Hey everyone, it's finally up. Sorry :) I'm in year 12 and i've also had some health and computer issues. Thank you all for being so patient! I hope you enjoy the chapter :)
Disclaimer - I do not own Ouran High School Host Club or any of its characters (although I really want to :) ) - they are all the property of Bisco Hatori
Takashi ran through the park near Haruhi's apartment and called out sporadically for Haruhi.
He and the other hosts – with the exception of Tamaki – had all split up to search for her as she had left her cell phone at school in her bag, which meant they couldn't track her electronically.
Takashi had elected himself to search in the area closest to Haruhi's home and had raced off immediately after that. With Haruhi in need the way he knew she was, he couldn't wait around any longer and so he didn't know where the others were searching.
He wanted – no, he had to – find her.
She needed him.
Abruptly, he skidded to a halt, looking off into the bushes and trees to the left of the path. He couldn't see anything in there that was out of the ordinary but with that same instinct that had known where Mitsukuni was at Kyoya's family's nature resort/water park, he knew that Haruhi was in there, huddling up and trying to disappear, to forget the turbulence that raged inside her.
He stepped off the path and into the thick brush and grass. He stood straight and still, and closed his eyes so that he could listen for any sort of sound that came from Haruhi.
He would know if he heard her.
A small whimper reached his ears and Takashi followed the sound to a clump of bushes off to his right. He pulled the branches apart and found Haruhi curled up and trembling on the ground. His heart broke at the pitiful picture such a usually strong, capable girl made.
He knelt beside her to brush her bangs gently off her face, smoothing it back. She was always pale but now she was nearly white, with a blue tinge to her skin and the bags he had first noticed a week ago were more pronounced than before.
She flinched back from his touch and opened her eyes to stare into his own eyes. "Mori-senpai," she mumbled brokenly. "I can't move. I tried to get up before but I couldn't move."
"It's okay. I'll take you home. Can I pick you up, Haruhi?" He waited for her weak nod before picking her up bridal-style. He noticed her schoolbag but didn't want to jostle her anymore by leaning down and picking it up. He'd tell Kyoya to get it on his way to Haruhi's home. He cradled her gently in his arms and set off quickly for her apartment. At her door, he asked for her keys and upon receiving them, unlocked and opened the door of the empty apartment. He ignored Haruhi's attempts to leave his arms to stand on her own two feet and took her to her bedroom where he placed her on her bed, tucking the covers around her. "Rest," he ordered in a soft voice. "Do you want anything? Some tea or water?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you," she croaked. "I just want to sleep." When he was about to leave, she stopped him with a hand grabbing his jacket. "Thank you, Mori-senpai. For bringing me home, for caring." She smiled, a small but genuine smile that made Takashi's heart throb.
It was the first truly genuine smile she had flashed for what felt like years.
Mori smiled down at her and said softly, "You're welcome. Now sleep." He left her room and went to lean against the counter in the kitchen. He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and called Kyoya.
"Did you find her, Mori-senpai?" Kyoya asked immediately.
"Yes. We're at her apartment now. She's sleeping. Go that park we frequent near he home. I had to leave her schoolbag behind some bushes. Just look for the bushes that have been disturbed."
"Okay. I'll call the others, we'll go get her bag, and then we'll all be there shortly. See you soon, Mori-senpai." He hung up and Mori closed his phone and placed it on the counter behind him.
He started moving around the kitchen, looking for any kind of note from Ranka, knowing from experience that he often left Haruhi notes if he was going to be working or out late. He found one on a notepad stuck to the fridge.
'Haruhi, my darling daughter, I won't be home until tomorrow morning so be good and no parties xoxo Love your adoring father.'
He smiled slightly at the note, glad Haruhi had such a loving father and also thinking it was probably a good thing that Ranka wouldn't be back tonight.
He dreaded what was to come. He wasn't sure what he would do – what he'd be capable of – if he learned that Tamaki had hurt Haruhi.
Even just the thought of it made his blood boil.
If Tamaki had done anything untoward to Haruhi, had hurt her in any way, then it wouldn't matter how powerful and wealthy his family was. Nothing would be able to protect him from Takashi's wrath. And he was certain Mitsukuni, Kyoya and the twins would feel the same way.
If he had hurt her, Tamaki wouldn't get away with it.
Takashi set about making some tea for the others when they arrived and placed five cups on a tray. If Haruhi woke up and decided she wanted a cup of tea as well, he'd make her one then.
Just as everything was nearly read – only the hot water had to be poured into the cups – the doorbell sounded and Takashi went to open door to see the expected visitors waiting outside. He nodded at them in greeting and stood aside, waiting as they filed past him into the apartment and through to the low dining table they always used when they came to Haruhi's. Once they were all inside, Takashi closed and locked the front door, collected the tray – laden with cups, spoons, the kettle, milk, lemon slices and sugar cubes – and took his spot at one end of the table.
"Mori-senpai, has she said anything yet?" Kyoya questioned from his place at the other end of the table.
He shook his head. "I found her lying behind those bushes at the park and put her straight to bed when we got here. She was cold and exhausted – in no condition to talk. I could tell she needed some sleep before she talks to us."
"Oh, by the way," Mitsukuni cried. "We found her bag." He pointed to where it rested beside the couch. "It wasn't too hard to find." He patted Takashi's hand paternally. "And it was a good idea to let Haruhi go to sleep and rest. She has been looking tired lately."
Hikaru glared moodily into his mug and stirred it absently. "What exactly are we going to ask Haruhi? How are we going to ask her?"
Kaoru looped an arm around his brother's shoulders. "I guess we just go slowly."
"We won't ask right away," Kyoya decided, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes. He put them back on as he continued, "We don't want to scare her so we'll lead up to it. Any ideas on how we should start?"
"Why don't you just ask directly?"
The boys were startled at the soft voice and turned to see Haruhi, wearing a pair of loose sweatpants and an oversized long-sleeved top, standing at the open sliding screen door that lead out to the back hallway. She looked at them for a few minutes, seemingly waiting for them to break their silence. When they didn't, she shrugged and walked out of the dining room, and through to the living room where she sat on the couch. She pulled a blanket around her and looked over at them expectantly. "Well?"
"Are you well enough to be up, Haru-chan?" Mitsukuni asked, concerned. He went to sit beside her on the couch and hesitantly leant against her side. When she didn't flinch or push him away, he relaxed and put his head in her lap.
She smiled down at him, faintly but still a smile. "Yes, Hunny-senpai. I feel much better now."
Kyoya cleared his throat nervously. "Do you feel up to telling us what's wrong?"
"You don't have to," Kaoru quickly cut in with.
"Don't force yourself to if you don't want to," Hikaru said, gripping his twin's hand for comfort.
"They are right," Kyoya remarked softly. "We can wait until you're ready, regardless of how long that may take. We'll never leave you, Haruhi. If you don't feel up to it yet, then tell us and we'll talk about something else." Although I think you need to tell someone, he added silently.
"We promise," Takashi murmured.
Haruhi sighed and studied each of her friends in turn with tender eyes, "Thanks, guys, but I already planned to tell you today and I'm ready. What happened today hasn't changed that – rather it's made it more urgent for me to reveal these secrets. So, all of you come here and gather around me, please. Your presence will be comforting." She waited until they had all followed her directive before she started speaking again. "I hope you're all ready to hear what I'm going to tell you."
"We are," Mitsukuni assured her.
"Hmm." She chuckled lowly. "You may not think that by the time I'm through." She took a deep breath. "It began when Tamaki asked me to be his girlfriend that day when he asked me to stay behind after school. That is when he changed, although I couldn't see it at first."
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