This chapter is a lil bit shorter than all my others but I wrote it in two days (today and yesterday) because it was my birthday yesterday and I wanted to update this story with a birthday chapter because inspiration, confetti and sparkles. Your argument is invalid.

Chapter 7: Marcie's Birthday

Marcie POV

Do you ever have a dream where you're re-living a memory, but when you wake up it's difficult to remember? You desperately claw at the restraints of your brain; only to find that the more you try to grab at the memory, the more it slips through your fingers until you finally give up and get on with your day.

Sometimes, you can only remember one quote. One image. It sticks in your head the whole day, haunting you. Taunting you with the fact that you couldn't remember the explanation or story behind its existence.

"My favourite time of the year is our birthday. Because it means we're aloud to spend the whole day with all the people we care about! Promise you won't open our presents without me? That you'll always wait for me to get back?"

That was one of those dreams. This was one of those quotes.

This was going to be one of those days, it seems.

Kaoru POV

Kyoya and Haruhi had informed us (and the rest of our class) that it was Marcie's birthday today.

Hikaru and I had asked her multiple times what she wanted us to do and what to buy; but she didn't seem bothered at all.

Everyone gave her her presents and cards during class and club hours. A few boys even came down to the host club to see her. They promised to come back tomorrow, actually.

Kyoya said if she keeps it up, then he'll consider upgrading her from 'errand girl' to 'hostess'.

She didn't open any of the things she was given, they were all put into two huge black bags while she insisted that she would open them later.

However, I did see her opening all the cards and taking out the money in them; then when she was done, the three of us walked back to the host club where she told us tonait outside while she spoke to Kyoya who was alone inside.

~Flashback business is going down in this shit~

Hikaru had left his bag in class, so Kaoru patiently waited for him outside the door of the host club while he ran back to get. They always open the doors together, so he didn't want to go in without his brother.

From the other side of the door; He noticed voices, which he was soon able to recognise as Kyoya and Marcie.

"What are they up to...?" He mumbled to no one in particular. Sliding the door ajar, be peaked in at the two to earwig on their conversation.

Some say that earwigging is impolite and rude, the Hitachiin brothers say it's entertaining. If there's any juicy gossip, then you can use it for black mail material later. That's always fun.

"Here." Marcie said, simply as she held out a fist of money. Her expression was as if Kyoya was supposed to know what to do with it.

He obviously had no clue, as he raised his eyebrow and briefly glanced at her over the top of his notebook.

She sighed and began to explain. "Take it. Put it towards Haruhi's debt."

He glanced at her again. "But didn't people give you that money for your birthday?"

"So?"

He raised the eyebrow further up his forehead before extending an arm and taking the money, slipping into his pocket and moving back to a table where his laptop lay.

"I'm assuming you don't want me to tell Haruhi about this?" He said, abandoning his notebook and beginning to tap at the keys on his keyboard.

"Mm hmm." She replied simply before walking past him and flopping down on one of the sofas. She picked up a book, and that was the end of their conversation.

I slid the door closed and turned back around, processing what I'd seen just in time for Hikaru to stroll down the hallway with Haruhi.

Anyone else would have seen it as two friends walking down a hallway together. Kaoru was the only one who would have noticed the light blush on his twins' cheeks.

~Back to reality~

I sighed. Now; the day had ended, and Hikaru, me and Marcie were sat (in that order) in that back of the limo heading home on the Tuesday.

She daydreamed out the window with her cheek resting on her palm which was supported by her elbow resting on the door.

The forests and road signs could be seen in the reflection of her bright blue eyes as we sped past the scenery.

"What's with you today? You don't even want to go anywhere for dinner?" Hikaru suggested, watching her.

"You didn't even open your presents!" He continued.

"I am going somewhere, and that's where I open my presents." She replied, not breaking eye contact with the clouds that rested on the horizon on the other side of the glass.

"Where?" Hikaru demanded.

"Just..." she paused, debating on how to answer. "Visiting someone."

Hikaru didn't seem satisfied, but settled down anyway, realising that that was as good as he would get.

"Want is to drive your there, at least?" I asked. It is her birthday, she might want to go visit her family. She smiled at me gratefully.

"Yeah, thanks."

The chauffeur turned around in his seat. "Where to then, miss?" He asked.

Hikaru sipped his drink which had been provided by the coffee machine opposite our seats.

"Graveyard, please." She replied.

Hikaru choked on his drink.

"Why do you need to go there?!" He asked. Its kinda obvious...

"I told you, I'm visiting someone." She said, and I saw realization dawn over Hikaru's features as the chauffeur made a left turn towards a street with tons of posh houses.

Hikaru huffed in defeat as we made a right and stopped in front of a graveyard.

She said her goodbyes and promised to be back by 6 before heaving the two black bags out from the boot of the car and walking through the gate.

"Wonder who died..." Hikaru said, bluntly. He's never been the type to recognise the emotions of others.

Then there was a small buzz from my phone which sat in my blazor pocket.

It was a text from Marcie.

Marcelline: u can tell him about her if u want. I kno he's probably curious.

I thought about my reply carefully.

Kaoru: sure u don't mind?

Marcelline: sure

"What was all that about?" Hikaru huffed again as the car started back up and drove us home.

"She's visiting her sister, I think." I replied, after a moment of silence.

"What's her sister doing waiting around in a graveyard?" He asked.

"Resting." I replied, using air quotations.

Again, realization overtook his features and the guilt settled in. "Oh..."

By the time we arrived home, I had told him everything she had told me. I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders; it always made me feel guilty to know about something that Hikaru didn't.

Marcie POV

It took me a few minutes to find Michelle's grave, still engraved with the small messages written in chalk from when I was a child. Emptying the contents into a small pike in front of me, I flopped down on the floor in front of her gravestone and began to open my presents.

Even if she wasn't physically there to open the presents with me, I still refuse to break our promise. 'Promise you'll never open your presents without me? That you'll always wait for me to come back?'. That's what she had said. That's what I do.

I rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes.

"Yeah we livSince Ididnt have too many friends outside of the hostclub, no one else knew me very well, so I mostly got things like clothes, books and cards.

The host club themselves were the only ones who's gifts were truly thoughtful.

Like Haruhi's; she got me an enlarged and framed version of a really cute picture that the eight of us had all taken together in silly poses.

And like Kyoya, who promised to cut Haruhi's debt by a fifth. Tamaki however, gave me what must have been a lifetime supply of roses, all in different colours that represented each host.

The tweeds got me clothes that they had designed themselves, claiming that I would look cute in them. One article of clothing was my favourite, a tie-dye, orange, knee-length sundress with a thin brown belt across the middle elastic. There were also a pair of shoes that were such a light shade of blue that they could be easily mistaken for white.

I sat quietly infront of my sister's grave. The first time I had seen it was when I was 10, and I was immediately outraged to see that the only thing my step-father had bothered to engrave into it was: 'will be missed.' That's when I first took up the habit of writing small messages and doodles on her gravestone in chalk.

'Loving sister', 'Rest In Peace', 'I love you', 'I miss you', etc.

My favourite one was on the back. Instead of writing more of my own sappy sentimental words, I had written her last words to me in large swirly writing.

'The days I spent with you were my happiest. Thank you.'

I had been told many times that day that everything would be alright, and that I would eventually 'get over it'. But the reality is, I will grieve forever. I will never 'get over' the loss of my loved ones; but I would learn to live with it. I will heal, and I will rebuild myself around the losses I have suffered. I'll be whole again, but I'll never be the same again. Nor should I be the same and nor do I want to.

I want the memories of our childhood to forever linger in my mind and have me smiling like an idiot for hours on end as the continuous movies play on repeat in the small, private theatre of my mind.

I had promised to be back at the Hitachiin mansion by 6, but since it was late in the winter months, it got dark quickly; and soon enough the sun began to set. Casting streaks of pink and crimson across the skies and colouring my surrounding with a warm orange glow.

As I reached the gate, Haruhi approached. "Hey." She greeted me with a smile. In her hands were a few shopping bags, so assumed she was on her way home from the supermarket and figured that I would probably be here.

"Add any new messages to the gravestone this year?" She asked, walking over and sitting beside me on the floor. She watched my expression carefully; searching it for any signs of sadness.

"Nope. Just some doodles. Although the one on the back had faded a bit so I went over that again." I replied.

She nodded. We sat quietly together for a minute before she shuffled forward slightly to point at one of the messages; 'Yeah we do, yeah we do.'

"Itsn't that from the lullaby?" She asked. "The one your Mum sang?"

"Yeah." She used to sing it to three of us whenever Haruhi came over for a sleepover. It was Michelle's favourite one.

"It's been ages since I heard that. I've almost forgotten how it goes." She said. I glanced over at her to see a soft, smile.

I felt my own features stretch into a similar expression before I took a small breath.

"Bones sinking like stones

all that we fall for,"

She turned to smile at me before joining in.

"Homes, places we've grown

all of us are done for."

I rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes. Haruhi picked up the chalk and I heard her write something while we sang.

"Oh we live in a beautiful world.

yeah we do, yeah we do"

I opened one eye slightly when I heard her put the chalk back down. 'Thanks for the memories -Haruhi'.

"Yeah we live in a beautiful world.

yeah we do, yeah it's true."

There was a moments silence before she raised a suggestive eyebrow and gently poked me in the ribs. "So...about those three boys who visited you at the host club today." She began before pausing, as if she expected me to clarify/admit to something.

"...what about them?" I asked, cautiously.

"I bet they all have huge crushes on y-!" I interrupted her before she could finish her embarrassing statement.

"It's getting late! I should head back." I hurriedly stood up and shoved all my presents into one of the black bags.

She laughed and picked up her shopping bags. "You're such a dork!"

"Yeah, well;" I held my hand out to her and pulled her to her feet when she took it. "Jokes on you. You're friends with a dork." I smiled smuggle as we walked back to the main street together.

Only the fuel of a passionate heart

keeps this body strong and moving forward

Yaaaaaayy. Next chapter is in progress so it shouldn't take too long to finish and upload. Thanks for reading! Please leave a review if you have any suggestions/ideas on what other non-plot chapters you'd like to see! Byeeee