Writing these first few chapters ahead of time, but posting them spread apart…

"Talking…"

"Both Twins!"

'SIGNing' (not singing)

*Sounds!* (or with ..!),

'Thinking'

Reading things

~Flashbacks~

Stressed words

REALLY stressed words

Specifically defining something

(May be in several different forms)

Disclaimer:

Umehito: Ahh~ De-chan has no power over the beautiful souls of Ouran Academy~ Nor does she have the ability to attain such things…

WARNING: Bad language throughout the story, Dark content as well. Reader's discretion (SP?) is advised… Rated M for Mature Audience, but this does not mean anyone older than some age. Anyone who wants to read this, can. All I ask is that you respect my privacy and that if you cannot stomach certain things, not to read this. Also, if you do not like this story, then please, do not review. Just leave.

Song inspiration: Whisper, by Evanescence. (No, these will most likely not all fit with the chapter, just stuff I listen to while writing… Oh~ Depressing music, how I love you… ;P)

'Catch me as I fall
Say you're here and it's all over now
Speaking to the atmosphere
No one's here and I fall into myself
This truth drives me
Into madness'

Chapter Dedication: To my twin and my first best friend on here, Beau Mercury! I love you Kaoru~! ;P

Obviously real or fake things will be pointed out at the bottom AN. (Probably)


Chapter 2; Maria's slave and The Phantom's Rumor: Midnight's P.O.V

*Riiiiiing..!*

Uh oh, there's the bell… This means it's time for more torture… I sign Umehito a goodbye and give him a hug before leaving the room to find Big Sis… It's the morning free period, and that means toting around all of Big Sis's things and doing whatever she wants me to. It's a drill I've come to know on impulse now and I quickly make my way through the shadows of the halls and toward the 3rd year classes.

She's in Class 3A… Her mother doesn't consider me intelligent enough or worth enough to be put into the higher class grades, but she's in there… What that woman doesn't know is that I do all of her homework and my own, along with most of the chores…

Some may think, 'What? Why would you have to do the chores when you're rich and have servants?' Well, it's because that's what I am to my step-mother… A servant. A 'low-life piece of trash that's only in this school because of her family's money' according to her. Also, just to serve Big Sis, but she'd never say that aloud…

I know it may sound ridiculous that I do all this for Big Sis, but if I didn't she'd tell her mother… I have no authority in my own home, and if I mess up or don't do something… Well, let's just say things get tense…

Plus, I made that promise to my Poppa…

Oh, there she is… I better hurry, she looks pissed…

"There you are!" She seethes under her breath. "You're late by two minutes! If you don't get your fat-ass moving sooner, I'll teach you a lesson myself…" She hisses, grabbing my arm roughly and dragging me down the corridors. I flinch at the pain but I don't resist… If I did, it'd just make things worse…

Soon we reach the back courtyard's maze and she turns to me, releasing my arm and wiping her hands on her clothes like I have some sort of disease. I know what happens next. She tells me to wait inside the gazebo in the middle of the maze with her stuff and work on her homework until the end of clubs. Then she expects me to get there before she leaves and walk her to her next class, books and all. I nod, and she leaves after tearing me down one more time, trying to get a reaction.

That's what she wants the most, but I never give in. I've already done all her work in advance though… Having told her teachers that she'd be gone for the rest of the week helps with that…I simply place the papers in their rightful folders and set her bag to the side before pulling out a round case.

Normal P.O.V

Now we turn to the other main characters of this tale… Six boys and one unfortunate girl that make up the infamous Ouran High-School Host Club. Out of these seven, only three are at least normal in some way… Fujioka Haruhi, Ootori Kyouya, and Morinozuka Takashi.

Right now though, we'll only focus on one… The Natural Type of the Host Club, Haruhi. Said slightly masculine girl was now trying to escape the host's antics for a brief while. She had just sat down on a bench in front of the maze when a strange melody flowed through the air.

"Huh?" She murmured, trying to see where the sound was coming from.

'Nothing out of the ordinary outside of the maze…' She thought before mentally drawling, 'Well… Other than the Host Club that is…'

With a sweat-drop, Haruhi went to inspect further inside the maze. When she thought she was lost, she'd strain to hear a hint of the tune and follow it to its source. The girl found the source surprisingly fast though, right as the sound ceased completely. To her surprise, she saw the outline of a tall, cloaked figure under a rose Gazebo.

"He-" She was cut off by the loud and obnoxious voices of the twins and the self-proclaimed 'King' of the host club calling her name. Turning around, she called back, "I'm coming!" But when casting another glance at the Gazebo, the figure was gone, no trace of whomever it was.

Shivering as an icy chill shot through her spine, Haruhi hurried out of the maze in a paranoid state.

"I should go to bed sooner…" She complained once she was with the hosts once more, their loud voices starting to make her think that they were the cause of some weird hallucinations.

"Haruhi~! Where were you? Daddy was so worried!" A hyper voice cried before the owner glomped the poor girl. Haruhi just deadpanned and pinched him to let go of her before turning around.

"I was just inside the maze, Senpai… And I don't need another dad!" She groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"You know Haruhi…" One of the twins started.

"You should be careful in that maze!" The other added, both leaning on her shoulders.

"And why's that? I don't see anything wrong with it…" Haruhi defended.

"Because!" They both said, "According to recent belief, it's haunted!" The twins then preceded to make ghostly noises and wiggle their arms, causing anger to boil inside of Tamaki.

"How dare you evil doppelgangers!" He shrieked, "Filling Haruhi's head with ghost stories!" He scoffed. Haruhi was surprised he didn't believe their foolish taunting though and looked up at him.

"Senpai?" She questioned, instantly regretting it as Tamaki grabbed her shoulders and looked down at her with fearful eyes.

"Because, Haruhi, everyone knows it's a Phantom!" He then twirled and struck a pose with his finger pointing upward. "There's a big difference you know! Ghosts are nice like the American, Casper! That phantom comes and goes as it pleases just to torment students, yet no one has seen it before!" He tries to justify his outburst with this as he rambles off reasons and other such things.

"That's because there is no Phantom, Tamaki…" A smooth voice drones behind our heroine.

Kyouya clicks a notebook shut and pushes up his glasses before continuing. "The only thing being said is that if you listen closely, you can hear someone playing some sort of wind instrument… It's most likely just a student practicing for Music Class or something… Besides, if someone was tormenting the students, don't you think I would have had it under control already?" He added, glasses flashing.

"B-B-But..! Kyouya!" Tamaki cried to the boy, a pitiful expression on his face.

As the two were arguing, Haruhi sighed and looked back to the garden entrance only to do a double take as something black flashed behind the thick brush.

'I…. Could have sworn I saw… someone..?' She thought, rubbing her eyes and shaking her head. 'I wonder if it really was a student or a… Phantom…' Laughing to herself, she just brushed it off and followed the rest of the hosts back inside to get dressed for later.

Midnight's P.O.V in the past, but not too long ago*

Opening the case, I take out my most prized possession. It's one of the few things I got to have right away after my father's death and really the only thing that woman isn't allowed to touch… An item that's almost priceless but one I'd never sell. The one thing that lets me truly express my emotions…

My father's handmade and painted glass Ocarina, Space… This instrument has been passed down throughout the family for centuries and I obtained it through that man, making it so much more special to me…

The whole of it is black, but on it was painted a silver, sparkling crescent moon on the right side, its holes being the 'fingering keys.' Also, on the other side where the left hand plays, the keys are made to look like a star, planet, comet, and sun. On the bottom curve of the Ocarina is the word 'Space' in Russian and cursive, written with white paint. This is an inside thing with our family but in a sort of mysterious way…

"When you are old enough to play, little one, Space will be yours to control… Through practiced time, all of your being can be played throughout Space, and it will ensnare anyone who may hear its cry or look upon its beauty…"

I snapped out of my daydream when I heard footsteps approaching, only then realizing that I had absentmindedly been running through one of the many dancing melodies Poppa had taught me. I quickly stopped playing and froze as a young boy came around the corner.

"He-" The boy was cut off by three voices, probably his friends, calling his name.

As this boy -Haruhi- turned to call back to them, I quickly leapt underneath the stone table in the middle of the Gazebo. Heart racing in my chest, I was actually glad to be silent for once as the footsteps slowly retreated. After a few more minutes I stood back up and brushed myself off before packing Space away and looking at the time.

'Crap, I better hurry… If I'm late..!' I worry, gathering all my things and Big Sis's. Soon, I'm rushing through the maze and towards the exit when I suddenly hear more voices.

"That's because there is no Phantom, Tamaki…" Someone from beyond the maze speaks, obviously exhausted at the person to whom he was speaking.

"The only thing being said is that if you listen closely, you can hear someone playing some sort of wind instrument… It's most likely just a student practicing for Music Class or something… Besides, if someone was tormenting the students, don't you think I would have had it under control already?" The young man speaks, making my heart still suddenly. I don't stick around to hear a retort before I suddenly slip past a thick hedge and begin to run.

Next thing I know, I've already passed the maze exit and made my way through the shaded sections of the trees, being careful to avoid the sunnier spots.

'Oh No… Others have heard me, to? What if Big Sis knows..?' The thought sends a chill down my spine as I run faster, breath starting to sound too short for my liking. I make it to her club room early though and wait patiently outside until the bell rings and she can leave to go to class.

Big Sis is in a cooking club… She tells me that one day she'll make a cake for some 3rd year named Hani-Senpai and his cousin, Mori-Senpai. I don't know who they are, and Maria has forbidden me to find out either way. It's alright though… Not like they would notice me anyway.

Though Bis Sis gushes about these two and their friends, I have a feeling that none of them really like her as much as she thinks they do… Also, her cooking is terrible. She makes me eat her 'experiments' sometimes and they're almost always burnt… I'm not exactly the best cook, but I don't burn water either…

"Are you going to the Host Club this evening, Maria-Senpai?" One of Big Sis's followers ask, holding the door open for her. She simply walks past her with a snobbish air before replying in her usual, snobby manner.

"Of course not, are you stupid?" She insults, causing the 1st year to flinch at her tone, "Didn't I tell you already that I was leaving for the spa early today? Really, someone as beautiful as moi deserves better!" She complains obnoxiously as if not hanging from her every word is a legitimate reason for arrest.

I hate it when she does that.

Maria looks over at me with a scowl and snatches her things from me, already starting to walk ahead. I'm happy for the weight to be gone, but I'm happier that she can't threaten me this time. We walk all the way to her class, but right before she orders me away, she pulls something from her bag and hands it to me.

"Here. You're going to skip class to go give this to a friend of mine in a younger class. Don't try to do your creepy signing thing, or even attempt to write a simple 'hello' on that horrid whiteboard of yours… If you do, I'll know… Just go to his class and make the teacher give it to him or something… He's in 2A and his name is on the card. Hurry up and go, I don't feel like looking at trash all day you know?" She snarls.

I hesitantly nod, receiving a sharp glare, before scurrying off to find the room of this person. It will take awhile, and knowing my luck I'll either get in trouble or end up making a fool of myself… Something like this is new to me though, she never sends me on personal deliveries… I wonder if it's a trap or something…

Coming to a pair of double doors with a sign reading 2A, I knock on the door two times and wait for a reply.

"Come in!" Calls a man's voice. I instantly shudder at the impatient tone and shakily reach for the door handles. Pushing them open, I step inside and close the door.

My face is hidden of course, and luckily, so are my accursed lips… The teacher looks at me once in surprise before signaling me over and speaking.

"Yes, what do you want? Shouldn't you be in class 2D?" This earns some whispers and I'm certain I heard one especially frightened gasp from someone in the back. "Enough, quiet down…" He commands.

I simply take out the note and point to the name before moving my finger down to Big Sis's signature. He nods in understanding before turning back to his class.

"Mr. Suoh, a note for you." The teacher signals for him to come down, and even though he said Mister, the male in question made a fairly feminine screech and paled before coming down to stand quivering in front of me. His teacher just rolled his eyes before speaking one last time, "If you're going to cause a scene, Suoh, please step outside and take this kid with you and out of my classroom… Make it quick."

I frowned unnoticeably and tried to stop my hands from twitching too much as Mr. Suoh led me out of the classroom and to the side a bit, still shaking. Although I was used to this reaction after someone saw my appearance, I was a bit confused and honestly distraught that someone I had never met was so appalled at the thought of even having to speak to me… That is, until I heard what the boy said next, anyway…

"O-oh, Nekozawa-kun! W-what a pleasant s-surprise!" I almost fell over I was in such shock, but I think he noticed my growing despair as he quickly tried to 'help' me… "Is there something you need? What's wrong, Nekozawa-kun? Gah! Did you lose Beelzenef! Oh no~! We're all going to be cursed if you can't find it aren't we!"

He flailed… This boy, Suoh, actually flailed… 'I think I should be the one trying to find out what his problems are…' I sweat-dropped.

Mr. Suoh tensed as I reached my hand out to him before he realized what was in it. He carefully took the note from my hands though and read it aloud, causing me to widen my eyes in terror at the words coming out of his mouth.

"Dear Tamaki-kun, I would very much appreciate it if you and the other hosts would be so kind as to try some of my homemade confections in two-day's time. The person delivering this message to you will bring them to the 3rd Music Room that day. You do not have to waste your time helping out though, as I'm sure you're busy enough, but these next few days I will be absent as my family is taking time off to relax from our busy life-style. The person delivering this message will leave immediately afterwards. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them… With Love, Maria BonFleur…"

Like I said earlier, Big Sis is a terrible cook. This means that I'll probably be doing everything this time as well, along with her homework, my own homework, and other household chores while she and her mother go off to have fun without me…. Like always…

Plus, now I'll be doing everything even more so alone since she told them not to help and I most likely won't even be allowed to taste my own creations… Great… The only good thing coming from this is that I'll be able to invite Umehito over while they're gone for the three school days and weekend.

"Nekozawa-kun, I didn't know you were friends with Maria-Hime! How great of you to make friends with a bright lady like her! Oh, I can see you starting to head down a better path already~!" He gushed, eyes now sparkling happily. Honestly, this Tamaki Suoh is kind of starting to scare me…

All I do is stand there awkwardly as he waits for a response. I was ordered not to interact with him and it's already bad enough that the teacher made him bring me out here, all alone… After awhile I just bow and turn to leave, but Tamaki grabs my shoulder suddenly, causing me to freeze in shock.

"Ah, wait! I get why Maria-Hime says you'll leave after delivering the cakes, but it's ok!" He cheers. I stay tense, eyes wide and fixated on the ground as I barely register his words. "I'll make Kyouya set up a darkened corner for you to sit at and you can eat with us to! After all, it's the least we can do for free catering and delivery!"

I can feel my whole body trembling as his hand leaves my shoulder. I need to get out, now. He looks at me and says something, but even as I lift my head to try and hear what he's saying better, it's all muffled to me. I can see eyes widening and staring only into mine for a brief second before things get blurred by my running past them.

Where's Umehito? He's the only one who can help me right now as I search for a familiar hallway. I don't know where I am, but if I don't find him quick, I may relapse into real shock… Tamaki's voice drifted off awhile back and now I'm nearing a doorway. It's black. Relief floods through me and I stumble through the doors and down into the Black Magic Club's room.

As I numbly look around the room, everything seems to be even darker than usual down here and I quickly wobble my way over to the couch before promptly passing out on it.

Normal P.O.V:

Tamaki wasn't quite sure what just happened, so naturally, he decided to just go with the dramatics…

"THE PHANTOM!" He shrieked, the color of an intense blue flashing through his mind as he ran back into his classroom. "SIR! THE PHANTOM'S IN THE SCHOOL! CALL THE SWAT TEAM! NO, THE GHOST HUNTERS! I SAW IT! IT'S REAL!"

The girls in the room predictably screamed and started freaking out and the guys just either tried calming them down or just sat there, looking at Tamaki like he had more than one head. One of these was, of course, Kyouya.

"Mr. Suoh, what did I say about causing a scene!" The teacher yelled, getting an irk mark on his brow, "If you do not sit down and be quiet this instant, I will make you stay for detention during after-school club activities for the next week! Same goes for all of you!"

In an instant, everything was back in order. Or so it seemed… If you looked closely, you'd notice Kyouya glaring daggers at Tamaki, who now had his mouth taped shut. It was a clear sign that if he even tried to speak, Kyouya would put him in his own personal hell. Tamaki could see it now, twins with pitchforks and all…

It was a quiet day after that…

Elsewhere, Umehito was beginning to get very anxious. It was nearing the end of the day, and still no sign of Midnight. He knew that if she wasn't fast enough, her step-sister would leave her there so he was even more worried. Although it wasn't uncommon to have to take her home, he was still confused as to where she could possibly be, especially if it was at the hands of Maria and her cruel friends…

The young man shuddered at the thought.

Eventually the last bell rang and Umehito was one of the first to leave, quickly going in the direction of the 3rd year corridor. He stopped in front of Maria's class and told her that Midnight was going to get a ride from him before hurrying further down the hall. He knew that if she were to go anywhere, it'd be the Black Magic Clubroom.

"Midnight~?" He called, opening the eerie sounding door and stepping in. After actually walking into the room, he saw two other members around the couch. "Hmm~? What's this..?" The two boys turned around and bowed to their club leader.

"Master Umehito! She's collapsed again!" One told him, jerking a thumb towards the covered figure on the couch.

"Yeah, we tried to wake her up without touching her, but she's out cold!" The other 1st year spoke, fear evident in his voice. Umehito sighed and nodded.

"I'll handle this… Go on, you two…" He told them, shooing them out the door. Even his own friends feared her. "Now what's wrong my dear Midnight..?" He asks quietly, brushing the flowing hair out of her face.

She stirs when his hands leave, the temporary warmth making her twitch. Umehito almost chuckles at this, knowing that she's naturally cold as ice. He's used to it by now, but she fears that it too, scares people away.

'People shouldn't feel like death on a daily basis…' She once thought.

Said girl slowly opens her eyes, not quite sure how long it had been since the last time doing so. She looks over at Umehito and nods at him tiredly, not quite awake enough to smile yet.

'Hello…' She lazily signs. He replies the same way, making her feel more comfortable. Sitting up, Midnight looks around and sees what she feels is her secret hiding place. She knows that Maria would never step foot in here, too scared to even imagine what might lie behind the closed, black doors.

Umehito looks at her pointedly, only getting her full attention after several minutes have passed by.

"What happened..? It's unlike Maria to send you out on errands personally…" He asks, concern deeply evident in his voice.

Right as she went to sign the beginning of her sentence, a loud *thump..!* was heard from the door leading into the third music room. She jolted nervously, instinctively grabbing Umehito's hand with her own shaking one.

"Stay here…" He said quietly, smiling reassuringly at her and gently removing her hand. She nodded but only let him leave after she'd hid better, behind the dark purple curtains on the sides of the room.

Peaking out ever so slightly, Midnight was just able to see Umehito's form opening the door up enough to poke his head through. She could hear fine though, of course. Having one sense missing means that the others are heightened to make up for it.

"Hmm~? What do we have here? Fufufufu… Suoh-kun, how interesting…" He chuckled, using his dark facade to spook the poor blonde.

"AAAAAAAAGH..!" Said blonde screamed, soul floating from him.

"Senpai…" Haruhi sighed, pulling his soul back down. "First the twins haul you through here after Kyouya, and now you're flipping out over Nekozawa-senpai's entrance… What's gotten into you this time?"

"OH HARUHI~!" The idiot we all know and love cries, now behind the poor Tanuki-girl and hugging her tightly. "Poor naïve Haruhi! That's not Nekozawa-kun! It's the phantom! I saw it with my own eyes earlier outside of my classroom!"

Haruhi just tunes him out, questioning why she even asked in the first place. Midnight, on the other hand, cringes and hides fully behind the curtains.

"Really, Tamaki… Enough with this 'Phantom' stuff… It could have been another one of Nekozawa-san's acquaintances…" Kyouya commented, smiling politely at Umehito.

"Yeah Tama-chan! You're scaring me and Usa-chan!" Hani says, clinging to Mori and said pink bunny.

"Ah…" Mori adds.

"Way to go boss!" Hikaru and Kaoru mock, flashing him a thumbs up and a cheeky grin.

"B-B-B-BUT!" Tamaki gives up, retreating to his emo-corner... "Not believing me… Some friends…" He mumbles, poking his many bouncy mushroom tops.

"Oh..?" Nekozawa speaks. He quietly closes the door behind him and leans against it. "There are rumors of a phantom? Are there any sightings or descriptions~?" He inclines, getting a bad feeling about this.

"Yes, apparently…" Kyouya glances at Tamaki, "Originally students would say they could hear eerie music wafting through the Garden maze during breaks, or lunch… Now, however, Tamaki has supposedly 'interacted' with it…"

"Yes!" Tamaki springs up, gently grabbing one of Umehito's shoulders. "It gave me a note from Maria BonFleur today! At first I thought it was you, but when I told it that I was happy it could be friends with Maria-Hime, it just bowed and walked away! I grabbed the look-alike's shoulder to try to ask it to stay after delivering some sweets, but it froze up for awhile…" He paused for dramatic effect, "When it looked up at me… All I could see was icy contempt..!" He shudders.

Umehito now just nods, understanding things perfectly well. "Yes, it seems we're dealing with a real Phantom Suoh-san… Good luck~! Fufufufufu~!" He leaves, messing with the poor blonde's head once more.

When he opens the doors and shuts them behind him again, Midnight knows she's in for a brisk scolding. Surprisingly enough, Umehito just sits on the couch and calls her over. While walking towards him though, she makes note of the very tired expression on his face. He's also taken off his dark attire.

Now she knows this is serious.

Midnight removes her cloak as well before going and gracefully sitting at his feet. Her hands instinctively mold around his, feeling every crevice or pattern that's there. He also runs his fingers through her long tresses instinctively, both of them being used to doing this in the darkness.

"Midnight…" He speaks low, feeling her nod her head in affirmation. "I think you should… Stop playing the Ocarina for now…"

And once again, Midnight's world gets a little bit darker...


Author's Note: Ch.2 DONE~!

SOOOOO glad that I could work on this! YES, this IS a KyouyaxOC story. No, it may not end how you think it might.

Not answering any questions here this time… Other than the fact that I DO have awesome cousins like Umehito!

Ok, well… Thanks everyone who reads this! I will get back to reviewers each chapter, but I had this one done before I even posted the first one, so we'll see how things go according to my busy schedule… ^^'

With Tragic Love,

-De