ღ Last time on Shattered ღ
"Either way, Dad, I'm still mad at you," I stretched my arms, looking down at the plane tickets. I pushed them away and turned back to look at my homework. He started his overdramatic rant as I stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"It's not my fault," he cried following me, "Why can't my only daughter just love me?" When I didn't answer, he begrudgingly started to chop pieces of food up as I searched for something to drink.
I started away once again, head hurting and my anger increasingly growing. I heard Takashi quietly following me as I walked into the kitchen.
"Ungrateful," he muttered lowly and I shut the fridge door. I shook my head, irritated and then as I walked past him. I grabbed his wrist, quickly turned it so the blade tip was facing his stomach and then shoved his body into it.
I lifted a large knife by the sink and stared at it. My heart racing. I saw Takashi watching me cautiously from the corner of my eye. He walked around the island and headed over to me silently. Once he was behind me, I twisted around with the tip of the blade touching his stomach.
"Haru...hi?" he whispered as red liquid stained his clothing.
ღ Now ღ
Takashi moved quickly, grabbing my wrist and knocking the knife to the side. In shock, the knife slid out of my hand and clattered to the floor. My eyes flashed up to meet his, the look on his face mirrored mine. Complete shock. The ticking noise on the clock was the only sound to be heard we were holding our breath. After a lifetime it seemed, I pulled sharply away. His gray eyes still looking at the place I had been, in shock. My heart was pounding in my chest. Had I really just tried to kill Takashi? What's wrong with me? I kept moving, staring down at the floorboards until it turned to stone, and then grass.
When I paused to react to my surroundings, I noticed I was by one of the many Sakura ponds. Not surprisingly, the pond was surrounded by Sakura trees. Most of the trees where in full bloom, others had the petals already fluttering down from them. The pond itself wasn't very deep, but it did contain four or five Koi fish. I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh scent and released it, shuddering. I moved and quickly found a rock to sit on. It was perched under a Sakura tree in full bloom, but it was low enough so I could touch the water. This spot looked peaceful, and it was hidden by the near forest of Sakura tress. Most people would still take a while to search the entire Morinozuka estate. I lowered myself onto my knees and leaned forward so I could see my reflection in the water.
What I saw was not the real Haruhi Fujioka. A strong, independent girl. The reflection was of a girl that was to afraid to show her true self. A girl that committed murder. I didn't want to be my reflection, but I was cursed with it.
I sighed, and moved back, resting my head against the trunk of a tree. My mother would be incredibly disappointed, and disgusted, with me if she saw me right now. I closed my eyes and started to breath slowly; I moved my arms so I was resting against them. My ears noticed the faint sound of people calling my name. "Haruhi..." a deep voice murmured from the other side of the pond. My eyes flashed towards the noise quickly, my body was already alert and tense.
I slowly started to stand up, "I am so sorry Takashi." I whispered, looking down at the pond. It was silent until I heard soft footsteps approaching me; I glanced up at saw Takashi approaching me.
"Haruhi, are you mad at me?" he matched my whisper placing a hand on my shoulder, lowering his head to stare at me. I shook my head, only he would be worried about someone else when he was just about killed. Stepping forward I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Haruhi?" Takashi asked surprised.
"I'm sorry," I repeated, and knew that he was still surprised at the fact I was hugging him. It was not something I would regularly do.
He pulled away and tilted my face up to look him in the eye "its okay," he said, with his rare smile. He leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead. I paused and pulled away from him. Staring at him in confusion, before I was able to ask him what that was about, the little annoyance by the name of Satoshi came crashing through the pond. I mean literally he barreled right into the water and across the pond, scaring off the fish, and over to my rock. "Satoshi," Takashi scolded as he straightened and looked down at his younger brother.
"Mother said that if you two don't get to the car within three minutes, you'll be grounded for the next two weeks," he warned us, grabbing onto my arm and started to yank me towards the pond. "Oh, by the way, Haruhi-san why is there a knife in the kitchen?" he enquired, glancing back. I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that is where people cut food up..." I muttered, trying to pry my hand away from his grip. Not liking his forcefulness.
"I know that! The knife I am talking 'bout is the one on the ground with blood on its edge," he added, I stiffened which made Satoshi look up at me. "So you do know about it!"
"No." I lied, finally pulling my arm away from Satoshi, "You know I don't like people touching me," I replied rubbing my arm. Satoshi paused before nodding, immediately apologizing. The Morinozuka boys really are sweet, a little dense at times, but sweet. All too soon, we were standing in front of the car that was to take us to school. I was helped into the car by Takashi. The car smelt like leather, and dust. It was an unpleasant scent compared to the smell of Sakura blossoms and the light smell of smoke.
I sat down by the far window and stared outside, resting my chin into my hand and then frowning I couldn't believe Takashi didn't call me on that. He could've told Satoshi that I had turned a knife on him. Why didn't he? If they knew the truth, I would be thrown out of the house. Worst of all I would hurt all of the people I wanted to learn to love. My hands fell into my lap staring at them; I felt the sensation of someone looking at me. There was an uncomfortable silence coming from Mitsukuni's and Satoshi's side of the car as we pulled up to the Haninozuka estate to pick up Chika-kun. The door beside Takashi opened to reveal a slightly angered Chika. My eyes shifted over to him before looking back at my hands. "What is with you guys? You're almost a half hour late! School starts in 10 minutes!" he shouted angrily at us as he sat down beside Satoshi.
"Sorry, that's my fault. I wandered off." I bowed as best I could in a seat belt. He looked at me, opening his mouth to say something before closing it.
"Whatever." he mumbled, the closest the others were going to get to an apology.
I sighed quietly before turning to look back out the window. The buildings, the scenery and everything rushed past unnoticed by me. My eyes were just starting to drift shut when the car slowed and then stopped in front of the large courtyard. I chewed lightly on my bottom lip, sliding over to the door after everyone got out. Today was going to be full of rumors and questions about the other day.
I blinked as the rays of the sun hit my eyes. There was immediate whispering from the female population as I walked beside Takashi. I tuned them out and rather listened to the sounds of student's feet steps as they walked around us. My eyes clung to the floor; in fear, if I looked up we would be bombarded with questions. If too many questions were asked, my secret might slip out and I would be sent to jail. I sighed heavily thinking about that. For the past two years I had never even given a thought about what would happen if people where to find out that my father was murdered by his daughter. Now, since I have been hanging around Takashi and Mitsukuni more, it seems like they are trying to make me guilty for the crime that they didn't know I committed.
"Haru-chan..." Mitsukuni asked and I looked up at him. His eyes were mixed with confusion, sadness, and the slight dark circles under his eyes meant that he did not sleep well last night. "What really happened?" he half questioned and half demanded, sliding down off Takashi's shoulders.
"I told the truth, I walked off." I said looking at the clock tower. "We have to get to our classes. See you at lunch..." I waved at them and patted Mitsukuni's head before turning away. "Oh and Takashi, you should get that cut looked at." I muttered, not meeting his eyes. I adjusted my blazer before running off to my class before the small hand struck IX and the big hand hit the III on the large clock tower. I turned my head slightly. I saw Mitsukuni looking at the small slice I made earlier on his hand. I smirked at Takashi's surprised face.
"Haruhi Fujioka." The teacher called just as I stepped into the classroom, it was a while after I had been coming to school. That morning I had woken up late and when I collided with Takashi in the hallway, I was flustered. Hikaru and Kaoru looked at me then at each other.
"Haruhi..."
"You're usually..."
"Early, why so late?" They finished together earning a scowl from the teacher. I shrugged, before bending over my notes and started to read. The words smeared together as I thought about this morning. I didn't notice the cut on his hand from the other day until this morning when he reached up to ruffle my hair. Placing my jaw on the knuckle of my hand, I saw the teacher writing something on the chalkboard scraping her fake plastic nails on the board. So far, Hikaru and Kaoru hadn't bugged me to death, which was new. The only reason they weren't, I supposed was that I was angry at myself for hurting my best friend. There was a loud snap and a slight pain in my hand.
"Haruhi Fujioka!" the teacher yelled, and I glanced down. In my hand was what remained of the broken pencil, and splinters filled the palm of my hand. It started to bleed and the teacher hurried over. "Go to the nurse's room, and get this looked at," she instructed pointing to the door.
I stood up, still in shock, not noticing the pain yet. The twins looked at me in surprise, then they slinked further down in their desk and looked away. I wasn't sure what their reaction was. I gathered my things before bowing and leaving the room. I had to pass the 3rd year classes, and I paused as I walked past the room Takashi was in now. A student opened the door to head back in and saw me looking at the door.
After a moment, Takashi exited the classroom and looked down at me. The moment his eyes looked at my hand and then turned around. He bowed to the teacher and excused himself. He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me towards the nurse's room, we were silent for a while, until we entered the room. The nurse was absent and he began to pull the pieces of pencil from my hand gently.
"What happened?" he asked, I didn't look at him right away. Watching his hands work to carefully remove the splinters. "Haruhi." he questioned, pausing in his work and glancing up at me. His eyes were full of worry and curiosity. I knew he was blaming himself in some way. I shook my head.
"Nothing. I just snapped a pencil in half," I murmured scratching my cheek. He looked at me longer, waiting for the rest of the story. "I was thinking about this morning." I muttered and he continued with taking care of my hand. He poured some disinfectant on a rag before carefully cleaning my hand.
"Why did you stop?" he asked, not looking up at me. I was confused by his words, and didn't say anything, waiting for him to clarify. "In front of my class room."
"As I said, I was thinking about this morning," I muttered quietly, "I think I need therapy," I mused gently. He looked up at me and then wrapped my hand. I stopped him and looked at the cut on the heel of his palm. My fingers brushed over it. My eyes hardened. Even if it was a small cut, I still caused it.
I let him finished covering my hand before I climbed down from the counter. As he put things away, I gathered my things and started to leave. He stopped me, frowning. I shrugged him off and left the nurses office. I knew he was debating on whether to follow me or go back to class. In the end, he followed.
Once I got to the courtyard, I took off running. I wasn't faster than Takashi, but I was smaller and could escape from him if I really need to. To face the truth, I went to him because I needed to be comforted. He was the closest person I knew who could offer me that. I kept forgetting he'd sooner send me to jail if he knew what I had done, than comfort me. I couldn't let myself be attached. My heart was beating fast with adrenaline. I could hear Takashi's soft but quick foot falls. As quickly as I could I calculated how far he was away. I hurried into the maze that lay just off the main courtyard of Ouran. I didn't hear his footsteps following me and slowed down.
"Too slow," I murmured before I quickened my footfall and burst through the doors. My mind was slowly turning into the darker side of me. I had to get out before I hurt him again. As soon as I got 10 feet away from the entrance when I heard Takashi's footsteps. He was right around the corner now, talking to someone through his cell phone. I ducked into the wall of the maze, holding my breath I shifted into a crouching position. There was a deep voice before the bush was being softly opened. I bit my lip and quietly shifted into the shadows.
"Mori-senpai? Why are you looking through those bushes?" The familiar voice of Tamaki sounded throughout the maze. Takashi pulled his head out of bush to see the person who spoke. I escaped out the other side. However, the sound alerted him and I felt his hand brush against my back.
As I was running, every time I turned I ran into a dead end. "This was a bad idea." I muttered before running into someone's back.
"I've been looking for you."
Updated: December 10th 2012