...
Blank Horizon
Chapter 2:
Crying Sadness
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Ruka ran home, her heart couldn't take it anymore. Everyone was pushing her to be happy. But, she just can't.
She just can't smile anymore,
And she doesn't know why.
She ran and turned a corner, almost getting bumped by a car.
"Watch it, lady!"
"Sorry!" Ruka replied as she bowed in respect. Then, took off again.
When she finally reached home, she removed her shoes, trashed her bag on their couch, stepped inside a large brown treasure box and slammed herself in the darkness. And, in that dark, cold box, she cried her heart out. No one would listen to her pain anyway, or even care.
But, maybe she thought wrong.
The lid of the treasure box slowly opened, Ruka closed her eyes.
"Ruka..?"
"Go away, trespasser." Ruka muttered as more tears flowed down her cheeks. She covered her face in annoyance.
"Trespasser, huh." Tamaki smiled as he squatted in front of Ruka,
"That's two nicknames for me, Ruka-chan."
"Shut up and get the hell out." Ruka snapped back. Tamaki shuddered at her language, but..
"What if I don't want to?"
"Then," Ruka sniffed as she stood up, not caring about the tears in her eyes. Tamaki stood up also, hands on his waist.
"I would have to push you away even more." she stepped out of the box and began to push Tamaki away. But instead of fighting back, Tamaki gave her an assuring hug. Ruka began crying again,
"Idiot. Idiot. Idiot." she gripped his shirt.
"You're calling me an idiot now?" Tamaki asked but Ruka shook her head.
"I'm the idiot here, Tamaki. I gave up. I push others away. I frown. I don't laugh. I became hard. I became selfish. I became.." she started, yet, he hugged her much tighter.
"No, you aren't." Tamaki countered.
"You took care of your sisters, you taught them everything they needed to know. You're like their mother, and they can't afford to lose the mother they know now." he began caressing her black heir, which felt like small cotton strips. They were ultimately soft.
"I know that but," Ruka managed to break Tamaki's hug and sat in the box again.
"I'm afraid to get broken again."
Tamaki slightly shuddered. Broken? What does she mean by that? He pulled himself back together,
"Why," Tamaki said with his winning smile,
"Don't you think that I'm in love with you?"
But, it wasn't really enough.
"Don't underestimate me, Suou guy." Ruka mumbled, hugging her knees and burying her face between them.
"I'm an observer. I know you like Haruhi but you're just too dense to mistake it for a father's love for his daughter. Plus, you don't like my dark aura because it reminds you of Senior Nekozawa."
"What a-are you? A mind reader?" Tamaki asked as he sat down again, his cheeks slightly pink out of embarrassment. So, Ruka's right.
"Like Kyouya said, I'm an observer." Ruka stated, back to her blank tone.
…
"Then, look at me." Tamaki said as he held Ruka's cheek.
"Look at me, Ruka-chan." But, Ruka shook her head.
"Look at me, Ruka!" Tamaki insisted, now, holding Ruka's face with his two hands. Ruka looked at him; her face was red and worse from crying while Tamaki's face was gentle and fresh.
"Now, let me just do this once, okay?" he said as he prepared himself.
"What are you-" but Tamaki leaned in and kissed her. Ruka didn't understand what was going on, so, she tried her best in keeping her mouth shut. She doesn't know why he was so determined, that he would go this far. Ruka gathered all her strength she had and pushed Tamaki as far as possible.
…
"Don't you understand?" Ruka cried,
"I can't receive any of you love if you don't really love me! It doesn't mean that you're all kind and generous, you should give away your love that easily!"
"You should only give it to the girl you really like, not to someone you've just met this morning!"
Tamaki froze. He was almost out of options.
…
"Why don't you just leave me alone, Suou." Ruka mumbled as she buried her face again. She didn't call him Tamaki anymore.
"Just leave me alone."
She respects him now, somehow like he was in another rank, a whole new and different world from her. Which means..
She had closed her door already.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Tamaki stood up; half accepting the truth, and half giving up. He walked out of Ruka's house and Ruka slammed herself inside the box again. A bunch of voices approached Tamaki;
"Did anything happen?"
"Highness, did your plan work?"
"I want some cake!"
"…"
"Senpai.."
"I'm afraid it's going to take more time." Tamaki replied, his face disappointed. Then, two pairs of running feet came towards them, panting.
"What…happened…?" Rina asked, sweating.
"Ruka's…" but before Tamaki could ever finish his sentence, Shina rushed inside.
…
"Let's give her one day to rest, and then we'll plan." Tamaki sighed.
"You're still not giving up?" a voice said. Tamaki and the others looked behind Tamaki, it was Rina.
"Of course," Tamaki said, smiling a little bit.
"Our club's purpose is to make girls happy, right?"
"Even though the reason why Ruka-nee became sad looks like Mori-senpai?" she pointed at Takashi, who's face is till unmoved.
"I told Shina not to do it, but, she still did."
…
"Look's like Takashi..?" Honey asked as he and the other hosts looked at Takashi. He backed off a little.
"Yes, I saw a picture of her past lover." Rina said,
"And, he resembles Mori-senpai a lot."
"So, that's why she can't look at him." Haruhi wondered.
"You've been observing her, Haru-chan?" Honey tilted his head.
"Yeah," Haruhi nodded,
"Although Mori-senpai is always at the back, Ruka-chan can only fix her eyes on the people in the front,"
"And, even though Honey-senpai clings on to Mori-senpai, Ruka still doesn't look at him." She concluded.
….
"You're so cute when you're thinking~!" Tamaki screeched as he hugged Haruhi.
"Senpai, you're choking me." Haruhi replied with a blank tone.
"Oh," Tamaki pulled away and patted Haruhi's head.
"Very well then."
...
"Let's head back to Ouran Academy." Tamaki resolved as he turned around and took a step forward.
"But, what about-" Rina started.
"We'll figure it out." Tamaki smiled at her,
"But, please invite her again to the Third Music Room on Friday night, alright?"
"What for?" Rina asked,
"Like she'd go there, anyway."
"She'll definitely go," Tamaki mumbled as he tucked his hands in his pockets.
"I have something in mind already."
By that, Rina was left by the Host Club, speechless. But, she managed to smile as she thought of the hope that just hovered over her.
"What plan do you think it is?" Kaoru asked Hikaru.
"It's Highness you're talking about, Kaoru," Hikaru responded,
"Expect anything under the laughing sun."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Ruka-neechan!" Shina called out as she knocked at the large treasure box. Ruka sniffed, wiping off her tears. She patted her face, snapping out her emotional face and letting out a calm one. Ruka opened the lid of the box and saw a hazel-haired girl standing in front of her with a welcoming face.
"Shina," Ruka muttered.
"You should be in class. What are you doing here?" she carefully stepped out of the box while Shina placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, what are you doing here?" Shina easily countered back, but Ruka pushed her out of the door.
"Go back here after class. I'll cook dinner." Ruka replied, rolling her eyes as she closed their front door along with Shina.
"What happened?" Rina asked her twin.
"Nothing much." Shina replied as they began walking,
"Ruka-nee said she's gonna cook dinner."
"Oh?" Rina said in amazement,
"Did you asked her what she's gonna cook?"
"She didn't tell anyway." Shina said as she swung her bag on her shoulder.
"Then, let's buy a cake for dessert!" Rina suggested.
"Yeah!" Shina smiled at her older twin,
"She's gonna like it!"
"I wonder what flavor she likes.." Shina mumbled.
"Maybe the same flavor we like, Shina." Rina replied, thinking of an appropriate flavor too.
"So, it's mango?" Shina's face lit up.
"Yeah." Rina said as the two of them reached the gates of Ouran.
…
"And, oh." Rina suddenly spoke, as if she just remembered something.
"The Host Club said something about Friday night, Shina." she smiled.
- To be continued.
(A.N.)
Gomenasai if this chapter's too short! Actually, it was supposed to be 3 chapters only. But since, the original chapter 2 was too long, I divided the second chapter into 2 more chapters. But, I think I'll be updating a little bit slower than usual. I just got a contest coming up on Wednesday and another practice on Tuesday. So, I'll probably type on Thursday instead. Anyway, I hope you like it and please do review~ *smiles*
