Chapter fourteen:
Haruhi cautiously approaches the doll which doesn't move as if it really is just a doll. She reaches out to touch it finding the hair in fact feels like her own.
"Well would you look at that." A sudden voice behind her makes Haruhi jump then spin around only to blink in confusion upon seeing Hikaru with his demon parts visible.
"Hikaru?! What is this place?" Haruhi glances around suddenly noticing that the surrounding area seems to be changing. She at first sees it turn to a more cheap looking kitchen and the floor turns from tiled to wooden. She desperately looks to Hikaru for answers only to see that he is going. "Hikaru!?" She searches around for him not seeing any sign of him. She falls backwards with a cry as Kaoru with his demon parts also being visible. She sighs at him as he stays there in the air with his arms crossed and almost in a half circle almost like he curled over Haruhi's head. He also has his arms crossed over his chest.
"Surely you don't realize what place this is?" Kaoru questions perking Haruhi's interest that she may finally get some answers. He sighs and spins to be able to land on his feet facing Haruhi with Hikaru peeking out from behind Kaoru as having just appeared there. "You truly have gone through a lot Haruhi. A lot for a human. Not the worst that we've seen in humanity though it is troubling."
"What do you mean?" Haruhi gets up and looks around again before noticing that the area has become familiar. "I am… Home?" She didn't think that was what would happen. She turns back to the twins who move apart, both putting their hands on their hips, to reveal that the doll is gone leaving its spot now empty almost like an eerie reminder that a child was once there.
Hikaru points to a direction towards where Haruhi's room would be. "Perhaps you should explore further and find out for yourself." He invites then Kaoru points to the front door that Haruhi turns to see is wide open with a light shining hiding whatever is out there.
"Or you could quit now. Who would want to go through all that again?"
Haruhi glances to the twins feeling like something really bad will happen if she does quit and head out the front door. She takes a breath through her nose then heads the way that Hikaru pointed. She walks towards where her room is then a flash of light occurs with her blinking away the light only to realize she is somewhere new. She glances around and quickly realizes that to her right is her elementary school and to her left is her junior high school. She stands in a field that seems to separate the two.
"Haru-Chan." Hunny's voice almost seems to surround her as he calls out.
Haruhi looks around trying to locate him without any success. She then looks to the field and swears that part of the grass is moving weird.
Hunny pops his head out of the grass with his demon parts obvious despite his full body not being seen.
Mori appears behind Hunny also showing his demon parts. He stands like a protector over the smaller boy.
"This way." Hunny ducks back down into the grass and it shifts as he walks through it.
Mori turns to follow staying visible like a marker for where Hunny is.
Haruhi follows after them and as the grass brushes against her waist she hears voices in its swishes. She listens closely and realizes that it is various things said by others over the years.
"She's so weird."
"I heard that her father is a slut. How disgraceful. How can she carry her head so high knowing that?"
"Where is her mother? Oh? She isn't in the picture? Well if that part about her father is true then I bet that she had enough of being disgraced in such a way."
"Why try so hard? Studying won't get her anywhere. No respectable high school let alone College or University will accept her."
Haruhi ignores the voices in the swishes of the grass. She doesn't need to hear what people who refuse to understand her situation say about her. She doesn't care. She keeps pushing forward following Hunny and Mori through the field until she can't see the schools anymore. She blinks when Ouran appears in front of them. She glances up to look at it then when she glances down she realizes that Hunny and Mori are gone. She presses onwards and once shes through the grass she finds herself at the entrance of the high school.
Tamaki walks through the doors that are slightly parted open. His demon parts also showing themselves. "Haruhi." He stares at her with a real serious look. "What do you plan to do in this school?" He demands making Haruhi feel like she is on the stand in some court case.
"Study. And to better myself and better my education." Haruhi answers plainly and Tamaki glances away clearly knowing that is true though almost as if he doesn't like the answer.
"You don't belong here." Tamaki's words surprise Haruhi. He places one hand on a hip as he continues to refuse to look at Haruhi. "A school for more angelic beings or even a human school would have suited you better. You're too good for this school. Despite all that has happened to you that soul inside is too pure for the things that come from Hell. You even forgive your father for how he acts. How he is drunk a lot. You don't care if other humans would see how he is as shameful. You love him without question and do your best for him. Your soul shines much brighter than anyone at this school."
"I don't care about that." Haruhi mentions cutting off Tamaki who finally turns to her in surprise. She stands tall. "I will continue to be myself. I don't care about being too good for such a school. I picked this school myself. I never cared how different I would be compared to the other students. This was the school I have wanted to go to for a long time." She pauses as Tamaki approaches her with a small smile.
Tamaki places a hand on her shoulder. "You're a strong one Haruhi. I know that you will become a fine lady one day." He closes his eyes softly letting out a breath. "Never let go of your good soul. Don't let it fall into the wrong hands." He then opens his eyes with an even bigger smile. "We happily welcome you!"
The doors open and a bright light momentarily blinds Haruhi though it feels warm and welcoming.
Haruhi finds the light vanishes to darkness and she only feels a soft surface underneath herself. She groans and manages to blink open her eyes. She spots the wooden looking top to some fancy bed. She glances around seeing a rather lavish bedroom and a bed with wood bed posts and even these purple curtains pulled back allowing everything to be seen. Her eyes finally settle on the familiar sight of Bianca curled up beside her legs on the bed.
Biance raises her head realizing that Haruhi is awake. She lets out a relieved sigh at seeing this. "You're finally awake." She gets up crawling over to lay right beside Haruhi almost like a dog would stretch out next to an owner in bed. "How are you feeling?"
"A little tired." Haruhi breathes out and winces when she tries to move her arm. "And rather sore."
"Yeah I'd imagine so. You were very brave to go through that." Bianca loyally lays her head on Haruhi's chest which the human finds very comforting.
"What happened?" Haruhi stares at the roof of the bed trying to remember what had happened. She remembers the pulling out of the magic inside of herself then sudden darkness. She also shifts, despite the soreness, at remembering her dream.
"You passed out after Asmodeus was done." Bianca clarifies causing Haruhi to look to her allowing their eyes to meet. "Asmodeus said that it was normal and offered this spare room for you to rest and heal in. Everyone left you alone but they let me stay with you."
Haruhi can't help smiling a bit at this. Her heart is warm at Bianca's devotion. "Thank you Bianca. You're a wonderful companion." She is glad to see the Hellhound's face light up happily. She can also hear the sound of Bianca's tail thumping on the bed happily.
"They said once you wake up you can take all the time you want. You will be achy at first though it should wear off. You'll feel better soon or so. Also Asmodeus wanted me to assure you that he got all of that magic out and is keeping that pendant somewhere safe." Bianca tells her and Haurhi nods softly in gratefulness.
Haruhi remains laying there as Bianca lets her have some quiet time. She moves her hand to pet Bianca whose tail thumps even more in more happiness. "Did anything happen?"
"What do you mean?" Bianca hums curiously while staying still to let Haruhi pet her head and ears.
Haruhi explains the dream and Bianca hums in understanding.
"The shock of it all must have given you weird dreams. I assure you that none of that happened. I promise you." Bianca's promise just feels true to Haruhi like a gut instinct.
"Thank you." Haruhi feels a bit more at peace about it knowing that dream was nothing more than just a weird dream. She lets herself continue to rest up waiting for the achiness in her body to go away so she can finally get up. She hopes that she didn't worry everyone too much.