HA. Bet none of you believed me (or maybe even read) that I was going to be updating again in a bout a week. Well I have, so good for me ! I don't have anything coming up immediately for this story as I'm sure most will be shocked to know, but I hope you enjoy this chapter ! I was really excited to write it :) R&R
The boys were acting stranger than usual, and considering how strange they normally behaved, that's really saying something.
First, Hikaru and Kaoru brought me and a few girls along to see a supposed "haunted cave."
They began twisting what I assume was meant to be a frightening tale. Kaoru went on to contemplate - loudly - the mysterious deaths of all who entered the cave. He spoke of how their spirits were unrestful, and thus vengeful, harming anyone who was brave enough to venture into their caves. The girls, of course, looked terrified, and tittered amongst themselves. If I was honest, I couldn't care less. Ghosts.
I felt a bony hand grab on to my shoulder from behind. But even without turning around I knew who it was.
"Are you guys trying to freak me out or something?" I asked calmly.
The sheepish look on his face at being caught transformed quickly into one of confusion.
"What's wrong with you? I thought everyone was afraid of ghosts." Hikaru questioned.
"Well I've never seen a real ghost, so why would I be afraid of something that might not exist?" I countered.
In reality, even if ghosts were real, they couldn't be worse than people. So they didn't really frighten me.
Hikaru and Kaoru gave each other disgruntled looks, obviously hoping for a different reaction. Had they expected me to run screaming? Despite the dark turn my mental state had taken this afternoon, I felt somewhat satisfied at having foiled whatever their plan had been.
Next, I was accosted by Honey-senpai. He approached me sweetly enough, but was behaving just as strangely as the twins.
"Haru-chan! Would you come over here?" He asked excitedly, bouncing on the spot, gesturing to the large transport truck that seemed to have appeared on the beach from nowhere.
The mystery was explained when, once again, I saw Kyouya-senpai's personal police force. They were obviously still yielding to Honey-senpais every whim in penance for their previous indiscretion.
I didn't see any harm in joining Honey-senpai, so with a helping hand I climbed into the truck.
For a moment nothing happened, and I just stood there awkwardly inside the truck, wondering what to expect.
"We are ready when you are private police people! Please lower the door." Honey-senpai said with an infantile attempt at seriousness.
Naturally, they police force obeyed his command and promptly lowered the door.
Honey-senpai and I stood there, silent in the dark, for about a minute, I wasn't really disturbed by this sudden loss of vision. I knew there was no threat, and I could still hear the waves crashing against the shore, bringing a strange sense of peace.
That is until Honey-senpai started freaking out.
"It's dark in here!" He wailed. He continued to cry out in distress for a minute more before the police force finally opened the door.
I walked away resolving to avoid the boys until they came down off of whatever drugs they appeared to be on. I knew they weren't really inebriated, but nonetheless they were acting very strangely.
In turning around I was greeted with a very sharp weapon pointed dangerously close to my face. It probably should have frightened me more than it did, but I knew that the wielder would never hurt me.
"Mori-senpai, could you please put the weapon away?" I asked jokingly, almost laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
He looked perturbed by my lack of reaction, but I simply left him to his own devices.
HIKARU'S POV
This game was a lot harder then any of us predicted.
But I'll be damned if I don't get those photos of Haruhi. Maybe its kind of creepy, but I really want them. So that somebody can remember that smiling and happy girl that she used to be.
Kaoru looked at me, and I knew he was frustrated by our lack of progress with this game too.
"What kind of heroine is she?" He asked, echoing my own thoughts as he so often did.
"I know. She doesn't appear to be scared of anything." At least nothing that we could actually protect her from. I didn't say the words out loud, but I knew that Kaoru agreed.
Tamaki-senpai didn't appear at all discouraged by our lack of progress in the game, he was digging something up in the garden behind us.
"I found some rat snakes!" He said, brimming with undeserved pride. "Surely she'll freak out when she sees these!"
"To be fair, anyone would think those are creepy. It doesn't really count as a weakness." I pointed out.
"Wait a minute, Okinawa doesn't have rat snakes..." Kaoru said.
We looked at each other in a panic. Shit, Tamaki.
HARUHI'S POV
The boys appeared to be finished whatever game they had been playing, so I was meandering along the beach peacefully. The sun was starting to set now, the fiery golds and reds submitting to the darker indigo blue of the sea and the night sky. I found myself melting in the glory of this picturesque scene before me. Unwittingly, I also found myself thinking of a certain individuals indigo blue eyes, stunning like the ocean.
"Look up here Haruhi!" I heard a girl yell.
I looked up the large rock cliff I had been walking along and saw three of the girls up top. Thankfully, they were too far away to see the blush creeping up my neck about the embarrassing thoughts I had just been having.
"The breeze up here is great!" Another one of them commented, waving. It seemed that I wasn't the only one affected by the tranquillity of the beach.
"Be careful up there! Its dangerous." I shouted, it would be just my luck to see one of the girls tumble off that treacherously high cliff. I wanted to avoid any accidents at all costs.
I decided to get up there and supervise the girls myself, just in case. As I started to get closer I heard deeper male voices, and I knew that it wasn't the voices of any from the host club.
"We just want to show you girls how to have a good time." I heard a menacing voice drawl.
I broke into a run, determined to help out the girls.
"This is a private beach, please leave." One of the girls said firmly.
"Private, as in we're alone?" Another male voice countered suggestively. I heard one of the girls screech as the boy grabbed her around the waist.
I grabbed the nearest few rocks I saw and hurled them at the back of the boy closest to me. There was only two of them, but even so I knew I was outmatched.
But I wouldn't stand back and do nothing. I had too often been the victim in my own life, and I refused to watch it happen to these girls; they didn't deserve it.
I was pissed, and all the pent up rage I kept locked inside about the course my life had taken was seeping out.
"What the hell?!" The guy who I hit with the rocks yelled.
He whirled around, a hateful look twisting his features.
"Why don't you get the fuck out." I said, vehemence lacing my words with a dangerous undertone.
"You heard the girls, they aren't interested. Now leave."
"You little runt." The boy said, advancing towards me.
The closer he got the more I realized how outmatched I was, but I'll be damned if I don't go out fighting. At least I can give the girls a chance to get away.
He grabbed me by the shirt, but a quick sucker punch had me free once again.
"Get out of here!" I yelled to the girls, while he was still doubled over.
The girls managed to run out of there, I was thankful that they had at least escaped the reach of these disgusting boys.
But the second boy grabbed me by the back of the shirt while his friend recovered. My adrenaline was pumping fast now, and I put my, admittedly pathetic, weight behind a punch aimed at the boy still holding onto my shirt. Luckily, I hit him in the nose, feeling a satisfying crunch. He let go of me, swearing like a sailor.
His friend had recovered by then, and much to my horror, shoved me violently towards the end of the cliff. Once again my collar was grabbed, and I was hanging perilously close to the edge. I didn't dare look down at the rocky waters beneath me, instead focusing my efforts on pushing back against my assailant.
I knew that it was a hopeless cause, he had at least sixty pounds on me, but I tried anyway.
"He kid, I've got an idea." He said, grinning viciously.
"How about you go for a swim?" He finished.
The wicked grin didn't leave his face as he pulled back his right arm, left hand still holding tightly onto my collar.
"HARUHI!" I heard Tamaki-senpai's voice yell.
But he was too late. The boy who had me, punched me in the face, hard. Without him holding me up, I ended up going sailing off the cliff.
Somewhere in a state of shock, I couldn't even bring myself to be upset about the way events had transpired. What did I truly have to live for anyway? The shock of the cold water wasn't enough to rouse me out of my dark thoughts. I didn't feel like fighting for such a meaningless existence any more. I resolved to just let myself sink, hoping that I could maybe find peace at last.
I let the water fill my lungs, welcoming the burning sensation that it brought. But instead of the blackness I had expected to come, I saw gold. Gold, mixed with the violet blue of...Tamaki-senpai?
Strong arms enveloped me, and I felt his heat seeping into my skin, even under the water.
I was dazed, from both the hit and the fall I had endured. But Tamaki-senpai swam me to shore, and ever so gently picked me up and cradled me in his arms. A few hacking coughs dispelled my lungs of water, but not the horrible feeling of what I had been ready to do.
I shivered, but more from fear than the cold.
I had given up.
I had been willing to let myself die.
My body ached, but worse that that, I was disgusted with myself. Had the people I loved suffered so much just so that I could give up? No. I had to be stronger than that. If not for myself, then at least for them. Yet, I couldn't help but crave the peace and clarity that had come in the moments after I decided to let go.
"Boss, Haruhi!" I heard the twins yell from somewhere to my left. "Are you okay"
"What happened to those boys?" Asked Tamaki-senpai. I sensed a quiet wrath in the question, and knew he was angry. The tautness of his body also revealed him, although he continued to cradle me against his chest. I was still at the edge of consciousness and had yet to open my eyes.
"The police were called and escorted the boys out, I also called a doctor who should be here shortly." Kyouya-senpai answered in that pragmatic way of his.
"Thank you." Tamaki-senpai replied quietly.
I had, had enough of being the heroine for one day. I was pissed off that I had needed saving in the first place, I was supposed to be self sufficient. Instead of being angry at myself like I should have been, I turned that irritation onto the boys. My eyes snapped open.
"Look I don't need a doctor, I'm perfect fine." I said, removing myself from Tamaki-senpai's arms. I pushed myself to my feet, swaying slightly upon standing, but thankfully keeping my balance.
I don't think falling over would have helped prove my claim to health to anyone. I was rewarded with a shirt from Kyouya-senpai to cover myself with.
Tamaki-senpai's hair was covering his eyes, but the anger in his tone was unmistakable when he spoke.
"What were you thinking."
My eyes shot up to him.
"You know, you are not like Honey-senpai. You are not a martial arts master." I felt my eyes widening at his angry reproach.
He grabbed both my shoulders, "What the hell were you thinking, confronting those boys like that? " He continued furiously, voice raising in volume and pitch slightly.
"I was the only one there, there wasn't any time to call for help." I said in my defense, my voice also beginning to rise.
"Don't forget you idiot, you're still just a girl!" He yelled.
Okay that was enough, now I was seriously pissed off.
"Look, I'm sorry that you had to save me or whatever and that I was such a fucking inconvenience to you, but I sure as hell wasn't about to run for help while those boys terrorized the girls. It doesn't matter that they are boys and I'm a girl, I was there, so I helped. I'm not apologizing for that. I didn't do anything wrong" I practically shouted.
I was fuming. How dare he, I was helping those girls. Maybe it didn't go according to plan but that didn't mean I was wrong.
"You don't think so?" He questioned, dangerously quiet.
"Fine, whatever you say. But I'm not speaking to you until you admit you were wrong." he said voice rising at the end of his sentence.
With that, Tamaki-senpai strode off toward the house we were all to stay in.
I couldn't believe him.
Belatedly, I felt the throbbing of my face where the guy had punched me. I lifted my hand and found it tender to the touch, there was also a bit of blood on my hand now. Great, just what I needed. I consolidated myself with the fact that at least it wouldn't be a shiner, the boy had swung closer to my eyebrow/temple as opposed to my actual eye. Either way, it hurt.
I followed the rest of the boys up to the house, not missing the worried glances that kept coming my way. Almost instantly after entering I found myself lost in the house we were staying in, it was huge. Thankfully, I had Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai to help me navigate.
First, they set about cleaning up my face. Mori-senpai was surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the wound and bandaged it up. I did my best not to wince at the tenderness, but wasn't very successful.
"I'm sorry." Mori-senpai would say whenever this happened. It made me feel bad, it wasn't his fault.
Honey-senpai looked upset. But not in his characteristic, childish manner, this was a more serious emotion. But he didn't utter a word as they led me to my room, and I was told they would be back to help me find the kitchen.
Once left alone I simply collapsed onto the bed, giving myself a moment before I got changed out of my sopping clothes.
Tears burned behind my eyes, I chalked it up to pain, but I knew that wasn't really the case. Today had started out so wonderfully, I had felt hopeful and alive. But I should have been prepared for something awful to happen, it always did.
I tried to find the remnants of the emotionless mask I had once worn in the presence of the host club. I knew I would need it for dinner, especially if Tamaki-senpai continued with his ridiculous temper tantrum directed towards me.
I grabbed my bag and started rifling through the contents to get something suitable for dinner. Much to my horror, I realized that I had grabbed the wrong bag. Inside was clothing fit for a proper girl.
It was my own fault, I had been quick to get out of my apartment. Lately I had made sure never to linger long, lest my intruder return. I knew that it was silly, especially since I had installed new locks, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread so quickly. In my haste I had grabbed a very similar looking bag to the one I had actually packed for the trip, one filled with clothes I hadn't used since before my arrival in Japan.
I looked at everything inside the bag, and resigned myself to wearing a dress tonight. I selected a cream coloured dress with spaghetti straps that suited the warm weather. It was tight at the bodice and flowed into a modest length a-line skirt. Thankfully, there were undergarments better suited to a dress inside the bag as well.
My hair was curling at the end as the result of the ocean water and I couldn't be bothered to tame it. One look in the mirror told me that drowning was not good for my looks. I splashed my face with water a few times, and even made use of a couple of the cosmetics that had been lying in my travel bag as well. If Tamaki-senpai was going to be childish, then I was going to look as good as I could just to spite him.
With that done, I mentally prepared myself for what I assumed would be an uncomfortable dinner at best.
A few minutes later I heard a knock on the door, the silence led me to believe it was Mori-senpai. He surveyed my change from drowned boy to almost feminine girl, and in his stoic manner said,
"You look nice."
I let a small smile form on my lips, Mori-senpai used very few words, so I know that when he did use them he meant them. This wasn't just some formal platitude, it was sincere.
"Thank you." I replied.
We walked to the kitchen in silence, and I felt myself feeling oddly nervous to have the host club see me like this. It was stupid, but I didn't want them to laugh at me. I almost laughed at myself at this ridiculous notion.
I could smell it when we got near, the tell-tale smell of cooking seafood. My stomach rumbled and I realized how hungry I truly was. We walked into the kitchen, and I was met with five pairs of striking eyes all watching me.
TAMAKI'S POV
I was sulking.
It was all Haruhi's fault. Why did my little girl have to be so stupid? She just didn't understand how worried we had all been, how scared I had been when I saw that guy throw her off the cliff.
If I hadn't been intent on running in after her I would have killed those boys. As it was, I would make them rue the day they ever harmed my beautiful daughter.
But now she isn't talking to me, and while I know it's my own fault, I'm still upset and angry. Hence the sulking.
I heard Honey-senpai come in, although I couldn't see him from the corner which I was in. I smelled the seafood though, and I wanted to commend him on a job well done. But the extreme sulking would not allow it.
"Its your own fault you know." Hikaru said to me.
"You shouldn't have picked a fight in the first place." Kaoru finished for him.
This, in turn, caused me to sulk even more. I know I shouldn't have gotten angry, but she was wrong. She couldn't defend herself like the rest of us could, as strong as she tried to be she was so incredibly fragile. So excuse me for trying to make her realize her own weaknesses. Why does she have to be so damn stubborn?
I heard the door open, and the sharp intake of everyone's breath. Despite my attempt at stoicism, my breath caught too when I saw what they were staring at.
It was Haruhi, and she was beautiful.
Her dark hair was curling adorably around the ears, and she was wearing a simple, yet flattering dress. It reminded me of the Christmas party, when she had dressed as a girl for one of my plans. She had almost fallen that night, and for a few brief moments I had gotten to hold her in my arms. They ached for her ever since. But of course I would want to hold my family, that was perfectly natural.
Her large chocolate brown eyes met mine for a moment, displaying a rare vulnerability in them. But she quickly narrowed her eyes and shot me a spiteful look. It was literally like a stab to my heart, and I quickly resumed my sulking, whilst sneaking looks at Haruhi all the while.
HARUHI'S POV
It was uncomfortable to have all the boys eyes on me. Tamaki-senpai had been staring too, but I'd shot him a glare, causing him to look away.
"Where did you get that dress?" The twins asked in unison.
"I accidentally grabbed the wrong bag, so this was all I had with me." I said, embarrassed at the attention. It was only a dress for goodness sake.
"That's awesome!" The twins exclaimed, big grins dominating their faces.
"You look so cute Haru-chan!" Exclaimed Honey-senpai.
I felt a small smile forming, they could be quite sweet sometimes. I looked quickly at Kyouya-senpai, who hadn't said a word. He had a strange look on his face, something that I couldn't describe, but he gave me a small smile all the same.
We made our way to the beautifully set table, and I was unhappy to find out I was seated beside Tamaki-senpai. He kept sneaking looks at me, and I kept giving him dirty looks. You could have cut the tension between us with a knife. All in all, it was pretty uncomfortable.
The twins, in their natural fashion, decided this discomfort required comment.
"Well this is awkward." Kaoru said.
"Yeah, no kidding." Hikaru continued.
"Well, lets dig in!" Honey-senpai said cheerfully, trying to diffuse the tension.
"Look Haruhi, these are the crabs we caught, don't they look delicious?" He continued, pressing forward despite the awkward silence.
I grabbed a crab leg, and was satisfied with the loud snap it gave when I broke it open. I felt, rather than saw, Tamaki-senpai wince at it. I continued to violently open my crab legs, devouring the crab meat in a very un-ladylike fashion. I was eating more than I had in a very long while, and even though I could feel my stomach rejecting all this food, I kept eating anyway.
"Don't you think you've had enough? " Tamaki-senpai asked in disbelief, looking at the large pile of crab shells in front of me.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you weren't talking to me." I said in my bitchiest voice, not even sparing him a glance.
"Are you trying to be cute, or something?" He asked.
I shot him an icy look.
He slammed his napkin down on the table and stood up.
"Okay, I get it, fine. It seems you refuse to admit you were wrong. See if I care then, I'm going to bed. Kyouya could you show me to my room?" He said, anger and indignation colouring his tone.
I tried to ignore the twinge of guilt I felt at his obvious distress, to no avail. I went to snap another piece of crab, and found that I didn't have it in me, so affected was I by Tamaki-senpai. I started to doubt my own conviction.
"Maybe he's right, maybe I do need to learn to protect myself better." I said quietly aloud to myself.
I thought back to what Tamaki-senpai had said on the beach, about how I couldn't protect myself. He was right, wasn't he? I hadn't stood a chance, but I knew that I hadn't been wrong for trying. My memories went back even farther, to another time I couldn't defend myself, or anyone I loved. I ran my finger over my dress, tracing the scar that was hidden by the fabric, and I knew that I really did need to learn some sort of defense.
"So that's it. He got to you." The twins commented.
"I mean, it wouldn't hurt you to learn martial arts or something," Hikaru said,
"But we wouldn't make you do it or anything." Kaoru finished.
"Besides, that's not the real issue here." They said, synchronized once again.
I gave them a questioning look.
"To be honest, we were all a little worried, about how recklessly you acted." Hikaru said, more serious than I had ever seen him. There was no mischief sparkling in those golden-brown eyes of his, only concern.
"What do you mean? I didn't cause you guys any trouble or anything" I asked, not fully understanding.
The twins gave an exasperated shrug.
"That's not true Haru-chan. I think you should apologize," started Honey-senpai.
"You had us all really worried, especially Tama-chan. I think you really need to apologize to him first." He finished, making me feel even more guilty.
"You were all worried about me?" I asked tentatively, slightly disbelieving that they could be so concerned over me.
"Of course we were." Kaoru said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Guys, I'm really sorry about everything. I wasn't trying to make you worry, I just couldn't stand by and do nothing." I said, eyes down, so they couldn't see the tears that were filling them, and the shame in my face.
"I should have known that I couldn't defend myself or those girls, I couldn't then and I certainly can't now." I said, my voice catching slightly at the end.
I knew that at some point I had to let them in, even if it was just a little bit. I also felt the need to explain myself.
"I was in a situation before I came to Japan where I... I wasn't able to defend myself, I was just a helpless victim. I told myself that I would do everything I could to keep that from happening again, to me or anyone else. I just...I don't know how to rely on other people. It..." I started trailing off, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
"It scares me." I finished, so quietly I don't know if they heard me.
I dared a glance up and saw all of their gazes pinned on me, trying to process the small amount of information I had just given them.
"I am truly sorry, for making you worry, you shouldn't have to worry about me." I said, meeting each of their gazes.
Before I knew what was happening they all came over and enveloped me in a large hug. For just that brief moment I felt safe, as if I had a family again.
"We are always going to worry about you Haruhi." Hikaru said, voice thick with emotion.
All of the sudden, I felt the ridiculous amount of crab I had eaten coming back up. They all heard my stomach grumbling unpleasantly, and I dashed out looking for the nearest rest room.
I lunged into a nearby bedroom and proceeded to empty my stomach of all its previous contents. But it wasn't the vomiting that was making my hands shake, it was nerves. I had just revealed a small, but significant, part of myself to those boys. And it scared me.
HIKARU POV
We all just looked at each other, shocked at what had just transpired.
"Do you think she's going to be okay?" I asked, not just meaning her stomach.
"I don't know." Kaoru answered for me, understanding the meaning behind the question.
"I think that she's starting to trust us." Said Honey-senpai.
This realization made me inexplicably happy. She was starting to trust us, even if only a small amount. I know that Kaoru is still pissed at me for pushing her to accept us, but its working, and I can't even begin to describe how much joy it brings me.
Maybe, hopefully, one day she'll tell us everything, and then we can do everything in our power to make her okay again. I just don't want her to be scared any more. Not ever.
HARUHI POV
I finished rinsing out my mouth, thankful that there had been an extra toothbrush in one of the drawers in the bathroom. I realized now that I had no idea where I had stumbled into.
"Are you okay?" Came a deep and somehow familiar male voice.
"I'm so sorry sir, I didn't mean to intrude." I said apologetically, unsure of who it was.
"Don't be silly, its just me." A no nonsense voice that I now immediately identified as Kyouya-senpai rang out.
He had his shirt off, as well as his glasses, and was drying his still wet hair. I took this opportunity to really look at him, as I so rarely let myself do, knowing that he could tell. He was slim, but strong looking. He was all angles, fine boned with smooth lines. This didn't cause weakness in his physique, merely a quieter strength more characteristic of Kyouya-senpai. The strangest thing was seeing him without his glasses, those sharp eyes provided beautiful contrast to his skin when not obscured.
"Senpai, I'm sorry to have made you all worry today, it wasn't my intention." I said, remembering Honey-senpai's words about apologizing.
"Well, I wasn't particularly worried." He said in a strangely distant tone.
He gave me a look, and I saw how truly dark his eyes were, almost purple in their incredible darkness, unwittingly I found myself falling into their dark depths.
"I did have a hard time separating Kaoru and Hikaru from those two boys however, they beat them half to death." He said.
I looked at him stunned, they hadn't said a word.
"Because of you I had to send each of the girls back to the hotel, and a complimentary bouquet of flowers as an apology for the drama." He said.
I was confused, this really wasn't like Kyouya-senpai, but I couldn't discern why he was acting this way.
Kyouya-senpai sauntered over to me while speaking, and I found myself once again admiring his physique.
"I'm really sorry, I'll pay you back." I said, figuring he could add it on to my debt.
"Well that's a lot of money." He said, dimming the lights.
"Why did you turn the lights off?" I asked.
"If you want to, you can pay me back with your body." He said, pulling my down onto the bed abruptly, but not roughly.
He was hovering over of me, our bodies not quite touching, I felt very small in the face of his tallness. Some part of me knew that I should be frightened, but I couldn't sense any real threat from Kyouya-senpai. I was painfully aware of how very male, and shirtless, he was however. I looked into his eyes, and all I saw was a forced look of malice, that failed to convince me of his ill intentions.
"Surely you weren't so naive as to think that someone's sex doesn't really matter," He said, his deep voice quiet.
"You've left yourself completely defenseless against me,"
That was when I clued in. He must have seen the understanding dawn on me, for his facade started to slip. Instead of continuing to lay down flat, I propped myself up on my elbows, our faces a mere inch apart.
"You won't do it Kyouya-senpai." I said calmly.
An astonished look crossed his face, and something darker seemed to be smoldering in the depths of his eyes as well. I could feel his breath on my face, but neither of us moved an inch.
"How do you know that?" He asked, desperately trying to regain his composure.
"Because you wouldn't benefit from it," I started, "And I think in some small way, you might actually care for me, or at least pity me too much to ever do it." I said honestly.
He gave a slight smile, and said;
"I don't pity you Haruhi." The air between us felt charged, as I let those words sink in.
So he really did care for me?
"That's an interesting notion though, not doing something if it doesn't benefit me." He said, breaking the spell between us and finally moving to sit beside me instead.
"You are a fascinating woman, Haruhi." He said.
I was thankful that the dark hid the blush I felt creeping up my neck.
"It's things like this that make me see what a nice guy you are. I know that you're trying to prove Tamaki's point, that I'm not able to defend myself. You're letting yourself be the bad guy, just to prove his point." I said. I saw his eyes widen in response, he clearly wasn't used to being so accurately observed.
People seemed to find Kyouya-senpai intimidating, even cold. But he was unbelievably warm in his own strange way. I would never forget the personal debt I owed him, or the remarkable gentleness that he always treated me with, even when he was trying to frighten me.
Instead of commenting further, he stood up. I watched the taut muscles of his back working as he started to walk towards the door. Just then a knock was heard, and Tamaki-senpai bounded in.
"Kyouya, this sunburn is worse than I thought, do you have any...?" Tamaki-senpai trailed off upon viewing the room.
I realized how compromising our position in the room was. I was still on the bed, with rumpled sheets revealing the movements of Kyouya-senpai and I. And there was Kyouya-senpai, shirtless and standing just in front of me.
"You bastard!" Started Tamaki-senpai, unaware of how innocent our interaction had been, at least I thought it was pretty innocent.
He made to attack Kyouya-senpai, but Kyouya-senpai quickly diffused the situation.
"Here you go, you big goof." He said to Tamaki-senpai, handing him some lotion. With that he walked out, leaving Tamaki-senpai and I alone.
I heard rain beginning to hit the window pane, and a glance out the window revealed dark and ominous clouds. I began to shake slightly, praying that it wouldn't be a thunderstorm. I couldn't handle the terror of that right now.
"What were you two doing in here?" He asked, accusingly.
"Honestly? Nothing." I said, thinking about how strange this day had become.
"You expect me to believe that?! You were alone in his bedroom, on the bed! With the lights out! Don't you lie to me." He finished angrily.
The look of anger faded into something sadder, that made my heart give an unwelcome pang.
"Forget about it." He said coldly.
"You've had a long day, and I'm sure you could use the rest." Turning his back on me he started out the door.
I knew I couldn't let him leave, so I started after him.
"Senpai.." I began reaching out for him, but just like that a bolt of lightning lit up the room.
Terrified, I grabbed onto his shirt. He gave me one of the most confused, and vulnerable looks I had ever seen on his face. I put both hands in front of me in apology, aware that they were shaking. Tamaki-senpai saw them, and shot me a concerned look.
Lightning and thunder crashed through the room again, causing me to shriek. I held my arms tightly around myself, trying to calm my frantically beating heart. I was shaking like a leaf as I desperately tried to regain some semblance of control.
"What's wrong Haruhi?" Tamaki-senpai asked.
"It's nothing, um, I ah...just remembered some business that needs taking care of." I stumbled over the words as I climbed into the dresser in an attempt to hide myself, from both the storm and Tamaki-senpai.
"What business could you have in a wardrobe?!" He yelled, clearly exasperated.
Thunder and lightning crashed once again, and I was frozen with fright. Everything had happened on a night like tonight, the night that my world had been destroyed. I couldn't keep the images from my mind, the blood, the screaming. The incredible pain of losing everything. It still hurt, just as much as it had when it happened.
"Haruhi, are you scared of the thunder and lightning? Why'd you lock yourself in the wardrobe, seems like it'd be scarier in there." He said gently.
"I'm alright," I started, my wobbly voice contradicting my words. "I'm used to getting through stuff like this by myself."
For a moment he stopped trying to get into the wardrobe.
"By yourself? You're always by yourself, aren't you? You never call for help, even when we are right there. I get it." He said, so sweetly and softly that I almost wasn't sure if I heard him correctly.
He opened the door without finding any resistance this time, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. Tears were dangerously close to spilling over, so I kept my arms around my knees, head down.
"I understand now. I'm sorry I acted the way I did, you haven't been able to rely on anyone for a while, have you? But not anymore."
I brought my head up, so moved by the unabashed tenderness in his voice, the same tenderness was echoed in his exquisite eyes.
"You can come out now." He said kindly.
My eyes were shining with unshed tears, but I couldn't tell if they were from fear of my memories, or from Tamaki-senpai's words.
I looked at him, feeling more vulnerable than I ever had before. I was met with compassion, and overwhelming sweetness in his gaze. He held out his hand for me, but just as he did the room was once again aglow with the bright lightning and the rolling crash of thunder.
In terror I found myself leaping into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, clinging to the stability and heat of his body. He enfolded me in his arms, and bent his head down to whisper in my ear.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'll always be here for you Haruhi. I promise that you will never be alone again."
I couldn't keep a sob from coming out, and I clung to his shirt fiercely, as if he was the only thing keeping me sane.
He held me as I cried, and I felt utterly and completely safe in his arms. I don't think he truly understood the impact his words had on me. In this moment of such incredible vulnerability, I knew how much I trusted him.
I pulled my head from his chest and looked up into his fascinating eyes. Every time I looked into them I was struck by the beauty, the intriguing combination of blue and violet that I had never seen the equal.
I couldn't keep my voice from breaking, or the tears streaming down my face as I said;
"You don't understand Tamaki. They're gone. I'm all that I have left."
The tears completely blurred my vision at this admission, I ached with the pain of having lost my family, and the sympathy in Tamaki-senpai's eyes.
I expected to be received with pity, or disbelief. Instead he just continued to hold me close.
"We can be your family now."
Tamaki-senpai stayed there holding me for what felt like hours. I was so utterly exhausted from the days events that I found myself dozing off in the comfort of his arms. He brought me, half asleep, to the bed. He tucked me in the bed with care, and started to leave the room.
"Wait.." I started, reaching out my hand. Tamaki-senpai turned around, a questioning look on his face.
"Please don't leave me." I murmured quietly, despairing the thought of being left alone like this.
His gaze softened, and he smiled ever so sweetly, "I told you Haruhi, I'll always be here for you."
In that moment I truly believed him.
He climbed into the bed, blushing slightly at this show of intimacy. I felt reassured now that he was here, and found myself almost falling asleep.
"You don't snore do you?" I asked softly, as my mind grew heavy with sleep.
I was rewarded with a laugh, the smile lighting up his features. I fell asleep with that lighthearted sound in my mind, and although the day had been awful, and my emotions rubbed raw, I slept soundly, knowing that Tamaki-senpai was by my side.
A little sweetness for ya'll until the bad shit starts to happen again ;) REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. It makes me happy :3 Also keeps me motivated to continue the story... HOPE YOU ENJOYED, LOVE YOU ALL 3