Disclaimer: Nope. Last time I checked, I still didn't own OHSHC.
So, I totally have to apologize for this (really, really, really) late update. What can I say? School is evil. But here it is (finally!) and the updates should be more regular again.
Haruhi heard a door close and lock behind her, and only a moment passed before she was flying down the iron stairs. The apartment complex was unfamiliar to her, and even the street below her was different.
As her feet hit the concrete, Haruhi turned, trying to figure out anything about where she was, but instead of a name or an address, Haruhi saw a wisp of smoke curl into the sky, right above the apartment she just escaped.
A shiver ran down her spine, and she had a moment of indecision. Knowing, however, that she could offer the man who'd set her free no help if he was still in there, Haruhi turned back and started to jog down the street.
In the distance, Haruhi heard cars flying down the street. She sighed in relief – at least she was near people. Her injuries ached in protest, but she continued on despite that.
A while passed, and yet she didn't seem to be getting any closer to the noise. She stopped in the middle of the street – in fact, there didn't seem to be any noise at all. Just as she was getting ready to shake off her unease and continue on, she heard the distant sound of footsteps echo off the houses.
A row of bushes lined the sidewalk and provided ample cover as Haruhi dove into them, rolling painfully on her ankle. She repressed her cry of pain and instead let out a low hiss. She didn't know who was coming, and she certainly didn't want her captors to, well, capture her again. Once was enough.
A girl spoke into her cell phone as she walked by. Haruhi pushed a bit of the bush away, but the leaves were so thick that Haruhi couldn't see the girl's face. She nearly stepped out of the bushes, but the girl's words sent a shiver down her spine.
"Yes, I know. I was there. And you're sure the girl's still in there? I didn't see anyone come out, but I didn't get there until you torched the place." There was silence on her end, and while Haruhi ached to hear the other half, she didn't dare get any closer. "He's on a bench in the park across from the police station. But he's sleeping, so make sure he stays that way. I want him to be as healthy as he can be so he can shake off the effects." The girl laughed, a high, bell-like sound that grated on Haruhi's nerves.
The footsteps eventually faded away, taking the conversation with them. Haruhi was finally able to breathe, no longer worried she would be found. Slowly standing up, Haruhi shook a couple of stray leaves out of her hair and took off in the direction opposite of the girl, hopefully towards the police station. Whoever this girl was, the guy that she was looking for was in a lot of danger.
Tamaki's eyes had trouble focusing when he finally woke up. Sitting up slowly, a thin silk sheet slipped from his bare chest and into his lap. The room around him clearly belonged to a girl – there was lace everywhere – and he wondered where, exactly, he was.
The bedroom door creaked on it hinges as a girl pushed it open. "Hey there, sweetie. How are you feeling?"
Tamaki blinked, giving his eyes a minute to adjust. But after they had, he blinked again, this time in confusion. "Who... are you?"
She gave him a small, sad smile before sitting beside him on the bed. Taking his much larger hand in hers, she began to speak.
"We met several years ago in France, and quickly fell in love. But not long into our relationship, your father dragged you to Japan to study to take over his company. That was a rough time for us, but our love was true. Eventually, you graduated high school and moved here, and asked me to come with you. I was overjoyed and flew over as soon as I could. We've been living together ever since, and just a few weeks ago, you proposed to me. It was the happiest moment of my life. We're going to share our life together, you and I. Tamaki and Emilie." She held out her hand and showed him the ring that had made her so happy.
The information was more than he could take at the moment, and he flopped back down onto the pillows, not even having enough energy to continue to sit up. Honestly, her enthusiasm seemed borderline psycho, but Tamaki recognized the ring. He might not remember anything, not even his own fiancée, but there was something familiar about that ring, and he instinctively knew that it was his.
But there was also something completely and utterly wrong.
He couldn't tell exactly what it was, but he just didn't feel like everything was as it should be. Shaking his head, Tamaki carefully peeled the sheets away from his body and stood up. After being asleep for who knows how long, he was a little unsteady on his feet. But it was too warm in that room, and the sickly sweet scent of vanilla and lavender was enough to make him feel nauseas. Pulling on the jacket he found laid across the back of a chair, Tamaki took a deep breath and opened the balcony door. He didn't know why he felt the need to sneak out – it wasn't like he was a prisoner or anything – but he desperately needed some air.
Haruhi had to nearly drag herself to the police station – the sudden rush of adrenaline had left her even more exhausted than when she'd left the apartment. Her legs were scratched and bleeding, and her muscles ached to the point that they were shaking.
A pane of glass was all that separated her from the people that would be able to help her. At the very least, she'd be able to call someone. Hikaru, maybe, or Kyoya. Any of the Host Club members would be able and willing to help her.
She reached out and pulled on the handle, but the door wouldn't open. She pulled and pulled and pulled, but that stupid slab of glass just wouldn't budge. All hope seemed lost, and the weight of the day came crashing onto her. A few tears found their way down her face as she slid to the ground. Her legs had finally given up and refused to support her anymore.
A shadow crossed her line of vision and stopped right in front of her. "Excuse me miss, but do you need some help? The police station just received a call, and they all went rushing out. It wasn't very smart of them to leave all at once, but I guess it was pretty important. Is there someone I can call for you?"
Kyoya smiled that evil smile of his as he slammed his phone shut. "Well, that should take care of that."
The little martial arts master grabbed the third son's sleeve. "Kyo-chan, what do you mean? And why can't I go see Haru-chan?"
The younger boy ruffled Hunny's hair, the most affection he'd ever shown him. That idiot must have gotten to him. "Those two need to work things out for themselves. And we just provided them with the perfect opportunity. But you'll get to see her later."
Hunny puffed out his cheeks in annoyance, but didn't complain any further.
Tamaki hadn't meant to get involved, but the girl just seemed so hopeless. She clearly needed medical attention, but something must have happened for her to go to the police first. But they weren't going to be of any help, seeing as there was no one there. The mere thought of their inconsiderate actions made Tamaki's blood boil. But getting angry wouldn't help the girl, and she needed his attention more.
Her deep brown eyes looked right into his violet ones as she wiped away her tears. "Tama…ki? Is that really you?" She shook her head and let a small smile grace her lips. It was one of the saddest things he'd ever seen – not that he could remember another – and he wanted to do whatever he could to make her happy.
"I'm not sure how you know my name, but yes. I'm Suoh Tamaki. And your name?"
The girl looked confused and hurt, even though he was just introducing himself. "You…you're joking, right?" She pressed herself even closer to the glass behind her, trying to get away from this cruel man. "I don't know what game you're trying to play, Tamaki, but I'm not laughing."
Her words confused him, but he put them aside. He would think about what they meant later, when she was safely in the hospital. The fact that not only did she seem to know him, that she also called him by name confused him. Clearly she was part of the past he couldn't remember, but what truly made him wonder was that they were close enough for first names, but she was angry at him too. And not just because he couldn't remember him; he sensed a deep vein of hatred that was right below her surface.
He shook his head. No matter how much these thoughts confused him, she needed help. Desperately. And that came first, before anything else. Answers – both his and hers – could come later.
Reaching down towards her, Tamaki tried to calm her down. "Shh, it's okay. I'm trying to help you. I won't hurt you."
The girl snorted. "No. You already hurt me enough."
Hm. Something else to add to the list of unanswered questions. Just who was this girl?
Her eyes focused on a point just past him, and she seemed to freeze. A hand was placed on Tamaki's shoulder, and he jumped in surprise, even as nails dug into his shoulder. Emilie was clearly upset, but she had what was sure to be a comforting smile on her face. "Tamaki dear, who is this girl? And why aren't you in bed resting?"
He opened his mouth to answer, not that he could give her much information, but the girl spoke first. "Fujioka. And who are you?" The effort it took for her to speak taxed her visibly, and Tamaki reached out to steady her, but once again she shied away from him.
"Emilie Mercier. His fiancée."
Please read and review! And again, sorry for the long delay in the release of this chapter!