ღLast time on Picking up the Piecesღ
"Then maybe you shouldn't have answered you're phone." Rai said in a scolding voice. As if he gave a care that, he smashed my phone. If I still had access to money, I would have already gone out and bought a new one, and an apartment to stay in instead of having to live in the same house as Rai. "Anyways, here's your half of the supper." He said passing me a plate and leaving.
As soon as Rai left to watch some more television, the phone rang. I stood and grabbed it. "Moshi-Moshi.".
"Haruhi I want you to meet me at this address next week at this very hour." The voice said before giving me the address "Be there, or else." Then the line went dead. I looked at the phone. Who was that? I was slightly scared for as to why that someone would want me to come met him or her. Also at such a late time at night. I placed the phone down and turned around.
As I lay in bed, I heard a rustling outside my window, before the sound of metal scraping against the glass.
ღ Now ღ
Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I stood up. The scratching got louder as I neared the window. I pulled the curtain open slowly. A set of eyes stared back at me. Squealing, I walked backwards tripping over the rug.
"Haruhi, let me in," the person whispered. I recognized the voice after a moment and stood up. I unlocked my windows and slid it open. He popped the screen off and jumped in, replacing the screen back on and closing the window. Turning around, he bowed slightly. "I was irrational today, and wanted to apologize to you in person," He explained however, I knew he had a different reason for being here. I decided to play along, sighing and looked up at him.
"Kyouya, was climbing in through my window the only way you could have done this?" I whispered furiously back. My hands went to my hips as I glared at him. "If Rai sees you in here, we are both dead," I raised my voice slightly, trying to make him get the point. If he kept this up, the following me, I'd really feel stalked, and I'm a paranoid person.
"Well, I couldn't get in through the door. Fujioka would have slammed the door in my face, and where would that leave us?" he smoothly replied, as if he had everything already figured out. The curtain closed completely, which caused me to raise my eyebrow. I don't know who could see us through the window. It was slick with the ice rain, making it almost impossible to see through.
"Take off your shirt," he said quietly, touching my shoulder.
"What?" I demanded, a bit on the loud side. I stepped back. He was starting to confuse me. First, he was yelling at me about cheating on Takashi. Now he wanted to be a pervert and see me without a shirt. I glared at him, ready to punch him.
"You idiot." Kyouya seethed, pushing me onto the bed. I was about to yell at him again, except there was a shortage of noise downstairs. Kyouya quickly hide. I held my breath; footsteps began thudding up the stairs. Moving quickly, I tucked my feet under the bed sheets and pulled the comforter up to my chin. Luckily, he came in just as I clamped my eyes closed. There was the sour smell of beer floating from him.
"Who're ya talking to?" His voice slurred at the words. His feet shuffled forward, slightly tripping but made it to the edge of my bed. "Get up," he demanded pulling my blankets off the bed and onto the floor. "I said get yer ass outta that bed," he growled using his fingers to pry open an eye. I opened them and slowly sat up. He was carrying a beer bottle and had a cigarette bud hanging from his mouth. I stood up, raising an eyebrow at him. My body was rigid; I didn't like the look in his eyes. They looked hungry, his tongue darted across his lips and his eyes wandered my body. I glared at him, which he didn't notice.
"Too bad Takahiro wants you unharmed," Rai whispered lightly touching my cheek. My eyes widened when I suddenly felt his hands push me to the bed and his lips on mine. I was disgusted instantly and slammed my knee up into his groin.
"Get out!" I screamed, pulling a blanket up to cover my body. He smirked and shook his head coming back again. I shrunk into the pillows.
"You're mine," he whispered in which I moved my hand over to my counter and grabbed it. "What are you doing?"
"I have him on speed dial," I said, pushing the first speed dial button. The dial tone sounded. He smirked.
"Who Takahiro?" he questioned laughing before touching my chin.
"Moshi-Moshi, Morinozuka Residence, Takashi."Takashi's deep voice said coming from the phone. Rai growled and grabbed the phone. He started yelling at me. "Haruhi?"the phone gave off rumbling sounds as Takashi talked to someone.
"Out," I commanded pointing towards the door, grabbing the phone as he tossed it back to me. Rai glared, but eventually back out of the room and shut the door. "Takashi," I whispered into the phone trying to calm him down as much as possible, "Don't come over, it's alright. Kyouya's here, I was just making a point to him." I smiled at Kyouya as he walked over and lightly touched my forehead. "N-no! We are not doing anything like that! Kyouya's too creepy," I whispered jokingly to Satoshi, who stole the phone. The phone call ended shortly afterwards. Kyouya raised his eyebrow, but ignored the comment.
Kyouya looked at me before touching my shoulder. Asking me if I was all right, in which I nodded. He sighed and pulled me towards him, hugging me. I was surprised at this, pulled his arms down, and looked at him. "Now, why the fuck do I have to strip?" I questioned crossing my arms.
"To make sure your shoulder is okay. After all, it may be infected. Do you have antibiotics?" he questioned. I nodded and walked into the bathroom. After a bit of searching, I opened a cabinet. I rustled around until I found the rubbing alcohol. I knew that Kyouya was studying to become a doctor. I was just wondering why he couldn't persuade me into going to the hospital. I pulled my shirt off, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around my waist. I walked out and sat crossed legs on my bed.
His hands touched my skin around the bandages. I had gotten some things for him, like tweezers, new bandages, and scissors. He began to peel the bandage off Akira's work. After a couple of minutes, I slightly turned my head. "So, how is everyone since I left?" I asked quietly, my voice barely a whisper. His hands paused before he sighed.
"Pretty much the same, only some are reverting back to how they were before you came to Ouran that first day. You rarely came back after that day. You did pay you're debt off from the club, and you didn't really like the school," he muttered, pushing his glasses up with his finger. He grabbed the rubbing alcohol from where it lay on my bed and applied some to a dark cloth. He placed it against my skin and started rubbing the dirt away. "The Morinozuka's are still feeling helpless against this; they are still fighting with the government to get you back. Everyone's been asking the same question. Why didn't you fight back against him? He said something to you and then just agreed with him," he tone was soft, and questioning. More as he was talking to his-self.
"I left because this is my family. I don't deserve to live with people so nice. I mean, you guys know what happened in my past." I said, pulling my knees to my chest. Kyouya's hands paused for a long period, long enough for me to see his smirk. "Also, he threatened to kill them if I didn't. I need to return some of that kindness they bestowed upon me."
"Family, or the ones you love?" he questioned, his tone still soft. "The Host Club is a family, and we're not all joined by blood. You are part of that family now whether you like it or not," he added starting to clean the wound. I was silent for the longest time, staring at the ground.
"I have some information that not even you could handle," he said, turning my head towards him. "The strong Haruhi would crumble at the information, and be nothing but the weak Haruhi that Takashi has always wanted to protect," he whispered into my ear. I turned my eyes to look at him. He knew something about my past, and he wasn't telling me. My eyes drifted to the other side. I knew of my past the best. I could remember it like it was yesterday.
I sat at the small table, a blue pen in my hand, scribbling notes onto the paper. I was about to finish my homework when a pair of tickets landed on the table. "Haru~hi! Look what Daddy bought you! Plane tickets!" Ranka announced sitting down besides his brother, Rai. I glanced up at him. "Come on~" He pinched my cheek. "Smile! Daddy did something good for his daughter!"
I shook my head. "This won't help at all. Nothing you ever do is good for me." I spat out, making him flinch away. He sighed, pulling a hand through his hair.
"Guess it can't be helped." he muttered pushing up from the table and walking over to the counter, he picked up the large knife and started chopping food. I stood up to help him, but froze when a sudden urge shook my body. I started to tremble, my eyes casted downwards as I stepped forward and twisted my father's arm so the blade was facing him. He opened his mouth. "Haru...hi." He muttered blood soon came out of his mouth as he collapsed on the floor.
Kyouya leant forward and waving a hand in front of my face. "Haruhi, you're all good, Morinozuka-san did a good job with the stitches," he muttered, pulling the clip board from his jacket and writing something down. His glasses just glared from the moonlight, making it impossible to see the reflection of what he was currently writing down.
I pulled my shirt back on and started cleaning up the supplies Kyouya used. "Kyouya, I'm stronger then you think...I can survive everything that Rai throws at me. I just don't know about Takahiro. He doesn't need to be evolved in bloodshed," I muttered looking up at him. "Please make sure that he doesn't get evolved. It's all I'm asking of you." I whispered, staring at him with pleading eyes. Pushing his glasses up in thought, he headed towards the window.
"If there is any merit into helping him I will. Also, Haruhi," he said, catching my attention on how he said my name. "You haven't always been strong, and might not be strong again in the future," he explained softly before opening the window. "Good-bye, for now Haruhi." He said slipping out and shutting the window. I waited until the almost inaudible sound of the limousine pulled away, carrying everything with it.
My eyes flickered open the next morning, my shoulder aching from pain. I wondered if Rai would have any painkillers. Actually, I didn't doubt that he did. He had enough scars and got enough hang over's that he'd need painkillers or he'd die from the pain. I shifted slightly, feeling the pull of my muscles before relaxing slightly.
Swinging my legs over the bed, I extended my arms above my head, let out a soft squeaky yawn, and placed my hands back to my sides. It was finally the weekend, the day that Rai said that he was going out for the whole day. That gave me time to do some shopping and clean the house. I hoped that since Rai didn't leave me any money, that I could get some from recycling the pop and beer bottles. I took a shower and got dressed before shuffling through the bathroom and kitchen until I came across a bottle of painkillers. I prayed that they weren't smuggled drugs before taking one.
When I was searching for the pills, I found a closet full of cleaning supplies, some empty some full of stuff. I knew that he either once did clean or he used those for the rooms. I pulled a white apron on and pulled the latex gloves on. If this place was as dirty as I thought it was. Then I really needed the gloves.
"B-but sir!" a woman wearing a suit said, looking at the young heir. "If we don't tell her soon! He might try it again!" the woman said, objecting to what the heir said before.
"The information would send her into a rage no one could control. I currently find no merit in doing this, unless you can come up with one. If he tries it again, we do not have to tell her, and he would be arrested. Instantly." The heir explained, rubbing his head with one hand, he had begun to get a headache with this woman. "Now send in Morinozuka-kun. I wish to explain some matters with him." With a flick off his hand to dismiss the woman, she quickly bowed and walked towards the door.
"Remember, Atsuko, if this information is leaked to her. You will be punished by my father." Kyouya said, smirking at the woman who nodded and quickly left.
"Last one, thank god," I muttered bending down to pick up the beer bottle. The house was still dirty, but looked less cluttered. I sighed and wiped away some sweat that was clinging to my forehead. This was a pain, but it had to be done. Who could live in this filth? I dismissed the thought as the doorbell rang. I wasn't supposed to answer the door, but what if it was Takahiro? I peeled the gloves off and walked over to the door.
I pulled the door open slightly and lo and behold, there he was. I blinked and smiled slightly. I would have cleaned the house quicker if I knew that he was coming over. It was slightly embarrassing for me to be living in a place covered with dust and dirt. "Takahiro-kun, I didn't realize you were, um, coming over." I muttered glancing behind him at the two boys on a motorcycle. Takahiro gave a large smile to me and shrugged.
"Why can't I come visit you? Is it not allowed?" he asked, leaning on the door and the smile turned into a grin.
"Well I'm cleaning, and didn't really expect a visitor," I replied, scrunching my eyebrows together and looking up at him.
"Ah. Well, I thought we could go on a little bike ride," he admitted, seeing the blue bags almost full with bottles. "Except it looks like you have a date with the recycling place," he teased again, receiving a whack on the shoulder. He entered the house after I opened the door for him. It would be rude if I made him stay out in the chilling rain.
Choosing to ignore his comment, I looked at my watch. I was 18, have my licence. I was just wondering if Rai had a truck or van, I could use to go to the recycling place. Takahiro was snooping around the bottom level of the house. He probably never has seen the entire full inside of the house. I sighed and unlocked the door to the garage. So...Rai had a sports car, a new one at that. I walked over and touched the door lightly peering inside. Rai was probably stupid enough to forget the keys inside the house, so I could just borrow it. I would clean it when I got back and dry it. Therefore, I wouldn't get in trouble for driving it.
I looked at my watch again and turned my head slightly. "Oi! Takahiro-kun! Can you start bringing some of the blue bags into the garage?" I yelled towards the door. Hoping he hadn't wondered upstairs or downstairs. I walked back inside and noticed I had forgotten to shut the door. The ground was becoming soaked with water droplets from the melting icicles. I used my toe to shut it before starting my search for some car keys. I noticed Takahiro picking up two bags and walking into the garage. I hadn't realized he was so strong.
"Hey Haruhi, come check this out!" Takahiro yelled, the voice emitting from the back room. I froze. If he was in the back of the house...then who was in the garage? I slowly turned my head and saw a tall man with dark hair placing the blue bags onto the ground. "Haruhi?" Takahiro asked breathing into my ear. Making me jump and slam my elbow into his stomach. He groaned lightly and thumped to the ground.
I quickly bent down, apologizing before pointing towards the garage. "There's someone in there," I whispered, frightened as the sound of wet shoes squished against the floor of the garage, coming closer to the garage door. Takahiro looked up, the pained expression void, his eyes hardened.
"Haruhi."