A/N: Well it looks like Mori is ahead on the poll. If you haven't voted yet and want to, the poll will be up through Saturday on my profile. I will review everything on Sunday and get the story written. Thank you everyone for all of the support and the awesome reviews. Well, looks like everything is going smoothly so far. Do you think it will keep on this path or could a wrench appear somewhere? Thank you stylewriter565 for your help with the chapter!
Chapter 9 – Lunch or Battlefield?
The twins were going to pick Haruhi up from school for their lunch date. She was anxious and nervous, but really excited about seeing them again. No one else was going to be there, it was just going to be the three of them and although they accepted her apology, she was still on guard. It was her defense mechanisms after everything that had happened; she would not let her guard down quickly. The phone call she had made previously was still in the back of her mind and as many times as she said it was over, it made her guard a little higher with them than she had been with the others. She told herself it would just take time.
As she finished her last class for the morning, she gathered her books and bag and started to walk out of the room only to see a crowd of students gathered in the doorway of her class slowing her progress. She did not need this now; she was supposed to meet Hikaru and Kaoru five minutes ago. She tried to push her way through the crowd and then stopped when she heard the voices coming from just the other side of the doorway. She had asked them to wait outside for her, and it appeared they didn't listen and now were creating a spectacle. Hikaru and Kaoru had decided to meet her at her classroom and escort her to the car and lunch like they used to do in high school to the host club. Haruhi groaned inwardly.
"Excuse me, but is Haruhi Fujioka still in the room?" Kaoru asked politely to some of the gawkers.
As soon as the words left his mouth, heads whipped around and sought out the small female in question. To say that the looks were a little surprised would be to downplay the reactions her fellow students were throwing her direction. Eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of socket. Some people looked incredulous about the fact that the Hitachiin twins, good looking and eligible bachelors, were looking for Haruhi. Others just looked shocked that someone from the upper echelon would be looking for a lowly commoner such as her.
"You know I told you to wait for me outside for a reason!" Haruhi glared at both of them when the crowd parted and let her through, "Let's go."
Both Hikaru and Kaoru threw their arms around her and said, "We know, but what is the fun in that? We wanted to see your classroom."
Haruhi rolled her eyes and grumbled about her peaceful life slowly disappearing. She was happy that they had forgiven her, but she had to give them a hard time. Plus she was a little irritated that they had not listened to her and caused a scene. She could only imagine what her fellow classmates were thinking about her now as she walked off with the twins and their arms were around her waist and shoulders. She felt like she was walking the halls of Ouran once again.
The trio made their way to the limo and Haruhi had been able to shrug off their arms after they left the building. They looked a little surprised, but did not say anything. They just walked side by side until they reached the car and then one by one, they got in so that they could go to lunch.
"Where are we going to lunch guys?" Haruhi asked her comrades.
"Well, we were thinking," Kaoru started.
"Of going to one of our favorite restaurants," Hikaru completed the sentence.
Together they said, "H-Chan! It is really good place and Hunny-senpai owns it."
"I have actually been there. Mitsukuni took me there the day we ran into each other again," Haruhi said plainly. She didn't notice the looks of shock at her use of Hunny's first name and she didn't notice that Hikaru's hand fisted a little bit.
"You have?" Kaoru asked.
She nodded to him, "Yes and I absolutely loved it."
"Why are you calling Hunny by his first name now?" Hikaru asked.
"Well, because he asked me to," Haruhi said as she looked at her friend blankly. She didn't see a problem with calling Hunny by his first name. She figured they were probably just shocked.
Kaoru shot a glance at his brother. He was a little surprised by the question his brother posed, but didn't say anything. He really hoped that Hikaru kept up with his manners today. He knew that his twin was still a little hurt about what happened and still had some feelings for the girl, but after everything that was said yesterday, they knew they couldn't not be friends with her again. Kaoru sent a silent prayer up to whoever was listening that today would go smoothly, he knew Hikaru had a short temper and was never quick to forgive. Walls had been erected that night and it would take more than one day to take them down, but he was confident with time they would.
"I'm glad that you ran into each other again," Kaoru said with a small smile.
"Yah, me too," Hikaru said after another moment and offered her a smile of his own.
Haruhi seemed to relax under their smiles, but her guard was still up. She just couldn't help it and the hair on the back of her neck stood up when Hikaru asked about Hunny's name. The question of if they truly did forgive her entered her mind, but she quickly pushed it out before it could take root. Of course they did, or they would not here right now. No one would want to incur the Shadow King's anger if he found out that it was all a hoax.
The car came to a stop in front of the restaurant and the three occupants got out so that they could make their way inside. Haruhi saw Bethany and walked over to her to say hello, "How are you?"
"I am good. We seem to be as busy as ever around here, but I like it," Beth smiled at the young woman before her, "You just missed the boss if you were here looking for him."
"I always like being busier than being idle. No, I am actually here with a couple friends of ours. We decided to have lunch together and came here," Haruhi explained.
Beth looked over and saw the Hitachiin twins and nodded, "Yes, they come in a lot actually. I take it as a huge compliment that they come in at least once a week."
The twins saw Haruhi talking to the head chef and made their way over to the two ladies. When they reached them, they said, "We see you two have met before."
Both women nodded and then Haruhi answered, "Yes, when Mitsukuni brought me here on Monday, he made sure to introduce me to Beth and the meal was excellent."
"Well thank you again for the compliment. I will let you three get seated and I will try to come over before you leave," Beth smiled and then walked towards the kitchen.
The small group was shown to their table and sat down. Kaoru and Hikaru sat on one side of the booth and Haruhi sat on the other side so that she could see both of them. A small awkward silence fell over them, but was interrupted by the waiter arriving to take their drink and food orders. Once he had left, Haruhi felt it was up to her to start the conversation, "I just wanted to say thanks for giving me another chance you two."
"Don't worry about it. When everything is considered, we had some fault in everything also," Kaoru said gently.
"And I guess we shouldn't have turned our backs on you like we did," Hikaru added. He noticed Kaoru gave him a funny look, but he ignored it. He wasn't ready to say more on the subject now. "So why don't you tell us what you have been doing since everything happened," he encouraged the girl.
Haruhi looked at the twins blankly, "Nothing much. I have just been working and going to school. I am finally in my last year of law school and will sit for the law exams less than a year now. What about you two?"
They told her about everything they had been up to. They had created a couple of new lines for their mother's label and were making a name for themselves in the fashion industry. They were both currently single, but were on the lookout for the right girl. Haruhi knew that it would take someone special to be with them and understand their bond. They would also want someone who could tell them apart.
Lunch was spent conversing about their lives, but they were careful to steer clear of certain topics of conversation. Haruhi did notice that when she talked about Hunny, tension seemed to build and she could not understand why that would be, "Is everything ok Hikaru?"
"Huh? Yah, why do you ask?" Hikaru looked like he had been busted.
"I don't know. You just seem a little off," Haruhi was examining his face for any signs of what could be wrong.
"I'm fine! What is going on between you and Hunny-senpai? We noticed yesterday that you and he seemed very close," Hikaru asked quickly.
"Nothing really. He was the person that found me and I confided in him first. He just made me feel like everything was going to be ok for the first time in a long time. We are friends. Why?" Haruhi responded.
Hikaru and Kaoru looked at each other and exchange silent communication. It was obvious that their Senpai had feelings for the girl before them, but she was as clueless as ever. Kaoru could also see something bubbling below the surface in Hikaru's eyes. He knew something was going on with his brother, but he wasn't sure what it was. Hikaru knew that Kaoru could see through him, but he also knew that he would not say anything to Haruhi.
"Why don't we go back to our house for dessert and tea?" Kaoru suggested.
"You can also try on some of our new designs," Hikaru offered.
"Um, yes to the dessert and tea, but I am not sure about the dress up part. I still have some studying to do," Haruhi said nervously. She remembered well how it was to be their life size Barbie and she didn't want to go down that road again right now. She watched at both of them looked at each other again and turned their mischievous smiles towards her. She knew she was in for it.
When they finally arrived at the house, Hikaru and Kaoru instructed the staff to bring some tea and cake into their studio and before anything arrived, they had Haruhi in the first outfit of the day. She groaned knowing that this day was about to get even longer for her.
When the tea came, Kaoru served while Haruhi was given another dress to put on. She exited the changing room and they exclaimed how cute she looked. She tried to brush them off and before they could force her into another outfit, she sat down and started to drink her tea.
"So Haruhi why didn't you try to contact anyone after you and Yasu broke up?" Hikaru asked.
Haruhi looked at him incredulously. She couldn't believe that he had seriously asked her that, "Well I didn't think anyone wanted me around especially after the last phone call. I knew that you were mad at me and I figured everyone else was also."
"So you didn't try?" Kaoru asked sadly. He felt guilty that he had not known about the phone call and had not been there for her. He was also a little shocked that Hikaru had asked. She had said that she didn't contact anyone the day before.
Haruhi looked down into her cup, "No, I didn't." Her voice sounded small and meek to her own ears, she could only imagine how it sounded to theirs.
"Well if you hadn't left the way you did, we would have probably been there for you," Hikaru said defensively. He knew he was the one that opened up this topic of conversation, but he felt guilty for his part in her pain and didn't want to face it or accept it. Instead he lambasted.
"I know what I did was wrong and I am sorry about it, but that is the past. I thought we were moving on here," Haruhi said giving the older twin a very confused look.
Kaoru interjected immediately, "We are, right Hikaru?"
"Right," Hikaru agreed immediately, but in the next instant he asked, "Did you wait for someone to show up at that café?"
Kaoru inwardly groaned. He was not sure what Hikaru was doing, but it sounded like he was sabotaging the friendship before they had a chance to let it grow.
"What? No, I hadn't been there in a long time and went there to study. I was not expecting to see Mitsukuni at all!" Haruhi defended. She felt like she was on trial.
"You are back in our lives less than a week and he has you call him by his first name and takes you to the restaurant he named after you," Hikaru mused out loud.
"Yah, so?" Haruhi argued.
"Sounds like more than just a little friendly encounter to me. What do you think Kaoru?" Hikaru glared.
Kaoru was shaking his head, "No, you need to stop now Hikaru."
Hikaru looked at his brother guiltily, "Fine, but I just want to know one more thing. How do we know that she won't leave us when something she thinks is better comes along?"
"Hikaru! You have no idea how much I regret that night and I will never leave again. I have already promised Kyoya that I would talk it out with all of you if I feel like I am being controlled and I will. I know that it will take time for us to trust each other again, but we were best friends once and I think we could be again," Haruhi patiently explained. She was hurt by his attitude.
"Trust each other? I think it is us that need to be able to trust you again," Hikaru sneered. He couldn't stop himself from lashing out. He felt guilty and he was afraid of being hurt again. He also felt his old feelings come to the surface and each time she called Hunny by his name, he felt an old pang of jealousy adding to the mix. He wished he had been the one to make her feel safe and the one that had found her, not Hunny.
"Trust goes both ways Hikaru. When I called that night and both of you turned me away, it hurt. I need to build my trust again. Yasu took a lot from me and I need to work on my trust issues also," Haruhi said trying to keep tears from falling. She was truly hurt by everything he was saying.
Hikaru suddenly dove for Haruhi, grabbing her around the upper arms he yelled, "You were the one that left us! We were broken after you left and now you want to just come back and pick up where we left off?" Hikaru was shaking her and he could feel Kaoru trying to break his hold on the girl.
"Hikaru let her go!" Kaoru finally pried his brother's hands from Haruhi. She looked terrified. He tried to reach for her, but she backed away from both of them with wide eyes. "Haruhi," he called to her softly, but she backed up another step and shook her head.
Hikaru saw the look of terror that filled her eyes. He knew that he had crossed the line. She had experienced fear and horror at the hands of Yasu and he had just given her a taste of what she had worked so hard to walk away from. He pushed the chair that was in front of him and it slid across the room before falling over. That was the straw that broke the camel's back; he looked up in time to see Haruhi flee from the room.
Kaoru gave his brother a disgusted look before he ran after Haruhi. He had to get her and calm her down. Her expression reminded him of someone that looked like she was trapped in a nightmare and was trying to escape. His brother had gone too far. He called after her and she didn't stop or look behind her. He finally caught up to her when she tripped on the ground, "Haruhi! Haruhi, listen to me. It will be ok."
She was fighting him and just wanted to get away. She knew it was Kaoru, but she was still freaked out. It had reminded her so much of Yasu and she had to leave.
"Haruhi calm down. I will get a car for you to take you home," Kaoru said quietly releasing her.
"No, I will go by myself!" Haruhi shouted before she got up and took off again.
Kaoru sat there for a few more minutes watching as her form got smaller and smaller. He was mad. Mad at the situation, mad at his brother, mad that she thought he had abandoned her that night when she called, and mad that she wouldn't let him help. He understood why she wouldn't, but it still upset him. He walked back into the house to face his brother and to get answers.
Haruhi ran until she couldn't run any more. She stopped for a second to catch her breath and then started to walk home. She didn't have her purse or book bag, she had left with nothing on her. Her cell phone was in her purse. She would call Kaoru when she got home and ask him to have someone deliver it to her apartment. She wasn't ready to see Hikaru and she was unsure about Kaoru, but she knew that he could have it delivered by a servant. Right now she just needed to get home. She hadn't been that afraid since Yasu and she would be damned if she let that fear rule her life again.
She finally made it to her apartment complex a couple of hours later and walked up the stairs to her unit. She realized on the walk that she was still wearing the dress Hikaru had made her change into and as soon as she made it inside, she would change her clothes. The problem with trying to change though was that she didn't have her purse, ergo she didn't have her key, and that meant she was locked outside. She knocked in hopes that her father was home, but no one answered. She went downstairs to the landlord's office to ask for his copy so that she could gain entrance to the apartment.
After a long winded discussion about nothing with the landlord's wife, Haruhi finally made it inside her home and slumped against the door. She was exhausted: mentally, physically, and emotionally. She went to her room and grabbed clothes so that she could take a bath. She removed the dress as soon as she could and thought about burning it, but decided against that. It wasn't her dress and she wasn't like that. She would get the dress back to the twins some way.
The hot water helped to relax her muscles. She leaned her head back against the bath pillow and felt tears streaming down her face. She hadn't known that she was crying, but apparently she was and she could not stop. She covered her face with her hands and gave herself over to the tears. She didn't get out until her hands had turned to prunes and the water had started to cool. She noticed the bruises on her arms and shook her head, "He is still a hothead that doesn't listen."
After she got done getting dressed and walked into the kitchen to start the water for tea, there was a knock at her door. She jumped and then immediately told herself to calm down. She silently made her way to the door and looked out the peep hole. Hunny was on the other side looking a bit worried and without thinking, she answered the door without covering her arms.
Kaoru had called Hunny and told him that Haruhi had left a little upset and left her stuff. He asked his former Senpai to take her purse and school back to her. The unspoken request was to check on her. He figured if anyone could calm her down and reach her, it would be Hunny. He had seen the blonde comfort her the day before and knew that he would be the best choice.
Hunny had asked Kaoru what happened, but the young man wasn't telling him which made him fear the worst. He quickly went to the twin's home and collected Haruhi's things and then drove himself to her apartment. He had never been more relieved as when she opened the door and he could see a small smile on her face. His relief was short lived when he noticed that she had been crying and there were bruises on her arm that were not there before, "What happened Haru-Chan?" He brushed passed her and walked into the apartment.
"Nothing Mitsukuni, it was just a little disagreement," she said quietly shutting the door and locking it. She didn't want to get anyone in trouble. She knew that Hikaru didn't mean it and was probably feeling guilty for what happened.
"Kao-Chan asked me to bring you your things. Did that happen today?" Hunny said pointing to the bruises on her arms. He sounded very serious and more than a little mad.
Haruhi went to her room , grabbed a sweatshirt, and put it on. She returned and found Hunny making the tea she had started. When he was done they moved into the living room and sat down next to each other on the couch. She turned and looked at her friend, "Please don't press this. It was a disagreement and nothing more. I am fine and it is over with." She wanted it to stay between her and Hikaru. She would deal with him on her own.
Hunny had a feeling that the older twin was involved but nodded at the girl, "Fine, I will leave it alone for now." He noticed that she looked like she was going to cry again, so he pulled her into his arms, "I promised you and I promise you again, no one is going to hurt you. I just want to help you."
"I know Mitsukuni," she said as she buried her face into his shoulder and let her frustrations out in her tears.
He silently promised that he would have a little talk with the Hitachiin duo. If they were serious about forgiving her and trying to be friends again, why did she rush out of there leaving her things? She was crying and had bruises on her arms. He knew that it had to be Hikaru because Kaoru would never let his temper rule him like that, and he would make sure that Hikaru knew not to put his hands on Haruhi, Hunny's own personal treasure.
