Haruhi looked around the room where Mori, Honey, the twins, and she were hiding out after Mori had dragged them there. Mori and Honey were standing off to the side, talking amongst themselves without taking their eyes off the door. Hikaru and Kaoru were sitting against the back wall, muttering amongst themselves.
Haruhi was sitting on a bench, the very one she had Mori sit on when she had fixed his shoulder, and was watching Mori as he spoke with his cousin. Honey seemed to be insisting on something Mori didn't approve and Mori seemed to grow more and more agitated as Honey kept pushing it.
With a final shake of his head, Mori said, "Not going to happen."
"But Takashi," Honey started to protest.
Mori shook his head and said forcefully, "No Mitsukuni."
Honey opened his mouth and shut it after Mori started to walk back over to the center of the room.
Odd, Haruhi thought. Mori is never forceful with Honey-senpai…
"Haru-chan?" Honey asked.
Haruhi looked to Honey, trying to look like she hadn't just eavesdropped on their conversation. "Yes, Honey-senpai?"
"How do you suggest that we get out of this mess?" Honey asked.
Mori's eyes snapped to Haruhi's. "Mitsukuni, what are you doing?" he asked warningly.
"Asking a question," Honey answered. "Now, Haruhi, please answer." His warm eyes turned to mine.
"Um, I don't know," Haruhi muttered. "Wait until someone comes looking for us I guess. Unless…"
Honey's eyes glowed, like I had just touched on what he wanted to hear. "Unless what?" he prompted.
"Unless someone was to go out there and get help."
Hikaru and Kaoru perked up. Kaoru said, "I think that might be our only option. Tamaki and Kyoya won't check up on us in a while."
"Not that the boss won't want to," Hikaru added, staring at Haruhi. "But Kyoya-senpai probably won't let him."
Honey looked at Mori. "See!" he argued. "They agree with me. One of us should go out there and get some help."
Mori looked at Honey for a moment before he looked up, gazing over Hikaru and Kaoru before his eyes rested on Haruhi. Haruhi nodded and said, "He's right, Mori."
Mori sighed and threaded his hand through his hair. "Fine," he agreed. "I'll head to the phone in five minutes."
"You're injured!" Haruhi protested. "You shouldn't be the one to go!"
Mori shook his head. "You fixed my shoulder. Remember?"
Haruhi rolled her eyes. "You know that your shoulder is still weak and prone to more serious injuries. Under no circumstances should you aggravate it."
"What else can we do?" Mori asked, struggling to stay calm. "You and the twins can't go and there's no way I'm letting Mitsukuni go out."
"Why can't we go out?" Hikaru asked.
Kaoru elbowed Hikaru. "Because if the attackers haven't left, we have no ways of fighting them off."
Hikaru sighed and nodded. "Then why can't Honey-senpai go?"
"Because," Mori answered simply.
"Takashi!" Honey interrupted. "I'm perfectly able to find the phone by myself."
Mori shook his head and headed towards the back of the room. "Back here Mitsukuni. You can guard everyone back here, by the weights. If you all stay in this corner, then no one should be able to see you from the doorway."
Haruhi was watching Mori, trying to think of a way to convince him not to go when she heard the door open and close. Mori's head snapped up and scanned over everyone in the room.
Honey was missing.
Mori's eyes widened and he started to run for the door. "Mitsukuni!"
Haruhi caught Mori's uninjured arm as he ran by. He tried to pull his arm out of Haruhi's grip but she held on tight. "Mori! You need to stay here with us! Honey-senpai is perfectly capable of taking care of himself!"
Mori stopped trying to free his arm. "But why did he-"
"Because he knows you're incredibly stubborn when it comes to protecting your friends," Haruhi interrupted. She hesitated and then added softly, "Even to the point of self-destruction."
Mori grit his teeth and took a deep breath. "He shouldn't have gone."
"He made the decision he thought best, just like you were making the decision you thought best."
Mori turned to Haruhi, his onyx eyes staring deeply into Haruhi's. "And which decision would you have picked?"
Haruhi sighed. "I don't know anymore, Mori. I don't."
….~….
Honey entered the office room silently and shut the door carefully, leaning against it. He thought about locking the door but decided against it, worried the click would echo through the silent halls and alert them to where he was.
As he had been walking here, Honey had noticed how dark and lonely the hallways were. His heart broke at the sight of his home being invaded, Haruhi and Mori being attacked. His house, his home, was supposed to be safe for him, Mori, and Haruhi. The once happy hallways, full of light and color, were now dark and dreary.
Honey eyed the desk on the other side of the room. The office phone sat next to the computer. Honey raced over to it and picked it up. Please let there be a dial tone. Please, Honey thought as he put it to his ear.
The monotone sound blared in his ear and Honey sighed in relief. He typed in the emergency number as quietly as he could and heard, "What is your emergency?"
…~…
The EMT finished inspecting Mori's arm and asked him, "Would you like it wrapped up?"
Mori shook his head and the EMT nodded. She moved away, back into her ambulance. Mori was sitting on the back of the ambulance, his arm at his side. Looking around, he saw Haruhi and the twins talking to two policemen. Honey was talking with the chief of police, explaining what was happening.
After the police had showed up, they cleared out the small group of teenagers and then checked the entire building. They found nothing and determined the men had fled after dealing with Mori.
Haruhi, Hikaru, and Kaoru left the police officer and walked over to a spot away from everyone. The twins talked amongst themselves, occasionally glancing at the people around them. Haruhi seemed out of the conversation. She shivered and crossed her arms, looking around. She met eyes with Mori and smiled.
Mori's heart fluttered and he smiled back. Hoping that the EMT had implied that he was okay to leave, he stood and walked over to Haruhi.
Haruhi smiled wider once she saw he was coming over. "Hey Mori," she greeted.
"How are you doing?" he asked sincerely, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.
Haruhi gave Mori a half smile and a shrug. "Okay I guess. Just glad everyone's alive and mostly uninjured." She looked down at Mori's arm and softly touched it. Electricity seemed to flow through Mori's skin where Haruhi touched.
"Yeah, thanks again for fixing my shoulder," Mori said.
Haruhi nodded. "Thanks for saving us."
The twins chimed in, "Think about what would've happened if you had decided not to take the walk."
Haruhi paled and turned to Mori.
"I'd rather not," Mori said simply.
One police officer made their way over to Mori, Haruhi, and the twins. "We have found something that we think you should see."
…~….
"Give me the girl and no one else gets hurt," Hikaru read.
Along the wall of the Haninozuka mansion was the threatening message. It was written in large black letters with a spray can.
The twins, Honey, Mori and Haruhi were accompanied by two police officers. The first one, Hayashi, traced the first letter. "We have footage of them doing this but they were smart. We never saw their faces."
Sasaki, the second officer, added, "They left no evidence behind. Not even a trace. They were professionals."
Haruhi, unable to tear her eyes away from the threat, shivered. "And they're definitely gone?"
Hayashi nodded. "We've searched every inch of the Haninozuka mansion. They are not here."
Haruhi took a deep breath and turned to the two men. "Thank you, Hayashi-sama, Sasaki-sama."
Both police officers bowed and walked away. Haruhi turned back to the graffiti and shivered again.
Mori noticed and put his arm around Haruhi. He turned her so she was looking at him, and she refused to meet his eyes. Hesitantly, Mori embraced Haruhi and said quietly, "I refuse to let anything happen to you."
Haruhi buried her head into Mori's shirt so no one would see her blush. "Thank you, Mori."
Mori corrected, "Takashi."
"Thank you, Takashi."