Title: Invisible
Now written by: Yue Guang Kuroneko
Pairing: KyouyaxHaruhi
Rating: K (for now)
Invisible
Taken over by: Yue Guang Kuroneko
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"You can't be serious,"
"Does it look like I'm teasing you?"
"No, but that doesn't mean you aren't,"
"What an intelligent observation you have made,"
"Don't try to get yourself out of this debate with your irritating sarcasm."
"Oh, am I being sarcastic?"
"You know, sometimes I really hate you,"
"Now you're resorting to pure verbal abuse, Haruhi. That's not very mature."
"This entire situation isn't mature, so it's not my fault."
"This conversation isn't getting anywhere, you two."
"We don't care."
Haruhi glared at Kyouya when she realized that they said it at the same time and managed to retaliate his idle smirk with a shake of her head before she returned her attention to Kaoru. "I'm sorry, where were we?"
"Well, we were discussing how we were going to talk to Hikaru," Kaoru shook his head, "before you went off on each other about strategies. I mean, really, you two…"
"I, for one, think that…"
"We're not using that strategy, Kyouya," Haruhi flashed him a glare. "I think just sitting down with him and talking will be better."
"I don't know about that," Kaoru let out a sigh as he leaned back in his seat. "He's been ignoring me purposely the past two days."
Haruhi joined in on the sighing and dropped her head forward onto the polished table.
The Host Club had officially disbanded yesterday, and it seems that talking to Tamaki now would be unwise—especially since Kyouya managed to push a few of Tamaki's buttons and incurred the poor blonde's wrath. She didn't feel quite as sorry for him as she would have but…no, now was not the time to think about it.
"Haru-chan!"
She raised her head as she recognized that cute voice and pet name, "Hunny-senpai!"
She smiled at the two seniors who joined them in one of the smaller libraries on campus like they usually did after their clubs the past few days. It was like the Host Club all over again, except she didn't have to worry about her debt or spending time with the girls, and they were missing Tamaki and Hikaru.
"How are you, Mori-senpai?" she asked him, feeling her chest being relieved of its current pressure as he seated himself across from herself and Kyouya. Hunny was chatting animatedly with Kaoru about some new cakes that he discovered in their kitchen the other day while the latter nodded with slight interest.
"I'm fine," Mori gave her one of his idle smiles. "And you, Haruhi?"
"I could be better," she said truthfully.
Mori nodded in understanding.
"Have you come up with a plan to talk to Hika-chan and Tama-chan yet?" Hunny joined in on their conversation, plopping himself on the chair next to Mori as he hugged his bunny tightly.
"Talking to Tamaki is impossible," Kyouya spoke up, almost with fatigue. "We're giving him some time to calm down."
"You shouldn't have said those things to him, Kyouya," Haruhi reprimanded him; reminding him that he was the reason they were still hated by Tamaki. "He was angry enough when I went in to talk to him…"
"He made me angry," Kyouya admitted absentmindedly. "He said that there was no way that you would be attracted to a heartless snake like me."
The group was silent; they all understood that Kyouya thought very highly of Tamaki (in terms of friendship, anyway) and to be seen as a heartless snake from Tamaki's point of view was enough to break any mortal's heart. Then again, Ootori Kyouya probably surpassed mortality a long time ago.
Haruhi smiled at him and slipped her hand in his. She was aware that Kyouya was actually a very humane person. Granted, he was frightening when he was angry and his mind worked in ways that she couldn't comprehend, but he was a very passionate person and dedicated himself to his friends.
"Don't worry," Hunny's smile seemed uncertain for a moment. "He'll come around."
"You had a run-in with him too, didn't you?" Kyouya questioned the seniors suspiciously.
"Yes," Mori said truthfully as Hunny slapped a hand over his own mouth as if ashamed that he blurted out a secret. "Just before we've arrived."
"Do we even want to know what Tono wants?" Kaoru groaned as he let his head fall back so that he stared blankly at the ceiling.
At that very moment, Hunny burst into tears and began sobbing into his Bun-Bun.
"Hunny-senpai!" Haruhi cried out in shock as she rushed to his side to comfort him.
"He said that he would rather be alone for the rest of his life than have anything to do with us," Mori said monotonously as if it didn't affect him at all.
"Let's get this solved quick," Kaoru sighed. "This is so tiring."
"I'll speak with Hikaru," Kyouya spoke up thoughtfully.
"No way," Haruhi reacted quickly. "If you're going to talk to him, I'm coming with you!" And then, under her breath, she muttered, "Because you just might enrage him like you did with Tamaki-senpai…"
"Did you say something, Haruhi?"
"Not at all,"
"Well, I know for sure that he won't be talking to me," Kaoru said almost jealously.
"Takashi and I can talk to Hika-chan!" Hunny said cheerfully, as if he hadn't burst into tears a few moments ago. "Leave him to us, Haru-chan!"
Haruhi gazed at Hunny's wide, sweet smile and suddenly felt a shiver pass up her spine. There was no way she should underestimate their beloved loli-shota host.
She appreciated their sentiments
"I think it would be better if they spoke to him, Mitsukuni," Mori spoke up before Haruhi had a chance to convince the small senior to pull out of his plans.
"Yes," Kyouya spoke up, "we appreciate your generosity, Hunny-senpai, but I am quite sure that Haruhi would like to be the one to speak with him."
"Then it's settled," Kaoru smiled at them all. "You are all invited to the Hitachiin mansion for dinner tonight, and Haruhi can speak with Hikaru then."
Haruhi nervously adjusted the dress that her father forced onto her. She wasn't uncomfortable in girly clothes; she just preferred wearing comfortable, boyish clothes. Tonight, however, she fussed awkwardly in her dress as she gazed out of the window of the Ootori limo.
She worried about plenty of problems that may arise during the dinner or even the conversation with Hikaru. Kyouya wanted to talk to him with her, but she managed to persuade him to drop his idea entirely. Or, at least she thought she did.
"I still think I should talk to him with you," Kyouya spoke up quietly as their fingers entwined with the other's.
"Kyouya," Haruhi sighed lightly, "We've been through this. It would be better if I talked to him myself."
"After his first attempt to separate us, I don't think I can trust him alone with you."
"I won't fall for anything he has planned, Kyouya," Haruhi poked slight fun at him.
Kyouya's dark eyes narrowed. He gazed out of the window as he muttered, "I hope you're right about that."
"And besides," she was desperate to comfort him now, "didn't Hikaru tell you that he's given up on the entire ordeal?"
"If he really has given up, don't you think he'd talk to Kaoru rather than ignore his own twin for such a long period of time?"
"That may be true," Haruhi said, tightening her hold on Kyouya's hand. "Well, perhaps he's just upset and just needs some time to think."
"Why are you protecting him?"
"I don't want to accuse him of anything until we're sure!" Haruhi defended herself. "It's unfair of us to blame him for reasons we don't have proof of!"
Kyouya was quiet the rest of the way to the Hitachiin mansion, and Haruhi wasn't in much of a rush to pursue the subject. After all, she was extremely nervous, and she really didn't want to lose another close friend of hers.
"Master Ootori, we've arrived at the Hitachiin mansion," called the driver from his seat in the front.
"Thank you," Kyouya said, "give us a moment, please."
"Yes, sir,"
He turned towards her and pulled her close. Embraced by his warmth, she immediately relaxed and allowed her arms to wrap around his waist. She buried her face into his white shirt, inhaling the comforting and familiar scent of sandalwood, coffee, and newspaper.
"We can get through this together, Haruhi," she heard him whisper into her hair. "If you need me, just call for me. I'll be there in less than a minute."
"Because you'll be listening in on us, isn't that right?" she teased him as she pulled away to gaze up at him through laughing eyes. "You'll be right at the door."
"Yes," he answered truthfully.
Haruhi laughed wholeheartedly as she hugged him tightly once more.
"Master Ootori,"
"All right; thank you for waiting, Kazuma,"
She smiled at the old driver as he opened the door for her. She thanked him sincerely and received a small smile in reply.
"Haruhi!" Kaoru's voice could be heard at the large French-styled doors, and she gazed up to find him at the top of the stairs.
Haruhi laughed and waved back at him as she waited for Kyouya to finish giving the driver instructions. "Thank you, Kazuma,"
"You're welcome, sir,"
She studied Kyouya carefully. He looked tired, and that worried her. He had to deal with his family (which probably takes up a lot of his time), and now he had to worry about their relationship together. It made her feel loved, surely, but she didn't want him to exert himself either.
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked as they walked up the steps. "You seem rather tired."
"I'm fine," he brushed off her concerns. "Nothing I can't handle."
Haruhi said nothing else, knowing that any further inquiries would annoy him.
"Where's Hikaru?" she asked curiously when they reached the top. Kaoru was the only one there to greet them.
"He's getting ready," Kaoru said delicately. "Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai won't be here until a little later."
"Is that so?" Kyouya pushed his spectacles up his elegant nose. "Are you sure he hasn't locked himself up in a room somewhere?"
Haruhi saw Kaoru cringe at Kyouya's perceptiveness. "Kaoru, why don't I talk to him now?"
"I wouldn't advise it," Kaoru started, but Haruhi walked past him, already intent on finding the stubborn twin. "Haruhi?"
"Don't worry," she smiled at them. "I'll find him."
"I'm coming with you," Kyouya began to walk towards her.
"No," she shook her head lightly, surprising him into stopping. "I want to talk to Hikaru alone, Kyouya."
"We'll wait for Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai then," Kaoru placed a calm hand on Kyouya's stiff shoulder. "He's in one of the rooms of the third floor. Good luck, Haruhi."
Haruhi waved to them cheerfully as she made her way up the stairs. Without Kyouya's interference, Hikaru will probably be easier to talk to. Also, he had a couple of days to simmer down (as opposed to Tamaki who only had a day or so) so she was sure that he wouldn't get violent.
I can do this, she thought to herself as she reached the third floor. Remember, Haruhi…this is like a court case. You said that this was going to be your very first one. Don't lose your head.
She opened the first door, but found nothing. The second door, nothing. She reached the third door and opened it only to find a very shocked Hikaru on the other side of it, as if reaching for the doorknob.
"Haruhi?"
"Hikaru."
--
Author's Note: Hello, everyone –weary- It's been almost three months since I've updated this story. I'll admit that I've been a funk the past couple of months. I was busy with school, home troubles, and whatnot. I've branched off to write short stories, but my self-confidence has been stomped all over, so it's taking me a while to get into the passion of writing again.
I was bored today, since I managed to finish my 5-page paper in less than 24 hours (I wasn't procrastinating, I promise!!) and felt kind of down, so I decided I'd do some gmail cleaning. (I'm the type of person who cleans when she's depressed/stressed.) I went through reviews that have been written for the large variety of stories I've posted, and they almost made me cry. I thank everyone who takes the time to review an author. You have no idea how much an author appreciates feedback and tidbits of their readers' thoughts. I also thank those who are patient with the lack of updates from any author (not just myself), because writers have lives and troubles too.
Point is, thank you all very much for supporting me. I've decided that after I finish Endless Story and Invisible, I will not be writing any more chaptered stories. I will occasionally write the fluffy KyouxHaru fic or MorixHaru fic. If I do manage to write another chaptered story, it will be relatively short, and it will be because someone requested it from me a long time ago. I will finish those stories before posting, so that you all won't have to wait half a year to get an update ;)
Again, thank you! I can't express just how happy I am to be able to read everyone's comments. I especially thank those who give me constructive criticism because I feel like I've been improving by following that advice. I love you all!