A/N: I worked really hard to get this instalment out quickly. What was meant to be a random non-chronological collection of one-shots that I posted when I felt like it seems to have become an actual multiple chapter story. This is not something I am generally good at, but I'm going to try my best to give you guys a good story.
Kamiko was angry, very angry. Something her sisters had learned long ago was that it was best not to piss her off; but that if you failed at that, your safest bet was to be as far away as possible until the storm had passed.
Not that you could always tell when that had happened. She did not throw temper tantrums in the way one might expect. She kept her rampage internal until the correct moment to strike. And then she would unleash it all. And heaven help you if you were the one on the receiving end.
The hardest part had been finding Fujioka-bitch's address. She did not have much of an online presence, which meant that finding the information had taken more than a quick Facebook search. But a week had passed and, although her anger had maybe lost a little of its original ferocity, it was burning hot like banked coals.
That was why she stood in an alcove on the seventh floor of an apartment block that had never been splendid and now looked downright shabby. What sort of self-respecting building had seven stories and no lift? From where she stood she could see Fujioka's door. But why was the woman taking so long to get here?
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Haruhi left the library later than usual. She felt good about herself though, a five thousand word essay done, checked and handed in and all of her readings done for tomorrow's lectures. She liked working in the library, with all of the sources directly at her fingertips. The internet was useful for the broad strokes, but when you wanted something specific, or obscure, it was much easier to work with the original.
Plus, she just liked the library. She liked the quiet, she liked the spaciousness and she liked the smell. She always got her best work done in that environment. Even if the search for it had once seriously upset her life.
She spent her metro ride home dreaming of the leftover teriyaki waiting in her fridge, spicy food always tasted better on the second day. She would make some rice, and wrap herself up in a blanket with some tea, her supper and a book. It was the little things that helped make life bearable, the small rewards for survival and industry.
It had not been an easy lesson to learn when she first came crashing down from her dizzy heights, but it was congruous with how her life was shaping up.
She had the key in the lock when her thoughts were interrupted by someone calling "Fujioka!'
She spun around, and immediately recognised the caller. 'Oh what can this woman want now?' she thought.
"Konbanwa, Miyamoto-san." Haruhi gave a slight bow, but not too low. She owed nothing.
"Don't give me that, you whore!" Kamiko wasted no time in launching her first verbal missile.
Haruhi was slightly taken aback, "E-excuse me?" She really did not like dealing with rich hysterics, she had gotten enough of that in high school to last her until old age.
"You heard me you filthy man-stealing bitch." Kamiko's voice was stained with disgust. "You're trying to…"
"Wait wait wait, slow down. Man-stealing?" Haruhi spoke incredulously. She couldn't quite wrap her head around the concept of this woman accusing her of any such thing.
"You heard me, you're screwing him aren't you? You couldn't let him go. You just don't understand how these things work you dirty common sl…" SNAP!
Haruhi did not often lash out. She was the natural; she was kind and gentle and easy to get along with. Kamiko cradled her cheek, properly silenced for the first time.
"Don't you dare! I am so sick of people calling me that! I may not be rich but I am not common. And you have already won. So if all you want is to relieve your insecurities, then go somewhere else." Adrenalin and anger was having a strange effect on Haruhi, and she refused to break down in front of someone else.
She finished opening the door, and before Kamiko could come round from her shock. Haruhi had slipped inside. Not quite slamming the door behind her.
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Sadly, the dignity of her exit did not leave a lasting impression on Kamiko. Before Haruhi could even get properly settled down, the other woman started banging on the door with her fist, yelling abuse punctuated by demands for the door to be opened.
As irrational as it was, Haruhi was scared. She knew that Kamiko could do nothing. But she was stressed and tired and she did not have the energy to deal with this shit right now. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and hit the speed dial.
"Haruhi?" The calm voice answered.
"Hey Mori, sorry to bother you… Are you busy?"
"Mitsukuni is eating cake."
"Oh yeah, should have known. Sorry to have bothered you. Bye." There were tears in her voice.
"What do you need?" Even over the phone, Mori was observant. He must have heard the noise.
Haruhi tried to brush it off, she had been silly. This was her problem, no real need to have called him. "It's nothing. Don't worry." She was trying to convince herself as much as him. And during a particularly loud volley of thuds, she was grateful that he chose to ignore her.
"We will be there now. You are at home?"
"Yes, but you don't have to, I'm sorry I…"
"Stay there." Mori hung up.
Haruhi stared at the phone as it blinked the call-end image. There was another thump and she jumped. It sounded so much like thunder, she hated so much noise. She pulled a blanket off of the back of the couch and wrapped it around herself before burying her head in a cushion.
A/N: Okay guys, now for the slightly bad news. I am going to try (mark that word) and get out one more update but after that there is going to be a fairly long break. In a couple of weeks I will be jetting off to the USA. I have never been there before and, although I will still try and write, I cannot promise anything as I will be busy and probably jet-lagged.
If I don't get out that update, I am sorry. But as I have a lot of stuff happening IRL right now. I may have to put writing on the back-burner for a little bit. Just have some patience, I would make it clear if I dropped this story.
