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Far From The Tree
PROLOGUE
He stared at me as he saw me standing there at the desk, the same frantic look on my face reflected back in his. His shirt was dishevelled, as if he'd throw it on in a rush, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He had been running. Maybe straight from home. How did he know where I was? Did Dad tell him I was here? Why did he come?
I glanced back at the receptionist who looked puzzled, both from my previous outburst and the sudden appearance of this man I couldn't avert my gaze from.
"Haruhi" he panted.
The tears in my eyes were threatening to fall, but I couldn't let them. This was too important, I couldn't lose myself. I had to know. For Emi. For myself. I had to.
"What are you doing here?" I whimpered, "This has nothing to do with you. Go home"
"I think we both know by now that this has everything to do with me Haru"
I shook my head, "You don't understand what you're saying"
"I do" he began taking slow steps towards me, as if he were trying not to startle me, his eyes pleading silently, "Maybe 5 years ago I didn't understand, but I'm not that man anymore"
I shook my head, "I need answers. But not for you. Not for us"
I turned away from him and looked at the receptionist, my eyes heavy with desperation, "Please. I just need you to pull up the file. Emi Fujioka. She was born on the 10th of January 20xx"
"Miss Fujioka, I already explained to you. The details of her donor are classified. Both you and the male in question signed an agreement of anonymity. There's nothing I can do. I would be breaching contract"
"Please" I sobbed, "I'll give you anything! Money! My house! Anything! Just please..."
"What you're asking me to do is illegal Miss Fujioka" she shook her head remorsefully.
I lowered my forehead into my palms, hissing back the sobs that tightened in my chest,
"Then how about this" The man beside me spoke up, the man I'd shared so many nights with now, so many days out. I'd watched him gain the love and trust of my little girl, and provide her with all the things I couldn't. A father figure. Someone's shoulders to sit on, someone to catch her at the bottom of the slide. I balled up my fists and looked at him. He was addressing the receptionist, a determined look in his eye, as if this information was just as vital to him as it was to me.
"My name is Hikaru Hitachiin" he said.
"Hikaru-" I choked.
He continued, "Pull up Emi's file. And if my name is there" his eyes met mine, and for the longest moment he just stared at me. My heart ached from the look he gave. A look of longing, fear, and determination,
"Then you'll have both the mother and the father's permission" he breathed, "No more anonymity"
