After the Rain
He could hear her heavy breathing despite the heavy pour down. Her cold body snuggled firmly against his chest. She looked so fragile, so delicate. He would have held her tighter, if not for that irrational fear at the back of his head telling him that she might shatter if he did. The floor was cold and damp and he could feel the chilly wind blowing, flickering about his arms. His legs sore from the earlier dash back and the prolonged sitting under the crammed altar. He sighed.
Suddenly, lightning flashed and the thunder resonated throughout the dark and damp little church. She winced.
His stomach twisted, seeing her in such a vulnerable state felt so painful to him. The fact that he left her earlier due to his selfishness made him feel disgusted with himself. He frowned and bit his lower lip hard, an unknown feeling welling up from his chest. "What is it?" he asked.
"Anger, loath, disgust, disappointment, frustration... No, more, there is something more", he remembered himself saying. That nagging, annoying sensation that wouldn't disappear. That pestered him even after the incident and made him feel both happy and sad, disappointment and relief. All because of her.
But at that time, he still didn't know why. Even though he knew that behind all the emotions he felt, that was always something else. That unknown emotion was almost like a spark that drove all those reactions. Still, back then, he has never realize what it was that had amplified all those feelings. Not until much later.
"Hikaru," Haruhi's muffled voice startled him, "are you alright?"
He looked at her. Beautiful brown puddles staring at him, eager, earnest, sincere. He shook his head. "Just thinking about some things."
"Oh. Urm… Then can you release me? The rain has stopped." she asked, a faint pink crossed her cheeks. "You're holding me pretty tightly. It's a bit uncomfortable"
His hand dropped what it was holding as if it was scalding hot as he grinned wryly "Sorry." He uttered as his brain screamed at him: No! No! Act normal!
"It's alright." The brunette pushed open the door of her hideout and gingerly stepped out. "Where's Kaoru anyway?"
The lanky teen gracefully got out of the crammed "room" and started stretching, sore from the prolonged sitting "Honey-sempai invited him over for cake apparently. Kaoru refuses to let me tag along." He said curtly as just a flicker of annoyance appeared on his face.
Then, in a swift motion, he reached for Haruhi, hugging her as he whined, "He said I wasn't invited!"
"Kaoru's angry at me!" he continued, yes, this is good; take your mind off her, off that bugging feeling. That yearning need for her.
"Don't worry," she ruffled his hair gently, "I'm sure that's not it. Maybe they just have a surprise for you."
He managed a smile. Of course Kaoru didn't hate him. He just wanted to throw her – as well as himself – off a little. But then again, when has calm and sure Haruhi ever panicked?
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" the young girl asked, gently pushing herself free from his grasp. "As thanks for the company just now, besides, Dad's not eating tonight." He smiled, mouthing her his sincere thanks. "But you'll need to go shopping for ingredients with me; I didn't manage to buy them before it rained."
He nodded. Sometime back, he would have immediately rang up Tamaki to tease him about having dinner alone with Haruhi. But now, it was strangely not the one thing he wanted to do. Instead now, all he wanted was some peace with her over dinner.
A/N: A short update on the story. I cant seem to get it to flow nicely but well, at least after typing this chapter, I think I have more or less figured out how I'm gonna bring this story around. Leave a note pumpkins! And thanks to everyone who has reviewed chapter 1!
