Chapter 10: Realizing Is Only The Start
The trip back home was maybe the most nerve-racking moments of my life. Hikaru not hearing a word from me, for almost a day, and I had to tell him of the new changes for the host club. I was just at a lost. The front gate and the house's roof were within my sights, with thoughts of me going to keel over the instant Hikaru comes in sight. Just breath, maybe, hopefully, things will go fine.
The limo soon was in park and the door open for me, by my driver. I gave my thanks as I moved into the house. Maids and butlers were in a panic; mostly caused by a heinous aura coming the main part of the house.
I enter to see my mother in some scare; father pacing; and brother was no where insight.
"Mom, dad, what's wrong?" My voice brought them back to earth and grabbed me in a hug. "Hey, what's up with you two?"
"Where were you?"
"Kaoru, you had your mother and me worry sick. You better have a good reason to be gone for so long and not call?"
I didn't know how to response to this. They have never acted like this. Even when I was a kid; they had poker faces through the childhood I remember.
Wiggling to break out of this death grip, in hopes to give them my answer. I finally did and took a seat, trusting they would too. Thank goodness they did.
"Well, honey?"
"Sorry, I was out with a friend and I forgot to call. I stayed over at their place until the rain stop."
"Who did you stay with?"
"Fujioka." I hope they didn't know which one I was talking about.
Knowing as I felt the flatness of the cd in my back pocket of my pants. I didn't want them to know the truth. They like Haruhi; that was clear. Takahiro . . . I don't why they didn't like him?
"Ah, Hikaru said you were with them for a bit. Did you forget something at their place?"
I nodded a no, rising from my seat. Fake yawning. "I'm a bit tired from the ride, and I'm going to rest. I'll be down for dinner later." And slowly started for my bedroom. Hoping to get some sleep, but found Hikaru sitting on our share bed, looking down at the floor.
"Where have you been?" Never facing up at me.
"Out with friends; like you were." I pointed out bluntly, looking for pajamas. Hiding the cd deep within the drawer. I can always listen to it later. "How was your day with Haruhi go . . . yesterday?"
"Don't change the subject. I don't hear a word from you for a whole day and then I find out that you were with some friends?" The bed creaks as he'd rose up from it.
"I can have friends, too, Hikaru, I thought that was reason we open to others."
"Yeah, but you know who my friends are!" As I finish changing to see him furiously and in front of me. Anger clouded his likewise amber eyes as mine. "I called Kyoya and Tamaki to see if you were them. You left after a meeting was over. And then, when it's close to midnight . . . I try your cell-phone . . . only to hear Takahiro on the other line." He wasn't mad at me. It was because of . . . Takahiro? "What were you doing with him for so long?"
"Just hanging out. Met some of his buddies. Nothing wrong with that."
"Wrong? You have no idea how wrong that is!"
Not wanting to show he was hurting, he moves away from me to the other side of the room. His back facing me. I could see his body shivering, not wanting to freak out in pure anger to me.
"Kaoru, I don't about him. I know he looks trusting but there is something off about him."
He then looks at me, fearing something I had no idea of what it was.
"I talked about something with Haruhi about him."
"And?" Going over to the bed, getting ready for a little nap-time. "What about him?"
"You know he's a half-breed like Tamaki, right?"
Nodding for him to go on. I should have never asked. It was too much. There was no way it could have been true.
When he did . . . I wanted my brother to stop.
No, there was no way that was true.
Takahiro would never do that. It had to be a lie. If it was true, then why would he be staying with Haruhi for so long. Even Ranka would never let him near his daughter, if it came to that. And about his family title; he was going to own it when he was of coming age. No one would do that, if something like this would be used against them. It couldn't be true. No, I wouldn't listen to this.
I called it a day, going to bed. Ignoring Hikaru's pleas to take his words to heart. I just couldn't, and Takahiro was my friend. So I ended the night with never leaving the room. Or telling my brother of what was going to happen tomorrow.
Pay back can be such a bitch.
Later, upcoming school day, lunch had just started. I felt like going to the rooftop again.
Grabbing my food and being able to keep my brother from seeing me altogether. Taking the same path, I'd walked before. Not long was I on the very same roof. Taking a seat in the shade this time.
I have beaten Takahiro here? Must, had to talk with a teacher? And that was just it, as I saw him enter through the door. Seeing me as I waved to him from a few feet away from the door for him to sit next to me. The words that Hikaru said last night came back, but I push them away. Because they were for a Takahiro that didn't match the one I was with.
"Day going well for you?" He asked me, taking his plate and fork to munch on some steak-bits.
"Yeah." Taking a sip of mango and grape juice I asked with my lunch, it was all way from Hawaii and it was delicious. "I thought Hikaru was going to murder you when you help with my vase in art."
"Well, not my fault the table was so small. I had to be close to help. With how your tiny hands were doing, be glad I did or you would have failed."
I puffed a bit at that. Drawing and painting is one thing, but sculpting was another. And with big hands as his, the vase turned out better, then with my "girly hands" he snickers while helping me. "I don't like that kind of thing anyway."
"Yeah, your artwork is better. Stick to it." Again with the good guy–bad guy. Pick a side already. My eyes are tired from rolling.
"Yours is not that bad either." Honesty in pure words.
"Don't try to flatter me." Nudging me with his shoulder, it wasn't strong; but it was enough to almost make me fall to the side a bit.
"I'm not." And we kept on eating. I knew I had to tell him. "I didn't tell Hikaru about us hosting together. Be aware."
"I had a feeling with you being gone from home so long and you didn't call them that night." Side glancing me. "Something on your mind?"
"No." Lying, that wasn't going to help. Oh, wait, idea! "I listen to the cd. It was awesome."
"Glad to hear it."
"Number seven; I had no idea that Psychs has a sweet side."
"He does, but his ass-ness kind of kills it." Shaking his head, drinking his coffee, he made before coming to school. He reheated, when he was in science and used the burners in there to warm it up for lunch.
Kids don't try that at home or school.
"I think Bo needs to see some help, from number sixteen he wrote for me listens to. I got chills."
"I hope you know that song was about a true story back in the sixty's."
"I do now. And Yosh, I just couldn't stop dancing to it. It was great. The solo was just wonderful."
"I'll be sure to tell them that." I know what he was waiting for.
"Your song, was just as marvelous. I never knew you had that kind of side."
"Yeah, I didn't know either." Looking steer at me. "Don't tell anyone."
"I won't. Do you miss that person?"
"Every day from when we said goodbye." He check his watch and reach for his bag. "Here, something you need to add before hosting." Holding out small bottles of highlight gel, a comb, and some eyeliner. "Do it, after last class is over. I got to meet the chairman about something."
Taking the stuff and placing them in my bag to use later.
Chairman, what does he have to talk about with Tamaki's father? Oh, well, I better just stay out of it. "You going to be late?"
"I'll be there before it starts." He stated to me, grabbing our trays and taking them to a shoot that lead to the school's kitchen.
I never saw it there before. Huh, must have missed it.
"See you later."
"Okay." And he left with his bag over his shoulder, which for some reason, was down in a sad gesture.
A frown was playing on my lips as I watch him walk away, down the marble stairs.
Doing as he told me with the hair products, getting to work in the boy's restroom. I was alone, so there was no one to see this.
As I added a light color of yellow to my hair. My thoughts went back to the roof and seeing Takahiro leave.
What was that about?
I didn't see him after that, only a student to come get his homework. But I couldn't think of that, I had to focus at the task at hand.
Damn! Takahiro made this look so much easer when he did it.
But without much longer; I was ready for hosting with Takahiro. But hosting . . . while Hikaru saw this? No, I don't think I could ever do this alone. Walking out the restroom, down the hall, heading for music room three. Not knowing I was being followed until I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey, you did a great job."
Turner to see my new partner. "Yeah, I thought I did it wrong at first, but it came out well." Playing with some hair that was in my face, seeing the bright yellow and darker shade of red in my eye-line.
"You ready?"
"Still have five minutes before the guest come in. Enough time to relax and be ready."
He nodded, opening the door for me, and following me in. Tamaki and Kyoya were already here and had everything set. Seeing us when the door closed shut.
Tamaki just shock to see the change I was in. Kyoya just saw money, when hosting began.
After the hair and little makeup, I loosen the tie a bit and unbutton the first two buttons on my shirt. To show a little skin. Kind like Takahiro, but his shirt showed more skin and the tie looked like a short slash on his shoulders. We look like a pair of dark, bad boys' ready to charm some women.
Being the flirt for once, is something I could get use to.
It was all talk with sweet words and small gestures of love interest to the girls. I had fun, Takahiro even helps me with hints and singles when to make a move, so that the girls couldn't see my weak side as I tried to woo them.
Hikaru glared and glared, the hardest, until I knew, there were holes in my head. If he didn't say those things last night, I won't have spaced it off from telling him. But with Haruhi next to him, I know I was nothing more than a thorn in his side. And Takahiro being more a knife in the back to him. Doing something as stealing my brother kind of feeling, gave it off as we work on.
And without knowing, the day was over and the "new couples" really hit it off.
"Well, with today's profits; the idea went rather satisfactorily." Kyoya said, going through the carts on his laptop. Tapping away in cheetah speed. Also adding in that there was going to a theme next week and we had to choice one and see what one we would do on Monday next week. And we all left for home.
Actually, I was more like pushed all the way out of the room, down the long hallways, through the courtyard, and shoved into the waiting limo for home.
"Hikaru, what is up with you?" I ask, then seeing him pull out some wipes from a dashboard of the back limo. And he roughly cleans my face. "Hey . . . "
"Stop moving. I got to get this crap off of you."
I grab his hands, blazing right into matching eyes as mine. "What do you think you're doing? You have any idea how long it took me to put this on! It's not as easy as you think."
"You did this?"
"Yeah, who else?" But an estimation already came to mind as to whom brother was going to blame. "I was just doing this to fit the part. Seeing as the devil brothers are no more."
"What gave you that thought?"
"You're always with Haruhi. Takahiro was the only to shoulder my pain."
"I would never leave you. And to someone like him."
"What is with that?"
"What?"
"You're bipolar-ness." I started out with, moving away from him to the other side of the limo. "First you don't trust him. Then thinks he's ok. Hate him again. And when he's saved my life, you like him again. And now that he "stolen me" away, you just hate him allover."
"Kaoru, I know this must be a bit much, but just hear me out. You can't be alone with him. It's not safe."
"What about how I feel when you're with her? You're not much in safe grounds as me, brother." I stated. Ordering the driver to stop and I got out in a running start. Anyway to get away from him. When I knew I was far away, I called the one person who was there for me. "Hi, can you pick me up?"
"What happen?"
"Long story."
As true to the call I made, I found myself at an underground café. In a table in the far back of the place.
Sipping a nice hot drink. The calm graciously.
I see the person I called to pick me up, talking to some of his buddies. Giving me some space, until I was ready to talk.
Yosh was here, on his day off.
Psychs; or should I say Hajime with his girlfriend, Mami; who looked about five months' pregnant? They already have a little girl named Aiko who is two years old now and staying with her grandparents at the moment.
Bo also know as Kazuhiko, would be here in a bit.
"Hey, Lucky, what's up?" Hajime asked, flipping some short brown hair out of his face; he wore a wig while on stage. Taking a seat cross of me, his girlfriend doing the same. "Have you met my little sugar, Mami?"
"Hajime . . . " She had the voice of the domination in the couple, deep brown eye, hair to match, a bittie body of light pale skin in a sun-dress. "It's nice to meet, Kaoru. Takahiro talks about you a lot."
"Nice to meet you also. And congratulation on your second child, do you know what it's going to be?"
"Another little missy." Hajime said proudly. "My life in nothing but women around me. As it should be."
He might be ass sometimes, but he's faithful to his love ones. Putting an arm around his lover; he cared for her. And her children; that's how most men should be. Even when women just roll their eyes when men saying something like he just did.
"I think we should have you fix before you have a boy. One of you is bad enough." Yosh said, taking an open seat by me.
"Oh, that was so funny . . . I forgot to laugh." Hajime rolled his eyes and hid his face in his lover neck when adding. "At least I'm not afraid to tell my girl I love her."
Oh, Yosh has his eyes on someone?
Yosh, being the kind person he is, makes no move to hit Jime until he was alone. And without his shield around him.
Takahiro soon came over with some drinks and a refill for me. Taking the only seat left and it was the one right next to me. Three strong coffees, one milkshake for Mami and a refill of tea for me. Again, he got my favorite.
We talk some more, to the point I forgot why I ask Takahiro to pick me up in the first place. I fine out of everyone here, and I and Takahiro were the youngest. Yosh just being almost a year over us. Jime and his lover were the same age and only two years' older than us. Kazu was our age but only three months older then me.
And speaking of a said person walked in, as I said before, he was an older likeness to Hunny, but with black hair.
Seeing us and pulled a chair from another table to join us.
This to me was heaven. And I wish for it never to end.
"Takahiro, did you get that call from Sasaki-San?"
"Yeah, told me that we had to be there to make our album."
"Man, and I can't believe we really got this far." Jime said in awe.
"I hear ya', reason why we can't mess this up. So no one be late." Takahiro mostly looking over to Jime, who just had a hurt look.
"Oh, have faith in me."
"Don't worry, if he's late, he knows the price."
"Please, don't bring that up. That only happen once." Jime gave a pleading look to his lover. "And look what happen the moment I got it back. Boom another child made my hands."
It doesn't take a genius to know what keeps this guy going.
Takahiro just rolls his eyes; saying it's his own fault that he can't slip one on. Yosh and Kazu just laugh of how true that was.
Jime was the slowest in the group and it took him the longest to just fine out what the others were talking about. Anger clear on his face. Telling them off the best he could in words, so his unborn child would not be offended, when the baby's will find out her father is a big, potty mouth, player.
I implore for this child to have a good life ahead of herself.
Moving onto something else, Mami's phone started to ring and reach in from her small handbag to answer it. It was her parents, from how she said hello.
"Yes, we'll be home soon."..."Okay, I'll be sure to do that, bye mom."
"What did the she-wolf need?" Jime and his lover's mom must be on bad terms.
"Hush, you." She started out with and got up from her seat. "Mom, just want us home and take Aiko to the hospital for her check ups." Jime moved to get up as well and take her hand into his.
"Well, later, guys. Takahiro, phone me when the times are set."
"I will, I'll make your girlfriend gets them." Jime, seem to forget a lot of things. Poor guy. And out the door they went.
"Yosh, I didn't know you like someone?" I change the subject.
"Oh, what would be the point. She's out of my league."
"That's what Hajime thought also, and look what happen him."
Kazu stated a very good fact; Hajime loves his lover and puts up with her parents to raise his kid(s). He does it all with a smile and brushes off when his soon-to-be-in-laws try to make him look unfit for Mami. But she loves him too.
You can't break that bond.
"I think that fate wasn't imagining what would that bring." Yosh declared right back.
"Still, I think you should give it a try." I told him.
Life was about taking risks. This one was for him to take.
"What do you have to lose?"
Even if she doesn't feel the same, his future in music would never change and he still had his little sister.
"I think, I'm going to go say "hi" to that flower shopkeeper down the street. See ya'." And out the door he went.
"So, your lucky and a match maker." Kazu said with a smirk, sipping his drink he got when he enters the coffee shop. "Takahiro, you got yourself a keeper." That put me out of the loop for a moment. "Being gay must rock."
"Funny Kazuhiko, funny." Draining his cup to the point where it was empty. Got up, to get another cup. I had a feeling it was more not to knock Kazu into the next year. I had a feeling that's what he wanted to do.
"I was kidding." Looking over to Kazu, wondering what he meant. "He's not gay, don't bother trying him to get to notice you."
Wait what?
"He only has his eyes for one and trust me; you're not it."
How come my heart hurts so much from hearing that? I don't get it?
"I have no idea what you're talking about?" I told the truth, even if my heart was damage at those blows.
I found myself getting up and start for the door. Not caring if anyone came after me or not. I find myself going back in time when my heart belongs to someone too. Knowing how no one could ever take that person's place, no matter what.
The past became too much and I crashed. Hard into the ground with a thud. Hearing my name being called to me before everything went dark.
Tears, and I could feel them fall down my face. I understood what that feeling was; for Takahiro; I was jealous of the person he'd had his eyes on. His dark eyes, that could take anyone's soul. Just like those cat eyes from back then, that stole my heart away.
I was in love with someone who could be dead from my childhood. Great, now I feel worst then before.
I notice I was waking up. Feeling a cold cloth rubbing my face as if I was glass.
I open my eyes enough to see cat eyes look right at me in the fuzz.
"Hiro." I started to reach out for him, and this must be a dream. I didn't want to wake up. "You're here." He didn't say a word, just looked at me, taking care of me.
I ran my hand to the side of his face. It felt so real. His lips look more form then when we were kids. I did it without thinking and kissed them. He didn't push me away. He held me carefully. One of my hands cups his face as the other rooted through his hair. I wanted to deepen the kiss so badly, but, what would have been the point not having the real thing. I pulled away.
"I miss you so much, why didn't you come back? Years, I waited for the person who could tell me and brother apart. Someone, who we never forgot . . . but, you just guess and leave. Not knowing that after that; you were the only one that got it right. Do you have any idea what you put my heart through, Hiro? Do you?"
Again, he said nothing, I was thinking what his voice would sound like after so many years have gone by. Would it be close to what I heard as a child, having the dance of a life time? I just cried and dream-Hiro held me. Running his hand through my hair to calm me.
"I wish you have never left. Locked you away. Kept you safe from that family of yours." Again the tears just flowed out and it brought back the darkness, I tried to hold out to keep my cling to this dream, but it didn't work. "I don't want to go back to that."
I saw no cat eyes after that.
"Kaoru? Wake up." A voice called out to me, I moved the covers to block it out. I didn't want to move or leave this place, which held the smells of soap and shampoos I have used before and another person had as well.
"Please, get up. I need to check that bump." Oh, it was Takahiro. I thought it was my brother for a moment.
I turn to face the voice, seeing him with a first-aid kit in hand. I could feel the cloth of wraps on my head. Must have been from the fall?
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I guess . . . " Zoning out to think. "What happen?"
"You ran out of the shop and in tears. Again." A plain fact it sounds like. "Did Kazu say anything to you?"
"No, why?" I lied.
"No reason. Forgive, Kazu, he makes Jime look like a saint." Takahiro tells me as he fixes me up. Careful not to cause me any pain. "I called your parents . . . " This can't be good. "...I told them that you needed some tutoring and was staying over for a bit." Glad they bought it then. "If they ask about the bump, just tell them we were running taking care of something for Haruhi and you slip."
"Who told you I was a clucks?"
"No one; until now . . . " I playfully smack him in the shoulder. "Joking."
"You better be." A useless threat to even say. "I should be going home." Starting to leave the bed and the room altogether.
"See ya' later."
"Bye."
