The next morning, Tsukiko awoke to the sun shining in her eyes. Looking at the clock on the nightstand, she saw that it was 10:47. She inwardly groaned.
'I can't believe I slept this late.'
Throwing her legs over the edge of the bed, she noticed something shining on the nightstand. Picking it up, she realized it was a silk blue ribbon. Surprised, she simply stared at it for a few moments.
'Thanks, Mori-senpai.' She said silently.
She tied the ribbon around her neck and exited the room, only to be met by a maid.
"Good morning, Yamashita-san." She greeted kindly. "Good morning." Tsukiko said in return. "I'll take you down to the limo if you'll follow me." She said, and turned, beginning to walk away.
Tsukiko followed, her bare feet silent against the cool floor. The maid led her down the stairs, and through the vast halls until they came to the front door. Two maids opened the doors for her, revealing a sleek black limo.
"Thank you." Tsukiko said, bowing to the three maids. "No, thank you." They chorused, which was a little unnerving. It reminded her of Hikaru and Kaoru.
She sighed heavily as she walked towards the limo. A butler opened and closed the door for her.
"Where to, Yamashita-san?" The driver asked. She gave him her home address and after about ten minutes they arrived.
"Would you like me to wait for you?" The driver asked. "Yes, if you wouldn't mind." She answered. "Of course not." he said, smiling cheerfully at her in the rearview mirror.
She got out of the vehicle and silently walked up to the front doors, slipping inside. She darted up to her room, avoiding maids along the way. The door lay on her bedroom floor and it creaked as she walked over it. She went to her closet and pulled out a bag, then went over to her drawers and began pulling out random articles of clothing.
She wanted to hurry, just in case her father returned home, which was unlikely, but it didn't keep her heart from hammering against her rib cage like a wild dove. After she was done packing, she pulled out some clothes and threw them on. A simple black long sleeved shirt and jeans.
Throwing the bag over her shoulder, she hastily made her way back down to the front door. Slipping on her boots, she realized she was forgetting one vital thing. Money. Dropping her bag near the door, she raced through the house and into her father's study. She went over to the desk and opened it, grabbing her credit card he had taken from her last week. She ran back out of the study and back to the front of the giant mansion, grabbing her bag and slipping back outside. She slid inside the limo, resting her bag on the floor.
"Ouran Academy?" The Driver guessed. "Actually…no. I want you to take me to the Shiratori Hotel." She said. He looked a little surprised, but didn't argue.
"The one across town?" He clarified. "Yes."
Later That Day at the Host Club
"Hikaru." Mori said, catching the red-head's attention. "Yea?" He answered. "I need to talk to you, alone." He said. "Uh, sure." He said, not used to Mori's actions.
He never really spoke to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary, and it was usually to Hunny-senpai. Kyoya watched curiously as Hikaru and Mori walked into the back room.
"Tsukiko called me last night, she sounded like she was about to cry. She asked me to pick her up at the park. When I got there, I found her in her nightgown, with no shoes." He went on to explain that he had brought her back to his house, and she told him a man had hurt her. Hikaru shook with anger, at himself and at whoever had done this to her.
"It's easy to guess that she doesn't want anyone to know, so keep this from the other hosts." Mori said. "Why didn't she call me?" Hikaru said, his voice shaking with anger. "Perhaps she would have, if you had just apologized." And with that, Mori walked back out into the main room.
Hikaru stood there, a little stunned at Mori's words, then anger took reign over him once again. He slammed his fist into the doorway and grit his teeth against the want to scream.
Tsukiko sighed as she stepped out of the shower, dressed in black lounge pants and a black t-shirt. She walked into her hotel room with a towel draped over her shoulders, the carpet plush and soft between her toes. She fell back onto the fluffy bed, closing her eyes as her muscles melted into the comforter and pillows. She let every single thought and every single worry fade away as the white clouds engulfed her, carrying her away into a blissful flight with a golden eyed angel.
Mori returned home that night to find that, as he suspected, Tsukiko had already left.
"Where did you take her?" He asked the driver. "I brought her home and I thought I was supposed to bring her to school but…" "But what? She didn't come into school today, so where did you bring her?" He asked. "She asked me to bring her to the Shiratori hotel." He answered. "I see." Mori said.
The room fell silent as Mori thought, he then turned and strode away.