"Sorry, my bad," I said, looking up at the person. I froze in sheer terror as chills ran down my whole body.
"You better be sorry, Takashi," the large man said, glaring down at me. I stepped back nodding.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Kyoya asked. I hit his stomach with my hand.
"Don't even step into this one," I whispered.
"What'd you say, Takashi?" he asked again.
"I-I told him not to mess with you. We're sorry sir, didn't mean to bother you," I said. He grunted and his glare got more deadly. I swallowed, though my throat was constricted and dry from fear.
"You're smart for warning him. I don't see why you'd leave Takeo for this guy. He's bony, why I bet he could lose to you in a fight," he said. I saw Kyoya glaring at him.
"She left Takeo because he was horrible to her. I don't see why this concerns you any," Kyoya spat.
"Kyoya!" I shouted.
"Boy, do you know who I am?" he asked. Kyoya shook his head, not letting go of the death glare he had directed at him.
"I'm Takeo's father, Hayate Matsuru," he told him.
"I don't care much for who you are. You shouldn't be talking to her like this, or anyone," Kyoya told him. I elbowed his side hard enough to make him back off.
"I'm sorry Matsuru sir. He's not from around here. I apologize on his behalf, we'll leave you be now," I said quickly as I grabbed Kyoya's arm, pulling him away. I kept running till I knew I was far from Hayate. I looked at Kyoya as if he was insane.
"What the hell? We could have gotten in serious trouble with that man! Do you know who he is?" I asked.
"Besides Takeo's father, no."
"He's this towns' mafia leader. We mess with him, we get in trouble," I told him.
"You really do get yourself mixed up with a bad crowd at times don't you?" he asked. I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"You're lucky your family has its' own protective squad… Also I'm glad he's moving to Ireland next month. Just don't pull something like that again!" I shouted at him, smacking his chest. He caught my hand before it hit him and looked at it. His face fell and he looked at me with compassion.
"You're terrified of him aren't you?"
"No shit. I may be able to defend myself; but his boys know how to defend against me too." Kyoya pulled me to him and hugged me.
"With the others around, you have nothing to worry about," he whispered in my ear.
"I knew it! You're such a liar Mitsuki," Eileen shouted walking over. I sighed and rolled my eyes, pushing Kyoya away.
"We're not dating!" I said. She looked over me like before.
"You're shaken up. What happened?" she asked.
"Takeo's father. She bumped into her. I didn't think she could be afraid of someone like this besides her mother," Kyoya said. Eileen nodded.
"I told him he's not suppose to be here. I'll go find him and deal with him. Thanks, Kyoya is it?" she asked. He nodded and she gave him a nod before walking off. I exhaled in relief and looked back at Kyoya. His lips made little movement as he smiled gently. I heard Honey's laughter and looked over to see him running up to us.
"Mit-Chan! We went looking for you guys and couldn't find you. That guard lady told us you were over here!" he shouted, jumping into my arms. I caught him and smiled at him.
"You're face is covered in candy. Eat too much and you'll get a stomach ache," I warned him. He giggled.
"What's Kyoya got in the bags?" he asked, looking down at them.
"Hm? Oh, just things for Mitsuki. This is why I said I'd carry them," Kyoya said calmly.
"Thanks… Where's the twins?" I asked.
"Behind you. Tamaki and Haruhi should be getting out of their movie soon too. Kaoru and I are bored," Hikarou said. I turned to look at him.
"We've been here for about two and a half hours. Any place you guys want to go after, or do you want me to just drop you off at home?" I asked. The smirked.
"Actually, our parents spoke with your mother. We can stay another night," Kaoru said. I narrowed my eyes.
"Great… You're not all planning on staying are you?" I asked.
"Actually, we are. It's your birthday tomorrow, and your Mom said she has a surprise for you tonight too. We wanna be there to see it," Hikarou told me. I sighed.
"What about the rooms. There isn't," Kyoya started, but I cut him off.
"Tamaki can stay with you in the piano room. In that closet we have extra sheets and bed. It's kind of a large walk in closet; but we just use it to store things," I said.
"You're going to leave Tamaki in the piano room?" Honey asked.
"I trust him enough to not break it. He saw it last night and loved it," I told him. He nodded and put his head on my shoulder with a yawn. I rubbed his back and started to twist slowly side to side. He soon fell asleep.
"Amazing. You can get him to fall asleep in minutes. It takes Mori half an hour," the twins told me.
"Like I said, he has a childlike nature which reminds me of the kids I helped at the daycare. Like that one," I pointed at Rinn running over. She climbed up on me and I held her and Honey in my arms. I raised my brow.
"Where's your mother?" I asked.
"She's in the store over there. I told her I saw you out here, so I wanted to come see you. Who are these other people?" she asked.
"Well the sleeping one is Honey. That's Mori, his cousin. The twins are Hikarou and Kaoru," I told her.
"And those two? Are they dating?" she asked, pointing at Tamaki and Haruhi walking toward us, hand in hand. I smiled and nodded.
"That's Tamaki and Haruhi. I wanna tell you a secret," I whispered in her ear, "They love each other." Rinn giggled and her mother called her back over. I set her down and she ran to her mother.
"Who was that?" Tamaki asked when he reached us.
"I girl I used to pretty much babysit when I volunteered at the daycare center," I told him. He gave me a nod.
"We should go if we want Honey to stay asleep. People here are noisy," Hikarou said.
"It's a mall. It's usually louder at night," I said, walking to the doors. I opened it, but felt a hand on my arm. I turned to look who it was. Hayate Matsuru was glaring down at me. I froze and swallowed.
"S-Sir, please let me go. I'm trying to take my friend back home so he can sleep," I said quietly.
"Friend? He looks more like a child," he said. Mori put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it hard.
"Leave them be," Mori said. Hayate let me go and looked at Mori. Hayate froze and nodded.
"If you wish, Morinozuka," Hayate said, stepping away. I was shocked that he was afraid of Mori. I continued walking out the door to the car.
"Why was he afraid of you Mori?" I asked, handing Honey to him. He got in and sat on the bench seat as I waited for the others.
"My father had arrested him before. Is he a bother to you?" he asked.
"Takeo's his son. What do you think?" I asked sarcastically as I got in the car. I sighed and rested my head against the seat as the others climbed in. Tamaki took Kyoya's seat from before to sit next to Haruhi and Kyoya sat in the passenger seat. I looked back and everyone was buckled in and staying quiet as Honey slept. I put in a different CD I made to listen to when I felt like having a quieter time and played it low as I drove back toward the house.
"Do I need to stop at anyone or everyone's house so you can get clothes and anything else you need like a charger for your phone?" I asked, looking at everyone in the rear view mirror. The twins nodded, as did Tamaki and Mori.
"Kyoya?" I questioned, looking at him. He was staring at his phone. I stopped at a stop sign and poked him. He looked up.
"Yeah, if you don't mind," he answered quietly, going back to staring at his phone. I nodded.
"Well, who's house is furthest?" I asked.
"Tamaki's," the twins answered. I nodded.
"Tamaki, I'll need your help okay?" He nodded and leaned up a bit, giving me directions. We got to his house and I parked as he got out.
"I'll be right back," he said, closing the door. I rested my elbow on the doors' window frame since I had it down and rested my head on my hand, looking at Kyoya. His eyes still hadn't pulled themselves from his phone.
"What on Earth could you be looking at?" I asked. He looked up at me and closed his phone, sticking it in his pocket.
"Nothing important," he answered. I raised a brow.
"Then why would you be staring at it with a lost look for fifteen minutes?" I asked.
"After the fire did you ever find your father's journal?" he questioned, changing the subject. I looked at him seriously.
"Do you really think you should be bringing this up?"
"It has written proof that your father wanted the company to be yours once you turned eighteen. It's probably the only written proof you have besides his will right?" he asked. I sighed and watched at Tamaki came back out with a small bag over his shoulder and got back in.
"Sorry, took a little longer than expected. I told them we'd be here around three in the afternoon tomorrow," he said, buckling back in.
"It's fine. Now, who's next?"
"We are. Our house is down the road and then Kyoya's is. After that is Honey and Mori, and then we can head back to yours and walk to Haruhi's," the twins said. I nodded and drove until they pointed out their house. After about fifty minutes, we came up to Kyoya's house. Kyoya got out and his brother walked out. I scoffed and looked out my window, crossing my arms. Akito walked to my window with a smirk.
"Hey Mitsuki, how's things going?" he asked.
"Back off before I roll this window up on you," I told him.
"Don't be like that. Did you listen to my advice? I'm right after all; I mean, why would I lie to you about that?" he asked.
"I said back off," I warned him.
"That temper of yours is always an issue. I thought you were working on that?"
"Akito, just go away."
"We both know that it's not going to happen. Now, you turn eighteen tomorrow right? I got you a present that you have to swear to not open until tomorrow morning. It's still hard to believe you're only twenty days older than Kyoya. Makes you free doesn't it?" he asked, handing me a little box. I took it and put it on the dashboard. I didn't answer his question.
"Dad says there's no reason for Kyoya to try and surpass us if he ends up with you since you've got your Dads' company tomorrow. You going to let that play a part in your decision? Emotions are so troublesome," he whispered in my ear. My eye twitched and Kyoya came walking back out.
"Akito. Leave her be. She's been through enough today; I don't need you trying to make her angry," Kyoya said, getting back in the car. Akito nodded and walked back around, going inside after shooting me a smile. I exhaled, trying to keep calm.
"What was that all about?" Haruhi asked.
"Nothing. Let's go get Honey and Mori's stuff," I said, driving down the road until I had to make a few turns and got to their house. Mori left Honey in the car and asked me to watch him as he got their things. I kept my eyes on Honey from the rear view mirror. He stayed asleep and nobody talked until Mori got back in and I started heading home.
"What's this?" Kyoya asked, grabbed the present.
"You're brother gave it to me. Said not to open it until tomorrow. I doubt I'll open it at all," I said flatly. Kyoya sighed.
"You still can't stand him can you?" he asked.
"It's not that. I just have a lot on my mind after talking to him," I said, pulling back into the driveway.
"I'll go with Tamaki to get my stuff," Haruhi said. The twins whined as they walked inside my house. I followed them in and Mori took Honey to their room to sleep. I hopped up on the counter and grabbed my nail polish from behind me. I took my flip flops off and set down paper towels and started painting my toe nails. My mother walked out with Ryouji.
"Oh where is Haruhi?" he asked.
"Your house to get her stuff for tonight, why?"
"Go get her back inside!" he shouted. The twins ran out and minutes later had Tamaki chasing them back inside while they had Haruhi.
"Why am I being dragged back here?" she shouted.
"Because we want to tell you something," Ryouji said, putting his arm around my mothers' waist. I raised a brow and stopped on my nails.
"That would be?" I asked.
"How do you feel about Haruhi and I moving in?" he asked me. I dropped the paint and blinked. He swallowed, afraid that I didn't like it. I got off the counter and walked over. I smiled and hugged him.
"I like the idea. My mom has got a guy who makes her as happy as my dad did, maybe even happier. What do you think Haruhi?" I asked, turning to look at her. She nodded.
"They're happy, we're happy. I like it. I've never really lived with someone else or had someone close to my age to stay with," she said. I nodded and got back on the counter to finish my toes. Kyoya walked over and handed me the box his brother gave me.
"Open it. I'll tell him you opened it first thing in the morning," he whispered. I took it and started to carefully opening it.
"If the relationship continues to go well, they may just get married; making Haruhi your step-sister," he said quietly. I nodded, taking the top off. It was a necklace with a medium sized locket on it. I looked at it curiously.
"Why does this look so familiar?" I asked myself quietly. I opened it and I knew it was my old locket from when I was still friends with Kyoya and left it at his house. It had a picture of Kyoya and I sleeping in the same crib as infants and the other of us when we were seven. I closed it and put it back in the box.
"I can't believe he still had it… He told me he lost it," Kyoya said. I bit my lip, and got off the counter, walking down the hall. Kyoya followed; but I walked into the piano room and locked the door. He twisted the knob then knocked on the door.
"Why are you locking yourself in there?" he asked. I sat at the piano and started to play to block the noises of his shouts out. When I stopped, there was a soft knock.
"Mitsuki, its Tamaki. Can I come in?" he asked. I walked over, and unlocked it, opening it so Tamaki could walk in and then I closed it quickly and locked it again. He looked at me worriedly.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, leading me to the piano.
"Akito… Tamaki, I'm so confused."
"So you're confused, upset, and stressed? You're mother says when you're upset and stressed about something you play the piano."
"A few weeks before I went to Ouran and got my hair cut; I ran into Akito at the store… He told me that Kyoya had been going to some rich kids' private school and said he didn't even remember me. He told me that once the company became my mother's again, his father was going to use Kyoya to try to get me to give it up to someone else or fall for Kyoya so he could claim I'm not fit to run the company. He said that if I was going to be with Kyoya after it was mine; he may not even think of Kyoya surpassing his brothers… I may be older than Kyoya by twenty days; but that may be putting his risks in danger of inheriting a part of the company from his father… I don't know if Kyoya is being honest or if Akito is trying to get into my head now that my brother can't make him leave me alone…" I turned back to the piano. Tamaki put a hand on mine.
"Kyoya's my best friend. He doesn't care about the companies. He cares about you. He wants you to make the best decision for you, and do what is going to make you happy. Even if it means you don't love him back. He loves you Mitsuki. I shouldn't be the one telling you; but I'm sure he's told you without saying it directly right?" he asked. I nodded.
"He… He brought up my fathers' journal… I think it explains what really happened the night of the fire. They said he fell asleep while working and knocked over a candle… He never falls asleep while working though. He knew when to stop and go to bed." I started to breathe rapidly and Tamaki hugged me and started to play the piano with me. He went to hit a low note, and it sounded weird. He looked puzzled.
"How long have you had this?" he asked. I shrugged.
"It was on the other side of the house so the fire didn't reach it. The movers never looked inside of it and neither have I. Why?" I asked. He opened the lid and reached in.
"Don't break it," I warned him. He sat back with a little notebook in his hands. My breath caught in my throat when I saw it. My fathers' journal. I took it from him and opened it. The last page was dated the night of the fire. I had almost forgot that it was the same dat as my birthday. I started reading it to myself, Tamaki was watching my expression.
November 2nd,
I know that having do to this isn't the best choice; but right now it's the only choice to make sure that my own will doesn't get changed by my father. Making sure that the company is inherited by my daughter, Mitsuki Ren Takashi, is what I worry about. He believes that because she is a girl, she won't be fit for it. He's wrong. Akiko is to childish, and I know he'll stay the same way as he grows older. Mitsuki is strong and wise like her mother, while Akiko is horrible at choices as I am… because of my poor decision, the company had a downfall.
No one could really blame me though. I feel horrible for having to take Mitsuki away from the one person she trusted most; but I refused to give her away to the second son of the Ootori's. I can tell she'll want to be with Kyoya when she gets older if they meet again. She still cries his name in her sleep… She'll be seven today, and so will her brother; but I'll have to miss it. Their mother will be able to care for them, I know it.
I am not fit to be their father either. I have hurt my daughter and her brother won't even listen to me. If you find this, Mitsuki, I want you to know I am sorry. When the company is yours; I know you'll know what to do. Don't let the other companies scare you. Don't let the Ootori family try to make you change your mind either. They are kind people; but they can be sneaky.
Love, Diachi Takashi.
I felt Tamaki's thumb wipe over my cheek and I wasn't even aware I was crying.
"What did it say?" he asked quietly. I took a deep, calming breath before I looked up at him.
"I… I've been wrong this whole time… I thought he stopped my friendship with Kyoya because of an engagement to him and that if I was going to have to company; they wouldn't be able to have the companies tied close together… He… I was… Read it," I told him, handing it to him. He took it and turned it around so he could read it. There was a knock on the door.
"Suki, sweetie? Is everything in there okay? You're being quiet. Is Tamaki okay?" my mother asked. I opened my mouth to answer, but Tamaki spoke up.
"Everything is… Well, she's fine. Kind of. We'll explain in a minute, I'm not done talking to her yet!" he shouted. I heard my mother walk away slowly. He looked back at me; and I could tell that he, for once, didn't know what to say.
"I can't believe someone would do that because this all…" he said slowly. I had one laugh come out and I looked at the wall.
"He was always more worried about work than us. My brother hated him for leaving us alone some nights. I just can't believe that it was Akito. He must have known… to lie to me like that, and you all not know anything. Right?" I asked. I was completely confused and he nodded.
"People do crazy things; but this proves that Kyoya isn't playing with you. Promise me something," he said, taking my hand in his then placing his other one over it. I looked at him.
"What?" I asked.
"Keep the company business and your feelings for Kyoya separate. Don't let one decision affect your decision on the other. Sign the papers, make the company yours. Don't deny Kyoya either. He's been more irritable than ever with you doing that, and honestly I can't take it anymore."
"You? The king of all things annoying can't take Kyoya's irritableness anymore?" I joked. He smiled with a simple nod.
"It bothers me seeing him like this and I can tell that you and Haruhi have gotten closer. It bothers her to see you both like this. I wanna tell you a secret."
"Secret?"
"We never thought anyone but Haruhi would have a huge impact like she did on us. We were right in some form; we all liked her at one point. Me more than the rest obviously; but with another girl around so Haruhi isn't as lonely, things seem brighter too. More fun since you'd be willing to act out and do the things Kyoya and Haruhi won't do with me and the twins! Like when we had the Roman fight."
"I'll admit that was fun."
"See? And Honey and Mori have found someone else they trust. Usually it's hard to have Mori trust someone else with watching Honey. It shocked us all when he left him in the car and asked you to watch him."
"Honey is adorable though. He's so sweet, like a little kid," I smiled.
"He's scared Haruhi once, but he's afraid to upset you most. He sees you like an older sister. You're family to us now; you can't escape it," Tamaki said with a playful smirk. I rolled my eyes and wiped a tear from my left one. Tamaki let go of my hands and hugged me.
"Keep your promise?"
"Yeah, I'll keep it. Only because you asked nicely and not annoyingly."
"Good! The others must be extremely worried now, they're afraid to leave us alone cause you might hurt me."
"Honestly, when I'm alone with you your not annoying. Surprisingly, I can talk to you like this and like last night," I said. We got up and he opened the door. Honey attacked me and hugged me tightly.
"Mit-Chan! When Mori said you locked yourself in here I got scared!" he shouted crying. I felt my heart sink a little with guilt. I hugged him back.
"I'm alright. I promise. Did you sleep well?" I asked him. He leaned back to look at me and his eyes went soft.
"Yeah… You were crying weren't you? What did Tamaki do to you?" he asked, glaring protectively over at Tamaki. Tamaki shook his head and hands, then petting Honey's head.
"I didn't do anything! I just talked to her! That's all. She just needed someone to talk to about somethings. I swear!" he said. I laughed and Honey nodded. Hikarou took the journal from Tamaki's hand and opened it.
"What's this? A diary?" he asked.
"Give that back!" Tamaki shouted.
"Since when did you have a diary, Boss?" Kaoru asked.
"It's not mine! Now give it back!" Tamaki shouted, trying to reach around Hikari to get it.
"Is it Mitsuki's?" they asked. Their smirks grew mischievous as they looked at me.
"Give it back. Now," I demanded, my voice low. They turned white as ghosts and gave it back to Tamaki.
"It's not mine. It's my fathers'," I told them. I took the book from Tamaki and walked down the hall back to the kitchen where Ryouji was cooking with my mom.
"Oh! You're finally out! Suki, you look like you've been crying… What's wrong? Did Tamaki upset you?" she asked. I laughed as Tamaki looked like he was being charged with a crime he didn't do.
"No Mom, I found this in the piano… Dad must have put it there before the fire happened," I said, my words dropping and stabbing my chest as I said them, handing the journal to her. She took it, looking at it as if it was an old fossil and might crumble in her hands. She opened it, going to the last entry. I held Honey on my hip with one arm and he hugged around my neck. Mori was sitting on the couch with Kyoya and Haruhi, watching the news.
"Thunder storms are going to make its way over town today. They'll start around seven, about three hours from now, and last until eight in the morning," the man said. I looked over to see Haruhi looking a little scared. I leaned close to my mom and whispered to her.
"Can you talk Ryouji into letting Tamaki and Haruhi staying in the piano room? Haruhi hates thunder storms," I whispered. She smiled and nodded.
"You know that means Kyoya will be in your room," she mentioned quietly. I shrugged.
"We used to sleep in the same crib remember?" She giggled and read the entry. She looked pitifully back up at me.
"We never knew what really happened, now we do. It explains why dad called the whole thing os working with them off," I told her. She nodded and hugged me tightly, dropping the journal. I hugged her back. Kyoya looked over in disarray. He muttered something to Haruhi and stood up, Tamaki taking his spot as he walked over. My mom let go and went back to helping Ryouji. I leaned down to pick up the journal, and was met with Kyoya's hand. He picked it up and we both stood straight.
"Who's is this?" he asked.
"Dads'," I answered. Honey got off me and went to watch the news with Mori. I took the book from Kyoya.
"I'll explain later," I told him, walking to put the book in my room. I closed and locked the door, putting the key in my pocket. I was about to walk back out when I heard the crash of glass hitting the floor.
"Mitsuki! Come here!" Haruhi shouted. I stepped down the hall quickly to see my mother staring at the TV. I looked, and there he was. A mirror image to how I looked right now. He was speaking to a reporter.
