.

LionHeart

Chapter 1

She may contain the urge to run away
But hold her down with soggy clothes and breeze blocks
Citrezene your fevers gripped me again Never kisses all you ever send are fullstops

- Alt-J, Breezeblocks

"No, no, no, no, no" I grumbled to myself as I fumbled though my bag in search of my apartment keys. The rain poured down relentlessly, as it had been doing for the last couple of days. To be honest I was surprised that my home wasn't under water by now with the shitty weather the town had been experiencing. "Oh thank god" I breathed, clutching my fingers around the jingling key chain at the very bottom of my handbag. My clothes were soaked through and my hair was slick to my scalp, and after the long day at work, the last thing I needed was to be stuck outside in the pouring, freezing rain for the night.

Thankfully, I had planned ahead and had put the heating on before leaving the house that morning, so the second I stepped through the doorway, I was hit by the most pleasant and comforting warmth - that felt like the largest and most welcoming hug. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief as I closed the door and shut away the dreadful world beyond my sanctuary. My apartment may have been small, but it was an abode I could never be without. I exhaled and leant against the front door as a rattling growl of thunder echoed from outside – I shuddered slightly in fear.

Good thing I got inside when I did, I may have aged physically, but inside – I was still the little girl who cowered away from thunder.

It had been a tiring day at the firm, nothing serious or special, just a mountain of paperwork - it had been a while since I had been assigned to something worth while and pressing. But at least it was Friday, time for a nice break. I removed my sodden coat and scarf and rung out the water in my short brunette hair. The cold, damp ends tickled the base of my neck where my hair stopped.

"Dad, I'm back" I called out into the dark room, a faint, hushed reply came from the guest bedroom.

"Haruhi? Thank God you got home in time, I was starting to worry" The voice responded, the guest bedroom door flew open and the beautiful silhouette of my father sauntered out, dressed in plain pyjama pants and an unfashionable t-shirt I had bought for him many years ago - his long dyed-red hair tied back and hidden beneath a loosely knotted head scarf. "I cooked dinner, your plate is in the fridge, you just need to heat it up"

"Thank you Dad" I beamed, dropping my cheap handbag on the end-table beside the door, "How was your day?" I asked as I wandered over to the fridge.

My father shrugged, "Just as I had expected, disappointing" he replied.

"I'm guessing the date didn't go well then"

He shook his head, "Is it really too much to ask to find a nice, kind, loving, romantic gay man in this world, I mean really?"

"Well you did only just meet him" I said taking the plate of cold grilled chicken over to the microwave, "and he hardly looked the nice type when we saw him at the bar. I mean, he was wearing a shirt that said 'my pen is huge' "

Dad sighed, "Well, anyway, he was hardly worth the extra night bothering you"

"You're not bothering me Dad, you can stay as long as you like. You know that right?"

"Of course I do sweetheart" He smiled, "But the bar needs me back at work tomorrow evening, so I'll be out of your hair by the morning"

"It's really no trouble" I grinned.

He smiled to himself sweetly, "Anyway, how was work?"

I sighed "Uneventful" I replied, "as usual"

"I thought you enjoyed working with the police, you said you liked being front line with the action and justice"

I shrugged, "I thought I did but...I don't know...maybe I should have just continued with my soliciting studies, at least there I would have felt...useful. With the force I'm just...another person to fill out the forms, I'm not really out there enforcing anything". The thing about the police force was that most of the time you didn't feel particularly useful, like the things you did each day made no difference. I wasn't saying that the paperwork wasn't important – because 9 times out of 10 it would be one of the only things that I did that meant something. But a lot of the time it felt as if I were being paid to sit behind a desk and make coffee. Which wasn't the reason I joined the force in the first place. The microwave beeped suddenly, bringing me out of my saddened reverie, "But I guess it's not all bad, paperwork still contributes, I can't say I don't do anything towards the justice system" I bit my lip.

Don't complain, don't complain...

"I'm not going to say anything" Dad breathed, we'd already had many many conversations similar to this one, all of them ending with no solution. "But know that all I want is for you to be happy sweetheart"

"Yeah...I know Dad"

"Oh" He blurted, "I almost forgot, some mail arrived for you earlier, I left it all on your bed for you"

"Thank you" I replied, removing the hot plate from the microwave, along with a knife and a fork from the cutlery draw.

"Anyway, I'm going to bed, I'll be sure to say goodbye before I leave tomorrow" Dad floated across the open plan kitchen from his bedroom doorway and planted a tickling peck on my cheek and a light one armed hug. "Goodnight my darling" He beamed.

"Sweet dreams Dad" I smiled back, tucking my chin into his shoulder. He returned to his room after grabbing himself a glass of water.

I exhaled tiredly for the second time, the only remaining sound in the room being the dripping noise of the water droplets falling from my clothes. I looked down at the plate of food and winced slightly. After years and years of me being the one to prepare all the meals and do all the food shopping, my father was hardly the best cook; and the congealed, jellied gravy that jiggled unappetisingly upon my plate supported that fact. I chuckled under my breath before shutting off the light and walking over to my bedroom door. I really hadn't planned too get home so late, it wasn't until the blinking digits on my bedside clock caught my eye - that I realised it was almost 11 o'clock.

'Thank goodness it's Saturday tomorrow' I thought to myself with a small smile touching my lips. I settled my plate down on the clear space on my dresser. I found myself some pyjamas and began peeling off my sodden blouse and pencil skirt, and left them where they landed on the floor. I was pleased to find my bathroom towel hanging all warm on my bedroom radiator and immediately shrouded myself in it's softness, drying myself and my hair before comfortably settling down into my pyjamas and climbing into bed with my dinner.

The pile of mail Dad had mentioned sat in a neat stack on my pillow. Already, I could see the package I had ordered from Amazon rested on top, underneath were a couple of plain looking white letters – bills or bank statements I assumed.

Dad's chicken for once actually didn't taste all that terrible, I left the jellied gravied vegetable at the edge of my plate and picked out all the good bits before placing my plate down on the floor to be taken out to the kitchen the next morning. I yawned widely, stretching my arms high above my head. "Dear, oh dear" I mumbled to myself. I had been awake since 6 o'clock that morning and arrived in at work around 7.30, from then on I was up and down from my desk collecting papers and files, and speaking to fellow officers. It didn't help that Detective Inspector Masashi was in an awful mood all day and wouldn't stop pacing around the office checking up on everyone. Especially me. It had been a while since I had actually been out in the field with the other inspecting officers, Seiko and Hiro had been out there all week, and yet D.I Masashi had kept me locked away like a bird in a cage. Maybe I just wasn't as valuable as the others.

I sighed and looked over at the pile of mail. My fingers glided over and grasped the brown parcel. I had ordered a book a few weeks ago, I couldn't remember which one now.

That was as far as I got with the mail, as I released another painful yawn and fluttered my eyelids tiredly. I set the package down with the other letters and flicked off the bedside light, before settling down and allowing the darkness to envelope me, until I was taken away by a peaceful and well needed sleep.

"Good morning Haruhi" Dad greeted me with a grin as I emerged from the bathroom in my dressing gown. My hair was wrapped up tightly in a towel to somewhat dry it after the long shower I had. Dad on the other hand looked absolutely stunning in his usual flamboyant attire. He was wearing a very beautiful pair of black skinny women's jeans and a cuddly cream turtle neck jumper, made even more stunning by the large silver pendant of a butterfly peeking out from under the neckline fold. His hair was curled and tumbled down in large red waves all down his back. And of course, his make up was perfect as if an artist had painted it on.

"Good morning, sleep well?" I asked, walking over to the counter where the mug of coffee my father had already lovingly prepared for me sat steaming.

Dad nodded, "Lovely" He replied taking a sip of his own drink, "Have you any plans for the weekend?"

I shrugged, "No, not at all, just another boring weekend at home. Besides, it's still raining out"

"You really need to go out more Haru, it can't be healthy to spend every waking hour shut away from everyone. Don't you have any friends you could see?"

"I don't really...have time for..." I trailed off, "I mean, I have friends but..."

"Haru?" Dad raised an eyebrow, sensing my lie, "I'm sure Mei-Chan wouldn't mind if you gave her a call. I heard she was working in the city doing some catwalk thing"

Yeah right...

I cleared my throat, trying to disguise the sarcastic chuckle that forced its way from my mouth. Mei-Chan and I hadn't seen each other for almost 2 years. We had always been friends growing up – and even into our late teens, but after a while her demanding and overwhelmingly selfish personality became too much. I dropped all contact with her and barely saw her again. Believe me, I'd much rather be alone than be near her...

"I don't need friends. I'd much rather focus on work"

"But you hate work"

"Even so, it needs focus"

"All you've ever done is focus on work Haru. Ever since you were a child. It was always about going to school, going to college, working towards your career. Which isn't a bad thing but...you haven't given yourself any time to get out there and live. And now that you've studied and succeeded through education and are now working full time. You hate it. And what do you have left to fall back on?"

I stared at my father and bit my lip, I couldn't think of a reply to follow his statement. But I understood what he meant.

"I'm just worried about you sweetheart" Dad sighed, "Maybe you should think about working somewhere else?"

"Could we not talk about this right now please" I coughed, "I know you're saying all of this because you care, but right now I need to think this stuff through on my own. I'm content the way things are right now, and yes, maybe I do need to reconsider my career, but at the moment it's not that easy. I mean I gave up on law school and everything and now..." I took a deep breath, "Anyway, another time, it's too early to think about all this"

"Okay darling" He exhaled in defeat. I took a sip of my hot coffee, Dad did the same, "So what was all that mail that arrived yesterday. The package looked interesting"

I looked up at him and furrowed my eyebrows, it took me a second to remember, "Oh, right yeah, the mail. Nothing interesting, just a book I ordered and some letters..." Come to think of it, I don't think I got around to reading those...Without saying anything I got up from my seat and walked over to my bedroom. The letters were all still clustered on my bed.

"Bank statement" I sighed wandering back out to my seat at the kitchen table, "Charity leaflet...junk mail...bills...bills...bills...b..." I paused, my eyes fixated to the final envelope in the pile. My fingers clutched the edges, releasing my hold on all the other letters. They fluttered down the ground one by one, but I barely noticed. The only thing I was focused on was the crest in the right hand corner of the envelope I held.

"What is is Haru darling?" Dad asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I..I'm not quite sure" I breathed. My fingers traced the large 'O, R' on the envelope, I couldn't even remember the last time I had thought about that crest – that symbol. I held my breath as my nails clawed the letter open– eager to see what was inside. My hands shook so much that I could barely read the words, I was glad I was sat down, the sudden shock had made me somewhat light-headed.

Dear Ms. Fujioka,

It is with great pleasure that Ouran Academy cordially invites you to attend a celebratory reunion evening in the presence of your former peers and professors on the evening of Saturday 5th February. It will be a formal and graceful evening where only the best food and drinks will be served. The evening will be hosted with the great pleasure of Ouran's own chairman Yuzuru Suou. Enjoy the entertainment from the most prestigious musical artists and a performance from Ouran's award winning dance class. Formal attire is required and an escort will meet you at the main entrance of the Academy, a valet service will be available as well as an appropriate limo offloading zone.

Ouran Academy look forward to your arrival at 8pm.

OR.

"Oh...my goodness" I exhaled, releasing the breath I had been holding, "Ouran Academy are having a reunion evening..."

"A reunion evening?" Dad raised an eyebrow.

I nodded. Well this was a surprise to say the least... "I haven't thought about that school in so long...I didn't even realise they had my address" But then again, the rich and fortunate never had any trouble in the past with finding out personal information. Kyoya Ootori's cool and collected face comes to mind...

I reread the letter.

"What will you wear?" Dad asked, sipping his coffee.

"Is that really your first question? Who says I'm even going?" I scoffed.

"You'll be going" He smirked.

"What's the point? No one will even remember me. Besides, they'll all be chairman's and president's by now, I'm a police officer"

"Being a police officer is hardly an embarrassing job. In fact, it's one of the most respected jobs you can get"

I sighed, "I'll think about it..."

"When is it?"

"Next Saturday"

"Better get shopping then"

I scowled, "I didn't say yes yet"

Dad winked, "Yet"

A/N - Hey guys, thanks for reading this opening chapter of my new story 'Lionheart', I hope you've enjoyed it so far. It's been a while since I've published something on fanfiction so I apologise if there are any errors :P If you have any questions, praises or critisisms please feel free to leave a review or message me privately. Next chapter will be up soon. Thanks guys :D

ALSO! REFERENCE PHOTOS ON MY PROFILE PAGE UNDER 'LIONHEART LINKS' WHERE YOU CAN FIND PICTURES OF HOW I'M IMAGING CERTAIN CLOTHES, HAIRSTYLES, VEHICLES, BUILDINGS ETC!

- Yuli