Chapter Six
Haruhi was glad her dad had sent her to work at a job in a different city for the summer. The air was clean, the work made her feel useful, and everything was peaceful without her father or the host club to cause a riot. But her peace lasted only a few days before the host club barged back into her life, making claims about how they thought she had fled bankruptcy or been kidnapped. What nonsense. But that's exactly what they told her they thought after arriving by helicopter.
Her boss quickly put them all to work, and was pleasantly surprised at how they succeeded. Having been in the host club, of course they knew how to draw in a crowd, especially a female crowd.
One day at work, Haruhi brought the laundry outside to hang it to dry, and saw Kaoru raking the leaves. Walking over, they talked about all of the frivolous things Tamaki was doing instead of working and had a nice laugh.
"Oh, by the way, I noticed that your room with Hikaru is set up for only one person." Haruhi said.
Kaoru shrugged. "It's fine. We'll have our beds brought over or we'll sleep together just fine."
Haruhi smiled. "You two get along so well, you're always together."
Kaoru leaned back against the building. "I guess. It's always just been us, with no friends, until a few years ago. But…" Kaoru smiled mischievously. "If it's you, we'd let you in. Wanna sleep in our beds with us?"
"No thanks." Haruhi answered simply. She would have blushed if Hikaru had asked her, so she was confused why she didn't feel the same way when Kaoru said it. She knew she was attracted to both of them, but maybe her attraction for Hikaru was different? Nah. She thought. I must just be handling it better.
When her childhood friend delivered fresh vegetables the next day, and the hosts pointed out that he was attracted to her, she felt the same as she did when Kaoru asked her to sleep with them. Nothing.
But it didn't seem that way to Hikaru. Watching her be chummy with her middle school friend, he felt rage boil in his gut. "Why do you need him?!" he asked Haruhi angrily. "We're the ones who are your friends!" Hikaru stormed off after that, unable to watch anymore.
"Stupid Hikaru." Kaoru told his brother later. "You flung your feelings at her like a child. It was too much, even for Haruhi."
Hikaru hung his head dejectedly. "What am I supposed to do Kaoru? I really lo- I really like her!" Hikaru blushed at what he almost said. Looking up, he saw in his brother's face that he had caught it too.
Kaoru smirked. "Then how about I work my magic, eh? I'll give you some time with her, and you can apologize. You can tell her whatever you need to." Hikaru's eyes widened at what his twin was implying. This was his chance, his brother was handing it to him on a silver platter.
The next day, Hikaru was all nerves. Haruhi came downstairs in a dress and pigtails, and all Hikaru could think was that she was so cute. Hikaru was determined to make this a great day, but that expectation was making him nervous. Nerves plus his anger yesterday was not a good combination.
"Mizuzu said it might rain. I hope it doesn't thunder…" Haruhi said.
"Who cares about the weather?" Hikaru exclaimed. "Just pick somewhere for us to go already!"
Haruhi blinked owlishly at Hikaru. "Why are you in such a bad mood?" She asked calmly. "Hey look, there's my old friend Arai again. Why don't we go talk to him and let him give us a ride back to the pension?"
Arai's name reignited the rage in Hikaru. "Since you obviously prefer spending time with him, how about I just leave the two of you alone!?" Hikaru ran away in anger, leaving a thoroughly confused Haruhi. As she started to call out to him, thunder rumbled in the sky, and raindrops slowly started to fall.
Hikaru called Tamaki. "Hey Prez, could you send a car? And a towel? It's really starting to pour."
"Haruhi is with you right?" Tamaki asked nervously.
Hikaru frowned. "No." He responded tersely. "She's probably on her way back with that Arai guy."
"But did you see her get in the car with him?"
"No. But it's Haruhi. She'll be fine." Hikaru rolled his eyes. Mad as he was, he still knew Haruhi was one of the most capable people he had ever met.
"Go back! Go get her right now!" Tamaki yelled over the phone.
"What's the big deal?"
"You don't understand Hikaru!" Tamaki's voice was nearing panic. "How dare you leave a girl in the rain?! Before you throw a jealous fit, think about how others might feel! Haruhi is afraid of the thunder!"
Hikaru threw his phone in his pocket and began to run back to Haruhi. How was I supposed to know?! He thought, thinking back to her comments about the weather.
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter! But I really want the next section to be a chapter on its own. WARNING. There will be lemony goodness in the next chapter! Skip it if you don't want it, but I think it's great so I say read it!