Snowfall

By: Starwolf Magic

Disc: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club…. No matter how much I wish I did. . I do however own the mass amount of OCs that are about to be introduced in this chapter and the next!

A/N #1: Thank you to my wonderful Beta reader! Roasted Toasted Marshmallows for Kinllover! XD and anyone that gives me a good review!

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

Memories

The light filtered in through the curtains and struck a sleeping face. The face grimaced and turned from the light. Slowly dark gray eyes opened.

Umeko ached. She didn't want to go to school today but knew she had to. Silently she got up and got ready for the day. Today was the last day in this house.

'No more pain.' She thought to herself as she washed, dressed and put on her makeup to cover the various bruises she had. It didn't take her very long to get ready. She grabbed her portfolio, school bag and made her way down to the kitchen. She made not a sound as she took something to tie her over till lunch and headed to the front door.

"Good morning!" A pair of familiar voices called out to her the moment she opened the door. She fell back from fright and looked up at two pairs of crystal blue eyes. Long light gray bangs framed the near identical faces that grinned at her like Cheshire cats. Umeko looked up into their eyes, gasped, then pounced upon them. Her body screamed at her for the action but she really didn't care! The twins wrapped their arms around her happily.

"Hikari! Yukiru! You have no idea how happy I am to see you both!" Umeko nearly cried into their shoulders.

"We are here to pick you up." Hikari spoke softly rubbing her friend's back.

"And we are going to be late if we don't go now." Yukiru stated with a soft laugh to his sister and their friend.

Umeko moved back and looked at them. Blinking she then looked them over rather carefully. They both were in the male Ouran uniform. Their waist length hair was pulled back to the middle of their heads and… wait.. Ouran… "When did you guys start at Ouran? We are in the same year… I thought you went to the public school. And Kari? Why are you in the male uniform?"

The twins hooked their arms with hers and all but dragged the confused girl off to their car. It reminded her of the time a few days ago that the Hitachiin brothers did this to her but she ended up in the host club's meeting room.

"Well, this one is far more comfortable… And we heard about your family's company. We wanted to come protect you." Hikari stated with a grin.

Yukiru laughed. "The school messed up our information in the transfer and so they think Kari is a guy. Hence the male uniform."

Kari stuck out her tongue at him. "Spoil sport! Ruining my fun!" Yukiru's only response was to laugh, causing a chain reaction of laughter on their way to school.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the school. The three stepped out of the car and Umeko froze. The twins looked at her oddly. 'They are actually waiting for me?' Umeko thought to herself as she spotted the Hitachiin brothers. "They… are actually waiting for me?" She murmured aloud, blushing.

"Who" The twins asked. She pointed to Hikaru and Kaoru talking with Haruhi who had just arrived. They looked at them quietly.

Kari arched a brow and blinked. "Is that Haruhi?" She murmured.

"Holy hell who is he?" Yukiru asked gazing star struck at the brothers.

"Hikaru or Kaoru?" Umeko asked as she looked at her friend.

"Now now little brother. Don't get ahead of yourself. I -WILL- dump cold water on you. Make sure you have your gloves on. We don't need an episode here like at our old school." Hikari muttered looking at her own gloved hands. Yukiru showed his sister his gloved hands and glared at her for the water comment..

"It is their own fault they didn't heed my warning." He muttered ominously as the three of them walked forward.

Hikaru and Kaoru were antsy. Haruhi had just walked up to them. "Why aren't you two in class yet?" She asked them.

"We are waiting for Umeko." Hikaru stated.

"We just want to make sure she is ok." Kaoru added.

"HARUHI!" A pair of voices called out and made the three of them jump. They turned just as another pair of twins scooped up Haruhi and hugged her tightly. Hikaru and Kaoru blinked in shock.

"Hikari! Yukiru! Put me down!" Haruhi cried out. The new twins put her down and grinned at her.

"You cut your hair!" Hikari stated.

"Why?" Yukiru questioned.

"Gum." was Haruhi's reply. "Now… What are you two doing here? I thought that you went to the public school."

"Haruhi? You know these two?" Hikaru asked as he eyed them with distaste. 'The hell is with the long hair?' he thought silently.

"Yeah. I went to preschool, elementary school and middle school with them. They are old friends of mine." She smiled at the brothers before looking at the new twins once more waiting for an answer.

"We transferred in!" Hikari chimed happily.

"We were actually hoping to see you around the school but, we are here on Umeko's behalf." Yukiru stated.

"You are a wet blanket Yuki." Hikari growled. Yukiru just smirked at his sister and patted her on the head. "Stupid little brother." she muttered darkly causing said brother to laugh.

Haruhi smiled. "That brings back memories. Tell me.. Is room 5-A in the elementary school still… deserted?" At the nod of the two twins she laughed.

"Do I even want to know what you three did to that poor public school?" Umeko asked with an arched brow looking at the long haired twins. Three not so innocent grins were her reply. She laughed. Hikaru and Kaoru were confused.

Without warning one of the long hired twins slid up to the Hitachiin brothers like a sly fox and caused them to take a step back. Yukiru looked at both boys, being bold enough to be in their personal space, he grinned at them both before turning his full attention to Hikaru.

"Yuki." Kari's voice had a warning edge to it.

Yukiru paid no attention as he grinned rather seductively at Hikaru. The 'come hither' look in his eyes caused Hikaru to actually blush, then blink as the look turned to pain. "OW! Hey! Let go! Let go!" He cried out as his sister, who was not listening to him, dragged him into the school by his long hair.

"The hell?" Hikaru asked, still blushing as he watched them go. 'That was creepy.' he thought to himself.

"Um.. Please… Don't mind them" Umeko smiled at the Hitachiin brothers. Kaoru walked up to her and wrapped her in a sudden gentle hug. She blushed five shades of red in surprise.

"Are you alright?" Kaoru asked her softly as he pulled away from her and looked her in the eyes. He remembered the phone call he and Hikaru had walked in on, in their mother's office.

"I'm alright. I hurt a little… And I didn't want to get out of bed this morning… but I'll survive." She said softly in reply catching Haruhi and Hikaru's attention.

"Well according to what our parents talked about last night you will be coming home with us after the club today, and seeing as it is the weekend tomorrow, we have no school so you can relax all day." Hikaru said with a grin. She smiled at him and Kaoru.

"Thank you for taking me in." She murmured still blushing. She could still feel Kaoru's arms around her even as he pulled his older brother towards the door. Silently she followed them into the school with Haruhi at her side.

Hikaru was ready to have a nervous breakdown by the time it came for the club's activities. The two new twins, Hikari and Yukiru Katashi as they had been introduced to the class as, had been in every single class he had and the same one kept … kept… -TORMENTING- him! A smile here, a wink there, a caress on the back of his neck from behind that sent a shudder through his body. It was bad enough that Yukiru sat behind him, but he really wasn't sure he could endure the rest of the year like that.

Thankfully Hikari, kept smacking Yukiru for his antics, but that really didn't help the elder Hitachiin's nerves. When the bell rang at the end of the day he bolted, not bothering to wait for Kaoru, Haruhi or Umeko. He just had to get out of there. Hikaru didn't bother looking to see if his brother followed in fact he didn't bother looking back until he slammed the door of Music Room Three open and then closed, startling Tamaki and Kyoya. The elder Hitachiin leaned against the door breathing heavily. The two seniors watcher him silently as he moved over to a vacant couch and collapsed upon it.

"Hikaru?" Tamaki asked, slightly worried. When a golden eye looked at the Host Club King he continued. "Are you alright? Where are Kaoru and Haruhi?"

"No. I'm not alright. I can't explain it. Kaoru, Haruhi and Umeko should be on their way." Hikaru responded flatly.

Tamaki blinked at the flatness of Hikaru's voice, then looked overjoyed. "Umeko came to school today? Then she is better! That is good to hear!"

When the door opened again, Mori, Honey, Kaoru, Haruhi, and Umeko walked in. Everyone got ready in their cosplay outfits (the theme was The Knights of Old) and soon the doors had been opened for business. A couple of hours later the doors opened once more. It caught the attention of everyone in the room as two identical boys walked in. Pure terror shot through Hikaru at the sight of the Katashi twins.

The Katashi twins bowed to the Host Club and guests. "We are sorry to interrupt. Please go back to what you were doing." Yukiru stated.

"Mitsukuni! Takashi!" Hikari called out happily and ran over to them. The two in turn hugged her happily. Yukiru smiled as he wandered in and looked around.

Hikaru sunk down in his place on the couch. Kaoru watched him with worry. He looked from his frightened brother to Yukiru, who had wandered up to and spoke with Kyoya. He looked back to his brother.

"Hikaru?" Kaoru asked almost timidly. Shaken golden eyes looked up at him, the girls moved closer in anticipation. "If… If your scared of him… Who will protect me from him?"

Hikaru sat up and took his little brother into his arms. "I'll face any fear to keep you safe, Kaoru." He said softly and passionately.

"Hikaru." Kaoru murmured in response holding onto his brother for dear life. The girls near them squealed in delight at their act. However, Kaoru felt his brother tense up. He looked up and saw Hikaru looking into the crystal blue eyes of Yukiru. Yukiru was smirking devilishly at him. The girls squealed and nearly passed out from MOE overload when Yukiru teased Hikaru's hair with a gloved finger. 'What in the heck?' Kaoru thought to himself as he saw his brother blush. He loosened his grip on Hikaru and a moment later Hikaru was on the other side of the room.

Yukiru continued to lean on the back of the couch but kept his eyes locked onto Hikaru's. He extended his gloved hand towards the now frightened Hikaru, curled all of his fingers but his pointer finger into his palm and then flexed his pointer finger at the frightened elder Hitachiin a few times. His eyes held the 'come hither' look once more.

Hikari stalked over to her brother and slapped him upside the head. She then took a hold of his ear and pulled him away from the couch that Kaoru sat on. Kaoru was half confused and half amused by the turn of events. Yukiru was bound, gagged and placed on the couch next to Mori. "Now be good, little brother." Hikari stated with a smirk, as she dusted off her hands from tying up her brother. Yukiru didn't struggle or squirm, he just looked at Mori and Honey with pleading eyes, hoping one of them would release him. They didn't.

Hikaru soon returned to his place next to Kaoru, collapsed into his brother's arms and shivered. Kaoru held him in a comforting embrace while the fan girls squealed in delight.

It wasn't long till all the girls left and the club closed for the day. The Katashi twins sat there talking to Haruhi and Umeko.

"So Hikari. Why are you wearing the boy's uniform?" Haruhi asked point blank. All the hosts, except Honey and Mori, looked at the Katashi twins in surprise. One twin looked at the other.

"Its comfortable." Hikari replied with a grin.

"Meaning, when we transferred into Ouran our previous school got her record messed up and now Ouran believes she is a boy." Yukiru corrected.

"Bastard." Hikari growled at her brother.

"Bitch." He stated nonchalantly back at her with a grin.

There was a collective gasp heard from most of the hosts, then stunned silence at Hikari's laughter.

"Well you two haven't changed. Now how about answering why you never told me that your family was rich?" Haruhi asked. She was annoyed. 'Damn rich people…' She thought to herself.

"We don't like to flaunt our money. Children in our family have a choice of going to a public or a privet school." Kari stated.

"It is not so much of a choice, but where fate deems us to be." Yuki added.

The group looked confused.

"The Katashi clan is one of the oldest families in Japan. They own various therapeutic resorts around Japan and work in conjunction with my family's doctors. They specialize in the old ways of healing as well as highly accurate fortune telling." Kyoya spoke up suddenly from his laptop. "They also own a horse and cattle ranch in Australia." He added as an after thought.

"Fortune telling?!" Tamaki asked looking like a puppy that as just told he could chew up a good pair of shoes. The Katashi twins nodded while smiling at the Host Club King. "Can I have my fortune told?"

"You are welcome to come to the family grounds if you want. But you need to chose the type of reading you want before you get there." Yukiru stated.

"What are the choices?" Tamaki asked.

"Tea Leaves, Crystal Ball, Taro Cards, Palm Reading and Touch Reading. Everyone in our family can do at least one of them. Yuki and I are Touch Readers. Hence the gloves." Kari grinned as she held up her gloved hands and wiggled her fingers.

"I give out one warning however." Yukiru stated suddenly making everyone look at him. "Everyone in the Katashi family is given the same fortune upon their entry to school. It doesn't matter what level of school it is."

"What is that?" Hikaru finally voiced.

When Yuki spoke his voice was eerie and cold. "To thee there is only one. From thee you cannot read. With thee you are destined to be. For the future between you, weather friend, lover, or mate, has yet to be written."

That evening Hikaru laid on his half of the bed listening to Kaoru and Umeko talking in the guest bedroom next door. He thought over everything that had happened that day and shuddered. Yukiru was creepy in his opinion, no matter how much Umeko and even Haruhi defended him. That fortune given to every member of their family, the way he spoke it, it was like it foretold impending doom upon them. 'But that didn't stop Tono… Oh no.' He thought. 'He had to say he wanted everyone to get their fortunes told tomorrow.'

"I have never seen Hikaru react that way towards anyone before." Kaoru snickered from his perch on Umeko's newly claimed bed. The room looked a lot like his and Hikaru's in the next room. Umeko sat at her desk working on her drawing requests. 'She seems so relaxed. Living here will be good for her.' He thought silently to himself as he smiled.

"Yukiru is harmless. Although he is a bit too forward at times." Umeko replied, laughing softly.

'I like her laugh' Kaoru thought as he smiled at her. "Is Yukiru…um… " He couldn't bring himself to actually ask that question.

Umeko stopped her work and turned towards him, amusement shining in her eyes. "I am not going to say if you could not figure it out by his actions."

Kaoru laughed but sobered up a moment later. "Hikaru is probably still freaked out. I should probably go make sure he is alright. We are going over to the Katashi grounds tomorrow. I think he needs to be mentally prepared for this trip."

"Or at least well rested. One needs all the energy they can have to avoid Yuki like the plague." Umeko stated with a laugh as she stood up with Kaoru and walked him to her door. Kaoru laughed along with her at her remark as they stopped in the doorway.

"Good night Kaoru. See you in the morning." She spoke softly to him.

"Night Umeko." He replied softly leaning down and kissed her cheek. She responded by kissing his in return. After a moment they just stood there looking at one another in surprise. Both of them blushed at each other before he retreated to the sanctuary of his room and she shut the door to hers.

'He kissed me! I kissed him! Oh mom! What do I do now?' She thought to herself as she flopped down on her bed. 'I've liked him for so long! What do I do?' Moments later she got up from her bed gathered her pajamas and headed out of her room to claim the bathroom for an evening shower.

Kaoru leaned against the door of his room. 'I can't believe I did that! I've only known her for a few days. But she actually kissed me back!' He was so lost in his thoughts as he walked over to his part of the bed, that he didn't hear Hikaru ask him what happened. The younger Hitachiin collapsed on his half of the bed, face down.

"Kaoru?" Hikaru poked his brother in the side. Dazed golden eyes looked into concerned golden eyes. "You look like something happened."

"I kissed her…" Kaoru muttered.

"What?! When? Where?" Hikaru couldn't help his curiosity.

"A few minutes ago.. In her doorway… I kissed her cheek… And then she kissed mine." Kaoru stated as he turned his eyes to the wall above his pillow.

"Awe. My baby brother has a crush!" Hikaru teased. Kaoru glared at his brother.

"We've only known her a few days Hikaru! I shouldn't like her like that! Not yet! It's too soon!" Kaoru snapped.

"Calm down, Kaoru. She has been In the same class as us for a long time." Hikaru reasoned.

"So? That doesn't mean that I should automatically fall for her! Hikaru. Feelings like this take time to develop!" Kaoru was sounding close to whining and he didn't like it. He moved up to a sitting position and muttered, "I'm going to take a shower. Maybe that will clear my head…"

Hikaru watched his brother grab a pair of orange pajama pants and walk off out of their room to claim the shower. He ran to the door when he heard Umeko and Kaoru yelp. His eyes were as wide as his brother as they took in Umeko's appearance without her makeup. The pajama tank top and shorts showed them just how badly she needed to get away from her step-mother. There were bruises up and down her legs and arms, hand print bruises around her neck as if she had been choked. And a bruise across her face like she had been struck with not only a hand but a large book. Her wet hair told them she had just got out of the shower.

"…Umeko…" Kaoru murmured softly worry laced his voice.

"We didn't know it was that bad, Umeko." Hikaru said softly.

"Don't worry about it. I'll heal in time. " she said softly in reply, having gotten over her fright at running into Kaoru while coming out of the bathroom.

"Everything ok, Umeko?" came the sudden deadly voice of her father. The twins stiffened and looked towards Yamato timidly. The large man loomed over them much like Haruhi's father loomed over Tamaki when ever he came to pick her up for a date.

"Daddy… Stop scaring them." She murmured patting her father's chest. "Kaoru and I ran into each other as I was coming out. He didn't know I was in there as I was coming out and I didn't know he was coming in."

"And what about him?" Yamato asked looking at Hikaru.

"I… heard the yelps and came to see what happened…" Hikaru stated before making a hasty retreat back to his room. Maybe Kaoru will forgive him for tossing him to the wolves … or wolf in this case.

"Sir, I mean no harm to your daughter. I honestly didn't know she was in there." Kaoru stated looking up at the taller man. He was so nervous.

Yamato patted Kaoru on the head and laughed. "Don't worry about it, Kaoru. No harm done."

Kaoru let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in. 'That was the scariest thing I have ever experienced.' He thought as he watched Yamato head back to where ever it was he had come from. He jumped once more as he heard Umeko giggle.

"Would you believe he's drunk right now?" She smiled at him.

"He is?!" Kaoru was shocked.

"He's a happy drunk." She stated with a smile. Kaoru laughed nervously. Umeko watched him a moment. "Enjoy your shower. See you in the morning." she murmured softly before she disappeared into her room and closed the door.

Kaoru sighed heavily and walked into the bathroom. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' He thought to himself.

Hikaru snickered. His little brother faced down Umeko's intoxicated father, lived to tell the tale, and it seemed like the man was teasing Kaoru. Poor Kaoru. He shook his head and thought about all the bruises he saw on Umeko. He was glad they got her out of that house. Some of those bruises looked new. She needed to recover and badly. He just hoped that living here she would be able to relax and recover.

'But then again… Kaoru said he was falling for her too quickly. It makes me wonder how she feels about him.' He thought to himself. He went to his dresser, grabbed out a pair of blue pajama pants, and sat down on his half of the bed and waited for his brother to return so he could take the shower over next.

'I just hope that if they do get together, she doesn't break his heart.' He thought to himself as he watched for his brother.

"I think I scared your sons, Yuzuha." Yamato laughed as he reentered the dining room.

She laughed and her husband grinned. "Its ok, Yamato. How is she adjusting to her new home?"

"She smiles more and seems to be more relaxed. That makes me overjoyed." He replied with a smile.

"Wonderful! How are you adjusting?" She asked curiously.

"Well aside from the hangover I am bound to have in the morning… I was never one to hold my liquor very well… I think I can finally relax for once. Four years of beatings and…" He trailed off and shook his head. "Well it is all in the past now. I can't thank you both enough for taking my daughter and I in like you have."

Their smiles faltered slightly at Yamato's words but they smiled cheerfully once more. Mr. and Mrs. Hitachiin sipped their drinks quietly. They looked at one another as Yamato excused himself for bed. It had been a long day, and everyone in the house needed some sleep and soon they, too, headed off to bed.

AN#2: Welcome to the end of chapter 3! Woo! Yeah it was a long one! Sorry for that! But I am still undecided on how many chapters I want this to have before it ends. And No I am not sorry for Tormenting Hikaru. XD I had a lot of fun doing that!

Hikaru: I hate you. I hate you so much…

Me: Yes. I know. *pats his head* I love you too Hikaru.

Hikaru: *growls.*

Anyway! Please review! I love reviews!