Chapter 11

The Host Club activities ended and Kisa found herself cornered. She sat on the couch, finding no way out, and stared up at them. "I'm not saying anything."

"We haven't asked anything." Tamaki pointed out.

Kisa crossed her arms. "You're curious about Leonardo-san and would like to know why Melly acted the way she did. Otherwise you would have let me leave after I changed out of my costume."

Tamaki blinked and stared at her. "Are you psychic?"

She rolled her eyes and looked at Kyoya. "That is what you all want to know right?"

He pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "We are merely curious."

She sighed. "It isn't my business to tell, it's Melly's, and I doubt she'd want you to know."

"But we're her friends!" Hunny protested tearfully. "Why wouldn't she want us to know?"

Kisa looked at the floor so she could avoid his cute gaze that could get any girl talking. "Because she doesn't want to trouble you with her problems."

The twins shrugged. "It can't be anything she can't handle, she did almost beat Hunny."

"I'm sure whatever happen won't be that bad." Hikaru said.

Kaoru nodded. "That Leonardo guy is probably just arrogant."

They looked at each other and laughed. "At least she has someone who can match her arrogance."

Kisa shook in fury and stood up. "You have no idea what you're talking about! She's in more trouble than you think!" Kisa yelled. She then gasped and covered her mouth.

"Trouble?" Haruhi asked.

"Melly's in trouble?" Hunny asked.

Kisa moved her hands and made for the door. "I've said too much."

The twins blocked her path. "Why won't you tell us?" They asked.

She glared up at them. "I told you, it's not for me to tell. It's none of your business!"

"But you said she was in trouble." Kaoru said.

"What kind of sister would you be if you didn't try and help?" Hikaru asked.

She stared at them before looking at the ground. "A very bad one…. but I promised I wouldn't tell."

"Some promises…are meant to be broken." Tamaki said seriously.

She looked at them all. "Why do you care?" She glanced at the twins. "You don't even know us."

"It is our duty as the Host Club to make woman happy. Men like Leonardo don't deserve woman like Melly-senpai." Tamaki said and Kisa turned to him. "We promise to help any way we can."

Kisa's lip twitched and she burst out laughing. She hunched over and tried to stop, but couldn't. "That…That…haha...That was the stupidest thing I've ever…ha…heard!" She ignored the surprised looks as her laughs turned to giggles and she stood up straight again. She stared at Tamaki, eyes serious as she stopped laughing. "If you find that it's your duty to help, then you can forget it! Just because you think you can help someone…It doesn't mean they want it! You…All of you! Use your looks and your charms and your status to your advantages! Girls fall at your feet and fall for your acts! You make them fell special, but you don't care! You wouldn't be able to help with this! What Melly has to do is her own business and she doesn't want or need your help!" Kisa screamed, turning on her heal and stomped towards the door.

Tamaki was the first to come out of his stupor and snapped his fingers. "Mori-senpai."

Mori nodded. "Ah"

The next second Kisa was thrown over Mori's shoulder, being carried like a sack of potatoes back to the couch.

"Hey! Put me down!"

He ignored her cries and set her on the couch. She stared up at them all, eyes filling with tears. "Why can't I leave?! I don't want to be here anymore!"

"Are you always going to run away from your problems and leave those you love to suffer?" Tamaki asked.

Kisa's eyes widened.

Tamaki crossed his arms. "I think I should rephrase my earlier statement." He took Kisa's hand and smiled. "We will do whatever we can to help Melly-senpai, because it is our duty as her friends. As a member of this club, you will learn we do not joke when it comes to a woman's happiness."

She stared at him, neither happy nor sad. "You may feel that way, but-"

"Melly-chan is our friend!" Hunny interrupted. "She shouldn't be with a meanie like that Leo. We want to help her smile again!" Mori nodded.

The twins shrugged. "We have nothing better to do."

"Even if I refuse, they'd force me to come." Haruhi said deadpanned. "But I would like to help."

Kisa looked at Kyoya and stated. "There is nothing to gain from helping."

He nodded "Yes, but Tamaki, although a fool, makes sense. You are now a part of the Host Club and if you feel bad because your sister is getting married to a man who depends on fear then it will show in your music when you play and disturb the customers."

She stared at him. He told me fear was a pathetic attempt for relationships…Is that why he's helping? Or because I would be sad? Her eyes softened and she smiled at him.

His eyes widened a fraction in surprise, but it passed quickly when she turned her attention back to Tamaki and the others. "Thank you, even if you all don't care."

Hunny sat down next to her. "So you'll tell us what's wrong with Melly-chan?"

Kisa sighed, but smiled at him. "I guess I have to now.

Leonardo stared around Mellisa's room with a frown on his face. Posters of all kinds covered the walls. Her desk was covered with papers and her nightstand was a covered with framed pictures. Many were of her and her family, but the newer looking ones made him narrow his eyes in anger. One was of the Host Club, another of herself and Hunny eating a giant cake, next to it was a picture of her in a fighting stance facing Hunny. He picked up the last one and fury burned in his eyes.

Mellisa entered the room, a tea tray in her hands, wearing a blue sundress, and closed the door behind her. She looked up to find Leonardo's back to her. "Leonardo?"

"What are you wearing?" He asked in a low voice.

She set the tray on her computer desk and glanced at the blue dress. "What you told me to wear."

He turned sharply and grabbed her upper arm tightly, showing her the picture. "Here, how could you wear something like this in front of other men?"

Mellisa stepped back as the picture was thrust in her face. She took the picture from him and raised an eyebrow. It was a photo of her, Hunny, and Mori building a sand castle. Kisa had taken it while Mellisa was playing with Hunny and Mori. Mellisa looked at Leonardo's angry face and frowned. "I was at the beach. Girls usually wear bathing suits there, it's so we can go in the water."

'SLAP!'

Mellisa's head turned from the force of the slap and her cheek turned an angry red. She kept her eyes on the floor as her reached out and stroked her cheek. "You should know better by now not to talk back."

She looked up at him, face blank, and walked around him, putting the picture back in its proper place. Her back was to Leonardo as she gazed down at her photos. Arms wrapped around her waist and she refused to flinch.

"You know how jealous I get when seeing you with other men." He said. "Especially when you wear such revealing outfits.

"They're my friends." She said softly. Her eyes unconsciously looked at Mori and she bit her lip. If only…

Leonardo followed her gaze and scowled. He pulled her tighter against him, shaking her out of her thoughts. "You can make better friends."

She looked up at him, rebellious look in her eyes. "I don't want to."

He growled and threw her on the bed. "You will not associate with them anymore, I forbid it!"

She sat up. "Why?! I finally make friends that like me for me, why does it matter if they're men?!"

He glared and pinned her back down on the bed, arms above her head. "Because you're mine! No other can have you, especially not one of those pretty boys who think they can have whatever girl they want!"

"They aren't like that! They're my friends." She argued.

He smirked and leaned closer, mouth right next to her ear. "And which one are you in love with?"

She stifled her gasp, but he still caught the surprise in her eyes. His smirk disappeared and he looked at her sternly, like a parent would look at their child after catching them with their hand in the cookie jar. "I warned you Mellisa, don't get close to any boy," He tightened his grip on her wrists. "You'll only get hurt." His eyes softened and he kissed her cheek. "You know I hate when my possessions get hurt."

She turned her head away. "You don't own me."

He held both her wrists with one hand and the other stroked her cheek. His fingers then began to trail down her neck. "Yes I do." He once again leaned close to her ear. "You're mine."

She closed her eyes, knowing the reaction she bas going to get. "No…I'll never be yours. You may have my body, but I'll always hate you."

He slapped her again on her already aching cheek. He let out a sigh and rubbed her cheek tenderly. "Now look what you made me do, that's going to bruise."

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. He smiled, but she frowned. "Why did you come? Why couldn't you let me enjoy my time at school?"

He sighed and let his head rest at the crook of her neck. While he was relaxed, she was tense, her wrist still held above her head in his grasp. His breath traveled across her skin and she shivered. "Because I would miss you too much my dear. My heart ached with longing when I couldn't see your smiling face everyday."

When have I ever smiled at you? She thought absentmindedly.

"Then I began to think about how you're unprotected from other men and jealousy raged inside me." He glanced up at her, but her gaze stayed on the ceiling. "It seems I came just in time. You're starting to develop feelings for one of those pretty boys."

She inwardly laughed. Takashi is hardly a pretty boy. "I would never." I would never set another up to be hurt.

Leonardo smiled. "Yes, I may be able to trust that you won't do something stupid, but I can't trust them." He ran his fingers over her neck thoughtfully. "You like him more than me, don't you?"

She remained silent.

Leonardo sat up, finally letting go of her wrists, placing his hands on either side of her head; her arms didn't move and she continued to stare at the ceiling.

Leonardo frowned. "I love you."

She finally met his gaze, eyes no longer holding their usual shine. "If you love me so much…why can't you set me free from the cage you have me in?"

He smiled, looking amused. "Why would I do a silly thing like that when I have you just how I like you." He leaned forward. "Completely at my mercy. As a woman, that's exactly where you should be."

Fury flared in her eyes. "You'd rather keep me caged and live in unhappiness while you watch on smiling pleasantly?"

"Of course."

She looked away. "Why me?" She said it so softly he almost didn't catch it.

Leonardo smiled. "Because you are like a rare bird, and it is quite an accomplishment for me to have you, whether you like it or not." She glared, causing him to laugh.

"Soon, my dear, I'll put out that fire in you and you'll learn to love me back."

"All I'll learn is tolerance." She said.

He shrugged. "Either way, you're mine and there is nothing you can do about it." Before she could respond, her covered her mouth with his.

Mellisa kept her eyes closed tight and forced herself to kiss back, arms going around his neck.

Leonardo smirked and pulled back slightly. "That's a good girl."

"I hope you're happy." She whispered. "A piece of me just died."

He kissed along her jaw line. "If I continue to get positive responses from you, then I call that progress." He smiled and kissed a sensitive area under her ear. "I love you."

Mellisa shivered. I hate you! "I….know."

A/N I'm changing the title of the story to Paths of the Heart

Summery also changed