Pact

Warnings: OCs, OOC

Authoress note (please read): This is a side story to my other KHR fanfic, Constellation:Vega. Therefore, there will be OCs in this fic that you are unfamiliar with and such. This story actually take place years before the events in CV, so take note of that. In this story, Haru will be around 5 years old, while the OCs will be from 5 to 13 years old. Its just a little background on Haru's past with the Vega guardians

Summary: She looked away, choking on a sob and refusing to let them see her cry. Soft and gentle fingers slipped beneath her chin and turned her gaze back. There were her childhood friends, and this was their farewell. Side story to Constellation: Vega.

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A young girl sat in the center of the garden maze, arms wrapped around her legs, pulling her knees to her chest. Her chocolate brown bangs rested on her knee caps as she tucked her head and formed a human ball. The muffled sounds of sobs just barely heard coming from the small body, which shook with each gasp of air she took in. She didn't want to cry loudly, they'll find her, and they will take her away. Take her form the place she called home and from the people who are her friends. A pang of hurt ran through her body, and against her will, her crying became louder and louder. The sound of the ruffling leaves of the bushes caused the brunette to tense up, but still she continued to cry and remained in her position on the ground.

“Crying doesn't suit you at all, chickadee.”

Instantly recognizing the voice as a familiar, friendly one, she eased her tensed muscles. It was warm and smoothing to her ears. It held firmness and gentleness at the same time. Whenever she heard him speak, she always found herself become more at ease, at peace. This was the voice of an important person to her, someone she's known all her life. It belonged to the person who promised to protect her for as long as she was with them. The brunette looked up, and saw the male kneeling beside her. His gaze was piercing but when they made eye contact, his eyes held kindness and understanding. She flinched when she felt him run a hand through her short hair, and chose to speak for the first time that day.

“Shinji-nii...”

The light haired teen smiled softly at the 5 year old, her cries finally just dying down to tiny sobs. When he had heard that the little girl in front of him disappeared that morning, dread and fear filled his very being. He had skipped his private tutoring sessions in favor of looking for the brunette. He had also convinced his other friends to abandon whatever they were doing in order to find their missing friend. There was no doubt in his mind, that he would be punished for neglecting his duties and other things. But there was always an exception when it concerned his friends. And here he found her, sitting along in the middle of the garden maze, pouring out her heart and soul.

“Tell me, chickadee, why do you cry?”

“B-Because,...be-because they w-want to take Ha-Haru away. A-away from Shinji-nii, an-and her f-fr-friends.” Haru sobbed quietly, allowing the older person to wipe away the tears with the warm pad of his thumbs.

Shinji already knew exactly why she was crying, he was no fool. He had heard rumors across the estate about the young Haru leaving. And he knew for what reason too. However, it did not stop the pain of losing a friend from running throughout his body. He was only 8 years old when she was born, his mother is the Boss and he is her only child, so naturally he accompanied her. His mother merely told him that there was a new addition to the family. Family. Despite barely being related to anyone on the estate, his mother always referred to them as 'family'. Shinji never really fully understood that concept, as his father abandoned the family when he learned of their dark secret. It was when he was 10 years old, he finally understood completely what his mother meant, and vowed to protect the family.

“H-Haru, does not w-want to le-eave. Haru...Haru lov-loves the family.”

…

“Haru, Haru, come here my sweet little girl.”

“Haha, momma, papa, look! Look at what my big brothers and sisters and little brother made me! Isn't it pretty?”

The brown haired woman chuckled and watched as her husband scooped up their daughter in his arms and lightly toss her into the air, catching her and repeating it over again. Her heart felt warm at the sight of their giggling daughter as she asked for her father to do it again. The object in her daughter's hands, clearly a handcrafted bracelet, was tight in her grasp. The woman looked at her husband and he knew what she had meant by that look. He set their daughter down, despite her protesting whines and lightly ruffled her hair.

“Yes, sweetie, it is very pretty. But I want you to listen, and to listen well, alright?”

“What is it momma? Why are you crying?” Haru asked, tilting her head in confusion. Just moments ago, her mother was smiling.

Her mother choked on a sob before averting her gaze from her only child. This only drew the young girl's attention even more before turning to the father, who was oddly silent. Normally, he would whisper comforting words until his wife calmed down, but he remained stiff before kneeling down to their daughter's eye level.

“Little Haru, you know your mother and I love you dearly, yes?” Haru nodded and her father continued, tears already forming, “You know we would do anything for you, to keep you safe?” Again, Haru nodded. “That's why, my child, your mother and I have decided that it would be best for you to leave here with your uncle, and stay in Japan.”

“Momma and papa are coming with Haru?” She asked innocently, and that caused the older woman to burst into tears. She watched as her father smiled sadly, slowly ruffling her hair again.

“No, Haru, momma and papa are not going with you” He whispered softly. “Momma and papa are staying here.”

“Oh. So, is my big brothers and sisters and little brother coming?”

“Haru, you will be leaving. Only you. Do you understand?” His voice cracked by now, seeing the utterly hurt expression on his child's face, “You are the only one who will be leaving with my brother to Japan.”

“No! I don't wanna leave! I don't wanna!”

“Haru, plea-please understand that it is best for you to leave. To forget thi-this place and all of us” Her mother spoke, with great difficulty as more sobs tore through her throat.

“No! If...if mo-momma and papa makes Haru leave...then...then Ha-Haru will hate momma and p-papa!” The young girl roughly shoved her father's hand from the crown of her hair and took off running. Her parents, in shock of her announcement, stood still in their places, and watched as their daughter vanished around the corner of the hall.

…

“Shinji! You found her yet?” It was another voice that Haru was familiar with, comfortable with. But she didn't want them to see her crying and refused to move. Once again, she curled into a ball and tried to shut out the world around her. However, she felt herself be moved into the teen's arms.

The blonde picked up the brunette easily, and allowed her to bury her face into the crook of his neck. He maneuvered around easily in the maze and swiftly found the exit. There outside, stood a few of the friends he had gathered to find the missing girl. Without saying a word to any of them, he walked by and they took the action as a gesture to follow him. There was a strange silence in the air that surrounded them, as there was normally chatter whenever the group of friends were together. It wasn't long before they finally reached the area. Shinji set the brunette down on the ground, waiting for her to unlatch her arms around his neck. She stubbornly refused to release him and he decided to sit with the girl nestled on his lap. Honestly, he thought as he rolled his eyes.

The sounds of the five remaining people settling down drew the attention of Haru, and she slowly pulled her face away from the eldest person's neck. All of them, their friends, were sitting there, waiting for her to do something. She glanced at each of their faces. Majority of them held worry, and sorrow. Finally, she had released her arms from his neck and crawled onto the grass beside him. Within seconds of even settling down comfortably, Haru found herself in another embrace from the two females of the group.

“Rita...Rei” She whispered, so quiet that her voice was barely even heard.

The 6 year old twins didn't release her from their grasp, not yet at least. So the brunette was only staring at the back of their heads as they continued to hug her. She reached up and gently returned their gesture, the tips of her fingers just touching the tips of the twins' hairs. Eventually, Shinji had managed to pry the twins off of Haru, long enough for the remaining 3 friends to look at her. A dark haired male just merely scowled at her before 'tsk'ing and looking away, earning a tongue lashing from the older twin. The second oldest male, somewhat resembling Shinji, only with apple green eyes and smokey brown hair, took one of her hands in one of his own and tightly held onto her hand.

“Yuki...Takeru...”

The last one, the only one that was younger than herself, sat there with tear filled eyes. He, too, was struggling to fight back the tears that threatened to give way at any moment. He was biting his lower lip lightly, hoping that it would at least prevent him from sobbing. He is the closest in age to her, being only a few months younger than herself. It was clear, that he was taking the news the hardest of all the 6 people currently in the fields.

“Zuzu-kun...”

“Grrr, that isn't my name, you dumb girl!” 'Zuzu' hissed out, tears now running down his face. He tried his hardest to look angry at the brunette, but all it earned him was tiny smiles from all of the people there.

“Chickadee, even if you do leave, you know we will always be your friends, right?” The only blonde in the group said. Haru looked at Shinji, his amethyst purple eyes holding seriousness as he spoke.

“Don't be sad, chickadee, we will see each other again. This isn't the last time we will ever see each other.” Takeru added, gaining her attention. The looks on her friends faces all held determination. They were not going to let their friendship end so soon, not when they had their whole lives ahead of them to be friends.

Haru looked away, choking on a sob and refusing to let them see her cry. However, soft and gentle fingers slipped beneath her chin and turned her gaze back to them, her friends. What surprised her the most was that Yuki, the most cold and distant friend of the group, held out his pinky, his amber colored eyes averted to the side and a blush spreading across his cheeks in embarrassment. When Haru didn't respond to the gesture, he 'tsk'ed and roughly took her hand and pulled her pinky to lock with his.

“Y-Yuki?”

“All your stupidness rubbed off on me, take it back” the 8 year old muttered, still refusing to even look at her.

“What the girly-boy means is he promises to always be your friend, silly” Rita said, translating what Yuki could have possibly meant with his own actions. And mimicking the dark haired male, the older twin, locked their pinkies together too. Soon enough, all of their hands were at the center of a circle, all their pinkies intertwined “We all promise.”

“Ruru-chan, do not think of it as a goodbye forever. It is just 'goodbye for now', because we will see you again.”

…

It really was...just a goodbye for now, because they did see her again. Back with them again and training under their wing. She was back home again, where she belonged.

“Kazuki-san, did you see what I just did?”

But...

“Yeah, I did. Good job...Haru-san.”

Somethings will never be the same...

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xXx

Thanks for taking the time to read this one-shot side story to Constellation:Vega. You guys just got a brief view of Haru's past with the OCs of the main story. Although, the end was a glimpse of the current time that they are in. So, back to formalities. I wonder what happened, but of course, you lovely readers will have to wait and find out in the main story. Ciao~

Anyways, I don't mind getting constructive criticism, but please no flames, thanks~