I thought long about writing this chapter or not and then decided in the favour of it. I hope you will like it
.~*~*~*~.
Haruhi opened her eyes slowly. There was a tall guy with a tattooed arm shaking her. She felt nauseous and weak. Her eyes snapped shut as the images in front of her eyes became blurry. She could hear her name being shouted, she could feel her body being shaken, she could feel the noise of someone running about in high heels. Her eyelids gradually opened, but this time everything seemed clear.
"Can you hear me, Miss Haruhi?" the guy with the tattoos was asking.
"Is she alright, Takeo?" a female voice spoke hysterically, running forward with a glass of water. "Miss Haruhi can you hear me?"
Haruhi looked around confused and took a deep breath. She was in some kind of studio. There were light projectors and fans everywhere, and the guy with tattoos, whose name apparently was Takeo, had a camera hanging from his neck that she for some reason had failed to notice before, even though it was huge due to its long lens. The girl handed her the glass of water and looked at her expectantly.
"Are you alright, Miss Haruhi?" she asked concerned. "Do you want me to cancel the photo-session and take you to a doctor?"
Haruhi blinked and looked down at the glass full of water. She sipped from the cold water, trying to clear her head and sort out what kind of universe she was thrust into this time. She looked around herself. She was wearing a white dress and sitting on a strange white box. There were electric blue flowers all over around in chalk-white vases.
"I am fine," she finally spoke when the stares at her became persistent, "I have just fainted a little."
What was she doing here? Why was she dressed like this? And who were this two?
"Are you sure you want to continue the photo-shoot?" the girl asked, pushing back her braided hair. "I don't want you to overwork yourself, Miss Haruhi. As your manager, I am very concerned about your health. I think we should go and see a doctor. Your recent diets were completely unnecessary. You are too thin. It must be affecting your health."
She had a manager? She was in a photo-shoot? The guy must have been the photographer. He was glaring at the manager girl, apparently unhappy about her decision to take Haruhi away from the studio. Haruhi noticed the way the man's shoulder's tensed as the girl went on bubble how they should go and see the doctor immediately.
"I am alright," she mumbled, "it's nothing really. If you insist we can go and have some nice meal after this."
She looked at Takeo, and he smiled at her thankfully, and the girl seemed to become excited too. She took the glass from Haruhi and mumbling something about arranging a table for them, left the room. The photographer started to snap pictures of her and the light startled Haruhi at first. And then it went crazy.
"Turn to me with your profile," Takeo said, snapping more pictures, "Great! Change your positions... very well... chin up... amazing... Can you please show the back of the dress... yes... work with the flowers..."
It didn't take more than thirty minutes, but Haruhi felt like it was an eternity in stasis. The time wasn't moving on. She wondered how on earth she managed to get such a job. It was not something she had dreamed about, nor something that was anyhow interesting to her. She had taken so many poses in the past thirty minutes that she had never in her life could think of. It was odd.
"I am so glad you have decided to work with me, Miss Haruhi," Takeo smiled, "I have heard you are going to sign a contract with the Hitachin brand and be their cover girl for the upcoming fashion line."
Haruhi laughed nervously. Was she some model? She didn't care as much though for that at the moment as she was glad to hear she had the opportunity to meet the twins. She could do it this time. She would manage to get everyone together before anything happened. She remembered Kyoya. Where was he? Who was he? What was he doing? Her heart started beating faster.
"Oh my God," the manager girl walked in and screamed seeing Haruhi, trying to get out of the shoes. "Miss Haruhi, I will take care of everything, lets go into the dressing room. Where are those girls? I told them the photo-shoot is almost over, and they are not here to help you out of the dress."
Haruhi rolled her eyes. This girl was treating her like she was some breakable doll or something.
"Thank you, we worked well, Miss Haruhi, Endo-san," the photographer bowed as the girl tried to undo the shoe clasps.
"Yes, right," she mumbled, "call me later, Takeo, we are going to sign a contract with the Hitachins. I hear you are working for them. Seems like I need to meet you to speak about the needs of Miss Haruhi, because I don't like what is happening here."
The guy looked at both girls flustered and nodded, "Of course, Endo-san!"
.~*~*~*~.
She was a supermodel. The newspapers were filled with articles about her, and she was in cover of all well-known fashion magazines. Haruhi was shocked. She couldn't imagine how that was possible. She needed less time believing the crazy nonsense that her situation was than the fact that she was a supermodel. When she looked at herself in the mirror she was surprised to find that she was actually very pretty. It looked like she was very pretty version of herself. The strange uncanny feeling looking at the mirror and gazing at another person was giving her chills.
"Careful, you don't want to hurt her," her manager warned one of the girls who was gathering her hair into a clean hairstyle.
The woman seemed very hysterical about anything concerning Haruhi. She was fawning over her and forcing everyone to treat her like some princess which quite frankly started to annoy Haruhi, but she realized she had to play along. No need to cause additional problems especially when she knew she would meet the Hitachin twins soon enough.
"I have already ordered a table in the restaurant for us, Miss Haruhi," she informed her, "and after that we need to go to a charity event. They have asked me for months already, and I agreed that you will come with a speech. It's for orphanage children."
Haruhi nodded absentmindedly. After everything that had happened, she didn't really care about things like that anymore. She patiently sat through the hairdressing and make-up applying. This new life seemed so foreign and unreal. She wondered if her father was alive and where was he.
"Endo-san," she asked her manager as they walked down the stairs, "did my father―"
"Yes, he had called numerous times," the girl said, "I have told him you are fine."
Haruhi smiled at the woman and felt how the thickness in her throat thinned, and she felt relieved. She didn't want to live in a place where her father was dead. This time she would make sure to do everything right. She would get all the guys together and finally solve this problem. She wondered if she would actually end up being with Kyoya. Her heart throbbed at the memory of him, and she realized that she had fallen in love with him absolutely crazily and unreversably.
"You seem very abstracted, Miss Haruhi," the girl said lowering her head to stare at Haruhi, "are you sure you don't want us to visit a doctor. You shouldn't stress yourself. I don't want any wrinkles on that perfect face of yours."
Haruhi's brow twitched. This girl was giving her headache with her absurd and dramatic care. She took a deep breath an shook her head, "I am fine," she said, "when do we need to be at the charity event?"
"At 4 and your dress is already ready," she announced dreamily, "I have called the Yasumura, and her assistant told me that your gown is waiting to be taken. I will send the driver. Actually, that is just right. I will call that slacker now and tell him to go to the design studio to take it. You need to be perfect."
"Sounds good," Haruhi said bored.
"I have written your speech," the manager continued, "it's in the car. You don't need to learn it. It's printed on a beautiful card, and you can just read it from the paper. No one would care. Everyone just want to see you anyways."
How the hell did her life turn to be like this? What was she? A glass doll? What had happened that she had abandoned all of her dreams to become a lawyer and settled for the job where no one cared about her inside, but cared what she looked from the outside. This wasn't her and it scared her. Where was Kyoya Ootori? Would she meet him?
.~*~*~*~.
The dress was absolutely stunning. It was made of fine silk and fitted her perfectly. She looked at herself in the mirror and scowled bitterly at how impossibly groomed and preened she was. It irritated her that her person was reduced into beautiful looks that could be found on the front pages of popular magazines. It looked like it was her, but it wasn't really her at the same time. The hairstylists soon approached her to curl and style her shoulder length smooth hair. She never remembered herself having hair that good and nice. Her manager was having a conversation with somewhat and Haruhi could tell the woman was pissed.
She didn't know what she was talking as she was standing at the window a few meters away from her, but her facial expressions were enough to guess that it was about something unpleasant. Haruhi turned her head back when she felt someone'd hand on her face. A tall guy, with a stylish ponytail had a brush in his hand and was about to fix her make-up.
"Look at me sweetheart," he said, getting Haruhi's attention, "those nice cheekbones need some blush on them. Oh my god, your face is so symmetrical, I swear it's one of the best I have seen."
She attempted a smile, but hoped it looked more happy than she what actually felt. This entire world seemed out of sanity to her. She wondered why she was sitting there, letting all that happen to her when she knew the truth. Why wasn't she running away, trying to find Kyoya? Her growing heartbeat told her she didn't want to see him after what happened just again. She was tired. She was sick. She didn't want to connect with him only to lose him to the whims of the craziness that took over the world.
"You look absolutely perfect," her manager told her as she finished the conversation and walked up to her, "that idiot Joji is stuck in traffic. I hope we won't be late for the event. I will call Houshakoji-san and let her know if anything."
Haruhi nodded, wondering if Houshakoji was Renge-chan. She didn't want to ask the manager-girl more questions than necessary. She seemed very chatty and Haruhi was physically unfit to hear her.
"Oh, Haruka-chan,"the make-up artist suddenly noticed the manager, "is she your girl? She is perfect."
"She is," Haruka Endo agreed, "and she will soon sign a contract with the Hitachins for their new fashion line."
"Wow!" the guy said, working his brush on her face, blending the palette colors smoothly.
.~*~*~*~.
Joji, who was the driver, came soon enough, breathing hard as if he had ran a marathon on foot and wasn't really driving a car. He was a short, frail young man who looked like he got regularly scolded by Endo-san going by the scared look he gave the manager. The woman lectured him on the importance of his job, and Haruhi felt actually bad for the poor boy. The guy helped her into the car awkwardly, not daring to look at her and scared to step on her dress. Quite frankly Haruhi was worried herself. The dress was so long and delicate she was sure she would stab it and poke holes into it with her long high heels any moment.
"Joji," Haruka-san sat next to the driver, "gave her the speech. It's better for Miss Haruhi to know what she will read it."
The driver nodded and handed Haruhi a small, beautiful card. Her speech was printed on it. She eyed it absentmindedly and put it aside. She was still too stressed to care about this new world's small matters. Everything seemed more insignificant now that she realized how realities were flipping.
She sighed and looked out of the window. It was early spring, and sakuras had blossomed. It looked so beautiful, reminded her of her early school days. She was so carefree and full of hopes. But now her heart had frozen and hardened. She wondered if it changed the expression on her face and made her look more grim and bitter. Loosing someone she had come to love was driving her insane.
She remembered her father's weirdness, his peculiar habits and odd behavior and only know realized that he had never recovered with the pain of his loss and was still coping. Would she ever get used to? Would she ever give up? The idea that she could stop caring one day scared her.
"I know you are bored, Miss Haruhi," her manager spoke, "but we are almost there."
Haruhi attempted a smile and nodded. Haruka-san seemed satisfied and stared back at her phone. It appeared she was chatting with someone actively. She didn't know this girl before, but she seemed to be a nice person, even if was a little to over-the-top Haruhi's taste. She was used to already people of that sort, thanks to the entire host club and her father. Oh, she was so glad he was alive and couldn't wait to see the man and hug him. Ranka's death in the previous world had devastated her so badly, she wasn't sure it would be possible after everything that had happened to her.
The car went through beautiful golden gates and parked in the only parking spot left. The driver Joji hurried to open the door for Haruhi and grinned like an idiot when she gave him her hand to manage to come out of the car and not tear apart her gorgeous gown.
"I am so glad to see you, Haruhi," someone screamed making Haruhi to lose her balance and almost fall into the embrace of the rapidly reddening young driver.
She took a deep breath and turned to face a woman she didn't expect to see in this world. Red-haired Renge-chan in all her glory stood in front of Haruhi in a strange yellow dress. Her hair was short and she had grown a bit and looked quite pretty. The woman launched forward and hugged Haruhi, squeezing her unconscious.
"They have told me you have become a model and are stunning, but I didn't imagine you would be this pretty," she exclaimed, letting go off her victim. "I think I might still have a crush on you."
Haruhi laughed and realized she was really happy to meet this crazy maniac of a woman. She brought memories. She missed the feelings those memories made her re-experience.
"I have missed you, Renge-chan," she laughed.
"Aww! Really?" the red-head asked with a wink. "I have missed you too. It was hard to get in touch with your manager and hire you for the event. The guests would be astonished. I bet some of them would even try to steal you away."
She smiled, not knowing what else to say.
"Alright," Renge-chan ushered her, "come with me. The guests have gathered."
.~*~*~*~.
The stage was covered in flowers. There were lights everywhere, and the garden looked beautiful with all the lanterns and lamps on the tables. Men were in suits and women were dressed in pretty dressed. Haruhi felt strange standing on the stage and staring down at all of these extremely rich people. They were the guests to the charity event Renge-chan had organized for her new art school for disadvantaged children. She stood there in her perfect dress and looked at these people who were staring at her like a live-doll.
She started to read. The speech was short. She occasionally paused and stared at the guests with a smile. They all were sponsors and investors. And then her eyes widened when she read the last line.
"...this school wouldn't be possible without financial and legal support of most respected head of the Ootori group Ootori Kyoya," she paused and stared at the guests, her eyes wide in shock and her face burning.
A man stood up when people started to clap and bowed politely. Haruhi's breath stopped in her lungs as she saw him, dressed impeccably. His dark hair was styled in a way she didn't see before and it made him appear older than she was used to, but her heart dropped as their eyes met. And she saw again those eyes, where thunderstorm found their home. She stared into those grey deeps and her soul shattered.
"Thank you so much Mister Ootori," she read clumsily, "and everyone else who had donated and supported this important event."
People clapped and Renge-chan jumped on stage, "Thank you everyone," she said cheerfully, "I have even invited a supermodel to make the opening speech, so I hope all of you are happy with the event. And by the way, I am getting married soon..."
People looked a bit taken aback by the eccentric girl's rather sudden announcements, but those who knew her well cheered and clapped.
"He is not here tonight, unfortunately," she continued with pouty face, "Kendo tournaments and all. Heck knows! But I hope you all will come to my wedding. Oh my God, I can't wait for it. Only two months are left!"
Some people congratulated the girl. Haruhi awkwardly turned to the girl and smiled. "I will make sure not to miss your wedding," she said.
"Takashi wouldn't be happy if you missed," Renge winked and walked away.
So she was marrying Mori-senpai? Who could have imagined it. It sounded so strange. But after everything that happen she wasn't about to be shocked that the two could be a pair. She shook her head and walked down the stage. The drinks were nice and she decided to take a breath, while her manager was busy chatting with some of the guests. She looked around trying to spot Kyoya. But he wasn't around. Though she saw his father, Yoshio Ootori, conversing with an older man.
She wondered if he recognized her. Did he know that it was her? Had they been in contact in this world? What was their relationship. The cold and detached way he had glanced at her she concluded that they couldn't have really been really close. She even had a feeling the young man didn't know her at all.
"I didn't know Renge-san is hanging out with supermodels," she heard a voice. The tiny hair on the back of her neck stood up. A cold shiver passed through her body, freezing her legs. She knew this voice. She knew all the tones and shades of it. She slowly turned, brushing back the lush curls.
He smiled at her as she faced him and bowed politely. "It's nice to meet you, Miss," he said with a strange, flirtatious smile, "Ootori Kyoya."
They didn't know each other, or he just didn't recognize her?
She stared into his grey eyes and a small sigh left her lips. "It's nice to meet you too," she said slowly, unsure what to say next. She thought when she saw him again, she would run into his arms, but this Kyoya wasn't the Kyoya she knew, even though he was still the Kyoya she loved.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked.
She smiled and put her hand gently in his. The soft music flowed in the garden. The violin players started to play on their instruments. She felt his cold hands on her back and a chill passed through her spine. She wished she could press tighter into his embrace and cry like a little child because she had failed her task of saving him.
"I couldn't ever think that Renge would get married with Mori-senpai," she suddenly said, remembering the red-head's announcement.
Kyoya rose his brows in surprise, but it was so slight that anyone other than Haruhi wouldn't notice it. "So you know Mori-senpai," he said with a curious smile.
"Yes," Haruhi laughed, "after all, he was one of the members in the host club, Kyoya."
Kyoya's impassive face suddenly wrinkled with surprise. He stared down at the beautiful woman in front of him in utter shock.
"I..." he tightened is hold for some reason, "do I know you, Miss?"
She chuckled. He didn't recognize her. How very strange. Although she wasn't surprised. She couldn't recognize herself in the mirror when she woke up in this world. Everything seemed different about her appearance.
"I would hope you do," she smiled, "after all, we have been friends at some point."
Kyoya's expression faltered and the wrinkled lines smoothed and faded away. He was very good at hiding his emotions, but she knew that he was actively trying to place her in his mind. The way his eyes were assessing her made Haruhi think that he didn't recognize her.
"You must have been a guest in the host club then," he induced after moment of a thought, "if you know both Mori-senpai and Renge-san."
The music was almost fading when Kyoya holding her hand twirled her around, "I hoped you would recognize me, Kyoya-senpai," she mumbled when they came face to face, so close that she could feel his breath on her face.
"You said you would find me anywhere in the world, if I decide to run away," she winked, "wasn't your family having the best private police force?"
He stared down at her in shock, "Haruhi..." he mumbled, "Haruhi Fujioka?"
"I know I have changed," she smiled. "Believe me it was a surprise for me too."
"You look..." he paused and stared at her, "I have tried to find you, but seems like you caught me well, by choosing a field of career I would least likely assume to check you."
So he didn't forget her in this universe, but they weren't exactly friends either. This was their first meeting.
"You have changed so much," he said slowly and she noticed a hint of regret in his voice, "you are pretty, but you don't look like the girl I knew."
"Looks don't matter, senpai," she said, "remember what counts is the person's inside and I am still the commoner you all loved to chase and annoy so much."
He smiled softly and shook his head, "You being a supermodel," he laughed, "it sounds as ridiculous as all the Tamaki's plans. I feel like I am 17 again and I am in the host club."
She sighed.
"I am sorry," he said quickly, "I shouldn't have mentioned him. I..."
"Don't worry," she said, "I am not upset at Tamaki. Time heals and flipping through universes does the job even better."
Younger Ootori looked a little confused, but didn't question her, instead he actually leaned forward and hugged her. It took her by surprise, but several others weren't expecting to see this emotional display from the young aristocrat either. A few journalists even snapped pictures.
"I am sorry," he whispered suddenly, "since that day when you left the club I thought so many times, I have relived that day so many times, trying to find out what I could have done better and every time doing something and keeping you back, not letting you go was better option. I should have protected you like I have promised myself and promised Tamaki."
She was lost for words. His sincere voice and soothing embraces took her by surprise.
"I have thought about it over and over again, and I have always thought about you, Haruhi," he said.
"What is going on here?" they both pulled back, hearing the excited voice of Renge-chan, "am I witnessing some romance blooming here?"
"Renge," Haruhi glared at her, "don't make up things, better tell us about you and Moi-senpai."
"Oh, there is so much to tell," she said dreamily, "maybe you should come tomorrow evening to Honey-senpai's house. He has a kid, if you didn't know. We can have dinner and Reiko-chan is adorable. I am pretty sure everyone would be excited to meet the two of you."
"That sounds good," Haruhi said immediately, "I would be glad to meet you all."
"I take it Kyoya-kun," Renge grinned, "you are going to join us, right?"
He nodded, not cutting his gaze from Haruhi, "I will be glad," he said politely.
.~*~*~*~.
"Who was that guy you were dancing with, Miss Haruhi?" her manager asked quietly. "I know he is handsome and seems very much suitable for you, but for God's sake you don't want any scandals. Especially when you are going to sign a contract with the Hitachin brand."
"He is my school senpai," she smiled sadly, "there is nothing for you to worry about."
"I hope so," the woman mumbled, "because I have seen some sparks between the two of you, and the way he just grabbed and hugged you, oh my! That's going to make some headlines tomorrow. Frustrating!"
"I don't think anyone will publish anything," she said confidently, "at least, if they don't want any problems with the Ootori lawyers."
"It seems you know him well enough," Haruka smiled, "you never told me much about your life. I was honestly surprised to find out you have attended Ouran. I know your family isn't well off and students in that school who get scholarship are very smart."
Haruhi looked at the woman awkwardly.
"But I guess you got there for your looks. You are so pretty," she exclaimed.
"Maybe," Haruhi laughed.
She needed to end this madness. She needed to save Kyoya. She needed to fix the world that came to be because Kyoya Ootori loved her too much to forget.
A/N-I hope the story is still entertaining. I am happy that this story is almost complete. Thank you for all the patient people following, favoring and reviewing the story. Just three chapters to go. :) I am a bit worried to post after such a long break. I apologize, but I was very busy with work. Hope you all were happy and well all this time.