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Coffee Shops and Cameras
Chapter 33
HIKARU
No chair was left empty in the large open space of the Hitachiin recreation room. 5 pairs of eyes rested on Hikaru and Haruhi as they stood front and centre, silently trying to communicate their words between one another with no luck.
From the moment they awoke they were on the phone, calling in everyone who could help. Eventually they were able to get through to Tamaki, Kyoya, Honey and Mori after numerous ignored calls from Hikaru, clearly they were still pissed with him after how he left things and how badly he had turned on everyone. But Kaoru was determined that they could help, or at least give some useful advice, and once he'd got them on the phone and explained, they were over to the house within the hour – with faces like thunder and body language that screamed distrust.
Hikaru noted how Haruhi paced beside him, her shoulders squared as if she were ready for a fight. He admired how even now she was doing all she could to stay strong, not willing to show anyone she was giving up. He wondered how he'd managed to force himself away from her for so long, because now she was standing at his side, he found it hard to even think about leaving the room, let alone her life.
"Why is she doing this?" Tamaki frowned in disbelief, "It's been years, isn't she over it by now?"
Kaoru grimaced, "Apparently not"
"And she's engaged?" Honey spoke up, "What does he think about this?"
Hikaru shrugged, "Honestly I don't think he knows about it, he doesn't seem to be around a lot"
"Maybe she's just bored then" Haruhi murmured.
"Perhaps" Hikaru replied.
"So, what do we do?" Tamaki sighed, "You said she can't find out you told anyone about this right?"
Hikaru nodded.
"Is there any evidence or truth to the things she's threatening to release?"
"She's never even met me. How could she have any dirt on me?" Haruhi threw her hands up, "And besides, I have no dirt. Any stories published on me would bore readers to sleep"
"That means she can fabricate anything then. Skies the limit" Kyoya cradled his drink in his hand, his eyes trained on the bubbles rising to the brim as he swirled it, "Would it really be so bad just to tell her to piss off? None of the shit she says would be true anyway, why would it matter? It would be old news soon enough and no one would care"
"I would care" Hikaru practically growled, "Do you really think I would have done what I did if stopping her wasn't a priority to me?"
Hikaru knew first hand the effects slanderous stories could have on a person, it drove him to the edge and beyond. And that reaction came from someone who was raised in the spotlight, who knew how the business worked. But Haruhi wasn't from this world, and as strong as she was, Hikaru knew the backlash would break her. And there was no way in hell he was going to let that happen.
"Let's just...try to make a plan" Haruhi breathed, "Personally I've not enjoyed being called a prostitute over the last month and neither has my Dad, if whatever she has planned is worse than that, then I'd quite like to think of literally anything that can stop it from happening"
"Why don't you beat her to it? Why not sell a story about her first?" Honey suggested, his troubled eyes swimming with desperation.
"I'm not lowering myself to that" Haruhi shook her head, "No, if we're going to fight this then I'm doing it my way, not hers"
Hikaru felt his temperature go up several points hearing her say that. She was so damn head strong.
It's painful how in love with you I am.
"And what's 'your way'?" Kyoya questioned.
She seemed to think for a moment, "There has to be some legal case we can use here? Defamation of character? Harassment? Something?"
"Do we have proof to support it?" Kyoya continued.
"Ugh..." Haruhi trailed off, her mind seeming to move a mile a minute.
"I have texts" Hikaru remarked.
Kyoya adjusted his glasses, "She's written out her whole plan in writing to you?"
"Well, no"
"So you've just got a bunch of texts? Ones that can easily be faked?"
The older twin palmed his face in frustration. Texts weren't enough, Kyoya was right. But what else was there? Think Hitachiin, think...
"But this is blackmail, surely we can get her locked up for that?" Kaoru pushed.
"Once again, you need proof" Kyoya hummed.
"How?" Hikaru demanded, "How the fuck do we get it? What works as evidence?"
Kyoya shrugged, "A recorded conversation usually does the trick"
"I don't have anything like that"
"Is there any way you can get one?"
Hikaru shuddered. The idea of seeing that woman again in person made him want to throw up.
"How am I meant to get her to confess on camera for me?"
Kyoya shrugged again. Hikaru almost growled in response.
"We can think of a way" Haruhi spoke up, "What about phone calls? Can we record a phone call? Kaoru said she was pretty open talking about everything when he pretended to be Hikaru when she called"
"I don't think a voice on a call is enough to prove it's her" Tamaki cleared his throat.
Kyoya breathed, "It's not conclusive. You need evidence that pins her undoubtedly"
"So on film?" the words rolled off Haruhi's tongue slowly, as if she wasn't fully pleased that they'd entered her mouth in the first place.
"You want me to meet with her?" Hikaru's tone turned stoic.
"It would be in your best interest" Kyoya leaned back in his chair,
There was suddenly a shared tension that cloaked the room. Each person knew that the last thing Hikaru wanted to do was see Seika, to speak to her face to face. But at the same time everyone knew it had to be done.
Hikaru was about to answer all the unspoken questions loose in the air, but suddenly felt a delicate palm rest on his upper arm. He turned to see Haruhi looking up at him with pleading sympathetic eyes. His whole body relaxed against her touch.
"I know it's a lot to ask" she uttered, "And if you can't do it I will completely understand-"
"I'll do it" Hikaru cut her off, "I love you. And there's not a goddamn thing I wouldn't do for you. For us"
A small smile touched her lips.
"Awwww" a small voice cooed.
The couple glanced to see Honey resting his chin in his palms, a watery smile spread across his rounded face as the others watched with interest.
"Who the hell are you?" Tamaki chuckled, "Did you really just say that?"
Hikaru felt his cheeks flush red with embarrassment.
"By god, he's blushing. It must be real" Kyoya scoffed.
"Okay shit, shut up, all of you" Hikaru grumbled, lowering his face into the crook of Haruhi's neck to hide the growing warmth of his face. Haruhi's laugh rumbled through him as it left her perfect lips. The first real laugh he'd heard from her since the day he walked away. His arms wrapped around her in an embrace, and he forgot everyone in the room but her.
"I can't believe you didn't say anything" Kaoru breathed sadly from the seat across the room, his fingers laced together in his lap, "I know you were in a shitty situation, but you didn't have to ruin our relationship too"
Hikaru looked down into the amber drink cradled between his palms and sighed, "I know" he said, "I never intended to screw things up so badly. I just...I didn't know what was happening..."
Kaoru nodded unconvincingly, as if he only understood half of what his twin was saying.
The two of them were sat alone in the recreation room, many hours after the group had left to tend to their own affairs. They'd probably spent near to 3 hours doing their best to concoct a plan for how and when Hikaru was to meet with Seika and get her confession. Honestly if it wasn't for Kyoya being so cool and collected about the whole thing – Hikaru would have been far more concerned. Kyoya had always had a way of making everyone feel as if they were in safe hands. It were as if he were the Dad of the group, swaying everyone towards the choices that would benefit the most. It was only when he showed his stress that everyone else began to panic. If Kyoya thought it would work. Then it would.
"I didn't mean to hurt you" Hikaru sighed, "I didn't want to hurt anyone"
"You've never hidden anything from me before" Kaoru spoke sadly, "We could have done all of this sooner if you'd just trusted me"
"I know" Hikaru groaned, taking a long sip from his drink and setting the glass down on the table, "I don't have a good enough excuse, I know that"
"Did losing her really affect you that much?"
Hikaru looked up at his brother, and he felt every single emotion lift to his gaze as a slow nod met him in reply.
"Losing Haruhi..." his voice caught in his throat, "It was hell. And I thought I'd already been through hell. Turns out I'd never actually experienced anything close to the torture I felt when I had to walk away from her. I'd take anything I've been through, the articles, the rumours, the public attacks, I'd go through it all again, if it meant I never had to feel what I felt when I lost her"
He felt like some cliché male protagonist as those words tumbled out, but he didn't know how else to explain it. Existing in a reality where Haruhi wasn't beside him, where he couldn't hold her, hear her voice, see her smile, was somewhere he'd rather die than live in.
"I never meant to push everyone else away. But hurting Haruhi like that..." he shook his head as the pain from his actions all came flooding back, "If I hurt her, then I deserved to hurt too. Why should I go on with a brother and a family who loves me, when I did something so cruel to her?"
He felt his brother's eyes trained on him, but he couldn't bring himself to meet his gaze. He felt so ashamed. All their life they had been inseparable. They shared everything, their thoughts, their feelings, it were as if they were 2 parts of the same man. And Hikaru had ruined that. He could only imagine how Kaoru must have felt being so shut out. Because Hikaru knew Kaoru would never do that to him. Unlike Hikaru, who was always the selfish one. The thoughtless one. The one who struggled to think about anyone but himself.
"It's okay Hika" Kaoru breathed, "I get it"
"It excuses nothing"
"You fell in love" he replied plainly, "For the first time. Maybe the only time. You never thought you'd have that, and once you realised you did, you had to give it up. That would fuck up anyone's head"
"I shouldn't have dragged you down too"
"It's not your fault"
He felt Kaoru sidle up beside him and wrap his arm across his shoulders.
"It's Seika's fault" he hissed, "And we're going to fix this. And when we do, you'll have everything you never knew you wanted"
Hikaru let out a sarcastic scoff, "You think so?"
"I know so" Kaoru smiled, "Things seem bad now, but think about it. In a year's time you and Haruhi could have your own place, maybe a ring on her finger. Hell, with the rate you two are going at it you might have a couple of kids crawling around"
Hikaru's chest burned at that and suddenly he felt dizzy, "Oh god, stop talking" he choked.
A laugh met his ears, "Okay, okay, maybe wait for the kids thing"
"We'll be waiting a while, I hate kids"
"You also hated 'love' and now look where you are" Kaoru smirked knowingly, then gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, "Right. I'm off to bed. And I bet you're eager to do the same"
Images of Haruhi lying in his bed flashed to mind. Hikaru imagined her settled under the covers with those big glasses resting on the tip of her button nose, wearing some huge graphic t-shirt with her hair pulled up in a tiny messy bun at the base of her neck with a huge book cradled in her lap.
Fuck, how the hell does that image turn me on?
When he stepped into the bedroom however, the sight before him pleased him far more than any other image he could concoct. His Haruhi was in bed, sprawled out across the mattress, surrounded by pillows with the covers strewn haphazardly across her little body. He couldn't approach her right away, he wanted to treasure the sight for a little longer.
Barely a day ago he thought he would never be so blessed with this sight ever again. That he would never get to see the woman he loved safely tucked in his bed, waiting for him to settle beside her and hold her. To feel that trust, that love he felt when he was with her. With his Haruhi.
He was drunk on it. Addicted to the feeling of loving and being loved by her.
He made quick work pulling off his clothes and throwing on a pair of pyjama pants, before finally approaching the bed where Haruhi breathed evenly. He smirked down at her as he tried to work out the best way to climb in beside her, but in true Haruhi fashion – she had managed to spread herself across each corner of the mattress.
The bed shifted under his weight, and the moment his back touched the covers, Haruhi's arms wrapped around him and a breathless groan passed her lips with a smile.
"There you are" she murmured dreamily, her cheek resting on his chest. Her eyes opened slowly and lifted to meet his, "I was wondering when you were coming to bed" she yawned.
"Sorry babydoll" he smirked, "Kaoru and I were talking"
"Did you say sorry for being an asshole?"
Hikaru rolled his eyes, amused by the bluntness he'd missed.
"I did" he replied.
"Mmm good" she grinned.
"And I'm sorry to you too"
"You already told me you were sorry. And I forgave you"
Hikaru shook his head, "I don't think I deserve your forgiveness just yet. Maybe not for a while"
"Well tough" she breathed, "Because it's my forgiveness I'm giving. So only I get to decide when to give it"
"Is that so?"
"It is" she mused, "And there's nothing you can do about it"
Hikaru smiled to himself, feeling his heart swell with adoration, "I guess I can't argue with that" no matter how much he wanted to...
Haruhi's arms tightened around him, and a her palm began trailing slowly down his bare chest, leaving goosebumps in her path. Hikaru felt his body sigh against her, revelling in the soft caress of her body pressed to his. He couldn't resist her, and a sudden animalistic need overcame him. He flipped her, and the cutest little yelp escaped her parted lips. He smiled a cocky smile, enjoying how her breathing seemed to accelerate and her cheeks began heating with a red flush. His mouth descended on hers and he drank in the shared feeling of need he tasted on the tip of her tongue. She was intoxicating, every drag of her fingertips over his skin, the movement of her kiss on his, he wanted more, and he never wanted it to end.
"I love you" he murmured, a growl in his tone.
He wanted to say it over and over again. To imprint it in her mind so she'd never forget it.
Haruhi's legs opened, wrapping around his waist eagerly as she clung to him fiercely.
"I love you too Hika" she purred, and the sound of those words meeting his ears made Hikaru want to consume her.
"My beautiful babydoll"
He hadn't explored her like this for weeks, not since before the failed interview. He'd wanted to reconnect with her the night before but for some reason he could find little reason to lose himself in their lust when all he wanted to do was hold her and share their newly admitted feelings. But now, it was was like his body was starved, and all it craved was her. Her touch, her voice, her scent, those sweet little moans and the way she clawed at him like a drowning woman reaching for a life raft. He needed her. In the most primal, possessive way possible.
His lips were hungry on hers, his tongue dipping and tasting, drawing out every temptation and sensation she offered. His fingers burned against her raised thigh on his hip, and her grip became clawing on his back, pulling him impossibly closer. Somehow he managed to separate himself from her long enough to pull the oversized t-shirt off over her head, before returning his lips back to hers. His hands moved to the swell of her nude breasts, desperate to feel her in all the ways he'd grown addicted to over the last month.
His lips began the journey from her mouth downwards, until they wrapped around one desperate peaked nipple. Haruhi's back arched towards him, a moan shaking her.
"Hikaru...please"
He knew what she needed. It had been too long, and he shared that same need. The craving that was consuming him.
The pyjama pants he'd thrown on not too long ago were already being forced down by Haruhi's frantic fingers, and her eagerness made Hika almost chuckle. If this were any other night he would have taken his time to worship her body. To completely rediscover every inch of her after so long being away from it. But his need for her was just too strong. He would worship her later, because what they both needed now was to feel whole again. To be completely and utterly connected.
Once he was fully sheathed inside her he paused for the longest second, locking every sensation to memory. But it was fleeting, because the moment they were connected his body reacted as it always did with her. With need and desperation. Hikaru's hips began to move as if by instinct, coaxing out those beautiful whimpers and moans Haruhi always blessed him with. She kissed him ferociously, her arms locking tightly around his neck like a vice.
"I've missed you. All of you" Hikaru groaned against her ear.
Her breathing was ragged, her body stiffening as her impending release drew closer and closer. She pulled back to cup his cheeks in her quivering palms, her delirious gaze stealing his.
"Never leave me again" she choked, her eyes pleading in ecstasy.
"Never" Hikaru grit his teeth, "I'm yours"
Beads of sweat were rolling from his forehead as his pace quickened. There was no rhythm, only unabashed pistoning and thrusting as he completely lost himself in the woman he loved. He wanted to bring her to release, to make her feel weightless and desired, as he'd neglected to do since he made the biggest mistake of his life. And she was fast approaching that, he could tell by the way her channel began quivering around him, ready to clamp down and lock him to her.
He was where he always belonged. With her. How had he not realised his feelings for her sooner? How stupid must he have been to think that this feeling was anything other than love? Because now it was so clear, he could think and feel nothing else. This love he felt for her was impossible to ignore, not that he wanted to. Now that he could admit it to himself it was like his entire life had been thrown into colour. Before, he could barely see happiness in fleeting moments, but now, he could see an entire life of joy with her. He felt the confidence she gave him, the strength he'd starved himself of, he could see himself doing great things, he could see himself living a life with her, a life that spanned far into old age. She'd unlocked everything inside him. His Haruhi. And to think, he knew none of this the moment he met her, when he greeted her with arrogance and distaste. How he wanted to slap his past self for making her feel lesser than him.
"Hika..." Haruhi moaned pleadingly. Her legs were so tight around him, his thrusts were now so deep and firm, as he found it increasingly harder to draw back even a couple of inches from her. He knew his pelvis was rubbing against her sensitive pearl, and her writhing and gasps of pleasure told him it was pulling her closer to the edge.
"I love you babydoll, let go, I'm right there with you" Hikaru strained, doing all he could to hold back his own release.
Without a moment's hesitance, he finally felt Haruhi's walls close around him, and as she confronted the waves of her orgasm, Hikaru joined her, his climax racketing through his body like an electric current. The room echoed with the sounds of their pleasure, and Hikaru swore he'd never heard such an intoxicating sound. One he wanted to hear every night for the rest of his life.
He planted the most tender kiss at Haruhi's temple, then another, and another, as he trailed down to claim her lips. The lips he intended to kiss with every chance he could get.
"Are you okay?" he felt the need to ask. It had been a while since they'd last been with each other in this way, it held a weighty impact on his heart, and even though she hadn't spoken the words, he could tell she was experiencing the same.
She looked back at him with bright eyes and a smile that could shatter worlds. She was so beautiful. And she was all his.
Her palm rose to cup his cheek, and she seemed to study every inch of his face with so much adoration that Hikaru could feel his heart swelling. He'd never cared about how women looked at him, whether that be in lust, or distaste, but Haruhi's look of complete admiration and love centred on him made him feel more valued and important than he'd ever felt before.
Love seemed so dangerous. He knew that with one move Haruhi could ruin him. But he trusted her so much, that he was more than willing to give her that power. Because some how he knew she'd never abuse that. Haruhi would never hurt him with that trust.
She nodded slowly, her smile only growing, "Never felt better" she spoke breathlessly.
"I meant it" I replied, "Never. I will never leave again. I will never put us through that again"
"Good" she breathed, "Because I want you to know. Even if this plan doesn't work, even if Seika gets everything she wants. I'm not going to bend to her. I'm not leaving, and I'm not going to let you do the same"
"Even if it costs you your reputation?" Hikaru furrowed his brow. That wasn't fair. It would be his fault, his world's fault. Haruhi didn't deserve-
"Stop that" she sighed, resting her forehead to his, "Stop thinking about your part to play"
"But-"
"No buts" she shook her head, "I love you. And even if Seika sells a whole load of shit to the press, I know I'll get through it because I have you. I'm not sacrificing my future for that bitch"
Hikaru smirked, "I love you so damn much"
"And I love you" she replied, "Now kiss me"
"Don't have to tell me twice" he answered, staring deep into her beautiful hazel eyes.
And he did, until the night coaxed them into a deep, peaceful sleep. Any pain or stress could wait for tomorrow, because in that moment he had everything he needed.
Hi gang! I'm sorry about the delay on this update, if you follow my twitter then you already know how my clumsiness with a glass of coke managed to completely kill my laptop, and therefore kill all my prewritten chapters! Trust me, no one is more upset than me! But since Friday I've bought myself a new one and now I can start rewriting everything I need! So here is my newest update, and I'm pretty pleased with it since I wrote it in 2 days! LTWB will be coming next, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!
Thank you for baring with me, I cannot begin to show you how much I appreciate your unwavering support!
Love you all!
Yuli xx