Chapter 9: Pleasant Memories
Everyone thinks that my life is so perfect. All the girls in school love me, I live with my friends, and I am handsome and good at sports. But that's only the surface. Even though I am around so many people who like me, I am so alone. I don't have anybody that I can really talk to. The only one that I have is Haru. He's my only real friend. The only one that can listen, without lecturing, can tell when I'm upset, and cares about me. No one else can understand how I feel, not even Tohru. And she doesn't even pay much attention to me; she's always with that stupid cat.
I am walking home from school, not even bothering to wait for Tohru or Kyo. They probably won't even notice that I'm gone. Or maybe they already left. Tohru's not the type to ditch class, but a certain orange haired idiot probably could talk her into it.
I don't really feel like going home, listening to Shigure's dumb, perverted jokes, with nothing to do but watch TV and mope around. Maybe my obnoxious older brother would even be there. Shigure and Ayame together do not make a pleasant combination. So, I decide to go to the main house. To avoid Akito, I'll sneak in the secret back way. I approach the main house, my steps becoming lighter and lighter, not wanting to be discovered by the head of the family. It's so quiet, the air so still… even hearing yourself breathing seems to disturb the dead silence…
I just about jump out of my skin when I feel a hand on my shoulder and someone's voice saying, "Psst!" I whirl around and see-
"Haru!" I say, my heart pounding, "You scared me!"
"I guessed you'd come see me today," he says, coolly and calmly. I don't understand how he can be perfectly calm ninety percent of the time, and then at the worst times, become the rowdiest person on the face of the earth.
"Ssh! Haru, not so loud! You don't want Akito to hear us, do you?"
"Sorry," Haru said, and smiled a little. It's hard to be mad at him when he smiles.
We make our way to his room, being as quiet as we possibly can. We would have been lost, many times, considering Haru's sense of direction, but thankfully I remember the way from my last visit. Usually, I don't come to the main house, and he visits me at Shigure's.
We enter his room, silently closing the door. Haru sits down on his big armchair, and I sit on his bed.
"So," Haru says, looking very distinguished, calm and almost professional, "how was school, Yuki?" I can't help myself. I burst out laughing. It's so funny, how he looks and sounds just like a shrink. I guess I must be the mental patient.
"What's so funny?" he asks, looking at me quizzically.
"Oh, nothing," I tell him, "you just seem so much like a therapist, instead of a friend." Haru is the only one who can make me laugh. I don't really know why; it's not like he jokes or laughs a lot, but the things he does are just… funny.
"You know what, Yuki? You're really weird sometimes." He says, looking at me like I'm crazy. It's so strange to hear someone telling me I'm weird. I guess I'm kind of a different person when I'm with Haru. I open up more and be myself. Maybe it's because I trust him so much.
"You'd never say anything like that to anyone at school, would you," he said. It was a statement, not a question. I nod. "You know, if you didn't worry so much about what other people think of you, you'd probably be a lot happier. Then maybe you wouldn't feel the need to go to a "shrink-in-training" every day." I start to laugh again, but stop when I hear something- footsteps. Could it be Akito? Or Hatori, who would inform Akito? Well, whoever it was, it would be wise to-
"Hide," Haru says quickly, "the closet," I obey, and find a place to hide between the ripped shirts, tight pants, and trench coats. I crack the closet door open, so that I could see what was happening. Someone knocks on the door.
"Come in," Haru says calmly. The door opens quite forcefully, and in bounds a cheerful little rabbit.
"Hi, Haru!" says Momiji, " I just came in here cause I wanted you to help me with my homework! I don't really get what this means-"
"Okay, Momiji, I will help you, but I'm kind of busy right now, okay? Just a minute." Haru interrupts. It surprises me how much he can mask his annoyance.
"Fine, but please hurry!" Momiji says. Haru has to practically shove him out the door to get him to leave. He then listens to make sure he was gone, and then opened the closet door.
"That was a close one," he tells me, "Momiji wouldn't purposefully tell Akito you were here, but he tends to… slip sometimes," I nod.
"I should probably go," I say, "Momiji will be back soon, and it's late- Miss Honda will be getting worried. If you still want to talk, why don't you come over later tonight?"
"I might," he replies, once again in his cool, calm tone of voice, "if I'm not busy helping a certain rabbit all night…" He almost sounded sarcastic.
"Goodbye, I guess I'll see you later," I say, and start to climb out the window.
"Wait, Yuki…" he says, and I look back over my shoulder. "I know things are really hard for you right now, so if you ever need any help, or anyone to talk to… well, I'll always be here. You always know that you can count on me, okay?" I give him a warm smile.
"Thanks, Hatsuharu," I climb out the window, and start on the way back home. I'm glad that I have a friend like Haru. I know that no matter what, he'll always be here for me.