Ouran High School Host Club Fan Fiction ❯ Stolen ❯ How Could They Have Known ( Chapter 5 )

A/N: Reviews please My cell phone got stolen and so I am pretty sad, but reviews make me smile :p Happy Reading!

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“Oi, Haruhi!?” Before she even turned her head too answer the twins, who'd called her in unison from across the table, she knew they had mischief on the mind.

 

“Yes?” She may have known the twins were devious but she couldn't very well ignore them after the support they'd given her today.

 

“What was Tamaki doing before you found him?” Tamaki, who'd been just started listening in, answered for Haruhi.

 

“I was in the shower. She's told you before.” Tamaki felt badly for Haruhi, she'd had to re-tell Tamaki's story to multiple nurses, doctors, and friends. He was sure she must be tired of explaining by now. Also, Tamaki noticed how she looked a little uncomfortable every time she relived what must have been quite the scare for her. He felt badly about that too, the fact that he had scared her.

 

Hikaru raised an eyebrow at Tamaki as if to say `did I ask you?' and turned to Haruhi who turned to Tamaki and sputtered, silently asking for help.

 

“He was in the shower, like he said,” Haruhi answered finally.

 

“Haruhi, what do you wear in the shower?” Kaoru's eyebrows were at just the right angle to suggest innocence.

 

“Well, nothing.”

 

“And what does Tamaki wear in the shower…?” Both twins were looking at Haruhi.

 

“Nothing…” Haruhi said it as if she were asking a question; wondering what they were getting at.

 

“And how do you know that?” Before her tired mind had enough time to think of the implications in what the twins were saying, she answered.

 

“Well, I saw him when…when…” Haruhi turned immediately scarlet while the twins burst out laughing, seriously startling a young bus boy walking by the table. Tamaki gave the twins a rare serious, disapproving look, or at least, he did after about ten seconds of furious blushing and studying the napkin in his lap.

 

“Enough.” The command was curt and demanded compliance. The twins hid their grinning faces behind their menu's and continued to bask in the joy of a joke gone right. Kyouya, who had issued the command, was still reading his menu, or at least it appeared that way. Kyouya was actually deep in thought. He was about to do something that required some preparation, he didn't need the twins distracting him with remembering that Tamaki had been at Haruhi's dorm, in her shower. It was unacceptable that Tamaki had been where Haruhi slept, showered, dressed. Haruhi should never have allowed it. Kyouya was going to make sure it would never happen again.

 

The rest of dinner followed in a similar manner. The twins cracked jokes, with Tamaki at the brunt of them and Kyouya looked on tight lipped and quiet, not sharing in the joy of Tamaki's health. Haruhi knew something was wrong with Kyouya. This became especially clear when Tamaki reached next to him and slipped his hand into Haruhi's. Immediately after Kyouya noticed, he stood, pushing his chair back with more force than necessary, and excused himself. Haruhi couldn't pay much attention after that, though, because her stomach was doing those electric feeling flips at having Tamaki reach out on his own to hold her hand. Hunny, though, who hadn't appeared to notice Kyouya's tight jaw and silence all throughout dinner, looked at Kyouya's retreating figure with one quirked eyebrow.

 

“Ne, Takahashi? How long do you think Kyouya is going to act like that?” After a furtive glance at Tamaki, Mori simply shook his head at Hunny and motioned for the loli-shota to continue eating the cream cake he'd ordered instead of a regular dinner.

 

~~~~

 

Kyouya ran a tensed hand over his face and took a deep breath. He was angry. Angry and frustrated. Even without spending time alone with Haruhi, Tamaki was making progress with Haruhi. He'd done everything he could, while still being subtle, to keep the two from having any more moments that would push them in the direction Tamaki wanted them to go. It wasn't working. Sure Kyouya knew what had to be done; he was planning on having to do it anyway if she were…reluctant. He knew now, though, that he'd have to set his plan in motion sooner than he intended.

 

~~~~

 

“Haruhi?” Tamaki's hand still rested in hers, mid-way up her right thigh. “After dinner, do you think, maybe you would want to go and get some desert somewhere?” Tamaki was resolute in his decision to wait until after his business trip to tell Haruhi he loved her and to ask her to make him truly the happiest man alive and marry him, but that didn't mean he couldn't spend time with her until then. Also, to tell the truth, Tamaki was more scared than he'd ever been in his life about the whole thing to actually do it tonight anyway. Not only was Tamaki laying himself bare and telling Haruhi he loved her, leaving himself open to the biggest possible humiliation of his life, but he was asking her something that was not fair to her. He wished he had the time to wait, if she returned his feelings, and ask her later. But he really didn't. He would be moving to another part of Japan and attending a different college if this business deal went through. If he was being honest with himself though, that wasn't the big problem. It was that he didn't want to wait. Tamaki had loved Haruhi since the first week she joined the host club. It may have been more of a “family” type love, but it was love. A love that had grown and blossomed into something beautiful that Tamaki had come to rely on, something he did not want to ever lose. If anyone could ever call Tamaki selfish, this would be the only instance they could use as evidence. It wasn't fair to ask Haruhi, immediately after he told her he loved her, to marry him. It wasn't fair to ask Haruhi that she completely skip the whole “courtship” timeline and become a wife. It wasn't fair that he'd be asking her to uproot her whole life and follow him half way across Japan. But he wanted her, needed her, to agree. But, ultimately, it was her decision to make. She could turn him down if she wanted. He would not bother her about it again if she wanted. But he didn't want her to.

 

“No, Tamaki. You should go home.” Neither Haruhi nor Tamaki had noticed Kyouya return to the table and were equally startled when he'd spoken. The smallest sliver of fire sparked in Tamaki's head. He was an adult; he could do what he wanted.

 

“He's right, Tamaki. You should go rest.”

 

“Oh.” Tamaki looked a little off for what was left of dinner up until after the check, picked up by Kyouya, was paid. Though he finally perked up when it was time to leave. At least he would get to drive home with Haruhi.

 

As everyone was getting up to leave, Kyouya motioned at Haruhi.

 

“May I have a word?” Haruhi shot a glance at Tamaki, who was standing awkwardly holding her coat open for her. Tamaki could feel that something wasn't right, something was…off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. So, he nodded and spoke softly into Haruhi's ear.

 

“I'll be out by the car, when you're ready.” Kyouya saw the shiver, the infinitesimal little shock that went through all her nerves when Tamaki had spoken so…so…innocently tempting in her ear.

 

Slightly pink, Haruhi turned to Kyouya.

 

“Kyouya, is everything-” Kyouya held up his hand in an unmistakable gesture to get Haruhi to stop talking.

 

“Fujioka Haruhi.” Haruhi felt another shiver, for an entirely different reason though. Kyouya's tone was ice as he continued. “When you first came to the host club, I thought you no more than an over schooled bookworm who would only prove useful if put to work.”

 

`ouch…' Haruhi bristled slightly. As Kyouya continued, his tone lightened only in the smallest amount.

 

“You proved me wrong, though. A feat very few can claim. I started to notice certain…benefits associated with having you around. You can persuade even the most toughened to see things your way simply with words and time. You can charm others into changing, even if unintentionally on your part. Among a small group of other benefits. Your skills interested me and I soon found myself paying more attention to what you did.”

 

`!?' Haruhi was desperately trying to figure out what Kyouya was saying and where he was going with all this.

 

“I found myself wanting you. And Haruhi, do you know what is nice about being the owner of a multi-billion dollar corporation?” Haruhi wasn't even given time to answer. “I get what I want.” Kyouya's tone was gaining a furious energy. “Haruhi, marry me. Give me your persuasion and your skill.” Kyouya was positively purring now, an insane gleam in his eyes. “Give me your attentions and your body. Marry me and give me you.”

 

`What, what, WHAT!?' What was going on?! What could she possibly have missed that could have even warned her that Kyouya would be asking this? What should she say? What could she say? She loved Tamaki. How could she get out of this situation without hurting Kyouya? She didn't have to think of anything though. As Haruhi looked up, she realized that she'd been unconsciously shaking her head. Haruhi watched, stunned, as Kyouya's jaw twitched and locked.

“I see,” Was all Kyouya said before he rapidly turned and left.

 

 

~~~~

 

Tamaki hoped she wouldn't be mad, but he'd taken the keys from her jacket before he's set it down for Haruhi when she was done. The car had just barely started to warm up when a distracted looking Haruhi climbed into the car. Tamaki was immediately worried.

 

“Haruhi! Are you all right?”

 

`What just happened?'

 

“Haruhi, are you feeling ill?”

 

`Kyouya just proposed to me…'

 

“Haruhi?!” Tamaki had Haruhi's face in his hands. He was staring her straight in the eyes and looked very worried. Haruhi couldn't seem to answer. She hadn't really even heard what Tamaki had been saying anyway.

 

“Haruhi, I think I should drive.” Normally, especially considering that Tamaki had just been released from the hospital, Haruhi would have declined the offer. She didn't even have the presence of mind to do that. She simply opened her door and walked stiffly around to the other side of her dusty-blue two door.

 

~~~~

 

It wasn't until the two were half-way to Haruhi's house that she realized the car was even moving. Somehow, she'd been buckled in, Tamaki most likely having helped her. Tamaki once again had slipped the hand that wasn't steering into hers, rubbing soothing circles on the back of it with his thumb. He suspected something was off when Kyouya had asked Haruhi to speak with him privately.

 

“Haruhi?” She'd looked up when he'd said her name. “Did Kyouya say something that upset you?” Tamaki had once been best friends with Kyouya so he didn't mind if Kyouya said something offensive to him. But if Kyouya had hurt Haruhi, verbally or otherwise, Tamaki would make it very clear to Kyouya that Haruhi is not someone Tamaki would allow Kyouya to upset.

 

“Huh?” Haruhi considered the question Tamaki was asking her. Maybe she was just over-reacting. Maybe Kyouya just didn't know how to express feelings of love well and did it the only way he knew how. Maybe he hadn't been angry when he stormed off, but had been sad and embarrassed. Haruhi even started to feel a little upset herself before she answered. “Oh. No. I'm sorry. I'm just being silly. So, did you enjoy your dinner?” Haruhi's tone had switched quickly from thoughtful and tentative, to bubbly and interested. Tamaki just knew something had happened. But, obviously Haruhi did not want to talk about it, so he would not pressure her into doing so.

 

~~~~

 

When the two were pulling onto Haruhi's street, she gasped and looked over at Tamaki.

 

“How are you going to get home!? Here, let me take you home first-”

 

“It's alright,” Tamaki squeezed her hand in his, “I already called for my driver. He should be waiting for me when I get there.” Tamaki put the parking brake on and pulled the keys from the ignition. Somewhere in a very small, non-distracted part of her brain, Haruhi thought it odd that even though he had personal drivers and limos take him everywhere, Tamaki could drive so well. She also thought that maybe she should have asked him if he could drive before she had surrendered the driver's seat to him.

 

Before Haruhi even noticed Tamaki had gotten out of the car, he was around the car and opening her door for her.

 

“Are you sure you're alright, Haruhi?”

 

“Yah. I'm sorry. I must just be a little more tired than I thought.” Haruhi felt the smallest twinge of guilt at lying to Tamaki. She quickly brushed it off though, as Tamaki placed his right hand on the small of her back, guiding her up her stairs, and to her front door.

 

Tamaki's hand pulled Haruhi to face him before falling, somewhat reluctantly, at his side.

 

Haruhi felt his hand turn her and she allowed it.

 

“Haruhi, I'm so glad that I got to visit with you before I left.” Tamaki's tone fell on the last two words. Although her mind was elsewhere, Haruhi hate hearing Tamaki sound so despondent.

 

“So…are you just going to travel around New Zealand going to a bunch of different meetings?”

 

“No. Not mostly at least. I'll be spending most of my time in a small town named for the river that runs through it. Rangitikei.” Haruhi had never heard of it. She hadn't expected to though, having never learned much about New Zealand other than its location on a map.

 

“How'd the guys take the news about you being gone?” Tamaki frowned slightly.

 

“I didn't tell them. I care about them very much but I cannot have them following me to New Zealand and bothering me when I'm trying to make such an important business deal.” A little crease appeared in between Haruhi's eyebrows. She thought back to when Tamaki had mentioned his pending disinheritance.

 

“Tamaki, what happened that is so bad that you might be disinherited? I mean, I know you. You would never do anything against the law or disgraceful. What has your family so spooked that they would take away what you've worked your whole life to get?” Haruhi immediately realized she'd asked a much too personal question. “Oh Tamaki!” She waved her hands in front of her. “Don't answer that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry, I just-” Haruhi suddenly found speaking quite impossible. Tamaki had, in one swift motion, reached his hand behind Haruhi's back, pulled her forward, and placed his lips softly on hers. Later on, when considering the kiss, Haruhi would find it strange that she had surrendered so completely, so quickly, to Tamaki's kiss. She would wonder at how she could have responded without even the pretense of shyness or awkwardness at being kissed, so suddenly, by Tamaki. And even later, she would realize it was because it felt so right, so perfect, like it was the only thing she came to this earth to do. But now, as her body felt the shiver of electricity shoot from her toes to the crown of her head, she couldn't think or wonder anything.

 

Tamaki's lips moved slowly, tentatively. They were small kisses, barely discernable between the previous and the next. Their lips never fully pulled back before pulling into another kiss. Haruhi lips blindly followed Tamaki's as she floated along with sensation. Tamaki wasn't sure how long the kiss lasted but when Tamaki thought on the kiss later, he would be sure it wasn't long enough. Now though, Tamaki's forehead rested against Haruhi's while they both took in breathy little gasps of air. For about three seconds, that is, until Tamaki jumped back from Haruhi as if he'd been burned.

 

“Haruhi! I'm so sorry! I just…I…I…” But Tamaki could explain why he'd done what he'd done. Haruhi had been asking him a question he couldn't answer, she'd been apologizing, and then he'd found his lips on hers. Had he wanted to show her rather than tell her why he would be disinherited? Maybe it was because she looked so nervous and he'd just wanted to comfort her…? Or maybe simply because he'd wanted to do that since he'd first realized he didn't want her to call him “dad” anymore. Whatever the reason, Tamaki couldn't figure it out. But it didn't matter much because Haruhi had walked towards him this time and said a blushing, “It's alright, Tamaki.” Before pecking him quickly on the lips once more. Tamaki's smile couldn't possibly have been any bigger. “I'm gonna miss you….so much.” That was when Tamaki smile proved it could get bigger.

 

“Haruhi….”

 

“I uh, should go inside. It's a miracle my dad hasn't come out on the porch yet and killed you.” Their eyes met somberly for a few seconds before they both burst into a fit of laughter. All the tension from the nerves of their first kiss was being laughed away at the notion of what Haurhi's father would do if he found Tamaki kissing Haruhi.

 

Tamaki's laughter was the first to stop.

 

“Well,” He sighed, sounded happy and reluctant at the same time, “I should let you go. I'm glad we got to spend time together, though. Even if it was in a hospital.” Tamaki's lopsided smile made Haruhi forget all about the fear she'd felt inside that hospital. “And…Haruhi, I know something's bothering you, but I respect and understand that you don't want to talk about it right now. But, when you do, want to talk about it, I mean, I am just a phone call away.” Haruhi smiled. “And I want to hear from you while I'm away.”

 

“Alright, I'll be sure to call and check up. You know, to make sure you don't go into the wrong bathroom again.” Tamaki blushed at remembering he'd told Haruhi that story a few days ago in the coffee shop. But, Tamaki laughed it off and just smiled at Haruhi. Smiled at the girl who made him feel like he'd never felt before. Safe. At home. And she made him feel the one thing that only one other person in his life had made him feel: Loved. Even if he wasn't sure if it was the same kind of love he felt for her, Tamaki knew Haruhi loved him. He could live with a friendly love, if that was all she could offer him, if she couldn't love him how he loved her. But he didn't want to. That last thought soured Tamaki's high a little.

 

“I, uh, I'm gonna get going.” Tamaki stepped forward and the two hugged rather awkwardly, considering what they had just done, and Haruhi gave Tamaki another peck, on the cheek this time.

 

“I hope your trip goes really well and that whatever you want to happen with this business deal happens.” Tamaki smiled.

 

“Thank-you, Haruhi.” Tamaki suddenly looked down at his feet. “And, please, remember what we talked about. I promise I'll explain everything the second I get back. In fact, I'll call you when I know the day that I'm flying home and if you're free I'd love it if you let me take you out that night.” Haruhi beamed at Tamaki.

 

“Ok. It's a date.”

 

“I look forward to it. Good-bye, Haruhi.” After making sure she got inside the house alright, Tamaki left. Haruhi peeked from her front window to make sure Tamaki was telling the truth about having a driver pick him up. As soon and she pulled the curtain over, Haruhi saw him climbing into a black town car and absently wondered why she hadn't seen it when she'd come up the stairs. She brushed the thought away and slumped against the door.

 

`What a night!' Haruhi decided what she really needed was a bath. A nice warm bath to relax her. After that, she would watch some television and make something for her father to eat when he got home from work, where she assumed he must be. `Strange though….' Haruhi had thought her father had taken the night off- `oh.' Addressed to her, surrounded by penciled in hearts, was a quick note from her father saying that he had been desperately needed at the bar and that he was sorry and would be home as soon as he could.

 

“Alright, then,” Haruhi sighed to herself. Just then realizing she hadn't put flipped any lights on, Haruhi reached out to do just that.

 

“Ugh! He forget to pay the electric bill!” Haruhi had often felt bad about leaving her father because didn't get along very well by himself. She felt her way into the main room and off into the doorway of her room to grab the flashlight out of her dresser drawer.

 

“I know it's in here-” Haruhi's mouth and nose were suddenly covered in a horrid smelling rag and her head and body were being held in place from behind. Haurhi's eyes bugged and she twisted her body in an effort to escape. But as she twisted more and her breathing increased, Haruhi started to feel her eyes droop and her body sag. She tried to stop her eyes from closing and keep from succumbing to her sudden drowsiness but she knew she was quickly losing the battle. The last thing Haruhi felt before her eyes shut completely was a pair of long thin finger caressing her cheek.

 

A/N: Cliffie, huh? Sorry, but, it had to be done. P.s. Rangitikei is an actual river in New Zealand. This writer hopes on day to visit it.