ღ Last time on Picking up the Pieces ღ
"They didn't believe you," he spoke up frowning, "They didn't help."
"If we can find someone, anyone who believes, it'll be worth it, won't it?" I questioned, raising my eyebrow. He nodded slowly before pulling me into a hug. I didn't react, and then he pulled away, staring at me.
"You don't trust me..." Takashi spoke finally, shaking his head. I stood up and sighed.
"Words are just to make people believe you. Actions speak louder than words. I cannot trust people unless they show me the reason to trust them," I walked over to my bed and sat down. He stood up and walked over, standing in front of me. His fingers trailed over my neck and then he leaned down, pressing his head against my forehead. "Then let me prove it to you," he whispered, his hand caressing jaw gently. He lowered his lips to my cheek. He pressed a few kisses along my jaw until it reached my lips. I was surprised at first but then kissed him back. My eyes closing and hands reaching up to his shoulders.
ღNowღ
I was barely aware when my back leaned against the bed. We broke apart a moment later and his other hand trailed down my side. He leant in for another kiss as his fingers lightly traced the edge of my jeans. I shivered lightly when he did this. His lips twisted into a smile and he brought his hand back up to my wrist. He bit lightly on my lip before trailing kisses down my chin and onto my neck. The kisses stopped once they reached the edge of my shirt, just above my chest. He leaned up, I felt him softly touch the bottom of the shirt and slowly start pulling upwards. Takashi kept my gaze as he did this, looking for my approval. I did not object. My shirt was just about to the bottom of my chest, when a loud bang was heard from the front entrance.
We both went tense and our hands left each other. He quickly got up and pulled me up. We burst out the door and I ran full speed until I hit the banister. I slammed into it, not hurting me or the banister, I looked down.
Standing in front of Satoshi, Chika and Mitsukuni was Rai. My eyes widened and my fingers unconsciously tighten around the cool metal banister. A chuckle was heard from my damned Uncle. I glared, Takashi was standing beside me, his hand placed down beside mine, ready to attack. "What do you want?" I asked tensely, and slightly shaken from the earlier encounter.
"I just came to tell you this," he held up a piece of paper, Akira and Sakura entered the room just after. I grabbed Takashi's hand and pulled him down the stairs and then let go at the bottom. "As your only living relative, I have come to gain custody for you," he chuckled, shoving the papers into my face. I ripped them from his hands and read over the papers.
Akira walked over and took the papers from me, raising his eyebrow ever so slightly. I shook my head, looking at Rai. "You cannot think you'd win a custody battle!"
"I am your blood, and there is no evidence of me doing any wrong doing!" Rai spoke up, looking appalled, but I saw in his eyes that he was smug. Knowing that his gang would just clear up any evidence that he had ever hurt me in my life. I pointed at him, my eyes narrowing.
"You drop this act, you bastard-"
"Haruhi, swearing is not allowed in this house. Now, your mother and I will talk to your uncle about this," Akira said, waving towards the tearoom. Sakura smiled at me, and then led Rai into the room. Akira looked at me, "We'll talk him out of it," he promised before following the two into the room. I glared as the door slide shut. Before anyone could say anything, I turned around on my heel and stormed off to my bedroom. There was footsteps in the hallway as I slammed my door shut. I was not about to go with someone who had tricked me into thinking one of my best friends was in a car that had a bomb attached to it. There was no way in hell was I leaving.
I walked over to the bed and fell backwards onto it. I gripped onto the sheets and then growled lightly. I heard someone knock softly on my door. Rolling onto my side, I ignored the door. There was a chance that one out of four people could be standing at my door. Either it was Akira, Takashi, Rai, or Sakura, and at the moment, I would rather not talk to them. They would more than likely tell me: They couldn't convince Rai to drop the custody battle or Takashi would want to try to calm me down. Quite frankly, I'd rather NOT be calm, I'd rather be angry, frustrated, or pissed off. The person who knocked entered the room, clearly ignoring the lack of response. My body didn't even twitch in response.
Feeling the bed shift from weight being placed on it, I turned my head slightly and saw Takashi. He smiled softly before lying down beside me and stayed silent. I imagined what would happen if I went to live with my Uncle. I flinched at some of the mental pictures of what his house looked like. It was certainly disgusting...well in my imagination. I imaged the outside house to be littered with garbage, the actual house had dirt globs hanging from the brick. The inside had empty plates, glasses, pizza boxes, and garbage's, instead the garbage was tossed around the house, wherever there was space.
I finally snapped out of it as a huge bright light blinded me before a loud crack noise filled the room. I tensed and saw up, attempting to figure out what the noise was. A few moments later, rain began to pound against the roof and spill into my room from the open window. Takashi got up and walked over to the window and quickly closed it. I quickly got up and hurried into my closet and shut the door. I pulled a shirt and tucked it along the bottom of the door so I couldn't see the lightning flashes. Another crack and I burrowed back behind some clothes.
"Haruhi?" Takashi's voice was muffled. I had no absolute clue as to why I was scared of lightning. A shiver rippled through my body as another flash of lightning lit up the darkness. I started to cry as the storm got to its prime a few moments later. The door opened and Takashi had to put a little force behind it to open it enough, I stilled my tears as he finally got in. He pushed aside the clothes and stared at me in confusion.
Before this night, Takashi, any other Morinozuka or Haninozuka had never been near me when there was a thunderstorm. I don't know what Takashi thought of me hiding in my closet, and right now, I didn't care. There was another crack of thunder, I tightened my hold on my knees and shrunk deeper behind the clothes.
"You're scared of thunder?" he asked, another flash of lightning lit up the darkness again and I shivered.
"Why didn't you tell us? We wouldn't have left you alone when there was thunderstorms," he murmured, shutting the door and pulling me into his lap. I looked up and stared at him. His face was serious and looked older. His hand came up and whipped away some tears. I cuddled into him and closed my eyes. The storm rumbled outside, for what seemed like hours. I knew it couldn't have been, but I just stayed still. Shivering occasionally in fear. Clutching onto his shirt when my fear peaked. Once it started to fade, Takashi lifted me up and coaxed me back into the room. I sat down on the couch and my eyes flickered to the bloodstain as Takashi closed the curtains.
I stepped into my apartment and greeted my father. He smiled at me and scratched at the stubble on his chin. I readjusted my backpack strap before stepping into the living room, he kissed my cheek before standing up and walking towards the kitchen. I pulled out my book before looking towards the kitchen. "So, Haruhi, what did you do in school today?" he asked as he pulled out some pans from under the cupboards.
"My class made a family tree," I whispered, remembering that during that time I put my name a line then my father's name. "I didn't get a good grade on it, because I only know one other person in my family." I whispered that also, writing down some notes for the next day's test. The noise in the kitchen faltered.
"Well, why didn't you put your mother's or Uncle Rai's name?" Ryouji asked looking over at me. I stared at my books.
"We could only put living relatives...and I don't like Uncle Rai..." I explained blankly, glancing towards the kitchen. The sound of thunder exploded near the apartment. I heard the hissing noise, and a curse from my father. Standing up I walked into the kitchen, there was blood dripping down my father's hand, another explosion of thunder lit up the kitchen.
Takashi interrupted my memory when he sat down beside me and brushed his fingers against my cheek. I glanced up at him, and sighed. "I don't want to leave..."
"You won't," Takashi tried to convince me, but I shook my head. He didn't know that.
"He could use so much against you guys-"
"Hm?" he questioned, staring at me in confusion. Trying to figure out what I meant by that.
"If he is able to convince the others that while your parent's care I was beaten up, not getting proper help for my mental illness, and for most of it not going to school, they could rule in Rai's favour," I explained, tensing as the thunder rumbled outside. Takashi frowned and brushed my hair from my eyes.
"There were reasons for all of those," he explained gently, "You were beaten up because of him, and you didn't get the care you needed because no therapist believed you. You were homeschooled once my mother fostered you, and you advanced pretty fast. There is nothing he can say-"
"He can say so much, and Sakura and Akira have nothing," I replied staring at him with slight fear. "What if he wins?"
"He won't," Takashi whispered, leaning his forehead against mine. I shook my head.
"What if he does, though?" I asked, frowning at him. He caressed my cheek.
"Then my parents won't stop fighting to get you away from him," Takashi replied, "You belong here. You belong with us, with Tamaki, the twins, Mitsukuni, Kyouya and me."
I closed my eyes and smiled. "Thank you."