Chapter 3

Five Months Later

"Haruhi!" Tamaki's voice traveled from the waiting room to the dressing room in a high, dramatic pitch. "Are you done yet? You've been in there for ages."

Haruhi cursed as she struggled with the straps to her new dress. "Just a minute. I'm having trouble with the zipper."

"Do you want me to come in there and help?"

"No?"

"I wont look." He swore.

Without another thought about it, she pushed her foot against the wall to balance herself and looked over her shoulder to watch her hands pull the zipper halfway up her back before she had to move her hands and pull the zipper up the rest of the way from a different angle.

She exhaled, both relief and exhaustion. "Alright... it fits, I guess. We can leave now, right?"

The door opened, and Tamaki fell inside. Either from having the latch collapse against his weight, or from his breaking in. He quickly collected himself and stood up, dusting his shirt.

"Oh Haruhi," he raved the moment he caught her reflection in the mirror. "It looks great! The pink makes you look like a princess."

The brunette ignored the complements and turned a little to look at the back. "But where did it come from?"

She and Tamaki were half way to their hotel when they got a called from someone she had never spoke to before. They told her they had a package for her at their dress shop. They got there but the box had no name on it other than hers that was clumsily written in marker.

Tamaki insisted that he open it for her incase it was a bomb. But to their surprise, they opened it and inside laid a pink, short sleeved kaliko dress, wrapped delicately in soft tissue. No note or such was found.

"Does it matter where it came from?" he grabbed her hand, and awkwardly spun her around, grinning at her embarrassed squeal. "I think it's cute. Should we go show you off?"

"I'd rather not," Haruhi swatted him away, fixing the bow at her hip. "I want to get out of it and get home. It's been so long since we left that I'd like to leave early tomorrow so we can get to Adachi before noon."

He pouted grumpily. He went to the bench and picked up box the dress was folded in, turned it around, looking for stamps or an address but there was non. Just a lighter spot on the cardboard where it looked like a sticker was removed.

She stared at herself in the mirror for a little while longer before she rolled her eyes and turned back around.

"I don't think I'm going to keep it."

He gasped and the box nearly slipped from his hands. A tiny piece of paper flittered down and he lent down to pick it up.

"But it's yours Haruhi," he said, with disappointment, looking down at the paper. His eyes widened at the brand name written on it and shoved it into his back pocket. Before he spun around, grinning. "You'll never know when you'll need a party dress."

She shrugged. "Maybe. It is comfy though..."

He nodded, grabbing her hand. "We better get going though. I scheduled dinner reservations so we should get there on time so they don't take our table. You can wear your pretty new dress."

"No way," she shoved him away, looking for her regular clothes. "And couldn't we have just ordered out? The flight was exhausting."

"Oh Haruhi, you're no fun."

"Yeah, yeah. Now get out so I can change."

"I can help-"

"Get out."

"Oh Haruhi, we have so much to talk about." Ryoji squeaked, pulling his daughter inside his apartment by her wrist. "Shame on you for not calling me before hand. I didn't prepare for anything, and you know how your daddy gets."

Haruhi tripped over the doorframe as he pulled her into the living area. Tamaki tried to follow, but the door was shut in his face. He recovered quickly but his complaints went unacknowledged and he quietly joined them around the low table.

"Barely even a peep out of you once a week," her dad continued. "You leave to a whole other country and don't even visit. I could have died last week and you wouldn't have known until today."

"I said I was sorry," she winced, gesturing towards the blonde who was fidgeting for attention. "I've been busy. I called every free moment I had."

Ryoji glared at Tamaki who was hovering over Haruhi's shoulder, mumbling into her ear about lunch, holding her hand tightly as if he were a lost child.

"I see..." he grumbled, not used to seeing his little girl all grown up, or with a boyfriend. "Well... Did you get your dress? I'm sure it was there. Do you like it?"

Haruhi hesitated. "...You knew about it? Dad, tell me you didn't buy me the dress. You know I don't need it and it looked so expensive for..." She stopped herself when he started laughing.

"No, no, no," He waved his hand in front of her, grasping her shoulders to lead her away from Tamaki. "It was gift from a friend, honest. I can't wait to see you in it. The party is going to be so amazing. It's going to be something else. Are you excited?"

"No," her forehead creased. "I... didn't even know about a party," she looked at Tamaki. "What party?"

The blonde lifted his hands in a shrug. "I didn't know of any party either."

"Dad?"

"Oh silly me," Ryoji laughed again, patting his fingers against his lips. "I wasn't supposed to say anything. It was supposed to be a surprise. Oh well. Some tea Haruhi? It must have been such a long trip down here from Boston."

"Wait a minute," Haruhi complained. "What party? How come no one told me about it?"

"It's nothing really. Just a small gathering."

"Right, but by whom?"

"How am I supposed to know? They're your friends."

She huffed. "I have a lot of friends, but most of them aren't even in Japan anymore. Where's it being held?"

He snickered, purposely avoiding eye contact with Tamaki, who stuck out like a sore thumb in the tiny plain household.

"Haruhi," he winked. "You know the Hitachiin's are the only ones reliable for having a decent reunion party."

Tamaki gasped, almost knocking something off the counter as his arms flew out. "Hikaru and Kaoru really are back? They said they would be but that was months ago."

Haruhi's mouth fell open. "You knew about this and didn't tell me?"

"Oh well, Haruhi... I didn't think it'd matter. I mean Kaoru emailed me a while ago and nothing ever came up."

"We barely got back from America three days ago, you'd think that during that fourteen hour flight of playing eye-spy you could have told me you were still in contact of everyone."

Ryoji gasped. "You've been in town for three days and you've just now come to see me?"

Tamaki's voice softened. "I'm sorry, Haruhi! Forgive me."

"So the twins sent me a dress for their surprise party," she grunted, taking the cup of tea her father offered. "Figures."

Tamaki stood up tall once more, his face brightening. "It'll be so good to see everyone again, wont it Haruhi? How long has it been? Over five years I think. Oh! it's a reunion party! It'll be just like before we left."

Ryoji frowned, taking Haruhi back towards him. "But lets not forget that you came from America to visit your daddy. I have so much to show you. Do you remember that bakery down the road? They had it renovated."

Haruhi wiggled her arm free of his grasp, and distantly listened to him babble about how the town looked brand new. It was true, she had left America only because Tamaki was having a conference meeting with his father in their company's building in Bunkyo, and thought that since her schooling was over, she'd go home. She hadn't decided yet if she was ever going back to Boston to work, but this occasion may have made a difference in her decision.

The image of their friends coming together made her grin dumbly, but it was only until Tamaki mentioned it that she realized a smile was even there.

Tamaki laid his chin on her shoulder. "You're looking a little pink, Haru." He blew into her ear.

He yelped as she punched his arm.

"Ow! No hitting, Haruhi. It isn't nice."

"Shut up. I'm still mad at you."

He turned around, biting his knuckle in a pout. "...Haruhi's mad at me... Daddy's sorry."

"Oh, get out of the corner!"

Hikaru leaned back in his chair and watched as his little brother walk circles around their hotel room. His hair was a mess and his eyes were red from lack of sleep, but not Kaoru. The younger twin was the image of perfection and perfect health.

"Thanks, Noemi," Kaoru grinned into his phone before he hung up. "Right, right, right. I know. No, I got it... Just send it to our room. You know the number don't you? Of course you do... Thanks, you're a peach."

He tossed the phone over his shoulder once he finished and turned to see that it had landed on his pillow. Then with a tiny spin, he looked at his brother.

"Perfect," his smirk faltered as he looked at his exhausted twin. "Cheer up brother, what's with the look?"

Hikaru turned his chair to face the large window. "I just don't understand why we're here. Kaoru, you know I'm going to Marry, Vennesa. Why'd we come all the way back here for?"

"No reason," the younger twin mumbled a response. "I just thought that I'd give my big brother a proper send off. Not to mention our deal. I get to pick the wedding venue, remember?"

Hikaru's expression grew deeper. "Kaoru... I'm sorry about this all. I know it bothers you. Vennesa just-"

"We've had our arguments, I know. I don't blame her," Kaoru stared into this brothers eyes and only saw hurt, so he smiled teasingly. "What would I want to be around that bridezilla for anyways? She's so bossy."

Hikaru's expression never changed, and he averted his eyes away from his twin in fear his emotions would start seeping from behind his eyes. "I'd still want you there, Despite what she says."

"I know, Hikaru. But grandmother said it's best to keep her happy. She's your fiancée. Not me."

He hummed, resting his cheek on his fist. "But... Why did the venue have to be in Japan? Or was it because you knew Vennesa preferred the Pudenziana?"

"Maybe a little, but Japan is special. It's our home, so why not get married here? It'll be in the mansion."

"She's going to hate it."

"Probably."

Hikaru kept his eyes away from his brother. He didn't dare look at him. For what was decided Kaoru may hate him a little, but if it was up to him, he'd have his little brother standing at the aisle with him the whole time, just to hold his hand. But they were older now, and he couldn't always have a hand to hold.

The arranged marriage was his idea. He didn't have to agree to it, but he did, and he wanted to. He was getting older and wanted to take on some responsibilities for the company, even if it meant a business connection with the Broccoli's.

"Still..." he murmured, using his foot to sway his seat. "I don't want you to be mad at me. I'll make it up to you."

"That isn't what I'm worried about," Kaoru replied quietly. "... I'm afraid you're only doing this because you think you have to. Unless you love her like you say you do."

Hikaru's throat tightened and he bit his tongue. "... I hope I will."

"That's what I thought." Kaoru sighed, and left it at that.

He made his way to the bathroom, and got halfway there before he stopped. "...And Hika?"

"Hmm?"

For a moment he thought about it, then his lecture instantly died in his throat.

"...Nothing. Never mind."

To Be Continued - Constructive Criticism Is Appreciated