A/N: Sorry about the late uploads and stuff. My Christmas vaca. was super busy, you just have no idea. I would promise to upload sooner…but obviously I'm bad at that. :I
I don't really have any time anymore to write, so please bear (bare? Which one?) with me while I try to finish this .
I hope you like this chapter. This is the climax-type chapter that popped into my head when I first decided to write a fanfic. Enjoy ^_^
p.s. I fully expect everybody to review to each chapter. I appreciate that you've added my story to your alert list, but the reviews are what give me the drive to write, so without them this story might die.
Haruhi gracefully stepped through the door of the sleek black limo that Mori was holding open for her. She sat her bag on her lap, surveying the people around her. Unfortunately, she was sandwiched between Hikaru and Kaoru, so she would have to deal with their constant chatter and Tamaki's protests to them playing with her from his seat on the other side of Hikaru. Across from her were the ever predictable Kyoya, Honey, and Mori. Kyoya sitting by the window, calmly typing away at his laptop. Honey and Mori were sitting by the other window, Hunny giggling away on Mori's lap, happily playing with Usa-chan, Mori grunting dutifully when Hunny said anything. Before long, Haruhi found herself relaxing into the soothing chaos she had grown accustomed to. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, thinking of the nap she'd missed out on the other day. Her seat between the twins was a lot more bearable when she was sleeping.
"Haruhi~" Tamaki drew out the last syllable in her name, sounding very bored. "If you don't wake up we're going to leave you~" She had heard the threat many times before. It's amazing how quickly he can switch personalities, she thought, groggily rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes. One minute he acts like a spoiled child, the next he's the most mature person in the room. Besides Mori and Kyouya, of course. She begrudgingly slid from her comfy position in the warm limo, out into the cold, crisp fall air. Winter was feeling closer with each passing day. Haruhi smiled as she watched Tamaki shiver in his shorts and t-shirt. She was glad she'd worn a turtleneck and jeans that day. They covered up her bruises nicely, without looking suspicious. The only problem now was convincing them that she was going to wer it the whole time they were at the water park. Mori slipped her a knowing look as the others were walking ahead. At least somebody would help her keep her secret.
Haruhi blinked in confusion as the entered the colossal door to the park. It's way brighter than outside, she thought. And warmer too. Haruhi turned to look at Tamaki, now more comfortable in his beach attire. He and Hunny were bouncing off the walls, oohing and aahing at all the rides. Without realizing, she'd lost track of Mori. Haruhi quickened her pace, not wanting to get lost in such a foreign area. Kyouya led them to a gigantic room, mumbling something like "Try not to break anything", before settling in one of the many lounge chairs with his laptop and notebook. Haruhi looked around the room, before deciding on a seat beside her shadow-kind sempai. She pulled her own laptop from her bag and started checking her email, casting a sideways glance at Kyouya, who was now scribbling something in afore mentioned notebook. Probably adding something to my never ending debt, she thought, adjusting the sleeves f her sweater. Her outfit was practical for the outdoors weather, but what about now? Haruhi surveyed the gargantuan pool in front of her. She wondered how long she would last, sitting in the shade, before somebody noticed she was dying in her sweater and jeans.
"Huh", Haruhi said aloud, more to herself than anyone else. The guys stopped their silly bickering for a while and turned towards her.
"What is it, Haru-Chan?" asked Hunny, his large boyish eyes staring at her laptop. Haruhi glanced at the group gathered behind her chair.
"Nothing, it's just this email I got from my friend, Snow. She and my other friends made a you tube video they wanted to show me." Hikaru blinked a few times, looking a little lost.
"Then why did you sound so confused?" he asked her.
"I didn't know she knew how to work anything other than emails and video chat. And that's only because I taught her." stated Haruhi, as though it were the simplest thing in the world.
"It's just you tube." said Kaoru, with a snigger.
"She's really slow with tech-y stuff". Haruhi clicked the little blue hyper-link in her email. Judging from the expectant stares they gave her, they weren't going anywhere. As Haruhi clicked the full screen button and turned up her feeble speakers, the words gliding across the screen brought tears to her eyes. Her favorite song began to play, ad she brought a hand to her mouth, to hide the fact that it was hanging ajar.
I, I wanna wish you well.
I didn't watch you go
Cause I suppose I don't know how.
"We're missing you!" floated across the black screen in bright neon letters, before fading away to reveal picture after picture of Haruhi. They had pictures of her when she was young, playing in a small blue swimming pool, leading up to more recent pictures of her before she'd left for Japan.
I, I will remember you
Not the way you left, but how you lived
And what you knew.
They saw a picture of Haruhi with the first place trophy she'd gotten for the cheerleading squad in eight grade. After that were several photos of Haruhi in her cheerleading uniform, and during cheer practice. On her face was a look of pure determination and joy. Mori saw such a fir in her eyes, it was hard to believe that the girl on the screen and the girl in front of him were the same person. He knew how much potential she had, and would do anything to ignite that fire once again.
I'll find my way
Cause you showed me how
I, I want to know it's you
When I hear your voice inside my head
Inside my room.
I, I want to touch the sky
I want to see the stars twinkle like they were your eyes.
I'll find my way
You showed me I'll find my way
Cause you showed me how.
Haruhi gasped, as more tears streamed down her face. "I finally finished my project, Haruhi!" floated across a picture of Nicolette's smiling face. There was slide after slide of scenery. Each picture included Haruhi in a different location at different times of the year. There was one of her sitting by a window with one leg up and the other barely reaching the floor. She rested her chin in her hand as she gazed at a beautiful sunset at the beach, her long hair swept up into a ponytail. Every one of the host club boys caught their breath as the last photo materialized onto the screen. Haruhi was standing in the rain with her arms spread apart, her head tilted towards the sky. Her long hair trailed down her back and her clothes were plastered to her skin, finally showing off how much of a girl she really was. With her eyes closed and a smile on her face, she looked absolutely stunning.
The screen faded to black, and Haruhi was about to exit the full screen when she heard Snow's voice. A video appeared of a basketball game. Snow must have been holding the camera, because they could hear her voice screaming and cheering Haruhi on above the rest. One of the cheerleaders performing was circled in red and Haruhi realized that it was her. They were dancing to a song the band was playing, but Haruhi was slowly transitioning to the last row of cheerleaders. She danced for a few more seconds, before sprinting across the court towards the band. The audience erupted with applause, as she picked up a trumpet and blared out her solo for Louie Louie, the jazz song they were playing. The guys barely had time to register what was going on, before Haruhi sprinted back to her place in the first row and did a series of back flips across the court. The band quieted and they end there routine with a a few more flips and a pyramid with Haruhi beaming at the top of it. The video skipped ahead to the end of the game, and they saw Haruhi running out of the locker room buttoning up a white dress shirt as she ran out to her car.
"Do you think we're gonna make it?" Snow asked from behind the camera. Haruhi giggled as she saw the Japanese subtitles floating across the bottom of the screen.
"We can't not make it!" Haruhi yelled, buckling her seat belt. There was another time skip, and Snow was taping from a dark room, sitting in an audience. Applause filled the speakers as Haruhi walked on stage and sat down at a grand piano. Snow moved the camera around to reveal everyone crying. Haruhi got a standing ovation for her performance and couldn't leave the stage for two minutes, because of all the applause. Hunny wiped his eyes and sniffed loudly. Haruhi turned around to find all they boys crying over her music. She was surprised, considering she'd counted two times she'd made a mistake. She was about to say something when she heard another voice from her speakers. The scene had changed to Haruhi sitting in her mothers car.
"Would you like to tell the people of America what you just did tonight?" asked Snow in a bubbly interviewer voice.
"I didn't do anything, Snow. Stop being goofy." Haruhi sat with her head leaning against the window, her eyes were drooping steadily closed.
"You stop being modest! You just did in one night what most people do in a week. You won a talent show this morning, practiced all day when you got home, sheered in a basket ball game, played a trumpet solo in that same game, and got a standing ovation for your epic piano skills. Tell me that's not cool."
"That's not cool. I had too many things planned in one day, so I tried to do them all. I'm nothing special, Snow" There was a gasp behind the camera.
"Special? You're freaking amazing!" The screen went black again and reopened to three girls, standing by her mother's grave. One had long, straight black hair, with white tips. The one in the middle had a short angular bob, a vibrant auburn color. The one on the end had long dark brown spirals and a professional looking camera hanging from her neck. They were all wearing purple t-shirts that read "BFF" across the chest. Haruhi smiled, remembering the shirts they'd made at a sleepover one night.
"We miss you, Haruhi." said the first one, Snow.
"We hope you'll visit us soon." said the one in the middle. Belinda.
"Until then, never forget that your freaking amazing!" giggled the last one. Nicolette. They each made a heart with their hands, before the screen faded to black for the final time. It was silent, except for the sound of Haruhi's sniffling. She tried her best to calm down and hid her face in her hands as she remembered the good times she and her friends had.
"You really miss the don't you, Haruhi?" asked Tamaki, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hikaru turned away, jealousy radiating from his body. What kind of friends are they for making Haruhi so upset with this video?, he thought to himself. Kaoru went to comfort his brother and left Hunny, Mori and Kyouya feeling a little awkward about the whole situation. They had never seen Haruhi cry and were unsure how to fix the situation.
"It's ok, Haru-chan!" Hunny said as he plopped himself onto her lap. "It's alright, you have us now. Let's just eat some cake, and it'll all work out!" He gave her a wide smile, before wrapping her into as much of a bear hug as a boy his size could manage. His optimism seemed to lighten the mood for everyone else and they all came and joined in the hug as well. The twins pulled her out of her seat, so their position wasn't so awkward and soon, Haruhi was enveloped in a sea of arms, as they all whispered reassurances to her.
"Now how about that cake?" asked Hunny sempai, as they all pulled away. Haruhi remembered what she had resting in her bag.
"That reminds me," she said pulling a blue Tupperware container from her bag. "I made you guys some s'mores brownies earlier. To thank you for this nice trip." She handed the container to Mori, blushing. "You don't have to eat them if you don't want to. I just figured I owed you one for bringing me out here."
Mori blushed back, before taking it from her hands. The other four were distracted by the thought of eating Haruhi's cooking, but Kyouya took note of their strange behavior.