Chapter 30: Preparing for the Future
While the Host Club grinned and laughed, their significant others just looked confused. Finally, Reiko asked, "Care to explain how that odd message has anything to do with Haruhi?"
Hikaru began, "Estee and Coco, the first thing you need to know is that Takashi's nickname in high school was Mori-sempai, at least to those of us who were younger than him."
"The message alludes to an incident in high school just after Haruhi joined the Host Club," Kaoru continued.
Takashi said, "Ritsu Kasanoda asked if he could be my apprentice because I had friends even though I looked tough and scary."
Chiharu inserted, "Ritsu may look scary, but he is an absolute sweetheart."
Hikaru picked up the thread of the story. "Part of the reason he looked so scary was because he was always so serious."
"So we gave him some nicknames to help him lighten up—like Casanova and Bossa-nova," Kaoru added.
"During that time, there were several attempts on Ritsu's life that I thwarted. We finally caught the culprits and found out the Sendo syndicate thought Ritsu had kidnapped Tetsuya, the Sendo heir," Takashi outlined.
Mitsukuni said, "It was all a misunderstanding. Tetsuya ran away because he didn't agree with what they were doing. Ritsu just happened to find Tetsuya sitting in the rain and invited him home. They've been friends ever since."
"Okay, now that we have the backstory," Estee huffed, "what does the message mean?"
Rene said, "You also have to know that we met Toma Matsunaga just after Hikaru and Kaoru were orphaned. The government representative for orphans was trying to take control of the Hitachiin estate like she had several others. One of those others was the Matsunaga estate, six years prior."
"The Hinan family helped Toma regain control of his family assets and the main one was the baseball stadium in Kobe," Kaoru interjected.
Kyoya held up a hand to forestall the others. "Now that we have the pieces, we can put the meaning of the message together. Haruhi is trying to tell us that she is in the vicinity of Kobe and the Sendo syndicate is involved somehow."
Waving her hands, Coco said, "Okay, let me see if I've got this straight. Because the message was from Toma, she has to be near Kobe. The nicknames referenced an episode in high school that defined the Sendo syndicate as the reason she hasn't been able to get home. Do I understand that right?"
"EXACTLY," Rene shouted.
While the others resumed their excited chatter, Kyoya stepped out of the alcove and took a couple deep breaths before calling Tachibana.
"Is there news of Haruhi?" Tachibana asked as soon as he answered the phone.
Keeping his tone even, Kyoya replied, "We just received a message that could have the clues we need to find her. Please come to the alcove by the front desk."
"On my way," he said before ending the call.
When Kyoya returned to the alcove, everyone looked at him expectantly. "I hope we're right and this message is from Haruhi and she's okay." He squared his shoulders and started, "Takashi, please contact Ritsu and Tetsuya. See if they are available to accompany us to Kobe for a few days."
"On it," was his reply as he pulled out his phone.
"Ladies, if you would be so kind as to ask Kairi to prepare bentos for…" Kyoya paused for a moment to take inventory of who would be traveling to Kobe, "fourteen so we don't have to make any stops on the way to Kobe."
Reiko, Chiharu, Estee, and Coco headed out of the alcove and toward the kitchen.
"What do you want us to do?" the twins asked in unison.
"I need you to book hotel rooms as near to the stadium in Kobe as possible. Two for the ladies and five for the men."
They chorused, "To the computer!"
Turning to the two remaining men, Kyoya said, "Mitsukuni, please have Atsuhiro get the largest vehicle ready for a trip to Kobe that may require several days there. In addition to he and Tachibana, there will be twelve passengers," anticipating that Ritsu and Tetsuya would be joining them.
Grinning, Mitsukuni responded, "Right away."
Tachibana walked in just as Mitsukuni headed out.
Kyoya nodded in acknowledgement, then said, "Rene, I need you to fill Tachibana in on the message and the things we've surmised from it. I am going to contact Inspector Yoshinaga and bring him up to speed."
"With pleasure," Rene responded with a grin.
Kyoya exited the alcove and headed to the small office behind the front desk. "I need to make an important phone call. I shouldn't need the office for long," he told the front desk clerk.
She smiled and replied, "Of course. Take all the time you need."
Stepping inside and closing the door, Kyoya sat down at the desk and scrolled through the contacts on his phone. He tapped on Inspector Yoshinaga's number and waited for him to answer.
"Good morning, Kyoya. I'm sorry but I haven't heard anything more yet on Haruhi," the inspector said.
"Actually, I was calling to say that we just received a message that may hold clues to Haruhi's whereabouts," Kyoya replied.
"What? When? How?" he asked excitedly.
Kyoya told him the message and explained the meaning they have derived from it.
"Are you sure?" Inspector Yoshinaga demanded.
"As sure as we can be. We're preparing to head to Kobe and talk to Toma. I figured you could reach out to the Kobe police department and it might help them narrow down their search." Kyoya debated for a moment before he continued, "We have asked Ritsu Kasanoda and Tetsuya Sendo to accompany us to Kobe. They are both friends of Haruhi and their family names may have some influence in the situation."
The inspector cleared his throat. "I had no idea the Hinan family had those kinds of connections."
"Ritsu was a classmate of Haruhi and the twins. We've all remained friends and try to avoid any syndicate entanglements," Kyoya assured him.
"Okay, I will contact the Kobe police with this information and let them know you're coming. How many should I tell them to expect?" the inspector asked.
"There will be fourteen, if Ritsu and Tetsuya accompany us. Atsuhiro is driving, Tachibana is coming as security. Then there are the six Hinan brothers and their four significant others." He sighed. "I doubt we could convince the ladies to stay here."
Chuckling, Inspector Yoshinaga replied, "I concur with your analysis. Give me a call when you get back and let me know how things turn out."
"I will do that," Kyoya said before ending the call.
OHSHC
After Keiji left, Haruhi cleaned the Nippori's house to give herself something to occupy her time. Yutaka was a good housekeeper, so there was very little for her to do. "I guess I'll head over to the other house and clean up the mess I made. Even if the yakuza are gone for good, the house must belong to someone. I'm sure they would prefer to get it back clean and in good working order."
Meanwhile at the storage facility, the farmers who loaded the trucks were watching them drive away. "Well, what do we do now?" demanded one of the younger farmers.
"We get to work," Manpei replied. "We still have a lot to harvest. Whether or not the yakuza are gone, we still have contracts to fulfill. Not to mention keeping busy until they get back."
OHSHC
"Are you sure about this information, Inspector?" asked one of the police officers that was preparing to head to the stadium to question Toma Matsunaga.
"Inspector Yoshinaga of Tokyo seemed to think that the information was credible," his superior responded.
"But why would Mr. Matsunaga be involved in the Sendo syndicate and the kidnapping of a teenage girl from Tokyo?" another officer inquired.
The inspector shook his head. "Let me go through it one more time. Mr. Matsunaga is a business associate of the Hinan family. The kidnapped girl is the girlfriend of one of the Hinan sons. Apparently, she is being held by someone in the vicinity of Kobe associated with the Sendo syndicate. Somehow, she slipped a message to someone who agreed to have Mr. Matsunaga get the message to Hinansho, the home estate of the Hinan family."
One of the older officers scoffed, "That doesn't guarantee he isn't involved somehow. Who better than a business associate to know how much the Hinan family might pay in ransom?"
"That is exactly why we are treating Mr. Matsunaga as a person of interest at this time. Now let's get ready to go." He glanced at the clock. "Inspector Yoshinaga estimated that the Hinan family would be in Kobe by eight o'clock tonight. I'd like to have some information for them by the time they arrive. Move out."
The inspector and five police officers approached the stadium from three sides, parking out of sight to check the area before approaching. There was one truck parked near the concession entrance being unloaded by a boy and older man. Toma Matsunaga was listening to another man who was being very emphatic about something. Whatever Toma said seemed to appease him.
The inspector radioed the other cars. "Hold your positions. It appears that Mr. Matsunaga is going somewhere. Car two, follow him discretely on foot. Do not engage."
"Yes, sir." The two officers climbed out and took different directions to try to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Fifteen minutes later, Toma returned to the stadium. The truck was empty, the boy and older man sitting on the tailgate talking quietly.
"This is car two. Mr. Matsunaga went to the nearby bank. It appears that he picked up a large amount of cash, based on the bank bag he was carrying."
Before the inspector could respond, another truck pulled up and parked next to the first one. Two men got out, one walked over to the boy and older man while the other approached the man talking to Toma. The new man handed him what appeared to be another bank bag.
"Hold your positions. This appears to be a payoff or money drop of some sort. Let's wait and see who else shows up," the inspector ordered over the radio.
Over the next ten minutes, two more trucks and a car arrived at the stadium. After the car arrived, the inspector called dispatch and requested backup. Four more police cars pulled up out of sight and radioed the inspector that they were in position.
After one more truck arrived, the man collecting the bank bags had a conference with five of the men who had arrive in the car and trucks. When he gestured to the men standing around him to get into the car, the inspector picked up the radio and ordered, "Move in! Move in!"
Six police cars formed a tight perimeter around the vehicles and men by the stadium. The inspector's car took up station just outside the perimeter to be ready for any attempted interference with the arrests.
"Step out of the vehicle and put up your hands!" the inspector ordered over the bullhorn. The officers moved in with weapons drawn.
Toma looked confused and the six clustered around the trucks looked scared as they held up their hands and stepped back as far from the car as possible. The six in the car looked mutinous but they were outnumbered and outgunned. One by one, they climbed out of the car, were handcuffed, and placed in the back of the police cars.
Once the men from the car were secured and on their way to the precinct, the remaining officers secured Toma and the five men by the trucks. The boy was placed in the inspector's car along with Toma.
"Don't worry, Keiji. We'll get everything sorted out," Toma murmured as they waited for the inspector to return from conferring with the officers.
OHSHC
Atsuhiro was stowing weekend bags in the cargo space of the vehicle when Ritsu and Tetsuya pulled up on their motorcycles.
"You two made good time," Kyoya commented as they pulled off their helmets.
Ritsu patted his motorcycle. "It's incredible how useful these are in getting around traffic. You got a place we can store these while we're gone?"
Takashi pointed to the discrete driveway leading behind the main building. "Just follow that and ask the attendant for a bike locker."
The pair unstrapped the weekend bags from the back of their bikes and handed them to Atsuhiro. "See you in a few." They replaced their helmets and headed in the direction indicated.
"Mitsukuni, please grab the water bottles," Reiko called, carrying a pile of bento boxes.
"Sure thing," he responded, opening the door of the vehicle so she could get in easily.
"Thank you, Mitsukuni," Reiko whispered as she walked past him and kissed his cheek.
"Save it for the trip," Coco called teasingly, carrying another pile of bentos.
Kyoya and Tachibana came out of the door deep in discussion.
"Did you leave a message at the front desk for Ryoji? It's probably a good thing that he's not here right now, or he would want to come along," Kyoya said,
"Yes. The note simply stated that we were headed to Kobe to follow up on a lead. I kept it purposely vague so he wouldn't get his hopes up," Tachibana assured him. "Anyway, it will take nearly six hours to get to Kobe, putting us at the hotel at about seven o'clock," Tachibana said.
Neither of the men saw the smirk on Atsuhiro's face.
Ten minutes later the vehicle was pulling out of the gates of Hinansho and headed for Kobe…and hopefully Haruhi.
OHSHC
"Please, if you won't let me call, could you have someone relay the message for me? There is an exhibition game tomorrow, so I need my assistant manager to take over while I'm here," Toma insisted.
The officer replied, "Let me check with the inspector." He stood up and left the interrogation room.
Toma massaged his temples. "How in the world did I get mixed up with a syndicate? What is…?" His thoughts were interrupted by the inspector entering the room.
Sitting down and flipping open a folder, the inspector asked, "How do you know Haruhi Fujioka?"
Puzzled, Toma replied, "I met her a couple years ago when the Hinan family helped me regain my family's assets. Is she somehow involved in the Sendo syndicate?"
"I'm asking the questions here. What was going on at the stadium today? Drug deliveries? Fencing stolen goods?" the inspector demanded.
"My family has had a contract with those farmers for nearly twenty years to supply sweet potatoes for the concession stand. I admit I was a little puzzled when they showed up a day early with an unknown party who demanded payment in cash." Toma folded his hands together on the table, staring at the inspector.
"So, you had no idea the Sendo syndicate of Tokyo was involved? That unknown party was a mid-level lieutenant." He banged the table for emphasis.
Toma looked confused. "I'd never seen him before. I suspected something was going on out at the farms, but I had no way of knowing…actually I did have a way of knowing, but Hinako was so traumatized, I didn't want to ask. Keiji and Yutaka were acting a little…strange today, but I thought they were upset with me about helping Hinako get away."
"Wait! What are you talking about?" the inspector demanded. "Who is Hinako and how was she traumatized?"
"Please, officer, is my boy okay?" Yutaka pleaded. "He's only eight years old."
Seeing the father's obvious distress, the officer said kindly, "Don't worry. He's just sitting in the inspector's office. The desk sergeant had a couple comic books he bought for his kids, so your son is reading and having a snack right now."
Heaving a sigh of relief, Yutaka replied, "Thank you. Now what do you want to know?"
"You can't hold me! You've got nothing on me!" the boss insisted in a loud, belligerent voice.
The officer guarding the interrogation room door sneered, "You'll get your turn. Just be patient."
"Did any of the interviews reveal any information about Haruhi Fujioka? Other than my interview with Mr. Matsunaga, who met her two years ago?" The inspector asked.
All the officers shook their head, indicating a negative.
"Well, we may not have found her, but we definitely stumbled onto something. Report."
The senior officer referred to his notes. "Inspector, the interviews with the five men by the trucks all line up. They are farmers with a long-term contract with the stadium to provide sweet potatoes for concessions. The six men from the car are part of the Sendo syndicate that showed up in their area about six weeks ago. One of the farmers' daughters..." The officer making the report was interrupted when someone snickered.
The inspector scowled. "This is no laughing matter. If you can't take it seriously, I can have you reassigned to parking patrol duty." Looking around to be certain he got his point across, he said, "Please continue."
"As I was saying, one of the farmers' daughters was assaulted by the syndicate men. The next day, all the women from the area were gone. The farmers suspect that the syndicate sold them, either as slaves or into the sex industry." The officer paled at the thought of women being used like that.
"Well, those stories mesh with the information I got from Mr. Matsunaga. Apparently, the girl who was assaulted is the sister of the boy we picked up and her father is one of the farmers. She was traumatized by it, so Mr. Matsunaga didn't delve into the matter, though he admitted to helping the women leave the area. He assumed it was a son of one of the other farmers was responsible." Glancing at the clock he noted that it was nearly six o'clock. "It's almost dinner time. Put all of them in cells for the night with the farmers and Mr. Matsunaga as far from the syndicate as possible."
"What about the boy? Do we have to put him in a cell as well," one of the officers asked anxiously.
"No, I will take him to dinner with me. I'm not sure what to do with him overnight. I have not received a response from the local orphanage about a bed for the night." The inspector rubbed his temples. "Maybe a solution will present itself. The Hinan group will arrive in a couple hours and I have to give that issue some thought as well."
OHSHC
Just after six o'clock, the Hinan group arrived at the hotel. "I didn't expect to arrive for another hour," Rene commented.
"That's what happens when you employ a racecar driver," Atsuhiro teased, handing weekend bags out of the cargo area to their waiting owners.
Kyoya stepped to one side while Hikaru and Kaoru were taking care of the check-in process. "Odd. Toma is not answering his phone. I guess I'll try the stadium. The website listed an exhibition game for tomorrow. Maybe he's busy taking care of last-minute details."
"Kobe Baseball Stadium. How may I help you?" a voice answered in a very business-like manner.
"I would like to speak to Toma Matsunaga, please." Kyoya stated.
There was a pause on the line. "I'm sorry. He is unavailable at this time. May I assist you?"
"I'm calling in regard to a message he left at Hinansho earlier today," Kyoya clarified.
"I…he…"
"Is there a problem?" Kyoya asked, getting impatient with the indecision of the person on the other end of the line.
"May I take a message?" was the only replied.
Kyoya bit back a growl before he coldly stated, "No. No message. I will try again another time.
While Kyoya was trying to contact Toma, Tachibana called the police department to inform them of the arrival of the Hinan group as had been requested.
"Kobe Police Department. How may I help you?" the desk sergeant asked.
"Good evening. This is Seizaburo Tachibana. Inspector Yoshinaga requested that I call when the Hinan group arrived in Kobe." His expression was impassive as he waited for a response.
"Ah, yes. The inspector was not expecting you for another two hours. He is currently at dinner. I will be sure he gets the message just as soon as he returns. Where can you be reached?" the sergeant inquired.
Tachibana gave him his cell phone number, Kyoya's number, and the name of the hotel where they were registered.
The group gathered around Hikaru and Kaoru to get their room assignments and key cards. When Kyoya and Tachibana joined them, the others looked at them expectantly. "Let's wait until we're in the rooms," Tachibana stated, looking around for potential security issues.
"Good idea," Mitsukuni agreed, wrapping an arm around Reiko's waist, noticing the stares from the other customers in the lobby.
Upstairs in Mitsukuni and Takashi's room, everyone waited to hear what Kyoya and Tachibana had to report.
"I couldn't get a hold of Toma and the person at the stadium was less than helpful. Something must have happened after Toma left the message at Hinansho," Kyoya reported, frustration coloring his voice.
When they turned their attention to Tachibana, he said, "I left a message with the desk sergeant because he told me the inspector had just left for his dinner break. The sergeant assured me that he would give the inspector my message as soon as he returns."
"I guess all we can do is wait," Rene grumbled.
Hikaru and Kaoru exchanged a look, then chorused, "Let's pick a movie to occupy us while we wait."
"Good idea," Estee and Coco replied in unison. "The sillier the better."
OHSHC
As soon as the inspector returned from dinner with Keiji, the desk sergeant stopped him. "Sir, there was a call just after you left." He handed the inspector a slip of paper. "The Hinan group arrived early. Here is the hotel where they are staying and the phone numbers where they can be reached."
"Thank you. Come along, Keiji." Heading to his office, the inspector thought about the phone call he was about to make. "What type of men are this Kyoya Hinan and Seizaburo Tachibana? Are they elites who expect everyone to kowtow to them? I guess we'll see."
He indicated for Keiji to have a seat while he made a phone call. Keiji picked up the comic he had been reading before they left for dinner.
Not that anyone was really watching it, but the movie was interrupted by the ringing of Tachibana's phone.
"Good evening, this is Seizaburo Tachibana." He paused briefly while the caller spoke. Then he continued, "I agree that just the two of us would be best for this evening. We'll be there shortly."
"Was that the police station?" Chiharu asked.
Tachibana nodded. "That was the desk sergeant. The inspector has asked that we go down to the station. Since it is after regular hours, they asked that it be just Kyoya and me. If needed, we will all go together tomorrow," he reported.
Fifteen minutes later, the pair was giving their names to the desk sergeant. "The inspector is expecting you. Please follow me."
They followed until the sergeant stopped at a door and knocked. "Come," was the response from inside.
Stepping to the side to they could enter, the sergeant opened the door and gestured to them.
"Thank you for your assistance," Kyoya acknowledge politely.
Before the inspector had a chance to greet them, a small boy jumped up and exclaimed, "Kyoya and Tachibana. You're look exactly like the descriptions."
Kyoya was surprised and he knelt down to address the boy. "You have me at a disadvantage, young man. May I ask your name and how you know us?
"I'm Keiji Nippori. Haruhi told me all about you at night in our room before we went to sleep," he answered in a rush.
"Haruhi?" Kyoya's voice caught in his throat. He hadn't dared let himself hope that they would find her.
Tachibana laid a hand on his shoulder.
The inspector interrupted. "Why don't we all sit down and hear what Keiji has to say?"
Keiji could barely contain his excitement as he perched on his chair again. Kyoya and Tachibana sat down in the remaining chairs.
Smiling gently, the inspector instructed, "Keiji, tell us how and when you met Haruhi and everything you know about her."
Grinning broadly, he began his tale. "Let's see. I met her a week ago last Friday. I was hiding in the barn because the yakuza men got really mean when they heard me crying about missing Hinako. That's my sister. She disappeared not long after the yakuza came and hurt her." His face screwed up in anger at the memory.
The other men waited until he was ready to continue his tale.
Shaking his head, Keiji cleared the memory away and continued telling how he had met Haruhi after she escaped from a kidnapper and hid in the Nippori's barn. Then he described Haruhi's plan to hide from the yakuza in plain sight by dressing and acting like a boy.
Despite himself, Kyoya chuckled and murmured, "Figures."
Then Keiji described her plan to work at the yakuza house doing the cooking and cleaning while the farmers spread the rumor about rodents. "When I heard her talk about the rodents, I thought of the RoUS's from The Princess Bride," Keiji stated proudly. "That was Hinako's favorite movie," he added sadly.
"If you need to take a break," the inspector offered.
"Nah. I'm okay," he replied, shrugging. Then he continued to describe the nervousness of the yakuza and described in detail what Haruhi had done to the pantry that was the final straw. "The Boss said they were going to cut their losses. I hope that means they're leaving and never coming back."
The inspector chuckled. "Well, you don't have to worry about that. I think the testimony of your father and the other farmers will ensure that they will go to jail. I wish we had Hinako for her testimony. Then we'd have them on assault charges as well."
Keiji was nearly in tears when he whispered, "I wish I knew what the yakuza did with them. Haruhi said she'd help us get them back after the yakuza were gone." Suddenly he brightened, "Wait, now that you're here, Haruhi will have her friends back. She said she needed her best mind for the task."
Kyoya colored slightly at the comment and Tachibana did his best to suppress a smirk.
The three younger men looked confused when the inspector picked up the phone and stated, "Please bring Toma Matsunaga to my office."
"So, that's why I couldn't get hold of him and the assistant manager was acting so cagey," Kyoya mused at the information that Toma was in police custody.
There was a knock at the door and the inspector said, "Come."
"You sent for me, Inspector?" Toma asked as he entered.
Keiji jumped up and threw himself at the young man who had just entered. "TOMA!"
Bracing, Toma caught the boy and pulled him into a hug. "Keiji, you're okay." Then he looked over the boy's shoulder and a look of surprised washed over his face. "Kyoya? Tachibana? What are you doing here?"
Standing abruptly, Kyoya's voice was thick with emotion as he asked, "We're looking for Haruhi. She was kidnapped eleven days ago. How did you get the message that you left at Hinansho?"
Toma looked from Keiji to Kyoya and back to Keiji. "Keiji came to me this morning insistent that I needed to call and leave that message. You're telling me it was from Haruhi?"
Keiji nodded against Toma's shoulder. "She wouldn't let me tell you about her, just in case the yakuza didn't leave like she thought they would."
The inspector interrupted. "Mr. Matsunaga, you were brought to my office to answer some questions regarding Hinako Nippori."
Kyoya dropped back into his chair, Toma put Keiji down, and Tachibana stood up to offer his chair to Toma. Keiji settled back into his chair to hear what Toma had to say.
"What do you want to know?" Toma asked.
Bluntly, the inspector asked, "Do you know her whereabouts?"
"Yes, sir." Toma looked puzzled at the line of questioning.
"Where is she? I won't ask again." The inspector stood up and planted his hands on his desk.
"I refuse to divulge that information without her express permission," Toma maintained stubbornly.
Shoving the phone across the desk to him, the inspector growled, "Then call her."
"This will be a long distance call." Toma stated, watching the inspector's reaction and receiving a nod to proceed.
After he dialed there was a brief pause. "Hey, Suzume. I need to speak to Hinako. Is she available?" After another pause, he said, "I'll wait."
Kyoya looked at Toma questioningly. "Ikuta?" he mouthed and received a nod in return.
Toma's attention was taken by a voice on the phone. "Hey, Hinako. How are you doing? Do you mind if I tell the Kobe police where you are?" He looked around. "Keiji is right here if you'd like to talk to him first." He handed the phone to Keiji.
"HINAKO! Dad and I have missed you so much. What happened?" Keiji face was split in a huge grin that faded just a little as he listened to his sister. "I think that problem is taken care of. It's quite a story, but right now, I think the police inspector needs to hear what you have to say about the assault." Keiji handed the phone to the inspector.
Speaking softly, he said, "Good evening, Miss Nippori. I just have a couple questions, if you're feeling up to it." He nodded as he listened. "I just want you to tell me who was responsible for your assault and disappearance." For the next few minutes, he murmured sounds of acknowledgement and made notes on his desk blotter as he listened. "Thank you for your help. I can confirm that it is safe for you and the other women to return to your homes. The yakuza have been apprehended. I'll turn the phone back over to Mr. Matsunaga."
Taking the phone, Toma said, "Is everything okay?" He started to grin. "I'll make arrangements for the bus to pick you up tomorrow morning." He hung up the phone and let out a breath.
The inspector eyed Toma suspiciously. "Why the reluctance to reveal her location?"
Toma gave a wry smile as he answered, "Because she was not the only one in danger. Hinako called me the night she was assaulted. She knew that she was the first-but figured she wouldn't be the last unless all the women left. I agreed to pick them all up at midnight at the gas station. As soon as I hung up from her call, I phoned Suzume Ikuta in Kyoto and asked if she had a place they could hide."
"Who is this Suzume Ikuta?" the inspector asked.
"I told you that the Hinan family helped me recover my family assets," at the inspector's nod, he continued, "They helped her at the same time. We've tried to spread that kindness around."
"Please continue." He motioned for Toma to continue his story.
"Suzume was in the middle of renovating one of the recovered properties, an apartment building. She figured the women could live in the viable apartments and help clean and decorate the other units as they were repaired. It turned out to be a beneficial arrangement all the way around." Toma ran his hand through his hair, remembering the midnight escape and Hinako's injuries.
The inspector tapped the phone. "Please make the arrangements for the women to be brought back from Kyoto tomorrow."
"I'd be delighted to," he said with a grin as he started dialing.
While Toma was busy on the phone, the inspector said quietly, "It's getting late. I cannot release Mr. Matsunaga this evening because it's too late to file the paperwork. He will be safe and comfortable here. I'm worried about Keiji. We've been unable to reach anyone to make sleeping arrangements."
Tachibana and Kyoya exchanged a glance before Kyoya offered, "If both you and Keiji are agreeable, he could come with us. I'm sure we can find space for him in one of our rooms at the hotel."
Keiji nodded and shot the inspector a pleading look. The inspector laughed. "I think that would be a fine idea. I already have your contact information if I need him."
They were startled when Toma announced, "Done. The women should be here by ten o'clock tomorrow morning." Looking at the inspector, he said, "I heard what you said about not being able to release me tonight. May I discreetly pass along word to the farmers the news that the women will be here tomorrow?"
Smiling, the inspector replied, "I'll walk you down and confirm it so there are no doubts." He stood up and gestured to the door. "Shall we go?"
At the front desk, they were about to go their separate ways when Tachibana asked, "What time should we be here in the morning? I know the whole group would really like to speak to Toma."
"Come at nine. I'll have the desk sergeant put you all in the briefing room. It should be big enough to accommodate everyone. Good night." The inspector waved as he and Toma headed back toward the cells.
OHSHC
"Oh, Mr. Fujioka, there's a message for you," the desk clerk called as Ryoji returned to Hinansho at eight o'clock Tuesday evening.
"Who would be leaving me a message?" he thought as he opened the envelope. On the elevator ride he read the brief message from Tachibana.
Startled out of his reverie when the elevator doors opened, he walked slowly down the hall considering the implications of the message. "A lead. They have a lead on Haruhi's location. She's been gone…" Ryoji paused to open the apartment door before counting the days since Haruhi had been abducted. "It's been eleven days." He dropped onto the sofa and held his head in his hands.
Feeling a constriction in his chest, he pulled out his phone and located Shimura's contact information. Barely holding his emotions in check, he waited for her to answer.
"Good evening, this is Shimura Tae."
Ryoji practically sobbed at hearing her voice. Brokenly, he said, "This is Ryoji. I came home to a note from Tachibana that they have a lead on Haruhi's location. She's been gone eleven days. What if the lead is her body? What if my baby girl is gone? What am I going to do?"
Gently she responded, "Listen to me. You need to remain positive. If it were a body, you are the one who would have to identify her. Since they didn't give any definite information, they probably don't want to get your hopes up."
Taking several deep breaths, he replied, "You're right. They've always been straightforward with me. I'll hope for the best and wait to hear from them." He closed his eyes and leaned his head onto the back of the sofa. "Hey, Shimura?"
"Yes, Ryoji?" she responded.
"I don't know what I would do without you right now. Thank you for coming with Rene to break the news about Haruhi." He sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"You go get some sleep. Things will look brighter tomorrow," Shimura assured him.
"Thanks. You have a good night," Ryoji said feeling more at peace.
"Good night," she replied before ending the call.
OHSHC
Wednesday was a flurry of activity. The Hinan group arrived at the police station at nine o'clock and was shown to the briefing room.
"Hey, guys," Hikaru called for everyone's attention. "Why don't we have Reiko, Chiharu, Estee, and Coco take the women shopping for new outfits to celebrate their homecoming?"
"That would be a wonderful idea," Rene called.
The others nodded in agreement and Keiji clapped with glee. Tachibana pulled out his wallet and handed the Hinan family credit card to Reiko and whispered, "Buy something nice for Haruhi, too."
Reiko smiled and answered his request with a nod. "I'll take good care of this," she promised.
The inspector entered the room and asked, "May I speak privately with Mr. Sendo for a moment?"
Tetsuya shrugged and replied, "Sure." He followed the inspector.
"What's that all about?" Ritsu asked nervously.
"Don't worry," Takashi replied, patting Ritsu's shoulder gently.
The inspector led Tetsuya to the viewing area of a line-up room. "I just want you to confirm whether or not these men are part of the Sendo syndicate."
"I'll help any way I can," he replied.
The six men were escorted into the line-up room. They grumbled while shifting their feet back and forth in agitation.
Tetsuya looked the group over intently and then started to chuckle. "It figures he would try something like this."
"How so?" the inspector asked for clarification.
"Ena-though he insists everyone call him Boss-is greedy, with big ideas but very few brains to pull them off. The five with him are his loyal lapdogs." Tetsuya covered his eyes and shook his head. "I doubt he'll ever learn. I used to hear stories around the compound. He's been pulling stuff like this since high school, but it has always blown up in his face one way or another."
"Thanks for the information." The inspector pushed an intercom button. "That's all. Return them to their cells."
"What about the farmers and Toma?" Tetsuya inquired.
"Why don't we wait to talk about that when we get back to the briefing room? That way I can tell the whole crowd at once," the inspector replied with a chuckle.
The inspector and Tetsuya had just returned to the briefing room when an officer brought Toma in.
"We were just talking about you, Mr. Matsunaga," the inspector said. Turning to the group, he continued, "As you can see, Mr. Matsunaga has been released because Mr. Hinan vouched for his identity. The farmers have all given us names of long-time customers who can vouch for them as well. Officers are making contact to confirm their identities. They should be released by lunch time."
The group cheered at the good news. "That should give us time to finish the shopping," Chiharu said happily.
The inspector waved his hands for attention. "With Mr. Sendo's identification and Miss Nippori's statement, the other six men will not be released for quite some time."
The desk sergeant opened the door. "Inspector, the bus you were expecting has arrived."
"They're early," he replied after checking the clock.
"Inspector?" Toma said.
"Yes?"
"I think it would be best if Keiji and I go out to meet them. They know both of us so they should be more at ease," Toma suggested.
The inspector remarked, "I'd like to come along as well so I can speak to Miss Nippori. It should only take a few minutes."
Keiji and Toma exchanged a glance and nodded affirmatively.
As they passed the front desk, the inspector asked the sergeant to have the yakuza placed back in the line-up room.
Until they saw Keiji and Toma, the women refused to get off the bus. Suddenly the door flew open and Hinako raced out and wrapped Keiji in a fierce embrace.
"Keiji, I've missed you so much," Hinako cried.
The rest of the women exited the bus and surrounded Toma, chattering excitedly at the prospect of being able to go home. "Come along ladies," Toma said over the commotion. "There are some friends that I would like you to meet."
The inspector stepped forward. "Miss Nippori, if you could come with me for a minute."
Hinako stiffened and Keiji said, "It's okay. The inspector just wants you to identify the bad guys."
Toma escorted the other women to the briefing room while Keiji accompanied Hinako to the viewing area of the line-up room. Minutes later the pair joined the others who were getting to know one another.
Seeing that Hinako arrived, Coco stood up and announced, "Time to go shopping!"
Toma waved to get everyone's attention. "Please meet us at the hotel when you've finished your shopping. We'll wait here for the men to be released, then we'll head to the hotel and make arrangements for lunch. After lunch, we'll take you all home."
OHSHC
Haruhi was in the kitchen at the Nippori house washing dishes after lunch when she heard a commotion outside. She slipped into the living room and peeked out through the window coverings. Outside she saw a bus and large vehicle pulling the yard.
"Wait, that's Toma," she thought as a young man stepped off the bus and started helping women exit. Turning her attention to the other vehicle, she gasps and bolted for the front door.
Haruhi paused briefly on the porch as she watched the Hinan group climb out of the vehicle and look around. Kyoya was the first one to notice her.
Kyoya could only stare as his thoughts were a jumble. "She's here and she's okay. She looks just like that scruffy little urchin that invaded Music Room Three four years ago." Memories of the intervening years flashed through his mind faster than he could identify them.
"Kyoya," she said softly as she jumped off the porch and ran toward him. Realizing that he was lost in his thoughts or memories, Haruhi slowed her momentum so she wouldn't bowl him over. Pulling him into a hug, she stood on her toes and kissed the corner of his mouth because, in her haste, her aim was off.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, Kyoya smirked and whispered, "That's the same place you kissed me that first time, when I had the split lip."
Ignoring his comment, Haruhi slipped her left arm around his waist and her right hand up the back of his neck into his hair so she could pull his head down to kiss him properly.
Kyoya wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss passionately. When they finally pulled back to catch their breath, they realized that they were surrounded and they both blushed brightly.
The twins were grinning broadly, Coco was fanning herself, Ritsu was blushing as red as his hair, Rene was hopping up and down while clapping his hands silently, and Estee looked amused. The rest of the group just smiled and nodded approvingly.
Trying to gather some semblance of dignity, Kyoya huffed, "I haven't seen her for nearly two weeks and she did disappear under suspicious circumstances."
"We wouldn't tease you if we didn't love you," Mitsukuni chanted in a sing-song voice.
The crowd parted and Toma stepped forward with an elderly woman. He said, "This is Obaa-san, the matriarch of the community. She has invited all of us up to her house to celebrate the liberation from the syndicate and the return of the women." He gestured in the direction of the house the yakuza had been using.
The Hinan group all bowed respectfully to the elderly woman who was shorter than Haruhi but had a presence that made her more imposing than Takashi.
Haruhi looked around, concerned. "Where are Yutaka and Keiji?"
Toma replied, "Don't worry. All of the farmers who left here on Tuesday have returned. They drove the trucks back to the storage facility. If you will walk Obaa-san to her house, I will see that the other women are dropped off at their homes as well."
Obaa-san took Haruhi's hand and started to lead her toward the house in the distance. "I must thank you for all you did here. Keiji's account was rather disjointed so I would like to hear it from you. However, I would like you to tell it at the celebration tonight so everyone can hear and you don't have to keep repeating it."
Haruhi and Kyoya had their arms wrapped around each other's waists as Obaa-san pulled Haruhi along.
As they approached the front door, Haruhi thought, "I'm glad I took the time to clean the house since there's going to be a party here tonight."
"You all will stay here with me tonight. You can leave for Tokyo tomorrow morning," Obaa-san decreed. "For now, let's relax and have some tea while we wait for the other to arrive with the food and music."
OHSHC
A crowd was gathered outside the front doors of Hinansho when the family arrived home late Thursday afternoon. Haruhi and Kyoya missed the sight because they were asleep entwined in each other's arms. Atsuhiro parked the vehicle and turned to Tachibana. "You better wake them up. As soon as I open the door you know Ryoji will be in here to see his little girl for himself."
Tachibana chuckled. "No doubt." He nodded at the sight of Ryoji running toward the vehicle. "Well, at least my years of waking Kyoya mean I know what to expect." First, he shook the young man's shoulder and dodged a swinging fist. Next. He said loudly, "Kyoya, it's time to get up."
"Go away!" Kyoya growled, snuggling back into Haruhi's warmth.
Snickers and chuckles were heard from the back of the vehicle as the others watched in amusement.
When Tachibana saw Ryoji standing at the door looking like he was about to pull it off its hinges, he decided to change tactics. Reaching across Kyoya, he shook Haruhi's shoulder.
She blinked her eyes and smiled sleepily. "Are we late for school?" she asked, still half-asleep.
"No, but we have arrived home and your father is rather impatient to see you," he replied with a grin.
She waved a hand haphazardly. "Give me a minute." Pulling back slightly in Kyoya's embrace, she nuzzled his ear and whisper huskily, "Kyoya-koi, we need to get up. People are watching."
Kyoya's eyes flew opened and he looked around blearily. "Where are we?"
"We're home. There's a whole crowd waiting for us." She nuzzled his ear again.
Kyoya stretched and smiled at Haruhi. "Not for us, for you."
"You can open the door now, Atsuhiro," Tachibana called.
As soon as the door was open far enough for Ryoji to slip his hand in, he pulled the door open and lunged for Haruhi.
"My baby! She's back! She's okay!" Dragging her across Kyoya's lap, Ryoji wrapped Haruhi in a tight hug, sobbing and laughing by turns.
"Dad, I'm fine," she wheezed. "Can I breathe? Please?"
Loosening his grip only marginally, he dragged her out of the vehicle and to the waiting crowd. "Let's all head to the main dining room so we can all tell Haruhi how much we missed her," Ryoji announced.
Fifteen minutes later, Haruhi was standing at the door greeting everyone. Ryoji was holding on to her hand like he expected her to disappear at any moment. His other hand was held by Shimura.
"I wasn't gone that long, was I?" Haruhi contemplated as she watched her father and her psychology professor exchange meaningful glances.
Mr. Naruse stepped up. "Haruhi, the office just isn't the same without you there. I'm so glad you're back safely. When you have a few minutes later, I'd like to talk to you about something."
"Of course," she replied.
Next came Miss Negano, Misaki, the judges, and their clerks. All of them commented on how the courthouse was quiet without her presence.
Fuyumi threw her arms around Haruhi and squealed, "You're back. We've missed you." Seiji and the kids stood back and tried not to laugh at her antics.
"Ren, come back here," Hibiki called, hurrying after the giggling toddler.
Haruhi laughed and said, "He's getting so big."
"And fast," Kosaku replied, smiling indulgently at his son. "It's so good to have you back.
Finally, everyone had a chance to greet Haruhi and they sat down to a wonder dinner prepared by Kairi and his crew.
Ryoji insisted that Haruhi sit on his right because he had so much to tell her. Kyoya quietly sat on her other side, maintaining constant but discreet contact.
"Haruhi, we have so much to catch up on. I am so thankful that Rene brought Shimura with him when they broke the news of your disappearance. I don't know what I would do without her. She helped me interview and choose a grief counselor." Ryoji turned and looked lovingly into the eyes of the woman on his left. Shimura returned his look shyly.
"Oh, before I forget. Inspector Yoshinaga will be here in the morning to take your statement about the kidnapping. Will you be alright? Should I have him wait?" Ryoji murmured.
"Tomorrow morning will be fine, Dad. I already wrote out a statement on the trip back from Kobe. I signed it with Tachibana and Kyoya as witnesses," Haruhi replied, pausing to squeeze Kyoya's hand.
Ryoji chattered on, "That's good, because tomorrow after lunch, we're headed to Misuzu's pension in Karuizawa for the weekend. Oh, and next Wednesday is our first family counseling session now that you're back."
"Family counseling session?" Haruhi asked, bemused.
"Why, yes. My grief counselor insisted that we meet once a week as a family. If you want individual sessions as well, that can be arranged," her father continued.
Haruhi sighed and continued eating her dinner. "This is going to be a long night."
OHSHC
Trying to keep her irritation in check, Haruhi paced the waiting room. "I can't believe he didn't tell me we were staying until Tuesday. He said it was a weekend trip. I have a lot of things to catch up on. I wonder is the management team did the investment analysis of the Hinan holding I suggested. I was right that Misuzu wants to retire and Mei has no interest in taking over the business. The pension would be a good investment for the Hinan family. I still need to find time to contact Mr. Naruse. He said at the 'Welcome Home' party that…"
Her thoughts were interrupted with the receptionist called, "Fujioka. The doctor will see you now."
"Good to meet you, Miss Fujioka. I am Dr. Goda." He bowed and gestured for her and Ryoji to enter his office. "Your father has told me so much about you. Please have a seat."
Haruhi hummed noncommittally and looked around. Before she could choose a place to sit, her father grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the sofa.
The trio spent the next half hour talking Kotoko, the family dynamic between Ryoji and Haruhi, the progress Ryoji was making in therapy, and finally they came to next steps.
Dr. Goda paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before he looked at Haruhi seriously and said, "You two need to rebuild your relationship with a new dynamic."
"What do you mean?" Haruhi asked cautiously.
"I'll be blunt. You need to live together in the same household, just the two of you, for the next six months or so." Before Haruhi could protest, he continued, "I know you've done that in the past. But this time it needs to be with Ryoji as the parent rather than you."
"And how are we supposed to manage that?" she demanded. "I'm in my final year of my undergraduate degree. I will not drop everything and move back to Hinansho…"
"No, no. You misunderstand. I am suggesting that Ryoji get an apartment near campus where you two can live while you attend university. All I ask is that you let your father make the family decisions."
Haruhi huffed, "I'll give it a try."
Ryoji clapped and gleefully exclaimed, "This is going to be so much fun."
OHSHC
Stomping in the direction of the apartment she shared with her father, Haruhi grumbled to herself, "I can't believe I have to be home by five o'clock. Five o'clock. How am I supposed to study when the books I need are considered reference texts and can't be checked out? I can understand Wednesdays for the family grief counseling. But every day?! I have less freedom than an elementary school student."
It was just a little over a week until Christmas and Haruhi's resentment had been building since the start of the school year. Her father had left his job as a bartender at Hinansho and moved out of the apartment. Instead, he got a job as a clerk in a bookstore near the university and rented an apartment nearby. All the decisions were made without any input from Haruhi and the grief counselor applauded her dad's actions.
The erosion of her freedom had started slowly, almost unnoticed. After her 'Welcome Home' party, Mr. Naruse had explained that they had brought on a new intern while she was missing. However, they had worked with the University and the judges at the courthouse to qualify her for a paralegal certificate since she was nearly finished with her under graduate degree and had three years of experience as an intern. Haruhi would now be working in the office on Mondays as a paralegal, tracking her billable time just like a lawyer. This reduced her work from three days to one.
Then Ryoji had insisted that she and Kyoya could not spend all their free time together. He allowed Friday to be their date night, but Haruhi had to be home by ten o'clock.
Time with her friends had become even more limited. She was allowed to spend time with them on the first Saturday of the month from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon.
"I miss the dinner parties where we took turns cooking. I miss movie nights where we would binge watch something and all fall asleep together. I feel so left out and alone." She glared up at the apartment building where she lived with her dad.
She opened the apartment door and stepped inside. Placing her shoes neatly by the door, she called out, "I'm home."
There was no response and no aroma of dinner so she headed to the kitchen. On the counter was a note.
"Baby girl, I am attending a lecture that Shimura is giving and we're going out afterwards. I made a bento for you. It's in the refrigerator. I'll call to check up on you. Don't wait up. Remember, your bedtime is ten o'clock. Dad."
Haruhi growled in frustration and crushed the note in her hand. "I'm nineteen and he's treating me like I'm five." She thought about calling Kyoya to talk but remember the note said her dad would be calling to check up on her.
Huffing in annoyance, she pulled her homework out of her satchel and then went to the refrigerator for the bento. It didn't look very appetizing and she considered just throwing it away but she didn't want to deal with her dad's temper tantrum if she did.
Six hours and four phone calls from Ryoji later, Haruhi heard the door opening. "Great. I lost track of time. Now I'm going to get a lecture," Haruhi sighed in frustration.
Ryoji stepped into the kitchen and clucked his tongue in disappointment. "It's an hour past your bedtime, young lady."
Haruhi shook the cramps out of her hand. "I'm sorry, Dad. I got this assignment in class today and it's due on Thursday. Since we have family counseling tomorrow, this was the only opportunity I had to get it done."
He looked at her sternly. "Very well. Just this once. Now go get ready for bed."
Resisting the impulse to roll her eyes, Haruhi packed her school books and papers in her satchel and prepared to head to her bedroom.
"Oh, by the way," Ryoji called after her. "I'm taking you clothes shopping this weekend. Your wardrobe is dismally inadequate."
Clenching her fist, she replied, "Okay, Dad. Goodnight."
OHSHC
Haruhi sat sulkily as far from her father as she could in the small waiting room. Glaring at the pattern in the carpet she contemplated the prior week. "I cannot believe that he punished me for getting to bed late on Tuesday by insisting that he and Shimura had to accompany Kyoya and me on our date Friday—and cut it short by an hour. And then there was that fiasco of a shopping trip over the weekend. The outfits he tried to get me to wear were ridiculous. They might have been fine for a six or seven year old, but I'm nearly twenty."
Her thoughts were interrupted when the receptionist said, "Dr. Goda is ready for you."
"I highly doubt that," Haruhi mused darkly as she entered the office and purposely sat in the arm chair rather than on the sofa.
Ryoji frowned. "Haruhi, you're supposed to sit here on the sofa next to me."
"No."
Dr. Goda settled into his wingback chair and stated, "I sense some tension in the room this evening."
"Haruhi has been rather difficult this past week," Ryoji pouted. "She has been willful and disobedient."
"And why is that?" the doctor inquired.
"I just don't know. I've been trying to take care of her like any good father would," Ryoji said. "She's been such a good girl and now this…"
Haruhi hit the arms of the chair hard with her fists as she stood up. "I HAVE HAD IT! I will not take any more of this…nonsense!"
"You sit down and behave, young lady," Ryoji exclaimed.
"NO! I have tried to be the good little girl and do what I'm told, but I have had it. You want to talk about this past week? Let's start by establishing some facts." She turned on her heel and began pacing the length of the room.
"Fact: I am nearly twenty years old. Fact: I have nearly completed my undergraduate degree and have already been accepted into law school. Fact: I have a goal and I have been working very hard to achieve it. Fact: I have been self-reliant and independent since I was five."
"Now that's part of the problem…" Dr. Goda started to say.
Haruhi stopped pacing and glared at him. He looked abashed as she growled, "I have had all I can take of your meddling, doctor."
She began pacing again. "I have put up with rules that would frustrate an elementary school student, much less a university student. My bedtime is ten o'clock. I have to be home at five o'clock every day except Mondays for work and Fridays when I'm allowed to see my significant other until ten o'clock. My other friends I can only see once a month for four hours.
"Last week, while he was out on a date, I missed my bedtime by one hour. ONE HOUR. I was doing homework the whole time to make up for not having time to do it on Wednesday evenings. During the six hours he was out, he called me four times at random intervals so he would know I was not on the phone talking to my friends. As punishment for this transgression, he accompanied me on my date with Kyoya on Friday and cut it short by an hour.
"The last straw was this weekend. He insisted on taking me shopping for clothes because he thought my wardrobe was 'woefully inadequate'. Please note that most of my wardrobe is Hitachiin, custom designed. Then he precedes to try to dress me in outfits like this." She pulled out her phone and scrolled through the photos.
The doctor looked at the photo of her dressed in a frilly pink babydoll dress with white tights and pink ballet flats. Then she scrolled to the next picture of her dressed in a pinafore wearing Mary Janes. "I am nearly twenty and studying to be a lawyer. I AM NOT FIVE YEARS OLD."
She spun around to face Ryoji. "Dad, I love you or I wouldn't have put up with this nonsense for this long. But I WILL NOT pretend to be five years old so you can have a do-over from the point of Mom's death. It's NOT going to happen."
There was a slow clap from the doctor and Haruhi spun around to glare at him.
Dr. Goda stood up, still clapping. He smirked and said, "Bravo. You have finally reached your rebellious teenage years and now you have completed family counseling."
OHSHC
Approaching the front door of Hinansho, Haruhi felt like an outsider. "I haven't been here for months. I haven't seen any of my friends in weeks—except Kyoya last Friday."
She hung back as her dad and Shimura talked to the desk clerk about their accommodations for the next three days.
"Room? Oh no, Mr. Fujioka. Your apartment on the third floor is ready for you. Here's your key." The young lady smiled and waved them through to the private elevator. Haruhi just followed along carrying her weekend bag, lost in her own thoughts.
Once they settle their luggage in the apartment, Ryoji said, "Haruhi, why don't you go find your friends? Shimura and I are going to talk to Kairi and Shohei. We'll see you later."
"Okay, Dad," she replied without any enthusiasm.
After they left, Haruhi sank down on the sofa. "Well, Wataru's trial is over and he's been sentenced for my kidnapping. They couldn't prove anything against Shiori so she was acquitted. She changed schools anyway because she didn't want everyone gawking at her."
She got up and walked into the kitchen. A quick perusal showed that the refrigerator and cupboards were empty. "Oh well, I guess I'll have to go downstairs to get something to eat."
She walked back to the living room and flopped down on the sofa again. Picking up a pillow, she hugged it to her chest. "Everyone is probably playing games and having fun. I should go find them but I just don't have the ambition. I probably don't fit in anymore anyways."
A pounding on the door roused her out of her morose thoughts. Reluctantly she got up to answer it.
"There you are," Ageha huffed. "Why didn't you come find us as soon as you got here?"
"I was tired…" Haruhi started to say.
Ageha interrupted, "Nonsense. Come with me or I will send Takashi to carry you down. We have so much to tell you because you've been gone so long." She grabbed Haruhi's arm and started pulling her down the hall to Mitsukuni's apartment.
"I found her. She was moping in the apartment," Ageha announced as she pushed Haruhi through the door. "She's your problem now." Having completed her task, Ageha left and closed the door behind her.
Suddenly Haruhi was surrounded by her friends and enveloped in a group hug. On the verge of tears, she exclaimed, "I missed you guys. I'm sorry for the past few months."
Takashi placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It wasn't your fault. Issues take time to work through. We're just glad you're back."
"Thanks," she whispered. "Um, Ageha said you had a lot to tell me?"
Mitsukuni grabbed Reiko's hand and announced, "On Christmas Day, I asked Reiko to marry me. The wedding will be in June."
Chiharu placed her hand in the crook of Takashi's arm and he stated, "I also proposed on Christmas Day. Chiharu and I are planning our wedding for next Christmas."
The twins and the Beringar sisters linked arms and announced in unison, "We're engaged, too. But the wedding will wait until after we graduate."
"Wow, I guess I missed a lot," Haruhi responded. Her expression sobered.
"What's wrong?" Rene asked, taking her hands.
She shook her head and then shrugged. "It's ironic that when I was setting up the Hinan family, I was afraid of losing Dad. Now I guess I'm feeling guilty for thinking 'If Dad were gone, I'd be part of the family right now.' Don't worry. I'll get over it."
Haruhi felt a tap on her shoulder and when she turned around, Kyoya was down on one knee holding out a small velvet-covered box containing a simple titanium band with inset diamonds and rubies. He smiled softly and said, "You know, there is more than one way to join a family?"
28