CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHEDDING PART III


Moriko, where are you, a familiar voice whines in her mind. Moriko rolls her eyes in amusement, not quite expecting her sister to miss her soon, but is glad that someone is speaking over the link again. From their recent silence over their communication line, she was almost starting to worry. She had expected Kato to 'call in' sooner, either asking about what something was, how to pay for something, or general complaining about human culture and the crowds.

Tamaki is losing his shit and I cannot take it anymore, if I have to spend one more minute with this bumbling idiot, I will hurt him. Kato's voice is a bit more firm, just bring Haruhi with you to the food court.

Moriko furrows her brows, Tamaki? What are you doing with him? I thought you went off with Takashi and Honey.

There's an indescribable whine and groan over the link as Kato mumbles incoherently. Moriko doesn't quite catch it, her curiosity rising. She knows her sister well; the chances of Kato willing hanging out with the other hosts, especially Tamaki, is fairly low. If she actually spent this whole time with Takashi and Honey, then it's possible they ran into the others and wanted to stay with them, but even then, she couldn't quite see Kato willingly sticking around without a reason. The idea of her even spending this whole time with just Hunny and Takashi is barely only possible - not impossible, but unlikely.

"Are you hungry," Moriko speaks up suddenly, causing Haruhi to perk up with a raised brow, "The food court isn't too far from here. If we wait, we may be able to catch up with my sisters eventually."

Haruhi eyes the full cart of plants and the vacuum, along with a few misc. bags that Moriko has grabbed along the way. "Maybe, but are you sure we can even get around the food court with all of this?"

The idea is tempting though, Haruhi thinks, as they begin to feel the pressure of their own bags weighing down on their arms. If anything, it would give them both a break from lugging everything around.

"The food court is bound to be a lot emptier at this time of day," Moriko waves off the concern easily, "I'm sure we won't have any problems."

There's something in Moriko's eyes that causes Haruhi to look at her a bit closer. A sense of urgency shines in Moriko's eyes despite her calm voice, as if she can't wait a moment longer to leave. Is she in that much of a hurry to leave? Haruhi frowns, they liked to think that they were having a fun time together in the mall, but they suppose that everyone is different. Sensing the change in their attitude, and spotting the frown, Moriko sighs heavily and gives a tired smile.

"Kato messaged me, she's at the food court with the rest of the hosts and is wanting a rescue."

Haruhi doesn't remember seeing Moriko take out her phone even once this entire time, but the reason made sense and eased something deep within their chest as they smiled.

"I suppose we were bound to run back into the rest of the hosts eventually, may as well get it over with."

"Still," Haruhi looks over their shoulder with a large grin, their eyes twinkling, "It was a lot fun while it lasted!"

Moriko's heart stops for a moment, her blood rushing straight to her cheeks as her breathing becomes more labored, resisting the urge to grab at her chest, knowing that the image of Haruhi's sparkling smile is going to be etched into her head all night.

Get your gay ass to the food court, Kato grumbles, if a bit teasingly, I swear to Dio, if you keep sending images of Haruhi over the mind link, I'll never get any peace.

Moriko smiles, knowing there is not any malice in her sister's words; at least Kato isn't complaining about Haruhi being a human anymore.

I'll meet you there, Reve finally speaks up. Don't cause too much trouble in the meantime.

Kato curses over the link, but it feels muffled and distracted, as if she has better things to do or if something else has more of her attention before she finally fades away all together off of the link.


Moriko isn't sure what to expect when they get to the food court; well, that is a lie, she expected to come across some big scene being made with Kato leading the group. But what she finds, while it's still far from being peaceful, is a lot more toned down than she was preparing for.

Kato is cursing, waving her hand at Tamaki while protectively holding a hand close to her hoodie's pocket. Moriko can see something moving by Kato's neck, causing Kato's hair to sway in an unnatural way. Takashi is standing by her, almost protectively, while Hunny is urging Tamaki to be 'more careful.' The twins are laughing, pointing at Tamaki who clutches a bleeding hand. For a moment, Moriko wonders if Kato scratched him until she spots a swaying tail poking out from Kato's hoodie.

"Kato," Moriko calls, "Did you get what I think you got?"

Kato turns to face her sister, an almost sheepish but far from apologetic expression gracing her features. Once they get closer, Moriko can clearly see a large, fluffy cat situated around Kato's neck and gently, Kato removes a second, smaller one from her hoodie pocket that is much younger.

"I did not know that they have cats here," Kato's eyes have a sparkle that is beginning to shine in them, her voice shaking with excitement, "They have cats, sister, cats!"

"Is it really safe to have them out like that," Haruhi piques up, the bleeding (and now sobbing) Tamaki making much more sense.

Kato chuffs, the kitten purring as it situates itself in her hand calmly, "Good cats listen and they are good cats. Bizar and Carinna will not leave me."

Moriko can tell which is which, having a decent understanding of Esperanto and knowing her sister well. Bizar suits the older male cat that seems to loom over everyone, watching them carefully, as if daring them to challenge him while Carinna looks up with big, wide innocent eyes that don't know the harshness of the world. Both, Moriko knows, will not leave Kato unless she asks them too; she draws felines to her naturally, with them having such a deep understanding of each other.

The light in Kato's eyes are warmer as she pets the cats and her words are less harsh, less venomous as she settles back down quickly, taking a seat at a nearby booth, happy to merely sit with her new friends. Her lack of killing someone before Moriko got here is making more sense now as Moriko watches her sister with understanding. Takashi's presence beside Kato, taking a seat beside her as he carefully pets the small kitten in her hands, however, makes Moriko pause. The idea of her sister letting anyone that's not family touch what is now like her children boggles her and her eyes narrow at the large, tall man as suspicions blossom in her chest.

"I should have known that if I left you alone that you would find the pet store," Reve's appearance is sudden, but graceful as she enters the conversation with ease. She glances toward Moriko's cart of plants, "...I should have expected you to find the greenhouse too it seems. Will they all fit in your room?"

At Moriko's nod, Reve hums, a disappointed and tired gleam in her eyes as she accepts the unexpected expenses. She glances toward Kato, her eyes becoming hooded as she watches the smile lights up on Kato's face, her face is strained when she sees Takashi beside her. Resigned, she sits down on the other side of Kato, placing her head on Kato's shoulder, refusing to acknowledge her.

Kato glances at her briefly, but brushes the contact off quickly as just having a long day. Takashi watches Reve closely, his eyes furrow in an unreadable expression. Reve meets his gaze and in a moment of immaturity, and jealousy, pulls down an eyelid and sticks out her tongue before moving herself in closer. Bizar graces her with his presence and hops down into her lap and she lazily strokes through his fur.

Takashi's eyes are wide, his pupils shot as he processes the odd, childish move from Reve, unsure of how to read into it. If he didn't know better, it almost came off as jealous, as if she is trying to say that Kato is hers, that she can do this and he can't.

Kyoya watches her carefully, noting her expression as he writes a few things down in his notebook. It just keeps getting stranger.


*Dio - God