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Far From The Tree
Chapter 13
HIKARU
So she was here...Kaoru hadn't been teasing me.
All day Kaoru had been eluding to the fact that Haruhi was dress hunting with Kimiko. 'Hunting' he'd said, not 'shopping'.
Of course in the back of my head I wondered why would they even bother shopping, not when Mom had so many outfits she'd happily lone her. But for some reason I hadn't actually considered, that in reality – that was exactly what was happening. I mean it made sense...but the idea of Haruhi being in my family home without having mentioned it to me beforehand didn't seem very likely. Or perhaps I struggled to imagine her there, walking the halls of my childhood home, sitting at the dining table as I did each week. Not without me there beside her.
And yet, there she was. Pretty as a picture, in the same seat I'd occupied just 2 days before.
"Mr Hikaru it's me Emi!" the little girl leapt at my feet, wrapping her arms around my legs as she pawed for my attention.
I glanced down, tearing my gaze away from Haruhi who still hadn't blinked since I stepped in the room. I caught Emi's chocolate brown eyes as they glowed up at me, swimming with excitement.
I patted her on the head and gave a smile. "How did you know it was me?" I chuckled, glancing at Kaoru.
She giggled, "He's not shy"
"Shy?"
She nodded, "You have a little smile. But it's still a happy smile. Momma calls that a shy smile"
Shy? I'd been called many things in my life, but shy certainly wasn't one of them. It was oddly humbling.
"Mrs Hita said I can have some pretty clothes" Emi announced just as giddily. She then grabbed my hand in hers and pulled me further into the room towards the dining table, walking straight past Kaoru and his hung open jaw, "Momma look!" Emi jumped up and down, taking Haruhi's hand in her free one, "It's Mr Hikaru! He came to see us!"
Haruhi blinked rapidly, as if coming out of a trance. Our eyes met, followed by a long silent pause, she simply stared back like a deer caught in headlights, her cheeks flushing scarlet. Clearly she hadn't been expecting to see me, judging by how relaxed she seemed moments before I'd stepped in. I almost felt bad about ruining her boss-free afternoon, but then I remembered that this was my family home. Then it felt almost amusing.
"I said I'd see you again soon didn't I?" I put on my most charming smile as I once again patted Emi on the top of her head, much like you'd pet a dog I supposed.
"I...I wasn't expecting to see you" Haruhi replied, still a little stunned.
"Not expecting to? Or didn't want to?" I teased.
She rolled her eyes, "The first one"
My smile turned into a smirk, and I pulled out the chair beside her, settling down as Emi leapt into her Mother's lap. I lowered my voice so the prying ears around us couldn't hear, "So you were hoping to see me then?"
Her cheeks darkened further.
This was too much fun.
Over her shoulder I watched as Kaoru sat down beside Kimiko, his eyes trained on me in wide curiosity. A look that seemed to be shared by both his wife and my Mother who almost seemed to be in disbelief as their eyes flitted between myself, Haruhi and Emi.
"Mr Hikaru huh?" Kaoru commented in amusement.
I grinned back, "It's what Emi calls me"
That's right Kao. Guess who Haruhi's best friend is now?!
"It took you a month to remember Kaz's name" Kimiko gaped, "Since when did you start liking kids?"
"I made Mr Hikaru a card" Emi replied proudly, "And we watched Frozen"
Dammit child that was a secret.
"Oh you did?" Kaoru smirked, "Has he watched the second one with you yet?"
Oh no, no, no. There's a sequel?!
Emi's face lit up, and I didn't have to be a mind reader to know what she was planning. She had that same mischievous twinkle her mother always had when she was struck with inspiration. I glared at my brother.
Haruhi stifled a laugh.
"Mr Hikaru" Emi turned back to me.
"Yes Emi?"
"Momma looks like Cinderella!"
I raised a brow. Last time I checked Cinderella was a blonde European woman, and Haruhi was a Japanese brunette. I couldn't exactly see the resemblance...
"She means Haruhi's dress" Kimiko clarified.
So she had a dress now? I couldn't help the small smile that touched my lips. It made me happy knowing Haruhi had something to feel comfortable in at the gala. I guessed Emi meant that her mother looked like a princess, which I didn't doubt for a moment. I'd only ever seen Haruhi in office wear or sweaters and jeans and she still somehow managed to look better than any catwalk model I'd ever seen. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious to see her all dressed up. My heart almost stopped at the mere thought of it.
"I'm excited to see it" I replied.
Haruhi blushed.
"Well you're going to have to be patient" Mom grinned, "One week. That's all"
I feigned nonchalance.
"Are you joining us for dinner?" she continued.
"I'm here aren't I?"
"Willingly too" Kaoru chimed in, "I barely had to twist his arm"
I shot him a warning look, knowing exactly what he was eluding to. Because honestly, it had taken merely the mention of Haruhi's name and I was already putting the car in drive just to confirm if she was actually there. I certainly wasn't disappointed.
"Your Father will be pleased" Mom smiled, unconvincingly, but she tried at least.
Oh Mom. One day you'll stop pretending for him...
"Will you be staying for dinner?" I asked, turning back to Haruhi.
I could tell she was trying to think of a way to tell me 'no', but before she could even part her lips to answer me, Emi jumped to the rescue once more.
"Momma says I get to go to bed real late because we're staying here!" she blurted, all smiles.
I grinned back, trying my hardest not to make the same "awwwwwww" sound my Mother always made whenever Kazue did something she deemed 'cute'.
"Well aren't you lucky?" I said.
"I didn't say 'real late' I just said 'a little later'" Haruhi corrected.
"It's not a school night, surely there's no rush" I chuckled.
"You haven't seen what she's like when she doesn't get enough sleep" Haruhi raised a wicked brow, "You're signing me up for a day of misery tomorrow"
Emi grinned, oblivious we were even talking about her, then hopped down from her Mother's lap, and suddenly began scrambling up my knees. I froze in place as she settled down, grinning giddly just inches from my face as she pulled me in for a tight hug.
"Emi" Haruhi seethed, eyes wide with shock as she quickly reclaimed her daughter back onto her own lap. Emi simply looked at her, puzzled, but didn't complain as she snuggled back into her Mother's chest, "Mr Hitachiin I'm so sorry"
"No, don't worry about it" I swallowed, paralyzed and immediately becoming more annoyed that she'd reverted back to calling me 'Mr Hitachiin' over the fact that a small child had chosen to use my legs as a seat. Emi hadn't seem to care one bit, nor had she hesitated. I supposed that was the strange wonder about children. Even though she barely knew me, she felt she knew me enough to consider me an element of comfort. Perhaps she found me just as endearing as I was beginning to find her It was...odd.
"Can Mr Hikaru come and have sandwiches again?" Emi looked at Haruhi with desperation, as if it were the most important request she'd ever made.
"Mr Hikaru is a very busy man" Haruhi replied.
"I'd love to" I said quickly. Probably too quickly.
Definitely too quickly.
I ignored the shocked looks from my family, focusing completely on the small child and her beautiful mother.
"But only if it's okay with Momma" I added.
Emi beamed, almost vibrating with excitement.
"Well..." Haruhi replied, clearing her throat.
She took a hesitant pause, and for a moment I wondered if I'd crossed a line. Then she smiled, a smile that reached her eyes, and immediately I exhaled, knowing that whatever her next words were, they would be the truth.
"We'll have to ask Mr Hikaru what his favourite lunch is. Then next time we can make it for him" she said.
I bit back my grin, just as Kaoru caught my eye.
His expression was amused. As if things were falling exactly into place, just as he'd wanted them to. And I knew then that this had been more than what he'd been hoping for when he dangled Haruhi's name in front of me earlier that day.
Honestly, I couldn't even be mad at him.
HARUHI
Dinner began wonderfully, the room smelt like those fancy restaurants I couldn't afford to eat in, and my mouth was already salivating as the first plates were brought out.
It would have been perfect if not for the strange atmosphere that developed the moment Yuzuha's husband joined us at the table.
Mr Hitachiin looked a lot like his sons, although his hair was a deep blonde, grey streaks peppered at the temples. His face however could have been an older version of them. He had the same nose, same brow, same jaw, although it was a tad more aged, with fine lines and deep wrinkles set into his marble complexion. His expression however didn't seem to resemble any of the Hitachiin's. Even when Hikaru was at his most displeased, I couldn't recall a single time his face had been so set in indifference. Mr Hitachiin seemed to be permanently frowning, his brows downturned and mouth set in a grimace. It was somewhat unnerving to say the least.
But thankfully no one appeared to draw attention to it, no one aside from Hikaru at my side who seemed a little irritated by his Father's mood as he often shot daggers across the table.
"So Miss Fujioka" Mr Hitachiin grumbled, interrupting the conversation between Kimiko and Yuzuha. Everyone fell silent, and Hikaru dropped his spoon onto the table, eyes shooting up to his Father and me.
"You're Hikaru's...attorney?" Mr Hitachiin continued, barely noticing the change in mood around the table.
I nodded nervously, distracting myself as I helped Emi readjust the napkin tucked into her collar, "I am yes"
"Hmm" he replied, his nostrils flaring, "So you're the one helping my son destroy my business' reputation?"
"Hayato" Yuzuha warned.
I frowned in confusion and stared dumbly.
Destroying Hitachiin Corp's reputation? But...the business was more successful than ever with all our new software contracts.
"Dad" Hikaru said, "Not tonight"
"I'm just making conversation" Mr Hitachiin replied.
"You know what you're doing. So lets move on from it now before it gets ugly"
"I only wish to understand better. This attorney of yours clearly knows how to enable your decisions, you're straying further and further from the company's original plan every time she validates you"
"She" Hikaru hissed, "Has a name"
Mr Hitachiin raised a brow, then leaned back in his seat, eyeing the two of us accusingly, "Ohhh" he breathed, "I see"
"You see what?" Hikaru questioned.
Mr Hitachiin raised a pointed finger, waving it between us,
He didn't have to say anything for everyone at the table to understand what he was implying. I turned bright red.
"I suggest you continue eating" Hikaru grit his teeth, "I'd rather not cause a scene in front of our guest...or 2 young children"
Emi watched intently, as if she were enjoying a very exciting soap opera as Hikaru gestured towards her and Kazue.
"You've even grown a soft spot for her little girl" Mr Hitachiin murmured, "You can't possibly entertain the idea of having an affair with a disgraced woman. Where's this child's Father? Is he aware of what's going on?"
My eyes nearly leapt from their sockets, as Hikaru rose from his chair.
Emi frowned, "Momma, what's an 'affair'?"
Oh god someone kill me.
"Boys that is enough!" Yuzuha snapped, "We have company. All I ask is for one meal that doesn't end in a fight!"
The room fell silent. I swear even the staff froze in fear.
Hikaru heaved a breath, then lowered himself back into the seat beside me. His Father grumbled something under his breath, then lifted his glass to his lips, his expression relaxed as if nothing had even happened.
"I'm sorry about my Father the other night" Hikaru sighed, his fingers toying with a pencil on his desk, "If it helps, that was actually a pretty tame evening. Mom must have told him to be on his best behaviour"
"That was tame?" I questioned, leaning back in my seat, "He called me a 'disgraced woman'"
Hikaru winced, "Yeah...I know. Don't take it personally. He doesn't know you and Emi's Father aren't together"
"Even so he...he thinks we're having-"
"I know"
"But we're not"
"I know"
"And what did he mean about destroying the company?" I swallowed.
"I took it in a different direction when I took over" Hikaru shrugged, "He didn't like that. He thinks I disassembled everything he ever did"
"And did you?"
Hikaru scoffed, "No. I just adapted and evolved it. He wanted to make computers and smart phones, I wanted to make software. Hitachiin Corp was never this successful when it was under my Father's wing"
"I suppose I can understand where he's coming from"
Hikaru raised a brow, "Oh you do?"
"I don't agree with how he's reacting" I clarified, "But I understand why he's upset. He put a lot of his life into this company. It must be hard to see every little thing you worked on be changed or abandoned. I know it would affect me, I'd feel like I wasted a lot of time"
"Hmm" Hikaru frowned, his fingers continuing to twirl the HB pencil.
"Anyway" I sighed, "Dinner was still nice. But you can thank your mother for corrupting my daughter"
"Corrupting?"
"Emi refused to eat last night. She said she would only eat if her food was served on a heated plate"
Hikaru smirked, "A heated plate? Couldn't you just warm it in the oven?"
"She was eating ice cream"
"Oh"
"She also asked for a dining table that seats 10 people for her next birthday. We don't have a dining room, nor do we know 10 people"
"That girl has some interesting priorities"
"And expensive taste"
"Girl after my own heart" Hikaru chuckled.
I rolled my eyes.
"How are you feeling about the gala?" he asked, leaning forwards in his seat.
I pursed my lips, thinking. My expression must have given me away.
Hikaru chuckled.
"Nervous huh?" he said.
"Not as much as I was" I admitted, "Mr Suoh and his son will be there too. So that's a few people I'll know"
"I thought that might ease you a little" he replied, "I heard you're quite familiar with Mr Suoh's son"
It seemed like more of a question than a statement, as if he wanted my confirmation.
"Tamaki and I have been friends for years" I answered, "He and Renge were my knights in shining armour when I was pregnant with Emi. If I hadn't had them I don't know how I would have coped"
Hikaru hummed, nodding slightly.
"It must have been difficult...going through all that without Emi's Father around" he said, his voice slow and cautious, as if he hadn't quite trusted the words he spoke.
I supposed to any average woman going through a typical pregnancy alone would have been difficult, so I understood his worry. But my pregnancy hadn't been typical. I knew I would be doing it alone, in fact, that was the whole point. Emi's father was completely unknown to me, he was just some anonymous serial number on a piece of paper. I knew Dad would help where he could, and Renge would be there for emotional support. But I hadn't quite banked on just how supportive everyone was. Being pregnant was far more difficult than I had ever imagined, and without them I probably wouldn't have had such a fond recall of those 9 months.
I shrugged.
"I knew I would be doing it by myself" I said, "But Dad, Renge, Tamaki, even Mr Suoh...they went above and beyond to make sure I was okay"
Hikaru smiled, "It makes me happy...knowing you weren't alone"
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
I liked seeing him smile at me like that. It felt like it was a smile he saved just for me, and only me.
"I thank my lucky stars I didn't have twins" I smirked, "Your Mother certainly had her hands full with you and Kaoru"
He rolled his eyes, biting back a grin, "I always wondered when the day my mother shared my childhood stories with a woman I brought home would come..."
"You hardly brought me home. She invited me after all" I laughed, "From her stories, it sounds like you were the more challenging of the pair of you"
"I was indeed" he replied, "I still am as far as my Father is concerned"
"I doubt he would have trusted you with his company if he thought that"
"Kaoru didn't want the CEO chair" he said, "And that left only me. I'm sure if Kaoru hadn't told him that, this company would have a different brother occupying this room"
I frowned. Usually Hikaru would be the first to pat his own back. The Mr Hitachiin I met all those months ago in Mr Suoh's office would have told me no one could do his job. That he was the best one for it. Seeing this vulnerability in him was...refreshing almost.
"I don't think it would" I replied, "I think there isn't a single person better suited for this office than you"
"You're just saying that because you're on my pay roll" he smirked.
"Technically I'm not" I said, "I still work for Ouran Legal. Don't forget that"
"So what you're is you're unbiased in your opinion of me?"
"I wouldn't say unbiased" I admitted.
He bit his lip, resting his chin on his propped up knuckle. He stared at me with suspicion, "I suppose our relationship is...a little more complicated than just attorney and CEO"
"Complicated?" I quipped.
"Would 'more intense' suit us better?"
"I think 'close' would be the better word"
"Very close?"
"Do I need to call HR?" I teased.
He grinned, "I think we're past that"
"You mean since we made out on that couch over there?" I raised a daring brow.
His reaction made me quiver as I watched his eyes darken, I could practically see the memory flashing behind his eyes as he recalled that night.
I inwardly scolded myself for flirting. But honestly, since that day it had become harder and harder by the hour to resist the urge to get close to him.
I had never been one to break the rules. I was always a model student, never skipping school, never getting a detention, I turned my assignments in on time, and at work I never missed a meeting, never missed a deadline. I never broke a single rule.
Not until I kissed a client.
Hikaru...
I still remembered the way his lips felt against mine. The way his callused hands grazed my stockings and squeezed the bare skin of my thighs, grasping with the desire for more.
I crossed my legs tightly.
Hikaru smiled slowly, "What are you doing this evening?"
"This evening?"
He nodded.
"I mean...technically I finished 45 minutes ago" I replied, "So the same thing I do everyday. Go home and relieve my Dad of babysitting duties"
"What if I bought you dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes. An evening meal, the last one of the day"
I chuckled.
"If you don't want to take Emi out of her routine then how about I order take out? None of that shit greasy stuff of course. It's my treat after all. I'll even warm a plate for the Princess"
I chewed my lip, trying to think of a reason to say no.
A few came to mind of course, but none I wanted to actually entertain. The first answer that came to mind was of course...
"Okay"
"Okay?"
I nodded, "But I'm providing dinner. It's only fair. I went to your home, it's only right I return the favour"
He seemed to consider my words for a moment before nodding back.
"Fine. I suppose that's fair"
"Okay then" I rose from my seat, smoothing down my skirt, "I'll meet you at mine?"
A grin spread across his face as he too stood up, standing a good foot taller than me.
He winked, "It's a date"
