A/N: Well she tore into Hunny and Kyoya, especially Kyoya, but they survived it and it could have been a lot worse. I think if Mori had not been there, it might have been. He helped her to calm down at just the right moment. Now that they are taken care of, I don't think she will have any more problems like that from them (better not at least, they do learn better than Tamaki). Here is the new chapter, happy reading and enjoy.
Chapter 45 – Followed
Hunny knew that he had a long way to go before he completely made it up to Haruhi, but at least they were on the road to recovery and she had forgiven him enough to not break up with him. In his book, it was a win, albeit barely because if she was still with him, he had the opportunity to make it up to her, where as if she wasn't then there was no hope at all. Turning towards her in the limo as they drove home for the day, Hunny asked, "Do you want to stop at H-Chan and get a bite to eat, or do you want to go home?"
Startled, Haruhi jumped a little and looked at the person sitting next to her. She had been lost in her thoughts and completely forgot where she was. Furrowing her brow, she answered, "We can stop if you want. Dinner at H-Chan sounds good and I needed to pick up something from Bethany anyway."
"She isn't working tonight Haru-Chan, but I am sure you can call her or Sato-Chan to meet up with you sometime this week. She and Satoshi are celebrating something tonight," Hunny stated. Running his hand through his hair and scratching his head, he continued, "Although, I can't remember what they are celebrating."
Letting a small chuckle escape, she said, "I will call them later, but we can still go eat. It will be nice to get out of the house for a little while longer." She offered him small smile. She was still hurt that he and Kyoya went to the lengths that they did, but she could understand why they did it. Understanding did not immediately erase the pain and bitterness though; no, that would take time and effort on both sides.
Hunny beamed. He knew that it could not be easy for her right now, but she was willing to still go out on a date with him and that is something he would cherish, "Great Haru-Chan!"
Haruhi gave him a small nod and turned to look out the window once again escaping to her own thoughts. She wondered if things were to pop up here and there again, if Kyoya and Hunny would take it upon themselves to take care of everything without talking it through with her. There was the chance that Kyoya might, but she thought Hunny had learned his lesson. Hopefully Kyoya did too. "Maybe if I had used Satoshi's shinai on their heads, I would know it had definitely got through their thick skulls. There is no hope for us if this happens again though. Maybe it would have been better if I had stayed lost to them. No, it was good that we found each other again, but why did I get stuck with overzealous, controlling, it's my way or the highway, rich bastard friends?" Haruhi asked herself.
The car pulled to a stop in front of H-Chan and the door was opened on Hunny's side. He slid out of the backseat, but noticed that no one followed him. Sticking his head in, he noticed that Haruhi was still looking out her window, lost to her own world. "Um Haru-Chan, we are here," Hunny called out to his girlfriend. When he didn't get her attention, he bent forward and grabbed her shoulder shaking her a little. He knew he startled her once again, but gave her a small smile, "We are here." He offered her his hand and was a little hurt when she didn't take it, but instead slid over and exited the car herself. Trying not to show the emotional injury on his face, he escorted her into the restaurant where they were immediately seated in a private booth.
Instead of taking time to review the menu, the couple knew what they wanted to eat and before the waiter could leave to get their drinks, they gave them their dinner order also. The tension between the pair could be felt in the air. Haruhi had a couple of questions for Hunny, but didn't think it was the time or the place to ask him. Hunny wanted to pour his heart out to Haruhi, but again did not think now was the appropriate time. Instead they dealt with the friction and tried to pretend it was not there for the time being. Dinner conversation remained polite, but rigid and both were relieved when dinner was over and they could go home. Maybe stopping for a dinner date was not the best choice tonight.
Once the couple was in the car and on their way to the Haninozuka estate, Hunny decided now was a good time to talk to her. The partition was up and they were in a sense secluded from the rest of the world since the bodyguards were following in a different car. Opening his mouth to speak, Hunny was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Groaning, he answered it, but he wasn't happy about it, "Hello?"
"It's me. Where are you and Haruhi?" Kyoya sounded anxious and rushed.
Hunny scowled, wondering what was going on, "We stopped for dinner and now are on our way back to the house."
"Don't go there just yet. I am sending you a reservation at one of the Suoh hotels. I want you to stay there until I say otherwise."
"What's going on?"
"Yasu was spotted following Ranka tonight. When my officers tried to apprehend him, he disappeared. I don't know where he is now and I would rather you not lead him directly to the Haninozuka estate tonight. I am putting Ranka up in a hotel also for a couple of days. I had a car pick him up and safely escort him, but it would be better if we also put you two in a hotel right now. Ranka will be at a different one and he will have the next couple of days off of work."
Opening and closing his mouth like a fish, Hunny was at a loss for words. How could they lose the man that they were all after when he was right there? "I understand Kyo-Chan," Hunny stated.
"I don't want her to think I am just making this decision without consulting her, so will you please talk to her and if she has a problem, tell her to call me," Kyoya informed him.
"I will do that, but I think she will understand," Hunny said as he looked at Haruhi. She was staring back at him with wide fearful eyes.
"Good. I have to go now. I will keep you informed of what is going on," Kyoya stated before he hung up the phone.
"Wh-what happened to my father?" Haruhi stammered. She wasn't sure about the whole phone call, but she thought she heard her father's name spoken.
Grabbing one of her hands to hold while he told her of the situation, Hunny felt scared for her and wasn't sure how she was going to react to the news. Before he informed her of what was going on, he dropped the partition in the car and gave the driver the new destination. When the screen was back up, he looked at her in the eye, "I don't want you to think we are taking any choices away from you, but we need to stay in a hotel for a couple of days. That was Kyoya… Haruhi, Yasu was following your father tonight."
A look of utter terror appeared on the girl's face and who could blame her. Her worst nightmare is coming to life and so far no one has been able to catch him. "What h-happened to him?" Her voice caught on the last word. Was her father safe? Did Yasu get to him? What happened? She needed to know!
Giving her hand a little squeeze, Hunny wished he could erase that horrified expression, but he knew that it would take Yasu being locked up or worse before it would completely go away. "He is fine Haruhi. Kyoya had a car pick him up and it is taking him to a hotel where he will be kept safe. He was only followed and Yasu did not get to him. When the officers tried to apprehend Yasu, he gave them the slip. Just to be safe, we are going to a hotel for a couple of days before we go home. I am sorry, but it will be a different hotel from your father. We need to make sure that both of you are kept below the radar. Alright?" Hunny explained and it killed him to see the tears forming in her eyes.
Unable to answer, Haruhi nodded her head before the tears started to fall. First one and then another before it was a steady stream. She collapsed against Hunny's shoulder and gave into the sobs that were now wracking her body. Everything seemed so out of control and she didn't know what to do any more. Her world felt like it was crumbling around her: she had to move in with her boyfriend, she couldn't attend classes, her internship had to be changed, she had to leave her job, she was fearful of all shadows and what could get her, and she didn't know which side was up any longer. Feeling Hunny's arms circling around her, she accepted the comfort he so freely gave her. She just needed to be able to lean on someone right now.
Kissing the top of her head, Hunny tried to whisper soothing things to her knowing that right now she just needed a good cry, "I am here Haru-Chan and I will never leave your side." As they were about to pull up to the hotel, Haruhi was still an emotional wreck, so he called the bodyguards and instructed one of them to check them in while they waited in the car. When the guard returned with the room key, Hunny got out of the car before reaching in and sweeping Haruhi into his arms to carry her up to the room. By some miracle she didn't protest and instead dug her face further into his chest and continued with her tears.
The guards led the way up to the room and opened the door to inspect the inside before they allowed Hunny and Haruhi to enter. Hunny knew it was a safety precaution, but at some point he did need to put his girlfriend down and make sure she was ok.
When the all clear signal was given, Hunny made his way through the suite and into the master bedroom to lay Haruhi down on the bed. He sat next to her and brushed her hair out of her face while handing her a box of tissues, "Do you want to call your dad? As long as we don't give out any hotel information, we are fine. I don't want to take the chance that something leaks."
Taking in a deep shaky breath, Haruhi nodded and hiccoughed, "Yes, please."
"Come on then," Hunny said as he helped her to sit up and handed her his phone.
Haruhi accepted the phone from Hunny, and tried to calm herself down a little before she made her phone call. When she felt a little better, she dialed and waited for her father to pick up. As soon as she heard him answer the other line, relief swept through her. He had answered in his normal sing song voice, "Hi dad."
"Oh Haruhi, how are you dear? Kyoya had a car pick me up and whisk me away to a wonderful hotel to be pampered. I guess he knows all of this stress is getting to me, and you know how I love spas and to be pampered. Of course thinking of the stress makes me think of that baka Yasu, and all I have to say is that damn Yasu boy better not come near you or I will…" Ranka's gushing turned into a rant of pure rage. Pausing, he thought he heard a sniffle on the other line, "Haruhi are you ok? Is everything ok with Mitsukuni? What's wrong honey?"
He didn't know. Ranka didn't know what was going on or why he was taken to a hotel. "It is probably better that way," Haruhi thought to herself. Swallowing back the tears, she lied, "Yah, I just ate something really spicy."
"What really happened?" Ranka asked quietly. No one knew his daughter better than he did and he knew something was wrong.
"Mitsukuni and I had a fight earlier, but we worked it out. I guess I am still out of sorts with that and this whole Yasu situation," Haruhi explained and thought, "Well that isn't exactly a lie. It is some carefully omitted facts."
"Are you sure? Do I need to have a talk with that boy about how he treats my little baby? No one will treat you poorly and if I need to I will…" Ranka declared getting more and more worked up with each word he spoke.
Chuckling a little, her dad was always a little bit dramatic (ok a lot), "It is taken care of dad. I promise. He won't do anything like that again."
"Well if you say so. Just be sure you take care of yourself. I know that with everything going on with this whole Yasu thing, you are stressing out. You need to remember that your life doesn't stop just because a lunatic is out there. Don't push people away just because you are scared or stressed. You need them now more than ever kiddo. They can be your support to get you through these rough patches."
"Thanks dad," Haruhi whimpered.
"What else is wrong?"
"I think everything is just starting to get to me today, but I will be fine. Mitsukuni is here now, so I am not alone."
"Good. Remember what I said. You can't control everything; let your friends help you. I love you."
"I love you too dad," Haruhi spoke softly as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Ok now. You go spend time with you gorgeous boyfriend, and remember if you need me I am only a phone call away," Ranka exclaimed.
"I know dad. Thanks," Haruhi chuckled and ended the call.
Hunny had been sitting in one of the chairs in the room quietly waiting as she talked to her father. Examining her face, he could tell that whatever her father had said was already helping her. She had laughed a couple of times and had a small smile gracing her features as she disconnected the call. "Is he alright?" Hunny quietly inquired.
Switching her gaze from the floor to her boyfriend, Haruhi answered him, "Yah. He doesn't know about Yasu following him though."
"That is good. I am sure he would be more worried than he already is and he doesn't need that," Hunny replied feeling a bit awkward.
Pulling her legs up on the bed and hugging her knees, Haruhi started to cross examine him, "Are you and Kyoya really sorry for what you did?"
Hunny was surprised by her line of questioning, but he knew she needed to know or she would not be asking, "I cannot answer for Kyo-Chan, but I am. I know that it hurt you and for that I am regretful, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you that there is a part of me that although repentant, did it to protect you and I will do anything to keep you safe."
"Are you really going to talk to me before you take the decisions out of my hands or were you just saying that to placate me?"
"No, we will discuss it with you first. Tonight Kyo-Chan couldn't because of the situation, but something like your job and your life, we will talk to you first. It was wrong of us to make the decisions and then force them on you. I am just as responsible as Kyo-Chan for everything that happened."
"If you knew that I would be upset and angry, why did you do it?"
Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, Hunny rubbed his palms on his pants legs before he answered her, "Because I was afraid."
Scrunching her face up, Haruhi asked, "Afraid of what?"
"Of losing you, of knowing that maniac got to you somehow, and of the chance that he could have taken you not only from me, but from the world. Take you pick Haruhi," Hunny answered with a tremor in his voice. He had been looking at his hands that were now clasped together between his legs and he leaned over balancing his forearms on his thighs. Looking up, he gazed directly at Haruhi and continued, "I lost you once and it cut me. It felt like I bled every day that you weren't around, but I knew that you were out there somewhere. I just needed to pluck up the courage to find you. I did finally, but then the day I was going to find you, you found me. Then this whole Yasu thing hit and I became afraid that you would disappear again. When we found out that he is trying to get a couple of guns, I panicked and became terrified that not only will I lose you, but that it could be permanent and I don't think that is something I can bare right now. If I lose you, I lose you, but not to something like that."
Haruhi wasn't sure what she was expecting, but his words and the emotion behind them, shocked her. Speaking past the lump in her throat, Haruhi choked out, "You will only lose me if you are an idiot again. You have to trust me and I have to be able to trust you too."
Standing up and walking over to her place on the bed, Hunny sat down next to her, "I know Haru-Chan and I promise that I will talk to you in the future. I can't promise that I won't worry, freak out, or have strong feelings of locking you in a tower to keep you safe, but I will communicate with you going forward."
"That is all I ask," Haruhi smirked as she shook her head at his choice of words. She was not Rapunzel.
"Ok. Why don't you go soak in the bath and I will call Kyo-Chan and ask him if he has found anything out," Hunny suggested and when he received her affirmative nod, he left the room to make the call. He hoped things were more settled between him and Haruhi now.
Across town…
"Well, it looks like I got those security guards whipped into a frenzy. This is perfect! She will know that I can get to her father now and will come running to me to save his life. Now I just have a couple more things to do to get ready for when Arata calls with the pickup time and location. Everything is falling into place and soon she will be mine again," Yasu laughed as he walked into his small apartment. It was perfect, simply perfect.