Disclaimer: Don't own Host Club and never will. I can only dream that I do. However, I will do what I want to the characters in my writing. x3

Flamers names will be given to Kyouya and he will hunt you down. Just a friendly reminder. :)

A/N: Edited Sep. 28, 2010

Holding Out For A Hero

Chapter 2: Empire State of Mind

"-I find, the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind. Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear. I am the mask you wear, it's you they-"

A yawn escaped Kazumi's mouth as she shut off her clock radio. Tired eyes glanced at the time. 6:00 AM. "Mmm..early," she mumbled before climbing out of bed before she stumbled over a box. She quickly caught herself by grabbing the edge of her stand and sighed. Forgot that I still have some unpacking to do...she thought before a memory popped into her mind from yesterday.

"Kazumi, I told you it was fine that you stayed at the estate with us," Kyouya stated as he watched Kazumi open a box labeled DVDs in her living room. It was rather small compared to his, but large enough for his cousin. To his left was a widescreen TV hooked up to a DVD player, VCR, and a few game systems. To his right were two large couches, behind them was a doorway leading to a kitchen fully stocked with new equipment, but no food. ('That damn butler of mine. He'll give me the utensils but then leave me to fend for myself,' Kazumi complained at finding out that fact.) A staircase was next to the kitchen doorway leading to the second story that held multiple bedrooms, each filled with a bed, dresser, side table, a large closet, TV, and its own bathroom.

"I know," she smiled. "But I feel like I would be intruding and don't you start mister." She smirked as she heard him let out a sigh, reaching towards the box for another DVD before it was handed to her. Her gaze went to Kyouya before thanking him.

"Besides," she began after a few moments of silence. "Wouldn't you like a place to come to if you wanted to get away from home for awhile?"

Sensing his pause, Kazumi turned around and smiled at his stunned expression. "So Kyo, are you hungry? Because I want to show you my new cooking skills! But first we have to go the store." She laughed.

Kazumi smiled as she got out of the bathroom having finished her morning routine and walked over to her closet, grabbing the male uniform that she had borrowed from Kyouya's closet the day before. ('You could've just asked Kazumi.' 'Then why do I have the sudden feeling that you would refuse?') She left the blazer, shirt, and tie on her bed as she pulled on the black slacks and a white tanktop over her undergarments. She gazed at the attire on her bed, before leaving the room, deciding to cook breakfast first instead of taking the chance to ruin them.

She grabbed a hair tie off her stand and quietly maneuvered herself down the hall and stairs as to not awaken the sleeping demon upstairs. Kazumi stepped into the kitchen and paused. "Now...what's on the menu for breakfast?" she questioned herself. "Oh! Pancakes, eggs, and bacon." With that, Kazumi pulled back her hair and set to work.

-20 mins. Later-

The smell of eggs, bacon, and freshly made pancakes teased Kazumi's senses. Wonder if it's teasing Kyo's nose as much as it is mine...

As she waited for the last pancake to cook, Kazumi sang to herself absentmindly. "All we have at the end of the game is a lonely road out. All I know at the end of the day is the love to smile now, even if that's fake. All I know is I'm done acting and I'll be happy for your life, even if I hate it all."

Kazumi took the last pancake out of the pan and turned off the stove. Turning around, she almost jumped in surprise as Kyouya was at the table still in his pajamas and half asleep. Shaking her head, Kazumi grabbed both plates filled with food and placed one in front of him before sitting down across from him. "Morning sunshine!"

"What the hell is so great about the morning?" he grumbled.

"Forgive me Demon King," she teased. "I know that by eating that wonderful breakfast in front of you that I labored myself over might help make this a good morning for starters. It did bring you downstairs, no?" Kazumi ignored the glare directed at her, quite used to her cousin's mood in the mornings. "Mmm...yummy if I do say so myself."

The cousins just exited the limo in front of Ouran Academy, thanks to Kyouya. ('Wanna walk to school Kyo?' 'You do realize its 5 miles from here.' '...No pain, no gain!') Said person was currently amused by watching Kazumi try to tie her tie and failing each time. "Having trouble?"

She glanced up through the few strands of hair that escaped her hairclip's clutches. "That bad huh?" A smirk was her response making her sigh before a pair of hands pushed hers away, tying the piece of attire.

"Thanks Kyo," she blushed, embarrassed, before her eyes caught the crowd of students (consisting mainly of the female population) looking at them and whispering. "Neh, Kyo? Why's everyone staring?"

"You're a new student. Rather a female student wearing the male's uniform," he replied as he finished tying the knot and began making his way to the entrance, Kazumi at his heels.

"Who also happens to be the female you," she said catching one of the comments said about them.

He pushed up his glasses. "Apparently."

"I have the feeling that this is helping your profits in the Host Club already even though it isn't until the end of school..." Kyouya's silence was her answer. "So mean Kyo~! Using me as a tool!"

Woo! Second chapter! :) Took me awhile but it's done. x3 I promise that the rest of the Host Club will be in the next chapter. x3 I just wanted to go over Kyouya's and Kazumi's relationship a little more. x3

As to why he stayed at the night at her house, Kazumi forced him too with food...? xD

Anywho, in another chapter or so, Haruhi will arrive, bringing more craziness to the Host Club. xD

-ichi