Chapter eight:
Hikaru has Haruhi over as the two of them are doing some work together.
"By the way where is Kaoru?" Haruhi brings up the question slightly glancing around for a moment.
"Out on one of his walks probably." Hikaru tells her in which she turns back to him.
"Well. Okay. Let's continue then shall we?" Haruhi suggests in which Hikaru nods with a smile of agreement. So she gets them back to work.
After awhile Hikaru decides that they need a break. "Say, Haruhi. How about we get a snack?"
"Sounds good to me. We could probably use a small break after all the work we've done." Haruhi agrees then follows Hikaru towards where the mansion's dining room is. "What are you thinking we should have a snack?" She turns to look to him meeting his eyes as they share a friendly smile between one another.
"Well I already have a little something that I got prepared. I think that you're going to like it." Hikaru informs her then the two turn as two maids open the door to the dining room.
On the large table is a set of snacks to pick from. From sliced apples of different colors with various dipping options including caramel as well as frosting, cake decorated with strawberries, and other snack items.
"Take your pick." Hikaru invites her to do so as the two approach the table looking over it at all the various snack options.
"Wow. There's so much to pick from." Haruhi mentions scanning all of them thinking of things that she might want to try out. She finds that she is having trouble trying to decide on where to even start. She is a little shy about starting without the older twin that is there with her. She doesn't want to be rude by just trying to start.
"Feel free to have whatever you want and however much you want." Hikaru offers to her with a friendly smile sent her way. "You don't need to be shy."
"Thank you." Haruhi nods and heads to figure out what she wants to try first as Hikaru joins her letting her pick first. She is truly are glad to have such nice friends who are ready to help her out in various ways. She never thought that she would be so lucky to have such friends. Especially after her mother died and her father started to struggle. She must admit that it truly feels nice to have such friends though. She is starting to see them as family members more than friends. Though she isn't sure if she'd ever date any of them. She does know that the future holds many secrets so who knows if something will change her thoughts on dating any of them.
In the meantime Kaoru, Kira, and Lorine make it to the base where the others are.
The others turn noticing that the three are here.
"Lorine!" Asahi calls out as they all rush over to greet back the female member of their group. "It's been so long." He mentions as Lorine gives each of them a smile clearly just as happy to see them as they are to see her.
"Yeah. I am sorry that I took much longer than I had planned to." Lorine blinks then glances around. She blinks at them a little confused about something and Kaoru has a feeling what this is about. "Where is Meiji?" She looks really worried when the faces around her turn sad especially Mosu who can no longer look at her.
"He is dead." Razzy tells her sadly sparking sadness in the females eyes. "I am sorry you weren't here for his funeral or anything." He apologizes knowing that Lorine cared for Meiji just as much as she cares about the others in the group.
Lorine closes her eyes taking a breath before opening them with a gaze of sad sympathy. "It is okay. It isn't your fault. If only my job hadn't taken so long."
Kaoru moves away to give them space since he had never known Meiji. He feels a little like an outsider when it comes to their sadness over their lost member. He notices that Lorine initiates a hug as they all take a few moments of silence to grieve over the lost Meiji. He turns away slightly wondering if perhaps Meiji's spirit is watching over them and is with those he cared for even now. He pushes it away from his mind figuring that it is none of his business since he wasn't with them then. He does hope that Meiji is still with them in spirit even if no one can see him. He sits down on one of the love seats that happen to be here. He waits for a bit then turns back to look to them when he notices them pull apart from the corner of his eye.
"And I assume that you met our newest member Kaoru." Razzy gestures towards the ginger on the loveseat who nods softly as does Lorine.
"Yup. He was the one that found me." Lorine then gives a soft chuckle bringing her hand to hover by her mouth. "I think he thought I was an enemy at first."
"That is probably my fault." Razzy rubs the back of his head as though a little embarrassed about having failed to inform their newest member about the female. "I haven't brought you up to him yet. He is pretty new though so I think that it is okay." He lowers his hand with a shrug and he shares a smile with the female. "But that doesn't matter anymore He knows about you now. Now that you're back home with us. Where you belong."
"That is true." Lorine agrees with that. "Well if you don't mind I'd love to catch up more but I am a little tired from my travels." She tries to stifle a yawn though no one holds it against her.
"Go ahead and get some rest. We can all catch up more another time." Razzy assures her in which Lorine starts to walk away to go get some rest.
Lorine pauses though then glances back over her shoulder. "It was good to see you all again." She then turns to Kaoru and their eyes end up meeting. "And it was good to meet you. I can't wait to start working with you newbie." With that she finally heads off to do what she had been planning in the first place.
Razzy approaches Kaoru who turns his attention to meet with the leaders eyes. "How good are you with not bringing up disabilities?" His question causes the ginger haired male to be a little confused.
"I'd say pretty good." Kaoru never has had a problem with anyone who is disabled before so he doesn't see how it would change now.
Even with a disability people are still people.
"Great." Razzy smiles looking as though to be rather pleased with how the newest member of his group had answered that question. "I want you to come with me on a little side mission I found out I need to go on. It'll probably be good for you to meet them anyways." He then turns to look to the others. "The rest of you are on duty to make sure our rivals don't get into our territory." He turns away gesturing for Kaoru to follow him which he does.
The two head to a black car each getting in with Razzy being the one driving.
As Razzy gets them started on the drive he has a last warning to Kaoru. "Try to not stare at one of them. You'll realize who when you see them. She gets a little self-conscious."
Kaoru nods wondering what these mysterious disabled people have to do with the group that he has become a part of. He starts to wonder if it is all just some kind of Yakuza plan for something. He wonders how many more secrets about the group that they are hiding from him. He stays quiet about it for now. He is pretty new to the group so surely there is some stuff that he is probably missing. He surely will learn all of them as his time with the group continues.