Chapter 8: Mori and the Unconventional Date
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Tamaki pouted in his corner slightly. His date had been a disaster. Haruhi had wept which was very weird for her but it had cemented in him that he had little to no chance. Haruhi would never see him in the capacity as a boyfriend and part of it was his fault.
He had wanted to justify his feelings to himself. He didn't normally feel particularly affected by a female. It was in his nature to rapidly fall in and out of love but with Haruhi it was different.
He wanted to protect and be the most important person in her life. He wanted her to love him. He had disguised it as "fatherly affection" to justify to himself the feelings. And she had believed that his feelings were that type of affection. He had tricked her into believing he just had family feelings for her. He had convinced her that his feelings were that of a father towards a daughter!
His oblivious little commoner was convinced! Why had he done this?
She was too young. She was naive. She was inexperienced. She was a commoner who never had a decent meal. Yes, he would nurture her. She needed his guidance.
It wasn't until later that he realized he had fallen for her. He was hopelessly in love with. He hugged her just to feel her in his arms. Tamaki was a romantic. He wanted dress her up and have her run into his arms. He wanted to kiss hard and hold her hand exclaiming how she was his girlfriend.
That would never happen. Haruhi had been so strange during the date. She had cried over—one of those demon-twins. His daughter needed his protection! He would fulfill his fatherly duties!
Slowly he moved towards the two plotting redheads. The pair had made peace with each other. Kaoru still thought Hikaru's behavior was inappropriate but it was forgotten. Hikaru felt like crawling under a rock but now was not the time.
"If either of you hurt Haruhi-kun, I'll disband the host club," Tamaki threatened.
The twins just glared at their club president. Like that was much a threat.
Satisfied with himself Tamaki wandered away. He was still a father after all.
Mori's hands shook as he led Haruhi. She was dressed nice and for once like a girl. Mori hadn't asked her to dress up but Haruhi decided it was the least she could do for her often silent friend.
"Takashi, there's no reason to be nervous. It's just Haruhi-chan."
"I know Mitsukuni, but you showed Haruhi the dojo."
"Hai!"
"And I'm showing her something that I've never shown anyone."
"Takashi, this is Haru-chan. She'll love it."
"But Tamaki's date—"
"Tama-chan often over exaggerates. You know how he is."
"Mitsukuni—"
"Takashi, you'll be fine."
Haruhi didn't know where they were going. She wasn't even truly aware of the fact that they were on a crowded street. Her thoughts lingered on a pair of devilish smirks.
Why couldn't things stay the same? Why couldn't it just always be the three of them together? Why did everything have to change?
It scared her but she had been thinking about it the other night. One day she would leave Ouran. She would no longer be a part of the Host Club and her friends would be memories.
She wouldn't have to hear Tamaki's endless cries of, "Haruhhhhi! Where is my beautiful daughter?"
Kyoya wouldn't be there to charge her. "Three hundred for the costume repairs, two hundred, for the fitting, and twenty for the food you ate. So you've only paid the club back a grand total of two yen."
There be no more happy cries of "Usa-chan, do you like the cake? Isn't it great?"
Of the low rumbling, "Mitsukuni, you must brush your teeth."
But what would be worse was that there would be no smirks and redheads. No constant teasing.
"Your our toy, Haruhi."
"Ours and only ours. You're our plaything."
She wouldn't hear them say that anymore. She wouldn't be their's after she left. She would just be Haruhi Fujioka. Who was Haruhi Fujioka before the twins and the other members of the Host Club came?
A student obsessed with becoming a lawyer to do what?
"We're here." Mori said quietly.
It was a small café in a commoner part of town. She hadn't known that Mori ever came to a place like this.
The café was ran down and there was a group of people listening.
"A poetry reading?"
"Yes, I come here often."
Haruhi had no idea what to say to that.
The poets gathered around and spoke in quiet murmurs. Poem after poem was read. Some were angry, some gushy, some horrible, some just made her want to scream.
But it was being with Mori. He talked her and told her in low whispers about each one of the poets. He knew who was regular and who was first timer. He ordered her hot tea and some sugared dumplings.
It was a quiet date very much like Mori. She had expected them to leave but Mori surprised her by going up himself to read.
"It's Takashi, he's always here," a woman in the crowd murmured.
"I love his poems."
"He always writes about that lady. Maybe this is another one of those poems."
Mori cleared his throat.
"I watch and I wait
As she smiles
As she moves through
Her life like a gliding
Angel.
I stay silent, unspeaking
But I watch her
She doesn't notice
She doesn't know
I watch
I wait
I love her
But to her
I am a shadow
I am a stone
I am not there
My heart remains
In her care
Even if my love
She does not
Share."
"That was wonderful Mori," Haruhi said.
"You really think so," he asked surprised.
"You should tell her, this girl you have feelings for."
Mori frowned slightly but said nothing.
The twins stared at each other surprised.
"She didn't know?" Karou asked.
Hikaru smirked, "She is our Haruhi."
To be continued….
