The house is quiet again. Mori is the first one to break the silence with a suggestion of lunch. Haruhi and Hunny agree, following the taller boy into the kitchen. Tamaki bites his lip, not sure whether speaking now would help at all.
"We're going to get him back." He decides finally after what seems like eternity. Hikaru doesn't reply. He redhead stares down at the floor with his hands in his lap and Kyoya leads Tamaki into the kitchen with the others.
"Hikaru…is not doing well." Haruhi speaks up without meeting anyone's eyes. "Has anyone called their parents? They could probably help, or at least make sure Hikaru doesn't hurt himself trying to do this alone." The boys don't say much, continuing to eat until Tamaki speaks up.
"We should. Call their mom at least I mean." The blond messes with his phone, scrolling through the contacts and hovering over the name Yuzuhan Hitachiin. Kyoya's hand on his wrist stops him from pressing the call button though.
"We've been in contact with the Hitachiins since yesterday. They are on a plane back home from their trip right now." The others look to Kyoya with a mixture of confusion and admiration.
"Hikaru doesn't know that, does he?" Hunny asks, moving his food around on his plate without eating. The other boy shakes his head and the friends are pushed back to an uncomfortable quiet.
~He still isn't back. Wherever I am is stunningly quiet, no voices from outside and doesn't seem to be an apartment because there is no noise coming from the surrounding walls, ceiling or below. It's still impossible to move with my arms stretched to opposite ends of the bed.
I try tugging at them again but there isn't much give with the restraints. I can't even lean over enough to try unknotting the ties with my teeth. There is nothing else I can do for now and the fear settles back heavy on my empty stomach. Staying awake is hard and I give up trying what feels like an hour later, dropping my head to the top of my knees. ~
Everyone staggers back to the living room together to wait. Hikaru sits next to Tamaki, so close their legs are touching and he keeps watching the door as if expecting the Gamemaker to bust in to steal the blond away. Hunny sets up a card game on the table and Kyoya plays with him and Mori whenever he looks up from his book.
No one wants to leave Hikaru or Tamaki by themselves. It's a nervous sort of calm and Haruhi draws everyone's attention when she turns on the TV. The is a show on screen with boys that turn into the Zodiac animals and Hunny abandons his cards to sit next to Haruhi. It's some sort of marathon because the episode bleeds into another, then again and the friends all end up paying some attention to the bizarre lives of characters.
"You guys should probably go home." Hikaru starts after the credits roll again. He looks at the others, frowning and keeps going. "Haruhi, Mori, Hunny. Your parents are probably wondering where you are. "
"I think they'd understand." Mori replies a bit sharply. Hikaru looks at him and finds only worry on his friend's face.
"There is no reason for you to all sit around here. You should go home and get some sleep." The readhead persist. He doesn't say anything to Kyoya or Tamaki beside him. The other Host Club members look at him, the dark eyes and the tremor in his hands.
"Okay." Hunny decided. The smallest friend stood up, collecting his pink rabbit. He tugged on Haruhi's arm and looked to Mori when he continued. "We should take Haruhi home first, Mori."
"Of course, Mitsukuni." Mori took the cue and looked at his friends. "We will be back in the morning. Call us as soon as something happens." He set a hand on Hikaru's shoulder and made his way out to the foyer.
"You will call us." Hunny said sternly. He hugged the twin fiercely before pulling a stunned Haruhi along with him outside.
"Tamaki and will be staying here with you, as I'm certain you already understand." Kyoya spoke up. Tamaki nodded, one hand grazing over the still sore spot on the back of his neck.
"We can probably take the bandaid off now. Don't want the sicko to get suspicious." The blond noted. Hidden as it was he thought whoever the creep was that had the sick mind to take and hurt their friends would probably think ahead enough to worry about being found.
"I'm sorry, Tamaki." Hikaru mumbled. The boy looked at his lap as he talked, unable to face the older boy's violet eyes. He flinched at the suddenness of Tamaki's arms around him.
"Do you smell something sweet?" Kyoya asked suddenly. He stood, interrupting whatever moment was happening between his friends and looked towards the kitchen. There was no sound indicating someone was cooking. Tamaki sat up, watching Kyoya hurriedly type a message on his phone.
"He's here." Hikaru frowned. His head felt heavy, like someone was trying to hold him under water. "Tamaki.." The sound of breaking glass followed soon after the redhead's eyes forced themselves shut. He could hear his friends' muffled voices, angry, and then nothing.