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Let The Wind Blow

Chapter 10

The next few days seem to drift by in a stream of never-ending meetings and lessons, only broken apart by the short meal times in the cafeteria. The weather had been unforgiving. The rain not letting up for even a second in the 3 days following mine and Haruhi's deep conversation; meaning we couldn't even relax in our favourite spot beneath the oak tree.

The news of Haruhi's court date had somehow gotten around the building, starting with hushed off-handed comments in the hall, to full blown discussions surrounding us in the cafeteria. Even though Haruhi didn't seem to react, I could tell from her returned silence and the fiery look in her eyes that she was deeply deeply troubled by it all. She'd barely even eat as residents shushed each other whilst glancing to our table every few seconds to see if she was looking. I wondered if I should speak to someone about her, maybe Dr Huroi. Even though he and I weren't exactly seeing eye to eye on the Haruhi subject, she was still his patient. Her wellbeing was a concern of his.

Yasao snorted.

I'm sure that'll go down like a lead balloon.

A creak suddenly interrupted my thoughts, causing me to look up from the book I wasn't reading as my bedroom door swung open and Haruhi casually sauntered in. She looked exhausted, as if she hadn't slept since receiving the news on her Mother's court date. Her eyes sat upon deep dark rings, highlighting just how pale she had become. It were as if dread had applied itself as a mask, refusing to slip away.

"You left your door open" she remarked, climbing onto my bed to sit at my side.

"I know. I had a feeling you might stop by" I replied.

She sniffed and a yawn broke through her hardened expression. She glanced over at me with watery heavy eyes. "Good intuition" she sniffed.

"You should sleep" I turned myself towards her, showing her she had my full undivided attention. Just as she always did, "You look awful"

A smirk touched her lips, "Thanks"

"You know what I mean. You look like you haven't slept in days"

"I've been sleeping" she muttered, "Just not well" a sigh tore from her lips and her eyes fluttered once more.

My brows furrowed in sympathy,

"Have you spoken to Dr Huroi about this?" I asked.

Her eyes rolled, "He's talked about nothing else"

"But that's a good thing. Right?"

She shrugged, "I guess. Honestly I'm just getting a little tired of it. I want the thing over and done with"

"You know it won't be that easy"

"Can't I just pretend it will be?"

"This isn't really something you can wish away Haru" I replied remorsefully.

Her eyes broke contact with mine for a moment, a flash of worry and dread passing her lovely face.

"Do you know who's going with you yet?" I asked.

"Dr Huroi, Officer Nekozawa, and I think the chairman wanted to come too. The more the merrier I guess" she replied bitterly.

"I tried asking if I could be there, but my field-trip benefits aren't in effect yet"

"Good" she breathed, "I don't want you there anyway. I wouldn't be able to face you once you heard everything, let alone if you were to watch me testify"

"You know I wouldn't think any different of you"

"I know" she uttered, "Huroi wouldn't let you anyway. He doesn't like how invested you are. Thinks someone with your history could trigger me"

I hummed in agreement. During our last session he quizzed me on my relationships again, asking in the most indirect way whether Haruhi and I were still getting close. Of course I didn't dare tell him how close we truly had become, or how she had opened up so intensely about her past. I could predict what he would say to that.

Dangerous relationship. Could make you both regress. Haruhi is a fragile flower etc. etc...

I snickered at Yasao's comment.

"Makes me wonder how much faith Huroi really has in me..." I remarked.

A violent history...something Haruhi knew far too much about.

I'd never lay a finger on her.

I know that.

Sometimes I question if you do.

I don't worry about you hurting her

We talked a little longer that night, until we were so deep into curfew that not even the insomniacs on the floor would still be awake. I'd probably managed to get 3 hours sleep before I was awoken by the usual loud slams on my door for our 7am rise and shine call. No one ever looked truly awake for breakfast aside from Honey, who seemed to breath and circulate sugar 24/7.

Haruhi stabbed at her omelette across from me, attempting a couple of bites every few minutes whilst the others talked around us. It was curious how differently I looked at Haruhi now; compared to when I'd first met her. Back then her silence felt cold and distant, as if she held some bitter resentment for the company around her. But now that silence felt more sincere. A comfortable silence. As if she felt no need to fill it with forced chatter to make it feel welcoming. She found the silence welcoming. The observing. Haruhi was someone who fell victim to her thoughts, to loneliness. I had learned a little later than I would have liked - that by just being around the few people who made her feel comfortable and safe, was her version of an escape. Her world could be silent, and her guard could come down, just by sitting there, not saying a word.

She must have sensed me watching her, as her eyes lifted to mine, and a sore ache seemed to radiate in my chest the moment those big brown iris' focused on me. My lips curled into a small smile, and with a curious quirked brow, she copied my expression. I liked her smile, it made me feel special. There weren't many people who were lucky enough to see it.

"I probably could have guessed it was Mommy issues" a deliberately loud voice floated past suddenly, "I guess monsters raise monsters"

I heard Yasao's faint growl ring through my mind.

Without even checking, everyone at the table knew who that voice belonged to. And all traces of that smile quickly fell from Haruhi's face as she tightened her knuckles around her fork and spoon.

Benio's slimy chuckle sent chills down my back as I turned to see her and 2 of her followers pausing beside our table.

Before another word could pass her lips, Haruhi leapt to her feet, her eyes ablaze, shoulders squared, daring the girl to make one more comment.

Damn she's hot when she's pissed.

Not the time Yas...

"Maybe they should charge you too. Make it a 2 for 1 kind of deal" Benio turned to her cronies who chuckled back uncomfortably.

This chick has a deathwish.

Haruhi was still yet to say a word, but she didn't need to. It was written all over her face. She was going to kill this girl.

My eyes scanned the room urgently in search of a warden, but to my dismay they were distracted by a crying resident in the far corner.

"Haru" I warned.

She didn't answer. But Benio did.

"Your owner is talking to you little pup" she sneered.

I ignored her, "Lets go outside Haru, she's not worth it"

But my mouth had barely slammed shut before Haruhi swung a balled fist right into the side of Benio's face, sending her to the ground in a heap. The table seemed to leap into action, everyone jumping from their seats to break it apart. I was the first at Haruhi's side, my hands on her shoulders, begging her, trying to pull her away.

Haruhi let out a strangled grunt, launching herself onto the girl to land punch after punch, whilst Benio's henchmen screamed and tried with no success to tear the brunette off of her.

Suddenly my head felt heavy, and a pain like a bolt of lightening clouded my temples.

Sleep.

Was the last thing I heard. Before everything went black.

Hey. Wake up.

Uh...

Hikaru. Get the fuck up.

Yasao...?

My eyes shot open suddenly, slowly focusing on the blank ceiling above my bed. My head hurt. My body ached. Even my throat hurt. I sat up.

"What the fuck happened? How'd I get into bed?" I croaked.

You need to find the others.

Realisation hit me like a train. Last I remembered we were in the cafeteria. Then nothing. Nothing.

"What did you do?"

Go. Find the others.

"You bastard" I hissed.

I threw myself off the bed and out my room. I didn't take long to find everyone else standing around in the usual meeting place beside the bookcases. Everyone else but Haruhi.

"What happened?" I panted.

All eyes fell on me.

"What do you mean what happened?" Kyoya spat out, "What the fuck happened with you back there?!"

I stared blankly.

"Haruhi's in isolation" Tamaki answered, ignoring Kyoya's demand, "The wardens took her away"

"We can get her out right?" I pleaded.

Tamaki shook his head, "Not until she's been seen to and Huroi has decided she's not a risk"

"How long will that take?"

"A day? Maybe 2?"

"2 days?!" I blurted.

"You're the one who took her there" Kyoya muttered.

"What?" I questioned.

"You literally lifted her over your shoulder and carried her out of the cafeteria. Then an hour later we found out she'd been taken to isolation"

"I told you I took her there?"

"You found my Dad" Tamaki stared at me intensely, "You took Haruhi to my Dad and said you wanted her to go to the safest place possible. So they took her into isolation. They had to force you to leave. A warden brought you back to your room"

You're fucking welcome.

"You don't remember?" Honey's head tilted.

I swallowed.

"Y-yeah. Of course I remember" I lied.

"Benio is in the infirmary" Tamaki continued, "She's a little banged up but nothing serious"

"She provoked Haruhi"

"We know that"

"So what happens to her?"

"Well...she'll be let out when she's healed up, put on watch for a while for her safety..."

"Is she being moved?"

Tamaki sighed.

"But that's not fair! She knew Haruhi would react like that!"

"You don't get transferred to red for making comments" Kyoya said.

But you do for losing your shit and hurting someone.

"They're not going to move Haruhi though right?" I asked hastily.

Tamaki shook his head, "No. She's well past her probationary period. But it'll be a strike. One more incident and she could be moved"

Fuck fuck fuck...

I pulled the hair at the base of my neck. What a shit show...

Isolation had to be the worst place for Haruhi...she was coming out of her shell. She was opening up to me. Now she was all alone for 2 days? Surely Huroi couldn't be allowing this? If I saw this as a step back then he must do too?

I hissed under my breath, then turned to the stairwell.

"Where are you going?" Honey pouted, his voice higher and more concerned than usual.

"To fix this" I muttered.

Are we busting her out of there?

I ignored Yasao's stupid question and flew down the stairs, taking 2 at a time until I made it to the ground floor. I didn't stop until I reached Dr Huroi's office, bursting inside without knocking.

Dr Huroi looked up from his desk in shock, the resident who sat on the plush couch staring at me wide eyed, panting in fear.

"I need to talk to you" I stated.

Huroi frowned, "I'm in the middle of a session"

"This is important. Really important"

His face turned sour, then an exasperated sigh tore from his lips, telling me he knew exactly what was on my mind.

He politely excused the resident, one of the younger ones, who seemed eager to leave the moment I stepped in. He quickly made his exit, his fast footfalls echoing away as the door shut behind him.

"I could write you up for this Mr Hitachiin" Huroi crossed his arms.

"I know, but this is an emergency"

"The emergency in question has been handled"

"We both know Haruhi shouldn't be in isolation" I pleaded, "She was provoked"

The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose, "She had a violent episode which landed another resident in the infirmary"

"It's common knowledge now that Haruhi is due in court to testify against her mother. Benio used that to get under her skin. Of course Haruhi would take the bait. She can't be held accountable for that!"

"My hands are tied Hikaru" Huroi breathed, "She understands the rules, as do you. 2 days in isolation. I will have my meetings with her and she will be released back into the building under supervision"

"But she's been so open and confident, this will only send her backwards!"

"Hikaru" Huroi warned, "These are the rules"

I felt the anger inside me bubble up, heating me from the core. The overwhelming need to protect Haruhi was suddenly all-consuming, sending Yasao into a frenzy of cuss words and shouts. My head felt heavy...dizzy...

Stop. Please. Not here. Not now.

I held my head in my hands.

"Hikaru?" I heard Huroi's voice muffled across the room.

I opened my mouth to answer, only to find it was dry. "Tell her I'm sorry" was all I managed to say, before turning on my heel and running from the room.

I ran, and ran, a blur of residents moving out of my way as I found the staircase. I kept moving upwards, my vision becoming darker and darker, until I reached the peak, stopping to see my friends beside the bookshelves, all of them looking over at me expectantly.

My lips parted to speak. But no words came out.

And that was the last thing I remembered.