It was Friday morning. Zakia wasn't difficult to get up since the fights, probably because of pain. However, there was now a different difficulty; helping her get around. I wasn't strong like Zakia or any of the boys at the club. Even Haruhi was probably stronger than I was. It was difficult for me to get Zakia into her wheelchair.

And then there was getting downstairs. Zakia helped the best she could, but I knew she was in pain as I half carried, half pushed her down the stairs. At school, everyone was always staring a Zakia because she was in a wheelchair. A few people talked to us in the halls, asking if the rumors were true and Zakia had really saved me.

Ritsu Kasanoda found us that morning, too. "Hey, Zakia. I'd heard you'd gotten hurt, but I didn't know how. What happened that put you in the chair?"

"Before my fight with you, one of my ribs was broken. After my fight with you, I also had a fractured leg."

"Oh, jeez...I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I knew going in that I'd probably get hurt. I'm just not as big as most of those guys. Are your legs alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. They only hurt for a couple of days. I was walking around again by Monday. Little sore, but that's all."

"I'm glad you're alright."

"You already knew I would be."

"Maybe. But it's good to hear you say it anyways."

"How are you, Furukia?" His sudden question to me threw me off.

"Oh, I'm alright. I'm not exactly a fighter. I've just been worried about my brother. I don't know when he'll be up and moving again, but he's already gotten impatient. He hates being reliant on others."

Ritsu nodded, expecting this. "Your brother has quite the fighting style. Pretty determined, too, if he fought with a broken rib. Heard he had one more after fighting me, too."

"I was stupid," Zakia spoke up. In her voice, I didn't hear pity, remorse, guilt, or any of the things most injured people felt. She was mad, at herself.

"Don't criticise yourself too hard."

"That's all it was. I was stupid. And now I'm stuck in this stupid chair, causing my brother pain as he tries to help me with everything. I'm forced to rely on him, and that isn't fair."

"Then heal up quick. If you don't want to be stuck this way, do something to change it."

"Don't encourage him," I scolded Ritsu. "If he gets up too soon, he could hurt himself."

"I'm already hurt, Furukia. What's the worst that could happen?"

I sighed. Ritsu chuckled. Zakia glared down at her legs, filled with self hate.

"I admire your spirit, kid. Maybe you should join one of the martial arts clubs."

"I have a club already."

"Right, right. The Host Club. Do you actually like it there?"

"They're our friends. They took us in without a second thought, even after they learned a kind of important secret of ours," I answered for us both.

"Okay, I can understand all that. So you all are buddies. But is hosting something you actually want to do, actually enjoy?"

"Well...Zakia and I have a few dreams, but the possibility of them coming true is probably slim."

"I think the two of you could accomplish anything you put your minds to. You've only been here for two weeks, and already, the school seems to have changed a little bit. I don't know what's so different about you to, but there's something in the air. Something is different."

"What's so different?" I asked, wondering just what could have happened.

"Well, for one thing, you know Kyoya Ootori, right? I would think so, since he's a host. I think I saw him smile yesterday in class. Like, a real smile. And there's this girl in your grade, named Hotaru. I don't know if you've met her, but she's been coming out more. Not as shy. But those are just a couple of things I've noticed."

Zakia and I shrugged simultaneously. Neither of us knew how our arrival could really make much of a difference.

"Anyways, I'll catch you guys later. I've gotta get to class. See ya," he called as he headed upstairs.

I took Zakia to class, and we sat in our usual places. Zakia had to share a desk with me until she could sit in one of the school desks with the chairs attached. Inside my desk this morning, there was a little piece of pink paper. Opening it revealed it to be a love note from some girl. It was for me. I searched around and found two more notes, both for Zakia.

"This keeps getting weirder and weirder," Zakia muttered.

I couldn't disagree.

"Hey, Kaoru, look. Zakia and Furukia are starting to get love notes from the girls."

Hikaru and Kaoru shared a good laugh at that, but I couldn't help noticing how Kaoru's seemed forced. He made jokes about it with Hikaru all morning, but he just didn't seem particularly interested.

"Hey, Kaoru, you alright?" I asked at lunch.

"Not really, but I don't expect you to care."

"Just because Zakia doesn't feel the same way about you, doesn't mean you have to shut everybody out. Zakia wants to be friends with you, even if she doesn't want to be more than that."

"Have you ever had someone reject you? Just totally and completely reject you?"

"Yes."

Kaoru blinked, surprised. "Well, you know how it feels then."

"You want to know what helped me get over it?"

"What?"

"Zakia. The way she handles things is...a little different. She has this kind of mentality that puts her ahead of the game. She focuses on what she wants, and doesn't pay too much attention to anything else. And if she finds she can't do something, she changed focus. She knows that, even if she can't something now, she might be able to someday. She's taught me not to take it too hard when something I want doesn't happen."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you have a problem, you can always talk to her as a friend. And you have other friends you can talk to. Just don't shut people out because you're upset."

"You can't tell me Zakia hasn't done that before."

"She hasn't. Zakia knows when it's best to move on. She knows when something won't happen. Sometimes she comes back to those things, sometimes not. Like her dream of singing."

"Whatever. None of this is helping."

"I can't help you figure out how to be a friend. That's something you have to figure out."

I got up from my seat and met Hikaru by the door. Zakia had taken to rolling around with her arms when she could, trying to do anything to take the hardship away from everyone else. Still, she waited at the stairs, head hanging. Kyoya said something to her as he met her there, and she sat up.

However, she seemed really deep in thought, because she glanced at him, said a meager hello, and went back to her lap. Zakia doesn't stare at her lap for no reason. And she doesn't blow people off. What could she be doing?

At the club, Hikaru led me around in a dance again. I'd gotten much better from our little lessons with Tamaki. Zakia sat in her chair by a window, still staring at whatever was in her lap. Kyoya was preoccupied with what Hikaru called fanzines, which apparently made the club money. Kaoru sat on a couch, thinking. Haruhi was in a conversation with Mori and Honey.

I thought I only looked away from my sister for a moment, but suddenly, there she was in her chair, next to Tamaki. She said something quietly to him. Whatever it was, he seemed excited by it. She said something else, and he shook his head.

Zakia did something miraculous. Again, it seemed to take a lot of effort, but she got up from her wheelchair, putting most of her weight on her right leg. Tamaki seemed upset, but he called Kyoya over.

"Zakia wants to learn to dance."

Kyoya's surprise matched my own, and he tried to say no, but Zakia stepped close to him, and mirrored the way I held Hikaru. Kyoya tried to say no again, to back out, and convince Zakia to sit down. She didn't listen to any of it, shutting Kyoya up by pulling his head to hers and kissing him.

A voice cleared at the door. Everyone looked, terrified, but relaxed when they saw Ritsu Kasanoda. Kyoya pulled away from Zakia.

"So, either you're both gay, or…"

"They're being taught to dance," Tamaki said.

"Let them answer for themselves. So, either Kyoya and Zakia are gay, or Zakia is a girl."

"Yes, I'm a girl." Everyone stared at Zakia. "I'd rather if you didn't tell anyone. Believe it or not, I enjoy myself here. I'm glad to be friends with you, Ritsu, and I think it's time that you knew."

"So Furukia, also a girl?" I nodded.

"Good to know. I'm even more impressed with your skills than I was before, Zakia. Fighting injured and a girl. I got beat by a girl. Wow."

"You won't tell anyone?" I asked.

"Nah. I already keep Haruhi's secret. What's two more crossdressers added to the list?"

Everyone's sigh of relief was audible.

"Thank you for that, by the way."

I looked back in surprise as Haruhi spoke up. She always seemed to be talking to her friends or daydreaming. Hearing her speak up was abnormal. At least, I thought so.

"No problem, Fujioka. Anyways, I was just coming by to see if you guys needed any help tonight, with the ball and everything."

"Sure. Glad you can help out. Do you mind walking around and serving? You just have to dress kind of nice." Haruhi extended the invitation, although Tamaki looked like he wanted to refuse.

"Sure, no problem." Ritsu left as easily as he'd come, and Tamaki sent Hikaru and I back to practice.

When Zakia still refused to sit back down, he gave up and told her what to do. I had to admit, Zakia learned to Waltz much easier than I had. as Kyoya led her around the room, she seemed to fly over the floor. It was like she'd practiced her whole life. Kyoya held her close, and I could see that he was trying to help support her weight when she stepped with her bad leg. Still, Zakia looked happy as she spun in circles with him.

"Furukia."

My eyes were drawn back to Hikaru.

"Yes?"

"Will you go on a date with me tomorrow? Saturday got kind of messed up, with all the redecorating and your sister. So, can I take you tomorrow instead?"

"I'm sorry, Hikaru. I have to take care of Zakia."

"Actually, Kyoya is going to be taking care of me tomorrow. Go have fun, sis."

I whirled my head to find Kyoya and Zakia now dancing alongside Hikaru and I. Hikaru flashed me a grin.

"Alright. Tomorrow sounds great, then."

Hikaru's grin broadened, and he spun me around, making me dizzy. He caught me, and slowed until I was steady again.

"Careful, Furukia."

"You're the one that needs to be careful, Zakia." She didn't have a comeback.

When the two minute bell rang, Zakia sat down. She took the ramps downstairs herself. Kyoya followed her. I was about to go too, but Hikaru grabbed my hand.

"Kyoya will look after her. Can I walk you to class?"

I glanced at the back of my sister's head before she and Kyoya got lost in the crowd of other students. I reluctantly agreed.

"So, why does your sister insist on making things so hard on herself?"

"I don't think even she knows for sure. But as I've watched her the last few weeks, I think she does because she feels guilty. She feels like she's the reason our father died, and the reason our mother abandoned us. She feels like it's her fault we were constantly switching families. So she makes things hard on herself as a way to make up for that."

"Your father died?" Hikaru asked, surprised.

"He was in the military. He never got to meet us. We weren't even born yet."

"How is that you sister's fault?"

"It isn't. But that's not how she sees it."

We walked into the room, and classes resumed. Zakia had beaten us somehow.

After class, almost everybody started to head for the gardens. It was time for the Host Club's annual Snow Ball.

It was January eighteenth. Just over a month or so until Zakia and I's birthday. Of course, nobody else knew that. Our true last birthday had been about two years ago. Our next wouldn't be for two more years.

We met the other hosts on a terrace that overlooked the part of the garden the ball was being held in. Only now did it occur to me that the roses must be fake, since it was winter. Strange, how I hadn't thought of the date until now.

"You all know how this works, right?" Tamaki asked. "Just dance with the girls. Zakia, wait until about seven."

"Alright."

"Wait until seven for what?" I asked her.

"I'm going to announce that I'm looking for a band."

"You're really going to try it?"

"Yes. Also, I wanted to tell you. Sunday, at this little cafe in the square, not far from the school. They're hosting open poetry readings. Anyone is welcome."

I stared. My sister was trying to make our dreams come true.

"Think about going, won't you? And tell me if you go, because I want to be there."

I nodded, and then I was being yanked away by Tamaki to go dance with the girls. Zakia followed slowly down the ramp.

The time flew away as I danced with somewhere around twenty girls. It was seven o'clock before I knew it, and Zakia was in her chair on stage. The band backed away, recognizing her as one of the hosts.

"Good evening. I hope you all are enjoying yourselves."

Several people cheered.

"My name is Zakia Notoski, one of the Siamese Twins and one of the newest members to the club. I'm sure many of you have heard about me and my brother Furukia by now."

Several the girls cheered, swooned, or made other noises of appreciation. A few of the guys nodded in acknowledgement.

"I'm up here tonight to request a favor. I've had a dream since I was a kid to become a singer. I didn't think it was possible, and my brother was the only one who believed in me. But since coming to Japan, and to this school, I've discovered the Host Club. It's members have become my friends, and in two short weeks, they've inspired me to try and reach for my dream. So, I'm looking for a band to play with me. We might become famous, maybe not. But I want to take the chance and try to do it."

People started cheering.

"So, if you're interested, please, talk to me anytime. We'll set up a place and I'll listen to you play."

Zakia received a loud applause, and she rolled back out of the spotlight. The band began to play again.

Zakia was instantly surrounded by several people, both male and female. I imagined she would be hosting her auditions in the second room of the club, since it was difficult for her to be active in club activities right now. Eventually, her mini-crowd dispersed, and I watched as a lone girl approached Zakia.

They talked a little bit, and Zakia smiled and nodded at something she said. And, as usual, never ceasing to amaze me, Zakia stood up from her wheelchair, and took the girl's hand. She led her closer to the rest of us, and started to dance. At the end of the song, Zakia bowed to the girl, and she went giggling and talking to her friends.

Zakia slumped against the side of the stage and hobbled back towards her wheelchair. I excused myself from my current dancing partner, and ran to her. She looked exhausted from just that one dance. Of course, the girl couldn't support her the same way Kyoya had earlier, but Zakia had still danced with her. Why had she danced with her?

"Stay here, I'll get it," I told her. I fetched her chair, and Zakia sagged into it. Despite her obvious pain, Zakia smiled.

"She looked so happy."

"You're hurt. You need to rest. You shouldn't be dancing."

"But did you see the way it made her smile, just to dance with me?"

"Yes. But promise me you'll stay here for the rest of the night."

"Alright, alright." She waved me off, pushing me back towards the crowds. She still had that stupid smile.

I got pulled into a dance, and I couldn't really pay attention, but I thought I saw Zakia talking to Ritsu, Haruhi, and Tamaki throughout the evening. She also talked to a girl who struck me as familiar.

At the end of the night, there was a grand prize drawing for clients of the club only. Some girl won a free visit with Tamaki, the most popular, and therefore most expensive, member of the club. That concluded the Snow Ball. Not exactly exciting, but pleasant enough, if that's your kind of thing.

Most of the club, excluding Mori and Honey, came over for the weekend again. Mori and Honey apparently had some big family dinner event they had to get to, or they'd have come with us. I went to sleep beside my sister, exhausted.

It was Saturday. My first date with Hikaru. And Kyoya was taking Zakia on a date, too.

I put on a cute winter dress. It was light blue, with three-quarter sleeves. It was a silky material, tight to my upper body, except for the loose sleeves. The skirt was long and straight, and shimmered in the light. A pair of matching colored flats that sparkled with silver glitter went perfectly with it.

"You look beautiful. You should leave your hair loose."

My sister had rolled herself around so she was horizontal on the bed, watching me get ready.

"I can't have all the fun. We have to get you ready, too."

Zakia had told me how Kyoya planned to take her somewhere simple, so I got out a pair of black jeans for her, adorned with chains that hung from the belt loops and embroidered with skulls on the back pockets. Her favorite pair she'd brought from England. She was going to wear the black tennis shoes again, so I couldn't pick a black shirt or jacket for her. Instead, I picked out a blood red shirt with her favorite band's name scrawled across it in orange. I gave her an army jacket to complete her punk look. It was also an item she's brought from England, and the one thing she'd held on to since we were kids. The name on it was Tanner. It must have been our father's.

When we were little, Zakia had gotten the jacket for our true second birthday. We were four in total years, but two in number of birthdays. It had been much too big for her for several years, but it started fitting more properly around the age of thirteen. Zakia used to wear it all the time, but with the dress code at Ouran, she hadn't worn it for nearly a month now.

I helped Zakia get dressed. When I handed her the jacket, she stared at it. Since our mother's story, it now held a whole new meaning to her. She shrugged into it, finding it just as comfortable as it used to be. The sleeves were still a little long, and the bottom hung to just past her butt, but she had never cared.

There was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Hikaru there, in khakis, a nice white shirt, a black vest, and a bow tie. He had even worn dress shoes. Hikaru drank in my appearance, and smiled when his eyes met mine.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yup. Let me say bye to Zakia."

I closed the door most of the way and went to my sister, who had rolled to the window, staring out. I bent down and hugged her tightly.

"Have fun," she whispered.

"You too. And I want to hear all about it when I see you later."

We both laughed, and she tweaked my nose. "Go on, he's waiting for you. And don't skip out on the gory details later," she teased, winking at me.

I laughed, and joined Hikaru at the door.

"Hey, Zakia. If I were you, I might try to wake Kyoya up. He tends to stay up late, and get up late because of it. I know he wouldn't want to be late for your plans," Hikaru said.

"I'll give him a while longer. Take care of my sister."

"I'll bring her home safe by midnight."

My sister turned and met Hikaru's eyes. There was a dangerous edge to hers, and a smirk on her lips. "I don't mind if you keep her for the night, as long as nothing happens. Who's to say I'll be back by midnight?"

Hikaru grinned. "Alright, then. I promise I'll keep her safe. Stay out of trouble."

"Please. Like that'll happen with a hot bad boy."

"Who are you calling a hot bad boy?"

"All of the hosts, except for Honey and Tamaki. Tamaki is too much of an idiot, and Honey is too sweet. But the other four of you I would definitely call bad boys."

The three of us laughed, and Hikaru shut the door over my head before leading me downstairs to the limo.

"What are we doing today?" I asked, curious.

"You'll see. It's a bit of a surprise. But, I will warn you. There is a small chance that you might meet my mom."

"Doesn't she work with my mom?"

"Yeah. Her name is Yuzuha. She's big into fashion."

"Oh."

"Why'd you wear a dress, since you hate them?"

"I like looking nice for you. But the minute your mother sees me, she'll probably start asking a bunch of questions, and I won't know how to answer any of them. I don't know anything about fashion."

"I wouldn't worry. I'm pretty sure she's out of town. I only said there was a chance because my mom kind of runs on her own schedule. We're going to be at a restaurant downstairs from one of her shops, afterall."

"Why does she have a restaurant below her shop."

"You've never been to an aristocracy mall."

"No. I've been rich for two weeks. I've been a little busy with you and Zakia and the club. I haven't had the time to go to a mall or see much of anything that Japan has to offer."

"You'll see the rich side today. Maybe another time I'll show you the commoners side."

Hikaru opened my door for me, like a gentleman, and I was off on my first date.