AN: Hello again, it's me. Yes, I did say I'd post a chapter - well, technically today, and it was supposed to be for Evergreen Glade, but then life happened and you get another chapter of Ghost in the Room. Yay! No killing of the author is allowed if this chapter in particular seems dull. I know it is, but there was never a good spot to stick an action scene into, so ...yeah. This one. I'm not terribly fond of it, but it helps move the characters from one spot to another, so. Point A - point B. Simple. I hope you enjoy anyway!
Disclaimer: Sigh ...how many times must I only claim responsibility for Castor over there? Huh?
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"Sempai, I'm fine," Haruhi snapped for the tenth time in a row. Tamaki, insistent that there must have been some injury he hadn't found yet, continued checking her over, ignoring her protests and asking "does this hurt?" every time he touched her elbow, or knee, or neck. Haruhi was touched by his concern, she really was, but honestly, he needn't have made such a big deal about a few bumps and bruises. Eventually, worn down by Tamaki's incessant scuttling about, Kyoya dragged him beside himself, ordered him to keep Hikaru's head elevated, and moved over to chat, quietly, with Haruhi. With nothing left to do and nobody to talk to, Tamaki obediently put Hikaru's head in his lap and sat, staring into space and actively not allowing his mind freedom to roam.
It was becoming so hard to forget Rin's wide, pleading eyes, and resisting the urge that they needed to find her, too, because she needed to be here, with him, not alone and scared and sad - and not a tortured doll, murdered by a madman and never coming back to play with him and hug him and offer dandelions as a gift for just being there with her - Tamaki shook his head, fighting back tears. He wanted to have her in his arms now, and knowing that he could never do it again was tearing him apart inside. He glanced down when Hikaru twitched. His family was hurt, lost, and trapped, and as the father, it was his duty to save them and be the leader they depended on. He couldn't think about poor Rin - not yet. But, he resolved to properly mourn her once they were free. His cousin would have the nicest grave ever, under a big leafy tree, and surrounded by lots and lots of pretty flowers -
"Tamaki," Kyoya said insistently. He sounded kind of annoyed.
"Yes?" Tamaki asked innocently. Kyoya sighed, rubbing his face and pushing his cracked glasses up to his forehead.
"I was beginning to think you'd never respond," he moaned dramatically. "I found a sturdy piece of wood here in the corner that I can use to assist me. Seeing as you are currently the strongest and Hikaru may have a head injury, would you mind carrying him?" Of course Tamaki didn't mind, but to get back at Kyoya for refusing his help initially, he had to pay the price. Tamaki held out an open palm expectantly.
"Jacket," he demanded. Puzzled, Kyoya did as instructed, handing over his mostly ruined school jacket, which Tamaki took and immediately destroyed beyond repair by tearing it into multiple strips. Kyoya was quite indignant at first - yes, he could easily replace the jacket, but anything involving spending more money set his teeth on edge. But, he got over it quickly enough. The fabric was probably too dirty to be cleaned anyway. Tamaki took the strips and tied several tightly around Hikaru's head, where he was fairly sure the wound was, and motioned Kyoya forward when he was done. Once the brunette was in reach, Tamaki pulled out a handful of new pencils taped together, covered in little smiling faces - Rin had brought them for him as a present that very morning. He put the cluster of yellow smiles flush up to Kyoya's swollen ankle and used the remaining two strips of blue to tie them tightly in place - a rather unorthodox sort of splint.
"Wow, sempai, where'd you learn to do that?" Haruhi asked, leaning over Kyoya's shoulder.
"From me," Kyoya intoned. "He would get hurt so often on stupid things, such as tripping over a chair leg, for example, that I felt it best to teach him some medical tips I picked up at my family's hospital. It looks like at least some of those lessons stuck in his head." He pointed to the new bandage on Hikaru, where only a trickle of blood was visible now. "Really, I'm surprised you thought to do that - I'm rather disappointed it never occurred to me after spending so much time at the hospital." Hikaru suddenly spasmed, shooting upright and freezing in place, not an inch away from knocking into Tamaki's nose. He didn't say a word, only staring straight into Tamaki's eyes. An immediate silence fell, and Tamaki just froze, locked on the hot breaths puffing in his face. Eventually, Haruhi decided to break the awkward staring contest, sidling up close to their sides.
"Uh, Hikaru? What are you doing?" Hikaru blinked, as if waking from a trance, and, using Tamaki as a support, he clambered to his feet, following the trail of blood Kyoya had discovered with his eyes.
"He's down there," Hikaru announced firmly. "Kaoru is down here somewhere, and so are Honey-sempai and Mori-sempai. They're all together, somewhere straight down this hall." Declaration complete, Hikaru took a step forward, as though attempting to go charging off after his brother, but instantly crumpled to the ground, shaking almost uncontrollably. "W …what?" Tamaki couldn't resist lightly smacking him on the shoulder, a smug grin on his lips.
"You hit your head, you idiot," he reprimanded almost fondly. "Be more careful next time, huh?" Hikaru, despite himself, grinned back, his teeth sharp and feral.
"That implies there'll be a next time, boss. We're already in the cellar, and I'm prepared for it now." Tamaki shrugged carelessly.
"Well, you never know. Anyhow, weren't we about to leave?" Kyoya nodded firmly and got to his feet.
"Yes, we were. All right, Hikaru, up you go, and quit wasting time." At the frankly lost look Hikaru was sporting, Haruhi kindly explained the situation, gently adding her own two cents on how she would have liked to help when he started looking upset, but her physique sadly wouldn't allow it. Even after talking him into it, it took several minutes to get Hikaru onto Tamaki's back, and it was mostly due to Haruhi suggesting in her sweet, thoughtful tone that the sooner he complied, the sooner they could chase after Kaoru. Haruhi silently smacked her forehead for not thinking of telling him that earlier as his eagerness was restored.
Everyone who had free hands grabbed a lantern, which they lit using the age old technique of striking rocks together to create a spark. Thankfully, they had practically had a goldmine of various sized rocks to choose from, and they were quickly on their way. Per Hikaru's directions, they didn't stray from the center corridor, even if after about an hour of walking the group was growing a bit skeptical that the others hadn't decided to explore other possible routes to escape. When Haruhi offered this bit of information verbally, (her feet were killing her, how much longer was this thing?), Hikaru was …displeased.
"No," he protested, swinging his lantern. "I saw him - Kaoru didn't leave this hall, I'm positive!" Haruhi tilted her head.
"You saw him?" She questioned skeptically. Hikaru nodded firmly.
"Yeah. It must have been when I was out, but I was following him, and there were these weird voices and creepy shadows and then Honey-sempai and Mori-sempai showed up! We're going straight." Wisely, Haruhi let it drop, though she still grumbled to herself about impractical school shoes and arrogant rich people, thinking they never walk anywhere. Of course, she knew it was a bit mean to lump the Host Club in with her stereotyped visions of the aristocrats at Ouran, but she was tired and sore, so darn it, she was going to complain, if only in her mind.
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AN: Yes, the book has hit its slow point now, so I'm sorry about making you think it might actually be action packed here. As stated, though, fear not. More creepy and such soon to come, just be patient a few chapters more. This one was mostly planned out, so this is all leading somewhere, I promise. I hope you liked it regardless of the snail's pace!