08.27.11
OURAN CO. VS LOBELIA INC.
"How dare you?!"
I remember those three words with perfect clarity. I've said before that a lot of the conversations are slightly embellished due to the passage of time dulling my memory. I can tell you that my first conversation with Tamaki, my argument with Dr. Suoh, and Mrs. Fujioka's story about her husband are all verbatim. Those are moments I can never forget if I live to be a hundred years old.
But there's more to dialogue than just words. I'm learning as I go along that tone, inflection, speed, they're all important. They're what give your words real weight and drive home the meaning behind what you're saying. I saw this English phrase once online, 'I didn't say she stole my money'. Depending on which word you emphasize, that one sentence can have seven different meanings. It's kind of amazing how language functions in our society.
I tell you all this because when Benibara screamed 'how dare you' at my friends, the way she said it isn't what you'd expect. Oh, she was outraged, to be sure, but it was the kind of outrage typically expressed towards people who cut in front of you at the supermarket. Or when someone parks too close to your car and blocks you in. Everyday annoyances like that. Not for hostile strangers who demolish your property and cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages with their stolen tank.
You need to understand this because otherwise, my reaction won't make sense. As soon as Benibara said this, said it the way she said it… I laughed. I laughed long and I laughed hard. I laughed so hard, I can't even describe it.
I was on my back, my feet kicking the air. One of my heels was thrown; the other hung tight to my big toe by a strap. It hurt, but I didn't care. I didn't care, but Benibara sure did.
"Maiden, this is nothing to laugh at!" she cried. "Those cretins have invaded our home. They've come to take you!"
"You say that like it's a bad thing," I remarked, wiping my eyes.
"LOBELIA INCORPORATED!" Tamaki shouted. A crowd had formed around the tank, Hinako and Chizuru at the forefront. They'd linked arms as if planning to halt the tank's advance with their bare hands. "WE HAVE COME TO RETRIEVE HARUHI FUJIOKA! SURRENDER HER NOW OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE ACTION!"
"We will never give her to you!" Benibara roared. "Lobelia is a safe haven for womankind and you are not welcome here. Leave at once!"
"NOT WITHOUT HARUHI!"
I had a feeling this would go nowhere, so I ripped the other heel off and ran for the window. I leaned out so far, I almost lost balance. Benibari grabbed me just in time, but when she tried to hide me from sight, I shoved her hands away.
"Guys, I'm up here!" I waved my arms like I was trying to fly.
"HARUHI!" Tamaki's face lit up. His smile was too wide for his face and his eyes full of stars. "YOU LOOK ADORABLE IN THAT DRESS!"
"SUPER CUTE!" Hikaru, Kaoru, and Hunny agreed as they and Mori all gave me a thumbs up.
"Thank you, but I'd like to go home now!"
"DON'T WORRY, HARUHI! WE'RE COMING!"
"You most certainly are not!" Benibara hollered. "I'm giving you one more chance to turn that filthy tank around and if you don't, you will suffer the consequences!"
"Bring it, crazy lady," Hikaru said, taking a fighting stance which Kaoru mimicked.
"We'll take you and your whole army down," he cried.
"Anytime, anywhere!"
"While I can appreciate their outrage, why don't we take a more civilized approach?" Kyoya stepped into the light, unconcerned with the growing horde of robots baying for his blood.
Benibara sneered. "You speak as if Ouran bots know anything about being civilized"
"Oh, I think we'll surprise you," Kyoya smiled, and even though I was still deep in enemy territory with no guaranteed method of escape, I knew Lobelia was done.
"That settles it!" Tamaki proclaimed. He did a front flip out of the tank and landed with cat-like grace at the head of the group. They'd all shifted into what I think was supposed to be threatening stances, but in the end, they just looked like cover models. "Benibara of Lobelia Incorporated. I, Tamaki of Ouran, challenge you to a duel for Haruhi Fujioka's hand!"
"On behalf of my sisters, I accept your challenge!" Benibara pounded her chest. Her overly dramatized version of a soldier's uniform suddenly seemed a lot more fitting.
"Then at dawn, we shall do battle. The winner takes Haruhi!"
"The loser dies!" shouted Hikaru.
Everyone stopped and stared at him. Even Kaoru.
"What are you doing?" He elbowed his brother. "We didn't rehearse that."
"I'm sorry, I was caught in the heat of the moment."
"Leave that sort of thing to the boss. You know we can't kill anyone."
"But when you think about it, it does get the point across that you shouldn't mess with us."
"I think that makes sense," Hunny piped in. "What about you Takashi?"
"Maybe."
"It's a terrible idea, though," said Kyoya.
"Okay, what if we change it to a prank war or something. Loser has to do something really embarrassing like wear their clothes backward at a social event or-"
"No no, how are we going to enforce a rule like that? Once we get Haruhi, we're out of here."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"What about the loser has to make the winners cake?"
"By the way, are we returning the tank when we're done with it? I don't think that was discussed beforehand."
"ENOUGH!" Benibara was shaking so hard, I'm pretty sure a screw fall out her ear. "I will not listen to this nonsense any longer! Seven a.m. The main arena. Be there or Haruhi is MINE!"
She slammed the window shut and dragged me away. The curtains closed on their own, cutting off my view of the outside world. I fought hard against Benibara's grip, but she'd dropped the chivalrous act completely and didn't seem to care how many of my bones she cracked. She had at least enough composure not to throw me in my seat. She sat me down and held my arms at my sides. I wasn't resisting anymore, at least not physically. My eyes pierced her skull as apoplectically as hers dug through mine.
"If you think they can win, you are sorely mistaken," she seethed.
"And if you think you can win, you don't know what you're in for," I said.
Granted, I didn't know what Lobelia was in for either, but for once, I didn't care. I hoped whatever they decided on was as chaotic as possible. Hell, maybe they should go and grab a few more tanks while they were at it. I heard drive away in the one they'd commandeered. A crunch followed by a horrified shriek of, 'My birdbath!' made me grin like a fool right in Benibara's face.
"It's a shame. You're far deeper in the dark than I realized." She touched my cheek. "I pray the time will come when you see the light."
I slapped her hand away, and I think even I was shocked by it. "I've seen more than my fair share of light, thank you. Now I just want to go home, turn the lights off, and go to sleep on my futon. With my friends."
Benibara clutched her hand to her chest, staring at me like a wounded animal. I'd just kicked the hornet's nest and I knew it even then, but my friends were outside ready to start a war to save me. There was no turning back.
"I see," Benibara said. Then she left me. I guess that fancy dinner and show were canceled. What a shame.
Before anyone asks, no, I did not go hungry. Benibara was mad, but she wasn't that mad. A maid arrived half an hour later with a large bento box full of freshly cooked beef and steamed rice. I'm ashamed to say I asked for seconds. I'm sorry, the food there was just way too good. After polishing off my second plate and changing out of my massive dress- for once the maids' help was fully appreciated- I crawled under the covers, intending to knock myself out for a few hours before I was inevitably stuffed into another princess dress. I couldn't imagine them doing anything else. I was the damsel in the tower now, waiting for my knights in shining armor to come rescue me.
Boy, that sounds stupid. No wonder I never got into Disney movies.
Anyway, I woke up to an alarm I hadn't set blaring at me. It was six in the morning. One more hour until the big showdown. I had one foot off the bed when the maids surrounded me. Were they watching through the door or something? I was truly afraid to ask.
"Good morning, Haruhi. We have your breakfast." She clapped her hands and a fourth maid wheeled in a food cart. Fresh fruit, grilled fish, and an omelet which melted in my mouth when I ate it.
My prediction came true when, upon swallowing the last bite, the maids hung an absolute monster of a pink and white princess gown (complete with elbow length gloves and a tiara) on the bedpost and sized me up like a pack of apex predators. They got me dressed, did my hair, applied my make up, and then shoved a new pair of shoes onto my feet. They were pointed at the toe and reminded me of old Chinese foot binding practices.
Fortunately, I wasn't expected to walk in them. Two more maids with a kago appeared and I was placed in the seat with my feet tucked in. They carried me into the elevator; this time, I didn't complain. In fact, I didn't say anything at all. I was perfectly still and compliant, like a porcelain doll. That's what they wanted in the end, and for my last few hours in the clutches of Lobelia, I was willing to play along.
We descended to the ground floor and they brought me outside to a massive stadium. I can't say with total certainty that it was there the night before, but it was solid concrete and bared the flag of Lobelia. It was actually just Benibara's face surrounded by roses and lilies, but my drivers saluted all the same.
I was brought to the top box, where Chizuru and Hinako were waiting. They had new outfits on; hot pink pantsuits with sunglasses and diamond studded earpieces. The latter didn't connect to anything as far as I could tell. Just there to complete the look. Say what you want about Lobelia, they knew how to accessorize.
"Maiden, we'll be your personal bodyguards for the duration of the duel," said Chizuru. She and Hinako bowed. They'd clearly taken lessons from Benibara. "On our honor, we shall defend you with our lives. We are your humble servants."
"No man will even think to touch you with their unclean hands on our watch," said Hinako. "Fear not, fair Haruhi, you have never been safer."
"That's nice," I mumbled.
They lifted me out of the kago and carried me to a throne set up before an array of windows. It was so big, even Mori would look small sitting it in, and covered from top to bottom in soft cushioning. I sank in all the way to the wooden frame. Combined with the dress, I was more fabric than human at this point.
A maid approached me from behind. I'd never seen this one before, but she had the uniform and a mass of bleached blonde hair covering her eyes.
"Can I get you anything to drink Lady Haruhi?" Her unnaturally squeaky voice made my ears hurt.
"I'm fine, thanks."
"Let us know if you need us." She slid back to stand beside a maid with straight black hair and long bangs.
The show began with the blare of a trumpet. A full orchestra, in fact. They were positioned off to the side of the field and played a sweeping instrumental as the gates opened. Benibara, clad in what appeared to be a bull fighter's outfit without the hat, rode in on a massive parade float covered in flowers, ribbons, and, creepily enough, a paper mache bust of her head. It winked at the crowd just as the real thing. If robots could bleed, I'm pretty sure fountains would've erupted from every nose in attendance.
A troupe of dancers preceded the float, performing a complicated gymnastics routine set to pop music. As someone who can hardly stand on one leg for more than a minute, my bones ached just watching them. Hinako and Chizuru had installed themselves beside my chair, arms crossed as if that was all they needed to look threatening. I remained impassive while in their line of sight. Never would they have reason to believe I wasn't on their side. I even clapped when the song ended and Benibara surfed off the top of her giant fake head. I was far less passionate than the adoring crowd below and I didn't call for an encore, but I say it still counts.
"Ladies of Lobelia Incorporated!" The announcer shouted. I recognized her voice. She was the one who called me cute yesterday while I was being marched around blindfolded. I shivered. "We have gathered here to witness the destruction of these six inferior male beings! Here in the south corner, the challengers! Odious, cheaply made, and thoroughly unsatisfying, as all men are. Stand strong before the evil that is…. OURAN CO.!"
Hisses and boos shook the foundation as Tamaki, Kyoya, and Hunny rode the tank into view. I never did figure out how they got that thing inside. Hunny had changed from his combat gear to a gi, complete with a pink headband covered in bunnies. On the back of the gi was a picture of all of us together. 'FIGHTING FOR FRIENDS' was stitched below it.
So yeah, pure evil right there.
"And on the north side, a woman who needs no introduction-"
'Then don't give her one,' I thought.
"Standing at nearly six feet tall and dressed fabulously in a designer traje de luces, The Lady of the Red Rose, the founder of Lobelia's Zuka model division, the creator of paradise, descendant of Mother Venus-"
There was more, but by now, the screaming was too loud for even a magnified voice to break through. They did at least quiet down in time for the announcer to run out of nicknames.
"-the one, the only... LADY BENIBARA!"
Benibara blew kisses and smoldered left and right. She really was a less charismatic Tamaki in a lot of ways. That was never more apparent than when she pointed at him, calling him out first, and he and Kyoya just rolled their eyes.
"Thank you, thank you all," Benibara said as the microphone was passed to her. "I'm glad you're all here today. This is not merely a battle to prove the inherent uselessness of men, but also to protect the honor of our beloved Lady Haruhi."
A spotlight shined on me and the crowd applauded. I tried to smile, but my cheeks were stuck. To my right was a jumbotron and as the camera pointed at me, I thought for a second I was looking at a painted up doll version of myself. I cringed when I realized it was actually a painted up me. Even Tamaki recoiled in horror, and then he glared at Benibara so hard I expected him to spontaneously transform into a dragon and breathe fire at her.
"You will pay for this maleficence, Lobelia. We will not allow you to hold our beloved Haruhi hostage and dress her up in clashing colors. You fiend!"
Benibara laughed. "Me? A fiend? How cute."
She handed the microphone back and drew her sword. The blade sparkled in the light of the rising sun.
"Let the duel begin," the announcer shouted. Then she sprinted off the field as Benibara charged at Tamaki.
I still wonder why she chose him first when, as a martial artist capable of throwing guys five times his size, Hunny was clearly the bigger threat. Personal resentment I guess. There's a reason I keep making comparisons between the two. Regardless, Tamaki had come prepared. In addition to the tank, he'd somehow procured a sword of his own. He also somehow knew how to use it, well enough to keep Benibara from chopping his head off.
It wasn't easy to follow the action, they were both so fast. I know Benibara swung a lot, Tamaki blocked a lot, neither got too many hits in. Tamaki managed to slash her across the chest, ripping her coat beyond repair. Someone in the audience, perhaps the designer, screamed and fainted. I remember them taking her out on a stretcher while Tamaki cornered Benibara by the float.
"Surrender!" He aimed for her head and missed.
"Never!" She parried and nicked him on the shoulder.
While this was going on, Kyoya was on his phone. No, seriously, he was typing away and not paying attention while Hunny paced around the perimeter of the tank, daring anyone to face him. You'll notice I haven't mentioned Mori, Hikaru, or Kaoru. They weren't there, and I had no idea what kind of plan they had in the works. I just hoped it was a good one.
Five minutes into the fight, no progress had been made on either side. As robots, I doubted they'd get tired very soon. Kyoya pocketed his phone and waited for Benibara to throw Tamaki to the ground. They locked eyes and Kyoya nodded. Tamaki tried to nod back; the blade at his throat made it difficult.
"Did you honestly believe this little stunt of yours would work?" The cameras zoomed in on them. I could see the dirt stains on Tamaki's cheek and the streak of oil dripping from a cut on his temple. "You'll never defeat me like this. I'm an advanced model, superior to you in every way."
Hunny had stopped walking. He stood unmoving next to Kyoya. Neither of them stepped in.
Tamaki smiled. "I don't know how advanced you are, Benibara, but I must admit, I admire you. You clearly take the safety and happiness of your people very seriously. I think we're alike in that way."
"Spare me your soft-hearted drivel, Princely model. You and I both know how this is going to end: with you on your knees, bowing to my greatness. You rusty old parts are nothing but pebbles in my shoe."
"Maybe so," Tamaki said, "but do you want to know what else I am?"
"Do tell," Benibara said.
Tamaki paused. Gotta have that dramatic effect. "A distraction."
Benibara blinked. "What?"
Then I heard the helicopter.
I couldn't tell you want kind it was, so don't ask. Something big and black with whirling blades. It kicked up a massive wind storm and blew dirt all over Benibara's outfit. I think she started screaming, but it was impossible to hear over the noise, even inside.
The helicopter flew low, which I can't imagine was safe. It was only for a second, but I caught a glimpse of Mori in the cockpit. He flew like an expert and raised a hand to the tower like he knew I was watching, and I could almost hear his brisk, deadpan, "Hey."
"Hey," I whispered back.
My 'bodyguards' surrounded me.
"I don't know what their game is," Hinako growled, "but they will not get you if we have anything to say about it."
I think she meant it as reassurance, but it sounded like a threat.
"Oh, but my lady, we've already been infiltrated!" The blonde maid had tears in her eyes as she clung to Hinako's arm.
"What? By who?" Chizuru demanded.
The two maids broke into evil, catlike grins. The wigs came off with a shock of spiky red hair.
"By the greatest and sneakiest Mischievous Models to ever exist," Hikaru proclaimed.
"Prepare for battle," Kaoru cried.
It wasn't much of a battle. For all their bluster neither Chizuru or Hinako were built for fighting. They were quickly dispatched with a few exaggerated ninja moves (they even made their own sound effects) while I worked the medieval torture devices they called shoes off my feet. I pried the second one off just as Hikaru threw me over his shoulder.
"No time," he said. "We're working with a very small window of opportunity."
"How small?"
Kaoru grabbed my chair/throne and hurled it at the glass. It cracked and shattered. The roar of helicopter blades deafened me, the wind blowing my tiara and hairpiece off. Without the extra weight on my head, I could think clearly about how insane it would be for us to jump out this ten-story window to reach a flimsy rope bridge hanging from the side of the helicopter with a swarm of Lobelia girls chasing us.
And, of course, that's exactly what we did.
I didn't scream, which I'm proud of myself for. The dress was so big and heavy, I don't know how Hikaru could aim through it, but his hand caught the bottom rung easily. Kaoru waited until we were safely aboard to jump himself. He'd had to fight off another maid, this one actually possessing some legitimate skill, but he made it with only a few scratches. As soon as we were all safe, Mori turned on the speakers.
"I have her. Let's go."
Music to my ears.
"You'll never take her!" Benibara shouted, pointing her sword at the retreating aircraft. She'd forgotten all about Tamaki, who crawled away from her to join Kyoya and Hunny in the tank.
"She was never yours to begin with," Kyoya said. Somehow, whoever was running the cameras didn't see fit to shut them off, so this whole thing was broadcast on the jumbotron. "Haruhi belongs to herself, and I believe she's made her choice."
"You'd better believe I have," I said, squeezing Hikaru's hand.
"Benibara, it's been an honor doing battle with you," Tamaki said, sweeping into a bow. "Know that you have my respect as a fellow leader, but now we must take our leave."
"As if we'll let you," she cried. She really did not know when to quit.
Luckily, Tamaki did. "Forgive me, but… we're the ones with the tank."
He did a backflip twenty feet in the air and landed perfectly inside the hatch. It was actually pretty cool, like something you'd see in a Hollywood blockbuster and think 'wow, that is so unrealistic.' Turning the tank around, they followed the helicopter as we soared off the Lobelia estate and towards sweet freedom. I also feel obliged to mention that whoever was driving the tank really sucked at it. They crashed through the paper mache Benibara and took its head off.
If you think we were home free, I'm sorry to say it wasn't quite that easy. Even with their boss incapacitated, Lobelia didn't pride itself on excellence and perfect choreography for nothing. Being airborne, I saw the battalion blocking the tank long before they did.
"You shall not pass!" They yelled, throwing out their palms like police officers.
We were still flying low and I could see my maids among their ranks. An idea hit me, a crazy one I was ninety percent sure wouldn't work, but the ten percent of hope shining through was enough for me to try.
"Naoko!" I shouted as loud as I could. "I order you to let the tank pass!"
Naoko, flanked by her team of maids, looked around in confusion. I don't know what this was doing to their circuitry. I was asking them to go against their own 'sisters'. The tank was fast approaching, preparing to swerve. Finally, Naoko shrugged at her fellows and swept the legs out from under the woman behind her.
"What are you doing?" She demanded as the rest of Naoko's group lunged at their former allies.
"I'm sorry," Naoko replied, "but Lady Benibara said we have to obey her orders."
The fight broke the group into two opposing forces. Naoko and her troops pushed the loyalists back into the trees, creating a gap big enough for the tank to fit through. My friends cheered and patted me on the back for my quick thinking. I enjoyed their praise, almost as much as I did ripping that stupid dress off and throwing it into the lake. I didn't even care that I had nothing on except a pair of shorts and an undershirt.
I guess flight wasn't a major interest among the denizens of Lobelia, because from there, no one followed us. Actually, as we left the forest behind and entered a clear road just outside city limits, I realized there was a car driving ahead of the tank. When it turned, we turned. When they were about to cross a bridge, the tank stopped in a small thicket and my friends all jumped into the car.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"We'll tell you later," said Kaoru, "but don't worry. He helped us find you."
I wouldn't know who 'he' was until we landed on top of a building with a helicopter pad. We were in a part of the city I didn't recognize. It looked more run down and I later found out the building was abandoned. Which made it the perfect place for a rendezvous.
Tamaki, Kyoya, and Hunny were already waiting when we touched down, and they weren't alone. The man who drove them was waiting by the door, but I couldn't acknowledge his presence as all six of my friends tackled me at once. I'll skip the reunion this time; it was mostly just the same as when I got them back from Mrs. Fujioka. We all hugged and cried it out. Even Kyoya let go of his well cultivated 'cool' demeanour and hugged me tighter than the rest.
"Please don't scare me like that again," he whispered in my ear.
"I'll do my best," I said for his ears only. "Thanks for coming to get me."
"Always."
He let go and we walked away from the helicopter together. After two steps, Kyoya stopped. He swayed a bit as his face went blank, then he fell. I shrieked and rushed to his side.
"What's wrong?" I shook his prone body. No response. "Kyoya? Are you okay?"
"Calm down, Fujioka-san." Dr. Suoh kneeled beside me, gently turning Kyoya over.
Reaching into his hair, he popped open the back cover of his skull. I still hated seeing all that machinery, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. Dr. Suoh withdrew the batteries, lips pursed as he weighed them in his hands.
"Is he all right?" I asked desperately.
"As I thought," said Dr. Suoh. "All that stress depleted the batteries."
My heart, ready to explode, slowly deflated. "So he's okay."
"I have a box of fresh batteries in the trunk." He looked at Tamaki. "Princely model… sorry, Tamaki, would you please carry him?"
Without a word to his creator, Tamaki lifted Kyoya in his arms and deposited him in the backseat. Cramming seven more people inside was an ordeal, even considering how small Hunny and I were. I ended up on Hikaru's lap while Hunny sat on Mori's. Tamaki sat in the front with his father, and I can never be sure that an entire silent conversation didn't take place between them as the twins regaled me with the tale of their rescue mission.
"You should've seen us, Haruhi. We were like real action heroes." Kaoru tried to pump his fist, but he almost socked Mori in the jaw. "We marched into that military base, grabbed that tank and took the chopper for good measure."
"All we needed was a soundtrack," said Hikaru, "but Kyoya said music would be distracting and wouldn't let us use it."
"I beat up twenty soldiers!" Hunny exclaimed proudly, like a kid showing off macaroni art. "Takashi got eighteen. Right, Takashi?"
"Yeah."
"That's all really great," I said, pulling my shorts over my knees to get some warmth, "and I could not be more grateful that you went so far to save me, but you guys do know most of… all of that stuff is illegal, right?"
Hikaru snorted. "Well of course we do. We almost got arrested by the Japanese military before Dr. Suoh showed up."
Through the rearview mirror, I caught a mysterious, faint smile through a glare of sunlight. "I was able to persuade them to give us what we needed."
It was then that I decided some things are better off staying a mystery.
Luckily, none of the neighbors were outside when we arrived at my building, saving us from having to explain why Kyoya looked so… well, dead. We got him inside and Dr. Suoh outfitted him with a fresh set of batteries. Soon, he was back on his phone checking stock prices or whatever he spent his evenings doing. He glanced at me once, making sure I hadn't disappeared again. Hunny meanwhile had taken over the kitchen to bake the biggest, best cake of my life to celebrate my safe return home.
"Will you be joining us, Dr. Suoh?" I asked.
He was already at the door, his coat over his arm. "Thank you, but I have a lot of paperwork to finish by tomorrow. You don't have to worry about Lobelia, Fujioka-san. We at Ouran co. will be monitoring them closely now that we know about their... new management."
That's one way to put it.
"I'm not worried," I said, and I meant it. I was home and my friends were safe. I couldn't be scared if I wanted to.
Dr. Suoh seemed to realize this. He cleared his throat and stood a little straighter. "Before I go, may I speak to you outside?"
Everyone tensed, no doubt remembering the last time I was alone with the doctor. I smiled at them, hoping it would assuage their fears, but even as we stepped out onto the balcony and I closed the door behind me, I could almost feel them listening.
"So," I said. I genuinely had no idea where this was going.
"You've had quite an eventful weekend, haven't you, Fujioka-san?"
I chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."
Dr. Suoh nodded. "I've spoken to Mrs. Fujioka. She remains firm in her decision to give you full ownership of the robots."
"I'm sure Dr. Ootori did his best to convince her not to."
"Quite," said Dr. Suoh. "That in mind, expect to receive a contract in the mail by Friday at the latest. You'll need to sign and return it as soon as possible. Ask Kyoya if you need help. He's most knowledgeable in these matters."
"I know," I said, "and I'm glad you've learned all their names, Dr. Suoh."
He gave me that look again. That 'poor foolish child' look I hated more than anything. I didn't let it bother me, though. There was nothing he could do to us anymore. Once I signed those papers, I wouldn't even have to see him again if I didn't want to.
"For what it's worth, Fujioka-san, I think you're an amazing young woman, but I hope you'll remember what we discussed last time. You can't ignore reality for the sake of a fantasy."
"Thank you, Doctor, but I'm not one for fairy tales," I said, my hand on the doorknob. "I know exactly what's real."
I bowed my head in farewell and stepped inside, enshrouded in warmth and the arms of my dearest friends. Hunny and Mori had grabbed me, pulling me away to taste the cake batter before it went into the oven. I don't love sweets, but let me tell you, that cake was the best thing I've ever tasted.
(Take that, Lobelia.)
"How about a movie marathon?" Hikaru waved the remote. "Anyone up for The Fast and Furious?"
"No no! We should watch the Three Kingdoms," said Tamaki. "It's on channel six."
"What about the cake show?" I shouldn't have to tell you who that was.
We never actually decided on one thing to watch and settled for six hours of infomercials. By the time Mori switched the TV off, I was on the verge of sleep. Someone carried me to my futon and someone else tucked me in. I missed my alarm the next morning and was twenty minutes late for homeroom. My teacher scolded me for it and accused me of slacking off. At the end of the day, we walked home together with no scientists, heiresses, or enemy robots in sight.
All was well.
Posted by Haruhi at 10:05 pm 0 comments