Chapter 3: Meeting

This is a short one, which I feel sorry about after such a long time of waiting but I've had a hard time actually finishing it.

"Sir, can I trust you?" Haruhi asked the driver, "Because this is all kinda…suspicious."

"My employer is a family friend." The driver said, looking back and giving a small smile, "His family's known yours since the feudal era, or so they say."

"How come I don't know them then?"

He hesitated, "You'll have to ask him."

"How much longer until we arrive?" Haruhi noticed they were in the richer downtown of Tokyo.

"Not much, we're almost there."

True to his word, it was only a few more turns to a fancy looking restaurant and the driver parked the car to the front of the place, he got out but Haruhi already was opening the door and getting out on her own. He quickly ran around the car to escort her in. Haruhi looked around at the elegantly clad restaurant. The driver led her to the hostess, "Welcome to Kabuki, do you have a reservation?"

The driver nodded, "I don't but the young man does, under the name Yagami."

The hostess seemed to automatically stand straighter, "Yes, this way, Sir."

Haruhi nodded, following the hostess, Yagami, like that man that owns the west or whatever; Haruhi wondered what he could want with her.

The hostess led her up stairs to an enclosed booth, there sat a man. The man had long black hair, tied in a plait, he was tall even sitting down, and as they came near he turned to look at her. His eyes an odd combination of brown and gold, and they pierced through Haruhi with an intensity that would have made Kyoya shudder. He didn't stand up, but waved Haruhi to the empty seat.

When Haruhi hesitated, regretting her curiosity now, the man snapped, "Sit."

Haruhi did, still eyeing the man, "Your Yagami, the man who supposedly owns the west of Japan."

He gave a small upturn of the lips, not really a smile, more of a smirk, a pride filled one. "So, you have heard of me. Not many know who I am."

"I have very well informed friends." She explained.

"Yes, in your club I imagine." Yagami turned distasteful – Haruhi couldn't see it in his face, but felt it, a general impression that he didn't approve, and oddly it made her feel just slightly disappointed, as if she had wanted to impress him.

"What did you bring me here for?" She asked, genuinely curious.

He seemed to see that and as if wanting to disconcert her, he didn't answer just snapped for a waiter. The waiter came, faster than any waiter she'd ever seen before – they're really terrified of him. He rattled off an order, a steak, rare, bloody – he specified, and looked expectantly at Haruhi. When she floundered for any type of food, he ordered for her. He didn't specify though just said seafood – which was enough to brighten Haruhi's day. He spoke only after they'd eaten, she had never eaten such good food, having a well prepared lobster tail, crab and shrimp, and tried to forget that her companion was eating a truly blood dripping steak.

He had allowed her a dessert, ordering a piece of very fancy looking cake and an ice cream sundae. He didn't have any dessert but sipped a very expensive sounding brandy. "I'm sure you're asking curious as to why I've asked you here."

She almost forget herself and started to talk with a fork full of cake in her mouth, but at the last second shut her mouth and nodded, swallowing hard to get it all down. "I'll admit I'm a little worried for my safety."

"Yes, so was your mother." He gifted her a small, almost sorrowful smile.

"How do you know my mom?" Haruhi put down her fork rather forcefully, giving him her full attention.

"When she was around your age, I met with her as I am with you."

"Why? For what purpose?" Her mind going in circles, he didn't look old enough to have met with her mother in such a serious manner – she took a good look at him, Goodness, he looks even younger than my mom when she died.

"I offered her the same I'm going to offer you: Security."

"What do you mean security? Like a body guard?" Haruhi's mind went to every mobster movie she'd ever watched, how they offered protection in exchange for payment, and if you refuse the only protection you'd need was against them.

"If that is what you require." He looked so intensely at her, "That is what I offer, whatever you desire from me until death. Be it money, education, protection, you will have it."

"Why? I haven't done anything for you. I don't even know you." Haruhi inquired.

"It is a promise that I – that my family has made to yours many years ago. Your mother is supposed to tell you as it is only extended through the eldest female line but as your mother is dead that was impossible."

"That's stupid," He lifted a bemused eyebrow, "Why only the oldest, the female line?"

He did not answer the question, content in keeping his mystery. He reached into his silk suit and pulled out a small, elegant looking box. He handed it to her; she opened it, revealing a phone. "Your mother was insistent on not taking my insurance, thinking that it was by debt that I give my gifts. Do not be so folly. I am merely fulfilling my vow, one that I cannot, will not, break. I will advise you though, do not see me as a fairy godmother come to take all your problems away. My vow was to watch over you, not to shower you spoilt. Use it wisely and sparingly as your mother did before you and her mother before her. I will not catch you as you fall, only offer my hand when you have fallen, understand. What you do is your own responsibility and the only way for you to learn and grow is if I do not hold your hand."

Haruhi understood, and she expressed that to him. She also inferred that he was warning her: do not use him, do not call him, do not think about him. There was a reason her mother never told Haruhi about him and his vow, and why her mom hardly ever used him.

"Sir?" Haruhi asked, as she stood to go, "What did my mother ask of you?"

"To save your life."

She turned, wanting an explanation but someone ushered her out. "Haruhi!" A hushed voice caught her attention, she looked at her usher and realized it was one of her host-mates. Or, more specifically two, Honey acting as the head to Mori's tall body. Outside she was greeted with the troop dressed as service men, the twins waiters, Kyoya a taxi driver and Tamaki a mail man. As Mori went to stand beside them, she saw that he and Honey made up maids – complete with frilly aprons over their dresses and little frilly maid headbands.

She sighed; convinced they would be the death of her. "So, what happened?" Tamaki asked in all seriousness, the others intently listening for the answer.

"I'll tell you when we get out of here." Haruhi promised as Kyoya called for Tamaki's private car.

And as they left for what she presumed was the school, she took her assumed advice. She told them only that Yagami had taken interest in her situation and offered opportunities to help her. She also told that she probably wouldn't accept. Her announcement got a rise out of Kyoya who protested that to deny a man like Yagami could be potentially dangerous to her and her family. And, she suspected, his real concern being himself. Kyoya, and all of the boys, were integrated in her life, in her future; what happens to her affects them.

~CHANGE~

There was no soft touch. No gentle caress. Not even a tickle. The wind has stopped, but why? Kokone looked to the sky, the moon shinning bright above. Closing her eyes, she falls to the ground, the petals from the field breaking away in their attempt to escape Kokone's body. Breathing in the sweet, earthy smell of wildflowers, hearing the crickets and far off voices of her family, feeling the swelling loneliness.

Wind return to me.