Better than Gold (ouran high school host club fanfic)

Chapter 16

Wow. This chapter was incredibly fun to write. I hope it'll be fun to read, too.

By the way, I posted a picture on the side. Do you think that one looks nicer as a cover?

Tell me what you guys think!

Happy reading, guys! (:

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CHAPTER 16

The stench of seaweed and fish, the incessant squawking of sea birds, and the overly vivid colors of their swimsuits overwhelm my senses. I stiffly hug my knees and grimace, staring at my arms.

I don't want to be here.

I lift my head and glare at the damn boy who somehow dragged me all the way here.

What's his problem? He confiscated my phone and used it to text Father, telling him I was "hanging out with the Host Club". I thought Father would immediately recognize that the tone of the message wasn't mine, but he didn't.

"Okay," he had written. "Have fun. Don't stay out too late."

That had been it.

In the middle of my musing, Tamaki lets out a shrill shriek.

Nekozawa, who I met in person for the first time today, releases Tamaki's shoulders and plays with his cat puppet instead. "The Cat Rock is where we place offerings to worship our family's guardian deity," he says, moving the cat around as if the puppet is the one that is speaking. "There's a legend that says if you jump into the sea from there, you'll never resurface again."

I shudder. What a horrible tale to share.

"Oh? It looks like there's a brave challenger already..."

I look at the mouth of the abnormal Cat Rock, where Haruhi leans over the side.

"HARUHI!"

Hikaru, Kaoru, and Tamaki instantly pull Haruhi from the cliff and carry her to a safer place.

"D-dangerous," gasps Tamaki, huffing as he falls on his knees. "Almost lost... my precious daughter..." He reaches for something to support himself as he tries to stand, but ends up holding a small human skull in his palm.

As Tamaki begins panicking, Nekozawa smiles eerily. "I tried to create a more artistic atmosphere for everyone's enjoyment... It would be an honor if it's to your liking..." His smile grows wider as he edges closer to the terrified blond boy. "I have always wanted to establish a closer friendship with Tamaki..." 

I look away from the strange spectacle.

I just want to go home.

I'm tired of this. I get stressed just by being in their company. They're so eccentric and plainly insane. Maybe I'll ask Father if I can quit. The Host Club is only a waste of time after school, when I could be doing much more important things, and I'm rarely at the other events anyways because of Father's schedule for me. There's no point in my being in this club at all.

"CENTIPEDE!" screams a girl.

A stampede flees from Tamaki, who only stands dumbfoundedly as he stares at the place where a crowd once stood. "C-crab..." he says plaintively, holding a large crab in his hands.

Haruhi leans over and stares at the red crustacean. "Where did this come from?" She plucks a small insect from the crab and hurls it into the bushes. She dusts off her hands and notices the boys, who gape at her with surprise. Haruhi shrugs. "Don't worry, it won't die because of that."

"Haruhi, you're so manly!" squeals a girl. More swarm around her, complimenting her manliness.

The two Hitachin brothers begin to sidle up against Tamaki with identical grins. "Hey, Tono, we just thought up a new game," says Hikaru. "It's called..."

"Find Haruhi's Weakness!" Kaoru and Hikaru chime together.

"What? You two are the worst," sighs Tamaki. "You cannot simply encroach upon my daughter's privacy!"

The two shrug simultaneously. "Sorry, guess that you don't have the confidence?" Hikaru remarks, picking at his fingernails.

"After all, your weaknesses are never shared unless you're real close with someone. I would've thought that a father would know his daughter's weaknesses, but..." Kaoru smirks and leans against Hikaru's shoulder.

"The rules?" Tamaki instantly asks in a hushed voice.

"Deadline's tomorrow evening. Whoever finds her weakness first is the winner."

I roll my eyes. Those three are acting like they're children.

"And the winner gets?" Tamaki presses.

Kyoya barges into the conversation, holding a few slips of paper between his fingers. "Assorted pictures of Haruhi in middle school." 

He smirks at me as my face pales. He's not implying what I think he's implying. He couldn't have.

No, it's actually possible. The pictures from my years in England are accessible. Father never expected someone to connect the dots so quickly. I hadn't either. Damn it. How was I so naive, to think no one would notice or look for me?

"Kyoya, how did you get those?" asks Honey.

He tucks the photographs into his pocket. "Through certain routes. It was quite easy," Kyoya replies, glancing at me with a smile again.

I glare at him and stand up to walk away, only to freeze when I see a girl run up to Tamaki. She gasps for air. The girl wipes her eyes on her damp handkerchief, and her shoulders tremble. "Tamaki-sama! I-It's Haruhi!" she sobs, pointing shakily at the Cat Rock.

Tamaki, Hikaru, and Kaoru immediately whip their heads toward the cliff. Though it's far, I can make out Haruhi standing on the edge, cornered by a few guys.

"If you fall into the sea from there, you'll never resurface again." 

No.

I take off and sand slaps against my legs in my flurried attempt to reach her in time.

"Yuki! Wait!" cries Junichi. Although he's right behind me, his voice sounds far off and muffled, as if we're underwater. Maybe that's why it's so hard to breathe right now.

My throat feels strange. My eyes burn. My stomach hurts as well. I hurt everywhere.

Not again. No.

I can help her this time. She's here. I can see her face now. She's fighting back, hitting and shoving. I'm almost there. I sprint harder. The adrenaline pushes me faster. The wind whips my hair into my eyes. It stings. Maybe that's why the tears flow freely.

One grabs her arms. "You look like a little girl. Isn't it out of your place to act so tough around us?"

Tamaki yells. "Haruhi!"

"A little kid like you," another says, stalking behind her, "should quietly enjoy swimming!"

Everything is in slow motion.

He punches her cheek. She totters. She steps back. She slips. She falls.

My throat constricts. I lean over the cliff.

She reaches out to me.

My hand brushes against her fingertips.

Her mouth opens slightly as she continues to fall.

The green waves swallow her.

No.

Tamaki vaults over the edge, jumping over me. "HARUHI!"

He throws himself into the ocean's gaping maw.

It takes him with open arms, the way it took everyone else.

No. Stop. STOP!!

I scream.