The phone rang. And rang. And rang. And rang.

"ALICE! YOU'RE PHONE IS RINGING!" I finally yelled. "Just a second!" She yelled back from the bedroom. I got pissed off, so I checked to see who called. I got more pissed at the name so I quickly answered it. "Kyouya-senpai, what do you need this time? Geez, calling so early in the morning." It's 6am, for Pete's sake. Good thing we woke up early, I don't want to be late for class again. "Karylle, based on our information network, rumors have been spreading about you and Alice." Kyouya's voice was heard. Rumors? Now that's new, it's been only two weeks, then rumors? People nowadays.

"Who's that?" Alice finally went out, now wearing her uniform. Isn't it a bit too early to get ready for school? This girl... is hopeless. "What rumors?" I asked Kyouya, completely ignoring Alice. "You cheated your exams, projects, and requirements. In other words, you cheated your grade." WHAT? WHAT DID HE SAY? I CHEATED? After all my hard work, they say I CHEATED?

"WHO THE HELL SPREAD THAT?" I yelled, coincidentally, Alice was spreading cheese all over the bread. "Um, sorry? Is spreading these cheese forbidden? Sorry." she quickly put down the bread. Alice, you idiot. Ever realized that I'm not talking to you? Hopeless. "Not yet found. And Alice... is it true she's part of a gang? Word has it that even the school principal has heard the rumors. Best get ready later." Kyouya warned. I gulped. What's happening? I mean, who in the world would do something like this?

Alice looked at me, obviously worried. "...Your face is a sign that something must've happened, huh?" she looked at me with a bored expression. "Kyouya, did you tell the host club?" I asked. "Not yet. Bet that they'll hear it from their classmates. Rumors spread easily." he said. I almost fainted due to nervousness. "Don't worry. We'll think of a way. I didn't enroll you and Alice here to be expelled." he hung up. Alice is now looking really pissed. "Mind telling me what the hell just happened?" she asked once more. "Alice..." I started, breathing deeply. "What?"

"I don't wanna go to school today..."


I paced through the corridor, ignoring the stares of the students. I was pulling Karylle with me, and we're on our way to the principal. When suddenly, out of nowhere, someone stopped me. Four lovely ladies. One blonde, two black-haired curly chicks, and a red-head. "Oh, look. If it isn't the lovely gangster girl and her cheater friend. Bet the principal called you over? What a pity." The blondie said. I kept quiet, Karylle was kinda shivering, though.

"Don't be so mean, Shizuku! Look, they look so afraid of you now." The red-head commented. Who's afraid? Me? No way, I can kill you all at once. "Hush, Ami! Remember that Shizuku knows best." one of the two black-haired permy girls said. "Move." I coldly commanded. They laughed at me. "Move? You're commanding us to move? Do you even know who we are?" Shizuku said. I gritted my teeth. I wanted to punch her so bad, but everyone's staring at us now.

"Alice..." Karylle whispered. I ignored her, focusing my eyes on the four bitches in front of me. "We're the Flower Four!" The other black-haired girl with glasses said. "And you don't dare disrespect us!" Ami pointed at me. "Pfft. Flower Four? Don't you mean 'Fucking Four'?" I smirked. Their evil smiles turned into shocked faces. "How dare you!" Shizuku raised one hand to slap me.

Someone was in front of me, and stopped her hand. "So you want to slap Alice?" It was Jessica! I love you, Jessica! Oh my gosh, she always has to save my life, huh? She quickly threw off Shizuku's hands, leaving the other three girls in shock. "Don't even dare to try." Jessica raised her head, showing complete dominance and superiority. I love this girl. "And why are you even butting in? Get lost!" The bespectacled black-haired girl pushed Jessica, but I caught her. "Hold on, Riku. Look at how that Alice girl is looking you." The other black-haired girl warned. That's right. I'm glaring at them.

The girl called Shizuku laughed. "Glaring at us? That's so absurd. You can't scare us." she taunted. If I get the urge to kill these idiots, I will. "Heh. Glaring? I'm more of a bitch than you, darling Shizu-chan~" I taunted back. It worked. She was now looking at me with Medusa eyes. "Grr... Whatever! Just wait 'til you get expelled here!" She stormed off the corridor with the three ducklings following her.

Jessica looked concerned. "I won't let you guys be expelled. Not with the Flower Four spreading all those rumors. Come on, I'll escort you to the principal. We'll find out the truth." she said, pulling both me and Karylle. I sighed. "I don't want you to get involved, Jess." I said. "Alice is right. If you get involved, you might get expelled, too." Karylle looked like she was gonna cry already. Geez, we haven't even went to the host club. I wonder if they're looking for us. Please, I beg fate, do not let them get involved with this.

Karylle's phone rang. Both me and Jess looked at her. "It's... Hikaru." she mumbled. My heart raced. And Jess looked like she was gonna collapse. "I hope the Host Club doesn't believe the rumors, right?" Jessica held my hand firmly. I just hoped they don't go looking for us. I can't face them. Not like this...

Karylle rejected the call, which left both me and Jessica dumbfounded. "...It's fine." Karylle said. I almost died out of nervousness and pain. Jessica looked at both of us with stern eyes. "By now, I think the host club knows where you are. They might be heading to the Principal's office, too." she warned. I then noticed, that we are just right in front of the office. "...Jessica, I beg of you." I said, my voice shaking. "Please... take Karylle. Get out of here. I'll... I'll cut school today. Please, I beg of you." Then I ran off.

"Alice, where are you going?" Jessica's voice was heard. I didn't even bother looking back. I knew I had to leave school, even if it means going over the fence to avoid being seen by the guard. I had to go now.

This isn't what I wanted. Not like this.


It's been only two weeks.

But I got attached to the host club. Tamaki was right. We're family. Though we are girls, me and Alice are happy that we got to stay by their sides. Well, at least Haruhi's pretending to be a boy. "Karylle. Let's run. To the girls' bathroom. NOW." Jess said, since we both heard running footsteps in the corridor. It must be them.

We quickly went in the girls' bathroom and slammed the door behind us. Then we pressed our ears against the door, trying to hear who's outside. "Dang, Karylle's not answering any of my calls!" I could hear Hikaru's voice clearly, despite the noisy pants of the others. "Shoot. Where are they? If they're on their way here, they're taking too long." I heard Tamaki punched the wall. "Senpai... calm down." Haruhi said. So even Haruhi is here?

"I'm worried about them! Fifi-chan and Kary-chan are very close to us now. We can't abandon them! They're part of us now!" Hani's tiny voice was heard. Hearing them say those stuff, I wanted to cry. But I kept my poise. "...Did the principal even find evidence that they did all those kinds of stuff?" Even Mori was worried. Shit, Alice. Where are you?

"I can't find them. Even with the information network. No one has seen them. Damn." Kyouya, the first one to know, was looking for us, too. Please leave now, guys. I don't want you guys to be involved with such affairs. "Alice... if it were Alice, despite that rough attitude... I believe in her. She won't just be part of a gang." Kaoru commented. Kaoru... he really does love Alice now, huh?

I wanted to get out and tell them everything's fine. But showing myself to them, they might even do something to the principal or even kill the heck out of the Flower Four, even if they're girls. I kept quiet. "Let's go. Maybe they're not coming." Kyouya said. Me and Jess kept still at the door, avoiding making any noise. As soon as the footprints are gone, we both sighed. "That was close." she said.

I couldn't even stop myself from sitting on the floor. "I..." I mumbled. Before I knew it, tears were already in my eyes. "Karylle, it's okay. Alice will definitely come back for us, 'kay? I'll always believe in you two! I'll protect you from those Flower Four, so don't worry about a thing!" she tried to cheer me up. I smiled a little, even if my eyes were already red. "Thank you."


I wasn't part of a gang. I knew I wasn't. But something in the past made me think if I really was. Nobody asked me what I did as soon as I came here in Tokyo. Nobody even asked how I came in Tokyo without any money at all. The airport was far from here, but nobody dared ask how I came here so fast.

So nobody knew...

I kept on running, even escaping the guard, until it started to rain. "Shoot... why now?" I said. I walked past the children playing with their umbrellas, and dogs shaking the water off their fur. Then when I finally reached an alley where I was alone, I looked up in the sky. "It's been a while... since I saw rain."

I raised both my hands and spun myself around, a big smile now on my face. Then I remembered when I first saw her... it was a miracle, finding her in Japan at such a time... it was definitely Fate...


"Little girl, are you lost?"

"Yes. And I don't have an umbrella!"

"Don't cry. You know, you should enjoy the rain. You're very young, learn how to have fun."

"...Really?"

"Yes. See? Look at me, I'm dancing in the rain! Hooray!"

"...That does look like fun! Look, I'm a rain fairy!"

"Yes, you are. See how fun it is?"

"You're right. Miss, may I know your name?"

"My name is Alice. And you? You're such a cute little girl, don't worry. Your parents will find you soon. Nobody would ever abandon such a cute little girl like you."

"You think so? Thank you! My name is..."


"WE'RE FOREVER YOUNG!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, as I spun round and round until I got really dizzy. Before I knew it, I fell on the ground. I remember how I first saw that little girl. Her name was...

"Alice?" A familiar voice mentioned my name. Startled, I looked up, and there was an umbrella shielding me from the rain. My eyes were a little blurry due to exposure to water. I rubbed my eyes, then I felt a hand patting my head. "Who knew you'd be here? Good thing I went out to find you."

I once again, looked up. My face turned really pale.

"KAORU? WHY ARE YOU HERE?" I yelled, immediately standing up and moving away. He was smiling like a crazy person! Don't tell me, he heard me yell? Or saw me dancing in the rain? WHY MUST THIS HAPPEN TO ME. "I cut classes to look for you. Nice dance, by the way." He laughed. SHIT.

I pouted. "Go away. I'm a gangster, remember? You should all stay away." I threatened. Instead, he went nearer. I backed away a little, but he kneeled, the umbrella now shielding us both. He tucked my hair behind my ears. "Silly idiot. I... Actually, I did start doubting you a little after I heard those rumors. And Kyouya found evidence, too." He confessed. Great, I knew it. Now the whole school will find out.


"Let go of her."

"Not a chance. Not until you come with us to Tokyo."

"What the hell do you want me to do in Tokyo?"

"Alice, never mind me! Go ahead and run!"

"No way, little girl! I'm not going until those thugs let you go!"

"Stubborn bitch. Just come with us to Tokyo, then we will let this little girl go."

"Alice, no! They will ask you to become bait to lure their rival gang in Tokyo!"

"...Bait? I don't give a damn. Whether you'll kill me or whatever, I don't care. Let her go. I'll go with you."

"Really? Even if we use you as... bait?"


"...Kaoru, stay away. Will you?" I pushed him away. Shoot, I have a bad feeling about this. He was too stubborn. "But... I believe in you, Alice. I don't want to think of you as a bad person. I'm not leaving you, stupid." I knew it. This stubborn jerk. "Kaoru, you have evidence, right? I'm the bad person here, go away." I wanted to punch him. He has to stay away from me, even Hikaru has to stay away. But luckily, Hikaru's not here. So my only problem is this idiot. "Alice, just tell me what happened and why did we just see a picture of you, with two feuding gangs?" he asked. Shit. I'm doomed.


"Jess..." I whispered. I felt so bad that Jess had to cut classes because of me. I wanted to hide my face in the rooftop. And if someone finds us here, we'd both be killed. "Yes, Karylle?" She asked, obviously tired from all that running. "Have you ever felt that Alice may like Kaoru?" I suddenly asked. Jessica laughed like nothing's wrong. "Of course. Those two are always seen together. Why?" It was her turn to ask. "Nothing." I answered.

There's one reason why Alice can't fall for Kaoru... and she told me something when she first enrolled in Ouran...


"Are you nuts?"

"I'm just gonna earn the club's trust and lead them to the gangs. It's that easy."

"But the Princes of Ouran? Alice, you don't know what might happen."

"Relax. Kyouya enrolled me, there's no turning back. I'll just lure them. Don't butt in, okay?"

"But, Alice..."


She didn't even tell me why she was doing this. There must be a reason why. She knows I like Hikaru... but why didn't she stop me from liking him?

Well, she tried to stop me. But feelings can never be controlled.

I'm sorry, Alice. But if you ever try to hurt the host club... Then I'll be one of your enemies.


I desperately wanted Kaoru to leave. I knew this was my purpose, the purpose why I'm in Ouran in the first place. To lure these guys out of the school. One by one. And now that Kaoru's alone...

"Alice, I have faith in you, okay? Now let's go back to the school. For sure the principal will have a good sense of understanding. All you have to do is to tell us what happened, okay?" He said. I gulped, shivering. "Oh, if it isn't the Prince of Ouran High. Welcome, Kaoru." A deep, gruff voice broke our silence. We all turned to the dark alley. Shit. It's...

"Well done, Alice. You finally lured one of them. And it's only been two weeks. We can assure you that if you keep it up... that little girl will be saved." It was none other, than the gang leader. The one who held that girl as hostage. "...Gin..." I mumbled. "Alice... who's this?" Kaoru asked. "You don't remember who I am, Kaoru? Such a pity." Gin said, cracking his knuckles. Shoot, he was getting ready to punch Kaoru. "Wait, don't!" I said, shielding Kaoru. "Alice... what's going on?" Kaoru kept asking. "Oh, Alice? Do you want to save that little girl or not?" Gin threatened. I gritted my teeth. Shoot, what now? Why is this even happening?

"Alice... you finally brought a Prince to play with!" Another voice came. It was the leader of Gin's enemy gang. She was a beautiful female with long curly, blonde locks. But she was still a gangster. "That's right, Yumi. Our little pet here has finally brought one out of the cage." Gin laughed evilly. Yumi took out her dagger. Crap. "I'll just stab this on the leg, Alice. I won't kill that Prince, don't worry. I just want him to feel pain." Yumi warned. "Alice, would you tell me who these people are? And... why... why do they want me?" Kaoru once again asked.


"Me and Yumi are enemies, you see. But now we joined forces, and decided to go for the Princes of Ouran."

"That's right. Me and Gin want to get revenge. Those rich bastards called the Ouran High School Host Club. Back then, they just insulted us and treated us like trash. They even bought our own properties and claimed it their own! Our land was now corrupted by one those blasted Hitachiin mansions."

"And as for me, The Suoh and Ootori joined forces to buy our farm back in the province. We have nowhere to get money back then, my father lost his job as a farmer. Those blasted rich kids."

"And because of that we had to stop school! And now even the Morinozuka and Haninozuka families joined in."

"We thought we had lost all hope. Until we found out that the sons of those families are all part of a little host club in this school."

"And we thought... since you're pretty cute and have a deceiving attitude, you might help become... bait."

"Or else... the little girl will die."


"Now, Alice. Hand over that Prince or we break off the agreement." Yumi said. I gulped. "Alice..." Kaoru said. "Go run. I can handle this." He added. "He's right, Alice. You can go now. We'll take care of that pet of yours." Gin looked like he couldn't wait to kill. I stood my ground. "Kaoru, I... I'm sorry." I whispered. "For what?" He asked, confused. "For everything..." I said. Then I grabbed his hand and ran. "Stop that girl!" Yumi yelled. "I'll call all the gang members!" Gin's voice can be heard. I ran as fast as I could until I reached our school. The guard saw us, luckily. "Hey! What do you think you students are doing out here?" The guard yelled. "Alice, are you serious? Leading those people here?" Kaoru told me. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath. "HEY, MR. GUARD! TAKE THIS!" I yelled, and pushed Kaoru as hard as I can. "WOAH! ALICE, What do you think you're doing, you idiot?" Kaoru yelled at me as he was caught by the guard. "Sorry, young man. You're not allowed to leave school premises..."

"I'M SORRY, KAORU!" I yelled once more as I sped my way away from that school.


"...So the rumors were true?" Kyouya asked sternly. I nodded. "She... she wants to lure you to those gangsters. She didn't say why. But..." I was already crying. Jessica was beside me, a witness to all. "...I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hani cried. "Mori! Alice wouldn't do such a thing, right?" He cried. "...I don't want to believe it, too. But even Karylle says so..." Hikaru commented. "...I believe in Karylle." Haruhi finally said. All eyes were on her. "It's hard to find out which is the truth. Karylle, you're Alice's friend, aren't you?" Tamaki looked at me with hopeful eyes. I nodded. "I'm her friend. But if it's for everyone's safety, I have to become her enemy. For you, guys." I said. Jessica leaned her head on my shoulder, obviously at a loss for words.

"Well, we did find out that Karylle wasn't cheating on her grades. Those were just rumors from the Flower Four. But Alice..." Even Mori was in doubt. Why won't anyone believe me? Alice is my childhood friend. But if she'd go as far as to do something like this... I'd be willing to defy her.

Suddenly, the door opened. There was Kaoru, soaking wet. "Kaoru-chan!" Hani greeted first. "I found Alice, but..." Kaoru looked so depressed. "But? Where is she?" Hikaru asked, handing over a towel to his little brother. "She was with... two gangsters. The same gangsters we saw in that picture. The leaders." He said. "...So it was true..." Kyouya suddenly looked sad. "I knew it was true. I believed Karylle. But I never had doubt in Alice." Haruhi once again said.

I'm so sorry, Alice... I'm really so sorry...

"How is that even possible?" Tamaki sighed, obviously also depressed. "...Because I know Alice. Even if it was just two weeks, I have observed her attitude easily. Everything she does has a purpose. And I believe in her." Haruhi smiled, which made us all look shocked. "...I do, too. I believe in Alice." Mori followed. "Me, too! Alice may be rough, but she's actually really nice! She always buys me cake and sweets! I don't believe she's bad." Hani agreed.

I almost cried. "...You're... right, Haruhi. Alice is a nice person. You must think of me as a bad friend now, huh?" I said. They're right. How could I tell them all these stuff without making sure? Alice went off alone, leaving me with Jessica so we wouldn't be involved. How could I be so stupid? I'm her friend, yet I can't even protect her, or make sure she's not having problems.

"You're not a bad friend, Karylle. If you ask me, I almost doubted Alice. But then, I thought, it's hard knowing if that girl has problems or not, due to that smile she's always wearing." Hikaru laughed. "...I know she has a reason. The two thugs were saying something about saving a little girl or whatever." Kaoru alerted us. We all lightened up. "So Alice... is doing all these stuff for a reason, after all." Kyouya's face turned back to normal again. Tamaki stood up and snapped his fingers, looking confident.

"Due to that cheerful face of hers, we never even considered if she has a problem or not! That's why we have to make it up to her and help her! I am not letting her get expelled. NEVER!" He said. "Yes, boss!" The twins answered. Everyone agreed to help Alice.

I sighed. "Jess... maybe I'm the antagonist here, after all. I caused this much trouble to all of them. And then I realized... Alice isn't a bad person, why'd I do this?" Jess laughed. "What matters is, everyone believes in Alice. Including us, Karylle." Jessica calmed me down. "She's right, Karylle. Since you live in the same apartment as Alice, do you mind waiting for her tonight? If she doesn't come, it's time for Plan B!" Tamaki snapped his fingers.

That's right. Everyone believes in Alice. If I defended my case against the Principal, Alice can, too!


"My name is Alice. What's yours?"

"My name is..."

"Yes?"

"My name is Elise."

She's no ordinary little girl... Elise is...

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Elise is my little sister...

My half-sibling...

And now that I finally found her...

I can't let anyone hurt her.. I will bring her back to her family. Even if it means separating once again...