Chapter 28:

Chapter 28, A Close Call

After she had given the notes she took for the twins to Kaoru, she followed Nekozawa out to the garden. As they walked, both could hear the whispers about how she was dressed. To the students, she had been wearing the dress for two days and some thought it was weird seeing her dressed like a girl even though the whole school knew that she was one. She could tell that there were many of her own female customers that were wanting her to return to how she was dressed and some of her new ones did too but they understood, if mournfully, that Haruhi had to conform to the school rules like they had to. She actually thought it was a bit funny that there were equal amounts of people that wanted her to return to her old method of dress while the others were feeling self-satisfied that the Natural Host now had to follow the rules and begrudgingly liked how she looked in it.

"If what I hear is right," Nekozawa said softly. "None seem to realize that you were in fact still in the parameters of the school dress code."

"I told them that but I guess some of the more uppity families claimed that it wasn't fair and that no one deserved such special treatment," Haruhi huffed. "Honestly it doesn't make much of a difference to me how I am dressed, so long as I am. The only thing that I hate about this dress is that it is pretty constricting at the chest and that makes it hard to breath most of the time. I am used to the poufy and frilly because of my dad and some of the costumes from the Host Club cosplays, but at least the things that they try to make me wear are loose enough that there is room to breath."

"Very true. I hope that I am not interrupting any plans you may have had for lunch."

"I usually eat in the classroom so that I can keep reading but since the new year started, some of the girls in my classes have been trying to eat with me. I can handle it when it is a small group which usually contains some of the customers I have from the Host Club but when it is the others that mostly try to put me down, I just politely excuse myself since they are more talking about me rather than to me. It gets a little irritating hearing them politely degrade me when I am right there."

Nekozawa nodded softly. "I can see how that would get annoying. While I was a student here, I would usually eat within the Black Arts room since the only ones that would be in there were other members, maybe even some of the janitorial staff but that was usually pretty rare unless we had made a mess that required a good bit of assistance in cleaning up. Have you thought about eating in the Music Room?"

"The thought crosses my mind from time to time," Haruhi sighed. "But then I think of the fact that most of the club eats there too, or at least Tamaki does. I think the only time he hasn't was when the twins were "fighting" because they had trashed it."

"I see. I am glad that I can at least help get you get away from most of the pettiness others have about your friendships for a few moments. They do seem less inclined to approach when I am near."

"That's because most of the student body is afraid of you still, even if you don't attend here anymore. The fact that you can still be found here at some point during the day makes them worried. I don't think anyone has really forgotten all of the stuff your club claimed to be able to do."

Nekozawa laughed darkly and Haruhi laughed softly as well as they neared the stone gazebo in the rose garden. Once they were close enough, Haruhi waved at Reiko who was already seated. The quiet girl waved back softly as they sat down, a small smile on her face.

"How are you doing Reiko-san?" Haruhi asked.

"I am well," she replied in a soft whisper. "I had asked Nekozawa-senpai to have you join us because I have learned who has been promised to Suoh-senpai by action of his grandmother. I would have done so myself if I had not been detained by my professor about some questions on one of my assignments."

Haruhi's eyes widened at the news. "Does he know them?"

"He does not but you may."

"Who?"

"Her name is Saichi Kanzaki, she is the daughter of the Katayama's eldest child. She possesses a similar level of illusion magic that Suoh-senpai does as a Fae but hers is more for spying than for protection."

"I don't really know any of the Katayama family other than the one I ran into the other day and my mom," Haruhi said softly. "Kyoya-senpai would have more information on who that is or could at least get it when he has her name. I am guessing that you know this because of your Scrying Crystal."

Reiko nodded. "Your time in the Temporal Vortex has helped you greatly Haruhi-san. I am glad it has allowed you to flourish and although you cannot be called it as yet, I wish to congratulate you on gaining the standing of Level 3 Balance Mage. Your classification is among the hardest to attain and maintain."

"Thanks," Haruhi smiled. "Alyona-sama is a very good teacher, as is ji-ji. I look forward to my next set of lessons."

"Mother commends you skill on learning and retaining what you read," Nekozawa added as he idly drew some symbols on the table. "She believes that by the time of the Ceremony, you could already be within your steps to becoming like her, a high level sorceress."

With a subtle glance at the symbols on the table, Haruhi recognized them as the beginnings of a defense ward and caught the small minute movements of Reiko getting ready to cast something of her own.

"Qurdox," Haruhi thought. "What level of danger is around me and the others?"

"It is the one that was here the few days prior," the dragon growled darkly. "It seems as though he has not learned his lesson and has someone here that is letting him through the young Void's defenses, even if unknowingly."

"Sicut ventus umida circum me, et hac quoque scutum praesidio ones carissimi mihi,"* Haruhi whispered softly.

As Nekozawa's defense ward sprang up and Reiko's reflective barrier shifted into place, Haruhi's incantation settled with a soft breeze around the three of them. Both Dark Arts practitioners looked at her with slight awe but smiled softly and continued their conversation as if nothing was wrong. Only known to Haruhi was the fact that Qurdox had transformed into some of the rose petals in the wind on their way passed the garden.

*~*0o0o0o0o0*~*

Mori paused slightly as he saw some rose petals fleeter across his line of sight and he narrowed his eyes slightly. There were no roses on the college campus, nor anywhere near where he was standing.

"Qurdox," he called softly, his hand raising slightly to let the rose petals flow around his hand in a small cyclone. "What brings you to me? Is Haruhi in danger?"

"The one named Akito has come to the school," Qurdox rumbled as the rose petals settled in the stoic teens hand. "He has not found her as yet due to the company she has while eating her lunch. The Dark Prince and the Veiled Gypsy are with her. They have placed their own defenses, as has she."

"Good. Does Kyoya know that he is there?"

"Not as yet. She is going to inform him soon. She thought it best you be warned as well. There is also the news from the young Gypsy as to whom the Fae is to be bound to."

Mori narrowed his eyes further. During one of the nights in the Sanctuary, Haruhi helped him understand who Qurdox was referring to with the names and titles he said when speaking. Tamaki was always called by his race, Fae; Kyoya was called "Young Void", which was apt since Kyoya was still fairly young compared to others like him; Hikaru and Kaoru were a little more cryptic in that Hikaru being the "Child of Calm Passion" or "Water-Born" and Kaoru being the "Child of Flames". He and Hunny were called by name as was their earned right being what they were, as well as his Union with Haruhi. Nekozawa's was pretty obvious being a Prince of Darkness meaning the "Veiled Gypsy" was...

"Who did Reiko see?"

"The child is called Saichi Kanzaki. I know not her standing at the school or her level of power other than what the Veiled Gypsy gave."

Mori nodded. "All right. Return to Haruhi and let her know that I will be at Club today with Mitsukuni. We will be arriving early as out teacher for last lesson is not here and there is no assignment to do."

Qurdox rumbled softly before letting a passing breeze scatter his form back to his summoner. He had actually missed gliding on the wind in such a passive form. He could recall doing so on many occasions with Trekiva when they were both much younger and the world less broken by humanity.

*~*0o0o0o0o0*~*

"That is a well formed incantation Haruhi-san," Reiko whispered softly, her awe still clear.

"It is similar to the one mother placed on my clothing to help me walk in the sun during the day," Nekozawa smiled. "Such spell work is common of a Level 3 Mage."

"Thanks," Haruhi smiled. "Since I don't think Tamaki-senpai knows who his grandmother chose, just that she did, I think we should take what you've seen to Kyoya-senpai and see if he can get anything more on who she is."

Both Dark Arts users nodded and stood, pausing slightly when Haruhi held up her hand and gently caught some passing rose petals. Reiko watched in awe as the petals formed into a well crafted jade dragon on a silver chain and Nekozawa just smiled.

"I wonder," Nekozawa pondered aloud. "How long it has been since he has been since he has traveled in that method?"

"Not since he was little more than a hatchling," Haruhi said with a soft laugh gently placing the necklace over her head. "He says that he has placed his own little shield on us so we can use any form of teleportation we know to get the the club room without it being caught by anyone. I think Kyoya-senpai and the twins are still in there."

"I will transport Reiko and myself," Nekozawa stated calmly, gently wrapping an arm around the young woman.

"All right," Haruhi nodded and closed her eyes. "ውሰድ.*" ( wisedi )

When Haruhi opened her eyes, she saw that she was in the music room with Kyoya and the twins looking at her curiously and when Nekozawa and Reiko appeared, the looks changed to concern.

"Haruhi?" Kyoya questioned softly.

"According to Qurdox," she started. "Akito Katayama is somewhere on the campus."

Kyoya's eyes narrowed and flashed to solid black before he began typing on his computer and a Shade formed at his side. Hikaru and Kaoru looked at each other worriedly and Haruhi could tell that Hikaru was still very tired.

"Do you need energy Hitachiin-senpai?" Reiko asked calmly, carefully walking towards the drained Incubus.

Hikaru smiled tiredly and shook his head. "No thanks. Our mom is going to be here soon to take me home."

"Hikaru developed a fever and the nurse thought it best for him to go home," Kaoru added.

Haruhi walked over and placed a hand on the older twins forehead. "You are pretty warm. Is it normal for Incubi to get sick?"

"It's not uncommon. It happens when we haven't had a chance to get some energy or are really stressed. The things that normally get humans sick don't really last long in us but if our defenses are down due to being tired or energy deprived, they pop up."

"Are you heading home too, Kaoru, or just Hikaru?"

"I'll be here so that I can get the stuff for our last classes," Kaoru smiled. "We have the last couple lessons together. I will also still be here for hosting since we brought the rough layouts for the Gala."

"It's mostly going to be a fitting to make adjustments," Hikaru added sleepily. "Kaoru won't need my help very much and I doubt I'd be much help anyway with how tired I am."

"Just focus on getting better Hikaru," Kyoya said calmly as he shut his computer. "An energy deprived and exhausted Cuubi is a dangerous one."

Hikaru nodded and laid back on the couch, shutting his eyes. Kyoya turned to Haruhi and the two Dark Arts practitioners.

"I went through the cameras on the campus," Kyoya sighed. "And they showed Katayama walking around with a student and a couple teachers. The Shade informs me that he is just visiting but has been keeping track of where he goes."

"So he isn't actively looking for me but is still keeping an eye out," Haurhi theorized.

"Correct. You may want to keep some form of defensive shield up when out and about in the gardens if he is going to be visiting regularly. Better to be safe than sorry. We wouldn't want a repeat of the events that brought out your Companion's defensive instincts. A Familiar doesn't always need the spell of Form to help them shift. If they perceive enough danger to their Summoner, they can over power just about anything to defend them."

Haruhi nodded and glanced at Reiko. "There is something else."

"Hmm?"

"I know who is promised to Suoh-senpai," Reiko spoke calmly. "The other day, Jounouchi-senpai had asked to know why Suoh-senpai had been acting strangely for the last few days and asked to be informed if we learned anything."

"What did you learn?" Kyoya asked curiously.

"I see a woman being shown to him this evening during your hosting hours that is going to ask him very pointed questions that he has no choice but to answer. I have also seen the same woman with him at an alter for marriage but the only people present for such are his grandmother and her family. There is also a ward around the ceremony preventing entry."

"I haven't been able to come across anything pertaining to this when I spoke to the Chairman the other day," Kyoya added. "Nor are there any new registries for guests for him."

"I felt as much as I followed the vision," Reiko added softly. "There are people keeping the information quiet as to prevent such incidents as the events of the Fair from happening again. The woman that is being shown to him later this evening and towards the Gala is Miss Saichi Kanzaki. I only know that she is the child of the eldest Katayama."

Kyoya brought his hand to his chin in thought as he mentally went over every detail he had on the Katayama family and all members therein. He walked back to the table that had his laptop on it and picked up his black book, flipping through it.

"Saichi Kanzaki," he read. "Class 1A; as this is a new year, her grades are fairly standard for the beginning. Excellent record in years prior. Relation to the family itself has her in a good enough standing to help elevate them should she marry the right person. She the is the daughter to Sazuna Katayama and Sasuke Kanzaki."

"Such as the Suoh heir," Haruhi stated.

"Yes. If the Chairman has no part in this, then there is still a chance that it could be prevented but if he accepts such an arrangement, things could fall apart."

"How close is she to Akito?"

"Close enough that he could use her as a spy if he had the right leverage. He's her uncle."

"Her skill level?" Haruhi asked. "Reiko said she was good in Illusion based magic."

"She does have a great deal of skill in Illusion, much like Tamaki," Kyoya explained as he turned a page. "But most of it is used to help her gain information where Tamaki uses his in defense. She would be hard pressed to break through some of the defenses that Alyona-sama has taught you, though. One of the perks to being Neutral or Balanced. And two levels higher, even if unofficial."

"So, she will be at hours today?" Haruhi asked Reiko.

"She will," Reiko nodded. "Though she will try to make herself look as unobtrusive as possible. She has enough skill to fool most people."

"She won't be able to fool Kyoya-senpai or me," Kaoru stated. "Deception is our forte and Haruhi has Qurdox."

"There is also the fact the Takashi and Hunny-senpai are going to be here for hours today too," Haruhi added, her hand going to the jade dragon on her neck.

"If I recall correctly," Kyoya pondered. "You are going to have your next set of lessons at either the Haninozuka or the Morinozuka dojos this afternoon, correct?"

Haruhi nodded. "I am. We are going to pay a visit to my dad before he goes to work after club hours before heading to the dojo."

Kyoya nodded and glanced at his watch.

"Lunch is nearly over," he stated. "Thank you for the information Reiko-san. Kaoru, please refrain from telling Tamaki about this. He would give away everything with action alone. That goes to you as well Hikaru."

Kaoru nodded and glanced at his brother. "I don't think he heard a word. He's out."

"Then that makes it easier on us. Your mother should be here in a few moments to come get him. I believe your father is with her."

Kaoru nodded and grabbed his assignments from the collection Haruhi gave him at the beginning of lunch.

"I'll be here to help our parents get him down to the car," he said softly. "Knowing mom, she's in heels. And even if she's not, Hikaru would be dead weight as he is right about now. She's also a little shorter than dad and I are so, if she tried it would be uneven and a pain."

"I'll make sure your teacher knows that you might be a little late," Kyoya supplied.

"Thanks, senpai."

"Tell your mom hi for me," Haruhi smiled. "Hopefully I can sit down and have some tea with her again one of these days. Preferably without having to try on so many different clothes."

Kaoru laughed softly. "I'll let her know. If it's okay Kyoya-senpai, could we bring mom and dad to the Sanctuary you made? I am sure she could use the break and dad has been trying to get her to relax and step away from her studio for a while now."

"Only for a short time," Kyoya stated. "It is not that it can't hold so many people, it is just that her energy fluxes too fast and it could destabilize the Vortex."

"That happens when you are in a good mood," a bright voice stated. "But I will be as mellow as I can."

The group turned to see a woman dressed in a silver and blue work suit with matching heels and fiery red hair. Behind her was a subdued but pleasantly happy man with dark black hair and a deep blue suit with no tie.

"It is good to see you Yuzuha-sama," Haruhi smiled. "You as well Hitachiin-sama."

"Ara...when did you start wearing the female uniform?" Yuzuha asked looking Haruhi from head to toe.

"Yesterday. The school board got too many complaints about the specialized uniform you made for me."

Yuzuha made a disgruntled snort and muttered something about ungrateful morons before glancing at Hikaru with a soft smile. With a small glance at her husband, he walked over and Kaoru helped get his brother up and leaning against him.

"He's just drained," Kaoru explained. "Though the nurse thinks he may have developed a fever."

"We'll get him some medicine when we get home," their father smiled. "Let's get him to the car first."

"Yuki-chan and Amiri-chan are in there waiting," Yuzuha supplied. "They are energy Donors. Also, I would love to have some tea with you again some time in the future. I also promise not to force you into any outfits, although I have several designs that you would look fabulous in."

With a soft nod Haruhi moved to head back to class after saying a quick good-bye to the bright woman. Rather than risk popping in out of nowhere, she quickly made her way to class, arriving 10 minutes before the bell rang. Once she was seated, she pulled out the needed items and began looking over her notes. She was confident that she could ace today's quiz with all of the prep work she had the night before.

A/N: Incantation and Spell

Sicut ventus umida circum me, et hac quoque scutum praesidio ones carissimi mihi. = As the wind shifts around me, so too shall this shield protect the ones dear to me.

ውሰድ = Teleport ( wisedi )