Author's Note: This part isn't quite as long, by any means, but I feel it kind of wraps things up pretty nicely. And it kind of sets up an illusion of maybe another part? Maybe a new series all together? Who knows~ -crafty author being crafty- ~Lusaun / N. Italy / Leon / Mr. L / Haruhi

I'll Only Scream Louder

Part 2

The time had come, and what a nerve wrecking time it was. It had taken quite an effort to get Sachiko to allow him to be alone tonight. There was pouting, and whining, and a bit of a cling to his arm. He, in the end, had sighed, running a hand through her hair, before promising he'd return soon enough. Then it was her turn to sigh as she begrudgingly allowed him to leave. At least she had let him go... Otherwise, how the heck would he have planned sneaking out of his own house? Sure, it was possible, but not exactly something he'd done before. All the same, the blond was now standing outside, phone in hand and twirling the little note he had received from the woman that was always on his mind, in the other. The phone was ringing... Once. Twice... Would she not answer? His heart began to race quicker at the thought that maybe he wouldn't get to talk with her. Please, Haruhi... Please answer...! he thought desperately to himself. However, in the middle of the third ring, suddenly he heard someone pick up on the other line.

"Hello, Fujioka Haruhi speaking," that ever familiar and wonderful sounding voice then spoke, in an instant seeming to calm many of his earlier fears and worries. Relief washed over him like a rushing tide from the ocean, a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding, following in suit with that metaphorical tide.

"Haruhi. It's Tamaki," he then answers her after a moment, his violet eyes closing for a moment. "It's so good to hear your voice..."

"Tamaki... I almost thought you wouldn't call," the female's voice then comments, sounding slightly annoyed, he noted, but at the same time, it appeared she was just as relived as he had been. That was definitely a good sign.

"Miss a chance to talk with you? Ha! Seems you've forgotten just who I am, Haruhi~" he teases lightly, grinning a bit now. He could feel it in himself that it was the first, genuine grin he's been able to pull in a long time. The one reserved especially for his beautiful girl, as much as his heart was. He felt his heart flutter in his chest when he heard a small chuckle come from the other's side. He had gotten her to laugh, even if just a little! Oh, how he had missed her laugh as much as her lively smile, that could be so rare, yet so common depending on her mood and the people surrounding her... He missed those ever expressive and bright brown eyes, mirrors into her beautiful and golden nature that yet seemed masked by an, at first, apathetic like and unconcerned aura, until you got the chance to see her come out of that shell. While it didn't always take much to break open that shell and see the kindhearted and loving girl inside, it wasn't that she showed it ever freely. Only to those she knows will not turn on her. She was too smart to let herself be vulnerable to someone who could harm her, in any way. Physically, mentally and emotionally. A well secured person, she was, accepting of her flaws, even if she didn't like them, and her nature of accepting everyone with their own. That was the girl he fell in love with.

"Alright, I guess I have... But can you blame me?" she then points out gently, her tone now taking that of a sadder one, and what seemed like... hurt? Betrayal? Oh, Haruhi... You were the very last person I ever wanted to hurt, you should know that! If I have caused you any kind of pain, I cannot forgive myself for that... I certainly haven't all this time away from you... "How long has it been? Besides, well... too long."

"I'd... Rather just think of it as 'too long' honestly... The actual number would probably make it hurt more..." he mumbles in response to her, looking down. "Haruhi, I-"

"If you're about to apologize, don't. This isn't your fault," Haruhi suddenly cut him off, causing him to freeze in shock. Did she gain the ability to read minds over the phone now? Or was he still just that much of an open book for her? If there as any person he couldn't hide a single thing from, it'd definitely be Haruhi for sure. She picked up on every little thing of his, knew when he was hurting, knew when he was happy. She knew his fake smile and laugh, and knew what made him mad. She knew many of his favorite things, and some of his least favorite things, his dreams, and really... It seemed she tended to know more than he ever shared with her. But at the same time, he was perfectly ok with it. Because Tamaki knew it wouldn't be thrown in his face and used against him. The brunette woman was never that kind of a person.

"But, Haruhi, I broke my promise to you. To stay by your side and all, and I'm so sorry..." he protests, gripping his cell phone a bit harder. He could feel tears well up in his eyes already, taking a shuddering breath, wanting to calm down, but knowing he wasn't always that good at it. There was a moment of silence between them, so uncomfortable that the smallest sound right then would be like a sharp blade slicing through it, threatening to cut them both. Neither of them knew who should speak next, but finally, it seemed Haruhi would step up to the plate.

"Tamaki, was that your free will?" she suddenly asked him, catching the blond man off guard.

"What?" he asked her in response, clearly bewildered by her question. What did it have to do with his apology?

"Was it your free will, choosing to leave? Choosing... Choosing to be with someone else, who you clearly do not truly love?" the other went on, more fully elaborating on it. "Did you make those decisions yourself?"

"...No," he finally answers, blinking slowly. He could feel those early tears now trickling down his cheeks. He didn't bother to wipe them away though, there would only be more, he knew.

"To apologize to me, would mean you had something you had to gain forgiveness from, something that you did. Something you caused. Tell me... It was your Grandmother who was playing ring leader again, correct?" the woman went on, a more business like, authoritative voice coming out. This must be what she was like as a lawyer, somewhat... She was so clear with how she stated her thoughts, making them sound like facts, even if she wasn't certain. But, here, she had no reason to be uncertain about who had made the decisions. His Grandmother made basically all of the calls. He just had to follow them. Of course she would be so confident in it. The way she stated her point was, in a way, assertive, but not to the point of aggression, more like any given statistic. She had to add a bit more emphasis and force to bring out her point, hence the assertiveness, but it wasn't to lash out or strike fear into him.

"Yes, of course. It was her orders," Tamaki then agrees with her, needing no moment to think on the matter.

"Then if anyone should be apologizing, it's her. Not you. But I wouldn't hold my breath, it's clear she holds no regrets of what she has done, nor does she express any concern for you either. Tamaki. You're. Not. Happy," Haruhi finally then states, a cold truth that hit him hard. Sure, he was so well aware of it, but to hear it spoken out loud, from someone he loved so much, was a whole new story. "I don't want to see you unhappy. Please... Is she your fiancée? It's clear she is suppose to be with you, at the very least."

"No, Grandmother has been pushing me to ask for her hand, but I just... never felt it right. I can say I love her, but I am not in love with her. She has her pure moments, but she isn't the person I wish to spend my life with and raise a family with. The person I want to do that with is-" he started to say, but cut himself off, a blush creeping on to his cheeks. He had never told Haruhi how much he loved her... She was probably with someone else at this point... She was too wonderful to not be, and he had missed his chance long ago...

"Who, Tamaki? ... Tamaki, you can tell me. I want to help..." she then adds in, her voice taking a familiar gentleness, reserved for moments like these. He takes a deep breath, looking up at the moon and stars, praying he was doing this right.

"...You." He had finally said it. And one more, that silent loomed over them like a thick cloud, and he braced himself for what to come next.

"...Tamaki, I... I didn't think you felt... felt the same way," she finally tells him in a quiet voice, causing his heart to about leap out of his chest in shock. He wasn't just dreaming, was he?! He hoped not, and if he was dreaming, please never let him wake up. Did she speak the truth? She had to... The brunette was never one to lie unless the situation was dire, but not with something as serious as this.

"Haruhi... If you truly feel the same way... And if you want to try this, I will tell Sachiko and my Grandmother in the morning there will be no engagement. Because I'm truly in love with another, wonderful and amazing girl, who always held my heart, and she has now given hers to me," Tamaki then went on, a smile forming across his features. Another small chuckle escaped her lips.

"I don't think it will go over well... But, I'm not going to give up that easily," came the woman's response to him.

"Well, dare they try to separate us again, I'll call your name once more, like I did on the street. And if the cities try to drown my voice out... I promise I'll only scream louder. Because you're worth it. And I'm never letting you go, and risking losing you again. Not in a million years."