.

LionHeart

Chapter 6

I don't recall a single care
Just greenery and humid air
Then Labor day came and went
And we shed what was left of our summer skin

- Summer Skin, Death Cab For Cutie

My eyes started fluttering frantically and movement started to reach my fingers and arms. I groaned, yawning heavily as the sound of laughter increased in volume – bring me out of my monotonous dream with a grumble. The first thing I was aware of was the laughter, the second thing being the cold, hard surface my face was pressed against. I forced my eyes open and peered out from under heavy eyelids. All I could see was my father, hair pulled back into a head scarf and dressed in a pink dressing gown, staring at me, laughing.

"What?" I yawned rolling my head on the table.

Wait, what? Table?!

I widened my gaze and sat upright. For some reason I was sat in the kitchen. I shivered slightly from the chilly breeze that floated through.

"Did you get in late last night?" Dad chuckled.

"Hmmm" I murmured, still half asleep, "I think I got in around...midnight"

"Couldn't quite make it to bed then?"

I laughed, "I had a quick shower when I got in and fancied a warm milk, obviously I didn't quite get that far"

"At least you got yourself out of that dress before you passed out, I would have killed you if you'd gotten drool stains on it" He joked.

I laughed under my breath, looking down at my loose grey t shirt and black jeans.

"How did it go?" Dad asked, a cautious half smile on his face.

I bit my lip, "It went good, mostly"

"Did you see all your friends?"

"Yes" I grinned, "And it was...completely perfect, I don't even know what I was worried about"

"See, I told you"

"Yes you did" I chuckled yawning again. I lolled my head back down onto the table and closed my eyes again, "I'm so tired. I need a recovery day" I chuckled. But I was to have no such chance as I was interrupted from my doze by a ringing coming from my clutch bag. Lazily, I rummaged through it, pulling out my cell phone. I was too foggy to read the caller I.D.

"Yes" I grumbled.

"Haruhi! Good! You're awake!" It was Tamaki's chirpy voice, I could almost hear his smile.

"Only just" I chuckled, "What is it?"

"We're outside your apartment, we're stealing you for the day" He answered.

Suddenly it was like someone threw freezing water on me, and I instantly woke up, shooting up right in my chair, "You're outside?! What?!"

"Haru-chan!" I heard Honey's voice through the apartment door. I looked over at Dad who was already wandering over to answer it – almost jogging eagerly. The door was pulled open with so much force, I was surprised it didn't come off its hinges. I was still in a state of shock from the sudden abrupt and unexpected arrival. So the welcome the men got - was me sat at the table, wide eyed, open mouthed, half asleep with my hair all over the place, looking gormless. As well as my father, who looked like he had died and gone to man heaven, frantically pulling them inside one by one.

The men were bigger than they were the last time they had been in this apartment, so the already small space felt even tinier with them all crammed side by side.

"Mr Fujioka it's wonderful to see you again" Kyoya greeted loudly and politely, he kissed my father's hand. Dad looked as if he might faint.

"Mr Ootori" Dad swooned, giggling like a school girl.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki exclaimed floating over to me, "Good morning" He beamed kissing me on the cheek.

"Uh...good morning" I replied, bewildered. I was suddenly reminded of the old annoying personality I grew to love, and smiled to myself. For a second Tamaki looked just as he did when I first met him, right down to his clothes. They oozed designer so much that I could almost smell the price tag. "What are you all doing here?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"We decided we couldn't wait to see you again so we've arranged a day out, like we used to" Kaoru replied, leaning against his brother. Hikaru grinned, his eyes meeting mine.

"We're going to the beach Haru-chan" Honey said with cheer in his voice.

"The beach?"

"I've already arranged a car to take us to my family's private beach house" Kyoya replied.

"Isn't it a little...cold for the beach?"

"Weather report says high temperatures are expected all day" He continued.

"But it's February" I mumbled.

"We can collect shellfish on the beach like we used to!" Honey beamed.

"And go swimming" Tamaki smiled.

"And play volleyball" Mori suggested.

I stared at the 6 men, who all looked back at me with bright enthusiastic eyes.

"I'll go pack you a beach bag" Dad exclaimed, equally as excited as the others, "I've got a sun-hat you can borrow too. Where is your swim suit?"

I bit my lip, "I...didn't pack one"

"Don't worry about that" Kaoru answered.

"We already told our mother to pick one out for you" Hikaru continued, patting me on the back. I sighed, accepting that there was no way out of this. "Smile" Hikaru winked, "It'll be fun"

Dad skipped out of his room about 5 minutes later, handing me a black canvas beach bag and a huge beige summer hat. "I'll just say it again, in case no one heard me. It's February. It's winter. And we're going to the beach? Do I really need a sun hat and sun screen?" I expressed with a confused look on my face. But they ignored my comment, continuing to gush with my father about the highly over the top and ridiculous looking sun hat I had been given.

"Haruhi, go pack a bag for the week" Dad smiled.

"Don't worry about that" Hikaru replied.

"Our mother packed on your behalf" Kaoru continued.

"Do you even have my sizes?" I intercepted. Not that I was complaining – I hated packing. But judging on the clothing Mrs Hitachiin used to dress me in, I couldn't say I was looking forward to the frills that awaited me.

"We've always had your sizes" Kaoru grinned.

"Even so" I muttered, "I'll bring some things just in case" The twins pouted jokingly snuggling into each other in a fake spectacle of sadness, just as theatrical as they always were. I laughed silently to myself at their ridiculousness. "So...when do we leave?"

Everyone in the room looked at each other, then back at me, "Now" They answered.

When Kyoya said he'd arranged to have a car pick us up, I assumed that meant we were driving to the beach house. But I was wrong. In true Ootori fashion, the car took us to a helicopter landing platform in the middle of the Ootori estate. I must have stood there opened mouthed for about 20 minutes, staring at the fast rotating propellers and the team of pilots that surrounded it. If I wasn't concerned about the state of my hair that morning, I most definitely was now after standing beside a moving helicopter. Tamaki, Honey and the twins all fought for the seats beside me, throwing each other off the steps leading inside it, like little boys fighting over a toy car. In the end, Whilst they battled, I comfortably settled myself in-between Mori and Kyoya, smirking playfully at the 4 pouting boys opposite for the whole trip.

We were forced to put on huge heavy headsets so we could talk and hear each other over the sound of pure, indescribable noise from the propellers and the engine. But the main conversations consisted of Honey pointing out things he saw out the window. I hated to admit it, but Kyoya was right about the weather, I wasn't sure how they did it, but somehow they had made it hot in winter. Not quite Caribbean and sunbathing hot, hot enough for swimming.

We finally landed a couple of hours later, I had completely forgotten how far away the beach house was and I had decided it was best not to ask where we were – but it felt like we were travelling to a whole different part of the world. There was a limo waiting for us at the landing pad, along with a group of security guards Kyoya had requested upon our arrival. I had forgotten how over the top these men were, and how much money they must have – probably even more so now that they have their own incomes. Especially Kyoya.

"Finally" I exhaled, dropping my bag down beside the front door of the beach house tiredly, "Thank god that's over" But the other's moods didn't reflect mine at all.

"I'm going to go change into my swim suit!" Honey exclaimed running through the door and across the room in elation. "Tama-chan lets build a sandcastle okay?!"

"I'll get the buckets!"

I chuckled to myself quietly, only amongst this group would you find a 28 year old and a 26 year old, running off excitedly to build sandcastles.

I turned around and folded my arms across my chest, waiting for Kaoru and Hikaru to close the door, "We'll help with your bags Haruhi" They spoke together, flashing identical smiles at me. "Your room is next to ours"

"You still share a room?" I asked.

They chuckled together, "Not often" Hikaru winked, "That way, the times I finally get to snuggle into bed next to Kaoru are made even more special" His voice became smooth, deep and sultry as he gazed into his twin brothers eyes, hooking his fingers under his chin, bringing their faces close.

I shuddered, "Oh god, you guys still do the creepy, incestuous 'forbidden romance' thing?"

Kaoru laughed, hugging his brother, "Only when there are girls around to get excited"

"Yeah well, I'm not quite that perverted" I smirked.

"Not quite that perverted" Hikaru repeated my words, "Does that mean you're a tiny bit perverted?"

"How interesting. I never thought Haruhi had a perverted side" Kaoru continued, replicating Hikaru's cheeky grin. I rolled my eyes in annoyance, an amused smile touching my lips. I ignored their invitation to carry my bags and threw the overpacked satchel and beach bag over my shoulder, straining to carry them towards and up the stairs. Kyoya showed me to my room, which I vaguely remembered from when I was last here about 8 years ago. It was another one of our host club things, so this trip would probably be the first one I would be able to swim at! The room was big, bigger than my bedroom at home by far. And the bed was a four-poster, made of dark sanded wood, with curtains along each side – and it was so big all 7 of us could have probably slept in it. I abandoned my bags at the foot of it.

"Haruhi!" Kaoru called from the hallway. I poked my head out from my open bedroom door to see him and Hikaru stood outside.

"Here's the bag Mum packed for you" Hikaru said, passing over a massive pink backpack. I took it from him and almost tore my arm out of it's socket. Oh my god it was heavy.

"She packed really really cute clothes, so you better wear them!" Kaoru beamed. Some things never change. "Your swim suit is in there too"

"We're all heading down to the beach for the evening. The boss wants to light a fire pit and have a barbecue dinner down there. Kinda like a celebration. It should be fun" Hikaru explained, "We'll meet you downstairs in 5 minutes"

"Yeah, okay" I replied, trying to hold back the exhausted yawn that threatened to force its way out of my mouth, "I'll be down in just a minute. Swim suit and beach bag right?"

The twins nodded, grinning, "Right" They both said. They then stumbled off together into their bedroom and left me to get changed. I sighed and closed the bedroom door, finally letting out a yawn. I was far too tired for a fire pit party on the beach. I sat down on the edge of the bed, unzipping the backpack and pulling out items of clothes. Some of the items were okay, just more colourful than what I was used to. It was when I reached the underwear section of the bag that I had an issue. So many...lacy things and...see through things...I mean, my own usual underwear selection was mainly plain and cotton. I don't think I'd ever owned underwear that could be classed as...lingerie. Why would I even need this stuff?

At least I packed my own...

I put the 'barely there' underwear back into the backpack and fished out the swim suit I had been told about. It was as I had expected – a colourful two piece. The only swimming costume I'd ever bought myself was a plain black full suit. I'd never even considered wearing a...bikini before. I just never felt comfortable wearing one, it was essentially a waterproof bra and panties, and I'd never go out in public in my underwear, why was a bikini an different? Apart from giving men an excuse to stare. I bit my lip. The bikini was a mint green halter-neck, bright and sort of cute – a look I assumed Kaoru and Hikaru were aiming for. In-between the...cups, was a medium sized bow – sort of pretty I guessed...the bikini bottoms were the same mint colour, the straps that went across the hips were a slightly darker teal colour. I don't know if I was exactly comfortable relying on bikini bottoms that were held together with two thin, elasticated straps...

I did rummage further, hoping to find another swim suit, but had no such luck. So reluctantly I gave in, frowning at the two tiny pieces of material that were somehow meant to contain and conceal my...private bits...from 6 men.

Maybe I could skip on the swimming, just stay on the beach in some shorts and a shirt...

But I was too tired to deal with the complaints I would get, so in defeat, I lazily shrugged off my t-shirt and jeans. Thankfully, Mrs Hitachiin had packed a long sarong – so I didn't need to fear the exposed walk from the house to the beach. I removed my bra and pants, then reluctantly slipped on the bikini bottoms and then the top. But there was a problem. A big problem.

I looked in the mirror, horrified, trying to adjust my breasts accordingly so they didn't look so...obscene. When Hikaru and Kaoru said We've always had your sizes', they really did mean 'always' as in, since I was young. Unfortunately, one thing they obviously didn't consider...was that I had grown. And by grown, I mean grown. I guessed they never thought about the possibility that my shapeliness would finally kick in once I reached adulthood – as this bikini bra was considerably smaller than what my breasts required. I mean, at a size C, I didn't have a huge bust, in fact, I had an average bust. But considering the fact that I didn't need to wear a bra until I was 17 – I was a lot bigger now in comparison.

I couldn't go out like this...my breasts could hardly fit inside the cups, they were swelling out of them, looking extremely...inappropriate.

Ah shit

"Haruhi, you ready yet?" Tamaki called from downstairs.

I chewed my lip and went back to the bags to hunt for something, anything, to conceal my big problem. I quickly pulled out my grey vest and pulled it on over my top. I sighed in relief, looking back in the mirror.

Kind of looks like a tankini, it'll do.

And not only that, I felt a lot more comfortable being more covered up. I grabbed the sarong and wrapped it around my lower half like a skirt, then slid on a pair of strappy, uncomfortable sandals from the pink backpack, before running to meet the others – beach bag in hand. I left the sun-hat behind.

"This spot looks good" Kaoru announced, throwing himself down onto the sand, "Hikaru, pass me the blankets" The twins laid them out on the sand, spreading them out like a huge picnic blanket. Hikaru pitched up the sun umbrella, shading the little patch of relaxation they had proudly created. Everyone dumped their bags haphazardly before removing their shirts. I sat myself down, trying not to stare at the newly exposed lean, slender and athletic torsos.

"Haru-chan!" Honey beamed, "Come swim with me"

"O-okay" I strained taking his hand to help me get up again. I hesitantly and with shaking hands, untied my sarong, letting it fall to my feet in the sand. I removed my sandals and looked back up at Honey. "Okay, lets go"

Honey scratched his neck, looking somewhat nervous, "Um...aren't you going to...take off your-"

"Haru, lose the shirt" Hikaru interrupted, standing next to Honey, arms folded with a playful smirk on his face, "Come on, we want to see the cute swim suit Mum chose"

I cleared my throat and bit my lip, "Well um...I kind of had...a...wardrobe malfunction..." I stammered, trying to find the right words, "I decided it would be wise to wear something...over it"

The men raised an eyebrow each, all 6 of them looked confused.

"So, what, was the suit broken?" Tamaki questioned.

"No. Not exactly"

"You don't have to be coy Haru, it's just a swimming costume. Now come on, lets swim" Kaoru laughed.

"No, no, really, I have to keep the tank top on"

More confused looks.

"Don't you like it?" Hikaru asked.

"It's not that, it's nice. It's just that..." I cleared my throat nervously, "Uh...It's not the right size..." My hand came up and gestured the torso area subtlety. I hoped they would get the hint – I wasn't as flat chested as I once was.

"Not the right size?" The men repeated slowly to themselves, trying to fathom what I was saying.

"But its..." Hikaru trailed off, still trying to work out what I meant, I could see the cogs turning in his head, putting the pieces together. Eventually. With huge eyes, he got it. As did the others.

"OH" Tamaki blurted, "OH, Okay Haruhi, th-th-that's, that's completely fine, really, really. We'll um, get you a new one tomorrow. Okay, l-let's swim, yeah?" His eyes were bigger than tennis balls, his words pouring out in a waterfall of accelerated nonsense.

Honey looked up at him, still oblivious, "I still don't under-" ,

"Honey, let's race" Mori interrupted, trying to avert Honey's attention away from the conversation about my problem causing chest.

"First one in the sea gets all the cake!" Honey exclaimed in delight, before shooting off with Mori towards the ocean. I exhaled. Folding my arms over my chest, which suddenly felt very obvious. It took Tamaki and the twins a while to recover from what they had just discovered, I don't even think they noticed me slipping off past them, following Mori and Honey.

The weather may have been warm, but the sea certainly wasn't, the coldness hit me like knives in my shins, causing me to shriek in surprise. I was glad I was wearing a shirt, there was no way I would trust my bare skin in this water, "Holy fuuu..." I gasped jumping back out.

"It's not that cold" Kyoya smirked, walking up alongside me, "You know, the first time we came to this beach it was March – almost equally as cold"

"I didn't go swimming that time" I replied, "I don't think I ever went swimming actually..."

"We did arrange a lot of host activities around the beach, we brought in the most money from events were the hosts were shirtless" Kyoya explained, adjusting his glasses on his nose. I could kind of see why, if the clients could be here now, they would lose their minds. Kyoya was wearing a pair of black swimming shorts, his bare, toned and hairless chest exposed. He buried his hands into his hair and waded into the sea. "You get used to the cold, then you can swim" He said turning around to face me. He smirked his familiar smirk and waited for me to follow him in.

"It's still cold" I clenched my teeth, tiptoeing back into the sea towards him, "You lied"

Kyoya chuckled holding a hand out for me to take so I didn't stumble on my toes. I took it, squeezing tightly so I didn't fall. After a while of paddling in, I did get used to it as he said I would. I hummed happily, "That's better"

"See I told you" Kyoya replied, half smiling at me. I looked over at Honey and Mori who were play wrestling in the water not too far from us, Honey hung off Mori's back like a little monkey, cheering happily. I laughed to myself.

"Coming through! Coming through!" Kaoru and Hikaru bellowed running and splashing towards us and breaking through mine and Kyoya's conjoined hands. Cold water droplets sprayed all over us, I gasped at the coldness, before splashing them back viciously.

"I see how it is" Hikaru smirked. He raised his arms up, scooping fistfuls of water and splashing them my way. I laughed, putting my hands up in defence, my hair becoming drenched in salty water.

"Stop it it's cold" I giggled, wrapping my arms around myself shivering.

"Oh in that case" Kaoru smiled. The twins descended on me fast, I tried to get away from them but the heavy water slowed me down. Before I could even shriek, they had me in their arms and began swinging me into the sea. I fell underwater, becoming completely submerged. When I found my feet I shot upright out of the sea, gasping for breath. Holy shit it was cold.

"Shit, shit, shit" I gasped, flailing my arms and jumping up and down trying to warm myself up.

"No swearing Haru-chan!" Honey pouted, still clinging onto Mori-senpai's back, they trudged over to us, completing the group. I glared at the twins, who doubled over in hysterical laughter. Without even thinking, I launched myself at them, knocking both of them down into the water with me. They didn't even have time to yelp before they were enveloped in cold, salty water.

"Oh fuck" Hikaru shivered, "So cold"

"I told you!" I laughed. They both looked so hilarious completely drenched. Their usual male model hairstyles flattened and sloppy across their faces.

"I'm so cold Hikaru" Kaoru pouted, "Look what the bad lady did to me"

"I'll keep you warm Kaoru" Hikaru breathed, trying to subdue the shivering in his voice and replace it with a sexy, sultry tone. He wrapped his arms around his brother tightly and protectively, one hand brushing against Kaoru's jaw, toying with his mouth. They both turned to looked at me to judge my reaction.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow, smirking in disbelief.

"You know you love it" Hikaru winked, splashing me again. And suddenly, the battle commenced once more, this time, everyone was included – much to Honey's displeasure as he was thrown off Mori's back and into the sea with one big shove. Unfortunately, being the smallest one there – I was also the easiest target. I was lifted up and dunked so many times I had lost count. Eventually the water didn't feel cold anymore, and all you could feel was the itchy sting of salt and sand. I gripped onto Tamaki's arm, using it as a hoist to climb upwards, recovering from my dunking from Mori. I coughed, gasped and laughed looking at the others who were all drenched and waddling uncomfortably in heavily sodden swim shorts.

I was about to say something about the amusing sight I was faced with, but as my foot settled down on the sandy ground – a sharp pain shot up my leg, I winced, letting out a vicious "Ahh".

"What happened?" Tamaki turned to me, holding me upright, concern heavy in his voice. "Are you okay?" The others gathered around.

"Ouch. Yeah I'm fine. I think I've stepped on something..." I flinched and lifted my foot up out of the water, blood was flowing from an unmeasurable cut on the side of it. "Ow" I muttered.

"Oh my god Haruhi you're bleeding!" Tamaki exclaimed, panicked.

"It's only a cut, I must had stepped on a rock or something"

"Kyoya, get a doctor down here, she might need stitches or something" Tamaki ignored my remark and continued to freak out.

"I don't need a doctor, it's only a small cut" I chuckled at his ridiculousness, "I just need to go clean it up and take a look at it. No need to panic"

"Here, I'll carry you"

"I don't need carrying"

"I'll carry you Haru-chan!" Honey called out.

"No really, I can walk" I let go of Tamaki and was about to take my first step, when big arms scooped me up into the air. Mori carried me as if I weighed no more than a feather. I asked him to set me down but he didn't listen, or reply.

Somehow, my foot hurt more in the fresh air rather than submerged in salt water. Blood dripped down my foot with salty droplets as I was brought over to the picnic blanket. The others followed us to make sure I was okay. I wasn't really sure what all the fuss was about, I mean it was only a cut, I'm sure they've had small cuts before in their lives – what was so shocking about this one?

"See, it's just a small cut" I chuckled, dabbing the clean handkerchief Kyoya gave me, I angled my foot so they could see the small line in the side of my heel, "The water just made it look like it was bleeding more than it was. I told you there was no need to stress about it"

"Could have been one of those...spiky fish, with the poisonous needles" Kaoru mumbled.

"Anyone bring a band-aid?" I grumbled looking down at my injured foot.

Tamaki and Mori poked at the little disposable barbecue they apparently picked up from a 'commoner's market' trying to get the only 4 burgers they could fit on it to cook. Kyoya and Hikaru were trying to light the firepit, feeding it with logs of drift wood and endlessly lighting matches and fire lighters. Honey was gushing over the idea of toasted marshmallows and Kaoru was on his way back from the house with a box of beer.

They wouldn't let me lift a finger, apparently after my "ordeal" with the sharp rock I had to take it easy and rest. I wasn't complaining though, I was enjoying lying back on the blankets looking up at the dark evening sky. Would have been even nicer if the temperature hadn't dropped so much! I had my sarong tied around my neck like a cape, snuggling it around myself. I was really looking forward to the fire!

"Success!" Hikaru hissed, fist pumping the air. "We have a flame"

"How's the barbecue going?" Kyoya asked, looking over at Tamaki who was still staring intently at the meat patties that were only just starting to smoke.

"4 people will have food in about 10 minutes" Tamaki replied, not taking his eyes of the food. "These disposable barbecues are really really slow. How do you turn up the gas?"

I chuckled, "There is no gas. You just have to be patient"

"I'm too hungry to be patient" He replied smirking.

"Here, let me do it" I sighed, rolling over and crawling towards him on my knees. "You do realise you were meant to put the charcoal in right? Why did you use the packaging?"

"I've only ever used gas barbecues, and by 'I' I mean my staff. I thought the idea was just to set a fire and get the burgers hot...I didn't really know what the...rocks were for"

"Didn't you read the instructions?" I asked.

"No, Tamaki set them on fire" Mori replied, his voice sounding almost amused.

I bit my lip, trying my hardest not to break down in tearful hysterical laughter, "Luckily you haven't burnt through the bottom" I removed the cage grill with the burgers on off the disposable foil tray and placed it down on the blanket, trying not to burn my fingers. I poured out the burning cardboard, plastic and paper instructions into the sand – putting out the fire, then replaced it all with the charcoal and some fire lighter cubes. The fire started pretty much instantly and the grill was placed back on top. It only took a couple of seconds before we could smell cooking barbecue meat.

"How did you..." Tamaki trailed off, eyes wide with awe.

"You're welcome" I chuckled.

"Kaoru, you're back!" Hikaru called out suddenly. We all looked up from what we were doing and saw Kaoru hobbling down the beach carrying a huge heavy looking box of beer on one shoulder. His arm was flexed upwards – holding the weight of the beer box as if it weighed nothing.

"Who ordered beer?" He smirked setting the box down on the blanket, "Don't worry, I've got a bottle opener"

"Thank god" Hikaru murmured.

"And by the way, I noticed a tent in one of the house cupboards" Kaoru said, "I was considering bringing it down"

"There is no way I'm sleeping on this beach" I replied, "It's far too cold"

"It's chilly, but I wouldn't say it was cold" Mori spoke up, "Still, I agree with you, I wouldn't sleep in a tent in this season"

"Thank you" I breathed, a slight chuckled in my voice.

"Well, I only considered it" Kaoru smirked, "If you got cold you could always snuggle up with me"

"Thanks for the offer" I replied, not moving my eyes from the burgers, which were cooking perfectly. I flipped them over with the barbecue tongs, allowing them to cook on the other side. "But I have a habit of hogging the covers"

"You can steal my covers anytime" I heard Hikaru murmur. I looked up at him, my eyebrow raised in amusement. "What?" He questioned, smirking, "I don't need covers - I'm a cuddly sleeper, I can just snuggle for warmth"

"That's true" Kaoru grinned, "He's a very cuddly sleeper" He winked at his brother, who did the same back. I rolled my eyes and picked up a burger bun on a plate. I flipped the patties one more time before nestling them between the buns.

"There we are" I smiled, "Who wants one?"

"Me" All 6 of them replied at the same time. I laughed to myself, passing one plate to Tamaki, one to Kyoya, one to Mori and one to Honey, "We can wait" I chuckled at the twins, who stared at the others as they happily chomped away.

"Mmm yummy" Tamaki hummed in approval. I grinned proudly and unpackaged the last 3 burgers and started cooking them as I did with the others. The boys opened some beers and laid back next to the fire pit, eating and chatting amongst themselves happily. I was enjoying listening to them talk, until the conversation averted to me.

"So Haruhi, after Ouran – what did you get up to?" Kaoru asked, watching me flip and press the patties with a spatula, "I'd assume you're a lawyer now right?"

I chewed my lip anxiously. Here it is. The other situation I had been dreading... "Well...actually no, I'm not a lawyer" I cleared my throat, shaking slightly with nerves. I noticed out the corner of my eye, Tamaki repositioning himself so he could face me. I lifted my head from the barbecue to see them all watching me, waiting for an explanation.

"What about Boston? Law school?" Tamaki furrowed his eyebrows, "You said were so determined to become a lawyer, what happened?"

"At first I was" I sighed, "But, a couple of years in, I had this...epiphany, and decided I...just couldn't do it. The whole system was completely corrupt, the people I would work with, the case studies we were doing. It was all so...dirty. Everything was just so cut-throat, and 'every man for himself'. Nothing but panhandlers and blackmailers, using people like bricks in their pathway to success. There was no strength or honour, just money and greed. I can see why Mum never advanced to higher firms, she still had her sense self worth and morality. So I just dropped out and moved back here before I even finished. Went straight into work and put that dream behind me"

"Wow" Tamaki said softly, "That's really...honourable of you"

"Don't you mean weak?" I chuckled shakily, "I gave up"

"For a good reason" Hikaru said, "You had the guts to address the problems you saw. That's not weakness"

"But now I'm stuck in a job I hate. I sunk all my education into becoming a lawyer, I have no experience for anything else" I huffed. The burgers had finished cooking, so I served them up and passed the plates over to Kaoru and Hikaru. I threw some sand on the barbecue to put out the fire, before settling myself down amongst the rest of the group. "I can't even think if anything I'd want to do"

"You're only 25, you've got the rest of your life to work it out. It's never too late, so don't stress yourself over it" Honey smiled sweetly, "What's your job now?"

"I'm a police officer" I answered, Tamaki and the twins almost choked on their food at my reply, turning them bright red.

"That's great" Honey beamed, "That's an amazing job"

"Officer Fujioka" Kaoru gushed.

"Do you wear a uniform?" Hikaru asked, wide eyed.

I chuckled, "Yes I do"

They looked at each other, silently sharing something between them.

I smiled a little, "It can be good sometimes, but most of the time I just feel useless. And I'm constantly surrounded by criminals who have done awful things, I've had occasions where I've been put into serious danger. It's hard to enjoy a job like that"

"Maybe you need to broaden your options" Kyoya said, "You're smart and dedicated, you're capable of succeeding anything when you put your mind to it – you showed us that during your time with us at Ouran. Maybe you just need to see what you can do with those skills"

"I need options" I admitted, "I literally have no goals or careers to strive towards. I don't even know where to start"

"You'll work it out" Tamaki smiled, "And we'll help"

"Thank you" I smiled back. I guess I wasn't really giving them credit, all that time I was worrying what they would think of me, and I'd forgotten how lovely and supportive they always were. I was glad that hadn't changed. I felt a little guilty for ever thinking they would judge me. I took a sip of my beer. "I was a little apprehensive about this trip...but I'm glad we're all here, no matter how cold it is" I grinned and playfully nudged Hikaru with my arm, "This was a good idea"

Hikaru beamed at me, wrapping an arm across my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug, "And we have all week" He said, planting a kiss on the top of my head, "And we're not giving you a second of peace, you'll be sick of us by the time you leave"

I smirked. I wonder what they have planned...

We trudged back up the path to the house at around 2am, quite drunk and quite tired. I wasn't really used to drinking so the stumbling and dizzy sensation I was feeling was alien to me. I needed to steady myself half way up the path with one hand rested on Kaoru's shoulder – but eventually, he and Hikaru decided the best way to get me to the house was to carry me, so I was thrown over the shoulder of a very drunk Hikaru.

I hoped the plan for tomorrow wasn't anything too strenuous. I wasn't looking forward to the headache I knew I would be suffering from the next morning.

A/N - Hi everyone! This chapter is nice and long compared to the others, which pleases me! Wow, this story is really picking up quite a few followers, it's great to hear from you all in the reviews, I love reading all your thoughts! :D

I have set up a twitter account so if you have any questions you can tweet me - YulisanWriting. So if you have twitter, feel free to follow me! As always, reference images are on my profile. My polyvore account where I posted all the boy's reunion outfits hit over 500 views! So I'm hoping that means you're enjoying seeing all my reference photos :D

More reference photos on my profile for this chapter so please go have a look!

See you in the next one! Remember to Review/Favourite/Follow

- Yuli