Hilo everyone. The rest of the story will probably be in Ryoji's perspective, if not, I'll let you know. Hmm, what else can I say? Oh, I actually got a new cat! Strangely, when I first wrote Soudou, I hadn't had a cat for years, so I didn't particularly know how they would act. When I brought Yuki home, who looks the exact opposite of Soudou, she ran straight into a wall. I laughed so hard at the absurdity, and the coincidence, and then a picked her up and cradled her.

"Sometimes when you look back on a situation, you realize it wasn't all you thought it was. A beautiful girl walked into your life. You fell in love. Or did you? Maybe it was only a childish infatuation, or maybe just a brief moment of vanity." - Henry Bromel


I was almost thankful that he let me stay until my headache had subsided, and he even let me wash the smeared make-up off my face. After I came out, feeling more relieved than I was half an hour ago, he handed me another set of clothes, with a small box on top. "What is this?" I didn't mean for it to sound rude, but he hadn't exactly been cookies and cream either. He sounded like he wanted me out, and that I was a bother. Well, I could be at times, I admit, but I still didn't appreciate it.

"Clothes and make-up," he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm letting you borrow the clothes since you're not exactly natty right now."

I would have argued back if I hadn't recognized the logo on the make-up box and the ornate sewing on the shirt. They were expensive! This had to be some sort of trick, right? There is no way that some guy would let a totally poor tranny wear these types of clothes and make-up for free.

"Stop gaping like a starved ape," he said, raising his voice a bit. "I'm only letting you borrow them. As in, I'm going to get them back after you wash them."

After a twitch from my brow, I swiped the clothes and went back into the bathroom. I whined to myself that I wouldn't be able to keep the items that only rich people could afford. Wait a minute, I began to think. Why would a rich person or rich couple since I can't picture him being a tranny too, live in an apartment? The thought was quickly dispersed when I held the sweatshirt over my body. It was gorgeous! I didn't care anymore; just to be able to wear these kinds of clothes would make me happy for a week.

I had completely forgotten about the sarcastic guy until I had come out of the bathroom. "The skirt and the sleeves are a little too long, fine, but where on earth did you get the boobs? Are they water-balloons or something? That's very unattractive in those clothes."

I was starting to hate this man. "Other than that?" I asked. I shouldn't have, but I thought he was the kind of man who used up all of his steam in one go.

"You have lipstick on your tooth," he uttered simply, giving me that coy smile, and sipping his warm tea from the kotatsu.

I went back in the bathroom, and there was indeed lipstick on my front tooth. Does he treat his girlfriend this way, or was it just me? Stepping out of the bathroom I asked, clearly in an annoyed tone, "Anything else?"

He shot back with, "Do you want a list?"

"OK, what is wrong with you? I haven't done anything to you, so why are you treating me like crap? Is it solely because I'm a transvestite?"

He gave me a hard stare. "No. I couldn't care less if you were a transvestite, gay, hermaphrodite, or whatever. The fact that you got that drunk when you had to walk home in the snow and, to top it all off, while you had a daughter waiting at home. That is what irks me. That is what I don't like about you."

"How did you…?"

"Hurry up and get your things. I'm driving you home now," he ordered, standing up and going to the front, grabbing his jacket and putting on his boots.

I didn't know what to say. He was right, of course, but I still didn't like how he said it to me. I had gotten depressed last night, because it was obvious that Haruhi liked that idiot, Tamaki, which I would never allow. Not to mention, it was also the anniversary of Kotoko's death. I felt almost useless, like I was being left behind, and I just wasn't thinking last night. Thinking about it, after he had pointed it out, it was horrible way to act out. Kotoko would have been disappointed with me too. Was Haruhi worried?

After I put my clothes in a plastic bag, and put on my shoes, he led me to his oriental-styled car, which also looked expensive. It wasn't a sports car or a convertible, but from the sleekness and the fact that he kept it clean, it had to be expensive. And it was royal blue. Did they just want to look rich? I sat in the passenger seat when he unlocked it and noticed a photo hanging from his rear-view mirror.

It was a woman crouched over hugging a baby of about three. She had long black hair with tendrils framing her smiling face. Her dark brown eyes glittered with happiness. She wore the similar brand expensive clothes that I had on that covered some of her smooth fair skin. She was beautiful, and it was as if I could hear her laughing from the picture. The little boy had similar features with a chubbier face. He was probably hers, and most likely his.

There was no way I could argue with him for not knowing what having a family felt like. When he came in, I spied the wedding band on his left ring finger. I checked the photo, and saw the diamond ring on hers and confirmed what I had suspected. Maybe I could put us on a lighter note if we just somehow started over, but I wasn't going to apologize, at least not yet. "Is she your wife?" I asked as he put the key in the ignition.

He looked at the photo and seemed to relax. "Yes." He decided to keep his answers short, which I wasn't going to accept.

"What does she do?"

"Modeling."

That explained some things. "She's a model? Why would a model marry a guy like you?" I asked, trying to joke around.

It worked because there was a smirk playing on his lips. "What did your wife do?"

I should have caught the 'did,' but the new conversation was going surprisingly well. "She was a lawyer and a damn good one too." I could feel a gleam of pride in my chest.

"A lawyer, huh? And why would a lawyer go out with a man who acted girly?"

I had set myself up for his sarcasm. "Hey!" To be honest, I didn't really know the reason why she said yes. I could only afford to buy cheap meals, I did act girly sometimes, she even said I was weird, and the only redeeming quality I had was that I protected her from a man that was going to hurt her once. Other than that, I had no clue what she saw in me, but I was glad she did. "Well what do you do?"

"I'm a photographer."

"For models?"

"I used to. I quit and went with sports."

I had a smirk of my own, and said, "I bet it was because she was getting jealous of you taking pictures of other women, huh?"

His face grew serious again. "Sure." He went back to one-worded answers.

"Lighten up, will you? Your wife won't like the wrinkles you're making. I'm only asking because I'm curious. You don't have to worry about me hitting on her either, because I'm not into women." Damn my loose tongue! Damn alcohol! I was expecting him to ask if she had died, and how, but he didn't.

"I'm not worried about you hitting on her," was all he said about it.

It wasn't long until we arrived at my smaller apartment. "Thanks for your help."

"I'm coming with you, you know."

"I know where you live. I'll return the clothes after they're washed, I promise." I was hoping he would forget I had the clothes after a while.

"No, I don't care so much about that, but I do want the clothes back." He locked his car and followed me up the stairs.

I was getting nervous with him standing behind me. When I opened the door I saw the club with Haruhi at the table with tea. "What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled, pointing at the blond idiot. I didn't care that the others were around, since they were more responsible, especially Kyoya.

"Hey Dad," Haruhi greeted, like the loving daughter I know she is. "Where were you this morning?"

I hurried to hug her, and said, "Aw were you worried about Papa? I'm sorry I wasn't here this morning."

"No, I wasn't worried. I was just wondering where you were," she said bluntly.

The man who brought me home snickered behind his hand, to which I shot him a glare. "Hey," he greeted. "I brought your 'Papa' home. His purse was stolen, so I'll probably be back later today or tomorrow to return it. Also, here." He handed Haruhi a small card, which she took it. "If he doesn't come home on time again, go ahead and give me a call."

I took it from her and yelled, "She won't need to because it will never happen again, you smart-ass!"

He reached into his pocket for another card to give to Haruhi, which she took and wouldn't let me have. "Thank you for bringing him home, and for your consideration. I'll apologize on his behalf for all the trouble I'm sure he caused."

Haruhi! That was so hurtful! I cried on the inside.

"Neh, he wasn't too much trouble, but you're welcome." He turned to the club members, and said, "Hey Hitachiin-sou (1). Tell your mom I said hi, and that I'm doing well," as he walked out of the apartment, and closed the door.

Hikaru and Kaoru looked confused, I was confused, and everyone else looked confused.


Hilo again. So that is the end of chapter three. In case you're wondering, I didn't properly introduce the OC yet, and on purpose, and Ryoji hadn't introduced himself to the guy either. That was on purpose too. Hope you enjoyed it.

(1) "Sou" is short for "souseiji," which means "twins." You'll know more about it next chapter.

"Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings." - Ed Gardner