Author's Note: Hi everyone! I must admit, this is a mushy chapter. There is some key information in it, but nonetheless it tis mushy. I wonder if I am being too obvious with my pairing choices, so I have decided to try and see if I can throw you off. Thank you for reading! n.n
Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club, nor do I make money from this fan fiction or any artwork I make in association with it.
November arrived with a quickness Haruhi and Kamalei had never experienced before. Between their school work and the hosts' antics, time had flown. The girls had discovered more and more about their new friends.
Tamaki is a kind soul who can't turn a blind eye to anyone's plights. Yes, he's flamboyant and idiotic at times, but he makes a point in helping those he can. The girls find themselves wondering what miracle their 'king' will attempt next.
Hikaru and Kaoru are loyal to a fault. Hikaru is over protective, while Kaoru is soft and kind. Their world is opening little by little. They may be pranksters and love to tease, but they will never leave your side when you need them. Well, except maybe when they've been separated. Haruhi found that out after getting caught in a net with Hikaru on Halloween. As soon as she got them out, he shot off to find Kaoru. The girls are honored to have been let in the gate and to help them grow.
Mori is protective of those he cares for. He is opening up more to the girls since they helped him with his 'apprentice,' Ritsu Kasonoda. Although, he would have preferred Kasonoda to not have found out Haruhi and Kamalei's secret; especially because he found out by walking in on them changing. THAT he definitely could have lived without. Haruhi and Kamalei are almost as good at reading Mori's subtle expressions as Honey now.
Honey is a little willful at times, but always means well. He is also the best on reading other's feelings. Between spending time with the girls when Kamalei let her sweet tooth out and their help with his little brother, Yasuchika; they got closer. Kamalei and Haruhi got through to Chika more than anyone ever had, even Mori's little brother Satoshi. Especially Kamalei, she faced Chika head on to defend him, even if he didn't need it. She solidified Tamaki's words with her own that day, "So what if he likes cute things? So what if he loves cake? That doesn't make him an alien! He is more than qualified to be the next head of the Haninozuka's. He has true strength because he is brave enough to be himself! You will never beat him until you can do the same!" Her words would forever be etched in his heart. Honey is happy to have her and Haruhi's friendship.
Kyouya's wall of indifference is now invisible to the female hosts. They are no longer afraid of him, as they know behind the mask is a kind nature. He often finds himself in their homes because he enjoys being there. It started out by Ranka inviting him, but grew into so much more. He could drop the mask and receive no judgment or ill will. He and Haruhi like to engage in playful banter and battles of will while Kamalei keeps score. He finds them to be exceptional people and friends.
The group has grown close and is becoming a family. Even though, they could all due without Tamaki's delusions. Now, the week of Thanksgiving has arrived; and though they live in Japan the Ichinose's and the Fujioka's celebrate it each year. Noriko had visited family in America when she was young and loves the idea and meaning behind the holiday. For her it is about gathering family and close friends to share their thankfulness for one another.
The girls found they were in a new situation this year. For the first time, they wanted to invite friends. Mori, Honey, and Kyouya would be easy. They visit at least once a week as it is. The twins wouldn't cause a huge fuss, so no worries there either. Tamaki however, was another story. Haruhi and Kamalei feared his reaction. He would be so excited he would sweep them into the twirling bear hug of death. They needed a strategy. Telling him on the phone would only delay his reaction. They weren't sure what to do sans tying Tamaki up. The idea made Haruhi grin evilly and Kamalei cringe. They currently had two options; tell them all together and try to hide behind Mori in time, or tell Tamaki last while hiding behind Mori. Either way they felt they were being unfair to their large friend. Sure, he has always been willing to save them from the craziness of the princely host, but it felt wrong to ask him to have to hold Tamaki back. They thought it was essentially asking him to protect them from an oncoming freight train. The blonde packed a wallop whether you were ready or not.
The girls decided to leave it to fate and hopefully they would come out unscathed. It was past mid-night and since it was Monday, they had a morning meeting to go over the plans of the host club for the week. They headed to bed, hoping to sleep enough to function for the coming day.
Kamalei glared at her alarm clock, it was 5:30 AM. She did not want to get up; she didn't sleep well at all. She resigned knowing she needed to and grudgingly got ready for the day. Kamalei bumped into a zombie like Haruhi in the hall; having knocked heads, they groaned like said creature. They grabbed their bags and some granola bars leaving for the 6:15 train. It was an hour ride to Ouran because of all the stops, plus Ouran Academy was on the north side of Tokyo and they resided in the south side.
The train was full as usual, but not so much so that they were sardines. That didn't happen until the 7 o'clock train. Kamalei held on to a strap from the ceiling as Haruhi wrapped her arm around a pole. The drone of the train buzzed through their ears. Haruhi looked out the window watching nothing in particular as she thought about what needed to be done for the day. Kamalei swayed slightly and shook her head to wake herself; the drone of the train was lulling her to sleep. She tried to think of exciting things, but it was all for naught.
"Kamalei!" Haruhi shouted as she saw her pass out and hit her temple on the corner of the bench. She may have been sleeping at first, but now she was definitely knocked out. Haruhi cradled her head in her lap, until she came to. Luckily, that happened before she was forced to attempt carrying her. Kamalei leaned on Haruhi as they walked from the station to school. She held her head trying to stop the world from spinning.
Amazingly, they were the first to arrive to the club room. That's new, Haruhi thought going to the kitchen for some ice. Kamalei sat on the sofa with her head resting on the back. She held the ice to the throbbing lump and muttered a small thanks, her dizziness finally receding.
It was 7:25 when Tamaki burst into the room with the others in tow. He noticed Haruhi and Kamalei sitting on the couch with their backs to them.
"Good morning!" he sang. He was about to go on about how proud he was of them for being early, when Hikaru cut in.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Noticing the bump on Kamalei's temple, Tamaki scrambled to kneel in front of her. "My poor darling! How did this happen?! Did someone hurt you?! Is someone bullying my baby?!"
Kamalei wanted to roll her eyes, but it hurt too much. "I fell asleep on the train."
The three apparently smarter males in the room grimaced. The twins and Tamaki blinked staring at her. "Eh?" Hikaru and Kaoru were trying to figure out how she could hit her head by sleeping. She could see the cogs turning in their minds. Tamaki's expression was blank; there could have been a tea party of mice in his head for all she knew. Kamalei wanted to face palm, Really?
Haruhi did face palm, "She was standing…" Twin light bulbs went off and they winced at the thought. Tamaki's light bulb, not so much. "Standing. As in she fell asleep in an upright position and hit her head when her body could no longer hold itself up…"
His eyes widened, "Oh…"
"It's time to get on with the meeting," Kyouya stated unimpressed with Tamaki's deductive skills.
"But mommy! Our daughter is sleep deprived!"
"Tamaki!" Kyouya snapped. Everyone took their seats quickly. Honey and Mori on either side of the girls, the twins in the love seat, and Kyouya and Tamaki took the arm chairs. "Good, now this week is relatively simple. We will do a Greek gods cosplay on Wednesday and have an extended tea for our most loyal patrons on Friday." Everyone nodded. "Hikaru, Kaoru, is everything ready for Wednesday?"
"Almost," they replied together. "We need to do the final fittings," Kaoru elaborated.
"Alright, we'll do that after club then." Kyouya stated as he wrote in his notebook. Kamalei nudged Haruhi with her leg.
"Oh yeah, uh guys, this Thursday we are having a Thanksgiving celebration. We were hoping you all could come." Haruhi said tentatively. There was a round of agreement. The twins were nodding with their eyes closed before the words sank in. Their eyes popped open in surprise, but Tamaki's over exuberant reaction paused their own.
Tamaki shot out of his chair cooing over the girls, "Oh my beautiful daughters are throwing a party for our family!" He started a run to close the short distance, Haruhi and Kamalei braced for impact. He scooped them up flying over the couch and spun them in the deadliest hug yet. The twins jumped into action each grabbing Haruhi and Kamalei's legs attempting to pull them free. They girls were officially a tug-of-war rope and felt as if they had been strapped into a medieval torture device. They couldn't focus, the room was spinning.
"Let go!" Haruhi ordered. Kamalei groaned in pain as Tamaki gripped their necks tighter.
"Tamaki, let go!" Kyouya was starting to panic the girls were turning blue.
"No! I have to save our daughters from those evil doppelgangers!" Tamaki replied ignoring the obvious worry in Kyouya's voice.
"Us?! We're trying to save them from you!" the twins defended. They were barely able to keep their grips, so the girls wouldn't go flying. Yes, normally, they did antagonize Tamaki by clinging to the girls, but this time they just wanted the girls to return to their normal color.
Honey and Mori had had enough, Tamaki wasn't listening to reason. Mori lifted the girls to safety and placed them next to Honey behind the twins. They gasped for air holding their throats.
"Haru-chan, Kama-chan, are you okay?!" Honey asked concerned. Mori and the twins stood as a wall between them and Tamaki. Kyouya scowled when he checked their necks and his eye began to twitch. Honey quirked a brow deciding to take a look. When he saw the tell tale signs of bruising, all cuteness in him fled.
"Tamaki…" Honey growled darkly. Tamaki squeaked and cowered.
"I-i-it's those twin devils' f-f-fault!" He stammered trying to pull Honey's attention off of himself. His smaller sempai did not fall for it. Tamaki was pulled by the collar of his shirt until he came eye to eye with Honey.
"No. They were trying to stop you. They had good intentions. You," Honey pointed to the bruise forming on Kamalei's neck. "You did that!"
"I-I d-didn't m-mean to!" Tamaki stuttered with his eyes wide, "I would n-never try to hurt m-my precious daughters! Isn't that r-right mommy?!"
The unwanted nick-name just added to Kyouya's already furious mind. How can he not know how hard he was gripping? Pinching the bridge of his nose,he decided to give him the benefit of the doubt; this was the idiot king they were talking about."Tamaki, you may never have done so on purpose, but your overzealous acts of affection have indeed hurt Kamalei and Haruhi." He stated matter of factly effectively sending Tamaki to his corner of woe.
Hikaru and Kaoru stared at their king in irritation. The urge to make him pay sent them forward with matching evil smirks. Intentionally whispering loudly enough for him to hear they began his torture. "Hey Kaoru, don't you think Boss went too far?" Hikaru asked his double. "Yeah, Hikaru, you know he sends them flying on a normal day. He should know how to hold back by now." Kaoru replied. "He should, he should." Hikaru repeated. "I bet he didn't even think how he was hurting them, cutting off their air supply like that." Kaoru said. There was a pause before the twins send their final jab together, "Unforgivable." Tamaki shrunk further into darkness with each statement. The twins snickered darkly, leaving him to wallow.
In the kitchen Kyouya checked on Kamalei's bump before he let her and Haruhi leave for class. "The swelling is down. You should be bump free by lunch."
Kamalei placed the ice in the sink before she and Haruhi proceeded to kiss the cheeks of Mori while they hugged him.
"Thanks Mori-sempai, we wish you didn't have to protect us all the time. But, we really appreciate it." Haruhi said softly.
Mori's cheeks flushed lightly, "No problem."
Upon entering the classroom the girls felt a pair of arms slither around their shoulders. Hikaru rubbed his cheek against Haruhi's and Kaoru did the same with Kamalei's.
"We knew you loved us!" they chirped in stereo. Haruhi and Kamalei were used to the twins disregard for personal space, so they just diverted them to class work as usual.
Kamalei sat with her customers for the afternoon and tried to hide the fact she was nodding off. The club had been open for an hour and luckily her princesses were unaware. Kyouya, Honey, and Mori however, were all blatantly aware. All watched her from their peripheral vision. Kyouya chuckled inwardly; Kamalei and Honey were truly cut from a similar cloth. Honey caught Kyouya's eyes with a question. Kyouya nodded in permission.
Honey excused himself cutely, "Naptime!" He grabbed Usa-chan walking over to Kamalei. She looked at him in confusion when he grabbed her hand and tugged. "Usa-chan wants you to nap with us, Kama-chan!" Realizing this was his way of helping her; she smiled and excused herself from her guests.
All of the girls in the room watched as Honey led Kamalei to his nap area. The flames of moe burned in their eyes and could no longer be contained when Kamalei snuggled her head into Honey's chest while they cuddled Usa-chan between them. "Moe!" the girls exploded.
Kyouya smirked as he considered the profits of repeating this on occasion. Tamaki and the twins didn't like the scene before them. Honey looked very masculine in that moment.
Hikaru and Kaoru felt a twinge of possessiveness; she was their toy not Honey's. Mori warned them off with a glance, not that it was needed. The aspect of waking the demon beast in the smallest host was enough to keep them away.
Tamaki was having trouble holding back. He looked back and forth from Kamalei cuddled into Honey and Kyouya. His daughter was way too close to her 'uncle,' it just wasn't appropriate. His control broke and he ran to Kyouya. "Mommy! We must extract our baby from Honey-sempai! Uncle or not, it is inappropriate for a girl to be that close to a male, that is not her father, before marriage!"
Kyouya felt a headache coming on. Oh how he loathed that nick-name. They were lucky the guests thought Tamaki calling Haruhi and Kamalei his daughters was an extra effort to bring more dimension to an ongoing cosplay for their club. "Look daddy… Kamalei needs to rest and is more than safe with Honey-sempai. Besides, the customers like it. I will personally throttle you if you wake them up and release Honey-sempai's demon; which would scare the ladies and cause profit loss. Leave them alone. Am I clear?" he ground out threateningly.
Tamaki visibly paled. "Crystal," he squeaked.
"Good, now please escort the ladies to the door as club is ending early today for fittings."
Tamaki obeyed and saw the customers out with his usual charming smile. The twins busied themselves with the fittings of the hosts that were awake until naptime was over.
The days passed quickly and Thursday was upon them. Haruhi and Kamalei had been excused from club activities in order to do preparations for that evening. It was five and the guests would be arriving shortly. Noriko and Ranka were happy their girls finally had friends close enough to invite to their gathering. Everything was ready, so Noriko scooted the girls off to get ready. Mitsuzu, an old family friend, had made them new dresses, as usual. They were excited to see how they turned out.
"They are growing more and more beautiful, we are going to have to beat boys AND girls off with sticks soon." Noriko giggled imagining her best friend chasing away potential suitors. Ranka smirked evilly imagining a similar picture. In middle school, the girls had been confessed to at least once a week. He relished the memory of the cowering boys that had come to their home hoping for a date, but got sound beatings instead. It had been quiet since they started at Ouran, but with how things were going whether others thought their girls were boys or not… He laughed menacingly. Noriko gave him a knowing smile. They were wearing blouses in fall colors, Noriko in burnt orange and Ranka in golden yellow. Ranka had a rich brown pencil skirt and Noriko wore the matching fitted slacks.
A knock on the door signaled the arrival of their guests. Noriko opened the door to find Mitsuzu and the hosts. Mitsuzu fluttered in gushing over how good Noriko and Ranka looked. The hosts watched as another transvestite in a brown dress with accents of burnished red, golden yellow, and burnt orange began to catch up with Ranka.
Noriko giggled, "Come in, make yourselves at home."
The boys filed in all wearing varying colors of button up shirts and pants. The apartment was beautifully decorated in fall colors.
"Thank you for having us," Kyouya said eloquently as he and the others sat at the table. Tea was already awaiting them. The group chatted, but Mitsuzu, who faced the hall, stopped abruptly when he saw the young girls he considered family wearing the matching burnished red dresses he had made.
"Oh my… you two are simply gorgeous!" he gushed as he quickly gathered them into a loving embrace. Noriko and Ranka smiled widely in approval. The boys were in silent awe. Their only female friends, their secret princesses, looked exquisite. The twins visibly swallowed their mouths suddenly dry. Kyouya pushed his glasses up to hide his expression. Honey and Mori gave the girls a smile, both appreciating their beauty. Tamaki was about to rave over how beautiful his daughters looked, but winced as he felt Ranka's nails dig into his leg. He glanced to his left to see Ranka daring him to do anything. Tamaki gulped and held his actions. Haruhi and Kamalei blushed at the attention as they sat.
Noriko, Haruhi, and Kamalei uncovered the dishes in the center of the table. The aroma hit and the hosts immediately found their mouths watering. It was the best stew pot they had ever had the pleasure of tasting. The women smiled happily knowing their friends and family were enjoying the food.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, Noriko announced it was time to give thanks. Their new guests looked around in question.
"It is tradition that each person express what they are thankful for," she explained. The boys nodded in understanding, but looked apprehensive. She giggled, "Don't worry, Ryoji, Mitsuzu, and I will start." Pausing for a moment she smiled, "I am thankful for my intelligent girls getting into the school of their choice and for the good health of our family."
"I am thankful for old and new friends, my girls' success, and my family's growing happiness." Ranka said softly.
"I am thankful for my friends, who are my family, and for my pension's success." Mitsuzu said happily and looked to Honey to continue.
"I am thankful to have friends that accept me for who I am." Honey said with a cute grin.
"I am thankful for my family and friends." Mori said simply.
It was Tamaki's turn, "I am thankful for my host club family."
Kyouya was hesitant; he wasn't used to this kind of openness. But he refused to be rude. "I am thankful for friends who can look past the mask." Tamaki smiled warmly at him.
The twins were up, Hikaru started. "I am thankful for my brother." Kaoru smiled, "I am thankful for you too, Hikaru." Glancing at Haruhi and Kamalei, they readied themselves for the honesty they were about to let out. "We're also thankful to have met two people who can undoubtedly tell us apart." They finished together holding hands under the table. Haruhi and Kamalei were surprised by the confession and smiled warmly.
"I am thankful for family, new experiences that have opened my eyes to what I was missing, and for friends that have become family." Haruhi said looking at each of her friends.
"I am thankful for family and the best friends I could have ever hoped for. I have never been so glad to have broken a vase." Kamalei finished with a small giggle as the others joined her, even Kyouya chuckled warmly.
Noriko looked over the people around her table, she was truly thankful to have such happiness. Look at our girls, Kotoko. Look how much they've grown.
Curiosity finally got the better of Tamaki, "May I ask where you picked up this tradition?"
Noriko smiled, "It was my favorite time of year as a child. My family would gather at my uncle's home in America. It was a warm time without the rules of high society breathing down my neck." The boys, except Kyouya, were shocked.
"You come from a high class background?" the twins questioned meaning no offence. Noriko just giggled at them while she nodded.
"Which family?" Honey asked with a chorus of curious grunts following. Noriko, Ranka, Mitsuzu, Haruhi, Kamalei, and Kyouya looked at the clueless group like they were dense.
The twins and Tamaki were confused, "What?"
"Oh my, I thought it would have been obvious. Seeing as I never changed my name." Noriko pondered aloud. The twins, Tamaki, Honey, and Mori gaped in realization.
"You're from the Ichinose's?!"
Honey wanted to slap himself for his denseness. Mori thought along the same lines with his shinai. The answer had been blatantly displayed before them. Noriko's English background may as well have been a flashing sign. The Ichinose's owned the most successful tea company in Japan and England. No wonder Haruhi and Kamalei had such vast knowledge of anything to do with tea. They had been taught by the heir of the best. Then the question hit like a ton of bricks; they shouldn't be living in an apartment.
"What happened?" Tamaki asked. Noriko gave him a knowing smile, she knew of the Souh family and his situation. She felt for the boy.
"I was disowned," she replied simply. All of the male hosts, except Mori and Kyouya, gasped. Kyouya already knew and found the Ichinose's actions toward their ex-heir detestable, even though he knew high society was unforgiving about those types of things. Noriko smiled sadly remembering her parents' hateful words, but she regretted nothing.
"I made a choice that didn't sit well with the image my family holds with such high regard." She looked at Kamalei, her beloved child, with adoration. Kamalei gave her mother a comforting smile. She knew she was the reason, but also knew her mother would change nothing.
Slowly the knowledge clicked throughout the room. Kamalei has no father…
Honey looked at his female best friend imagining his life, the hosts' lives, without her. He shivered; Haruhi and Kamalei had opened their hearts and changed them all for the best.
The boys all shared the same thought, Thank God Noriko-san didn't give in.
Sensing the sadness from the boys, Ranka decided it was time to change the subject. "Who's ready for dessert and games?" he asked cheerfully.
Honey blinked, "Dessert?" Haruhi and Kamalei giggled filling the room with joyful lightness as they left to bring dessert. Kamalei carried a mandarin orange cake and Haruhi carried coffee mochi ice cream. Honey had two slices of cake as Kamalei knew he disliked the bitterness of coffee. She smiled sweetly at his grateful expression.
Haruhi placed two mochi on her and Kyouya's plates. Kyouya raised his brow discreetly at her, everyone but Honey had cake and mochi. No, he wasn't really a fan of sweets, especially cake, but he specifically remembered not mentioning that fact.
Haruhi gave him a knowing smile and whispered with a wink, "I don't really like cake either, unless its strawberry." He slightly stiffened at the fact the Haruhi had seen right through him. She giggled softly shaking her head, "Relax. Your secret is safe with me."
Kyouya relaxed as she turned to the conversation of the group. Using the glare to hide his eyes, he let them soften on her thinking, No matter how unnerving it is, I truly am thankful.
The party continued till late in the night, full of laughter and games. It was the best Thanksgiving Haruhi and Kamalei had had in years. An ever guiding star shown a little brighter at her family's happiness finally being unbound.
