.
Still, he had walked out of the science and technology lab only to find Haruhi Fujioka doing something rather out of character. The girl was not one for breaking rules. So, upon finding her during school hours, in a deserted hall and on her cellphone he gave pause and waited in the recessed doorway for the girl to speak with her father.
The conversation, though one sided for him, told a very disturbing story, one he had not found when he had previously looked into Haruhi's background despite the girl's obvious belief in his ability to do so.
A year had passed since the girl's admittance to the Host Club and given how easy going she was and how much everyone liked her, there had been no need to dig deeper, she was a money maker after all, second only to Tamaki.
She had come far since the fateful day she broke the vauze, had an affect on everyone in the club and many of the students in her grade as well as the grades above her.
Intelligent, kind and practical Kyoya found she irritated him the least out of all the members of the club and often found her the perfect study company, peacefully quiet and more than easy to talk to, even though his class work was above hers. She learned quickly and he found it helped him to focus when he would explain things to her.
She was his friend, not something easily earned in the eyes of the Ootori family. Trust was a precious commodity and friendship was both a weakness and a sacred blessing, though he seemed to be the only one in his family to think so fondly on the idea.
Still, given he had unintentionally just invaded his young friends privacy he felt something he often did not: a twinge of guilt and a drop of concern, both rather unsettling but prevalent nonetheless.
His dark eyes watched her when she finished the call, tucking her phone away before grabbing up her bag and walking away, often relaxed and casual, her steps seemed a little slower than normal, almost heavy.
Like the walk of the damned. I should leave well enough alone, yet, this droplet of concern may pray on my mind and serve to distract me from my duties and classes. It simply will not do.
The best thing would be to decide on if he should approach now, or wait for something to happen that would press Haruhi to share.
Giving to the fact the entirety of the conversation had been lost on him and he had only heard Haruhi's side of it he should not jump to conclusions. Yet, the many hours of private conversation about her that he and Tamaki had shared gave Kyoya a rather healthy bit of knowledge about Haruhi and her tendencies.
Her Modus Operandi, as it were, and Kyoya knew that Haruhi had been programmed at a young age to be extremely self reliant and to deal with her problems, and the problems that life can bring so shrewdly into the fold, on her own.
No, her personality did seem to dictate she would keep this troublesome new predicament to herself, try to face this Dr. Sato on her own, if and when he came calling.
That is where I shall start than. Sato is a common enough name, but by narrowing it down to a doctor and one who was sent to prison nearly nine years ago, I can most assuredly find the information I need to assess the situation to its fullest degree.
Kyoya was decided then, and he would refrain from filling anyone else in unless he deemed it appropriate.
Haruhi was out of the hall now, having turned the corner and proceeded to her next class. Kyoya needed to be on his way to his next class as well, only, as he turned to go he was stopped when his own cell suddenly erupted with vibrations in his pocket.
He removed the device slowly, his eyes glancing around before looking at the screen and seeing it was none other than Haruhi's father, Ranka, calling.
Perhaps I won't have to dig too hard after all.
"Hello, Mrs. Fujioka, how may I be of assistance to you today, did you wish for an update on Haruhi?" a small smile hitting the corner of his mouth as the man spoke quickly and with worry.
Excellent.
PAGE BREAK
Far across the city, near the outskirts, where alleys were dark and the streets dirty, a man walked slowly, his sharp green eyes studying the pavement, a bag on his shoulder and hands in his pockets.
Dark auburn hair reflected violently in the sun's glow, which soaked the buildings around him in a rather celestial display of light. He wondered if the world always looked to beautiful after getting out of prison. Was he the only one to notice, or did everyone see their first day of freedom like this.
He reached a corner, looking at the streets before him, mostly empty of cars, save those few work trucks slowly putting down the road or cyclists trying to save money pressing through the crisp air in a hurry.
He waited there, no rush to make headway towards his destination. He had plenty of time, having been a psychologist from a well standing family, despite all the shame and dishonor he had brought in his wake, he had a place to go. It had all been arranged, and he would arrive there precisely when he meant to.
But first-
From the pocket of his coat he pulled a picture, folded and near destroyed with age, his hands opening it and gazing down at the little one, his Shojo, the girl he had been so lost without the last nine years.
"Haruhi, my sweet little lamb." the picture had been taken just before he had been arrested, she was seven, though her eyes held a wisdom beyond her years, a maturity that fascinated him to no end. Yet, with all her maturity, her face held a far away look, the look of dreams and wondrously simple thoughts invoked in him so much affection.
"I missed you, my sweet Shojo." he wonders if she missed him too, all their games, the music, their long conversations…
From his other pocket he pulled a gold watch, hanging from a fine chain that shines brilliantly in the sun's light.
I will make my way to you, my sweet little shojo. But first, I must prepare. Nine years, nine years without your beautiful mind, without those glowing inquisitive eyes and that soft knowing smile.
He pops the face of the pocket watch open and glances the time, just passed noon, he had much to do. So much to get ready, so their games could begin once again.
You're not a little girl now, no, no doubt you are the most beautiful of women. I cannot wait to see how you have grown. I've been waiting so long, now, our age will not stand in the way of the love we share. We will be together at last, my sweet shojo. I am coming.
He folds the picture and places that and the pocket watch back into his coat, hands following before he turns left and continues his long walk, looking to the blue horizon and the city that was so far away and yet so close.
Somewhere, among the bustling city streets, amidst the masses and the learned scholars, his sweet little lamb waited. He would find her, and this time, he wouldn't lose her. This time, he would protect her and keep her safe, keep her with him, like she should have been the whole time.
PAGE BREAK
Haruhi sat between Hikaru and Kaoru as was their usual, the girl staring blankly ahead, her usually swift note taking hand rested lifeless next to the pages of her notebook.
It had been odd to say the least, the phone call with her father, and the feelings such a call invoked within. The dread was there but it was more a minor ache. The dominant emotions within her mind right now, seemed to be anxiety laced with a cool fear.
Though even those, were more calm than she had expected. Haruhi was not scared of anything, save for thunderstorms. Even those, were now manageable as she had friends who had grown very good at either distracting her or offering comfort. She wasn't alone anymore.
Brown eyes slowly scanned to the twin on her right, before glancing to the twin on her left. Both their faces shared the same bored look, though Kaoru did glance her way, having been the one to notice her slightly less than happy demeanor upon arrival.
He had slid her a note when class had started, Alright? it had read simply and Haruhi had simply given him one single nod, his eyes returning to the front of the class with a shrug.
As she sat between them, she had noticed that her feelings, the anxiety and fear, had died down considerably and she thought on what her father had said as her eyes once again glanced between the two.
A note appeared next to her left arm and she very slowly reached for it, opening it to spy Hikaru's less than graceful scrawl, Alright, kitty cat?
The nickname had started two months ago, as well as the fact that only Hikaru called her such a name. Though, it was never with irreverence, there was always affection when he used such a name and he only ever seemed to use it when they were alone, never in front of the others.
She often wondered if Kaoru knew of their secret, or if he at all cared to find out. After the last year, the twins had begun to finally loosen the tight rope of knots they had bound around themselves, opening up and spending time both together and separately.
It had been easier for Kaoru than Hikaru, but now, given the events that had transpired, Haruhi noticed both twins seemed to be exploring the boundaries beyond their self-imposed duplicity.
Haruhi let out the faintest of sighs, something so soft that no one should have heard it, but both the twins, which often reminded Haruhi of clever foxes, did, their heads turning to gaze at her subtly before the girl simply nodded once at her friend and then she returned her gaze to the board.
Nothing the teacher said sunk in, her hand unable or unwilling to transfer the collage of notes from the board to her notebook.
Haruhi's mind returned to the thought of possibly telling the club about the situation. Her father had been right, just being in the presence of the twins, having one on either side, had calmed her nerves.
She did feel safer with them near her, and by the time they got to Music Room 3 she had no doubt the presence of Honey Senpai, Mori Senpai, Kyoya Senpai and Tamaki would alleviate her worries all together.
Dr. Sato would not be stupid enough to come looking for me, not after spending nine years in prison...would he? Surely, he would want to focus on getting his life back together, on figuring out what he was going to do now. Tracking down some girl he had only known for two years, no matter how strange and intimate those two years had become, he wouldn't risk it, especially not with the Order of Protection, no, that would end him right back in jail-
A voice came to her mind, one she had not heard in a very long time, one that for several years had been a recurring feature of her dreams.
Haruhi, my little lamb, today we are going to do some word associations. All you have to do, is look at these images and say the first word that comes into your mind, can you do that for me?
Alright, Dr. Sato.
Haruhi, I told you, please, call me Nicholas. We are friends, you may call me by my first name.
Yes, Nicholas.
Good girl, now, look at these pictures for me, that's a girl, now tell me, what do you see?
Haruhi, her skin erupting in goosebumps, looked down at the empty pages of her notebook and her hands fisted gently on the table before her.
She wasn't necessarily afraid of Dr. Sato. He had never hurt her, not physically. Despite his sick obsession with her, Sato had never touched her in anyway that was inappropriate. It was what he had tried to do to her mind.
It was so vague in her memories, just haunting conversations, strange tests the man would made her do. Tests that seemingly had no bearing on helping her cope with the loss of her mother.
When she had gotten older, maybe thirteen, her father had told her why what Dr. Sato had done was wrong. Why he was arrested even though he had not molested her.
He...did things to your mind, Haruhi. He manipulated you into believing things that weren't true.
But...how….I don't understand….and I don't remember it, none of it.
We never figured out how he...did it. But you don't understand how grateful I am that you don't remember. You have a chance to grow, move on and forget, not many people can after such a traumatic event.
Traumatic?
She had never been able to piece together what had actually happened and so she had simply elected to move on. One of her strengths was her indifference, not that she didn't care, but she had the ability to rationalize that if she couldn't remember then it was probably for the best.
Haruhi had moved on, still, even to this day, nine years later little pieces of fluttering memories would come to her when she was alone. And in those moments she would stare off, trying to grab on to the butterfly memories that wouldn't stay still and let her remember what happened.
It's for the best, just let it go, focus on what you have now and not on a past you can't even remember. You are safe, he won't come find you, he won't-
A shadow outside the doorway caught her eye but when she looked up there was nothing there and so looked back down just as quick, mentally kicking herself for a paranoia that was unfounded.
Keep it together Haruhi. Just, don't think about it. Class is almost over, just pick up your pencil and take the notes before it's too late.
She stared at her hand, the thing unmoving and the swirl of dread in her stomach seemed to flicker a little, pulling just that bit more tight.
She didn't noticed the twins had been watching her the whole time, or the way they locked eyes, eyes laced with both worry and curiosity. There was a new discovery to be made, that being, what had Haruhi down in the dumps?
They smirked at each other and gave a soft nod before looking back at the board.
PAGE BREAK
Kyoya left class as soon as it was done, walking outside to find Ranka waiting in the shade of the cherry blossom trees. He approached slow, not wanting to draw attention to the fact he was meeting some "unknown" person on school grounds at the end of the day.
"Hello, Mr. Fujioka, you wanted to speak to me?" as he grew closer he noticed the man wasn't wearing his regular effeminate attire. No, it appeared that today, he was Ryoji though he still prefered to be called Ranka.
"Ah, Mr. Ootori, thank you for meeting me."
"Please, call me Kyoya. I am friends with your daughter after all."
"Right, of course, thank you, then please, call me Ranka."
"As you wish, how can I be of service today, Ranka?"
"It could take some time to explain. Is there a chance you could meet me later tonight. In private?"
Kyoya's interest was peaked, but tonight was the Host Club's big meteor shower party. He would not be able to miss it, Tamaki would through a rather annoying fit if he wasn't in attendance.
"I suppose I could, but it would need to be after the Host Club's party. We are gathering with the fair maidens of Ouran Academy to watch the meteor shower. It's supposed to be quite the show."
Ranka smirked, "Of course, Haruhi told me about it. What time do you think it will be over?"
"The news said the shower should end around midnight. Don't suppose you have a place we could meet without Haruhi catching on?"
Ranka looked surprised, but Kyoya just smiled softly and said, "I assume she is the topic of discussion, as there would really be no other reason for you to reach out to me."
"I, uh, yes. Yes, this has to do with Haruhi, my precious little girl. I need your help-"
"With what? Surely she isn't in trouble? She does tend to keep her nose clean, despite her habit of falling in with Tamaki and the twins."
Ranka gave a rueful laugh, "Tamaki, never thought it'd be a boy like him that she- nothing, never mind, just, Haruhi isn't in trouble. But, she might be, if I don't have help protecting her, please, just agree to meet me. At the bar I work at, Haruhi doesn't come on nights she works for the Host Club. We will have privacy and I can explain everything, will you, please, Kyoya."
"Very well, expect me around twelve-thirty then."
"Right. Thank you."
"I will see you then." Kyoya turned and left, his mind practically on fire with trying to piece together what was going on. He had delegated the information gathering of Dr. Sato to one of the many many men that worked for his father. Discretion was key and there were only a few he would trust with finding such information out for him, but given the party tonight he did not have time to do his due-diligence in that regard.
Hopefully his contact would get back to him before he had to meet with Ranka, as he liked to know all the angles and surprises before they come. It gives a sense of security that he often felt naked without.
Between the conversation he had overheard and the extreme lengths Haruhi's father was willing to go to meet with him in private, the problem was one of an extremely delicate and possibly dangerous nature.
Kyoya wasn't anything if not cautious, unless it came to his friends, then of course, he was more akin to the steel of a blade, merciless and calculated, he would not be one to allow any harm to befall those he cared most about, no matter how irritating or annoying they could be.
The answers would come, all in due time, but having an ace up his sleeve never hurt, and Kyoya never left home without at least one ace up his sleeve.
PAGE BREAK
"Tamaki, would you stop fussing!" Haruhi snapped a little more forcefully than was her usual.
First the twins had hounded her all the way from class to the music room, and then when they arrive Tamaki had grabbed her up and started throwing props, makeup and jewelry at her in spades.
Another aspect that had changed since last year, she no longer called Tamaki her Senpai, but by his first name instead. Their relationship had probably changed the most, but still remained a strange stagnant thing that frustrated her to no end, though she rarely showed it.
Something about them had grown stranger and more bizarre since his almost marriage to the she devil, Eclair Tonnerre.
The fall off the bridge, their embrace, the dancing after….it was all so….different. She was seeing him in a new light, having had to wrestle with the fact that yes, she had been jealous that Tamaki had been giving that woman all his attention and then had essentially ran off with her.
The words, what about me, stilling ringing in her head off and on since he had dissolved the club and left.
Now that the new school year had started, now that things were back to normal, so was Tamaki, though now, Haruhi had the misfortune to notice the things she had not noticed before.
Like how every little thing she did and said could either set him off or make him adoringly happy. His moods had always been volatile, it's just who he was, but now, well….now she realized that eighty percent of his moods swings were directly related to her and how she thought of him.
It was disturbing to say the least, but it also made her realize how much a slave he was to his emotions and how quickly those emotions could change in regards to how she treated him.
The one plus out of all that had happened, was that a month ago she had got to spend a little time with him….and the others as none of them traveled very far without each other, no matter how annoyed it made her.
"But, but Haruhiiiiiii, you need to get ready! Look, I got you all these fancy things! Pick and choose, it's all for you, just choose what you like, oh please! Pleasepleaseplease, I think you'd look lovely in this shade of green-"
A flash of green eyes filled her mind and she shook her head to clear the image away before she stepped forward and placed her hand on his cheek, the young man instantly stilling, a relaxed calm taking over and she sighed before smiling up at him gently. Focus on Tamaki right now, help him focus so you can too. Everything will be okay, no one is going to hurt you.
"I will, alright? I promise, just relax, please, for me? Take a breath, alright?"
Tamaki did, taking a slow deep breath before he smiled down at her and said in that soft voice she liked so much, "Alright, Haruhi, just hurry, the party is only a few hours away and I need to make sure everyone's costumes fit. What you don't use I will return."
"There ya go, that's much easier to understand. Honestly, Tamaki, if you just said what you meant and not what you were feeling, it'd be a lot easier on all of us." she teased.
"I know. Sorry." he said as he closed his eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Now, let me take a look at those costumes."
"I put them in the changing room for you."
"Thanks." and Haruhi pulled away and headed for the changing room, very satisfied with that new trick, something she had figured out with a rather satisfied smirk.
If you just made Tamaki slow down, if you helped him calm his thoughts, he could express himself much more clearly. Direct touch worked the best, but sometimes a swift kick was needed as well.
Still, the entire club always seemed to marvel at her little trick, and while others (mostly the twins and Honey) had tried it, only Haruhi's touch seemed to calm him so completely. A fact that made her blush if she thought about it too hard.
Kyoya came in second, the man's still hand and calm voice often working nearly as well, though the effect didn't last as long. Usually about twenty minutes, sometimes less, though once Haruhi got him to remain calm and composed for nearly two hours.
It had been the most interesting thing to watch, Tamaki calm and collected, speaking clearly and coming up with ideas that actually made sense and in the end...actually worked.
Kyoya had joked with her privately that he might have to start calling her the Tamaki Whisperer. A comment which made her blush all the more, though in reality, the man was right, Haruhi only partially understood why she had such a calming effect on him.
She dared not to ask the infamous Kyoya, as his often blunt and honest replies tended to make her uneasy and surprise her in ways she would rather avoid.
The theme tonight was Stargazers Delight, so the outfits in comparison were meant to remind the ladies of stars, space and the universe.
Something Haruhi thought might be impossible to do, but when she opened the dressing room curtain and caught sight of her choice of outfits she was stunned.
There was either the choice of a 1600's style butler uniform, including knee high stockings and the tie down pants and waistcoat or a serving maids dress from the same era, nothing unusual for the Host Club, aside from the fact that these outfits were fitted with pearls, gold lace and silver frills and pearlescent overlays. Small stars were sown into both along the whole length of them, and some of the cross stitching designs resembled that of shooting stars and comets.
They were stunning, even by Tamaki's high standards and as she stared she wasn't sure which to choose. He rarely gave her a choice, often times just throwing her into whichever one suited his fancy.
As she walked into the changing room, staring in awe at how beautiful they were she didn't hear the door open and close softly behind her. Her hand reached for the dress, feeling the slick overlays and seeing how the entire piece shined in the lights of the room.
"I wanted costumes as beautiful as you." His presence didn't surprise her, nor did the soft lull of his voice. Normally such a line would not work on her, but the thing was, the sincerity in his voice could not be ignored and she turned to look at him, seeing those violet eyes gaze down at her with a tender and yet longing gleam.
A soft smile to his lips and then he took her hand and raised it to his mouth, where he placed the softest of kisses.
"Tamaki-" she says softly, the surprise at his actions honest, though at this point it should not surprise her anymore at all.
His hands then took her upper arms, running down slow before he leaned closer, "Tell me, Haruhi, do you like them?"
She continued to gaze up into his eyes, for once, allowing herself to really look and see the charming gaze and handsome features.
"They're….lovely." she says for lack of anything better to say, still caught in his gaze and her heart flutters just a little.
"Which do you prefer, you can wear either. I know in the past I've been rather demanding on what costumes you were, about how you present yourself, but given how wonderful tonight will be, I want you to decide for yourself, which one do you want to wear, my lovely Haruhi?"
Still staring, still too stunned for words, "Uh, I...don't...I'm not...sure."
"No worries, may I recommend?"
"Uh...sure."
"The uniform would look more the part, you are after all, still posing as a young man. But, the girls did so love the few times you've dressed like the woman you are. I think, given how special tonight is going to be, the dress may play more to their liking. I think they will swoon to see a boy in such a resplendent outfit."
Haruhi smirks and arches a brow, "Are you just saying that because that's the one you want to see me in?"
"Well, I'd be lying if I said no. But, what I said before was also the truth. So, tonight, why not wear the dress...it's all in good fun afterall, and you would look particularly stunning."
Normally Haruhi would call him on his bull shit, but, given their ever evolving relationship, for some reason, her practical nature and stubborn headedness gave way to his request and she looked up at him with a rather gentle smile, "Alright."
Tamaki's eyes grew wide, his lips parting, "You will?"
"Sure. If you want me to, then I don't see a problem with it." and her gentle smile turns into an all out grin before she laughs a little and Tamaki suddenly explodes.
"Oh! Haruhiii!" he wraps her in a bear hug and dances around like the idiot he was before Haruhi has had enough and quickly broke his hold, kicking him hard in the stomach and out of the changing room door.
"I told you I'd wear it, don't get all weird about it!"
"Haruhi, no, I didn't mean it! Thank you! I meant thank you! Please, don't be angry!"
"Just go." she says with an eye roll and the man quickly crawled away with his tail between his legs.
It was something she was working on, or at least, trying to work on. She still wasn't quite used to his jarring need to touch, hold and squeeze her. Since she first started here in the club she had tried to grow acclimated to Tamaki's many eccentricities, but even now, with her new perspective and slowly blooming feelings, she had a hard time when he came on so strong.
She was trying to curb her patience for it, but it was still hard sometimes not to want to kick him in the ass.
"Such a child, I swear." she mused as she started the arduous process of stripping out of her uniform for school and getting into the rather intricate process of a corset, and layers upon layers of pearlescent fabric.
"H-Haruhi?" comes Tamaki's timid call from the crack of the door, "Yes, Tamaki?"
"Would you like me to send in the twins to do your hair in a moment."
Haruhi sighed heavily and then said, "Sure. Thanks."
"Alright. You're going to be the loveliest-"
"Just go, let me relax and I promise I won't kick you again."
"Okay." he said before she heard the click of the door and then she sat down with a huff.
You shouldn't be so mean to him, he means well, he cares about you, he is your friend, why are you so mean….at least….why are you mean when he tries to….be so….touchy feely….it doesn't bother you when the twins get like that-
Because the twins don't like you- not like Tamaki does….not the way you like him back. But you shouldn't treat him so...if you like him, show him you like him….let him….let him express his feelings, however they come. Don't be like Eclair Tonnerre, don't torture him... don't be….like her...he deserves so much more….
Panic filled her a little at the thought that Tamaki would view her how he might view Eclair and suddenly she was standing and rushing from the room, calling his name, "Tamaki Senpai!"
"Haruhi? What is it?" he asked as he turned from the others, all having finally arrived but Haruhi only had eyes for him. She walked over quickly and embraced him, "I'm sorry." she said as she pressed her face into his chest.
"Haruhi…..for...for what?" and his arms wrapped around her gently.
"I didn't intend to be so mean, I just….I have a lot on my mind...I don't really feel like myself….there is something going on…. it's personal...but no matter how I feel about it…. I should never take it out on my friends. On you." and she held him tighter, nails digging into his blazer and the young man chuckled softly into the top of her head, "Oh Haruhi, I know you better than that. I know you're having a bad day. The twins told me that much. Whatever it is, just know we are here for you."
"Thank you."
"Uh….Haruhi-"
"Yes?" she said looking to Kaoru with a small smile, "Your...in your... underwear-" he whispered from behind a hand, all the boys looking rather shocked and embarrassed.
"Ahahahaha, Haruhi is in her underwear!" Honey Senpai yelled as he fell to the ground giggling.
"Stop it." Mori Senpai said softly as he crouched down next to him and poked the boy with annoyance.
"Oh. Yeah, I guess I am. I better go change." and just like that the Haruhi they knew was back, indifferent and practical, she turned and headed back for the changing room.
Laughing a little at the ruckus that followed in her wake, "Hey! Stop looking at my baby! Stop! Avert your eyes! I'm going to smack you all around if you don't-"
PAGE BREAK
The party was in full swing, and despite the fact Tamaki's alterior motive for the dress was clear, Haruhi had to admit, he was right and the girls were swarming her and going crazy for it.
The questions ran rampant, all the girls wanting to know how "he" could look so good dressed as a "she" and how "he" felt about it, and what made "him" decide to wear something so brazenly female.
Haruhi was on arms all night, having so many requests from the overly inquisitive girls that at one point she had to asked Kyoya to be excused so she could catch her breath.
It was fascinating to the ladies in attendance, wanting to ask her questions, some so blunt as to ask if she was a cross dresser outside of school, others less so and simply revolving around her thoughts on the idea of sexisim and feminisim.
Those type of questions Haruhi enjoyed, able to openly give her honest opinion and share her thoughts on the matter. The more crass ones were a little more tricky, for she didn't want to offend anyone, nor did she want to share too much about her own father as that might lead any of the girls to try and look into Haruhi's background, something that would not end well.
Ranga had made an appearance, dressed as Sailor Moon, the princesses flowing white dress and long blond locks appearing to go quite well with her slender figure and natural hair.
They were all out in the courtyard gardens behind the ballroom they had used last year. The night Haruhi had given her first kiss to the girl Kanako, damn Tamaki for being such a clutz. Though in all honesty it didn't really bother her to have given her first kiss to such a nice person, it had been rather enjoyable if not completely awkward.
Still, there was a little while to wait for the meteor shower to start and so the usual spread of expensive teas and sweet treats were available and so was a small floor on which to dance. As it was after school hours, the girls had all warn lovely evening gowns, most in colors that compliment the theme of Star Gazing
The boys were working relentlessly, as more girls than normal had turned out to see the show, some not even choosing a host so much as spending time with friends and enjoying a fun night.
They had paid for entry, so Kyoya would still be happy to see they met their quota, even if not all the girls were looking to spend time with a host.
The gardens had been spun up with hanging lights, lanterns and beautiful pieces of silver and gold that hung from the surrounding trees.
It was ethereal in it's glow and as Haruhi looked down from the balcony to see all the people, to watch her friends enjoy themselves and see how pretty it all was she felt her heart rest in contentment and a small smile came to her face.
"I love when you smile." came the soft call of that all too familiar voice.
"How do you always know when I am alone." she said without breaking her gaze from the party.
"I don't know when you are alone, I just notice when you are not there." and the reply could be seen as a joke, yet his tone indicated that he was rather serious and she turned her head to look at him, her elbows still resting on the balcony rail and the smile staying in place.
"You do look so lovely, glad you decided against the wig." he said as he came to lean next to her, his violet eyes joining her gaze down towards the party.
"I thought you liked me with long hair." Haruhi teased sarcastically.
"I like you as you are. The long hair is just a bonus." he teased right back.
"Hm, you're so weird sometimes."
"I can be. But I can also be serious."
She finally looks at him, studying the side view of his face as Tamaki smirks softly, "You'd prefer that, wouldn't you? If I were more serious, if I could….stay cool and relaxed like Kyoya or Mori?"
"What? No, I don't feel that way at all. I like who you are, it's just….sometimes it's a little overwhelming. But, I wouldn't change who you are for the world, Senpai."
"I thought we talked about that, no more Senpai. I'm not teaching you anymore, you don't need it, we are equals, always….in everything. And no one is your master." and he finally glances at her from under those shining blonde bangs and Haruhi felt the blush erupt on her cheeks.
She went to look away but a hand came to her chin, "Don't-" he starts suddenly, "Don't look away, I want to see….I like when you….you're so cute when you blush." he amends before he leans a little closer.
"Tamaki-" she near whispers and her heart beats that little bit faster, her stomach clenching with an anxiety that is far more pleasant than what she felt earlier in the afternoon.
"I just want….one….tonight...I promised myself tonight I would….get one…" Tamaki murmured.
"One what?" Haruhi asked so faintly, her breath near stopping as he moved a little closer.
"Haruhi, please, may I just have one...one lovely little….ki-"
"TAMA-CHAN! TAMA-CHAN, WE NEEEEED YOU!" and Haruhi heard the young man curse under his breath as he bowed his head.
"Damn it."
They both looked over the balcony at Honey Senpai who was perched on top of Mori Senpai's shoulders, swinging his rabbit by the leg in an attempt to flag the younger man down.
"The shower is about to start, it's time to make an announcement! Hurry! Hurry!"
Tamaki sighed and then stood to his full height, gazing down at the pair who turned away, Mori Senpai with a rather apologetic look etched faintly across his face.
"That's enough." the tall boy said to Honey in his deep voice, the girls fluttering around them as they walked away.
"Tamaki-" Haruhi said as she placed a hand on his chest, Tamaki looked down at her hand in surprise and then looked to her, "What were you going to ask me, can you have what?"
Tamaki took a step back and swallowed, "N-Nothing, just….later….we can talk later, okay Haruhi?"
"Alright. Should I wait here or-"
"No! Er, how about we meet by the swans statue just after the shower starts. We can have some...uhm…..privacy. Alright?"
"Yeah. Okay." she says with a nod and Tamaki turns, "Great, see you then." he says before he makes his way down the stairs and back to the party, preparing to announce the start of the shower.
"Haruhi!" and the girl looked down to see Kyoya motioning for her to join them, "Best come down now, your guests are waiting!"
"Alright, I'll be right there, Kyoya Senpai!" the heat in her cheeks slowly fading as she made to go down.
"So odd." she says softly as she descends the stairs, careful to not trip on her dress as she goes, her mind filled with the conversation that had just taken place.
I think…..I think Tamaki was going to…..ask to….kiss me.
Haruhi thought about how it made her feel, happy? Scared? Excited? Indifferent? Uncomfortable? Elated?
She wasn't sure, but she knew it wasn't a bad feeling, maybe uncertain was the right word. After all, being the practical girl she was, Haruhi knew that something as simple as a kiss was not always so simple at all.
What would it mean to her, what would it mean to Tamaki? Would their friendship change? Would he think of her different, treat her different?
She needed advice, but who should she ask?
Her gaze ran across the crowd, landing on the twins who were currently intertwined in one of their rather "taboo" holds, the girls ogling and squealing like mad.
Her eyes jumped to Honey Senpai and Mori Senpai, only to see that they two were in the middle of their often coveted pose of caregiver and young ward. The girls with them fawning over how cute it was that Mori Senpai cared so much about little Honey Senpai.
Finally her eyes landed on Kyoya Senpai who was in the process of bidding a young lady adue via a graceful kiss to her hand, before bowing and moving away. Seconds later he was buried in one of his many notebooks, writing quickly as he waited for the star gazing to begin.
Standing casually by the light controls and ready to lower the hanging lights and lanterns and shut off the lights from inside the ballroom so that they could all see the show more easily.
While Kyoya Senpai wasn't her first choice, he wasn't her last choice and so she crossed to him swiftly, trying to make it there before she was nabbed by a group of girls.
"Kyoya Senpai-"
"Aren't you supposed to be working?" he asks softly as his eyes continue to stare down into his binder.
"Yeah, I mean, I will….I just...need your help."
Surprisingly this seemed to get the young man's attention, his eyes looking up for a moment before finding her, his hand snapping his binder shut and pressing the pencil behind his ear. Normally nothing could tear him away from his work, but for some reason he had elected to take mercy on her, a very un-Kyoya choice.
"Alright. What can I help you with?"
Haruhi suddenly wasn't so sure this was a good idea, as Kyoya's sharp gaze was suddenly locked on her and and the blush had returned to her cheeks.
"My my, Haruhi, are you… blushing?" his tone was inquisitive, barely surprised but he hadn't expected such a response nonetheless.
"I...um, well….I think...Tamaki….wants to….I think he may want to…"
Kyoya's unblinking and solid gaze made Haruhi pause and she stared right back, not one to avoid eye contact unless she felt overwhelmed.
Holding his gaze seemed to calm her, No matter how aloof Kyoya acts, he has proven he is my friend, I can trust him, he will help me.
She found herself speaking clear and concise, "I think Tamaki wants to kiss me. Tonight. During the shower."
Kyoya's brow raised a little at the omission, clearly not being what he had expected her to say but only slightly surprised, though as he often did, he played it off perfectly.
"That shouldn't be such a surprise. I mean, I know you have a hard time relying on others and matters of the romantic do tend to go over your head. But, as far as I can tell, since the end of last year and the beginning of this one, you two have grown remarkably close. Does it really shock you he would try and steal a kiss from such a pretty lady as yourself?"
Haruhi thought about that a moment and then asked, "So, you think that's all it is? He isn't wanting to...change anything….he just wants...a kiss….for...fun?"
"No. I didn't say that." the young man mused casually.
Haruhi's lips parted and her eyes grew wide as she waited, "It's obvious he has feelings for you. But, the only way to find out how deep they go or what he might want from you is to ask him. Honestly, I've never been good at guessing what goes through that inordinately stupid and messy head of his."
"But-"
"The best advice I can give you, Haruhi, is to go to him, ask him yourself. Tamaki will be honest with you. And even if he isn't, a girl like you, can read a man like him like an open book. You'll know his intentions as soon as you look at him."
"Right. You're right. I should just ask him, be up front."
"Excellent. Glad to have helped." the man sighed but he was already back in his book and making more notes.
Haruhi shrugged before she turned to go, only to be stopped by a call from Kyoya, "Haruhi-"
She turned back, "Don't do anything you are uncomfortable with. If he wants you….and you don't return his feelings….you best tell him up front. Or things will change, and not for the better." his practical and cool voice ringing like a chime in her head.
Haruhi understood completely and nodded once her understanding before she turned away again and walked into the crowd. Finding the group of girls that had been waiting for her return and they all settled down to wait for Tamaki's opening show speech.
PAGE BREAK
After Tamaki made his rather loud and highly over dramatic segway into the shower, Kyoya had dimmed the lights and it only took a few minutes for everyone's eyes to adjust. The shower started soon after, the entire party whew'ed and awed over the display. Thousands of streaks across the sky creating the most beautiful show.
Haruhi had never seen anything like it, and if she wasn't expected else where she would have stayed to enjoy it as long as she could.
But she knew Tamaki would be waiting, slipping away as soon as the lights had dimmed and the show had started.
"Excuse me Ladies, I will be right back." Haruhi offered and the girls nearly didn't respond, their eyes nothing but bedazzled reflections of the skies above.
She made her way through the crowd, near the edge of the gathering so as not to attract attention. When she moved into the shadows she removed the heels and set them aside, not wanting to draw anyone's eyes via the click of her shoes on the cement.
Then, she shimmied around the stage and moved down the dark path towards where the statue of the Swans were.
She stood there waiting in the dark, just able to see the dimmed lights on the far side of the stage and hear the faint din of chattering people.
"Fancy meeting you here." and Haruhi turned to see Tamaki emerge from the dark shadows of the trees, "You asked me here." Haruhi said and Tamaki laughed softly.
"Yeah. I suppose I did. But we won't be interrupted here and I have something very important I want to ask you."
"Sure." Haruhi said as she stood there waiting, Tamaki walking up to her directly and taking her hands.
She looked down to view their fingers laced together before gazing up into his shadowed face, "Haruhi, I have wanted to ask this for...for a really long time...and honestly, I'm a little nervous."
"It's alright, Tamaki Sen- I mean, Tamaki. Don't be nervous, just ask me." she offers with a soft smile.
"Right. Okay. Haruhi….Haruhi…..may I….can I….please...may I have a….k-kiss?" his voice came out a little strangled, his eyes worried yet desperate and his hands held her tighter as he waited.
But Haruhi knew she had to be smart about this and so asked a question of her own, "What type of kiss?"
Tamaki nearly fell over but was quick to respond, his words coming fast, "A kiss, any kiss, just one...please...I've wanted it so long, I think I'll burst if I don't-"
He stops when her hand comes to his face, her eyes meeting his firmly and she says, "No, you weirdo, what kind of kiss? A kiss between friends or…something else." and in that moment she can't hold his gaze and looks away, the blush coming back.
But his hand is quick to take her jaw gently between fingers as he raises her face to look at him and he says, "No, not a kiss between friends….though anything more intimate can wait until you are ready. I just want a kiss, we can work out the details later." and the soft chuckle she hears is reassuring, somehow it soothes her.
"It won't...change anything right? I mean, you will still be the same old Tamaki, and I-"
Another soft chuckle, "Of course not. You'll still be the same old Haruhi, and we will still be friends. I...want us to be more….but I don't think you're ready for that just yet. I can wait though, patience is a virtue, after all."
Haruhi felt something happen to her face that had never happened before, something new, she...it felt...different somehow….as if it was completely relaxed. Her eyes closing just a little more and she leaned in, her lips parting as Tamaki stared down at her with surprise.
"Alright. If you want-" but she didn't finish because seconds later Tamaki had met her lips with his own and the world went silent.
It was short, not lasting but a few seconds before he pulled away and closed his eyes, "Sorry, I was a bit premature...but...t-that was…"
But Haruhi felt her heart flutter a shade harder and her hand moved from his cheek to the back of his head, pulling him back down to her, their lips coming together again softly, as gentle breaths puffed from their nose and suddenly Tamaki's hand was sliding around her waist and pulling her close against him, the other gently cupping the back of her head.
It was real, warm and Haruhi had never felt the emotions currently running through her body. In all her life, practical and relaxed had been her thing, it was her comfort zone and how she was most happy. She loved herself just the way she was, but in kissing Tamaki the emotions she often didn't feel so strongly, if at all, seemed to blaze to life.
It was unnerving, scary and...if she was being honest….it felt good. Good to feel these emotions so much more strongly than she had before, all focused on one person, on specific person and her head swam just a little.
He tastes like instant coffee and sweet cakes, his lips are so warm and soft, I wonder if he lotions them. That's a really weird thought...why am I thinking about that when I am currently-
Tamaki pulled away just a little, panting against her lips, eyes opening only a crack to gaze at her, "Haruhi, I need to tell you something." he said softly as he looked at her with eyes that near shined.
"What is it, Tamaki?" her mind clearing a little as she focused on him.
"I want you to know, for a long time...I thought of you as my daughter...someone who needed to be protected because the world was some big bad scary place."
"And how do you think of me now, Tamaki?" she asked, honestly curious as even she had noticed his strange obsession with treating her like a daughter and hovering like a concerned parent.
"Now, I see you as…..as-" but Tamaki never got to finish, because just then there was a shriek from the crowd beyond the stage.
"Oh my gosh! Fire! Somebody, there's a fire!"
Haruhi gasped and Tamaki grabbed her wrist, both taking off towards the stage as a red glow grew and started to light up the trees surrounding the gardens.
As Haruhi and Tamaki came around the corner all the girls were moving away from the stage and towards the stairs, "Everyone, move! Quickly now! Mori Senpai, put it out!" Kyoya yelled both while directing the girls up the stairs and inside and tossing an extinguisher to the tall young man who was quick to start blasting the blaze.
"Kyoya, what happened?" Tamaki called over the shouts and panic, "The stage caught fire, here!" and the man tossed another extinguisher to the blonde who caught it and looked to Haruhi, "Make sure all the girls get inside and stay there! Then call the fire department!"
"Got it!" Haruhi yelled and she started to help Kyoya guide the girls in and helped the stragglers up the stairs.
Honey Senpai was with the twins who were busy unplugging all the electrical cords and grabbing buckets of water from the fountain nearby.
"Get back!" Mori Senpai yelled at Honey Senpai. He had strayed a little too close to the fire for Mori Senpai's comfort even though he was being just as level headed as the rest of the group, and Kuaro grabbed him and moved him further back.
The blaze lit up the surrounding area, and despite how fast the boys worked, they knew that the night was over and the evening was lost.
PAGE BREAK
It took about ten minutes to put the fire out, another ten before the fire department showed up to help as well as ascertain what could have caused it.
The boys, all singed, save for Kyoya, stood in a group and answered question after question. Though honestly, Haruhi was in no better position. While she had avoided the soot and heat she had been keeping an eye on the girls and trying to get them all to remain calm. She too had to answer questions about both the event, where she had been just prior to the fire starting and what she thought may have caused it.
By the time it was all said and done, the shower was long since over and everyone headed home. The Host Club having their first official serious "incident" since they formed, Kyoya was in no mood to be bothered as he knew both he and Tamaki would have to answer to both the board and the chairman for why something so simple as a night of stargazing had ended in a blaze of fire and fear.
Even with all that, the night was still not over for Kyoya and so he made his way to the company care, ordering his driver to take him to a part of town he would rather not be seen in and to wait down the street from the bar as he went inside to meet Ranka.
Thankfully on the way over his contact had called, giving him as much information as he could find about the Doctor in question. A Nicholas Sato as it were, and while it didn't answer all his questions, it definitely clarified a few of the finer points.
"Oh my sweet boy! Are you alright? You look exhausted." the woman at the door said, though it was relatively easy to see she was a man.
"I'm fine. I am actually here to meet with Mrs. Ranka Fujioka, we have an appointment."
"Ah, right this way. She said you would be coming, just through here please." and the woman pulled back a curtain, the inside room rather nice considering the type of establishment it was.
The dim light was kind on his eyes and sitting at a round wooden table was Haruhi's father, dressed to the nines and looking lovely.
"You look fetching, Ranka. Having a good night, are we?" he asked as he set his briefcase aside and took the chair across from her.
"Thank you, Kyoya, my you are always so charming. My dear boy, are you alright? You look-"
"Tired? Yes, about that, tonight at the party someone started a little fire. You wouldn't know whom would have done such a thing, hm?" he asked, his hard eyes looking at her though his face remained impassive and kind.
"A fire? Is my Haruhi alright?" the man asked quickly, nearly standing to run off.
Kyoya gently grabbed him by the arm, "Haruhi is fine, and safe. Please, sit down. I do not have a lot of time. I have a damage and claims report to file, as well as a debriefing for the board members and chairman that will be due no doubt by morning. Honestly, if this wasn't about Haruhi I wouldn't have come at all. Please, sit. Tell me what troubles you. Why are you worried about Haruhi's safety?"
Ranka slowly sat back down, looking at him with rather sad eyes, his glossy lips frowning gently before he took a breath.
"As you know, Haruhi lost her mother when she was five years old. I wasn't in the best place at that time and honestly I was having a hard time learning to be a full time parent and how best to comfort a grieving child. I'll at admit, at that time... Well, let's just say I could have done better."
"I'm sure you did your best." Kyoya offered, his eyes studying the man before him carefully.
"You really are too kind. I was a mess, clinging to Haruhi like she was some bright light in the darkness. She was a pillar of strength for me, practical and intelligent even at such a young age. But….well….for the first week after her mother died I couldn't get Haruhi to eat a morsel. And she cried, a lot. Not in anyway you'd expect of a five year old. She was so quiet about it, as if she didn't want me to know. But I knew, a father always knows when his little girl is suffering."
"I take it, that is where Dr. Sato came in?"
Ranka's eyes grew wide, his lips parting in shock, "How did you-"
"When you first got ahold of me I did some digging, trying to figure out if there was something from Haruhi's past I may have missed during my initial sweep. I found only a single newspaper article and the man's resume. He was a doctor of Psychology….specializing in child behavior, trauma and loss management."
"Then you know-"
"Not everything. All I know about is some vague article that I haven't had the chance to look over and the man's credentials. I am afraid you will have to fill in the blanks."
"Right." Ranka said as he looked down at the table, "You have to understand...Haruhi's mother, Kotoko was the breadwinner in the family. She was a lawyer, and a very good one at that. When she died though, there wasn't much left to us save for what was needed to cover the cost of the funeral and a few months after. I needed to be able to work, to provide for her. I refused to let her grow up like I did, always hungry, scrounging and moving from place to place. I worked myself to the bone, making sure she would have nice clothes, gifts for her birthday and Christmas, to make sure that she would have a safe and healthy environment to grow up in. Unfortunately, that left Haruhi alone….far to often, far more than I would like to admit. But she was so fiercely independent that often times she didn't seem to mind. It's no secret I'm rather….eccentric, no doubt that is why she is such good friends with that blonde boy...Tamaki."
"No doubt. There are some rather disturbing similarities between the two of you, no offense intended."
"Yes, I know."
"And this Dr. Sato-"
"Right, yes….sorry, sometimes my mind gets carried away, I can't always focus on what I need to say versus what I want to say. It's a rather frustrating habit. About a month after her mother passed...I noticed Haruhi was doing odd things, things that seemed strange or….just plain out of the ordinary."
"Like what?" Kyoya asked, pressing his glasses up his nose as he listened intently.
"She would clean the house meticulously, even though it didn't need it. Rearrange the shoes over and over, first by size, then by color...even by material….dress shoes to trainers. She did the same with all the clothes in the house. She would just stare off for hours, completely unaware I was talking to her and sometimes she wouldn't sleep for days. She was five years old!" Ranka stressed as he brought a hand to his face and a tear leaked from his eye.
Kyoya slowly reached out, gently pulling the man's hand away and taking it in his own.
"That's when you called Sato?"
Ranka nodded, "Yes, I didn't have a lot of money obviously, but he agreed to meet with Haruhi and try to assess what could be wrong. I thought….I thought the loss of her mother had started some sort of trauma, compulsive habits. But, even with all this going on...she was still so...intelligent….practical and mature. Taking care of m-me….even when it should have been the other way around. She is such a good…."
"She is. Please, Ranka, try to finish." Kyoya pressed, though his voice remained that smooth calm tone he always had.
"Right. Focus, Ranka, get through it. I'm not normally so...emotional….at least...not like this-"
"It's alright, just breath, and tell me about Sato." Kyoya ordered gently.
"After the initial visit, Dr. Sato said he could help her. Said she was a unique case that needed further study. But he promised me he could help her. So I, I took her to see him twice a week. At first, Haruhi seemed to be doing better. The compulsive habits stopped, she ate regularly, slept normal and didn't show any signs of dissociative behavior."
"What changed?" Kyoya asked, though he had a rather disturbing feeling he could already see where this was going.
"After the first year I thought it would be a good idea to slow the visits to once a week. Dr. Sato urged me not to, that it could have an adverse effect on Haruhi's recovery. But, I was so sure she was better, she was acting completely normal, happy even. At first I allowed the visits to remain twice a week but eventually did decide to drop her visits to once a week."
"A fact Sato was no doubt, unhappy about."
"Yes. It was then that things took a turn for the worse. It was nearly another year before Haruhi started telling me things about Dr. Sato's sessions and I...well I didn't know what to do."
"What did Haruhi tell you?"
"That Dr. Sato spent most of his time laying with her on the floor, playing with toys and talking. They talked about all sorts of things, the weather, politics, music...and he had her take tests….tests that just seemed odd…..tests that seemed to hold no relation to helping diagnose her mental state. I went to his office one day, outside the normal time I would take Haruhi. He was out to lunch….and….well...I saw one of the tests that he had given her. Here, I still have it."
Ranka grabbed his purse and pulled from it a folded sheet of paper, he handed it to Kyoya and the young man opened it and began to read.
What is the color of Dr. Nick's eyes? Green
What is your favorite color? Blue, purple, red, green. Each of the colors had been crossed out in red ink, all save for the last color in the list.
"Oh." Kyoya said, now knowing full well where this was going and a rather cold feeling clenched in his stomach.
"The power of suggestion." Kyoya stated, "I have seen such tactics performed in business, it's an easy way to get smaller businesses to sell their goods or the company itself at a much more reasonable price. But I've never seen it done so blatantly, nor to a child."
"When I realized he was manipulating her, and that all of the manipulation was in an effort to make Haruhi more positive towards himself. I stopped taking her. But...Sato was very upset about it...he tried to take Haruhi away from me."
"Pardon?" Kyoya asked, this time the surprise much more evident on his face.
"He made claims that I was a bad father, raising my daughter amongst cross-dressers, alcoholics and drug addicts. I was a bad influence and if Haruhi was not removed from my care she would be irrevocably damaged."
"Obviously, that didn't hold up in court."
"It almost did, save for that test. I showed them what he had been doing and demanded an investigation. In the end, all his secrets were laid bare. Luckily Haruhi was spared having to testify, in fact, she never went to any of the hearings or was aware at all that it was going on. It wasn't until Sato confessed in order to get a reduced sentence that the full horror of what he had been trying to do came to light."
"He was brainwashing her." Kyoya said.
Ranka nodded, "Slowly, over two years he had been trying to get Haruhi to prefer him, to want to be with him. What his long term goal was, I'm not sure, and he never explained why my daughter seemed more valuable to him than any of the other children he saw. It was as if he had snapped, and Haruhi got caught in the fallout."
The two sat in silence for several minutes, both contemplating very different things while also thinking of Haruhi.
Kyoya was the first the break the silence, "So, Haruhi...how much does she remember?"
"I've asked many times over the years, trying to monitor her behavior and memories. She claims she remembers next to nothing, just foggy images and occasionally she can recall his voice….and Chopin, Nocturne, his number nine opus. Despite it all, she grew up pragmatic, healthy and untouched by the trauma. She's never shown signs of compulsion nor does she seem to remember any of it. A fact for which I am extremely grateful."
"Yes, it does seem rather...perfect. Almost lucky." Kyoya mused, a hand coming to his chin as he thought very heavily on the situation.
"May I assume then, that the reason for this call to arms is that Sato has been released from Prison?"
"Yes. He...is out. I got an order of protection, and Haruhi made sure the chairman of the acadamy knows the situation. I don't want this to affect her life, she deserves to have as normal as life as she wants to have. Be a normal girl, or at the very least a strangely practical girl with strangely wonderful friends."
"So, you want her strangely wonderful friends to help you keep an eye on Haruhi and make sure Doctor Sato doesn't show up and try something foolish."
"My daughter may be right, nine years away is a lot of time to clear one's head, to realize their mistakes and change their life for the better. But….it's also a very long time if that person should instead choose to fixate…..to not move on."
"Yes, it would be wouldn't it. I suppose the final question I have is….why come to me?"
"Why?"
"Not that it matters, I will do it anyway, I will help you to make sure Haruhi is safe and secure, looked after until we can be sure the threat has passed but...still I want to know-"
"Why you." Ranka confirms.
"Yes, if you don't mind."
"Well, honestly, you are a good friend to her, but there is a rather selfish reason….your family does have a private police force. And while I would never ask you or expect you to use them on behalf of my daughter….they may come in handy….should you...or she...have need of them."
"Clever woman." Kyoya mused as a smirk touched the corner of his mouth faintly.
"I can be. You no doubt are a very clever young man as well, so...if you are willing to help my daughter and by extension me….how about we have a small drink to celebrate. I feel much better now that I know you are willing to help protect my daughter."
Kyoya's eyes harden but that devilish smirk remains, "I'll have to take you up on the offer another time. While age is hardly my concern, I won't be eighteen for another two months nor twenty for another two years, and I'd hate to get this fine establishment in trouble for serving underaged patrons."
Ranka smiled softly, "Such a good boy. Well then, make sure to come back and visit, and don't tell Haruhi about our agreement."
"Naturally. I will keep in touch, have a good evening, my lady Ranka." and Kyoya takes his hand, bringing it to his lips and placing the most gentle of kisses on his skin. The smell of lavender and rose hips hitting his nose with a gentle caress before he stands and smiles.
Ranka gives a small gasp and stares in surprise before Kyoya moves past the curtain and disappears.
"My word….that boy is such a charmer."
A/N: And that is a wrap.