I'm posting these in accordance to how they were broken up when I found it so I'm just putting them at once. Might be another chapter? Not sure. Enjoy :)

It was 5:00 when I got home. I was looking forward to the nap I promised myself, when my phone rang. It was my mother, informing me that we would have guests over, and to be on my best behavior. I immediately had my driver take me to the nearest coffee shop.

Groaning, I pulled myself up the stairs to my bedroom. I hated our spiral staircase. It was far too elaborate for my taste. And it meant going in tons of circles. My room was in the third hall, fourth door on the right. I had no idea why we needed so many rooms. Okay, well I kind of understood but it still wasn't fun. We had three master bedrooms, four regular, and five guest rooms. There were at least six bathrooms in this mansion, as well. It takes a good five minutes to get from the front door to my room. There are three wings to the house, and I reside in the left wing. My parents are in the right, and the three small rooms we have for the staff are on the right. The main house holds the kitchen, dining room, swimming pool, indoor garden ( I still don't understand that one), and several other sitting areas. My side has the media room, guest rooms, and more sitting rooms. I do have my own personal bathroom, though. The Right Wing holds meeting rooms, studies, the library, ballroom, and whatever else my parents put over there.

I finally made it to my room, and then crashed on my bed. It was still very plain, with beige walls and cream colored furniture. I stopped decorating it like I used to after the incident. The first year, I had gone into rampage and painted it black, but I quickly got over it and found a neutral color I could agree with.

There wasn't anything very special about my room, besides the fact that it was always clean. But I had maids who picked up everything. I tried telling them last year that I was perfectly capable of cleaning my own room, but they insisted. I just think they wanted a job that didn't include rubbing the purple wine stains out of the carpet. I was easy to pick up after. I was rarely ever home, and when I was I was studying.

I sighed and checked my phone. While most kids at Ouran got the most expensive model they could find, I got exclusive access to the PineApple phones that hadn't even come out yet. There was a whole room of them at my Father's building, and every three months he would take me over to pick a new one. It was his company, after all.

I had three texts and a voicemail. The first text was from my cousin May, who stated she was coming over in two weeks for a surprise visit to Father, so don't tell. I rolled my eyes. My Father adored May. More than his own daughter. I didn't quite understand it, but she was his favorite niece. She liked him just the same. I replied with an 'okay.'

The next text was from Kyoya, regarding next week's shipment. He sent me the details of what exactly he wanted on the cakes, and I quickly grabbed my notes to copy it down before I forgot. When I first opened it, I was worried it was going to be something bad about the shipment I brought in today. The boxes weren't damaged but I had no idea what the inside looked like. When asked about the quality, he responded that everything was in order, as usual.

The final message was sent by Chika. She was wondering if I would be attending her parents' party next Friday. I shot a text back, explaining I could try to make it, but I was certain there was something in my schedule. She instantly replied. "You're always busy," I read aloud. I sighed. "That is something I won't deny, Chika."

I opened up my voicemail, only to get a message from Mother. "Oh Leighton. You must be busy getting ready. I wanted to tell you that the guests will be there a bit earlier than expected, so I need you to entertain them for a while. I'll be home at around 6:30. They'll be there at 6. Please don't mess this up for me. Oh, and Leighton? Please change your voicemail. I don't think I can bear it anymore."

I sighed and looked at the time; Five fifteen. I'd have to hurry to get ready in time. Did she want me dressed formally? Not so formally? Who was it that was coming over? I hopped to my closet and rummaged around. I had a nice Kimono I could wear. Did she want me in a Kimono? No, I didn't like them that much.

After searching for about ten minutes, I located a semi-formal dress I could wear. It wasn't terribly extravagant, more like a casual dress. It stopped about mid-thigh and cinched at the waist. The skirt part of it was loose, and I had to put on some shorts under it. The fit was a bit tight, as if it were meant for someone shorter. The color had faded. After a moment I realized why I didn't have this dress out in front with the others. It wasn't mine.

I threw the thing back where it was, as if it were made of a billion spiders. I closed my eyes and began muttering to myself. "You have to keep going forward. You don't want to fall through the floor. Keep going. Forward. Forward…." I was hyperventilating, memories surfacing that shouldn't. I'd worked hard to shove them down.

Once I finally calmed down, I grabbed a different dress. It was velvety olive green and went to my knees. The top part was a bit tight and revealing for my liking, but I liked the halter. The skirt flared out and was covered in intricate swirling designs; nothing like the other one. Perfect.

I strapped on my wedges and walked into the bathroom. I enjoyed my heels, as they made me so much taller. I wasn't exactly short, being at the 5'6 I was, but in heels I could be tall; more in control. My wedges offered at least four inches. I quickly did my makeup and curled my wavy hair.

Mother used to gush at me and claim I was the spitting image of her when she was my age. The dark hair, light eyes, round face sort of deal. It was all I ever wanted: being like my mother. Her attitude towards our likeness nowadays was a bit less enthusiastic. "I suppose," she would say, "but all those mistakes? I was far more responsible."

Once finished, I checked the time. 6:00. Perfect. I ran down the stairs to make my way over to the main building, where we would have dinner. I paused when I heard voices. Oh no, were they already here? I stopped my running and walked into the front room. Room is sort of an understatement though.

"-said that her daughter would be here to greet us" I heard a woman's voice. The guests, but who were they?

I glanced over to see a woman, about thirty to forty, talking to my butler. She had sort of auburn hair, and a calm smile. She was gorgeous, but I just couldn't place where I had seen her before. It took a moment of calculating, when I realized she said 'us.'

A quick glance around made me realize who I would be dining with tonight. Hikaru and Kaoru stood a ways back from their mother, looking around bored. One of them saw me, however, and his eyes went wide. I cursed silently to myself. I should have paid more attention to my mother's messages about her guests tonight. Their mother was still having conversation with Arata, but when the twins nudged her and pointed, she stopped all conversation.

"Oh, you must be Mitchell, Leighton." She greeted kindly. Arata, seeing he was no longer needed, left the room to go check on supper. I bowed politely and nodded. "I'm Hitachiin, Yuzuha. These are my sons, Hikaru and Kaoru." She gestured back towards the twins, who were now suddenly interested in me.

I nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Hitachiin-sama. And nice to see you two once again today." I bowed to Hikaru and Kaoru.

Being polite, they bowed back in unison. "The pleasure is all ours," They said, full host mode. I often heard of the silly antics they did at school, including the 'Which One is Hikaru Game!' I personally had never bothered to attempt to tell the two apart, as I didn't associate with them. However, I knew for a fact that they were not identical. I knew a thing or two about twins, and no two people are exactly alike. I felt a small memory bubbling, and I quickly stuffed it down. Not in front of guests.

"Please, come in and sit. My mother should be here shortly, she works late hours." I explained, inviting them all to sit down on the couch. Once everyone was comfortable, I started up some small talk. "So, Hitachiin-sama, you are a fashion designer, yes?"

She smiled. "Yes, I am. I'm working on a new line currently, and…." I continued half listening. If there is one thing you should know about designers of any kind, it's that they can really get talking about their work. Yuzuha was no different from my mother.

I nodded and smiled in all of the right places, just like I was taught to. This is what I would have to do, once I owned the family business. I didn't really see myself getting PineApple, as I was sure May would inherit that, but my mother's businesses were all mine. She hated her nephews with a passion. Mostly because she hated her sister. The only family members she got along with on her side were her cousin Valerie and her mother.

The twins were very polite while their mother spoke, and kept staring at me as if I was some new creature. Like they wanted to try out a new toy, but couldn't until they got home. It made me slightly uncomfortable. I shifted in my seat, glancing at them every so often. When was my mother returning?

Speak of the devil and she will come. The front door opened, and in flew my mother, still wearing her sundress and sunhat. Her sun glasses were brand new, never been worn before today. She was carrying a few bags for work.

"Hello. I'm sorry to keep you waiting for so long. I got a bit tied up at work. The girls were being a bit uncooperative." She went to shake Yuzuha's hand, and then realized we were still in Japan. She quickly recovered and bowed. "It's a pleasure to have you come over for dinner tonight, Hitachiin-sama." She said politely.

The redheaded woman laughed. "I know how that can get. My girls can have outrageous demands at times. And thank you for inviting us. It's Yuzuha."

My mother grinned. She much preferred first names. Or maybe she was excited at the idea of being close to such a fashion giant. "Yuzuha-sama, then."

Arata came in and quickly took my mother's things. "Dinner is ready, Ma'am." He said before stalking off. Arata had been with us for a while, unlike the maids. He was here before... Before things went bad. He was very understanding of our family.

"Ah!" She said brightly. "Perfect timing then. Let us all go and eat. Arata will take your jackets once in there."

..

The dinner was ok. I'd certainly had better. The Hitachiins were quick to compliment it, however. Etiquette. My mother hadn't even thought about the fact that we were in Japan and usually people in Japan don't eat with Forks. She usually wasn't allowed to throw parties or dinners while my father was out for this notorious forgetfulness. I only heard one complaint from our guests, however. And that came from one of the twins in a very hurried whisper.

"Forks are so American. Aren't we still in Japan? I can't eat with this."

A memory suddenly popped up in my head.

"How the hell am I supposed to eat with these?!" I yelled, staring at my chopsticks. They were so foreign. And what about soup? How did I go about eating that?

Father's gaze snapped to me. "We are going to be in Japan for a long time, so you will learn the customs. And watch your mouth! Can you not do anything right, child? She was never like this, you know!"

Mother frowned. "Brendan, please don't bring her up at this table." She turned to me. "Leighton, just… do as your father says." She went back to eating her own food. Silence from her.

I grumbled the whole night, but eventually got the hang of it. I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't think I can do anything right."

I grimaced at it. We had just moved to Japan. I adjusted horribly, hating the honorifics and the culture and the people. I was a brat and a child and I knew it.

One of the twins, seeming to notice my zoned face, leaned over and whispered, "Are you alright? If you faint, I can always catch you."

I blushed very faintly before turning to the boy. Our parents were deep into conversation. They hardly even noticed us. I examined the redhead before saying very quietly, "I am fine, Hitachiin-san. There will be no need for catching."

And that was the end of that. The twin was hoping I'd say something else, I suppose. Maybe trying to rouse me? I shook it off and continued eating. It did not matter.

"Oh Sophia-san, your daughter is just so adorable. I would love to have her over some day to dress her up."

I turned to the adults, confused as to why the conversation was now suddenly me. I blushed faintly at the compliment and smiled at the woman. I was sure she was joking, only offering a polite jest.

My mother, not liking having the attention diverted, began laughing. "That's my Leighton, just the spitting image of me." She smiled, waiting to be showered with compliments.

Yuzuha, however, shook her head. "Oh yes, she resembles you, but she's got something…different. I see so much life in those eyes." She leaned closer towards me, her face contemplative. "It's like a fire that can't be dampened from any civil waters."

My blush deepened. Who knew the woman was so poetic? I wasn't used to so many compliments. My parents only ever praised occasionally, if at all. "Thank you, Hitachiin-sama. I do believe however that you are much prettier." It was not a lie. The woman had all the right curves in all the right places. It was impossible to not notice.

She grinned. Evidently flattery worked with her. "Oh she's so sweet, too. You've raised a great daughter, Sophia-san."

Soon they were talking again, my mother glancing at me occasionally with both confusion and disdain. My mother was spoiled. She loved attention and got upset when she didn't get it. When I was young I would tell her all about how beautiful she was and that someday I was going to be just like her. Her smile was always a treat. She'd tuck my hair back and whisper in my ear "You'll be even prettier."

That mother was gone now, though. Ever since the incident she had pulled away almost completely. You know she left you the second the-

I shook my head slightly. I wasn't going down that road. I needed to keep composure; for now, anyway. I'd had many slips in thought today. "Leighton." My mother called.

"Yes Mother?" I responded immediately. She was most likely going to dismiss me.

"Why don't you take the Hitachiin boys around the house; give them a tour."

I nodded and stood in my chair. Exactly what I was expecting. She didn't like the threat I was posing for attention. "Hitachiin-sans? Would you like to follow me?"

It wasn't long before the three of us were walking quietly. Silently, to put a more accurate term to the situation. I had a feeling none of us truly wanted to be wandering the house, but I couldn't begin to think about what to discuss.

They looked around at our walls. Their expressions seemed to be vaguely interested in the art, at least. Or so I thought. "Hey, Mitchell-senpai. Not to sound rude, but…" The higher pitched one started.

"Where are all of your family pictures?" The other asked.

I froze for only a millisecond. Most people didn't really ask about our choice of decor, but it struck a chord. "All family photos are scattered on the Right Wing. My Parents' wing." I lied. We boxed up our family pictures.

They looked to each other and shrugged. "So where are you taking us?"

I sighed. "To the indoor garden." The only actual point of interest in this giant hole of a home, in my own opinion. I decided not to add the last part.

They stopped walking, causing me to turn around. "Indoor Garden?" The deeper voiced twin asked. I nodded. "Don't you think that's a little…"

"Extreme?" I finished for him. I didn't like how comfortable they felt with commenting. Couldn't they just act like good heirs and smile and nod? "Yes, I do actually. But we have a garden in the middle of our house. That is where I am taking you."

I began moving again, but they did not follow. I looked at them expectantly. They were giving each other smirks, which I was not comfortable with. I had heard how two were in middle school. I did not want to be victim of a prank, if that's what this was. Their looks made me mildly uneasy.

"Wouldn't your room be a cooler place to visit?" One of them grinned at me. I think I saw a grin like that in a nightmare once.

The other was quick to jump on the train. "Yeah, Mitchell-senpai it'd be great to see where you sleep and do other things."

I think my jaw might have dropped. I knew the twins were fairly notorious for behavior such as this, but I didn't actually think I would see it in person. Did they really think this was appropriate? "My room is off-limits." I put simply. "To the garden then?"

They whined. Oh my God, were they good at whining. Who taught them that? It was grating. "But Mitchell-Senpai" Deep Voice whined in a sing-song. "Why not?"

"Yeah, we only want to hang out with you."

"Please?"

I looked at them with a grimace. Were they used to being handed what they want? Likely. How childish. Didn't they know that sometimes you must work to get what you want? I shook my head firmly. "My room is off-limits."

They pouted. Oh, they pouted until pouting wasn't enough. They started annoying me; poking and jabbing me. "Hey, Mitchell-senpai, do you have a boyfriend? I'm sure you do."

"Mitchell-senpai, can I meet him?"

"Where's your dad, Mitchell-Senpai?"

"Do you think this suit looks ok on me, Mitchell-Senpai?"

"Mitchell-senpai, can we get a cat together?"

"Mitchell-senpai!"

"Uaghhhhhh!" I growled and twirled on them. I'd had it. If they wanted to mess with me I wouldn't sit and take it. They were a bit surprised by my outburst, but then went back to smiling with victory. "I cannot stand one more 'Mitchell-sempai this' or 'Mitchell-sempai that.'" I mocked their voices. "I will not take this harassment in my own home, do you understand?!"

They blinked at me. "But Mitchell-sen-"

"NO!" I shouted with as much force I could muster in the quiet halls. "No more Mitchell-senpai. I am Leighton. I don't care what stupid Japanese honorific you give me, but my name is now, and forever, Leighton. If I have to hear my last name one more time I will pull my hair out. Now, we are headed to the stupid indoor garden to cleanse our fucking minds from the God-awful name of Mitchell-senpai." I turned my fiery eyes to them, only to see them chuckling to themselves. "Is something funny?"

One of them looked at me with mischief. "We were expecting a reaction…"

The other looked like he was going to die. "But not one so…"

He trailed off, looking to his twin. They nodded. "Childish."

I blushed deep red. I had slipped: big time. "I am not acting childish! You two are! I am acting like any normal human being would after being assaulted verbally by redheads."

A raised eyebrow popped into my view. "Verbally assaulted by redheads? What does that even mean? Is there something wrong with red hair?"

The second twin, which I had a feeling was younger (?), nodded his agreement. "Yeah, you have something against red hair?"

I twitched. "Honestly? I might after today."

They pouted. How do you have an identical pout? "Well that's not fair for you to be so against us. What did we do?" I decided Older One was my least favorite.

I flinched "Fuck the garden, let's just go to the front door and wait for your mother…" They grinned in a manner similar to the Cheshire Cat. I shifted on my feet. "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

"You wouldn't want us to tell our mother how bad of a host you were, would you?"

"Yelling at her guests! How atrocious."

"Unless of course she wanted to invite us to her room."

"Good idea Hikaru! Leighton-chan?"

I narrowed my eyes. Had I really just been talking to them like I knew them? What was I doing? That was the old Leighton. The new Leighton was going to be professional and not have outbursts. That was the second one today. Did I have any dirt on the Hitachiins? I thought for a moment. An invisible light bulb seemed to hover: Haruhi Fujioka=girl.

No, I couldn't use that one. Not yet. Not until I had more on the whole Host Club. Would it be so bad having them in my room? My journal was packed away in my bag, my business folders were all put away, my laptop locked, and old photos boxed up and shoved in my closet. I shouldn't have to worry too much. But I also couldn't make it seem like I was okay with it. Sometimes to win the war, you have to lose the battle.

"Fine." I said curtly. "But you aren't touching anything. Come on…"

…

"Leighton, what does this do?"

"That's a pen, Hitachiin-san."

He pouted. "It doesn't look like a pen."

I sighed and sat up in my bed, snatching it from him. It was really a laser-pointer and a pen, but I wasn't giving the fucking feline a laser pointer. "Just don't play with it." I looked over to the other twin. "What are you doing with my phone!?"

He was currently trying to guess the password, looking around the room for a hint. He'd never figure it out. It was a random stream of numbers. I snatched my phone from him. "Hey, I just wanted to see what generation you had! I haven't seen that one before. Here, you can look at mine." He tossed his phone at me, snatching mine back.

I glanced at the phone in my hands. "Mine hasn't come out yet. It will next month, and you can get one for yourself, because this thing is a little outdated." I looked at the flip phone and grimaced. "When did you get this? 2007?"

He shrugged. "I don't have any use for fancy phones. Hikaru's got a nice one though."

I looked to the other twin. Hikaru is the one with a deeper voice, then. I was slowly learning the difference, but that's only if they are actually calling each other by their names. He was looking around my room with a bored expression. He looked over at me. "Here, take a look if you want."

He threw his phone at me and I compared it to his brother's. Hikaru had much better taste in phones. It was a PineApple SmartUniverse, in black. Our newest addition. "Very wise decision." I commented. I was starting to get into my nerdy side. "SmartUniverse is one of our newest, and the best yet. Well, except mine. That's the 6th generation PineApple Zodiac you've got in your hands, Kaoru."

Both twins looked at me. Oh shit, what did I do? Did I say something wrong? Did I- oh. "I-I mean Hitachiin-san." I stared at my hands in embarrassment. I had zoned out again. I was doing it a lot lately. I grew up in England, I couldn't help calling people by their first name. It seemed natural. Maybe because this setting was so relaxed?

"How do you know I'm Kaoru?" He questioned.

Oh. Is that why they're weird-ed out? "You called your brother Hikaru. I just assumed that meant you were Kaoru. Unless of course you were lying just to trick me." I mumbled the last part, but I was certain they both caught it. They shared a look. I felt discomforted.

Hikaru- or at least I thought it was- came up behind me and snaked his arms around my waist. I yelled in surprise, fighting to get out of his grasp. Names are one thing, touching is a very different thing. Kaoru popped up in front, and I was suddenly in a Hitachiin-sandwich.

"You can let go of me!" I yelled at them. This was horribly inappropriate, especially on my bed. My cheeks were redder than tomatoes. I wasn't sure how to react to this.

"Oh Leighton-chan" Hikaru said from behind. His breath was warm and sticky and uncomfortable.

"You're so perceptive. Maybe we should keep you." Kaoru continued.

I struggled to free myself, slightly miffed at the thought of being 'kept.' "That's great and all, but can I please have my body back?"

They both instantly let go. "You're no fun," They pouted in unison. That was a slightly freaky image.

I stuck my tongue out at them, then froze, realizing what I was doing. Please. You are so childish. You just can't help it, can you? Saying a small quip here, blowing up now and again, and taking a jab there? I brought my tongue back where it belonged and stood from my bed. "W-we better get going. I'm sure our mothers are finished conversing."

I rushed to the door and held it open for them. It felt so good to let go, even for a minute. It'd been forever since I could have fun; playful teasing and bickering. I don't know why I had acted like that, though. Was it the twin thing?

Both twins gave strange looks from the bed. Hikaru - maybe? - was now lying down, Kaoru sitting close by. "But don't you want to join us?"

I blushed deep red. Well, never mind about feeling comfortable with them. "I-It's wise we go downstairs now. Please remove yourselves from my bed, Hitachiin-sans."

They shrugged and got up. "You're so much more fun outside of school," Kaoru (?) stated as we walked down the hall. I had gotten them mixed up again. "I never even knew you had the capability to blush."

I hid the newest red that wanted to be shown. I chose to not respond, instead leading them to the front room. There Yuzuha was waiting, a big smile on her face. "Boys! How was the tour? Fun I hope?"

They slyly glanced to me. "Oh yeah. Tons." I fidgeted nervously, hoping the adults didn't notice the looks. Both women were oblivious.

My mother and I said our partings to our 'friends' and bowed in respect. When I got to Hikaru, he went up to my ear and whispered, "Until next time, Leighton." It made me nervous.

Once they were gone, my mother let out a soft sigh. "It has been far too long since I've had a friend who understands me. I think I just made a great acquaintance. Come, my daughter," She looked at me with happy eyes, "Sit with me a while."

I complied, a bit shocked and wary. She had me sit next to her on the couch, my head resting on her lap. I wanted to cry. She hadn't done this since before the incident. Was she drunk? I looked up at her as she played with my hair. "Oh Leighton. I miss her so much. And your voicemail today…" Her smile cracked and she took a shaky breath. It returned hesitantly. "I missed this, you know." She said as she stroked my cheek. "I want her back so bad, Leighton. I know you do too. Your father, he doesn't understand…"

I didn't want to interrupt. Mother only ever got like this when she was drunk, and she could change moods very quickly when under the influence of alcohol. One word from me might send her into a rage.

"I've never had anyone to talk about it with. Brendan… he wouldn't discuss it with me. I wasn't going to talk about it with you; you were traumatized as it was. The counselor didn't help any…" I felt a drop of salty water hit my cheek. I almost started crying myself. She was never this honest with me, even when drunk. "And all Brendan could think about was how he had to pass on his company to you now. How he would rather die than give it to such a child. I tried, baby. I tried telling him you were a child."

I was crying now. Silent tears raining down my made-up cheeks. The only thing keeping me from sobbing was the fear of being thrown out of my mother's lap. Not that it would make a difference at this point. She looked down at me, then scowled. "It was your own fault though, wasn't it? That's what he told me. You were the one who got her killed. You were the one who said to go out. You were the one!"

She was screeching at me now. I quickly got up and off the couch, going to my room as quickly as I could. She was sobbing when I left.

I stared at my ceiling for a good hour. You were the one that got her killed. I didn't mean to. It was your fault though, wasn't it? It was a mistake. A stupid, childish mistake. I reached under my bed and pulled out the picture. I fell asleep crying silently, clutching the picture as tight as I could.