Notes and Disclaimer: Simply put, I don't own Ouran or its characters. Thank you for not suing.
Sorry it took so long to post this chapter. To all those of you reviewing still, thank you for your patience and feedback. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 12: SHADOWS
"It's an aneurysm."
Haruhi sat between Hikaru and Kaoru as Kyouya spoke the ominous words in a quiet, barely-controlled voice. The three freshmen had taken a seat on the plush red couch outside the operating room where the Ohtori doctors worked to save Ryoji Fujioka. Kyouya glanced toward the double doors that were locked from the inside and lowered his gaze, letting his dark hair fall over his glasses.
Well, Father, are you satisfied now? After collecting his thoughts, he spoke again to Haruhi.
"According to the nurse, Ranka-san was only taken in a very short time ago. He complained of a nasty headache that had come on without warning. Next thing we know, he's rushed into surgery. I've also called the others, and they should be here soon."
The petite brunette nodded slowly, but clutched Hikaru's and Kaoru's hands tighter as she thought about how serious her father's condition had suddenly become.
Kyouya refrained from telling Haruhi and the twins about the conversation he had shared with his father just a few short hours ago. There was no sense in upsetting the young girl further, and he had other things on his mind. He had yet to meet with his lieutenants at the disaster site and was still mulling over the landlady and her questionable allegiances.
The double doors leading to the reception area opened again, interrupting the Shadow King's musings.
"Haru-chan!"
Hani ran forward and once again jumped into Haruhi's arms to comfort her, while Mori and Tamaki stepped into the waiting area and let the doors shut firmly behind them. Tamaki also ran forward to try and hug Haruhi, but would have to wait his turn since Hani wasn't letting go, and Hikaru and Kaoru were both glowering at him. They had let Hani in since they did not see him as any kind of competition and even if they did, they knew that the small martial artist would probably thrash both of them if they made him angry.
Tamaki, however, would just have to wait. That didn't mean he had to like it, though.
"My pretty daughter! She's so scared and upset. She needs her Daddy! Please, let Daddy see her."
"Senpai, please. My dad's in there." Haruhi's voice was flat and inflectionless, but experience with the scholarship student had taught her friends that her emotions were much more intense than she let on. She was once again trying to put on a brave face, but no one missed the fact that she was terrified. Especially not the twins, who almost felt the circulation in their hands being cut off as Haruhi held their hands.
Then Haruhi fixed her eyes on Kyouya.
"You said he didn't have any life-threatening injuries." Her voice was soft, but there was an undercurrent of steel that the Shadow King picked up.
"I told you that he didn't appear to have them. There's a difference."
"Yet here he is now, fighting for his life because he has an aneurysm?"
"It was probably not related to his injuries, but…"
"WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO HIM?"
In an uncharacteristic outburst, Haruhi suddenly let go of Hikaru and Kaoru and jumped up to stand toe-to-toe with her senpai. She was scared, the other hosts knew that. But right now, all that terror at the prospect of losing her only living family member in what was supposed to be the most advanced hospital in Japan was overtaking the petite girl in the form of scalding rage. She batted the twins' hands away again as she let loose on the Shadow King.
"Damn you, Kyouya! I thought he was in good hands here! Now all I can do is sit and hope that he survives being sliced into like he's some slab of meat! He's already facing the possibility that he won't be able to work again for a long time if ever! And now you're telling me that a blood vessel in his brain has burst? I know what an aneurysm can do to a person, Kyouya! WHY THE HELL WERE YOU NOT WATCHING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN?!"
The girl crumpled over, exhausted, but still angry. Kyouya took Haruhi by her shoulders to keep her from collapsing on the floor, but she immediately straightened up, shook off his hands and stalked back toward the bench, where the others waited, wisely staying out of Haruhi's way.
"Haruhi…" Kyouya began again, but Haruhi simply glared at him while letting tears fall down her face. Her voice cracked when she spoke again.
"I'm not interested in hearing it right now, Kyouya-senpai." And she said nothing more as tears slid down her face and she began to cry into Hikaru's shoulder. The elder Hitachiin held her and whispered soothingly in her ear.
Kaoru watched his brother cradle the young brunette for a moment and then locked eyes with Kyouya. The Shadow King stared back and tried to gauge what emotion the younger Hitachiin was displaying.
Fortunately, there was nothing malicious about the look.
No condemnation. No anger. Just a simple glance that told the Host Club Vice President that he should leave for a while.
If that's what you want. Kyouya wasn't happy, but knew that he had other matters on his plate that needed attending to before too much time passed.
While most of the other hosts clustered around Haruhi, Kyouya spoke to Mori, who was still standing by the door watching over the younger hosts. The Shadow King motioned for the taller senior to move over to the side so they could talk semi-privately.
"I need to speak to the doctors about Ranka's situation. Then I need to take care of something else involving my police force. But this latter issue is of a delicate nature, and I would ask that it be kept from the others until I find out more information." Kyouya did not give any further details.
Mori regarded the bespectacled teenager steadily. He knew that the Host Club Vice President rarely confided in anyone, but when he did, it was for a very good reason, and thus discretion was necessary. Although slightly curious about what kind of issue this was, the stoic senior simply replied, "Understood."
"Thank you, Mori-senpai. Please excuse me." Without another word, Kyouya walked out into the reception area and then down the hall in the direction of Dr. Tanaka's office.
As he continued down the hallway, he murmured a silent prayer that the doctors had been able to catch Ranka's condition in time, thus leaving open the possibility that the crossdresser might survive. He hated this helpless feeling that he had been hiding from the host club members, and knew he had to do whatever it took to save Ranka.
Even if it meant fighting his father where it hurt him the most.
I've done it before…
At the disaster site…
"Sir, we have the boxes here, as well as the papers that came with them."
Tachibana glanced in the direction of the private police lieutenant who called for his attention. The man in full body armor stood in front of two other soldiers who each carried a small box each about the size of a pastry box, and decorated as such. He saluted his superior while the other two soldiers stood at attention while holding the boxes. Tachibana nodded at the officer.
"Very well, Lieutenant. What else did you find?"
"My men found one other box that's slightly smaller than the others, sir. It's not as heavy." As if on cue, a third soldier brought a smaller box that was decorated in a similar fashion as the first two.
Probably the fuses, Tachibana thought before addressing the soldiers.
"Bring the boxes over here."
"Yes sir." The ranking officer nodded to his men, who walked up to Tachibana and slowly set the boxes at his feet. After putting the boxes down, each soldier stepped back, stood at attention, and saluted the head of the Ohtori family staff.
"Secure the area and have your men open the boxes once it is safe to do so."
"Yes, sir." The lieutenant immediately motioned to the soldiers to clear the investigators away to a safe area while several specially trained soldiers in extra body armor approached the boxes. Tachibana took the liberty of moving off to a protected area while the private police investigated the contents of the boxes.
As soon as the soldiers guarding Tachibana radioed the lieutenant and indicated it was safe, the heavily armored men slowly opened the boxes and prepared to shield themselves in case it was necessary.
Luckily, nothing happened. But upon further investigation, the private police noticed something they hadn't previously expected.
Meanwhile, a member of the fire department approached the lead investigator and whispered something in his ear.
The two men tentatively approached Tachibana and the private police who were guarding them.
"Tachibana-san, there's something you need to know."
The head of the Ohtori family staff stared at the man, wondering just what he was going to say.
But the sound of a limousine's engine interrupted the older man's thoughts.
TBC.
Author's note: Okay it's been a long time, but here is another (short) chapter for your perusal. Rather Kyouya-centric (and Haruhi-centric) if I do say so myself. Just put another burden on the poor guy's shoulders.
I apologize for the delay, but I have a lot distracting me (holidays and work), and so I need to get on a semi-regular schedule to be more effective with updating.
And yes, I know I made Haruhi pretty OOC in this chapter, but please bear in mind that she is very afraid for her father's life and an aneurysm is pretty serious business and can be difficult to treat. Plus, her mother is already is gone, as well as her home and her old way of life. Because of this, her rationality isn't at its usual high point right now.
Anyway, thanks for all your reviews. Hope you liked the chapter. It was kind of hard for me to write.
I will probably seek out a beta reader. It might make the story better. Any takers?
Thank you again for reading and reviewing.
