A Song For Another Time - A Hikaru Hitachiin Story

Chapter Seventeen - Someone Ran Away With Her Innocence

While Rose's rest was fitful, Hikaru and Kaoru didn't sleep at all. This was not what either had anticipated would wait for them when they returned, earlier than expected, from Spain.

Their trip had been magnificent. Not only did they get to witness a flustered Kyoya and a speechless Tamaki, but they had met an exotic, yet terrifying, woman, and had the chance to explore wondrous architecture and art.

Hikaru and Kaoru had been in heaven and could hardly wait to report about their adventures - constantly sending photos and updates to Rose, each grabbing at Hikaru's phone in an attempt to be the one to send her a message.

The trip had almost been perfect, but Hikaru kept getting this nagging (and frankly, annoying) feeling that he should be checking on Rose to make sure she was still taking care of herself between all the studying. As far as he knew Thanksgiving was an important American holiday and it still seemed weird to him that Rose would spend it in her dorm, by herself, without any real food.

He kept trying to throw the worry aside - after all worrying about another person had never really been a part of his personality - but he couldn't help but feel that Rose needed the annoyance of he and his brother in her life. Without them, she'd probably be a total shut-in and completely lame.

It wasn't until Saturday, when the Host Club was waiting in the airport to board their flight home, that he realized Rose hadn't answered a single one of his and his brother's text messages. What an annoying girl, he thought to himself as he scrolled through the messages they had sent. He'd have to check in on her when they got back to America.

The moment they landed Hikaru pulled out his phone and texted her, not really expecting any response. It was late and, like the nerd she was, she was probably still studying. He was surprised, however, when his phone almost instantly buzzed. That surprise quickly turned to amusement when he saw her typical sarcastic wit staring back at him.

When he found out about the party, he felt it only natural to attend himself - if for no other reason than to observe the book worm at her first rodeo. It's safe to say he wasn't expecting her to come darting out of the house the moment he set foot on the grounds. She went by in a blur and hadn't noticed him at all.

His immediate reaction was to think that the situation was just simply strange, but he quickly realized that there had been tears in her eyes as she ran past him and his skin started to prickle with premonition. He turned on his heel and gave chase.

While he ran, he couldn't help but wish Kaoru had come too. Whatever had happened in that house, he didn't think he could handle hearing about it on his own. And he was right.

The only thing clear to him in the moment was that someone had hurt Rose. This weeping person in front of him wasn't anything like the annoying super freak he had come to call his friend and there was an inferno alight inside him as he thought about the person who broke her. He was seeing red.

As she continued to cry that anger soon turned to self loathing when he realized that she blamed him in some way, even if she wasn't entirely serious. He felt somehow responsible - as if it was his fault she was in that situation. He should have been able to keep her safe.

He wanted so bad to push away the emotions inside of him as Rose broke down. Emotions wouldn't serve him any purpose right now, but things started to clear as he held her and the panic began to fade away. 

He couldn't turn back time and change the outcome, but he could keep her safe the rest of the night. That was what he had decided when he brought her home. After she fell asleep, he spent the next hour talking to Kaoru about the situation and the angst he felt inside himself.