Chapter 6- Talent:

Cara:
Ritsu was thankful that I saved him from Crystal by hanging onto her. She fought back of course though. I was still able to contain her. However, I wasn't able to contain the twins- who wanted nothing more than to destroy 'the pervert Ritsu.' However, everyone calmed down a bit when I pointed out Ritsu's black eye that I gave him.

Still, today was a school day and frankly, I was a bit nervous. My ribs were almost healed, and the bandages didn't show expect near my collarbone. My ankle was visible though- it's ugly shaped form because of the bruises and the way it was swollen. Though, I did smile today. After all, Ritsu was with me.

Third Person:

Mori sat thinking. Hunny, for once, wasn't with him because Hunny went to go get cake. Mori sat there just thinking though. He admired Crystal, he shamefully admitted. The two of them were so alike. They both protected their cousins. Yet, that wasn't the only thing Mori admired. Crystal was…amazing. She could fight, yet she still was sweet in her own way. She was beautiful. She was…amazing, simply fantastic. Eventually….Mori's mind clicked…he liked Crystal. He actually liked someone, for once. He just didn't know what he should do about it.

A bit away, Kyoya was having similar thoughts. He couldn't get Crystal off his mind. She was intelligent. She was the only one able to have a decent conversation with him, and threaten him. Yet, she…she was amazing. When he finally decided what his feelings were, he knew just one thing- Crystal would be his.

"Kyoya-senpai," Haruhi asked, "Are you okay?'

Kyoya's head snapped up. He pushed his glasses up,
"Why yes, I'm fine. I just have thought of another way that the club can gain money is all."

"Oh?"
"A…a talent show."

Haruhi raised an eyebrow and Kyoya pushed up his glasses,
"We have lost money since Crystal had destroyed that tea set. Therefore, a talent show would be the perfect club activity to earn back that money."
"And what would we have to do? Show off our talents," Haruhi said skeptically.

"No. It would be the guests in the talent show and as a contest. There would be judges, of course, but every girl in the school could enter if they wish. The winner would get a kiss from one of the hosts. It would be profitable."

Haruhi sighed, is money all he thinks about?}
****

Crystal scowled when she learned about the talent VIA a poster. There were posters all over the school, Host Club's Talent Show- saying to sign up before a certain date and that they would have the talent show on Friday. She hated talent shows. It wasn't that she wasn't talented- she was (at least that's what Cara kept saying anyway). At the thought of Cara, she winced. She…she admitted she was mad at herself for letting Cara get hurt, and she was also a bit jealous that Cara found Ritsu- someone to love. If Cara loved him that was. Crystal wanted something like that again. It never seemed to work out- she…she thought she was started to get feelings to Mori- but she didn't think he felt the same. She knew it wouldn't work out anyway- it never worked out.

Cara came running up to Crystal with a big smile after Host Club. Ritsu was sighing in the background.
"Crystal! Guess what?!"
"What?"
"I SIGNED US UP FOR THE TALENT SHOW!"
Crystal froze as did the club members who overheard it,
"WHAT?!"

Cara coughed sheepishly,

"Well, the poster did say any girl."

Tamaki had a big smile on his face and hugged both Crystal and Cara,

"OH! MY DAUGHTERS ARE SO TALENTED! I'M SO PROUD!"
Tamaki wiped a tear from his eye with a smile, but soon backed away with a frightened look when Ritsu glared at him for hugging Cara- and hugging her very tightly. Hikaru and Kaoru looked at them curiously,

"You signed up-"
"-But I didn't think-"
"-you really had any talent-"
"-this will be entertaining."
Crystal glared and walked to the twins and whispered,
"I would be careful who you insult- especially considering that I am a mob daughter."

Hikaru and Kaoru gulped,
"S-sorry."

Kyoya smiled slightly- he was thankful that Crystal was able to shut up the troublesome twins so quickly.

Crystal:

After school on Friday, Cara and I headed back home. I planned on sleeping the night away- Cara would probably be on a date with Ritsu anyway…though if she went on a date then I would defiantly be awake and silently following them.

I plopped down on the bed and didn't bother changing clothes as I relaxed. Cara refused to let me sleep though by the noise she was making. She kept tossing clothes from the closet,
"No, no, no, too dull, too bright, too short…"

"Okay," I muttered while I still had my face buried in the pillow, "I give up. What are you doing?"
Cara tsk'ed at me,
"It's Friday- remember? The talent show?"
I groaned,
"No, I don't remember."

"It's the perfect opportunity to get you into something cute for Mori~! Or Kyoya since he seemed to take a liking to you too."

I flinched,
"Cara, there is nothing going on between me and Mori! Especially not me and Kyoya! He is just a good friend!"
Cara looked at me with a smirk,
"Uh-huh, that's why they are always glaring at each other and looking so lovey-dovey at you."

I blushed and she laughed,
"Look, we gotta find something for you and me to wear!"
"Both of us?"
She sighed,
"You really are forgettable sometimes. I signed us both up!"
"What did you say we were going to do anyway?"
"Well, the sign-up list just said to put the name/names in your act. But…I thought we could sing?"
"We," I asked with a raised eyebrow. She winced,
"Okay, you sing and I play the piano- or guitar depending on what song we do. What song do you want to do anyway?"
I looked at her in disbelief,
"We don't even have a song picked out?!"
She shrugged and I sighed,
"We didn't have any time to even practice anything since someone didn't remind me!"
She smiled cheekily and then held up two dresses,

"Oh, look at these!"
Third Person:

Kyoya was a bit upset that Crystal-who was technically part of the club to pay off debt-wasn't there to help set up. Yet, he let it slide as she was part of the talent show itself. It would be interesting if she won. Who would she choose to kiss her? What about Cara? They did, after all, do a duet act.

Mori had similar thoughts. If Crystal won, who would she choose to kiss her? Would it be him? Kyoya? He gritted his teeth. He hoped not. He planned on letting her know how much she meant to him soon. He knew he needed to do it, but it was a bit difficult. What if she didn't like him? Or worse, what if she liked Kyoya more?

Tamaki was thrilled that they were doing a talent show/pageant. It was a talent show, but he considered it a pageant because he, as a judge, would also look at their clothing choice, the talent itself, how well they do it, and if they have the princess quality.

The twins, personally, thought the idea of a talent show was a bit dull- yet they were curious to see what Crystal and Cara would do though. Hunny looked at Mori considered- he noticed Mori acting a bit different and he thought he knew why as well. He smiled- if Mori could find someone that would love him, that he would love her- then Hunny was happy for his cousin.

The stage looked nice though. They rented the large theatre stage for the occasion. It was all set up- the judging table in front of the large audience's seats, the decorations, the flowers, the curtains, the guitars, and the piano.

It was finally time for the talent show. The only people in the audience were clients of the host club- that actually added up to be quite a lot. They were also contestants in the talent show. Carolina and Crystal were backstage still getting ready.
"Crystal," Cara protested, "Just a bit of makeup! It's not much!"

Crystal growled and Cara glared. Eventually, Cara was able to get a bit of makeup on Crystal. They both had a little makeup on, and were in the dresses. Luckily, it was just in time too.

"And next up," Hikaru and Kaoru said since they were the announcers (Kyoya didn't trust them as judges), "is Cara and Crystal!"

They would've put on a small 'twin-cest' episode, but Kyoya told them as announcers they weren't allowed. Ritsu- one of a few boys in the audience- looked at the stage, curious to see what his girlfriend and her cousin would do.

To the amazement of Ritsu- Cara looked gorgeous when she walked up on stage. She had light makeup on that didn't cover her natural beauty- unlike most of the girls that had already preformed. She was wearing a very pretty red dress. It was simple- a v-neck, short sleeved, and went just above the knees. She even wore black heels. Most of the girls rolled their eyes and scowled, typical that the meany Kasanoda has a slutty girlfriend- no wonder she's with him.

Kyoya's glasses fell slightly and Mori gaped a bit when Crystal came on stage beside Cara. She wore a short green dress, but it had a high neckline that covered her collar-bone (unlike Cara's). She even had a bit of makeup on too.

Cara walked straight over to the piano while Crystal had the microphone in her hand. She sat on the piano slightly as Cara started to play. Then, Crystal started to sing (This is Crystal, this is both of them, this is Cara).
" Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day."
Crystal's voice was pretty- it made the judges (Tamaki, Kyoya, Mori, and Hunny) smile. Her voice was a bit low, about an alto. She sang in English, but most of the audience understood it.
"I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty
Oh and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight…

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here…"
To their surprise, Cara was singing the next part of the song. Her voice was higher than Crystal's, but very pretty. Ritsu smiled.
"So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack…

It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees…"
Crystal and Cara both looked at each other and sang the chorus one last time. Their voices making a harmony,"
"
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here…"
Ritsu and the judges clapped. Reluctantly, the audience clapped too.

***
"And the winner," Hikaru and Kaoru said together, "is Crystal and Cara!"

Crystal and Cara got on stage where the hosts waited.
"Now," Tamaki said with a smile, "just who do these princesses wish to kiss?"

Hikaru and Kaoru smiled flirty, if Crystal or Cara choose them- whoo-hoo! Though, they would have to deal with a mad Kyoya and Mori later. It would be entertaining.

"As much as we loved that we won," Cara said, "I have a boyfriend-"
"-And I don't really like the idea of kissing any of you," Crystal said with a shrug.

Cara looked at her, yeah right. Tamaki was floored as the twins deflated,
"But then why did you join?"
Cara and Crystal smiled and said together,
"Because it was fun!"

Cara:
I plopped down on my bed in my pajamas. Crystal sighed as she sat down in her pajamas.

"What's wrong," I asked, "you okay?"
She just sighed.
"Think about it this way," I said jokingly, "this was the last school day- then it's winter break! And Christmas!"
Crystal smiled slightly,
"Yeah, I guess that is a good thing- no twins," she said chuckled.

I laughed,
"So, really, why didn't you kiss one of them?"
"What?"
"Talent show- perfect chance to make your choice- Mori or Kyoya?"
"I don't know," Crystal groaned, "I…I think I like Mori…but…"
"But you are so low in self-confidence that you think it won't end up well."
Crystal glared and I shrugged. She continued glaring,
"I have plenty of self-confidence. I have just as much as you- considering we both are the national martial arts champs back home."
"Well, yeah," I said, "in fighting I guess you have confidence- but not in love…."

Crystal threw her pillow at me and I just laughed.

Third Person:

Back home, Mori sighed. Hunny looked at him curiously.
"You really do like Crystal-chan, don't you?"
Mori looked at him shocked. Hunny laughed,
"I know you like her! Both you and Kyoya-senpai look at her the same way- all lovey! I think it's nice…but you really should ask her out before Kyoya-senpai does."

Mori sighed again,
"It is not that simple."

Hunny shrugged,
"Nothing in life ever is, but you never know until you take the change- OHH CAKE!"
When Kyoya got home, he sighed. He didn't need to deal with everything. Dealing with Mori's glares, the club, and…Crystal. She was intelligent, witty…beautiful…yet, he hated to admit that he did like her. But the way she looked at Mori….He sighed again.
Crystal:

I woke up too early for a day off of school, but the phone was ringing. I normally didn't care about it, but it was playing Secret Agent Man. Uncle's ringtone, well, my uncle but Cara's dad. He was more like a father to me than an uncle though. Still, he said he wouldn't call unless it was important and when you're a mob leader important is emergency. I quickly grabbed the phone before it woke Cara- if she wasn't grouchy waking up if she had a reason, like for school or an appointment. However, if it was a break and there was nothing to do- the glare alone could kill a man.

"Hello," I answered quietly.
"Crystal, I am glad you answered," Uncle replied, "I advise you and Cara to be very careful the next month."
"
What happened," I straightened my back.

"Your father got out."

Time seemed to freeze. My father was the leader of another mob, the Skulls, called so because they would crush human skulls- of course that was just an exaggerated rumor. They were ruthless. They were evil. They didn't operate like a normal mob- not like how Uncle ran his mob. My father was a very bad man, which was why I was sent to live with Uncle when I was just a year old. Uncle took me in, made me part of his mob, and protected me from my father. See, my father hated me. He wanted to kill me- he blamed me for the death of my mother.

When I took up the position of Cara's bodyguard, and became like a sister to her, my father decided he wanted her dead too. He moved from me, to Cara. He was sent away to prison though, for life, after he killed an important senator. Yet, he got out….and now he was after us.