Hi everyone, welcome to chapter 2 of 'The Third Hitachiin'! I'm so excited for this story so please, please remember to review, ok? Thank you and big kudos to everyone who has already reviewed!
Oh, wanna know something interesting? Though not necessarily important. These are the translations for the triplets' names (though there's no real connection between them, which is a little disappointing)
Hikaru (male version of the popular female name Hikari)- light/radiance
Kaoru(male version of the female name Kaori)-fragrance
Kasumi-mist/haze
Anyway just thought that'd be interesting to mention. Please enjoy the chapter!
"Thanks again for helping me find the way Haruhi," Kasumi smiled brightly, as she followed the brown-haired girl back from the headmaster's office. Her parents had already enrolled her just over a week ago—they had promised they wouldn't tell her brothers of course—but she'd still needed her schedule and a general tour.
That was where Haruhi had stepped in and offered to help her while she got adjusted so she wouldn't have to deal with the rowdy host club anymore than necessary for a while.
"Hey no problem," Haruhi smiled back. "I was the new kid not too long ago. I figure it must be tough with everyone fussing over you and all, so I thought you'd want a chance to catch your breath."
Kasumi nodded in agreement. It had taken a while to 'revive' her brothers after announcing that she would be willing to join the host club. Ultimately, they hadn't been able to say no to her sad, pleading face.
Kyoya had immediately set about adjusting Hikaru and Kaoru's 'brotherly love' theme to a 'forbidden triangle', and she was to return to the club room promptly after her last class to go through training.
Her brothers had seemed the most concerned about this, but Tamaki had insisted it'd be necessary to evaluate what kind of type category she fell under before she could properly be called a member.
Kyoya had graciously ordered her a uniform although she'd insisted it wasn't necessary, and once she had modeled it for the rest of the club at Tamaki's request and gotten the approval of everyone (and the reluctant pouts from her brothers), she was all set to begin her life as an Ouran Academy student and host club member.
"So where to now?" the orange-haired girl clutched the smooth fabric of her buttercup yellow uniform, a nervous habit, as she felt the burning stares of other students they passed in the hall. It might take a while to get used to being so admired by her peers.
She wasn't anything special at her old school. Just sweet, polite Kasumi. Here, she was almost like a celebrity, the sister of two popular host members. It was a big deal apparently, and a couple of girls had even been talking about it outside the headmaster's office as it had already began to spread.
"Well, we get a break from morning classes, then we have another class before lunch. So I was thinking we could head back to the club and meet up with everyone. I know your brothers must be really anxious to see you again. And everyone else will want to know your schedule too."
Kasumi giggled shyly. She thought of protesting this by saying that her brothers weren't that dependent on her and that she barely knew the others and doubted they'd miss her much, but it would be silly to argue this as she remembered the way Tamaki, Kaoru and Hikaru had all clung to her desperately and begged her to take one of them with her.
Mori had to physically pry them off, for which she was grateful. They walked back into Music Room #3 to find the rest of the hosts waiting for them as Haruhi had said. Her brothers immediately jumped upon spotting her and she politely greeted everyone with a small wave and a grin.
"Hey, so you got everything you need now sis?" Kaoru questioned as the two girls approached the rest of the host club.
"Uh-huh!"
"Thanks for helping out, Haruhi." Hikaru smiled lightly, patting the brunette's head.
"Eh, no problem…" she replied flatly, inwardly annoyed at having to smooth down her hair again.
"So Kasumi-chan, what homeroom are you in?" Hunny asked excitedly.
"Um, let me see…" she fished around inside her school-issued tote bag with the Ouran Academy crest on it for a moment before coming up with a neatly folded paper. She scanned it for a second, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration before she answered quietly, "Uh, looks like I'm in class 1-D."
Instantly, her brothers gasped dramatically before clinging to each other and sobbing heavily.
She stared at them with wide eyes, still not quite used to seeing this side of them. "W-what is it? What's wrong?"
She felt someone place a reassuring hand on her shoulder and turned to see Kyoya smiling calmly. "It seems you'll be in a separate homeroom from our club's three first years—Kaoru, Hikaru and Haruhi. If you'd like, I can make arrangements for you to be moved to 1-A—"
Kasumi quickly shook her head, "Oh! Thank you for offering Kyoya-sempai, but as much as I'd like to be in class with Haruhi and my onii-sans, I don't mind staying in the homeroom I've been assigned. I'm just glad I was accepted into the academy. I couldn't possibly be ungrateful and impose."
"Who cares about that?! Can't you see your big brothers are suffering here? Impose! Impose!" Hikaru wailed.
"Y-you'll be all alone if you stay…we won't be there to protect you and you won't know anybody!" Kaoru sniffled. She sighed, knowing they were only trying to look out for her, and smiled gently as she walked over to them and pulled them both into a hug.
"I know you're worried…but it'll be alright. I'll see you at lunch, right? And even if I don't know anyone…I can't expect to make new friends unless I try." She pulled away to give them a brilliant smile. "Thank you so much for wanting to be there for me," she kissed each of them on the cheek and giggled when they blushed. "You have no idea how much it means."
Hunny bounded over to her with Mori not far behind. "Can we walk you to your next class Kasumi-chan?" he asked hopefully, his brown eyes sparkling. Mori nodded.
"Sure, I'd like that Mitsukuni-sempai, Takashi-sempai." She hoped they didn't mind her addressing them by their first names after having just met, but she felt maybe it would be okay if they were all going to be in the host club together.
Hunny's eyes widened slightly and he looked up at her almost bashfully, "Y-you called us by our first names…"
"Oh, I-I'm so sorry! That was rude of me, wasn't it? I can call you by your nicknames if you wa—" Mori stopped her by putting a large but gentle hand on top of her head. She looked up at the tall, dark-haired boy slowly, her amber eyes shining in curiosity.
"It's fine. Call us whatever you want." he replied in his usual monotone, but the red-haired brothers watching were not pleased, thinking they'd seen a faint flush on his face for a second.
Kasumi flushed brightly and stared at the floor shyly, "O-ok…" Hikaru was seething and Kaoru, was slightly calmer, held him by the collar to keep him from storming over to them and ripping the quiet junior's hand off.
"Yeah, Kasumi-chan!" Hunny chimed in, "We're all friends now!"
Her eyes filled up with warmth that her brothers hadn't seen in them for years and it made them inexplicably peaceful. 'Friends…' she thought, 'I have real friends.'
Kaoru and Hikaru shared surprised but happy glances.
'We can't interfere if she wants to be around them. We owe her this.' Hikaru thought.
Kaoru as if reading his brother's thoughts, nodded in agreement. 'Maybe this is better anyway…she'll have more people to protect her than just us now. But it doesn't mean we won't be there for her the most of all.'
There was a happy squeal and everyone looked to see Tamaki acting like a giddy school girl again. "Kasumi-chan is…soo adorable~!" his hands curled into fists at his mouth as he wiggled around. "I can't take it anymore! Please say you'll be daddy's second little princess!" he all but begged as he lifted her off the ground and shook her back and forth in a crushing hug.
The redhead's face became a little paler and she looked almost dazed. The identical boys smashed their fists into the back of their blond leader's head and he let go of their sister with a pitiful whine.
"Mommy! Hikaru and Kaoru are being mean to me agaaain!" he cried, turning to Kyoya for sympathy. The Ootori, who was finishing up creating his background file on Kasumi, shrugged without looking up from his computer.
"Hm…you probably deserved it."
"Waaah! Mommy, why are you so cruel?! You never pay attention to my feelings anymore!" Kasumi couldn't help but to snort quietly as she tried to cover a laugh, but then the thought of Kyoya as a negligent housewife and Tamaki as a whiny husband popped into her head and the giggles got harder to contain.
Soon, everyone was looking at her curiously until she finally burst out laughing holding her sides as the tears filled the corners of her eyes and her stomach started to ache. "S-sorry…!" she said in between laughing fits, "I-it's just t-that…T-Tamaki-sempai s-seems more like a mommy than Kyoya-sempai!"
Tamaki's jaw dropped as he stared at her with mock hurt and Kyoya smirked in silent agreement. The twins were now leaning on each other as they giggled hard into their hands, a nearly identical image of a housewife Tamaki filling their own heads. Hunny grinned broadly and Haruhi laughed quietly as she thought of it. Mori smirked lightly. He could get to like this girl, he thought.
The rest of the time was spent explaining exactly what would be expected of Kasumi once she joined the host club. They warned that since they'd never had an openly female host (Haruhi not counting due to her 'condition') that there would be special rules she'd need to follow for her own safety.
She would be the third part in the forbidden romance act, but also have her own seperate type specifically for her when she got her own set of male guests to request her. Her brothers were very adamant about insisting what was and wasn't acceptable (most of the rules applied to her future guests).
She couldn't date any of her clientele, and would have to have permission from them before speaking with them outside the club. They were also not allowed to have certain contact with her and the demands went on and on.
Haruhi eventually explained that the rules were somewhat excessive and Kyoya promised that they would come up with a fully revised, Hitachiin-approved set of rules for Kasumi before she officially began hosting.
Before long, the morning break was over and she was walking to class with Hunny and Mori. They waved good-bye to everyone else and she watched Haruhi drag her sobbing brothers away as they desperately tried to get to her.
She felt a little bad since she had come to this school specifically to be with them, but she couldn't be too clingy anymore, otherwise they might leave her again… 'No. They promised they wouldn't.' she assured herself, 'I have to believe in them the way I want them to believe in me.'
"So Kasumi-chan, what do you think of the academy so far?" Hunny asked, breaking her away from her thoughts.
She titled her auburn head in consideration. "Well, I haven't been to many schools as you know… my last school was an all girls' school on the opposite end of the city and it was…ok. But I think I'll like this school a lot more. Everyone has been so kind and my brothers are here," she sighed happily as she said this, "I'm hoping I'll be able to make a lot of good memories and friends."
Hunny suddenly took her hand in his and looked straight into her eyes with large brown ones. "We're your friends, right Kasumi-chan?" he asked cutely. Kasumi felt herself wanting to squeeze the life out of him in that instant, but managed to resist the urge.
"Yes! Of course you are Mitsukuni-sempai! You all are," her bright smile softened into a nostalgic, almost sad one and she fingered one of the long curls that tumbled past her shoulders. "Growing up…I didn't get to spend much time with other kids. It was always just me and my brothers. When they went to elementary school without me and my parents were busy…I was so lonely all by myself. I wondered if I'd ever make real friends…but since the moment you met me you've all welcomed me into your group and tried to help me. I don't have words to express how grateful I am for that." Hunny's eyes filled with understanding and he hugged her arm to his chest, smiling.
"I'm glad we met you, Kasumi-chan! Right, Takashi?"
The taller boy walking beside them smiled softly, "Yeah. Definitely," he nodded.
Before long they stood in front of classroom 1-D and Kasumi turned back to the duo as she placed her hand on the door, "Well, thank you for walking me. It was great getting to know you both. I promise I'll do my best in the host club, too," She bowed respectfully.
"You'll do great Kasumi-chan!" Hunny quickly hugged her around the waist and Mori gave her one last pat on the head before they left. She watched them go for a minute with a smile before sighing and slowly turning back to the class's door. 'Okay…this is it…' she swallowed nervously, 'I…I'm not backing down from this. I won't. I refuse.'
With a trembling, ghostly pale grip on the handle she opened the door and stepped in one baby step at a time. The teacher was just beginning to take role and everyone looked up when she walked in. She froze in place and tried to block out the stares and frenzied whispers.
She felt like a cornered deer caught in headlights with no escape. She wanted so badly to cover her face and hide but she'd promised herself that if she came to this school she was going to turn over a new leaf and start living in the open. No more running away or hiding in the shadows. It was time to shine.
She bowed to the sensei and handed her the proper papers that stated she was a new transferee.
"Oh, hello there. You must be the new student the headmaster informed me of. Everyone, this is our newest student Hitachiin-san; she'll be joining us from now on. Please be polite and help her get adjusted. Now, where should we have you sit? I suppose any free seat you see fit will do for now,"
Kasumi nodded and thanked her new teacher in a nervous slur of jumbled words before quickly scanning the room for a seat. She noticed a slouched form toward the far back corner and her eyes lit up brightly as she scurried down an aisle, careful not to snag her long dress on anything.
When she reached the seat she carefully slid in and turned to the boy, who's head still hadn't lifted. She smiled cheerfully as she tapped his shoulder lightly, "Hi!" she whispered.
Immediately his head shot up like a rocket and at first what looked like an angry scowl was etched onto his face before he turned slowly to see who had actually had the guts to touch him. Imagine his surprise when he found the same girl from the hallway looking directly at him, unafraid.
"Y-you…you're…" he stammered as he searched for the right words. In truth, he'd been curious about the girl ever since he'd bumped into her earlier. He had wondered who she was and why she had been in such a hurry for a reason that didn't involve getting away from him.
He had also wondered why she wasn't afraid to touch him or look at him. According to the stupid rumors going around the academy, she should be cursed by now. Looking at him directly could turn anyone into a block of ice and bumping shoulders with him could put someone in the hospital (and she had done both).
Or at least that's what they said. He knew it wasn't true, but as much as it pissed him off he'd never been able to convince anyone it wasn't, mostly due to his scary appearance. Yet here was this same mystery girl with the same happy grin she'd been wearing earlier.
"Hi, I'm Kasumi Hitachiin. I never got a chance to introduce myself before. Sorry," she smiled sheepishly in a way that made her seem like a happy young child and stuck her hand out toward him. He stared at the dainty hand with the pretty ring on the index finger in surprise before gingerly grasping it to shake in his own.
"U-uh, I'm Ritsu…Kasanoda." he waited for some kind of reaction, anything like the terrified stares, screams or shudders he was used to, but she only nodded.
"It's nice to officially meet you Ritsu-kun." she chirped, then suddenly looked up at him through thick lashes, a rosy blush staining her face, "Oh, that was kind of forward wasn't it? I-is it ok if I call you that?"
Kasanoda could feel his heart rate quicken the longer he looked into her face. He suddenly felt strangely warm… This was the first time ever a girl had casually talked to him or used that honorific with his name.
Right now he was struggling to make his mouth work as she was now staring at him with obvious concern, "Y-y-y-yeah! Ok that's cool," he yelped, squeakier than he'd intended. He withdrew his hand from hers like he'd been scorched, but looked back her quickly with timid eyes.
She was smiling understandingly. "I'm glad I know someone in this homeroom…my brothers were really worried about me being alone on my first day. But now I can tell them not to worry!" she giggled.
Kasanoda scratched his head. He was really having a hard time figuring this chick out—not that he had any experience with girls to go on. "Yeah, a-about that…are you sure you should be…y-you know sitting here, n-next to me and all?" he blurted without really thinking.
She at first appeared surprised, and then her face morphed into a frown and he cringed away at the kicked puppy look. "Is there some reason why I shouldn't? I can move to another se—"
"No!" he shook his head, only realizing he had spoken louder than a whisper when he looked to see some of their classmates and the teacher watching them, startled. He ducked back down, his face red. Everyone slowly went back to their work, too scared to comment on the outburst, even the teacher, "I…I-I mean no. You don't gotta move or nothin'…j-just thought you'd uh, get scared; you know 'c-cause of my mug."
She gently reached out and took one of his hands again, much to his surprise. "Ritsu-kun, what do you mean?" she sounded almost worried. "You don't have a coffee mug with you?" she glanced around his desk and he swore his mouth hit the floor.
Was she for real? "Y-you're kiddin' me right?" he suppressed a snort of laughter.
"Uh, w-was it supposed to be a joke?" Kasumi was confused. Suffice to say no one had ever really taught her about teenage slang, so she took the expression quite literally. Kasanoda was too awkward as it was to really comment on it, but he was sure anyone else would've been on the floor in tears at this girl's cluelessness.
"No, just…never mind." he slowly took his hand back from hers and fully turned forward in his seat, but still looking at her, "So…you're new?" he mentally slapped himself. 'What the hell was that Kasanoda?! First time a girl ever looks at you without fainting and you say something stupid!'
"Yes…I came here to join my brothers. They're in another homeroom." she explained patiently. She didn't mind if he was awkward, she just appreciated someone besides her brothers and the host club taking time to talk to her.
"Brothers? …Wait, you said your name was 'Hitachiin' right? You're not related to those identical guys are you?"
"Yep! Those are my older brothers, Hikaru and Kaoru." A shiver went up his spine but she didn't seem to notice as he swallowed under his breath. Those guys had always kind of given him the creeps. It was just something about them. The way they always seemed like no one mattered but the two of them and everyone else was just in their way.
They were a part of that host club thing all the girls were crazy over, but whenever he saw them outside it they always had cold stares on their faces around anyone who tried to approach them.
When they talked to people it was like they were just testing them, waiting for them to slip up. Hell, he knew his face was scary, but when he scared people away at least it wasn't on purpose.
Then, he remembered the conversation he'd had earlier and it dawned on him. "Hey, when you asked for directions to that club earlier, were you lookin' for your bros?"
Kasumi blushed prettily and gave a shy nod. "Y-yeah…I haven't spent much time with them for a while and I was really excited to see them again."
Kasanoda looked thoughtful, able to ignore the fluttering happening in his stomach at the sight of her blush long enough to think over the statement. Those twin guys always seemed like they were wearing masks around everyone, like no one ever really got to the real them.
But it was obvious to anyone with eyes that this chick adored her brothers no questions asked. If they were really that cruel she wouldn't be so excited when she talked about them, right? Maybe he was misjudging them, just like everyone did to him… Maybe they weren't so bad deep down.
"So you guys are real close huh?"
He tried to appear nonchalant so he wouldn't seem too nosey but when he glanced her way the blush was still very much present on her soft features. "W-well…we did…drift apart for a while, but now we're going to be together more often again. And," she paused and bit her lip, looking around the room before whispering, "I…I love them more than anything." It sounded so angelic…anyone would be flustered if a cute girl said that she loved them like that.
Kasanoda eyes widened and he quickly tuned to hide his own glowing blush. 'Damn…lucky bastards.'
They were both startled when the bell rang and the teacher dismissed class. Kasumi jumped in surprise before looking up at Kasanoda apologetically. "I'm sorry…I can't believe I distracted you the whole class…I'm not normally this talkative."
Kasanoda shook himself out of his nervousness and cleared his throat. "I-it's cool. W-where you headed now?"
"To lunch to meet up with my brothers. But I still don't know my way around that well, would you mind showing me if it's not too much trouble?"
Kasanoda's imagination kicked in as his panic went up. Kasumi batted her eyes flirtatiously, "Would you mind letting me feed you if it's not too much trouble?" He forced himself to snap out of it long enough to nod.
"Y-yeah, come on." She smiled gratefully and followed him out of the classroom.
Needless to say they received plenty of stares on the way to the lunchroom. Everyone practically cleared a pathway for them. The cute Hitachiin girl was walking with the scary yakuza heir.
Murmurs rose up from every direction like steam from a pot. Kasumi nervously shifted a little closer to Kasanoda unconsciously and he flinched up when he felt something bump his side until he looked down and remembered what he was supposed to be doing.
He raised an eyebrow at her small frown and the way she was kneading her hands into her dress, "Uh you okay?"
She nodded slowly, "Mm-hm. J-just not so used to all the staring…" she whispered back, looking at the ground as they walked. He thought about it and understood. People were intimidated by him, so they only looked when they thought he wasn't paying attention, but it could still annoy the hell out of him.
He could handle himself if necessary but she seemed much shyer and too polite to speak back to anyone. As if the slightest movement would scare her away, he lightly tugged at her arm so she was behind him instead.
Shooting his infamous ice glare at any onlookers, everyone froze in cold terror, and he smirked in satisfaction that his intimidating aura had finally come in handy. As soon as they walked into the finely decorated dining hall, all heads turned and gasped filled the room, but Kasanoda quickly diverted the attention with another rigid stare at the crowd.
People immediately went back to minding their own business. "You can look now ya know…" he muttered. Kasumi lifted her head and smiled in relief to see they'd made it. "Arigato Ritsu-kun," she squeezed his hand in gratitude.
"Kasumi-chaaan!"
"Kasumi! Kasumi!"
Both redheads looked to see 'six' boys rushing toward them, two identical boys and one bouncy blond were in the head of the group and as soon as they got close enough all three of them threw their arms around her. "Gah!"
Kasanoda was practically shoved aside as they surrounded the girl's slight frame, cooing like they were speaking to a cute baby and nuzzling her like a doll.
"We were so worried about you, don't ever scare your brothers like that again!" one of the identical boys scolded. Kasanoda stood in the background, forgotten, and just stared.
Now that all three were together he could see the resemblance pretty clearly. Although she was quite a bit smaller than the two boys and currently being smothered in between them while a short blond clung to her waist.
"Kaoru-nii…Hikaru-nii… p-please let go…!" her muffled cries went mostly ignored.
A short brown-haired and oddly feminine looking boy grabbed both redheaded assailants by the ear and dragged them away as they cried like kids deprived of candy.
A tall, dark-haired boy plucked the blond from around her waist to place on his shoulders and the smaller boy pouted, but complied for the most part.
"I see you made it through your first class in one piece, despite earlier concerns." A black haired boy wearing glasses stated.
Kasumi nodded, "Of course I did! I even made a new friend." All the hosts' attention immediately perked at this.
"Oh?" Kyoya titled his head, an eerie shine illuminating his glasses. Anyone who knew him well enough would know to stay clear upon seeing that look. Again, Kasumi was painfully naïve, and so it went unnoticed in her excitement.
"Yes. Everyone, meet Ritsu-kun!" she took his wrist and pulled him to her side, much to Kasanoda's terror. The minute their eyes landed on him, every last guy except maybe the girly looking brown-haired one had murder flashing through their eyes.
He gaped like a fish out of water, his throat suddenly dry. "N-nice to uh…m-meet…you?"
They said nothing, which only further proved to him that he was in trouble. Forget about him being the son of yakuza. These guys were psycho! Kasumi glanced between the hosts and her new friend and seemed completely oblivious to the mounting tension.
"Hm…Ritsu Kasanoda." The black haired one with glasses and the deep voice spoke up and Kasanoda instinctively stood at attention. He was looking at his computer screen and smirking like the devil himself. "You were born in the Kanto region and you're from a long line of yakuza. Currently in line to be the successor to the Kasanoda-gumi," Kasanoda couldn't help but sneak a glance at the girl still holding his wrist and gulp. "You're in class 1-D with Kasumi and are also a first year."
He figured it was no surprise that some people were bound to know about his background, but this guy had literally pulled the information out of thin air! How would that affect his newfound friendship with Kasumi? The only person outside the Kasanoda Syndicate that showed an interest in being around him.
Her grip had seemed to have tightened a bit, but he couldn't tell if it was from fear or shock. He couldn't see her reaction, but the reactions of her friends weren't pretty.
The redheaded boys looked stiff-jawed and pale as sheets and the stares of the others were suffocating. Even the small blond had this deadly aura around him all of a sudden.
Kasumi was indeed surprised. She'd never expected her new friend to be a gang leader in training. But then, it wasn't like she knew much about the yakuza anyway.
Just the scary stories her brothers used to tell to scare her as a little girl and the things portrayed in movies. This made it all the more confusing, because Ritsu didn't match any of the stereotypical views of cruel yakuza bosses she'd grown up learning.
She didn't even have time to scream when she was suddenly yanked away from Ritsu's side and two arms were wrapped securely around her body from behind. She looked up to see passionate violet eyes and stared in confusion. "T-Tamaki-sempai…? What's wrong?" The passionate, kind blond had suddenly gone into protective 'father' mode out of the blue.
He looked down and gave her a frighteningly calm smile that would have looked more at home on Kyoya's face. So maybe the blond had picked up a thing or two from hanging around the Ootori… "Nothing to worry about little princess…we'd just like to get to know your friend better. You know, on a more personal level,"
She wasn't sure she entirely believed that as she looked over worriedly as her bothers each place a hand on one of Kasanoda's shoulders, their own smiles terrifyingly tight.
"Weeell Casanova… why don't you come take a little walk with us?" Hikaru offered emptily, as if he were barely restraining himself from ripping the yakuza boy limb from limb.
"Yeah, it'll only take a second Bossa-Nova," Kaoru, normally the calmer one, helped his brother drag the stunned dark redheaded boy back through the lunch hall's doors to who knows where.
"W-where are they taking him? Will he be ok, sempai? He didn't do anything, so don't hurt him ok?!" Kasumi was yelling at Tamaki now, trying to wriggle herself free, but the tall blond was stronger than he first appeared. Not to mention she still was pretty frail.
"Now, now…calm down Kasumi-chan. Daddy promises he'll be fine." Tamaki smiled smoothly as he stroked her head a few times like he was playing with a favorite toy. Kasumi pouted in irritation, but said nothing else.
"Sempai…I hope you don't plan on doing anything extreme," Haruhi warned in a dangerously low voice.
Tamaki gulped at this taking a few steps back and inadvertently drawing Kasumi back with him, "W-why on earth would you say that Haruhi?"
Haruhi gave him a 'you know exactly what I mean' look that had him looking a little pale. Kasumi almost felt bad for him; even though Tamaki was supposed to have been the leader of the club according to what her brothers had explained to her, he seemed to get bullied by just about everyone. Mostly Kyoya and Haruhi though.
In the hall, the boys were really putting poor Kasanoda through the wringer as Hikaru held him by his shirt collar and Kaoru leaned into the side of his face with a menacing smile. "Care to explain what you were doing with our little sister, pal?" the oldest triplet hissed.
Kasanoda felt sweat trickle down his forehead and shook his head vehemently, "N-nothing! I-I mean I was just helpin' her get to the lunch room, I swear!"
"Then why'd she say you were her friend?" Kaoru snapped impatiently.
"Uh w-well…w-we sit next to each other in class and uh, I asked if it was ok with it and she s-seemed cool with it and all…" he blushed as he thought back to her adorable smile. 'N-no! Not the right time, dude! Bad thoughts man, bad thoughts!' he quickly chastised himself.
"We're only gonna say this once Casanova…" Kaoru muttered, and Kasanoda was too scared to correct him.
"If you wanna live long enough to be the next head of your gang…" Hikaru continued.
"Then stay away from—"
"Kasumi-chaaan, come back to daddy!" they stopped talking in unison when they heard Tamaki wail and saw Kasumi come bursting through the lunchroom doors, stopping short to stare at them with wide eyes. The host club wasn't far behind her, and they guessed she had managed to break free from Tamaki somehow.
"W-what are you doing onii-sans?" she whispered. Hikaru slowly let go of Kasanoda, but not quick enough as his sister rushed forward to place herself between her brothers and classmate. "Were you going to hurt him?"
"Kasumi, we were just—"
The youngest Hitachiin spread her arms wide in front of the stunned Kasanoda as she stood her ground against her brothers, "He's my friend!" she cried, her voice starting to crack. A slight wave of dizziness made her feel as if the room was tilted but she managed to ignore it. "Ritsu-kun is my friend and I won't let you hurt him because of what his family does!"
Kasanoda was amazed at what he was hearing. This tiny girl that looked like a strong wind could blow her over was defending him from her crazy brothers. His heart melted a little.
He didn't think he'd ever been so touched. He heard light wheezing and looked to see her shoulders were trembling slightly. In fact she looked like she was ready to fall over…why hadn't he noticed before? He put a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
"Hey, Kasumi calm down!" Kaoru exclaimed, obviously concerned. He gently gripped her outstretched arms and lowered them to her sides. "You know what happens when you let yourself get worked up like this!"
"Hey, w-what's happening?" Haruhi asked worriedly.
"Kasumi-chan!" Hunny gasped, clutching one of her hands tightly.
Hikaru shook his head frantically, looking like he was on the verge of a panic attack as he tugged at his hair, "Her heart can't take the stress, she's—"
"You heard me! Get a doctor here immediately!" Kyoya was yelling into his phone. Kasumi began to sway and slumped against Kasanoda, who caught her upper arms to steady her.
Her eyes looked glossy and unfocused, "Ngh…nii-sans…"
"Hey, hang in there ok?" Hikaru pleaded, gently running a thumb over her smooth cheek. If anything happened to his sister, after everything they'd put her through, he doubted he or Kaoru would ever forgive themselves.
"Come on sis, stay awake. Please?" Kaoru added, patting her other cheek lightly.
"S-sorry…I'm in the way again…" she gurgled weakly.
"Don't say that." Tamaki sounded firm, once again serious. "You're one of us now. Families stick together," Haruhi patted his arm comfortingly when she noticed his sad expression. Despite his silly, often over the top antics, Tamaki was a very caring person who'd do almost anything for his friends. When one of them hurt, he hurt. She'd come to realize this in the short time she'd spent with the host club.
"Ootori-sama!" Kyoya turned to see some of his family's medical personnel rushing toward them with a stretcher. Everyone stood back for them to get through and Kasanoda gently helped them get the girl onto the gurney as they wheeled her down the hall, Kaoru and Hikaru bolting after them before anyone could try to stop them.
"Come on everyone. All we can do now is wait… Hikaru and Kaoru will call us if anything comes up." Tamaki assured his friends, though he was just as worried. Kasumi may have been the physically weak one, but he knew the boys well enough to know that all three were in a very fragile state at the moment.
Kasumi was healing from her abandonment and the boys were trying to fulfill the role of big brothers that they'd neglected for so long and take responsibility for their frail sister. They walked back into the lunchroom in a somber silence.
Only Kasanoda remained in the hallway, his heart hammering away as he thought of the delicate girl who had dared to be his friend.
Kasumi woke up hours later, her eyes feeling heavy and the blinding white light from overhead burning her eyes. She uttered a quiet moan and tried to remember where she was and what happened. She raised her stiff arms above her head and noticed instead of the yellow school dress she'd been in, she was wearing a thin gown…
Then it all came back to her in a rush and she tried to sit up with a sharp gasp, only to weakly fall back to the uncomfortable mattress. "K-kasumi? You're awake!"
She turned to her sides to see one of her brothers holding both hands. She grinned lazily. "Hi Kao-nii, hi Hika-nii," she yawned, obviously still sluggish from whatever medication they'd given her. "What'd I miss?"
Hikaru shook his head and held up a glass of water for her to drink, which she did gratefully. After her throat was moist again, she looked at her brothers again, surprised to see dried tear stains on both their faces. "W-why were you crying?" she gingerly reached out to run a thumb down Kaoru's cheek, tracing the faint trail.
"Are you joking?" Hikaru let out a humorless, broken chuckle. "We could have lost you, idiot! Why wouldn't we be crying?"
"D-Don't ever do that to us again." Kaoru carefully hugged her to him, pulling her upper body to his chest. "It's hard enough for us worrying about you every second of the day you're not with us, but if you let yourself get stressed enough to put your health in danger and we're not there…" his grip tightened ever so slightly and she felt something wet land on her head.
She soothingly wove her small fingers into his hair, her face pressed against his shoulder. With the other hand that still held Hikaru's she made gentle patterns on his hand with her thumb.
"I promise I'll be more careful…" she breathed quietly. "It's just that I really want to be friends with Ritsu-kun…his eyes looked so lonely. I thought I could understand him and maybe he'd understand me…"
"It's ok. We were wrong not to even let you explain first," Hikaru soothed, squeezing her hand back.
Kaoru drew back, smiling a little now. "The host club stopped by while you were asleep," he motioned to a table beside the bed full of the most beautiful bouquet she'd ever seen and several cards. Her face lit up and she turned to her brothers, "It's beautiful! Did they really do all this for me…?"
Hikaru laughed and ran his fingers through her long hair, which had been taken out of her loose braid while she slept. "Hey, you heard Tamaki-sempai. You're part of the family now."
She beamed, "Family…"
It was then that a young blond nurse walked in, smiling when she saw Kasumi sitting up and alert. "Well, you seem to be doing better. You gave everyone quite a scare. But the doctor has cleared you for discharge on the condition that you take it easy, get plenty of rest and take some medication that will help you control your panic attacks."
Kasumi nodded with a sigh, "Well, as long as I can go home…this gown is kind of itchy." she pouted, making her brothers and the nurse laugh.
"Tomorrow is a clean break, ok?" Hikaru assured her.
"But what if everyone remembers me as the crybaby that got sent to the hospital on her first day," his sister whined.
"Nah. The host club and Casanova were the only ones in the hall. Besides, I'm sure Kyoya-sempai would blackmail anyone who saw into keeping quiet. He's good at getting information and keeping people quiet," Kaoru winked.
Kasumi settled herself back in the limo's comfortable seat and stared up at the car's roof. "You won't tell mom and dad will you…?" she asked quietly.
"We promise," Hikaru smiled.
"Cross our hearts." Kaoru added.
She hugged them both happily, knowing if her parents knew she'd had a panic attack on her first day, they'd make her come back home for sure. And she had a feeling going to Ouran Academy was probably one of the best things to happen to her in a while, despite how crazy her first day had been. "Good…thank you."
"It's the least we could do. We said we'd start looking out for you now, remember?" Hikaru playfully pinched her cheek.
"Hey c-cut it out nii-san!" she pouted, pulling away from him. The boys laughed at her pouting face and slightly red left cheek.
:~XoXoXoXo~:
The trio was surprised to see their parents home early when they arrived home and their mother preparing dinner instead of the usual kitchen staff that was always in charge of making sure the children were fed when both parents were away.
"Mom, you're home," Both boys were slightly surprised but Kasumi ran into her mother's arms without hesitation as Yuzuha opened them for a hug.
"Yes, I decided I needed to come home early once in a while to see you three. Being your own boss has its benefits," she winked at them, stroking her daughter's hair gently. "And how was your first day? You didn't get into any trouble did you?" she pulled away to hold Kasumi's face in both hands and casually inspecting her for any signs of distress. Luckily, there were none. "Kaoru, Hikaru, I hope you minded your sister."
"Ouran Academy was so exciting! I met so many new people," Kasumi told her mother happily, "And Kao-nii and Hika-nii watched out for me all day."
They nodded quickly and the Hitachiin matriarch smirked in satisfaction. "Good. Dinner is just about done. We're going to eat together tonight as a family. Your father is home too—"
"Hey boys, princess," a man's warm timbre filled the front hall as their father entered in a dress shirt and slacks.
Three pairs of amber eyes lit up as they spotted a dark haired man with a neatly trimmed beard. "Dad!" he laughed and hugged all of his children as they rushed to him. Obviously their father had gotten home not very long ago since he was still in his work clothes except for his suit jacket.
"Hey dad, how's that new virtual reality game coming along? Is it almost done?" Kaoru asked excitedly. He had always had an interest in his father's work. Even as a child he would often disassemble old electronics to figure out how they worked and use pieces from some to fix others.
Mr. Hitachiin laughed heartily and ruffled his son's spiky orange hair, "Still going through the prototype phase son. It won't be ready for testing for another few months and probably won't hit the market until late next year. But I tell you what, when it's time to do some real-time testing, why don't you come down to the office with me and help try it out?"
Kaoru's eyes practically had stars in them and his siblings could tell he was over the moon. "Y-yeah! I'd love that," he grinned goofily, his cheeks pink.
"Mm…like father like son I see." Yuzuha chuckled charmingly, "Come on everyone, to the kitchen," she announced, ushering everyone into the family's lavish kitchen. Kasumi felt her stomach start to grumble at the side of all the delicious food spread out.
"When did you have time to make all this?" their father chuckled.
Yuzuha turned to her husband and children with a wink, "A lady never tells. Just sit and enjoy," No one had to be told twice as the whole Hitachiin family gathered at the dinner table. Kasumi couldn't remember the last time it had been like this. Probably not since elementary school. Now the family was talking and laughing together like nothing had ever changed. She fought back the water welling in the corners of her eyes. Today had been incredible for so many reasons.
"So Kasumi, make any new friends sweetheart?" her father asked pleasantly.
She nodded, about to respond when Hikaru broke in, "Yeah, she met some yakuza punk in her class..." he grumbled moodily. All the silverware seemed to stop clanking silmultaneously.
"What?!" their parents yelled.
His siblings stared at him in disbelief and their parents wore identical looks of shock.
Their father did his best to stop choking on his pea soup. "I-is this true Kasumi?" he managed to get out. Kasumi had always been the obedient one of the trio. The sweet, easy to handle one.
Even when her parents didn't have time for her, she didn't act out from lonliness like her brothers had, but retreated into herself. Even when she was obviously hurting she would sacrifice her feelings for others. He didn't know what he'd do if his precious daughter actually got involved with some gang member. He shuddered to think what kind of grandchildren he'd have...
Kasumi fiddled with her hands underneath the table as she tried to compose herself. She knew there was nothing she could do to hide the obvious blush so she decided to just come clean, "H-His name is Ritsu Kasanoda...um, I sit next to him in homeroom."
Mr. Hitachiin was seeing stars. He couldn't believe his daughter...his sweet, innocent little girl...where did he go wrong? Was it because they weren't around often enough and had the servants give each of their children 'the talk'?
Was it because she was going through some kind of late stage that all girls supposedly went through where they were attracted to the bad boy type? Was this some subtle form of rebellion for not being around enough? His head was spinning with questions and he rubbed a hand against his creased forehead dizzily.
For a minute, the table was speechless. She had pretty much indirectly confirmed Hikaru's words to be true. Her mother calmly cut into her roasted duck, "I see...and what is this young man like?" Here, Kasumi brightened, hoping her mother's calmness meant she'd be willing to listen.
"He's so kind. Even though he seems to be scary on the outside, I can tell he has a good heart. He helped me twice and seemed shy," she giggled.
Mrs. Hitachiin smiled thoughtfully. "Hm. He sounds like a very trustworthy young man. But I'd still like to see for myself if he's as noble as you say. It's settled, we'll have him as ou guest for dinner tomorrow evening." Hikaru, who had seemed quite satisfied for subtly throwing a wrench in the stupid yakuza's plans to get close to his sister, coughing up the sparkling water he'd just downed.
"Really?" Kasumi asked in awe.
"Y-yeah mom, really?" Hikaru sputtered. "I-I mean, she just met the guy today..."
"Which is all the more reason why we should meet him. If he plans to court our only daughter he has to be suitable and able to provide for her and their possible family," she nodded as she took a sip of her sparkling wine.
Kasumi's mouth opened wide as the worst blush she'd had all day errupted like molten lava across her face. "M-mother!" she squealed, hiding her face in her hands, "I-it's not like that! R-Ritsu-kun is j-just a nice friend!"
Yuzuha smirked, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes of teasing her children, "Of course dear, all romantic relationships start as friendships at some point."
Kaoru laughed lightly at his mother's teasing and his sister's more than flushed face. Mr. Hitachiin looked as though he was about to faint right then and there as his wife's words sank in, and Hikaru looked horrified by the thought.
"Mom! Are you crazy?! She's not dating some two-bit wanna be thug!" he seethed.
"Of course not dear...I haven't approved yet." Hikaru almost fell out of his chair and Kaoru burst out laughing at the looking on his brother's face, though deep inside he knew if that dumb yakuza ever tried to date his little sister he would help Hikaru make his life a living hell until he was ready to flee town.
"C-Can we talk about something else?!" Kasumi yelled above the commotion, her face red and her eyes bulging from embarrassment, "Like...like h-how your new collection is coming mom?" Yuzuha decided to give her daughter a break for a moment, knowing she could only handle so much teasing.
"Wonderfully, thank you for asking. In fact, I designed some new pieces I'd love for you to try on for me later." Kasumi nodded, happy the subject was finally off her non-existent love life and imaginary future with Kasanoda.
He was a nice guy, and though everyone may not see it yet, once girls found out how sweet he was, she was sure they'd be flocked around him in no time. She just hoped he'd still be willing to be friends by then... Not that she'd blame him if he forgot she existed. She was a scrawny, shrimpy and literally weak-hearted fifteen-year old girl with no curves to speak of and little to no sex appeal.
Or so she assumed, looking at the pretty, busty, long-legged girls in the fashion magazines her mother read. She knew she could never compare to their glowing skin, perfect curves and tall, graceful bodies.
Dinner settled back into some form of tranquility and Kasumi spent the rest of the meal ruminating her feelings of being unattractive. It was a depressing thought but there was nothing she could do about it. She had just gotten the shallow end of the gene pool in terms of looks, and well...everything.
When dinner was over, their mother shooed the trio upstairs and told them to get started on their homework. Kasumi sat at her desk for several hours doing the assignments her brother's had gotten from Kyoya-sempai while she was in the emergency room.
She would certainly have to thank all of them. But especially the Ootori. It was his family that headed the nation's top medical distrubutor branch as well as professional care.
Anything worthwile in medicine probably had the Ootori name stamped on it somewhere. She had to say that going by the methodical side of Kyoya she'd seen earlier, she could easily see him heading his family's empire one day. He certainly had the smarts and skill for it.
After finishing up the last of her work, she decided she felt exhausted and should go ahead and shower then change into her nightgown in case she accidentally fell asleep reading again. After fifteen minutes in the shower, she slipped on her favorite silk magenta gown and matching panties. Setting her cherished ribbon on the sink and combing through the long tresses with her fingers before running her brush through it for a good ten minutes.
The last thing she did before exiting the bathroom was brush her teeth. A wide yawn let her know that reading herself to sleep probably wouldn't be necessary for the night, and she had just pulled back the sheets when there was a steady knock on her door. Confused, she scrambled to go open it, surprised to find her brothers on the other side, clad in only their colorful boxers and nothing else.
She couldn't even open her mouth as they each grabbed an arm and yanked her through the doorway before dragging her down the stairs to a familiar door she hadn't been to in a while. They pushed it open with ease and tossed her in the middle of one of the softest mattresses she had ever felt before jumping in on either side of her.
She squealed as they all bounced from the weight and she realized it must be a water bed. They laughed, obviously used to this and she found herself giggling as she got over her initial shock. When was the last time they'd had a 'sleepover' like this?
"We thought you could spend the night with us from now on, starting tonight!" Kaoru explained, grinning.
"Not like you have a choice," Hikaru snorted. "If you don't agree, we'll just keep bugging you anyway...or sleep in your room. It works for us either way."
Kasumi rolled her eyes lightly but wouldn't have it any other way. "S-stop bouncing and I'll tell you my answer." she laughed. The boys obeyed and the bed gradually became still again.
Kasumi took a deep breath and looked at them with a smile, "I think...I choose...this!" she grabbed a nearby pillow and whacked a stunned Hikaru upside the head, giggling all the while.
It took him less than a second to recover before he grabbed his own pillow to begin fighting back with. Kaoru got in on it when they both assaulted him at the same time, and before long an all out pillow fight had ensued. Kasumi had no idea how long they play fought before Hikaru managed to tackle her to the bed, straddling her with his legs on either side of her thighs.
She squirmed shyly but he gave her a devilish grin and ripped the pillow she held to her chest away before beginning to tickle her without mercy. She squealed and squirmed and tried to break free, rolling around all the while. Kaoru came in from her other side so that everytime she squirmed away from Hikaru, Kaoru was their to continue the assault. Finally she could take it no more and panted her surrender, saying that she needed to breath.
They stopped, and she laid there pinned under them, her cheeks flushed red and her mouth parted almost sensuously. "I...I quit...you g-guys w-w-win..." she moaned. "T-two against one...s-so isn't fair though..."
She pouted and they laughed Hikaru getting up and Kaoru helping her sit up before they both hugged her to them and she felt someone blowing a raspberry into the side of her neck. She laughed wildly., frustrated that she had so many sensitive spots and that they still knew where to find them all.
They let her go and she collapsed back on the now rumpled sheets, "All's fair in love and tickle fights, sis." Kaoru said cheekily. She stuck her tongue out at him and turned on her opposite side.
"Hey, move over!" Hikaru dragged her further into the middle of the bed by her legs and Kaoru pulled back the sheets before they tucked her in and then climbed in under the covers beside her. She sighed contentedly, knowing this is what she'd been missing all those years. The simple good times just like this that she could share with her brothers. "I'm glad we're together again..." she whispered sleepily, her eyes fighting to stay open.
Two pairs of arms wrapped themselves securely around her waist and she felt warm, toned bodies on either side of her, loving how comfortably warm and safe she felt.
"We are too..." Hikaru whispered.
"Promise us no matter how old you get you'll always be our little sis..." Kaoru mumbled, nuzzling his face into her neck.
"I..." she yawned softly, "I promise," Hikaru nodded, his hair tickling her cheek.
"Good. We love you Kasumi," they both whispered, the last words she heard before she fell asleep.
Awww~! Could the Hitachiin's get any cuter?! Kasumi sure has an awesomely loving family. The dinner seen was kind of funny, especially since what I read about Yuzuha goes with her actions there. Anyway, I loooove Kasanoda, could ya tell? lol I was a little upset he didn't have more screentime in the anime, and so I decided that in this story, he'd be Kasumi's best guy friend.
Poor, awkward Kasanoda wouldn't know how to speak around a cute, innocent girl. lol XD Of course, with her fiercely protective brothers on the prowl, he'll have to stay on his toes to avoid getting burned...Will he develop feelings for her that cause Hikaru and Kaoru to want to beat him to kingdom come? Hmm...only time will tell. ;)
Please, please, please REVIEW!