Progress - by Tigyr
Tachibana had wasted no time in utilizing the Cybernet security force and the reply that came back just hours after the others went to bed, had the head bodyguard immediately notifying not only Kyoya, but Nekozawa, Mori, and Honey as well.
The four boys met the bodyguard in Nekozawa's private suite. None of them were prepared for the report that Tachibana came up with.
"It's apparently a private organization trying to see who they can manipulate into leaving any of the local estates, not just this one. They go in, make an outrageously high offer and then execute those who have no family. The ones with families are then threatened with their families lives if they fail to comply completely with their demands."
"Blackmail?" Kyoya asked softly and Tachibana nodded.
"In effect, yes. However, here's the confusing part: they only target the security force. Sachi-san and the rest of the household were told to leave prior to the security force being bribed."
"It's a game: not one but two organizations, one trying to save the house and the other trying to kill it off." Mori-senpai stated and Honey-senpai nodded in agreement.
Tachibana shook his head, "So far we've not seen any kind of money transferred to the household servants, or even offered to them."
"This kind of game you wouldn't see it." Honey said. "It's about money, yes, but not so much between the security force and the organization, but the organization and its constituants."
"Come see what we can do and you can't do anything to stop us. The only thing is it's like a good twin, bad twin thing. The good twin is trying to warn others and might even have tried to warn the security force, only to be laughed at. The bad twin offers something so far above the norm, that most people wouldn't be able to resist it. Especially those driven by greed."
"Since the good twin couldn't get the security force to listen to him, he changed tactics and called the other servants saying that due to the repairs, the family wouldn't be able to make it for the normal weekend, or what have you and saved their lives in the process. Again, we were an unknown factor, as were our guests."
Kyoya, Mori and Honey turned as one to Nekozawa, who if possible, had turned even more pale than he normally looked. "Who hates your family this much senpai, that they'd want to do this to you?"
Umehito sighed as he finished the latest phone call. He had suspected a few people just due to how readily his staff had left. He hadn't expected it to be his old childhood friend and sometimes rival Taka Hoittoggu. The Whitedog clan would sometimes clash with his father over business negotiations, but never would he have thought they'd go this far. He sighed again, straightened his shoulders and then proceeded to call Tachibana and Morinozuka. He thought about calling Ootori-san, but that young man had enough on his mind with Haruhi Fujioka and the rest of the Host Club.
"I don't know if I can believe that Hoittoggu-san would do such a thing. Admittedly, it's been a few years since they moved away, but he was never a vindictive person, none of his family were."
Tachibana and his men nodded as they ran the Hoittoggu name through the databases that they'd set up. Morinozuka sent a text to Kyoya, informing the Shadow King of their findings, and letting him know that Tachibana was already sending the information to the Cybernet Tech-support.
The doctor phoned Kyoya later that afternoon, and Kyoya told him that Haruhi had fallen asleep soon after his visit. The doctor asked Kyoya about foods they'd eaten, ruling out food poisoning when none of the others had been sick, and then asked Kyoya if he knew any other details about the female host.
"I know that she's been worried about her studies, and she was a bit frazzled by the storm last night too."
The doctor made a note in Haruhi's records, detailing what the youngest Ootori had said, as well as what Haruhi had related. He then told Kyoya to make sure that Haruhi rested for the remainder of the day.
"If I might make a small suggestion, , get the girl some cooler clothes. It's too warm for her to be dressing the way that she was the past two times I've seen her, Ootori-san, and make sure that you wake her up in the next few hours and get her to drink some juice or at least some water. If she wants to get up let her, but don't let her over do it. "
Kyoya nodded even though the doctor couldn't see him. He'd thought about that too; the possibility of heat exhaustion or just too much sun. It was a fact that they kept her identity a secret from their clients, and in doing so, they'd inadvertently contributed to the possibility that she'd gotten over-heated. Add in the dunking, the food and then the storm...he was surprised that Haruhi hadn't fainted sooner. Kyoya wrote down all that the doctor told him and then turned to the others. To his surprise, Umehito Nekozawa was there as well, and he smiled at the concern on everyone's faces.
"The doctor said that Haruhi will be fine. She needs a bit more rest and then we need to make sure that she stays hydrated for the duration of our stay here."
Kyoya then looked at the others. "Honey-senpai, I need you to start setting up Haruhi's study schedule with Kaoru. Make sure we allow for club time, but early mornings should be okay for Mori-senpai and you might be able to help her in the afternoon or evenings. We know that we have at least 48 hours remaining in our stay here, we can make the most of them. In between club and studies, give her a minimum of an hour of time to herself."
Honey tugged on Kaoru's arm and led the younger boy away. He knew that Kyoya wanted to speak to the two main instigators behind part of Haruhi's illness. Kaoru glanced towards his twin, but Hikaru was already glaring at Kyoya who was ignoring the stare and rubbing his new pair of glasses on his shirt. Kaoru knew that when Kyoya started doing that, heads were about to roll, and he hastened down the hall after Honey and Nekozawa.
Tamaki and Hikaru glared at Kyoya, and he straightened his glasses as he motioned for them to follow him. Once they were well away from Haruhi's door, he turned and glared back at them, until they both dropped their gazes.
"Listen to me, you two idiots. Haruhi is stressed out for several reasons, the most important one being her studies; if she fails, she loses her scholarship, which means that we lose not only a Host Club member, but a friend as well, because she cannot afford the tuition it costs to attend. If she drops out, I will personally hold you both responsible for the fallout that will come afterwards, namely the drop in attendance and income that Haruhi has been helping to bring in."
Not to mention the heartache that he would endure upon losing her yet again.
Hikaru sighed as he nodded his head, then looked at his senpai. "What else is going on that we don't know about?"
"She's not used to the food for one thing, and according to the doctor, we're making her wear clothes that are too hot for her."
Tamaki exclaimed, "Well, she should just wear dresses for the duration of our stay here!"
Kyoya shook his head, exasperated because Tamaki clearly hadn't listened to anything he'd just said , and too his surprise Hikaru did too.
"We can't do that boss," Hikaru stated. "As Kyoya-senpai just said, the clients are still here and are expecting an update on Haruhi. If they don't see her, or if we keep them in the dark, they'll just worry and that will hurt not only sales, but our reputation as a Host Club."
Kyoya was impressed with Hikaru's thinking, but the mention of their reputation as a Host Club, especially the issue at the beach, made him wonder if he should send all the girls, including Haruhi, back to Tokyo. He was about to send a text to Tachibana and Mori for their input when Tamaki spoke up.
"Kyoya, we have enough resources between all of us to keep the clientele safe." Tamaki was in serious mode and the other two stared at him. "Between Honey-senpai, Mori-senpai, the Black Onion Squad and Hotta, Aijima and Tachibana-san no one else will get hurt."
Hikaru nodded as he said, "If everyone's in agreement, I can have Mother send us her newest line; it's something that Kaoru and I had suggested to her when Haruhi joined our ranks. In the meantime, I saw what Nekozawa-senpai had given her is similar to what Mother made and will be cooler than what she has, aside from the dresses. As you've already stated, we can't have her being a female while we have the customers here, but the clothes he gave her are up to our expectations and won't deter from the natural-host look."
Kyoya sent a quick text to the others asking for their opinion and looked up when he got the reply he more or less expected.
"Very well, as I already stated, we have approximately 48 hours left of our stay here. I need one more thing from you two. Go get some commoner fruits and juices for Haruhi. I need to see what progress Mori-senpai and Nekozawa-senpai have made, and then let's all meet in the main dining room at 7pm for supper."
Kyoya waited for them to leave before heading back towards Haruhi's room. He eased the door open, just enough to verify that the girl was still asleep. He couldn't help himself, he had to see that she was okay. He crossed over to the bed and stared down at her sleeping form. She was still slightly flushed, and he went into the bathroom, rinsed out a cloth with cool water and gently ran it over her face.
"Kyo- wait for me, Kyo," she didn't wake up as she said it and he hoped that in some small way she could know that he would always be there for her.
"I'm still waiting Haruhi." He whispered as he ran the cloth over her neck and arms. When he stood up, she briefly opened her eyes, and she stared at him in wonder.
"Here, take a small sip of water," he said as her eyes started to close again. She obeyed without question and he smiled as she drank almost the entire glass. "Are you feeling any better, Haruhi?"
"Sleepy," she stated and he watched as she settled back down again. He placed a fresh carafe of water on the bedside table, as well as a clean glass, then left the room as quietly as he'd entered it. He strode down the hall to the gym where Mori-senpai and Nekozawa-senpai were in deep conversation with his security officers. He was a bit surprised to see Honey-senpai and Kaoru there too. Tachibana had obviously just informed the others about the money transfers, Nekozawa had added his input about his former friend and none of them were happy about the news.
"There is more going on, there has to be. What we need is to find out what and who else is behind this betrayal." Kyoya stated as he started pacing the floor. "Hikaru, Tamaki, why don't you go back into town and talk to Sachi again. Does anyone else want to volunteer? Mori-senpai, I'd appreciate it if you or Honey-senpai would stay behind so that we can start on Haruhi's studies."
"I can go." Everyone turned and stared at Nekozawa who gave a ghost of a smile. "It's not that big of a town and there are a few who might be faithful to me and my family. I can risk it for a friend; and I need to ascertain who is going to come back and what positions will need to be filled. I do not believe that Taka-san knows about this, and I need to contact him as well."
Kyoya gave a slow nod. Nekozawa handed him a small bundle of clothing. "They are clothes that my mother will never miss as she has never seen or worn them. I would be honored if you could give them to Haruhi-san as an apology for what happened earlier."
Simple in design and color, much like Haruhi was, the only real difference would be the price tag and Kyoya would make certain that the girl never saw those.
"Thank you senpai, we actually had planned on asking if you might have something for her to wear, once she wakes up. Honey-senpai, I think Haruhi should be awake in about half an hour or so. You can meet us in the study at that time."
Nekozawa gave them one of his rare smiles and Kyoya could actually see him straighten slightly from the compliment. Honey gave Kyoya a subtle thumbs-up as he walked down the hallway with Mori and Nekozawa, and made some suggestions about their trip into town.
Kyoya nodded as he led Kaoru back down the hall and into the library where they were going to help Haruhi study once she woke up.
"Senpai, is Haruhi really all right? What haven't you told us about her? Why won't you tell us so that we can help her too?"
Kyoya sighed as he looked into Kaoru's earnest eyes. The hosts were all so sincere in their worry about the female host, and to be honest, there were some things that he could tell them without giving away everything.
"Aside from the natural worry that we all have for her, as I told your brother, if she fails, we lose her not only in club, but possibly as a friend. That's why I was trying to set up the small study sessions with Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai."
"Did nothing really happen between you two last night?" Kaoru asked bluntly and Kyoya glared at him. Kaoru stared back at him daring him to tell the truth.
"Nothing happened between us last night. For God's sake man, the poor girl was violently sick after eating too much seafood, do you really think so low of me that you believe I'd take advantage of anyone who had been that ill?"
Kaoru had the grace to look ashamed and Kyoya shook his head. "You did, didn't you? No matter what we've said to any of you, none of you believe us that I didn't sleep with her!"
"So why did it take so long for her to come out of your room then?" Kaoru challenged him and Kyoya sighed.
"Because he wanted to make certain that I wouldn't be alone to face my fear of the thunderstorm!" Haruhi shouted and both boys turned towards her. She stepped into the room, still huddled inside of the blanket that seemed to have become a part of her. Kyoya was about to tell her to go back to her room and get more sleep when she continued.
"Kyoya-senpai found out that my greatest fear is thunderstorms. I've always been terrified of them, and I've always had to face them alone, because my dad is usually at work when they hit. Last night it hit just as Kyoya-senpai finished explaining why I should have called for more assistance with the boys that were harassing our clients."
"Why didn't you just say so?" Kaoru asked.
"It wasn't any of your business! It makes me feel vulnerable and awkward and I don't like feeling that way! I'm just used to overcoming these things by myself." She hugged the blanket tighter as she sat down beside Kyoya. "Kyoya-senpai just wanted to make me feel safe, and I don't think it is fair that you guys think so lowly of him that you think he'd try and hurt me in any way! Not only is there no merit in it for Kyoya-senpai, it really isn't anyone else's business!"
She opened up the first book and started to read the text that was written there. Kaoru gave her an awkward hug and soft apology as he left the room. Kyoya started to follow him when Haruhi asked him to stay.
"I'm sorry senpai, I didn't mean to interrupt, but I couldn't let him keep thinking that way about you. Ever since we arrived here, you've gone out of your way to help me, and I seem to just keep making things worse."
"You haven't done anything wrong Haruhi. Aside from what we've already discussed, which I think we have done enough of that particular topic. Now then, how are you feeling? Are you ready for Honey-senpai or Mori-senpai to come and help you study? Or do you just need some time on your own?"
She smiled up at him as she opened the first book. It was English and she knew that she'd definitely need some help with it, so she asked if he'd have either of the other two come help her.
"I feel loads better Kyoya-senpai. Thank you for looking after me today."
He put a hand on her forehead, and noted that the redness had gone down, as had her temperature.
"Good, will you feel up to Club tomorrow? We need to try and make up for the past few days losses. No, I'm not going to add it to your debt, aside from what I already told you about. It's not your fault that you were ill today. That's on the rest of us for not taking better care of you."
She turned a terrified gaze on him, "You didn't call my father did you? He'll be terribly worried."
"Don't worry, I haven't called him, yet. I wanted to make certain that nothing was seriously wrong with you before I did. The doctor said it was primarily stress that made you faint. By the time we add in the heat and the excitement that you endured, as well as your worry about your studies, it is not too surprising that you fainted."
She sighed in relief as she turned once more to her text book. "I'm glad you were there last night; it's the first time anyone's been there for me during a storm."
"Why don't you want anyone's help?" He asked softly, not knowing if she would answer.
Haruhi slowly opened to the page she needed, and Kyoya knew that she was trying to figure out what to say, or maybe how to explain it.
"I can't rely on anyone to be there when I need assistance. My dad works or is sleeping; I have never had anyone else I can turn to."
Kyoya frowned as he acknowledged the truth behind her words. Prior to her entering the club, Haruhi didn't have anyone to help or administer to her. Surely she didn't think that the hosts wouldn't come to her aid if she needed them. Kyoya stood up and left the room, after telling her that he'd send Honey in to help with her studies.
Haruhi sighed as she closed the book again. She had told the truth; she really wasn't used to anyone helping her, and she knew that it made the others unhappy, but she didn't want to come to rely on them. She snuggled into the blanket, and opened the book to the page she needed. After all, wouldn't they all go their separate ways once they graduated from Ouran anyway?
Kaoru sat in down the hallway, not really paying much attention to anything. He had lingered in the doorway for a few moments, and heard the discussion between the other two. Did Haruhi really think that she wouldn't be able to rely on them for help if she asked for it? He looked up as Kyoya left the room and went to stand up, when Kyoya motioned for him to stay where he was and sat down beside him. Neither of them spoke for several minutes and then Kaoru glanced at the older boy wondering out loud the questions that were bothering him.
"What do we do, senpai? How do we make her see that she has friends now? People who are willing to help her, if she just lets us in."
Kyoya shrugged as he honestly didn't know how to reply.
"Maybe we need to show Haru-chan that she can depend on us. It won't be easy, but maybe we can show her that we need her too. Not just as a host, but as her friends."
Honey walked over and knocked on the door, "Haru-chan, are you ready for me and Usa-chan now?"
Kyoya and Kaoru couldn't hear the girl reply, but watched as their senpai gave them a thumbs up as he entered the room.
Honey studied the girl as she read silently from her text book. When she turned to ask him a question about the section she was reading, he smiled at her and gave her a reply. She nodded in understanding, and went back to the paragraph. He watched as her lips moved and the smile that curved them when she was able to apply what he'd just told her to the next section as well. He had admitted to Takashi, that he too, had a small crush on the female member of their group but he and Takashi had already discussed their feelings for her, and they both knew that they would never be able to do more than admire the lady in question.
Kyoya, despite being the third son of the famous Ootori's would have a bit of difficulty as well, but not near as much as Tama-chan. The dragon-lady of a grandmother would never permit Tamaki to marry a commoner's daughter, especially after the scandal between Tamaki's father and mother, and despite the similarity in ages, and how open-minded their mother tended to be, he wasn't sure that the Hitachiin twins would be able to do so either.
No, Kyo-chan would be the best one for their princess, they just had to find a way to get her to start trusting the rest of them as well.
"Senpai? Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry Haru-chan, I was thinking about dessert for tonight." Honey blinked at her as he gave his standard reply.
Haruhi chuckled as she repeated the question about the current passage in her book. Honey looked at the book, made a few suggestions and then asked her about her own dessert preferences.
"Haru-chan, I know that you've stated that you don't like a lot of sweets, but you do seem to like strawberries?"
"I don't like a lot of cakes to be more precise, senpai. Most of the cakes are too sweet, and I think it's the frosting on them."
Honey nodded as he thought about the simple strawberry shortcake that she would eat with him on the rare occasions that she has eaten any dessert.
"If you could create a dessert then, would you just leave off the frosting? Or would you try something else?"
Haruhi made a quick notation on her pad of paper, highlighted a passage in her book, and then looked at him.
"Honestly? I'd like just something simple, like a fruit salad or a yogurt parfait."
Honey's eyes gleamed as he jotted that down on his own sheet of paper. "Just like strawberries with vanilla, or what else?"
Haruhi tilted her head to the left as she made another notation. Honey glanced down at it, and corrected the spelling for her, absently complimented her on the quick way she had picked up what she had just been taught, and then waited for her to answer the question.
"It really depends on what is in season. I usually like apples with some cinnamon, and maybe a bit of granola, with just a plain or vanilla yogurt, sometimes with honey added depending on how tart the apple is." Haruhi smiled as she imagined eating a simple yogurt with nothing else added.
"You eat strawberries, though." Honey said.
"Yes, I do like strawberry shortcake as it's not as sweet, it tends to have just a heavy-whipped cream on it. But then again, we don't have to limit ourselves to just strawberries, there are other berries and fruits. That's if we wanted to do a parfait."
"Would you like me to start asking Kyo-chan to bring more parfaits into the club?" Honey-senpai asked as they closed up the books to get ready for supper.
"Only if it's not added to my bill," Haruhi said wryly and Honey laughed in agreement as he picked up the notes he'd been taking while they were talking, and walked with her out of the room.
Supper ended up being simple fair, at least for the "rich bastards." For Haruhi, it was a delight. A vegetable tempura with white rice, some fresh fruits for dessert and a hot green tea to wash it all down. She beamed at the boys, especially Honey just before she left the table with Morinozuka who was her tutor for that nights study session. As he adjusted the lamps for their lesson, he asked her why she was so happy about the meal.
"It's basically what I was talking to Honey-senpai about before supper. I know that you guys might not always understand, but that simple meal to me is worth more than all of your bank balances put together. It kinda reminds me of my mother."
Mori listened as she explained. "Mom loved to cook and I love to make things that remind me of her. She left me her recipes, and her love for the law. That's why this scholarship is so important to me. It's the best way for me to honor her memory."
Mori nodded thoughtfully as they opened up the text books and began their session. Haruhi listened as Mori read a few lines. His deep voice was comforting and she wondered why she wasn't as interested in him as she was with Kyoya-senpai.
"I'm too wild." Mori-senpai said as if he'd read her thoughts and she sighed in contemplation.
"No, I think it's that you're always so serious and you rarely speak."
"Hmm."
"See? One word sentences or observations."
"One doesn't need a lot of words to get the point across." He said and she glared at him.
"You talk with Honey-senpai."
"He's family."
"So why should I trust you when you don't say anything? And yet of all the hosts, I think I trust you or Honey-senpai the most."
"You get frustrated." Mori stated.
"Especially with Tamaki-senpai or the twins. As for Kyoya-senpai," her voice trailed off as she struggled to find words to explain what she was feeling for Kyoya.
"He is an enigma to you?" Mori-senpai suggested and she nodded in agreement.
"Exactly! He's so strange. He can be cold, and it feels like he doesn't have a lot of mercy sometimes, but then he goes and does something nice, like he did last night, and it makes me confused."
Takashi Morinozuka took a deep breath as he contemplated how best to explain just who and what Kyoya Ootori was.
"He seems so lonely sometimes." Haruhi stated softly and Mori stared at her. He waited patiently, to see if she would continue. "Maybe I'm imagining things. After all, he's an Ootori; how can a rich bastard be lonely?"