Disclaimer: I, KawaiiTenshiCeres, does not own Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori, or Niji wo Matsu Hito by BUMP OF CHICKEN.

虹を待つ人 / People Who Wait for the Rainbow
Chapter Four

It was strange.

Takashi looked at the sighing twins as they re-entered the ballroom, but didn't have Hazuki with them. Furrowing his eyebrows, he was about to approach them, only to see Kaori already coming towards him. With a worried look on her face, he knew something was wrong. Turning towards the doorway, Takashi had quietly exited the ballroom, making a quick dash into the hallway, trying to search for Hazuki.

"You…don't have a boyfriend, do you?"

From where she stood, her back pressing against the wall, Hazuki felt disgusted.

Was this how she was that night? Creeping up on Takashi like sick pervert and taking advantage of him? She felt like she really needed to apologize to him. After smelling the alcohol mixed in with his terrible cologne, the woman wanted to puke. She felt his body pressing against hers, his hand inching up her leg, trying to make way into a more secluded area of her body.

"If I had someone I like, what would you do?" she whispered into his ear.

"You're not talking about Morinozuka-san, are you?" he smirked.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Hazuki glared at him. "So what if I am…?"

"I mean…Women in the Amano family most likely snatch away other men. I'm already engaged to a woman myself, so I don't mind dumping her for you. After all… You probably must be good in be-"

Shoving him away, the brunette smiled at him eerily as he looked at her with a tiny smirk. Pushing back her messy locks that covered her caked face, Hazuki began cracking her knuckles.

"What? Picking a fight with me? Here?" he laughed. "You do know this is your sister and Morinozuka-san's official engagement party. Your family's reputation is already-"

"Already fuckin' ruined, I know," the woman growled. "But, as much as I hate it… I don't want to be used by men like you,"

Her heart was aching. Why did she get herself into this mess? She had to leave after this…She needed to leave. This was already a mistake being here and doing such a stupid thing.

Without thinking, Hazuki had punched the man square in the face. A high pitched scream had echoed throughout the empty hallway. Watching him collapse in front of her, she blinked a few times before letting out a long sigh of relief. Picking up her shoes, the woman knew she had to leave. Even if it was going to be a long walk, Hazuki needed to go to Mayu's apartment. She already messed everything up for her sister…For him.

"Ah… You've really done it," an older woman sighed.

From a distance, Hazuki stared at the kimono-clad, silver haired woman who cupped her cheek at looked at the sight of what had happened. A frown formed on the younger woman's face at the sight of her, before she continued to walk past her, not bothering to look at the woman in the eyes.

"Aren't you afraid of what your father is going to say?" she remarked, eyeing her.

After a brief pause, the brunette quickly shook her head.

"…After what happened that got Oyaji riled up for this? Hell nah!" Hazuki barked. "If I need to live out on the streets starvin' to death and have my freedom, I would rather do that than to live this damn life! ...Fuckin' Baba."

Storming away from the sight, Hazuki closed her eyes, and headed towards the exit...Only to bump into someone. Stumbling back, she felt a hand quickly snatching her wrist, pulling her forward and helping her regain her balance. Already, the woman had another apology stirring up in her head.

"S-Sorry," she muttered, before looking up at her so-called 'savior'.

"There you are," Takashi muttered. "Kaori-san was looking for you,"

How embarrassing. The woman could feel her heart stopping at the sight of the Morinozuka heir. Her face quickly turned red, as she bowed to the taller male.

"T-Thank you…" she said. "But, I'm heading home now!" she lied, looking up with him with a sheepish smile.

A questionable look formed on Takashi's face. "Are you sick?" he questioned.

"N-No! I'm perfectly fine! I'll see ya!"

Already darting towards the exit, Hazuki could feel her head screaming at herself for what she just did. She wasn't at all okay. Hazuki wanted to talk to him, apologize for whatever happened between the two of them, and just get it over with…But it was hard.

'I'm done for…'

"Come on, sleepy head. You're hiding under there like the world is going to end,"

Sitting on her bed, Mayu gently jabbed Hazuki who was crying underneath the comforter. It was morning. The depressed Hazuki arrived at Mayu's place at 1AM, scaring off her best friend's one night stand. The lavender-haired woman knew something like this would happen. With her best friend being smitten with her little sister's fiancé, it was obvious there was going to be some trouble between the two of them.

"IT IS GOIN' TO END!" she whined. "WHY THA HELL DID I RUN AWAY FROM HIM?"

"It's obvious that you actually do like the guy," Mayu shrugged, watching her friend's head pop up from underneath the comforter. "I mean, he is pretty manly. I assumed you at least saw him shirtless, so he seemed to be your type,"

"Hah?" Hazuki scoffed. "What does Takashi-san bein' shirtless have to do with anythin'?"

Rolling her eyes, the other woman gently patted her back. "You were the baseball team manager in high school, 'Mad Dog' Amano-san. I'm pretty sure out of all those guys in the team, with the exception of him, Morinozuka-san seems like he's perfect for you,"

Lightly growling at her laughing friend, Hazuki laid back down, and let out a long sigh. She knew she had to go home sooner or later.

"Mayu-chan," the brunette began. "…I want Kaori-chan to be happy…"

"I know," she chimed. "I won't force you to leave this bed, nor force you out of my place. You were heartbroken before, weren't you? I know it hurts, but… Maybe, with Morinozuka-san coming into your life, and being engaged to your sister…He's probably not the one,"

"Right," Hazuki sighed.

"I'll go visit Asayu for a bit," Mayu remarked. "At least eat something, because I don't want to come back here with you dying of starvation,"

As the art student left Hazuki alone, she reluctantly sat up and looked at the clock. It was fine for her to sleep a bit more. Her body felt exhausted. She didn't want to see her father…and she didn't want to see her sister or Takashi as well…Heck, she never wanted to go back home, and think about that engagement, nor confront them about that little spat she had with that creep…If they even found out about it, of course.

Ding dong.

Did Mayu forget her keys?

Reluctantly pulling herself out of the bed, Hazuki shivered at the cold air that filled the air, realizing that her sleep attire composing of a borrowed t-shirt and panties didn't keep her warm. Dragging herself to the door, the dreary brunette slowly cracked open the door, feeling the cold breeze coming into the apartment. It was too cold outside for sure. She knew she should've kept her bra on.

"Mayu-chan…Why did ya forget tha keys?" she whined, wincing at the bright sunlight. "I swear, ya said I was irresponsible,"

"Mayu-san told me to come here,"

Frozen in her place, the woman did a double take, rubbing her eyes and looking at Takashi gazing down at her. As she tried to slam the door shut, he quietly held the door open, easily overpowering her… His body was hovering over hers, his eyes looking down at her face. With him cornering her at the front doorway, it was already hard for her to escape.

"S-She told ya to come here?" Hazuki grumbled, slowly crossing her arms over her chest to cover herself. "That bitch…"

"Something the matter?" he questioned.

"OF COURSE, SOMETHIN' IS THE MATTER!" she screeched, feeling her face turning hot.

Gazing down at her and inspecting her current state, Takashi felt his face turning bright, before quietly looking away from her. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"L-Listen, whatever happened between the two of us that night… With me bein' drunk, you takin' me here… Everything. Don't tell Kaori," the woman said with a stern look. "I don't want her to get the wrong idea about us,"

"…It's pretty bad that you're engaged to Kaori-chan. Hazuki-chan was extremely embarrassed over what happened between you two,"

Remembering Mayu's words, the male cupped her cheek and brushed away her hair. "Hazuki, listen, I…"

"M-Mayu-chan probably asked you to take me home right?" Hazuki noted, managing to slip away from him. "I'll go change, haha,"

Shuffling around the room, Hazuki quietly made way to the bathroom, carrying a small pile of clothes. Locking the door behind her, the woman sat on the ground closing her eyes. It was terrible. Her heart was thumping in her chest, her face was cherry red. Touching her cheek, Hazuki let out a long sigh. She wanted him to touch her again, even if it was just simply holding her hand.

"…This is for your own good, Hazuki, "