"Listen you demon twins, you come ONE step closer to me with that thing, and I WILL end you!"
Raven was crouched at the ready, prepared to dash across the room in the blink of an eye. Before her stood Hikaru and Kaoru, holding in their hands pieces to a bunny outfit. Not just any bunny outfit, mind you. It had to be one of the skimpiest things Raven had ever seen. Needless to say, the only thing that would be covered on her would be- well- not nearly enough! Her face was red just thinking about it, and from the devilish smirk that the twins were giving her.
"Come on, Raven, it'll be so cute!" Kaoru insisted.
"We promise to make sure we're the only ones who look." Hikaru winked.
"Absolutely not!" Raven cried.
The twins were not daunted. They both grinned even wider and dashed toward her. Raven bolted, sprinting swiftly around one of the tables within Music Room 3 and toward the back corner where Haruhi was. If she could just get some back up, maybe she could get out of this!
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the twins were nearly upon her. She looked forward again and yelped when she saw she was about to run right into another table. It had a full set of tea upon it, and in one of the chairs sat Usa-chan, Mitsukuni's beloved rabbit. Just at the last second, Raven managed to leap up and over the table. She landed in a roll on the other side and stood, feeling slightly badass.
But that was when the crash sounded. She whirled just in time to see the twins had not had the reflexes to avoid the table. There was a shattered tea cup on the floor, and Usa-chan was now both pink and brown.
"GAAH!" Tamaki's wail cracked through the room like a whip. He scrambled forward, looking at the rabbit as if it were a death omen. "You IDIOTS! What do you think you were doing?!"
"Just trying to get Raven in this bunny outfit, boss," Hikaru said, as if there was nothing wrong with that. "If you like, we could get another for Haruhi!"
Tamaki's face reddened and he paused in thought for a moment. "Oh my that sounds..." But then he shook himself. "No! I mean, yes, but- You morons, did you see what you did to Usa-chan?!"
The twins both looked at the rabbit. Their faces suddenly grew pale.
"Oh crap," Kaoru breathed. "Oh CRAP! We're dead, we're so dead!"
"While we have no guests, I suppose it's fine you make such a racket," Kyoya said as he approached. "But do you really want to wake our sleeping Host?"
Raven glanced over to see a small bed had been set up at the edge of the room, and curled up within it was Mitsukuni.
"He takes naps?" Haruhi said as she came to Raven's side. "Weird. Well, why don't you guys just wake Honey-Senpai and apologize?"
With terrified wails, Tamaki and the twins leapt behind one of the sofas.
"Are you insane?!" Tamaki demanded.
"When Honey-Senpai wakes in a foul mood, he's a monster!" Kaoru said in a trembling voice.
"They say that when his family visited a U. S. military instillation to give hand-to-hand combat lessons, Honey-Senpai slept through most of it from jet lag," Hikaru said. "But when a soldier woke him, he took out two whole platoons! There was residual diplomatic issues with America and everything!"
"And Usa-chan was made for him by his late grandmother," Tamaki said. "It's his prized possession!"
"Two platoons, huh?" Raven's brow was raised. "Are you certain that story wasn't exaggerated a little?"
"Absolutely not!" Tamaki snapped.
Mitsukuni let out a small sigh and shifted in his sheets. Tamaki and the twins wailed in terror, ducking behind the couch.
"Oh for the love of..." Raven muttered, rubbing her brow.
"Hikaru! Kaoru! Quick, use your parents' private jet to go to Mount Osore and bring back a medium!" Tamaki said. "We can use them to channel Honey-Senpai's grandmother's spirit and make a new Usa-chan!"
"There's no time!" the twins wailed in unison.
"Then, quick, Haruhi, put on this bunny suit!" Tamaki cried, grabbing the racey bunny suit the twins had been chasing Raven with and reaching for Haruhi.
"No way! How will that help anything?!" Haruhi snapped back.
Raven glanced toward where Mitsukuni was starting to stir while the others yelled back and forth, scrambling for something to do.
"Uh, guys?" She finally interrupted the madness and pointed toward Mitsukuni.
"Quick!" Tamaki pulled his stuffed bear from nowhere. It looked much cuter without a wig and dress like the last time Raven saw it.
Tamaki put the bear on the table closest to Mitsukuni before fleeing, diving behind the couch again. Raven let out a sigh and watched as Mitsukuni woke, blinking groggily and his face slumped from exhaustion. He stared at the bear for a few moments before picking it up. For a moment, Raven thought it worked. But then, Mitsukuni chucked the bear onto the ground.
"Kuma-bear!" Tamaki whimpered.
Mitsukuni spotted his tea stained rabbit and slowly picked him up. His face looked dangerous and livid as he glared around.
"Who got Usa-chan dirty?" he snarled.
Raven was surprised at the thrills of fear that sent down her spine. How could little Mitsukuni be so terrifying?
"Mitsukuni."
Takashi appeared, looking down at Mitsukuni with a blank stare. Mitsukuni looked up at him, blinking.
"He wanted tea," Takashi said.
For a moment, the smaller boy gaped at Takashi. Raven was convinced it hadn't worked. But suddenly, Mitsukuni began to laugh.
"Oh, I see!" he said. "Do you think he wants some cake too?"
Tamaki and the twins collapsed to the floor. Raven laughed and folded her arms. It seemed that kid logic was the key to escaping Mitsukuni's wrath. It was really sweet how Takashi knew just what to say to bring a smile to the little Host's face.
The guests began to enter the room, and the Hosts went to what they did best. Raven always brought her guitar now. The girls were so sad whenever she left it. She didn't even play it every day, they seemed to just love seeing the old, stickered case with her. However, today, she had it propped on her knee as she sat upon one of the couches, tuning it carefully.
She had three guests at the moment, one of which was her regular, Kisuna. She smiled toward Raven.
"Would you sing us a song, Raven?" she asked sweetly.
Raven froze mid pluck of one of her strings, head snapping up to look at her. Plenty of the girls had asked her to sing since her "concert" to undo the Lobelia girls. But Kisuna hadn't been one of them. Raven felt like the girl understood that pressuring her too much was a bad idea. It had been nearly a month since then. Hadn't they all already heard her sing? And doing it here in Music Room 3 with Haruhi in eyesight not ten yards away was way safer than the shit she'd pulled then.
Yet all the same, Raven felt herself bristling.
"No way."
"Oh come on." Kisuna leaned forward and smiled at her. "It'll be great! Please? Just one song?"
Raven glared at the ground and sighed. "I only know English songs. Well, a few that are half English half Japanese, but those definitely aren't acoustic songs."
The girls seemed to latch on, realizing that she was actually considering.
"We don't mind!" the one to her left gushed. "Please, Raven?"
Maybe if she did it, they would leave her alone for a while. But what song could she do? There were plenty she knew the guitar for and the vocals, but she was blanking on which one. She looked around the room for inspiration.
It was like her eyes gravitated to Hikaru. He was sitting with his brother at a table not far away, laughing and joking with their guests. She loved the way his face looked when he laughed. His smile. She started strumming the guitar as a song blossomed in her mind.
"I wish you could see your face right now,
'Cause you're grinnin' like a fool.
And we're sitting on your kitchen floor,
On a Tuesday afternoon..."
Raven wasn't certain what Hikaru's kitchen would look like. It had to be fancy. He came from a rich family. She found her eyes closing as she strummed, her imagination drawing up a wonderfully spacious room. It was bright, off white walls with darker counter tops, a black marble. There was a island in the middle, nearly ten feet long with a sink of its own and stations set up for cutting, prepping, and dressing food. The floor was wood, real, not panels.
And there she sat, leaning against the island. Across from her was the oven, expensive looking and black in color. Sitting beside it, opening and closing it idly, was Hikaru. He grinned over at her, and she was smiling back. She wasn't sure what they were talking about, or why she felt so happy. All she knew was that she was there, with him, and that was enough.
"Doesn't matter when we get back,
To doin' what we do.
Because right now could last forever,
Just as long as I'm with you."
Now she was walking through a park, the cherry blossoms vibrant with color and fluttering around them like pink snowflakes. Hikaru was at her side, and his hand was in hers. It was warm, and filled her with a sense of joy she couldn't begin to explain. He pointed out a small chipmunk as it scampered by and talked about how cute it was. But not nearly as cute as she was to him.
"You're just a daydream away,
I wouldn't know what to say,
If I had you."
Raven felt those lyrics like a punch. For a moment, it felt like a bubble was expanding in her throat, making it tight and hard to breath, but she strummed the guitar, letting the music fill her.
"And I'll keep you a daydream away,
Just watch from a safe place,
So I never have to lose."
As she sang those words, she looked toward Hikaru, who was now looking over toward her with wide eyes. Just about everyone in the room had stopped whatever they were doing and were watching her. Yet, she didn't have enough room to feel embarrassed. All she felt in that moment was sudden, and incredible sorrow. These lyrics felt so real to her. But she shoved away the sadness, pushing on through the song.
"We would go out on the weekend,
To escape our busy lives."
The thought of just her and Hikaru going out somewhere without any of the others, and without having to worry about Host duties or school work quelled the pain she was feeling away with wonder. She felt a smile tug her lips. She saw them at the arcade, Raven kicking Hikaru's ass at air hockey, but then he was far better at the Mortal Kombat game. They came across a PacMan machine, and Raven shoved Hikaru aside playfully, declaring she was going to play first. But as she started playing, he stood behind her and put his hands over hers on the controls.
"See? Why can't this be a two player game too?" he whispered into her ear.
"We would laugh at all the douchebag guys,
Chasing down their desperate wives.
"I would drink a little too much,
You would offer me a ride."
Raven didn't think she'd ever touch alcohol, let alone get drunk. So her mind let these be Hikaru's lyrics in a sense. She saw them a few years down the road, graduated and with full-time jobs. They'd gone out to celebrate a promotion Hikaru received, and he ended up too drunk to drive himself. Raven saw herself helping him to her car, rolling her eyes. But Hikaru was a sweet drunk, silly and a goofball. He sang at the top of his voice to the radio all the way to his house.
"And I would offer you a T-shirt,
If you'd stay another night."
Oddly, she saw Hikaru at the door of her own future home, a look of regret in his eyes at the prospect of leaving. She dug into her dresser and pulled out one of her hand-me-downs from the older of her brothers, Robin, and held it out to him with a perked brow. It brought a smile to his face, and he closed the door, returning to her side.
"You're just a daydream away,
I wouldn't know what to say,
If I had you.
And I'll keep you a daydream away,
Just watch from a safe place,
So I never have to lose."
Now, she saw her own real memories. Memories of staring at Hikaru from afar, when he didn't notice. Stealing glances at him in class. Watching him laugh. Watching him smile. All from a safe place. All so she'd never have to risk losing him.
"Ooh, ooh-ah-oh, ooh-ha-oh, ooh-oh..."
Music was magical in this sense. Raven could feel all the pain behind these thoughts, and all the joy of the imagined scenarios with Hikaru all as one, confounded sensation. It filled her body with both heat and ice.
"We never stood a chance out there,
Shooting love in real time.
So I'll take it over ice tonight,
With a little salt and a little lime."
It astounded Raven how much she felt this way. She would much rather just imagine all these things with Hikaru. Dream of him kissing her. Picture holding his hand. Envision waking up beside him. She'd rather all of this just be in her head then going and taking his hand, or kissing him, or even telling him how she felt. Because that could ruin everything. Losing him, whether as a friend or something more... she couldn't bear the thought of it.
The next chorus was more powerful than the others. She closed her eyes, strumming the guitar harder, her entire body moving with the music. Her voice cried out, and even she was shocked at the emotion in it.
"You're just a daydream away,
I wouldn't know what to say,
If I had you.
And I'll keep you a daydream away,
Just watch from a safe place,
So I never have to lose.
"Ooh, ooh-ah-ooh, ooh-ah-ooh, ooh-oh..."
She finally opened her eyes and they found Hikaru's again. He looked even more astounded than before.
"You're just a daydream away...
I wouldn't know what to say...
If I had you..."
Raven finished the song softly, and let the last notes hang in the air from her guitar. There was a stunned silence for a moment. Then the room exploded into screaming girls. But Raven hardly heard it. Her heart and soul was still with the song. With the imaginings of her and Hikaru together. She stared at the floor, her grip limp on her guitar. Kisuna was saying something on her right. One of the other girls added something else. But their words were muffled, as if they were talking to her while she was underwater. Then, a voice cut through, making Raven's head snap up.
"Raven?"
Haruhi was in front of her, looking concerned. She smiled lightly when Raven met her eyes.
"That was really good!" she said.
Raven felt her cheeks heat up, realizing exactly what she just did. She hastily put her guitar into the case at her feet.
"Uh, thanks," she muttered.
"Are you okay, Raven?" Kisuna asked.
Raven glanced furtively. "Yeah, sorry, I just... got lost in the song."
That earned a whole new round of shrieks from the girls.
"Oh shut up!" Raven bellowed at the, feeling her eye twitch. "Just, go on, get out of here!"
Her guests stood, but none of them looked upset. Kisuna curtsied toward Raven with a gentle smile while the other two giggled, waving as they left.
Haruhi sat beside Raven as the rest of the Hosts got back to their guests, though most of the girls kept glancing toward her.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Haruhi asked softly. There was a knowing look in her eyes. "I saw you look toward him."
"Shut up," Raven whispered sharply toward her. "I'm fine. Really. Just need a break from all these girls."
She chanced a glance toward Hikaru. She saw that his guests were leaving for the day and the twins were getting up from the table. For a moment, Raven was terrified they were going to head her direction. But to her surprise, Hikaru went toward Kyoya, who was just pouring tea for one of his own guests, Kaoru at his side.
Raven let out a breath of relief. She leaned back in the couch, feeling drained.
"You know, things might be better if you just told him," Haruhi said.
"I understand you're trying to help, Haruhi," Raven said in a low tone so the others wouldn't hear. "But I can't do that. Not yet, at least. Maybe not ever. I don't know."
Haruhi sighed, but she dropped the subject. With a sudden grin, she gripped Raven's hand. "Come on. Let's go get some sweets! Honey-Senpai has loads at his table I know he'd share with us!"
Raven knew Haruhi wasn't exactly the biggest fan of sweets. She must be trying really hard to cheer Raven up.
"Alright," Raven said, deciding not to let her friend down by refusing. Besides, she could use some chocolate right now.
*.*.*
"But I know you speak English, so you've got to have some idea what that song is."
Hikaru folded his arms as he looked at Kyoya. The dark-haired Host sipped from his tea and looked toward his female guest.
"I'm so sorry, you must excuse this rude intrusion of our time together, miss," he said to her, ignoring Hikaru completely.
The girl giggled. "No, it's fine, I don't mind. I'm quite curious as to what song that was myself!"
"Well, I'm afraid that I am not familiar with American music, just because I speak English," Kyoya said calmly, setting his cup down on his saucer.
"But surely you heard some of the lyrics?" Kaoru pressed. "We could find the song from that."
Kyoya seemed to consider for a moment. He glanced toward where Raven sat on the couch with Haruhi for a moment. Then he leaned back in his chair, fingers pressed together. "I can't say I recall them."
"Oh, we all know you're smarter than that," Hikaru snapped. "Come on, Kyoya! Just tell us!"
Kyoya chuckled. "Why do you want to know so badly, anyway? What does it matter?"
"I- I really liked the song," Hikaru said quickly. "I want to get it."
"Then why don't you ask Raven?" Kyoya said with a perked brow, a smirk hinting at his lips.
Hikaru felt his face warm. In all honesty, he hadn't missed the way Raven kept looking at him during the song. He wondered if it was a song that reminded her of him. He was very curious about that. He'd recognized some of the words. Day, you, safe, lose... But his English wasn't quite good enough to understand all of it yet. He figured Kyoya would be a better bet at figuring out the lyrics than trying to piece together what little he and Kaoru could pick up. But apparently he was wrong. He could have known Kyoya would be an ass about it.
"Fine, we'll figure it out ourselves," he said firmly, whirling and heading the other direction.
"Hikaru, wait for me!" Kaoru was at his side in an instant. "How are we going to figure it out?"
"Well, that song has to be on her music player, right?" Hikaru said.
Kaoru nodded, a sudden gleam in his eye. "We're going to steal it. Or borrow it, I suppose." He grinned wickedly, but then it slid off his face. "But how the hell are we going to get it? It's always on her!"
Hikaru looked over to where Raven and Haruhi were now approaching Honey and Mori. He rubbed his chin, trying to think. Then, he snapped his fingers.
"I've got it," he breathed, exchanging a smirk with his twin.
*.*.*
"Hi Rave-chan! Haru-chan!"
Mitsukuni beamed at them as they approached. He was with three guests, all of them fawning over his pure adorableness.
"Want some cake?" Mitsukuni asked, holding out a plate.
"Sure," Raven said, taking it. She'd long since stopped refusing sweets from Mitsukuni. He pouted every time she did and it annihilated her insides.
"Now me, thanks," Haruhi said. "Are you ladies having fun?"
"Of course!" one of the girls said. "We were just asking Honey what his favorite things were."
"Oh!" Mitsukuni beamed at them. "Well, I like cake, Usa-chan, and oh! You ladies of course!"
They all squealed.
"Honey-Senpai's sweet nature is the main thing that attracts guests. He has charm and a pureness that the other Hosts can't quite match. But I feel like something's missing in his character arc."
"Renge, when did you get here?" Raven turned to see the girl at her side, smiling toward Mitsukuni. "And why were you just narrating in my ear?"
"It's what I do!" Renge sang. "And I couldn't miss a live performance by you, Raven! Your singing voice is so lovely! The emotion you put into it, I nearly-"
"Oh shut up," Raven snapped. "Honestly. Why aren't you back in France yet?"
"Honey-Senpai, don't you think you should maybe ease up on all the sweets?" Haruhi said. "You'll get a cavity if you keep this up."
"Oh, don't worry Haru-chan!" Mitsukuni said. "I always brush my teeth!"
He took another bite of cake, and suddenly cringed in pain. Raven blinked. Was she imagining things or did some sitcom shit just go down? No, no way, couldn't be, that would be way too closely timed irony there.
"Are you okay?" Haruhi asked the little Host.
"Yeah, it's fine," Mitsukuni mumbled, holding his cheek.
Raven narrowed her eyes. "Mitsukuni...?" she began to say.
"Raven!"
Raven turned to see the twins approaching her.
In full ninja attire.
Raven gaped at their matching green outfits, complete with headbands and sandals and the slightly too baggy jumpsuits.
"What are you two doing?" Raven asked.
Hikaru beamed at her, holding up a blue ninja suit. "We have one for you too! Want to join our cosplay?"
"Since when are we doing a cosplay?" Raven demanded. "Just- ugh, now isn't the time! Mitsukuni!" She whirled to face the little Host. "Open your mouth."
"Huh?" Mitsukuni looked up at her with wide eyes. "Wh-why?"
Raven began to move forward. Mitsukuni turned, immediately trying to bolt. Haruhi cut him off.
"Honey-Senpai, come on it's for your own good!" she said.
Mitsukuni ducked around her, sprinting for the door. But that was when Takashi swooped in. He snatched Mitsukuni by the back of his collar and threw him onto one of the nearby couches. He pinned him there and pried open his mouth. He glared down at the teeth before stepping back, shaking his head.
"You have a cavity," he said flatly.
"It's fine!" Mitsukuni insisted, sitting up on the couch but wincing in pain.
"I see." Tamaki stepped forward, frowning. "Honey-Senpai, I'm sorry, but you won't be able to have any sweets until it's better. But don't worry!" He turned, smiling at all of them. "All of us here, Hosts and guests alike, shall also refrain from any sweets until your healed."
Mitsukuni looked horrified. Renge came to Raven's side, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Looks like Honey-Senpai's life is going to become a living hell for a while," she said.
Raven frowned. "It can't be that bad. It's only sweets."
"You have met Honey-Senpai, right?" Kyoya asked with a thin smile.
Raven glanced toward the little Host with a worried frown. "Well with the rest of us restraining, that should help, right?"
"Hopefully," Haruhi said.
Raven looked over to see the twins still standing in their ninja outfits. Even the girls didn't seem to notice them, too focused on Mitsukuni's trauma.
"Oh go change, morons," Raven told them as she headed back to her spot on the couch.
*.*.*
"I was sure it would work."
Hikaru glared at the wall, seated on his bed later that night. Kaoru glanced over at him as he pulled off his shirt.
"Well, it was a good plan. But we weren't counting on Honey-Senpai stealing all the glory," he said.
Hikaru let out a frustrated sigh. He turned to the bedside table and grabbed their laptop, flipping it open.
"What are you doing?" Kaoru asked.
"Raven's favorite band is 'We Shot the Moon' right?" Hikaru said.
"Yeah."
"Well I'm looking them up. Maybe they sang the song."
"You're going to listen through all of the songs from one band? What if it wasn't by them? We have no clue how many songs Raven has on her media player," Kaoru said.
Hikaru let out a frustrated sigh. "How else am I going to find out?"
His initial plan had been to get Raven to join their cosplay. It was cool and epic, a lot like the knight cosplay, and she would most likely have felt like the media player didn't belong with the outfit. It had been the perfect plan. But then Honey got a cavity. He ran his fingers through his ginger hair.
"This really matters a lot to you huh?" Kaoru asked.
Hikaru glanced toward his twin then away again. "I saw the way she kept glancing at me. It has to mean something."
"Why don't we just ask her?"
"We can't!"
"Why not?"
Hikaru closed the laptop, shaking his head. In all honesty, he couldn't explain why not. He felt like if he asked Raven what she had been singing it would make him vulnerable. But to what was something he didn't know. He rubbed his eyes.
Kaoru sat at Hikaru's side. "Well, why don't we ask Haruhi?"
Hikaru blinked in surprise. Of course! It was so simple! Why hadn't we thought of that?
"I'm sure that Haruhi could ask her for us," Kaoru continued. "Now we just got to ask her when Raven isn't around."
"Perfect." Hikaru grinned wickedly. "We'll figure that song out by tomorrow!"
*.*.*
"So, how do you think this whole 'no sweets' thing is going to go down?" Raven asked Haruhi as they headed for Music Room 3.
Haruhi sighed. "Honey-Senpai sure seemed upset. But he has to get better before he can have more cakes. Sugar just makes cavities grow."
"Suppose so." Raven adjusted the strap of her guitar case on her shoulder. "I just don't want to be stuck looking at a pouting Mitsukuni all day. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to handle it."
Haruhi smiled toward her. "That's sweet that you care so much about him."
Raven felt her face grow warm. "Don't say it like that. He's just got that whole puppy dog cute thing going on."
Haruhi chuckled. "You don't have to seem so self conscious about caring about others, Raven. Besides, I know who really has your interest anyway. You kept looking at him while you were singing yesterday. What was that song about?"
Raven's gaze dropped to the ground. "How I know things need to be between us," she murmured.
Haruhi perked her brow, but before she could speak, Mitsukuni and Takashi came around the corner.
Mitsukuni looked like hell. He had a cloth tied under his face and atop his head, making him look like he had bunny ears. Raven felt like that was a little extreme for a cavity, but it made her feel terrible for him all the more. Poor little guy. She hated teeth problems. Cavities were a pain in the ass to say the least, and not only did it hurt Mitsukuni physically, but it prevented him from having his favorite thing.
"Hey Mits," Raven said as she and Haruhi paused beside the two older Hosts. "Uh. Are you feeling any better?"
Mitsukuni looked miserable as he shook his head. Raven felt her heart ache for the poor little guy.
"Well..." Raven stalled as she tried to think of something nice to say to him. "Uh... I'll play you some nice music on my guitar today, okay?"
Mitsukuni nodded and the four of them fell into step beside one another, heading toward the Music Room for their Host activities.
The day seemed to be going normally enough. They were only serving tea and bread, but the girls didn't seem to mind the lack of sweets, so long as it was helping Mitsukuni. Kyoya was in high spirits and it was only when Raven saw him calculating the cost of all the sweets for the week out of the budget that she knew why. Toward the end of their club duties, Raven was strumming away on her guitar on the couch with the last few of her guests.
"Raven." Kisuna smiled toward her. "That song you sang yesterday... what was it called?"
Raven glanced over at her, pausing in her strums for a moment before answering. "Why?"
"I really liked it," she said, crossing one leg over the other. "I was hoping to find a copy."
Raven glanced around the room as casually as she could. Mitsukuni was pouting as some girls apologized over and over to him for refusing to give him candy. Takashi was close to them, glaring down at Mitsukuni like a scolding mother. Kyoya was still calculating budget savings. Tamaki was wooing three girls at once. Finally, she spotted the twins. They were standing near the window, talking with Haruhi. Her friend had a smile on her face, so no warning bells went off for Raven. They were far enough across the room to not hear her response.
"A Daydream Away by All Time Low," Raven said, looking back to Kisuna. "But keep that on the down low, okay?"
"Of course," Kisuna said with her gentle smile. "Thank you for telling me. It was a lovely song."
Raven felt her cheeks and ears burn. "Whatever..."
She started to strum again, but then paused, her bladder suddenly calling for her attention.
"Uh, sorry Kisuna, gotta take a leak," Raven said, placing her guitar into her case. "I'll be right back."
"Sure," Kisuna nodded at her with a smile.
Raven hiked up her guitar case and headed out of the room. She didn't like leaving her guitar unattended. She glanced toward the windows where the twins were still talking to Haruhi. The boys' backs were to her so she couldn't see their expressions but Haruhi seemed to be laughing nervously. Raven made a mental note to rescue her friend on her way back from relieving herself.
*.*.*
"So you have no idea what that song is?"
Hikaru felt deflated. He thought for certain that Haruhi would know and be willing to give them the answers. But turned out he was wrong. And what was worse, he couldn't tell if she genuinely didn't know the song, or if she was simply refusing to tell them.
"Why do you want to know so bad anyway?" Haruhi asked.
"We're learning English, remember?" Kaoru said smoothly, grinning and leaning on her with an elbow propped on her shoulder. "It's all to get to know Raven better. So why not learn the songs she likes?"
"Why don't you ask her?" Haruhi said, raising a brow.
"Are you kidding?" Hikaru sighed. "She would never tell us, you know how stubborn she is."
"So it's like a game for us," Kaoru said. "I suppose if you don't know we'll have to use more drastic measures."
Haruhi frowned at them. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, we have ways, you see," Hikaru said devilishly. "To make her crack. We just thought this way would be easier on her."
"Or you two could try leaving her alone," Haruhi said. "Music is what she loves most. Don't try and mess with it."
Haruhi's face grew surprisingly serious and stern. It made Hikaru blink in surprise.
"Sorry, Haruhi, we were just kidding," Kaoru said. "And bluffing. You're really our only hope. So come on, help us out!"
"Would if I could," Haruhi said, though her tone was still stiff. "Sorry, guys, I have a few clients left before the day's out, if you'll excuse me..."
She ducked out from between them and headed back toward the center of the room. Hikaru let out a long sigh of defeat.
"Now what?" he grumbled.
"Guess we could go back to trying to snag her media player," Kaoru suggested.
Hikaru ran his hands over his face. "But Haruhi has a point, Raven loves music more than anything else and she might get legitimately pissed at us for that."
"Hello boys."
Hikaru blinked and looked over to see Kisuna, Raven's regular guest approaching them. She smiled widely at them both before curtsying.
"Kisuna? Weren't you just with Raven?" Kaoru asked.
"He went to the bathroom," Kisuna said, glancing toward the door with a strange, far off look in her eyes. Her gaze flitted back to Hikaru. "A Daydream Away by All Time Low."
It was in English so Hikaru had no idea what she just said. He blinked rapidly before Kisuna smiled at him and chuckled. She then translated it into English.
"A Daydream Away?" Kaoru repeated.
"The song," Kisuna said. "That's the name of it."
Hikaru and Kaoru exchanged a startled look.
"How did you...?" Hikaru began.
"Know? Or how did I get the song name?" Kisuna grinned lightly.
"Both," Kaoru said.
Kisuna smiled at her feet before glancing up at the twins. "I've grown fond over Raven since he's been a Host here," she said. "However, I am aware that my affections for him go over his head. He has eyes for another. And he couldn't stop looking at you while he sang. I want to see him happy." She met their eyes, looking between them, her own shimmering with threatening tears. "You see, most people don't notice. He doesn't look the way he really feels when he thinks someone is looking. But I've seen it."
"Seen what?" Hikaru breathed.
Kisuna's smile grew so sorrowful, Hikaru felt the sudden urge to embrace her. "His sadness."
Kaoru was gaping at the girl. "But... what makes you say that?"
"My older brother, he lost his wife a few years ago," Kisuna said. "He assures everyone that he's fine. But the moment he doesn't think anyone is looking, his mask falls. You can see it in his eyes. The pain. Raven's eyes have that same pain. Pain like he's lost someone dear to him. Pain like it's all he can do to hold the tears in."
Hikaru stared. There was no way this could be right. Raven was brash and rude and short tempered, but sad? Depressed? No. There was so much life in her. Kisuna had to be mistaken.
"Well, thank you for the song name," Kaoru said.
Kisuna nodded and turned to leave. But she paused for a moment, glancing over her shoulder. "Oh. And whichever of you is Hikaru, I can't tell, personally... you're very lucky. Be good to him."
Then she walked away.
*.*.*
Raven headed out of the bathroom, refreshed. She had to go across the courtyard so that she could use one of the family restrooms. For her, going into either the men's or women's rooms was a bad idea. She walked along fountain at a brisk pace, heading back for the stairs. She paused when she spotted a familiar figure standing just outside beside the pillars supporting the balcony above.
It was Takashi. And with him was a girl. Why was Takashi down here? And with one of the guests? She frowned as she drew closer. The girl's back was to her, and Takashi didn't look up to meet Raven's eyes.
"I just... needed to tell you," the girl was saying. "I'm... in love with you, Mori-Senpai."
Whoa, whoa, whoa, BAD timing. Raven darted behind one of the pillars.
Takashi didn't respond vocally. The silence was maddening. Raven wondered if she had been spotted after all.
"I... I see," the girl finally spoke softly. "I just... is there a reason why? Is there someone else?"
There was another long silence. Then footsteps. Raven just about had a heart attack when Takashi appeared around the pillar and paused beside her. He glanced down at her, but he didn't look mad, or surprised, or even confused.
"H-hi Takashi," Raven said, feeling her face burn.
"The other guests will be waiting," Takashi said, and gestured for her to follow with a jerk of his head.
Raven fell into step reluctantly behind him. She glanced back to see the girl staring after them with a mortified face. Raven mouthed, "I'm sorry" to her before gesturing between herself and Takashi and making and X with her arms, hoping she got the point across that she was NOT the other person the girl was fretting about.
Raven and Takashi began to scale the steps together. Raven glanced over at him.
"So uh. Does that happen often?" she asked.
Takashi shrugged.
Raven glanced at her feet. Poor girl. How many others had tried to win Takashi's true affection?
"Why were you out here, Takashi?" Raven said, suddenly remembering how odd it was to see him.
"I followed you."
Raven blinked in astonishment.
"Me? Why?" she asked.
Takashi glanced at her. "I thought something was wrong when you left the room and Kisuna followed shortly after. I expected to see you together. Or her following you."
"She left after I did?" Raven's brows shot upwards. "That's weird. I haven't seen her, and I made sure no one saw me go into the bathroom."
"Hm," Takashi murmured, glancing down at the ground. "Strange."
Strange indeed. Raven told Kisuna she'd be right back. Why did she leave? Maybe something came up?
By the time she and Takashi got back, most of the guests were gone. Oddly enough, so were the twins. Raven found Haruhi entertaining her last clients for the day and paused beside her.
"Haruhi," she said, stopping by her chair.
"Sorry ladies," Haruhi said, glancing over at Raven. "What's wrong?"
"Where did the Hitachiins go? Were they bothering you earlier?" Raven asked.
The girls Haruhi was sitting with let out small squeals.
"It's so cute when Raven get's so protective over Haruhi!" one gushed.
Raven shot her a glare, but it only made the girls giggle.
"No, they weren't bothering me," Haruhi said, a little too smoothly. "Hikaru wasn't feeling well so they went home."
"Oh." Raven was surprised with the sudden prick of concern she felt for Hikaru. But she turned around. "Well so long as they weren't being the butt trumpets they normally are."
She went to sit on the couch and tune her guitar, her thoughts bouncing. Was Haruhi hiding something from her?
*.*.*
It took a while to get the translation down, but when Hikaru read the full length of the lyrics, he couldn't move. He stared at the screen, mouth slightly agape. Kaoru was at his side. Out of the corner of his eye, Hikaru could see his twin looking back and forth between him and the laptop.
"Hikaru?" he asked softly
Hikaru didn't reply.
"You're just a daydream away,
I wouldn't know what to say
If I had you.
And I'll keep you a daydream away,
Just watch from a safe place,
So I never have to lose."
Why had Raven kept looking at him while she sang this? Could she possibly be linking these lyrics with him? Could it be at all possible that Raven...
That she actually had feelings for him?
"Hikaru."
Kaoru actually shook his shoulder this time. Hikaru finally tore his gaze from the screen to look at his brother. Kaoru's eyes were wavering, flooded with worry. Hikaru glanced back at the screen, then back to Kaoru.
"I... Sorry." Hikaru shook his head slowly.
Kaoru took his hands into his own. "Are you okay?"
"Ye...yeah, sure. I mean..." Hikaru bit his lip. "It's... probably nothing right?"
Kaoru ducked his head down so that Hikaru was forced to look into his eyes again. "Isn't this... what you wanted?"
"What I wanted?" Hikaru repeated, his voice hardly more than a whisper.
"Don't you see what this means?" Kaoru said. "She likes you, Hikaru!"
Hikaru's eyes widened. Those were his suspicions of course, but for his twin to just... to just out right say them like that... It made it feel so much more real. So much more...
"I... I don't know," Hikaru muttered.
"Oh come on," Kaoru said. "You know that's what it has to mean. She's just been too shy or something to admit it!"
"No." Hikaru shook his head. "It... it just can't be."
He shut the laptop and slid off the bed. His heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. This couldn't be right... Raven hated him, or rather, she didn't like him. She constantly yelled at him for annoying her. Sure, maybe she had been putting up with it better, but that had to be because she was just getting sick of yelling at him...
But he had asked her if she was mad at him, the day that the Hosts visited Haruhi's house. She insisted she wasn't. That had been... a strange day.
"Why not?" Kaoru asked, getting up and following after him. "Hikaru, this is a good thing, isn't it? I mean..." He looked away, clasping his hands together. "Don't you like her?"
Hikaru froze. For a second, he thought he'd lost the feeling in his legs. He hadn't even admitted this to himself let alone his brother. He and Kaoru had done everything together ever since he could remember. Classes, hobbies... There were girls that claimed to have crushes on them in middle school. Hikaru and Kaoru played pranks on them, switching up who would meet them then berate them for being mistaken.
But they wouldn't be able to do that to Raven. She could tell them apart as if they looked nothing alike.
That in itself made her amazing.
That was it, though. If this was true... Raven liked Hikaru, not Kaoru. And if Hikaru encouraged that, if he and Raven... What? Dated? His face flushed at the thought. Regardless, he would be going on that journey without Kaoru. Without his other half.
The very thought terrified him.
"No," Hikaru said, meeting Kaoru's gaze. "No, not like that. Not at all."
*.*.*
Raven sped up her pace. She had gotten held back in the last class, and her face was still red. The teacher, Mr. Iwazaki, had heard of her musical expertise, and it so happened he was not only her English teacher, but also head of the choir class. He was apparently livid she wasn't pursuing her singing talent.
Now, not only was she embarrassed beyond hell, she was late for the Host Club. She hoped Kyoya didn't make this an excuse to raise the debt for any reason. As she rounded the corner, she just about ran straight into someone.
Someone a little over waist height on her.
"Mitsukuni! I'm so sorry," she gasped, taking a step back.
"Oh, it's okay, Rave-chan," Mitsukuni mumbled. He looked absolutely miserable. He looked up at her. "I was just getting some air. Everyone is feeling so sorry for me, and I dunno... I just really wish I could have something sweet to eat..." His eyes grew wide and doey.
Raven swallowed nervously. Mitsukuni's adorable wiles always got to her. She had some strawberry pocky in her bag. That... that wouldn't be as bad for him as cake or chocolate right?
"It's just what makes me happy, you know?" Mitsukuni said. "Like your music does with you Rave-chan!"
Raven sighed. "Okay, here, but listen, don't tell anyone, okay?" she whispered as she reached into her bag.
Just as she began to pull the box of pocky out, a voice went off behind her.
"Raven."
Raven just about leapt out of her skin. She felt her blood run cold as she shakily looked over her shoulder. Takashi loomed over her like a menacing giant. Raven's heart was in her throat as she took a step back, shoving the pocky back into her bag.
"Oh. Hi! Takashi! Uh. I was just. Not doing what you think I was doing." Raven laughed nervously.
Takashi's face was like stone. Raven felt like she was going to be set aflame by his very stare.
"Right." Her voice was like a croak. "I'm just... going to..."
She turned, looking at Mitsukuni and whispered, "Sorry Mits," before running down the hall toward Music Room 3.
She liked Mitsukuni a lot and hated seeing him so upset, but it wasn't worth Takashi's wrath. Who knew the silent giant could be so damned terrifying.
Raven entered the Music Room to see the Hosts going about their guests. Kyoya, who was on tea duty, approached her.
"Late, eh, Raven?" he said.
"Oh hush up, Lucy," Raven snapped at him. "It wasn't my fault."
"Well you have a guest waiting for you." He smiled.
Raven looked toward her usual couch to see Kisuna seated upon it. She moved forward, glad for a distraction. She didn't want to wait for Mitsukuni and Takashi to show up and see the looks on either of their faces.
"Hey Kisuna," she said as she sat beside her, propping her guitar case on her knees. "Where did you go yesterday? I thought you were okay with waiting for me."
Kisuna smiled gently at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, something came up," she said. "So... have you spoken to the twins today?"
That was an odd question. Raven frowned slightly as she opened her guitar case. "The twins? No, we didn't really have a chance to talk in classes... they seemed to be in a hurry everywhere they were going today. Kind of weird. Why?"
"Oh, no reason," Kisuna shook her head and gave a slightly nervous laugh. She seemed suddenly pensive, glancing at her knuckled in deep thought.
"Are you uh... okay, Kisuna?" Raven asked.
"Sure, of course," Kisuna said, looking back to her. "It's nice of you to ask."
Raven's cheeks reddened and she looked back to her guitar as she pulled it out. "Uh... yeah, whatever just... making sure..."
Kisuna was her most regular client, and she was nice. Raven found herself worried about her.
The rest of the day went on relatively normal. The twins came by and harassed her when she didn't have clients, though Raven noticed that Hikaru's smiles seemed a little forced, and Kaoru kept shooting his twin worried glances. Part of her wanted to ask what was wrong. But she, like the song she had sang a couple days before, wanted to stay a safe place away.
On their way home that day, Haruhi had a troubled look on her face.
"What's up, Haruhi?" Raven prompted.
"It's just, Mori-Senpai is being pretty hard on Honey-Senpai about this sweets thing. I hope they don't end up fighting," she said.
"I'm sure they'll be fine," Raven assured. "I mean, Mitsukuni and Takashi are like two peas on a pod, right? They're almost tighter than the twins. I'm certain nothing could threaten their friendship."
"Suppose not," Haruhi said with a small shrug. She looked over toward Raven. "Hikaru seemed a little... off today, don't you think?"
Raven frowned at her. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, I mean, he just seemed... distracted, is all," Haruhi said. "He's been a bit off ever since Kisuna talked to him yesterday."
Raven felt her eyes widen. "Kisuna talked to Hikaru yesterday?"
"Yeah, before she left," Haruhi said. "They both seemed pretty flustered."
Raven frowned. Kisuna said she had to do something yesterday and that's why she left... she hadn't mentioned talking to Hikaru at all. But maybe it wasn't anything important. Just a passing conversation she had with him on her way out.
"Was Kaoru with them?" Raven asked.
"Sure," Haruhi said. "But I think she was more interested in Hikaru. I heard her say his name."
Raven felt a strange, panicked pang. She chewed on her tongue for a moment, trying to pinpoint the feeling.
Probably nothing.
She kept telling herself that all night, and didn't finally fall asleep until past midnight.
*.*.*
It was the third day for Mitsukuni without sweets. When Raven saw him just before they were to be expecting guests, she noted that she'd never before seen him look so sour. There was a darkness in his eyes and the way he walked wasn't his normal happy jaunt. It was rough and stilted, like a death march.
As Raven opened her guitar case, she watched as Mitsukuni went to the cabinet they usually kept the sweets in. Upon opening it, all that was inside was Tamaki's stuffed bear. Mitsukuni's face twisted up and he snatched the bear, throwing it on the ground with an furious growl.
"Mitsukuni," Raven said, placing her guitar to the side and getting to her feet.
She couldn't stand seeing him like this. Mitsukuni was supposed to be the sweetheart, the cheerful one, the one always smiling.
"Honey-Senpai, please." Tamaki reached the little third-year before Raven could. He reached out toward him, but Mitsukuni whirled and bit into Tamaki's outstretched hand.
"YAAAOOOW!" Tamaki cried, prying his hand free. "That really hurt!"
"Mitsukuni."
Takashi approached now, looking down at Mitsukuni with a disapproving stare. Mitsukuni locked his gaze with him, and right when Takashi reached down, he gripped the larger student's wrist and threw him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground.
"NO!" Mitsukuni bellowed. "You stupid hard-head! I'm done! I hate you, Takashi! I HATE YOU!"
Mitsukuni sprinted away, out of the room entirely, slamming the doors behind him. Raven gaped after the little Host before looking back to Takashi. He was sitting up, a clear look of devastation crossing his face.
"Hey, Mori-Senpai, are you alright?" Kaoru asked as he and Hikaru came to his sides.
"I'm sure he didn't mean it, Mori-Senpai," Hikaru assured. "Honey-Senpai is just moody, that's all."
"Mori-Senpai," Haruhi said slowly as she approached. "You wanted Honey-Senpai to attack you, didn't you? You didn't make to defend yourself at all."
"I..." Takashi glared at his hands for a moment as they shakily balled into fists. "Yes. It's my fault Mitsukuni has a cavity. I forgot to make sure... I forgot to make sure he brushed his teeth twice."
Raven placed a hand on her hip. "Takashi, I hardly see how that's your-" she began but Haruhi slammed a hand over her mouth and shook her head, nodding toward the doors of the room.
Tamaki stood there, Mitsukuni at his side. Judging by the watering of the boy's eyes, he'd overheard everything.
"Takashi!" he cried, running forward and embracing the taller student into a hug. "I'm so sorry for those mean things I said! I'll always brush my teeth!"
Takashi couldn't look more relieved. Raven sighed and shook her head, but she couldn't help but smile. It was adorable how much those two cared for one another.
Mitsukuni was far better able to cope with the lack of sweets for the rest of the day. Raven strummed on her guitar when she had time between clients, finding her mind wandering now that Mitsukuni's dilemma had passed. Again, the nagging thought returned to her: What had Kisuna and Hikaru been talking about?
Even as her brain revisited the question, she looked up to see Kisuna entering the room. The twins were beside the doorway, and Hikaru met the guest's gaze.
They both smiled at one another and exchanged a nod. Raven looked away, as if her eyes had been blinded by a brilliant light. It was nothing. Surely it was nothing. And even if it wasn't, who was she to stop them? She had no intention of telling Hikaru of her feelings. He could be with any girl he wanted.
"Hello, Raven."
Raven glanced over to see Kisuna sit beside her on the couch.
"Oh. Hi." Raven's voice was tight. She felt like there was a bubble expanding in her throat.
"I, uh..." Kisuna looked at her hands for a long moment before meeting her eyes again. "Listen, I just wanted you to know that this will probably be our last visit together, in the Host Club, anyway."
Raven blinked. "Wh... what do you mean?"
Kisuna smiled politely at her. "Oh, you know how girls are, myself included, our tastes change. It's nothing against you, Raven. I'll just be visiting the other Hosts from now on."
Raven lost the feeling in her legs. She swallowed, trying to ignore the hammering of her heart. "Oh. Well. Sure, fine, whatever..." She muttered, looking away and focusing on her guitar more.
Other Hosts. She meant the twins, she had to. There was something going on. One of her guitar strings broke. The twang of it rang sharply in Raven's ears, consuming her entire world.
"Raven?" Kisuna asked softly.
"Ah." Raven gestured to her blue guitar. "It's just been a while since it's had new strings I..." She got to her feet. "I'll go fix it..."
She snatched up her guitar case and swept from the room as fast as she could.
"Raven? Club duties aren't over yet," Kyoya called to her as she went toward the door.
"Not now, Lucy," Raven barked at him.
She went down a few halls. She made sure no one could see her. Then, she leaned against the wall, and slid down into a sitting position. Her body was trembling. Why did this hurt so much? She was supposed to just keep Hikaru a daydream away. Watch from a safe place so she didn't have to lose.
But in that moment, imagining him with Kisuna, Kisuna and not Raven...
"Stupid," Raven breathed. "This is so stupid."
She didn't cry. Raven was fairly certain her body had forgotten how to. She shook, and her breath came in gasps, but no tears fell.
Her father had told her to give Hikaru a chance, and Raven had considered it. But somewhere down the road, she decided she couldn't risk it after all. She decided to stay back, and now this was her punishment. If she'd been open with Hikaru, could she have gotten a chance with him? But, like the song said, if she had him, she wouldn't know what to say.
"This is what I get for letting my guard down," Raven murmured softly to herself in English. "I let down my walls and look what's happened... All over again."
She took a shaky breath, trying to calm her trembling body. She would just have to solidify her walls again. That's all there was to it.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:::
I know, it's been forever, again, since I've touched this puppy. But guys, I have good reason! For one, I've been working so hard on my actual novel, it now has a release date! That's right, on November 4th, my original book, The Heart of Kings will be available for purchase on Amazon. You can find all the information on my Facebook Author page, Serena Sonya Sneed, or if you look up ssswriting on the web, it should get you to my website. (The website link is also on the Facebook page).
My other excuse for not updating this as much as I should is because it really is my therapy story, and idk if you can tell, but I've been a little down the past few weeks, thus this chapter was born with its not so happy ending. However! I swear not to ride on the "misunderstanding" boat for long. I honestly hate those as plot devices, but it just kind of happened in this chapter, so sorry about that XD.
Now! The next episode in the anime is Haruhi in Wonderland. Now, I've had a few ideas for Raven having her own dream experience, but it won't be Alice in Wonderland themed. I wanted to to relate more with Raven's character. So yes, I know, no Hitachiin Cheshire cats, I'M SORRY! But I hope you guys enjoy what I do instead. It's a surprise. ;D.
Also, as a pre-warning, we might be drifting farther off canon from here out. As you can see from this chapter, we didn't really focus too much on Mitsukuni's cavity issue like the anime episode does. I want to keep us centered around Raven and Hikaru, so that's what we're gonna do! So for some episodes, like this one, the canon events might be in the background. Hope that's okay.
Anyway! Thanks as always for the reads, the reviews, the follows and the favs! You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for the support!
-Red