Hello chickadees! Here's the second chapter. Updates from now on will be a little sporadic. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own OHSHC

Warning: Profanity! Yay!

Chapter 2

A Huge Tidal Wave of Emotion

"Who were you on the phone with?" asked Haruhi nonchalantly.

Kyoya pocketed his phone. "I was receiving an update from the hospital."

Haruhi was somewhat surprised. The host rarely divulged any information on private manners.

"If you don't mind my asking, sempai, but what for?" Haruhi enquired, deciding to press her luck.

Kyoya spared a look at the other hosts. They were currently on the private jet back to Bunkyō. Honey was conked out on Mori's lap, the latter host gazing out the window, Tamaki was snoozing as well, and the twins were watching a movie with their headphones.

"You recall when you were pushed off the edge of the cliff?" he asked.

"Yes," Haruhi remembered well. She was saved by Tamaki, and then scolded for her earlier actions.

"Shortly after you all went inside, I had some matters to discuss with my family's police force about the lack of security. One of our customers, Shiori Igawa, came running. I had assumed all of our customers had left, but I was unfortunately mistaken," said Kyoya, adjusting his glasses. "Kokoro Honda, Miss Igawa's friend, had taken a last minute swim. During the incident involving the punks, she was in the water."

"And?" Haruhi prodded.

Kyoya cleared his throat. "Well, it has been decades since the last shark attack in the area. They are not known to come so close to the shores."

"Is that why Mori-sempai had blood on his hands?" asked Haruhi quietly.

Kyoya sighed. "Yes. Though, fortunately, Miss Honda has survived."

"Most of her," a deep voice resounded. Haruhi looked up sharply, her eyes meeting with the silent host's.

"Oh," was all she said. Haruhi felt intense sympathy for the girl. If her memory served correct, the girl was on the volleyball team, along with a couple of the Host Club's other customers.

"Do not worry about her. My family's hospital has the best doctors around. She is in good hands," said Kyoya.

Haruhi nodded, though she knew that no doctor was that good. The best doctor in the world couldn't fix the girl, whatever she had lost. Not to mention the emotional trauma the girl endured.

Eventually, the matter was shoved to the back of her head when the other hosts began to get restless. Trying to keep several rich bastards occupied so they'd stop annoying her was quite the task. Tossing them "commoner" sweets could only keep them at bay for so long.

"HA! EAT MY DUST!" shouted Koko.

"WHY DON'T YOU EAT MINE?!" countered Haruto.

"IF I WANTED MY OWN COMEBACK, I WOULD'VE WIPED IT OFF YOUR THIRD CHIN!" retorted Koko.

Koko was sitting up in the hospital bed with a controller in her hands. Her brother was seated on the edge of the hard, half-plastic half-metal chair parallel to the bed. Both siblings were glaring at the television screen, each guiding a character in a cart.

Just then, a weary nurse poked her head through the entry. "Miss Honda, there is someone here to see you."

"Send 'em in," replied Koko, eyes still glued to the screen.

"SUCKER! You just got owned!" cried Haruto.

"Noooo!" wailed Kokoro, theatrically tossing an arm over her eyes, "I was so close!"

"Ahem," someone cleared their throat, interrupting the pair.

Koko peeked out, and saw Kyoya Ootori in the doorway.

Haruto checked his watch. "I should probably get going. I've got work to do!" he said, shutting off the console.

"Fine. But I want a rematch when I get out of here," Kokoro called after her brother's retreating back.

"So what brings you here, today?" she asked, grinning at the poised boy.

"I had some business to attend to with my father, and I thought I would drop by to see how you are doing," said Kyoya.

"Well, I'm doing swell," she informed him cheerfully.

Kyoya raised an eyebrow. "Has the hospital been accommodating?" he asked.

"Yup, it's great. I get food whenever I want, and the television gets hundreds of channels," she replied. "How're things at school? How's the Host Club?" Right now, she was just trying to make conversation. It was boring at the hospital, and she didn't get too many visitors.

"School is the same, as usual," said Kyoya. "And business at the Host Club is decent."

"That's good," said Koko. "I don't get many updates from the outside world. The only ones who come regularly are my parents and my brother. Satomi's got a cold, and Shiori doesn't really like hospitals. I think the whole leg thing makes her uncomfortable."

Kokoro observed Kyoya's eyes flit to the outline of her legs. She had the starched sheets draped over them, since the hospital gown was kind of drafty.

"That is most unfortunate, but I hope that our staff has made you feel at home," he said.

Koko's face fell. "You didn't come to see me on your own will, did you?" she asked.

Kyoya pressed his lips together, and adjusted his glasses.

Koko sighed, rather exasperated. "Your father sent you to make sure we wouldn't sue, right?" She wasn't one to beat around the bush.

"Yes," Kyoya gave a reluctant nod.

"At least you're straightforward," she muttered dryly. "We're not going to sue. You can't, uh, tame the sea, or what's in it." There was an awkward silence following her statement.

"If you don't mind, Miss Honda," said Kyoya. "I must be going."

"Err, right, duty calls, I guess? I'll see you at school," responded Koko.

As Kyoya turned to leave, Kokoro called after him, "Hey, Kyoya-kun?"

He looked back at the girl in the hospital bed. "Yes?"

"Could you tell Azusa, if you see her at school, that I'm sorry?" asked Koko. "For well, err… You know, not being at practice?"

Kyoya frowned, but nodded nonetheless, "I will. Have a good day, Miss Honda."

"It's Koko. And you, too," she replied.

Kokoro watched him leave. Now she left alone to her own devices. She'd already been in the hospital for far too long. The hospital would be releasing her in two days' time, so she was stuck there for the time being, with absolutely nothing to do. There was no way she was going to watch her brother's copy of 'Mamma Mia!' again. He had forced her to watch it four times in the past couple days following her surgery.

She seized the remote, and flipped through the channels until she fell asleep.

By the next afternoon, Kokoro had been released from the hospital. She'd been ecstatic about escaping the confines of the dreary hospital earlier than expected. After much convincing, Koko was granted permission by the mothership (her mother) to attend school the following day.

At the moment, her mother was driving her to the Academy.

"Haruto will pick you up after school, though you'll have to wait a bit, since he doesn't get off work until after four. He'll take you to your appointment with the prosthetist at four-forty-five," said her mother, pulling into the school's drop-off zone.

Several limousines and expensive cars were lined up. Her mother's luxurious vehicle fit right in. Kokoro's parents weren't keen on showy things, but they definitely indulged in lavish transportation.

"Sounds good," replied Koko, giving a forced smile.

"I'll get your things," said her mother, hopping out of the car and unlocking the trunk's latch.

Koko waited in the passenger's seat, chewing on her lip. She wasn't nervous about seeing her friends and classmates; she was nervous about tripping and falling flat on her face. Well, at least more than usual.

"Thanks, mom," she said, slinging her backpack over both shoulders.

"Anything for my baby," replied Renada. "And here are your crutches."

Fortunately, the crutches were not the ones that you stick under your armpits, leaving the victim with sore underarms for the whole day. They were the kind that the user would rest their forearms against, grasping a protruding handle. Kokoro had adamantly refused a wheelchair, seeing as she could walk with a little help.

She said goodbye, and kissed her mother on the cheek. She eyed the black car until it drove away from the curb. Once it was gone, she made the trek to the high school building.

Immediately, when she entered the classroom, she was mauled by a blur of bleached blonde hair.

"Oof!" she exhaled.

"I am so sorry I couldn't visit you! My mother wouldn't let me take a step out the front door for two whole days!" Satomi prattled uncharacteristically. "How are you? The team can't wait to see how you're doing. You look great!"

"Most of me," Kokoro gave a lopsided grin. Tomi rarely said so much at one time. And judging by Satomi's red, runny nose and the sweatpants peeking out from under her uniform, she was probably still sick.

Satomi's eyes grew round like saucers. "Does it hurt?"

"Nah, it's more of a dull throbbing. The doc says it should fade away in a few weeks," replied Koko.

"Good. Then you can get back to playing. Azusa was beside herself when she heard that you were in the hospital," said the blonde.

"Well, I can't wait," said Koko, plopping down at her desk. "But first I have to get the prosthetic. It's going to take a while, though, for them to make it." She scrunched up her nose with frustration.

"Ugh, that sucks," Satomi groaned, taking a seat beside Koko.

"Yup. So, I have to totter around like a cripple for a month, but I'm going to meet with my doctor and a prosthetist after school. So, I'll be on the court in no time at all," Koko assured her teammate with a smile.

"Always the optimist," said Satomi. She took out a crinkled tissue and rubbed her nose.

"Have you seen Shiori?" asked Kokoro.

Tomi shook her head. "Not really. She's been very withdrawn, lately. She always comes in right before the bell, and leaves as soon as school is over. I'm pretty sure she still goes to the Host Club, but there's no way I'm going in there… I'm worried about her. She hasn't told me anything about the accident. Nobody knows anything about it."

Koko bit her lip. "I'll fill you in at lunch, along with the girls. There isn't much to say really…"

Satomi gave her a look. "There's a lot to say, Koko."

Just as the bell rang, Shiori walked in. Kokoro stared at the once bubbly, bright girl. She made eye contact with Shiori, but the tall girl quickly averted her eyes, and sat down near the window.

When lunchtime came around, Shiori bolted out of the classroom before Koko had the chance to utter a word. Satomi sighed, but helped Koko with her things. The pair of girls made their way to the cafeteria in silence. However, that silence was abruptly broken when their teammates caught sight of them.

"Oh my goodness! I heard you were in the hospital!" exclaimed Takara Matsumoto, a bright-eyed girl from class 1-C.

"Are you okay?" asked Aimi Ueda; she was from class 1-A. "I heard you were sick with a fatal illness."

"Why were you in the hospital?" asked Yuriko Aika. More chatter followed. Koko's teammates sounded more like babbling budgies than students.

"What the hell happened to you?"

The other girls instantly stopped firing question after question when their team captain spoke up, loud and clear.

"Nothing that will stop me from playing," replied Koko.

There was a moment of tension, before Azusa's face broke into a grin. "Don't ever scare us like that again," she said, tightly hugging the younger girl.

"Let's get some food and I'll fill you in on everything," said Koko. Her teammates nodded in agreement.

Soon, they were all seated, with the exclusion of Shiori.

"So just what exactly happened?" asked Mai Yamaguchi impatiently. She was a bit of a snob, but on the court she had a penchant for violence. Let's just say that they need a new ball after every game.

"I went to the Host Club's vacation thingy with Shiori. I went swimming and I was attacked by a shark," said Kokoro bluntly. Cue the various gasps of horror and shock. What a shocking reaction.

"The doctors think it was a bull shark. Probably a young one, seeing as it only bit once. Kind of like a taste test," Koko continued.

"Is that why you have the crutches?" asked Takara—she was a little slow sometimes.

"Yup," replied Koko "But only until I get the prosthetic, which should only take a month or two."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. Hold up a minute!" exclaimed Azusa. "Prosthetic?"

Kokoro was taken aback by the redhead's outburst. "Yes? I thought it was obvious…"

"Not with all that material," Mai grumbled, gesturing to the obscenely poufy uniforms that each girl wore with as much refinement as they could muster (which was rather difficult, seeing as the uniforms were quite horrid).

"Well, once you get it, you're back on the court," stated Azusa.

Kokoro beamed. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Can we see it?" Aimi asked timidly.

"Sure, but I can't take the bandage off," replied Koko. She lifted up the skirt of her dress just up to the knee, and lifted her leg up on the bench.

"Thankfully, the fishy bastard—sorry—bit way below my knee, but he still got my foot," she informed her teammates. Her leg looked normal, however, a few inches below her knee was downright nothing.

"Damn, girl," Tomi muttered.

"At least now I can be a convincing pirate for Halloween," Koko joked, earning an eye roll from Satomi.

She suddenly felt like something was missing. Shiori should have been there. Shiori should've told her off for joking about such serious matters, and then whack her on the head like she usually would.

"Where are you going, Koko?" asked Tomi, tugging her uniform back on.

Kokoro had stayed to watch practice that afternoon, though she could only sit and watch.

"I'm going to the Host Club. I want to see if I can catch Iggy," she replied.

"Don't you have an appointment?" Satomi questioned.

"Yeah, put not for another half-hour," said Koko, swinging on her crutches.

"Okay, well, I'll see you around, then," said Tomi. "Just don't push her too hard."

"Will do. See you tomorrow," Kokoro responded, heading out the locker room doors.

She made her way, albeit slowly, to the third music room. She arrived after what felt like an eternity, but it was really just ten minutes. Koko pushed open the door following a short balancing act. Balancing on a crutch, holding the other, all while trying to open a door was much more difficult than she'd thought.

She barely had to survey the room to find Shiori. The pretty girl was sitting down with a few others, all eyes glued to the blonde host. Kokoro made a beeline for her friend.

Not wasting any time in fear of her friend evading her once again, Koko cut right to the chase. "Iggy?"

Shiori whipped her head around, giving a jump of surprise. "Sorry," she said, getting up. "I have to go. I have an appointment for, erm—"

"Iggy, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?" asked Koko, watching helplessly as her friend started to leave. "Please, talk to me, Iggy," she pleaded, following the brunette to the grand doors.

Shiori whirled around. "Don't call me that!" she snapped.

Koko stopped in her tracks. "But I've called you that for as long as I've known you. Just tell me what's bothering you."

"How can you be so calm about this?!" exclaimed Shiori.

"About what?" said Koko stupidly.

"About everything!" Shiori cried, "You got bit by a shark, and you were cracking jokes about it while your life was in danger!"

It was as if a pressured pipe unexpectedly burst inside her. "Well, how was I supposed to act?! What was I supposed to do? Break down and cry like you did?! Have a panic attack like you did?!" Kokoro countered heatedly, "I got my entire fucking foot torn off! And the only ones to do something about it was that completely anal guy and that silent freak over there!"

"What was I supposed to do?! I'm not a doctor!" retorted Shiori.

"Ladies, I would kindly ask you to lea—"

"SHUT UP!" They both shouted at the dark haired host—or as Koko had just called him, 'that completely anal guy.'

"Why does everything have to be about you?! I'm the one who lost a goddamn foot! Not you! So why on earth are you acting like it was you? And why are you avoiding me?!" Kokoro yelled.

"Because every time I look at you, all I see is your mutilated leg! I have nightmares about it! Sharks biting off my limbs! I can't sleep at night because that's all I see when I close my eyes!" cried Shiori, her eyes watering.

"Why don't you see a goddamn therapist then?!" Kokoro retorted, too riled up to see straight. "I'm sure he'd love to hear about all your problems! How a shark bit you! Oh, wait, that was me. How about when you lost a foot?! Oh, wait, that was me, too!"

"Why do you have to have everything revolve around you?! You weren't the only one who was affected by the attack!" Shiori shrieked.

"Revolve around me?! What the f—how many times do I have to tell you?! I'm the one who lost a leg!" Kokoro exclaimed.

"I'm not dealing with this anymore!" Shiori sobbed, fleeing the room before Koko had the chance to follow.

Kokoro stood there stunned, along with the rest of the hosts and customers.

Kyoya Ootori was the one to discontinue the stillness, "Miss Honda, would you please come with me?" he asked.

With one look at the host, Kokoro quickly exited through the open door. The clubroom instantly erupted with chatter. She sped down the hall, and took a random turn. Feeling that she was far enough away from the club, she dropped down to the ground and started sobbing.

All her pent up anger, sadness, and confusion was just hurtling out in a huge tidal wave of emotion. That, or she could've been PMSing. Maybe it was a mix of the two.

Beep Beep.

Wiping her eyes, Koko looked at the bright screen of her cell phone to see a text message from her brother.

Haruto: Your chariot awaits, your highness.

Koko: I'll be down in a minute. Or two. This place is endless.

Haruto: Sure thing, sista! We gon get you a leg thingy!

Kokoro let out a chuckle at her brother's enthusiasm; it was somewhat contagious. With more effort than usual, Koko stood up and headed down to the front of the Academy.

She truly hoped that things would turn out all right. She hoped that everything would be remedied in due time.

Phew, intense chapter. I try to keep some scenes light and funny to balance out all the drama.

Please review!

Edited 31/12/14