Tales of the Stars

Book 1: Homecoming

Chapter 10

Staria stared at the gown before her. It was gorgeous and she loved the shades of green. What bothered her was the fact that she'd been wearing the exact dress in one of her dreams. There was no way that Yuzuha Hitachiin could have known that. The creepy coincidence of it had her in a mild state of shock.

"I think it blew her mind." Kaoru joked.

"Or she hates it." Hikaru dead panned.

"No it's amazing." Staria finally said snapping out of it a bit. "I'm not sure if saying thank you would be enough."

The twins grinned, "So go try it on already!" they pushed her through the curtains of a dressing room with the gown. "Come back out when you're done."

"We need to see if it needs any alterations." Kaoru explained.

"Why do I get the feeling that you two like to play dress up as much as your mom does…." Staria made sure the curtains were closed tight and then got changed. She'd never worn anything so fancy, well not in her current life at any rate. Luckily it wasn't too complex that she'd need help. The boys had set a mirror up for her as well. She let herself have a small twirl in front of it, watching the skirts flare out around her. As the material settled back into place she looked herself over. The dress fit perfectly. It complimented her body without making her feel exposed. She ran her hands through her hair a bit, since she didn't have a brush, before adding the head band to the look.

"Are you doing ok princess?" Tamaki called from behind the curtain. Staria ignored the princess part and stepped through the curtain to meet the blond host king.

"Yes I'm fine."

Tamaki smiled and stepped back so he could have a better look.

Staria did a small twirl for them as well. "So what do you think? Do I clean up nicely?"

"You look great Star-chan!" Honey chimed with a big grin on his face.

"Spot on." Hikaru and Kaoru got closer to inspect the fit. They made her lift her arms up to check seams.

"Nothing feels too tight?" Kaoru asked.

"No it's perfect." Staria answered as the twins dropped to floor to make sure the hem wasn't too long. They sat back on their heals in unison.

"Walk around some." Hikaru said. "You don't want to trip on it."

"It just seems long cause I didn't put my shoes back on yet…I don't know what ones I'll be wearing yet."

"Just do it." Kaoru said. "This way even if you wear flats we'll know you won't trip." There was a lot of skirt to handle but Staria did as she was asked and walked to the far window and back.

"Ok go put your shoes on so we can check one last thing." Hikaru ordered. Staria gave them a look but gathered up her shoes and sat down on one of the couches to put them on.

"What are you guys gonna make me do? Dance again to make sure I won't fall that way too?"

"Naturally." the entire host club practically said as one. Staria stopped mid buckle and stared at them before laughing a bit. They were too amusing some times. "I guess I should be glad that you're all concerned about me not making an ass off myself." She stood up and fixed her skirts for a moment. Tamaki was already taking a seat at the piano.

"Kyoya care to take a break from the paper work and join us?" the blond asked.

"One of us has to keep things in order for the club, so I'm sorry but I'm passing." He didn't look up from his lap top as he answered. He'd stopped long enough to see Staria enter the room in her dress and to agree about her being able to get around in the gown, but other wise he'd been working as usual. It suited her very well, but he wasn't about to make a fuss over it. He did, however, make a mental note to bring the earrings from the fashion show for her.

"You're no fun." Tamaki pouted. Staria herself was a bit relieved and yet disappointed in the decision as well. She wanted to dance with Kyoya but was still torn on abandoning her feelings for him. What Mamoru had said changed her mind a bit. Social standing really didn't have to mean anything, but she still wasn't too keen on the idea of making the first move. No one made her life more difficult than herself.

"May I have this dance?" Mori offered his hand to Staria with a smile. She couldn't help but smile back at the host of few words.

"Yes, thank you." she took his hand and followed to a more open space on the floor. She let him take the lead as Kyoya had taught her. Mori was taller than Kyoya, but she'd always liked tall guys. She knew the older boy could be intimidating to others but he was just a big teddy bear at heart. He also had a very secure hand. He wasn't holding her tight as they danced but she knew if she did trip he wouldn't let her fall. Mori was an excellent dance partner.

"Looks good." The twins said when the song was over.

"No changes needed?" Staria asked to make sure.

"Nope, you should be fine." Kaoru said with a smile.

"Great. Thank you again guys." Staria gave the twins a quick hug, to their surprise. "I'm gonna go change."

"Let's call it a day." Tamaki agreed.

When Staria came back out only Tamaki and Kyoya were still in the club room.

"Everyone head home already?" She asked carrying the garment bag over her shoulder.

"Yes." Tamaki took the bag from her and continued before she could protest. "Now we can do the same. Or…" Tamaki paused for dramatic effect.

"Or what?" Staria was a bit tired and didn't want to play games.

"Since you seem to be fine now I was going to offer to catch you up on today's lessons before you go home." Kyoya explained.

"You mean since you kept me from learning it in the first place?" Staria was still a little pissed about that, but if he was willing to make it up then she'd forgive him.

"Yes. You needed rest but I also said I'd help you catch up did I not?"

"Yes, you did…" Staria got a little nervous. His tone was border line insulted. "…and I did need the rest." she finally admitted. "But do we have to do it here? I'm sick of being at school today and in this stupid uniform."

"I suppose I could stop by after dinner instead." Kyoya compromised.

"Why not just come over now? You're more than welcome to eat with us." Tamaki offered with a grin.

"I can't, Fuuyumi's bringing her new husband and his family over tonight. I can't be the only family member not attending. Though it will give me an excuse to leave early. Be ready to learn Staria. I won't tolerate you're aimless doodling like our teachers do."

"Then make the lesson interesting to keep my mind from wondering sensei." Staria mocked back but then smiled. "We'll see you later Kyoya. Let's go home Tamaki." She linked her arm through his and started pulling him to the door.

Tamaki sat with Staria in her room after dinner. Kyoya hadn't arrived yet, but he still wanted to know more about her meeting that day.

"So did father tell you he'd wanted to adopt you and Mamoru?"

"Yes, but thanks to your oh so loving matriarch it didn't happen." She was laying on her bed, head hanging off the edge, watching Tamaki from upside down. "Weird to think huh?"

"Yeah you could have been my sister too." Tamaki gave a weak smile then laughed. "Though when I first showed up at that lunch he seemed to be wishing for a different angle to make you a part of the family."

"What?" She rolled over onto her stomach and stared at him. "Did he hint at something?"

"Only vaguely, but I told him your interests were else where." Tamaki raised his eye brows at her. "And he's late."

"Don't start." she warned.

"Why not?" Tamaki pouted and got up from his chair to stand in front of her. "You know you're heritage now right? So what else is standing in your way? You can't say you're not blue blooded enough. And I'm sorry but it seems to me like you've gotten over Gene enough that you can move on. So why won't you make a move?"

"Because I'm not the type to make the first move Tamaki. I've told you that. Besides Kyoya's not interested. What does he have to gain from a relationship with me?" Staria was trying really hard to not yell her frustrations at him.

"Something of his own choosing before he's forced into some loveless relationship by his family. I'm not saying you two have to make a life commitment. Just be yourself and experience a little love. Date, it's what we're supposed to do when we're young."

"Then why don't you?" She threw back at him.

"It'll ruin my image with my fans." Tamaki ran an hand through his hair and struck a pose. Seeing she still wasn't amused he sat down beside her. "We've made a strict rule to never date our clients while being in the host club. It's bad for business. I just like making people happy. Should anyone of us find someone we wish to date we can. Whether or not to hide that relationship is up to the parties involved. It's also up to them to decided if they are alright with us still hosting. If not, we'll cross that bridge when it comes but so far it hasn't been an issue." Tamaki explained.

"It still seems so complicated." Staria sighed and flipped back onto her back so she could look at him easier. "Besides even if that's something to gain it's not anything to move him forward. That's all that seems to catch his interest."

Tamaki smiled. "You watch him a lot to have picked up that quickly."

Staria flushed red, "Shut up! I know how it works cause he explained your relationship as friends to me when I first got pissed about the whole Host Club thing. Gees… I'm just gonna start getting double teamed by you and Mamoru now on my love life."

"Did he ask you about it?" Tamaki was curious.

"It just kinda came up, but he didn't press it too much."

"Ah to have a worrying big brother. He's just wanting to protect his precious family." He tapped her lightly on the forehead and then pouted a bit. "Lucky."

"Him or me?" Staria questioned.

"Both."

"Tamaki you liked the idea of us all being siblings, didn't you?" Staria smiled at him as she asked.

"Yes I did actually."

Staria sat up and fixed her shorts before kneeling beside him. She took his hands in hers and made him look at her. "Tamaki even if it's not by blood you can be my brother too if you want. You've been an amazing friend so far to me and I would gladly accept you as a brother as well."

Tamaki truly looked like he was going to cry when he wrapped her in a big bear hug. When he finally let go, he looked at her with big puppy dog eyes, "Will you call me Nii-san?"

"No." Staria pushed him over playfully and laughed. "I'll call you Tama-kun if you want a nick name but not Nii-san."

"Aww please? It'd be so cute if you did it." He said sitting back up.

"No." Staria laughed at his persistence, as he shifted to his knees on the floor to beg her.

"Please?" He batted his eyes at her. That's when Kyoya chose to appear in the open doorway.

"Am I interrupting something?" He asked seeing his best friend pleading on the floor and Staria trying her hardest to stop laughing from her perch on the bed.

"Kyoya get her to call me Nii-san." Tamaki requested.

"Do I want to know?" He directed the question to Staria. He had and idea of what happened but wasn't sure.

"I told him he could be my brother if he wanted." She explained.

"And naturally this is the result." he shook his head. "You do realize you sealed your own fate with this one. Just call him Nii-san and he'll stop."

"No it's way too embarrassing. I don't think I'll even ever call Mamoru Nii-san." Staria paused. She'd never really told the rest of the group she knew about her brother.

Kyoya raised an eye brow but smiled, "So you do know. Congratulations, how does it feel to know you too are a part of high society?"

"I'm not. I'm just born from it apparently." She stated flatly. She still didn't know how she felt about the whole thing.

"That maybe how you feel but your heritage is what it is. The Chiba companies have been publicly traded for a good ten years now, but that doesn't mean your brother or yourself couldn't buy them back. It'd just be a matter of gaining the majority holdings." Kyoya was setting his bag down at the kotatsu Tamaki had set up in Staria's room for them all to use. The blond had a small obsession with the heated Japanese tables. It wasn't even winter yet.

"Could we please not talk business. It's all very over my head." Staria frowned.

"I'm gonna go grab my homework. Be right back." Tamaki got up and exited the room abruptly.

"It's really not that hard to understand, but if you wish I'll drop it." Kyoya said, not skipping a beat as Tamaki dashed down the hall.

"Thank you." Staria was glad to avoid that conversation. She was in no way a business person, nor did she want to be. Though deep down she understood that having money opened many more doors for her.

As Kyoya retrieved his notes from his bag Staria got her things from her desk. The raven haired teen found himself watching her from the corner of his eye. Mostly the amount of skin she was showing off. Despite the cold weather outside, she was in little tight black shorts and a pair of tall, over the knee, black and white striped socks. He doubted they did little to keep her warm. A red camisole peaked out from underneath the white zip up hoodie she'd worn the other day. Today however she was wearing it differently. The zipper was undone to the top of the pockets, but she had the whole jacket shifted high so those same pockets sat at her breasts. Sort of a mock empire waist line. As she rooted around her desk he'd get a small flash of stomach here and there. In turn the rest of the hoodie sat open over her shoulders in a wide V, the hood itself hanging to the small of her back.

He caught himself just flat out staring as she started to tie her hair up in a clip. That one small action had exposed her bare neck clear down to the space between her shoulder blades. The whole top's look just gave him the impression of a geisha's kimono. Meant to entice and yet still hide. He forced himself to stop looking when the thought that she probably wasn't wearing a bra wondered through his head. Part of him wondered if she'd done it on purpose or if she was just that comfortable to the point of obliviousness. With her somewhat flighty personality it could have gone either way.

He gathered up his notes from that day's math class as she sat down next to him.

"Go ahead and copy mine first then I'll explain them to you." Kyoya slid his note book over to her and pulled out his lap top.

"Here's hoping you have legible hand writing, since you're usually on your computer." Staria half teased as she opened her own doodled filled notebook.

"You'll see I have perfectly clear penmanship. Now stop stalling so we can go over your work." He was doing his best to stay strict, mostly to keep his now interested eyes from wondering. Though given the same situation a lesser man would have done more than stared.

Tamaki was taking his sweet time on purpose. He was hoping his friends would get cozy on their own, but part of him knew he'd have to meddle more. When he finally peeked in the door way it was as he expected.

Nothing.

Staria was copying notes and Kyoya was on his laptop doing who knows what. The blond sighed in defeat and joined them in the room. The three of them worked on their school work for the next couple of hours with no progress other than Staria getting caught up on the day's lessons.

"Well I'm calling it a night." Tamaki finally said getting up. "I hear a hot bath calling my name. See you tomorrow Kyoya. Staria would you be so kind as to see our friend out when you two are finished?"

"Yeah I think I almost have this down. Just let me finish this problem." Math was not her strong point so she was taking full advantage of the help.

"Take your time. I'm not in a rush." Kyoya said without looking up from him lap top. He'd finished his own work a while ago and was checking the daily news.

"Good night you two." Tamaki left with a smile hoping that something, anything really, would move them along.

Kyoya found himself strangely interested in an article about a recent streak of crimes being stopped by a mystery girl. The blond sported a mini skirt, sailor collar and a red mask. They were calling her Sailor V.

"Whatcha' reading?" Staria leaned over to get a look.

"Seems we have a masked do gooder in our city."

"Cool. Like Batman? But isn't that kind of stuff really dangerous?"

"It's usually frowned upon by the authorities, though it seems that this one chief of police is all for her. It's truly odd." Kyoya ignored the obvious question of the caped crusader.

"She's gotta be freezing out there though in that get up." Staria leaned over him farther trying to get a better angle to read.

'You don't have much room to talk.' Kyoya thought. "Did you finish that problem?" He finally asked, trying to ignore that the girl was practically in his lap.

"Uh huh. All done. Mind if I scroll down?"

"As long as you move so I can finish reading as well."

"Sorry….um… got it! This'll work. Scoot back just a bit."

Kyoya gave her a look but did as asked. Once he had his legs pulled out from under the table, to move back, she plopped herself down between his knees. She was indeed short enough he could still read over her shoulder easily, but it posed another problem. It put all of that pale bare skin very close to him. As she read he found himself more interested in her neck and shoulders. He needed to go. Clearing his throat a bit he got up. "I should be heading home."

Staria turned around to look up at him. "I'm sorry I just sorta took over. It's just really cool." She really had no clue what she had really just done.

"It's alright. Just don't go getting any weird ideas yourself. Tamaki gives us enough trouble."

"Me a crime fighter? That'll be the day. Don't worry I'm a total klutz and a weakling. I don't think it'll be an issue any time soon." She smiled brightly despite mocking herself. Kyoya gathered up his things and Staria saw him down to the front drive. She looked up at the stars as Kyoya's driver pulled up.

"Such a clear night."

"Which means it'll be cold. Don't get yourself sick." Kyoya said and flipped her hood over her head, as he got into the car.

"I'll be fine. See you tomorrow." she pulled the hood back as he shut the door, and then headed back inside.

Kyoya leaned back into the car seat as far as he could. His body was screaming at him, but his mind refused to make a full connection. He did not want to admit that Tamaki was right. Yet he'd never had the urge to touch someone so badly. He wasn't stupid, he'd played around before, but this wasn't the same thing. All he'd wanted to do was to rub his cheek against her neck. A simple harmless action and it freaked him out. If it was lust he'd have been fine, but he truly wanted to just touch her. To hold and cuddle and maybe even protect. Kyoya Ohtori was sinking into dangerous waters. Was it safer to struggle and fight or to just let the current take him?