I'M BACK!
OK, so this is my big GCSE (basically, my end of high school qualifications) year, and that's the main/only reason why I just haven't updated at all recently. It's just, after a whole load of coursework or a week of mocks or whatever I'm just never in the mood to sit down and type out a decently-sized/hopefully-decent-quality chapter.
Please Note: I'm going to be doing/working towards/stressing over my GCSEs until around July-August time next year when I, like most UK teens in my year, will receive my results. So, basically, updates to this story won't be my main priority, but will come, eventually.
But anyways, big thank yous to Zantetsuken Reverse, chibi-unicorn-girl, TehAnon, Cookies05, Demoness99, Guestyguest, KKsaiyancat, Brit19, The Little Chibi, HOM3STUCK H3T4L14N,rothfyae, LittleMissMaple, SayMrrp, and the three Guests - your reviews are what made me get my butt into gear and work on more chapters.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Hetalia or Ouran related, except for a whole lot of too-expensive merchandise!
I'm, Like, a High School Student Now!
Chapter Eight – Like, Questions!
Poland/Feliks POV:
"So, any ideas?" Lithuania asked half-heartedly from his place at their dining table.
It was early Thursday morning, and neither of the two Eastern European nations had gotten more than a few precious moments of sleep the night before.
"We, like, blame Japan for this whole sorry mess and continue on as we are?" But Poland, too, spoke half-heartedly. After all, this situation wasn't anyone's fault, exactly; what with modern inventions such as the Internet and all, stuff like this was bound to happen to some nation or other eventually.
...But it had happened to Poland and that, as he had dejectly stated on more than one occasion, totally sucked!
"OK, here's what I think we should do," Although the pair had gotten into the habit of both speaking in Japanese, it was strongly accented at best and, as Liet spoke just then, his accent was so much stronger than usual. "I should finish up at work early this morning – I've only been given one task and, should I finish it, can take the rest of the time off until Friday evening...Strange, huh? A-anyway, how about I pick you up from school and we go out for lunch and discuss this somewhere where everyone is chatting too loudly to be able to hear us. Think you'll have any more ideas by then?" His body language – the lacing of his fingers and the pressing of his lips – showed him to be doubtful at best. In an attempt to lighten the mood, he added, "Maybe you can even treat me, like you promised the other night?"
"Uh, yeah, about that whole getting a job thing...?"
"Don't worry, Poland." Lithuania's smile was gentle, laughing; he was clearly trying to take on a big-brotherly 'I'll Sort It All Out' stance, but such was just not his personality. He was a team-worker, not a leader.
Feliks was the one used to being in control, the one who hated not to be.
"OK," The Polish man said finally, "Lunch starts at half-twelve. I'll, like, meet you in the front office?"
"Yeah."
Japan/Kiku's POV:
Oh, dear.
It would seem he had made a rather grave error.
Ugh! Damn him, letting nostalgia get in the way of his emotions!
...No, this was not how Japan did things, not at all. He had been careless, in his talking to a human child, and he had been just plain stupid in his telling said human child his name of choice, 'Kiku'. And because of his foolishness, he had endangered not just himself, not just his family in Asia, not even just Poland-san and Lithuania-san, but everyone!
Had France's and Jeanne's example not been enough? Of course, his relationship with Yoshio was that of old friends, but the example still stood!
No good came from associating with humans. No good on either side.
And now it was his job to fix this, using whatever force necessary, before the rest of the world got wind of the situation.
Did they already know? There was that Europe meeting only a few days prior, wasn't there? Anyone who actively searches on a country's human name is monitored. That would no doubt include the Ootori boy, would it not?
This situation was just so...regrettable.
And the repercussions would prove to be just so immense.
Poland/Feliks POV:
Feliks was even less talkative than usual today, unable to think of any topics worth chatting about with Renge and the rest of the girls. Luckily, when he mentioned that he couldn't have lunch with them and explained why, the perfect topic was provided.
Talking about Liet was...comforting. He didn't even care that all this information (information that could have been about anyone really, not just Toris, and so was totally alright to share) would likely end up in a top-shelf doujinshi. He merely wanted to talk, and to be reminded that Liet was there – he would come pick him up at lunch and, together, they would sort things out.
Besides, Japan was a sensible nation – he could and would help.
Had Liet invited him, or would his yukata simply invite too much unwanted attention? Did Japan even own any modern clothes?
So many questions!
Tamaki POV:
"Dad?"
"Ah, Tamaki," The Suoh Chairman sat imposingly behind his desk, leaning slightly forward, "Come in, come in."
"It's not like you to summon me at school like this...is something wrong?" The blonde teen hurried forward, taking a low seat before his father's desk. Of course, he was assuming the worst. Some issue with business? Maybe. With Tamaki's paternal grandmother? Unlikely that the chairman would discuss it with him, if so.
Perhaps even...was it something to do with his mother, all the way back in France? It was doubtful, but he couldn't help but hope, just a little...
"Now, son, as you may have already noticed," Here it came, the boy mentally braced himself, "Your friend, Ootori, is again absent this morning."
Oh.
"Well, yes, he said it was family stuff, business stuff," Well, that was what he said, but only after much pushing on the part of the other hosts, "He didn't say anything else, but no-one really expected him to. He's not in any trouble, is he, father?"
The greying Suoh gave a dismissive wave of his hand, "No, no. I simply wanted to clarify that his absence is indeed authorised and you are not to go jumping to any wild conclusions." He closed his eyes and smiled fondly, the winkles around his eyes more visible than usual. "We all know what you and that little club of yours are like with jumping to conclusions now, don't we?"
Lithuania/Toris POV:
To say Toris was slightly out of breath was an understatement. However, the sinister mansion of his employers was now completely and utterly clean. (Well, his section was, at least.) And not a moment too soon either, as 12:30 was soon approaching.
"Ah, Seiko-san?" Toris asked the stern maid tentatively, "I've completed all the tasks you gave me." Or, task, really, but he didn't intend to draw attention to the fact she hadn't really given him that much to do.
"I see. You're a fast worker, Toris." He noted the lack of honorific here. Did that mean something? "Well then, I guess you can head off early today. Just remember that you're due here at six pm sharp on Friday. There's a reason that old wing had to be cleared out so thoroughly and that reason is the party to take place there tomorrow evening. The masters of this house rarely indulge in such affairs, so getting ready, as you can tell, has been more than a hassle." Seiko sighed, realising she was rambling, "Are you OK to serve drinks?"
"I think I'll manage."
"Excellent."
Poland/Feliks POV:
"So, we get to meet him, right?" One of Renge's crew asked with mock innocence.
"Wah? Liet? Well, like, yeah, I guess, if you want to come with me to the front office..." Feliks's brow furrowed slightly. These girls were weird.
As if on cue, a chorus of high-pitched titters echoed around him.
"Well then," Renge herself piped up, "Shall we be going?"
OK, so maybe Liet was a little late, and the questions and buzzing whispers coming from his entourage were getting increasingly noisy and nosey both – so much so in fact, that the receptionist had loudly shushed them on more than one occasion.
However, when Liet arrived, slightly flushed from hurrying and more than slightly surprised at the sheer number of young ladies all crowded into the tiny office at his best friend's side, Feliks felt more amused than anything else. Amused and at ease.
"Hey, Liet!" The blonde greeted him with a wave.
"Ah, Feliks, sorry I'm late." He then cast a look over the other man's shoulder, "I take it these are some of the new friends you've mentioned?"
"Oh, yeah," Feliks then pointed towards a girl with long, light brown hair, "That's Renge, the girl who showed me around on my first day." Had it really been less than a week?
The shared greetings were awkward and Poland didn't like awkward. They were also time-consuming, and lunch only lasted forty-five minutes.
"I'll, like, see you later, girls, 'kay?" He interrupted, linking his arm with Liet's and leaning into him. Now, in Europe, this could be considered a fairly normal interaction between close friends, depending on where exactly you were from. However, as both Feliks and Toris walked off, arm-in-arm in Japan, a series of muttered, "They are so together!" and "I knew it!" followed closely in their wake.
As the two walked together down the street (their destination: a small, usually bustling café – likely even busier during lunch-hour – not far from the school) Feliks began to laugh.
"It's not funny." Toris warned, but the other man only laughed louder.
"Dude, like, they totally think we're dating!"
"Doesn't everyone?! Look, if this is one of those convoluted, messed-up plans of yours, trying to stop my feelings for my dear B-"
"UGH! Not this again, I'm, like, begging you here, Liet, it's getting old!"
The mood was light, at last. Sure, they had their problems, but they were countries. They could deal with it. And Poland may even have formulated a plan or two...
Not five minutes later and the pair were seated at a small, round side-table, slightly apart from the other diners. Lunch was a nutritious meal of cake and coffee, which Poland actually had treated Lithuania to, and with money straight out of his shoe-fund no less!
"So, I've got two plans," Poland began, "Plan A and Plan B."
"Whatever plan A is, I really don't want to hear it."
"Duly noted." The smaller man noted sagely. "No snipers."
"SNI-" Lithuania almost shouted, but reined himself in quickly. "Snipers? Seriously, Polska?"
"It would put a definite end to things..." Seeing the other man's look, he averted his gaze, "So, like, ya wonna hear Plan B then, or...?"
"Go ahead." Really, Liet wasn't hoping for much. In fact, he had even been about to suggest they just let things play out; if they were lucky, the situation would just blow over by itself. Or so he hoped.
"Blackmail."
"No."
"Like, at least let me explain myself first. Boże!" With a sassy roll of his eyes and a toss of his hair, Poland continued, "This Ootori kid's the youngest child, right? That's what, like, Japan said anyway. And what do the youngest children of business families – especially ones with domineering fathers – always have in, like, common?" A pause for dramatic effect. "Inferiority complexes!"
"Oh, dear."
"Seriously! We can use this. All we need to do is kindly ask Japan to ask his good friend Toshi-whatsit to tell his kid to stop meddling in matters that are beyond him or fwick-!" Poland drew one hand across his neck in a cut-off-your-head motion, "They'll be disowned."
Lithuania's eyes dipped slightly as he considered it.
"Please don't forget that this is still a child we're dealing with here..."
"I already said no snipers!" In one exaggerated movement, Poland dropped his cheek heavily atop his right palm, elbow resting on the table. "What? You got, like, any better ideas?"
"Well...maybe one..." He began sheepishly.
"I'm, like, totes listening."
"Well, you see, Estonia's pretty good with computers, right? Well, what if we send this Ootori child some virus or another and-"
"Alert 'em straight out that there is, like, something seriously shady going on here?"
"...There's got to be something we can do, you know? Something relatively painless, if only to stall him a while?"
Poland merely snorted.
"Well, good luck thinking of it." He reluctantly slid off his seat and stood up, "I better head back to, like, class and stuff..."
"Yeah, see you this evening."
"Yeah."
...
Talk about a downer of a lunch; Renge would not be pleased.
Tamaki POV:
It was half-way through their lunchtime duties as hosts that Kyouya appeared, as if he had not just been absent for the greater part of the day, yet again.
"Please excuse me, ladies," Tamaki gave his best winning smile, turning his back on four giggling clientele.
"...Kyouya?" He approached the other boy, looking over his shoulder at whatever it was he was scribbling down this time.
The large black notebook snapped shut with a resounding thwack.
"Yes, Tamaki?"
"...You sure you're all right?" As Kyouya turned to face him, the blonde noticed the darkness under his eyes and the thin lines etched into their corners. "I mean, I know you want to impress your-"
"This isn't about impressing anybody!" His voice was a harsh whisper, only reinforcing what Tamaki already knew: that the so-called Shadow King hadn't been sleeping properly.
"Then what-?"
Kyouya turned to face him fully then. They were in one of the far corners of music room three, too far away from their guests for any of them to see their expressions. To the ladies, it would likely appear that the two hosts were discussing something positively banal, such as budgeting (unlikely) or maybe even the Ootori boy's extracurricular work load. (After all, almost the entire student body had been intrigued when they discovered that the OotoriKyouya almost missed a day of school, soon followed by another, though were much less interested when they heard from Tamaki himself that it was to do with 'medical stuff'. Business stuff.)
"...Do you actually care, or are you merely bored, Suoh?"
"Huh? What?" Tamaki's eyes scrunched up in confusion, "Of course I care." Kyouya wasn't just acting odd, he was acting...panicked. Shaken. Unsure.
Vulnerable, even.
The blonde boy gave the room a quick scan, checking that one of the other hosts had automatically taken over his post, and that no-one had noticed their hushed conversation on the outskirts of the room. No, nobody was watching, and Haruhi was serving tea. They were OK to speak here, if Kyouya would only confide in Tamaki alone.
"Go on."
The dark-haired boy let out a single beat of mocking laugher. "Simply put, Suoh, something is odd here, though that much must be obvious, even to you...I looked something up, you see, and I thought I'd found it – my answers, that is. Then, the other day, when my siblings returned home for our weekly dinner meeting, I made a comment, about what I had found. It fit into the conversation somehow or another, but I expected to be shrugged off, told to keep quiet whilst my brothers and father talked business. And, yes, my brothers merely rolled their eyes and continued, but my father? He was...shocked. Visibly disturbed, even. I don't think I've ever seen his face hold any emotion at all, let alone such a sorry mix as that!" He paused to wet his lips, before hurrying on, the words flowing quick and unrestrained now. "After dinner, he caught up with me, asked me what I found. When I showed him, he demanded I keep on looking. Now, usually, I'd relish such an opportunity but now, right now, I am just so damnably confused I just don't know what to make of it."
"...What did you find, Kyouya?" What kind of hideous conspiracy could it be to render the current Ootori family head so desperate to know and the third Ootori son so unnerved to have found out?
"But that's just the thing, isn't it?" He looked away, jaw set with annoyance and something stronger. "I honestly don't know. And it's killing me."
Before Tamaki could open his mouth to respond, the towering doors of the Host Club creaked open ceremoniously, and a cloaked figure inched through. When the blonde turned back to face his best friend, the change was obvious – shaken, sleepless Kyouya was gone and only smiling, business Kyouya remained.
"Ah, Nekozawa-san," He strode forward to greet their unexpected guest, brushing past Tamaki without a backwards glance. Truly, this sudden change in him was tremendous. "What an unusual surprise."
Nekozawa, of course, smiled back, though his was wider and, some may argue, mildly unhinged.
"Indeed," The dark-clad figure lumbered forwards to meet the other boy, "I'm sorry to disturb your...activities. But in fact, I simply came here to invite you and your fellow hosts to a little get-together at my family's main residence tomorrow evening. Think of it as a little thank you for the incident regarding Kirimi-chan." He moved his arm in a shallow arch, Beelzenef appearing to dance a belated greeting. "She would also very much like to see you all, especially young Suoh over there, fufufu." Indeed, Nekozawa never ceased to put a room on edge.
A quick scan of the other hosts revealed them to be more enthusiastic than expected; they quickly informed Nekozawa in turn that they each planned to attend (the party would officially commence at seven-thirty, depending on when the first guests arrived) though one particular host warned that he was very unlikely to be able to make it.
And so, with the arrangements made, Nekozawa disappeared just as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving behind him only the question of what on earth a party at the Nekozawas' could possibly entail. Oh, and who could possibly be on the guest list, of course.
Poland/Feliks POV:
Feliks had barely made it back in time for homeroom, skidding to a halt in front of the door to classroom 1-A just as the bell chimed. Not that he was glad he had bothered, mind – classic lit. followed by yet more maths was exactly the opposite of what he needed just then.
As he excited his last class just over two hours later, a familiar girl with short cropped, dark brown hair caught up with him.
"Are you OK to talk now, Feliks?" Haruhi asked with a smile, "We're going the same way mostly, anyway, right? I figured we left things kinda awkward last time, and I kinda wanted to ask you about something..?"
This girl was nice, Feliks reminded himself quickly, he didn't need to fear her. Besides, it would be even more awkward if he just took off at a sprint now, wouldn't it?
"Ah, yeah, like, sure thing, let's talk and stuff." Feliks laughed awkwardly, noting the jealous glares surrounding him, mixed in with just a few winks and thumbs up.
OK, so chapter eight is out, and chapter nine is in the works!
Once again, thank you so much for sticking with me, even after all this time!
XD
Translations:
Boże – Polish - God
