Chapter 5: Headache (by Serina)
"Haruhi-kun?" it was a cute brown haired girl, who was one of the class representatives of Class 1-A. "Are you alright?"
"Huh?" Haruhi lifted her head and looked up at the smiling girl.
"You look fazed, I was worried," said the girl and flashed another cute smile. "I have heard that you, Haruhi-kun, had joined the host club. Is that true?"
Haruhi looked at her and tried to push away the awkward thoughts that were racing in her head. She couldn't stop thinking about the accident in the club with the rich jerk. Her face must have been flushed from all the thoughts. What was it? She couldn't quite place the feeling that was poking the sides of her stomach.
"I am sorry, Momoka-san," she said politely, "I was just sunk in thought and yes, I joined the host club, though, I definitely wouldn't use that word to define my involvement―"
"Can I visit you as a guest?" the girl quickly asked, looking at the puzzled girl expectantly.
Haruhi blinked her eyes and nodded slowly. Momoka Kurakano clapped her hands in excitement, as if something really fascinating had happened. What the heck! All the students in this school were weird. She sighed and went back reading her book. For some reason, she couldn't understand any of the things she was reading. Every time the image of that pale-eyed bastard hovering over her was coming to her mind. Kyoya Ootori was such a... Her eyes widened when her mind was pierced with a flashing image of a young boy sitting on the grass - he, too, had those pale-grey eyes. His face seemed so familiar, so endearing.
She shook her head. She had some wild imagination, didn't she? But the image seemed so real, as if she had experienced it herself. Maybe when he landed on top of her, she hit her head as well and now these idiotic thoughts didn't leave her alone. She wondered how he felt. He didn't seem to be a dramatic person, and she was sure he hit his head pretty firmly.
Oh, God, that Demon Lord was going to use it against her and make her stay in that stupid club of theirs longer. Shivers and shudders shook her body. No way, she would let him manipulate her into his schemes. He must have seemed a hard nut to crack, but Haruhi had sharp teeth. She flexed her arms and got ready for the next class.
"Mon ami," Tamaki whined, wrapping his hands around Kyoya's neck, "we should take you to the hospital. You are dying!"
"Get off me!" the raven haired boy pushed the blonde away and sighed frustrated, "I am not dying. For God's sake, stop being so dramatic!"
Tamaki looked at his friend with hurt puppy eyes and sat back on the plush sofa. Kyoya was still holding a small ice-bag that the school nurse gave to him. Tamaki made a great scene when he learnt about his accident. He almost alerted the whole Ootori medical group in panic. Thankfully the school doctor, who checked his head for any possible injuries, ensured that he was completely fine and there was nothing to worry about.
Frankly speaking, Kyoya didn't want any of Ootori hospital members to know about the incident. His father would be very disappointed, and he couldn't afford such outcomes, so he asked the doctor, who incidentally was sent to Ouran from the Ootori Medical, to keep the little accident a secret. Though, Kyoya had a major problem with keeping his friend Suoh's mouth shut. That guy didn't have any locks on his tongue. He glared at the depressed blonde, sitting next to him, and a suppressed whimper escaped his lips, as he shifted in his place―his head hurt.
Haruhi Fujioka's beautiful face flashed in his mind, and he found himself surprised at the memory of her soft lips. He awkwardly looked away, as if afraid Tamaki could see through his mind. It felt really strange. He never felt his heart beat in such weird way.
Kyoya rubbed his forehead and tried to collect his thoughts. It must have been because of his headache. He was tired and all sorts of odd feelings were bothering him as a result. It had nothing to do with that horrible Fujioka girl.
"Does your head hurt?" Tamaki's soft voice brought him back to reality.
"I told you I am fine. Only, I am not sure I will be able to stay in the club today," Kyoya mumbled more to himself than to Tamaki.
"We will do fine with the other guys," Tamaki said in understanding, "you better go home and rest a little."
Kyoya narrowed his eyes at his friend suspiciously and wondered if everything was alright with him or not. Tamaki gave up way too easily and that made Kyoya feel uneasy. He was glad that Tamaki didn't want to rescue him and ceremoniously drag him into the hospital anymore, but the silence that followed initial outburst forced Kyoya to think that the-not-so-bright blonde had something in his mind. He even wanted to question his friends's hidden intentions, but the door was forced open and honor student's gloomy face barged in. She looked thoughtful and overly moody about something.
"Oh, that's Haruhi!" Tamaki screamed happily and run to hug the poor thing. "Honour student, you are right on time―"
The girl, first, got so confused that she froze in place for a moment, and Tamaki took advantage of her shock and wrapped his hands around her neck, but then suddenly she pushed him away and stepped back, looking at the bewildered blonde with her frightened face. She shook her head and sighed loudly, finding Kyoya Ootori's curious gaze on herself.
"What do you want from me?" she stammered confused and shoot a frightened glance in Kyoya's direction.
"You should help Kyoya to get home," Tamaki declared enthusiastically. "He doesn't feel well and if I remember correctly it's your fault―"
"It's my fault?" Haruhi interrupted him with an angry drawl. "Of course, I should have known that he is an..."
She didn't finish her sentence. Just stared at the raven-haired guy and turned red. Why did she have to remember that awkward moment again? She looked away.
"I don't need help," Kyoya complained and got up. "I will call Tachibana and he will take me home."
Suddenly he felt weak and nauseous. His head did hurt. He had to sit down and cup his forehead with his palm. Tamaki looked at him concerned and then suddenly got up and turned to Haruhi.
"The honour student will accompany you. He is, after all, your personal assistant, right?"
"Tamaki, can you please stop talking under my ear, it makes my headache worse," Kyoya complained again and took out his cell-phone, "Tachibana will take care of everything, please, don't make a drama."
"What a stubborn ass!" Haruhi thought irritated, not that she was too willing to stay alone with the rich bastard and take him home and all, but the idiot's uncompromising behaviour was giving her a special kind of pain in the neck. The blonde kid, on the other hand, was so loud and over-eccentric that she couldn't wrap her head around the fact that the two were supposedly mates. What had she expected, anyways? These were rich kids in a rich school, and they would be weird and awful like this.
"...Yes... thank you Tachibana," he turned off the phone and, raising up his head, glared at her, "I will go..."
He walked to the door, but a sudden nausea made him stop and cling to the doorknob. He sighed and rubbed his temples. His head hurt.
"Kyoya," Tamaki screamed and ran to help him, "are you alright? I don't think you should go alone. Let me take you to the car."
Kyoya narrowed his eyes in irritation. He didn't want Tamaki to solemnly take him out of Ouran and make him the topic of the gossip in the school, but he did realize he wouldn't be able to come out of the club room alone. He turned and looked at the girl. She had that strange expression in her eyes... did she look concerned? He wrinkled his nose. Of course she wasn't! What was he even thinking?
"I can manage, Tamaki," he said seriously. "You are actually making my headache worse, please calm down!"
"I will go with him," Haruhi suddenly said, earning Tamaki's wide and happy grin and Kyoya's growl.
She walked to him and reluctantly offered her arm. The raven haired young man looked at her with contempt and didn't move from his place.
"Fine," he drawled, "I will tolerate your presence, but I don't need help. I can walk on my own feet."
She didn't say anything, just silently opened the door and walked out. Kyoya followed her. This girl was difficult to understand, and it intrigued Kyoya in ways he had never been. No girl ever made him feel so strange, so out of his usual self, except her... He didn't want to compare this weirdo to her, though. In no ways they could be compared. It irritated him that the thought of comparision would even pass through his head.
"You are not annoyed to be treated like a boy?" he suddenly asked when the silence became unbearable as they were making their way down the stairs.
"What does it matter?" she said absentmindedly, "a guy... a girl... I don't see why it should annoy me."
He looked at her curiously, but didn't continue to ask any more questions. They walked out of the main building and started to stride forward through the lavish gardens of the Ouran High School. The chill air smelled really sweet and fresh, like the blossomed roses and freshly cut grass around them. Haruhi smiled and closed her eyes for a short second. The beautiful fountains around were splashing the water drops on the flowers.
As they reached the parking area, Haruhi's steps became slower. Did she need to go with him to his house? She didn't really want to, on the other hand, she had no desire to be in that stupid club either. The chilly wind threw forward the leaves on the asphalted ground.
"Oh, Kyoya-sama," Tachibana said, as he spotted them and run towards them, "are you alright?"
"I am fine, Tachibana, thank you," Kyoya nodded affirmative. "Does anyone know about the incident in my family?"
"No, I haven't told anyone like you have asked me," the fair haired man replied quickly.
"Good," Kyoya sighed relieved, "I don't want to go home, can you take me to the summerhouse outside Tokyo?"
"Of course," Tachibana bowed, "but there is no one. Even maids come in the mornings to clean the house, then they leave. Are you sure you want to go there?"
"That's the reason why I want to go there," Kyoya said with a slight smile. "Don't want anyone bothering me or letting out any gossips."
"Alright, sir!"
When they arrived, it was already too windy, and the air outside got colder. Haruhi didn't mutter a word to the rich jerk throughout the drive, but the whole time, she was contemplating how she was going to get back home in time. The summerhouse was a very big, Victorianesque building with beautiful gardens and yard. Haruhi fretted even more, when the idiot rushed forward, leaving her alone with his bodyguard.
"Miss," the man called after her as she strode after the raven haired Ootori.
"Yes?" she turned back and looked at the bodyguard wide-eyed.
"Could you please give this to Kyoya-san," he said, handing her a small chain with a pendant, "he dropped it in the Club Room. I am sure it's very important for him."
"Of course," Haruhi smiled sweetly and took the chain.
The man carefully scanned her face as she took hold of the small thing. She rolled it in her hands and for a very short moment it appeared she had a small tinge of pain hurting her temples. Tachibana narrowed his eyes curiously. Was he right? Was she that girl? She smiled again and walked away to the building.
"I will go to get a doctor to come and check on Kyoya-san," the man explained, calling after the girl.
She politely nodded and continued to walk to the huge mansion.
Kyoya was nowhere to be seen when she entered in. Haruhi frowned and walked through the large hall. Why was she supposed to be here again? She looked at the small pendant in her hand that the guard gave her and for some reason it seemed familiar. She sighed. What was going on with her? An image of a young beautiful boy flashed in her mind, making her head ache. Again... the same boy... again and again would flash in her mind as if some important piece of memory that she has forgotten. These strange flashbacks were becoming more frequent after she started attending Ouran.
"Are you alright?" she heard the raven haired young man's voice.
She turned back to him. He was looking a little pale himself and his tie was undone. His blue uniform jacket was taken off.
"I wanted to ask that question to you," she said, walking closer. "If you are fine, I will head home."
"I am..." he paused and looked at her strangely, "I am fine."
"That's good," the girl mumbled, "this is yours, your bodyguard asked me to give it back to you."
When Kyoya saw the necklace in her hand, his eyes widened, and he snatched it out of her hands quickly, "Why do you have it?" he asked panicked.
"I just told you," Haruhi narrowed her eyes. "your bodyguard found it in the club-room. Why are you getting so worked up, anyways. It's just a necklace―"
"It's not just a necklace," he said harshly, "it's a very special necklace."
Haruhi sighed annoyed and turned back, "Whatever," she huffed, "I am leaving."
"Wait," he grabbed from her wrist. When she looked back at him, he averted his eyes, as if confused why he just did what he did. Haruhi looked at him carefully and blinked her eyes confused. She stared at his hand, firmly gripping her wrist and then her eyes fell on him. His hands were warm. He seemed such a cold person that it was hard for her to reconcile with the idea that he could have warm hands like that.
"I..." he paused, "doesn't matter."
She looked at him and suspected that he was in pain. Something made her heart clench in her chest and she sighed.
"Would you like some tea? I can make it for you and wait with you until your bodyguard returns," she said softly, which made the boy to look at her curiously and a little confused, but he only nodded.