Basket of Fruit

Chapter 1

It had been 5 years since high school. It seemed so long ago and yet at the same time the memories were still has clear as if they had happened just moments before.

Haruhi looked down at the letter in her hand and back up at the street sign. This seemed like the correct street. The small café should just be down the road.

As she walked down the street her eyes moved about the people. It was nice to finally be back in Japan. She had spent the last several years in America learning to become a lawyer at the Harvard School of Law. Thanks to her good grades, and she suspected her friends, she was given a full scholarship to any University of her choosing. Just last week she had passed the bar test with flying colours, just beating her late mothers exam score. She knew her mother would have been proud and her father was too. Haruhi could still hear her dad’s excited voice at the news that his lovely daughter would soon be coming home.

Stopping at corner of the street, she waited for the lights to turn so she could cross. “Cat’s café... should be right across this street.”

After they graduated from Ouron High, they had all gone their own ways. She had gone over seas, while Tamaki schooled with Kyouya in Japan. Hunny and Morinozuka left to be school in the defense field to help in their family business. Kaoru and Hikaru had decided that they would head over to Europe for a few years and learn more about fashion design before returning.

Haruhi tucked the letter back into her bag. Now that she had finally returned to Japan, it was Tamaki who thought it would be a great idea to have a Host Club reunion. She was looking forward to seeing everyone again, it had been way too long.

The café was small. Tucked in between a design studio and a market, the quant little shop however still managed to have a little room out front for three small metal table and chairs which were currently fill of happy customers. As she pushed the door open to the cafe, she had to admit that she was nervous… just a little. After all, it had been so long since all the Host members had been together.

Haruhi was greeted with a warm smile from the café’s greeter when she walked in. “Hello.” The young girl in a maid costume chirped. It didn’t surprise her at all that they would choose a maiden café to meet at, if anything she should have suspected it. She figured it had been Tamaki’s idea.

Haruhi smiled back at the greeter. “Hello,” Her chocolate eyes moved about the people seated about the long room. “I’m supposed to be meeting some people here.” She asked a little timidly.

“Oh!” The girl brightened up and glanced down at her notepad she had been clutching in her hand. “Are you part of the…Kyouya, party?”

Some things just never changed, she mused. Kyouya, was ever the one in charge of all things planning. “Yes.” The girl nodded then lead her through the tables to a door set at the very back of the café, passed the display counter with all the cakes and cooking and the few groups of happily chatting school girls. The greeter blushed as she informed her that they were all waiting upstairs on the second floor, just through the door. She told Haruhi that if they needed anything, just ask.

Haruhi opened the door and walked up the narrow stairs. At the top of the stairs, was a white door with a golden handle. The little gold plaque sign read “V.I.P.”

“Ok, This is it.” She took a few deep breaths, trying calm her now racing heart. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous. Given she hadn’t seen some of the guys since high school but that shouldn’t make her heart race so much. Was it just the excitement? She had been looking forward to this since she got the message a few days before moving back and now she was finally going to be able to see all her old friends again. She wonder how much things had changed. She turned the handle on the door.

She let the door swing back. Sitting at the table next to the large windows sat two figures. Their backs were too her and both seemed to be deep in discussion with each other.

The man on the right was defiantly Tamaki. No doubting it. He was dressed in a white dress suit; his blond hair seemed shorter and neater then before. Next to him was none other then Kyouya himself. Figures, she smiled to herself. He had let his black hair grow much longer. The low pony tail hung down the back of his tailored black suit. Those two were always together.

Kyouya was the first to see her approaching. With a small smile he stood. Tamaki, seeing this, jumped to his feet and turned to greet her. “Haruhi!” He turned to her with one of his bright smiles. Some things had never changed and her heart leaped at the sigh of it away all these years.

She gave them a small bow. “It’s been so long.” She returned their happy smiles. Tamaki held out his arms to her. Slowly Haruhi closed the distance and gave him a much overdo hug.

“It’s good to have you back.” He said into her hair before releasing her.

“Thanks, Tamaki.” Haruhi turned and gave Kyouya a small hug.

“It’s been too long.” Kyouya agreed, stepping back, he pushing his glasses back up his nose and strengthen his tie before pulling out a chair for Haruhi.

She waited for them to sit down, her eyes moving between the two, but settled on Tamaki. “Tamaki, is something wrong?”

He seemed to come to his senses, his mouth snapping close. She watched a bunch of different thoughts flow across his face before he seemed to find the one he was looking for. A slow smiled moved across his lips. “Haruhi… These years have been wonderful to you.”

“Yes.” Kyouya nodded. “You look very lovely.”

She blushed lightly at their comments. 5 years was a long time. She had grown up, they all had. Her brown hair was below her shoulders in small waves and her once boyish figure was no more. She was happy that her once flat chest now sported a small pair of breasts. She fussed with the folds in her skirt. Since she had only just came back into town and had a business meeting later that night, she had worn a long black skirt and white blouse. She felt a little uncomfortable since she was used her jeans she had grown used to wearing daily during school.

“When is everyone else going to be coming?” She asked, changing the topic. She still wasn’t used to men noticing her. After all, she had all but invisible to the opposite sex through high school. Though she had had a few boyfriends during university, they had never lasted very long.

Kyouya looked down at his notebook sitting on the table. “Well, they should already be here but as you can see they are not.” He sighed, one hand rubbing his forehead. He lifted his cell phone off the table and began to dial numbers.

“Haruhi, how was your flight? You just returned correct?” Tamaki rested his cheek against his hand, leaning towards her across the table.

He was still, if not more, striking as before. His eyes still a soft violet blue that could steal many hearts and he still had a warm air to him.

“I got back two days ago.” Interrupted, she thanked the server who set down a cup in front of her and replaced their teapot with a fresh one. Tamaki quickly filled up her cup.

He seemed much quieter then before. But she mused that they had all grown up. Maybe something was on his mind or after all this time he didn’t know what to say. She used to be so good at reading their feelings but it was almost like they were new people now but she would get to know them again.

She lifted her cup to her lips and carefully blew on the warm nectar inside. “So, Tamaki, what have you been doing since high school?”

He was having a hard time concentrating on her words. He had been watching her movements and her full lips. In fact, he was almost not sure how to act. This creature that sat before him actually made him nervous. Haruhi had grown so much.

“Tamaki?”

He jumped, realizing that he had not been paying attention. He flashed her a quick smile and leaned back in his chair, hoping she hadn’t noticed. “Well, after high school, I went to college for business and now I’m currently working for my father, managing some of our companies.”

“Oh, I’m happy to hear that.” It had saddened her that they had lost contact over the years. It was not like she hadn’t tried to keep in close contact with Tamaki. Between school and their lives, seems like they had slowly moved apart. “So he did name you successor?” She asked without thinking, realizing that maybe it wasn’t such a good question to ask but she had been dying to know, since last they talked Tamaki had hinted that his father was leaning towards a decision.

He paused for a moment. “Yes, He did.” His smile was true and she let out the breath she had been holding. Haruhi knew it had meant a lot to him to finally be recognized by his father.

Kyouya snapped his cell phone closed and set it back onto the table. Haruhi looked over. “Haninozuka and Morinozuka should be here shortly. Seems that a security meeting held them longer then they had hoped.”

“Security?” Haruhi asked.

“Yes, well you remember how Hunny’s family worked in the security feild. Well they now also handle all the military for Japan and help to train troops for other nations as well.” Tamaki answered, waving his hand a little like it was no big deal.

‘They are head of Japan’s military?!’ When she thought of the collection of men she had befriended during the host club, she sometimes thought she was part of some book. She didn’t belong with these men. So rich and so powerful. What was she? Poor. A commoner as they had titled her through out high school but it seemed for that very reason was why like liked her so much. But even still, she was luck these powerful men were some of her best friends and not her enemy.

But it had been thanks to these men, these friends, that she had been able to reach her dream. She knew that it had been them who had asked for a new scholarship to be created, one that would give her enough money to attend any school that accepted her. She owed them for that.

The door opened with a few grunts, causing the small group at the table to turn. The very broad and wide back of a black suit moved slowly into the room.

It was Morinozuka at the end of a very large box. Haninozuka, smiled at the group from the other side of the long package.

“Welcome back!” Haninozuka called cheerfully over at Haruhi as he helped Morinozuka.

He had grown taller. Though still much shorter then the other men. He was at least taller then herself now. He was dressed in a white dress shirt and black dress pants. His blond hair, like Tamaki’s, was cut shorter.

Morinozuka smiled and nodded in greeting. He looked the same as before. His black hair was short and his suit was fitting perfectly to cover his large frame. A pair of black glasses sat on top of his head.

Tamaki jumped from his chair and helped them set the box down on a near by table.

Haruhi rose too, fallowed by Kyouya. “Let me guess.” Kyouya looked at the box.

“Yep. It is! But first..” Hunny wrapped his arms around Haruhi and gave her a big hug. “It’s been far too long, Haruhi.” It took her a moment to hug him back but she happily returned it.

“Wow, you’ve really grown.” She laughed lightly as she stepped back she even had to look up a little to meet his bright blue eyes. Hunny beamed a bright smile and found herself grinning also. “I have missed you guys.”

With a sweet smile he let her go to be replaced with Morinozuka’s large frame. He too gave her a large hug.

There was a commotion coming up the stairs as Morinozuka released her from his hug, two men burst through the door. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin. Their eyes moved through the crowd and signaled out the only female of the group. “Haruhi!” Both smiled and rushed over. Together they hugged her tightly, evening lifting her feet off the floor. She found herself laughing with the joy of seeing them all again. Together the twins pressing their cheeks to either of hers before both giving her a soft kiss.

Tamaki frown deepened. ‘Not fair.’ He mouthed and crosses his arms, looking away from them. Why didn’t he give her a kiss too? Kyouya only rolled his eyes at his long time friend, knowing all too well what he was thinking.

“Haruhi, you look…” Hikaru started.

“So lovely.” Kaoru finished.

She couldn’t help by smile at the twins. “Same to both of you.” She looked between the two. Their orange hair was much longer, now passed their shoulders. They had left it loose over top of their cotton sweaters and torn jeans. Still mirror images of each other, they looked like models or even big name actors.

At the sound of Kyouya’s cough she realized that she had been staring. The twins smirked, giving her a sidelong glance with their golden eyes.

“Haruhi, I got something for us!” Hunny excitedly started to open the big box he ha brought up.

“Let me guess…”

The box fell open to display a very large cake. On it was written in icing was ‘Welcome back, Haruhi!’ with lots of little hearts and stars around it.

The guys moved to stand behind the cake, all smiling.

Tamaki spread his hands. “Welcome to the first reunion of the Host Club.” He held out a rose to her. She looked up from the offered rose and met his eyes.

It was as if she was opening the doors to the third music room all over again.