ღLast time on My Last Goodbyeღ

He held up his hands, face softening, "Look, Haruhi," his tone was just as soft, "I am not evil enough to cause a little girl distress. I wouldn't take her mother away from her, and I'm not going to take her away from her mother either. I know how distressed you were when you lost your mother, and I wouldn't cause that grief on Shinobu either," he rubbed his neck.

I released a pent up breath, still not trusting him but a little touched by his words. "Rules are rules, I don't care what your feelings or motives are. Just follow the plan and otherwise stay away. Personal and business lives are separate."

He nodded his head after a moment before I led him to his room and made sure he was inside before releasing a sigh again. I headed to my room. Worry in my stomach about my daughter, so much so that I transferred her into my bedroom where I kept a spare crib for thunderstorm occasions. Afterwards I climbed into my bed, utterly exhausted.

ღNowღ

My fingers drummed absentmindedly on my desk as I poured over the email I had received from Kyouya. Boring, boring, and boring. It was updated information that he received from 'non-important people', filled about Kasanoda Syndicate and Takashi. If they changed their plans or started acting on them, then I would have alarms thrown up and speed up my own side. What was the point of charging head into this if the opponent was still lazing about? Sure, it could surprise them, but I knew Takashi better than that. He was taking his time, he was in no rush and was going to make sure as little people on his side was hurt.

That is exactly what I needed to do. Work with my strengths and counter Takashi's by hitting him in his weak points. However, even after living with him for so long, the only weakness was his family and friends, and I wasn't about to stoop down so low to hurt people I knew and had trusted me, taken care of me when I was in my weakest points.

So, what was my move?

I blanked at that. I would not get close to Takashi. Kyouya could never get close to Takashi unless he sacrificed ties with me completely. Hell, Takahiro could try but I couldn't imagine that turning out well. The only person who was close enough to know Takashi deeply was Mitsukuni, and there was no way he would allow me to talk to him...unless.

I shook my head before I even thought of that. No, I couldn't offer Mitsukuni the chance to see his cousins' daughter. It was vile for me to even consider it. Takashi would never allow it either, he would stop Mitsukuni before he could even consider it. The weakened Haninozuka heir invited to the home of the woman who left Takashi and refused for him to see his daughter? Ha, If Mitsukuni ended up agreeing, Takashi would follow and he'd know where I lived and know who lived in my house at this moment.

Instead of dwelling on what I couldn't do, I pushed onto more...pressing matters. Such as the fact that I had a gang member camped out in my house who may or may not want in my pants. It wasn't so much the fact that he wanted into them, but how he would attempt to get into them. He was...not a gentleman but pretty darn close. I may feel uncomfortable around him, but I wasn't about to say he would try to forcefully get anything from me.

I pushed up from my desk and walked out of the room. Without hesitation, I searched for Takahiro. He had been calling his contacts trying to gather information about where the scattered members had fled too. I could hear his voice loud before I could see him, and when I entered one of the few areas I had permitted him to be in. I heard him laugh before saying goodbye. He twisted around and paused when he saw me. Then he quirked a smile.

"Good morning," he sat down on the couch, patting the seat beside him. "How'd you sleep?"

"What'd they say?" I questioned, sitting across from him. The flirting gaze faltered before returning tenfold.

"Many of them were ready to get back into action, a great deal of them still have connections with each other. There is literally nothing that is stopping us from continuing our – your plan," he was quick to correct himself, and I just offered a nod to him. "I'll meet up with them and get our footing back in the gang life."

I once again nodded to him and stood up, "Just tell Kyouya or I if you leave the house."

"As celebration, we should go out," he put his hands into his pockets, "Get a meal maybe catch a movie and then-"

"We have food in the kitchen, movies on the shelf," I waved over to the shelves that lined one wall. I didn't touch the end of his sentence, interrupting it before anything. He crossed the room and bending down with a grin.

"Let's get married," he looked up at me, reaching up and brushing my hair from my face.

"I should go and spend time with Shinobu," I stood up, brushing past him. He grasped my arm, kicking the door closed and pressing my back against the wall. He stared at me for a while, his fingers tight on my arms. He didn't say anything, just stared into my eyes for the longest time before leaning closer.

"What are you planning," he whispered quietly, narrowing his eyes. "You are one of the few people I cannot read easily, and I don't believe your shit. Never have, never will."

"What are you talking about?" I retorted, not bothering to struggle from his grasp. Act as if I was in control of the situation and wasn't afraid of what he might do if he didn't like my answers.

"You loved Morinozuka, I could tell that day at your house. You aren't the kind of woman to so easily give your body to a man, so you had to make sure he was the one for you. There is a reason you're doing this and it isn't from the kindness of your heart, because after all you've been through there is only kindness for a select people. I'm damn sure I'm not one of them, so what is going on and why are you playing nice?" he demanded tone tight, voice low. He knew how to interrogate and how to scare someone, he tried to play good cop, but he was through with that. I had to play it smart, since he was in my house and I currently didn't have a weapon. Kyouya was back in the city and Shinobu was napping.

"Why would I tell you if I had a plan? You've done nothing to earn my trust," I spat back, my voice equally low. Which was weird, we could be screaming at each other and no one would hear. Shinobu's room was soundproofed, mostly so she wouldn't wake when Kyouya and I were having disputes. "Also, seducing me? Really? I mean when I lived with Rai before, if you had seduced me then I probably wouldn't hesitate, but you helped him hurt my friends. One of my good friends almost died – I almost died!"

"You're alive now, he's alive still," Takahiro murmured quietly, no remorse in his eyes, "Do you think I guard myself against every person who killed someone I loved? I wouldn't be alive if I did. You're uncle killed my father, if I had defied him he would've killed me. My mother would've been raped and left for dead in a ditch if I died," an indescribable look of pain flashed across his face. "You remember her? She'd bake us cookies when we were young, let us play in her garden and taught us how to catch lizards."

I did remember the woman. She was beautiful. I could remember a particular time when I had scraped my knee when we were playing and she wrapped it up. When my father was drunk, she always invited me over, taking care of me after my own mother died.

Takahiro stared at me, eyes flickering between my eyes. "Haruhi, we have history. Something that you and Takashi don't, tell me why you love him. Tell me why you are doing this. Talk to me like you could before." I was sure my eyes softened, because a soft smile stretched over his lips. He dipped his face into my shoulder, nuzzling the exposed skin. "Talk to me," he whispered against my skin, lips brushing just below my ear.

My mind screamed that he was manipulating me. He was trying to call up pleasant memories to wash out the recent horrors in my life. It screamed that he was trying to turn me into putty in his hands. Take control over the situation. He was making himself look like the good guy, but I couldn't allow myself to think like that.

He was bad. He was horrible. He was the reason Mitsukuni couldn't fight properly. He was the reason I had heart problems. Because he failed to protect me. His friend. An old friend, one whom I spent many hours with after his father died. Not knowing why his father died.

He murmured sweet nothings into my ear as his hands slowly slacked. One hand moved to my chest, and I cocked my fist back before slamming it into his nose. He stumbled back, hand flying up in surprise. Blood gushed between his fingers and he back into the couch, a surprised look on his face. I look at him with emptiness.

"Like you said, I wouldn't just give my body out to anyone who asks for it. You have to gain my trust and love back before you try that again or it won't be your nose I'll be breaking," I growled at him, a dark look passed over his face. Replacing the surprise completely. He straightened, blood coating his fingers.

"I wouldn't threaten me, Haruhi, it's me, you and your child. I am against hurting that little girl, but I've grown up knowing how to get what I want," he spoke coolly. Ice slipping through my veins as I stared at his face. Searching for a sign he was bluffing, he wouldn't actually hurt Shinobu.

My chest seized, my heartbeat had spiked along with my blood pressure and I stumbled. My hands flew out to catch myself and it knocked a vase over. It shattered on the ground, the door to the living room flew open. Revealing Kyouya who hurried over. He took one look at me and helped me to the couch. Telling me to calm down. His voice a murmur over the blood rushing in my ears. Panic seized me and my chest tightened. Pain.

I felt a small prick and then an apology. A few moments later, I felt a sense of calm as I started to slip into slumber.

-X

It felt like I was floating through cotton balls. Everything was soft and light. My eyes opened and I saw my bedside table. Light streamed in through the window. I didn't remember so much dust being on my bedside table, huh. I needed to clean it.

I couldn't move my head, it was stuck and stiff. A fresh wave of panic rolled through me, but I took a few calming breaths. Good I could breathe. After a while, I could feel my neck, rotated my head, hearing cracks, and felt relieved after stretching it. My eyes darted around the room. Landing on Kyouya, I felt a small pressure on my bed on the other side and saw Shinobu curled up, her tiny fists clutching the bed as she slept.

It took a while longer before the sedatives wore off completely, and I was able to stretch and remove the dull ache and fatigue that rolled through my body. Kyouya leaned forwards, apology ready on his lips but I just smiled lightly and shook my head. "It was my fault for allowing myself to be worked up."

"Speaking of," Kyouya started, "Why were you so worked up?"

I stayed silent, debating before I finally sighed and told Kyouya everything. Panic washed through me again but I swallowed it down, refusing to bring it back up. "She's not safe here, I've put her in danger."

"Where would she go?" Kyouya murmured quietly, "You don't have family. I could talk to Takashi, explain that she's not safe here anymore. Though, that would probably bring him crashing through the door to make sure your safe as well."

I opened my mouth to retort that it was a horrible idea to give her to Takashi, but I paused. Why? Takashi would take care of her, I was sure of it. If not, I would...I took a deep breath. She was in danger being near me. I was selfish, I didn't want to lose her but if she was safe...I would consider putting her up for adoption. Anything to get her out of harm's way. "I need her safe. Do whatever you can to ensure her safety," I whispered, stroking her head. "If Takashi will keep her safe, then he's my first choice to take care of her. Fuck, I tried so hard to keep her out of all of this and yet it's almost as if I've thrown her straight into the middle of it."

Kyouya patted my knee. Not saying anything, he lifted Shinobu gently, her fists releasing my sheets as she fisted some of Kyouya's shirt. He sat down and I leaned forwards and kissed her head. A sick feeling twisting through my stomach, tears gushed from my eyes. I wanted to keep her with me, but if she could die. My eyes clamped tightly. "I love you," I looked at her, stroking her head, "Stay safe..."