Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, favs, and follows. Reviews are addictive. If you want to, please review and let me know how I'm doing. Pacing, content, etc. Thanks!
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will. But, I like taking them out to play.
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Date Posted: 1/19/2018
Chapter 28 – Screw Up
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Friday (cont.)
I found her in the library, working on her history report that was due next week. She's always studying so much. I hope I can get her out of the Compound this weekend and do some fun things. Her arm is getting better – as long as she doesn't pull it or lift anything heavy, she's good to go. What do chicks like to do? I could take her shopping. Or we could go to an amusement park. I'll just let her pick – duh, that's part of what she's trying to teach those idiots. I should already know that. Shit, I figured it out before I decided for her – at least I managed to do that, it's more than those assholes ever did.
"Haruhi, I'm on my way to the Gardening Club. Did you want to go?"
"Sure, I'm far enough ahead and have lots of time this weekend to prepare for next week."
She packed up and we headed over to the greenhouses.
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"That was a lot of fun, Ritsu. I've always been interested in cooking, and food in general, it was interesting to see how it is tended to and grown." And it was fun to watch him be so excited about something. His guard came down and he was laughing and smiling – like he does with me, but now with a group of friends. He's made such large strides.
He looked at me and beamed, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Who knows, with your extended absence from the host club, you could come regularly."
"Haruhi, what does he mean by 'extended absence'? I thought you were going to be back on Monday." I looked around and discovered we were walking to our car at the same time the Host Club ended, so several of my designees were behind us. Oops.
Ritsu glanced at me with an apology in his eyes. He hadn't meant for that to happen. We just weren't being careful like we should have been.
"Yes, Haruhi, we thought you'd be back. And, you said you had to take time off for studying. I'm not sure, but I would guess you didn't get much studying done in the Gardening Club." Wow, she really sounded snotty.
"Princesses, I apologize for giving you the wrong impression. I studied extremely hard for many things throughout the week, including that massive Trig test today. After that test I went to the library to prepare for next week. Ritsu found me there and offered to take me to the Gardening Club as a break from studying. I desperately needed a break, and, because of all the cooking I do, had an interest in seeing how to tend and grow fruits and vegetables, so I took him up on his offer."
I was panicking on the inside on how to explain the 'extended absence' comment of Ritsu's. The problems the guys and I are having should not be aired throughout Ouran.
"As for the 'extended absence', the rest of the Host Club and I are discussing ways for my schedule to allow for more studying. Since we haven't decided anything yet, I really can't talk about it. Anything I say would be speculation."
"Oh." Her eyes were shiny, almost like she was going to cry. "I see. Please come back as soon as you can. We all miss you terribly."
Her lips were starting to tremble. I reached out and put my hand on her wrist, "Please don't be sad. When I come back, my absence will make my presence all that much sweeter." Yuck – did I really just say that? I sound like Tamaki-senpai. It seems to have done the trick.
"Thank you, Haruhi. I'll do my best to be happily waiting for your return." Then the group walked on.
The rest of the customers that we had seen walking past were already either at the entrance, or had been picked up already. Ritsu and I waited for them all to be picked up before we started walking to his car.
"Haruuuuhiiiiii…." All of a sudden, we heard a loud voice crying my name. We turned to see Tamaki-senpai running for us at super speed. Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai were trying to catch up to him, but it looked like he had a big head start.
I braced myself and tried to protect my shoulder as he crashed into me, picked me up, and swung me around like a little kid.
"Tamaki-senpai – put me down NOW!"
I feel a large pair of hands taking hold of me and lifting me out of his arms. Once Mori-senpai set me down, I realized how dizzy I was and plunked down on the concrete. Looking up, I saw Mori-senpai turning to Tamaki-senpai and dragging him away with the help of Honey-senpai.
"Haruhi! Are you OK? How's your shoulder?" Ritsu was kneeling down in front of me, his hands on either side of my face.
"I think I'm OK. Just dizzy. Let me sit here a minute."
As I was waiting for the world to stop spinning, I heard Kyoya, "Mori-senpai, Honey-senpai, please take Tamaki to his limo, throw him in the back, and make sure it drives away." He settled his Shadow King glare on Tamaki-senpai and growled, "You just cost us two days and you owe each of us 50,000 yen. Get him out of my sight."
"But Kyoya! Hikaru got to see her. I just wanted to hold my Darling Haruhi. It's not fair!" His yells became fainter as the cousins drag him to his limo.
By this time, I wasn't dizzy anymore and Ritsu helped me to my feet. I noticed that the twins were smart enough to follow the guys to their car. That left Kyoya.
"50,000 Yen?" I asked.
"We agreed that if one of us screws up, they owe the other six 50,000 yen each, that six includes you. He'll give it to you on Wednesday. I assume we are extended two more days." Kyoya is almost impossible to read, but the rare absence of light flashing off his glasses allowed me to see disappointment, anger, and something that I think might be desperation. Weird.
I stared him in the eyes and stated, "If Tamaki-senpai was still here, I'd be yelling and making him regret it, but I assume you'll be taking care of that over the weekend." Kyoya nodded. "Good. I'll be talking to you all on Wednesday. It might be a good idea to close the Host Club, and use that time to see where we are. Good-bye Kyoya-senpai."
I turned and walked away with Ritsu's arm around my shoulders. He helped me into his car and we drove back to the Compound.
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Conference call – later that afternoon when all the guys had made it home (just the six male Hosts).
Kyoya: "And just exactly what was that shit. Tamaki, you really screwed up. Now we have to wait two more days to talk to her and find out where we are. We all wanted her back in the Host Club Monday. Now she wants us to shut down on Wednesday and talk then. Idiot." Not sure what made him snap, he was doing so well.
Tamaki: "Hikaru got to talk to her, why couldn't I? It's not fair, she's my girlfriend. I've been doing everything I can to do as she asks."
Honey: "That's not true, Tama-chan. If you had been doing everything she asks, you wouldn't have talked to her or touched her. You do realize you could have made her shoulder worse, right? She's been more than fair to us this week, why did you have to ruin it?" I'm beginning to wonder if he's a bigger problem than Hikaru. At least he seems to have calmed down after she spoke with him.
Kyoya: "Tamaki – she is not your girlfriend. If anything, we have even more to worry about with Kasanoda. You did see how he held her face? How he helped her up? How he walked her to his car with his arm around her? If we're not careful, she'll be his girlfriend before she comes back. He still has a weekend alone with her and we can't follow them! And now he has TWO EXTRA DAYS!" I'm getting a splitting migraine.
Tamaki: "What! I didn't see any of that. You mean she let that pervert touch her like that? What are we going to do?"
Kyoya: And now my headache is worse. "Tamaki, would you please stop screaming! I have a migraine and it's your fault."
Mori: "Tamaki, do we need to lock you up this weekend so you don't do that again? Why did you do it in the first place?" She might have spoken with him and tried to settle him down like she did with Hikaru, but after this afternoon's incident, she won't come near him.
Tamaki: "She spoke with Hikaru, why wouldn't she want to speak with me?"
Hikaru: "Boss, she might have spoken with me, but she asked me first. She requested I sit with her at lunch and we had a discussion she agreed to. And, I never touched her!" I'm the only one she's spoken to – she must love me. After I prove to Haruhi that I'm everything she wants, I don't want her near the Boss again. I won't let her back into the Host Club. She'll be mine and no one else's.
Honey: "Tama-chan, do you see the difference? She asked Hikaru to talk to her and wouldn't let him touch her. She never asked you, therefore she wanted you to stay away and you broke her trust. I wouldn't be surprised if you have been moved down to the bottom of her list of who she wants to be friends with. You really messed up."
Kaoru: "And you owe all of us, including Haruhi, 50,000 yen each."
Kyoya: "Don't you dare try to pay her until Wednesday when we can all see her again. Do you understand, Tamaki?"
Tamaki: I really did mess up. "Yes, I understand. Honey-senpai, do you really think it's that bad? She won't want to be friends with me until she's friends with you all first?" I can feel the tears on my face. My poor Darling Haruhi. She needs me to protect her. How can I do that if we're not friends?
Honey: "I hope it's not that bad, Tama-chan. But, you must realize that if that's true, it's your fault."
Mori: "Going back to my previous question, do we need to lock you up somewhere so that you leave her alone this weekend?" I guess I could keep him at my house. I could shut him into the meditation room. If anyone needs to meditate, it's him.
Tamaki: "No, I'll be good, I promise. I should have never done that and I'm sorry for it. I've increased the time we don't get to see her. It was my fault." I'm never going to prove myself to her and win her over if I do that again. I must do as she asks.
Kyoya: "Tamaki, if you mess up again, I'll kill you. Now, I have to end this call, my head is killing me. No one goes near her this weekend, or you'll face my wrath!"
Honey: "Mine and Takashi's too. Good-bye."
And the call was disconnected.
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"That idiot!" Haruhi's face was beet red and she was practically spitting fire. "Why did he mess up? He was doing so well. All he had to do was leave me alone for the weekend, and that shouldn't have been hard, because I'll be here, at the Compound, for most of it."
"It's because it's hard for a leopard to change its spots. A week is a long time for someone who has had daily access to you for months." I sat down on the couch in her guest room (although I've started to think of it as her room) and watched her pace like a caged lion.
"Are you standing up for him? Are you asking me to forgive him?"
"Hell no. I'm just giving you my perspective. All the others have done fine, so he should have been able to as well." I've seen her mad, but seeing her mad, disgusted, and pacing is a new thing. "How's your shoulder?"
"He hurt it again. It aches. What an idiot! I'm sure Kyoya-senpai had thought of this, but probably no one else – what are we going to tell everyone on Monday when I'm still not speaking to the guys?"
"Let me get some ice and I'll ice your shoulder. We can put on a relaxing moving and try to let this go for now. You probably shouldn't be planning strategy when you are this upset. We have the whole weekend to figure anything out."
"OK. My shoulder could use some ice. How about a mystery? If I'm playing detective, I won't be thinking of them."
This is amazing! I'm going to be so bummed when she goes back to her apartment. She's lying on the couch with her head on my thigh, so I can hold the icepack. I've seen the movie before, but she hasn't, so I hope this takes her mind off those assholes. I don't know what's wrong with Tamaki-senpai, but if he does something like that again, I'll kill him, and I know how to make bodies disappear.
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Two hours later, the movie is over and Haruhi is now asleep with her head in my lap. I'm gently stroking her hair. What bliss. I could fall asleep too and we'd spend the night together on this couch. What a pleasant idea.
Suddenly I was jerked out of my fantasy by a knocking on the door. "Come in," I spoke in a low tone, hoping not to wake her.
"Dad! I thought you were going to be away on business for another few days. It's good to see you."
"I came home early. I heard Haruhi-chan was staying here for the week and wanted to check on you." He was looking at Haruhi, analyzing the situation and taking in our somewhat compromising position. So far, we'd been speaking quietly. She hadn't stirred yet. "Wanna tell me what's going on?"
"Give me a minute to get a pillow under her head and I'll meet you in your office."
Once I'd shifted her head from my lap to a pillow, I left the room. I hope dad will be understanding.
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"You wanted to see me."
"Ritsu, come in, sit down. Why has Haruhi been here all week? And why is she sleeping with her head on your lap?"
Dad's met Haruhi a few times and seemed to approve – this shouldn't be too bad. I took a deep breath and told dad everything.
"Well, I can understand why she's here. When does her father get home?"
"Sunday morning."
"Invite them both to dinner Sunday. If she's going to stay here for over a week, I want to meet her father. I'm not sure I approve of this relationship."
"Dad, it's not a relationship. She's just a good friend." That's true. I may want more, but she's just a friend now.
"You obviously weren't watching your face when you were telling me that story. Dinner. Sunday. 7pm. Make it happen."
"Yes, Dad." Shit.
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I woke up on the couch in my guest room, with my head on a pillow. That was confusing – I remember falling asleep with my head on Ritsu's lap and him icing my shoulder. At least I stayed awake for the end of the movie, and it did keep my mind off those guys.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in."
"Haruhi, did I wake you up? I was hoping I was knocking quietly enough."
"It's OK, Ritsu. I was awake. I need to take care of a few things before going to bed anyway." He looked like he'd just seen a ghost. "Is everything OK, you look pale."
He came over and sat next to me. "My Dad came home early to see why I had a girl staying here for a week." What a sheepish look on his face.
"Well, I'm sure you explained, and everything is fine now. Is he still around? I should go say Hi." His Dad can be intimidating, he is a yakuza boss after all, but he seemed to like me and, just like with Ritsu, I got used to his personality and enjoyed my visits. He has some crazy stories.
"He's been traveling all day. I think he went to bed."
"Oh, I can catch him tomorrow for breakfast."
Ritsu was looking at me apologetically, "There's something else. He wants you and your Father to come for dinner on Sunday. He said that if you were going to stay here a whole week, he should meet your Dad."
"No problem. After my Dad learns all the details from this week, I'm sure he'll want to meet your Father too. Does it matter if he dresses as Ranka or Roji?"
He paused to think for a minute. "Your Dad shouldn't have to hide anything and mine is more understanding than you'd think. He should come in whatever he is comfortable in. There shouldn't be a problem."
"Great. I'll accept on his behalf and we'll be here for dinner."
"Haruhi, before you go to bed, we should talk about doing something fun tomorrow. I've got a couple of ideas and you could suggest your own."
"Sounds like fun."
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Author's Note: Little shorter this time. Wanted to break it off here. Doesn't work to start the next chapter here. So – started talking about fathers…Sunday dinner – interesting chapter coming up.
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Next Chapter: The weekend. Ritsu takes Haruhi out and maybe confesses? Is it a date? Will they run into the Host Club? Anything could happen – it's fanfiction.
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