*EDIT 5-21-2011

I am rewriting New Beginnings and Chocolate Milk because I am slightly embarrassed by it now. Story stays the same, words just change. Buh-bye!

-Chapter 1-

Beginning

I was met with the soft glow of the overhead lights when I woke up, and the buzz of the airplane's engines as we sped through the night sky. Too bad my awakening wasn't as gentle as the flight. I apologized to the woman in front of whose seat I had kicked when I jerked awake, but she brushed it off with this curious, gentle look in her eyes. I had seen that look before.

Taking a steady breath I attempted to clear head, willing myself to forget the dream. It wouldn't matter, though, because the same scenes played through my mind every night just like they had for the past couple months whenever I managed to scrape the uncanny ability to sleep. Even when I was awake I could never escape the nightmares. I was a reminder myself; every time I looked in the mirror.

"Ehem." Someone coughed from beside me and it was one of those "attention grabbing" clear-your-throat kind of coughs. I decided to entertain that person and give them my attention, and as a result I was met with the middle-aged man who had been my seat partner for the past seven hours on our flight to Japan. He was still in his expensive white suit, with his expensive laptop sitting on his tray, and his expensive… whatever else that was on him. The dude looked like he had just walked out of Forbes Magazine, which is why I was truly flabbergasted as to why he was in middle-class.

Actually, I was wondering why I was in middle-class. Wasn't Grandma rich and all?

"Are you okay, Miss?" The night was still late, or the morning still early, I wasn't exactly sure of the time, so Mr. Forbes spoke in a low voice as to avoid waking anyone up. Unlike me, who just went around kicking innocent passenger's seats.

The man was Japanese, that was for sure, but his English was very pristine and clear, no hint of an accent at all. I guess working in the business world did that to a person. Made them learn proper English, I mean. It might have been my attire that gave my background away, though, rather than my looks. Loose jeans, worn converse, and a cotton hoodie wasn't common Japanese attire. All my relatives dressed well; while I was the bum of the family.

"Miss?" I concentrated on the conversation at hand, or lack-thereof, because again I had zoned out while gazing out the window. Not exactly the best way to make friends. But I had been doing that a lot lately; staring at random objects and people. I tended to try to avoid people, because the seemed to get creeped out easily when someone stares unblinking at them for ten minutes. My mind always tended to wonder, though. It wasn't something I could really stop. My thoughts would constantly shift to different subjects and interests, whether they were important and of substance, or completely unrelated to what was going on at the particular second. It must be like that for everyone. Humans aren't that different from each other, not matter how much we desire it to not be true.

At that very moment I was thinking of flying. I was thinking about how being so high in the sky allowed you see the moon and stars better, and not how we were going 500 mph and were 3000 feet above the ground, ready to plummet in to a nosedive without notice. Then, when we made contact with the ground, we'd all burn to death in a fiery inferno.

I guess that's a little melodramatic, but it could happen.

It has happened.

I guess I should give a reply to the man who was only trying to follow the unwritten rules of civil society by asking how I was.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just not accustomed to flying yet I guess." I tried to laugh, but it didn't sound right. It was different. Hard and bitter like dark chocolate, only it wasn't the slightest bit sweet. Everything about me was different now, so I shouldn't be that surprised to hear my own voice.

Mr. Forbes looked relieved and it confused me. Why should he be so concerned about my well being? "That's good. I thought something was seriously wrong and was about to wake you up myself." He replied with a homey smile, and his eyes disappeared into little crescent moons. That's what I liked about being Asian, partly Asian anyway. Our eyes are so captivating.

"Thank you for being so concerned about me, Sir," I said because I could see that his feelings were sincere. This man seemed like a good person; one who had seen much in his lifetime and worked to make others happy. Possibly. That's why I felt so darn bad for being a sac of gloom.

"May I ask your name, Miss?"

He obviously wasn't a drug dealer, pedophile, pervert, or any other foul person who existed in the world who would hurt me in any way, so I figured it was alright to give him my name. Even if he was a crazy lunatic, I honestly didn't care. I couldn't be hurt more than I already was.

"I'm Cailyn, Sir. Cailyn Iwahashi."

The man picked up my hand and lightly kissed it. "Suoh. Yuzuru Suoh, my dear flower. And if I may say, it is an honor to be in the presence of such a beauty."

Okay, so maybe I was wrong about the pedo-bear part.

The hand kiss wasn't what bothered me, rather it was this mans drastically unexpected 180 twist. He was suddenly so flamboyant in his actions and speech, and on a borderline psycho level. It was mind boggling and I had a feeling I was going to be very, very tired by the end of this flight. Not that I already was. No matter how many times I slept, I always seemed to be exhausted. There were times, as in every morning, when I used to be up at the crack of dawn, gazing out at the woods surrounding my old house back in Colorado as the sun came up over the horizon. It was something I loved to watch. No matter how many times I saw it, each time I was mesmerized. Now I could barely stay awake during the two hour flight change.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Suoh." I responded politely, giving the hand covering my own a small and very quick shake.

Mr. For-Suoh nodded and released my hand from his grasp. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Cailyn. I'm so glad I was able to sit next to such a lovely and polite young lady such as your self." And the flattery begins again. What was up with this guy and his suck upishness.

"Mr. Suoh," I looked over and the man gave me his full attention. "Could I ask you a question?"

"Yes you may."

I nodded and gestured gently towards his clothing. "I can tell by you're attire that you're rather wealthy, right?"

"Well, yes I guess you could say I am." He said confused, but also slightly amused. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering why you were in business class rather that first class where you belonged."

Mr. Suoh instantly perked up, if it was possible to get any happier, and his eyes were twinkling. I was kind of hoping I was just imagining that, though. "I'm so glad you asked that, Cai-chan." Where the hell did Cai-chan come from? "You see my son is very into commoner life so I though that if I were to ride in the commoner's section then I could tell him all about it when I get home. Then he would be so happy and we would be bonding just like a father and son should!" During the little speech Mr. Suoh had popped out of his seat and was standing on it as if he just conquered the world. It seemed like an appropriate time for a spot light to shine down.

I simply eyed him like he was an escapee from a mental hospital.. "Umm, I'm so glad that you bond with your son. You seem to care about him a lot." It was nice to see parent love their child so whole-heartedly, even if it was in such a creeper way.

Mr. Suoh stepped down from his chair/podium and re-buckled his seat belt. When had he released that? Why was he even wearing it at the moment? "Yes, I love my son very much. He's actually around your age probably." He turned to me to smile before sighing, a dark and morbid aura surrounding him as he began to wallow in self pity. "I just wish I could do more for him."

This guy was sending my creep levels to maximum alert.

"You know, Mr. Suoh," I started and the man looked up to face me. "If you want to make your son happy, all you have to do is give him your love and be a caring parent. That's all that really matters. And if you're son is anything like you are; I'm pretty sure he'd be happy with anything you were to give him, no matter how small or seemingly pointless. Remember, it's the thought that counts." I finished and gave him a small pat on his padded shoulder.

With shining eyes Mr. Suoh smiled at me, unshed tears poking out of the corner of his eyes where his laugh lines were. "You're right, Miss Cailyn. You're absolutely right."

Mr. Suoh and I continued to talk for the rest of the flight to Japan, neither of us finding the urge to sleep. Mr. Suoh had a company meeting for his school the next day, while I simply was too afraid to fall asleep. It was nice to have a distraction from the plane ride and my thoughts. I talked to him about my life back in America while he talked to my about his son, Tamaki, and how he ran this thing called a host club.

"So he and six other guys run a club to entertain girls? That's interesting." I turned to Mr. Suoh who had stopped the flight attendant to ask for some tea.

Wasn't prostitution illegal, though? Especially at a school?

"Of course, I'll be right back sir." The attendant smiled and strolled down the isle to the back room, barely able to move properly because of the pencil skirt that bound her legs.

"And this Haruhi guy is actually a girl disguised as a guy because she has a debt to the host club?" Some gentleman these guys were. It's not her fault she broke the vase. It's there's for leaving such a freaking expensive piece of clay out in the first place.

"Yes," Mr. Suoh answered, taking his tea from the attendant. "Thank you very much, my dear." He noticed my disgusted expression when he began sipping the hot liquid and his eyebrows rose in surprise. "Do you not like tea, or is it about the Host Club?"

"Both. Tea is like warm dirt, and if the Host Club works to make girls happy then they should care about Haruhi's feelings in the situation as well. Have they even asked her what she thinks about the position she's in, or if she's even happy? It's ridiculous." I ranted with an angered tone, but it didn't come out that way. There was more indifference and contempt than anger.

Mr. Suoh had this reflective look on his face and suddenly chuckled. I narrowed my eyes and asked, "What's so funny?"

"I'm pretty sure Haruhi is happy where she's at, but I'll voice your opinions to my son. I'm sure he'd be interested in what you have to say."

I blinked a couple times before responding, letting his words settle into my brain. "Well, if you're going to go and tell him that, then also tell him that he shouldn't be giving these girls false hope. In my opinion he treats girls very inappropriately, but I guess if the girls are happy then it doesn't really matter."

"Cailyn," Mr. Suoh interrupted me, but I was talking to myself anyway by the end. "Why are you going to Japan, and by yourself, no less?"

I felt a heavy weight settle on my chest, figuratively of course, as I tried not to think about the reason why I was here in this unfamiliar country. Alone.

"I'm going to stay with my grandmother," I choked out, and it wasn't a lie.

"I see."

"Passengers,pleasebuckleyourseatbeltsandadjustyourseatsintoanuprightposition.Wewillbelandingshortly.Thankyou."

The overhead lights came on and the people around us began to stir, following the intercom's instructions, minds groggy and clouded with the aftermath of sleep. I looked out the window to see that we had indeed arrived in Japan. It was still dark out, but I could see all the lights from the cities and traffic below.

I placed a hand on the small porthole window, eyes flitting over the scene. "It's so… alive," I murmured to myself. A good place to start over.

A few minutes later the plane touched down at the terminal. I exited with Mr. Suoh by my side, making sure the guitar case I had with me was secured tightly to my back by the strap with utmost care. Once in the bustling building Mr. Suoh left for his car that was parked at the entrance, his driver ready and waiting for him dressed in a pressed black suit and cap. That's some dedication for 3 o'clock in the morning.

I watched, and before Mr. Suoh slid into his car, he gave me some advice that I'd probably never forget. "Miss Cailyn," he spoke seriously, looking me straight in the eye, and at that moment I envisioned him as a school headmaster. "I can tell you've been through some hardships in your life, probably more than anyone else will most likely experience, but I want you to remember that you are not alone in this world and there will always be a silver lining. No matter how sad or how alone you feel, there will always be someone waiting there by your side. You will always have people that will care for you, even if you can't see them or hold them close. Remember, smile and look on the bright side of things. Because the happiness you bring to others will always be returned to you." Mr. Suoh smiled and lifted my hand once again to kiss it, just like he had done on the plane.

I stood there; too stunned to move, because it wasn't every day that someone gave you a life-changing ultimatum. And as Mr. Suoh turned to get into his limo I snapped out of my trance and gave him a tight hug. "Thank you, Mr. Suoh. I really hope we meet again some day."

I felt him place his hand on my head and tousle my hair. "I believe we just might, Miss Cailyn."

And with that Mr. Suoh stepping into his car and I watched him drive away, and when his limo turned a corner and left my sight, another limo pulled up to take its place. The driver stepped out of the car and turned to me, bowing courteously.

"You are Miss Iwahashi-sama, I presume?" He said to me. He was old, probably early sixties, and had thinning snow white hair. There was a kind smile on his old face that made me feel comfortable, and I knew that I would like this man.

"Yes I am," I responded with a nod.

"I am Kiyoshi. I will be your butler and driver for your stay at the Iwahashi residence."

I tried to smile politely at him, but the action just didn't come out properly. "It's nice to meet you, Kiyoshi. Please call me Cailyn, though. I'm not used to honorifics."

"It will be a pleasure, ma'am." He answered with a grin and, again, a small bow.

"And no bowing, please."

"Of course, Miss Cailyn. Shall I take your bags?" He pointed to the multiple suitcases at my feet that a worker had so graciously offered to help me with.

"Don't worry, I've got it." I replied while picking up a the largest suitcase and placing it in the back of the limo. You could probably hide multiple bodies in that thing. Not that I would ever attempt such an atrocious deed.

"Then at least allow me to assist." Kiyoshi shot in while walking over pick up a few of the smaller bags.

"Kay."

Pretty soon my luggage was loaded and I was situated comfortably in the back of the limo on my way to my new home. Kiyoshi had left me to my thoughts, something I defiantly did not appreciate. There was nothing I could focus on in the luxury car that would keep my mind of things. So I gave in to mind. My head rested against the tinted window and my eyes drifted closed. To anyone who would happen to see me, I would appear as if sleeping. I started to trace the stitching on the seat cushion with my fingers, feeling my way along the strokes of thread while letting my wander. I was thinking, but not about how I was in a new country, or how I had never been in a limo before. No, I was thinking about that man from the plane. I was thinking about Mr. Suoh.

"He was just like dad," I whispered quietly, remembering the man's kind face and bright eyes. "Just like him. His son is lucky he has such a caring father."

And then I really did fall asleep.

Welcome to my first story!

I realize that Mr. Suoh would probably never act like this, but it's for the sake of the story.

I'm warning you know that the Host Club won't be coming in for like 5 chapters soooo... be prepared for a wait.

Well... please continue to read because I promise that it gets better. Of course, that's up to you the reader to decide because I'm pretty biased, seeing as it is my story and all.

That is all.

Disclaimer- I do not own OHSHC or its characters, just my own and the plot line and scenes. And dialogue.