Mind Of Infestation

Do you ever feel trapped? Or lost? Do you ever feel scared to move? Because unknowingly, you've been living in a sheltered corner all your life. And now, you're forced out and suddenly you have to stand on your own, and you just feel so completely lost. The world had changed so much while you were ignoring it, that now, you feel like a tourist in your own neighborhood.

And that very person, who was supposed to be holding your hand, lets go, and walks away. Someone who was the reason you stayed together, and now that they're gone, they're the reason you're falling apart.

That one person who made you rethink your entire existence, and made you think: 'Maybe life isn't so bad now'.

Then you realize that, it is.

You feel lied to. You feel empty. You feel wrong.

You realize you deceived yourself, that you betrayed that gut wrenching feeling you've had since you were fourteen.

The world, and everyone around you was placed there for your sole entertainment. Don't get close to them. Don't let them find your weak spot. Don't show your feelings.

Don't take them for granted.

Don't ever make the same mistake again.

You think that.

Then you realize you've fallen for the enemy.

The same person who changed you, and made you into something you wished you were for a long time.

But you can't go back. Because love makes it so, that you simply can't go back. Not to how things used to be.

You can't simply hate someone, who once made you so happy.

Oh, but he could try.

"I already said that. I don't know where she is, I wasn't with her. I'm just a receptionist." The young woman behind the desk exclaimed. Her firm eyes not doing justice for her timid whine.

Hikaru stood up straight, glaring at his surroundings. There was something unsettling about the law building he found himself at to find Haruhi, who had apparently gone missing. Maybe it was because he was considered a criminal to everyone in the place who walked passed him. Because he had been ignoring an important court hearing.

Of course, there was nothing more unsettling than seeing security guards around ever corner. There was nothing like the feeling that you're going to get arrested! It would make for an amusing dinner conversation for his family, at least.

Why didn't he pay those fines when Haruhi told him to?

That's a good question...

"Well then find someone who does know," he argued, "receptionist."

"Ryuto was the only one with her before someone came to pick her up," she answered, glowering, "but he isn't here. He left a little over a hour ago."

"Who?"

"Oh, Ryuto isn't apart of this ward. He works with Mr. Yoshiaki. He's actually the-"

"No not him! I don't care who he is. Who were the ones who came for Haruhi?"

She sighed, fixing her glasses as she sat back I her chair. "All I know is what Ryuto said. He said a couple of personal chauffeurs came and took her some place. I'm guessing they were one of the Hitachiin's."

"But I'm that Hitachiin, and I didn't send for any cars." He groaned.

The young girl's eyes widened almost to the extent of the rims of her spectacle. "Wait, you're a Hitachiin?"

"That's only a fact I thought you knew this whole bloody time!"

She gasped. "Everyone's been going on about it. Is Haruhi really your girlfriend?"

"You're trying my patience, receptionist."

"You're actually kinda cute despite what everyone has been saying about you. If my boyfriend looked like you, I probably would have jeopardized my career, too."

"We have gotten insanely off topic," with that, he flung his hands off the desk and spun around to face the door. "If she calls-"

She raised her brow. "Who?"

"Haruhi!"

"Ah."

Hikaru paused to exhale a growl. "If she calls, tell her I came by."

"Oh, oh, wait!" She stood up so fast her chair almost flipped backwards, and her empty coffee cup nearly rolled off onto the floor. "If you have a minute, could I get your phone number?"

"I might regret that, so no."

Hikaru turned around completely, and for good this time. The words that tumbled out of her mouth, as she waved her hands to get his attention were wasted on him, as he just stuck his tongue in his cheek and shoved the doors out of his way, leaving the disgruntled receptionist in his wake. - She wasn't very good at her job anyway, which was his excuse, and he didn't have the nerves to bother with her anymore; his last one was hanging by a thread.

He wouldn't be so irritant if the pain in his head would ease. It especially wasn't helping that Haruhi wasn't answering his calls, and wouldn't even read any of the messages he had sent. It had been over an hour since he first called her to tell her he was on his way. He got to her firm, only to find that she was already gone, after hitching a ride with someone else.

That someone else, supposedly being a chauffeur he called for. Which he most certainly did not.

This whole ordeal was making his skin itch. One of his scheming family members must have called for someone. It was the only way someone would have known around what time he was scheduled to pick her up himself.

He was with Kaoru all day, so it must have been his mother. Maybe it was apart of an secret under-the-table plan to get everyone out of the house.

Hikaru grimaced at the possibilities of what the reason could be, and he only hoped it wasn't a social party hosted at the mansion.

He really did hate it when his mother would invite strangers to the house without his consent. Especially if it involved females. Ugh

It was even more annoying knowing that he just took half and hour out of his day because of these shenanigans.

What a giant pain in his-

Hikaru.

His body suddenly halted at the sound of his name. His backbone shivered from an internally cold sensation, and he turned around, expecting a woman to be standing there. But no one was behind him. He was alone on the sidewalk.

Hikaru.

He turned back around, scowling at everything his eyes touched, but nothing was different from a few seconds ago.

Then, out of nowhere, there was a tightening in his chest, as though someone was grasping his heart. It made his stagger back, gasping for the air that was suddenly stolen from him. His hand rested on the lamppost as his other hand pressed against his shirt. This was familiar, and it was happening again.

He was under the influence, why was he feeling this now? It had only been a day and a half, why was this happening now?

Hikaru choked, curling his fingers around the post as the tightening intensified. The pain in his head took hold of a single part of his brain and twisted it, making it throb.

That voice, it was in his head. Again.

Hikaru.

"Stop it," he gasped, pressing almost his entire weight against the light, "stop- go away."

It was her, again.

Her voice was like an angry snake, hissing at him, as if he wronged her someone just by breathing.

He didn't know what this was for, what she was trying to show him, or why he had such a burning sensation in his gut. His mind traced back to the conversation he had with his brother earlier, but Kaoru hadn't said anything relevantly positive, or explained to him why this was happening (like he should have done), and now it only brought a vivid image of his twin's face, raw behind his eyes.

It stirred and jabbed at emotions he had been trying to subdue all day. And without even trying, something horrid, rotten, bubbled over his core. It made his skin sear so incredibly hot, that when a cold gust blew around him, and even disturbed the staggering leaves, he didn't feel it.

He had never felt so much hatred for the most important person in his life. Why was it always, Kaoru?

What made it even worse, was that he wanted to have those feelings. He wanted to hate him. His body wouldn't accept it any other way.

Are you... angry?

A low grunt escaped his throat as he slumped his temple against the cold light post, burying his fingers into his forehead. The pain grew. A twinge curled and twisted, locking his nerves in place, refusing him control of his own body. He closed his eyes, only to see a horrifying picture of her face.

She was grinning, mercifully. A cold expression painted wickedly in her eyes. It was evil, and she was grinning, for the most vile reason - for his pain. She was enjoying it, feasting on his agony. It was even more enjoyable knowing that his suffering was because of her.

It was when a ear rattling scream echoed against the tender rim of his brain that Hikaru finally collapsed, feeling every ounce of his body shake, like an aftermath of an earthquake. Hundreds of hushed whispers followed, filling his head with so much noise he couldn't hear himself breathe.

Somewhere, through the tangled mess of voices, a woman was crying, but from a pain that was far too horrible to be something physical. His heart palpitated, quickly skipping a beat, and aching, as if he could feel her pain.

Men were cursing, spewing so much hate that he couldn't interpret what it was all going towards. They were yelling, screaming over a child's evil cackle. There were so many voices that weren't his own, that he was starting to question whether he still had one.

But her voice that spoke the loudest.

Can you hear them?

"No," his voice strained painfully, as his knees sunk down harder against the pavement. "Fumiko, stop- get out of my head-agh!"

His whole body started to crumble, helplessly.

There were so many emotions that were his, making him angry, making his chest flood with so much sorrow that wasn't his. His body was so confused. There, being so much hate inside him, so much so that he felt like a newly inflamed fireball, just waist to combust, just as there were sad tears burning beneath his eyelids.

But even then, it felt nowhere near as bad as he felt like it could be.

Somehow. Somehow he knew that it could only get so much worse.

And then...

Tap, tap.

Something touched his shoulder.

"Hey!" An irritated grumble came from above him. "Sir, is everything okay?"

And everything was gone.

From the moment someone tapped his arm, everything had stopped, and it left him completely numb. The voices instantly silenced themselves, as if they knew a stranger was watching.

It felt so alien to be sitting in silence, that it was almost frightening.

"Sir."

"What?" he half shouted, looking almost wild.

Words tumbled out of his mouth so rashly he was shocked from what came out, and quickly shut it, seeing as the person who touched him, was a police officer.

Above him, the officer frowned, crossing his arms. "Then I won't ask about you. Is this your car here?"

Swallowing, Hikaru's eyes followed to where the man's finger was pointing to and hesitantly nodded as he was pointing to his silver Audi.

He slowly got off his knees. "Why?"

He flinched as a piece of paper was shoved into the air, near his face.

"Because this is a 'no parking' zone." The officer answered.

Out of habit, Hikaru snatched the paper from him hand and looked at it. And just as he thought- It was a parking ticket. Apparently he had been out of it for so long the officer had enough time to write it.

He rubbed his temple. "If it means anything to you, the car isn't necessarily in my name."

"Unfortunately for you, it doesn't, so-"

"But I can't find my lawyer."

The officer rolled his eyes. "I have other things to do, so just move the car."

Hikaru waved the ticket exaggeratedly. "I don't have time for this. Could we just-"

"Not my problem pal."

Trying to ignoring the fact that he was only inside for ten minutes at most, and his car was in no mean in anyone's way, Hikaru watched the man in uniform tuck his hands in his pockets, and walk away. He looked at the written ticket for only a moment before he crumbled it between his fingers and hid it away in his jacket.

The first step he took was shaky, and he held onto the post for support. Whatever happened just moments before, must have messed with his head, because now, he felt too weak to move.

Fumiko...

Why did he say her name then? Why couldn't he picture her face anymore?

He didn't want to know, for whatever reasons they were. He just wanted to go home, but of course he had bigger problems now than just a pestering backache. His current blood-bonded partner was still missing, and if the tanuki-looking rodent doesn't show up, it was going to complicate things far too much for him; more than necessary.

After a deep breath, the next step he took planted his foot firmly on the pavement, but what he didn't expect, was for something to crack and scrape beneath his shoe.

When he stepped back, and tentatively picked the object up, the little bit of sun light left, danced against the metal cuff link that sat between his thumb and index finger. It was a honey-gold shade, now dirtied with scuffs, and in the middle, an 'N' was welded, but now dented in, in the middle.

It was signature, and looked horrifyingly familiar to him.

With an angry, disgusted scowl, he curled it inside his fist.

His day had just taken a turn for the worse.

Sometime during the long drive, (that she was only conscious for thirty minutes of it) Haruhi had fallen asleep. She woke up from a jolt of the car coming to a stop.

She sat up awkwardly, wincing against the kink in her neck. On impulse she wiped the side of her lips and glanced around, just as the breaks squealed into park. She wasn't sure how long it had been, but as she spared a brief glimpse out the window, there wasn't a sliver of shadow on the gravel road, or beneath the trees it led into.

Haruhi rubbed her hand into her eye. "Um... where are we?"

There was movement in the front seat. The man sitting on the drivers side let out a long sigh, but the woman on the passengers, threw off her seatbelt and flung open the door the moment the engine was cut off.

Haruhi had no time to really process what was going on, from her drowsiness, and nearly fell out of the car when her door was thrown open.

"You're awake!" the girl, looking no older than twenty. "We have to get inside and tell the master you're here. He doesn't know yet, but the young miss is excited to meet you."

She had been in the car the whole time with them, but Haruhi couldn't recall ever hearing her say anything. Maybe it was because of the tinted partition window that was between them, but her face was red, as though she had been holding in everything she wanted to say, and was about to combust.

She reached out to grab her hand, but Haruhi leaned back away from her, receiving a disgruntled frown in return.

"Wait," Haruhi blurted, fisting her seatbelt. "Where are we?"

The girl blinked. "...At the mansion." She then reached for her hand again.

"Let's be considerate, Minori," the man behind them, scolded. "We did just kidnap her. The last thing we need is the police coming this way if she screams."

Minori frowned. "I'll be nice. It's just getting dark and..." she stopped herself, then turned back to Haruhi. "I mean... Um... Hi."

Haruhi looked between the two of them suspiciously, reaching for her belt buckle. "...Hi?"

"I'm Minori," she flashed her a quick grin, before helping her out of the car. "And that's, Jurou. I know he looks scary, but he's nice. Don't worry, you don't have to scream. We won't hurt you."

Gravel crunched under her shoe as Haruhi stepped out of the car, and she faced a wide grassy plain, guarded by a tall metal fence, that climbing weeds and vines had long decided to inhabit. Behind it, tall maple trees stood bare. Nothing about the area looked familiar at all.

She turned the direction the wind came, just as it brushed her hair against her cheek, and her eyes widened. It was a tall, brick mansion, with large sculpted columns. With the large trees, it was shaded so darkly it looked almost eerie. It certainly wasn't the Hitahiin's.

"Wait a second," Haruhi ripped her hand from Minori's grasp, and almost stumbled back into the car's open door. "What is this? Where's Hikaru?"

Silence ignited between them all, and after just a few moments, Minori turned to her companion, but he purposely ignored her, as if silently telling her to do it herself.

She swallowed and took a step away from the annoyed brunette. "Hikaru isn't here. I'm sorry, but if we had told you that we-"

"I can't be here," anxiety strained her voice, as Haruhi started feeling her pockets. "W-where's my phone?"

Minori looked towards Jurou again for help, but he was already walking towards the mansion. "I-I'm sorry! You can have it back, but there's a reason why we brought you here. I promise it isn't anything bad! And we'll take you where ever you want after the master meets you."

"I don't want to meet your master," Haruhi snapped, looking towards her feet, thinking maybe a way out might be on the ground. "I have to go home. Hikaru's-"

"Miss Kirimi!" a gasp from beside her cut off at train of speech she had, and Haruhi looked up, still flustered with annoyance.

Down the gravel path, a young girl, with a long blonde ponytail was running towards them. She seemed to be giggling and saying something to Jurou who was trying to tell her to stop running, but she didn't until she came ear the car.

Her cheeks were flushed, but she was barely out of breath. "Did you find her?"

"Kirimi?" Haruhi exclaimed, staring at the thirteen year old girl. "Wait...You're Nekozawas?"

"Please, Miss Fujioka," Minori pleaded. "Let me-"

"Why am I here?"

"Are you the girl from this photo?" Kirirmi intervened, her voice shaking ecstatically as she pulled out a worn and crinkled picture from her pocket.

From the look she was being given, Haruhi didn't have to heart to tell her otherwise. Though, even if she wanted to, one look towards the ripped photo between the girl's small fingers, she saw that it wasn't just a picture of a young brunette. It was a picture of the Host Club. It was one taken by Kyouya, of the hosts socializing with Umehito and young Kirimi, but she was hardly recognizable. It was of course, ten years ago.

It was one photo of many that were sold on their website.

"Bookworm!" Kirimi shrieked.

Haruhi flinched, "Well, not really. I don't even have a-uagh!" she stumbled back as the girl launched herself at her. Her arms wrapped tightly around her middle.

Everything about this felt wrong. Of course, it couldn't be too bad, but even so. She couldn't stop thinking about what Hikaru might say or do. This was already going to cause him an inconvenience for driving to her workplace for no reason, so he'll scold her for that, but ever since the hotel incident, she had been scared to leave him alone.

A recent conversation of their didn't make her feel any better about it either.

"Mistress Kirimi," Jurou huffed, breathlessly as he came up behind them. "If your brother sees you running around just after you got off bedrest, he'll be furious."

"I don't care about that," she stuck her lip out, pouting, before she looked up at, Haruhi. "Lets go play in the garden! I want to show you my collection."

With just an innocent, excited smile, Kirimi grabbed hold of Haruhi's hand, and was able to drag he off with no more than a few words of protests, and a quick glare over her shoulder towards the maids left in their wake.

Minori let out a long sigh. "That didn't go as planned. You just had to say she was kidnapped. I had it under control."

"Better than lying to her," Jurou argued. "She has connections with the Hitachiins. We don't want to cause any complications between the families. Especially without Master Umehito knowing. I'd hate to even hear what Mr. Nekozawa will say about this."

She looked over to where Kirimi was guiding Haruhi, through a secret pathway along the trees, leading into the garden.

"I didn't do a bad thing, did I?"

"Hidaku sounds possessive if you ask me. Or... whatever his dumb name was."

"I don't like it," she muttered bitterly. "He takes her to and from work. Makes her come home when he says so. I've seen articles of how he treats people. I just... don't like it."

"Then this will be interesting." Jurou folded his arms behind his head, gesturing that they go. "I did promise her that I'd take her back home though."

"We can't do that!"

"Hmm?"

"The whole reason why we're here right now it to keep her away from the Hitachiin's. This is a repeat of what happened to Master Umehito's great aunt. I can't let that happen."

"Well then lets hope Mistress Kirimi can show her enough dead bugs to keep her occupied for 3 days."

She frowned. "...You could at least act serious."

"This is a very serious, Minori. We're talking about murder. That's a lot of dirt to hold over the Nekozawa's heads."

"We just won't tell anyone."

Looking ahead, Jurou watched as she left her side to retreat to the mansion. Yet, the only thing he could notice, was that she wasn't wearing a jacket. Despite all the times he told her to do so.

He had no choice but to loyally follow after her.

She shouldn't have this much power over him. Especially not so much so that he'd commit a crime for her.

Love certainly was strange.

Another filler, but don't fret! This chapter helps conclude the big climax, and I'm so excited! The next chapter will be much longer. But I hope you enjoyed this anyway.

I've suffered a bit of a creativity block, and my laptop has been suffering with it's own issues, so updates have been slow, but I really hope I can get this story finished before New Years.

If anything, I hope everyone has a great Halloween!

Again, thank you to everyone for reading. I also have more information about the future of these characters, but I shouldn't give away too many secrets.

Until next time, my lovelies!

-Kc 10/17/16