Chapter 2

The bell at Ouran academy rang, signaling that school was out for the day and that club activities would begin in five minutes.

In music room three, the host club were just having a normal host meeting, no cosplay or themes. Everyone was busy doing something in preparation before the girls came; Kyoya was writing stuff on a clipboard in a corner of the room, the Hitachin twins were spreading the new table clothes over the tables, Mori was setting out the sweets on platters as Honey followed behind him eating them up, and Haruhi was busy making instant coffee.

Haruhi looked around the room. "Hey… Where's Sempai?"

"I don't know…" The twins answered in unison.

The door opened and Tamaki ran in; he searched the grand piano, he always puts his back pack on the grand piano, and grabbed it.

"What's the rush?" The twins asked.

"I have to meet someone." Tamaki answered calmly.

"Who?" Haruhi asked.

"His cousin." Kyoya answered before Tamaki could even try.

"Your cousin?" Haruhi raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, my younger cousin on my mother's side. He's moving in to stay with me and I thought it best if I was around to welcome him home first."

"Well that's nice." Haruhi smiled.

Tamaki blushed, "Of course. I'm full of compassion and hospitality." Tamaki gloated in his usual way. "Which reminds me… Kyoya…"

"Hmm?" Kyoya didn't even look up from his clip board.

"I will be gone for the rest of today but I will be back by tomorrow. Do you think you can handle things here?"

Kyoya's eye twitched. "Even when you are here I handle things for you Suoh."

"Thank you Kyoya!" Tamaki collected his back pack and walked out of the door. "See you guys tomorrow!"

"Bye Boss!" The twins waved.

####

The car ride took three hours to get to Edward's cousin's house. But as the car pulled in front of the house, it was no normal house, it was a mansion! It was one of the biggest buildings Edward had ever seen.

Maes stepped out of the car and opened the door for Edward. "You're home." He informed Ed.

Edward stepped out of the car and looked at the house, clutching his teddy bear tight to his small broken body.

Hughes grabbed Ed's bags and led the six year old to the door. He then rang the door bell.

Ding! Dong!

A butler answered the door at looked at the two with a straight face. "Yes? Can I help you?"

"My name is Maes Hughes, I'm with the CPA and I've come to drop off Edward Elric with you."

The butler looked down at Ed. "Mister Edward Elric, I presume."

Edward looked nervously at the butler and nodded, timidly.

"Well, welcome Mister Elric." The butler who was once guarding the door's entrance stepped aside to let the six year old in.

Edward walked in and was shocked to see such a giant grand hall.

Hughes handed the butler Ed's bags and wished Edward a happy life before returning to his car and driving off.

Edward looked around the room mystified.

"Young Elric… might I show you to your new room?"

Edward shrugged and picked at a fuzz ball on his teddy bear.

The butler sighed, knowing he would be going nowhere with Edward's indecisive attitude.

"It's okay. Mr. Walter I can take it from here." A voice behind the two answered.

Edward turned to see his cousin, Tamaki.

Tamaki closed the door behind him and kneeled down to be eye level with his cousin. He set his backpack down and extended his arms out.

Edward ran up to Tamaki and fell into his cousin's outstretched arms.

"There, there… It's alright." Tamaki stroked Ed's short hair as Edward cried on Tamaki's shoulder. "Everything will be fine." Tamaki cooed. "Your cousin Tamaki is here now."

The two remained there locked in each other's arms.

Edward sniffled and wiped his tears away with his shirt sleeve.

Tamaki gave a soft smile and held Edward's hand. "Let's go get you cleaned up." Tamaki walked Edward to Ed's new room.

The butler who had followed the two set Edward's bags in a corner and excused himself out of the room.

Edward's eyes widened as he checked his new room out, looking inside of the empty dressers and barren closets. Edward fell on his new bed and felt the soft mattress, never in his life had he felt something so soft and fluffy.

"You like it?"

Edward nodded.

"Good!" Tamaki clapped and a maid ran in.

"Yes Master Suoh." A maid with brown hair and pink bangs answered his call.

"Yes, Rose. Can you please put away Edward's clothing. He just got here so, if you can help him get settled in by just putting away his possessions that would be nice."

"Of course Sir." The maid bowed and began to sort through Edward's bags.

"Now that your unpacking is being handled, I say that we've had a big day."

Ed nodded agreeing with Tamaki's statement.

"So, why don't we get you cleaned up and changed into cleaner clothes and we go downstairs to dinner?"

Edward nodded excited.

"Alright!"

####

After Ed took a shower and changed his clothes, a maid brought him to the dining room where Tamaki was sitting. Edward walked up and sat in the chair beside his cousin.

The chefs in the kitchen brought out multiple dishes before the two boys.

As the chefs brought the food out, Ed was wondering what the dishes were under the silver dome serving trays.

Tamaki smiled. "In preparation for you to feel welcome to your new home, I asked the cooks to prepare common commoner dishes."

The chefs removed the silver domes to show plates and platters or macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, corn, French fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, peas and carrots, and green beans.

Edward marveled at the food.

"Will this be okay?" Tamaki asked, unsure of the commoner food.

Edward nodded and stacked his plate high with food.

####

Edward lay in bed after his first good day in many months. After dinner, the chefs had brought out a cake bigger than Edward himself which he was allowed to eat, Tamaki also showed Edward the rest of the house before sending Edward off to bed. Now he laid in the darkness with his teddy bear alone. His ports were hurting which meant a nasty storm was coming, he just didn't know when...He tried to close his eyes and let the sleep come to him

Boom!

Edward jumped out of bed as lightening crashed outside his window. He looked at his bedside clock.

12:32.

Edward crawled back into bed, but as he finally laid down comfortably…

BOOM!

Lightening cracked outside.

Knowing that he wasn't going to go to sleep for a while now, Edward grabbed his teddy bear and opened his bedroom door. He walked down the long mansion halls to a different door. He knocked on it, but no one answered.

Boom!

Frightened, Edward flung himself inside the room and ran to the bed, jumping under the covers with Tamaki.

Tamaki was startled awake and looked at Edward with sleep deprived eyes. "What are you doing Ed?"

Boom!

Ed gasped and clutched his teddy bear tight and curled up closer beside Tamaki.

Tamaki looked out his window. "Are you afraid of lightening?"

Ed shook his head no.

"Then what are you afraid of?" Tamaki asked not knowing what else there could be.

Edward's lip quivered. "I'm afraid of being alone."

Tamaki was barraged with guilt. Of course he would be lonely and afraid in a giant place like this. What was I thinking?

Tamaki smiled and pushed back Edward's bangs out of his eyes. "Don't worry Ed… you won't have to be scared anymore. I'm here," Tamaki pulled Edward into a hug. "Your cousin, Tamaki has got you. Your safe now."