Lost in the Dark
By Meganes Ultimate Fangirl
Chapter 8 – Tugging Paranoia
He couldn't find that blasted book. That book that he'd been reading when Haruhi had interrupted him. He thought that perhaps he'd put it back on the shelf but it was nowhere to be found. It had seemingly disappeared. While he frowned at the rather large volume – that looked suspiciously like a law book – that now laid on the desk, Haruhi wandered in and slipped between two rows in search of something to read.
Kyoya noticed her and strode over to the row she'd disappeared behind. "Hanaru, do you know where the book I was reading the other day is?" he called, leaning against the end of the shelf.
"Which one?" she asked distractedly, running her finger along the spine of a novel titled The Prince and the Pauper in gold script. She tapped two fingers on it then slid it off the shelf. "Your father won't mind I hope," she murmured softly in explanation to his raised eyebrow.
He shook his head. "He rarely comes in here anyway," he replied very quickly before answering her previous question. "The History of Filandria. I was reading it when you interrupted me."
She shook her head. "Haven't seen it since we left the library," she muttered, flipping open the book in her hands gently. A small smile found it's way onto her face. "My father read this to me so many times when I was about 10 to make me go to sleep. I must have memorized it cover to cover by the time I was 13."
He held out his hand for the book. She placed it in it delicately. One look at the cover and his face turned from curious to blank. She rose her eyebrow at him in question as he looked up. "This isn't my father's," he murmured, "It's my mother's."
Blinking, she prompted him to continue, "And...?"
"It was her favorite book." She noticed the past tense and frowned. "And she was killed by a group of rebels 12 years ago."
Her eyes immediately softened while he replaced the book on the shelf in it's proper place. "I'm sorry," she said sympathetically as he turned around. She seemed to have distracted him from the history book, which was a good thing.
"It was 12 years ago," he grunted, back to her, "Can't do anything about it now." He walked out without another word.
–
"Your curse. What is it exactly?"
She knew this question would come eventually. As soon as she'd mentioned The Witch cursing her as a child she knew that he'd inquire about it eventually. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. "Do I have to tell you?"
"It would be appreciated," he grunted in reply. By that she knew he meant, 'Yes you do.' He was sitting in a rather fancy, almost throne-like, chair, slouched slightly and with his legs spread. His elbow rested on the chair's arm while his fist connected with his jaw to hold his head up in a rather bored looking pose.
Haruhi sighed softly. Really, she'd hoped that he wouldn't ask. She'd hoped that they'd go the last 2 days before she left with no questions on this. No one but the twins and her Dad knew about the curse. And she would have loved to keep it that way. Besides, when you told someone not to do something it normally just made them more inclined to do it. Which was rather unfortunate for her. "I'd rather not," she mumbled, looking down at the folded hands in her lap.
"You know... You just make me more curious by saying that," he said in a surprisingly soft voice though it still had a firm undertone that threatened her into answering the question.
So, she decided to be vague. "Remember what your brother warned you about not falling in love with me?" He nodded, looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion in his eyes. "I'd... follow that advice if I were you."
"And if I don't?"
Those mere words caused that horrid inner-chest wrenching to start again. This time she couldn't hold back the flinch and the small gasp of pain. It surprised the shit out of her. Words. That's all it took. And she didn't even know what the hell this thing was. It'd never happened before. Kyoya stared at her, looking slightly troubled as she clutched the front of her shirt and cleared her throat like it would dislodge something that was irritating her deep down in her chest. But the pain stayed there, even when she sent her Witch painkillers after it. It stayed. She coughed.
"Hanaru?" he asked, not sounding concerned in the slightest.
And just like that. It went away. She shook her head. "Just don't do it, kay?" she replied after clearing her throat out a bit more.
He sighed softly, rolling his eyes, but nodded even so. "What was that?" he muttered, referring to her episode while raising an eyebrow at her.
"I have no clue. It just... Hurt suddenly and wouldn't stop. Then disappeared just as quickly." Her eyebrows furrowed as she attempted to figure out this problem that kept reappearing. "It's happened before. Earlier in my time here. But before I started coming here, it never happened. So odd."
He shrugged, finally sitting up from his slouched position and stretching his arms above his head. "It is odd," he murmured, also frowning slightly. "Perhaps you should see a doctor. Could have something to do with your heart."
She started at him like he was crazy for a moment. "You know that all going to the doctor would do is let someone else know that I'm a girl. I don't want that, thanks. It's probably nothing."
"Akito has medical training. He could examine you."
She snorted, seething slightly just at the mention of that bastard. He'd tried to corner her again the day before. Apparently Kyoya practically biting his head off once didn't teach him a single thing. "I'd rather die from heart disease or whatever crap this is."
He chuckled and stood. "Well, it was a thought. I wasn't too particularly keen on letting him either. He didn't try anything else did he?"
There it was again. That painful tug. She gripped the front of her shirt again, holding back a whimper while she replied a bit brokenly, "Not until yesterday." His face seemed to darken slightly but it became blank again almost instantly. It went away. "You'd think that one kick to his family jewels would make him stop. But he just keeps coming back for more. Isn't he married?"
"Yes," Kyoya growled, "Yes he is. I'm going to kill that bastard. Sleep with practically every maid in the palace, sure. But does he have to go after his brothers' wives and lovers – fake or not?" His mini rant was cut short when she squeaked a little in pain again. A small, short burst lasting only a second this time. He regarded her for a moment then asked, "When was the last time it happened? Before the last 5 minutes I mean."
She groaned and rubbed her head. "When your brother was advancing on me yesterday." She shook her head. "And before that it was when you were putting on a show of kissing me in front of said brother." She threw a pointed glare at him with the addition of these words. "Is that really necessary?"
He looked... puzzled, to say the least. "I haven't a clue what it is," she grumbled, "It's starting to bug me though. Makes me almost eager to go back to Kira. Never happens there."
He snorted and strode over to her, hovering next to the bed for a moment. His eyes were shifted to the side though and his head tilted toward the door, indicating that he was listening for something. She was on his bed again while he had been in the chair. Suddenly he swooped down and captured her lips. She jumped in surprise while the pain started again. Then she noticed that the door had opened and a pretty woman with black hair the same shade as Kyoya's wandered in. She squeaked. "Sorry, Kyoya! I should've knocked!"
He growled as he pulled away. "Really. You should. You're nearly as bad as Akito," he stated, feigning anger as he glared half-heartedly at her. Haruhi looked past him curiously. Kyoya glanced at her then back at his sister. "Fuyumi, this is Haruhi. Haruhi, this is my sister, Fuyumi. Who should be back in Pait with her husband," he introduced briefly, ending off in a scolding tone that was directed at his sibling.
The older woman just giggled. "So she's the one that Akito keeps rambling about when Sachi's not around."
"He does more than just ramble," he snorted under his breath, subconsciously wrapping an arm around her waist and wondering once again why he was protecting this girl so much. He noticed Haruhi's sharp intake of breath as he did so and looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes. Something... Was hurting her. Maybe it was a good thing that she was going back to Kira in a few days.
"She's yours though, right?" Fuyumi asked, gazing at the couple fondly with a certain glint in her eye. Haruhi, playing her part, nodded and pushed her face into his shoulder while trying to ignore the faint ache in her chest. "Then Akito should lay off. I'll talk to him. I am his big sister after all. He has to listen to me or he knows the consequences."
"Thanks, Hbi Uersis."
"I'll just leave the two of you alone now, I suppose." Another small giggle slipped from Fuyumi's lips as Kyoya smirked and leaned back toward his 'lover', seeming like he was going to kiss her again. She prepared herself but he didn't get there. As soon as the door shut he was standing again.
"Well. I'm going to sleep. So, I suggest that you head back to your quarters." She nodded, suppressing a yawn as she slipped off the bed. "And Hanaru," he added quietly as she reached the door, "You have to have some trusted doctor back in Kira. Go see him. I wasn't kidding when I said that it could be your heart."
She didn't let him see that his words sent her into another heart-clenching episode.
–
He was stubborn. And definitely wasn't distracted for long either. Very next day she found herself cornered in her own bedroom by him as he demanded to know exactly what her curse was. She closed her eyes while he hovered over where she sat on the bed. "You're leaving tomorrow. I have to know what will happen if I do," he growled softly, staring at her in a predatory way.
Sighing, she let her eyelids flicker open to stare into his gray orbs. "You know everything else. Please. Allow me a few secrets," she murmured, feeling exhausted.
"Why does it matter if I know why I shouldn't fall for you? If anything, I'd think you'd tell me just to make sure I won't."
Now there he had a point. And he still didn't know about her royal blood. That was a good thing. She sighed, rather heavily this time and glared up at him with tired eyes. "Fine. You have to follow your brother's advice."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't I'll have to kill you."
He laughed. The bastard actually laughed. Like this was some sort of sick joke. "Come now, Hanaru. What is it really?" he prompted, traces of his smirk-like laughter still in his voice.
All she did was stare at him. He really did think she was joking. Great. "I'm... completely serious, Your Highness," she muttered, "I'm cursed to kill any man that falls in love with me." She left off the second part about perishing with said person if she returned their feelings. For some reason, ever since her father had told her about it when she was six she could hear her grandmother's words in her ears, "You, little one, will be cursed to kill any man who dares to fall in love with you. And if you dare to love them back, you will perish with them."
Haruhi looked away from him as it flooded into her head again. She wished it was a joke. But it wasn't.
It was very much real.
–
She woke earlier the day she was to leave to a hand on her shoulder. She jerked upright, throwing the hand off in the process. She glared blearily at Kyoya. "What the hell are you doing up?" she rasped hoarsely, clearing her throat quickly. He never woke up earlier than she did. "Something wrong?"
"No. Nothing's wrong. You just need to leave. The Witch is on her way apparently. And I know how you don't like her," he replied. She was slightly taken aback at the somewhat kind gesture. And if anything, proved that he was a good person.
She yawned and nodded, waving him out of the room so she could properly get ready to leave. 10 minutes later she managed to get out her bedroom door, with all her things, and find the Narian Prince waiting for her. "You didn't have to wait," she muttered.
"Ah. But that's where you're wrong. I still have to brief you."
"What're you going to tell your brother when he realizes that I'm not around?"
He shrugged his shoulders like he didn't have a care in the world as they started to walk. "I'll probably tell him that you've gone home to see your family for awhile. It's partially true." The corners of her lips turned down in a slight, distant frown, lost in thoughts of betrayal and untimely doom. He stayed quiet the entire time that they went down to the front gates where she looked at him expectantly.
She was dressed in casual clothes just in case Akito caught sight of them before she left. And ironically, he happened to be hanging around in the front courtyard where they were in view as well. "Three weeks," Kyoya said quietly, "As always, I'll give you an extra week before assuming that they've caught you." Noticing his brother's gaze, he brought a hand to her face, brushing her hair away while cupping her face in his palm. Her heart yanked for a moment before she caught sight of how empty his eyes were. "Don't do anything stupid." And he leaned in, placing a surprisingly gentle kiss on her lips.
"I won't," she replied when he pulled away. She bit her lip then stood on her tiptoes so her mouth was right next to his ear. "Please don't be too angry with me when I return," she breathed in Kyoya's ear before she flitted through the gates and out of sight. He didn't even get a chance to respond.
He knew one thing though. And that was that if she was saying that now, then he'd probably be pissed by the time that she came back. Most likely, pissed enough to kill her. She knew something and she was going to report it.
–
She arrived in Kira two days later with no problems getting back into the country. Kaoru was there to meet her before she even got completely into camp. "Namahi!" he exclaimed in delight.
"I'll tell you everything later," she said quickly, "Now I need to see the General immediately. Our parents are in danger, Kaoru. So are we." He looked slightly stunned to which she only stared at him with a strained sense of urgency. He nodded and took off into camp, weaving around the milling soldiers. The guards in front of General Fusawa rose their eyebrows at Namahi. "Urgent news," was all she said in explanation as to why she was there.
She could hear voices inside but entered anyway when the guard to the left pulled aside the flap that acted as a door. "General Fusawa, Sir!" she saluted quickly, standing at attention as he turned around.
"Ahh. Marioka," Fusawa muttered, "Good to see you back." He glanced behind him at the two men in the tent. "Lieutenant-General Pike, Sergeant Major Sora, we'll talk again later." They nodded and slipped out of the tent. The General looked past her to the door-flap where the twins were both hovering. He sighed. "Come in Privates."
The two red-heads scurried in and stood at attention next to Namahi, who was growing increasingly anxious with each passing second. Tomorrow. Tomorrow or the day after that, Nari was going to attack. And she had to get it out of her system. "Sir. Permission to speak."
"Permission granted. Tell me everything."
She took a deep breath and said a silent prayer that Kyoya would somehow forgive her for this in her head. "Tomorrow or Thursday, Nari is going to attack. And I don't mean some small village pillaging. I mean, a huge country-taking-over scheme."
Hikaru and Kaoru both stared at her. While Fusawa paused in what he was writing down and looked at her. "And what does this scheme entail exactly, Marioka?"
She swallowed and closed her eyes. "A full blown attack on Katari." He didn't seem to follow but she cut in before he could interrupt. "But that attack is only a distraction to get a wizard or two snuck past. From there, they'll set up a MB just outside Miera. Assassins will be sent through that barrier. And those assassins-" She broke off and glanced at the twins then cast her eyes to the ceiling. She felt like breaking down right there. Drawing a shuddering breath, she continued, "They'll murder the royal family and all the families of the royal court."
By this point she opened her eyes to find her superior standing and staring at her open mouthed. "How on earth did you acquire this information, Marioka?" The twins just stared at her in disbelief, completely ignoring the fact that they hadn't been given permission to stand at ease.
"I..." she paused, thinking up her story and how to weave it into the one that she already had, "overheard Prince Akito Ohtori talking to Prince Kyoya and a Sergeant Major about it when he was visiting the camp. Their father later called them. I was given guard duty and heard everything."
He nodded, glancing over the three privates standing in front of him. "Marioka, your father is part of the royal court is he not?" She nodded quickly in response. "And you two... Both of your parents are as well if I remember correctly." The twins nodded numbly, their faces pale. The General sighed and ran a quick hand through his hair. "Hikaru, Kaoru, find Sergeant Major Sora, Lieutenant-General Pike, and First Sergeant Meirs."
They ducked out of the tent quickly. Namahi's worry for her father and Tamaki was growing desperately. "Sir. I'd like to be with my father when the attack happens."
"Of course you will, Namahi," he replied quietly, "I just need to get protection details for every member of the royal court and their family members first. Including yourself. How many people in the Hitachiin household and your own?"
She counted quickly in her head and replied, "Five in the Hitachiin. The twins, their parents, and their grandmother. Mine, only two. Myself and my father."
"I'll assume that you three won't need as much protection as the other four. One soldier will be sent to your household and three to the Hitachiin. You're to leave as soon as I have details on the other 8 families in the royal court. Got it?" She nodded quickly. "Increased security will be added to the palace. I doubt Prince Tamaki will even be able to set foot outside the castle for the rest of the week."
She sighed. "He'll hate that."
"It's for his protection. Hopefully, we'll be able to shut down the barrier before the assassins get through, but just in case we need to take precautions."
She drew in a shuddering breath as the twins returned with the three requested men. "Marioka. Do me a favor and send in Corporal Kara and Major Ryle. They both have a parent on the royal court as well." She nodded and ducked out. Finding the two wasn't hard. They were in the mess hall, joking around with a few of their buddies.
"Corporal Kara, Major Ryle. General Fusawa requests your presence in his tent immediately. It's an emergency." Her head hurt just a bit and the weight on her shoulders was pressing down. Kyoya was going to kill her when she got back. Kara and Ryle stood and made their way out with her following behind.
But what was saying that she had to go back? If she was gone for more than four weeks then he'd just assume she'd been hung for high treason. She could easily just stay here and avoid ever returning to Nari. In fact, she should probably plan on it.
The General's tent was getting quite crowded. Sergeant Major Sora slipped out of the tent as they were arriving. She was dismissed after bringing the two men, as were the twins. They were informed that they would be called to his tent when they were to return home.
–
In their shared tent Namahi and the twins were silent. "If I don't get home and see for myself that Dad and Tamaki haven't already been slaughtered soon I'm going to kill someone," she muttered finally, lifting her head from where it was placed in her hands.
"Calm down, Princess," the older Hitachiin murmured in an attempt to calm her.
"Really," Kaoru added, "You know our father will gladly give his life for yours."
"But I don't want either of them to die," she snapped, groaning and rocking back and forth where she sat on her make-shift bed.
Hikaru sighed and laid down on his cot. "I'm going to sleep." Kaoru looked straight at her. She nodded, keeping her eye on the older twin to make sure he wouldn't see their silent messages.
"I need air. Gonna take a walk," Namahi mumbled, slipping out before either could reply. She headed straight for the small village outside of the camp, knowing Kaoru would meet her there soon enough so she could spill her beans. He did only a few minutes later.
"So, what happened over in the land of the evil?" he asked softly, a slight joking tone to his voice as he walked next to her. She closed her eyes and brought her clasped hands to her mouth.
"Well," she started, "I got there. Gave the information I thought would most likely lead to less death. Then, he surprised me by torturing me for more." Kaoru tensed, fire flashing in his eyes while she watched his reaction. "Torture method? Seduction. He kissed it out of me. He knows."
"Knows what...?" the twin asked cautiously, not knowing if he wanted to know the answer.
"That I'm a girl. He knew since the first moment he saw me apparently. His siblings all did too. Funny, huh? He also knows about my curse – or the first part of it at least, my connection to Tamaki, and the fact that Dad's part of the royal court."
"You told him that much?"
"He wouldn't leave me alone! Not to mention, he'd threaten seduction-torture every time I tried to refuse. Don't worry though, he has no clue that I'm a princess. Though, he does know the name Haruhi."
"What?" he exclaimed, staring at her in disbelief.
"Let me explain that part. Y'see... Akito, his second oldest brother, apparently... started lusting after me once he saw me. Which was ironically after I had overheard him talking to his Sergeant Major about this huge plan that they're putting to action. To make him leave me alone, when I'm at the Narian palace, I'm undercover as Kyoya's lover. It was his idea, not mine. He needed a name to call me by other than Hanaru. Presto, I'm Haruhi Fari, only daughter of Jana and Serge Fari, Narian aristocrats."
"He's... protecting you? From his brother?"
She nodded, now feeling utter resentment against the Narian bastard now that she was talking to someone about it. "His oldest brother, Yuiichi, knew that I was the spy and not his lover immediately. Kyoya swore him to secrecy. So, I have to be careful around Fuyumi, Akito, and his father. Other than that, it's just trying to avoid his questions that's a pain in the ass. Oh... You know what the strangest thing that's happened the entire time is?"
"Hmm?"
"I kept getting these... sharp pains in my chest. Like... It feels like my heart's getting ripped out of my chest. It only ever happens when I'm there. Never here." She paused a moment as her head ran through everything that Kyoya had told her about going to the doctor. "Your mom still has that medical and healer training right?" Kaoru nodded slowly. "Think she could take a look when we get home?"
"'Course. You know Mum's always glad to help," he replied softly, taking hold of her arm. "Come on. We should be getting back. The General's probably going to be sending us home soon."
Namahi nodded, frowning slightly as silence overtook the two. When Kaoru got tired of it right before camp he spoke. "Be careful... With the entire lover thing. You know what will happen if he actually falls for you." She just barely held back a shudder at the idea of having to kill any man, particularly an enemy Prince. She ran a hand through her hair. That was definitely out of the question.
Question was: How did you stop someone from falling in love with you?
–
Tamaki was, surprisingly, sitting in her living room when she got to her house, surrounded by specialized security personnel. She faltered as one stepped in front of her friend to keep her from stepping closer to him. "Tamaki...?"
"It's alright Tora," the blonde muttered from behind the brute. He pushed his way past to stand in front of her. "What the hell is going on? No one will tell me anything. All I know is that I can't even go to the bathroom without someone escorting me."
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Dad!" she called through the house. No reply. Her heart went into hyper-drive. She resisted cursing in her native language. "Tamaki... Where's my father?" He shrugged, muttering something about the house being empty when he got there. "Dad!"
"Namahi, calm down," Kaoru murmured, "He's probably out getting groceries or something."
"Besides, they're not supposed to attack for a day or two," Hikaru added.
"Attack? What attack?" Tamaki asked, eyes widening as his imagination went haywire in a horror fantasy.
The only woman in the room turned her gaze to him. "While I was in Nari, I learned of a plan to ultimately take down Kira. They're going to try and assassinate you, your father, and everyone in all the families on the royal court." She took a deep breath, trying not to hyperventilate with panic. Her father wasn't in the house. That alone sent her into a flurry. "There's no court meeting today is there, Tamaki?"
The blonde shook his head quickly and she twisted around on the man who had been assigned to protect Ranka. "Corporal Sarichi, I need to find my father."
"Namahi," Kaoru said gently, trying to calm his flustered charge, "He may have gone to our place to be closer to Dad and Mum."
"Let's go then!" she exclaimed, grabbing all three young adults and heading for the twins' parents' house. Sarichi, the twins' small group of three, and Tamaki's three men followed them as she rushed there, barging in the door without knocking.
And there was her father, sitting at the table blinking at her with the Hitachiins. She breathed a sigh of relief and quickly strode forward to embrace him. "Namahi!"
"Dad," she mumbled, squeezing him, "Why weren't you home? God, I thought you'd been kidnapped or something!"
"I get so lonely when you aren't there!" he explained in a slight pout. The soldiers behind them just stared and tried to keep a straight face. Noticing their looks, Namahi coughed and pulled away from her father. "Who're these people? What's going on?"
"Dad," she said softly. Somehow, she figured this would be easier to tell him in Moradian. And the words were just bursting to come out of her. So she continued with a short, "Walk with me," and took his hand, pulling him out of the house. Sarichi moved to follow but she held up her hand. However, the twins' father pushed out too. "They'll be fine with me," she consoled the two guards.
Once they were just outside of the town she turned to them and took Ranka's hand in both of hers. "Faetha," she said softly, "Sarichi will be protecting you the next few days. And I believe Mori was assigned to Daichi," she added, gesturing to the twins' father.
"W-whiska?" Ranka whispered.
"Hahome ie gaoch avi tris est ka te, sha, et reist ou et roeva cobor, est et roeva faemica. Faetha, it's for your protection. I don't want you getting hurt."
"B-But... Whersa abu te?"
"Sha wilt baer fike. I'm trained to protect myself. And you know that I'm best at hand-to-hand combat. They're going to find the barrier and shut it down before the assassins arrive. This is just precautions. I know it's strange. And being escorted everywhere is annoying. But it's only a few days."
Her father nodded slowly, pulling her close again. "Sharla satoi, sha daementha."
"I will," she replied as he pressed his lips to her forehead.
Daichi glanced at them then murmured, "We should get back. I doubt those guardians are going to go long without us in their sights. Even if Namahi is with us."
The other two nodded and let him lead the way back.
–
A/N: Kind of a bad place to stop off. But... It's ten pages. Come on now. Next chapter will probably be action-packed. Because I feel like I need to practice writing action scenes a bit. So... You get some next chapter. Harhar.
Prince and the Pauper. Never read it. But I figure that it's something that Haruhi would enjoy (Kinda? Maybe?) And with my luck I'll probably end up reading it in IB English next year. Greeeeat.
I know you all are thinking, "She's fallen in love! Crap!" But that's not it~ It's something else~ But it DOES have to do with love, sort of. You'll see, you'll see~
Internet's still slow. Ugh. And my sister's eating a salad. So now I'm craving one. Damn her.
Yes I realize it's been FOREVER since I wrote a chapter of AN. I'm getting there. I'm trying to do it without rewiring my brain again.
Kudos to: BlackestNight BrightestDay, Xaldin's Girlfriend, and Koharu Veddette!
P.S: EVERYONE READ THE NEW OURAN CHAPTER RIGHT? RIIIIIGHT? FFFF. I DIED SQWEEING WITH UTTER HAPPINESS. (Even if it took an hour to read it since my internet took forever to load every damn page.) And my family all looked at me funny. It was HI-LARIOUS. BUT YEAH. I'M HAPPY NOW KTHX. (Even if Kyoya didn't get the girl. Though I kinda figured that from the beginning... My fandom knows no bounds.) AND NOW. I CAN'T WAIT TILL AUGUST 24th. THAT IS ALL.
Oh and I figured out how Tamaki and Haruhi manage to work out thanks to two of my friends who're almost EXACTLY like them who're dating at the moment. With the newest chapter, it all makes sense now!