A/N: I hope that everyone had a wonderful New Years and welcome to 2013! You all are awesome! Onward with the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 16 – Lunch Escapades
Haruhi was woken up the next more to the incessant ringing of her phone. She didn't remember it ever sounding so shrill before and when she looked at the time she groaned. She was not up for phone calls at 5:08am when she did not have to get up for another hour and a half. The ringing finally stopped and then started again. She was fuming, whoever was calling her was about to get a piece of her mind, "What?!"
"Ha-Ha-Haruhi daddy was just calling to say good morning," Tamaki timidly said into the phone.
"Tamaki do you know what time it is?" Haruhi growled into the phone. She heard an audible gulp, "What the hell do you want and why are you calling me so early in the morning?"
Tamaki gulped again. He knew that he had awakened the third demon and he was regretting making the phone call now. He shakily replied, "I'm s-s-sorry Haruhi. Daddy didn't mean to wake you up. I just wanted to say good morning to my favorite daughter."
"Tamaki I am going to see you for lunch today. You did not have to call me at five in the morning. If you wanted to wish me good morning, you could have waited until a decent hour. So unless you actually have something important to tell me, I am going to hang up on you now."
"Haruhi wait! I just wanted to ask if we are still on for 11:30 today and to find out where you wanted to go," he choked out. He figured he better not push his luck with the whole daughter act.
"Yes we are and I will let you know later. I am now going back to bed and if you ever wake me up this early in the morning without a good excuse again, I will make sure that you never have access to my phone numbers again. I will also make sure that Kyoya helps me teach you a lesson. Have I made myself clear?"
"Y-Y-yes you have. I understand perfectly. I will await your decision on the location. Good bye," Tamaki said hurriedly and hung up the phone. He actually hadn't realized what time it was in the morning. He had woken up from a dream and was in a panic that he had missed lunch with Haruhi. Instead of checking the time, he called her to verify their lunch plans. He learned a valuable lesson today: before you call, always check the time.
Haruhi grumbled and turned off her ringer before dropping her phone to the floor. She did not want to take the chance that the former king of the host club would attempt to call her again. She told herself to remember to turn back on her ringer when she got up and started her day. She lay her head on the pillow and closed her eyes falling back to sleep soon after. Normally once she was woken up she could stay awake, but this morning she just wanted to do nothing but close her eyes again. She had not gotten the best sleep last night since she switched between dreams of Hunny and nightmares about Yasu, so when Tamaki had woken her up, she literally wanted to reach through the phone and strangle him.
Haruhi's alarm went off and she struggled to actually wake up. She felt like she had just fallen back to sleep. She looked down at her phone and glared at it. "Stupid Tamaki calling at five in the morning and waking people up," she grumbled as she got out of bed and grabbed her phone turning the ringer back on.
Soon enough Haruhi was dressed and ready for the day ahead. She wore a teal dress that came down to her knees. She figured that even though he told her to pick, Tamaki would attempt to take her to a fancy restaurant because he believed that she would not be able to go unless he took her. Just thinking about that train of thought caused the young girl to roll her eyes and shake her head.
With breakfast finished and her necessary books gathered, she walked out of the apartment and straight into a chest of flesh. Haruhi jumped and looked up to see Mori standing there with a small smile for her. "Mori, what are you doing here?" Haruhi asked nervously. Her heart was still racing from the small scare.
"Giving you a ride," Mori explained.
"Um Mori, I can take the buses and trains like I normally do. You didn't have to pick me up," Haruhi rushed. She was confused as to why he would need to pick her up for school.
"I have to drop something off at the university for my brother so I thought I would take you to school," Mori expanded.
"Oh, well since you are here and going there anyway, alright," Haruhi grumbled and started to walk in front of Mori when he ushered her forward.
When they were in the limo, Haruhi was looking out the window lost in her own world when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to look at Mori and realized he had been trying to tell her something. She blushed, "I'm sorry Mori, but what were you saying?"
"Hmm. Starting Monday, one of us will pick you up and drop you off at school, your internship, and your job. If we can't, we will send a car for you," Mori explained.
"One of you?" Haruhi questioned. She only felt comfortable with three of the hosts right now.
"Mitsukuni, Kyoya, or I."
"Oh okay I guess," she mumbled. She knew why they were doing it, Yasu, but that did not make it any easier or happier about having to deal with all of the extra security.
Mori offered her a small smile and patted her head. He knew that she didn't like any of this but would go along with it because it was for her protection and safety. He wished that he could give her some additional comfort, but he knew that he couldn't. It was a generally messed up situation and only so much could be done. He just hoped that they were easing her mind some with the measures they were taking.
Both Mori and Haruhi got out of the car when they arrived at the university. Satoshi was waiting for them when they pulled up and walked up to Haruhi when she got out of the car. "Catching a ride with big brother today?" Satoshi smirked as he pulled her into a hug.
"Hey Satoshi! I actually didn't realize that you were going to university here until your brother said he needed to drop something off to you. He offered me a ride since I have classes this morning," she said as she returned the younger Morinozuka's hug.
"That's cool and no, I actually already graduated with a BA in criminal justice and I was happy when I graduated. I am actually giving a demonstration today at the dojo on campus," Satoshi smiled.
"Satoshi, here," Mori said handing his brother a bag.
"Thanks Taka-bro. I am glad that you were able to drop these off," Satoshi said taking the bag. He turned to Haruhi and saw her confused look, "I broke one of my shinai and forgot my mask. I was a little out of it this morning. Since I made it all the way here, I called Taka to see if he could bring me what I needed. He is such a good big brother." He chuckled after his last statement causing Mori to roll his eyes and Haruhi to giggle.
"He is a good one," Haruhi said smiling. She looked down at her watch and realized that she had to go to make it on time, "Sorry guys, but I have to get to class. Thank you for the ride Mori. Satoshi, I will see you tonight at dinner with Bethany."
Both men waved good bye to their friend and Satoshi turned to Mori, "Is she going to be alright?" His older brother had filled him in on some of what was going on in regards to Yasu.
"Yah," Mori said.
"Ok, if you need me to do anything, you know I will." He watched is brother nod and then added, "I asked her last night and she said yes."
Mori mouth slowly formed a very huge smile, "Congratulations!" He shook his hand and then pulled his brother into a hug. He was very happy for him and knew that he had made a good selection for a bride.
"Thanks Taka."
"Proud of you."
"Thank you," Satoshi grinned. He noticed the time and realized that he had to get going and his brother had to head to court, "I've got to go now. I will call you later."
Mori nodded at his brother and watched him run off towards the dojo. He climbed back into the limo and headed for the courthouse. He couldn't be happier for his little brother or his cousin. Now maybe it was his turn.
Haruhi made it through her first morning class and realized that she had forgotten to call Tamaki and let him know where she wanted to go for lunch. So she sent him a quick text telling him to pick the restaurant and let her know where they were going. Hunny was picking her up at campus, so she could inform him of their destination when he arrived to collect her. She wondered momentarily if letting Tamaki pick was going to be a mistake. She sighed, "Let's face it, whatever I picked would probably have been overruled by him anyway."
By the time her last class finished for the day, Haruhi was exhausted and ready to get out of there as quickly as possible. Part of her was looking forward to lunch, but part of her was dreading the overly enthusiastic personality that made Tamaki who he was.
She walked out of class and tripped over her own feet. She was able to catch herself before she was sprawled all over the floor, but she hit her knee and with the way it hurt, she knew she was going to have a new bruise. She looked up when she heard her name called and saw a hand in front of her face. She looked up and immediately smile for standing right in front of her was her boyfriend, Hunny. "Thank you Mitsukuni," she said as she accepted his help.
"Sorry I couldn't get to you in time. There were too many people in the way. Are you alright?" He said.
"Yah, I am fine. I was just a little clumsy," she laughed at herself as she dusted herself off. She was about to reach for her book bag, but realized Hunny had already grabbed it.
"Are you sure you are alright Haru-Chan?"
"Yes, I am sure," she smiled as she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Okay. Are you ready to go then?" He said smiling at her.
"Yes, let's go. Oh I need to check my phone to see if Tamaki sent me the location to meet him," she said and then suddenly stopped when she thought she heard the voice of Tamaki calling for her at a short distance. She looked up towards the end of the hall, she groaned. She wasn't dreaming it, Tamaki was there and causing a ruckus. He was looking in every room and asking everyone if they had seen his daughter who was there studying law. When he got no response from other students he would resort to yelling for her.
Hunny chuckled and laced his fingers with hers, "Sorry Haru-Chan, but he called me and asked where we should go for lunch. I told him that I didn't know and that I was picking you up from school. When I pulled up, he was here waiting for me."
"It's ok," Haruhi mumbled, "Let's go get him before he makes a bigger spectacle than he already has. First a phone call at 5:00 am and now this. I might have to kill him." Hunny stopped for a second and Haruhi noticed that her arm was a step behind her. She stopped and looked at him noticing the glint in his eye. It was not a good one either, "Mitsukuni are you alright?"
"He called you at five this morning and woke you up?" Hunny asked.
Haruhi sighed again, "Yes he did and I think he knows never to do that again."
"Are you sure he has?" Hunny looked down the hall and saw Tamaki approaching quickly now that the blonde noticed the couple.
"If he hasn't, I told him that I would sick Kyoya on him," Haruhi said bluntly.
Hunny broke the glare he was throwing at Tamaki and turned towards his girlfriend, "You did?" He watched her nod to the affirmative and tried not to laugh. As far as threats went, it was a very good one. He leaned in and gave her a peck on her lips, "Good job."
Tamaki reached the couple and just as he was about to pull Haruhi in one of his patented embraces, when he saw Hunny kiss Haruhi. He was shocked and before he thought about what he was saying, "What is going on here? Daughter is not allowed to date!"
Haruhi pulled her gaze away from Hunny and turned her glare at Tamaki, her dark aura pouring out of her. Through clenched teeth she said, "What did you just say?"
Hunny also turned his glare upon his friend, "I would really think about your answer Tama-Chan if I were you."
Tamaki yelped. "Sorry! What I meant to say is, is there something going on between you two?"
"Yes, we are dating now," Haruhi said bluntly, "and if you have any comments about it or want to tell me I cannot date him, I suggest you keep your trap shut!"
Tamaki jumped back and decided it was probably best if he kept quiet for now. When they started walking towards the entrance of the building he followed and when they exited he said with a smile, "Where do you want to go for lunch my daughter."
Haruhi cringed inwardly at the word daughter. It gave her bad memories of him trying to tell her what she could and could not do. She hoped he didn't intend to go down that road again. "I don't know," she said as she continued to walk hand in hand with Hunny.
"Well how about we go to The Tower? They have really good food and service and I will be able to treat you to all of the food that you have been missing these past couple of years," Tamaki suggested.
She knew he was going to suggest something like that. She wasn't sure why she just didn't take charge and suggest a place to eat. "That is fine," Haruhi said without looking at him.
Hunny gave a small squeeze to Haruhi's hand and turned to Tamaki, "That sounds good. Do you want to ride with us and then your driver can pick you up from there?"
"Yes, thank you Hunny! Maybe after lunch Haruhi and I can go to the park or something. I invited Hikaru and Kaoru, but they were busy today. So sad that they are going to miss quality time with their sister," Tamaki beamed.
Haruhi stiffened. "It is perfectly fine that they cannot come."
Hunny whispered that it would be alright in her ear and rubbed her back. He was trying to get her to calm down.
"Well we will see them this weekend anyway. So what about the park after lunch?" Tamaki grinned.
Haruhi took a deep breath and said "Sorry Tamaki, but Mitsukuni and I have dinner plans and I have to work on homework between lunch and dinner," Haruhi said frankly.
"Oh, I see," the tall blonde moped. Haruhi had not changed; she was still as blunt as ever.
"Tama-Chan, you will see her on Saturday and that won't be the last time you see her either. She is back and here to stay. Alright?" Hunny said trying to diffuse the situation.
"Your right Hunny, thank you," Tamaki said perking back up.
The trio finished making their way to the waiting limo and got in. Hunny gave the driver their location and soon enough they were being seated in a booth and placing their orders. Haruhi sat next to Hunny although Tamaki had asked her to sit next to him. She calmly explained that sitting next to another guy when her boyfriend was present, was not a very good idea.
Hunny couldn't have agreed more and when Tamaki tried to run to his pouting corner, the older man grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and sat him back down in his seat, "Tama-Chan we are in a nice restaurant and not at home. You need to stop that."
Tamaki sat down in his seat and watched the couple together. He noticed that Haruhi seemed very comfortable with Hunny, more so than anyone else he has seen her around. He knew that she was not that at ease with him and prayed that she would be one day. After seeing her again on Saturday, he had done a lot of thinking and he was still in love with her. He knew that they had tried it before and it didn't work out, but when he thought about it these past couple of days, he was convinced it was the timing that had been off. Now that she was back in his life, he thought it was a sign that they were being given another chance. The problem with that though is that she was sitting with Hunny and not him. "When did you two start dating?" Tamaki asked.
Hunny looked at the younger man. He could see the confusion in Tamaki's eyes. He could also see the hurt. "Did he want Haru-Chan to be his again?" Hunny asked himself. "We started dating yesterday Tama-Chan," he said putting on one of his biggest smiles to cover up the fact that he was studying and analyzing the situation and his friend.
"Yesterday, so it is new," Tamaki said with an optimistic glint in his eye. Maybe he still had a chance. "Wait! Am I seriously thinking of stealing my friend's girlfriend? What kind of man am I?" Tamaki started to argue with himself.
"Yes, but I really care about and like Mitsukuni. He is who I want to be with," Haruhi said. She wondered what was going on in Tamaki's head, "He better not try or say anything to sabotage this relationship!"
"Is this why he had to come to lunch as a rule because you had feelings for him? Would you consider someone else? You are happy? What if someone else declared themselves to you?" Tamaki questioned. He mentally slapped himself for saying all of that.
"No, he had to come to lunch as a rule, because I wanted him to. I feel more comfortable with him and trust him more than anyone else and if you didn't pay attention on Saturday, I am still a little jumpy about things. I don't know what is going through your mind or what you are trying to figure out, but I am with Mitsukuni and that is how it is going to stay. I am happy and I want to be with him. If someone else declared themselves, I will feel bad, but I will not break up with him for someone else," she defended. Then something clicked in her head. She had seen the look that flashed across his face before. He wore it before they started to date and while they were dating. She knew what he was trying to insinuate.
"I see. That is your final answer?" Tamaki asked with puppy dog eyes.
She couldn't believe his audacity. She started to fume and was about to tell him off when Mitsukuni grabbed her hand and squeezed. The waiter appeared a minute later with their food. When the waiter was gone, she turned narrowed eyes upon Tamaki, "Let's get one thing straight. You and I did not work out. I don't love you as anything more than a friend. If you cannot support Mitsukuni and I and our happiness, then we have nothing more to say to each other. So if you were thinking of declaring yourself, I want you to save it. I am not interested in anyone else."
"I, I understand," Tamaki said sounding dejected.
Hunny had watched the whole exchange and just shook his head. He thought that Tamaki had moved on from Haruhi long before she had left the club behind and now it appears that he had convinced himself the feelings were still there. His usually dense girlfriend had actually caught on to what Tamaki was implying by some miracle and put him in his place. Hunny thought that he would need to have a little talk with his friend man to man when he could get him alone, but until then, he would give Tamaki one last thought on the matter, "Tama-Chan, we are together and happy. Regardless of how new or old this is, no one will decide our relationship except us."
Tamaki nodded and looked down at his food. He was suddenly not very hungry. He was turned down before he could proclaim himself and it did not feel very good.
The remaining time together during lunch was awkward and although the trio tried to fill it with small talk, the previous conversation still hung in the air. All three of them were relieved when lunch finally ended and they were leaving the restaurant.
Before he got into his limo, Tamaki turned towards Haruhi, "I am glad you found someone that makes you feel safe and cared for. I am glad you are happy." He pulled her into a small hug and then got into his limo and drove off. He needed to lick his wounds and steel his resolve for Saturday.
"Well that was interesting," Haruhi grumbled as she settled herself in Hunny's limo.
"Yah, it was that Haru-Chan," Hunny gave a small laugh at her choice of words. "Let's go back to my place so that you can study before dinner tonight." He paused and looked towards the back of her head as she gazed out the window, "You know if you did have feelings for him still or someone else, I would understand."
Haruhi swung her gaze to her boyfriend from the window, "I don't have feelings for him beyond friendship and if I had feelings for someone else I would not be with you."
Hunny released a breath he had been holding. Her words comforted him and he leaned in to kiss her, "Thank you Haru-Chan."
Haruhi kissed him back and as they continued the kiss it became more passionate but before long, Haruhi was pulling back and ending it. She wasn't completely ready for all of that, "Sorry, it's just that…"
Hunny saw the short lived panic in her eyes and said, "It's ok Haru-Chan. We are taking this one day at a time. Remember? Baby steps."
"Thank you. You know if you wanted to be with someone else," Haruhi started to say, but was cut off when he covered her mouth with his hand.
"I don't want anyone else Haru-Chan. I love you and I want to be with you and you alone. Okay?"
Haruhi nodded and snuggled into his embrace laying her head on his shoulder smiling. Life was funny and full of things you don't expect. Last week she was wishing for the club to come back into her life. Now they were back with a vengeance and she was with Hunny. She would never have thought that when she looked up and saw him hovering over her in the café that a week later she would be giving him a chance and calling him her boyfriend. Yes, life was unexpected and full of things that frighten her, but right now in his arms she felt safe and at peace.