After eating a substantial amount of chocolate and getting dressed down by a fanfiction author I work with, I realized that my previous request was utter bullshit since my reason for publishing my work online at all is for others enjoyment, not the stroking of my ego. I edited my previous message to reflect this. Thanks for putting up with me and I hope you will continue to review anyways.
Good news- I have gotten a second job so now I can start saving for my next trip (maybe a trip back to Japan?).
Bad News-I will now have significantly less time to write, but I will finish this story somehow. I always finish what I start. I haven't decided yet how often I will update this (if I will try and set a schedule to update or just simply post whenever I finish something of reasonable size), but I guess we will find out over the next few weeks.
Special thanks to those of you who wrote reviews and/or made this story one of your favorites. If you can imagine a review being a mushroom in one of the those Mario video games then you can understand how I feel when I read/eat it. Favorites have a special place in my heart as well because it lets me know that not only did you enjoy my work, but it stood out enough to you to be worthy of returning to. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy the new chapter.
Chapter 2
Haruhi sat patiently on a cushion in the formal Japanese tatami room. The limo had dropped her off at the entrance of a large Japanese styled mansion and within moments, the household staff swept her away. Keeping her briefcase close, she reluctantly surrendered her luggage to them and waited to meet the owner of the house. A maid had served her tea, but the tension from the earlier car exchange left Haruhi on edge. Staring at the tea and rubbing her hand assuredly over her briefcase, she missed the sound of the door sliding open. It was the movement of someone sitting across from her that startled her from her thoughts.
Takashi Morinozuka, reigning kendo world champion, was scared stiff outside of his own tatami room. The same hands that were callused from years of hard practice and discipline were now shaking at the door's edge. Mori had grown into his tall, muscular frame over the years, making him all the more formidable adversary, but at the moment he quaked from emotional turmoil. Part of him wanted to retreat back to the dojo, which was where he had been relaxing before a maid interrupted with the news of Haruhi's arrival, and put off this meeting just a little longer.
As a security consultant, Mori rarely took personal security details, let alone live-ins, but Kasanoda's plea had moved him. With the recent news of Tetsuya's death, he wasn't surprised when Kasanoda called to ask him if he could protect a lawyer. What had surprised him was that the lawyer was Haruhi. Typically, Mori worked closely with his cousin Honey on all of his cases, but decided the moment he hung up the phone with Kasanoda that it would be better if Honey was not involved. Mori knew how much Honey had loved Haruhi, a love they both shared, and he knew that both of them had suffered greatly after her sudden break from the host club circle. If Haruhi truly felt nothing for them as Tamaki's story had claimed, then the only one hurt would be him for still holding onto hope that there had been some sort of misunderstanding. Tamaki's story never had settled right with him, but the others seemed to accept it readily. He had comforted Honey as they both ached with loss, but somewhere inside he had harbored a suspicion that there was something missing in this puzzle. Even after all this time, he still regularly wondered what had become of her and if she still thought of them like he thought of her so frequently. With her now back in Japan and staying in his home, Mori was determined to get answers and find out what had actually happened to tear away the only female member of the host club.
Mori stood in the doorway drinking in Haruhi's thoughtful appearance. Her large chocolate eyes stared at the tea as her hands nervously fluttered over her briefcase. The suit cut emphasized her small petite features and highlighted the little curves she had. Her brown hair was tied up in a bun a top her head leaving her pale neck free to the eye's wanderings. Taking a hesitant step forward, Mori felt a million emotions swarm through him. Closing the door behind him, she still did not react to his presence. Finally releasing the pressure in his stiff knees, Mori walked over to the pad across from her and sat down. Haruhi finally looked up at him and shock registered across her face. Obviously Kasanoda had left out the minor details that she was to be staying with him until further notice.
"Mori-sempai," she asked as she started to stand up to run away. His responding grunt and piercing eyes halted her motion and she slowly settled back down on the cushion.
"I didn't realize that you and Kasanoda were still good friends." Mori nodded his head once and proceeded to pour himself a cup of tea. He doubted that he would actually drink it, but it gave his hands something else to do while he tried to process everything. Even Haruhi looked visibly shaken by his presence. However, his silent frown of concentration was misinterpreted for disdain in Haruhi's mind and she felt a score of regret for returning to Japan.
"If I had known that he was sending me here, I would have refused his offer. I'm sorry for bothering you. I will take my leave now," she said quietly with a deep bow. Surely she would be fine with a small security detail staying at her father's house. She would head back there until all of this was over and hope that none of the other host club members found her. It was too hard on her to see them and obviously too hard on them to see her.
Standing up, Haruhi's progress to the door was stopped by a firm grab of her hand. Looking back at Mori, Haruhi couldn't completely hide the sadness, loneliness, and confusion she felt. Ever since her argument with Tamaki, none of them had said a word to her and though she took her isolation with acceptance, it was difficult to see Mori and know they were no longer friends. It was easier to repress the emotions they brought her when she didn't have to see them.
"Please stay," Mori said and gently pulled her back into his arms. The moment she had given him her back it had felt like she was walking out of his life again. He was sure that if he let her leave now, he would never see her again. Mori hadn't been thinking when he had closed the distance between them and grabbed her hand. When she turned to him with eyes brimming with tears, he felt his heart ache anew. Wrapping her up in his arms, he could feel her body tremble and the wet drops of tears splatter on his arm. All of his questions and years of pain seemed to fade away to holding the sobbing woman in his arms.
Unsure of what to do as she slowly stopped crying, Mori lifted her up on an arm and walked out of the room. She was still nearly as light as before, but his carry brought a round of protests from her. A grown woman should not be carried around like a small bird atop his arm. When she saw that he wasn't going to put her down anytime soon, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck. Mori brought her to the kitchen and set her down on the counter. Handing her a damp towel to wipe her face with, he pulled out a piece of strawberry short cake from the fridge and set it before her. Sniffling miserably, she thanked him and wiped her face.
"I shouldn't stay here Mori sempai. What if the others find out I'm here? I'm not sure what Tamaki told everyone, but I haven't spoken with anyone from the host club since he left Boston." Taking a forkful of cake, he offered it to her. Frowning at his diversion, Haruhi took the bite and started again. "It's been years- I'm sure everyone has long forgotten about me and moved on with their lives, but I don't want to inconvenience you." Another forkful of cake was shoved in her mouth and Haruhi was forced to stop talking. Chewing it, she finally dragged her eyes from her toes to look at Mori. Time had not changed his rugged handsomeness and caring nature. Guiltily blushing, she accepted another bite of cake.
"The others will understand if they find out. For now, relax and focus on the case. Leave everything else to me."
After settling Haruhi in her room, Mori went to his office to review the protection orders he had gotten from Kasanoda. There would be plenty of time to talk with Haruhi over dinner, but for now he wanted to make sure he knew what they were getting into. His reading was interrupted by a polite knock on his office door.
"Come in," he called out and the door slid open to reveal Kyoya Ootori. Sitting up quickly, Mori closed out the documents as Kyoya closed the door behind him and took a seat on the other side of the desk.
"It's nice to see you again Mori sempai. I suppose you already know why I came to visit." Mori held his firm gaze before giving a nod of acknowledgement. It came as no surprise that Kyoya knew that Haruhi was back in Japan, in fact, he probably knew the moment she bought the ticket to return. He was after all their Shadow King for a reason.
"Did you tell the others," Mori asked.
"Do you think I would have been able to stop Tamaki or the twins if I had? No, they don't need to know for now. We can tell them when the time is right." Mori's relief and silent acceptance was unusual to Kyoya. He had come to force Mori's hand into silence, but now the ever honest Mori was readily agreeing to withhold information away from the rest of the host club? That was as rare as a blue moon. Suddenly, it all made sense to him. "You didn't tell Honey sempai, did you? Oh Mori sempai, this has to be a first."
"He doesn't have to know yet. I have to be sure first."
"Sure that Tamaki's story was correct? And if I tell you it was correct, what would you say?"
"She cried when she saw me. If she didn't care, then she would not have cried." Kyoya paused and adjusted his glasses, debating just how much he should reveal to the quiet senior.
"I was outside of the door when the conversation in question occurred. The things Tamaki quoted to you all were correct, however I believe his interpretation of her words could have been wrong," Kyoya replied slyly.
"Then why…?"
"I didn't want Tamaki to know that I was eavesdropping on what was supposed to be his confession and besides, Haruhi could have reached out at any point over these years to correct this situation. She chose to stay silent and stay away from all of us."
"You let everyone believe that she no longer cared for us," Mori could not hide the anger in his voice. All of this time wasted…
"I needed her to come to terms with herself and that required time away from all of us. Granted, I didn't think it would take her this long to return…" Mori frowned at him and Kyoya sighed before continuing. "If this all plays out according to my plan, Haruhi will not only be back to stay, but she will belong to all of us in a way we had only dreamed about in high school."
A silence enveloped the room as the two men stared each other down. Mori weighed the risks against the obvious trust he had in the man in front of him.
"And if it fails? How does Kasanoda's case play into all of this?"
"I had nothing to do with Kasanoda's request to Haruhi, but it sure as hell was convenient. If we fail, then Haruhi will undoubtedly leave Japan and probably never return again. We won't get a second chance." The responding grunt from Mori was all Kyoya needed. They were on the same page after all, both harboring feelings for the girl that was only rooms away. Standing up, Kyoya and Mori shook hands.
"Don't worry Mori sempai. I won't let her walk away again."
