"Hmmm... Donuts filled with... Lots of goodies."
I murmered in my sleep. Just when I was about to get to the good part, a pillow was slammed against my head. "Urgh! Onii-chan! What was that for! I was just about..." I began to say in a mere whisper as I faced the culprit.
"D-dad? Dad! It's you!"
I engulved my father in a bone-crushing hug, forgetting about the lousy wake-up call. It's been a while since I've last seen him. With him working and all. He placed his warm hand on top of my head, making me feel at ease.
"I heard you injured yourself on the way to school yesterday, so I came as soon as I could." He explained. I was just happy to see him.
"Mom told you about it, didn't she." I muttered out in reply. "Not really. Your mother wasn't the least bit worried. Hideki was the one who informed me about it." I looked up at him with my eyebrow raised. Since when does Hideki care?
"Forget about that. Let me see your ankle."
I did as I was told.
Dad loosened the bandage around my ankle and took a closer look. "Seems like it recovered nicely. Does it still hurt?" I shook my head with a bright smile. "Not at all." He wrapped it up again carefully. "How did you manage to injure yourself anyway?" He asked me.
I said nothing and just smiled faintly. My eyes averted over to the floor of my room. My head was filled with lots of emotions. "Well… It doesn't matter. You're alright now."
The door creacked open, revealing Hideki standing in the doorway. He walked over to us and pressed some money in my hands. "What's this for?" "We're out of milk, eggs, tomatoes and chips. Go and get some from the store." Hideki replied with a smirk as he patted me on the head.
"B-but I'm injured remember!?"
"I can't do it either. I promised to take Hitomi to the movies." He retorted. I frowned deeply, feeling hurt that he just pushes me away to visit his girlfriend.
"That is so typical of you to say. You're always spending time with Hitomi. You barely go out with me anymore. And your supposed to be my big brother!" I yelled out as I pushed the covers aside.
Hideki seemed to ignore my little outburst and turned his back on me. I jumped up and held onto his arm tightly, making him face me. "Don't ignore me like this. You know I'm right." Hideki stuck his hands in his pockets with a sigh.
"Are you saying that it's my fault for not hanging out with you anymore? I can't help it. I have my own life to live. Start your own life already and stop blaming me for everything." He said to me.
"You know what? Fine! I'll go to the stupid store by myself! I don't even have to pretend that I don't have a brother." I snapped in anger as I stormed out of my room and slammed the door behind me. Hideki ran his fingers through his hair as he sighed.
"What to do now..."
------
I got dressed and didn't even say goodbye to my parents. Hideki was already gone. Probably on his way to his girlfriend's place. I held onto Etoile's leash and was on my way to the store with a shopping bag.
Etoile seemed to notice the bad mood I was in and kept whining. I ignored her, still thinking about Hideki.
I reached the shop eventually and tied Etoile's leash on the dogstand. Etoile whined softly. "Don't worry Etoile. I'll be back in a little while." I spoke to her before entering the store.
"Where are the eggs."
I found the eggs and reached out for it, only to drop it on the floor accidentally. "Come on! I don't have the patience to put up with this!" I groaned loudly. I reached out for another one and placed it safely in my basket, along with a few tomatoes and some milk.
I held onto the milk for a while, triggering a memory from long ago.
Flashback.
The sound of someone crying could be heard in the kitchen. Little Haruhi was crying her eyes out as she sat on the kitchen floor. "Whaah!! Mama!!" She cried out in despair.
The sound of footsteps were closing in on her and stopped close by. Haruhi looked up with a few sobs inbetween.
"Onii-chan..."
Again, she started to cry histerically. "Jeez. Why are you crying. Your so lame." Hideki spoke up as he crossed his arms. "Onii-chaaan!!" Hideki placed his hands on his ears to block out her crying.
"Ahh! Fine! I'll show you something. So stop crying."
Hideki opened the fridge and took out a milk carton. He poured the white liquid in a glass, making Haruhi look up at him in confusion. "Here… Drink this. It'll make you strong, so stop crying already."
Haruhi's tears still cascaded down her cheeks, but at least she was quiet. "I don't want spots on me." She muttered out.
"You're not getting any spots. Your not a cow." Hideki argued back. "So drink it." He shoved the glass in her hands. She just stared at it in bewilderment.
"So... if I drink milk... Will I be as strong as a cow?" Hideki got down to her level and nodded with a smile.
"Try it out."
Haruhi hesitantly pressed her lips against the glass and gulped down the milk in a few seconds. "So? How do you feel?" She just stared at her tummy in dissapointment. "Nothing happened."
"Are you stupid? It made you stop crying, right? So that means your getting stronger already." Hideki retorted happily.
Haruhi nodded with a smile as she noticed this herself. She stared at the milk carton, looking at the picture of the cow on the front. "Thanks to Mister cow!"
"Oi... Only cows who are girls give milk. Boys don't do that."
"H-hai!"
End Flashback.
I smiled at the memory. The brother I knew back then was so kind to me. He played with me most of the time. How come he changed so much as we got older? I didn't think about it and placed the milk in the basket, already wanting to finish my chore.
Just as I was about to get in line to pay for the groceries, I felt a slight tug on my vest. I looked down to see a little girl staring at me. She had short blondish brown hair, which was an unusual hair color and striking brown eyes.
Her hand was holding onto my vest tightly, not wanting to let go any time soon. She was so cute to look at.
"Umm... Hi?"
I began to say with a smile. "Are you lost or something, little girl?" She said nothing. She just kept staring at me with those big brown eyes of hers. Without a single warning, her eyes were filled to the brim with tears.
"Ah! Ano! Eto!" I babbled about while looking around for anyone who might know her. Maybe her parents were still around. I gave up when I saw no'one in the neighboorhood and just got down to the girl's height.
"Are you alright?" I asked her. She just clinged onto me even more. I stared at her tear stained face with a sad smile. This girl resembles me a lot when I was still a crying little kid. "Hey... Are you lost?" She nodded in response. Seems like she doesn't feel like talking to me.
"Hey… You don't need to cry. I'll help you find your way back home, okay?" I promised her, even though I didn't think this through.
The girl hugged me tightly as my eyes widened at her affection towards me. In the end, I gave in and embraced her tightly. Her body was trembling slightly, making me worry for her well-being. She released me and wiped away her tears. I got back up again and took a hold of her hand.
"Lets go, okay?"
I payed for my groceries and walked out of the store with the girl right next to me. I didn't know what it was, but something felt off about her. "Umm... I'm Tanaka Haruhi. But you can call me Haru, if you'd like." I told her sweetly. She looked up at me, not doing anything out of the ordinairy.
"Okay. You don't have to say anything. It's alright." I replied as a waterfall of tears poured down my cheeks. It’s almost as if she didn’t even bother listening to me. I walked up to Etoile who seemed to be happy to see me.
"Hey Etoile. Sorry it took so long."
I was about to release Etoile’s leash when the girl seemed to hide behind me. "Oh… It's okay, really! Etoile isn't a bad dog or anything. She won't bite you. She's very friendly." I warned her. I pat the dog on her back, showing the girl that Etoile wasn't dangerous.
The girl got a little closer and raised her hand, trying to touch the Dalmatian. Etoile raised her nose and licked the girl's hand softly, showing that she didn't have to be afraid.
"See? She's a good girl. You're safe when she's around. Why do you think I take her along with me?" I smiled at her. The girl laughed softly, making me laugh along with her. After that, we were on our way.
"Hmmm... Maybe the police will help us out." I muttered out. As soon as I did so, I felt the girl's hand clenching up tightly, squeesing my hand as she did so. "I guess not. It's not that hard to find a house, right?"
I smiled at her, even though I was getting a bit worried. What if I can't find her house? After a good while of walking around, we came across a forest of some kind.
"I don't remember a forest in this area..." I sweatdropped. The girl got exited and began to pull me along as she ran ahead of me. "H-hey! Not so fast!" But she wouldn't listen and just kept on running.
Etoile barked a few times, but she was gone. Just when I thought I wouldn't see the little girl again, I saw her waiting for me in front of a very traditional looking house. I walked up to her with a sigh.
"I thought I lost you. Don't run away from me like that!" I snapped at the little girl. She looked up at me with those big eyes of hers, about to burst out into tears again. I sighed deeply. This girl even acts just like I did years ago.
"I guess it's okay. So don't cry. I'm sorry I yelled at you." I apologised. She nodded briefly, accepting my apology. Etoile sniffed the air, already getting rather exited about this house.
"Is this where you live?" I asked her. She shook her head at me. "Then... What are we doing here?" She didn't answer and just stared at the door expectantly. Something tells me that she's been here before.
The door opened slowly, revealing a young man wearing nothing but a pair of wooden sandals and a plain kimono.
"Ara? What do we have here?" He began to say with an unusual smile plastered on his face. "Another stranded girl has found her way to me. How lucky I must be to receive such a wondrous gift." He yapped about as I arched a brow at his words. The girl took a hold of the man's kimono with a happy expression.
"Sa-chan?" I blinked my eyes a few times upon hearing the little girl's name. Is it that short? Must be a nickname for her. So they must know each other.
"It's good to see that your safe. The others are still looking for you, you know that? Your Mother's not going to like this at all." The man pointed out. She stared at her feet in shame.
"A-ano... I know I shouldn't interrupt this moment, but I need to be somewhere." I began to say in a mere whisper. The male looked up at me and smiled brightly. "Why are you in such a rush to leave? I'm sure that Sa-chan would love for you to stick around some more." He retorted. I shook my head as I bowed slightly.
"No thank you sir. I really need to be going. But I'm glad that umm... Sa-chan, was it?" "It's Kisa." The man grinned in amusement. " Okay... I'm just glad that Kisa found her way back safely." Just as I finished saying that, I felt the girl’s arms around my waist, making me look down. She seemed sad all of a sudden.
"Seems like Sa-chan has grown on you. Won't you stay for an hour or so? Sa-chan would be so sad if you left on a whim."
The man pleaded as if he were a little child. It almost seemed like he wanted me to stay even more than Kisa did, which was disturbing in a way. There’s no telling what this man might do to me once I walk in that house. Not to mention that a house in the forest already seems suspicious enough…
"I guess it doesn't matter if I stayed for a little while." I broke down as Sa-chan was overjoyed at my decision. Why does this kind of stuff only happen to me?
I shrugged briefly and stared down at Etoile who seemed ever so quiet. It seems that she has been staring at the black-haired man for a long time now. Her tail was moving around like crazy.
"Huh? What's up with you?" I asked the dog. Without a warning, she jumped up and crashed into the young man with a lot of noise. Etoile was already licking his face with utmost joy.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" I apologised on Etoile's behalf. But the man didn't seem to mind. "It's alright. She's a female, right?" He asked me as he scratched her behind the ear. "Y-yeah... She is." I answered in a daze.
He got back up again and brushed off his kimono. Etoile didn't leave his side, making me raise an eyebrow in confusion. "I'm really sorry. Normally, she doesn't jump on people like that." He just waved it off casually.
"Stop apologising so much. It doesn't suit you at all." He laughed softly. "Then what does?" I frowned at the overjoyed man.
Etoile rubbed her head against his leg to show her affection. She sure does like him a lot. I wonder why. Kisa took a hold of my hand again and led me inside. It was a very cozy house, to say the least. Something tells me that this house has been through a lot.
"What do you think? It has a nice feel to it, don't you agree?" The man asked me cheerfully.
"Ah! Yes! It's a fine house, sir. It's so traditional, yet simple." The man patted me on the head at my answer. "Why thank you. And you can call me Shigure, not sir. Your making it sound like I'm old." He whined.
"O-okay. Shigure it is. My name's Tanaka Haruhi. It's nice to meet you." I bowed politely.
"You're so cute. It makes me wonder if your seeing someone." He said to himself with his index-finger stroking his chin. Again, I arched my brow at his comment. Shigure walked over to the stairs with Etoile trailing behind him. What is it that makes that dog follow him around like that?
"Tohru-kun! We have some visitors!" He yelled loudly. My ears perched up as I heard that name.
"Tohru?"
Just then, someone came running down the stairs in a hurry. I heard a familiar voice speaking up to Shigure in delight. "Who is it Shigure-san!" I saw Tohru Honda, the girl from school who seemed ever so cheerful, running down the stairs with a smile on her face. "I welcome you to the So-"
She stopped in her tracks as she spotted me in an instant. "H-haru-chan? Is that you?" "Tohru!" I engulved her in a tight hug, catching her off guard for a moment. She seemed to hug me back. I released her as I took a closer look at Tohru.
"What a surprise! I would have never thought that you lived here!" Tohru just smiled brightly at me.
"It seems that your friend found Sa-chan and brought her here, safe and sound." Shigure told Tohru. "Nee-san..." Kisa left my side and hugged Tohru in a loving embrace. Her voice was so cute, just like I imagined it would be. "You're so lucky Tohru." Tohru looked up at me with a questioning look on her face.
"You have a cozy home, a cute little sister, and your Dad is very loving. Although he gets somewhat irritating." I piped up with a smile. Tohru seemed to freeze up at that comment. Maybe I was wrong?
"A-ano... Shigure-san isn't my Father."
"I wish I was though! Such a cute little girl." Shigure piped up happily. "And Kisa-san isn't my little sister. But I see her as one." She patted Kisa's head lovingly with that wonderful aura that seemed to surround her everytime.
"Oh... Well.. It really doesn't matter either way, right?" Tohru nodded her head, agreeing with me. "Ah! That's right! I should make some tea!" She ran into the kitchen in a hurry. Kisa held my hand again and led me to a tiny table in the living room.
------
We all gathered around the table with a cup of tea in our hands. Etoile still didn't leave Shigure's side as her head was placed onto his lap. Kisa sat next to me as she kept on staring at me with a loving expression on her face. Tohru seemed to glow even more than usual.
"It seems that Kisa-san likes you a lot, Haru-chan. You must be great with kids her age." I just scratched the back of my head. "I guess I am. What a surprise, huh?" She took a sip of her tea, until she jumped up in shock. I almost spilled my tea over myself in surprise.
"That's right! I forgot to ask you!"
"W-what? You can ask me anything. As long as you calm down." I pleaded. She just raised her index-finger in the air, about to ask me something. "Haru-chan... What is your zodiac sign?"
"That is a good question, Tohru-kun. I'm curious myself." Shigure spoke up as he flashed a smile in my direction. "Umm.. Well.. I'm a Libra?" I began to say as they both eyed me curiously.
"No no. Tohru-kun didn't mean the Western Zodiac. More like the Eastern one." Shigure retorted as he took another sip of his tea. "The Eastern one? My mom once told me I was born in the year of the tiger. So that must make me a tiger, right?" At this, the two of them seemed to understand.
"That explains Sa-chan's behaviour. Not that I mind." Shigure pointed out to me. I remained clueless. "What does my zodiac sign have to do with Kisa's actions towards me?" I asked them.
"It's a long story." Tohru explained, not making me any wiser. "Shigure-san? Did you warn the others about Kisa-san's return?"
"It did cross my mind. But I felt like they needed the fresh air." Shigure retorted with a sly smirk. He's up to something... Tohru just sweat-dropped dramatically. "Shigure-san..." She muttered out.
"Who are the others?" I asked them in a whisper. Just then, the sound of the sliding door was heard, acompanied by a few footsteps and a lot of yelling.
"I'm telling you, I did take a good look!! It's not like you did any better than me if you were there!!" A voice boomed loudly in the hallway. "Stop yelling like that, you moron. Were back home, so you can't behave like the animal you are."
"You're the animal!!"
I sweat-dropped upon hearing those voices. "Umm... It seems that they're already here." Tohru muttered out. Just then, the door that connects the living room with the hallway slid open, revealing Kyo and Yuki standing in the doorway.
"Eh!? You guys live together?!" I exclaimed in shock.
"What's going on here!!"
