After leading me to a 'small' side room, Tamaki began apologizing for how poorly cared for it was, but all i could do was wave him aside and stand staring in shock at the 'small' room. It was at least the size of a school classroom, with a plush looking sofa and several giant, cushioned chairs, the kind of type you curl up in and sleep in because they're practically the size of a small couch themselves. A desk was against the far wall next to the floor to ceiling window which overlooked the gardens and campus. Hurrying towards the window, i put my hands up against the glass like a little kid and gazed out in awe over Ouran's grounds.
"It's so beautiful." I murmured to myself.
"You like it Nal-chan?" Honey's soft voice behind me made the first real smile i'd had all day spread across my face.
"Like it? Honey I love it." Spinning i grinned at him, and then at the ever silent Mori. "I can hardly believe you come to school here Haru...this..this is amazing. Sure i saw the brochures, but dude...they didn't show half of it. This place? Wow Haruhi, just….wow."
"It's decided then!" Tamaki's dramatic voice had me spinning to face him, "Whenever you are staying here at the host club you shall use this room and no other!" I sweatdropped.
"Senpai…" Haruhi trailed off, "Isn't this Kyoya's study room?"
Now it was Tamaki's turn to sweatdrop.
"Oh right...well i'm sure he won't mind giving it up for her."
"No!" They both turned to face me when i spoke, "I'm not taking his study room i'll stay in the main room with you guys 'kay? Gosh, i know i came in like a whining puppy but i promise i'm normally stronger than that. You guys don't have to worry about me, in fact since you guys don't need to worry about me at all i'll head out alright? You guys need to open the club today, and i don't want to be a burden anymore so than i already am." Taking a deep breath, and pasting on a brave smile Ii turned to face Haruhi, "I'll wait for you at your apartment and we can talk then ok? I'm just...i dunno if i can do it here i don't wanna cry again in front of these guys anymore it must be just as awkward for them as it is for me."
She snorted at me, her brown eyes knowing.
"You'd be surprised by the number of crying girls that come through here on a daily basis, and don't you dare leave this room," she pointed at the couch, "Sit."
"But Haruhiiiiii." i whined.
"No, go sit." glancing at the other's she spoke, "Why don't you guys go, and we'll get you when we're ready."
Tamaki pouted but Honey happily exclaimed,
C'mon Tama-chan we'll go get cake!" and cheerfully skipped out of the room with a silent Mori going after him, pulling a sullen Tamaki out by the collar of his shirt.
I smiled sadly and ignoring Haruhi's command to sit down i went back to the window noticing the small smudges my hands had left on it. I took the corner of my sweatshirt sleeve and rubbed at it in the vain attempt to make it disappear.
"Nala you can't hide from talking about this for forever, and you know i'm perfectly willing to sit here and wait for you no matter how long it takes." Shoulders slumping, and eyes downcast i turned back to her and took a seat on the couch facing her.
"I got off the phone with you and was heading out 'cause i was gonna surprise you but showing up here to meet the guy you'd just mentioned and then..."
Ten minutes later Haruhi was staring at me with her big doe eyes full of shock and horror. My own green eyes were staring pointedly at a spot on the wall over her shoulder, and were so dry they burned but i refused to let anymore tears fall.
"That bastard." Haruhi's whisper cut through the silence making me flinch. She slid off the seat across from me and pulling me to my feet embraced me again. This time she was the one crying not me, "We'll make him pay Nala. You have to go to the police this time, it's gone too far. If he's done it once he'll do it again we both know he will." Holding her tighter i could only shake my head no. "Why!?" she spoke softly pulling back so she could look me in the eyes, but not letting go of my shoulders. "You're gonna get hurt. I know how much he means to you but it's better to-"
"it's not him though." She blinked at my sudden interruption and stared at me quizzically. "i could care less what happens to him, but I can't quit school Haru we both know that. I can't quit my schooling for a job to pay the lawyers expenses. I also refuse to be dumped in a foster home for two years. I'd rather suffer through and continue with my schooling than give it all up." She let go of me and began pacing while i went back to sit on the couch.
"There must be an alternative...maybe we can have the city pay tuition if we have the lawyers do it right….and we know you can stay with me for the next few years….." I shut my eyes knowing it was best for her to think in peace. I'd barely had them shut for a moment though, when she exclaimed, "I've got it!" My head snapped up at her exuberant tone, "Enroll at Ouran!" I blinked.
"I can't afford it though…."
"Yes you can!" Her eyes were fairly dancing, "The same why i did!" My eyes widened with understanding.
"Haruhi you're absolutely brilliant!" a grin threatened to split my face and i leapt to my feet running to her and grabbing her hands i swung us both around in excitement, "How soon can we do this?"
"Relatively soon Miss Fuyumi."
"Aaayyyeeeee!" i nearly jumped out of my skin as Kyoya's voice came through a loudspeaker. "What the actual heck Ootori!" The door to his study room opened a moment later and he casually strolled in. I sweatdropped, yep definitely the freaky smart, sneaky type damn you Ootori. I glared at him, "How'd you do that?" His cold smirk had the intended effect of causing me to wince and it only grew a little deeper when i did.
"I've been doing some research on you Miss Fuyumi. A musical singing prodigy from a young age, you were set up to be an amazing, touring singer by the time you hit eighteen. The passing of your mother at age nine caused your father Fuyumi Ren to pull you out of the prestigious music school you were attending and to drop all music courses in the public school he sent you to." I could feel myself shrinking as he and his shadow grew and began looming over me, "Of course i also know that you never quit music. Dj-ing at any opportunity you could find, and singing at parties. how would you feel about enrolling as a music student?" He cocked his head, I sweatdropped.
"Why do i feel like that was a rhetorical question?" at my question his smirk deepened again.
"Of course it was, Tamaki has already had me submit your paperwork. Your interview is scheduled for next week on," he glanced at a little black book in his hand, "Tuesday at 1pm." Narrowing my eyes on him i slowly stepped over to him calling back over my shoulder,
"Haru go tell Tamaki i'm going to be out in a minute after i talk to Ootori 'kay? i could sense her hesitation and pausing to glance over my shoulder i flashed a smile, "Don't worry Haru, i'm not gonna like attack him. I just need to set some ground rules with this guy, and then Tamaki." she nodded slowly before exiting the room leaving the two of us alone. "Dude seriously?" i glared at him now to which he gave me a look of innocent confusion, "Don't pry too deeply Ootori you may not like what you find and i wouldn't want what you found to cause me to be a threat to the host club." He assessed me with his dark, unreadable eyes. "Oh trust me i already found that one out Nala." That one caused me to wince, "You suffered from deep hallucinations at a young age, always talking about mythical creatures that everyone believed didn't exist, soon you were put in a special hospital. Tell me Nala, do you still believe in them? Or did you let the doctors change that part of you to?" i practically snarled at him.
"Stop pushing me Ootori. I'd much rather be your friend than you enemy."
"Then answer the question Miss Fuyumi" I just glared, "You know at this rate you're gonna get wrinkles and besides you look much better with a smile on." My glare abruptly disappeared and my jaw dropped. i could feel my face heating up and i look down muttering,
"Stop flirting ya creeper!" After a few moments of silence as he waited for me to talk, i straightened my shoulders and looked back up meeting him straight in the eye. "What if i did say i still believed in them? You can't do much about it if i do. I saw things when i was little that no rational explanation could cover up. I saw monsters Ootori. Forgive me for refusing to think that just because i don't see them these days, that the things that go bump in the night are completely gone. Oh and also don't listen in on my private conversations!" He nodded slowly, seeming to ignore the last part of my response. Tucking his black book under his arm, he turned to leave. Before he exited the room though he paused,
"Right answer Miss Fuyumi. I think you and I will be able to get along fine as long as your, hm, situation doesn't hurt the club members, or its reputation. Although, if you're scared of things that go bump in the night this place may not be the best place for you. And avoid the twins if that's the case." Pulling the door open, he left the room, and me standing there with my head cocked, eyes confused, and mind swirling with a million questions. I never said i was scared of those things Ootori, so i won't be avoiding anyone because of that. You'll see Mr all powerful, I don't hide from those things, besides the twins can't be that bad. Glancing around the edge of the room, i spotted a camera in the corner and smirked up at it before speaking out loud,
"You're on Ootori." Now it's time to go find Tamaki...