Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club. It is sad to have to keep reminding myself of this fact. That honor and all profits belong to Bisco Hatori.
A/N: I must thank you all once again for taking the time to leave me reviews. Only five chapters and I've gotten 63 reviews already! You guys are totally awesome! I really do look forward to ready everyones thoughts. This chapter has some serious action in it and might not be to everyone's liking but it's how I envisioned the story to explain some things later on. This chapter will contain violence but like everything else I describe nothing too graphic. I hope everyone sticks with me. Here's chapter 6!
P.S. I don't know how old Tachibana was in the Manga but I have made him younger. He's about 28 in this story, and please don't feel creeped out by any feelings he thinks to himself about Haruhi, it just popped into my head and I try to go with what comes to me with a story instead of fighting it. He is NOT going to be a rival for her in the story, his feelings are to express his desire to protect her. I apologize if anyone has trouble with this but as I said I write what comes naturally to the story for me. Thanks for understanding. :)
It was two weeks since their weekend get away, and Haruhi was still trying to get into a routine that did not include being Kyoya's girlfriend. She missed the twins terribly, but Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai were trying to fill the void.
She was pleased when Mori had given her a schedule of two nights a week to meditate with him and she finally learned to keep her mouth shut when she opened her eyes to see his own looking at her. She was still captivated by them but Mori always looked so uncomfortable when she spewed out her feelings about their beauty that she learned to keep her thoughts to herself. The last thing she wanted to do was make things so awkward that he wouldn't want to be around her.
Two nights a week when they weren't meditating Hunny would invite her to do something with them, the movies, games, an outing for sweets or a museum. Sometimes she just offered to cook them dinner and both men were only too happy to accept. On the other nights she busied herself with studying although more and more they offered to do that with her too.
True to his word Kyoya-senpai was trying to get her back but surprisingly he was being quite subtle about it. He would appear in random hallways waiting to see if she approached him. When she didn't he let it go. In truth his behavior made her a little nervous. Since when was Kyoya patient? Kyoya didn't wait for things to happen he made them happen. So, what was he waiting for?
She sighed and looked at the clock. She had twenty minutes to finish getting ready before Fuyumi's driver arrived. She felt a little prickle of nervousness. Was Kyoya coercing her into asking her out for the day? Would she do that? Would Kyoya use his own sister? Sadly, she wouldn't put it past him.
She threw shorts and a tank on over the bikini she was wearing. She grimaced at the small black bikini, furious all over again at the twins for throwing out her one pieces while she wasn't looking. She had called them up at yelled at them but they merely laughed and told her they were doing her a favor. Yeah, right. They then told her which drawer she could find the three bikinis they had left her instead.
She tried to calm down. It would do no good to get all worked up about Fuyumi having ulterior motives. What if she was wrong? She didn't want to insult the woman by insinuating that when she couldn't prove it. Maybe she really did want to get together with her for the reasons she stated. She had called her two nights ago asking if she would go to the beach with her, her brother Akito's wife Ayane, and her two nephews, Yoshio and Touya. Haruhi was going to refuse until Fuyumi said the boys really missed her and have been asking when they could see her again. She relented for their sake.
She had just finished packing her bag when she heard a knock on her door. She worked hard not to roll her eyes at Sasaki, a member of the Ohtori police force. She forgot about them.
"Good morning, Miss Haruhi," he said politely a small smile on his face.
She sighed it was no use taking her anger out on the poor young man.
"Good morning, Sasaki-san," she said trying to muster up a genuine smile for him.
"Are you ready to go?" he enquired.
'Yep, all set," she said and reached for her bag. Sasaki grabbed it before she could.
"I am capable of carrying my own bag," she said attempting to reach for it.
"I know," he said as he slung it over the shoulder furthest from her.
"I'm not one of the privileged, Sasaki-san, I don't expect you to do anything for me," she said beside him.
"I know, Miss Haruhi, and that makes it all the more pleasurable to serve you. Please, allow me."
She sighed once more and allowed him to carry her bag even though it annoyed her. She locked the door and followed him without any further argument. A few guys from her apartment complex were staring at her as she followed one body guard to another one watching the area beside the car.
"Hey, Fujioka-san, you become some sort of celebrity over night?" the one guy joked.
"No," she said and left it at that. She climbed in the car glaring at Sasaki-san. "You do understand that this behavior draws more attention to me and makes people wonder who I am right?"
He simply smiled and handed her the beach bag.
"I know you hate all the fanfare and escorts. To be honest they got no orders to follow you since none of the other Ohtori's are even aware you're with us, but when we pulled up in front of your place Sasaki-san got out and headed straight for your door," Fuyumi said. "Sorry, Haruhi."
"Its fine, it's done now," she said cringing at the looks on her neighbors faces. She felt better by hearing no other Ohtori's knew she was going on this little outing. She was relieved to hear that this time with Fuyumi was not set up by Kyoya.
"Haruhi-chan, we've missed you," Yoshio, Akito's oldest boy said giving her a huge smile.
"Yes, we have," his younger brother Touya said. "We begged Mother and Auntie to call you as soon as we heard we were going to the beach."
She looked at the adorable seven and five year olds and felt all annoyance leaving her. How could she be mad at that invitation no matter how inconvenient the situation was?
"I've missed you too, Haruhi," Fuyumi said beside her.
"I'm so glad you could join us, Haruhi-san," Akito's wife Ayane said with a shy smile.
"Thank you for inviting me I have missed all of you too," she confessed truthfully. Kyoya and his father may be master manipulators, and the older sons might be puppets to their fathers demands as well, but those undesirable traits did not extend to the ladies or the boys. She had genuinely missed them.
They talked about her schooling, their marriages and how the boys were doing in Ouran Academy and before she knew it they were at the beach. She looked around surprised and raised an eyebrow.
"We're not at a private beach?" she said completely shocked.
"It is somewhat selective of who's allowed in. Only members can join, but the boys prefer this to the Ohtori private beach. Akito relented as long as I brought the team," Ayane said gesturing to the three men from the force.
Fuyumi and Ayane instantly set up three folding chairs and they laid down. The boys said they wanted to build a sand castle so instead of joining the girls in their sunbathing she went to work showing the boys how to make a sturdy castle out of sand.
The morning passed quickly and Ayane called them for lunch.
As they sat and ate Fuyumi looked at her. Haruhi sighed knowing it was too much to hope the woman wouldn't bring up Kyoya. She looked at the boys and waited until they were finished eating before saying anything to Haruhi.
"Haruhi-chan, let's finish the castle, ne?" Yoshio said.
"Why don't you boys go back to it while I talk to Haruhi-chan for a bit?" Fuyumi said to them.
"Awwww, but we don't know what we should do next," Touya said.
"The castle is done and you did a great job on it. Now we need to protect it. Dig a moat around it and when you're done we will fill it with water. Don't forget to come get me when you're done. Don't go down to the water by yourselves," she said.
After promising they wouldn't they hurried back to their castle.
She braced herself for Fuyumi's words and hoped it wasn't going to be too bad.
"Are you ever going to forgive him?" Fuyumi asked quietly.
Ayane seemed shocked by her prying question but she looked at Haruhi, curious for her answer as well.
"No," Haruhi said without hesitation.
"Is that really fair, Haruhi?" his sister asked.
"Is it fair that I was used, Fuyumi?" she retorted.
"No, of course not. I don't agree with Kyoya at all for what he did, but I can understand why he did it. Father is very tough, Haruhi, he is toughest on Kyoya. A lot is expected of him," she quietly explained.
"I do feel bad for that, and I would have been completely understanding had Kyoya only been honest with me. He used me, Fuyumi," she said feeling all of the anger she's been trying to repress come rushing back.
"I know he did and I admit he was wrong but he does care for you. Shouldn't that mean something?"
"In truth it means nothing, if he cared as much as you say he does then he should have come to me as his friend. The friend he conned me into believing I was."
"Haruhi, I am begging you to reconsider," she said.
"I'm sorry, I don't take too kindly to being manipulated. Kyoya made a fool out of me and now all the former hosts know. Do you have any idea what it's like to have the friends you were most comfortable with now look at upon you with pity? I hate it. I hate what he's done. I hate that I was betrayed."
"I do understand that and I am sorry it played out the way it did, but you have to understand. Kyoya didn't do it to be spiteful, he approached it the only way he knows how. The way he was raised to approach it. In our world, Haruhi, relationships are based on beneficial matches and who needs to step on who to ensure the best merit."
"You're right, I don't understand. I grew up with a father who, after all these years, is still not over my mothers death because he loved her so much. I am not some star struck romantic, I don't need flowers, and gifts, and gushing words of admiration, but I do need honesty. I had no interest in a relationship until Kyoya told me he thought we would make a good match. But it wasn't him who thought so it was your father. If I ever do approach a relationship again or even consider marriage it will be for love or not at all."
"Surely after all your years at Ouran Academy and now Ouran University you understand how the game is played, how everyone from our class manipulates? Even the former hosts do it. They've done it to you as well, Kyoya would tell me the stories. How come you can forgive them and not him?"
"The former hosts do not manipulate me. They haven't for a long time. The twins did in the beginning, they even called me their toy, but once they saw I would not tolerate that treatment they stopped so they could remain my friend. They trick me into wearing certain clothes, and Tamaki-senpai might trick me into going on some ridiculous outing, and Hunny-senpai might trick me into eating sweets with him, but that's all harmless stuff. They have never manipulated my emotions."
"And Mori-senpai?" she asked curiously since he was the only former host she left out.
"Mori-senpai has never manipulated me or tricked me into anything. Not one time since the first day I met him. Kyoya betrayed our friendship. He tried to trick my heart."
"He does care about you. I know he does," Fuyumi stressed.
"Haruhi-chan come check our moat. Is it deep enough?" Touya called out to her.
"I'll be right there," she called to them as she stood up.
"Haruhi," Fuyumi said trying to stop her from leaving in the middle of their conversation.
"He didn't care enough to be honest. I'm a person, Fuyumi, I am not a tool," she said then walked away to help the boys.
Fuyumi sighed as she watched Haruhi walk to the water with the two boys in tow with their buckets.
"She really isn't going to forgive him. It's breaking my heart. Why can't she see that they would be a good match?" Fuyumi said to her sister in law.
"Can you really blame her, Fuyumi?" Ayane said quietly. "She is from a different world. She was raised to marry for love. You went into your marriage with your eyes wide open as did I. We both knew what was expected of us and why. When we agreed we knew the marriages were set because of the benefit to both of our families. Haruhi knew none of that. I care about Kyoya and I don't like to see him lose such a wonderful girl for a wife, but he made the wrong move."
"I know," Fuyumi conceded. "I just wish they would get back together. I really care about Haruhi and I think he could make her happy."
"Could he if he's willing to use her?" Ayane said.
Fuyumi just stared at her thinking about her words.
Haruhi spent the rest of the day playing with the boys. She was exhausted by the time Ayane called for them and declared it was time to go home.
"There are a couple of little quint shops along the beach front. Would you mind if we looked around for a bit?" Ayane asked.
"I don't mind at all," Fuyumi said. "What about you, Haruhi?"
Haruhi felt her eye twitch at the thought of shopping but Ayane looked so eager she just agreed to go along with it.
If she had known there were this many shops she might have refused. She was bored since shopping had never been of any interest to her, except for grocery shopping when she could get a good sale. She was equally tired of the looks they were getting by being followed around by security. Why these guys couldn't just blend in was beyond her.
They past a shop that had some cute little ankle bracelets in it that caught her eye. They were delicately beaded or braided leather. She fingered the braided leather cord around her own neck. Misuzu's daughter Mei had tried to get her into beading but it just wasn't her thing. To get the young girl off her back about doing something girly together she decided to try working with the leather instead and found she had a pretty good knack for it since it was so easy.
Finding that the secret police had entered the store with the rest of the Ohtori's she figured this could be her chance to enter that homemade jewelry shop and get a minute or two by herself. As she looked around the back of the store she hadn't noticed Kyoya's nephews had followed her in.
"Where are the young masters?" Sasaki asked while looking around the store.
"They had been following Fuyumi," Ayane answered him while still looking at a crystal piece that had caught her eye.
"Where is Lady Fuyumi?" he asked.
The other security men frowned at this searching the store frantically. Sasaki walked outside and thought he caught a glimpse of Fuyumi walk into a store a few doors down and across the way.
Fuyumi was relieved to see her nephews following Haruhi around the store she was in. She was just about to step inside when she noticed them heading for the door.
"What are you two doing here? Does your mother know you are with me? Does Sasaki-san know?" she asked.
They each lowered their heads in guilt shaking them back and forth.
"Come on, let's get back to your mother before Sasaki-san has the whole force out looking for you two."
As soon as they stepped outside the boys were grabbed by one man while another grabbed Fuyumi.
"Well, this isn't the wife but I suppose the sister will do just as well, eh?" the disgusting man said.
"She sure will," the guy holding the boys said.
"Haruhi-Chan," Touya cried out in fear reaching out to her. She reached out for him but the man tried to grab her wrist. She turned to go get one of the security men but the guy threw Yoshio toward the other man, held on to Touya, and grabbed Haruhi's arm with the hand he just freed.
"Oh, no you don't, not so fast there little lady."
He let go of her wrist and grabbed her around the waist in one swift move. They began dragging them into a small space between two shops.
"LET GO OF US!" Haruhi screamed.
Sasaki felt his whole body freeze in fear when he heard Miss Haruhi's voice yelling. The three security men ran toward the sound of her voice, one holding on to Miss Ayane and dragging her with them. When he looked down an open space between two stores he saw them.
"STOP RIGHT THERE," he shouted his weapon drawn.
The man jerked Haruhi's body in front of him using her as a shield.
"If you make one move to follow us this will not end well," the man said.
"LET THEM GO," Sasaki repeated.
"That's not going to happen," the man said.
"Hunny, Mori," Haruhi said looking Sasaki straight in the eye hoping he understood.
His eyes widened a little bit and he nodded his head every so slightly, but she had seen it. It was enough to let her know he understood.
"Honey? Is the tough security man your honey?" the man taunted misunderstanding her words. "That's good to know. If you're just the girlfriend of the hired help then that means you're not an Ohtori. It's nice to have someone who is dispensable, just in case."
Sasaki froze at the man's words.
"Awww, don't look so scared, Honey. I have no intentions of hurting your girl on purpose. In fact, she's a cute little thing, I'd much rather play with her then hurt her."
"LET HER GO," Sasaki repeated.
"Now remember, Honey, it's all up to you if something happens to her. If you don't follow us we will make our planned phone call, get our money, and leave everyone alive, but if you attempt to follow us you will force me to start shooting; starting with this lovely lady of yours."
Sasaki was trembling with anger. They had prepared for a kidnapping situation, but these cowards were using the women and children as shields. They also had guns. He wasn't sure he could shoot and hit the right target before they would shoot one of their hostages.
Lady Fuyumi and the young masters were screaming and struggling. Miss Haruhi calmly stared back at him. He kept his eyes on her letting some of her calm wash over him. She nodded slightly. Informing him he knew what he had to do, who he had to call.
He knew she wasn't calling him honey. She was referring to the great fighters Haninozuka and Morinozuka who were not just great martial artists, but also close personal friends of Miss Haruhi's and Master Kyoya's. He shuddered to think of Master Kyoya's reaction when he found out. The three of them would be fired on the spot. He sighed deeply resigning himself to that fate. He was determined to make sure he knew what happened and who to call before that occurred.
Anger coursed through him as he watched the criminals leave with the women and children.
"We need to follow them, perhaps at a safe distance," one of the security men said.
"Negative," the other one said. "Too risky, Master Kyoya will have our heads if something happens to them because we made a wrong move."
"My boys," Ayane whispered. "We must get to Akito and tell him what has happened."
Sasaki was already on his radio as they were running Lady Ayane to the waiting limo. Tachibana was going to kill him, if Master Kyoya didn't do the job first.
Kyoya was near the front doors waiting for Tachibana to pull the car around. He was done delicately dancing around this situation waiting for Haruhi to approach him. He made himself visible to her for the past two weeks and she just walked on by like she didn't even know him.
No more, he was going to go to her house and get her to go to dinner with him even if he had to drag her. He knew she would not like it, he knew it was a typical twins, or Tamaki type move, but he didn't know what else to do. He had to get her to understand how he felt.
Before he could open the doors, they flew open, a very distressed Akito storming into the house followed by an equally distressed and tense Tachibana.
"We need to talk," Akito said storming into the family room. Kyoya frowned and followed his brother. "Is Father home?"
"No," Kyoya asked sitting down calmly while his brother paced like a mad man.
"Akito…" Kyoya started but was cut off by a hysterical Ayane who entered the room and threw herself in her husbands arms. Her appearance was followed by the entrance of three very grim looking security guards.
"Shhh, shhhh, darling we will get to the bottom of this," Akito said trying to reassure his inconsolable wife.
"What is going on?" Kyoya asked annoyed that he seems to be the last to know something, which is a first.
"I am not sure I know the full story just some disturbing bits and pieces. Sasaki, my wife is too upset would you care to explain to us what has happened?"
Sasaki gulped then took a deep breath.
"After a day at the beach the ladies wanted to go shopping. We were all in one store when suddenly we noticed that the group had been separated," Sasaki said trying to put off Miss Haruhi's involvement as long as he could. Once he mentioned that Master Kyoya was going to go on a rampage. He needed to explain everything while he had the chance.
"When we discovered where the other half had gone they were already being held but two men. Of course we know to go after them and apprehend them, but they were using the children as shields."
Kyoya noticed his brother paled and felt a twinge of uncharacteristic sympathy for his inheritance rival.
"When we made our demands for them to be released we were informed that they would be making a call stating their own demands. We were told if we follow their vehicle they would begin shooting; starting with…with…."
"Starting with whom," Master Kyoya asked coldly. "Fuyumi or the boys?"
He took a deep breath.
"Starting with Miss Haruhi," he said quietly.
Kyoya's head whipped toward his sister in law.
"Ha-Haruhi, what was she doing there?" Kyoya asked his whole body beginning to tremble.
"The boys have missed her desperately and after we planned a trip to the beach they begged me and Fuyumi to invite her so they could spend the day with her. Fuyumi called and Haruhi agreed. We thought we were all in the same store but then Sasaki-san noticed the boys were missing along with Haruhi and Fuyumi who went to look for them. It's all my fault," she cried into her hands. "I was so busy looking at a stupid piece of crystal that I hadn't even noticed my sons had followed Haruhi. I'm so sorry, Akito."
"Who is responsible for this mistake?" Kyoya said pinning the three security guards with his ice cold, black glare.
"We were watching after Lady Ayane," Sasaki said. "One moment the boys were next to her as she shopped the next moment I noticed they were gone."
"And exactly why are you standing here empty handed instead of arriving here with Haruhi and the rest of my family with criminals in your custody?" Master Kyoya asked.
"We would not risk their lives. They threatened to shoot them, starting with Miss Haruhi, sir. Miss Haruhi is to be admired. She can keep a calm head even in these circumstances. She nodded to me, silently telling me to agree with their conditions. She only spoke two words."
"What did she say?" Kyoya asked.
"Hunny, Mori, I of course knew that she meant for us to contact Haninozuka and Morinozuka but I'm afraid she made things worse for herself. The man holding her misunderstood and thought that she was calling me honey. He said since she was only dating the help she would be the dispensable target if he needed one."
Kyoya felt his heart stop at those words. Haruhi was not dispensable, not to him, not to any of the former hosts. Rage like he had never known began coursing through his body. There would be hell to pay if anything happens to her. He could understand her idea to call Hunny and Mori-senpai but jealousy lanced through him at the thought of her wanting Mori-senpai to be her savior. He was not blind to the slight shift between them, nor was he ignorant of the fact that their tall friend was a constant presence since their breakup.
He took a deep breath willing himself to calm the burning rage rolling around inside of him. Haruhi was in trouble, his family was in trouble. There was no time to let jealousy get in the way of wise decisions. As much as he hated to admit it, they were their best hope of freeing them. His police force could do the same but they would have to storm in by the dozens which could allow the captors time to shoot in all the chaos. Hunny and Mori-senpai could take them out as a pair.
"There are no excuses. I thought you were trained to handle any situation. One of you should have noticed the group was not together. Once you help us fix your mess the three of you are dismissed," Kyoya said coldly.
Sasaki gulped but had known it was coming. He shook his head in agreement.
Tachibana could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had worked as security for the Ohtori's for the past ten years. He had been in many dangerous situations, and he had prevented even more from occurring. Through it all he had maintained his cool, rational thinking. So the fear that was curling its way through every each of his body was taking him by surprise. It began to twist and turn at the mere mention of Miss Haruhi being involved in this. It had nearly overtook him at the mention of her being dispensable.
He knew his feelings for the petite brunette were completely inappropriate and not just because he was nine years older than her. He knew Ohtori-sama wanted her for his daughter in law, he knew Master Kyoya cared for her and wanted her for his wife, even if he did go about it all wrong, just as he knew he himself would never act on his feelings for the beautiful young lady.
He thought he locked his heart up years ago. As a man who decided to dedicate his life to protecting the youngest son of a prestigious family, he knew there would be no room for a family of his own. After a decade of living among the coldest people he had ever met he was convinced his own heart was too frosted over to ever be affected by feelings or emotions. In this one way he and Master Kyoya were equals, no one could make them feel, or so he thought.
Enter one, Fujioka Haruhi, a tiny wisp of a girl who barely cleared five feet tall. She could not have weighed a hundred pounds if she was soaking wet. She was blunt, apathetic, and blind to other peoples feelings, and yet she managed to blindside both him and his master. It happened so subtly that Tachibana had not even thought to fortify himself against it. He thought it must be the same way for the young master.
It was all in the little things, a genuine smile, a kind thought, a simple homemade meal or snack that she just happened to prepare. She was kindness personified for all her bluntness and yet it was counter balanced with a fierceness and passion that shocked him. She spoke her mind and stood up for what she believed in. She did not even fear Ohtori-sama which not one person employed by him could claim, himself included.
She wormed her way into his impenetrable heart and already resided there by the time he realized it. As he thought earlier he would never act on his inappropriate feelings, but that didn't lesson the pain in his heart at the thought that she could be hurt or worse.
Master Kyoya's no nonsense voice broke through his thoughts. He appreciated a break from the pain as he tried to focus on what he was saying to whoever he had called.
Hunny and Mori were getting dressed in the locker room. The shower after their sparring session felt great to Hunny. Since it was Saturday he was just going to suggest that Takashi and Haru-chan should join him and Reiko-chan for dinner when his phone rang. He frowned.
"It's Kyo-chan," he said to Takashi before answering the phone.
"Kyo-chan?"
"Hunny-senpai, Haruhi is in danger. I need your help. Yours and Mori-senpai's."
"What? What do you mean danger, Kyo-chan?"
"There is no time to waste, Hunny-senpai," Kyoya said sounding as composed as ever. "I am sorry for not giving all the details but you will be fully informed on your arrival. Can I count on you?"
"Of course, Kyo-chan, we'll be right there," Hunny said.
Takashi was tense waiting to her what this danger was that Mitsukuni was talking about.
"Haru-chan," was all Hunny got to say before Takashi scooped him up and ran to the family car. "Ohtori," was all he said and they were on their way.
Hunny burst through the doors with tears running down his face. Takashi looked as stoic as ever but inside he was dying.
"Kyo-chan, what has happened to Haru-chan?"
Kyoya calmly related the entire story. The longer he talked the more Hunny cried while Takashi grew more tense.
Mori was working hard to breath. Since it was normally an involuntary action it was taking too much of his concentration just to remember to give his poor lungs some much needed air. Mori felt sick to his stomach at the thought that Haruhi's life was in danger. He worried over her life as he felt his own shattering apart.
This was too much, he felt like running out of the house, running away before they saw him fall to pieces. He had never fallen apart in front of anyone, not even Mitsukuni, he had no desire to do so in front of Kyoya and the police force he himself had helped train. The only thing that kept him rooted to the spot was the fact that he might be able to help Haruhi. As long as he held onto that hope it was enough to keep himself together.
Tachibana felt sorry for the small Haninozuka heir. He cried freely in front of them all despite the fact that he was the deadliest man in the room. The second deadliest didn't display one ounce of emotion but as a man trained to study body language, trained to predict peoples thoughts and moves, he could tell that the Morinozuka heir sat in the same boat with him and his master. The deadly Kendo champion loved her too.
Haruhi had not said a word from the time they were thrown in the back of the dirty white van to the time they were dragged into an equally filthy and somewhat decaying warehouse. The only sound she made was the soothing sounds she vocalized as she rubbed Touya's back. Fuyumi did the same to Yoshio but the woman's tears were not helping to calm the boy down.
"Let's see, who are we going to hurt first," the man said.
"Is it wise to hurt them?" his accomplice asked. "Will they pay if we hurt them?"
"We won't hurt them too badly just enough to show them we mean business. If they refuse our demands then we rough 'em up a bit and send them the pictures. I guess I'll make that phone call first. You better hope your family is in an agreeable mood."
Taking advantage of the man's distraction, Haruhi surveyed their surroundings. Nearby there was a rusted row of metal shelving. She shoved the boys onto the bottom shelf. They sat crisscross having plenty of room for their bodies and heads before hitting the shelf above them.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" the other man asked but Fuyumi was struggling to get out of his grasp, so he had his hands full with her.
"Haruhi-chan, I'm scared. Is he really going to hurt us?" Touya asked her.
"Not if I can help it. I need the two of you to be as quiet as you can. Please, don't draw any attention to yourselves okay?"
They nodded their heads in agreement.
"Promise me," she whispered.
"Promise," came echoing vows.
Akito's cell phone rang breaking through the unbearable silence that had filled the Ohtori family room.
"Dr. Ohtori," Akito said coldly, hoping it was the abductors and not the hospital calling.
"Ah, Dr. Ohtori, himself," the man said his voice echoing in the room since Akito put him on speaker. One of the Ohtori police was recording the conversation and waiting for the right amount of time to pass to track where the call was coming from.
"What have you done to my family? If you have harmed them in…"
"You are in no position to be making demands. Their lives are in my hands let us not forget that," the man said.
"What do you want?" Akito asked wanting this game over as quickly as possible.
"A million yen for each of them, a ride to a private jet, and a guaranteed flight out of the country," he said. "I'll give you two hours to secure our wants. If you don't come after that I'll start hurting the women and then move onto the boys. In the mean time I have two hours to play with the cute little brunette. Are you willing to pay a million yen for her since she is nothing but the girl of your security team?"
Mori wanted to rip the phone off the table and threaten this guy to hell and back, but he remained where he was. His chest had tightened so hard it was difficult to breath again. Would this guy get the chance to rape Haruhi before they got there? Mori could understand why people said there were worse things men could do than kill a woman. Was Haruhi a virgin? Would this be her first experience, pain, suffering, he felt his breathing increase at his thoughts. Mitsukuni must have sensed it for he put a hand on his arm. Mori could feel his cousins hand trembling with fear and rage as well. Kyoya looked completely washed out as if someone had drained him of all of his blood.
"We will pay so don't touch her," Akito said.
"Once again, you are not making the demands here. We won't harm the Ohtori woman since her purity must mean something, but I can't say the same about this delicious looking brunette. She is the only one who hasn't cried, you know. She's staring at me right now and if looks could kill those big brown eyes would have done me in by now. She's a feisty one. She looks like she's gonna be all kinds of fun."
He then proceeded to give the drop off location with explicit instructions for only Dr. Ohtori and one other family member to arrive. If any police show up then they forfeit their lives. He then reminded them they have two hours and promptly hung up.
"So now what?" Akito said his hands in his hair, his wife crying quietly beside him.
"Arrange their demands," Kyoya said.
"What? You're going to give these men a clear way to freedom?" Akito said.
"Of course not, but we need it as a back up plan just in case," Kyoya said. "Akito, call the bank and see what you need to do to secure those funds. Tachibana find the most direct route to this drop off location. Sasaki, get a map of the area and find locations for the rest of us to hide in to be nearby."
Mori was soothed by Kyoya barking out orders. Kyoya could always think with a clear head and was usually two steps ahead in any situation. If anyone could secure their safety it was Kyoya. The young man knew had to think on his feet and get things done.
"Master Kyoya, the call was traced to the same location as the drop off point. Your family will be very close as long as they don't move them."
Kyoya nodded his acknowledgement as he looked over Sasaki's shoulder to map out their best course.
"Mori-senpai," Kyoya called. "You would know the best places that you and Hunny-senpai might be able to sneak in undetected. Tachibana I want a close up picture of this place they were traced too."
"Yes,sir," Tachibana said noticing that the tension in the room seemed to drop a hair now that they all had something to do.
"Hey little lady, how about coming over here and playing with me for a while?" he asked.
"No way in hell," Haruhi said. Her arms were outstretched, one hand holding each end of the shelving so that her body was placed directly in front of the boys hiding spot. She kicked her leg out when the man went to reach for her. He jumped back but not before she caught him in the knee.
"Just like I said, feisty. You're a little wild cat aren't ya? You may lash out like a wild cat but you're just a tiny little kitten. Come on, kitten, show me your appreciation for not hurting you or the others?"
He continued to bait her and she continued to fight. She could feel some of her energy draining, but each time he neared her a burst of adrenaline kicked in and helped her stay strong.
"Haruhi-chan," Touya cried the more she was getting hit.
"Shhh," she said quietly. "It's going to be okay."
"It might be okay for them for a while but I can't say the same for you, kitten. Now stop fighting me and let's have some fun."
Haruhi felt true fear for the first time since they've been captured. She not only didn't want to face the events this guy was insinuating, but she didn't want Fuyumi or especially the boys to witness it. It would scar them beyond what this ordeal was already doing to them.
With renewed determination Haruhi gripped the shelving tighter and continued the fight.
The second Akito said the funds were secured and placed it bags with marker ink, they assembled into different police vehicles. While Akito and Ayane went to the bank, Kyoya, Mori, Hunny, and Tachibana went to the location to scout out the area.
Mori and Hunny were looking at a blown up satellite image of the warehouse and neighboring buildings. Once everyone was assembled there Akito looked at his watch. They had fifteen minutes until the two hours was up.
"So, now what? Do I just walk up with the bags and hope they hand everyone over?" Akito asked.
"Mitsukuni," Takashi said. Hunny could detect the fear on his cousins face.
"Kyo-chan, let me and Takashi make our move," Hunny said.
"Hunny-senpai, we have to do this according to plan. They threatened to kill them one by one starting with Haruhi if more people show up."
"Mitsukuni," Takashi repeated. The desperation was growing in the stoic man's eyes.
"I know, Kyo-chan, me and Takashi are smarter than that. We can get in through the heating shaft and we can do it by traveling on neighboring roof tops. No one from the windows keeping watch will see us and no one was detected keeping watch on the roof. Trust us, Kyo-chan," Hunny said.
Kyoya was torn looking in Hunny's eyes. If they made just one wrong move they would pay for that mistake with Haruhi's life, yet he did trust Hunny and Mori-senpai. If there were ever two people who could get this job done it was the two of them. Even if that warehouse was full of criminals they would be taken care of quickly and without mercy.
"Kyo-chan," Hunny said running out of patience.
"All right, Hunny-senpai, but please don't be seen until you are in a position to take control of the situation."
"Not a problem, Kyo-chan," Hunny said looking as deadly as Kyoya had ever seen him. "Ready, Takashi?"
"Hn," Mori said cracking his knuckles in preparation for a fight.
Kyoya and the others watched as Hunny linked his fingers together. Mori took a running start, placed one foot in Hunny's hands, and Hunny launched him on to the roof of the building they were hiding behind. Kyoya will never understand how he did it, but Hunny did a series of flips and jumps along the side of the building until he too was beside Mori on the roof.
Akito and Ayane got in the car so they could be driven a few buildings down to the drop off point. Kyoya removed his glasses, wiped his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and put his glasses back in place.
"I have had just about enough of you, Kitten," the man said wiping blood from the side of his mouth where this little hell cat had kicked him. "No more playing nice."
The man hit her so hard on the left side of her face that she lost her grip on the left side of the shelving and went swinging into the opposite side. Blinding pain shot through her right side. She dared a quick look down to see a jagged piece of rusted metal sticking out from the shelving. She had no time to check whatever damage it did, but whatever that ugly piece of metal had done, it hurt, it hurt bad. It hurt just to take a breath.
She cried out from the impact. Willing the pain away she kicked out and was fortunate enough to catch the man hard right between the legs. He yelled out as well as he dropped to his knees. She took advantage of this and swung her body around so she could grip the left side of the shelving, once again placing her body as a shield in front of the boys.
Takashi heard her cry out the moment they both landed silently on the roof. Without wasting a second he ripped off the heating vent with his bare hands and began to quietly crawl through the system. He closed his eyes listening for any sounds that would lead him in the direction he needed to go.
The man stood up and growled. "You'll pay for that." He resumed his beating on Haruhi. With her last reserves she gripped on to the sides of the shelving. She had no idea had much longer she could last, but she wasn't giving up until there was nothing left.
She could hear the boys crying behind her. She tried to focus on that. She hoped that if she had something to focus on she could stop herself from being pulled into the fog that seemed to fill her mind and her sight.
Mori looked at Mitsukuni to make she he was ready. On his signal, Mori kicked through the vent and dropped down mere feet away from the chaos. His eyes took in Haruhi who looked beaten to within an inch of her life. His heart pounded in his chest and he knew in that moment he fell in love with her all over again.
Their tiny princess was putting up one hell of a fight. She was guarding the boys with her petite body. He could see the exhaustion on her face, in her weak grasp. Only sheer will was keeping her standing, but she was still standing. He never admired her strength more. Mori was in awe of this goddess warrior before him.
"Mori-senpai," she whispered pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Haruhi," he said taking a step toward her. He had every intention of ripping the man to shreds, but her weak voice stopped him.
"Mori-senpai…protect…the boys….promise…me…they're scared…promise," she panted out. He could hear the pain with every breath she took.
"I promise," he said.
The second he did she smiled in relief. As if she had finally been given permission to let down her guard she dropped to the floor leaving the terrified Ohtori boys exposed and shaking with fear.
"It's about time, bitch," the man beating her said as he grabbed her tank top.
"Mitsukuni," Takashi said.
"On it, bun-bun, kick," Hunny said and launched himself at the man as he stood there in shock.
Mori knelt down to the boys. Recognizing him as a friend of Uncle Kyoya's and Haruhi-chan's they gratefully climbed into the giant mans arms.
Mori held them close as the man was sent flying across the warehouse. Luckily the shock of a small man attacking him caused him to let go of Haruhi first.
The man couldn't believe what had happened. His jaw swung out of place and hung loosely, clearly indicating the crazed bunny screaming boy had broken it. He hit the ground hard feeling the impact in every bone, every joint.
In a matter of moments Hunny had both captors completely immobilized. Mori held onto the boys determined to keep his promise to Haruhi. It wasn't until he heard the boys shout "Mama" that he let his guard down and let them go. He spun around fully intending on going to Haruhi, but he found she was already cradled in Kyoya's arms.
"Haruhi, Haruhi," he said his voice as cold as ever. The sunlight through the window caused a glare on his glasses blocking any emotion that Mori might have been able to detect there.
"Akito," Kyoya said sharply. He hated to pull his brother from his reunion with his frightened children but Haruhi needed his help now.
Kyoya whipped out his cell phone and in his calm, cool voice order an ambulance to their location. He also ordered the best emergency room doctors and surgeons to be on stand by for then they arrived.
Akito checked Haruhi over. Mori's chest tightened once again as Akito's face grew more and more grim.
"Her heart beat is irregular, her skin is cold and clammy, her breathing is shallow, and I can barely feel a pulse. She's going into shock," he said. He lifted her tank top to see a decent amount of bleeding coming from a gash in her side that was already black and blue.
Akito ripped his shirt off, tore it, and began wrapping it around Haruhi's stomach. He used his tie to secure it in place hoping to minimize the blood loss.
"I don't feel her pulse at all," Kyoya said. "WHERE'S THE AMBULANCE. SHE'S GOING TO DIE."
Mori had seen Kyoya angry in the past. He had even heard him yell at Haruhi during their argument at the beach house, but he had never heard him roar the way he just did.
"Hopefully it gets here in time," Akito said in that assuring voice that doctors were famous for.
"Or?" Kyoya asked.
"Or she could go into heart failure because of the shock."
Mori pulled off his own shirt and draped it around Haruhi. He didn't know if it would help, but she looked so cold. Tachibana followed his lead removing his shirt as well and wrapping them around Haruhi's slim legs. All the while Kyoya held her to him quietly chanting, "Haruhi, stay with me, please stay with me."
Mori thought he would go out of his mind. He felt so helpless as she lay on the dirty floor of this warehouse and all he could do was watch. Tachibana must have been feeling the same way because Mori watched the security man kick Haruhi's abuser in the ribs hard enough to move the man's body at least a foot. The man grunted in pain as Tachibana grabbed his shirt and lifted him off the ground.
"If you or any of your men ever touch Miss Haruhi again I'll kick you hard enough to make all of your insides explode. You'll be dead before you even hit the floor," Tachibana said.
Mori wished he could have done something like that, but he was raised very traditionally. Revenge served no purpose, and it was not his place to pass judgement upon anyone no matter how deserving. That was left to the men who trained to be judges. A Morinozuka's job was to protect not wield out punishments. He was ashamed to admit he felt a bit of satisfaction in Tachibana's actions though he would never admit that to his father.
The ambulance finally arrived and Mori hoped they weren't too late. He couldn't even tell if Haruhi was still breathing.
The emergency workers put her on the gurney and rushed her to the ambulance followed by Kyoya. Tachibana was one step behind. When the ambulance refused his admittance Kyoya said they needed him for security especially after this attack. They reluctantly agreed and Tachibana climbed in the back of the vehicle. Kyoya looked at him.
"Thank you, Mori-senpai, Hunny-senpai," he said.
"No problem," Hunny said. "We love her too, Kyo-chan."
He seemed startled. Of course they did it for her, not for him, but still he was grateful.
"Akito, please bring Hunny and Mori-senpai to the hospital with you. Hunny-senpai will you call Ranka and the others?"
"Sure, Kyo-chan," Hunny said.
The doors shut and the ambulance raced to the hospital, sirens screaming. Mori stood staring after it. Haruhi looked like she had already lost the battle. Something inside of him broke. If she was gone…if she was gone….
Mitsukuni looked at Takashi. He knew he was witnessing his cousins heart breaking. He wanted to tell him it was going to be okay, that Haru-chan was strong, but he couldn't bring himself to utter such assurances. Haruhi looked too broken, too far gone. Oh, Haru-chan, you need to keep fighting. You have to live. Takashi needs you. We all need you.
A/N: (Again): Ahhhhhh! I'm sorry, I loath cliff hangers and I try never to end a chapter with one, but this was getting long and if I didn't cut it off here it would have been double the size. Again, forgive me. Please, please review and let me know what you thought. I know this wasn't the most pleasant chapter but I would still love to know everyones thoughts on the direction of the story so far. Looking forward to hearing form you. Arigato!