The Forked Path

A/N : Finally I've finished. The next chapter will be the last one unless I decide to add an epilogue, though I would find it rather strange if I have an epi without a pro. But oh well, here's the second last update.

Special thanks to all who have been following and those who've inspired me to keep going. I know this story hasn't been exactly the smoothest read but I suppose with the limitations of having a full time day job, that's as far as my capacities can take me.

To all the reviewers, words can never express the emotions that well up within me whenever I read what you have to say.

Anyway, since I've taken already taken a long break for this new update, I won't make you wait any longer. Cheers :) and onwards to the next chapter.

Edited : Nothing's more embarassing than having to edit your own A/Ns

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Chapter 12

“Hikaru! Hikaru! Open this door! I can’t find your brother this morning! Wake up! Are you in there?”

*Oh no, why is that elephant talking to me? Wait a minute. That sounds like mom. SHIT!*

“Hikaru…. Hikaru get up!” I tried to wake Hikaru in a loud whisper hoping mother would not see us lying next to each other fully naked. Suddenly I realized there was no reason for panic since it was normal for us to sleep together and there was a pretty easy way to explain why the door was locked. I put on my boxers and sleeping robe and headed towards the door.

“Morning.. hhhaaauuughhh … mom.” I said half yawning.

“Kaoru? What are you doing in Hikaru’s room?”

“I spent the night with him mom. We had some problems at school and were up all night talking about it.”

“And why were the doors locked?”

“Come on mom, us teenage boys do need privacy.”

She lifted an eyebrow and eyed me suspiciously, clearly displaying the fact that she had not been satisfied by my answer.

“Alright if you must know we have a stash of porn in there but don’t make me tell you where.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I asked.”

“No problem mom. Any reason why you’ve woken us up this early?”

“Ah yes. Someone left a letter this morning with our butler. She insisted you read it.”

“Who was she?”

“Looked like one of your classmates.”

“Did you invite her to stay?”

“No, she said she was in a hurry. Anything the matter at school? You know you two can tell me anything.”

“No mom. We’re fine. Is that all?”

“Yes, I’ll leave you two to wake up but do get dressed quickly. Its Saturday today and I don’t want to get stuck in traffic heading out to the malls.”

With that I closed the door and proceeded to sit down on the bed. Hikaru had woken up and was now sitting upright himself.

“What’s that you’re holding?” he asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

“I think it’s a letter from Haruhi.”

“Well open it.”

I had a bad feeling whilst I opened the letter. Nevertheless I felt that whatever it was that I was about to see would surely be something important. Hikaru draped his arms around my shoulders to read the letter with me.

“Dear Kaoru,
I can’t believe that this has happened above all else and I don’t know why of all people I’ve chosen you to be the first to know. I’m leaving the club. I know that we’ve all had good times together and definitely more than a few good laughs. But somehow, fate has made its mark and ripped us apart. I fear I can no longer face or trust anyone in Ouran any longer. However, I do wish you both the best and please ensure that you do all that you can to keep Hikaru happy. Wish me luck as I set off to achieve the mission I had set to accomplish since the day I stepped into Ouran.
Sincerely, Haruhi.”

“She’s going? I made her leave?!”

“Hikaru, I’m sure its not like that. I can see why she’s decided to write the letter to me. Its because I understand why she’s doing this. I would be able to imagine exactly what it felt like to be her. To be in her shoes, to be rejected.”

Hikaru looked crestfallen and guilty. Though sometimes we found her overbearing confidence slightly annoying, she was a true friend indeed and always helped us whenever we were in trouble.

“We have to call Tamaki and Kyouya. They’ve got to help us.” Hikaru finally spoke, breaking the short silence surrounding us.

“You’re right,” and I reached out for my cell phone. For a brief moment, I felt dirty, like I had stolen something precious from her.

“Maybe you should try giving her a call, just to see if you can catch her.” I told Hikaru, knowing that the only person Haruhi would probably listen to was him. I watched as he hurriedly grabbed onto his cell phone and dialed.

“Shit, her phone’s switched of.” He threw the gadget aside roughly.

Meanwhile, Tamaki picked up my call, “Hello?” His voice was hazy.

“Tamaki, Haruhi’s leaving Ouran.”

“Mmmf.. huh?”

“I said, Haruhi’s leaving Ouran. She’s going away. You understand me?”

“WHAT?!”

“Now you hear me.”

“But why? When?”

“I don’t know. I just received a letter from her that she delivered to our place not too long ago. She’s left already and when we tried calling her, her phone was switched off. I just hope she hasn’t already skipped town.”

I could hear some clutter over the phone and a loud thump followed by a winded, “oomph” from Tamaki. He’s fallen over his ridiculously large sized bed. How is that even possible?

“We need to race to her place. I’m pretty sure her father can give us the details. Meet you guys there.” Tamaki said hurriedly.

I hung up and shared the message with Hikaru. Before long, we found ourselves scrambling around the room to get dressed and finally heading out of our mansion with our driver speeding us towards Haruhi’s home. Along the way, I was wondering what I would say to her even if I saw her. Sorry that he was gay after all? Maybe I should thank her instead of apologizing. But thank her for what? I sighed. Whatever that was going on in my head made absolutely no sense. Unfortunately, I realized that there could only be one logical thing to do and that was to allow Haruhi to find her own happiness. If choosing to leave would make her the happiest then why not. She didn’t seem the type to bear grudges and perhaps some distance would let her heal or was this thought only part of my wishful thinking to keep her far and away from Hikaru?

“Kaoru, when we see her, what exactly are we persuading her to stay for?” Hikaru’s voice startled me.

I pondered on the statement for a bit. Thinking about the past couple of years and all that had happened, perhaps it was time to let her go. With Haruhi gone, neither me nor Hikaru would have the drive needed to keep this club together. For us the club was like family at first. But since Hani and Mori left and Kyouya would be graduating with Tamaki soon, the family that once was would no longer be there.

One thing did occur to me though and I decided to share it with Hikaru, “She’s done so much for us in small little ways. She softened our personalities, gave Tamaki strength and touched everyone’s lives in the club. I feel that perhaps we should return her kindness in the form of friendship and support, something that she needs most now.”

“That and I think Kyouya owes her an apology for the entire manipulation.” Hikaru said annoyed.

“I wonder whether he took this into account when he planned the whole situation.”

“Who the hell knows what goes on in that massively intelligent brain of his.”

We finally reached the place. Both Tamaki and Kyouya had arrived at the scene. Stepping out of our cars we gave our usual greetings to Tamaki. I smiled meekly at Kyouya but Hikaru on the other hand wasn’t about to hide any form of his anger at all.

“So now what do you have to say for yourself?”

Kyouya cleared his throat. “Ehm… lets just adjourn and ask her father what’s really happened first.”

Hikaru stomped off ahead and I followed. I couldn’t help but feel a slight jab of jealousy at the amount of protectiveness he still showed for her. But I calmed those nerves with the thought of us having shared the same bed in bliss the night before. There was no denying our involvement now and I blushed slightly at the thought.

We paused and Hikaru knocked upon the apartment door. It creaked open slowly and we were greeted by a surprisingly clean shaven Ryoji Fujioka-san.

“Oh its you boys. Come in. Don’t ask about my new job, but as you can see, I’ve decided to jump out of those skirts.”

Everyone stayed silent and obeyed the ex-okama. We sat ourselves on the tatami mats in the living area and waited silently for Fujioka-san to serve us tea. It was more than obvious that Haruhi wasn’t around and not surprisingly, Tamaki was the first to voice that fact.

“Erm, Fujioka-san. We received a note from Haruhi informing us about leaving. Any idea what this is all about and where she’s gone?”

We then waited in suspense for an answer and watched as her father paused in his actions to think a little.

“As much as I hated for my daughter to go, I’m glad she has. As prestigious as the school was she had to complete her final year elsewhere if she was to gain entry to a law school overseas. She’s already on a flight to the US.”

All of us paled except Kyouya, who sipped on his green tea calmly.

“I don’t get how you can sit there and not apologize to her dad.” Hikaru voiced out for he could no longer hold in his anger.

“Huh? Apologize about what? What did you do to my daughter?”

Kyouya chuckled, “Nothing of that sort Fujioka-san. We’re all a little upset about your daughter’s departure but I suppose its for the best, especially since her ambition was to be a successful lawyer.”

“Well that’s true. If she didn’t get the acceptance, I suppose she would have spent her days trying her best to take care of me. So I’m glad she got it.”

“Acceptance? To which school?” I asked in curiousity.

“Concord Academy or something like that, I think. Supposed to be another fancy school.”

My eyes nearly popped out at the name. Not only was the school expensive but you’d have to be highly recommended by an influential party to attend. Something in my brain began to move like clockwork and just as the chimes struck to signal realization, Kyouya spoke once more.

“Well I guess we won’t bother you any further. Will keep in touch and let you know if any of us fly over to visit her. Perhaps you can come along as well.”

“Yes, perhaps.”

With that all four of us took our leave.

Once outside, Temaki turned to face Kyouya, abruptly. “Ok Kyouya, what’s this all about? Spit it out now!” Temaki was furious. I was half expecting Hikaru to join in the accusation chain but he remained absorbed into his own thoughts, his mind no doubt working on the same conclusions I had arrived upon as well.

“Sigh… fine. Lets do lunch and I’ll thoroughly explain everything. Meet you at the Lounge?”

We nodded in agreement and set off towards our destination, hoping that Kyouya wouldn’t smack more surprises at us.

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TBC