Enjoy!
~ Lizzy
Chapter Eleven: Ai's Uniform
That night, Kyoya had troubles sleeping. He was for the most part relaxed, but still thinking about what Ai had said to him. To become his strength? What did this mean? Did it mean that she wanted to be of help to him like a servant of the house, or something more? And why was his heart so moved when he heard her say it to the point where he wanted to hug her?
Of course it couldn't have meant anything for her, at least not more than just a poor servant wanting to pay back his supposed kindness. It was irritating to have her think in these terms, but of course he shouldn't have expected any deeper meaning.
'What am I doing?' He thought to himself sighing. He was really tired of having these stupid emotions and anxiety running his life. He needed to stop this behavior or he would find himself making mistakes like he had done with Mori. His eyes opened again, staring at the ceiling.
Mori was a big mistake he utterly forgot about. First was Aizawa and now Mori, other people seem to be always complicating his plans.
'What plans am I talking about?' He thought again to himself realizing that he was talking about a plan that didn't exist. He didn't have any plans for Ai, he was simply treating her like a employee of the house there to serve for his benefit, nothing more. Right now his biggest goal was to prove himself to his father and upstage his brothers. Right now he shouldn't be thinking about these petty things. He covered his face with the side of his arm as he tried to regain his thoughts.
"This is nothing." He said to himself and prepared to finally sleep. It was already 3am, if he fell asleep right away, he would get about 4 hours and 10 minutes of rest. It would not be sufficient, but it was all that he had right now.
"Ootori-san? Ootori-san, it's 7:20 now." Ai said trying to shake Kyoya awake. He heard her voice and knew it was her, but he couldn't trust his instincts anymore. There was a small chance that when he opened his eyes it was Tamaki like it had been before. But then he felt her hand touch his forehead and it surprised him.
"You're a little warm, are you feeling unwell- Ootori-san! Your eyes!" Ai exclaimed unintentionally when he opened his eyes to see her. She was shocked, he had deep dark circles under his eyes, the whites completely blood shot. He groaned unable to handle her sudden loud voice.
"Are you alright?" She asked genuinely worried for him. Kyoya's eyes opened a bit more to see Ai more clearly. He felt tired and annoyed.
"Otoori-san, are you alright?" Ai asked again looking at him more closely. She had never seen him look this tired. It was normal to find him in a somewhat annoyed state in the mornings, but never had she seen him this bad. She was certain he was sick. Kyoya sighed relaxing a little. He was frustrated since he had only had a few hours of sleep, he rolled off of her and back into his bed.
"Ah, no Ootori-san, you have to wake up." Ai said anxious that he was going to be late. He groaned falling back asleep. Ai sat up and put her hand over his forehead again comparing it to her own, when suddenly Tamaki barged in.
"Ah! Ai-chan, you're here already. I was going to wake up Kyoya but you beat me to it." Tamaki laughed as he skipped up to the bedroom where he found Ai looking nervous.
"Ai-chan? What's wrong?" Tamaki asked wondering if Kyoya had done or said something to her.
"Ootori-san…I think Ootori-san is ill." Ai said looking more nervous.
"Oy, Kyoya? What's wrong?" Tamaki said rushing to his friend's side. He cupped his face looking down at Kyoya. He looked very tired, with dark circles under his eyes and not much movement.
"I'll go call Ueda-san." Ai announced worried that Kyoya might really be very ill.
"It's okay, I'm his friend I know what he needs right now…my kiss will cure him." Tamaki said bringing his face closer to Kyoya, who shoved the blonde's face away from him.
"Didn't I tell you I'd suffocate you if you tried that again?" Kyoya said bitterly annoyed with how much noise surrounded him.
"I didn't get much sleep last night. Leave me alone." Kyoya roared deeply pulling the covers to his shoulders and going back to sleep. Ai looked to Tamaki for instruction, she didn't know if he was just sleepy or sick.
"It's alright, he has low blood pressure in the mornings." Tamaki laughed.
"Why don't you come to school with me, and let Kyoya rest up." Tamaki smiled coming to her side giving her some confidence. Kyoya could hear the two talking. Sure it was sensible for Tamaki to offer to take her to school with him, while he rested, and yet; it bothered him.
"Thank you Souh-san, but I can't leave Ootori-san like this. Thank you for the offer." She smiled and kindly bowed to him, it wasn't a surprise to Tamaki that she would insist on staying with Kyoya, but somehow he knew it was shocking for Kyoya.
"I'll be right back. I'll prepare some soup." She smiled and dismissed herself.
"Did you hear that Kyoya?" Tamaki smirked as Ai left the room. Kyoya closed his eyes and pretended not to be awake.
"You're not that tired are you?" Tamaki said jumping into bed with Kyoya and snuggling up next to him. It was annoying to admit that it felt pretty good that she decided to stay with him.
"What time did you go to sleep?" Tamaki asked wondering if this involved his father.
"Late, it was almost 3:30." Kyoya replied with his eyes still closed, his voice a little hoarse from the stress of the night.
"Kyoya, don't think of unnecessary things." Tamaki said profoundly.
"I know." Kyoya replied sighing and falling asleep.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already 12pm. He rolled to his back and stretched. He felt much better after much needed rest. But the first thought to pop into his mind was where Ai was. He sat up and scanned his room, she wasn't there. He sighed, was he expecting her to be there waiting for him?
He got up and heard her enter the room. He looked at her from up top, seeing her plate him lunch. She looked up to see him.
"Ootori-san, how are you feeling?" Ai asked as she walked up to him. He was a bit stunned and a little confused. What was she doing there? She reached up and touched his forehead.
"Good, you're back to normal." She smiled relieved. Kyoya was stunned speechless. She had done this before. He unintentionally realized again how much shorter she was, and how much sweeter she smelled.
"I brought you some soup. I tried to get you to wake up and have something earlier, but you wouldn't wake up." She smiled gently. Kyoya recognized this sensation, it was soft and caring, like something he had experienced in the distant past.
"But I'm glad you aren't sick." She smiled warmly before him. Kyoya stepped back and composed himself.
"I'll be down in a moment. I'm going to shower first." He said adjusting his glasses. Ai nodded and went back downstairs to finish plating the soup. Kyoya couldn't help but feel anxious with her that close, the feelings of last night lingering on his body again, and something else that felt faintly familiar. He stared at himself in the bathroom mirror taking off his glasses. Just like his other feelings, he couldn't figure it out, and didn't dare to.
When they arrived to school, it was pointless to show up. But there was still 2 hours left to the school day, and Host Club after. So it was still worth it to come to school. Ai came out still dressed in her old uniform. She would be getting her new uniform at school, where she would do a final fitting. She had never had anything made for her before, not even her old school cared about how the uniform fit. She was a bit excited to wear the uniform.
"I'll come with you to get your uniform." Kyoya said walking her to the student office room. She thanked him. Tamaki and Haruhi met up with them on their way, and decided to join them much to Kyoya's annoyance.
Ai was inside, trying on her new Ouran school uniform while the others stayed out in the lobby waiting. There were some other students there making small talk with them just for fun, or waiting for their friends to get adjustments done to their uniform. A girl group from Kyoya's class came in, and said their polite hello's.
"Are you here to get something fixed as well Tamaki-san?" One of the girls asked. Kyoya felt a discomfort, these were the same girls who were asking Ai personal questions on her first day, and the same one's giving her looks after class. Her name was Sugiyama Chikako. He knew they were the type of girls to cause trouble and pretend it was not their fault.
"Not really. I'm here for a friend who's getting fitted." Tamaki replied kindly.
"Oh, I see. We are here because the hemming of my other uniform was coming undone." She smiled sweetly. She was satisfied getting this attention from Tamaki when suddenly Ai walked out capturing their attention.
"I'm done." Ai smiled. She was glowing and looked like a princess in her uniform, even Haruhi was feeling the flutters of love as she approached Kyoya for his approval. He snapped out before he lost his composure.
"Does it fit well?" He asked her trying not to over think his sudden anxiety.
"Yes." Ai replied beaming him a big bright smile.
"Ai-chan, the uniform really suits you." Tamaki said grabbing both her hands and swinging them gently. Ai blushed.
"Why is she wearing our uniform?" Chikako said bitterly. Her face ablaze with jealous rage.
"She's a student here, so of course she's going to wear the uniform." Tamaki explained diplomatically.
"I thought she's officially Ootori-san's assistant, so that makes her not a real student. It doesn't seem fair." Chikako snarled as her little friends agreed.
"What are you saying?" Tamaki laughed trying to play down the little argument. Ai was feeling uncomfortable but could only smile. She recognized the look on the girls face, and her annoyance and disgust. Memories of being bullied were racing back into her, so she stepped back only able to look down and smile.
"This uniform means something to us, it can't be just worn by anyone who joins our school because of her employment with Ootori-san. Our parents paid money for these uniforms, she's a charity case here. Why does she get this –"
"That's enough! She's a student here, so she gets to wear it. And unlike you guys, her parents didn't just buy her way in here with money, she proved her entrance by doing the exam-"
Kyoya stepped in and stopped Haruhi. She was going to continue saying what she had to say. She stepped in because she was in a similar situation. She had been the only scholarship student in this rich school for a long time, and wasn't going to see a fellow classmate suffer these insults. Kyoya stepped in though cutting her off.
"I understand Sugiyama-san. You're grievance is that she is only an employee working for me here at school, is that correct?" Kyoya asked the belligerent girl.
"Yes, it is." She replied snobbishly.
"I understand. Your points are valid. I will speak to the Principle about this and see if she should continue wearing her old uniform in school. Would that be to your satisfaction?" Kyoya asked.
"Oy, Kyoya! What're you saying?" Tamaki said shocked that Kyoya would say something like that. Haruhi and Ai were equally alarmed. That was not the position they thought Kyoya would take. The girls smirked.
"Yes it would be." She said feeling victorious. Ai didn't know what to do, she smiled half heartedly unable to speak her own mind.
"Kyoya, what are you saying? She's a student here first! She earned her right in here-"
"It's better to have their concerns addressed since they are in the right as well." Kyoya interrupted Tamaki again making the girls feel even bigger and better.
"That's right, so in the mean time take it off." Chikako snarled suddenly approaching Ai and tearing off the bow on her uniform. Kyoya's eyes widen and he took a step forward to grab the girls hand before she touched Ai any further, but found another hand grab her instead.
"Stop." Mori said looking and sounding very upset. He pushed the girl back a little and stood in front of Ai.
"Violence against another student is cause for suspension, I wonder if you know this Sugiyama-san?" Honey said looking pretty menacing himself. She stepped back as did the other girls.
"I think you could barely call that violence. I was simply helping her take off her bow." Sugiyama replied looking pretty confident.
"After all, my father is a prestigious lawyer, he would find it laughable to call this mere thing a violent act." She continued.
Tamaki looked to Kyoya to step in and say something, after all, even though his family was in medicine, their connections to law and his knowledge on the matter was vast. But Kyoya did nothing, he simply adjusted his glasses.
"Here, the bow, I have to attend to my uniform." She said with a cocky smile. Mori took the bow from her hand still blocking Ai from having to face her attacker. She walked off with her group. They were relieved but tensions were still mounting.
"Kyoya, what were you thinking?" Tamaki said now looking for answers as to why he sided with Sugiyama.
"I didn't side with her, but she did have a point and now that it's brought up, we have to address it." Kyoya replied looking as he always does.
"Kyoya." Mori said catching his attention. Mori gave the bow to him and then turned to Ai who was still smiling but shivering. Kyoya grew tense. He couldn't stand to look as Mori took the glory of the protector.
"Ai-san, are you alright?" Mori asked. His voice was low and kind, it was soothing for her to hear. She could only continue smiling trying her best to remember that she was fine now.
"Yes, I'm sorry for causing all this." She was able to reply feeling a bit embarrassed for becoming so lifeless. Haruhi put a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong." Haruhi said feeling really frustrated with Kyoya.
"Thank you. I will go change for now." She smiled kindly and left to change. Kyoya held on to the bow still not saying anything in his defense, but feeling repulsed with himself somehow. It was right was Sugiyama said, and he did come up with a plan instantly when she brought it up, but still it didn't feel good for not being able to help her. And the fact that Mori stood to protect her irritated him further.
"Kyoya, you still should've defended her." Honey said looking pretty sad.
"I understand your feelings, but this will only aggravate the situation for her. If we all protect her like that, it will only infuriate Sugiyama-san further. We have to be diplomatic about this." Kyoya replied. He knew what bullies were capable of.
"Haruhi, you faced a similar situation when you first came in. But we have to address this situation properly so that it doesn't look like we're playing favorites. Otherwise we'll just make it harder for her." He continued. Everyone, including Haruhi understood this, and yet it still didn't feel good.
"But even so…it wasn't right." Haruhi said quietly. Everyone nodded agreeing.
"Kyoya." Mori said for the first time in a long while.
"Saying nothing will also make it harder for her." He said. Kyoya adjusted his glasses again understanding what he was saying.
"Still we have to do things cautiously. I ask you all to trust my judgment." Kyoya replied looking directly at Mori who only nodded.
Kyoya was annoyed. These annoying things kept on happening. He replayed the events from earlier in his mind, how Mori stepped in, how he looked down at her asking if she was alright. The softness of his eyes, the tenderness in his voice. Kyoya sighed. This was really frustrating. And what was worse, was this annoying feeling now, of being left half way standing reaching out to help Ai, only to be interrupted by Mori.
He put on his shirt and went outside to the room. Everyone was already sitting around eating snacks with Ai there smiling away. She served them tea and was smiling like she normally did which was a relief to Kyoya. She had been feeling strange after that incident, but it was nice to see her whole hearted smile again. Kyoya wondered if it brought back any painful memories of her past.
"Kyoya, you took forever." Honey said as he welcomed him to the little snack table.
"Yes I was considering some things." Kyoya replied as he sat down next to Tamaki.
"Ootori-san would you like some tea?" Ai said coming to his side with the fresh pot of tea. He nodded and she poured.
"Anyways, getting back to the meeting, everything's been settled for the Halloween party." Kyoya said looking over his file for the party planning when Kaoru and Hikaru put up their hands.
"What is it?" Kyoya asked.
"We have a matter we like to discuss." The twins said in unison.
"And that is?" Kyoya said wondering if they were asking to pull a prank.
"Since Ai is like a member of our club, she should get a costume part too." They suggested. The group agreed, it was a good idea. Ai nervously smiled, she couldn't say anything, but it was something she would really like to do. She remembered the past Halloween parties she celebrated with her friends.
"I don't know if that's a good idea. This afternoon's situation with her uniform, until that matter is settled we shouldn't push it." Kyoya replied. He was right and the group understood that, but somehow it didn't seem right.
"Still she's part of our club, she should at least be allowed to participate in the party." Haruhi voiced in Ai's defense.
"I understand your feelings on the matter Haruhi, but right now, we have to proceed with caution. One thing at a time has to be cleared." Kyoya responded. Ai could only smile, she didn't want to be a bother.
"It's alright, I understand." Ai smiled breaking some of the tension in the room. Tamaki's tears welled up and he shot up hugging her.
"You're so kind Ai-chan." He said petting her head like a cat. Ai smiled nervously. Kyoya pulled Tamaki off of her putting him down on the couch again.
"But how are we going to handle this uniform thing?" Honey asked.
"Yeah, I mean they're using this whole assistant thing as an excuse to exclude her from school." Hikaru added.
Kyoya adjusted his glasses, he had come up with a plan.
"Sugiyama-san was in a rush when she said those things, she didn't think of the consequences. I suggested we see the principle on the matter and she agreed. We'll leave it to the principle to decide." Kyoya replied. The group looked at each other.
"That's your plan? And what if her parents petition the other parents and the principle sides with Sugiyama-san?" Kaoru asked.
"I'm counting on that happening." Kyoya replied with a small smile.
"What? But that means she won't get to wear the uniform" Honey said wondering who's side Kyoya was on really.
"If it goes that far, it will benefit us and be better for Sakamoto-san." Kyoya replied. The group looked at each other confused. How was this going to benefit Ai or the group? Kyoya drank his tea letting the group grow in suspense.
That night Ai was quiet and worried. She sat down on her bed with her pillow in her embrace. She had flashes of some disturbing times. They had pushed her into bed and were calling her names and pouring water on her. Other times, they pulled her hair and took her things. Her eyes closed, she held on to her pillow tighter. Those were hard times.
"I'm okay." She whispered to herself but that was when she remembered the events of today. She worried for herself. She didn't want to get bullied again, ever again. She started to question if that school would really be a safe place for her. What if no one had been there for her, what would have happened then? She felt like she was about to cry.
Suddenly Aiwaza came into mind, and her friend Shiho. They were smiling at her taking goofy photo's at a school festival. Those were nice memories to have. She relaxed.
"No, I can't be like this." She said firmly to herself. She wasn't alone, she had people there with her. People who defended her, like Mori would stepped in to shield her. She thought about him, he was really very kind, and it warmed her heart.
"I'm alright. I'm still alright." Ai smiled to herself. Smiling was her escape, and if she wasn't smiling, she might have cried then and even now.
She had to be confident, Kyoya was there for her, and so were his friends. They were helping her, so she had to be strong too.
She smiled to herself more confidently, if she was aiming to be positive and work hard for a better life; she had to be strong.
That's chapter 11!
On the next chapter: The Host club fights for Ai's right to wear the Ouran uniform, what does Kyoya have planned and is it for Ai's benefit or for himself?