Whatever It Takes (Hitachiin Kaoru) Part 8

The clouds looked heavy. The gorgeous weather from earlier on had disappeared already and if things kept going the way they were you suspected a storm. Sitting on a window-sill inside Nekozawa's beach-side mansion, you gazed out on the dark grounds surrounding the castle-like building.
The weather was miserable, and so was Tamaki.
You turned round slightly, to where Tamaki sat sulking nearby, his legs pulled to his chest. You sighed, frowning slightly, and got up to go to his side.
"Hey... Tamaki-senpai? Are you sure you're alright?" you asked him, tilting your head to the side. He mumbled something incomprehensible, and hugged his legs tighter.
Sitting in the centre of the room at a circle of sofas were the other Host Club members, plus Nekozawa. They were partaking in a bizarre board game, the concept of which had freaked you out, (which was why you were sitting over with Tamaki, instead of taking part).
Hikaru looked up with a grumble after having read his displeasing fortune aloud and gazed over to you,
"Hey, Hana-chan! What're you doing over there?" he asked, and Kaoru looked up.
"Let Tono sulk by himself," he added to Hikaru's inquiry.
You looked over to them from observing Tamaki's depressed state, "But... When someone's feeling down, the best thing to have around is someone to talk to about their feelings, right?" you asked them, and glanced at Tamaki with a grin, "I get it, senpai. You're upset because Haruhi is ignoring you? You know, you did bring it on yourself. If you dont want Haruhi to be mad at you, then you shouldn't have said what you did at the beach." You told him.
Tamaki poked his head out from within his arms to look at you anxiously. You nodded your head to him,
"Give Haruhi some time. There's no way she can stay mad at someone forever. I should know, she's my cousin after all." You said to him.
"She?" Nekozawa inquired, looking over to you. You blanched,
"Ah! I mean 'He'! 'He'!" you said frantically, and Tamaki latched onto you from the side, "What the?! Tamaki-senpai..!" you gasped, leaning away to balance yourself under the older boys weight.
"My daughter is so kind to me...! Daddy is so relieved to hear that one of his daughters truly cares for him! So relieved!" Tamaki gushed, hugging you like a comfort blanket.
"Uhhh..." you face-faulted, while trying to keep yourself from being squashed under him. Suddenly, Hikaru and Kaoru were at your side, Hikaru removing Tamaki from you and Kaoru pulling you out of the way.
"Tono, stop smothering her like that," Hikaru said.
"She's going to start avoiding you if you keep it up, just like Haruhi does." Kaoru added, pointing to you from behind you. Tamaki looked white with shock, and then pulled his legs to his chest again and turned away.
You frowned,
"Look who's talking, you guys. Don't you guys smother me and Haruhi almost as much as senpai does?" you said, looking from Hikaru to Kaoru. -On a daily basis.- you added mentally.
"Ah, but you like it when we hug you." They said together, grinning and hugging you.
"When did I say that?" you asked, pulling away from their hold.
"So mean!" the twins booed, and got up to follow you.
"Ne, Hana-chan?" Kaoru began.
"Want to play Nekozawa's board game with us?" Hikaru asked you.
"Why would I want to play that game? The fortunes it gives are hardly heart-warming and pleasing." You shrugged your shoulders disinterestedly.
"Yeah, but we want to see what sort of fortune it'll give you!" they noted enthusiastically.
You rolled you eyes,
"I decline. Where's Haruhi? And Mori-senpai?" you asked them.
"Haru-chan was changing into some dry clothes. Takashi went to get her!" Hunny piped up, looking over from where he sat hugging his bunny. Nekozawa seemed to have shrugged off the repetitive usage of she when referring to Haruhi, now.
You nodded, "Ah, I see..." you said quietly. Kaoru put a hand on your shoulder as he and his brother flanked your sides.
"You seem troubled," Kaoru began.
"So play this board game with us to take your mind off it!" Hikaru concluded, and the two grabbed your hands and dragged you towards Hunny, Kyouya and Nekozawa. Leaving Tamaki all by his lonesome.
"Eh? And learning of my bad luck in the future is going to cheer me up?" you asked, thinking it a bit odd. -And didn't I already tell them, more than once, that I don't want to play. I just can't win.- you sighed.
Kyouya looked up from his tea, "Think of it this way. Knowing of your misfortunes may give you the opportunity to avoid them in the future," he offered.
You raised your eyebrows at him, "You know, you're right..." you said, surprised. And so, you gave the game a try. And the fortune you got was a confusing one. You read it with an uncomfortable expression on your face, "H-Huh...?" you muttered.
"What does it say? What does it say?" the twins asked together, leaning in on either side. You sighed,
'Great anxiety lies ahead concerning those closest to your heart...' you read it out loud, and put down the card gently. You then sat back in your chair as Hikaru picked up the card and examined it for himself.
"That has to be the weirdest one yet... Stupid board game! I knew we should have brought my PSP with us. Right, Kaoru?" Hikaru turned to Kaoru as you sat staring at your lap.
"Mmhm." Kaoru nodded, and you felt his eyes on you.
Nekozawa chortled, seeming amused, "Excellent fortune, Hana-san. Very intriguing! Now, it's my turn," he rolled the dice and moved his piece, "Ah, it seems that tonight I will experience something fantastic. How wonderf-" he cut himself off as the lights suddenly switched on.
Screaming, Nekozawa fled from the room as fast as he could, running past the person who was entering the room. You turned to see Haruhi, Mori not far behind. Haruhi was wearing a cute, pink dress.
"Haruhi! Where were you?" you asked, walking over to her while the other guys just stared at her.
"Ah, I asked Mori-senpai to accompany me while I looked for the circuit breaker for the electricity in here. It's not good to walk around in the dark like this." She replied, smiling to you, and you nodded, smiling back.
"Mori-senpai, thanks for staying with her." You looked up to Mori.
"Un." Mori nodded.
"H-Haruhi..!" Hikaru gasped.
"What're you wearing?" Kaoru asked her. Haruhi blinked, and looked down at her dress,
"Oh, this? It seems my father re-packed my suitcase. He always wants me to wear stuff like this," she answered. The twins gave a thumbs-up to Uncle Ranka, even though he wasn't there, and said he did a good job.
"Hey, walking around barefooted like that..." Hikaru mentioned, and suddenly brought out some slippers, slipping them over Haruhi's feet. Kaoru also went behind her, with some hairclips at hand.
"Your hair is so silky. Want me to clip your hair up?" he asked, clipping back some of her bangs as he said. You didnt know why their attention on Haruhi made you feel a little bit neglected.
Tamaki looked shocked... And then his nose started bleeding.
"What the..! Tamaki-senpai, your nose!" you pulled out a napkin and reached up to clean his nose.
Kaoru and Hikaru looked to Tamaki with a disgusted look, and then guided Haruhi to the dinner table, away from Tamaki.
"Perverted..." they were muttering under their breath.
You looked from Tamaki, to the twins and Haruhi and then turned to Hunny as he grabbed your hand.
"Hana-chan, we got a lot of seafood today! Do you like seafood?" Hunny asked. You hummed,
"Sure." You nodded, letting Hunny guide you to the table.

>>A Moment Later>>
You had somehow been sandwiched between the twins in the seating plan, despite the fact that there were plenty to seats to sit at apart from next to you. Haruhi sat across from you, in between Hunny and Tamaki.
"Say, where'd Nekozawa go?" you heard Hikaru ask.
"He said he wasn't feeling well; the sudden light must've given him a shock. So he went to bed." Kyouya explained and you hummed.
"Maybe I can check up on him later on." You mused.
Hikaru frowned, "Jeez, when'll you ever stop worrying about that guy?" he asked you.
"Why shouldn't I worry about him?" you retorted, "Look, whether you like it or not, Nekozawa-san is my friend. And I don't like it when people are mean to my friends." You told them.
"Your friend? Hikaru and I are your friends." Kaoru said, gazing down on you.
"I never said you weren't my friends. Sometimes it's nicer to have a large group of friends than only a few." You said.
"No, I won't accept it!" Tamaki stood up, putting his hands on the table. You all looked at him and he continued, "Nekozawa is.. bad! Daddy doesn't approve of your friendship with him! It's far too dangerous..!" he said desperately. You rolled your eyes, and Haruhi spoke.
"I think it's nice that Hana and Nekozawa-senpai are friends. Sure, he's a little different but isn't that what makes the world more interesting? You guys should really stop trying to sabotage her and Nekozawa-senpai." Haruhi said.
"But Haruhi, you have to understand that everything I do is in your best interest..! It is my role as your father," Tamaki turned to Haruhi.
"Huh? Why are you talking to me?" Haruhi asked and senpai jumped with surprise, "That's funny. I thought you weren't going to talk to me anymore." She said, picking up a crab leg and breaking it.
Tamaki seemed to be shaking with anger, more and more so as Haruhi continued to devour a crab by herself. You watched curiously as he abruptly stood up and stiffly marched away from the table a bit, and then turned to point at Haruhi.
"Fine! Since you're being... difficult! I'm going to bed!" Tamaki said. He then turned on his way and stormed out of the room. Kyouya glanced at his departing figure, and sighed, getting up.
"I'll be turning in, as well." He said, following Tamaki to make sure he didnt get lost, or get scared.
"Good night, Kyouya-senpai, Tamaki-senpai," you called after them, then sighed and turned to your food for the first time with a frown, -Somehow I'm not hungry...- you thought to yourself.
"Hana..." you turned to see Haruhi looking at you anxiously.
"Eh? What is it Haruhi?" you asked her curiously.
"Do you think... Maybe I should learn karate?" she asked you. You blinked,
"Learn karate? I don't think youre the karate type..." you said uncertainly. You heard Hikaru sigh beside you,
"Listen, Haruhi. It's really cool and all that you're so fearless and have such a strong sense of justice... But even we think you should apologise for your reckless behaviour today." Hikaru said.
"But I didn't cause you any trouble. If it's because I wasn't strong enough to stand on my own two feet, then I'm sorry for that." Haruhi said and you sighed.
The twins also sighed, and looked at each other over your shoulders. Hunny turned to Haruhi,
"No, Haru-chan, that's not it. Everybody was really worried about you. Especially Tama-chan. You have to make sure you apologise to him for worrying him." Hunny explained to her.
Haruhi blinked, "Eh? Worried?" she asked and you smiled a little. This was Haruhi. Oblivious until someone points it out to her if it doesn't concern her studies.
Haruhi nodded her head, "I'm sorry, you guys. Sorry for worrying you." She said sincerely.
You grinned, and then laughed lightly as the twins, Hunny and Mori went over to hug her and coo at her. (Well, Mori just stood there patting her head.)
But then, all the crab she had eaten came back to haunt her.
"Haruhi? Are we suffocating you?" Hikaru asked as Haruhi seemed to turn purple.
"No... The crab. Im gonna hurl," Haruhi moaned.
"We need to find a bathroom!" you said, getting up. With that, Haruhi was hoisted over Mori's shoulders and you were dragged after them by Hunny.
>> FF >>
After a few minutes of running, a door nearby where you were running opened up and somebody came out quickly; "What's going on..?" he asked while looking at you guys, who had stopped upon noticing him. He was quite handsome... Blonde hair, and blue eyes, like Tamaki's, but his skin was far paler. He was dressed in a bathrobe.
"Who are you?" Hikaru asked, while Kaoru glanced at you before patting Hikaru's shoulder and whispering to him.
"Eh?" the stranger said, and two maids came out after him with a black fabric and a wig. They gave them to him and he dressed himself in the robe and wig.
"Huh? N-Nekozawa-san?" you asked, surprised. Nekozawa, now dressed in his dark clothing stood in front of you guys; you smiled a little, "Ne, Nekozawa-san, why do you wear that wig? You look so handsome without-" you were cut off as someone grabbed your hand and pulled you away and around a corner.
"What the hell!?" you asked, shocked. You turned to see that it was Kaoru that had pulled you away. Just Kaoru. Kaoru sighed, seeming relieved, and you frowned at him, folding your arms. "Kaoru? Why did you do that? I told you, Nekozawa-san is my friend!" you said to him.
"It doesn't matter. Hikaru and the others are occupying him for now." Kaoru said and you were about to retort when he looked at you and spoke again, "I needed to ask you something. Something personal," he said to you and you blinked with surprise.
"Huh?" you asked.
He grabbed your hand again and pulled you into an un-used room, closing the door after us. He let out a sigh, and then turned to you,
"Hikaru and I have been wondering about it for a while. And you don't have to answer if you don't want to..." Kaoru said and you stared at him curiously.
The room was empty asides from you two. You then realised that this was the first time youd been alone with Kaoru. You had to admit Kaoru seemed a lot calmer when Hikaru wasn't around.
You sighed, and nodded, "What?" you asked him.
"It's about this sister of yours," he paused and you widened your eyes, "Her name was Yuna, right? You've mentioned her a few times, though I'm not sure you were entirely aware of it." Kaoru added.
"Mm," you grunted, looking down, "I'm.. not very comfortable talking about her." you said softly and the room went quiet asides from the ticking of the grandfather clock nearby.
It stayed as quiet for a few minutes, before Kaoru asked another question, "Why?" he asked and you looked up to him, surprised; "Why does it make you uncomfortable? Do you two not get on?" he asked you.
You stepped back a little to lean against the wall, and hugged your arms, "Of course not... We got along very well. Like you and Hikaru do," you answered him hesitantly.

(Kaoru POV)
"Of course not... We got along very well. Like you and Hikaru do," Hana said to you as the thunder roared in the background.
'Listen up. Hana cares about the relationship Hikaru and Kaoru share, because she and her own sister were pretty close themselves. But they'd had their moments where they fought a lot. It always used to tear her up inside when they fought. All she'd been trying to do today was to find out why you guys were fighting so that she could help you make up.'
You remembered Haruhi's words from a week ago and frowned, -So... Is this what Haruhi was talking about?- you asked yourself and curiously, you spoke up, "Then why? 'If it wasn't for Haruhi, I'd have never recovered'. You said that earlier today. Does it... have something to do with Yuna?" you asked you and Hana just looked away from you. "Sorry. Never mind." you bit your lip and mumbled, looking away.
The room was silent for a moment, and then Hana spoke again, "It was supposed to be a step forward for us," she said and you looked up at you, "That day.. She'd finally managed to ask out the guy she liked, and she was so happy. I was happy for her too. Why wouldn't I have been? She's my sister. But..." she trailed off, and you could only stare at her.
A tear slipped down her cheeks as she continued and you walked towards her quickly as she continued speaking,
"There was an accident and things got complicated. Yuna's been in hospital for seven months now. And the doctors say that if she doesn't get better soon then she might not ever wake up... Eh?" she looked up as you wiped her tears away.
"You were crying." you said, bringing back your finger. She probably hadnt even noticed you because she was so distracted by talking. And then she blushed.
You inwardly grinned at your achievement as she brought her hands up to rub the tears away by herself.
"S-Sorry." She said, looking away again.
"It's okay." you said and grinned, shrugging your shoulders, "It was my fault for asking something like that. I kinda expected it'd be a bad thing to bring up. But thanks, for telling me," you said.
She nodded slowly, looking down, "And so, that's why. That's why I'd said that if it wasnt for Haruhi I wouldn't have recovered. She was there for me when I needed her the most, and helped me take my mind of Yuna's condition." she said, you could have sworn she'd started smiling a little.
-At least she's feeling a little better. I guess talking about stuff like this can cheer someone up.- you thought to yourself, and nodded.
"Hey.." you leaned against the wall beside her, "Are you scared?" you asked her.
She looked surprised, "Eh?" she asked.
"Your sister is very important to you, right? I know I'd be very scared for Hikaru if he was in that sort of position." you explained.
She gazed up at you, and after a moment she nodded and looked down again,
"Un... It's scary." she agreed and you turned to her.
"If you want, you can always come to me." you told her and she blinked. Another smile came.
"Thanks-" she began but was cut off when thunder roared through the sky. She jumped with shock.
Heh. So she finally noticed the storm?

(Normal |Hana| POV)
You gasped, getting up off the wall after hearing the storm, "Thunder!" you gasped.
"Yeah, and lightning, too. It's been going on for a little while now," Kaoru agreed and you turned around to face him.
"Seriously?!" you asked, shocked. Kaoru nodded,
"Yeah, didn't you notice? I guess I took your mind off it," Kaoru grinned at you, then blinked as you began to rush out of the room, "Hey where are you going? I told Hikaru I'd keep you away from Nekozawa! Hey!" Kaoru chased you as you rushed out of the room.
"I have to find Haruhi!" you called back, not looking to him. -I hope someone was there to help,- you thought to yourself.


REST IN RESULTS!
To the results! :P
>>A few minutes later, at the doorway to a room>>
The sight you saw was not what you had been expecting. Instead of Haruhi curled up in a ball like she usually did in this sort of weather... There was something else.
"Tamaki-senpai..." you muttered, clenching your fist while watching the scene before you. The blond senpai turned to you with a jump from securing the blind-fold over Haruhi's eyes.
"Huh... Perverted!" the twins said, looking disgusted again.
"N-NO! It's not what it seems like...!" Tamaki gasped, waving his hands about frantically. You walked over to where Haruhi was sat and grabbed her hand, pulling her to a stand and walking her away from Tamaki,
"Eh? What's going on?" Haruhi asked, her ears being clogged.
"I'm taking you to our room, Haruhi. It's okay, I'm here now." You said, even though she couldn't hear you.
"We'll accompany you, to protect you from any passing perverts!" Hikaru and Kaoru both followed you two out of the room.
"W-Wait!" Tamaki gasped, but he was cut off when the door closed.

>>FF Next Morning>>
The next morning, the Host Club, Haruhi and you left Nekozawa's summer home to head back to your own homes. On the ride back in the limousine, while Tamaki rushed to keep up with you guys after having been left behind, you sat just a little bit closer to Kaoru as you chatted with Haruhi.
You remembered your words from the previous night.
'When someone's feeling down, the best thing to have around is someone to talk to about their feelings, right?'
-Thanks, Kaoru...- you thought to yourself with a smile.



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