A/N: I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank all of you have have reviewed and shared your opinion with me through messages. Especially from Adorable Reader, who has kept track of Fracture since the beginning.

Besides the gratuities, I also wanted to let everyone know that I'm currently looking for a Beta Reader. Up until now I've been able to keep track of everything but seeing as how I've written up to Chapter Ten things are starting to get a little fuzzy (yes everyone this mean you're in store for at least another four chapters) If you'd like to apply, send me a message or leave a review letting me know. I update every week so I need someone who could edit one chapter in less than a two week timeframe (I'd send you the chapter one or two weeks in advance)

That's all, I'll get back to the story now!

Chapter Six
Our Penance

Where am I?

The air smells fragrant, and when I breathe it in I can feel a warming sensation flowing through me, delivering a silent promise to be whatever I need it to be.

I turn to my right, nothing but the grass in the field I'm laying upon. Is that where I am? A field?

I turn to my left. Someone's there with me, smiling at me with amber eyes.

I feel his name on my lips even before I hear it echoing through the air, the sound it makes feels as sweet as the surrounding air.

'Kaoru'…

He's lying next to me on the grass, one arm is supporting his head and the other is stretched out in front of him. He never stops smiling. "Close your eyes" he says, leaning into me to cover my eyes with his hand.

I feel something heavy drop in my own hands as I let him keep my eyes covered; he's giving me a present, how sweet.

Despite being comforted by his presence I can't help but feel a distant thought in the back of my mind trying to nudge it's way forward. Am I forgetting something? How did I get here, did Kaoru bring me?

I struggle with this thought and resolve to ask him, but when I speak I find myself unable to hear my own words. I can't hear anything now.

All of a sudden everything feels so cold, I'm shaking from lack of warmth. I open my eyes to find that nobody's there anymore. I am alone.

"Kaoru!" I cry out, my voice has returned. I look down at my hands. I'm holding something, something heavy, something metallic.

It's a knife.

I drop the object instantly, running to search for someone-anyone who can help me. The field has disappeared, replaced with a blaring white area that's without any walls or ceiling, I cannot see where it begins or ends. I need to keep running.

Before I'm even able to get a grip on my surrounding's I feel my leg catch on something attached to the floor. My body flails through the air as I try to regain my footing; a sensation of pain shoots through every fiber of my being as I do so.

Eventually I land facing a wooden object; a pair of feet sits just in front of it. A person! "Can you help me?" I ask, ignoring the beckoning pain that's spreading through me. "My friend…he must've-

A streak of orange cascades into my view, and for a second I dare to think that it could be Kaoru. But I'm wrong.

I watch in horror as Hikaru sits just before me, bound to a chair. Shallow cuts are projected across his face and body; his left leg is bleeding profusely, and a new, fresh gash is visible through his shirt under his ribline. Yet even worse are his eyes, they've been sewn shut. The thread that binds them is tethered to his face by his hand, which is gripping the needle tightly.

Despite my plea he doesn't speak, all he does is sit there in his grotesque state.

The words 'save me' are being emitted from an unknown source, repeated endlessly through my whitewashed surroundings, the sound is suffocating.

Even when I cover my ears the disembodied sound still vibrates clear as day. "Save me-Save me." The words rip right through me, over and over.

"Hikaru!"

A voice whispers into my ear this time, sending a shiver up my spine from it's familiarity. It's Kaoru.

"You hold it in your hands..."

I hear a loud noise above me as my eyes shoot open once more. Again Hikaru's image has disappeared, replaced with the empty corners of my room, dusted by flecks of light coming through the curtains.

I rub my eyes until they adjust, taking caution before putting on my glasses. My hands are still trembling from the nightmare.

I glance to my alarm clock to check the time only to find that it's ten o' clock in the morning; I've only had a little over four hours of sleep. I'm beginning to see how Kyoya feels.

At least his night's are sure to be nightmare free, unless you count the ones of others induced by him.

I look over to my cellphone beside me and decide to check it once more.

Two missed calls from Tamaki and three texts, two from Kyoya and one…from Hikaru.

Seriously?The audacity of some people, he'll have to work for any forgiveness I have left in me at this point.

Skipping over anything Hikaru could possibly have to say I listen to Tamaki's voicemail first.

"Haruhi, it's Tamaki-though I'm sure you already knew that from the phone. Listen, I wanted to know if you might be interested in going out with me to dinner tonight? Kyoya's busy and had to cancel the meeting we had planned and well…I'd just really like to see you. Let me know K? Later."

Tamaki wants to go out on a date with me?

Instantly I feel a flush cover my entire face. After Hikaru had called me last night I had all but forgotten about Tamaki's actions at the Host Club, maybe he can bring some relief to all this turmoil brought up by last night.

I open my phone to text a response to his voicemail, but find myself reading Kyoya's message first.

Haruhi, in lieu of recent events I've decided to overlook your appearance yesterday. However need I remind you that your debt can be reinstated at any time if you choose to cost the club money by going around looking like a homeless person. Get yourself maintained, now.

"Asshole" I mutter, closing the phone. Despite being one of Kyoya's proclaimed 'closest friends' I find that he can be so indescribably rude sometimes.

It seems as though rude friends surround me these days.

As soon as I calm down I type my response to Tamaki.

Sounds good to me, when should I be at your house then?

Almost as soon as I put my phone down it illuminates with another text:

Wait, so are we OK now?

What could he mean by that? I go to double check the number at the top and notice my mistake immediately. It wasn't in fact Tamaki I had messaged, but Hikaru. Great, I must've replied to him by accident.

Last night is still ingrained into my mind at this point, his solemn face rejecting my outburst. He doesn't deserve to be forgiven…But still, I had asked him to help me out with a haircut, and I can't back out now with Kyoya threatening me.

There's nothing I can do about it now, might as well get out of Kyoya's hair before he sends another vicious text.

Reluctantly, I type my response.

No we're not OK, that text was met for Tamaki, not you. However I do remember about our plans for today, should I come to you or ask someone else?

You mean your haircut? No please come here, we can talk about what happened last night. Please don't be angry.

The thought is hysterical. Angry? Oh, I'm not angry.

I'm furious.

I let myself go for a second, something I never do, and actually attempt to offer some help to the 'prestigious Hikaru Hitachiin,' and he throws it back at my face!

Hikaru, I don't really want to talk about it, I'm humiliated enough as it is. Let it go?

…Yes I can do that, just come over please.

I close my phone without responding. So that's it then, we just won't talk about what happened; I honestly don't even care about what his feelings are at this point.

At this point the best thing to do is use him just like he's used me.

I walk over to the bathroom to take a quick shower before leaving to Hikaru's. The pipes inset in the walls groan to life at first with the sudden demand for water, but they quickly burst life, hitting the right temperature and allowing me to step in.

The water feels so warm as I glide underneath it, promising to wash away any irritation I had left over from Kyoya and Hikaru's interlude to my morning.

My fingers cross over my body to aid the water, I find it easy to slip into a reverie while in the shower. I wonder what a date with Tamaki will be like?

He seemed so different the last time we spoke, and even now he's leaving voicemails saying he wants to see me. I can't help but wonder what's brought on this sudden change.

I mean it was only a few short months ago that he was still referring to me as his 'daughter' despite the constant reminder of his place in my life was far from any parental guidance.

He hasn't called me that since Kaoru's funeral…

"Close your eyes."

The nightmare's still fresh, threatening to constrict my heart at the mere mention of his name.

Kaoru, I wish you knew how much we all needed you.

As my hand moves to put some soap in my hair I find myself unable to stop thinking about him.

Was he happy with everyone at the Host Club or was it just an act? Did he know how much he helped me during our conversations? I should've said something to him, but now I…

Before I let myself go any further I decide that it's best not to push my thoughts that far.

I feel clean enough.Stepping out of the shower in record time, I wrap a towel around my head and dress in a t-shirt and shorts from my old middle school's gym period, they're a little too short for me, but I have some time before I have to be anywhere important anyways.

As soon I finish drying out my hair I hear a knock at my door that causes me to jump. Nobody ever comes over this early.

Quickly, I run to the keyhole to see who's on the other side only to find that there isn't anyone there. Am I going crazy?

After taking a few steps back another knock protrudes from the door and I find myself filled with enough curiosity to open it.

"Yes?" I call out right before I find myself face-to-chest with none other than Hikaru Hitachiin, master of unwelcome encounters.

He looks flustered to say the least, "You didn't respond, so I wanted to make sure you were still coming, I thought I could give you a ride to my house instead of having you walk."

He's dressed in crisp dark jeans and a blue tank top encased in what looks to be a designer leather jacket. Moving higher…a long necklace strings around his neck down to his chest, it's an accessory that he and Kaoru both wore daily. His hair is once again shooting out in all directions from wearing his helmet on the way.

As I look into his eyes I can see they're lined with black much like my own, it's evident that his night's sleep, if it happened at all, was just as awful as mine.

Good.

I lean up against the threshold, time for some payback.

"Well if it isn't The Infamous Hikaru Hitachiin.I was in the shower, you don't have to be so concerned as I was just about to leave."

I can't help but detect the callous nature in my own voice directed toward him. He deserves my anger.

His eyes drop down to my feet, and then back up to my face. What the hell is he doing?

Immediately a flush comes straight to my face, I forgot to change.

"Um, Wearing that?" he says with a smirk on his face, pointing at my offending shorts.

Oh no…

I look down and see that I'm all legs in what could pass for underwear in some cultures, and for the second time in less than a day I feel completely embarrassed by him.

But this time I'm coming out on top, I will not let him win.

With as much apathy as I can manage I fold my arms over my chest and am able to match his gaze eye for eye.

I part my lips ever so slightly, taking note that right before I speak he swallows. Hard.

"You have a problem with my attire Hikaru? I think a girl could do worse, but I could care less on what your opinion on my clothing is anyway."

He closes his eyes at my response and begins to inhale deeply, seemingly defeated.

That's right, the victory title goes to me! It appears that Haruhi Fujioka is actually able to take a Hitachiin down a notch, I deserve a medal for this!

But when he opens his eyes again they're filled with more fire than I've ever seen.

Slowly, He leans down, resting his head on my shoulder while simultaneously breathing into the crook of my neck. His necklace chimes against my body as his chest closes the gap in between us.

Shit…

Even through a whisper from lips pressed to my ear I can detect that stupid smirk in his voice, "Yeah Haruhi, much worse."

Hikaru Hitachiin: 2
Haruhi Fujioka: 0