A/M: I am dedicating this chapter to Emo-Shukun for giving me (finally someone) some inspiration!
ღLast time on Picking up the Piecesღ
"Why did you trust her?" I asked, brushing past him and into my room to begin packing. He followed me and stilled my hands. It was then he noticed I was only in my bra and flushed, but held my gaze. He looked at me, seriously, before leaning in and kissing me gently on the side of the mouth.
"It was a misjudgement," he whispered, I blinked again in confusion. I placed my hands on his shoulders as he turned to go back down stairs. He looked down at me.
"Why did you go on a date with her?" I demanded, quietly. He stopped and turned to face me.
"I don't deserve you..."
"You're wrong Takashi." I said, before my hands slipped from his shoulders and fell down beside me. I walked to my drawers. I slipped on a dark tee shirt, one that I, ahem, 'borrowed' from Satoshi's room the other day. I shoved the other clothes into the duffle bag I would normally use to go with the family when they went on group outings to Takashi or Satoshi's tournaments
"I don't deserve you." I whispered as I walked out of the room.
ღNowღ
This was arguably the worst day of my life. My heart was racing. To tell you the truth, I have never been near this part of the city; it was old, run down. Downright shitty. Light posts had the lights dangling by the wires, looking as if one gust of wind could knock them down. People lined the streets, wearing dark hoodies, some carrying smokes in their mouths. It scared me to even glance out the window for more than three seconds. They were always watching as we drove past.
The streets aren't the only thing that is crappy.I thought as Rai pulled his beat up car up to the blackening house. The windows where covered with black paint, the only paint that looked new. The rest of the wooden boards that lined the house where filled with chips and tears. Even a place where it looked like a dog or cat had used it as a scratching post. The pathway up to the house was lined with dirt and dead brown flowers. I opened my door and shook my head at the mess. Hopefully, the inside wasn't littered with trash. Rai was fiddling with the lock on the door. I heard him curse in frustration before it clicked open.
"Get your stuff from the trunk and put it upstairs in the first bedroom on your left," Rai barked before ducking into the house. I quickly obliged, not wanting any of those people we saw on our way here to appear from behind me. I didn't want to hurt them, even if they want to hurt me. I jumped into the back and grabbed the two suitcases. The duffle bag and one that the Morinozuka's gave to me. There was also a box labeled. 'Haruhi's important stuff' written in Hani's neat handwriting. A little bunny was placed over the 'i' in important. I smiled before tossing the brown suitcase to the ground and hoping out. The ground was rather dry here, so when I landed it made my legs sore.
After grabbing the three items from the trunk, I hurried inside and locked the door. I hear sounds coming from behind a door, then a smash of glass against the door. I jumped in surprise as Rai cursed and yelled at the television. "Thanks for helping Rai, good job at keeping your house clean. Love the way you gave me a warm welcome!" I muttered under my breath, tugged my jacket off, and went to put it on the coat rack. Seeing the yellowed coat rack with no actual place for your coat, except the spot at the top where Rai placed his. I rolled my eyes, placed the coat on my suitcase, and dragged it up the stairs quietly. The stairs where carpeted so the only sound I made was the soft padding noise of when I pulled the wheels up another step after a few steps I finally gave up and carried it the rest of the way.
My bedroom was actually nice. It had brown curtains tied with a lighter brown rope. The bedspread was yellow with white polka dots randomly spread along the sheets. The flooring was a deep brown stain hardwood. Smooth and clean. Neither a dust bunny nor piece of lint to be seen around the room. The dresser was white, matching the polka dots on the bed sheets. It had sliver handles and a mirror was placed on top. It was an old fashion type dresser, but beautiful anyways. I placed my cardboard box of important stuff on that dresser before wheeling in the other two suitcases.
"Now to explore the house," I muttered and did a sarcastic clapping. I didn't really see anything when I came in. I was more worried about getting my stuff upstairs and seeing my room. I turned around and stepped out of the room. Closing the door, I surveyed the hallway. Hardwood flooring, just like my room. However, it had dust on the corners where people don't step. I picked up my foot and saw dust stuck to the edges.
I walked into the room beside mine. It was the bathroom, I quickly closed the door. It had bottles of beer, and a man sleeping in the tub. That was all I saw. Not wanting the man to wake up, I walked as quietly as I could towards the end of the hall. This must be Rai's bedroom. I thought, placing my hand on the knob and turned.
Inside was somewhat nice. It had a king sized bed, with red covers. The walls where an off white. Probably just from the smoke, or maybe he just has never cleaned it. Either where typically a good answer. But who knows? Maybe off white is what it was originally painted. I stepped in and looked at the other areas of the room that where hidden behind the door. There was a black wood dresser with sliver handles. Almost like my dresser, but without the mirror and things.
He must've liked to keep the two bedrooms cleaned for some reason. I closed the door and turned around. Someone, probably Rai, screamed from downstairs something about the Yankees or something. I stifled a laugh before walking forwards. Rai wasn't all-bad. He was somewhat funny, a crazy and psychopathic kind of funny. Maybe I should stay here. After all, I was doing this for Takashi's and the other's sake.
Downstairs was much worst then up stairs. Garbage was strewn across the floor. Dirt and mud tracks leading from the door to the couch. Pop and beer bottles where taking up most of the room for the tables. Even some of the floor had beers and pop bottles. I carefully stepped over top of some of the piles of garbage and over to the fridge. Inside was a few expired milk jugs, sushi, tofu and of course beer and pop. I scrunched up my face. How could anything live here?
I continued looking around, checking out the back yard, closets. Every place I saw. I was seated up on the bed. My socks and jacket had been discarded on the edge of the bed. My legs where crossed and I was leaning forward. I lightly touched the picture that sat in front of me. Did I really want to leave?I thought before picking up the card and falling back, unraveling my legs.
I rolled out of the bed, and walked over to the window. The window was fogged up from the change in temperature. I clipped the curtain to the side and leaned against the window. Placing my forehead against the cool glass, I closed my eyes and let the cold cool down my forehead. Outside, people walked past, the occasional person looked at the house. My phone vibrated on the dresser. I turned my body slightly and pushed away from the window. I looked at my face in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes, hair pulled back into a short ponytail, revealing the pale skin of my neck. I ripped my gaze away and stared at the phone. Morinozuka, Takashi. I continued staring at the picture I secretly took of Takashi; he was meditating by a sakura blossom tree. It was beautiful. I pushed on and placed the phone to my ear. "Moshi-Moshi, Fujioka Haruhi." I said in a monotone voice.
There were a few moments of silence before I brought the phone away from my ear and looked at the time on my phone. 50 seconds and counting. I pressed it back to my ear. "Anyone there?" I asked, before I heard someone sigh.
"Haruhi." His voice was faint on the phone, but I thought it was just the connection. I was in the 'bad' part of town currently. "Mitsukuni wanted to know if we could pick you up tomorrow," he asked, I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, if Mitsukuni wants to ask me if you guys can pick me up tomorrow. Then he should ask." I said, still monotone. I heard footsteps walking towards my room, before the door was opened. Rai looked at me before nodding at the phone.
"Who are you talking to?" He asked, leaning against the door. In one hand, he had a beer bottle, while the other was resting against the door handle. A cigarette was hanging from the corner of his mouth.
"No one-" I started before Rai's face got angry and he walked forward, picked up the phone, and turned it off. Before chucking the phone across the room, where it slammed against the wall and broke. I flinched as it smashed and fell to the floor. "What was that for?" I asked, standing up and looking up at him.
"You are my new 'daughter' so you do as I say. You are NOT allowed to talk to them," he growled, grabbing my shoulders, and tightening his hold. I clamped my eyes together as his fingers dug into my skin, a couple fingers caught my still healing wound and opened it up again. I squeaked in pain as he pushed me to the ground and left. I didn't move a muscle as I heard his feet retracting to the stairs before they turned and walked into the bathroom. There was yelling before the sound of someone getting out of the tub and almost running down the hall and out the door. The slam made the house vibrate vigorously.
I kept my eyes on the ceiling. There was the sound of a motorcycle outside the house before the engine was cut. I rolled onto my stomach and stood up. Going into the bathroom to clean up I heard the doorbell ring. I cleaned the wound like I had just a few hours ago at my old home. I walked over and pulling the curtain open. It must've started raining earlier, since the window had streaks of water running down it. I tried to see who was at the door from my window, but the water made the shape of the person blurry.
"Oi! Haruhi come down and met you're fiancé!" Rai yelled up the stairs. I turned quickly, ran to my door, and looked down the stairs. What did he mean fiancé? He just got me, why was he already getting rid of me? Something was up and I didn't like it.
"Fiancé?" I shouted looking at him, eyes widening. I ran down the stairs and turned to the door. My mouth opening as I stared at the man that stood smiling down at me.