(A/N: Sorry that this one came so late guys, I've been super tied up. But I finished it. And here it is. Enjoy.)
Twin Devils
(Disclaimer: I do not own anything)
Italics: Haruhi's thoughts
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Chapter Six
When I woke in the morning on my soft bed, I could almost forget what happened yesterday. Almost. As soon as my eyes opened and I had straightened all my limbs, the reality crushed down upon me like a ton of bricks. I had bought myself a date with a gangster. Perfect.
I scooted out of bed, grumbling to myself as I shuffled to the bathroom. The floor was cold on my bare feet, the tile even colder in the pristine bathroom. Eventually I just leaned heavily on the granite counter, staring at my haggard reflection in the ornate mirror. My hair was ruffled and edgy, my skin shiny and pale and as I touched the bags under my eyes I could tell that I slept very fitfully through out the night. Releasing a deep sigh, I stripped my clothing and lugged myself into the shower.
The water didn't whine as it flowed smoothly through the shower head, the water instantly warm, splashing against the blemish free pink tiles. I hugged myself tightly, hair dangling in front of my face. Sighing, I pressed my face against the wall, leaning into it as I let the water run down my back to soothe the sore muscles. I just stood there like that, letting the steam and water envelope my body from the morning, trying to wake me from my lingering slumber and to rejuvenate some of myself so that I could function properly.
Looking around, I eventually found the lavish soaps and scrubs, cleaning myself half heartedly. Without wanting to, I turned the handle down, cutting off the warm supply of water. Slowly, but with more function, I stepped out of the shower and began to dry myself off. After the towel was securely covering me, I glanced up at the ceiling for guidance, "Can you see this from Heaven, Mom? I bet you wouldn't approve if I came home with a mob boyfriend. Then you'd disown me and I'd have to pierce something not on my face." I released a sigh, staring out at the fogged up mirror, "Not responding today, huh? Don't worry. I don't expect you to. I know that you're busy. I just… Thank you for listening, Mom." I mumbled it quietly, slowly leaving the bathroom with those words.
Outside in my room stood one of the maids. She straightened her skirts, clasping her hands together and looking up at me, "Good morning, Miss Fujioka."
I made a small noise of surprise, staring at her. Slowly regaining my composure, I replied, "Good morning. You know that you can just call me Haruhi, right? That's my name."
She looked away, fidgeting awkwardly, "I'm sorry Miss Fujioka, but I must insist. This is how I must formally address you."
"It doesn't matter to me what you call me, Haruhi, Miss Fujioka, Haru. It's all the same to me. But just don't call me master or servant. I'm not above or below you. I don't care what you call me ma'am but if you treat me kindly, I'll return the favor. So how about we just be cool around each other, you know?"
Blankly, she stared at me like she had never been told that before and just watched me before going to me door. She walked out, going to close the door, but stopped herself. She slowly came back in, "So, Haruhi…?" She said the word like it was a new one in her vocabulary, swirling it off her tongue. "Breakfast is ready for you whenever you are." Without another word she disappeared downstairs. I felt myself smile. She said my name.
After spending a few minutes getting ready and putting my uniform on, I decided to go downstairs.
As the maids had said breakfast was ready and spread across the table in a splendorous layout. Piles of gourmet foods and ornate silverware mounted the table in a mighty feast, gleaming in its richness. Hikaru sat on one side of the table, Kaoru on the other, both of them beaming at each other over their breakfast plates. Mr. Hitachiin sat at the head of the table, legs crossed as he held the newspaper on his knee, reading each word carefully. The maids came around to serve the older Hitachiin attentively, putting on smiles and bowing after compliments and requests. They stood, straightening from their work. They gazed at me, then their faces broke into large smiles, "Good morning Miss Haruhi. Your breakfast is ready on the table." They went off into the kitchen.
I returned the kind gesture, going over and sitting where my breakfast happened to be placed (in between Mr. Hitachiin and Hikaru a.k.a. possible war grounds) and I looked at what was in the bowl. It was a regular brand of cereal that I had been asking for so long but the maids would never comply because they said it was too much of a commoner's food, which I took great offense to. I on the other hand was so excited to see my new cereal, swirling it with my spoon before I took a bite and munched happily on it.
Hikaru chuckled, "What is that? I haven't even seen that before…" He stared at it, trying to figure it out.
"Oh ignorant Hikaru," Kaoru smirked, rolling his eyes, "obviously it's commoner's oatmeal. Right Haruhi?"
I couldn't help but laugh at them quietly, at their confused and bewildered faces.
Mr. Hitachiin shook his head, "Forgive my sons, Haruhi. They aren't used to your simplicities. Boys, that is called cereal. It is a grain and is served with milk. It is inexpensive and very filling and tasting. Yet another great invention brought to us by commoners." He flipped the page on his newspaper.
Impressed, I looked over at him, "That's a lot of insightful information about commoners, Mr. Hitachiin."
"Oh, that's nothing. Don't worry. I've had cereal many times. As a boost, that's what usually helps me in the morning. And the coffee usually wakes me from the dead originally," He chuckled softly at his own joke, going back to reading the small printed font on the paper.
Hmm. "What is it that you do again, Mr. Hitachiin?" I asked, the curiosity now itching at the back of my brain.
He folded the paper down over his knee and set it over the table as he picked up his steaming coffee mug, sipping it slowly, "Oh, I work in a software company. I was about your age, Haruhi, when my father, Yamato Daito taught me all that I know about the business." He smiled kindly, voice calm and very reserved.
"Wait," I frowned, looking up at him. "Your father's name was Daito. So why is yours and the twin's name Hitachiin?"
"Oh, we never told you?" Hikaru asked, looking over at me.
"Yeah, it's a kind of romantic story," Kaoru said. "When dad met mom, she just had become popular in the fashion business. So when they married, they chose to take the name Hitachiin because it was a more well known name, and she didn't have to change the name of her company."
(A/N: For those of you that don't know, when you marry you can only have one name in Japan. You can't hyphenate it so that it would be Hitachiin-Daito)
I nodded, "Of course. The marriage laws. That was very sweet of you, Mr. Hitachiin."
With a dip of his head, he gently smiled, "I try to be sweet." In that single moment, I saw why he had let her take the last name. Mr. Hitachiin was many things, but outgoing was not one of them. He was very soft spoken and reserved, the most extravagant thing that I'd ever seen him do is to wear a suit that matched. I figured that it was just in his nature; his character was the soft kind father figure that loves his children. I had a nagging suspicion that he could tell the twins apart as well. So I assumed that his wife was terribly lavish and outgoing while he was off to the side and more of a wall flower. I suppose that opposites attract, but when I think back to what Hikaru said… I'm not so sure… "What would you do if we reminded you everyday that your marriage is falling apart!"
I found myself releasing a small sigh. Gah, I hate love. It's complicated.
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Tamaki had all of the hosts gathered around a white board, which read "Plan to Get Haruhi Away from Creepy Jaguar Guy", and he pointed at it like he was briefing them for a mission. The twins, Mori, and Honey all were watching intently and they were saluting and participating. Kyoya glanced over every now and again from his notebook, then scribbled more things down. What does he keep in that shady little book? I sighed, trying not to pay attention to them for the moment being. I had bigger fish to fry. What was I going to do with myself? Ugh, I hate life right now. Why does it have to be like this? Can't I just tell the scary yakuza away and he won't shoot me? Yeah, I'm sure that's how every mafia movie ends…
My phone started ringing, and I looked down to see that it was my dad. I let myself smile a little bit, and then I answer the phone, "Hey dad."
"OH MY HARUHI! I'M SO HAPPY TO BE FINALLY TALKING TO YOU AGAIN! I had to go get to a new hotel, and then I had to do some important business stuff, and then of course my phone died, and as you can see I've had many struggles, but that's no reason FOR DADDY NOT TO CALL HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER," he shouted through the phone, causing me to hold the phone away and wince.
I chuckled, "Easy dad. I've missed you too."
"Aw, my little girl misses me!" Ranka grinned and I could nearly hear it through the phone. "Well I miss you more, baby girl, you know how much daddy loves you!"
"Yes. I know, dad." I smiled, tapping the table slowly with my slim, small, little fingers. "So how's America? What all have you seen?"
"OH MY GOODNESS, HARUHI! YOU WOULDN'T BELIVE THESE AMERICANS! They're so open about… everything! A woman told me her whole life story while I was in the restroom! She walked right into the men's room and just started talking to me like this was totally appropriate! And then this man walked up to me and asked me if I would have HIS CHILDREN! I ALREADY HAVE A CHILD! I CAN'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN!" He paused and took a big breath through his mouth. "And the shows that they have over here are ridiculous, Haruhi! Game of Arms, Amish Mafia, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant (1)… HARUHI YOU BETTER NOT END UP ON THAT SHOW! EVER! LISTEN TO YOUR DADDY! DON'T BE ON THAT SHOW! YOU UNDERSTAND, HARUHI?!"
Somehow I found myself laughing a little, smiling at his childishness. "Of course dad. I would never even think of doing something like that." For some reason, my eyes shifted slowly over to the twins. I smiled fondly as they smirked at each other, all entangled as usual. Mori and Honey broke away from the small group, starting to head over to my table. "Hey Dad. I gotta go. I'll talk to you later though. Love you."
He barely had time to say "Love you" in return before I clicked the phone shut.
Honey bounded over, smiling, the stuffed rabbit hugged close to his chest. "Hi Haru-chan. May we join you?" I nodded and they both sat at the table, Mori's legs extending far under it and Honey's not even touching the ground.
"So are you scared for your date, Haru-chan?" Honey asked, absently playing with Usa-chan as he spoke.
Tamaki, Kaoru, and Hikaru popped up defensively from whatever they had been doing and growled in unison, "IT'S NOT A DATE!"
I couldn't hear what was said by Kyoya at the moment, but the next thing I know Tamaki is on a steaming pile on the ground and the twins are trying to wake him, waving their hands in his face and poking him. I had a pretty good feeling that he was out cold for the night.
"I guess I'm ready for it, if that's what you're asking. I mean, it's just some silly little date with a silly little boy. Nothing will go wrong, right?" As soon as I said that, I knew that I shouldn't have. Should I tell them about the notes and who Jaga really is? I asked myself this everyday but I couldn't find the answer anytime. Jaga. The man that has ruined my life. Can you see him from Heaven, mom? He's the one that just might kill me if I don't do what he says. Aren't you just so proud of your daughter?
Was Jaga just another loose end like me, or was he a head in the infamous operation that played for my life? That wasn't the first time I had asked that question either. Images of Jaga flashed through my head: his jade green eyes, his little green hair clip, the wavy black hair of his, the jaguar ring on his finger, the ice cold feeling of his lips crushing down on my fragile skin…
Hikaru and Kaoru came up behind me, a slow smirk crawling up to their lips as they flicked their gazes towards each other. Hikaru leaned down on my left shoulder, running his left hand down the expanse of my arm, putting our hands together so that we held hands with his hand overlapping mine. His other arm went loosely around my neck, tilting my head back so that he could place his nose into the crook of my neck. He stayed like that, body pressed against my body as he laced himself to me.
Kaoru leaned down on my right side, taking my hand in both of his smooth ones, leaning into my shoulder so that he could swivel his head to gaze at me at his leisure. He placed a small little kiss on my shoulder, staring up at me.
They spoke in unison, "Haruhi…" My name came out a whine.
I sighed, but wasn't really complaining. Getting placed in between the twins like this always made me feel warm. Safe. "Yes, what is it, twins?"
"Do you really have to go on this date?" asked Kaoru.
"Yeah," Hikaru agreed, his voice thrumming against my skin. "Are we not good enough for you or something?"
His tone was joking, but I knew Hikaru to be very sensitive to these types of instances so I chose to tread lightly. "I can't just back out, I promised."
Hikaru made a thinking sound, "So, if we got you to promise something, you'll have to do it then?"
I sighed, knowing where this was going, "Yeah, sure."
The twin's heads dipped and they both gave an evil laugh, smirking.
They were planning something. And I was doomed.
Honey jumped up, batting the twins away, "Hika-chan! Kao-chan! Stop trying to take advantage of Haruhi!" He jumped into my arms and hugged me. Standing, Mori walked up, wrapping his long arms around the two of us as he set his chin on my shoulder, which of course caused Honey to giggle.
I could say what I want, but I really did love the host club.
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After the Host Club was over, I was leaving the room to head off to my class whenever I was stopped, "Haruhi, could you wait a second?"
The voice belonged to Kyoya of course. I turned and he was all leaned against a pillar, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He examined me with the flick of an eye, making a small noise to himself.
I turned my body towards him. "Did you need something, Kyoya?"
He disentangled himself from his spot and held out a single card. "I understand that you are familiar with the Ootori family private police form, The Black Onion Squad. They are a police force of exactly 100 officers. They are on call day and night and can be launched against our enemies in the blink of an eye."
I, like every other member of the host club, knew of the squad. "Uh, yeah. What does that have to do with anything, senpai?"
He thrust the sheet closer to me. "That's their number. If you find yourself in perile, just dial the number listed.'
I took the paper and looked it over as he started to go away, "But, senpai, there are two numbers."
"I know," he nodded. "The other is mine."
"But… Which is which?"
I could practically hear the smirk in his voice as he called, "Figure it out then, won't you?"
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As I got ready for my date that night, the twins lounged out on my bed like a pair of Chesire cats. They critiqued everything I suggested like some critical judges. I sighed, "You guys make me not want to date."
"Good," Kaoru said.
"You should only want to date us," Hikaru agreed.
I rolled my eyes, getting back to trying on clothes.
Walking out in a tank top and some shorts, I got the following responses:
Kaoru: No, no, no. Totally inapporiate. Way too cute for a date.
Me: Guys, I would like actually look a little cute on my date-
Hikaru: Not acceptable at all. Only we are to witness the cuteness of Haruhi.
Eventually we decided on a nice black sweater and some regular jeans. Kaoru growled, "That punk better not hurt you."
Hikaru sighed. "How is it that you still look totally cute even without trying?"
I felt myself blush slightly at the comment, probably just because it was hot under the turtleneck. The doorbell rang, making us all jump.
Kaoru jumped up, marching to the door, "I'll show him a piece of my mind.."
Chuckling at his protectiveness, I turned to Hikaru who had stood in front of me now, causing me to look up at him. He reached out and grabbed my hand, bending down and kissing my forehead slowly. The motion was so foreign and unpredictable I just stood there and let him do whatever he wanted. His lips were so warm against my skin, and soft like I had guessed. Bringing his arm around my waist, he pulled me into a crushing hug, resting his chin on my head as he forced my face into his warm chest.
He smelled strongly of honeysuckle, which made me want to melt into him further. He squeezed my hand, kissed my temple, then whispered lowly, "Just come home safe."
By the time that I opened my eyes, he was out of the room to leave me staring after him in a daze. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself for my date.
A date with Death.
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(A/N: Hey guys. Sorry this took so long to complete, but hey. I finally got it done. Here you go. I hope that you enjoy this thoroughly. The actual date will come in the next chapter. You guys are awesome. If you want to talk, I'm free on PM. Trust me, I'm not popular. Rate/Review. Fav/Follow
(1) I don't own any of these shows)