Chapter 37 - Everyone's Waiting
The late afternoon sky above Ouran Academy is waxing indigo with pale tangerine clouds signaling the sun's descent into the horizon as it nears completion of its low winter arc. Soon the colors will deepen and the clocktower will glow magenta and gold with deep purple shadows. Haruhi often walks to the salon using the westward facing corridors just to watch the sunset from the upper-story windows.
But not today.
Today, her loafers fly over the marble floors, covering the distance between the academic office and Music Room #3 in record time. With one hand on the door handle she pauses, the other dropping onto her thigh as she bends over to catch her breath. Calm down, Haruhi. It's going to be fine. Kyoya thinks so and Renge thinks so, too. I know those two being on the same wavelength should be terrifying, but I have to believe it. She stands erect and pushes into the room.
Where are we today? she wonders as she steps into a space shrouded in…fog? The rose petals puffing around her head clear the air a bit and she notices, on either side of the double doorway, two intricately wrought black iron lamp posts topped by European-style lanterns that glow with the flame of faux gaslight. Their illumination spills into the mist that slowly circulates around her. Through it, she can make out various sized potted shrubs creating pathways throughout the salon illuminated by more high-posted lanterns. The air is cool and a little damp. No doubt these are details Kyoya insisted upon.
She smiles to herself and remembers the day she first encountered Host Club doing cosplay. The salon was a tropical paradise, including flora and fauna that was interactive - unfortunately. That was the first time I understood Kyoya's critical role in the club, never imagining how critical his presence in her life would become.
"Ha-ru-chan!" comes a familiar voice in a descending cadence, accompanied by two arms that encircle her waist from behind. Haruhi's balance is momentarily upset, but she's come to expect the unexpected, especially today.
"Hey!" she calls out, "Let go of me, okay?" The arms release her and she turns in place. Her double-take is automatic. Honey's face is all innocence and apology, despite his all-black garb, complete with purple satin lined cape and fangs.
"I'm sorry, but isn't this awesome?" the smallish blond chortles.
"Ummm, maybe, if I actually knew what was going on," she replies with a small moue.
"Didn't you get Tama-chan's text?"
"Nah, my phone got busted and I only got to read Kyoya's message. What's up with the fog?" she asks. Then, "And why are you dressed like Count Dracula? Halloween was months ago. Are we doing a holiday cosplay?"
"Nope. Victorian goth."
"But-" Her sentence is left unfinished as she's pulled into the recesses of the salon by Honey's firm grip on her hand. Kyoya must be back. Her heart does a little flip in her chest but she tamps down the unbidden rush of excitement she feels at the thought. Time and place is everything and now is neither. Between the fog, the eerie lighting and the twisting path they're on, she's a bit disoriented until they reach the changing room. There, standing in front of the curtain, back to back, are the twins.
"What the…?" she says and then begins to chuckle, hand over mouth.
Her Class 1-A peers are clearly in sync again, dressed in identical charcoal frock coats and brocade vests, complete with pinstriped trousers, pocket watches, short top hats and silver-tipped canes crooked under their arms. And both, she notices while stifling her humor, sport curling gingery moustaches. That, however, is where their mirror image ends. Kaoru's vest is red brocade, while Hikaru's is ivory. And their faces are subtlely different, too. That's not like them.
"'Bout time you got here," chides Hikaru. Well, you seem yourself again.
"Yeah, come on, Haruhi," adds Kaoru, "you have to change so we can do your makeup." Kaoru, on the other hand…looks a little demonic, but I'm sure it's just the eyeliner.
"Haven't you had enough of dolling me up?" she says. "And who, exactly are you two supposed to be?"
"Can't you tell?" they express in unison.
"We're Dr. Jekyll," says Hikaru, fingertips touching the brim his hat with a nod.
"And Mr. Hyde," joins Kaoru, doing the same while trying to sound evil.
"Ah so. So, Kaoru is Mr. Hyde? I can tell by the way his eyes are done up."
"You think so?" Honey asks with a grin.
"I mean it's pretty easy to tell them apart-"
"Then let's play the Which One is Hikaru Game!" the twins announce brightly.
Haruhi's words are short-circuited by the rapid-fire change of position the twins execute, winding up face to face, hats hiding their bangs and cane tips pressed to the floor. If she hadn't watched them move and know them as well as she does, she would have sworn that they'd traded places because their vests are opposite in coloring, as is their eye makeup. Hikaru is now the demonic figure and Kaoru, the genteel.
"Isn't it cool?" Honey suggests. "It's just like the half-woman/half-man at the circus."
"Ye-ah," she agrees upon seeing them head-on, bi-colored vests and subtle eye makeup changes making their transformation appear seamless, depending on the viewing angle.
"Haruhi!" a slightly crazed voice calls out as a dapper figure waltzes out of the fog and into the visible area. "We only have fifteen minutes before our guests arrive and you aren't ready!" His mania is familiar, but Haruhi senses something else, though she can't quite place it. Maybe it's the mask? I've never seen Tamaki-senpai cover his face in any way 'cept for sunglasses.
Said mask is white and covers a quarter of Tamaki's fine features. Black silk trousers are topped by a blood red velvet tailcoat, pristine white shirt and gloves. The black-on-black striped ascot at his neck is held in place by a golden treble clef. There's no mistaking the Phantom of the Opera.
"Gimme a break," Haruhi tosses off. "I had to take care of something. Besides, I thought today was Ancient Rome day and my costume is - or was - pretty simple."
"She didn't know about the change of plan, Tama-chan," Honey defends stepping in front of Haruhi in a protective move.
"Is Kyoya back?" Haruhi asks, still wondering where the person she most wants to see is located.
"No, and he probably won't be," Tamaki states with a trace of drama.
"What are you talking about, Boss?" Kaoru asks.
Haruhi reminds, "He had that meeting with his father, but I figured he'd be back by now. We wouldn't be doing cosplay without him, right?"
"Everyone that needs to be here is here, Haruhi," Tamaki insists. "Now please, go and get changed."
Haruhi sees the twins exchange raised brows and knowing looks. "What about Mori-senpai?"
"I'm here," comes Mori's soothing bass from behind her. She turns and there she sees the tallest host dressed as shabbily as she's ever seen him. His hair is short, but wild-looking with an attached pigtail tied on at the nape of his neck. He sports a loose, gauzy white shirt minus a collar, a long sepia waistcoat left unbuttoned like the top of his shirt, ebon trousers in Victorian style and knee high riding boots.
"Who are you?" she queries.
"Heathcliff," he proclaims and nothing more, striding to stand beside his cousin.
Tamaki strikes a pose, reveling in his dramatic garb. "I was feeling glum a bit earlier and wasn't going to indulge in cosplay today, but I changed my mind. The outfits the twins brought in were too good to ignore and there's no reason for us not to play just because Mommy won't play with us."
"He couldn't exactly turn down a meeting with his father," Haruhi remarks.
"Ooohh. So that's why Kyo-chan isn't here," says a relieved-sounding Honey.
"That's pretty unusual," offers Kaoru.
"During the business day?" Hikaru ponders.
"It must be important, then," states Mori.
"But he told everyone," she asserts. The odd looks on all but one face tell her otherwise. "Didn't he?" Shaking heads affirm the fact. Then what was Hikaru's message about?
"Enough chatter, men!" Tamaki commands. Turning to Haruhi, he gushes, "Your costume is especially cute, my dear."
Haruhi grimaces. "If I gotta, I gotta."
"You gotta!" the twins chime.
Inside the dressing room, Haruhi sees her costume and groans. Sticking only her head out of the curtain she looks at Tamaki. "Really, senpai?"
"It's motley, just like the story says it should be."
Hikaru jibes, "I bet if Kyoya-senpai were here, you wouldn't mind."
"Hikaru," his twin warns.
"It's true, isn't it? And I bet Kyoya-senpai would reduce your debt after he saw you in it."
"Fine," she concedes, not wanting to go into the topic of her non-debt just now. What's the point of arguing anyway? Damn these rich people and their games.
Ducking her head back inside, she finishes dressing, then pushes the curtain aside. She steps out dressed in the classic garb of the harlequin, complete with narrow capris in a multi-colored diamond pattern, a matching fitted jacket that she keeps buttoned up to conceal her gender, white hose, black slippers and a bright red, triple-belled cap. Her prop is a glittery faux scepter stuck through the wide black belt slung low on her hips.
"Ooooohhhh," ventures Honey. "That is cute!"
"Very," Mori adds.
"Adorrrabble!" sings Tamaki as he pulls her by the hand into the clear space in front of the changing room. She disentangles herself immediately and Tamaki pouts.
"Uh, senpai," Haruhi begins, "This doesn't seem very goth to me and do I really need this?" she holds up the black and gold Venetian eye mask she's supposed to wear.
"What's wrong with wearing a mask?" Tamaki asks, oblivious as ever to past events.
"You've got to be kidding." Haruhi throws him a stinging glare and the Host King wilts in place and drops to the floor in a huddled position.
Kaoru and Hikaru double over with laughter. "Maybe that's not such a good idea, coming from you, Boss," Hikaru says through his chuckles.
"I can't believe he said that," Kaoru admits between breaths while holding his sides.
Will this day never end? Haruhi sighs. I want to go home. I want to talk to Kyoya. I'm hungry and I'm annoyed with senpai. Thoughts pause. But he looks so pathetic this way. Haruhi huffs out a breath and squats down in front of Tamaki. "I'll wear the mask if you want me to," she capitulates, putting aside the past.
Puppy eyes meet her own. "Really?"
Haruhi smiles. "Sure, but you know, I think it's time we did have a little father-daughter chat about things."
Tamaki immediately brightens. "What did you just say?"
"I said we need to chat."
Tamaki springs to his feet and helps Haruhi up in one fell swoop. "Did you hear that, gentlemen? My little girl wants a daddy-daughter chat." He grabs Haruhi to himself and squeezes both his eyes and Haruhi tightly.
"Let go!" she cries. When he fails to do so, she calls out, "Mori-senpai, help!
The brooding host steps in at once, separating Haruhi from Tamaki with easy grace, setting her gently on her feet next to Honey, who links arms with her. Tamaki's eyes open to find himself hugging himself and himself alone. When he sees Haruhi is gone, he balls up his fists, shouting, "How dare anyone interfere in a tender family moment."
"She asked for help," Mori coolly responds.
Tamaki's shoulders slump. "Haruhi? You did say you wanted a daddy-daughter chat, didn't you?" the mollified blond asks.
"A chat, that's all. Can you handle that?"
"Of course, I can handle it," the blond yells. "What do you think I am? Some idiotic lunatic who does whatever comes to mind?"
Honey walks over and looks up as Tamaki looks down at the loli-shota who says, "Let's just get ready to meet the girls, ok? They'll be here soon."
The girls. That means Renge, too. She wouldn't do anything without telling me or would she? It is Renge, after all. But without telling Kyoya? Even she isn't that crazy.A bubble of laughter escapes her.
"Something funny?" asks Hikaru sliding over to situate himself on one side of Haruhi.
"You look so deep in thought," adds Kaoru from the other.
She looks up at each of them and then to the rest of the group. Until now, she's never considered her gender important. She still doesn't, in the bigger scheme of things. But things in the Club are changing, as are her feelings for the absent host. Maybe it's time to at least let them know what's going on with Kyoya and me.
"Guys, listen…speaking about girls. That is, about my being a girl…"
"Yes," Tamaki interrupts, "the girls are our prime duty and they will simply love our cosplay." With a flourish of his hand, he adds, "And as you can see, we are all tragic romantic characters from Victorian gothic tales."
Haruhi points to herself. "But this isn't goth, senpai. It's Rennaissance."
Tamaki places his hand on her shoulder, a concession made after Mori and Honey's interventions. "But you're one of Edgar Allan Poe's best-known characters - a somewhat sad but central figure in one of his classic horror stories."
"Well, I'm certainly not a raven."
"A- No, no," he corrects. "That's a poem, not a story. I'm talking about..." His voice drops in pitch and becomes decidedly creepy, ...The Cask of the Amontillado," he moans while fluttering his fingers in front of her face.
"So I'm….Fortunato?"
"Quite so! I bet your customers will adore you in such a cute outfit."
"But Fortunato was a fool."
"In the story, perhaps. But remember, the court jester throughout history has been valued by the monarchy for honest opinion and keeping spirits up."
"That's sort of what you do for us, Haru-chan," Honey comments with sincerity.
"That's true," Mori agrees, causing her to look up at him. "You are very observant, very smart and point things out that no one else might notice."
"Thanks," Haruhi says, genuinely touched by the 3rd-years' words. "I really appreciate that. But there is something you all need to know." She looks at each of them in turn. "I really love being in the Host Club, but I think it's time-"
And for the umpteenth time that day, a message is curtailed by disruption, this time by the sound of girlish chatter.
"What's all this about?"
"Oh my goodness. I think I'm a little scared."
"How dreamy."
"I wonder what the cosplay is today?"
"To your places, men!" Tamaki commands and all conversation is over, for the time being.
They scramble to the central sofa, Haruhi following Kaoru through the mist. Taking up her position on the floor in front, she sighs. I hope everything is okay with you, Kyoya. Seems like you and Tamaki are still at odds, but I guess I'll find out later how that's going.
Somehow, the fog surrounding them and the immediate area is kept at bay and as the ladies emerge into the clearing, Haruhi can see that they are, indeed, charmed by the effect.
"Welcome!" the hosts chorus.
End - Chapter 37 - Everyone's Waiting
Everyone's Waiting - Missy Higgins [Haruhi-centric]
I know all the lines to say;
The part I'm expected to play.
But in the reflection I am worlds away
As I put my costume on -
Eyelashes one by one.
Been doing this so long I can tie the knot
Behind my back.
And everyone's waiting,
But it's getting harder to hear
what my heart is saying
'Cause everyone's waiting.
"Just swallow and breathe," she says.
Remember this ain't for you, it's for them.
And all of those painful lessons you've had to learn?
You got to use them now or never.
'Cause everyone's waiting,
But it's getting harder to hear
What my heart keeps saying.
Turn it off, I want to turn it all off.
When everyone's waiting,
It makes it harder to hear
what my heart keeps saying.
Turn it off, I want to turn it all off.
But everyone's waiting.
I hear that answers appear
when you just stand still;
But make it all-
How do you make it all stop
When everyone's waiting?
Everyone's waiting.