~ Chapter Twelve ~

~With Envy~

I had a difficult time waking up the next morning.

I had a difficult time staying awake through homeroom.

I had a difficult time not thinking about the following afternoon, about telling the Host Club I won't be able to go to Okinawa.

Oooooh…that won't go well….

I had a difficult time not thinking about the conversation I had with my mother over the phone.

I had an equally difficult time looking either Tamaki and Kyouya in the eye during our respective classes together.

And here comes Ayanokouji to make matters worse.

Now don't think me immature enough to think our bad reputation with one another stems from a tantrum of hers that decapitated one of my childhood toys and resulted in losing one to her enormous toy collection, oh no. I'm much too mature for that, it was Ayanokouji who relished bringing up the past and unfortunately for me, she had a way of coming up with schemes to make my life all the more difficult than it already was. Funny how I used to think she was never always that way.

It was lunch time, as it seems is the most common times I would have a confrontation with the redheaded banshee. We were standing, facing one another with a glare hot enough to melt the glacier that sank the Titanic. A moment ago I was just heading to the restroom, Ayanokouji was heading for trouble. Initially (of which I wasn't aware of) she had gotten her lunch and was heading over to trouble Haruhi (who was sitting – surprisingly – by her lonesome, but the twins were still choosing their lunches). So without awareness to the situation, I was helping Haruhi out again, at the expanse of what came out of Ayanokouji's mouth.

"Heading out to Kyoto this weekend I was told," she said with faux sweetness, I narrowed my eyes. I picked up on her choice of words – "I was told," not "I heard." In her own special way she was making it as clear as she could she was in the know and didn't have to seek out information as 'commoners' would have to.

"Yes, just for a couple of days." Was my bland reply, keeping a civil tone.

"During the Okinawa trip?" she asked, her sugary voice dripping with a hint of spice, she was obviously remembering she couldn't go with other Ouran girls because she had been banned from Host Club activities.

"Yes," I bit down on a sarcastic reply, trying my hardest to keep a neutral expression on my face and to keep a lid on my growing temper.

"Do they know?" her large eyes blinked at me, but appeared more owlish than the doe eyes physically bred into most of the female population of Ouran. One of my eyebrows ticked, her hint at the club made my blood simmer.

"Not yet, I plan on telling them today." I only told her my plans so she couldn't turn it around and use it against me.

"Shame," she said.

Oh right, like you really think that. I thought, trying not to sound like her.

"My friends-"

Minions.

"-were invited, but decided not to go and leave me lonely." Ayanokouji claimed, I stared at her blankly.

"If they want to go you should let them go," I advised, looking over her shoulder and glimpsing at some of her clearly crest-fallen 'friends'. Ayanokouji ran a hand through her healthy locks vainly.

"Were you not listening?" she asked, her eyes looking away and toward a certain blond-haired second year. I followed her gaze and my eyes fell on Tamaki as well, he was happily flirting with a pair of gushing first years, he was being really sweet about it like he was in the Third Music Room. Even to the sullen faced (save for the Black Magic Club members) students he acted – no, is a benevolent character.

"A little birdie told me you were sure to pounce upon the poor king," she said and I almost hadn't heard her. When I registered what she said I snapped my face toward her in pure and utter shock.

"You are not insinuating what I think you are you?" I replied back almost just as quietly, Ayanokouji had a way of speaking quieter as if she were hissing, hissing in my ear to take the forbidden fruit and the shadowy knowledge that came with the sacrifice of innocence. A set of elegant fingers toyed with a curl of vivid red along her neck.

"Oh I don't know, he's certainly eligible, easier to get than most even for a Suoh because of his French dam." Ayanokouji said, I didn't even get a chance to reply.

"Then what do you have to say for those of us who come from France you-" Renge had – literally – flew into rage from – literally – out of nowhere. Her honey-caramel hair flew out behind her like the snakes of Medusa. Our fellow students all around us were turning their heads to look upon the next theatrical drama Ayanokouji was cooking up (for surely since her exile from the Host Club she had been insisting on putting on dramatic airs).

"Now Renge, everyone knows the Eiffel Tower was generally useless, but it is a precious landmark am I right? You shouldn't take what Ayanokouji has to say and be offended by it, everyone has a right to their opinion even if you don't agree with it. Right Renge?" I had interrupted Renge quickly and she gave me an irritated look.

"What are you-"

"Oh the Eiffel Tower, remember? Oh, you must be thinking we were talking about the Louvre," I didn't know Renge that well and prayed she would keep her mouth shut and forget everything she might have just heard. I've only met her twice, the first time being that fateful day inside the Third Music Room. The second time I saw her was just a little while ago when we were planning the Okinawa trip and how she couldn't go because she was visiting her father in Paris.

"Oh, the Louvre…that's it?" Renge seemed to have caught on and I made a mental note to thank her later, but she must have had other plans in mind.

She turned to Ayanokouji.

It was at that moment I felt a sense of great dread, a feeling that was screaming at me to never put these two together and what was worse, I just did.

Renge appeared to be preparing for a boxing match, with un-lady-like popping of her neck as she rotated her shoulders. I nervously watched from the side, wondering what she was about to do and what would Ayanokouji do and what should I do? There was just too much going on at once and here I was in the middle of it.

"I'll have you know I'm a Tekken fighting champion with diplomatic immunity in forty-six countries, including Puerto Rico! I am fully aware you are out to ruin whatever relationships the main character, this being Tsuyu, may be able to gain in which therefore makes you the villain! You will be dealt with accordingly by the author in the end where you will be riddled with guilt with what you have done and will grovel at her feet for forgiveness as she will very likely be more successful than you in the end with one of the handsome, wealthy men she will meet here in high school and you, will show up in a brief cameo at the end of the story full of angst."

I stared.

Ayanokouji stared.

The whole cafeteria stared.

A small voice in the back of my head said "screw this get out of there!" But out of astonishment, I rudely stared at Renge like the rest of the school's students and faculty. Even the visiting chairman, Suoh-san, stood back amazed.

"Well, obviously I can see how you excelled in your literature and creative classes Miss Hoshakuji." Suoh-san said, breaking the awed silence in the room. It took a few seconds, but the cafeteria instantly switched back onto what could be described as "normal" here at Ouran. Still with Ayanokouji and Renge, I spotted Tamaki politely excuse himself from the first years and meander over to his father to greet him.

"Well, good day then," Renge said happily, Ayanokouji, who had been rendered speechless, didn't move until several seconds after Renge led me away.

"That was fun, I wasn't here when she had been banished from the Host Club and since the beginning of this story that speech has been sitting patiently waiting to be told. I must thank you for the opportunity," said Renge.

"No problem…" I said, for some odd reason Renge didn't question me, she didn't say anything until I found myself sitting with Ayame, Momoka, and Reiko.

"I think I'm still in shock," I said, they nodded in agreement. I realized it had grown super quiet super fast because Renge had plopped me down then whisked away.

"What…just happened?" my voice sounded so blank.

"A verbal onslaught unto Ayanokouji, delivered by Renge-chan. Inevitable really," said Ayame, Momoka nodded in agreement.

"Let us hope this past event does not vex Ayanokouji into a black mood," Reiko said sullenly, I mentally sighed.

The day is just barely halfway over with…how am I going to survive the rest of it?

Well, I had to in some way and when after school activity hours rolled around and I was making my way to the Third Music Room all I could think about was telling the Host Club I couldn't go to Okinawa. Some of their sad faces (mainly Tamaki and Hunny) flashing through my mind, making me feel more guilty.

In fact, I was so full of dread I couldn't even open the door when I got there.

I looked at the ornately carved door for a few long moments, listening to the babble of patrons from the other side. Briefly wondering why I couldn't do that – go into the club without thinking of my troubles, just to have a good time. To have the money and brains to pay the fee without batting an eyelash and to pass my complex classes by only skimming through the textbooks. To not have to work to stay at Ouran, to not have to make everything from scratch to be where I was.

In the back of my mind my conscious was scolding me, why should I be so down on myself? Because I was having a harder time with life than my fellow classmates? It was rather hard not to think negatively in my position.

Suppose something good comes of it? Was it worth it to work so hard for something small and good in the end?

My hand rested on the door handle, I briefly wondered if I could go back and take back what I said to my mom, to cancel going to Kyoto and instead go to Okinawa.

Why am I even making a big deal out of this? It wasn't like I was leaving for a long amount of time – it was just the weekend!

"Are you sure? I remember flirting shamelessly with Yoshio – Kyouya's father by the way – going away to some beach with him was only a fantasy-"

The door opened and that pulled the handle from my loose grip, the person (or persons) responsible for opening the door appeared shocked, but only briefly. Koaru and Hikaru grinned like twin Cheshire cats.

"Oh~ There you are! We were about to go and look for you!" One of them said, my eyes met theirs.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I had been running that late," I said, but knew at the most I was only a couple of minutes past their opening time. They shrugged.

"Don't you have customers to attend to? Why were you sent to search for me?" I asked as they separated and allowed me to enter the Third Music Room between them as they bowed. I suddenly felt a little uneasy.

"Well, how do we break this fascinating news to you," said one, they closed the door behind me. My eyes scanned over all the girls and the Host Club members (excluding the twins behind me) in the room, my eyes fell on Kyouya, but to my surprise he was sitting with only one customer and a customer I had never seen prior to this time. He was also in an unusual spot in the room, closer to a corner with a touch of shade to it brought by the soft velvet curtains lining the window that had previously been broken by Hunny.

Normally Kyouya was closer to a bookshelf or to the door (to keep tabs of the comings and goings), but he and his new patron were practically secluded. Mori being the closest at almost five or six feet away.

Without thinking, my eyes narrowed on this new guest, I could not see her that well as her face was hidden by Kyouya's left shoulder. Her hair was a beautiful, shimmery black, tied halfway back in a red ribbon.

She was not wearing the Ouran uniform either, something more expansive and a deep red to match the ribbon in her hair.

"Too busy glaring to hear us," one of the twins said, bringing me back down to Japan.

"Hm? I'm sorry, what was it that you said?" my eyes returned to the twins, their own eyes twinkled with laughter.

"The reason we went to search for you was because you are our customer today!" one said, I didn't believe it was possible, but the feeling of dread doubled. What have I done to land myself in the hands of the Hitachiins?

The thought of them tutoring me wasn't in the slightest bit appealing either.

"Kyouya-sempai is occupied with family matters today and we happily volunteered to take you in for the day. That was kind of us wasn't it?" they grinned, but the feelings of dread and a new emotion that came with the appearance of the beautiful girl with Kyouya made me anything but happy for their "kindness".

"Family matters?" I questioned, knowing the devilish looks on the twins faces were anything but good news. I knew better than to give them more leverage than they already have over me (the pictures for one), but I knew in retrospect, I wouldn't get answers from the Shadow King if he wouldn't be willing to share them.

Why would he need to share them anyway? Wasn't like I cared enough to ask…right?

"Why, his fiancé of course! She's visiting the area and Kyouya went ahead and invited her here for a couple of hours." My teeth clenched and I felt what I hadn't felt in a long time – was it jealousy? I was careful to keep a neutral expression on my face as the twins smirked while leading me away to their usual hosting spot.

Tamaki and Haruhi were nearest to the twins today, the blonde happily spilling cheesy compliment after the other, but coming from him they were sincere and he never repeated himself more than once. Than there was Haruhi, now that I knew she was female, I could understand her "natural" ability to communicate with the patrons of the club and why they were comfiest around her – they unconsciously felt that female vibe that came from Haruhi.

Yet Hikaru and Koaru were tricksters and a knowing look meant they were up to something childish and what's worse, they often got away with it.

I sat down on one of the white loveseats, as soon as my rump hit the cushions I nearly sank into them with a content sigh. Hikaru and Koaru sat opposite of me and unnervingly mirrored each other as they stared at me.

"Would you like tea Miss Honiwa?" Now that startled me out of all the negative feelings I had been feeling at that moment.

"Um…sure." I said, momentarily forgetting my manners and proper wording.

Moments later after receiving my tea, I stared suspiciously at the twins as they sipped theirs.

"We have been thinking Miss Honiwa," said one out of the blue.

Oh boy, I thought sarcastically, what am I getting myself into now?

"And amongst our thinking, discovered you had not yet played our "Who's Hikaru" game." I blinked, I knew they were talking about that guessing game they normally played with their customers. With their hats covering the direction of their hair (apparently that is how most guess which is which) the customers have to figure out which is Hikaru or Koaru. Haruhi could do this without batting an eyelash, but what made them think I would be any better at it than the customers?

Unless harassing me was their true intention.

"True, but why bring it up?"

"To pass the time, let's play!" Then the cups were down and hats were in hand, the Hitachiins marveled in my shocked face.

For the next fifteen minutes or so, I guessed and guessed, but guessed wrong every time. The twins seemed to have been having a lot of fun, but I could tell as time wore on they grew steadily disappointed and I grew frustrated. How was this fun for everyone else?

"Hikaru and you are Koaru," I said with a tone of finality, just wishing they would finish up the torture.

"Right!" they cried happily, all hints of disappointment gone. They plopped back down onto their loveseat and helped themselves back to their tea. They then looked at me with uncharacteristic seriousness.

"We knew that was a lucky guess Miss Honiwa," Koaru said (they sat down in the order I guessed them correctly).

"But we would like it if you could tell us apart someday," claimed Hikaru, I cocked my head with confusion.

"Why?"

They looked at each other with the tiniest hint of uneasiness, I was growing more concerned over their change of demeanors.

"You are a servant like she was," they said at the same time and looking at me at the same time.

"How…flattering?" Without an explanation I was at a total loss and on top of that, the twins probably did that on purpose. But what could that possibly mean?

"Once upon a time we had a favorite maid," began Koaru.

"We wanted her to tell us apart." Hikaru finished.

"And she has to do with me…because…?"

"You're a servant too for one thing," Koaru claimed.

"I feel 'custodian' is far more dignified for some reason coming from you two," was my reply, but they didn't seem to be listening.

"But she was also a thief," Hikaru kindly reminded him.

"I'm not a thief," I almost hissed, they glanced at me.

"You could be someday for all we know," Koaru said, but the way he said it caught me off-guard.

Are they suggesting I would steal from the school treasury or something? Hikaru blinked with a sigh, his rapid response setting him apart from Kaoru's slower, calmer one.

"We don't think you will be the kind of thief to steal from vaults," claimed Koaru.

"Then again, we don't think you could get into them anyway." Hikaru cut in, making me burn red.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Time passed and thankfully Hikaru and Koaru returned to their normal selves.

"Oh look, Yu-chan!" it was as if the last hour had raced by and suddenly my two hosts were absolutely beaming at me as if all we talked about were schemes and pranks that only rich people would find funny.

"Time's up! Shame we're booked for the rest of the month huh?" Hikaru teased, I scowled.

"Whoa! That's a scary face!" laughed Koaru.

"Scary enough to rival the Shadow King's!" Hikaru added.

"Speaking of which, look who is escorting his fiancé out of the room," Koaru and Hikaru, the tricksters that they are, had counted on me to turn and find myself looking straight ahead into Kyouya's blazer. But Kyouya had not noticed or if he had, did not show it.

His head was turned as he spoke softly to his customer, her face was no longer covered by Kyouya, giving me a full profile picture.

She was terribly beautiful. With a perfect complexion, a gracious hourglass figure combined with the grace of a vixen, the girl was older than me, which made her older than Kyouya. Her narrow eyes never glimpsed down to meet mine, nor did they even leave Kyouya's face to peer at the grinning Hitachiins.

"-until next time, I do hope you enjoy your trip." Said Kyouya, the girl thanked him and together they left the room, leaving the rest of the Host Club members, but personally I was left surprised.

"It was absolutely wonderful to meet her, I was a little shocked at first but then again, Kyouya does pull off all kinds of surprises!" Tamaki exclaimed, he turned to me and wondered out loud.

"You okay Tsuyu-hime? You seem a little green?" he observed.

"With envy," whispered the twins as they cackled under their breaths.


A/N: Bad Hikaru and Koaru! Bad!

This may surprise all of you but the girl sitting with Kyouya is NOT AN OC. Lol if you cannot guess you will have to wait until the next chapter to find out who she is and how she is connected to Kyouya. On top of that, Tsuyu still has to tell them she cannot go to Okinawa.

And darnit, Renge went and spoiled the rest of the story! So sorry! lol

Chapter question ~

Who is the mysterious girl who was with Kyouya?

A) Kagome (Inuyasha)

B) Tomoe (Rurouni Kenshin)

C) Hinata (Naruto)

D) Erika (Pokemon)

E) Other lol