Author: YAY! I posted another chapter! I had an awful couple of months at work and needed to write some. I hope you all enjoy the 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!
—
" How is Young Master Takeshi doing?" A maid from the Morinozuka mansion asked another several weeks later. She glanced over to see the topic of her inquiry staring hopefully at his cell phone.
" Not well," Another whispered weakly. " Miss Himawari won't answer any of his calls or texts."
" Has he tried speaking to her at the Haga Estate or at her school."
" Mistress Yoru is forbidding him from entering the house. She won't even allow him to speak with the Young Miss." The second maid said. " He hasn't been able to speak with her at school either. I heard that some of the students there won't tell him if she's gone home or not."
" Poor Master Takashi," The first maid said sorrowfully. " I'm sure if he could just speak with Miss Himawari then everything could be cleared up."
" I don't think it's that simple." The second maid whispered.
—
Himawari stood in the home economics room of Lobelia. She filled the sink with dish soap and scalding hot water as released a long held sigh.
This was her first day back to school after she had found out about Takashi's betrayal. Yoru had forbidden her from attending school after she had found out that she had gone out the night of the ball. She had even taken Himawari's cell phone from her.
Not that Himawari had wanted it.
No, if she would have had it, she may have been tempted to reach out to Takashi. To see if he would be honest with her about his two timing or if he would continue to lie.
In a way, Yoru's punishment was a bit of a relief to her.
She didn't have that constant need to look at her phone. To see what story Takashi was going to spin her. To see how he was going to pretend to care for her next.
To trick her into thinking that he cared for her.
" Haga-san!"
Himawari turned to see Himari coming hurriedly towards her.
" Himari?" Himawari said in confusion as the brunette grabbed her wrists quickly, jerking them out of the water.
" What on earth are you doing! That water's scalding hot!" Himari said quickly, turning the faucet onto cold as she placed the black haired girl's hands under the running cold water.
Himawari glanced down at her scalded hands, not fully registering any pain in them.
" Something's wrong, Haga-san. You were out for almost two weeks and now you're basically walking around in a daze. Are you ok?"
Himawari looked away from the brunette.
She felt as though if she met her eyes, then she would be found out. That everyone would know how big of a fool Takashi had made her out to be.
" Is it that guy?" Himari asked cautiously making Himawari's heart race.
She thought that after two weeks of crying she wouldn't have anything left inside. Yet when Himari had asked her she felt her an overwhelming surge of tears flood to her eyes.
" Oh no! Haga-san, please sit down!" Himari said guiding Himawari towards a nearby chair. " I wasn't serious."
As she reached the chair, she felt her knees give out. " It's ok Haga-san, I got you." Himari said quickly as she aided the girl into the chair.
Himawari was silent as the tears slid down her cheeks. Her shoulder's shaking as she silently choked back her sobs.
" What could have possibly happened, Haga-san? You seemed so happy the day before the ball." Himari said as she rubbed Himawari's back soothingly.
Himawari dipped her head down, her long black hair shielding her face from the other teen.
" Something happened at the ball." Himari said firmly causing Himawari's shoulder's to slump in defeat. " That pig."
Himawari remained silent as the other teen continued. " Did he try something with you, Haga-san? Did he try to make you do things you didn't want to?"
" No." Himawari said in a small voice, barely more than a whisper.
" Then what is it? If he didn't try to force him-" Himari broke off suddenly as something inside her head clicked. " Y-You caught him cheating, didn't you?"
" UNACCEPTABLE!"
The two teens jumped at the sudden shrill outburst from the other side of the room.
Storming into the room was Benio, who's face was nothing but sheer rage.
" DEAREST KORE!"
Oh no. Himawari groaned as Benio stopped abruptly infront of her.
" WHOEVER HAS CAUSED THESE TEARS TO TRAIL THEIR WAY DOWN YOUR LOVELY PORCELAIN CHEEKS SHALL PAY!" She said dramatically, dropping to her knees before the heiress.
" Name them, dearest Kore." Benio said her voice becoming softer as she reached up to tenderly cup Himawari's cheek.
" Was it that man?" Chizuru asked in disgust from the doorway.
Himawari looked away at the girl's question causing Benio to swear in disgust.
" That vile heathen! How dare he bring tears to this lovely face!" Benio snapped, biting her lip in hatred. " Just say the word, dearest naiad and I shall defeat him in combat! I shall avenge every tear that you have shed for his unworthy self!"
As she spoke there was a large commotion outside the school. Dozens of girls darted through the halls, heading towards the front of the school.
" Hey! You there! What's going on?" Chizuru asked a passerby. " What is the reason for all this commotion?"
" There's a very tall and attractive looking guy with a limo standing outside the school!" The girl said giddily.
" He's got the most gorgeous tan boy with black hair and beautiful grey eyes!" Another squealed in excitement.
" I heard he is from Ouran High!" The first said before she and her classmate darted away.
" How dare he!" Benio snarled standing suddenly. " First he brings tears to my beautiful Kore and then he has the audacity to appear here to further her pain!"
" Benio, p-"
" Fear not, beautiful Persephone!" Benio said calmly, taking Himawari's hand and placing a light kiss onto it.
" Benio-"
Before Himawari could finish, her classmate had disappeared.
" This might be beneficial, Haga-san." Himari said as she took Himawari's hand in her own. " While Benio and the rest of the Zuka Club has your fiancee distracted, you can easily sneak away and head safely home."
That's right. Himawari thought standing suddenly. They'll both be distracted. I can easily sneak away and not have to deal with either of them.
" Let's head this way!" Himari said grabbing her by the hand and puling her towards the stairwell.
—
" YOU VILE WRETCHED CREATURE! HOW DARE YOU SET FOOT UPON THESE HALLOWED GROUNDS!"
Himawari could hear Benio's shrill shrieks from the courtyard as clearly as if she were there.
That should be more than enough to keep Takashi's attention. She thought as she and Himari made their way around the border wall surrounding the outskirts of Lobelia.
" Benibara-senpai can most assuredly call a crowd's attention." Himari said as they made their way towards the direction of local train station. " By the way Haga-senpai, do you have a train pass?"
" A-A what?"
Himari stopped and stared at her in confusion.
" A train pass." Himari repeated. " You know, so that you can ride the train."
Himawari stared at her in equal confusion.
" Haga-senpai…how have you been getting to school if your fiancé hasn't been bringing you and you haven't been taking the train?"
" I-uh-I-"
" HIME-CHAN!"
The girls jumped at the sound of an excited/concerned voice rang out.
Mitsukuni! Himawari cringed at the recognition of her childhood friend's voice. How could she have forgotten about Mitsukuni?
Wherever Takashi went, Mistukuni was never far behind.
" Do you know that little boy?" Himari asked as Honey hurried towards them.
" He's not a little boy, he's my age. He's also Takashi's cousin so we need to leave before he catches up to us!" Himawari said hurriedly as she and Himari darted towards the train station's entrance.
" Don't worry Haga-senpai, he'll lose us once we make our way inside the station!" Himari said as the entrance rushed towards them.
" HIME-CHAN, WAIT! PLEASE JUST TALK TO TAKASHI!" Honey called from behind them, sounding closer than Himawari wished him to be.
" Jeeze, he's going to tip off your fiancé with all his racket!" Himari said and the two darted through the crowd towards the ticket booth. " You can pay me back later, Senpai."
" O-Okay?" Himawari said as Himari pulled out enough yen to purchase a train card.
" HIMAWARI!"
The heiress jumped at the deep voice of her fiancé.
" Come on, something tells me, that like you, they don't know what train cards are or even how to use them." Himari said as she showed Himawari how to use said card.
" You would've thought that Benibara would've kept that giant occupied for a lot longer than this!"
It's because Mitsukuni saw me. Himawari thought as Himari jerked her through the turnstile and towards the train platform.
" HIMA, PLEASE!" Mori yelled as he and Honey rushed towards them. " PLEASE, JUST WAIT AND LISTEN! I NEED TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!"
He shouldn't be this determined to get someone that he cheats on back. It's not like my family would really bring such a significant flux to his. Himawari thought as she fought to catch her breath as a the train docked at their platform, doors opening and patrons exiting.
" Don't worry, he can't get back here without a card. If he's anything like you, then he will need to purchase one and by then the train will have pulled awa-" Himari broke off when they saw both Mori and Honey leap over the turnstiles and rush towards them.
" HEY YOU!" An attendant yelled as he chased after the two teens. " YOU HAVE TO PAY TO USE THE TRAIN!
" WHAT THE HELL!" Himari gapped as Himawari pulled her quickly onto the train.
" HIME-CHAN, WAIT!" Honey yelled as he darted through the crowd.
" What kind of crazy person just JUMPS the turnstile like that?!" Himari gapped as they shoved their way onto the train.
" Members of two of the most notorious martial arts families in all of Japan." Himawari said as she bumped against the train's door button, instantly closing them.
" HIMAWARI, PLEASE!" Mori said as he made his way towards the train. He had almost reached the platform right as the train darted from the station.
" We missed her..." Honey said weakly as they watched the train become smaller and smaller. " I'm sorry, Takashi. I had hoped that today you would've been able to see her and explain."
" I know, Mitsukuni." Mori said as he ran his hand through his hair.
She ran from me. He thought tiredly. She actually ran from me. I never would've thought that something like this would've ever happened to us.
He never imagined that the two of them would have ever been in a situation like this.
How could he have ever expected that Kameko would be so underhanded to set him up to be an adulterer. She was far more manipulative than he could've imagined.
Now Himawari was hurting and refusing to speak to him.
For all he knew she was being abused even more for going to the ball. Yoru's creativity knew no bounds when it came to torturing his fiancé.
He had to find a way to speak to her.
He needed to explain everything to her. He was just starting to get her to understand how much she means to him and now this. He couldn't let Yoru and Kameko poison her further against him.
She was worth so much more than what they were tricking her into being.
" You'll get a chance to clear things up, Takeshi." Honey said offering his cousin a reassuring smile.
Yes, but how much damage will occur between now and then? Mori thought weakly, running a hand through his dark hair. How much self hatred is she going to put herself through before I can clarify everything? She looked even more frail than before the ball. She is basically wasting away because of this entire mess. I need to see her, to explain everything. I have to get her away from Yoru and that house.
" Takashi?" Honey said worriedly.
" Will she even belief me?" Mori asked quietly. " When I finally get to speak with her, I mean. Will she even belief what I have to say?"
" She has too, Takashi." Honey said in an attempt to sound reassuring. " Hime-chan has too."
—
" What the hell was that?" Himari gaped loudly as she and Himawari slumped onto a nearby train bench. " He sure was determined to talk to you back there! Damn it! Just what happened between the two of you?"
" SHHH!" An elderly woman from a the next bench over said, glaring shrewdly from her seat at the two girls.
Himawari bit her lip before she pulled her phone out. She pulled up the photo of Takashi that had been sent to her from an unknown number and showed it to Himari.
" That cheating son of a-"
" SHHHH!"
" AIN'T NO ONE TALKING TO YOU, LADY!" Himari snapped at the woman who seemed taken aback. " Mind your own business!"
" Such a rude girl!"
" And he has the audacity to try and explain his side of things, when there's photographic evidence of his crime!" Himari growled, ignoring the older woman.
" I don't want to speak to him right now." Himawari whispered as she put her phone away.
" I don't blame you, girl! I'll help you avoid that cheating jerk-wad no matter what!"
" You don't need to involve yourself anymore than you already have, Himari-san." Himawari sighed weakly.
" We are friends, Haga-senpai!" Himari said patting the other's hand. " Of course I do. I can't do anything to stop the Zuka Club from hounding you, but I can help you dodge that prissy rich ex of yours."
Himawari gave a soft smile at the girl's outburst as she finally regained her breath.
Friend.
For the longest time, Takashi and Mitsukuni had been her only friends. When her father had married Yoru and the three of them had enter middle school they had become distant. With Himawari entering Lobelia's Girl's Academy and Takashi along with Mitsukuni stayed with Ouran they rarely saw one another.
She didn't ever remember having a female friend before. Even when she was in elementary school.
" So what's the deal with you and tall, dark and pretty? How'd you guys get engaged in the first place?" Himari asked.
" Our fathers are friends and arranged our engagement."
" What is the exchangement of the marriage?"
" I'm sorry?"
" Well, aren't most arranged marriages based off a quid-pro-quo system? What does his family get from bringing you into the family?" Himari asked causing Himawari to think deeply about the query.
What would the Morinozuka family gain from Takashi marrying her?
Her family wasn't prevalent in the martial arts community. Nor were they big wigs in the finance or medical industries.
So why was Takashi so determined to speak with her? It couldn't be because he actually remorseful that she had witnessed his infidelity first hand.
No, surely not.
What was more than likely going on is that Akira had found out of his son's activities and without wanting to offend his sick friend, is pushing Takashi to fix the mess that he created.
" I don't know why he would want to marry me or what his family gains with our engagement." Himawari said calmly. I am nothing of true importance in any social circle. So he has to be in trouble with Akira-san. That's probably the only reason he remembered that I existed to begin with. She thought weakly.
" This is going to obviously his loss, Haga-senpai." Himari huffed. " He obviously is a moron and most definitely doesn't deserve you!"
As her classmate spoke Himawari noticed that the train begin to slow down and come to a complete stop.
" Will this line take us to my area of town?" She asked causing Himari stop mid-rant and look over at her.
" Oh…I never thought of that…well," Himari said awkwardly as the train came to a sudden stop and passengers standing to exit it. " Well…um…" She stood to look at the line map posted above their seat.
Himawari bit her lip in worry. If she was late, her stepmother would beat her again.
The bruises from when she had snuck out to the ball wear just starting to yellow on the edges.
Ever since Takashi had seen the bruise across her face, Yoru always made she to strike the heiress in places she knew a gentleman like him shouldn't see.
Now Himawari guessed, he would never seen those areas. " I'm sorry Haga-senpai…I don't think we are on the correct li-"
" Haga-san? What are you doing riding a train?" A familiar soft voice asked. Himawari looked up in surprise to see a similar expression plastered across the face of one of Takashi's club mate.
Fujioka, Haruhi.
—
" You shouldn't need to humiliate yourself as you do, Takashi."
Mori and Honey had finally vacated the train station to discover Kameko standing there in her Lobelia uniform, offering them a smug smile.
" I am in no mood, Kameko." Mori snapped as the girl sauntered over to him.
" I'm simply stating a fact, Takashi." Kameko said as she slid a finger down the length of his tie before grasping it tightly. " The heir to the honorable Morinozuka family shouldn't be desperately chasing after a worthless tea peddler."
" Watch what you say, Kameko-san." Honey said taking a step towards her. " I don't know how, but I know you're behind this! You're purposefully hurting Hime-chan to pull her and Takashi apart!"
" Careful Mitsukuni-chan, if the wrong person saw this, they might view it as a member of Ouran's famous Host Club threatening a poor innocent girl." Kameko laughed as she nodded towards a group of girls standing off to the side who seemed to be simply perusing their phones carelessly.
" Not only a member of the Host Club but also the heir to the Haninozuka family too."
At that, Mori lightly pushed Honey behind him. Protecting hi
" Leave, Kameko."
" Oh come now, Takashi. This is my school after, if any one should leave, it's you." Her smirk turned into a grin. " Now, let's be realistic for a moment, shall we? We both know that you and Himawari are through." Her words caused an involuntary tick in Mori's jaw.
There was no way he planned to let her and her mother's schemes ruin his relationship with Himawari.
" So why not pull the trigger and be done with it." Kameko said as her smirk turned seductive. " You deserve a real woman to stand by your side, not some pathetic milksop who just runs away when things get hard."
" I'm only going to say this once Kameko, so listen closely." Mori said leaning forward causing her to take a step back. His voice dropped to barely more than a whisper as he continued. " I would rather peel my flesh from my bones and swim in an ocean of bleach than to willingly be with you."
" How dare you!" Kameko said in anger. " You don't know what-"
" Get this through your head, Kameko." Mori said as a smirk appeared across his handsome face. " Himawari is the only woman I will ever want."