Chapter 22
December, 21, 2011
Kohaku and Haruhi had a short, very awkward conversation after that point. Most of it was just Kohaku blabbering about his trip overseas, and Haruhi giving him illegible mutters as a response.
After Haruhi and Kohaku had said their goodbyes' to each other, Kohaku took his leave. Haruhi was left speechless. It was as if that her brain was having trouble processing all of this new information. "God, these people! It's like they're popping out of thin air! Really, is their mom just randomly popping them out like a conveyor belt!" Haruhi cried.
"Haruhi, maybe they had a good reason not to tell you?"
"I don't see how that can, we're family.."
"Well, every situation is special. What if you told someone that you cross dress because of a debt? They don't know the whole situation, and could easily misunderstand."
"That's true, but still. I barely know anything that goes on in this family.."
"Hey, better late than never."
"You know what... I think I just need some time to myself.. It was very nice to meet you."
"A pleasure to see you again, cyn priodi." He said. Haruhi carried him to the window, where he gave her a bow, jumped out, then was nowhere to be found.
"I think I'll spend some time with Gorou-Ojii-sama.. The only sane person in this building." She said. All of the walking she was doing in one day was taking a toll on her energy, but she decided to stick it out. She knocked on the door "Jii-sama? Are you in there?" she asked. There was no reply. She opened the door, and found that it was, indeed, empty.
All that was there was the table, a small candle; the flame flickering now and then on the table. There was a tiny vase with a small dandelion in it, and a picture frame. Haruhi held the picture frame gently. It was a boy, at side view. He was smiling, his hands up in the air like he was holding a baby, but the picture was ripped at his elbows. Haruhi stared at the photograph.
"You don't approve of Harry either, do you?" Haruhi set the picture down, looking at Ichirou like she was expecting his lips to move "I'm sorry, but I am making my own decisions now." she said and set the picture back down gently. "When you left, that's when I got that power."
"It's not going to respond, you know. That's how pictures work." She heard Tadashi's voice. She didn't bother turning around, she wasn't risking setting lose another demon. She gave him a curt "Hm." and set the picture on the table. "Fine, just stay mad. Oh, by the way. Ranka- papa told me to tell you that Harry called." Haruhi didn't budge. "He said it sounded urgent." Haruhi gave no response. "Akane never told you what she was, did she?"
"What?"
"Aah, there it is."
"What?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask Akane?"
"Because if she doesn't want to tell me, then that's her decision." Haruhi uttered.
"But she knows what you are, it's only fair."
"First off, everyone in the family knows what I am. Second, none of this is fair."
".. I agree, especially since she's keeping secrets from you. What if she's something dangerous?"
"Quit playing, you probably know exactly what she is."
"I'm appalled that you would even think something like that. That I, Tadashi Fujioka, would keep secrets from my dearest cousin.. Or would I?"
Haruhi was both irritated and curious at this point. It was true, she didn't exactly what Akane was, and she had to admit that she would've liked to know. However, she didn't have an excruciating need to know every aspect of her cousins' life, even more so if she had chosen not to tell her in the first place. Tadashi, on the other hand, was just getting on her last nerve.
"She chose not to tell me. That was her decision, and you need to respect that."
"I do respect it. The question is, do you?"
"What do you want? Do you want me to give you something? Is that what it's going to take to make you go away?"
"I don't want much, just an apology."
"I don't owe you an apology."
"You actually do." He sneered. "I don't expect you to give me one, anyway. It's cool."
"You're just trying to piss me off now, aren't you?" Haruhi said. She breathed in deeply, Tadashi was really starting to test the limits of her patience.
"I'm not trying to make you mad Haruhi, you do that all on your own. Just peaking your curiosity a bit. Speed up the process."
"Exactly what process would that be?"
"It's working."
"What's working?" Haruhi's eye began to give off a faint, lighter glow.
"Oh crap. Didn't expect it to work that fast."
Haruhi frowned, her eyebrows arching. "Excuse me." She said, heading for the door.
"It's pretty funny. It's happening right now, and you don't even know it."
She stopped walking. She took a deep breath, then said "Onii-chan, I'm sorry for what I did, but please tell me what's going on." Her eyes were a dim gold now. Tadashi walked up behind her, took her chin in his hand, and turned her head towards him.
"I'm actually really surprised. That was pretty quick. I thought it was going to take a week."
"What?"
"A long time ago, there was this mystic wolf. A man tried to kill it, wondering how much he would profit from its hide, but was ferociously attacked instead. He became the first werewolf."
"So what you're trying to say is… curiosity killed the cat?"
"No, curiosity produced a monster." He whispered. Haruhi was getting apprehensive of her cousins' company, so decided to leave. "She's a rain-sprite, you know."
"Really? That doesn't sound dangerous. That doesn't sound dangerous at all."
"You would be surprised. Those rain sprites can get pretty feisty."
"That's cute. Bye, Nii-chan."
"Oh, and Haruhi?"
"What?"
"There a mirror in the hall, right there. Go have a look."
"Er, okay?" Haruhi closed the door behind her, and found the dusty mirror that was hung on the wall. She peered into it, and jumped back in shock. She inched closer, staring at her eye.
Curiosity
Mystic wolf
Curiosity
Werewolf
Curiosity
Curiosity
Curiosity
"Just peaking your curiosity a bit."
Haruhi stood in front of the mirror, frozen with shock and terror. She heard Tadashi right next to the door, "Dun, dun, dunnnn." He said dramatically.
