Chapter Twenty-nine;
"Finally she appears," Ranka teased, smiling as he rose from his seat in the back booth of their favorite café. "I've seen more of Mei over the last few weeks and she's planning a wedding. What's your excuse?"
"I'm sorry," Haruhi returned his smile, leaning in to hug her father. "Everything has been so crazy and I'm heading back to America the day after tomorrow."
"Did you know the Hitachiin's have offered to pay for my plane ticket? I'll be able to be there to see you strut your stuff across that stage," he grinned.
"You really don't have to travel that far. They'll record the whole ceremony and I can tell you all about it when I return." She protested, frowning slightly at the idea of her father flying all alone across an ocean. He had never left Japan, let alone bothered learning much English.
"As if I would miss my favorite daughter's graduation."
"I'm your only daughter," she smiled faintly at the familiarity of this situation. She was sure they had this exact conversation before.
"Still my favorite," he winked at her reassuringly. "Are you going to tell me what's been keeping you so busy?" He asked, coyly sipping his coffee and gazing knowingly in her direction.
"Well I told you about what happened with Reiji that night, right?" He simply nodded, urging her to continue. "And you know it all spiraled out of control and Akiyama fired me from my internship?"
"Hnn." He was watching her with glistening eyes. Inwardly he really didn't care about her internship or work gossip. Ranka wanted to know what was happening with Tamaki.
"Well the boys offered me the position as their representation and like I told you last week it was a lot of work. I really didn't think I could see an end to it and then Renge came into the picture. She's always so harebrained, just like Tamaki and she-"
"How is Tamaki?" Ranka interrupted, raising a brow. "I haven't heard you speak much about him. That reunion had to be awkward."
Haruhi blushed slightly, her bangs shadowing her eyes as she tried to push the feel of Tamaki's lips from her mind. "I already told you about how he came back into my life."
"Yes but I want to know if he's staying there." Ranka teased, using his coffee mug to hide his knowing smile. He knew immediately from the glow that seemed to surround his daughter that Haruhi was in love again. It wasn't often that she exuded the self-confidence and charm she now possessed.
"I don't know what we are," She sighed, brushing her fingers through her hair nervously. "I don't know what he's thinking. He keeps saying these whimsical things about how he feels for me. You know Tamaki, he lives in the moment with no thought to the future."
"Do you still love him?" Ranka asked.
Haruhi only huffed.
"It's a simple question, Haruhi. Do you still love him?" He asked again.
"Yes. Okay? Of course I still love him. I don't think I ever stopped. We just talked about everything that went on between us in the past and everything that could go on between us in the future. He told me all about Sologne and how hard it had been for him to lose me. I don't know what to think going forward but it was all too much for me to register. I just… fell into it." She breathed, realizing how easy it really had been to fall back in love with Tamaki. She really never had stopped caring for him, but being by his side again had been effortless.
"You talked about everything?" Ranka asked, surprise capturing his features now.
"Everything. He told me everything he went through that day and how it hurt. I don't think I ever realized just how much pain he was in because I was selfish." Haruhi spoke honestly. It wasn't easy for her to open up like this, but Ranka was her most treasured confidant.
"I never thought he would finally tell you everything." Ranka mused.
"And why not?" She asked.
"Because planning to propose to a girl who breaks your heart is never an easy thing to admit to."
Haruhi's face blanched, her heart all but stopping in her chest. "Did you say… planning to propose?"
Ranka's eyes widened. "He didn't tell you everything…"
"Clearly not." Haruhi whispered. "He wanted to propose…"
"That really wasn't my secret to tell." Ranka gaped, watching as his daughter placed her cup back down in its saucer with shaking hands. "Really it wasn't a big deal or anything. I'm sure he's completely forgotten all about it."
She shot him a look that silenced him immediately. It was a cross between rage and heartbreak, one he had seen on her features only once before. "I need to get out of here." She finally spoke. "I just need some air."
"Haruhi, wait." He called as she rose, reaching out and grasping her arm gently.
"I'll see you later, Dad." She leaned down and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine, really." She lied.
Xxx Later xxX
"Who does that?" She asked, throwing herself down onto Mei's couch in exasperation. "Who proposes at a High School graduation ceremony?"
"Exceptionally romantic people, I suppose." Mei teased, placing a tray of tea down upon the coffee table before the small girl. "He probably thought it would mean a lot to you since Ouran is where you first met and all." Mei shrugged, nestling into a chair beside Kasanoda who shifted uncomfortably.
"I can leave if you two want to girl talk," he offered.
"Do. Not. Move." Mei shot him a glare. "We need a boy's perspective."
"O-okay." He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest in a petulant manner.
"I don't know what to do with all of this," Haruhi sighed. "I didn't know what to do with us before all of this and I definitely don't know what to do with us now."
"What have you done with us?" Mei asked, raising a delicately manicured eyebrow. "I mean, what us really exists in the week or two you've been back in contact?"
Haruhi blushed lightly, covering her face with her hands to hide the tint. "I don't know," she groaned.
"Haruhi Fujioka!" Mei practically squealed. "You slept with him!"
Kasanoda choked on his tea, spitting it out. "What?!"
Mei slapped at his arm to quiet him. "You did! Didn't you?!"
"I really don't think that's your business." Haruhi blushed deeper.
"Does anyone else know?" Mei asked, grinning like a fool.
"No and you can't tell anyone. Do you have any idea what the twins would do with that information?" She groaned again. "It was stupid, really. I don't know what I was thinking…. Antoinette had died and he was so sad and he kept professing his undying affections…" She groaned again. "What am I going to do, Mei? I don't even know how he really feels about me!"
"Oh please," Mei scoffed, rolling her eyes at the younger girls idiocy. "He loves you, Haruhi. That boy has been wrapped around your little finger since the moment he laid eyes on you. He'd marry you right now if you asked him." She seemed to think on that for a moment before pointing a finger right in Haruhi's face. "Don't you dare ask him. This is my time."
Haruhi didn't laugh, she just stared expressionlessly at the older girl. "I have to go back to America the day after tomorrow. I'll be gone for two weeks for graduation. Who knows what could happen in that time? He could decide he doesn't really love me. Maybe he got caught up in the whirlwind that was my return. Maybe he'll regret it once I'm gone."
Mei scoffed.
"I'm serious! I could even get offered a job in America and then where would we be? In two completely different countries with no hope for anything and I just fell back into bed with him." Haruhi groaned yet again.
"Back?!" Mei squeaked. "This has happened before?"
Haruhi shot Mei a look. "Can you please stay focused?"
"Sorry, sorry," Mei waved, smiling brightly. "What do you think, babe?"
Kasanoda stared at her with wide eyes. "I think I really don't want to be part of this conversation."
Mei glared at him. "What. Do. You. Think?"
The boy sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "I've known Tamaki for a long time and I know for most of that time he's been in love with you, Haruhi. I knew it back when we were in High School and I doubt he's changed too much. If Tamaki called off his arranged marriage for you that's got to mean something, right? That means he's entertaining thoughts of spending the rest of his life with you." He turned his attention to Mei, his eyes showing all of his discomfort. "Was that a good enough answer? Can I leave now?"
Mei laughed lightly, nodding her head. "You were perfect," she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss upon his cheek.
Kasanoda bowed respectfully to the girls before excusing himself into his and Mei's befroom. He had only been living there for a few weeks, but already you could see the way he had shifted to comfort the woman in his life. Mei was a force to be reckoned with, she steamrolled through all who stood before her, and though Kasanoda bent to her will most times, it was easy to see how balanced they really were in their relationship.
"What do I do with all of this?" Haruhi asked, her eyes expressionless as she gazed at her friend.
"You confront him," Mei shrugged as if the answer was obvious.
"I what?" Haruhi blanched.
"You heard me. You march right over to his house first thing tomorrow morning and you confront him. You ask him why he never told you about the proposal. Because if you don't, you'll always be left wondering." Mei smiled lightly. "Don't you want to know?"
Haruhi nodded lightly, nibbling on her bottom lip gently.
"I, for the record, think that's a very bad idea." Kasanoda called from the bedroom. "If she corners him he could feel trapped. This could end terribly. He's obviously mortified with the way that whole thing went."
"Who asked you?!" Mei snapped back before returning her dazzling smile back to her worried friend. "Don't listen to him. What do boys know, right?"
"Why would you bother asking me my opinion earlier if boys know nothing?" He yelled back, agitation seeping into his tone.
"Because I love you?" She responded sweetly.
"Yeah, yeah. I love you, too." He grumbled.
"So?" She brought her teacup to her lips, taking a sip. "What are you going to do?"
"I guess I have to ask, right?" Haruhi offered, still nibbling upon her lip as the nerves overtook her. "You're right. I'll always regret it if I don't."
"Good girl," Mei smiled.
Author's / Note:
Poor Ranka had no idea he was opening Pandora's box with that one. I feel like Mei kind of steamrolls over Kasanoda a bit, but his personality I think would definitely cause some heated arguments between the couple. In the end they just love each other so much, though.
Let me know what you think!
QueenBluestar10: I'm thinking about doing a much shorter sequel to this which I'll need a beta for. I also have a new Ouran story coming out shortly which we can discuss beta's for, too. If you're still interested when that one starts.
AnimeOtaku9000: I love the ship naming game :D
UltimateMalfunction: It was pretty sad, but I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Guest: There's still quite a few plot twists coming.
Guest: I haven't found out yet. That reviewer hasn't answered my PM.
Justaislinn: I think that's why she was so calm leaving work and going on her date with Tamaki, because she knew at the end of it all things would work out now that she had let them back into her life. I'm sorry I tricked you; this was still a very hard death to write.
Fanfictionlover124: It was hard for me to write this, too, because it reminded me of losing my own golden retriever. Except we had to put her down when she got sick.
KanameZeroYuki: I just loved the idea of her running to be at his side; that's how strong their bond is.
Cardfighter By Maple: Duh! It's the best OHSHC ship out there!
MSBlackmon: The tears should be at a minimum from this point forward, I promise.
Chalice13: Don't worry. Haruhi's employment status is an ever flowing river. It'll be a few more chapters before we really learn where she's going to end up ;] Nekozawa will make another appearance eventually, but he and his sister won't be a major presence in this story going forward. He was more of a plot device to start incorporating the others. Akiyama is a jerk, that's the easiest way to put that. He realized his mistake and only wanted to rehire Haruhi because Kyoya had pulled so much business away from them. I don't know if I'll revisit Akiyama again, but even though he's my original character., I don't like him lol. Awh man. Abandon all hope. I was hoping one day they would translate it but at this point it would be fruitless since the anime has been out for SO long.
StripedHatter: Labyrinth is my favorite movie, as well. You'll notice going forward I'll add little nods to some of my favorite movies and books. There will be a silent nod to Hunger Games coming up soon, too. Weddings… There will be weddings :]
W1tchCh1ld: That was the death I was talking about. Don't worry. We wont lose any more characters :]
Kaori-Anna: Hmm… That is a very good idea. Would you and your friend be okay if maybe possibly somewhere down the line I used that?
TamakiFanGirl: O_O Grown up things XD I think Tamaki would probably at the very least tell Mommy, don't you?
Thanks for all your support.
I love you all.
Happy Friendship day!
Kaasuten
