A/N: cringes No one murder me, please. I've been really busy with work and school and all, I'm really sorry. Also, I was at a bit of an impasse with this story. I have really good ideas and all but I don't want to go too quickly and I don't want to get ooc…
Anyhow, here's the next chapter. Sorry!
She turned over several possibilities in her head as she cleaned up after their customers. They'd all gone, Huni's yawns forcing Takashi to take him home right away, Hikaru all but running out the door in a strange fit of nearly-girlish moodiness with Kaoru trailing behind after glancing meaningfully at her and mouthing something that looked suspiciously like good luck. What that was about…well, who knew? Well, truthfully she was nearly sure she did. But now that her denseness at her…situation…had dissipated, things were so much more complicated, and she wished she was with Tamaki in oblivion again. Only part of her, however. But now…what to do?
She'd sighed in relief when the last customer had left. She'd spent the day trying to figure out a course of action. And she hadn't really gotten anywhere. It was hard to pretend today, after what had happened. And…what exactly was it that had happened? Well…there was only one way to find out. And truthfully, one she'd rather not go for.
"You should go see him."
Haruhi jumped. Speak of the devil… Of course, it was only the Shadow King, his very nature making her nearly forget he was there. She turned, seeing him slipping his notebook into its concealed pocket and preparing to leave.
"Who?" she said, again playing dense. Kyouya simply raised an eyebrow and adjusted his glasses. "Oh…hai…can I ask you something?"
"Hmm," he responded, feigning disinterest and closing his laptop.
"What was-…Kyouya Senpai, was Tamaki Senpai absent today?"
"He was in class, if that is what you are asking." He paused, a strange look on his face. "If you can call sitting in the window and looking out distractedly being in class," His voice remained in the same tone as before, although he was well aware of what this news would do to her. Not bothering to wait for a response, he began to head for the door.
"Kyouya Senpai?"
He sighed inaudibly. "Yes, Haruhi?" he asked impatiently, not bothering to turn. She was going to make him do something he would regret if he stayed too long, this he knew. She opened her mouth again to ask, but something completely different came out instead.
"…gomenasai." She said. He paused for a few moments longer, letting that sink in. Debating whether or not to speak. Deciding it was best to leave it be. And then he too left the Natural Type all alone in the third music room, large and empty enough to echo her thoughts.
This is such a bad idea…she thought to herself, following meekly behind the maid. She was going on and on about how he'd come home earlier than usual and gone straight to his room and the whole house was worried about him and she was glad one of his friends had come and-
"This is his room. I'll leave you to it. Good luck!" she said, backing up as she spoke. She walked around the corner and Haruhi got the feeling that several people stood behind it with her, but she ignored the probability and knocked gently on the door.
"I told you I'm not hungry," came a muffled voice from the other side of the door.
"Last time I checked I wasn't a maid," she said dryly. There was no response but a bit of shuffling and rustling of bedclothes on the other side of the door. She continued on, encouraged by the sounds of movement. "I was told that you were informed I was here-oh…"
Tamaki stood in the door, looking down at the floor and rubbing his eyes. He was wearing nothing but a pair of black pants, contrasting starkly against the pale exposed skin.
"What do you-Haruhi!" He stood stock still as if he'd been hot over the back of the head with a board. A blush slowly formed on his cheeks and down his neck, and he reached somewhere back into the room for a button-down shirt which he shrugged onto his broad shoulders.
"I've seen you without a shirt on before Senpai," she deadpanned.
"Ah…yes…" he began, in his trademark way, "but it is not proper for a man to have a woman in his house if he is not properly dressed…and…um…you see-"
"What about a father and a daughter?" she asked, her voice barely remaining calm. The atmosphere changed completely and Tamaki stopped talking and continued to stare at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck and somehow managing to look cute and idiotic and hot at the same time.
Did I just… hot??? She shuddered inwardly, but he didn't seem to notice. He seemed to be intently focused on the carpet fibers beneath their feet. And what's worse, I think…I think he actually knows… She nearly groaned. His actions confirmed it. But he didn't know that she knew. So now, how to go about addressing the problem? Especially the issue of everyone else…
"I didn't see you at the host club today, Senpai." she began again after a few moments. She had to step carefully. "Are you alright?"
"I…I was sick, that's all-"
"Kyouya-Senpai said that you were in school today."
"Ah…yes, I was fine this morning but I felt sick so I came home after school and I…um…yes."
"I see."
Again, silence. A lawyer in training she was indeed, although she was beginning to suspect that this particular behavior wasn't what he needed right now.
"You should go, Haruhi. Before I get you sick."
Suspicions confirmed.
"…hai. But…will we see you tomorrow? Your customers missed you."
"…I don't know."
"Oh…hai. Alright then." The door closed.
Haruhi sighed and turned, realizing that she was now faced with the daunting task of remembering how to get out of the Suou man-
"So you're Haruhi then," said a woman. She looked strangely familiar…
Shima…that's right. She nodded.
"That makes sense," she said, confusing the brown-haired girl. "If I may say so, I advise you to just put up with him. I believe it will be worth it at some point."
Haruhi blanched, but she followed the beckoning woman.
"He's a bit…well, slow on the uptake. I'll admit that," she continued. "But I've worked here a long time. I can't help but notice things. He tries. More often than not he fails, but he tries."
Haruhi didn't say anything. She was a bit too confused to do anything except walk. She felt sick…somehow. And to make matters worse it seemed that everyone was bent on being cryptic today. And perhaps she was being a hypocrite.
"And it seems to me that's he's trying with you. Which is all a person can do, is it not?"
"…" Haruhi couldn't think of a response. She simply nodded a confused goodbye and headed out the door.
Well, that went well…
A/N: I know, that chapter was really slow. I wanted to get it out of the way before I started into things, just to sort of clarify the situation. I know it was a little cryptic but since all of my fics tend to be HaruhixTamaki I hope you get it. Anyhow, hopefully I'll be updating more often. Or atleast faster than three months. grins sheepishly sorry about that. Review please! Constructive criticism is welcome as well! (I'd prefer no outright flaming however.)
