XXx Aya xXX
"How did we let them talk us into this?" Haruhi asks as we crouch behind a wall in the elementary building.
"Yeah," I ask. "What did the brat do to deserve any of this help?"
This really better be good. I'm wearing pink.
Barbie pink.
And not just that… Hikaru and Kaoru gave me a haircut. They were lucky Mitsukuni was able to talk me into it; otherwise I would have clawed their eyes out when they came near me with the pair of thinning shears and cape. Why does Haruhi get all the fancy wigs and hair extensions? I should be petitioning for equal treatment.
Oh well, I guess I did need a haircut anyway, it was almost to my hips, and now it's just grazing the middle of my back. I'm just glad they stayed true to my original cut and just put my now fully blond hair in Misa Misa pigtails with two pink ribbons.
But all that is beside the point. I don't want to help the brat any more today than I did yesterday. In fact, I want to help him even less. If that's possible.
"Well, Tama-chan insisted," Mitsukuni says as he steps up to the wall next to me. "It'll be ok though. It was so easy to sneak in, and wearing this uniform I really look like I'm in elementary school!"
"Yeah you do," Haruhi agrees as she looks over to us. "I can understand why they wanted you two to wear an elementary school uniform. I mean we are sneaking into an elementary school and you two totally fit in, but what I don't understand is why they made me dress up this middle school uniform."
I glance over at Haruhi's outfit. In my opinion, it's definitely the most reasonable design of the three I've seen so far. I might have even worn it without complaint if that was just the universal uniform for this school.
Haruhi flicks some of her fake hair over her shoulder in irritation.
That's another thing…why do they always give her the same hairstyle when they dress her up like a girl? Surly someone would put two and two together when they realize that the same girl who shows up with the host club is around is never there when Haruhi is.
But then again I don't really have high hopes for most girls at this school. You know what? Just scratch all that…
I retract that earlier statement. These girls are all pretty simple minded.
"Why did we even bother wearing disguises?" Haruhi finally asks. "We stick out like a sore thumb!"
I glance around the corner and sure enough, all the elementary students are acting like we're some sort of alien species looking to make contact. I glance over at Haruhi and then back to Mitsukuni.
"Well," he asks the both of us. "Anyone got any ideas?"
I shift uncomfortably from foot to foot, hoping Haruhi might have thought of something so I won't have to suggest mine. But no such luck, she seems like she's in a battle with her extensions to think of anything right now.
With reluctance, I look up at the both of them.
"I've got something," I mutter. "But I don't think it can explain why Haruhi is here."
"That works fine for me," she says before gesturing for me to continue.
"Can I borrow Usa-chan?" I ask Mitsukuni.
He hesitates a minute before nodding and holding the bunny out to me.
I cradle him carefully in my arms before dropping to my knees on the hallway floor. I lay the plushy in my lap and quickly untie the bow around his neck and retie it around his left ear.
I get to my feet quickly, brushing out my ugly pink skirt before holding out my hand to Mitsukuni.
"Guide me around like you did on my first day?" I ask quietly.
He nods and takes my hand loosely in his. I clutch Usa-chan to my chest with my other arm while I bite down hard on my lower lip, tears beginning to well up in my eyes.
"Ok, I'm ready," I whisper.
Mitsukuni looks alarmed at the sight of my tears, but in a split second he catches on. He nods, and gives my hand a gentle squeeze before he leads us around the corner.
The kids in the hall look up at us curiously, and I shoot Mitsukuni a look, urging him to say something. He squeezes my hand again to let me know he got the message and puts on one of his cheery smiles that causes me to avert my eyes.
"It's ok, you don't 'hafta cry," I hear him say. "You'll love it here!"
I look up from my shuffling feet and force myself to meet his eyes. He looks down at me and grins. And then I realize; he's gotten taller than me.
My eyes widen, adding to my act.
When did this happen? As he guides me through the halls, I think back to my first day of school, and just like the first time, my heart is beating wildly. But as I think about it, this time it's for entirely different reasons.
That day, I was scared that I would screw up my second chance, and confused as to why I was letting him hold my hand like he had known me our whole lives.
But this time, if feel at ease because he's holding my hand, and my hearts beating wildly because he's only a few inches away from me instead of trailing me behind him. And the way he smiles like that makes me feel like I'm walking on air, like I'm worth smiling for…
What does this mean for me? Am…I falling for…
NO! No! Stop right there! I command myself.
I can't be! Not this soon! I'm still- I'm still…
"This will be your new classroom."
I snap out of it as he leads me into an empty classroom. As soon as the door closes behind us I drop the façade, my tears disappearing down my cheeks. I rub them away with the heel of my palm.
"Nice," I say with a smirk.
I somewhat reluctantly let go of his hand and move to return Usa-chan's ribbon to its original place, but Mitsukuni stops me.
"Hold onto him for a while," he says, tucking the bunny back in my arms.
My eyes widen for a second and my face flushes. Our eyes lock and I can't look away, just like a back during the movie.
"I-It's just in case we get caught," he explains quickly as his face flushes and he quickly pulls his hands back to his sides.
"O-ok," I stammer, lowering my head but smiling slightly into the top of Usa-chan's head.
"You could have blown the whole operation Haruhi!"
Both our heads snap up to see the rest of the club entering the room.
"You're the one who's going to blow it if you don't shut up Boss!" Hikaru and Kaoru point out as they saunter through the rows of desks.
My first impulse is to yell at them, but then I realize Haruhi is already doing that for me.
"If you were just going to barge in here like that then why are we wearing these stupid disguises?" she growls.
"Miniskirt," I spit.
"Hey don't worry about it," Hikaru says with a wave of his hand.
"There's no one around to catch us," Kaoru adds.
Neither of them seem to have a shred of guilt.
Then just because they had to jinx it, there's the telltale sound of footsteps coming from the hall. Mitsukuni grabs my wrist and tugs me down under the nearest desk, tucking my head under his chin and placing a hand on top of my head.
"If the teacher finds us," Kaoru whispers from a few desks over.
"We're gonna have a hard time explaining why we snuck in here," Hikaru finishes.
"Shut up you guys!" Haruhi whispers. "Just keep your lips zipped."
She mimes the action, turning away before she sees the twins and Tamaki copy her. By then the footsteps have faded away and the halls are silent again. Everyone begins to crawl out from under the desks, and Mitsukuni holds out a hand to me. I hesitantly take it and he pulls me to my feet, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Sorry about that," he mutters before his hand slips from mine.
"Well here's something interesting."
I flinch, automatically thinking that Kyoya meant us. But as I look up I see that the rest of the club is gathered at the back of the classroom where Kyoya is studying a wall full of pictures. The one he's staring at is centered on Shiro and a pretty girl playing a piano.
"So he's in the classical music club," he mutters.
"He looks like he's enjoying himself," Haruhi says with a soft smile. "It's nice to see him with a smile on his face. I never knew he could look so sweet."
"Neither can I," I mutter as I step up beside her. "And to be honest I still don't believe it."
"So anyone know how to find the club room?" the twins ask.
XXx Honey xXX
I don't like this.
I don't like this at all.
I watch as Aya walks over to a group of elementary school boys sitting around the fountain in the quad.
"E-excuse me," she stammers out as she clutches Usa-chan to her chest.
The boys look up from their video games, and almost immediately a blush passes over all their faces.
"Y-yeah?" the closest one asks.
"W-well I'm new here," she stammers as she covers her mouth with her knuckle delicately. "Can you tell me where the classical music club is please?"
One boy gets to his feet and tucks his game into his pocket.
"I can take you there!" he answers with an excited yet quivering voice.
"O-oh ok," she stammers as she shrinks back slightly.
The other boys glare at him as he takes Aya by her elbow and guides her out of the quad. She shoots us a look of distress before stumbling as the boy picks up his pace.
We follow from a safe distance as the boy leads her through the hallways of the elementary school building.
"So do you play the piano or something?" he asks her.
"The flute," Aya replies softly. "But I'd like to learn the piano. Or maybe even the violin."
"That's cool," the boy replies, his blue eyes shining brightly. "I've been playing the piano for years. Maybe I could teach you."
"T-Thanks," she stammers before flashing him a soft smile. "That's kind of you."
She tilts her head to then side slightly, her bangs bouncing around her face. My shoulders tense as I watch the boy blush.
Jokes on him. He'll never see her again.
I feel hand rest gently on my head, and look up to see Takashi looking down at me. His eyes flit from me to Aya and back again, and a small smile graces his face. His eyes shine knowingly and I feel my face burn in embarrassment. I look away and he ruffles my hair. A soft chuckle rings out from him and I'm glad the other hosts are so far ahead of us.
"Shut up Takashi," I command half-heatedly. "It's not funny."
"Sorry," he mutters. "But it is."
"What do you mean by that?" I ask as I leap up to my usual place on his shoulders.
"Out of every girl in the world you choose her," he says.
"But, she's different Takashi," I sigh.
"I know, I saw you two dancing together."
I relax my shoulders and smile into my hands for a minute before sighing heavily in relief.
"You think she could like me too?" I ask dreamily.
"Yeah. Just be patient with her."
By now the rest of the club has stopped ahead of us. Our conversation stops as Takashi steps up beside Kyo-chan. Aya and the boy are standing outside a large room with large windows for walls, displaying a large assortment of classical instruments.
"Thanks for walking me here," she says, giving the boy a shallow bow. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"By the way I never got your name," the boy says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"It's Amaya," she says quietly.
"I'm Jirou," the boy responds, holding out his hand to her.
She takes it, and for a moment I feel a twinge of jealousy. I guess my only consolation is she didn't give him permission to call her Aya.
"I guess I'll see you around," Aya lies as she drops her hand back to her side.
"Yeah! Maybe I'll join this club too!"
And with that he turns to leave, pausing only to wave over his shoulder. As soon as he's disappeared around the corner I jump down from Takashi's shoulder and step up beside her.
"Nice job," I say nonchalantly, gently nudging her side.
"That was intense," she sighs as her shoulders slump forward. "Though, I will admit I feel kind of bad for leading him on like that."
I glance away, not really sure how to respond to that. Luckily, as I glance through the doors I see something to keep me from answering.
"Hey there's Shiro-chan!" I say, pointing to a lone boy sitting on the opposite side of the room.
As soon as Aya steps up next to me, the girl from the picture steps up to Shiro. The rest of the club steps up behinds us as they talk.
Eventually the girl turns away from Shiro and takes a seat at the grand piano on the other side of the club room. As her fingers hit the keys, a beautiful melody floats through the glass walls.
"It's beautiful," Aya-chan whispers.
"Yeah," I whisper as I turn to her.
She has her eyes closed, clutching Usa-chan to her chest with one arm. She floats with the music. And it seems to give her this serene happiness that nothing else really can. The arm between us dangles limply at her side. I hesitate for a minute before sucking it up and reach out and take her hand, gripping it loosely in my own.
She doesn't pull away like I thought she would. In fact, she grips it softly as a small smile spreads across her face. If only she knew it wasn't just the music that I found beautiful.
XXx Aya xXX
"What do you think you're doing?!"
My eyes snap open as my musical experience is abruptly halted. Shiro bursts out of the club room. He glares at us from the door, completely ignoring the poor girl caught in the middle.
"I want you idiots to leave immediately!" he yells.
"Yeah, and I want to eat nothing but chocolate fudge cake for the rest of my life and not get any cavities, but it looks like both of us are going to be unhappy," I snap as I step forward.
He gives me a bone chilling glare, but before he can actually reply to me Tamaki slings Shiro over his shoulder. He squirms and fights Tamaki's grip and loudly voices his opinions on Tamaki's intelligence levels as he gets carried away. Then he suddenly freezes up and I follow his gaze. Looks like the lucky girl has never seen his nasty side.
We begin making our way over to the high school buildings, and Shiro is causing quite the scene. I sigh heavily and look down at my hand, which still resides inside Mitsukuni's.
What so I think of him? Really? This is a question I need to answer. Otherwise this…or whatever kind of relationship we have…will eventually be affected somehow. I don't want to lose this. The relationship I have with him know is the kind of companionship that I've always wanted from a friend. But where exactly do my feelings stop?
Just as we are making our way into the main entrance when a crowd of students make their way out of one of the library buildings, their attention being drawn to us by all of Shiro's protesting.
Then my breath catches when I see a familiar pair of flint gray eyes in the crowd.
Kisa freezes in the middle of her sentence, her hand paused in the motion of flipping a few blond ringlets over her shoulder. She sees me and Mitsukuni, taking in our matching elementary school uniforms. Then her glare turns murderous as she sees Usa-chan still cradled in my right arm, and my hand wrapped soundly in Mitsukuni's.
I gulp visibly and her mouth twists into a cruel smirk, as if she can sense my sudden spell of fear. I really can't keep letting her do that to me.
I apologize to Mitsukuni mentally as I raise our joined hands up high enough so I know that Kisa can see them.
He looks at me with something that looks almost like disappointment in his eyes, the warm mahogany of his irises dulling to an almost a cold muddy brown. Almost as if he expects me to shake him off because I don't want to be seen holding hands with someone like him.
He goes to remove his hand from mine, but I surprise him instead.
As soon as his hands floats a few centimeters from mine I recapture it in my own, only this time I lace our fingers together. His eyes widen and his face flushes as he looks over to me with a bright flush on his face.
I offer him my most genuine smile and even tilt my head for the extra effect. He smiles back and curls his fingers around my hand.
He drops it back to our sides, and leans over towards me.
"So does this mean you trust me now?" he asks.
"I could say that's a safe assumption," I say, giving him a playful wink. "But just don't let it go to your head ok."
"I wouldn't dream of it," he responds as we get to the door of the building.
A quick glance over my shoulder shows Kisa radiating hate like a small sun. It rolls off her body in waves, and actually seem to be affecting the people around her. They look scared. And some of it reaches me, even though I may have just successfully one-upped her.
"I'll race you."
I glance back to Mitsukuni, who nods towards the staircase. I glance between the stairs and Mitsukuni before smirking at him.
"You're on."
I drop his hand and we rush up the stairs. We tie at the top, but I feel a bit irritated because he seems to have been holding back for me. But in a way I'm too happy to stay that way so I let it pass.
The rest of the club catches up to us and the two of us throw open the doors for the rest of them.
Tamaki flings Shiro down on the nearest love seat hard enough to knock the wind out of him. I wish he'd have let me do that…
"What is your problem you big idiot?!" Shiro yells up at Tamaki.
"I'm sorry but you're the idiot," Tamaki snaps back at him.
Shiro's eyes widen as he shrinks back a bit. It seems like he's not used to be talked back to. Awwww, poor baby.
"You said that you wanted me to teach you how to make women happy. But that's not it is it?" Tamaki asks him. "You're not concerned with the happiness of just any woman. You got your sights set one woman in particular. You only care about Hina Kamishiro.
But I'm afraid, there's nothing I can do to help you with that."
I'm a little lost now, but I just shrug my shoulders and plop down in the nearest chair. I kick off my shoes and knee socks before crossing my legs and leaning over to survey the rest of Tamaki's lecture.
"Listen Shiro, I know that I told you it's the job of a host to make women happy, but when you care for someone you must find the courage to express what is in your heart. You have to tell her how you feel about her!"
I wince slightly, not knowing Tamaki could be this harsh. Note to self. Never consult Tamaki for relationship advice. For various reasons.
"You didn't come to me looking to become a full-fledged host. You want to be a full-fledged man."
"It doesn't matter anymore," Shiro chokes out. "I've run out of time. I just wanted to hear her play, before she left for good. That's all."
"That piece she played," Tamaki says as he steps up to a curtain make of a soft gold cloth. "It's Mozart's Sonata in D Major for two pianos isn't it?"
He pulls the cloth away to reveal a shiny black piano. He flips up the cover to reveal a set perfect ivory and ebony keys before sitting down on the stool.
"Wait a minute," Haruhi mutters. "Since when is there a grand piano in here?"
"Well this is a music room after all," Kaoru says.
"So why wouldn't it have a grand piano?" Hikaru asks.
"It is a music room after all," Kyoya finally speaks up.
"It is a music room," Takashi repeats.
"It's always there," Mitsukuni says. "We just had it covered up."
Tamaki begins to play, and I'm shocked that it's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I lean farther into my lap, resting my elbows on my legs and closing my eyes as Tamaki's fingers fly over the keys, creating the most heartbreakingly beautiful cords.
"For the next week, you will spend all your mornings, lunches, recesses, and free time after school in piano lessons with me," Tamaki says, not looking up from the keys.
"Why?" Shiro asks.
"You wanted to be my apprentice right?" Tamaki asks. "Besides, young lady looked like she wanted nothing more than to play the piano with you."
XXx Honey xXX
"You got it?" I ask.
Aya nods, pulling her hair out of the messy bun it was in.
"Thanks for checking it for me, " she says with a smile.
"Like I said before, anytime," I reply.
She puts her homework back in her folders and places them back in her backpack before tossing it on the floor in front of her bed.
"Well, I feel a bit better now," she says as she grabs a baggy t shirt draped on the chair next to her coffee table.
"If the test is like this you'll be fine Aya-chan," I say as she pulls the baggy shirt over her tank top.
There's a knock on the door just then. "Aya-sama?" Akimi calls from the other side of the door.
"Guess I should pray for good luck then," she says as she straightens the neckline. "Cuz you won't be there to help fix my mistakes."
"Coming!" she calls, slipping off her bracelets as she jogs over to the door.
"You just need to focus," I say as I try to reassure her.
She laughs as she places a hand on the door handle.
"Never heard that one before," she jokes as she opens the door.
Akimi steps in with a pleasant smile on her face.
"You sent for me?" she asks Aya. "What can I do for you Aya-sama?"
Aya-chan just smiles as she retreats to her closet. She extracts a large cardboard box from inside before walking back to us.
"Well since I just got my hair cut that means I need to re-dye it. But I need a bit of help."
Akimi's smile drops and is replaced with nervous fright.
"A-are you sure about that? I-I've never dyed hair before," she stammers as she gesticulates wildly.
"You'll be fine," Aya assures her as she hands over the box. "I just need some extra hands. Just take this to the bathroom for me and I'll be there in a minute."
Akimi swallows hard and nods nervously before heading off to Aya-chan's bathroom. I guess this is my cue to leave.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow Aya-chan!" I call to her as she goes to retrieve her cell phone from its spot on her nightstand.
"Ok!" she says with a smile before waving to me quickly before disappearing into the bathroom.
I gather my stuff from the floor around me before slipping out of the room and making my way down the hall. Once in my room I dump my stuff on my own desk before I collapse on my bed, curling up and pulling Usa-chan to my chest.
My eyes widen for a moment as inhale.
Usa-chan smells like…it's hard for me to put a name on it. He smells…fruity, and floral. Like a nice blend of the two. Not to strong and not to subtle.
In other words, he smells like Aya.
A smile spreads over my face as I close my eyes. He must have gotten like this from this afternoon. I wonder why I didn't notice it before.
I keep inhaling, and soon enough, the soft sent lulls me to sleep.
XXx Aya xXX
"Ok, so I just need you to get the back where I can't reach," I explain as I hand the jar of dye to Akimi. "Just mix that in with the conditioner for me, and make sure the line of color is more or less even when applying it."
She nods and does as I tell her. I take a few clips and begin dividing my hair into three parts.
"Ok," I say turning to Akimi. "So the color will be the most intense at the ends and the farther up it goes just spread the color up with your fingers. It should stop about right here."
She nods and slips on a pair of gloves while I put on some music.
I bite my lip as I scroll through songs. I need something happy. I let one start playing, but then the lyrics start doing funny things to my stomach so I skip it.
No…I'm not. I can't be. Not yet.
"Did you not like that song?"
I look over at Akimi, who's begun adding the dye to the back of my head.
"Oh, no," I reply. "I'm just not in the mood for it, that's all."
"It's a love song isn't it?" she asks.
"What makes you think that?" I reply a little too quickly.
"Well it was the look on your face," she says softly. "Both during the song and when you changed it. You were thinking of someone."
"Oh…" I trail off as I run the dye through my hair.
"Were you thinking of Mitsukuni-sama?"
I freeze and flush a million shades of red. Akimi takes one look at my face and bursts into a fit of giggles. I lower my gaze and bite my lip.
"Sorry Aya-sama," she says as she gasps for air.
"Don't be," I mutter. "It's ok. And you don't need to call me 'sama.'"
"Alright," she says with a wide smile. "So was that a yes Aya-neechan?"
"I…I'm not sure," I trail off, stunned at her new use of honorifics. "I don't know what I feel towards him."
"Well, you should try to figure it out soon," she replies. "Otherwise it'll eat you alive."
XXx Author's Notes xXX
Gotta keep moving
Lotsa love, Krystal