Chapter 7, Confiding in Mori

I awoke the next morning to a sharp rap on the door. After what felt like a hell of a night I was surprised to find that I'd actually managed to fall asleep. Dreamless, empty, tiring, sleep.

But sleep nonetheless.

Groggily I rolled over and looked at the clock, which read: 5:20am. Who in hell was knocking on my door at this hour? I rolled out of bed and zombie shuffled over to the door and to my surprise looked straight ahead at the hard chest of a tall male and the scruffy blonde hair of a small child. Rubbing my eyes, I readjusted.

"Morning!" Honey cried, cheerily.

"Uh, morning?" I replied sleepily, not fully awake and understanding what was happening. They were both dressed in tight grey shirts and black loose pants and Honey's bright blue eyes were gazing up at me expectantly.

"We are here to train you up, Haru-chan!"

Ohhh, now I remember. I had asked them to wake me up at the odd hours of the morning to teach me how to fight. Well at least the second part rang true. I wasn't exactly expecting it now though, especially after everything that had happened.

Come to think of it, it was interesting that Kyoya hadn't gone and told Mori and Honey that I was a gold-digging peasant. Or perhaps more interestingly, if he had, they showed no sign of it.

"Mitskuni…" Mori said, with his deadpan tone and raised an eyebrow at my state of undress and dishevel.

"You should probably get dressed! We have to hurry to get down on the beach" Honey sang and pushed me back into the room.

I turned and walked back into my room, searching for something suitable to wear for a workout/training session and groaned at the lack of clothing for this category. I was about to give up and tell the boys it was off when I noticed Kyoya's hoodie still lying on my armchair from where I had taken it off.

Was it inappropriate if I wore it? Ah what the heck, matching the hoodie with a pair of black leggings and trainers I walked out into the hall to meet the boys.

As we walked down to the beach I couldn't help but noticing how the hoodie was rich with Kyoya's scent, the slight musky smell was churning my stomach…or maybe that was just my lack of breakfast? Either way I couldn't help but remember how nice it was to be wrapped in his arms, even if that thought now made me sick with anger and betrayal. My face hardened and I bit down hard on my lip to stop my eyes from watering again. I had shed enough tears last night over Kyoya.

Mori taught me the basics and in no time I was sparring with both Honey and Mori, they beat me every time and I could tell they were going beyond easy on me. And I have to admit I was intimidated. A lot. I'd seen these two fight with their full potential and the idea of fighting against them was enough to keep me up all night. And it probably would have if I had of; a) remembered or b) had nothing else to think about.

Panting, I crouched over and caught my breath, I hadn't even been able to get one hit in and I was feeling the bruises form on my arms and legs from where I had, not been hit but had fell of my own accord onto the sand.

"Maybe we should take a break?" Honey asked and sat down next to me.

"Yeah, that'd be good" I replied, and stared off into the distance. Mori stood with his feet in the water of the beach, watching the sunrise.

"You don't look happy Haru-chan" Honey said, his cute little forehead pinched up in worry. "Is there something bothering you?"

I looked into his blue eyes; I didn't have the heart to tell him for I knew he would be full of advice and care. He would probably even go and talk to Kyoya for me and that was something I didn't need nor want. "I'm okay" I smiled, waving it off.

"You are stronger then you think," he said, his voice deeper then usual. I wasn't used to hearing things so serious out of his mouth so I didn't respond and just stared forward not revealing anything on my face.

"You are getting better by the way," he said standing up and dusting him self off.

"Huh?" I looked up, once again another intelligent response from Haruhi Fujioka.

"With sparring. You need a lot more practice of course, but you are better"

"Oh…" I smiled at the compliment and stared down at my feet.

"See you later, Haru-chan!" And with a wave Honey left returning to his usual happy-go-lucky self.

And I was left to think.

Who had I become? I was nothing like the girl I was before I originally fainted. Haruhi…who are you?

It is time to be logical and remove your feelings. Sort this mess out.

So what, I was angry with Kyoya, what he said was uncalled for and downright rude. Especially after professing that he really liked me.

But then, I also knew of the influence his father had over him. Clearly his father had said something to turn Kyoya against me, from what I knew of Kyoya he would regret this display and apologise to me in the morning. Even if he meant every word, he would regret slipping up in front of Hikaru and try to act like everything is okay.

I felt someone approach and I lifted my hand to shield my face from the sun. Mori stood in front of me and then sat gracefully next to me.

"Oh Mori Sempai…I thought you left with-"

"No" he said cutting me off. His tall body was shadowing mine and we sat in silence for a little while.

"Thankyou for doing this…I mean teaching me. I really appreciate it, you know? I'm sorry I wasn't as switched on as I should have been" I sighed and we returned to silence although I felt the need to explain why I wasn't at my best.

"I didn't sleep well last night and it's taking its toll," I explained and Mori turned his head to me lifting an eyebrow.

Oh god, I didn't want to talk about what had happened last night to anyone, why was I bringing it up now? I had led myself into a trap it seemed. Maybe I subconsciously really wanted to talk to someone, just to reassure myself that I wasn't wrong.

"Sempai…you don't talk much, but I know you see a lot. I know that you pick up on things that others miss…" I started and trailed off. Mori just sat there silently watching me and waiting for me to continue, showing no expression. I fidgeted with my fingers in my lap.

"Okay…Kyoya, he…" I sighed and slumped.

He what? What did he do…what did he feel? I couldn't make sense of it anymore. I brushed the sand off my hands and opened my mouth to tell him not to worry about it.

"He likes you," Mori finished and then looked to me again, prompting me to continue.

"Not anymore he doesn't…" and before I knew it I had spilled my heart and soul to Mori, he sat silently nodding at some parts of the story, never interrupting (not that I expected him to) but just sat there silent. I felt he understood.

"…and now I don't know what to think or do, and then there is the matter with Tamaki and the twins" I finished sighing and leaning into his shoulder defeated. The level of familiarity between us had gone up significantly as I told my tale. Mori's hand rested on my knee in a comforting position and he frowned for a little bit before relaxing again.

"But you're not like that," he said, his voice strong.

"Yeah, I know that" I replied with emphasis, wondering where he was going with this.

"Kyoya knows this too."

"Well clearly he doesn't Sempai, otherwise he wouldn't have done what he did. I hate his father, you know. I absolutely hate that man" I growled and clenched my hands to fists.

"Why?" Mori asked. I looked up at him with an exasperated look on my face.

"What do you mean? Why?" I exclaimed and to which he raised an eyebrow showing he knew damn well I understood the question.

"Well…he is manipulative and mean and he controls Kyoya! He turned him against me…" I almost shouted, throwing a pebble as hard as I could along the sand. It didn't really go as far as I had hoped.

Mori sighed and stood up, I looked up at him pointedly as if to ask where he was going. He pointed back to the hotel and where a bunch of boys were standing out the front, watching us anxiously.

I stood up too and brushed the sand off me. We walked in near silence until we were on the brink of still being out of earshot when Mori said quietly, "No one controls Kyoya except for Kyoya."

And with that he jogged ahead and the others turned and started walking back inside and towards the breakfast hall, with the exception of one of the twins who jogged over to me. As he got closer I sighed and realised it was Hikaru.

Expecting some kind of elaborate apology I opened my mouth to tell him not to worry when I was swept up in a warm embrace.

Hikarou twirled me around in his arms before setting me down again, he put his arm over my shoulder to steady me and we walked on.

I was not expecting that, and for once…it was silent between us. I felt words bubble in my throat and it was only until we were inside the breakfast hall that I asked him how he slept. He smiled and said like a baby but the dark rings under his eyes said otherwise.

"We'll talk tonight, promise?" He asked, his voice a little hoarse.

"Yeah, sure" I replied, already dreading the conversation and breaking free from his hold to take my seat next to Tamaki.

"Good morning my princess! I haven't seen you in ages!" He sang, his voice drawling out the 'ages' part.

His blonde shaggy hair fell over his angelic face and already, although it felt like a while since I saw him too I felt annoyed.

"Morning" I grumbled, struggling out of his tight embrace which he swept me into as soon as I had sat down.

"Haruhi, my moon, my sun. I have made plans for all of us to take a road trip into commoners land again after breakfast! There we are going to try something a few of us have never dreamed of! We are going to…. drumroll please" he started and the twins obliged drumming on the table, "A commoners BAKERY!"

I sunk down into my chair, why did he have to be such a … such a…

"Now I know, you may have your concerns men. But I assure you it is purely educational and whatever machinery or talent in making simple bread is lacking, we will not judge!" he called triumphantly and looked to me for approval. Such a rich bastard, that's what I was looking for. Of course the twins played along in his antics to get under my skin as well.

"Can we get sick from eating this food?"

"What about the workers…how will we know that they made the bread fresh?"

"I hope they don't…you know…grind the flour themselves!"

And together they said in unison, "the horror!"

I scowled and opened my mouth to protest but was cut off my Honey Sempai's high voice.

"Will they have cakes?"

Every face turned to me expectantly, except for Kyoya's, who notably who was absent from breakfast.

"Well it is a bakery guys-," I mumbled.

"Yay! Haruhi says we can go!" They all cheered and turned to each other for excited chatter.

"Hey! That's not what I said at all! Stop putting words in my mouth-SEMPAI!" I yelled and banged my fist down on the table making them all shut up. Tamaki whimpered and drew back in his chair.

"If we go to this bakery, I want you…no, all of you, to be completely silent. You cannot say anything!" I said calmly, to their looks of dismay. And finally they were silent. I smiled I was sure this proposition would halt their plans to continue.

"No, Haruhi is right. Men! We will be silent as mice!" Tamaki said, standing up next to me and I groaned loudly.

"But boss!" the twins whined.

"I will not hear another word! My Haruhi has spoken!" Tamaki cried and sat back down before starting to eat the scrambled eggs on his plate.

"Cheer up, Haruhi said there would be cakes!" Honey whispered to the twins and they smiled solemnly.

"Eat" Mori said with his deep voice and pointed to my plate, which I had hardly touched.

"Takashi is right Haru-chan, you need to eat" Honey seconded and looked to the others for encouragement.

"Here, here!" the others chanted and all stopped eating themselves to watch me shovel a forkful of eggs into my mouth.

And so it begins.