Author: Greeting everyone! This chapter came about faster than I expected. I guess I wanted to get it out of the way before I started my knew job as a EMT instructor. Going to be busy for seven weeks taking a course on just HOW TO TEACH. Anyway, I was thinking of writing a Mer Mori-Himawari story. Let me know what if you guys are interested. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I also want to thank all of you for your reviews/favorites/follows. You all are amazing and I hope that you enjoy the chapter!

—

Himawari sat in with her companions in the parlor, feeling the sudden rush of courage begin to dissipate.

What did I just do! Himawari thought as her thoughts then began to race erratically. She clenched her small hands so tightly that she felt her nails scratch the skin of her thighs, red streaks forming underneath her skirt. Stepmother is going to kill me once Fujioka and Himari leave! What am I going to do! I should've never even opened my mouth!

" You didn't need to stand up for me, Haga-senpai." Haruhi said calmly. Himawari looked up to see Haruhi's brown eyes locked onto her lavender ones.

" You are a guest here, Fujioka-san. I couldn't allow you to be disrespected in my own home."

" But how will your stepmother react now that you've stood up to her?" Himari whispered worriedly. " Your stepmother doesn't seem like she very stable, Haga-san."

Himawari glanced down at her clenched hands weakly. She knew the second her guests left, Yoru would pounce on her and there would be nothing that she could do to stop it.

She wanted to run far away.

Far from this life where she was forced to perform as a slave in her own home. Where her father was always a hairs breath from death.

Where the love of her life had cheated on her with God only knows how many girls.

Where his friends thought it amusing to lure her to an event so that his infidelity could be rubbed in her face.

" Haga-senpai?"

Himawari looked up to see Haruhi staring at her, brown eyes filled with concern.

" Your hands…" The heiress looked down to see that she had clenched her hands so tightly that her nails had cut deep into her skin. Small amounts of blood trickled from the cuts in her palms.

She didn't realize that tears had filled her eyes until Haruhi handed her a handkerchief.

The small brunette didn't say a single word as they dipped another into a cup of water and began dabbing at the cuts.

" Fujioka-san…you don't have t-"

" You shouldn't have to live like this, Haga-san." Himari said quietly. " You're to good of a person to have to deal with those people."

" Where is your father?" Haruhi asked gently.

" He's upstairs." Was all that Himawari said.

" Wait…he's inside the house and he just allows that awful woman to assault you every day?" Himari said in utter disgust. How could a parent allow their child to be abused in their own home and do nothing about it?

" N-No-"

" He's bed bound, isn't he." Haruhi stated in a calm tone, not bothering to look up from their work. " His illness has become so bad that he cannot leave his bed."

Himari had fallen silent at those words. Her grandmother Shion had not mentioned anything about the head of the Estate being so sick he was now bedridden. Just that the young miss shared her love of botany and was in desperate need of friends.

She had not mentioned that the girl was being abused…basically being tortured.

Forced to be a servant in her own home.

Where she was most likely being cheated on by someone she cherished with her entire being. Someone that she was practically giving her all for.

Himari saw a young maid waltzing towards them with three cups of hot tea in her hands.

It wasn't her cousin Kasumi.

She had been familiar with most of the staff that had served the Haga estate from functions her grandmother had held but this one she didn't recognize.

" Ah…thank you, Miisya." Himawari said as she averted her eyes from the maid who all but slammed the cups onto the table.

She wasn't overly found of the new maid.

She seemed to fawn over her stepsister, Kameko, and went out of her way to be cruel to Himawari.

There were times that she would even trip Himawari as she walked by. Kameko always thought that that was funny.

It was always funny to her whenever Himawari would be injured or distraught.

" Of course," Miisya said coldly as she turned rather rudely away from her mistress.

" How long have you worked here?" Himari asked before the maid could take more than two steps away.

" Roughly six months, why?" Miisya replied in a rather curt voice causing Haruhi to glance over at her.

" Because it shows." Himari said as her eyes narrowed abruptly. " Any true maid would know to show respect to the eldest daughter of the family she serves. She wouldn't be stupid enough to show blatant disrespect to the future head of the family."

" Perhaps if the daughter was at least competent," Miisya said causing Himawari to flinch. " Then even someone as lowly as a mere maid would respect here."

" Why y-"

" MIISYA!"

The four flinched at the firm and resolute voice of Shion wring from suddenly.

They looked up to see the elderly head maid standing in the door way, her gold eyes narrowed. Her normally stoic, unyielding face a mix of displeasure and disgust as her eyes locked on the younger maid.

" The cook has use of you in the kitchen." Shion snapped causing the maid to tense. " Best to hurry yourself along before he grows annoyed."

" Of course, Ma'am."

" But not before you apologize to the Young Miss." Shion said causing Miisya to tense.

" What?" The maid said without any attempt to hide her disgust at the mere thought.

" The Young Miss will be the head of this family, you should show her the respect that she deserves." Shion stated in a matter of fact tone. " One who serves this household should understand that reality."

" You heard her." Himari snapped causing the maid to shoot daggers at her.

" You shouldn't be disrespectful to anyone." Haruhi said causing the maid to sneer at her.

" What would you know? You're no better than me? I heard you're just a scholarship student at that school of yours!"

" And?" Himawari said suddenly causing everyone in the room to look over at her. " What does Fujioka-san's ability to pass the entrance exam of their own accord have anything to do with money and status?"

" As a matter of fact, Fujioka-san getting into Ouran High on passing the entrance exam is far more admirable than someone simply attending because their family has the right connection or is esteemed." Himawari said, her purple eyes locked in firm resolution.

" As an employee of the Haga Estate, you will never disrespect a guest of it ever again you will never set foot inside its walls."

A rare smirk appeared across Shion's aged face. The young miss was becoming more and more like her mother with each passing day.

If only she would reconcile with her fiancé.

Shion was in full agreement that the Morinozuka heir had been a good influence on Himawari. Each time the heiress returned from an encounter with him, she seemed more energetic, happier.

However, ever since the incident at the Ball had occurred, the purple eyed teen seemed to have slumped to almost the starting point.

The elderly housekeeper wanted to shove both teens into a room and make them work this out.

Takashi had been the push that Himawari had needed to see the potential in herself that had been there all along.

Under his attentiveness, Himawari had begun to improve in both health and demeanor. She wasn't rail thin anymore. Whenever she would return from his home she would be practically glowing with happiness.

Her appetite had seemed to have returned for a few days even.

At least until Yoru would get ahold of her. Then the heiress would be back at square one again. Worked her until she would just be at her breaking point…and then Takashi would rescue her for another day and the cycle would just start anew.

Shion wished that Inei would be strong enough again. He would surely put a stop to his daughter's abuse. She knew he would never stand for it, but she didn't dare to inform the family's head.

She knew that his health was far too delicate to realize that he had brought a literal monster into his home.

A monster who was torturing his beloved daughter.

His only daughter.

No.

Shion needed to do what she could to protect the true family to the best of her abilities.

If only she could just get the Morinozuka heir and her young mistress in the same room for longer than two minutes.

Shion shifted her golden eyes towards the window where she felt her breath catch in her chest.

There she saw said heir rushing full boar towards the estate.

This may be the chance that they needed to fix things.

" If you'll excuse me, Miss Himawari." Shion said before shifting her gaze to Miisya. " Kitchens. Now."

" Yes ma'am." The younger maid said as she darted out of the room.

" Enjoy the remainder of your visit." Shion said giving a slight bow to the group before she hurriedly made her way towards the front entrance.

" Your hand seems to have stopped bleeding, Haga-senpai." Haruhi said giving it a once over and noticing the small residue scars that were there.

How frequently has she done this to herself? Haruhi thought before wrapping the handkerchief around the heiress' hand.

" Thank you, Fujioka-san. You really didn't need too."

" It's no big deal," Haruhi said flashing her a kind smile. " We at Ouran, make it our priority to assist any lady in need."

" I still can't get over that maid." Himari said causing the two to look over at her. " Where does she get off talking to her boss that way?"

" I'm not her boss, Himari." Himawari said as she took one of the cups of tea and brought it to her lips.

" You're the daughter of the head of this family, of course you're her boss." Himari huffed. " If you aren't, then who?"

" Shion…stepmother…anyone else but me." Himawari said as she took a drink from the cup.

" I agree with your friend, Haga-san." Haruhi said retaking the vacated seat and lifting the second cup. " Humbleness could be portrayed as weakness to the wrong people."

They're not wrong. Himawari thought coughing slightly before taking another sip from her cup. She knew her timidness made her a target for others to manipulate.

She couldn't help it, though. Be kind was part of her being. She definitely had trouble with being assertive to anyone and she would feel so out of place ordering a maid or manservant around the house.

She coughed again, this time a little more deeply than before.

At first it felt like a small tickle in the back of her throat and she had the urge to clear it. Now however, it felt like razor blades were cutting her throat with each cough. It was also becoming more and more uncomfortable to breath as well.

" Haga-san?" Himari said, her brown eyes filled with concern. " Are you alright?"

Himawari shifted her eyes towards the small brunette, her vision growing foggy.

" I-" Himawari broke off into a coughing fit as she tried to speak. She didn't register whose hand it was that was placed on her shoulder or when they had moved from the chair. All she knew was that she couldn't stop coughing.

She just needed to stop.

Maybe if I standup. She thought as she went to move only to have her knees give out.

Her chest felt tight as she hit the floor. She could hear faint unrecognizable shouting as warm arms wrapped around her. The voices felt so far and she couldn't even make them out.

Suddenly she felt as though she was falling backwards as her vision blurred to barely discernible shapes.

This shouldn't be happening. Himawari thought as another wave of coughs rippled through her.

" HAGA-SENPAI!"

She thought she heard Haruhi voice but she wasn't sure. She could make out panic but barely anything else.

" YOUNG MISS!"

Kasumi? She thought weakly as her breathing became more and more difficult. What's happening…why can't is it so hard t-

" SOMEONE CALL EMS!"

EMS? Himawari thought weakly as pain ripped suddenly throughout her body, wrenching an ear splitting scream from her.

" OH GOD, IT'S THE YOUNG MISS!"

" DO SOMETHING!" Haruhi frantically yelled towards the maid who began to weep uncontrollably.

" KASUMI! DO SOMETH-" Himari broke off as she saw Himawari's fiancé come hurtling around the corner at full speed.

She saw his grey eyes go wide in sheer terror as he took in the sight of his fiancée before him. Himari watched as the purple eyes of the heiress roll backwards and felt her small frame go limp go suddenly in her arms.

" HIMA!" She heard a male voice shout and before she could think the dark haired girl was suddenly ripped from her arms.

Himari watched as the dark haired boy crushed the girl tightly to him in sheer desperation. She felt her heart break instantly as she heard his voice break as he called out to Himawari.

Begging her to open her eyes.

" HIMA, PLEASE!" Mori bellowed as he clutched the girl to him. " HIMA, WAKE UP! PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES!"

Haruhi watched as the normally stoic, almost emotionless upperclassman broke down before her.

She was completely amiss as to what to do.

Panic filled her as she saw blood trickle from the teen girl's nose.

" TAKASHI!"

Haruhi whirled to see a man of similar height to Mori with cropped black hair with matching colored eyes standing in the doorway. His black hair now disheveled and he was panting, as if he had ran from across the estate.

He was clearly Mori's father, Akira. Head of the Morinozuka family. The man moved past her and ran straight towards his son.

" HIMA PLEASE," Mori sobbed as he clutched her pale cheek weakly. " PLEASE HIMA, OPEN YOUR EYES!"

" Hime-chan!" Haruhi looked back at the door a the faint sound of Honey's voice. The blonde's eyes were fixed on the crumple girl held tightly to his cousin. " Hime-chan, no…"

" Honey-senpai…"

" Hima, please." Haruhi heard Mori's broken voice as he continuously shook Himawari's unconconcious form. " Wake up. Hima…I'll do anything, please just wake up!"

" TAKASHI, LOOK AT ME!" The man yelled grabbing Mori by the face and forcing him to meet his eyes. " You need to make her drink this."

" W-What?" Mori said in confusion as he watched his father pull a small vial filled with bluish liquid out of his pocket.

" EMS IS HERE!" A male servant from down the hallway called

" We don't have time, Takashi! You need to make her drink this or else she won't make it!" Akira snapped as he opened the vial and shoved it towards his son. " Himawari won't make it to the hospital otherwise."

Mori took the small vial in his hand before he turned his gaze to his fiancée's limp form.

" You have to trust me, Takashi." Akira said firmly, his grey eyes hardening. " We're running out of time."

Something seemed to click in his head and Mori pressed the bottle to his lips, emptying the contents into his mouth. Swiftly, he dipped his head down and pressed his mouth against Himawari's, forcing her jaw open and the liquid in.

Himawari, please. He thought as he felt the taste of her blood mix with whatever the liquid from the vial.

" This way, hurry please!" Shion, the elderly housekeeper, said as she ushered the EMS team into the room.

" Did she take it?" Akira asked when he saw his son pull away and nod. " All of it?" Another nod. " Good, now son, you need to give her over to the paramedics."

" Excuse me, young man." One medic said cautiously as he knelt down beside Mori. " We need to examine her."

" Takashi," Akira said firmly when he saw his son tighten his hold around the heiress. " You need to let them take care of her. Give Himawari to them and they'll take her to get proper medical care."

Mori looked down at his fiancée and took in how fragile and broken she looked in his arms. All he wanted to do was curl her against him and make sure no one else hurt ever again.

" Takashi!" Akira said causing his son to jump. As gently as he could, he handed his fiancée over to medical staff and watched distantly as they began hooking her up to portable machines.

" Heart rate thready and irregular." He heard one medic say. " Inserting 18 gauge iv into right ac and beginning 500 ml dose of lactated ringers. Rate is set at KVO."

" Pupils are constricted and nonreactive to light." The second medic stated. " Signs of severe pharmacological response. Possible OD."

" She didn't overdose!" Mori snapped angrily. " She-" How could he be certain that Himawari wouldn't, though? With how she was emotionally after the incident at the ball, she could have been suicidal.

She had dedicated most of her life to becoming what Yoru had made her think was the perfect bridal candidate. The pressure of that mixed with the abuse she had been suffering and having to care for her ill father. It was all bound to have been too much for her.

When she had seen that girl kiss him that night, it could very well have been the tipping point. Could she have wanted to escape everything?

" Analyze the tea." Akira said in a commanding tone. " I believe you'll find what you need there."

" The tea?" Haruhi said quietly, turning to look at the three cups on the table. How could anything be wrong with the tea? Both Himari and I drank it and we are fine.

" What are you talking about, Otou-san?" Mori said as the third medic took the cup Himawari had used and poured the contents into a specimen cup. He watched the man label it and then repeat the pattern with the other two cups.

" We've called report to the local trauma center, I take it you're the guardian?" The medic said as he helped the second to place Himawari onto the gurney, securing her and the machine in place.

" I-"

" I am!" Yoru's chilly voice wrung out through the room. " Who called for you here? I didn't authorize entry into this estate!"

" I did, madam!" Shion snapped. " The young miss was poisoned, she obviously required medical attention."

" This is just another of her over dramatic episodes! Why would you bother, she's fine!" Yoru shot back. " The girl is clearly faking it."

" You're telling me a teen girl is faking cardiac arrhythmias and pupil distortion? She's practically gone into shock." The third medic snapped.

" How could you say something like that about your own daughter?"

" That girl is not my daughter." Yoru scoffed. " I am just her guardian."

" Not true." Akira said standing and straightening his coat. He turned and pinned Yoru with a disgusted look.

" What do you mean, Akira? I am clearly her stepmother! Have you suffered a blow to the head?"

" Unfortunately, you are the poor girl's stepmother. That much is true." Akira sighed before pulling out a folded piece of paper from his jacket. " However, that does not make you Himawari's guardian."

" WHAT!" Yoru screeched, balling her fists up in rage.

" This form here simply states that Himawari's guardianship has been temporarily granted to the Morinozuka family's head, i.e. me." Akira said before handing the paperwork to the paramedics. " This means any and all matters regarding the girl falls to me for decisions.

" What are you waiting for? Time is of the essence, take her to the trauma center!" The head of the Morinozuka's snapped to the medic who quickly handed the form to Akira and gestured for his team to move out.

" How dare you tell such lies, Akira! There's no way you are Himawari's guardian!" Yoru screeched before she stormed toward him.

" Why would I lie?" Akira scoffed as he handed the form to Shion.

" You would require Inei's approval for it and there is no way he-"

" Master Inei's signature is written here, Madam. It's clear as day." Shion said as a rare smile flashed across her aged face.

" Give me that, you old hag!" Yoru snatched the form from the house keeper and paled as she read it. There at the very bottom had been her husband's signature. As strong and steady as it had been prior to his illness. " How shameful of you, Akira! Forcing a deathly ill man to sign something like this when he's clearly not in his right mind."

" I can assure you, Inei is as sound of mind as he was the day he proposed to Ayame." Akira said enjoying the anger that flooded the woman's eyes as he mentioned Ayame's name.

He remembered how much Inei had worshipped his first wife and knew the hatred Yoru had for the same woman. He had warned Inei about Yoru. How she was not to be trusted. How she would bring nothing but ruin to his family but Inei had been too trusting.

When Ayame had been killed he knew Yoru had been behind it but he wasn't able to prove it. He hadn't been able to find any evidence to it. But now…now he knew he had her. Leaning forward, he whispered gleefully into her ear.

" I know everything, Yoru." He smirked as he felt her tense. " I know that you have been poisoning Inei and I know what you have been doing to Himawari."

" I-I-I-"

" Excuse me, madam." A maid said cautiously as she entered the room. " The police are here to speak with you."

" YOU CONTACTED THE POLICE!" Yoru screeched at Shion causing the elderly woman to freeze.

" No madam! I only contacted EMS."

" THEN IT WAS YOU!" Yoru yelled now whirling at Akira.

" I did not."

" DON'T LIE TO ME, AKIRA! IF IT WASN'T THAT HAG THEN WHO ELSE IT COULD IT BE!"

" It was me, Yoru."

A disgusted baritone voice rang out suddenly causing Yoru's breath to catch in her chest.

It can't be. She thought in horror not wanting to turn and see the truth.

" Who is that?" She heard the little boy who had come with Himawari whisper to someone curiously.

" Go ahead, Yoru." Akira smirked. " Turn around to greet him. Just as a loving wife should."

No…he couldn't be well enough to leave his bed!

Turning slowly Yoru felt as though her knees were about to give out from under her.

Sitting there in the entry way in a wheel chair was a pale man around Akira's age. He had light brown hair with flecks of grey. Emaciation from neglect had caused deep lined to form around his handsome face. Deep purple eyes shone with hatred from that handsome face.

" Glad you could join us, old friend." Akira said causing Yoru to whimper.

" I-Inei darling, you're out of bed."