There are many times that being a writer is breathtaking.
This is one of those times, when the story just flows and your emotions run wild.
It's awesome.
:)
Haruhi's mind went around in circles as she wiped down a table after finishing up her Host duties.
Merry wouldn't leave her mind.
The other girl was so stubborn and brilliant and lonely. That was what hurt the most, the loneliness planted firmly behind the girl's cutting smile and sharp gaze. And she seemed to want to be that way.
It reminded her of Kyoya-sempai's eyes sometimes, whenever someone mentioned family.
It reminded her of Kaoru and Hikaru before they'd let her into their world.
It reminded her of Tamaki whenever his mind drifted towards memories of his mother.
It was something she could see in her own reflection sometimes, around her mother's birthday or the anniversary of her death.
Just… pain.
Unmistakable agony.
But she wasn't letting anyone in.
Except Kyoya-sempai.
She paused her wiping, not noticing the circle she'd managed to buff into the lacquer.
Merry was only really open with Kyoya-sempai. Truly open. Her smiles were more genuine, the weight on her shoulders a little less.
It was the same with Kyoya-sempai.
They were relaxed around each other, even if their insults were quite creative and abrasive. They kept each other at arm's length, not noticing how truly close they were actually becoming.
Her eyes widened. "No. Way."
Then she smiled and covered the worn circle with a doily, hoping no one would notice.
"Fixing the table will be seven thousand yen, Haruhi."
"Damnit, Kyoya-sempai!"
Hideo opened the front door, raising a brow at the petite brunette blowing hot air into her gloved hands. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, a frigid wind carrying a hint of late winter snow with it.
"I'm afraid Young Miss is not here right now, Haruhi-san. Please come back at another time."
He was about to close the door when a foot wedged between the door and the jamb. "Wait! I was actually wondering if I could speak to you!"
Hideo opened the door again, eyes narrowed, aura intimidating. "Whatever for, Haruhi-san?"
Haruhi gulped. Sheesh, this was harder than she thought it would be. "I… I saw Merry leaving a building downtown the other day. I don't know why, but… Anyways, I don't think she'd speak to me even if she was here. I said some mean things to her, things I shouldn't have said but she just… she's just so… Grr!" Haruhi growled. "She can be so frustrating! But I'm sick of her buffing off everyone like they don't matter and… you know what? I'm gonna go because this was stupid and I'm sorry for wasting your time like thi-eek!"
Jun appeared from nowhere and tugged her inside the house, dragging her into the parlour where she'd been having hot cocoa with Hideo a few minutes before.
She deposited Haruhi on the sofa, looming over her with a fierce look.
Haruhi found herself unable to look away.
"You want to be Miss Merry's friend?" she snapped.
Haruhi could only nod.
"You care about her wellbeing?"
Another nod.
"Would you like some hot cocoa?"
She didn't get to accept or decline before a warm mug was shoved into her grasp. She gulped it down, not minding the burn. It helped focus her.
"What-?" she coughed.
"Jun!" Hideo barked, appearing in the doorway, face like a thundercloud. "What do you think you're doing?! Do you realise what Young Miss will do if she-"
"Take a seat, Hideo."
The man obeyed. Even though Haruhi was sitting already, the older woman's tone of voice made her want to follow her orders anyway.
"Which building?" Jun asked.
"The old Performing Arts Centre on Hotori Drive."
Jun nodded. "Young Miss purchased that lot about a month ago. As well as the surrounding houses."
Haruhi gawked. "What? Why?"
"Because the tenants were going to be evicted, the building torn down to make way for a clinic the neighbourhood didn't need."
Haruhi's eyes narrowed. "Clinic?"
"Yes. One under the Ootori banner, I believe."
"Kyoya-sempai's family?"
"Yes."
"But… but why?"
"Young Miss believes in strong communities," Hideo mumbled petulantly, reluctantly joining the conversation. "It was how she was raised."
"In Spain?" Haruhi's head hurt. She wasn't quite understanding what was happening here.
One moment Merry was a cold and distant person, now she was someone purchasing houses and restoring old buildings in a community that wasn't even hers.
"Yes. There's a reason no one can find information on Miss Merry before she was fifteen," Jun nodded.
"Ran," Hideo stated, making the cook shudder slightly.
"Who is Ran? I've heard that name a few times but I've got no idea who that is…"
"Ran-san's moniker is The Iron Assistant. She performs her duties with the precision of a surgeon and cuts down her employers enemies from the shadows. She's a scary woman. She's also Miss Merry's handler," Jun sighed.
Haruhi's eyes almost bugged out of her head, imagining a formless shadow with a Cheshire grin and scalpel. Someone like that was in charge of Merry's everyday happenings?
Haruhi rubbed her forehead to ease the ache there. "What does Merry-chan's past have to do with Ran-san?"
"Ran erased it," Hideo explained. "From the time of her birth until she was announced as the Watanabe heiress at age fifteen, Miss Merry would seem like a ghost to anyone trying to find out information about her."
"Did something scandalous happen?" Haruhi wondered aloud before blushing sheepishly. "Ah, sorry. Don't mind me."
Wait, she blinked. Hadn't Tamaki-sempai mentioned something about a game between Merry-chan and Kyoya-sempai?
"We've already said too much, but…" Jun hesitated. "Please tell Kyoya-kun."
Bingo, Haruhi thought.
"Jun," Hideo warned.
"Be quiet Hideo! I don't know what that child is doing but you saw how she was after speaking to her father the other day. She's gone back into her shell. She needs this. She just doesn't know it yet."
"She'll hate us," Hideo said, sounding pained. Haruhi felt like an intruder all of a sudden. "Miss Merry will never forgive what we've done today."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"After all she's done for us and this is how we repay her…" he continued.
"She's a child. She shouldn't be worrying about adults who should have known better," Jun said softly. "It's our turn to look after her now."
Hideo nodded shakily. "R-right. Of course." He took a deep breath, regaining his composure in an instant and turning towards Haruhi. "I know that sometimes Miss Merry can seem difficult, but she truly is a kind person. She's lonely, but I'm not really sure she knows how to connect with people anymore. She's independent to a stunning degree but can't do many things for herself anymore. Please, don't give up on her, Haruhi-san."
"It'll break her," Jun sniffled.
Haruhi felt tears welling up in her eyes. There was such loyalty here. Something like that wasn't given but earned. Whatever Merry had done for these two people changed their life. That much was clear.
And they were pleading with her to help the one who meant so much to them.
Merry had looked her right in the eyes and lied about not needing anyone else. About not trusting anyone else but Kyoya-sempai.
And Haruhi had known.
Known but still walked away from her when she should have pushed.
She nodded, wiping at her eyes. "I promise. I promise I won't give up on Merry-chan."
The answering smiled made the turmoil worth it.
"Kyoya-sempai? Can I… can I talk to you?"
Kyoya flipped his cell shut, staring at it for a long time.
As if a switch was flipped he began writing everything down, connecting what little information he already had to what Haruhi had just told him. What Merry's own house staff had revealed.
Out of genuine worry for their mistress.
Out of pure love.
He didn't bother trying to understand what the slight tingling in his chest meant.
"Kyoya-sama?"
"What is it Tachibana?"
"I've found Reyes Castillo."
Closer and closer to the truth of Merry's past.
Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
:)