HARUHI's POV
My "date" with Hikaru turned out to be pleasant enough. Once I got him to admit that he was anxious about Kaoru being sick, he seemed to be able to let go of some of his worry. I guess sharing a burden does cut it in half. Something I was only just learning myself.
So we meandered through shops, ordered lunch at a café, and picked up a few items we knew Kaoru would like. We stopped before a storefront featuring porcelain dishes painted by local artisans. A rumble of thunder shook the window.
I turned from the plate glass to see ominous clouds rolling in. Eyes glued to the sky, I addressed Hikaru. "D-Did you just hear something?" I fought down the panic.
"What?" he broke out of his moody silence. "No, I didn't hear anything." He followed my gaze to the foreboding clouds. "It does look like it's going to rain though. Do you think maybe we should head back?"
Yes, yes. And let's hurry! I thought. But I said only, "Okay."
Movement behind Hikaru caught my eye and I recognized Arai carrying a crate of produce inside the next store, no doubt preparing for the coming storm.
"Is that you Fujioka?" he asked with some surprise. "What are you up to?"
Hikaru seemed to freeze in place.
"Hey, Arai, I didn't expect to see you out here." Don't want to chat now. Need to get out of here.
"Well, this is my uncle's store. You guys out doing some shopping?" There was no jealousy in his voice, but Hikaru still stubbornly refused to turn and acknowledge him.
"We were, but now we're about to leave."
"Yeah? We've got a car than can take you back. Just let me ask my uncle."
How come I never noticed how nice this guy was in middle school? "Well, I don't want to be a bother."
"It's not a problem. I wouldn't want you to get caught in the rain." Me either.
"Don't worry about it," Hikaru cut in haughtily. "We're getting a taxi." Flaunting his wealth again. A taxi to Pension Misuzu wouldn't be that long of a trip, but the Karuizawa prices no doubt made it more than I could afford.
Arai seemed to think the same. "C'mon, don't waste your money on a taxi."
A flash of lightning snatched my attention, and my anxiety shot up another notch. "Hey, why don't we accept his offer," I suggested to Hikaru. "The sooner we get home, the better." A nervous laugh escaped.
Hikaru's face was as stormy as the weather. "Well," he said coolly, "I guess I'll be riding home alone then."
I felt bad. "But Hikaru…"
"Just do whatever you want!" he exploded. "You guys can catch up and reminisce but leave me out of it!" He turned and stomped down the street.
"Wait!" I called after him.
"Not again," lamented Arai. He was a good guy, but even he seemed to be losing patience with Hikaru's childishness. Speaking of which…
I recalled the twins' description of their lonely childhood, and my heart broke watching him disappear into the darkening backdrop…alone.
"Why's he so upset about you hanging out with an old friend? I mean, surely he's got some of his own, right?" Arai asked with just a trace of irritation creeping into his tone.
No. No, he doesn't…
"I'm sorry, Arai. He's…" I couldn't explain the twins' whole dynamic and it would be rude to drag out their dirty laundry anyway. "I just have to go." I said. "Thanks for the offer." I turned quickly and hurried in the direction I last saw Hikaru.
The sidewalks were still fairly crowded, with some people hustling home and others at the curb attempting to find taxis. I caught sight of a lean figure with russet hair and hands in his pockets about a block away.
"Hikaru!" I called, but my voice was drowned out by another ominous rumble. It's getting closer! Don't panic. Just find Hikaru and then you can go home.
I saw the figure turn onto a path leading into a small wooded park. Idiot. Doesn't he know not to be around trees in a thunderstorm?
On my short legs, it took maybe a minute to reach the spot, but the corridor through the trees showed no sign of Hikaru. With little choice I started down the path, calling for him again. "Hik-a-ruu!" Okay, my voice sounded a little shrill that time.
Just ahead my path intersected with several others at a fountain. I couldn't tell what figures it featured because it was getting quite dark now.
Plop! And starting to rain.
CRRAACK! Thunder and lightning broke over me almost simultaneously. I placed my arms over my head as if to shield me from the view of the storm. I crouched down in a ball, rational thought deserting me. Mother! I cried inwardly. I remembered how she would lie in my bed with me. I would bury my head in her chest and she would tell me how a guardian angel watched over me. "You are precious to God," she told me. "Just as you are precious to me. He won't leave you alone. When you are afraid, you can always call on him and he will help you."
My cotton dress was soaked, my hair plastered to my head. Tears mingled with the rain on my cheeks. I was shaking from fear but also from cold.
God, I cried out inside. Help me. Please. Please help me!
For a moment I could almost feel my mother's arms around me again, and I calmed enough to stand up and look for shelter. About a block past the fountain, I could see the dim outline of a building. Another crack of thunder and lightning boomed. The storm was almost directly overhead now.
Adrenaline fueled my feet as I gave up on Hikaru and barreled toward the shadowy shape. To my surprise, the next flash of lightning backlit a cross on top. A chapel.
Weird. Or maybe not too weird considering.
I tore up the steps praying the door was open. The thick wooden portal gave way at my tug, and I dashed inside, my eyes jerking side to side. It was even darker in here. Another flash of lightning came in through stained glass windows at intervals on each side of the chapel and from a large window at the front. The brief illumination showed me rows of stolid wooden pews (too small to hide under, my panicked brain calculated) and a small altar table on the dais. Quicker than thought I ran and ducked under it.
I tucked into a ball again, beyond prayer or any conscious thought as lightning and thunder seemed to break over me like waves of the ocean.
The sound of the pouring rain grew louder for an instant as the door to the chapel opened. I couldn't remember if in my haste I had forgotten to close it.
"Haruhi?" called a familiar voice.
I wanted to answer, I really did. But my body –including my mouth—was frozen. The carpet muffled his approach, and with my eyes squeezed shut I was unaware he had found me until I heard a distressed voice say, "Haruhi."
I opened my eyes a crack to be sure it was him. "Hika—" CRASH! Thunder turned my words into a whimper.
The next thing I knew he had removed the altar cloth and the head phones that hung around his neck and he was folding his thin frame in next to mine. He carefully laid the cloth across my knees like a blanket and placed his headphones over my ears. Some of my hair was caught under one of them breaking the seal somewhat, but the rocked out music still mostly drowned out the sounds of the storm. Silently he placed one arm around me and drew me into his shoulder.
"Sorry," he said. "I'm sorry for running off and leaving you."
"And for the things I said…about your friend, Arai. I'm so sorry."
"Thanks, Hikaru." I relaxed into him.
With his arm around me, I was finally calm enough to open my eyes a moment. A brief flash lit the window above us. It was a depiction of Mary, the mother of Jesus, with angels at each of her sides.
You were right, Mom, I thought.
Huddling under the altar of a God who offers absolution, I told Hikaru, "I forgive you."
We sat awhile on the hard floor, our clothes and hair still damp. We didn't have to say anything more, and it was strangely comfortable tucked into his side like that. My heavy eyelids relaxed, and with the music playing I didn't realize the storm had passed until Hikaru stretched out his legs and flexed his hand beside me a couple times. I pulled the headphones off my ears and clumsily removed them, bumping my elbow against the underside of the table.
"Are you okay, now?" he asked, taking them from my hand.
"Yeah, thanks," I said, relieved to hear my voice had returned to normal. "The others are probably wondering what happened to us." I spoke my thought aloud.
"You're probably right," he said, crawling out and stretching. Without the lightning, I could barely see his form in front of the window. "Tamaki's probably worried sick about you."
"And Kaoru about you." I stood as well, pulling up the altar cloth and rearranging it on the table. As I tried to smooth out the damp wrinkles, I felt a little guilty. But I remembered that moment of peace and love rushing through me, and I knew no one would be upset that a piece of fabric offered me blessed comfort in my time of need.
This time I closed the door tightly behind us. Night had fallen, but the air was heavy with moisture. I was glad to have Hikaru with me as we passed the looming trees. Back on the main road, we headed toward the shops, which lit up Main Street. With the storm past, it wasn't difficult to find a taxi, and soon we were pulling up at Pension Misuzu.
Our headlights swept past a tall, dark figure staring out the picture window. I stood beside the taxi waiting for Hikaru to pay the driver, unwilling to face the barrage alone. One of the entrance doors slammed open, and Kyoya took several steps toward us.
"Haruhi, is that you?" His cultured tone seemed unusually tense.
"We're fine," I assured him.
I heard him exhale loudly, and his backlit form went from rigid to relieved. Removing his glasses, he pulled one hand across his eyes and through his messy black locks.
Tamaki burst through the door next, heedlessly bumping Kyoya's shoulder as he barreled toward us. "Haruhi, are you okay? I was so worried about you!" He threw his arms around me, smashing my face against his chest.
"We're fine," Hikaru sneered. "Thanks for asking."
Tamaki had somehow learned of our brief separation, and when he released me he lit into Hikaru, who actually took his verbal beating in silence. I guess he really is sorry.
Leaving them to it, I headed for the house ready for this night to be over. Kaoru stood in the doorway, eyes on his brother, and Kyoya slouched next to him with his hands in his pockets as usual. His face was unreadable in the dark, but I felt his eyes on me.
Sometimes it was like that with him. His face was a cool mask, but his eyes were filled with intensity. I wasn't sure what to make of it, and I didn't have the strength to puzzle over it tonight.
Kaoru stepped aside for me to enter, still focused on the drama by the curb. I felt Kyoya follow me in, closing the door to shut out Tamaki's bellows. "Is there anything I can get for you?" he asked, gently grasping my elbow to gain my attention.
I angled myself to answer him, "I think I'll just go…"
His eyes closely examined my face. His concern gave me pause, so I took a moment to really assess my needs. "Actually, I'm kind of thirsty, believe it or not." Probably all that crying dehydrated me.
"I'll see about finding some tea," he offered with his usual efficiency, "but you should get into some dry clothes as soon as possible. We wouldn't want you to catch cold."
"I'm fine," I protested.
He quirked a half-smile that made my stomach flip. "Okay, you can just wait here for Tamaki, then. I'm sure he'll be anxious to hear all about your date."
I groaned. "Alright, you win." I swung toward the staircase, but stopped to ask, "Do you know where my room is?" Even as he nodded, I answered myself flatly. "Of course you do." I'd given up wondering how he always knew my business. No doubt to have the advantage whenever he needs it.
After changing into my comfortable sweatshirt and jeans, I was ready when a knock came at my door. Misuzu-chi held a tray with the promised tea as well as an assortment of rice balls. I accepted them with gratitude and he fluttered a bit, making sure I was okay. Alone again, I asked myself why I felt disappointed at finding Misuzu and not Kyoya at my door.