New Lives

Haruhi watched the minutes tick by as time for the Host Club moved closer. She'd been back to school for a little over two weeks. At first, she'd thrown herself into her work, trying to catch up from when she'd been out. Chairman Suoh said they'd give her more time since it was only a few weeks to the end of the school year . . . and her graduation . . . but she didn't want to finish high school unless she was at the top of her class.

Yesterday, she'd finished the last of the late assignments. This morning, she realized how much she missed Kyoya. Sometime during the entire ordeal, her feelings for him had changed. While she had been attracted to him before, she realized that she now felt something too. She didn't know if it was love, but it was strong. She thought about asking her father, but then he'd start lecturing her on getting married again. Their final decision would wait until school ended for this term so they could focus on one task at a time. Neither father had been happy, but as long as the families joining remained a possibility, they agreed to remain silent on the issue until the term's end.

She managed to push it away, but because she hadn't pushed herself to exhaustion last night, her mind kept wandering to the time they spent together. Her dreams had been very erotic. When she got up in the morning, she knew her father was well aware by the look he gave her. She had hurried to the bathroom to hide her embarrassment.

Haruhi felt eyes on her and looked up. The twins were watching her again. If they'd been overprotective before, they were crushing now. What would happen if they knew I was pregnant, she thought as she put her laptop away.

"Places, everyone," Hikaru said before Haruhi could. She smiled at him and took her place.

The door opened and "welcome" echoed in Music Room 3.
_

Kyoya stared at the back of his driver's head. If mere irritation could make the man go faster, they'd already be at their destination. Host Club was over two hours ago. He knew they agreed that they'd limit their contact for the rest of the term to see if their "feelings" were because of the kidnapping only. Neither had depended on someone else before. In the hospital, they realized that was exactly what they were doing. The time would allow them to clear their heads and think logically.

While Kyoya's father had reluctantly agreed, seeing the validity to Kyoya's argument, Ranka had been livid. Eventually, Kyoya had stopped arguing and Haruhi told her father in no uncertain terms that it was decided and nothing he could say would change it. Kyoya's lips twisted into a slight smile as he remembered Haruhi's face as she confronted her father. Her cheeks were red and her lips were in a straight line. It was the first time she looked like herself in weeks.

That had been a little over two weeks ago and he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her during his downtime. There was only so much he could do to occupy himself. Even exhaustion didn't always help. He'd still wake up in the middle of the night and have to stop himself from calling to check on her. It was long enough, he told himself, for her to sort out how she felt about him and the entire situation. If she turned him away, he'd go. The one thing he couldn't allow her to do is completely refuse him. He would find some way to make sure she agreed to their marriage.
_

Yoshio's smile was cold. They had tried to run. His police force caught them at the airport and took them to the cells he had specially prepared for them.

He had promised the police he would turn them over, but he had to do a few things first. As few people as possible needed to know the extent of his fury, so his actions had to be swift and exact. After making sure they had no financial way to protect themselves, he would release them to the police. He had to see them and find out why they had kidnapped his son. He had gotten word that the financial transfers had all taken place and the police would be here shortly.

"Well, if it isn't the high and mighty Ootori," Myomi said as she lay on the small, hard bed in her cell. Yoshio could see that her attire was similar to Haruhi's when she had been found. "Have you come to gloat?"

"Why would I do that? What you've done is inexcusable."

"You mean kidnapping your son and his girlfriend? If you'd just given us Ootori Medical, you would have had them back much sooner. I heard that they were all beaten and bloody. Tell me, Ootori-sama, did you cry when you saw how your son looked?"

Yoshio held his temper in check. He noticed Katashi hadn't said a word. He didn't care if the man had been nothing more than a pawn. He had been part of the kidnapping and he would be punished as well.

"It is no matter. Once we are in police custody, we'll have the best lawyers money can buy. And, yes, I did hear the guards discussing the police coming to get us. That was a bad move on your part." Her cold smile didn't reach her eyes. He knew she would do the same or worse to anyone who stood in her way of money and power.

"Then my actions were the correct ones," Yoshio said as coldly. "The police will indeed be here shortly to get you. I have also provided them with all the proof necessary to put you and your assistant behind bars for a long time. Kidnapping, battery, rape . . . quite a lot for you to pay for."

"You know we had nothing to do with anything beyond the kidnapping," Myomi snapped.

"You did hire the man who did that. It was your actions that put my son and his girlfriend into harm's way. You will pay for it."

"I will pay for nothing. You see, I have a "get out of jail free" card."

"You mean your association with the police commissioner? I can assure you, he has already distanced himself from you."

"No matter, I can hire the best lawyers Japan has to offer."

"And with what will you pay them?" Myomi sat up quickly and glared at her ex-employer. "It seems your accounts have vanished. At my last estimate, you have no money and the house you were living in has a lawsuit against it for the wrongfulness done to your victims."

"You can't steal my money, Ootori Yoshio. It's mine."

"Actually, our books show that you have been skimming money from the hospital you were managing for quite some time. All of the monies have been recovered, thanks to your recent transgressions revealing the depths of your deception. Within a month, you will be penniless. You will be unable to hire any type of lawyer."

"You can't do that," Myomi said, jumping up and grabbing the bars between them. Her face flushed with fury. Yoshio calmly walked to the door, pausing only briefly.

"I have already done so."
_

Haruhi stared out the window and sighed. She glanced at her cell phone sitting on the kotatsu. She placed it there next to her school books after she realized she had the contacts open and was looking at Kyoya's name . . . again. This was getting her nowhere. She really needed to do her homework. Determined, Haruhi moved to the kitchen to make some tea before getting to work.

She watched the pot, feeling the tears on her face. Kyoya had agreed on giving her time to figure out what she was feeling. Even though it had been her idea, his agreement gave her the feeling of being pushed away. Am I doing the right thing in keeping the baby, Haruhi asked herself as she placed her hand on her stomach. Is that the only reason Kyoya would consider marrying me? Am I holding this over him and his sense of responsibility is dictating his choice?

The more she thought about it, the more depressed she became. As much as she wanted to marry Kyoya, she wanted him to want it as well. What kind of marriage would it be if she had feelings for him and he had none for her?

Haruhi was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear the click of the door being unlocked. Behind her, the subject of her thoughts walked in. He placed his laptop case down and removed his shoes. He moved in enough to see Haruhi at the stove, obviously crying.

"Haruhi . . . " Kyoya said softly. Haruhi's head whipped around, staring at him in shock. "Is something wrong?"

Haruhi's hand reached out to touch his cheek. Kyoya's face tightened as she pulled it back and cradled it on her chest. Her eyes teared again. Was Kyoya really here or was she so upset she was hallucinating?

"Are you real?" she whispered. Kyoya relaxed and chuckled.

"I'm standing in front of you, Haruhi."

"But if I reach out and find you're not there, I don't think I can handle it. I wanted to see you and talk to you and . . ." Haruhi's voice cracked. Kyoya's eyes widened slightly as he realized he was the reason she was upset. Carefully, Kyoya pulled her hand toward him and kissed her palm. He placed it on his chest. Haruhi could feel his heart beating quickly under her hand.

"Is that proof enough?" Haruhi nodded. She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around him. "Please don't leave me again."

"As long as it is in my power, I will not leave you, Haruhi," Kyoya pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "The day after graduation."

"What?" Haruhi pulled back, looking at his small smile.

"You'll become Ootori Haruhi the day after you graduate high school." She stood on her tip toes and kissed him gently. He responded with a passionate one.
_

Ranka was tired. He ended up pulling a double-shift. Today was Saturday, so Haruhi would make him breakfast as soon as he got home. Then bed for me, he promised himself.

Opening the door, he was surprised to see an extra pair of shoes. The nearby laptop case made him instantly alert. It had to be Kyoya.

Ranka glanced in the kitchen. The tea in the cup looked incredibly dark like someone had forgotten it. Haruhi's books and phone greeted him in the living room. It looked like everything stopped as soon as Kyoya arrived. Ranka smiled widely and continued.

He paused at her bedroom door, his hand outstretched as he listened. He didn't hear anything that would indicate they were awake. He slid the door open and clasped his hands over his mouth. They were both in Haruhi's bed, twisted up with the covers. Backing up slowly, he slid the door closed and hurried to the house phone.

Yoshio did tell him to call if anything developed . . . day or night. Surely he was up at 5 am.

I'd like to thank everyone for the reviews, follows and encouragement. It meant a lot to me. I hope you enjoyed the story.

larajla

Starting Next Week:

OHSHC - In a Dream, er...um, Nightmare

Where is the best place for a bonding weekend? Nekozawa introduces the Host Club to Tamaki's mind theater.