Tamaki and Haruhi [COMPLETE]

[kingtamaki.livejournal.com]

Who: Tamaki Suoh (kingtamaki) and Haruhi Fujioka (haruhifujioka)
Where The first floor hallway, the kitchen and dining room
When: Evening, a few days ago
Rating: PG
Summary: Tamaki goes to visit Haruhi and ends up slipping on the jellybeans in the hallway. This results in a trip to the kicthen for some ice.

Also? As a result of his visit with Yuuko, Tamaki can't control what comes out of his mouth (...or CAN he?). (so...he's a tad ooc for now...and I've bent the current canon a teensy bit. Fortunately, he's a flexible guy.) In any case, this results in a crapload of frustration for both him and Haruhi.
the Story:
Tamaki, overjoyed that he and Haruhi seemed to be on okay terms once again, strode over to the door and opened it, stepping out into the hallway. Let's see, he thought to himself, a bright smile on his face. Haruhi's room is down by the pool, so... He turned his head and, with long strides, began to make his way down the first floor corridor. He found himself again wondering what he had done to make her upset with him. His smile faltered a bit. Perhaps I'll find out, he thought, his smile faltering a tiny bit. Well then, he decided, Perhaps I'll find out. If it turns out she's still angry, I won't leave until-- His thoughts were interrupted when he suddenly found himself flying through the air, having somehow lost his footing. He landed square on his back, completely and utterly bewildered. Blinking, he slowly pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked around. Scattered all over the hallway were jellybeans of various colors.

She had heard the noise of someone falling in the hallway. Half opening the door and poking her head out, book still in hand. Yes, she had decided she needed to read SOMETHING, so she read a romance novel. It was horrible, awful things that were created to keep the idiot masses at bay.

She noticed the blonde sitting on the floor and raised a brow, knowing who it was. She looked down and noticed the jelly beans strewed in a pattern on the ground and picked on up, sniffing it and eating it. "Lemon." She commented. Not something she enjoyed, but it was strange all the same. "You should probably ice your tail bone." She said to Tamaki, closing the book and setting it on the side table before she walked out to help him up.

"...Oh! Haruhi!" Tamaki said as he saw her poke her head out of her room. He blinked as she calmly picked a jellybean off the floor and ate it. As he accepted her hand and stood up, he said, "I-I'm fine, just..." he looked at the ground, still a bit bewildered. "Someone seems to have dropped a good deal of candy on the floor..."

She looked around as well, noticing the pattern. "I think it's a trail." She said simply and calmly. She walked forward, then turned slightly. "You should put ice on it anyway." She replied, following the trail to the kitchen.

Tamaki looked back up the hallway. Haruhi was right; the jellybeans did seem to form a trail of some sort. "How very strange," he mused before turning and following Haruhi down the hall.

She wondered if he was was limping, but didn't turn around to look, really, it was easier if they just got to the ice and he iced his ass. Yes, ICED HIS ASS.

"...It...does hurt a bit," he said, now that the surprise of the whole thing had dwindled. No doubt it would have been worse had it not been for the carpet. He managed to catch up to her (his strides not as graceful now) and glance over at her thoughtfully. She was taking him to the kitchen to get some ice for him... He blushed a bit. "Y-you're concerned for me, Haruhi?"

"We're friends," she said simply. She was unable to cease from giving a small snort of laughter. She couldn't help it, he was walking so funny and she couldn't stop glancing over at his walking. Really, it wasn't funny.

His eyes widened and filled with happy tears. "I'm so touched!" he exclaimed, very much moved. "It really means a lot to me that you care, Haruhi."

She blinked, stopping to look at him. "I know." She said simply. "Even so ...." She thought about the words she was going to use carefully. "I'd do it anyway."

"Hmm?" He blinked, unsure of what she meant.

She simply kept walking, making her way to the kitchen.

He stared after her for a few moments, puzzled, then followed.

When they got into the kitchen she went to the ice chest, pulling out an ice pack that probably wasn't there before. She handed it to him. "Put it on your tailbone."

He took the ice pack from her. "Put it on my...?" he froze. "My... behind?" he asked incredulously. "...In front of you--or any other girl, for that matter--that might almost seem...indecent...."

She blinked, almost dumbly. "I think I'll be fine." She said dimly, taking a seat at the table.

Tamaki stared down at the ice pack in his hands for a few seconds before shrugging and heading over to the table. He placed the ice pack on the seat across from Haruhi and slowly sat down.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked, looking him right in the eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused. "I thought we established that I injured my...my...my rear end."

She gave him a flat look. "No. Other then that." She said simply. He had been acting strange, that was why he was coming over before he fell

"I don't...think there's anything wrong with me..." he said, contemplative.

"You were acting weird."

"That's right!" he said, suddenly remembering. "You mentioned that before."

She simply nodded.

"You said I was using more punctuation."

She nodded, watching him.

Tamaki cradle his chin in his hand as he considered this. "And this started...OH! It must have something to do with Miss Yuuko!"

"...." She blinked. "What does someone named Yuuko have to do with your behavior?"

"...I'm not...sure. I went to speak with her...to ask how I could keep you and the others safe while we're here." He paused. "She told me I had to be myself, but...this clearly isn't myself, is it?"

SHe simply nodded in agreement. He was being nothing like himself. In fact, he was being more troublesome then usual.

"I just don't understand it--OH." A blank expression replaced the confusion in his face.

She tilted her head slightly.

Tamaki stared blankly. "She said that I would have to say all of my thoughts and feelings out loud."

"Ok." She didn't see how that was so bad.

"...'Okay'?" Tamaki blinked and tilted his head. "You seem to be rather accepting of--" he gasped. "Does that mean she put some sort of spell on me? Wha...? How long will it last?"

She blinked. Tamaki seemed to be rather more strange then normal. She frowned. "It's not a spell. Magic isn't real sempai." She pointed out factually. "She was probably making a suggestion."

"Are you saying this is all in my head?" he started waving his arms frantically. "But that can't be, since everything INSIDE my head comes OUT of it."

"I don't think it really does." She pointed out frankly.

"Really?" he asked. "It's a strange feeling, though. I can't even think before I say anything!"

"I think you're still thinking. You're not rambling."

"Rambling about what? How confusing this whole situation is? The WHOLE situation? As in, our appearing here? Ah, but not all of us are here. So where are Mori-sempai and Hunny-sempai? Are they all right? Will they wind up here, like us? Will this terrible mansion crush their bodies and hearts as it has done to us? It's a painful thing, Haruhi. I want us all to be together, but I don't want these horrible things to happen. I want to be with you, but I also don't want you to be here, where it's clearly dangerous. And I may not be able to protect you. Or any of the others, for that matter. I'm too confused, Haruhi."

What had she said about not rambling. He'd just changed that pretty quickly. She frowned. Really, she could take care of herself, as could the others. It wasn't like they were all helpless .... actually sempai was more helpless then any of them. Thinking about all this just made her frown more. "I don't think the house has crushed anyone, and I still think there's a logical explanation for it. Mori-sempai and Hunny-sempai are probably still at the school, so they're fine."

"...It's crushed me, Haruhi. I almost forgot the host club. I almost forgot Kyouya, and Hikaru and Kaoru, and Hunny-sempai and Mori-sempai...and you. What kind of terrible place could cause such a thing to happen? What kind of horrendous powers could take away the very people that make my life so very wonderful?" his voice cracked a bit.

She thought about what he was saying. He'd forgotten everyone who was most important to him, she wasn't able to see. She couldn't find a connection. One was obviously blindness, but the other was something else. Still, there seemed to be a connection between all of these things that had been happening. She was sure she could figure it out with time.

"I think, what matters is that you didn't forget them. Everything that happens only happens for a little bit. It's not forever."

"What if something doesn't happen for just a little while?" he thought out loud(having no choice, of course). "What if things only get worse?"

"I don't think they will. I think maybe whatever brought us here needs us." She mused.

"Needs us for what? What could we possibly offer this place?"

"I don't know yet." She wondered if maybe she could somehow get the house to give her books on supernatural penomina involving houses.

"I don't like this, Haruhi. Though I find it absolutely inspiring that you can keep a level head in a situation like this."

She just ignored the compliment. "I don't either, but that doesn't mean we're going to be able to get out."

"I think I'll be okay as long as everyone is all right. If you, or any one of the others gets hurt, though, it'll be difficult for me to stay calm."

"It's always difficult for you to be calm." She pointed out flatly. There wasn't a trace of malace in her tone, just honesty.

"It is, isn't it? I suppose I'm a very emotional person. Especially where the people I care about most are concerned. Like you, for instance." he froze, his eyes wide.

SHe didn't get the connotation, though was confused by the eyes widening. She figured he'd mention the others next. "You care about a lot of people sempai, but sometimes it's best to just stay calm."

He couldn't stop. Or rather, every time he opened his mouth, he couldn't control what came out. "I do care about a lot of people, but I care about you especially, because I--" he froze again, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. He stared straight ahead at her as his face began to feel warm. He felt a little light-headed, as well. The words had stopped because the realization of the truth stunned him into silence.

He didn't look well at all. His face was going bright read and she could almost feel the warmth radiating off of him from across the table. She wondered if he was getting sick. With how he ran around it wasn't out of the question. She stood up and walked over to the cabinet, opening it, she grabbed a thermometer from inside and walked back over. Turning it on she stuck it in his mouth and under his tongue.

"I already know." She said simply. He felt responsible for bringing her here because of the host club. The truth of the matter was that she probably should have thanked him for what he had done, all of them really. She liked her life the way it was; she even liked being in the host club.

Tamaki jumped a bit when she stuck the thermometer in his mouth. "Whah th hith foh?" he asked, bewildered. He shifted the thermometer so he could speak coherently. "I'm not ill, Haruhi. What makes you think--you know??" he asked, incredulously, his eyes wide.

She nodded. "You feel responsible for me." She said simply. "I know that, but I can take care of myself. You don't have to get so emotional all the time." She shifted the thermometer to the front again. "Now keep it under your tongue." How was she supposed to get an accurate reading if he kept moving the thing around and pulling it out from under his tongue?

"Bah ahm nah thik." he protested. His face was still flushed from his sudden realization a minute before. His mind was reeling.

She swatted at him. "Don't talk." She chided.

He didn't. He only stared at her, stunned that he hadn't thought of THAT before.

She waited till the thing beeped. It wasn't a usual thermometer, at least not one she was used to. Looking at the temperature she saw that it was slightly high. She frowned at the thing. Was it dysfunctional? "You don't have a high temperature." She was still frowning. "Maybe you need to just lay down."

"Maybe. ...No, maybe not. I'm not sick, Haruhi. If I'm sick at all, I'm lovesick." his face turned a shed redder. There is was.

"That doesn't exist." She said flatly, turning around to put the thermometer away.

Either he wasn't getting through to her or she was flat-out rejecting what he was saying. Unfortunately unable to do otherwise, he voiced this seemingly innocent thought aloud.

She blinked, turning around. Was that just an .... She blinked. "I don't think that's really alright." She said flatly. Her eyes were narrowed, yes, she was angry at him.

"What do you mean?"

"You're talking about me like I'm dumb." She growled.

"...You're not dumb. I'm so sorry I made you think that. You're a wonderful, intelligent girl. I'm...frustrated with my inability to make my feelings clear."

"You didn't make me think I was dumb." She replied flatly. "And you haven't been able to say what you really want to since I've known you." Not when it was important anyway. She started making oatmeal ... because she needed something to busy her hands with so she didn't punch him.

He closed his eyes, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, Haruhi."

"Why would you be sorry?" SHe was stabbing and stirring the oatmeal.

He watched her butcher the poor defenseless oatmeal. "I...only ever want to see you happy. If I ever make you feel otherwise...I'm sorry, from the bottom of my heart."

The oatmeal had it coming. It had butchered her family in a very cruel way. "You're being stupid." She said simply, then stuck the food, spoon and all in front of him. "Eat."

"I probably am," he agreed. "I'm flattered that you still cooked like this for me, Haruhi."

"Shut up and eat." She almost hissed. She glared, turning around to try and regain her composure. She wasn't someone like this. She couldn't be this selfish.

He watched her, concerned. Did he do this? He sighed and placed the bowl on the table. He didn't sit down, though. Part of him wanted to tell her what he'd come to realize...part of him also told him it would be better to stay silent, that telling her would only upset her more.

She took deep breaths. This wasn't the person she was. She never wanted to show her own selfishness to others, but here she was, getting angry and she didn't even really understand why. "Keep icing your tailbone, and eat the oatmeal." She said simply, starting for the door.

He looked up. "...Haruhi, wait." he caught her hand and turned her so that he could look her directly in the eye. "I can't explain my behavior today, but...it's forced me to realize something very important." he paused. He needed to make sure she was listening, that his next words, his feelings, would not pass over her head the way they had with him.

She blinked, looking up at him, and yet her face turned into aslight wince. "Sempai," She started, her usual composure brought back to covering any feelings of anger she had previously had. "you're hurting me."

He immediately let go of her. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. "Haruhi, listen..." his face was turning red again. He wanted to take hold of her hand, but that would only be stalling at this point. "The reason...I find you so adorable...the reason I'm so protective...the reason I only ever want to see you happy..." his heart was racing. He couldn't keep the words in. "...is love."

She frowned. She already knew this. He had a disturbing obsession with the idea of being her father. He wasn't, he would never be her father and she was glad about that. She wasn't sure why the thought of it, every time always made her so angry, but she didn't want to think about it now. She just wanted to make her way to the library and try to find any information she could on the supernatural nature of houses. "Yeah, you already said that you love me before."

He blinked. "Ah? I did...? ...OH!" The father thing. "That was...me wanting to keep you close to me. Somehow I thought that calling you my daughter would do that. ...It was a front. And not even I knew it."

"..." Alright, this was happening too fast. Sempai was sempai. He wasn't .... She couldn't quite think, logically or illogically about anything. She turned around, pausing. "I need to go to the library." She said quietly. She wanted to bite something, maybe her lip later. "Eat the oatmeal before it gets cold." She didn't want to face this right now. She had other things, more important thing to do. She had to find a way out of this house. The way Tamaki was talking proved she needed to find a way out of this house. Before he could stop her again she walked out of the kitchen, heading for the library to wall herself up with the things she could understand best, books.

At that point in time, Tamaki fell over, for lack of anything else to do. His energy was spent.