PREVIEW

End of the Year: Curse of Nekozaki

"It's so sad Kyoya," Tamaki Suoh sniffed. "Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai are leaving."

Kyoya Ohtori threw the blonde a look. He turned back to the two cousins who were, as of now, graduates of the prestigious Ouran High School. "It shall be hard replacing you two," he said with a smile.

"But I picked out Watari Juniper," Tamaki said confused.

Ignoring the blonde at his side, Kyoya shook each senior's hand. "There will be certain…calm missing," he finished.

Mitsukuni Haninozuka, called by Hunny-senpai, gave a smile. "We'll come back when we can Kyou-chan! Ne, Takashi?"

"Ah."

Kyoya gave a slow smile, calculating up the interest of college hosts visiting. The three before him shank slightly at the look. In a swirling mass of dark, another came up to their group.

"Fufufu," Umehito Nekozawa's voice chuckled. "Yes, those fun times shall be missed."

Tamaki yelped and Nekozawa chuckled again.

"Don't worry," the cloaked figure said. The comment sounded anything but that, it sounded something to be concerned about. "I have left you a parting gift. Losing a best friend is a terrible thing, but this is one thing most enjoyable to lose yourself to."

The cloaked figure disappeared into the crowd, Tamaki clutching onto Kyoya for dear life. "Don't dare leave me Kyoya!!"

"Tamaki-senpai, you're too loud," Haruhi Fujioka joined the group, speaking evenly.

The twins on either side of Haruhi burst out laughing at Tamaki's sudden depressed state. Other graduates seemed puzzled as they picked mushrooms out from their formal suits. Really, that Tamaki. There was no corner to hide in and keep those troublesome mushrooms out of people's ways.

"Congratulations," Kyoya said simply. His eyes glinted suddenly at Haruhi. "You will be returning next year?"

The question was anything but a question and Haruhi found herself nodding at that look. "I already said I'd stay Kyoya-senpai," the girl masquerading as a boy replied, defending her sudden nod. Kyoya's lips stretched upwards at the reply before snapping his head back to the current conversation. Haruhi shivered. He remembered her saying that perfectly well, but Tamaki would be overjoyed. Sure enough, it knocked Tamaki off of his depressed state.

"My precious daughter! I'm so glad you're choosing to stay with your father! You must help me keep mother around, I fear the worst with that…that—"

"Really. Don't buy into whatever he told you." Really, do not, Kyoya thought. Otherwise the blonde would never stop squishing him in that unsightly way. He rubbed his forehead and looked over across the expanse of formal wear. He caught sight of what he was looking for. A flash of copper colored hair stood out against the crowd.

"Come on Kyoya!" Tamaki clung onto his arm. "Something like that is scary!"

Kyoya sniffed. "Horrible things will happen and good things will happen in the future. It's something that is easily predictable."

The Hitachiin twins began 'talking' to each other with their hands, bored with Kyoya talking. They grinned behind his back.

"He could have said either good or bad things will happen to you and both would be true Tamaki. It's a load of superstitious nonsense. I will believe in the realities, facts, calculations, and probabilities. There is always a random factor in every equation, but you can guess the probability of the random factor. More or less, anyway."

"Quit sounding so high on the horse Ohtori."

The group turned, curious to the intruder. The twins and cousins each shared looks with their counterparts before turning back to Kyoya. Haruhi seemed confused. However, Tamaki bristled.

"Don't talk to Kyoya that way! He may have no idea of how truly horrible and real Nekozawa's words become, but Kyoya is still my best friend!"

The copper haired male let loose a scornful laugh. The emerald eyes snapped attention from Kyoya to Tamaki and back. "Best friend?"

"Congratulations," Kyoya said simply. "I hear you were top of your class this year and reached your goal."

"That's right," the boy snapped. His eyes hadn't left Kyoya. "I'm not going to be polite about it either."

Kyoya dipped his head down. "I wish you the best of luck then…Isao."

"That's Sonoda to you, Ohtori," the boy hissed, emerald eyes narrowed.

"Ah," Hunny said suddenly. "Sonoda, it's nice to see you! Tell your mother I enjoyed the pieces she played last week, ne?"

The entire demeanor of Isao Sonoda changed as he turned to Hunny. "Yes, I'll do so," he replied softly. He smiled, eyes shut. "She enjoys hearing feedback. Which pieces did you like?"

As Hunny rambled off the pieces he enjoyed; the twins, Tamaki, and Haruhi looked on in shock. Isao Sonoda just screamed politeness to the core while earlier he had no problem…hating Kyoya Ohtori. This fact didn't seem to faze Kyoya himself. If anything, Kyoya sighed resignedly and watched Isao talking to Hunny.

"Mitsukuni," Mori spoke up. "The mizu piece."

Isao smiled. "Ah," his soft voice said again. "Bamboo Mizu. That is one of mother's favorites to play. It is a difficult one to manage."

Hunny and Mori nodded as one. "I remember," Hunny said. "It certainly sounded very difficult. Have you tried playing it?"

"He's completely different," Hikaru whispered to Karou. Karou nodded and the pair made furtive glances to Kyoya. "What the hell did he do? Did Kyoya really—"

"Continue that and you'll find out how well I carry out my word," Kyoya interrupted the whisper.

The twins shuddered. Haruhi stayed confused, if not more than before. Tamaki was long gone, out of a loop he never thought was there. The three talking about music pieces didn't catch wind of the side conversation or the threat.

"Yes," the copper haired boy seemed suddenly bashful. "I can play the piece passably well, not near how well mother plays it."

"Wow," Hunny exclaimed. "That's excellent Sonoda!"

A chuckle came from behind Isao Sonoda. The boy turned about to see his mother and father. His father had longer hair than his son, straight graying ebony pulled into a neat bow. Isao's mother had bright red hair gently twisted down to midback, her height diminutive and slender. Obviously, Isao had inherited more off of his mother's side of genetics. His hair may not be in ringlets like his mothers, but it had a fluffy quality to its straightness as if wanting to do something. He was slender, a sort of feminine appeal to his appearance.

"Now, now," his mother said softly. "Isao is modest with his talents."

Kyoya nodded in agreement off to the side. More confusion spun around Tamaki's head. Hikaru, Karou, and Haruhi weren't far behind Tamaki.

"Yes," his father said with a deep voice. It was deep and rumbling, pleasant to hear its tone but most there weren't expecting the deep voice. "Isao is undeniably the best," his slow deep voice said. "However, his talent is not nearly showcased as it should be. Next year should change that."

The mother nodded, her red hair shining in the light. "Every senior must perform and showcased in the senior recitals. I look most forward to Isao's senior recital."

"Mother, I won't be that great compared," Isao began.

"Nonsense Isao," her soft voice said. Isao let his mother's words stand, not attempting to downplay his talents again. "Ah," she said suddenly as she caught sight of Kyoya nearby. "Kyoya-kun. How have you been?"

Isao glared from behind his mother, watching the new conversation carefully. Kyoya smiled. "I've been well, Kotoko-san."

Haruhi jolted at the name. Kotoko Sonoda chirped out a small laugh. "Oh silly Kyoya-kun, you know you can still call me Koto-chan—even if you only started that by accident and then to annoy your brothers. I remember how—"

"I apologize for the interruption but I would prefer to call you Kotoko-san right now," Kyoya said politely.

Kotoko's eyes softened. "I understand Kyoya-kun. But don't you disappear on me forever," she said and placed a hand on his shoulder. Kyoya stiffened and Kotoko removed her hand. "Both Amanuma and I miss you."

Kyoya gave a smile to Kotoko. "As always, Kotoko-san, you are free to call me at anytime."

Kotoko shook her head at this, sharing a look with her husband. Isao put his hand on his mother's shoulder. "Shall we move on mother," he asked politely enough. However, his emerald eyes narrowed at Kyoya from behind Kotoko.

"I don't want to keep you Kotoko-san, Amanuma-san," Kyoya said. "Please. I must be attending to other things soon anyway."

Isao rolled his eyes as Kyoya glanced down at his wristwatch in clear dismissal to the Sonoda family. They gave their farewells and moved away and across the room. "Now," Kyoya said. "I must attend to my father. Remember your word," he threatened upon leaving.

The twins shivered again. "Okay," Tamaki said. "Why am I the only one confused?! Does this have something to do when I asked Isao to become a host freshman year? He's polite to a fault! Even in declining my superb offer! How dare he treat Kyoya as such!"

Hunny and Mori shared a look. Hunny looked to the twins.

"We're not allowed to say," Karou said. "We gave Kyoya our word when we agreed to be involved in the Host Club."

"What? Mother's keeping secrets from meeee!!"

"Well," Hunny began. "We didn't give our word for the entire Sonoda family, only one member and one event. Isao and Kyou-chan were best friends until the second year of middle school."

Tamaki blinked and replayed Isao and Kyoya's conversation in his head. Was this why Isao scoffed at 'best friends'? "Then…why aren't they friends now? Best friends should be forever Hunny-senpai! We should get them back together!"

Hunny shook his head. Mori did the same. The twins spoke up.

"Impossible Tono. Not if the gossips are correct."

Hikaru added on, "He may have actually done it."

Karou shook his head and said, "Kyoya is only cruel when it comes to his entertainment."

"I doubt he did it," Huni said with a scowl at the twins. The twins gulped. "Kyou-chan wasn't always so cold, ne Takashi?"

Mori nodded at Huni's statement.

"What did Kyoya do?!"

"Can't tell," three voices said together.

"Ah." Mori nodded.

"GAAAAHHHH!! MOTHERRR!! YOU'RE SO CRUEL!" Tamaki whined loudly. "Why would he not tell me?!"

"Because you're loud Tamaki-senpai," Haruhi stated. "I don't know what happened but it doesn't seem something Kyoya-senpai wants the world to know."

"Kyoya can trust me with anything!" The blonde was defiant in this statement and then paused. He gasped. "Nekozawa's curse upon me! I'm going to loose Kyoya to this horrible secret!"

"Tama-chan," Hunny spoke up. "He said it was enjoyable to loose yourself to. It sounded like it was good news for Kyou-chan. I think he blames himself too much and needs to loose himself in something much better, cleaner for the soul."

"Naaah," the twins chorused. "This is boring talk! Kyoya would never let us know about it anyway! Haruhi! Come with us!"

"Hey," Haruhi complained loudly. Tamaki took after the twins, dragging his precious 'daughter' away.

Hunny turned to Mori beside him. "It's sad to see Isao and Kyou-chan still like this, isn't it Takashi? I can't say I knew Kyou-chan in middle school but I know that event was a shocked hush over everyone. I think I can remember Kyou-chan being happy, but I'm never sure. It seems so long ago. I hope they can start up their friendship again someday Takashi. It would be good to see that. Perhaps being in the same class will be good."

Mori nodded.

"Ah, their class will have another person. I forgot! The Suoh International Scholarship! It's every other year! Ohhh! The year before us had Emil Fleischer from Germany, remember? He was interesting. I wonder who it will be this year! It's a pity we won't be here to met them."

Mori shrugged and Hunny beamed.

"Well, like I told Kyou-chan, we can come back next year! Let's go Takashi!"

With these final words, Mori and Hunny walked off, having graduated and leaving the Ouran High School Host Club. To every ending is a new beginning however, so let the new year begin.