Chapter 3

Most of the time, Tamaki is, undoubtedly, an idiot. However, as the Host Club has come to realize, he's an idiot with very good instincts.

Takashi "Mori" Morinozuka is known for his instincts as well. On the battlefield, he may not be as powerful as Mitsukuni, but his sixth sense of where exactly his enemy is going to attack makes him just as deadly. When asked, he's said that it's due to his role as Honey's guardian. One needs to have a little something extra to keep up with the hyperactive boy.

The point is, because Mori is a man with good instincts, the fact that he trusts Tamaki to lead their club shows how sharp the blonde's sixth sense really is. And, sure enough, Tamaki Suoh has never led them astray.

But still—Mori can't help but wonder if the King has finally lost his edge when he ends up sneaking into the highly protected Sakura mansion to crash a ten-year old's eleventh birthday party—wearing a clown suit.


"Stop laughing, you hooligans, you'll give us away!"

"Sorry...haha…Boss—but Mori-sempai—haha—you're wearing a red nose."

"Hm." The grunt was just a little more threatening than usual, and the twins shut up, though their attempt to seem serious was ruined by the occasional glances and snickers that shot towards the large plush appendage on the edge of the stoic boy's face.

Mori adjusted the red bulbous thing he'd been forced to don and scanned the perimeters. The Host Club was crouching outside the Sakura estates, all wearing bright, colorful costumes. Honey had sabotaged all the surveying cameras, but Mori wasn't taking any chances of them getting caught.

"Boss, explain to us again why we're sneaking in?" Hikaru drolled, leaning against the wall.

"Yeah," Kaoru finished, "Poor Haruhi looks like she's about to strangle you."

Sure enough, the commoner of the Host Club was glowering at her "daddy," who immediately fell to his knees in abject shame. Tamaki was wearing an elegant suit and the top hat of a ringmaster, and the sight of him kneeling to Haruhi, who was dressed like a ticket boy, was enough to set the twins off again.

Interrupting their chuckling with a wave of his hand, Tamaki gestured dramatically at the Sakura mansion—or, at least, the walls that surrounded them.

"My dear daughter, we are engaging in the first step of 'Operation: Find Kichi's True Self!' In order to figure out who Kichi truly is, we must first figure out what she is not—or rather, what she has been forced to become. She has more siblings than just Kaisei and Masumi, and we intend to find out what character she plays for them as well!"

Mori shifted uncomfortably, remembering the morning's events.

OHSHCOHSHC

xxx Flashback xxx

"Oh, ho, ho, ho!" Renge laughed as Tamaki finished telling her about Kichi, "I understand your dilemma! Well, you are fortunate that I, the world's most devoted otaku, is here to help you figure out who exactly Kichi is being forced to become!"

Pointing at no one in particular, the girl declared, "It is obvious that she is playing the 'Squire' to Kaisei, the obedience, simple clothing and hairstyle says it all. As such, she is expected to behave as properly as her Maser, though she will often require his stern discipline to temper her enthusiastic and cheerful nature. Though he is outwardly harsh, he secretly cannot live without her, and after overcoming many trials and facing near death—they shall fall in love and be together forever!"

Watching as Renge spiraled off into otaku-heaven, the Host Club sweat-dropped. "Uh, Renge? They're kind of siblings," Tamaki started.

"Oh, good, I love an incestuous relationship." Renge interrupted airily, "As for her relationship with Masumi, she is obviously playing the part of the Lolita. Haven't you noticed how similar the treatment Kichi and Honey get? To be quite honest, I'm ashamed of you bunch. Haven't I taught you better?"

Shaking her head in disappointment, she continued. "She is a doll, a bundle of cuteness that everyone loves. Her sister adores her and no doubt dresses her up daily, and she responds with all the affection in her little heart—oh, I could just cry!"

Renge dabbed at her eyes theatrically before looking up. "I must know more. When you find out more, fill me in and I shall inform you more on the various characters of Kichi Sakura. Until then, I shall wait in nervous anticipation of the day that the next episode of 'Kichi Sakura's True Self' comes out!"

xxx Flashback Ends xxx

OHSHCOHSHC

"So far, she is listed to have two younger siblings, a girl of two and a boy of ten. My sources have also found that she has several cousins, though their part in this Operation is still unknown." Kyoya's voice was cool and professional, much like a tactician's should be. Mori approved.

"Our mission today, my dear daughter," Tamaki added, "Is to infiltrate the birthday party of Kichi's younger brother, Tachiko Sakura. Of course, due to the Sakura's infamous defenses, we must go in disguise and depend on Mori and Honey's expertise to lead the way."

"Well, why don't we change inside instead of having to sneak into looking like this?" Haruhi muttered, and Mori gave a small smile. He suspected that Tamaki's plans would never work unless the boy put them all in costumes. It was just one of the mysteries that was Tamaki Suoh.

There was the faintest hint of a rustle, and then Honey jumped down from the wall above them. "All clear," the boy whispered, "But I think I lost my balloon."

No, Mori thought, This isn't Honey. The petted darling of the Host Club would have been sniffling at the loss of his toy, but this boy looked like he couldn't care less. No, this was all Mitsukuni. Mori smiled. He'd missed going on missions with his cousin.

XXXXXXXXXX

The way in wasn't too bad, and that was what bother Mitsukuni. The Sakuras were one of the most paranoid families in the world, and getting rid of each of their cameras had been tricky. Why weren't there more guards? The family could certainly afford it, and taking into consideration the fact that there was a birthday party going on, the security should have been doubled.

Instead, the worst they ran into was Tamaki tripping a wire and almost getting vaporized by the friendly-looking garden gnome before Mori pulled him out of the way. It was just too easy.

They were in the building now, and Mitsukuni was starting to get worried. He was about to turn to Takashi and ask him for his opinion when he smelled the cake. Instantly, all thoughts of traps burst free from his mind and he grinned like the boy he appeared to be.

"Takashi, I think we found the party!"

"Mmn," the other boy agreed as they came face-to-face with a huge pair of doors, with squeals and laughter coming from inside.

Tamaki drew his hands through his hair, closing his eyes blissfully. "Ah, I hear the sound of the laughter of youth," he declared, "let us not forget to bring additional joy to the adorable children within even as we complete our mission." Throwing open the door, he lead the Host Club in and, sweeping his arm out, exclaimed, "We are here!"

There was absolute silence.

Honey strained his neck, trying to see around the taller boy. The room wasn't as large as the doors had suggested, being only a little larger than their clubroom. Tables and chairs were set everywhere, with mouth-watering cakes on each plate. Children whose ages ranged from six to twelve were sitting and staring, standing and staring, or eating and staring.

Tachiko—it had to be Tachiko—had dark brown hair, fierce brown eyes, and a face that would one day be as handsome as his older brother's. "Who," the boy said, "Are you?"

"We're your entertainment, of course!"

Honey had to admire the way Tamaki's voice held steady, even though this was clearly not the welcoming adoration he'd expected from the "adorable children." The blonde turned the hosts behind him and gestured desperately for them to step forward.

"Let me introduce you to our clowns, Mori and Honey, the Siamese twins Hikaru and Kaoru, the animal trainer, Kyoya, and our ticket-boy, Haruhi Fujioka. I, of course, am the ringmaster of them all, and together we bring joy, laughter, and fun to youngsters like yourself."

"That's lame," The boy said flatly, "You guys look like you wouldn't know 'fun' if it bit you in the face."

"Tachi, that's not nice," a girl wearing a fluffy pink dress said primly, "You're daddy probably invited them in. As your fiancé, I insist that you allow them to perform."

"I'm not your fiancé, Rima," the boy said, but, with a long-suffering sigh, waved his hands. "Fine, you guys can come in."

"What a brat," Hikaru muttered as they filed in, "Oy, Boss! What do you want us to do?"

Tamaki froze, and the other hosts sweat-dropped as he began stuttering. He hasn't thought of that yet.

Luckily, the children seemed quite able to entertain themselves. Some ate their sweets, while others danced politely to waltzing music. Hikaru found himself looking for Kichi. Annoying girl's probably got herself dressed up as dog this time or something.

"Ah, our target is sighted," Tamaki said from behind him, and he jumped. The blonde pointed to a group of children, who were cooing over something held in an older girl's lap. The girl looked up, smiling, and Hikaru saw that it was indeed Kichi.

As the Host Club—minus Honey, who was eating cake—ambled over, he saw that she was wearing a simple summer dress, her hair—now black, pulled back in a soft ponytail. She cradled a young child, who was currently being fussed over by the other children.

"Yumi Sakura, three years old," Kyoya murmured for their ears alone, "I've heard that only Kichi can calm her when she starts screaming."

It was hard to imagine the little girl in Kichi's lap being anything less than angelic. With her soft auburn hair and chubby cheeks, she looked like an overgrown infant, not the spoiled child Kyoya was painting her as. As Hikaru watched, however, she opened her big blue eyes, scowled at a too near girl of seven and swatted irritably at the girl before burying her face in Kichi's chest.

It was irrational, Hikaru knew, but he found himself blushing at the little girl's audacity. Kichi may have been small, but there was no way in hell anyone would have been able to mistake her as a boy.

Speaking of which—he stopped abruptly. "Uh, Boss? Shouldn't we not walk toward the girl who we're technically supposed to be spying on?"

"Nonsense," Tamaki assured him, "We are not here to spy, merely to observe and spend some time with our dear Kichi—" he froze as she looked up and fixed him with a glare that would peel rock.

"What are you doing here?"

"Tama-chan's on a mission to find out your true self!" Honey, filled with cake and hyper, had come to join them. Throwing his arms around Kichi, he looked into her face sadly, "Are you mad at us?"

Kichi sighed, shifting so she could bear the boy's weight better. "No," she admitted finally, "I'm not mad. Just kind of annoyed. I already told you, the Sakuras took me off the streets. It's the least I can do to repay them. Besides, how do you even know what my 'true self' is like? I might be acting as my true self all the time."

"Ah, but the thing is, you don't even know what your true self is like," Tamaki said, "You're so used to being whatever your siblings want that you've never really explored what you want."

Yumi, irritated with Honey's proximity to her beloved Kichi, began to protest quite loudly. "Shh, Yumi," Kichi soothed, rocking the little girl until she quieted. The two-year old stuck out her tongue at Honey, who stuck out his tongue back childishly.

Kichi scolded the little girl gently and then turned to the Hosts. "I don't need to know what I want. That would just make things harder. Don't you understand? I was taken off the streets to be whatever they wanted me to be. Mother and Father could put me back there anytime they wanted to."

"What? You're not going anywhere, right Kichi?" This was Tachi, who'd walked over during Kichi's outburst. "Are these guys bothering you?" he demanded, turning to the hosts, "I'll call the guards if they are—"

Kichi smiled and ruffled his hair. "Thanks, Tachi, but I'm fine. They're friends from school." The younger boy flushed beet red under her smile, but as soon as he turned away he was glaring again. "If you guys hurt Kichi-chan, then I'll make sure you're punished," he warned, "I'm going to marry her one day and I won't have anyone making her sad."

"What about that lovely young woman, Rima, was it?" Tamaki asked, "Didn't she say she was your betrothed?"

"Weren't you listening, Dumbo?" the boy snapped, "I said she wasn't. She's just annoying, that's all."

Honey frowned, something the boy had said pricking at his memory. "Wait, Kichi-chan? Where are your guards? It was really easy for us to get in and—"

The windows shattered as figures in black crashed through them. The children screamed and ran for the doors, and Kichi leaped to her feet, thrusting Yumi into Tachi's arms. "Go, go," she ordered urgently, and then ran forward as the assailants lifted their machine guns and fired straight at her body.