Chapter Four: Salty Day

xXXx

I had won.

The battle was long over.

I could go back to my days of chaotically managing the host club and escape the threat of death.

…But why did I feel like I've dug myself a bigger grave?

"Where is she?"

"Our bancho…"

"Where is—"

"Addie, it's been two weeks since the duel." Haruhi looked to me, exasperated. This whole shebang had started to crowd the host room "You said they would get over after a day or two. Why is this still happening?"

Oh right. My new servants have arrived… for almost the tenth day in the row.

I gave Haruhi a playful shrug and said, "I guess I'm just lovable?"

Haruhi just glared.

I sweat-dropped and glanced around the music room, my expression turning back to neutral "…They're less of them then there was Friday? Kyoya says we charge them for coming in here all the time." His/her (I need to figure this out already, goshdarnit) eyes narrowed. Anyway-time to change the subject,

I plastered on a pleasant smile, "You look tan? How'd that pool trip with the guys go?" I didn't have to go because Renge volunteered for me. Thank lordie—my weekends are precious time. I mean…for reading, and eating, and maybe more eating. Okay, maybe a snide comment or two to Percy. But he deserves it. Maybe. Probably not.

Okay I'm digressing. Less self-speculation on my teenage morality, more let's-not-end-up in Haruhi's Death Note.

"The pool was indoors." Haruhi replied tersely.

"Oh."

Haruhi kept glaring.

Change the subject, change the subject, change the sub-

"Do you want to hear how I became the school bancho?"

Haruhi raised an eyebrow. I'll take that as a 'yes.'

Let's digress some more.

FlaaaaashbaaaAAAaaack.

XxxX

Among delinquent clichés lies the legend of the honor code. Before my fight with Ouran's bancho, I didn't know whether this cliché existed in this society or not. But, in making my fake delinquent character, I held true to several of these stereotypical traditions.

One of which is good fighting sportsmanship. Well, when the fight's supposed to be fair of course. None withstanding my trick with the banana (they didn't say that weapons weren't allowed!), I thought my one-on-one match with Ouran's bancho was a fair fight.

So, when I toppled my opponent over the boundary line and Renge started screaming that I had ("somehow…miraculously…shockingly" this flattering list of adverbs goes on) won the fight, I met my opponents dark eyes, which were filled with what I hoped to be a healthy respect but probably was actually killing intent, and held out my hand, I was only thinking to help her onto her feet, of course. That would be part of a delinquent's honor code, right?

Even though I think I could hear her growling at me, she still took my hand. And while I helped her up while the crowd cheered, I made sure to glance towards the other hosts to see their reaction.

Kyoya smirked, surely because I had secured him a profit with the huge crowd. Haruhi looked confused as ever. Tamaki and Honey were bouncing all over the place, crying tears of joy and pride at my deceitful acts, and Mori, in all his God-given stoicism, was holding a tissue box that the two blond hosts happily took advantage of.

Finally, the twins. I had used their joke against them. I could barely see them through the crowd, but man, they were looking right at me with wide amber eyes and..and…

Can I use 'wordless' in the same way as priceless? Or is that stupid? Well, I'm stupid happy so fuck it.

Their expressions were wordless.

I basked in the glory for a half-second, sincerely happy for the fact I had an impeccable memory and would never forget the details of that moment.

Okay, that's done. Memory stored in the depths of mind forever.…Can I leave? Now that I don't to worry about my ribs being broken by a female Mori, I'd like to mentally remind everyone (yes, they can't hear me, but I like to validate myself) that I hate-hate-hate large crowds.

A familiar yet sickening anxiety settled in my stomach.

Too many eyes on me. Too loud. And they were all talking about me.

I dropped my opponent's hand and started to turn onto my heel to make a beeline for the exit—

"Tell me your name." My opponent grabbed my arm.

Holding back a frown and keeping my expression neutral, I looked back at my opponent. I had to keep up my act a little bit longer.

"Loser's first." I said, trying not to think about how much I had to crane my neck to make eye contact with this giant.

Her eyebrow twitched, and I could tell she wasn't used to being ordered around, but she complied nonetheless. Victor takes all, as they say.

"Talia." She answered simply.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Just Talia."

Okay then.

Her eyebrow twitched again, "Your name." It wasn't a question.

And I immediately knew I shouldn't tell her my real name.

So I gave her the next best thing:

"Spoopy." I echoed her serious tone.

I didn't even wait for her eyebrow to rise like mine did.

"Just Spoopy."

It's unlikely, but I hope I sounded cool.

Talia just gave me a measured glance, "Very well…Spoopy," Her eyebrow twitched again. Nervous habit? Because gosh it made me nervous like she was about to beat me to a pul—

"I see," She continued, her tone still level, "I, Ouran's bancho, lost. So now I pass our school's bancho title to you. My followers are now yours. You are free to…flirt with them as you like in this…host club."

Oh, so this was also part of their honor code.

"That's alri—" I started.

"I insist." Talia growled, her grip tightening.

Great. More weirdos to deal with. If I faked this whole delinquent thing any longer, I might end up becoming one.

I sighed, "Fine. I have to leave though. Now. I have business. Recite to me your phone number. I'll remember it."

She smiled, "I understand. Someone cunning-"

Is that what she thought of my banana trick? Flattered.

"-and strong like you much have much to do."

More like I just want to go home, eat an oversized meal, freak out my personal chefs (even after all this time, it never gets old!), and continue my merry life, but she didn't need to know.

I nodded and said, "Thank you for understanding. I will take your cell number and contact you within the next few days."

XxxxX

Haruhi blinked, finally breaking his/her glare and said, "She's right. You are cunning."

I shrugged, "I'll take that as a compliment?" Though Haruhi's tone implied it wasn't, "Anyway, so now we text. She's my number two, and she handles everything delinquent related at this school since I'm obviously swamped with work. She doesn't know my real identity, and I intend to keep it that way, " I said with a wave, "Especially since now I'm apparently a legend? Who knew?"

"I'll acknowledge that." Haruhi said with a sigh, looking around the room. "They've been snooping around here everyday, and now there's a bunch of weird rumors about. I'm surprised Kyoya hasn't done anything about it."

"He says he counts them as guests and charges them extra since they're loitering. And they can't interfere with the host business, or he'll kick them all out with his police force."

"Of course he did that. He does everything for his own gain." Haruhi said, almost with a groan.

I smiled, for real this time. Ever since the brawl, I had felt a little better about being apart of the host club. Like I had gained a bearing in this crazy group of people. Not quite a niche. Nor fully ingrained in the group. But a grasp of who these people were and what they believed in. And a bit of an…appreciation for the hosts here?

Also I had gained a fighting force that seemingly ran the shadows of this school, but y'know. Details.

"Oy' Spoopy," One of the twins spoke behind me.

I turned in my chair to see the twins approaching.

Scratch that. An appreciation for most of hosts. Screw these two.

"We finally found you!" The other echoed.

The identical twins approach, mirroring the same smile and step.

Ugh.

I was really getting sick of not being able to tell these two apart. The fact that they were significantly taller than me and identical, could act perfectly in sync, and were probably the god of mischief's illegitimate children from another universe freaked the Hell out of me. And don't get me started on the which-one-is-Hikaru bullshit they pull all the time to get what they wanted.

I had to do their homework and take notes for all last week week because of it. An entire week. Just because I can't tell the difference between two individuals with identical DNA. I have an almost perfect memory, so sue me if I can't remember or identify a difference in their identical faces and uniforms other than their hair-which-they-change-and-hide—

"Can you tell your minions to leave?" The tone was aggressive. Maybe that was Hikaru talking.

I was angry at them. For the banana, for losing their stupid game.

I wanted revenge. For them treating me like I'm some toy to fool around with.

I wanted to be able to tell them apart and rip their identical smug expressions off their face.

Have you ever heard the phrase: spite is the greatest motivation?

And I'm full of it.

Google dictates that most identical twins can be differentiated through the tone of their voice or the way they speak. If I can identify them by their voices, maybe I can understand their mannerisms more. And, if I can identify the microcosms of the way they act (Haruhi says there is a difference. Of course Haruhi of all people sees a difference. Too damn perceptive.), the next time I play their game, I can win and crush-

"They're annoying." The other-maybe-Kaoru echoed, "They're ruining business for me and Kaoru."

Okay that's actually Hikaru. Damnit!

I kept a neutral expression, though my mood was boiling on the inside, "Why should I tell them to leave? If they're really annoying, go talk to Kyoya." I could barely keep the venom out of my voice.

Hikaru scrunched his nose and leaned forward, "They're your subordinates."

"I'm not revealing my presence to shoo away some guys killing time."

"Huh?" Hikaru said with growing irritation, "And you're our manag—"

"How do you do that anyway?" Kaoru said, stepping closer to me, "Disappear, I mean,"

Hikaru passed a glance at Kaoru and then looked at me with an unnerving glint in his eyes.

Their lips quirked upwards in unison. Some girls might find it sexy; ever since seeing a special screening of The Shining on a too-large screen in a too-large, dark inescapable room at a much too young age, I would beg to differ.

"Yes, how do you do that?" Hikaru continued.

And then they started talking in sync. If I ever see them apparate into a hotel hallway I swear to-

"If you tell us," the Hitachiin brothers said, "we'll stop bugging you about your subordinates."

"Okay, I'll tell you," I said immediately.

The twins' eyebrows raised with interest. Were they genuinely curious right now? Might as well meet their expectation.

"I call it the art of go-fuc-"

"Okay that's enough." Haruhi stood up, her voice firm like a scolding mother's "Addie, restrain yourselves. Hikaru, Kaoru, don't bother Addie all the time like this—you're just provoking her."

The twins looked at each other once again and shrugged. I held back a smirk. The twins, thought constantly, I suspected had a soft spot for Haruhi. Call it intuition gained from having a mother who's notorious for having every guy on all the set flirt with her. Of course, she only really entertained the wealthy and handsome. Suave moves, bad pickup lines, nervous jokes, the brave few who pull the 'oops-i've-spilled-my-drink-on-your-brand-name-shirt-let's-get-drinks'—let me tell you, when you're wearing a shirt or dress that was tailored and designed by some fancy-pants (literally) New York designer that any model would die to wear…

Well, wrong line, wrong clothing. Sorry bro, you're not hitting anyone up after that. In fact, my mother's probably hitting you. Literally.

Gosh, we virtually never got along, and I hate her man-inizing ways, but I loved watching her slap men silly when they did stupid things.

And yes, they would talk to our lawyer. They also need up being the ones paying the hourly fees for them.

I'm getting off topic.

"Fine—" Kaoru started.

"—Only because we don't want to make you mad, Haruhi." Hikaru finished.

"But!" They said in unison and looked back at me, who was glaring silver daggers at them at that point, "This isn't over. You better watch yourself this weekend." The twins smirked, turned on their heels, and walked away.

"This weekend?" I echoed and looked at Haruhi.

"We're all going to the beach this weekend. Tamaki says you're coming too."

"I'm coming?" To the beach? "…Since when?"

"Since Renge decided to go back to France, and we have extra tickets. Not to mention, I have a few jobs for you." A new voice said.

Can Kyoya apparate? Is he a wizard? He probably has a degree in the dark arts.

"I have plans this weekend!" I said, quickly turning towards the host club's number two.

"No. You don't. I've already contacted Percy about this." He replied simply with a smile.

Devil. Or even worse. Voldemort.

I held back a flinch at the thought of one of the antagonist that sometime haunted my childish dreams back in elementary school.

Haruhi didn't (or pretended not to) my tensed mood and patted me on the back, simply saying:

"Remember to pack sunscreen. It's going to be hot."

XxX

Extra: Sunny Day

When Addie first went to the beach, she didn't pack sunscreen. In fact, she didn't pack anything at all but herself and a swimsuit.

Sun shined over the California beach, sea gulls cawed, and the taste of salt permeated the warm, breezy air; the perfect day for a movie shoot. Camera crews ran in all directions to catch just the right angles of the actors running hand-in-hand on the shore, while sweaty directors yelled orders at young staff and off-stage cast members gather props and fix the makeshift tent.

Aside from the shooting and away from the lenses of any camera, a very young child, no more than six or seven years of age, sat a ways from the movie madness on the shore. Back and forth. Swish and swoosh. She watched the waves steadily wash over her bare pale legs.

"I'm bored." She announced to nobody, pulling the strap of her bright red one-piece and glancing over to the shoot. The girl let out a soft whimper. She wanted her mother, the star actress of the current romantic drama in-progress. There still shooting the same scene. It had already been two hours!

"I wanna see mommy," The girl pouted and wrapped her small arms around her legs.

"Cut, cut, cut! Come on guys!" She could hear the director yelling. His voice was as cranky and ugly as the girl's mood when her mommy forgot to make or hire someone to get breakfast. Mommy didn't allow work people to live with them because of 'security reasons.' "We ain't got all day." The man continued to yell, "I want touchy-feely- this is the beach, feel the skinship! The hotness! More love. Ugh… Break everyone! You guys better be ready next time. I'm looking at you lover boy!" The director yells, brushing off the sweat on his forehead, waving the script around. "Augh! Can someone get me a towel already? Come on people! Move it!"

Hearing the word 'break,' the young girl lifts her head towards the camp, her grey eyes sparkling with happiness.

Could she go talk to Mommy? Would…Mommy play with her? She jumped to her feet and started run-galloping towards the tent. Thoughts of sand castles and mermaid games danced in her imagination. Her mommy was named Ariel after all. And she had red hair like the rest of her family. The girl was the only brunette in her mother's family. Ever. Well, that's what the pictures in her mommy's safe indicated to the girl anyway (The woman had accidentally let the safe code slip while the girl was in earshot). Arriving at the center of the shoot, the girl looked around and quickly spotted her mother, immediately running over to hug the scarlet-haired actress.

"Hi Mommy!" the girl exclaims, hugging the actress's knees tightly, looking up at her mommy with her best big grey puppy-dog eyes "Do you wanna build a sand castle? Go swimming? Can I pretend to be a vegan shark and go raaawr while you're the little mermaid and-"

"Oh…hello sweetheart…I didn't see you there!" The young mother interrupted, as if she had just noticed the small child. She awkwardly patted her daughter's dark brown hair. "Mommy's still busy with her shoot, so you have to keep it up little more, okay?"

"Eh…?" The child frowned, tilting her head. "But you're on break right?"

"Addie-"

"Oh hey Ariel, want to go to the bar after this is all over- What's with the kid?" A handsome young man says, walking towards the mother and daughter. "Heh, must've gotten lost." The actor bends down until he's at the same level as little Addie, his lips curling into a friendly smile, "Where are your parents kiddo?" '

Addie moved farther behind her mother's legs, looking at the drama's male lead shyly.

"Addie, this is Marcus," Ariel took a deep breath, sighed, and looked at Marcus, "Actually, Marcus, I haven't told this yet- I was going to, but uh…"

The man reached out to pat Addie's head. She ducked, not liking the touch of anyone other than Mommy and the receptionist at her apartment who gave her free lollipops and mint chocolate.

Best way to get to this girl's heart was unavoidable maternal connection and food.

"Eh, is this kid related to you or something Ari? Hey! You guys have the same grey eyes- that's adorable. She looks a lot like you!"

"Well-"

"Ah! Let me guess? She's your niece! Coming to visit Aunty huh?"

"Marcus!" Ariel exclaims, looking away from Marcus, "She's my daughter."

"…Oh…I'm sorry…I didn't-" Marcus starts, taken aback by the sudden information, "You have…?"

"It's…okay…I'm used to it. And I guess your new to the showbiz scene around here. Just don't make a big deal about to the press. It's calmed down for the past year or two, so people tend to forget. Stuff happens y'know?" the star actress murmurs, looking at her young daughter guiltily.

Addie blinked her big grey eyes, a dozen thoughts twirling in her mindscape.

Mommy was weird. Sometimes she liked being a Mommy, but other times, it didn't seem like being Mommy was very fun.

To begin with, Mommy was 'young' for being a Mommy apparently, but Addie didn't really understand that stuff. She just knew her Mommy was prettier than all the other mommy's in the world. Maybe the other Mommy's didn't like that and were mean. Maybe there was more to it. Apparently some people found this stuff 'interesting' or 'juicy' (what a weird word. Juice is squeezed fruit, not something to call her family. We're humans not fruit. English was weird.) Mommy didn't like reading some of those articles. So, Mommy didn't like being known as a mommy to everyone else.

Well, actually, while she complained a lot, she did like reading magazines sometimes. Well, all the time, really…?

Is this what the big books call, hipro-cri-si? Or is it contra-dixon?

Well, Mommy definitely liked being a Mommy when LOTS of people had cameras and microphones ("It's good every once and a while to get out and get some good publicity. You are an renowned actress's daughter after all!" Mommy would say, stuffing Addie into itchy dresses and powdering weird things on her face). Yet Addie hated the flashing lights, especially when Mommy pushed her into them. The dark, bulky machines went 'click click click!' while Addie's eyes blinked with a resounding 'ow ow ow!' going through her head as the flash attacked. And everyone kept yelling and yelling and pulling and screaming at her.

Couldn't they be quiet? Couldn't they keep their hands to themselves? Wasn't silence golden?

Then, those photos would show up in the same magazines Mommy didn't like!

It didn't make any sense!

The girl shook her head. She was spacing out. Mommy always told her she was an airhead because there was too much information living in her head. The statement didn't make sense to the girl. How could her head be empty if there was information crammed in it? Wasn't that called an oxy…oxymoron? Contradixon?

No, wait! There couldn't be an 'x' in that word, the spelling didn't make se-

She shook her head a second time. She was spacing out again! She had to remember why she was standing there in the middle of the set: to talk and (hopefully) play with Mommy.

"Mommy, why did that man call you Ari? Can I call you Ari?" Adele asks innocently, pressing her face playfully against her mother's bare leg. "Your legs really warm by the way. Though you do need to shave."

Ariel bends down and wraps her arm around Adele, her pretty silver eyes studying the girl, "Honey, this is my boyfriend, Marcus. He's another big actor in this movie we're making. I was planning to introduce him to you eventually, but life has just been so busy. You understand right?"

The girl nodded, never letting go of her mother's gaze. Her mom's life was always very 'busy' with boyfriends.

"What happened to the other ones-mmmph!"

"Oh Adele, what are you talking about? Jeez, you might give Marcus the wrong idea!" Ariel exclaims loudly as she muffles her daughter's mouth. This kid does not have a filter does she? The mother thinks gloomily. And she eats so much! Well, she does have her moments I guess. She has a pretty good memory to remember those other men, the mother thinks, looking curiously at the young child. A director starts to scream in the distance, "I have to go sweetheart, go put on some for sunscreen okay? Or you'll get red as a lobster!" Ariel says quickly, patting Adele's head.

"….okay." Adele mutters sullenly and starts to walks away in search of sunscreen.

A hand slips in to another as Marcus leads Ariel away to the movie shoot.

The movie shoot ended five hours later without a single break. The romantic-drama that later aired in the coming months was an award-winning hit. Though, a month or two later after that, Mommy 'broke up' with Marcus. And then two weeks after that, a week after Addie's birthday, a repo—

Well, that's a story for another time.

But Addie really didn't remember that day for the masterpiece it birthed. That was the day Adele learned three simple truths:

1. Put on sunscreen. Addie does not tan. She burns pathetically like a lobster

2. Always have a long book or some sort of device to entertain oneself at long movie shoots.

3. Her mother likes men. A lot.

XxX

I didn't bring my sunscreen.

It's not like I forgot it. No, I'm not a forgetful person. At all.

It's just hard to bring something you didn't have.

Yes, I, a full-paying student of Ouran Academy, didn't have the luxury of sunscreen. And no, I wasn't in the mood to ask my good neighbors for any.

And yes, I am sulking. I don't hold any particular love towards beaches and, despite my West coast upbringing, I didn't want to be here and working on the weekend. But now I was here and unprotected.

"Addie, stop sulking, take off that ridiculous hoodie, and enjoy the beach." Haruhi, who was sitting next to me under an umbrella, ordered.

"No." I pushed my head further into the book I was reading. One hand held it close to my face. The other twirled my low side ponytail and flipped the occasional page. The book was a tragedy-just like my life right now.

"Well, you're crowding my towel, and there's other girls who want to sit down."

"They can bring their own towels." I said, grumbling.

"This is my towel."

"And this is my shade."

Haruhi cursed under his/her breath and grabbed my book, "A little sun won't kill you."

I looked at my now-empty hand and then at Haruhi. "Say that when I get skin cancer. If I go out there, I'll blend right in with all those ridiculous crabs Honey and you collected," I said sharply.

I don't tan well; I just burn, so why submit myself to UV rays at all?

Haruhi sighed. That sigh sounded so girlish. Yet here the host was, in swim trunks and a shirt.

"Haruuuuhi!" The twins shouted from the distance, approaching.

"Take this!" Hikaru (I could tell from the swim trunks) tossed a something across the distance towards us.

Haruhi dodged, still holding my book (thankfully), the object hit me in the face.

It was a water balloon. In a millisecond, my face dripped in salt water and the top of my hoodie was drenched.

I didn't have the energy to get up and pummel the culprits, so I just groaned and lied down. Maybe if I played dead they would leave my sorry existence be.

"Haruhi, are you afraid of water?"

"Is that why you're not swimming?"

"No. Hikaru, Kaoru. I'm not afraid of water. I went to the pool last week, remember?" Haruhi paused, I could hear another sigh come from the host, "Don't play dumb. You just used this fear game of yours as an excuse to cause more trouble, didn't you?"

"Ehhh. Well this was sea water not pool water. It's different." The two brothers said in unison, their reasoning on par with a five year old's.

"But..." I could see Kaoru start to smirk in my peripheral vision.

"…We did hit Spoopy!" Hikaru finished.

The two turned their focus to me. I continued to play dead and closed my eyes.

"Wait," Kaoru said in inquisition, "Spoopy, what are you wearing?"

"That hoodie," Hikaru continued, "How old is that? Not even Haruhi would wear such a thing if given the choice!"

"Oy!" Haruhi quipped but then said in a softer, more concerned voice, "Though, you aren't wrong."

My hoodie was nicknamed 'Comfy.' Because it was Comfy. It's the type of attire you would wear when you want to relax and not look good for anyone. I've owned Comfy since I was eleven and won it at some game at some big showbiz convention my mom had a press conference at. I was grumpy because my mother had dragged me to an event with way too much paparazzi and people. She forced me to play the game to show familial love to the viewers. We were on a stage. It was terrifying. But, It was a memory game, and, to my mother's joy, I crushed it. To my mother's displeasure, I chose the ugliest and biggest prize: Comfy.

The press loved it, saying that I had a new and unique fashion 'taste.' Mom smiled, but she knew the crap I was pulling because there was no way she could stand next to me in public when I was wearing that, and her pretty silver eyes screamed, 'why are you introverted.' Nevertheless, I hated every moment of it all. And in my spite, I wore that ugly sweatshirt every day for the next two months. The cloth quickly wore out and the ugly green faded a bit, and it quickly became the most comfortable thing in my wardrobe that I would wear in my leisure or if I wanted to spite my mother again.

On it was a chocolate chip-mint ice cone with large circle eyes that screamed: ICE SCREAM!

It wasn't very cutely drawn. It was actually kinda creepy. The eyes were kinda depthless. People never liked staring at it too long. Also, wasn't the chocolate chip mint supposed to be the 'chill' flavor? Or am I just applying needless stereotypes to ice cream? Maybe it was zombified ice cream.

Ah whatever.

I loved Comfy to death.

Literally. I'm being serious; the threads are coming out.

I probably have to get it fixed sometime if I want it to last until high school graduation.

"I'm in my time of mourning." I said after a pause, cracking open my eyes to see my three conversation partners staring down at me with wary eyes.

Normally, I wouldn't wear Comfy in public. But I was spiteful and grumpy, and I think wearing this ragged thing conveyed that to my companions. Also it protected me from the sun. Two birds. One stone.

I love passive aggression.

"Still…"

"That sweatshirt."

"Looks like trash."

"Is that what you all say to your grandma after grandpa dies? No wonder she never sends you two any gifts."

"Don't make stuff up." Haruhi said, sternly. Then, with a resigned shrug, he/she said, "I'm going to go collect more crabs for tonight. Do me a favor: don't tear each other's throats out when I'm gone."

"No promises." Hikaru, Kaoru, and I said in sync.

Haruhi gave us a strange look, and we also grimaced in sync. Is this what being a triplet is like?

Don't answer that.

As Haruhi walked away, the twins sat down next to me.

"Why are you sitting next to me?" I ask, sitting up slowly and patting my damp sweatshirt. Nope, not taking it off. Just because I'm a little damp doesn't mean the UV rays aren't still beating down on this beach. I refuse to take any chances.

"We have some questions for you," Kaoru said.

"I don't have any answers." I replied sternly, giving them a sharp look.

"Aren't you curious about where Haruhi's been disappearing all day?"

"Already know. That stupid fear competition you two and Tamaki made up, right?"

The brothers' expressions dropped little bit, "Damn. She's more perceptive than we thought."

"Damn." I echoed, "They're more block-headed than I hoped."

"Oy!" Hikaru growled.

Kaoru sighed, "Okay, this isn't getting anywhere."

The twins looked at each other, a conversation transferring through their gazes in milliseconds. That's what it felt like at least.

"How about this?" They said in sync, "You help us get Haruhi's fear, we don't put live crabs in your bedsheets tonight?"

"My what?"

They grinned, "You get the idea."

XxX

A spooky cavern adventure, a dark truck's trap, and a mori (sharp-object. Ha. Puns.) later, the sun was setting, and Haruhi remained unafraid of anything.

"Ugh, what else can we try?" Hikaru groaned.

The three of us sat on some rocks near the beachside. A larger rock kept us in the shade.

"We did everything." Kaoru said, echoing his brother's fatigue.

"Not everything." I piped.

"I acknowledge the idea's entertaining, but we are not recreating The Shining." Kaoru replied, looking at me dully.

"We could've. One day shipping for wigs and dresses. You two already have the creepy-identical-twin thing going—" And if the brothers said, 'Come play with me. Forever.' all the girls would swoon and Kyoya would be so pro—

"Oy Spoopy," Hikaru interrupted, looking at me with his curious amber eyes. "What are you afraid of?"

"What are you afraid of?" I repeated the question to Hikaru, a little annoyed that he interrupted my wonderful idea. Yes, my debate skills and petty nature resembled a seven-year old's. Plus or minus a half-brother, I'm practically an only child. Fighting maturely with other children is not my strength.

Besides, the twins were practically the same way since they acted like basically the same person. Have they ever even fought before?

"The Shining?" Kaoru suggested, also looking at me with a slight curiosity.

"Scary, yes. Terrifying, no. If I were truly afraid of that movie, would I suggest cosplaying it?"

Kaoru gave me an unidentified look, looked at Hikaru, and the two shrugged.

"Whatever. Hikaru, let's go see what's Tamaki's doing."

And with that, the twins grew bored of me and ditched me for Tamaki.

That's fine. I didn't want to hang out with them anyway.

I leaned forward, propping an elbow on my knee and placing my chin on the same arm's elbow knuckle. Grey eyes drifted towards the sea, where the warm-colored sun sank into the cool ocean water.

'What are you afraid of?'

What an ugly question. How am I supposed to answer that? Oh yes, Hikaru, Kaoru, let me tell you how to get under my skin. Let me let you in on the knowledge of my psyche that my psychologist only dreams of finding out.

I sighed, feeling slightly melodramatic. There was no possible way the twins could understand, could they? What were they afraid of, anyway?

I paused and pondered.

Yes, that might be it. Maybe—

"Somebody help!"

Huh?

"Somebody—please!"

"Haruhi! Watch out!"

Within seconds, I sprinted up the large rock behind me to find some delinquents (no, I'm not trying to be ironic) harassing a few girls and Haruhi.

The girls didn't notice me and kept crying out for help. Haruhi stood there, displaying fierce look to the delinquents, who did the same except much scarier. One of them held a beer bottle. They were drunk. Great. This couldn't get any worse.

One of men grabbed Haruhi by the scruff, lifting the host towards the edge of the rock's cliff. We were high up. A good twelve meters above ground. My stomach turned. It was getting worse.

I hate myself sometimes. Like, right now.

"Stop right there!" I called out, deciding to try to play the hero. I moved forward towards Haruhi. I couldn't let—

"Ah-ah-ah, little miss." The other delinquent grabbed me by the arm.

"Get your arms off me!" I said, barely holding back a flinch at his tight grip.

I struggled. He kept holding on; a drunken smile plastered on his face.

"Ohhh, this one's gotta cute face!" His demented grin deepened, "Let's see what's under that scroungy sweatshirt of yours." His other hand reached for Comfy.

"Get. The. Hell. Off. ME!" I yelled, almost screaming. I twisted and pulled my arm towards the part of his grip where his fingers met his thumb and broke free. Thank you self-defense class and thank you Honey for strength training.

The drunk man wobbled, muttering slurred curses while I staggered backwards. Through the corner of my vision, I could see the hard rocky and sandy ground below me.

Oh no.

Vertigo hit me, and everything felt lighter. In the worst way possible.

I lost my balance. My foot hit the edge of the rock cliff. I started to fall backwards towards the same rocky shore that I had just glanced at. My hands grappled for air. I could see Haruhi being tossed into the ocean. But, unlike Haruhi, I wouldn't get the luxury of dropping into the ocean. My heart beat tripled. Everything seemed to slow down in that congratulations-you're-about-to-die-here's-some-time-for-your-final-thoughts-and-reflections kind of time lapse.

And in that slow moment, with my heart pounding in my ears, I could only think of one thing:

'What are you afraid of?'

Goddamnit, why are the twins in my last thoughts? Why?

I'm so going to haunt them in the next life.

'What are you afraid of?' The thought persevered.

In the mere moments before my death, I decided to humor the question. There were several ways to go about it.

Mom thinks I'm afraid of people. After I dropped out of middle school, I covered my apartment's windows, so I couldn't see outside—she figured it was so I wouldn't feel like I was constantly subjected to the showbiz city bustling below.…That I couldn't take the sight of other people, or the idea of other people looking at me. That all the years of being forced into a spotlight had finally broken me. That the kid inside me had become something more senile.

It's what she told the psychologist, at least.

But, while I typically don't like people, and I hate being swarmed by paparazzi and manipulated by my mother's fans and self-centered peers or boyfriends, my mother, perceptive to some extent, was still wrong and those experiences weren't really why I put those blinds up.

People bother me, and yes, they can scare me, but on a day-to-day basis they don't terrify me. Maybe a few years a ago, yes, but I've grown beyond that. I can talk to others, manipulate them through my words or assets. I'm young but cunning. And while, yes, I'm forced to work for this stupid club, and it sometimes feels like a waste of time, hanging out with these people wasn't scary.

Maybe what scares me is the feats people are capable of. The way they can hurt others. The words they say and write in the paper or online. The actions individuals choose to take that can have the worst consequences. Onto their loved ones, people they don't know…

Themselves.

Actions that could make someone choose to fall down this cliff.

Or maybe I'm being too edgy?

Get it? Edgy. Because I'm falling off the edge?

…Fuck.

"Addie!"

Hands grasped my own, and I was pulled forward back onto solid ground. I immediately collapsed onto my knees, breathing erratically. My body trembled slightly. The world spun round and round, and I could only try to focus my dizzy gaze onto the ground.

The hands let go, and I heard thumping and beating and yelling and-

"Oy!"

"You okay?"

I broke out of my daze. How much time had passed? I numbly and slowly looked up. I wasn't shaking anymore, but my breath still came a bit frantically…I wasn't hyperventilating, which was good…I guess. My head still felt light, and the world seemed a bit bouncy, but I wasn't going to faint.

I think.

"Are you okay!?" The voice repeated. Hands grasped my shoulders. I blinked. Slowly, the world came back into the focus.

"Just some…vertigo." I said in a daze to my saviors.

"…Are you afraid of heights?"

…

I looked at my rescuer(s?) and tried not to throw up.

Hikaru and Kaoru knelt before me, their matching amber eyes staring at me with the kind of piercing gaze that made you feel like they were reading into your soul. Maybe it's the side effect from the fact I almost just died via my worst fear, but I still felt a bit weirded out.

Maybe this was really The Shining.

…Well that dumb thought just confirmed I'm still alive.

And that the twins just almost certainly found out my personal phobia. Great.

"…Wow, I never expected to have two knights in shining armor?" I managed, trying to avoid confirming the twins' very accurate observation.

"And we never expected you to be the damsel in distress." Hikaru said, not pushing the previous question. I guess I looked too green to interrogate.

"You're more an evil and wretched witch type, really." Kaoru added.

"Sounds like an amazing love story in my book." I said drearily, coming more and more back into myself with every second.

The boys scoffed in sync.

"Can you get up?" Kyoya entered my field of vision. I couldn't see his eyes through his glasses, but the frown lines on his face suggested he was worried. Maybe he did have a conscious; it just took two members' near death experiences to give rise to it.

"Uh…" I tried to stand up, but my wobbly legs refused to support me propery, and I flopped back down to the ground, "Not really…" I looked around. The delinquents were gone but…

"Where's Haruhi?" I asked.

"She fell into the ocean."

"Tamaki's got her-."

She? …Her?

My head suddenly felt heavier. Another dizzy spell hit. My ears were ringing. Had they been ringing all this time?

"Hikaru, Kaoru, help her walk back to the lodge. She's suffering from a severe case of vertigo." Kyoya interjected, "give her medicine and water. Honey and Mori might be there to help."

"Okaaaay." The duo said in sync, each of them hooking one of my arms, and standing me up, "Hold on to our arms, walk, and don't fall."

"Don't worry, I would never fall for you." I said, playing with their words halfheartedly as I tightened my grip on their shoulders, trying my darnest not to fall onto the brothers.

xXx

A/N: ^trololol nope not true. Hehe. Thank you all so much for the positive reviews! They make my day :) Hope you all continue enjoying story; I'm having a blast writing it!

Just a heads up, the flashback in the middle of the chapter was taken and edited quite a bit from the original Days. I thought that would be a fun ad-in.