So sorry for taking nearly a month to update this! I think the last couple of weeks stand testimony to the fact that my free time is just less and less. Anyway, I managed to write enough for another chapter. I titled it Precipitating, because I couldn't think of anything else. But it does fit. xD

Chapter 11: Precipitating

Imagine.

Soft squelchy soil teeming with invisible creepy crawlies. Layer after layer of leaf debris. A rich array of exotic bugs whizzing in the air. A vision clouded by strange and wonderful foliage. Tree after tree rising and clambering over the sky. Everything clicking and twisting together. Forming the perfect picture of a peaceful and working community. If you could just stand back, you'll see the big picture and appreciate…

But we're not up to that yet.

Racking through the air, ripping the beautiful parkland atmosphere in two, came the war-like, Tarzan-like cry:

"HARUHI, WHERE ARE YOU????!!!!"

A couple of birds flew off in fright.

It was Tamaki and he was utterly lost. He kept clawing through the trees and shrubs, his mind set on one thing; I must save Haruhi!

But wait! What is this? Tamaki spots Haruhi's beautiful brown eyes in the midst of a hundred brown branches, zips there in no time, punches the men until they plead for mercy, picks up the fainting Haruhi gallantly in his arms, and arrives back to the clearing with all the people cheering.

CRASH

Of course this was just an imaginary dream. Tamaki's inner mind theatre cracks and crumbles into a thousand pieces. It won't exist anymore. Tamaki insists that it never existed.

"I'm sorry Haruhi," he whispered.

Tamaki's body was hard and tense. His mouth was set in a straight line and his eyes were probing the undergrowth. Anything, anything that hinted where she was- just one small clue, please-

It was painful. Not because he couldn't find her, not because she was in real danger, but it was the overwhelming reality that he had just…been…so…dumb. Everything he did. Never anything taken seriously. Always dreaming the hero. Dressing as the hero. Being a stupid hero. And now Haruhi- The thought choked before it began. It was his fault. All of it-

"H-Haruhi, I'm sorry…"

---

"Sempai!" The clear and familiar voice struck Tamaki still.

"H-Haruhi?" he whispered.

She clambered over the fallen branches and ran towards him with worried eyes. "Sempai, you're alright! Wh-" She stopped because he had stepped towards her and threw his arms around her. She fully expected him to wail about his "daughter".

"You're ok," he breathed.

Haruhi stiffed in surprise. "Yes, I am," she replied. "It wasn't hard getting away."

He just stared at her.

She sighed and explained. "I can defend myself. I learnt heaps from Mori and Hunny. I practised with Hikaru and Kaoru. Kyouya even gave me some hints about what to do in situations like today."

The expression on Tamaki's face shifted dramatically. "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!!" he howled. Imaginary lightning bolts were striking him.

"Last holidays," Haruhi replied with her exasperated dotted eye look.

"Well," Tamaki seemed to have recovered, he sighed, "No matter, at least you're fine."

"Sempai," Haruhi was gripping his hands urgently.

"What?" he stared at her in alarm, "What is it? Are you actually hurt, I-"

"No," a faint flash of annoyance tugged her features, "I can look after myself." Tamaki's eyes iced over she didn't seem to notice. "Is Hikaru ok?"

"Oh…" Tamaki was dumb folded. "Yeah, yeah… he is. Kyouya and the others arrived."

Haruhi sighed in relief, and then promptly asked, "Can I borrow your cell phone?"

"What, what are you doing?" Tamaki was confused. Haruhi had already taken his phone out of his pocket and was picking a number from his electronic phone book.

"We have to tell Kaoru what happened don't we?" she threw him a concerned look.

He blinked. "Yeah…of course."

Bring Bring

"Tamaki?" Kaoru was breathing hard and in the background she could hear his running steps.

"No, it's Haruhi."

"Haruhi!" Kaoru's voice was overwhelmingly loud.

"I'm fine." She effectively answered his unasked question. "I guess Kyouya told you everything?"

"Yeah…I'm just back from the silk markets, and I'm heading towards the parklands. Where are you? I-I'm really glad you're ok."

"I'm somewhere in this parkland. I've got Tamaki with me. We're coming out. We're all ok."

"That's good," his voice was soft and expressed relief, but she could, nevertheless, hear more anxiety behind his words.

"Kaoru," she spoke slowly, "I'm sure Hikaru is alright. Kyouya takes care of people really well."

There was a pause. "Thank you, Haruhi."

"No problem. I'll see you soon then," and she clicked the phone closed.

"Thanks," she handed the phone back to Tamaki who was staring at her with a strange expression on his face. "What?"

He shook his head. "Let's go back."

"I-is this the same place where we…?" her words were swallowed by the silence. A rustle of leaves told her Tamaki had stepped up behind her.

"This is the same place," he frowned, "Those trees are the same. I know because of the hundreds of maps I drew for my-"he stopped and didn't say anymore.

"For your dumb plan," Haruhi finished harshly. Tamaki was silent.

"I-I don't understand," Tamaki murmured. "Everything is the same except-"

"Everyone is gone," Haruhi said softly.

"That's true". Kyouya's quiet voice crept up from no where.

"Kyouya!" They both exclaimed. He moved swiftly towards them, his eyes on Haruhi. He stopped three metres away from them and then glanced at Tamaki, who nodded.

"I'm glad you're all fine. Hikaru and Kaoru have gone to the hospital, where Hikaru will be tended by their personal doctor. Hunny and Mori are currently fixing up rooms for us here. And I have sent my police force back to their stations."

Tamaki was relieved. "Shall we make our way to the hotels then?" The two guys began to move off.

"Wait, Kyouya, what have you done to Ayanakoji and her men?" Haruhi called after them, frowning slightly.

He didn't turn around. "Do you know the law here?" Kyouya said lightly.

"It isn't much different to Japan," answered Haruhi. She stared at his silhouette, emerging now because the sun was setting. "Don't tell me that…"

"This village here," continued Kyouya as if he didn't hear her, "despite being home to the famous jewel markets, is deep in traditions and customs. If a person orders the rape or abuse of a woman, the consequences are…" he let his words trail away.

"What?" Haruhi asked sharply.

"Death."

The silence was so thick, the trees didn't even dare to let their leaves drop. "Kyouya," Haruhi gasped, "Are you mad?"

"I am not," he said coldly. He now turned to face her and his eyes were an unfathomable black. "Did you think I would let her go that easily? After she threatened you like that?"

"But it was all an act. Those men did nothing to me!"

"Oh, was it like that then?" he answered carelessly. "Not that it makes much difference. The intention is still there."

"You can't," Haruhi stared at him in disbelief. "We're visitors here. We don't have to obey the traditions. You don't have the right. And," she stressed the last words, "how any times do I have to tell you guys? I didn't get hurt!"

"Kyouya…"Tamaki murmured, exasperated, and glanced sideways at his friend.

Kyouya gazed at Haruhi for a long moment. "Ayanakoji and her family are being sent back to Japan."

Haruhi let out a huge sigh of relief. "I knew you didn't really mean it."

"I did," Kyouya said menacingly, "but it didn't turn out the way I intended."

She gaped at him. "However…she has now lost all her police force."

Tamaki glanced at Kyouya, "You've done this so many times. How big is your police force now?"

"A few hundred thousand," and he smiled faintly. "Don't think I let her off that lightly…when we get back to Japan…"

When it came to someone he cared about, Kyouya could be very scary. Haruhi, not really knowing why he was acting like this, nevertheless picked up the menace in his voice. She shivered.

The world was a swirl of darkness. And then slowly the darkness dissolved away and it was like he was staring into a mirror. But it wasn't a mirror of course. His twin brother, Kaoru, was staring anxiously down at him. They didn't need to say anything. In a split second, they understood that each was okay and there was nothing more to worry about except-

"Kaoru," Hikaru sat up so quickly, his brother was alarmed. "Haruhi! Is she okay?"

"Calm down, Hikaru," Kaoru reassured him, "Haruhi is fine. She called me and told me herself. Tono is taking care of her."

"Tamaki, that idiot?" grumbled Hikaru, feeling relieved and being annoyed about it all the same. 'Where am I anyway?" He groaned and touched his head. It was sore.

"Local hospital. Doctor came and tended you. You've been knocked out pretty bad. You have to stay in bed for at least one night."

Hikaru groaned again. "I can't believe that Ayanakoji did this." A slight pause. "I want to see Haruhi." And he attempted to get out of the bed.

Kaoru sighed. "Doctor knew you would try to get out. That's why he-"

"Shackled my feet to the bed?" Hikaru was furious. "The other doctor did this before and I fired him! Don't our servants learn from their mistakes? Get me out of this Kaoru!"

His brother stared at him pitifully. "Sorry Hikaru, "he said as gently as he could, "You have to rest. I don't want you to get more hurt than you already are."

Hikaru's eyes were wide with surprise. "Since when have you-"

"Haruhi will come to you," Kaoru interrupted, "I doubt she wouldn't visit you anyway."

"Oh yeah…Kaoru?"

"Mmm?"

"Thanks."

"What do you mean?"

Hikaru stared at his twin with bright eyes. "For everything. I know this plan of ours wasn't brilliant. Haruhi is safe at least. But I kinda understand now."

"What do you understand?" Kaoru looked at his brother closely.

"You helped…"He stared off into space and there was a mixture of gratitude and wonder in his expression. "I know about my feelings." He was remembering about that sudden burst of awareness.

"I'm glad," Kaoru replied shortly. "I brought some of your stuff for you." He settled a large bag onto the floor.

"Did you bring a jacket?" Hikaru asked hopefully, snapping out of his reverie. "I'm kinda cold."

"Here, you can have mine. And we can turn the heater on too." He turned and fumbled with the switches in the far corner.

"Do you reckon Haruhi will come soon?" asked Hikaru, pulling Kaoru's jacket around himself. Kaoru stared at his brother's earnest expression.

"Well…I can get her for you."

"Wait, can't you get a servant to get her?" puzzled Hikaru as his brother proceeded out of the room, "I want you to stay."

"I want to go for a walk anyway." Kaoru glanced at Hikaru's disappointed face. "Hikaru, I love you."

Hikaru's expression softened. "I love you too Kaoru. You're the best brother in the world. We don't even have to say it." He grinned at his twin. "I understand."

"Understand?" And after the one word was spoken, barely audible, Kaoru was out the door.

---

Kaoru still hadn't come with Haruhi after 15 minutes. "How do you pick the lock out of this thing?" Hikaru was bent over, his mind preoccupied on how to set himself free. "This doctor obviously forgot to chain my arms. He obviously doesn't know me too well." Grinning, Hikaru used the compass in his hands and after a few minutes was successful. He stretched his body. "Ah, thanks Kaoru for bringing up my pencil case. I think I'll go for an outside stroll as well." He zipped up Kaoru's jacket and pulled on some boots. Feeling pleased with himself, he bounded out of the hospital room and jumped down the stairs.

"Mori-sempai?!" Hikaru was surprised to see the tall third year climbing up the stairs. And Hunny wasn't with him. "Where's Hunny?"

"Sleeping," replied Mori, almost automatically. He stopped and stared at him with sombre eyes.

"What?" Hikaru was puzzled.

Mori looked uncomfortable. When he spoke, the words were like as if he had rehearsed them over and over again. "I meant to talk to you earlier but-"he gestured with his hands about what had happened that afternoon, "Kyouya told me you were here." He reached inside his backpack. "I wasn't aware of your feelings before. But now I am. I'm sorry I looked into this." Mori pulled his hands out and handed Hikaru a certain handsome leather bound sketch book. Hikaru had never seen it before.

"I should return this to you…Kaoru."

"You guys are going to stay in the same hotel as us?" Haruhi pondered and glanced curiously at the paintings on the walls. She had seen them this morning. And just around the other corridor was her hotel room.

"Yes, Kyouya's just gone to confirm the bookings. Mori didn't finish it," Tamaki was pacing back and forth across the welcome room.

Haruhi sighed and fell onto a nearby chair and started talking, more or less to herself. "Hikaru got my jewellery for me. We should probably go back to Japan soon. I need to do lots of work."

"Mmm…" Tamaki suddenly stood right in front of her. "Haruhi?"

"What?"

"I still don't understand. Why didn't you let me agree to be Ayankoji's partner when clearly you were going to be abused if I didn't say yes? " Tamaki let the words fall out, all in one confusing, jumbled rush.

"Huh?" Haruhi stared at him curiously, and then understanding dawned in her eyes. "Oh, that. It wasn't right for her to be practically blackmailing you to be her partner."

"You thought that was the most important issue back then?" Tamaki said incredulously.

"It was wrong." Haruhi stated back.

Tamaki let out a humourless laugh. "Don't you ever care about your own safety?"

Haruhi frowned. "She wasn't really threatening me and I didn't get hurt did I?"

"But I thought you were, as did every one else" stressed Tamaki.

She stared at him and then gently, "I appreciate you care for me Tamaki, but please don't worry about this."

She said his name, but he still couldn't get past one fact. "You always fling yourself away to danger. You never really look out for yourself…you can't do that."

"What do you mean?" Haruhi was a little annoyed, "I look out for others, because that how I deal with things. And I do look out for myself. I handle things fine alone."

"This is just like thunderstorms isn't it?" he was suddenly quietly angry. "Everything"

"I'm perfectly capable," interrupted Haruhi.

"You don't remember the last time there was a thunderstorm…"Tamaki said coldly.

"I do remember," she was confused. "Tamaki, this has nothing to do with today."

"Fine. Don't understand. But I want you to do only one thing for me."

She stared. "Tama-"

"This whole prom thing is getting ridiculous. You are going to get yourself a partner before anything like this happens again-"

"Wait," Haruhi cut across his sentence, "Ayanokoji did what she did because you didn't have a prom partner."

It hurt. It hurt because she said it bluntly, she had only thought about it and pointed it out, and she had no idea what it had meant to him. "I've got a partner," he hissed. She was in shock. "I don't care who, I don't care how, but you're going to get yourself a partner by tonight!" And then he stalked off.

A few moments later, someone's red hair flashed past the doorway-

"Haruhi?" Kaoru was relived in finding her. "Glad I found you. You look-"He stopped and his expression mirrored hers. "Haruhi, are you alright?"

She glanced at him. "Kaoru…"

He bent down and faced her, his golden eyes were full of worry. He had never seen this expression…was it pain, was it fear? Whatever it was, the expression stilled him. He felt himself shrinking into numbness. He wasn't thinking. Everything was precipitating. And then he falling, falling forwards until he was kissing her on the mouth.

All he wanted now, all he wanted was for the pain and fear to just melt away…

A/N: A couple of things I'd like to say:

1. The votes for prom king and queen are still on. Its going forever isn't it? But nah, one more chapter before it closes. See end of chap. 8 for all the details.

2. I was going to finish this before all my exams begin but…I just had more and more ideas to shove it. This is no way near finishing. I'm planning to write about the Prom (time to introduce some other characters including Neko!) and do a Prom After Party. I'm so sorry, the next chapter won't come until end of November, until my exams are over. -dreams blissfully about the wonderfully empty 3 weeks after November the 16th, where I shall be writing, reading and drawing like crazy -and of course burning all my year's books…hehe-

3. Thank you so much for putting up with the whole fanfic. I'am continually amazed at all the comments I receive, and all the support. THANKYOU! Love all you guys out there still reading this. xD

So, hopefully I'll seeya in a couple of months!

-pffs and vanishes-

Lu.e3