I'm suffering a sever case of writitis. Writitis is a ghastly, shadow of a creature, spurned by the demands of the everyday world. It falls upon writers who are being pressured to write too much. I have fallen victim to this dreaded, made-up disease. I have to write several reports, take lots of notes, write newspaper articles for my newspaper, and manage to find the time to fabricate this story for all of you reading.
So I'm sorry I've been away… I've just been trying to get rid of my disease…
Fruitsbasketluver91, you are truly a gift from God. Without you, I would've never been able to try writing this second chapter. Words cannot express my gratitude.
Songs: Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson, and the first part of Goodbye Love from Rent. Ya know, the arguing part of it at the start?
The Only Exception
Memories Remain
Haruhi felt every head in the room swivel to look at her. She took an unsteady breath. "I-I-" She blinked in disbelief. Tamaki stood up next to her, a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright, love?" He whispered in her ear. His touch suddenly sent a wave of repellent actions her way. Unbelievingly enough, she wanted to remove his arm quickly, to not let Takashi see.
Takashi.
Haruhi glared holes into the carpet below her. She could still feel everyone looking at her, judging her, trying to base their reactions on hers. What she did now would be the basis for everyone else's judgment at this new development. Stop looking at me, Haruhi wanted to scream. She wanted to be unstable, slap Takashi, and demand to know how he could've been so stupid.
She wanted so badly to make him suffer like she did all those years ago. Anything to make him realize what she went through. Haruhi's eyes watered at the memories, but she brushed it off carefully. Putting on her best poker face, she stared up at everyone. "Yes, I'm fine." Moving out of Tamaki's grasp, she slowly walked over to Mitsukuni. Determinedly avoiding his presence, the woman shook his hand in a business-like manner.
"Thank you for inviting me tonight. I have to get back to the firm. There's a very important case I'm working on, I practically had to beg my boss to let me go tonight. Reiko." She nodded cordially in her direction. Reiko looked at her quizzically, hand on her swollen belly.
"Goodbye, everybody." Ignoring everyone else's strange looks, Haruhi walked back over to Tamaki, stretching a fake smile across her face. The good thing about her husband was he didn't know the difference. Whether the smile was real or fake, he'd never know. She'd just work out things her own way. Haruhi didn't need any interference.
"Love you." The woman gave Tamaki a quick kiss on the lips. He looked at strangely, just like in the high school days. His violet eyes were begging her to tell him what was wrong. Why she was leaving, when they both knew she didn't have a case. Haruhi shrugged it off, heading to the door.
Key shaking in her hand, Haruhi managed to open her car. Slipping into the seat, confidently she waved to the people peeking out of the blinds. They just stared, so she pretended to call someone on her phone, jabbing it against her ear. Pulling out of the driveway, Haruhi drove.
And drove.
And drove.
And drove some more.
She didn't know where she was going; she just knew she needed to go. Tears blurred her vision. Driving soon became impossible. Swerving to the side of the road, her engine stalled. Haruhi hit the steering wheel, fists denting the leather. She threw her phone across the cab, watching it hit the window. She ranted and ranted, going on about everything in the world. Eventually she lost her words and just screamed in the empty car.
When that was finally over, Haruhi broke down. Slumping her head against the wheel she cried, deep nerve-wracking sobs. Her body shook, her throat hurt, and her heart beat brokenly. The tears wouldn't stop, even if she wanted them to. They came without ceasing, falling over her cheeks, dripping on the dashboard. It felt as if they would fill up the car, drowning her inside it.
Soon even the ability to sob failed her. Her throat grew swollen and raw from exhaustion. She could just shudder as soundless cries coursed through her body. "W-W-W-" Haruhi tried to speak, to ask herself why. But she couldn't. Her throat throbbed if she uttered a syllable. Gingerly, she put a hand to it.
Slumping sideways against the front seat, Haruhi curled up into the fetal position. Staring at nothing, in her subconscious she relived everything that had happened to her. She remembered first meeting Takashi, his emotionless ways unnerving her. The first time they touched, just briefly. Both prolonging the contact longer than necessary. Asking to be called Takashi from now on, one of those "people special to him." Their fist kiss…
She choked again, hands clenching. She couldn't think about him. Not now. She was married, for chrissakes! At the thought of her marriage, Haruhi flinched involuntarily. That little part of her mind started thinking those nasty thoughts, the deep ones she tried to bury for so long.
'You got married in the United States, for crying out loud!'
'Yeah, and in Las Vegas no less.'
Her rational side fought back, pleading with the voice.
'He wanted a commoner's marriage, something fun. I wanted him to be happy, so I went along with it. How was I supposed to know Americans marry differently?'
It retorted back, just as cold and calculating.
'It doesn't even count as a legalized marriage, dumbass.'
'You of all people should know that. You've just been hiding it from yourself. Now that Takashi's back, we can finally-'
"STOP!"
Haruhi screamed out loud, throwing her hands to her ears. "I'm going insane, I just know it." She muttered, wincing in pain. Her cell phone vibrated underneath her ear. She ignored it pointedly, staring into space. It rang again. Haruhi reluctantly got up, grabbing her phone. The young woman rolled down her window, throwing her phone into the forest next to her.
It grew lighter outside. It had been nearly ten hours since she had fled Mitsukuni's party. To Haruhi that wasn't very long, but to Tamaki it was forever. He'd probably already called the police, filed a missing person's report, and asked Kyouya to contact his police force. She sighed, shaking her head at her husband's childish antics.
Slipping down again, she nearly fell asleep on the side of the road. She kept shaking herself awake, knowing if she slept, things would just be worse. She'd dream of Takashi and forget she even had a husband. Haruhi was trying her hardest to not fall asleep. It didn't work….
She was succumbing to fatigue…..
Slowly closing her brown eyes….
"That's not a good idea you know."
Haruhi opened her eyes again, sullen. "I don't care. Just go away." The man chuckled, opening the car door. "Haruhi, you really must fell terrible to sleep in a car hundreds of miles from home." Kyouya Ootori picked up his friend, setting her in an upright position. "You look like hell." he stated. "Gee, thanks." She growled, flipping open her mirror case.
He was right, as usual. Her brown eyes were seriously red, surrounded by puffy skin. Haruhi sighed, resting her head on the dashboard. "What do you want, Kyouya?" He grew serious, grabbing one of her hands. "Tamaki wants you to come back. He got worried when you left." She cringed, withdrawing her hand. "Then why didn't he come and tell me himself?" Kyouya looked hard at her. "He had a business meeting. You should know how important these things are to him."
"If he cared, he should've dragged his lazy ass out here to find me! He shouldn't have sent someone else. He should have come." At this, the man was stumped. Haruhi tossed her hair back angrily, starting her car. It wouldn't work. She tried again. No luck. "Shit!" she threw open her door, stalking away. "Where are you going?" Kyouya called after her.
"Away from here!"
"You are being so childish!"
"I don't care!"
"I know you do!"
"Look, Haruhi." He shouted, catching up with her. "Tamaki wanted to come and find you. He really did. But when they called, they said it was so important it couldn't wait. If he didn't come now, they said they would make the decision without him. He didn't tell me what it was, but he was deadly serious. He didn't ask, he told me to find you. He also told me to kiss you, but of course I'm not doing that."
Haruhi threw him a look of searing hatred. "And? Family is always put before business. Tamaki knows that." She knew she was being unfair, but she couldn't stop herself. All she wanted was to find every weak point in her husband, see how bad he was. She just didn't know why she was doing it.
"Just come back." Kyouya was flat and to the point. "Everyone got worried when you suddenly left. Even Takashi felt guilty." She flinched, he kept going on. "I know you don't want to hear that, but you're hearing it anyway. You're being stupid. You're letting your little adolescent emotions get the better of you. And now that that little lesson is done, you're going home."
"No I'm no-" He slung her over his shoulder easily. Ignoring her protests, beatings, and various curses, Kyouya carried Haruhi back to a shiny, black BMW. Setting her in the backseat, he climbed in quickly next. "Drive." He ordered his chauffeur. "Sir?" the man inquired. "The Haninozuka estate. Everyone's waiting for her there."
Haruhi's brown eyes grew large. "Kyouya, I am not going back. God dammit, we've established this!" She tried to open the door as the car drove down the highway. It was locked tight. Kyouya looked at her disapprovingly. "Haruhi, why must you be such a pain? You're PMSing right now, aren't you? I bet that's the problem."
She narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms defensively.
"Shut up."
"Knew it."
His glasses glinted evilly and he smirked.
The car pulled into the driveway. "I shouldn't have to bring you back like a teenage girl past curfew." Kyouya muttered, pulling her out by her arm. "You shouldn't have brought me back at all." Haruhi retorted, tugging on her appendage. "Oh stop it." He said, dragging his friend up the driveway.
"Mitsukuni, I've returned with the runaway." He said, knocking upon the door. Shinju opened it, thumb in mouth, golden-brown eyes alight. "Uncle KyouKyou! You found her!" Kyouya's eye twitched slightly at the nickname. Haruhi remained silent. "Aunt Haruhi, why'd ya run away? You didn't say bye or nothin'." The five-year old regarded her reproachfully. "I'm almost cursed you, but Momma said it wasn't polite."
The woman remained silent. "Shinju, where are your parents?" Kyouya asked, bending down. He kept a vice grip on Haruhi's arm. "Momma went to bed, Neko-chan and Re-chan left, so did Chika-chan and Hika-chan. And Daddy's been talkin' to Uncle Takashi the whooooooole night!"
"I see. So what room is your father in? And did Uncle Tamaki come back yet?" he further inquired. Shinju thought for a moment, tilting her head. "Yep, he's back. He's asleep on the couch. And Daddy's in Uncle Takashi's room. I can get him!" She began to trump up the stairs, followed by Kyouya and a thickly cursing Haruhi.
"You ass, let go of my arm." She hissed, keeping her voice low. "No cursing, Miss Fujioka." Reiko called from her room. "At least not of that sort." Kyouya paused in the doorway. "Reiko, can you let down the curse in Takashi's room for a moment?" A brief pause. "It is done."
"Daaaaaaddy!" Shinju sang, beating the door with her tiny fists. "Can I come in?" Mitsukuni's voice drifted out from behind the door. "Sure honey, come in." The girl opened the door, walking across the room. In minutes, she was on her dad's lap with her thumb back in place.
"Mitsukuni, she shouldn't suck her thumb still." Takashi said gravely. "You know that." Mitsukuni looked at his cousin sheepishly. "Yeah, but…." He trailed off when he looked to the doorway. Kyouya was standing there awkwardly, holding Haruhi's upper arm. Haruhi herself was attempting to break free, tugging and yanking, keeping herself out of sight.
"Mitsukuni, I found the little lost girl. She was hiding." The bespectacled man said seriously. "I am not a child, sempai." Haruhi covered her mouth, cursing herself. 'God dammit, Kyouya.' "Sempai? And you call yourself an adult."
He slowly inched into the room, dragging the resisting woman with him. "Haru-chan, you're okay!" Mitsukuni stood, shooing Shinju outside the room. "How come he can call me Haru-chan and not be childish?" Haruhi glared at Kyouya, narrowing her eyes. "It's Mitsukuni. He always calls you that."
"Damn you."
"Language…."
Mitsukuni hugged her, taking off Kyouya's hand. "Don't run away again, please." He laughed. "We all got so bored." Haruhi reluctantly embraced him back, avoiding everyone's eyes. "What's up, Mitsukuni? What was I brought back here for?" She glared at Kyouya. "Against my will, of course."
"PMSing…"
"Grow up."
"We just wanted to make sure you were okay." Mitsukuni said, looking her over. "We all got worried when you left. Tama-chan looked ready to kill someone." Haruhi stared back defiantly. Finally, she said, "I don't need you all worrying about me. I wanted to leave. I needed to go somewhere other than here, so I left. But, no. Everytime I try to leave, to be alone, there's always someone following me. Bringing me back, trying to figure out what's wrong when I don't necessarily want to tell them. I mean-"
Takashi sighed, running his fingers through his hair.
"And you." Haruhi rounded on him. "Why the hell are you here? What made you think you could just pop out of the blue like this? Did you think everything would be cool? Did you believe everything would go back to the way it was? Did you, you stupid, selfish son of a bitch?" His eyes went wide. "Haruhi, I don't think that's really neccess-" Kyouya stated. "Shut up! Nobody asked you!"
"Well? What in the name of God's green earth do you have to say for yourself?" Takashi looked down. The room grew quiet as Haruhi's words sank in. Mitsukuni shifted his weight uneasily, Kyouya stared out the window, suddenly interested in a mailbox. They waited. Haruhi was breathing heavily, glaring a red-hot poker into Takashi's head.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, he spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Haruhi glared at him. "What was that? I couldn't quite hear you." Takashi looked up at her, narrowing his eyes. "I said I'm sorry." She threw her hands in the air. "Perfect, just perfect! Hey, everyone did you hear that? Takashi Morinozuka says that he's sorry. Sorry won't fix it this time, Takashi! Sorry won't make up for seven years of what we had to go through!"
He rose, glaring down at her. "What they had to go through? It sounds like, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like the only one who had problems was you!" the man spat. "All I've heard since I got out was, 'Poor Haruhi! She had things so rough! It was worse than us!' And I know that! I know it must've been bad for you! Everyone else knew I wasn't a complete monster; they were content to wait seven years to see me again! It sounds like the only person who had a problem with me coming back is you!"
Haruhi just glared defiantly up at him, not budging an inch. "Everyone else has moved on, Haruhi! Everyone! Even Hikaru has forgiven me, for chrissakes! Why can't you just forget about this? Why can't you just forget it ever happened?" Takashi yelled, moving closer.
"C'mon guys, chill!" Kyouya said, moving between them, a hand separating each from the other. "Why can't I forget? Why can't I forget? Is that really what you're asking me? Think about it! Use your brains instead of your muscles for once! God knows they've always gotten you into trouble!
"I admit it, okay? I admit that I was the only one who seemed to be struggling! No one else did. I admit that I was the one who would always go home and cry each night, wishing things were different! Did you think I didn't miss you? Did you think I didn't want you back here? I did! Everyone knew that, but they were always saying, 'Move on, Haruhi! Things will be much easier that way!' And I tried! Tamaki was the only one who held out for me! The only one who said it was okay for me to still love you, even a little bit!
"Are you happy now, huh? Are you? Now it's seven years later, I'm married, and still you manage to show up and screw up my entire life! I don't know how you do it, I honestly don't!" Haruhi tried to move Kyouya, shoving him roughly. "Move your ass!" The man glared back.
"No I'm not happy! Dammit, I've forgotten how infuriating you are! Do you think I wanted to come back and find you married? I did at first, but when I saw you, I changed my mind! I changed my goddamn mind! Only you, only you Haruhi, could possibly do that! Now what am I supposed to do? You tell me!"
Haruhi drew in closer, stroking his cheek. His eyes closed contently. She leaned in, whispering in his ear. "You forget about me like I have you, you stupid asshole." And with that, Haruhi drew back, slapping him across the face in one fluid motion.
"Bye, guys." She called nonchalantly over her shoulder. "See you next Friday for Shinju's sixth." Haruhi opened the door, slipping out like a snake. Reiko stood on the stairway, looking at her. "What a colorful vocabulary you have, Miss Fujioka. I had to send Shinju to her friends."
"Thank you. I suppose my husband's downstairs?" Haruhi inquired, weary. Reiko nodded, stepping out of her way. "Call me when the baby's coming, Reiko." She smiled at her friend. "Of course. No one else can help me through it."
'No one else can keep this family in shape, either.'
Tamaki sat up, ruffling his hair. "Hey, Haruhi." He stood, wrapping his arms around her. "Are you okay?" The man looked his wife up and down. "I heard lots of shouting when I was waking up." Haruhi nodded, resting her head against his chest. "Can we just go home? Maybe watch a movie or something?"
He laughed. "My Haruhi wants to relax?" She looked at her husband. "Yes, because I'm very tired. Maybe we can visit Dad too." Tamaki blanched. "Are you sure? Last time, he tried to kill me with a frying pan." Haruhi smiled. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
They walked outside, hand in hand like small children. Getting into Tamaki's car, they began to back out of the driveway. Haruhi glanced up at the window of Mitsukuni's house. A tall figure was in it, looking down at them. She smirked. And, in a very sharp manner, she waved at them. As if they hadn't had a giant fight a few minutes ago.
The figure turned away.
As the car left for the Suoh Mansion, Takashi Morinozuka fell back on his bed and sighed.
"Damn her."
That was so much fun to write! I've never had so much fun writing a chapter! I tried to insert a little humor every once in a while to lighten the situation. Let me know if ya caught any of it.
Writitis is a dreaded thing. I hope it doesn't befall me again. It's just kinda hard to write an argument scene when you're in love.
-Danielle