I GOT THE BEST IDEA FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER! THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED AND THANKYOU TO IRUKA92 FOR HELPING ME GET THE IDEA!! xD (she asked me a question and I got an idea from the question :P)

Okay, just a question...? You all don't really want Tatsuki to die, do you? I mean, come on, she may be a mean, selfish person who doesn't deserve to live, but then if she died, then there'd be no story. Don't people always get better as they mature? A family friend of mine ran away from home when she was young, because, and I quote, 'not all families are perfect.' And she's right. Most aren't. I doubt any family in the world is perfect, but they're your family, and you have to live with them forever. Even if someone in your family you really hate dies (in Tatsuki's care, Haruhi), you'd still mourn for them, no matter what happens. If you lived with them for your life, won't you miss their company? So, I've decided (not completely; just for now). Tatsuki isn't going to die. And Haruhi... well, we'll have to wait and see, won't we...?

Okay, so, now that I know what I'm going to do with this chapter, I'll write it up. I hope everyone enjoys xD

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Chapter 9

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Tatsuki dried the plate and put it into its place in the cupboard. Haruhi smiled at her daughter and remembered when she'd gotten pregnant with her. It was right after Kyouya had raped her. She'd been getting a bit of morning sickness almost every morning, and so she went to the doctor to ask about it. They asked her a few questions, to many she'd answered yes, and they called her saying she was pregnant a week after she'd given them a blood and urine sample.

She didn't know what she wanted to do with the child. It was his kid, and she knew it, and something screamed inside her head to get rid of the child, but she shook her head at the thoughts. Even if it did belong to the man she loathed, she couldn't bring herself to getting rid of it. She knew it would prevent her going back to school, as it would have taken up her time, the time she either needed for school or work.

When Tamaki, Hikaru, Kaoru, Honey and Mori all heard the news, they started sending in money to her, but she denied the hospitality, until Tamaki found her bank-account password and put the money in. She argued with him about it, but he didn't listen, and put more and more every month, until she changed the password.

By the end of the month, she'd been as big as a balloon, and she found it hard to move. The twins would visit her almost everyday to see how she was going (unless they were working) and helped her with the cooking, washing, cleaning, etc cetera.

Haruhi always wondered why she'd never gotten rid of the child, but the answer became obvious after she'd had Tatsuki. It was because she still loved Kyouya, and she knew that one day, she'd have to tell him about their infant, and maybe even start a new life together.

She realised this was a bad idea (15 years a little too late), but that wasn't her only reason.

On the day Tatsuki was born, Haruhi felt like a hurricane had happened upon her, and the storm died down when the baby was placed in her arms.

The baby looked up at her mother with small squinted eyes, and Haruhi peered in to have a closer look. She smiled when she saw they were the same colour as Kyouya's, and told herself that the baby was a token from God to help her remember the husband who betrayed her, but the husband she still loved.

"Mum, where does this go?" Tatsuki asked, holding up the spaghetti straightener. Haruhi pointed over to a cupboard and Tatsuki threw the pan into it quickly, then shut it closed. "Can I go now?"

"Where are you going?" Haruhi asked. She hadn't said anything about going anywhere...

"Melanie and I are going movies." She turned to walk back to her room.

"Oh... I thought that, I don't know, we could go to the movies together instead," she said.

Tatsuki turned around slowly to look at her mother, then burst into fits of laughter. "You think I'll let you go to the movies with me and Melanie? You have got to be kidding!" She laughed harder and wiped away a tear from her eyes after she stopped. "Yeah, nah, sorry, ma, but you aren't coming with us anywhere. I mean, bringing you to the movies is like drowning in a bath." She walked away to her bedroom to get dressed.

Haruhi looked down at her feet. "Okay, I won't intrude on your night out." And she really thought they were going somewhere with each other.

---

She sat on the cough and changed the channel on the television. She blinked at the channel she'd turned to. On the news stood the man she'd kicked out of her home just the other night, the one who'd broken her whole family's heart.

A reporter came up and started talking into a microphone. Haruhi turned the volume up quickly. "Eye-witnesses sat that they saw Mr Ohtori leaving the premises plenty times, out of the blue, disappearing into an unknown neighbouring town. Some claim to have seen him visiting a young lady's home, but he denies strongly."

A picture of Kyouya at a press conference appeared on the screen and Kyouya talked. "I have not been leaving my home for any reasons you may think. To prove to you I am telling the truth, go talk to my good friend, Suoh Tamaki. He'll tell you all you wish to hear." Haruhi blinked at the screen with a puzzled expression. Why had he just given the press Tamaki's name when the two were fighting? Surely Tamaki would tell the truth...

The reporter came back into the screen and continued, "After several nights of searching for Suoh-Sama, the press finally found him and asked him for his recounts. He denied to answer any of our questions and sent us away. That's all the news for now, back to you Peter."

"Thankyou, Akito. Now, to the sport with Sakura..."

Haruhi turned the volume back down and stared at the floor. Why had Kyouya given Tamaki's name? Why hadn't Tamaki said anything?

Haruhi picked up the telephone and dialled in Tamaki's number. Hati answered.

"Hello, Hati, can I please talk to your father?"

Hati hesitated a moment before passing the phone over to Tamaki. "Hello?"

"Tamaki, it's me, Haruhi. I just saw the news. What happened?"

This time, Tamaki hesitated before he answered. "I'll come and see you, okay? I'll be at your house soon."

"But why? Can't you just tell me what's happening—?"

"I'll explain everything soon, okay?"

Before Haruhi could argue, the line was dead on the other end.

Haruhi sighed. What was going on?

---

Tamaki arrived at Haruhi's house 15 minutes later.

"Tamaki, what's going on—?"

"Is there anybody here?" he asked.

She stared at him, puzzled. "No, nobody's here. I'm alone. Tatsuki went to the movies with Melanie."

"Good." He closed the door quickly and led her to sit on the couch. "If the press saw me here with you now, everything will be over."

"You're worried about the press?" Haruhi asked.

He shook his head. "No, I'm not worried about the press. I'm worried about you. If they ever found out that Kyouya had been leaving his home to see another woman, you especially, the press would never leave him – or you – alone. I don't care if they keep bothering him, but you're sick, and the press will be too much for you to handle. They're not all la-di-la-la like they seem to be. They'll pressure you like crazy for answers."

Haruhi shook her head. "Why couldn't we talk about this on the phone?" she asked.

"The phones are almost always being tapped into and traced. There's no safety through the normal home phone."

"But what about the times when I called Kyouya to tell him about Tatsuki? Surely they would have heard by now."

He shrugged. "It must have been pure luck that they didn't hear or tap into the call. Or..." he paused. "It could be that either they couldn't figure out who you were, or Kyouya had something done to his phone so they couldn't hear or understand who the caller was..."

She blinked. "Huh?"

"There's a device we use on our telephones most times that can keep our identities hidden. Kyouya must have one too, although a permanent one... Damn that bastard."

"I still don't get it."

Tamaki sighed. "Don't worry. The important thing is that you're safe, and the media doesn't know that you are the one that Kyouya sneaked out of his home to meet."

"So that's why you didn't tell anybody about where he'd been going?" Haruhi asked, understanding.

"Exactly," Tamaki nodded. "The sly fox knew that I would never be able to give them your name. I've done a dangerous thing now, coming to see you, as there could have been people following me to see you, but I don't want to take any chances right now. I had to tell you what was happening and alert you of the dangers."

Haruhi nodded. "I see..."

"So I have to ask you a favour," Tamaki said, taking her hand, staring deep into her eyes. "I don't want you calling me, and I don't want Tatsuki calling Hati – only for now, anyway. I'll alert you when it will be safe again, but..." He sighed. "Kyouya had this all planned from the start," he growled, letting go of her hand and resting back into the couch. "He knew that if he gave them my name that I'd have to loose contact with you until everything died down. I hate that eel... Why did I ever choose to be his friend? Why did I ever choose him to be the vice president?"

"Because he was your friend," Haruhi said. Tamaki watched her from the corner of his eye. She was looking out into space as she talked, as if an angel was shining her thought upon her to speak. "You two were more then best friends in school. You came to Japan and he singled you out as a companion."

"He singled me out because his father said to," Tamaki sneered.

"Maybe he did, but then again, I wouldn't know," Haruhi shrugged. "But you and Kyouya... you were the best of friends. You were far better then what most friendships went. I think it's my fault and I feel bad that you two broke away, but that was the past." She sighed and turned to look at him.

"You have Éclair now, and I'm sorry to say that I still love him." Tamaki's purple/blue eyes widened as he stared at her. "But even if I do, you have to forgive him. It's not his fault all this happened to me. I know, even if I didn't fall for his dark ways, you would have still ended up with Éclair. So, there's really no reason for you two to fight. If I had feelings for Takashi, would you have stopped talking to him?"

"Mori is different," Tamaki disagreed. "He's—"

"Stronger?" Haruhi asked. Tamaki looked down at the floor. "You and Kyouya were brought together to be friends. Even if you don't believe it now. I think you should make up."

"It's not easy, you know," he said, not looking up. "It's not the easiest thing in the world, to apologize. It's thought to be the hardest thing ever."

"I could help."

Tamaki shook his head. "No, that could get you into more trouble."

"I got you two separated, I'm going to help you two get back together," Haruhi objected. "Trust me. I can help."

He sighed. "I don't want to get you into any trouble..."

"You won't. You'll only get yourself into trouble if you don't trust me and let me help."

"Okay. But only because you asked."

"Thankyou," Haruhi smiled. "At least now I'll know I'm doing something right."

---

Tatsuki and Melanie came out of the movie with bright smiles on their faces and laughs caught in their chests. After the recent events that happened at Melanie's house only a week ago, nothing seemed to be different. It was as if Tatsuki had never run away. Everyone was treating it like that anyway.

"That was so cool!" Tatsuki beamed. "When he had the gun and he's jumping through the air like that – so totally awesome! It reminded me a lot of the Matrix."

Melanie laughed. "It did, huh? We should sue them for copy-right."

The two laughed on the way out of the cinema.

"Did you hear?"

Tatsuki and Melanie perked up their ears as they saw someone run past them to a person who was standing next to them.

"No, hear what...?"

"Mr Ohtori was caught going over to a woman's home the other night!"

"No way!"

"Seriously way!"

Melanie blinked at them in surprise and walked towards the two boys. "Uh, sorry for interrupting, but I heard what you guys were saying. Another ladies house?"

"Yeah! How bizarre?"

Tatsuki grabbed Melanie's hand quickly and pulled her away before she could start flirting with the guys. "Come on, Mel."

"Hey, where are we going?" she whined. "Doesn't that Goss sound good to you?"

"Actually, no, it's a whole load of crap."

Melanie looked up at her friend as she pulled her away. Her face was red with anger for some strange reason, and she looked like she wanted to kill someone.

"Tatsuki, what's wrong?" Melanie asked after they arrived to restaurant and ordered their food.

"It's nothing," Tatsuki grunted.

"That's not a 'nothing' grunt," Melanie teased. "Come on, tell me. What's up?"

Tatsuki raised her head and looked around to make sure no one was listening. Then she leaned over the table and pulled Melanie in so she could whisper what was on her mind. "You remember how you said that my mum was going to tell me who my dad was?" she asked in a low voice.

Melanie nodded sadly. She didn't want to remember that night anymore, but the memories you want to loose never go away. "Of course. How could I forget?"

"Well, I went home, and you were right. Mum told me who my dad was."

Melanie gapped at her friend. "Really?!" she beamed. "Oh my God, who is it—?"

"Keep your voice down!" Tatsuki hissed. "I don't want anyone hearing about this." Melanie saw the worry in her friends' eyes and pulled her head back in. "I want you to promise me not to tell anyone until I say it's safe, okay?"

"Do I have to?" Melanie grinned, jokingly. When she saw her friend was serious, she nodded. "Okay, I promise," she said, just as serious as her friend.

"Good." She looked over her shoulder one last time before leaning back down the table to tell her friend the news. "He's Kyouya Ohtori."

Melanie squealed in excitement and stood up quickly. "Are you serious?!"

"Shut up!" Tatsuki snapped. Everybody in the restaurant was watching the two girls with surprised expressions. Some people ignored the squealing girl and continued talking about what they were talking about, but not many.

Tatsuki grabbed her friends' shirt and slammed her back down onto the table so she could shut up and sit down.

"I'm sorry, I just can't believe it!" Melanie cried again. "I mean, the Kyo—"

"Melanie, shut up or I'm going to have to murder you!" Tatsuki snapped. That shut her up.

"I'm sorry," she apologized again. "But I don't see why you want to keep it a secret. This is usually something that you wouldn't be able to keep your mouth shut about."

"I know," Tatsuki smiled, "but I have a plan. If I can keep the press away from my mum and dad, maybe then they can talk things out a little and I'll be able to move out of that toilet-bowl of a home."

"Toilet-bowl of a home..." Melanie repeated. "You couldn't think of anything more appealing?" she joked.

"I have more important things to think about," she sneered.

"So what are you thinking of doing?" Melanie asked. "Wait a sec... was what those guys say true? He'd been leaving his house and wife to see – and correct me if I'm wrong – your mum?"

"Exactly. You know that week I ran away? Well, he and mum had been meeting up at our house continuously to talk about, well, me. I think, anyway. That's what mum says. Anyway, so I'm thinking of getting them talking again and then when things get a little better between them, I'm moving out to his house, and I don't care if I see mum ever again."

"Why not go now?" her friend asked, with a small hint of disgust at the way she talked about her mother.

"Was a no go," she shook her head. "He said he didn't want me living with him. Not yet, anyway. I'm sure mum told him that I was a stupid kid and that I didn't need a dad. So now, I'm helping mum out around the house, getting into her good graces, and then when she gets better, Uncle Mori said he'd talk to both my parents and get them to decide where I should be staying." She rubbed her hands together. "Plan perfectly executed."

Melanie laughed. "You're such an idiot. Do you really think that will work? What if Aunt Haruhi dies – god bless? Then what?"

"I doubt it. She's too stubborn."

"I can see where you get it from now," Melanie mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" Tatsuki stared dully at her friend.

"Uh, nothing!" she grinned.

Their pizza came to the table and they dug into the cheesy goodness.

"Yum," they both licked their lips.

"So, any idea when Aunt Haruhi will have her operation?"

Tatsuki looked up from her slice of pizza. "What operation?" she asked, her mouth filled with cheese.

"She needs to have an operation if she's going to get better," Melanie said, as if Tatsuki was already meant to know. "You know that, surely."

Tatsuki had a blank expression on her face. "How much would an operation cost?" she asked.

"Don't you ever think about anything else—?"

"How much... will an operation... cost?"

Melanie thought a moment. "Close to the 5 thousands, I think. Probably more."

"Mum can't make that much money!" Tatsuki gapped. "It'll take her years – centuries – to make that much money and keep food on the table!"

"Wow, you actually care for once..."

"Of course I care," she snapped. "She's my ticket out of that dump. If she dies before she talks to dad about letting me live with him, he'll still say no and I'll have to live with Uncle Tama. I don't want to live with him! That would mean Hati and I won't be able to go out in our lives! We'd be brother and sister!"

"I knew you didn't care..."

"Melanie, can I please ask to borrow money? Please?"

"For that lousy reason?" she snorted. "No."

"I thought you liked my mum."

"I do, but I'm not going to help you for being so stubborn and selfish. If you get a little better understand of Aunt Haruhi, then I'll help you. But if you're just going to keep thinking about yourself and never about what others might be going through, don't even look at me."

"Come on, you're my best friend. I'll pay you back in little pieces. I'll work for you and you can keep my pay even. Come on, please?"

"Why do you want it?"

"For my mums operation, duh."

"I thought you said you didn't care if she died."

"I told you, she's my only ticket out of home. I'm not going to live with Uncle Tama and have Hati as a brother rather then a boyfriend."

Melanie dropped her head in shame. "You're so despicable," she sighed. "You know what? I'm not even going to talk to you until you understand what's really happening." And for the rest of the day, Melanie ignored everything Tatsuki said about her mother, only talking to her when the subject changed.

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Does anyone like Melanie:P that was a random question.

SO HOW WAS THAT CHAPTER? I hope everyone enjoyed it :) I'm sorry it's up a little late, but I got a little distracted. So, in addition to being late, I won't have a long last authors note like I usually do.

But I have a question. I'm a little lost at what I should do next, so if anyone has any idea's, then please, tell me. But, not surreal idea's, more... normal idea's... like killing Tatsuki – that's surreal. Haruhi finding the money in a drain one day – that surreal. Something normal like, she gets ultra-sick and ends up in hospital or something, but I'm not doing that :P not till later, anyway. So please, give me a few ideas, and I apologize in advance if I take a little while to get the next chapter up :)

Thankyou to everyone who reviewed :) I know the last chapter was a little fast paced, but I'm sick, and my head wasn't working properly. If I had the choice, I'd delete that chapter and fix it up, but I can't be bothered xD heehee

(Okay, as I promised, this AN isn't that long, right? lol)

I tried my best keeping Tamaki and Haruhi in character this time, but I don't know how well I did it... it seemed that's how they would usually act... I don't know, I'm at a complete loss with character actions. SO SUE ME xD

I FINALLY GOT ALL THE OURAN EPISODES ONTO THE NEW COMPUTER! THERE WAS NO REASON TO BUY A FUCKING (cough) 50 DOLLAR CONVERTER WHEN I HAVE AN IPOD THAT HELD HALF OF THE EPS IN IT ALREADY! I'M SUCH AN IDIOT! (information on what actually happened in next chapter lol)

Okay, I'm going to go now. It's pretty late and I have to clean the kitchen. And I really have to pee again... (I hold it in until I finish the chapter :P coz I'm a weirdo)

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Wash It All Away – Evanescence (DOWNLOAD THIS SONG!)

You hold the answers deep within your own mind. Obviously you've forgotten it. That's the way the human mind works. Whenever something is too unpleasant, too shameful for us to entertain, we reject it; we erase it from our memories. But the imprint is always there. Nothing is ever really forgotten. (Can't wash it all away; can't wish it all away; can't hope it all away; can't cry it all away)

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To anyone who cares: I HAVE A HUGE LOVE-LIFE PROBLEM! I like Ali (actually, kind of love) but he's kind of a player and I don't think he likes me... but his cousin, Moe, is around my age, and he looks 'amiable', so I might have to give up the hunt for Ali and try out Moe... but there's also Nathan I should think about... I should probably just ignore all of Ali's family and stalk Nathan (or wait till the Deb thing next year) so I can get his number... (thing is we had the year 10 ball and I forgot to get his number, like the idiot I am lol) I'M SO CONFUSED! I hate love T.T

Yeah, all of you could have ignored that if you wanted to, just, if you did read that, anyone want to give me advice? Lol coz I am LOST! Thanks :P

HOPE EVERYONE LIKED THE CHAPTER! REVIEW OR MY EVIL PET BABOONS WILL COME AND EAT YOUR BRAINS OUT:D

ammii (it is now 2.03 AM)