Well here it is, my sequel to "A Fresh Start." Thanks for waiting and please review!
I do NOT own Ouran High School Host Club!
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"How much farther?" The girl muttered to herself, walking as quickly as she could through the thick undergrowth. She was in the heart of an unknown forest; she had come a long, long way but she was finally nearing the end of her journey.
Pictures flooded her mind; showing her various landmarks ahead of her, and finally, her destination.
"About five minutes you think?" She whispered. She got the feeling that it would be even less if she hurried and she plunged into the brambles, ignoring the cuts her legs were getting.
"It'll be worth it soon." She said excitedly. All this pain, the seemingly never-ending horror of her past… it would all be over soon.
She could see sunlight ahead and went still faster, her whispers falling silent as she stood just out of sight, in the shadows. She stared at the two people playing badminton in front of her, her heart thumping wildly with a fierce joy. She had waited for this for so long. And now the wait was over, taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the woods.
Almost as soon as she came out, the girl on the court paused and turned to look at the small sound she made stepping on a twig. When the girl did, her eyes widened and she simply stared for a moment.
"It's me." The girl breathed, coming closer. "It's really me." After a heartbeat, the girl who had been playing badminton threw her racket down and raced over, engulfing her in a massive, crushing hug.
"I thought you were dead!" She sobbed wildly. The girl tightened her hold on the girl she was holding. "So did I." She whispered.
Finally, after a long, tender embrace the girls pulled apart.
"But… how did you survive?" Sakura finally stammered, wiping her hair out of her eyes. Kagura reached over and gently brushed away a tear from her twin's cheek.
"I don't know." Kagura replied quietly. "But I'm here now." She murmured, her eyes swimming with tears. She couldn't believe she'd made it this far.
"Sakura? Is this…?" Kagura jumped when someone spoke. She stared at the newcomer, her fists clenched and chin raised in defiance. Sakura placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's OK." She assured her twin. "Kaoru this is Kagura. Kagura, this is Hitachin Kaoru." Kagura nodded tightly, her eyes flickering between her twin and this boy. She remembered him now. She'd gone to him and brought him back to her sister. Sakura loved this boy; Kagura respected that.
After a brief, tense moment Kagura wrapped her arms around Kaoru in a hug. "Remember me?" She whispered in his ears teasingly and he nodded tightly. "I didn't tell Sakura… I didn't think she'd believe me." He murmured back. Kagura smiled. Sakura probably wouldn't have. Just as she wouldn't believe how she'd finally found her.
"Come on; Mom's going to be ecstatic!" Sakura's eyes danced as she grabbed Kagura's hand, dragging her towards the house.
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Hikaru lay on his bed with his arms crossed under his head, staring up at the ceiling. It was a glorious day; he should have been out with Kaoru having some fun.
But Kaoru's with Sakura… again. He was past jealousy. He didn't wish Sakura was gone like he used too; all he could feel was hurt and confused as his twin moved on, leaving him behind.
Whatever happened to the promise we made? Never abandon each other. Ever. He'd been the one who thought of that. He thought, rolling over to stare out the window. Maybe he should find a girlfriend. Then he wouldn't be so lonely all the time.
But every time I think of finding one I think of Haruhi… He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing the pain in his chest to go away. Every time he thought of her, and how she would never love him made him feel as though someone were tearing his heart out of his chest.
She loves Tamaki and Tamaki loves her… any idiot could see that. He thought bitterly as he opened his eyes again. He turned his head when the door opened and Kaoru walked in, his eyes bright.
"What're you so happy about?" Hikaru muttered, rolling over to look at his twin properly. Kaoru jumped into the bed beside him, making Hikaru bounce as he struggled into a sitting position.
"Oh Hikaru you won't believe what just happened!" Kaoru exclaimed, his eyes dancing. Hikaru smiled slightly at his twin's obvious joy; he loved seeing his twin happy.
"What happened?" Hikaru asked curiously, leaning forward and staring at his twin eagerly.
"Well, Sakura and I were playing badminton when we thought we heard someone coming. We looked and saw… you're never going to believe this…" He laughed incredulously, shaking his head.
"Well? Who was it?" Hikaru prompted impatiently.
"Kagura!" Kaoru burst out, obviously unable to hold it in any longer. Hikaru just stared at him. "But isn't Kagura dead?" He asked, confused. Kaoru nodded. "That's what we all thought. But she's at Sakura's house right now! I left so they could be alone." Kaoru added. "But isn't that great news?!" He exclaimed.
"It is great news." Hikaru nodded, still trying to comprehend that Sakura's twin was back. He couldn't imagine how both of them must have been feeling.
"Sakura said I could come over tomorrow and hear the story of how she found her way back." Kaoru added happily. Hikaru nodded again, lost in thought. How had she found her way back?
If I was separated from Kaoru I'd do anything to get back to him. Hikaru realized, understanding how desperate Kagura must have been to return to Sakura. He felt a stab of admiration that she'd made it back; who knew what she must have been through?
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An hour after Kagura's return home, she finally sat down with her family to tell her what she'd been through to get home.
"After… what happened, I woke up in a hospital room." Kagura started, making herself comfortable. "The doctor told me I'd been dropped off in the waiting room and that whoever had brought me there had disappeared." She admitted.
"But I'd been hit in the skull; a once in a lifetime bullet, they said. I still have the thing in my head." She tapped the right side of her head, knowing exactly where the bullet was still lodged.
"I was a bit… loopy after the pain medication they gave me." Kagura admitted. "And my brain wasn't working correctly to begin with; I don't remember much, but I remember that I was certain they were out to get me and I had to get out of there. So I escaped." She said simply.
"When the meds wore off, my brain cleared up. I realized I was heading towards the house; I have no idea how I found my way there." Kagura said, remembering her confusion as she found herself at her front porch.
"I went inside, but no one was there. I spent the night there, but no one came home." She sighed, remembering the cold, lonely night alone.
"We came straight here after I finished recovering." Sakura said quietly. "There were too many bad memories back home." Her eyes flashed with pain and Kagura placed an understanding hand on her twin's shoulder, glad to be here to comfort her again.
"But how did you get back here?" Kameko prompted. "This is where it gets weird." Kagura admitted, crossing her arms awkwardly. Her family waited patiently. "Before I tell you anything, will you promise to not think I'm crazy?" She asked. "Of course we won't!" Kameko exclaimed, looking offended she'd even thought of that.
"Just tell us how you found us." Sakura begged. Kagura sighed. They were going to think she was crazy.
"I… started seeing things the next day." She admitted. They stared at her in silence. "Pictures; things I hadn't seen before, and I didn't know where they'd come from. But they were all coming from outside, so I went outside." She took a deep breath. "And sitting on the porch… was a cat." She searched Sakura's eyes, but she saw only surprise, not disbelief.
"Why was a cat on the porch?" Kameko asked, confused. "He… he said he saw what happened." Kagura confessed quietly, clenching her fists.
"Cats can't talk." Kameko protested, looking worried for her daughter's sanity. But Sakura held up a hand. "She's not lying." She interrupted. "Remember? Her eyebrow twitches when she lies. Every time." She pointed out. Kagura beamed, pleased that her twin believed her.
"The cat also said that because my brain had been altered, I could now tap into parts of it normal humans can't; I can understand what animals are saying now." She said. Kameko still looked doubtful, but Sakura looked fascinated.
"What else did the cat say?" She asked eagerly. "He overheard you saying something about the Ootari mansion; he said he'd been there before and there were some great birds in the area." She smiled slightly, remembering the way the cat had licked his chops hungrily.
"He agreed to help me find the way there, since he wanted to come back here and he didn't mind the company." Kagura explained. "But how does the cat talk to you? Do you hear its voice or something?" Sakura asked curiously. Kagura shook her head. "No, not really. Animals communicate in entirely different ways. I mostly get pictures, thoughts and memories. Only really intelligent animals can use words, but very few. This cat uses pictures for the most part." She added. Sakura nodded, looking completely intrigued by this information.
"So, to cut the story short, I followed the cat here." She finished, a bit lamely. "But what did you do for food, water and shelter?" Kameko asked, her forehead creased with worry.
"The cat would point out berries and fresh water, and we usually slept together under a tree, bush, etc." She explained. "So you haven't had a proper meal for a month?" Kameko gasped, horrified. Kagura shook her head and Kameko jumped up. "I'm going to have the cooks make you something delicious." She declared, leaving the room to find the kitchen.
"Does the cat have a name?" Sakura asked, and Kagura nodded. "He said his mother called him 'Smoke', so that's what I call him." She said. "Is he outside?" Sakura asked eagerly. "I'd like to meet him." Kagura laughed and stood up. "Yeah, he's outside. Probably hunting some of the birds around here. Come on, I'll find him." She took her twin's hand and led her out the door to find Smoke.
That night, Kagura curled up in Sakura's bed, bathed, warm and full-fed. She couldn't remember being happier in her entire life.
"It's so good to have you back." Sakura murmured as Kagura lay down beside her. They'd always shared a bed back home; they felt safer together.
"It's great to be back." Kagura whispered back, her eyelids drooping. A picture flashed through her mind and she smiled. "Smoke wants in the bed." She whispered and Sakura laughed.
"Tell him he can come up." She said and Kagura sent out a thought to Smoke showing him a picture of him curled up in the bed beside her. Immediately there was a light thud as he landed quietly beside her, snuggling up to her back, a purr rumbling deep in his throat.
"He's such a pretty cat." Sakura said, reaching over Kagura to stroke his soft gray fur. "He knows." Kagura grinned as Smoke opened one blue eye and mewed softly, stretching out underneath Sakura's hand.
"He wants you to rub his belly." Kagura whispered and Sakura obliged. "He likes you a lot." Kagura laughed as Sakura stopped and lied back down.
"I like him too. Well, it's been a long day. Probably the best day ever, now that you're back. We should get some sleep." Sakura yawned, closing her eyes. Kagura didn't go to sleep yet; she was content to lie and watch her twin fall asleep, reflecting on how much she had missed her.
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"So Kagura-chan's back home?" Kyouya said with surprise as he sipped his morning coffee. His mother nodded. "She's alive, somehow. I don't know the exact story; Kameko told me something about walking here but she was a bit sketchy on the rest." Kyouya hid his curiosity and simply nodded.
He was pleased his cousin would be happier now; now that she had Kagura and Kaoru, there wasn't much chance of her being so sad and lonely anymore.
I'm glad she's happy. Kyouya thought to himself, taking another drink of his coffee.
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Hikaru and Kaoru sat with their arms crossed, a perfect mirror of each other. They were sitting on the couch of the Host Club, a few minutes before it opened.
"Kagura's not enrolled yet, so I don't see why she's coming to the Host Club." Hikaru mused quietly. "She's not going anywhere without Sakura if she can help it." Kaoru replied, watching the door. Normally he would walk Sakura here; but today she had dashed away, leaving Hikaru and Kaoru to walk with just Haruhi to the Host Club.
Hikaru's eyes strayed to her now; she was reading a book on the other side of the book, looking cuter then ever as she focused.
He watched her read, fully aware that Kaoru had one eye on him, and that eye was sad. Kaoru knew all about his tortuous love for Haruhi, and often comforted him about it, assuring him that he would find another girl someday.
Someday isn't soon enough. Hikaru thought bitterly, ripping his eyes away from Haruhi when he heard the door creak open.
When the door opened, Sakura entered, dragging the girl who could be no one else then Kagura. Hikaru could tell who the older twin was at once; Sakura had more authority as she led Kagura into the room.
So that's why she was so protective of Kagura. Hikaru realized. He was the older twin of Kaoru; only by a few minutes, but it was enough to make him feel responsible for his twin's safety.
Sakura brought Kagura over to Kaoru and Hikaru first; it was then that Hikaru finally noticed something odd about Kagura.
"She has a cat!" Hikaru hissed to Kaoru as they both stood up. Kaoru shrugged, looking uncomfortable, and Hikaru looked at him curiously, not understanding. Finally he turned back to Kagura and the gray cat she held in her arms that watched him with unblinking blue eyes that sent chills up his spine.
"Kaoru, Kagura, you've already met." Sakura nodded to Kaoru. "But Kagura, this is Hikaru. Hikaru, this is Kagura." Hikaru offered his hand and after a moment Kagura shook it, her eyes flickering between her twin, the cat, and Hikaru. He didn't like the way she would refuse to meet someone's gaze; it gave him the creeps.
"Come on, let's go meet the others." Sakura said eagerly, grabbing Kagura by the hand and dragging her away.
"She's odd." Hikaru murmured, tilting his head slightly as he watched her go, trying to analyze her behavior. Normally he and his twin could classify people into groups based on their actions; but Kagura was different. She would take some time to figure out.
Just like Haruhi. I still haven't figured her out quite yet. Hikaru thought, his eyes straying to the girl as she introduced herself to Kagura.
"She's a lot nicer then she looks." Kaoru murmured, his eyes cloudy with memory. Hikaru glanced at him, realizing that his twin had some memories they didn't share.
I guess it was inevitable. Twins may be the closest of all siblings, but they always move on and apart. Hikaru thought as his twin moved away from him, back to take his usual place beside Sakura.
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Kagura stroked Smoke absentmindedly from where she sat at Hikaru and Kaoru's table, beside her sister and across from several of the Host Club's customers.
What do you think Smoke? Have you finished examining the Hosts yet? She thought to him, scratching him behind the ears.
She received some pictures of Mori, Tamaki and Haruhi; he'd finished looking at their personalities.
Trustworthy, eh? Kagura thought. Smoke purred a yes and fixed his eyes on Hikaru. She could feel questions coming from his mind; he found Hikaru quite complex.
Yes, he is a puzzle, isn't he? Kagura agreed. She stifled a laugh when Smoke let her know that Hikaru didn't like cats.
He thinks we're weird, doesn't he? Kagura questioned, scratching Smoke under his chin. Smoke blinked in reply, and Kagura sighed.
What about the others? What do they think of us? Smoke's eyes went to Tamaki and she felt feelings of slight curiosity, but little else. Smoke flicked his tail at Mori and she received absolutely nothing except a tinge of frustration from Smoke.
So you can't tell what he's feeling, but you know we can trust him? Kagura guessed. Smoke said nothing, simply angling his ears towards Hunny.
All you get from him is directed at Hunny? Kagura thought, surprised. Smoke nodded. He didn't usually nod; Kagura had taught him to nod and shake his head instead of using his usual body language, since it was easier for her to understand him that way.
All right, what about Hunny then? Kagura asked as Smoke flipped over, letting Kagura rub his belly. There was a long pause, then a tentative, cautious word entered Kagura's mind.
Un-unreadable. Kagura smiled slightly and scratched him in his favorite place. Good boy! You're getting better at using words. She thought happily. Smoke purred, pleased with himself as he closed his eyes.
Take a nap; you've earned one. She thought warmly, stroking him. She was proud that Smoke was learning a few words; it was a huge leap for him. She knew he'd never speak perfectly, but a few key words would help enormously.
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Hikaru and Kaoru got out of their limo and walked up towards their grand mansion, their heads bent as they talked to each other.
"Mom really said we should go visit aunt Arisa?" Hikaru asked with a grimace. Kaoru nodded sadly. "Well, look at this way." He said. "At least we get out of school for two weeks! And she had horses; that's always a good thing." Kaoru pointed out. Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Horses, but no servants." He muttered with a scowl. "We'll have to serve ourselves." He added.
"There are worse things in life." Kaoru pointed out. "Haruhi always serves herself. And her father." Kaoru said. Hikaru said nothing. He was looking forward to seeing Arisa's horses- but he wasn't sure if he liked being away from civilization for so long.
"She doesn't even have electricity!" Hikaru hissed as they retreated to their rooms. "We'll suffer through it." Kaoru laughed.
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Kagura lay awake, staring up at the ceiling. She didn't want to go to sleep just yet; she knew what it would bring.
Even Sakura wouldn't believe me if I told her what else happens to me since the accident. She thought grimly.
Every night for the past month, she had been drawn into other people's dreams, never having her own. That was how she'd saved Kaoru; she'd been pulled into his dream and had brought him back out.
Mostly it's just been Sakura… but for the past week or so I keep entering someone else's dreams… and I don't know who they belong too! She gritted her teeth with frustration.
Her eyelids began to droop. She was tired; she'd sleep soon, whether she liked it or not. Closing her eyes, she felt that familiar feeling as she was pulled from her own dreams into another's.
Kagura stared around, wondering where she was now. She was standing in a forest, and it was raining.
Where am I? She thought, taking a few cautious steps forward. She spotted someone leaning against a tree and stopped dead, praying he didn't see her. She saw him pick up his cell phone and press it to his ear. After a minute or so, he took off running.
I'd better follow- he might be the one this dream belongs too! Kagura thought excitedly, taking off after him.
She stayed just behind as the tall redhead entered a town, and she watched him speak to several people, always running from one person to the next. He was looking for something… but what?
This isn't a dream… this is more like a nightmare. Kagura realized as she chased the boy out of town. They ran along a dirt path, until he spotted a church. She could sense his hope as he walked toward it and entered; Kagura right behind him.
She hid behind a pew as he walked down the aisle, turning his head from side to side. He was calling someone softly; she couldn't tell what was he saying, or if anyone answered.
Finally, he stopped beside a table. He bent down and carefully drew the tablecloth aside. Kagura held her breath and peered forward, wondering what this boy had been looking for.
But there was nothing under the table. The boy staggered backwards, and this time she could hear his words clearly.
"She should be there… where is she?!" He took off running, out the door, but when Kagura tried to follow the scene around her quivered and was gone, leaving her in utter darkness.
At first she thought the dream was over; but then she heard the boy's voice again, shaking with panic and fear.
"Haruhi! Kaoru, someone! Anyone!" He called desperately. Kagura's heart broke at the utter loneliness in the boy's voice. Whoever he was, he was completely, utterly alone.
But who is he? Kagura could feel his name at the tip of her tongue; it was beginning to drive her mad as she fought to figure out his name. Finally, it occurred to her.
"Hikaru!" She exclaimed, sitting bolt upright in bed. Smoke, who had been curled up on her stomach, yowled his irritation and jumped off the bed, stalking out of the room with his tail straight in the air.
"Who?" Sakura muttered, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wake up. "No one. Go back to sleep." Kagura said gently. Sakura yawned and rolled over, obeying her without question.
Kagura stared into the darkness, wishing Smoke had stayed to help her work things out. Hikaru was lonely… why? He had a twin.
Who is completely in love with Sakura. She realized, understanding beginning to blossom in her mind.
So Kaoru's been abandoning him lately… but what about Haruhi? Why was he looking for her? There's definitely something between those two… something I can't figure out.
With a sigh, Kagura lied back down and closed her eyes, hoping that her dreams would answer her questions.
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Hikaru jumped awake, having heard someone call his name.
He rolled over and looked at Kaoru, but he was sleeping peacefully; he obviously hadn't called him. It had been a female voice anyway.
Maybe it was part of the nightmare. He mused. Did Haruhi call me? He thought, somewhat hopefully. Forget it… it was just a dream anyway. He rolled over again and tried to sleep, but he couldn't get the nightmare out of his mind. It'd terrified him as it echoed his innermost thoughts; that Haruhi didn't love him, and that Kaoru had abandoned him.
Am I really going to be alone the rest of my life?
And so concludes the first chapter! Please let me know what you think; questions, comments, etc. Looking forward to reading your reviews! ;)
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