Disclaimer: Mesa noa owna Ouran High School Host Club

Right…


The morning sun found the HAK Hotel and Restaurant only half awake. Haruhi, Kano and Arai had been up since before dawn to get ready for the closing ceremony. After all, school would be starting again. Kano, who was working on the porch, looked out at the sunrise. She knocked on the window before opening it.

"Hey. Sun's up." Haruhi and Arai joined her on the porch. The three of them leaned on the railing and watched the sunrise in companionable silence. After a while, Haruhi and Arai went back into the building to finish cleaning up. Kano continued staring at the sun.

"It's pretty isn't it?" Kaoru leaned on the railing next to her. Kano smiled sadly out at the sun.

"You're up early. Couldn't sleep?" Kano didn't look at him, though he gave her a sideways glance.

"Something like that." Kano shrugged.

"It happens." She turned towards the building and sat on the rail, swinging her legs for a few seconds. She stared at the HAK for a few minutes. The two of them simply enjoyed the silence. Kaoru, staring at the sunrise, and Kano, staring at the spotless building. After a long while, Kano hopped off the railing and picked up a broom. "Well, I'd better get back to cleaning." As she reached for the dustpan, Kaoru beat her to it.

"I'll help. I need something to do since Hikaru's still asleep." Kano shrugged.


Kaoru and Kano were being watched, though neither knew. Lexander stood behind a nearby tree. He stared at the two of them as Kano's words echoed in his head. But right now, standing here and looking at you, I'm glad I met the host club and I'm glad that I choose them over you. His body shuddered angrily as he punched the tree that was hiding him from their view.

"Just because she didn't want to return to the past, doesn't mean you have to take it out on the tree." Lexander whirled to face Lars, who was leaning on another tree.

"I didn't even tell her anything. I'm pretty sure that I gave her no hints, too. So how did she know?" Lexander punched the tree again while Lars chuckled.

"Blue Rose was always brilliant. Remember she can tell a lot of things about a person from just looking at the eyes." Lexander sighed.

"I suppose."


Kano looked towards where Lexander had been watching.

"What's up?" Kaoru looked at her. They were in the middle of moving the outside chairs back inside for the rest of the year. Kano shook her head and smiled at him.

"Nothing. I just felt like I was being watched that's all." Kano picked up the last chair and followed Kaoru inside. "Must've been my imagination."

"Kaoru!" Hikaru ran down the stairs. "Kaoru!" Kaoru put down the table and walked over to his brother.

"It's okay, Hikaru. I'm right here." Hikaru hugged his brother.

"Didn't I tell you not to scare me?" They held each other closer.

"Sorry." Kano clapped her hands. The twins stared at her.

"As touching as this is, you two need to actually do some work. We're cleaning up since HAK will be closing until next year." She handed both of them a broom. "Get to work."

"Eh? But we don't know the first thing about cleaning." They had slipped into their perfect sync again. Kano gave them a disbelieving smile.

"Well, learn." She turned to continue her own work, occasionally stopping and looking around. "I hate this feeling. I know I'm being watched but I can't tell from where." She shifted her burden nervously before putting it down in its proper place.

"What? Kanny-chan has a stalker?" Kano looked toward the stairs to see Hunny and Mori descending the stairs. Kano smiled at the pair.

"Good morning to the both of you. I might have a stalker you never know these days." She shrugged and ran to save a vase from the twins. "Can't you two be more careful? I mean, it's bad enough that you two don't know how to clean a flat surface but can't you two leave the breakable objects to either Haruhi, Arai-kun, or me?" The twins glanced at each other before giving a prompt "no". She sighed. "Well, go clean the front yard then. I'll be out to help soon." With that, she gently pushed the two of them out the door. "Hunny-senpai, Mori-senpai, would you mind waking up Tamaki and Kyouya? We'll need to clean out their rooms as well."

No need." Kyouya was coming down the stairs. "Tamaki woke us up already." He was in a bad mood. The others present were scared. Kano shoved a package into Kyouya's face. He glared at it. "What's this?" Kano smiled innocently.

"Your brunch since you slept in." Kyouya took the package. "You'll have to eat it on the stairs since everywhere else is being cleaned." He only nodded. There was something about the way Kano smiled that he couldn't disagree with. He would have to find a way to profit from that. Suddenly, Kano remembered. "Oh no! I left the twins outside alone." Then she was gone.


"Ah! Kano! We expected you out here sooner." Kano stared around in amazement. The front yard had been completely cleaned. She looked at Kaoru with an amused smirk.

"And you two said you didn't know how to clean." She wagged a finger at Kaoru. "You liars." Kano blinked and looked around. "Speaking of two, Where's your brother?" Kaoru shrugged.

"He went to throw out the garbage. He should be coming back soon." Kano nodded and began to move away from Kaoru. "What're you doing?" She glanced back and gave him a mischievous grin.

"Checking to see if you missed anything. The lawn can't be this perfect after all, you two are incredibly rich." Kaoru looked offended and ran to walk next to her.

"Exactly what does that mean?"

"Exactly as it sounds like, pretty boy."

"Do I take that as a compliment or insult?" Kano shrugged.

"Up to you." The both of them laughed. "Your worlds are getting bigger." Kaoru looked at her.

"What are you talking about?" Kano shrugged, smiling.

"Nothing. I'm just wondering if…" She stopped walking as well as talking. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Kaoru looked toward where she was staring. He took a defensive position between Kano and the gun wielding Lexander. "Lexander, what are you doing with that?" Lexander aimed the gun at Kaoru.

"If it's because of him that you abandoned me. Then you'll come back to me if he's gone. Once he's gone, you'll come back. You will." He cocked the gun at the stunned twin. "So sorry that she liked you more than me. Now, your life'll end because of it." He pulled the trigger.


The rest of the group heard the gunshot and turned towards it. Hikaru looked up from tying his shoe and began to run. It had come from where he had left Kaoru.

There was blood on Kaoru's shirt. His eyes widened as a scream of pain rent the air.