It had been two weeks since Haruhi arrived at her new home and she was settling into a rhythm. Today, her father, brother, and hosts were all going to her old apartment and packing everything up. She wasn't looking forward to the task but knew it had to be done. Her father had been paying the rent for her to give her time to accumulate before she did this arduous task, but she didn't feel like putting it off and her father wasting his money.

She swallowed her sadness as she hobbled to the limo and slid in with little difficulty next to Yuki. Her father slid in behind her and he gave the driver the directions to her old place.

They were each quiet on the way giving her time to think about what was to come. She wasn't sure she wanted her father to be there with her while she went through Ranka's belongings, but her father had been surprisingly supportive about the whole thing.

He had told her that he knew that she still considered Ranka her father, and he would never take that away from her. He was grateful for Ranka raising a beautiful daughter and was sad for Haruhi's loss. He also said that he hoped in time she would accept him as her father.

She was starting to. She was having flashes of Yuki and her father in her dreams.

"Looks like they're already here," Yuki said as the limo pulled up.

She sighed and let it out slowly. Her father got out and helped her stand and she straightened out her dress and walked with a slight limp to where the others stood.

She was glad that it was a sombre mood with all of them. She didn't think she could handle it if Tamaki was over the top. They each hugged her and patted her on the back as she led them up the stairs.

Her father and Yuki hung out in the kitchen putting boxes together while the hosts would bring them to her, and she would pack up what she wanted and throw away items that had no value. Old shampoo bottles, make-up, etc. She kept some of her father's lipstick just because she just couldn't bear to throw it all away.

The hosts didn't pack anything or throw anything away without her permission. They would pull things out and quietly ask her what she wanted.

The landlord arrived, a tissue in hand as she dabbed at her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Haruhi," she said and pulled her into a hug.

Haruhi let out a small gasp when her ribs protested and her father frowned at them. The landlord pulled away with a gasp and started to apologise.

"I'm still just sore," Haruhi said to her gently. "I'm glad you came today."

They walked through the apartment together and the landlord offered to clean the apartment for her, for a small fee of course, but Haruhi agreed. She wasn't sure she could accomplish it all, and of course, her friends wouldn't really know how.

She chuckled to herself and Honey-senpai gave her a wide grin.

She offered for all the houseware items to stay, and the furniture, minus the shrine to her mother and the landlord was more than gracious in accepting them. She soon left with a gentle pat on her shoulder and then it was back to work.

Her father hired a small truck for today's task, and Kyoya-senpai had a few members from his private security carry the items she wanted down. She wanted to cry in relief at his thoughtfulness but kept her distance.

He would follow her behind her in the apartment scribbling down in his notebook. She once chuckled to herself once again when she thought she was adding more debt for her, but shook her head.

She was in her father's room and placing his dresses in one box, and the other clothing in another. She kept a few of his shirts for herself, the ones she remembered that he wore. There wasn't much to pick from because the accident had happened 40 miles away, and most of the clothes her father would wear were destroyed due to the tornado.

She would send his clothes to the bar for his friends to go through.

She cocked her head to the side and looked up on the high shelf and noticed a metal box. "Mori-senpai," she called quietly.

He stepped into the closet with her and looked at her. She nodded her head up above her, "Can you get that metal box for me, please?"

"Hn," he said and reached over and took it down and handed it to her. It was dusty and she brushed her hands across the top and furrowed her brow. She tried to open it but it was locked.

"It needs a key, Haru-chan," Honey said.

"I'll look for one later," she said and stepped out of the closet and placed the box on the bed.

Finally, once her mother's shrine was taken away and all the boxes were packed and placed in the truck she stood in the apartment with the metal box clutched to her chest looking around the living room.

So many memories she was leaving behind. She thought for sure that she had years left with her father while she went off to college. Of course, she would have come back for the holidays if she could to see her dad, but now that was just a dream, or a nightmare depending on how you looked at it.

Haruhi clutched the metal box to her as they rode back to the estate, her friends following behind. She took one look back and drove to her future.


Takashi watched Haruhi all day, trying to be as supportive. He ghosted behind her and intercepted the twins several times when they wanted to bother her when she was packing.

"Aw, come one Mori-senpai we just want to make sure Haruhi packs right."

"That's not a good idea," Mitsukuni had said. "This is hard for Haru-chan and we need to let her do this her way."

They pouted for a moment but moved away grumbling to themselves.

The ride back to the estate was short and it hardly gave him time to process everything. Haruhi hadn't cried all day and he was worried that she would soon. She wasn't much of a crier, that was true, but she just said the final goodbye to Ranka. They were all feeling sadness within them.

The memorial for Ranka was last week and Takashi had wanted to stand by Haruhi, to offer her silent support, but he stood with the others and their families as she stood alone in front of her father's marker and bowed her head.

She stood that way for over an hour, but still no tears. She had been quiet when they had arrived back to her estate for a feast in Ranka's honour picking at her food and doing her best to speak to people, but she had remained quiet.

Today was that final chapter in her life, and she was still standing strong.

Kyoya's security was there was they arrived at Haruhi's estate and moved her items up to her room. The shrine and the few boxes that she had gathered.

The twins walked up to her and wrapped their arms around her and offered their support, each oddly quiet as they walked with her up the stairs to her chambers. They would be spending the night tonight to spend time with her, to make sure she really was okay. Tomorrow, she would be going back to classes.

Haruhi looked down at the box in her lap as she sat on the couch. Kyoya directed his security to place her mother's shrine in the corner of the room. He shuffled through his bag and pulled out a picture of Haruhi's father and gently placed it there waiting to be joined with his wife.

"Do you need anything?" Hikaru asked and squeezed her tight.

She shook her head, her head bowed.

The rest of them gathered around on the couches while he and Mitsukuni went over to the shrine and dug through the box that contained her mother's picture to finish setting it up for her. He wasn't sure if she wanted to do that task and was trying to make this easier for her.

He brushed his fingers across the picture of Haruhi's mother, wiping the dust that had accumulated, his large fingers wrapped around the back. He furrowed his brow when he felt a lump on the back of the frame and flipped it over.

There was a bump underneath. He brushed his fingers against the imperfection and frowned. It felt like there was something behind it.

Mitsukuni looked up at him and then back at the frame, "I think there's something there," he said quietly.

"Hn, do you think we should tell her?"

"Let's see what it is first. We don't want to bother her if it's nothing."

Takashi carefully worked around the edges and popped off the back and a small key fell on the floor between them. Mitsukuni gasped and picked it up and looked over at Haruhi who still had the metal box on her lap looking down at it with a forlorn expression.

"Do you think that this could be…?" Mitsukuni asked.

Takashi took the key and wrapped his fingers around it, his heart hammering in his chest. Should he tell her he found this small key? What if it didn't work?

Mitsukuni jumped up from the shrine and made his way to Haruhi and bent down to whisper something in her ear. She looked up and nodded and stood.

"Bring the box," Mitsukuni said.

"Aww, meditation again!" Tamaki whined. "We should all meditate together."

"Don't be an idiot," Kyoya said as he leaned back on the plush couch and nudged Tamaki.

Yuki stood and looked down at the others, "Let me go speak to the maid so we can get things organized while Haruhi is meditating," he said. "Hikaru, you want to come with me?"

Takashi stood and followed Mitsukuni and Haruhi into her chambers again and closed the door behind him with a quiet click.

Mitsukuni was speaking to Haruhi in a soft voice, he couldn't hear what he was saying but he had been surprised when Mitsukuni helped her onto the bed.

She furrowed her brows when Mitsukuni joined her sitting opposite of her and motioned him to join them. He blushed as he made his way towards her bed and sat next to his cousin.

"We found something, Haru-chan," his cousin began. "We're not sure what it is, but we thought it best for you to do this without an audience." Mitsukuni looked over at him. "Takashi?"

He paused for a moment before he held his hand out to her. He gently grabbed her hand and placed the key in her palm.

She gasped. "Where? Where did you find this?"

"On the back of your mother's photo, behind the backing," he said.

"Oh," she breathed and moved the box off her lap and between the three of them. With a trembling hand, she slipped the key into the lock and twisted her hand. There was a click and she looked up at them, her eyes wide.

"Do you want Takashi and I to leave and keep the others out?"

She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip and shook her head. "I would like you to stay if that's okay.".

"Of course, we are here for anything you need."

She flipped the top open and frowned down at the contents. A hiss left her as she pulled everything out and set them to the side.

He raised a brow at the newspaper clippings. He caught one name, which was Sumeragi Kotoko. There were also passports, documentation, and an old wallet.

Haruhi looked up at them, her eyes dewing with tears as she opened the wallet. She pulled out an ID with her mother's picture that said Sumeragi Kotoko, and an old picture. She let out a small whimper as she handed them the photo.

The photo was worn, and the corners crinkled from being handled often. It showed a small little boy and girl holding hands in a small garden, each looking out at the beauty.

It was of Haruhi and her twin, Yuki.

She gently took the photo from his hand and then shoved the rest of the contents in the box and slammed it shut with a small bang. He looked at her, watching her carefully.

She was angry.

"So many secrets and the people who can give me answers are dead!" she seethed.

"Haru-chan," Mitsukuni said grabbing her hands gently in hers, "maybe you should speak to your father. He might be able to give you the reasons, why your mother left."

She was thoughtful as she looked at them. Her frame relaxed and nodded. "I'll go speak to him now."

She let out a small grunt as she got off the bed, Mitsukuni at her side immediately. He wished he was as relaxed around her so he could touch her without fear.

His cousin had his hand on her elbow as he supported her as she limped her way towards the door. She looked over her shoulder and met his eyes, "Mori-senpai, would you mind bringing the lockbox with you?"

He didn't speak a word as he tucked it under his arm and followed his cousin out of her chambers and down the stairs in search of her father.

The rage that bubbled beneath the surface wouldn't abate. Haruhi took a steadying breath and knocked on her father's door. He called out for her to enter and she opened the door and poked her head in, Mori and Honey-senpai right behind her.

A twinge of guilt curled in her gut as they followed her into the office. This was a private matter she was sure, but it was her hope that her father would be honest with her even though they had an audience. She needed their support. Out of all her friends, they were her anchors. They kept her grounded in the here and now, and with one simple touch of their hand, or a soft command, she could control her emotions.

"Haruhi," her father said, surprise colouring his tone, "is everything alright?"

She took her seat in front of the desk, Mori and Honey-senpai flanking her. "Not really," she hedged.

"What can I do for you?" he asked leaning forward.

She nodded to Mori-senpai and he handed the lockbox to her father without a word.

"I found this," she said, her voice low and full of pain. "I'd like to talk about it."

Her father examed the contents, his face full of pain as he pulled them out and set them on the desk. "Haruhi," he breathed. "I'm so sorry."

"Why?"

He looked up and frowned. "I feel as if your mother leaving was my fault. I know it was my fault," he said and leaned back in his chair. "I wasn't a very good husband to your mother. I was all about my work, and what more I could gain. You see, your mother and I had an arranged marriage and there was no love there. I did care about your mother deeply but I took it for granted that she would always be at my side."

Haruhi gasped.

"That is why I changed the way I view things when she left. That day she took you out and wanted to take Yuki, too, but he was sick and running a fever and I refused to let her take him. She looked torn, which I remember clearly. She cried when she held Yuki, held him tight, and then she picked you up and left.

"When she didn't return that night I had detectives look for her. They found her car floating down the Sumida River. There was a bad storm that day, and witnesses stated they saw a woman go off the road and plunge into the river. By the time they were able to retrieve the car, there were no bodies. Just your car seat, and her purse. I found it suspicious that her wallet was missing, so I never gave up hope that you two would be found."

Tears slipped down Haruhi's cheek.

"Since then I changed my outlook on life. I loved Yuki harder and spent time with him. I forewent the notion that arranged marriages were the only way to get what you want. Now, Yuki can choose who he wants to marry, the same goes for you. I told your mother that Ootori Yoshio had approached me about an arranged marriage between you and his middle son, Akito-san and I was considering it. She was enraged and I wouldn't listen to her."

A gasp slipped through her lips, "I'm not… Ootori-san doesn't expect," she trailed off, her heart hammering in her chest. Her fist curled in her lap.

"No," he said in a hard voice. "The contract was never made and when you went missing there was no point."

She relaxed and scrubbed the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Haruhi. I hope you can forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive," she said honestly. "My time at Ouran has been educational. I understand that's the way the upper echelons of society work. Arranged marriages are commonplace. But, what I don't understand is how she could be right under your nose and not find us."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. Exhaustion took over his visage, "Your mother was a brilliant lawyer, but she also had clients that were not what I approved of. She represented some of the Yakuza and had become close to them over the years."

She frowned. She was close to Ritsu and knew without a doubt if she needed something legal or not, he would make it happen.

"I see," she said. Now was her chance.

She sat straighter and looked her father in the eyes. "Speaking of which, I want to be a lawyer like my mother," she said. "I got accepted to Harvard Law in America."

She canted her head to the side when Takashi let out a small sound.

"Harvard?" her father breathed. "I had thought you would go to Ouran University."

"I did get accepted there, too. But, I want to go to Harvard, at least for three years," she said looking back at her father.

"Three years? Why? I just got you back."

"I know, father," she said. "I'm not going to run, you're my father, and Yuki my brother, my twin. I want to be here, but I need to follow my dreams."

Her father pressed a button on his desk, "Yuki, can you come here, please?"

Haruhi held her breath as she waited and her father muttered to himself. She had the same response from Ranka when she told him that she wished to go to America. She hadn't told her friends yet. She hadn't had a chance. She looked over at Mori-senpai and almost gasp at the look on his face. She looked over at Honey-senpai and his face was torn, he had tears swimming in his eyes.

"Honey-senpai?"

"Haru-chan," his voice broke. "America, three years."

She smiled gently at him and grabbed his hand squeezing it. "It's only for three years. I want to practice here in Japan, I'll be back."

Yuki knocked and entered the office and stood next to Mori-senpai and greeted his father. "You wished to speak to me."

"Yes, didn't you say you got accepted to Havard Medical?"

"Yes, but we decided for me to stay here at Ouran with Haruhi."

Her father frowned, "It looks like the fates were putting you together, she's been accepted to Havard Law."

Yuki's head whipped to the side and grinned at her.

"Do you wish to go to Harvard?" their father asked.

"I want to be wherever Haruhi is," his eyes shone with excitement.

Her father sighed and leaned forward, "Then you both will be attending Harvard in the fall."