Chasing Cars

AN: The story is titled 'Chasing Cars' because my influence for this story was the song 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol. Somehow, it seemed to fit the couple. If you haven't heard it, listen to it. You'll see what I mean. ^^ also, in this story, Ouran is more of a boarding school. I don't know for sure if every day they go home or if they spend the night in their own rooms at the academy and go home on the weekends, so I just made it like a regular boarding school where they go home on the weekends. please don't criticize me for this.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

When Hikaru and Haruhi woke up, it was pouring rain. Hikaru woke up first. He opened his hazel eyes and sat up. He looked down at Haruhi, who had somehow made her way into his arms in the night again. He rubbed his eyes with his palms and yawned.

“Haruhi,” He whispered, shaking her shoulder. “Haruhi, wake up.”

She didn’t move at first, than she slowly opened her eyes. “Mmm….” She stretched her arms out and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders. “It’s cold, Hikaru.” She yawned and closed her eyes again.

Hikaru didn’t have the heart to wake her up again, so he ruffled her hair and stood up. He stretched out his arms, then went over to the window and pulled back the curtain. The world outside was pitch black, save for a sudden strike of lightning shooting down from the sky in the distance. Hikaru looked over at the sleeping Haruhi, expecting her to wake up, but she didn’t.

The thunder rumbled about thirty seconds after he saw the lightning, and that was when Haruhi sat up. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was closed in a tight line. Hikaru was at her side again in a second.

“Hmm,” He muttered, “Looks like the storm’s worse than ever.” He could feel Haruhi shaking next to him, so he put a hand on her back to calm her. “Why don’t we go back to sleep for now?” He said. Haruhi looked over at him and nodded. “That way, when we wake up, the storm won’t be so bad!” Hikaru told her. Haruhi said nothing, choosing instead to get back under the blankets silently.

Hikaru reached up and grabbed his alarm, setting for it to go off at 11. “Everything’ll be fine when we wake up,” He whispered to her. She nodded again and slowly closed her eyes.

He set the alarm clock down by his pillow and lay down. He turned towards Haruhi, who was biting the tip of her thumb. He reached over and pulled her hand away so she wouldn’t hurt herself in her sleep. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Haruhi eyes opened heavily. The room was dark, despite the fact that when she looked at the clock by Hikaru’s head it read noon. She was never a late-riser, so she was surprised at herself for staying asleep this late. She sat up and tugged the blankets to her knees.

She didn’t want to get up for two reasons - for fear that the movement would wake up Hikaru, and for fear the lightning and thunder would come again. She decided to instead think about what she and Hikaru would do today.

She definitely did not want to swim again today - her whole body ached from yesterday’s workout, and it was too cold to swim, heated pool or not. They couldn’t go outside and play because a) they were locked in, and b) it was too cold and wet out. What else would there be to do with him other than eat and talk?

She decided she’d let Hikaru figure this problem out - he and Kaoru were the ones always coming up with new games and competitions for the host club members to play (with the prize usually having something to do with herself), so he should be able to figure something out.

Her eyes wandered to his sleeping form next to her, vaguely visible in the dark - his messy red hair, his closed green eyes...she shook her head. Maybe she was getting cabin fever, she decided. Yes, that was it. Definitely just cabin fever.

But then again, every memory she had with him lately had been - gentle. With Kaoru, he treated her roughly, but when Hikaru had her alone, he was so surprisingly gentle that she was often taken aback a bit.

She put her head back down on her pillow. “Hikaru,” She whispered.

He did nothing at first, but then his body moved. He sucked in air through his nostrils, than exhaled through his mouth, at the same time opening his eyes. “Haruhi?” He whispered groggily, “Haruhi, what is it?”

“Nothing. I just thought you should get up.”

“What time is it?”

“12:07. Why?”

Hikaru bolted upright. “Crap!” He hissed, “We overslept!”

Haruhi sat up too. “Overslept?”

Hikaru rubbed his head and looked over at her. “Nothing, it doesn’t matter now.” He reached over and turned on the lamp. “Damn, I’m hungry.”

Haruhi blinked furiously as her eyes watered at the sudden change of light. “If you’re hungry, I could make us something.” She said. Hikaru looked over at her and blushed.

“Like…make something as in microwave?” He asked. Haruhi shook her head.

“I mean make make something. Like, with ingredients.”

Hikaru scratched the back of his head. “Oh…”

He stood up and put his hands on his hips. “Should we get dressed?” He asked. “It’s pretty cold.”

Haruhi nodded and knelt beside her bag, grabbing an armful of clothes and making her way into the bathroom. Hikaru watched her until she closed the door. “Damn it…” He cursed under his breath, than crossed the room to his dresser.

“Is it okay if I come in now?” He heard her call through the door a couple minutes later. “Yeah,” He called back, “Come in.”

He had just finished buttoning up his shirt when she came in, than threw a beige jacket over it. Haruhi grabbed a brush from her bag and clipped her hair back on one side. “What do you want for breakfast?” She asked.

Hikaru looked over her outfit - a collared long-sleeve button up shirt, a pink shrug, and pants. “Umm…” He put his hand on his chin. “Hmm.”

Haruhi blinked. “Maybe you can decide once we see what’s available.” She said. Hikaru nodded and they left the room.

“I think the storm’s still pretty bad.” Hikaru commented as they made their way to the kitchens. Haruhi looked over at him worriedly. “Oh, don’t be like that,” He said, and she was surprised to find his voice slightly sympathetic.

Upon entering the kitchen, Hikaru immediately went to the cupboards. “Ingredients…” He murmured, “What do you need to make pancakes?” He asked, turning towards her.

Haruhi frowned, deep in thought. “Hm,” She tilted her head to the side and closed one eye. “Without baking mix, I think I can do it. Why, is that what you want?”

Hikaru nodded. “Flour?” He asked excitedly, “Do you need flour?”

Haruhi nodded and grabbed the flour from his hand. “And…hmm…if I remember right, we’ll need baking powder.” She grabbed the baking powder he had just found. “…And two eggs.”

Hikaru crossed over to the fridge and opened it. “Two, right?” Haruhi nodded, and he tossed her two eggs.

“Butter,” Haruhi told Hikaru, who was still leaning into the fridge, “We’ll need butter, too.” Hikaru grabbed a stick of butter and held it out to her. “Oh, put that in the microwave for a couple seconds.” She told him. Hikaru nodded and did so.

“Anything else?” He asked, removing the butter from the microwave and handing it to her. He looked over what she had done so far - the flour, baking powder, and eggs were all mixed inside the bowl she had in front of her. “Milk,” She said simply, taking the limp, runny butter from his hand and dumping it into the bowl, stirring it into the solution with a spoon.

Hikaru handed her the milk and watched as she poured it in, still stirring. “You know,” He said, “It’s amazing how you can remember all the ingredients and how much you need.” Haruhi turned towards him and handed him back the milk. “My dad asks me to make these for him all the time, so I pretty much know the recipe by heart.”

Hikaru put the milk back into the fridge and stood behind her, watching her mix. “Anything else?” He asked. She jumped up a little, surprised at the fact that he was standing right behind her. “Y-yes,” She pointed towards the stove. “Can you find me a pan and put it on the stove?”

Hikaru nodded and grabbed one. “Like this?” He asked, holding it up for her to see. “Exactly!” She laughed.

He set it down on the stove and waited. Haruhi came over, holding the bowl with the pancake batter, and pointed to the dials. “Can you turn it on to medium heat?” She asked. He nodded and did so, and she poured a pancake in.

“Now what?” He asked.

“Now we wait.” She answered.

They stood against the stove, Haruhi holding the bowl with the batter in it and Hikaru holding a spatula.

“Do you miss Kaoru?” She asked suddenly. Hikaru turned towards her. “Hmm,” He played with the spatula idly in his hands. “Yeah.” Haruhi gripped the bowl tighter. “Sorry,” She murmured.

Hikaru looked up. “For what?”

“For…for making you stay here with me. All because of…of the storm.”

Hikaru laughed. “You never made me stay here. And it’s okay to be scared of the storm, stupid. Everyone has their own fears.”

Haruhi glanced up at him, surprised. “What are you afraid of, Hikaru?” She asked.

He hit the spatula against his leg. “What am I afraid of?” He said. “You’d have to promise not to laugh.”

Haruhi nodded. “Promise.”

Hikaru took in a deep breath. “I’m afraid of…” He glanced over at her. “I’m afraid of something happening to the people I value most.” He was not about to say, ‘which is basically just you and Kaoru.’

Haruhi blinked. “Why would I laugh at that?” She asked. Hikaru blushed and looked away. “Isn’t it a fairly common fear?”

“It’s nothing really to be ashamed of.” She said. “I’m afraid of that too.” Hikaru looked up and smiled at her, his face still slightly pink.

He took the spatula and lifted the pancake slightly. “Hey,” He said, “do I flip it now? Look, it’s kinda brown.”

Haruhi leaned over and looked. “Yeah, flip it now.” Hikaru took the spatula and pushed it all the way under the pancake, than carried it up and brought it back down on the pan. “Like that?” He asked excitedly, turning to her. “Was that good?”

Haruhi smiled and nodded. Hikaru laughed proudly.

“So, Hikaru,” Haruhi said quietly, “what’ll we be doing today?” Hikaru looked up at her, surprised. “Oh, well…” He started. “Maybe…hmm…I’ll guess you don’t want to swim again…hide and seek is out of the option, because you’ll get scared if the thunder comes…” He glanced at her to find her gazing at him with her big brown eyes. “W-well…” He murmured, nervous by the fact she was looking at him so intently. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

Haruhi glanced down at the pancake and grabbed the spatula out of his hands. He jumped up in surprise. “Sorry!” She yelled, “The pancake’s done!” She grabbed a plate from the counter behind her and flipped it onto the plate. She gave the plate to Hikaru, and then poured batter onto the pan.

“Will you be wanting two?” She asked him. He shook his head. “I don’t want to trouble you and make you work, Haruhi.” He said. She shrugged. “I actually wouldn’t have minded that much…”

They remained silent while Haruhi’s pancake cooked, Hikaru thinking furiously about what to do today and Haruhi waiting to hear his answer. Haruhi moved suddenly to flip her pancake over, and Hikaru jumped up. “I got it!” He cried triumphantly. Haruhi turned her heads towards him, still flipping the pancake. “How about,” Hikaru said excitedly, “we go on an expedition?”

Haruhi stared at him blankly. “Ex…expedition?” She asked. Hikaru’s face dropped. “You don’t like it?”

She smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine! I was just surprised. It’s a bit childish…” Hikaru frowned. “Haruhi, don’t you have an inner child?” He grumbled. Haruhi laughed.

Her pancake finished, and she flipped it onto a plate. “Do you want any butter or syrup?” She asked Hikaru. He nodded. “Syrup, please!” He hollered.

She tossed him the syrup and grabbed the butter for herself, placing a small amount on the pancake so it could melt. Hikaru, however, drenched his single pancake in maple syrup.

“Wha-what are you doing?!!?” She cried. Hikaru looked up at her, eyes expressionless. “Putting syrup on my pancake, what else?”

H-…He’s serious! Haruhi’s mind raced. He’s really, really serious!!

“Haruhi, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“No, no, I’m fine…”

So they ate their pancakes (Haruhi trying to avert her eyes from Hikaru’s syrup-drenched plate to avoid vomiting) and set out on their expedition.

“Okay, here we go!” Hikaru shouted out as they left the kitchen.

“Who are you yelling too?” Haruhi asked. Hikaru looked down at her and blinked. “Eh?”

“Never mind…”

Hikaru led her around a hallway and down three corridors, than they stopped. “It’s dark, isn’t it?” He commented to Haruhi. She nodded. She was getting a little worried; it was raining pretty hard and she had never been down this part of the academy before, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Hikaru had been either.

“Don’t worry,” He said, turning back to smile at her, “Kaoru and I have searched this place up and down. There’s no part we don’t know.” It was as though he had read her thoughts, and she blushed a little at this idea.

It had been so long since the lightning and thunder had come that when it came just then, Haruhi gasped out loud and dove for Hikaru, toppling him to the ground. “Woah!” He yelled out in surprise. She blushed and stood up with him, still clutching his jacket.

He rubbed his head with his palm and then tousled her brown hair. “You alright?” He asked. She nodded, bit her bottom lip and looked up at him. He felt his face flush, and turned away. “Ah…” He muttered nervously, than grabbed her hand reassuringly.

“I guess this’ll be a pretty annoying expedition…” Haruhi said guiltily, “with me stopping every couple of minutes to be afraid.” Hikaru laughed. “No, it’s fine.”

They went around the whole first floor before returning to the kitchen. After a quick water break, they decided to go upstairs.

“Looks like the rain isn’t letting up…” Hikaru grumbled. Haruhi nodded and clutched his hand as they made their way up the stairs leading to the first-floor bedrooms. Hikaru suddenly stopped and turned back towards her, an impish grin on his face. “How’d you like to go up to the tower, Haa-kun?” He asked. Haruhi pondered this, than nodded hesitatingly.

He grabbed her hand and pelted forward. Haruhi gasped in surprise, then allowed herself to be half-dragged around for a while before stopping to rest. Hikaru stopped and waited until she caught her breath.

“You alright?” He asked her, noting her flushed face. She looked up and nodded. In truth, she actually wasn’t feeling her best.

Up three more flights of steps, to the left, down a long hallway, through here, than there - Haruhi wasn’t sure how anyone could remember the way to go in this maze of an academy.

“Here,” Hikaru said finally, stopping in front of a large, oak door. Haruhi reached out for the handle but Hikaru stopped her gently. “Hang on,” He murmured, his eyes scanning her face. Knowing he was looking at every small detail at her expression, she turned away. “I knew it!” Hikaru yelled suddenly.

He turned Haruhi’s head back towards him. “You’re sick, aren’t you?” Haruhi looked down guiltily - she hadn’t been feeling well, but she didn’t want to spoil Hikaru’s fun by staying in bed all day.

He rubbed his eye with his palm and gazed down at her. “Jeez, you idiot!” He groaned, “You should’ve said something if you weren’t feeling well!” He sighed and smiled again at her. “I wouldn’t have minded not doing anything today. You didn’t have to do it for my sake, Haa-kun.”

It was as though he had read her thoughts again. Haruhi felt warmth spread to her cheeks - it was probably just her fever, she told herself - and she closed her eyes. She was very, very tired…maybe she could just fall asleep here and Hikaru wouldn’t mind…

“Ha…Haruhi?!”

She fell down, eyes closed, mouth hanging open ever so slightly. He dove and slid his hands under her head and torso just before she hit the carpeted floor. “Man…” He picked her up and pressed her against his chest. Had she fainted? He pushed up her bangs with his hand and checked her forehead - it was very warm.

“Stupid girl,” He muttered to himself, “stupid, stupid girl.” She made a very quiet sigh, and he smiled.

He carried her the whole long way back to his room, finally setting her down on his bed. From the bathroom he grabbed a cloth, which he soaked in cold water, and a thermometer.

“Haruhi,” He whispered softly into her ear. “Haruhi, please wake up.”

There was no response at first - her body just twitched, but then a little moan escaped her mouth (causing him to blush and take his hands off her arm) and she lazily opened her eyes. “Sorry,” She muttered to him airily. He smiled and placed the cool, damp cloth against her hot forehead.

“Open,” He demanded, prodding the end of the thermometer at her closed mouth. She opened her lips and allowed him to slide the instrument under her tongue, and then closed her mouth again.

Hikaru sat on the edge of the bed, flipping the cloth over periodically so it would stay cool. He grabbed the thermometer from her mouth and read its results. “Haruhi!” He yelled, causing her body to convulse in shock and her eyes to snap open, “Your fever is at 103.2! You really should’ve stayed in bed!”

He grabbed the bed sheets and tossed them over her body, and she yawned. “Hikaru,” She mumbled, propping herself up on her elbows, “I’m really very sorry.” He regretted shouting at her, despite the fact he had not been actually angry, just surprised. “No,” He muttered, “no, I’m sorry, Haa-kun. Lie down and get some rest.”

She complied all too happily - he watched her close her eyes and allow her eyebrows to droop. The corners of her mouth sagged down so she had a little frown as she slept, and her cheeks turned pink as she breathed in and out of her nose.

He lay down on the blanket beside the bed and got down under the covers himself. Truth-be-told, he was actually a bit tired. He wanted to do more to help her, but what could he do?

And then he knew. He stood up quickly despite his fatigue and raced out of the room.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


She sat up before opening her eyes - was that strange?

The light was off; she could tell that even from beneath her closed eyelids. Hesitatingly, she opened her eyes. Dark, dark, dark. It wasn’t even that late, she noticed, glancing at the clock. Yet it was so dark.

“Hikaru?” Her quiet voice was barely heard even by herself. “Hikaru-kun?” She tried again, a little louder.

There was no response. Where had he gone?

She reached for the light, and then suddenly, the lightning flashed. She cried out in surprise and lost balance, teetering over the side of the bed and finally falling down in a heap of blankets on the ground as the thunder rumbled and roared. She could feel the hot tears run down her face - where had Hikaru gone? Why had he left her alone?

She curled herself into a little ball and crawled to the edge of the bed. She had a fever - yes, she remembered now. She didn’t have the strength to stand up and make for the bed again.

The lightning came again - brighter this time - followed shortly by the thunder. She shivered and sobbed aloud.

The doorknob rattled and she looked up. Suddenly, the door burst open and there he was - Hikaru.

“Haruhi!” He cried out. “Haruhi, I’m so, so sorry!”

He dove for her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close. She let her tears fall onto his waiting shoulder, her nails digging into his back. “Hik…” She hiccupped, “Hik…Hikaru! You came back!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” He murmured in her ear, “I’m so, so sorry.”

He picked her up and set her down on the bed again, flicking the lamp on. Haruhi blinked back the tears and reached for a tissue. He handed her one, then disposed of it when she had finished.

“Haruhi,” He said gently, “Haruhi, I’m sorry.” She looked up at him and wiped away a stray tear. “Where’d you go?” She asked.

Hikaru couldn’t help but smile. He reached over to where she had just been laying on the floor and handed her a small box. She opened it and cried out in pleasure.

The light reflected off of the shiny fish scales. The aroma of shrimp made its way to her nostrils. “Hikaru!” She looked up, surprise evident on her face, “you made this sushi?”

He nodded and blushed slightly. “You can’t expect a sick girl to cook for herself!” He laughed. Haruhi smiled and, with chopsticks in hand, quickly devoured the sushi he himself had prepared for her.

“Done?” He asked. She nodded, wiped her mouth, and handed him the empty box, which he threw away in the bathroom trashcan.

“Was it good?” He asked her. She wiped the rice off of her lips and nodded.

He smiled and reached over to hug her. “Ah, I’m so glad, Haruhiiii!”

She allowed him to hug her, not having the strength to push him off. “Do you want to get sick too?” He laughed and let her go.

He sat on the edge of her bed for a while, watching her eyes flick from object to object, rarely resting on himself. “Do you want a book?” He asked finally. He wasn’t sure if he and Kaoru even had one in their room, but he’d find her one from the library if she wanted one.

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”

“Do you feel like throwing up?”

“Not really.”

“So…it’s just a cold?”

She sat up and nodded. “Yes,” She said, her head flopping down onto his arm. “Just a cold.”

And there she was, asleep again. Hikaru smiled and reached over to his bedside table, Haruhi still resting her head against his arm, and grabbed his Nintendo DS. He flipped it open and pressed the power button.

He too, though, eventually got tired and switched off his game. He lifted her head with his free hand and placed it gently on the pillow. Her body was so far over from the edges of the bed, would it really be that bad if he slept in the bed with her for fear of her being too cramped? No, he decided. It wouldn’t be that cramped. Maybe she wouldn’t mind, anyway. They had gotten closer over the past two days.

So he crawled into the bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin, shivering slightly from the cold. He reached up with his hand and brushed his hand against Haruhi’s back, and she turned around to face him. “What?” She asked, her voice a hoarse whisper. He smiled contentedly. “Nothing.”

That sudden impulse to reach out and touch her - where had that come from? Somewhere deep within himself, he was sure. He wanted to do it again, he decided suddenly. He wanted to pull her towards him and…

And what? His mind fell to pieces after that last thought, full of shame and embarrassment. What exactly was going on inside of his head? Before, he would never had been ashamed to think these thoughts - he and Kaoru had always flirted with her before, so why was he trying his hardest to push these dirty thoughts out of his mind? He had looked away from her, but now he turned back and faced her.

She was already asleep. Her long lashes cast grey shadows onto her pink cheeks. Her lips, hanging open ever-so-slightly again, he noticed, were of perfect form and shape. He wanted to reach out and touch them, he decided. His fingers twitched at the thought, and he felt his face flush slightly in excitement.

He reached behind him and switched the light off, so he could keep his fingers occupied. He gazed back towards her, the outline of her body barely visible in the dark. There was something so utterly content and peaceful about this moment, he decided. Even with the sudden flash of lightning, he was happy.

Her eyes flashed open at the rumble of thunder and her fingers snatched his shirt and her body snuggled up to his chest. A few tears fell from her tightly closed lashes, so he reached down and brushed these away.

“Don’t cry,” He murmured soothingly, “Please don’t cry.”

He felt her body relax at his calming words, and he laid his head on his pillow, loving the fact she was under his arm clutching his shirt. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, erupting with happiness, even if he wasn’t sure why he was so elated - all that mattered was he was happy with her.


Sorry it took so long to update!! It’s kinda short, too. <: / sorry, sorry!!! I’m thinkin’ next chapter is side-story lemon, then chapter after that hikaru/haruhi lemon. Maybe?? Anyways, thank you for the great reviews!! ^^