Just Sing!

[Crow]

13 Beach mania part 3

After that event Haruhi seemed a little down. She reflected all night about what had happened during the storm. It was kinda different from the Jun she thought she knew. And she realised that maybe he wasn’t as bad as she believed. Actually, she didn’t know what to think anymore. The moment he took her into his arms, that warm gentle feeling, the fact that, although she didn’t admit it, he was a handsome young man, made her head hurt.
When she realised that vacation was over, and remembered the last words they said to each other, like him dying in a rat hole, that was kinda overreacting. That last day she decided to go and say good-bye to Keiko at the hospital, and probably say bye to him too since she promised she won’t interfere with him ever again and when they return to town nothing will be the same.
But when she and the others got there, Keiko was alone in her room. She greeted them with the same kind and gentle smile she always had but she looked even weaker than when they first saw her. Only then did they realise how hard her life and how hard it was for her brother. It became obvious why he was so mean and acted tough all the time, it was for her, so she wouldn’t worry about him.
“Keiko-san… we wanted to say good-bye to you,” Haruhi smiled. “Here’s some cookies I made…so you won’t forget me,” she said and handed her a small bag.
“Thank you! I really enjoyed spending time with all of you.”
Everyone smiled and hugged her. “Please get well soon, so we can go to the mountains… and I’ll even teach you how to fight!” Haruhi continued trying to maintain her normal voice.
“I will,” Keiko said smiling back.
When the nurse came and said they had to leave they all waved goodbye and were about to leave, Haruhi being the last one to leave the room, when Keiko called her back: “Haruhi-san, could I speak to you? Alone.”
“Of course…” she said and sat on her bed curious about what she will say.
“I know my big brother can be hard to deal with at times but… I’d like to ask you something… Sorry, I’m being selfish.”
“It’s okay… heh… don’t worry about him, I’m as tough as they get. I barely managed not to beat the crap out of him… because it would look embarrassing for you.”
“That’s what he always said… ‘Don’t worry’ but I always have, ever since we met. I was ten, he was fourteen. I was ill but the people at the orphanage didn't seem to care. When he saw what was going on he took me out of there and straight to this hospital. When he found out I had leukaemia I saw the first and last tear he ever shed.”
‘Leukaemia’ Haruhi thought to herself and a shiver went down her spine. She listened without saying a word.
“Since then, he’s always visited me, paid for my hospital bills, even though we’re only half brothers. We have the same mother but different fathers. That was how he found me, looking for his mother.”
“And, what does this have to do with me?” she asked.
“I know he hangs out with a lot of people, and they all take care of each other but I’ve never met them, only you. I know it’s a lot to ask, but could you look after him for me?” she asked looking Haruhi in the eyes. “I promise to repay you someday and…”
“Sure,” she said and stood up. “Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll take care of him for you,” she smiled and winked.
“Thank you, Haruhi-san!” Keiko shouted and hugged her, tears going down her cheeks.
Haruhi caressed her hair. She didn’t have the heart to tell her what awful things they said to each other, more like, what awful things she said to him. She couldn’t tell her that her brother hated her and didn’t want to see her anymore.
All the way to the train station she looked very sad. Obviously everyone was worried, even Yuki.
“I never saw her like that… what could have happened so bad that she turned like this?” Karin asked very worried.
“Maybe she got possessed or something…” Ganjou said while eating.
“Don’t be an idiot…” Karin scorned him.
As they were waiting for the train, Jun arrived at the hospital with some flowers and fresh fruit. He placed the flowers in a vase and started pealing an apple for his sister when she woke up.
“Brother, Haruhi-san was just here.”
“Really?”
“Yes, they all came to say good-bye to me. They’re really nice people, I liked them very much.”
“That’s nice,” he said and continued to peal.
“I think Haruhi-san likes you,” Keiko said smiling.
“She’s a nice girl but she needs to slow down.”
“I think you like her more than you admit,” she said with a grin.
“I think you need your medication,” he replied handing her the apple, the corners of his lips curling into a discrete smile.

[Crow]

14 Hidden

As soon as they were all back in Tokyo, Haruhi decided to be true to her promise. After school she always went down to their hideout and check on things. She always kept her distance, not wanting to let him know what she was doing, especially after the way the two of them parted.
It was pretty tiresome, to go there every day and then starting on her homework from the moment she got home till late at night. Because of her lack of sleep she was less active at school and usually staid in class during breaks to rest. Everyone noticed the sudden change in her but didn’t ask her about it, thinking it might be a personal problem. Plus most of the school welcomed the peace and quiet.
One day, while she was waiting outside, she was so tired she never noticed someone walking up behind her until she felt a hand on her shoulder that surprised her so much she yelped and jumped up. Turning around she saw one of the Tiger Claws she saw around the hideout. He was not very tall, had short blonde hair and two earrings in his left ear.
“Sorry to startle you, dear.”
“What do you want?” she asked a little surprised.
“Well I’ve seen you coming here lately and I wondered if I could help with anything. I’m Take Daisuke.”
“What’s with the politeness all of a sudden?” she asked raising an eyebrow.
“I guess we didn’t leave a very positive first impression on you… but we were only hostile because we thought you had something against Ketsueki-sama.”
“I do… I mean I did…” she said and her expression changed again “…until I met his sister… Anyway, you don’t need to worry about me, I’m not gonna be a bother to you or your boss anymore,” she smiled.
“Oh we imagined as much and we know about his sister, although he never told us about her.”
“How do you know?”
“It’s a pretty long story, why not come inside and have a seat while we talk? Ketsueki-sama will be gone all day.”
Haruhi was a little reluctant about it, but agreed and followed the man to their club. She turned heads again as she entered but only the girls glared at her. The boys didn’t seem to care that she was there. Daisuke led her to a couch and after going to the bar, brought her back a juice and a beer for himself.
“I think I should start with the beginning. You probably already know that, Ketsueki-sama was fourteen when he first came here looking for a job so he could pay for his sister’s hospital treatments. Back then he was all alone and there were no Tiger Claws. I don’t know much about that period since he never talked about it, all I can tell you is what I learned since he found me two years later.”
“Ahuh… I’m listening…” she said and sat on the sofa where not so long ago she had seen Jun for the third time with two girls wrapped around him.
“Back then I was working for my uncle. My parents died soon after I was born and he took me in so he could have a slave to work to the bone. When I first met him he was having it really tough. All the money he made went to the hospital and he had to steal his food and sleep outside. We met when I gave him some leftovers from my uncle’s dinner. Soon after that he started working as the neighbourhood guard and was paid by shop owners so he had plenty of money for both the hospital and food. He repaid my kindness by adopting me. He took me away from my uncle, taught me how to fight and I became the first of the Tiger Claws.”
“Yeah… well… I always thought his toughness proves he went through a lot… probably that’s the reason why he doesn’t have any feelings and prefers the company of a hooker…” she suddenly realized herself saying.
“Well I have to repeat what he said: you don’t know anything about us, at least not yet,” he said, his smile disappearing. “You see every one of us has their own story: abandoned, abused, run away… at first he saved most of us and eventually, the veterans started following in his footsteps until we became what you see around you. But you’re wrong if you think he has no feelings, his sister proves it. To get back to your original question, we found out about her when followed him one time.”
“Just like me…” she smiled gently.
“And it’s not like he prefers the company of the ‘girls’ here, it’s just his way to relieve his stress, that and fighting. If you ask me, he’s afraid of getting close to anyone.”
“Ha, ha… I always knew he was a scared-cat inside… Anyway… I appreciate the info. If you must know...I’m coming here every day because his sister asked me too…”
“She’s one of the reasons we care about our leader so much. He saved us all and looked after us and all the while he also took care of his sister. If what I said is true, then it’s because he’s afraid to lose anyone, which is why he’s so cold to everyone, so he doesn’t get attached to them.”
“Maybe… but he’s still a heartless ass… and I hate him for it. Ja ne!” she said and took her bag while walking away.
Just as she was about to leave, she was surrounded by virtually everyone in the building and turning around to Daisuke she saw that even he was glaring at her.
“You may not like him but we cannot allow you to insult him. He may be a lot of things but he is not heartless. This time we’ll let you go, but no little girl who has lived with at least one parent in the comfort of a home has a right to judge Ketsueki-sama.”
“Your wrong…” she whispered and pushed through the crowd and almost ran out.
“How can you call him heartless when you struggle with your own feelings?” Daisuke shouted after her.

[Crow]

15 Tiger Hunt

Two months passed since the two last spoke to each other. She didn’t have enough energy to fight the gangs so well as before, and that state annoyed her.
One day when she got out of the bathtub she stopped to look herself in the mirror, more than usual.
“Come on! Snap out of it! It’s over! You’ll never see him again! Why would you want to anyway? He was nothing but annoyance 100 %..’’with those words in mind she decided to forget everything once and for all. When she returned to school she was more energetic than ever.
Haruhishment became once more a daily routine. Uzumi was finally able to breathe normally, seeing that she was alright, and her friends were glad they had their old Haruhi back.
“Well Haruhi-chan… see you tomorrow!” Karin said waving good-bye to her as she was climbing the bus’s steps.
Haruhi was humming a song on the way home. It was still warm outside. Suddenly a car stopped right before she could cross the street. Before she could do anything about it a hand appeared and grabbed her pulling her in the van.
“No… no… let me go! Let me go!” she screamed but the one holding her put his hand over her mouth, so no one could hear her. When they took of their masks she realised who they were. Gin was the one holding her and he was smirking very content.
“I got a kitty-cat,” he whispered to her ear sending chills down her spine.
“Let’s see what your boyfriend’s gonna do when he hears his little kitty was never found again…” The men started laughing. Haruhi was terrified. For the first time she hadn’t expected this.
‘Jun!’ she thought.
It was late in the evening and Jun was sitting on a couch back at the hideout when Uzumi came running. He started talking but no one could understand what he was saying so they had him sit down, have a drink and catch his breath first.
“So, what’s so important that you had to come here?” Jun said lighting a cigarette.
“It’s Haruhi, she’s been missing for two days!”
“So?”
“What do you mean so?! The cops have no leads, no one has asked for a ransom, you’re the only one who can find her!”
“What makes you think I want to?” Jun asked lying down.
“You can’t lie to me, I know she means more to you than you’ll admit!” Uzumi said and left.
Everyone gathered around him and waited to see what he was going to say. He remained silent, lying on the couch for a few minutes then he stood up, put out his cigarette and said: “The tigers are going hunting.”
The Tiger Claws went out in groups of five, all except for their leader, and searched all over town. They started with the shops they knew where they asked about her. Next they met up in larger groups and started to forcefully interrogate other gangs to see who knew what. For the better part of that night all they found out was that some gangs had it in for her but no names.
By morning they were all tired and were about to give up when they got their first tip. One of their groups met up with the Snakes and managed to get the information out of them. Their leader, Gin, and the leaders of a few other gangs she had caused trouble for. Half of the tigers, though tired, went searching for those gangs to get more information.
As the sun was starting to set they had all the information they needed. They knew where she was being kept and who was guarding her but they were all tired and some beat up so only one of them had enough energy to go after her.
Haruhi was locked in a dark room with no windows. They haven’t given her any food all day and they stripped her of her clothes, but at the order of their boss they didn’t touch her in any other way, for now. Her eyes were soaked in tears, she already accepted that no one will come for her. Nobody knew where she was, and Jun said he’d never want to see her again, so he wouldn’t come to save her.
“Having fun, kitty-cat?” Gin said opening the door. She was tied up so she couldn’t run or try to protect herself. “I was extra careful not to leave you any openings…” he said and licked her ear, making her scream. “You smell nice… for a brat!” he joked and left the room, leaving her alone, with tears pouring down her cheeks.
Suddenly she heard the first noise in a long time. People were shooting, glass was braking and everyone was confused. Jun had entered their hideout and started hitting everyone left and right. She was so weak she could barely move but that sound was like a blessing.
When the door opened there was no light on the other side and she couldn’t see who it was until Jun stepped into the light. He kneeled next to her, took off his shirt off and put it around her. He took a knife from his pocket and untied her then picked her up and carried her out of the room. For a moment she had a feeling she felt like his body was wet but she thought it was only sweat.
Just as they left the room, they ran into Gin. Jun put her down on a box and faced him. Gin wasted no time in attacking him with a bat but Jun parried his attack and took a swing at him. Haruhi had the impression he was slower than usual and when Gin managed to hit him in the ribs she knew something had to be wrong. Jun took three more hits before he finally grabbed the bat, pulled it out of his opponent’s hand and hit him so hard with it, it broke.
Then he walked back to her, picked her up and carried her out to a car outside where Uzumi was waiting for them. The teacher drove them to the hospital where they rushed Haruhi to the emergency room but just as they were carrying her out she saw Jun collapse on the floor and people gather around him.
She tried to call his name, but fainted. The next thing she woke up in a hospital bed. Uzumi-sensei was sleeping next to her bed. It was late at night. The first thing that struck her mind was Jun collapsing. She got out of bed and ran towards the front desk.
“Excuse me…” she said out of breath. “Can you tell me where I can find Ketsueki Jun? I think he’s in this hospital too.”
The lady looked at her surprised for a moment then checked her computer. “He just got out of surgery two hours ago…” Haruhi’s eyes widened “room … 455. 4th floor.” The woman didn’t finish but Haruhi was already heading towards the elevator. Surgery? She remembered seeing him collapse. Despair started to engulf her the more she approached room 455. She slowly opened the door.
Jun was lying on a bed, he had a blood transfusion in his right arm and another one with a transparent liquid in the other. In his nose he had a tube that was helping him breathe. The only person next to him was Daisuke who had fallen asleep in a chair.
She approached the bed uncertain. His face was pale. Before she could realize it she was crying above his bed. Her only relief was that he was asleep and couldn’t hear her. “You came for me… you came…” she managed to whisper and slowly kissed his forehead. Look at me… such a weakling. Crying like a baby,” she laughed. “I was always acting tough… but the truth was… I suffered the most… when you weren’t there to scorn me… to scold me… Even if you hate me and even if you don’t hear me… I want you to know, that I never hated you...never.”

[Crow]

16 Recovery

The next few days she didn’t leave his bedside for a moment. She even made a fuss to let the doctors let her sleep in the room next to his while she was still under supervision. All day long she fussed around him, she forced him to eat and only left when he was given a sponge bath from one of the nurses, at which she glared every time, or a check up by a doctor.
“Come on… say Aaah…” she said and tried to stuff the spoon in his mouth.
“You’re enjoying this…” he mumbled.
She didn’t answer, but her devil spark appeared for a second.
“Once more…” Aaah…” She shoved the spoon in his mouth right when Karin, Ganjou, Uzumi and Yuki entered.
Uzumi, Ganjou and Karin couldn’t help it and burst into laughter at the scenery.
“I see Haruhi-chan is taking good care of you…” Uzumi laughed. Karin left a big flower on the desk.
“You keep quiet…” Jun said swallowing his food. “I thought you were supposed to be grateful not vengeful.”
“Shut up, you!” Haruhi ordered and shoved another spoon in his mouth. “Don’t talk with your mouth full!”
Karin giggled. “They’re almost like a couple.”
“Bite your tongue!” Jun shouted and started choking, which led to a spasm because of the pain from the gunshot wound.
“Take it easy!” Haruhi said and brought him some water. “Karin… knock it off!” she said but before Karin could get upset she winked at her and the girl just answered: “Yes!”
“I want out of this place,” Jun said lying back down on his pillow.
“Not until the doctors say you can,” Haruhi scolded him.
“What do they know? It’s only a flesh wound…”
“Yes, if by flesh wound you mean the bullet went straight through your body, barely missing your organs,” Uzumi stated.
“You moron… how on Earth did you get that wound… don’t you know how to duck and cover?” she scorned him after hearing that scary affirmation.
“You duck and cover when fired at by four armed men,” he complained.
“Well that’s what happens when you play the hero,” she mocked him.
“Would you rather I left you there?” he asked reaching for his cigarettes.
He slapped his hand and took the package away from him.
“No way, mister. You just had a bullet taken out of you! No smoking…!”
“What are you? My mother? I’ll smoke if I want to!” he retorted and reached for the pack of smokes and took it back from her.
She grabbed it again, only this time he didn’t let go, so now they were both pulling the package in their direction. The others barely controlled their laughter.
“I bet 10 yen that Haruhi’s gonna smack him in the head and take the cigarettes,” Ganjou said while eating a muffin.
“I bet a hundred that if you open your mouth again for anything than food, they’ll never find the body,” Jun said and let go of the pack, so suddenly that Haruhi nearly fell backwards. “Now can I have some privacy?”
“Oh… want me to call the two bi… uh… ladies that you usually hang out with?” devilish spark again.
“They’d be a good change of scenery,” he replied and pressed the button to call the nurse.
Haruhi’s cute pony-tails suddenly rose-up from irritation.
“Ha… Haruhi-chan… let’s go eat some ice-cream!” Karin said fast and started pulling her towards the exit.
“Hurry… before she blows up…” Yuki stated and followed them with his face in a book.
After the two left the nurses wouldn’t let anyone in for the rest of the day, no matter how much Haruhi protested. When night came she was forced to go to her own room where she sat up in bed, hugging a pillow, still angry.
By the time the clock struck two she had fallen asleep but while she slept, Jun had changed his clothes, taken a few painkillers from the medicine cabinet and left his room through the window. He stopped for a few moments, then walked over to Haruhi’s window to look at her before climbing down the fire escape.
In the morning, the whole floor was going crazy and woke up Haurhi very early. When she managed to get a nurse to hold still and ask her what was going on, she told her that Jun had left the hospital and his stitches had not even been removed yet because his wound was not completely healed.
“That bastard!” Haruhi screamed.
Karin handed her a bag smiling. “Since you’d probably go after him I brought you a spare of clothes.”
“Always one step ahead, thanks,” she smirked and changed her clothes.
“I always loved how these look on you…” Karin said still admiring her.
“Sexy… might be the word…” Yuki said with a passive look but suddenly returned to his book when Karin glared at him.
“Right… let’s go and find him… before he collapses again.”
They left the hospital and took a taxi straight to the abandoned building downtown. She knew that would be where she’d find him, however the place was empty. The bar, the gym, the couches, everything had been packed up and taken out of there and the building looked on the inside the same way it did from the outside, condemned.
Haruhi couldn’t believe her eyes. “Is it possible… they’ve been planning this for a while now…?” Karin asked Haruhi.
Haruhi didn’t answer. It was really strange. Why would they leave? She did make it really clear that she won’t bother them anymore, than why did they change locations? Was Jun trying to get rid of her so much.
“Mrrr… That’s it… when I’m gonna find that bastard… I’ll whoop his butt!” she snarled and started walking towards the taxi grumbling.
“So… what now?” Yuki asked. “You don’t have a trace to follow… how are you going to find him?”
“Shut up… I’ll think of something…” she growled.
Unfortunately she didn’t have too many leads. No one had seen or heard from the Tiger Claws since the incident with the kidnapping. And the shop owners she knew were under their protection absolutely refused to say anything about them. Although not helpful, she knew they couldn’t have left town if the shops were still under their protection, she only had to keep an eye out for when they came to collect their payment.

[Crow]

17 Vanished

The next few days Haruhi spent her free time looking for any leads on the missing gang, but she found nothing. It was just as if they had disappeared from this face of the Earth.
“Ah…” she sighed one day at school.
“I’m sure Jun is alright…” Karin stated trying to comfort her.
“I’m just too tired… for anything…” Haruhi mumbled and put her head on the school desk.
“You shouldn’t push yourself too much…” Yuki scolded her.
Suddenly it occurred to her and she scolded herself for not thinking of it sooner. Why hadn’t she tried asking Tansei-sensei if he had heard anything? Maybe Jun wanted to get away from her but he might have still been in contact with him. It was a long shot but it was also the best lead she had in days. As soon as class was over, she went straight to the teacher’s lounge looking for her favourite teacher.
“Uhm… Uzumi-sensei… may I ask you something?”
“No, I haven’t heard from him since he left the hospital,” he said predicting her question.
“Are you… sure… he didn’t say anything… anything… anything at all?” she insisted.
“I’m afraid not… I think I’m the last person he’d tell anything.”
“I see… Well… If he calls or anything let me know please,” and with that she left the teachers room and decided that there was nothing more for her to do. All she could do was wait.
“Alright… Let’s get crackin’!” she said energised. “Time for P.E.”
On the way home she did all she could to try and put Jun aside. Actually, it started annoying her how much time a day she spent thinking about him. She could bet her entire house and all her belongings that he didn’t even think half as much about her as she did. That’s what she believed.
Suddenly she saw someone waiting in front of her house. It looked like a familiar face. Getting closer she recognised Daisuke. Before she could realise it she found herself running towards him.
“Where the hell have you disappeared?” she burst
“I’m glad to see you too,” he said smiling.
“Uh…” she blushed. “Sorry for being rude… but you guys disappeared just like a chocolate bar in Ganjou’s hands. Is he alright? The doctors didn’t even manage to remove his stitches…”
“Don’t worry about him, he’s been I worse shape than that, more than often. You’d be surprised how much we’ve learned about treating wounds when living in a gang, especially Ketsueki-sama.”
“I see…” she smiled relieved. “So… you guys need something… why are you here?”
“Because of what you said at the hospital.”
“Huh...? What I say…I say a lot of things…” she scratched her head confused.
“Oh I think you know what I mean,” he said with a smirk. “When you woke up and saw him in his bed for the first time.”
“What the hell are you…” but she suddenly stopped and realized what he was talking about. He had been there that night when she first saw Jun after he collapsed. Her face turned red and her heart started beating fast.
“A… ahaha… I… don’t know what you’re… talking about… ahahaha,” she started laughing though she felt like her face was on fire.
“I’ll bet you don’t…” he replied taking a few steps toward her. “Maybe you won’t admit it to me or yourself but you care about him. Now, do you want to find him or not?”
“Y… yeah…” she mumbled still embarrassed.
“Unfortunately not even I know where he is, nor do any of the other Tiger Claws. However, there is one person he must have told where he can be contacted.”
“What… not even you guys know where he is… man. How are we gonna find him then? Who is this person?”
“Can you think of no one? Not one person that has managed to reach his heart that he has locked away from the rest of the world?”
“Keiko-san… by any chance?” she asked intrigued.
“One thing we all share is that we all want a family, which was why we stayed together. He still has part of his and that is more precious to him than anything else.”
“Indeed… I’m sure Jun-san is the most happy when he’s with her…” Haruhi realized.
“For now maybe,” Daisuke stated looking her in the eye. “Meet me tomorrow at the train station, as early as possible.”
“Right… see ya’ tomorrow,” she said and waved good-bye.
Haruhi didn’t even realize when she had fallen asleep and woke up the next day, it was certain though that she was excited about their small adventure. She hoped she could see Keiko again, see how she was doing, since she really liked her and wanted to cheer her up. Having that purpose in mind, she baked a few cookies the night before. The next morning she ate her breakfast fast then hurried to her room to get dressed. She put on a pair of long, stripped, black and orange socks, a short blue jeans skirt, an orange undershirt and a pair of long, fingerless black gloves. Then she took her backpack and off she went to the train station.
Daisuke was waiting for her, tickets for both of them in hand, and as soon as the train got there they left. He was just as eager to see Keiko as she was, seeing as they had never met face to face. When he and a few others followed Jun, they only watched from outside.
The trip was long and when they reached their stop, Daisuke insisted on taking a taxi to the hospital. The reason for getting up so early and spending as little time there as possible was because he wanted to get back in town as soon as he could.
They reached the hospital soon after that and now they were already headed towards Keiko’s room, since Haruhi knew the way. Keiko was just finishing breakfast and when she saw the two of them she started to choke and had to drink a glass of water to swallow her food.
“Haruhi-san! What are you doing here?”
Haruhi smirked and jumped on her bed hugging her. “Keiko-chan, how are you feeling? I brought you cookies!” she said and took a small package with pink flowers painted on it and gave it to her.
“Ah… thank you… but what brings you here so early? Is Jun alright? And who’s your friend?”
“He’s one of his friends. Ne… Keiko-san...has Jun-san contacted you since we left here?”
“Yes, he came by here yesterday but he didn’t stay long. Why?”
“Uh… nothing big… just, his friend missed him very much and wanted to see him. So… did he say anything about where was he going to go?” she asked very impatient.
“Haruhi-san, I’m not a child…” Keiko said and frowned. “He looked a little pale yesterday and you coming here all of a sudden can only mean something is definitely wrong.
“Nothing happened, I’m telling you… don’t worry about it… ehehehe…” she said waving her hands. “Pale… hmm… he probably ate something and didn’t like it… so tell me… did he say anything?”
“Haurhi-san! I want to know what’s going on and I want to know now!”
Haruhi looked at Daisuke with a worried look. Should they tell her what was going on? He looked just as confused as she was but in the end nodded to let her know there was no other way. Keiko was the only one who could tell them where Jun was and they had to tell her something.
“Ketsueki-sama has disappeared and we’re worried about him. If he was pale he might be ill and we want to help him any way we can,” he explained.
“I see…” Keiko said lowering her gaze. “Well he told me he bought a place near the park west of the Koukay high school.”
“…Ko… Koukai?” Haruhi burst full of astonishment and looked at Daisuke. “He was so close… what where the odds…?”
“Well now that we know, it’ll be easier to find him,” Daisuke said walking to the door. “Let’s go back.”
“Keiko-chan… don’t forget… I’m gonna take you to the mountains when this is over,” Haruhi smiled and waved good-bye to her.
Now that Jun’s whereabouts have been discovered, the two hurried back at the train station and before sunset they were already back in Tokyo.
“Urgh… when I’m gonna find that rat I’m so gonna apply a haruhishment on him… who does he think he is putting me through all this trouble to find him…?”

[Crow]

18 Mischievous kiss!

They weren’t ready to go home just yet. Evening or not, they wanted to find Jun, especially Haruhi. She was angrier than ever and tired from the train ride to and from Keiko’s hospital. The two of them took a taxi to the park near her high school and started looking for a place that would best suit him. When they found an area that was near a bus stop, had a few grocery stores nearby, Daisuke was certain they were near by. It was only a matter of finding the exact location.
“That’s it…we’re gonna call every apartment in the area and see where that rat is hiding!” Haruhi decided and started calling at each apartment of each block.
“No need, we we’re supposed to meet at our old hiding place tonight, that’s why I wanted to get back as soon as possible. We just have to wait until it’s time for him to go.”
“Oh…” she said while the woman on the interphone was screaming: “You hooligans… don’t have anything better to do than annoy a poor old lady?”
“Looks like we’re in luck,” Daisuke said pointing at a group of teenagers in front of a building.
“Huh… What? You want me to beat the crap outta them?” Haruhi asked confused.
“We won’t need to lift a finger, just wait.”
Sure enough, when the yelling got louder, the front door opened and someone scared the teenagers off simply by looking at them. They knew it had to be Jun and hurried before he went back upstairs.
“Bastard! You’re gonna suffer my wrath!” Haruhi screamed after him and before he could close the door she grabbed him by the shoulder.
“How? You!” he said turning to Daisuke. “I suppose you were behind this. What did you tell Keiko?”
“Nothing that would worry her too much, at least no more than we were,” the younger man replied. “And I think I’ll go home now, I think she can handle things from here,” Daisuke added and left them alone.
“Ohohoooooo… sure I can,” she said and raised her sleeves. “I’ll whoop your butt… kick your ass… and then throw you to the dogs! Do you know how much we looked for you!?” she yelled at him and was ready to punch him right in the face.
He caught her fist and sighed. “If you’re going to yell, could you at least do it upstairs? There are enough loud mouths around here and I don’t want to be kicked out of my apartment.”
“Ok… UPSTAIRS… NOW!” she burst and every step she made almost shook the ground.
He led her upstairs, unlocked the door and let her go in first. The apartment was small, just a small bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, all connected by a hallway. It was pretty clean though there were a few dishes in the sink that needed washing and the laundry bag was full and the bed was not made.
Before anything else, she turned around and without any warning whatsoever slapped him.
“You leave the hospital without saying… still in recovery, your stitches not even removed, you worry your comrades so much… and still have the guts to talk back. I barely managed to explain to Keiko, seeing her worried face. You like tormenting people, don’t you?”
“I’ve been alone most of my life, what do you expect me to do?” he asked walking passed her. “I like living alone.”
“That’s no excuse for making us worry! Blah… I hate you!”
“So you keep telling me,” he said lighting a cigarette.
As usual she took the cigarette right out of his mouth. “If you wanna die… I’ll be glad to kill you myself!” she yelled.
“What do you want now? Did Keiko send you after me?” he asked lying down on his back on the bed.
“No… she wouldn’t send me because she knows I would kill you… and… what the hell are you doin’ lying on the bed? I’m talkin’ here! I’m really… really dangerous right now… I could kick you really bad you know… aren’t you even angry because I’m offending you…?”
“You’re just as loud as ever…” he said closing his eyes.
“I… what… I can’t believe this… you… pathetic… lowlife… scumbag of a gangster… That’s it… I’m gonna turn you to the police… forget everything I said before… even when you were unconscious… I was probably drunk or something… feeling grateful for saving my life...”
“Said while I was unconscious?” he asked confused sitting up. “What are you talking about?”
“Forget it… it was absolutely… positively… just an emo moment… and I was really… what does it matter… I can’t believe such a sweet girl like Keiko has a brother like you… I’m starting to understand why hookers like you so much!” her throat started hurting from all the yelling.
“Shout, shout, shout… do you ever do anything but yell and everyone?” he asked looking her straight in the eyes the same way he did when they first met.
“It’s… it’s how I am… and… I like it!” she yelled and tried to hit him in the face again. This time the pain being for real.
He managed to avoid her fist just enough so she just grazed his cheek and walked towards her, forcing her back until she felt the wall behind her. Then he placed his left hand on the wall next to her and leaned closer to her.
“You yell, you shout, you call people names… does anything shut that big mouth of yours?”
Gulp… She suddenly turned red and her heart started beating very fast. “Absolutely… nothing… can shut me up!” she said trying to keep a calm and determined tone.
“I beg to differ,” he said and leaned closer to her and before she could push him back he kissed her.
She felt like she was about to faint for a moment. For a second she said it was just a dream, or nightmare, still couldn’t decide, but he was really kissing her. His lips were really touching hers in the most strangely yet romantic and gentle kind of way. A part of her wanted to stay like that, but the usual Haruhi just couldn’t bear with it and pushed him away.
“No! What… what… why did you kiss me you idiot!?” she asked barely capable of catching her breath, her cheeks burning and her heart pounding as it was about to explode.
“Well it shut you up for a while…” he said turning around and walking to the bed. “Now if you don’t mind I have work in the morning. I got a job at the bike shop down the street.”
She fell on a chair breathing heavily. “Kiss… kiss…and… You...bastard!” she suddenly exploded. “Taking advantage of a girl like that… acting like… it was nothing… you… cold hearted… pile of JUNK… I hate you,” she concluded and burst out the door.

[Crow]

19 – A tempting offer

All night one thing was on her mind, that kiss. “That darn… annoying… good for nothing kiss…” that made her cheeks burn every time she remembered it. Even she wasn’t that stupid as to not realise that Jun was very handsome, very cool and mysterious and for that reason any girl would fall for him. She started wondering that maybe she fell for him herself, but her stubbornness and pride just couldn’t accept the fact that she could fall in love with someone who’s so not to her tastes. Yet, she kept touching her lips and tightly holding her pillow when she remembered those moments.
“Damn...come on…it wasn’t that great…! Actually… he’s a pretty good kisser… NO… shit… why am I thinking that! Nohohohoooo…” she started wailing and did so the rest of the night.
“You look tired, Haruhi-chan… what happened?” Karin asked the next day at school.
Haruhi was still wailing on the desk. “Buhahaha… Karin… can I ask you something…?”
The girl looked surprised… “Sure!”
“What if… in… in theory, of course… the guy that you hate the most on this planet… would kiss you… and… the bad part being… you think you kinda liked it?”
Karin stared at her, Haruhi never saw her so struck with amazement before.
“OMG! OMG! HE DID IT! JUN-SAN KISSED YOU!” she screamed and suddenly got really excited. Luckily there wasn’t anyone around, or it would have been a disaster.
“Shh… sh… no he didn’t…” she tried to lie and got red again.
“Of course not…” Karin said with a wide, evil grin. “So what’s wrong? Since you liked it I imagine you want to do it again, that’s how all girls feel.”
“I didn’t like it! Ur… I mean… I keep telling you…he didn’t kiss me!”
“Admit it! You liked it and you like him!” Karin said looking intently at her in the eyes.
“No way… I didn’t like it… and I never EVER want it again!” she said looking into her eyes. Seeing how determined she was Karin sighed and gave up.
“Fine… if you say so… Ne? Did he touch you anywhere?” she asked the next second still excited.
Haruhi turned red again. “KARIN!” she screamed at her.
“Ok…ok…” she waved her hands and giggled. “So… I guess you won’t be asking him to the winter prom, huh?”
“Are you kidding me? He’s not even a student here… and… why should I… oh wait… I forgot… I don’t have a dress… I have to buy a dress,” she said and put a hand to her temple.
“Hey… I’ll join you, how about we go there this Saturday?” Karin suggested.
“Sure… that way we can both buy a dress!” Haruhi decided.
Karin didn’t bother her about the kiss again but Haruhi did not seem to be over it yet. Everyone noticed a change in her but with everything she had been through lately, they decided it wasn’t a good idea to get involved. When the weekend came Karin couldn’t wait to get to the mall and get to the dress shop. There were so many selections there the two girls wanted to try all of them on.
After tons of dresses they tried, Haruhi stopped at one of them that seemed to glow more than any of the others.
“Wooooow… sooo cuuute!” the other girls exclaimed. It was a marine-blue, no-shoulder dress, with glowing lace at the bottom. It had a ribbon, shoes and a small purse included. It was like ripped from a fairytale.
“Haruhi-chan… it would look gorgeous on you!” Karin said putting her hands on her shoulders.
They got closer to examine but suddenly stopped when they saw the price tag. No wonder it looked so good, it was as expensive as a second hand car. They hearts sank when they realised they couldn’t afford it and walked out before their morale sunk even deeper.
Just as they reached the elevator someone got in their way. It was a tall young man, with short blonde hair and emerald eyes. He was wearing an expensive white suit, with the jacked unbuttoned, and a light blue shirt.
“Excuse me ladies, I was wondering if I could have a word with you,” he said smiling. “Please...forgive my impoliteness...” he said. His smile made al the girls blush. He was a very handsome young man in his early twenties. “…But… I couldn’t help but notice this beautiful flower, more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen before…” he said and his look stopped at Haruhi.
It took her a while to realise he was talking to her. “Huh… huh… me!?”
“Indeed, little blossom. I was wondering, you don’t happen to already have a contract, do you?”
“C… contract?” she repeated. “Uh… I guess not…”
“Allow me to introduce myself… Harou Ichijou… and you…beautiful siren with human form…?”
“A… huhu… uh… Utsumi. Utsumi Haruhi,” she said. The others were astonished.
“Then, it is not too late to offer that you signed a contract with the Night Pearl modelling company,” he said and gave her his card that was light blue with silver writing.
“Mo…Modelling?”  she burst surprised “ohoho… you… you got the wrong girl here…I’m…” and she looked at Karin… “There are much prettier girls out there…”
“I’m afraid I cannot agree with you there. And if it is the salary that worries you, how would 100.000 yen per photo shoot sound?”
“Holy shh…” Karin jumped. Haruhi was agape.
“That’s…” It was a load of money, more than she could ever dream of, but how could it be, so sudden? She looked at the dress in the window. Then Jun appeared in her mind… ‘Well it shut you up for a while…’ That was it, just an impulse, a spark.
“Alright… sure. Why not!” she smiled and took the card.

[Crow]

20 First Impact

Haruhi’s first photo shoot will take place in a few minutes. She was dressed with a short lolly-pop coloured dress, her hair wrapped in a long ponytail and her face was covered with tons of make-up. She asked Karin to accompany her the first time since it was something totally new. Besides that, her mother insisted since she was worried about her girl getting dressed so cute and being all alone.
“You look so cuuute. Just like a lolita… kyaaa...I want a dress like that too…” Karin whined.
“Personally…this suits you better than me...’’ Haruhi stated looking at the colourful, too cute, dress that made her look like a lollypop.
“Oh come on! You look great in it!” Karin insisted.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Ichijou said smiling.
He had a lollypop in his hand. Haruhi gigled.
“I didn’t know you like sweets that much…” Ichijou didn’t reply immediately, but smiled very attractively.
“I like sweet things… but this is yours…” he explained handing the candy to her. “You’re going to lick that while we take pictures…”
Haruhi was agape. “You’re jokin’…”
Unfortunately for her, he wasn’t. Haruhi soon learned that being a model was not all fun and games. Although she thought she looked a bit silly in that dress, licking that large lollypop, she didn’t argue. But the moment the first blitz went off she felt different. She suddenly realised that hundreds or even thousands of people would see those pictures and Ichijou chose her because he thought they would like her. With that in mind she started to get nervous at first but soon started posing by moving around and stopping whenever the photographer told her too. Something about posing in front of a camera felt natural to her.
Though she still couldn’t do exactly what they told her, since she felt a bit embarrassed. Once the photographer told her: “I want a sexy look…” she screamed at him ‘PERVERT!’ and refused to do another picture with him, but Ichijou explained calmly what he meant and convinced her to pose again.
The whole thing lasted for three hours and at the end she was exhausted. Standing and then switching to all sorts of different poses was more tiring than she could have imagined. Ichijou offered to drive her home but Karin absolutely refused. She didn’t want to think her friend was easy to charm, at least that was what she wanted them to think, in truth she didn’t want Haruhi to start liking him too much and forget about Jun.
Haruhi wasn’t stupid enough to not realise her friend’s true goal, and Karin was indeed stupid enough to think that Haruhi didn’t understand. When they were walking she remembered it again, the kiss he gave her. It was so annoying she just wanted to forget about it, since it was obvious that it didn’t mean anything to him. He probably did it to every girl that includes those darn hookers.
It didn’t take too long for those at school to find out about Haruhi. Before she could realise it the whole school was gathering in front of her door, especially the boys.
Haruhi sighed. “Great...just great…”
The only way she could go to school in the morning was to go out through the back door and run to the nearest bus stop. Though her school was only two bus stops away and she usually walked there, taking the bus was quicker and safer. And at school, Uzumi was always near by so the students wouldn’t bother her too much.
Her teacher didn’t really like the idea of her favourite student to become a model, but it was a fact that it could bring her money, money she needed for the dress, and that was the reason he supported her.
“But I certainly hope you don’t think of this as a career, Haurhi-chan,” he said looking at a magazine that had her on the cover.
“Of course not, sensei,” she jumped like it was an offending matter. “Just until I get the cute dress…”
“So… have you thought of anyone you’d like to accompany at the prom?”
“Well...many guys already asked me...but you know I’m kinda reluctant to this whole… girl-boy thing…”
Uzumi giggled. “Or maybe you’re waiting for somebody in particular…”
“Am not!” she protested and turned red.
“Well, not that I think you’d be interested but I met Jun the other day. Things are going pretty well with his new job, he’s making more money than before since he and the others still protect the shop owners, thought they do it closer to their homes now.”
“Ahaaa…” Haruhi answered trying to act as though not particularly interested in the fact “...good for him.”
“Well, see you tomorrow, Haruhi-chan,” he said walking to his car.
“Have a nice trip, sensei,” she said and bowed a little before running down the street.
Just as Haruhi turned the corner to go to the bus stop she saw Jun walking down the street in her direction. She stopped for a moment surprised, but before she could turn red again, she decided to walk normally. At first she thought he didn’t notice her but he suddenly stopped when he stepped on a copy of the magazine she was on the cover of. He picked it up, looked at it and continued to walk with it in his hand until he stopped in front of her.
“You look ridiculous”
She was so struck with amazement she didn’t have the power to answer him immediately.
“Like I need your opinion… as long as they decided it’s good… then it must be, so your personal opinion doesn’t matter to me. And I get tons of money for it too,” she concluded heading toward the bus stop a few steps away from her current location.
“You still look like an overgrown doll,” he replied throwing the magazine in a trash can and walked away.
She didn’t answer the reply, though she wanted to offend him in any inhuman way possible, but she couldn’t. That remark, hurt her pride so much, she didn’t even have the courage to defend herself, not through her normal means like swearing, screaming, yelling or hitting.

[Crow]

21 Glamorous date

Going to her photo shoots once a week became something common for her and after a while, she was no longer accompanied by Karin. After one embarrassing afternoon when her mother went with her and made her turn completely red and while everyone was laughing she refused to let anyone go with her again. At the end she was usually alone with Ichijou, something she didn’t mind at all.
After that last shoot for the day, she thanked everyone for their patience regarding her and went to the dressing room to change. She was putting her bra when a knock on the door came.
“Are you done, Haruhi-san?” Ichijou asked through the door.
“Uh…Just a sec, Ichijou-san,” she said and threw her blouse on her fast and took her bag pack. “Now I’m done!” she said and opened the door.
He was standing in front of the door with a red rose bud in his right hand and his usual smile on his face. He offered her the flower with a gentle, seductive look on his face.
“I was wondering if you would accompany me to dinner.”
Haruhi took the flower and smiled. “Thank you, sir. Uh… sure… I’m hungry!” she laughed.
Ichijou took her to his car, a grey BMW then drove to one of the most expensive restaurants in town. There a waiter led them to a table next to a window that had a view of the city. He gave them two menus then let them choose their meals in private.
“Wooooow… amazing…!” Haruhi exclaimed looking around the restaurant. She even looked at the table arrangements. She took a fork and said: ’’I bet this is pure silver! Wooow...expensive… OMG… what prices… uh… Ichijou-sama… isn’t this… a little too much for a worker like me?” she asked embarrassed.
“Don’t be silly,” he said giggling. “You may not be able to afford this yet, but you will one day. I just wanted to give you a taste of what is to come in your future if you play your cards right.”
“Well… uh… don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not sure I’m fit for this job…”
“Nonsense, you’re a natural. I’ve seen you when the camera starts taking picture, you enjoy being in the spotlight.”
“Well… I do enjoy that indeed,” she said and started laughing so hard that the others were starting to glare at her. She stopped and turned red.
“So tell me,” he said putting the menu down. “Is there anyone special in your life?”
The question definitely took her by surprise. “Wh… why do you ask?”
“A girl your age and beauty probably has boys all over her, I was just curious if anyone had stolen your heart yet.”
The image of Jun kissing her appeared once more.
“No way!” she said determined. “Actually…I didn’t have any boys around me before I started this job… and I’m… not the kinda girl to attract attention in that manner,” she smiled. “And boys are kinda boring… most of them at least. They only want one thing… and I wouldn’t like guys being interested in me just because I have looks… that’s… pathetic…”
“I hope you don’t think I’m boring,” he said looking her in the eyes.
Before she could answer, the waiter returned to take their order. Ichijou ordered clams for a starter, then lobster and a chocolate soufflé while she asked for:
“Meat! And fried potatoes! Oh… and do you have by any chance some yummy muffins?” she asked really excited. The waiter and everyone else looked at her amazed.
“And what kind of ‘meat’ would the lady like?” the waiter asked as politely as he could.
“Grilled! And I want it juicy! Oh… and… do you have some raspberry juice?”
“Of course, miss. But I was referring to what type of animal. A nice venison stake in cream, perhaps a stuffed rabbit or maybe marinated lamb…”
“A… what?” she said raising an eyebrow “Rabbit? Are you joking? I said…meat…MEAT… grilled… you get it?” she said starting to get annoyed.
“Is there a problem here?” a man in an expensive suit said walking to their table. “Mr. Haruo, you are one of our most respectable clients but this behaviour…”
“Is perfectly acceptable,” Ichijou interrupted, looking at him intently.
“Of course, sir. We will return shortly with your order,” he said and he left with the waiter right behind him.
“Uh… did I… say something wrong?” she asked feeling embarrassed.
“Not at all,” Ichijou said smiling.
They didn’t talk much after the food was brought and they started eating. The people at the tables nearest to them kept staring at them and as soon as they finished eating they left. Ichijou didn’t seem bothered at all by the way everyone looked at them and by the time they got to their desert, the whole restaurant was empty but for them and their waiter.
After Haruhi finished her desert she drank the last drop of juice and exclaimed.
“Yum...that was delicious! I’m stuffed! Hey… baldy… you can take the plate… thank you…” she smirked. She never ate like this before, and she enjoyed the change.
“I’m glad you liked it,” he said signing the bill and putting it away. “We could come here again in the future, if you wish.”
“Yum...” she answered,” Thank you very much for dinner. I promise I’ll pay you back!”
“Out of the question! If you wish to repay me, you will grant me the honour of accompanying me next weekend at a party for models, agents and designers.”
“Uuuaaa… A Party… cool! I like fun stuff!” she jumped.
“It is actually a banquet and some of Japan’s top designers are going to be there, looking for models. It will be a chance for you to shine… and for us to get to know each other better.”
“I’d love to! You’re fun… I never get tired with you, and you’re not as full of yourself as the others…” she giggled.
“Thank you my dear,” he said standing. “Now I trust you have an evening gown.”
“Etoooo… ahaha… not quite,” she hesitated a little embarrassed.
“Well we can’t have that… go tomorrow to the Wellington’s downtown and tell them I sent you. They’ll have you outfitted for something, I’m sure.”
“Sir…are you sure that’s right? I mean… won’t the others think that you… well… like me more than the other models? Spoiling me so?”
“And what would be wrong with that?” he asked taking her right hand into his. “Seeing as I do like you more than other models. You do not pretend to be something you are not. You express your opinion and don’t care who agrees with you and who does not.”
She started blushing. “Th… thank you… most say it’s a terrible behaviour, and they don’t like that about me…” she explained and her eyes started glowing with admiration for Ichijou.
“If they cannot see what a jewel you are, both on the outside and on the inside, then they are blind. And one more thing,” he said and kissed her hand. “Call me Ichijou.”
She was too embarrassed to react immediately. He had been so kind with her, a true gentleman, for a moment she forgot everything that has happened between her and Jun. “Then…call me Haruhi!” she smiled sincerely.

[Crow]

22 Preparations

The next day she did as she was told and after school was over she went downtown to the shop Ichijou recommended. Once inside she was left agape, there were so many expensive and elegant clothes in there she didn’t know where to start. Luckily, one of the women working there asked if she could help and the first thing Haruhi said was: “Ichijou sent me!”
Everything went smoothly after that. They first showed her several different types of dresses and told her to pick out her favourites. After that she started to try each of them on to see how they fit and, more importantly, how she looked in them. The dresses were all so beautiful she couldn’t decide. In the end she picked she couldn’t decide at all. They were all so beautiful Haruhi woke up carrying four dresses at once.
“Uh… uh… wow… this one is shiny… no… wait… this one has ribbons… nooo… actually...” After an hour the shop staff was already sweating.
“Utsumi-san… please… p… pick one… or... you can have them all if it makes you decide faster…” one of them managed to say.
“Then I’ll stay with this one!’’ she decided and showed them the orange dress with bows under her shoulders and a long ribbon in the back. It was a long no-back dress with only two straps holding the material on her small shoulders.
The dress was put on Ichijou’s tab as they had been instructed and Haruhi left the shop smiling. At home her mother demanded that she tried it on so she could take pictures but the girl refused. After all the modelling she did and with another photo shoot in two days, the last thing she wanted to do at home was to pose.
When she told Karin at school about it she flipped. First of all because Haruhi hadn’t asked her to go with her and secondly because she had an amazing dress and she didn’t even had to pay for, which raised the question: “Are you giving up on Jun and that dress you wanted?”
“The prom dress” Why should I give up on it? That’s why I took the job in the first place. And what do you mean ‘give up on Jun’? There’s nothing TO give up on. I haven’t seen the guy in a week, maybe he’s not even alive anymore, or he’s probably lying drunk somewhere with two whore’s,” she said to her at school while she was making some tea.
Karin pouted at her reaction but didn’t insist on it. She did, however, manage to convince her friend to let her come to her photo shoot the next day. But once there she had to sit in a corner and keep quiet while Haruhi was in the dressing room. That day she had to wear a white and black corset that was tightened with a lace and two straps on her arms and a black and dark purple skirt tied with belt around her waist. She had a pair of dark lace stockings, though the size differed, one leg was covered completely while the other was only half.
“These pictures will be on the cover tomorrow,” Ichijou said at the end of the photo shoot.
It was rock ’n’ roll theme this time so they had her wearing this and take pictures of her holding a shiny red guitar. Karin was so enthusiastic about the view that she almost knocked the photographer.
“Sooooo cuuute!” she said amazed “Nope…we’re past cute… you’re really sexy!”
“I agree,” Ichijou said smiling. “I have to leave early today, what time should I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked moving a little closer to Haruhi.
Karin leaned closer so that she can hear the conversation too.
“Well… you said that the party starts at 7 P.M. so I guess 6.30 will do, but I can’t be very late, my mom doesn’t like party-poopers.”
When they left Karin kept looking at her intently but didn’t say another word. She waited it out until Haruhi would say something so she wouldn’t be blamed for being a nag.
Haruhi pretended not to notice Karin’s behaviour and acted normally.
“I think I’m gonna buy an ice-cream...you want some?”
“No,” Karin said briefly and started to look annoyed.
Haruhi sighed. “Alright Karin… what’s the problem?”
“What do you mean, what’s the problem? Are you falling for that super hansom and very rich Ichijou?”
“What’s wrong with Ichijou? You don’t like him?” she asked surprised of her friend’s reaction.
“I don’t like his type, rich, snobby, thinks he can have any girl in the world then gets tired of them. A real fake,” Karin said crossing her arms over her large chest.
“He’s not like that. He’s not snobby… and he’s kind and a real gentleman. And yes, he’s very handsome too,” she jumped and started to get annoyed as well. “Why do you defend Jun so much… is it because you like him? I told you, I’m not into delinquents.”
“You know he’s not like that! He only fights when he has to. And don’t tell me that kiss didn’t mean anything to you!”
“You don’t get it do you!? Even if that kiss meant something to me… for him it was just… he said it himself… he does that to whoever he wants. He sees girls as toys, and plays with them! Ichijou would never take advantage of a girl like that. Jun doesn’t feel anything… not for me at least,” she said firmly and started walking towards the bus stop.
As soon as the sun was up the next day Haruhi couldn’t stop thinking about the party. She daydreamed about it all the way through her classes that day and as soon as she got home she started to get ready for it.
“Alright! First step… aromatherapy… in the bathtub!” she smirked and threw tens of rose petals in the water. While she soaked in the bath she put on a facial mask consisting of minerals and vitamins. After that she did her hair, two tresses, and tied them with two orange ribbons to match the dress. When she heard the door she almost jumped instead of walking. Mimiko opened the door.
“Good evening, madam. Is Haruhi ready to go?” he asked smiling.
“Oh, yes! Just a moment!” Mimiko said and ran upstairs. “Haurhi, aren’t you ready yet? Who is that hansom young man? And what about the one who visited you when you were ill? You’re not dating more than one boy are you?”
“Mom! Shhh… I’m not dating anyone!” Haruhi said and in a few seconds she was in front of the door. “Yosh…I’m ready!”
“Actually, not yet,” he said and took out an orange rose and put it in her hair, above her left ear. “Now, it’s perfect.”
Mimiko looked amazed and an evil grin appeared on her face, similar to the devilish spark. “Uhuhuhuhu… my daughter got her hands on a rich boy! Good girl… don’t be as stupid as your mother and marry a nobody with a big loud mouth… go for the stars!” she thought and started laughing.
“Mom… you’re scaring Ichijou… and you’re freaking me out!” Haruhi stated and pulled the young man after her before her mother would think any further and probably have the bright idea to sequester him inside.

[Crow]

23 Party Crasher

A limousine was waiting for the two of them out front. Ichijou held the door open for her then got in and they drove off. They stopped downtown at a five star hotel, the party was in the penthouse suite. Once they got out of the elevator, he offered his arm and they started walking around the room. Haruhi saw dozens of girls, most of them older than her but even a few that were younger. Ichijou introduced her to a lot of designers but they didn’t seem interested in her, after one look at her they all ignored her and talked to her date instead.
Haruhi didn’t even want to talk to snobs like that. She went to the food table and started taking a bite out of everything.
“Yum...delicious!” she said. The waiter that served them looked a little bit surprised. She turned around and smiled.
“Compliments to the cook… I could eat all day!” she said and took another big bite. Now her mouth was full and she couldn’t speak anymore. The man didn’t seem bothered by her attitude, actually he seemed amused .
“You’re not like other models around here, what’s you’re name?”
“Utsumi Haruhi, nice to meet you,” she said and shook his hand.
“Tell me, is your father here?” he asked looking around the room.
“I doubt he’d be… since he died when I was 6…”
“Then who is your escort?”
“Escort? I’m one of the models… I’m new in business. I came with Ichijou-san,” she said amused.
“I see…” the waiter said confused and walked away.
Haruhi didn’t understand why he walked away but decided to leave it like that. She felt disappointed, this wasn’t what she had expected. It was just a bunch of geezers and snobby people talking and drinking champagne. The music was so boring that Haruhi started yawning from it.
“If I knew these people don’t have a life I wouldn’t have come in the first place.”
When she couldn’t stand it any more she decided to spice things up. First she would have them change the music to something more up-beat before she completely fell asleep. The DJ was a little older than her and ignored her at first but when she returned with a plate of food and a drink, he let her do whatever she wanted, while he ate his full.
She smirked and took a deep breath. “Hey guys...and girls… I’ll be you’re DJ for a while, and we’ll start of with something fun. Here’s ‘Hare Hare Yukai’ from Aya Hirano.” The CD started playing and off she went.
The whole room froze and stared at her surprised. If the song was not enough, she started dancing to it as well. After a while, their stares turned to glares when two other girls joined in her song. Most of the people there looked offended but Haruhi didn’t stop at that. She planed this dance for a while, and the fact that two other girls joined made it even better.
Although some started screaming at the DJ to stop the music, the poor young man was so amazed he couldn’t do anything. After a while the waiters, the cook and the DJ himself started to enjoy the fun rhythm of the song and the very funny yet full of life dance. It was such a joyful song that soon enough even the old women started clapping their hands or feeling the rhythm in any way possible.
Haruhi grabbed Ichijou and winked. “Help me out here,” she whispered.
Ichijou smiled and was about to walk next to her when someone put a hand on his shoulder. A much older woman, about as tall as him walked passed him and to the DJ and stopped the music herself.
“Young lady, this is not some kinder garden tea party,” she said looking at Haruhi with a cold look on her face. “As long as you are in my house you will either show decency or will be escorted out.”
“Oh come on lady… people were just starting to have fun!” Haruhi said pointing towards the cook who danced with a waitress and an old woman trying to convince her old husband to dance too.
“Ichijou, I think this young lady has had enough excitement for one day,” the woman said ignoring her.
“Yes, mother,” Ichijou said and walked next to Haruhi. “I’m sorry, but maybe we should call it a night. Could you please wait for me downstairs and I’ll drive you home.”
Haruhi wanted to kick that woman’s butt, but when she realised she was Ichijou’s mother she understood that it’s a good idea not to make a fuss, because Ichijou would get scorned even more for bringing her here. She nodded her head and went downstairs.
“Well… it was fun while it lasted…” she sighed.
As she looked around her eyes suddenly stopped on a face she did not expect to see that night. Jun was just walking down the street wearing a stained overall. Again, she had the feeling that he didn’t even see her since he always kept his eyes forward but he stopped about four feet away and looked straight at her.
“You looked better in that last one,” he said passively.
“Oh...you still alive I see…” Haruhi muttered.
“It’s been quiet without that mouth of yours around. You look almost grown up in this get up,” he said examining the dress for a few moments.
“I’m not wasting my efforts on you…” she said calmly.
“A friend of yours, Haruhi-san?” Ichijou asked coming out of the hotel.
“Not even close…” she answered looking Jun in the eyes.
“Then shall we go?” he said opening the door to the limousine.
She waited for Jun to say something, but when the young man remained silent she answered: “Let’s go…” and climbed in the car.
“Hey, pretty boy!” Jun said just as Ichijou was about to get in the car after her. “She’d better get home safely,” he added with a slight frown.
“And who are you to demand this?” Ichijou asked almost closing the car door.
“Someone you don’t want to piss off,” Jun answered and went on his way.
When Haruhi got home she hoped that Ichijou’s mother wouldn’t be too harsh on him, feeling that it was all her fault and that she dragged Ichijou with her too.
She had barely seen Jun since the kiss incident, and not seeing him every day made her realize that whatever happened, she was over it. She didn’t even get embarrassed when she saw him now.

[Crow]

24 True Kiss

“Whaaaa… she kicked you out? Just because you danced on that cute song?” Karin asked the next day surprised.
“Yeah… and because that wouldn’t be enough… Jun showed up…” she said with a bored look.
Karin flipped. “JUN? How?” she screamed.
“I don’t know…he was just walking by I guess...you think I care?”
“So that’s it? You and Jun are history?” Karin asked looking disappointed.
“Karin… we didn’t have a history to begin with…” Haruhi explained amazed that she kept going about it. “Besides… he didn’t do anything to stop us…” she mumbled to herself. If she thought she was falling for him when she was chasing everywhere after him, now she didn’t even care about it.
“So you wouldn’t care if say… Jun was on a motorcycle in front of our high school waiting for you, right?”
“Huh…?” she asked confused.
Karin directed her eyes forward by pointing at someone leaning against a black motorcycle that was parked across the street. Looking closer she realised it was Jun, it was hard to miss him with a lit cigarette in his mouth and a scar on his face.
“Hey, gum-ball! Need a ride?” he asked once she was close enough to hear him.
“What the…? What are you doing here?” she yelled at him from the other side of the street.
Karin suddenly pushed her. “Yes she does. I gotta go to the library so I can’t join you today… I don’t want something bad to happen to my little Haruhi,” Karin said and pushed her until she was close to the motorcycle then left.
“I didn’t see your boyfriend around so I thought I’d help you get away from your fans over there,” he said pointing at a small mob that was gathering behind her.
“Kya… Haruhi-san… an autograph!” the mob screamed.
“Yeek…” he said and jumped on the motorcycle. “Drive… before they catch me!” she ordered.
Jun started up the engine and drove off, leaving the ones behind couching from the exhaust smoke. Although he said he’d take her home, he was apparently taking the long way because the trip that should have lasted less than ten minutes took them more than half an hour.
“So what’s the big idea…?” she finally asked.
“I was curious,” Jun said without turning around. “What’s that pretty boy to you? Are you dating or what?”
“Curious… huh? You sure?” she mocked him. “And what if we are?”
“Do you like him?” he asked gripping the handlebar tighter.
“Why wouldn’t I… at least he doesn’t mock me or treats me like an idiot, and starts playing games with me and kissing me without permission…”
“Well your lips were soft,” he said giggling.
“Say what… pervert!?” she asked amazed.
“I may not have a way with words but I find other ways to express myself when I think I girl is pretty.”
She turned red again. “That’s it… stop right here! I’m walking the rest of the way!” she said and hit him on the back with her hand.
He pulled the motorcycle over and waited for her to get off before saying: “You think you can take some time out of your modelling to come with me to get some of those muffins you like so much?”
“What? You’re… asking me… out?” she mumbled agape.
“No, I was hungry and wanted to get something to eat. This place is nearer then going all the way home after I drop this off.”
“Ok… sure… I’m kinda hungry myself,” she said and climbed back on the motorcycle.
The owner lived only a few blocks away and it only took them about half an hour to get to the muffin shop. There, Haruhi picked a table while Jun went to get them something to eat, ten muffins, a juice for her and a beer for him.
“Yuuum! she said when he got to the table. “Itadakimasu!” and with that she started shoving the muffins faster than he could count them.
“The way you eat, I’m surprised you’re not competing with that friend of yours for who has the larger waist line.”
She glared at him for a second. “Shut up,” and she continued in the same rhythm.
“So why did you start modelling anyway?” he asked taking a drink out of his beer. “You don’t seem the type.”
“Money… dress… winter prom…” she managed to say through all the shoving.
“Ah, the one thing we all need, money. You need it for a dress, I need it for surgery… everyone has their own reason but everyone needs it. But there’s a fine line between needing money and wanting it.”
“I don’t get what you’re saying… but I don’t care anyway… it’s actually fun. And I get to take home what dresses I like… and Ichijou takes very good care of me… mister Tanaka, the cook, says I look like his daughter that left Japan...Ha, ha...and there’s a lot of gossip between the models. There’s always a bitch around the corner in that enterprise.”
“And where does pretty boy fit into all of this? Is he your bodyguard or something?”
“No… my employer… my boss… kinda…”
Jun didn’t say much of anything the rest of the meal, in which he managed to only grab a couple of muffins before Haruhi finished off the whole plate. When they were done eating he paid the bill and they headed for her home.
‘He’s jealous… he must be…’ she thought while they were going back. She looked at his calm and cool face. ‘No… he’s not… or is he… nope…’
When they got in front of her house they both stopped but were silent. For a few minutes neither of them said anything, they didn’t even look at each other.
“Well… I’ll… see you around…?” she asked feeling awkward about the strangely tense moment.
Before she could take a step, Jun turned her around and kissed her but before she could push him back, his arms were around her, holding her tightly next to him. When he let go, he looked her in the eye the way he never did, it was the way Ichijou often looked at her during photo shoots.
“These lips are mine, he can find his own.”
Haruhi was stunned. He did it again, that definitely meant something, right?
“I don’t understand you…” she mumbled all red. “And…he… hey… you’re talking like… I’m your possession… or something…I’m… mooo…” she was blocked, and didn’t know what to say so she let her head down embarrassed.
“My possession?” he said putting two fingers under her chin and raising her head. “No… no one can own anyone all I want is your company, and those lips as often as you can spare them.”
She felt like the one she was talking too wasn’t the Jun she knew.
“You… want my company? But… you don’t like me… I’m a loud mouth… remember… and I’m immature too...that’s what you said… why… then?”
“Loud mouth, definitely… but I found a way to shut you up, though briefly. As for childish… I’m used to it, thanks to Keiko. Besides, you’ll have to grow up sometime.”
“But… I never thought you… I mean… hey wait a sec here… am I another one of your girlfriends… you’re not making a harem or something are you? And… I’m… not…I mean… I’m annoying right… right… and you… I was sure you... Blaaaaa… nooot making any sense here!”
Seeing her reaction, Jun lowered his head and kissed her again. After always picking on her this sudden change was too much for her to take in at once and she needed an assurance that he was not just throwing words on the table.
‘A kiss! Is not an assurance!’ she thought, but still couldn’t stop him anymore. She liked it and if Karin would have seen her right now she would have laughed her head off screaming ‘I told you...I told you…’
“Now, go home and get some sleep,” he said, finally letting go.
“You have got to be joking! After everything you put me through?”
“Do I have to kiss you again to get you to leave?”
She blushed. “No more kissing… no more!” she said and ran towards the door. When she got in her heart was racing and her cheeks burned.
“Does this mean… he… loves me? But… why didn’t the idiot show it in a more obvious way… I was sure I was just a nuisance to him… Oh no… what about Ichijou…?”

[Crow]

25 My cousin is my bodyguard is my boyfriend?

Even though she finally knew that he had some feelings for her, or at least didn’t treat her like just another girl it didn’t change much. He picked her up from school once in a while but his attitude towards her was exactly the same, he often ignored her and called her a loud mouth and when she’d get mad, he’d steal another kiss and leave before she could yell at him.
Haruhi was glad to see no one at school noticed what was going on between them. As far as they were concerned, the two had become something that resembled friends because they still didn’t seem to get along. Only Karin seemed to realise there was more to it than the two of them let on but only showed it by always smirking when Jun was waiting for her friend after class.
“I wonder if maybe I’m just a ‘mood’ for him. I heard that he has a way of getting what he wants then just throwing it away after he doesn’t need it. And I still haven’t told Ichijou… what happens if he finds out… or if the others find out…my head hurts,” she concluded.
When the time came for the next photo shoot, she was doing her best to act natural, especially around Ichijou. She was not sure what would be the best course of action, to tell him about it or not. In a way she felt guilty, after everything he had done for her and the way he treated her, all because he liked her. But she could not simply pick him over Jun because he cared for her as well, in his own way.
The photographer noticed the change in her and did her best to compensate without asking her what was wrong. He gave her more time to change her clothes and allowed her to take her time when it came to a position that was not very comfortable.
At the end of another tiresome day, she changed her clothes and was ready to leave when something unusual happened. She heard a lot of people talking outside her changing room and when she came out she saw Jun and Ichijou facing each other. Everyone who had worked with her that day had gathered around him because apparently, they were not seem to be able to stand one another.
Haruhi heard through all the commotion some models whispering.
‘Who is he?’ ‘Is he a bodyguard’ ‘He’s so cute…’ ‘I wanna piece of him…’
“If you do not leave now, I will call security,” Ichijou said with an angry tone in his voice.
“Call them! I’m aching for a good sparring match,” Jun replied with a grin, making his knuckles snap.
‘No… no… this is not good! Not good!’ she thought but didn’t know what to do…interfere…or remain silent and not blow her cover. How in the name of all gods did Jun end up in this place? That was the question irritating her right now.
Minutes later, three security guards showed up and surrounded Jun. The rest of the audience stepped back, including Ichijou, so as not to get caught up in the fight. Jun seemed prepared for a fight and showed no signs of backing down. But just when the guards were about to attack him, a woman’s voice made everyone stop:
“I leave things in your hands and this is what happens?”
Haruhi recognised that voice and looking in the direction the voice came from she saw Ichijou’s mother walking towards the crowd.
“Who is this man and what is he doing here?” she asked.
Haruhi’s heart stopped when she saw the fierce look on that woman’s face. Jun could get in real trouble, especially if someone would recognise him as the leader of the Tiger Claws. She jumped and tried to find an explanation in the time she had left.
“He’s… my… my… cousin! Yeah… and… I just told him to wait outside and not worry about me to much…but I leave him one second and look all the fuss he makes… ahahaha…” she smiled innocently hopping that the woman will buy it.
“A likely story, miss Utsumi,” the woman said looking her in the eye. “I see no family resemblance.”
“That’s because he’s a distant cousin… I… knew him when I was ten… and my mom’s relatives and my dad’s are very different… and they hated each other... we’re the spitting image of them…” she smiled, maybe more than she should have.
“Go on… tell her… onii-sama… I like to call him that… kihihihi…”
All eyes turned to Jun who paused for a moment and looked at her then he turned to the old woman and said: “Yah, I’m her cousin.”
“Well… cousin or not, you seem to be a very energetic young man.”
“What of it?” Jun replied taking out his cigarettes.
“This young lady here is a rising star and we wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. Would you consider a job as a bodyguard? It would mean doing what you probably always do, protect your ‘cousin’ but you’ll be paid to do it.”
“Whaaaat!?” Haruhi and Ichijou yelled at the same time. Everyone, including his mother remained agape.
“Why not?” Jun answered smiling.
After that, she left with him while Ichijou stayed back to talk to his mother. Everyone in the room watched them leave and still looked like they were in shock. Jun was very quiet and didn’t even look at her but finished his cigarette by the time they got downstairs where he lit another one.
Haruhi couldn’t stand one moment longer. She grabbed the cigarette and not only did she threw it on the ground but stepped on it imagining it was Jun’s head.
“Are… you… crazy!?” she asked mad.
“Well, I’m not sure… doesn’t it run in the family?” he replied looking angry.
“Oh…oh…oh…oh…don’t you act sarcastic with me now mister, I’m waaaay too mad!” she growled. “Why…why do you always… always… ruin everything? I hate you!” she screamed again.
“And what did I do? I just came here to see if you wanted to get some dinner, I didn’t think I’d end up being your bodyguard cousin!”
“Shut up! I hate you! Well...guess we don’t have a choice, hope that woman doesn’t see through our lies,” she said worried.
“Mind telling me why I’m your cousin all of a sudden? Didn’t have the heart to tell pretty boy we’re dating? Or are you hoping to keep us both?”
“Shut up! I’m thinking!” she blushed and turned around. She realized she did a very bad thing. Because of that, Ichijou would still have hopes regarding her, and although she couldn’t admit it out front....she already chose Jun, in every aspect.
“And why exactly couldn’t you tell them who I am?” he asked leaning against a street light.
“Because…” she wanted to say ‘because I don’t know who you are myself…’ but she stopped. “…Chill… it’ll work out…I said it randomly, no biggy…” she smiled with serenity.
“Fine… see you around, cousin,” he said walking away and lighting a cigarette.
She didn’t like his tone, but she couldn’t argue anymore either. When she decided to return and see what happened with Ichijou, she met him sooner than expected in the elevator at level 1. She felt really embarrassed.
“Is he really your cousin?” he asked looking a little upset.
“I’m sorry for… causing you so much trouble…” she said feeling like her cheeks would burn any minute from shame.
“That’s not what I asked. Is he really your cousin? I’m sure I saw him when we left the party a few nights ago.”
“The fact that he was there that night isn’t connected to him being my relative… he was just running an errand.”
“So then, he won’t mind if you come to dinner with me tomorrow,” Ichijou said moving closer to her.
She instinctively backed-up. “Uh…I…well…if it’s business, of course…If Ichijou-san wants it…” she tried to say without stutter.
“Am I, as you described most men, boring? I think it I have made it more than obvious that I am interested in more than business, when it comes to you,” he said taking her hand into his.
‘Fuck!’ she thought and turned all red. “Ichijou-san… I… well… boring… of course you are not… not in a million years…” and her voice started to tremble “…but… I… gotta go to the bathroom…” she said and ran off.
After washing her face and taking a few minutes to calm down, she went back out but Ichijou had left. She went straight home and started to wonder what would come next. If Jun would act as her bodyguard he would be there every day and there was a chance that he would do or say something to blow their cover.
And besides that, she was worried that Ichijou would say something like that. Now she felt like she was crushed by two walls closing in on her. Jun was cold, annoying and the rest… Ichijou was kind, gentle...the perfect man would describe him. If she had known him before, the choice would be obvious, but Jun appeared, before him...and...
“I’m… dead!” she concluded.