Hello ! Sorry for the delay, my life had taken a very busy pace lately, I had exam, and driving lessons, and I'm leaving for Vietnam for a six month internship ! That plus my french fic Harry Potter had taken a lot of my mind.
Thanks for the reviews ! Here is you chapter !
The next day, at school, Kazuuchi was feeling quite odd. What else could have been expected after all ? He had spend his whole life watching out for his siblings and out of the blue some severe lady appeared, sent by his parents, and took over every of his responsibilities ? And authorities too ! Seeing this stranger order his brothers and sisters around like she did the day before and in the morning really upset him.
Hence his grumpy mood all day -though it wasn't really obvious to anyone but him. At his lunch break he went to the club room to bake some chocolate cake with meringue and chestnut, and spent the whole time muttering to himself. Honestly, what had he done wrong to make his parents think he couldn't handle the family anymore ? Was it something he said ? Something he didn't ? Something he forgot to do ? Why not warning him about it ? They could have talked and come to a compromise !
_ Is something on your mind, sempai ? Asked Haruhi later that day while helping him doing the prep.
_ You could tell hu? I guess I was being too obvious, he scoffed self-depreciative.
_ You just do stuff a little rougher than usually, replied Haruhi.
_ It makes you really observant then.
_ If you don't want to tell me it's fine, Haruhi said, realising he was avoiding the question.
_ No, it's just… I don't want to complain, Kazuuchi admitted, embarrassed. It's silly, somehow my pride as a big brother had been bruised and all I can do is fuss about it.
He found himself looking at two staring big doe eyes that seemed to be able to read him like a book. When he had arrived today, it was to realise that in his absence, the host club had somehow turned the unkept boy into a cute feminine host. But now, with adjusted clothing and a clear view of his face, Kazuuchi couldn't help but think that Haruhi looked more like a girl than a boy. Then the first year laughed, and all doubt disappeared from his mind.
_ You remind me of my dad, he keep fussing about his pride as a father ! If something happen, you should be straight forward about. Nothing good will come from dwelling on it on your own.
Kazuuchi was speechless for a moment, then chuckled with his hand on his face. A kid younger than him was reminding that pouting wasn't helping anyone.
_ Thanks Haruhi, I needed that reminder. I'm gonna need some help to get the tea sets ready, mind to help ? You're our new coffee expert after all.
_ Jerk !
_ Hey ! That's not a nice thing to say to the guy who gives you free pastry when Kyoya can't count them !
_ He would totally put them on my debt…
_ The price of the flour, the fruits - even if they're free - the sugar, the electricity bill for the oven and the fridge… And of course the incredible skill of the pastry chef !
Haruhi shuddered, remembering the price tag on the window of the luxury pastry shop she looked at once. She wouldn't put it past him to up the price just for the fun of it. Finally, it was time to open, and she started on hosting with mixed feelings.
_ When she was at the hospital, my mum wrote me some of her recipe. When I manage to do one, it makes my dad really really happy.
The kid was a natural, it was astonishing. Kazuuchi felt kind of bad, plus she was a girl, and she flirted better than him! Well, it's not like if he really wanted to learn how to flirt anyway. But still, he was impressed, and made sure to send some plus sized pieces of chocolate her way. Then his guest arrived and they started to chat about the day, the new host, and then what he would bake for tomorrow.
_ Kazu-chan ! Called Honey, jumping at a stool at the counter.
_ Hey, Hani, what's up? The chestnut haired automatically put some cake in front of him.
_ We're playing detective today ! Whispered the blond third year with a face of conspiracy.
Kazuuchi blinked, then brought his face closer as Hani motioned for him to do. He then started to explain and the cook felt his shoulder stiffen.
_ Seriously ? How unlady-like, he said with distaste.
_ Right? She's scary, sang Hani. So we aaaaall have to keep an eye on her okay?
_ I'll give her a lukewarm tea, said Kazuuchi with determination.
_ He, laughed Hani. Don't force yourself, Kazu-chan. We'll deal with her in due time okay ? See ya !
And with that, the happy go lucky third year went back to his table with a new cake in hand. Kazuuchi turned to his guest, who were look at him questioningly.
_ I don't want to spoil the show.
_ A show ? What kind ? asked Otsuka.
_ Sorry, that's a secret ! He said with a thumb up.
_ Okay ! Replied the two girl mirroring him.
_ I don't know what to say, Kaoru said perplexedly.
_ Who cares, as long as they seem happy with themselves, replied Hikaru. They look kinda stupid though. How uncool.
_ Are Tanabe-san and Otsuka-san his only guest at all ? Asked one of their customer.
_ Yeah, I think so. It's because most of the girls are scared for their weight in his presence !
_ Don't be so mean Hikaru !
_ But it's true, his baking has become legendary and everyone is scared of becoming fat just by looking at his cake ! Well, everyone but Hani-sempai.
They all watched as the petit blond swallowed a whole cake. It was an unsettling sight. The piece of cake in their plate seemed kind of dangerous suddenly. An innocent chocolate cake, yet you could eat several piece of eat without feeling nauseous the slightest.
_ Yet they are so slim ! Awed the girl, looking at the brave guests of Kazuuchi.
_ They are heroic, assured another guest.
_ You're right ! She looked at her cake with determination. We must support them too!
They were brought back from their idle chat by a big commotion coming from Haruhi's table.
_ Huh?
It probably said a lot about Kazzuuchi's personality that the first thing he noticed was one of his cake splattered on the floor. He hated waste with passion. Then he realized the position Haruhi was in, on top of his customer. The china was shattered, the table upside down, it really was a mess. Then the twins decided to add to the chaos by throwing water at the pair.
_ Did you took us for blind fools ? questionned Kyoya with a smug face, holding what looked like picture. That we couldn't see your shenanigan ?
_ She is scary ! Cried Hani.
_ Pitiful, really, said Mori.
_ Disgraceful, agreed Kazuuchi while offering a hand to the first year to help him up.
_ Too bad… said Tamaki. You're mighty good looking princess, but look alone won't cut it. Disappear would you ?
Ayanokoji was so shoked by these word that she didn't seem to understand at first. It was understandable, with the look on Tamaki's face, it was hard not to be stunned by his seriousness.
_ But...
_ You tried to smear a member of the host club, you are therefore barred from it.
_ I hate you all ! Ayanokoji shouted as she ran out of the club.
Kazuuchi's shoulders dropped in relief and the cold look on everyone's face vanished in thin air.
_ Misguided queens like that pop up now and then, commented one of the twin, unimpressed.
_ For the fiasco, I'm imposing a penalty and raising your quota to 1 000 guests !
_ What ?!
_ They really get along, Kazuuchi chuckled as he watch them banter.
_ Is he for real ? Kaoru wondered.
_ That's Kazuuchi-sempai's cluelessness for you, explain Kyoya.
_ Someone gotta clean htat mess though, sigh the cook.
He kneeled close to the splattered good with a sad face. Hani looked quite upset too at the sight of a wasted cake and they share a silent minute before Mori started to straighten up the table. After the chaos, they had to ask the guests to live so they could clean up a bit so it was all quiet now.
_ Haruhi… you're a girl? Suddenly echoed Tamaki.
_ Yes. Never claimed otherwise.
_ The lord, that aloof doofus, laughed Hikaru.
_ He probably at an instinctual suspicion.
_ I knew the moment I meet her ! Claimed Hani.
_ An interesting situation, this, cooly commented Kyoya.
All the while, the two talls third year kept cleaning the mess.
_ You had figured too right?
_ Yeah.
_ Guess Tamaki isn't really observant then. Not that it really matter though.
_ It doesn't.
Suddenly something Haruhi said caught their ear.
_ And I kinda enjoy having the girls hassles over me. Guess I'm a little bend that way…
_ Man, this year is gonna be full of surprise…
_ Yeah.
That evening, he got home on his own car, the governess having taken the kids at school before his own club hours were over. It felt unnerving, he didn't like to be left out of his siblings life, even just for a day. Remembering the words of Haruhi, he decided that the easiest way to understand what was happening was by phoning his parents, but first he had to check on the job of Fukaina.
It was silent when he entered the house. A maid came to welcome him, and she looked quite puzzled herself.
_ Welcome back young master.
_ Thanks. I thought the kids were home ?
_ They are. In fact they are all in the dining room, doing their homeworks on the supervision of Miss Fukaina.
_ In this quiet ? No way!
A little annoyed, Kazuuchi walked to the dining room and froze at the sight of all the kids working silently. Miss Fukaina was watching like a hawk, straight as a ramrod with a cold look on her face. She looked like a general assessing his troup.
_ Hello, Kazuuchi greeted them.
_ Kazu-nii ! shouted happily Ryoma, jumping from his seat to run at him swiftly followed by the others. You'll never guess what happened today at school !
_ Can we have pineapple flowers please ? Pleaded Irime.
_ Enough ! Yelled Miss Fukaina. There will be no such behavior on my watch ! Everyone sit down, you have homeworks to finish.
_ But I want to talk with Kazu-nii ! Replied defiantly Ichijo with a dark look.
_ Ichijo, you need to finish your homework first, when you're done I promise I'll have some fruit and juice ready in the patio and you'll all get to talk about your day, how does that sound ?
_ Young Master Kazuuchi, protested the governess, I don't think giving into every demand of theirs is helping them to-
_ If they do their homework, they deserve a break, Kazuuchi cut her firmly. It's not a crazy expectation to ask to spend time with their brother is it? We're a family Miss Fukaina, please remember that the next time you'll try to cast me aside from their lives.
_ Yes, young master, she answered tight-lipped.
_ Alright, that's settle, everyone get to work and let's meet later ! I'll make sure to have pineapple flowers too, he blinked at Irime.
He coldly nodded to the women before leaving for the first floor to greet Shohei and his nanny, which was much kinder than the new governess.
_ Good afternoon Sagara-san. How was your day ?
_ Hello, Kazuuchi-san. We're fine, little Shohei is really peachy today.
The toddler was having the time of his life piling cubes and then destroying it in a Gozilla way.
_ We'll be having a late snack in the patio later, do you mind bringing Shohei ?
_ Of course not. He has to spend some time with his siblings after all.
_ Then I'll got to the kitchen to start preparing the fruits.
_ What do you say Shohein, want to give a hand to your big brother ?
_ Zuu ! Zuu ! babbled the kid.
_ Sounds like a yes to me.
The three of them went downstair and Kazuuchi got to work. They had a big fridge full of fresh fruits from all over their farm in Japan. He started with the pineapple, which he shaped in peony flower, then the apples he turned into rose, and added some slice of kiwi to feat as the leaf of the flowers.
_ So pretty… It's no wonder Sune likes Ikebana, Sagara smiled.
_ What are you talking about? It's totally unrelated !
_ You clueless boy, it is totally related. You're her precious big brother that she admires. That's her own way of standing out to you.
That got Kazuuchi quite puzzled.
_ I don't get it.
_ I know, that's why I call you clueless, laughed the nanny, mirrored by Shohei.
_ Er, I guess I'll have to talk with her directly then.
_ You do that, maybe you could go to her club exhibit next week ?
_ I'll try.
He made some light tea and then went to set up everything in the patio just in time for the invasion of young Hori bored out of their mind and excited to share their day and complain about the governess. They all sat around the japanese table, on fluffy cushion, and soon forgot all about Miss Fukaina.
Inami and Irime started to chat about their day and the boys in their class were icky and boring and Ikoto was to noisy and stupid. Kazuuchi shivered at the thought that they could grow up to become like the Itachiin, because right now they sure sounded like them. But then, he knew that they were a lot less withdrawn to themselves since they had so many siblings to take care of them and play.
Ryoma then took over the conversation by talking about a bird he had seen in the park at school at lunch, about how his wings were colored, and nice, and fluffy looking, and he really wanted to have wings too but her teacher had told him it wasn't possible and it really was unfair but then having a beak didn't sound that fun so maybe it wasn't all that bad. Ichijo started to shout excitedly about the lizard he had caught and freed in the classroom during the history lesson, and all the girls had started to scream like little sissy.
_ Poor lizard, I hope you freed it in the park after that ?
_ Sensei tried to stamp it with her foot but he escaped. I don't know where he went… replied Ichijo without concern.
The boy was going to be a handful for life, Kazuuchi was certain of this. He would be the kind of boy that bullies the girl he likes and put chaos in everyone life because he got bored. Just thinking about his teenage was making him a bit scared, if he was being honest. And it wasn't somone like Fukaina that could change that. If anything, she was going to make his attitude even worse…
_ What about your day Sune?
Until then she had been silently sipping her tea while giving Shohei slice of pineapple, smiling softly at the face he made at the acid taste, yet asking for more after each piece. At the call of her name, she blushed.
_ My day was fine, thank you. And yours ?
_ It was good too, though a girl at the club throw her cake on the floor and spilled her tea.
No, he wasn't still bitter about it. Not at all. He jumped out of his brooding when Sagara threw him and insisting glance. He remembered their conversation and tried to set the conversation going.
_ Do you enjoy your club?
_ Yes…
_ Do you mind if I visit your club exhibit next week?
Sagara rolled her eyes at the unsubtlety of the yound master, but had never expected any less of him. Sune on the other hand, started with wide eye.
_ How do you know about it, Kazu-nii?!
_ Well, Sagara told me about it. It sounded nice so I kinda want to go. It's important to you right?
She turned bright red at this words, both happy and embarrassed, and nodded. Then chaos exploded once again.
_ Can you come to our football match Kazu-nii? Asked Ichijo.
_ I have a competition of archery next saturday ! Claimed Ryoma.
_ Zuu zuuu ! Giggled Shohein happily.
_ Sure, sure, I'll be there too. And you, anything you want to ask ? Kazuuchi turned to the twins.
_ Can we visit your club please? Chanted together Irime and Inami.
...Crap.