*poof* I is here! Hello people! I have come to you with the 12th chapter of A Tricky Start. So I'm exceptionally curious. How many of you read the author notes? I have decided to find out! If you review (please please do) put the word "achoo" in your review. (Ain't rhyms wonderful?) On to the reviewers!
XxMentallyInsaneCupcakexX: Glad you still love reading it, cause I still love writing it!
Mist Hitachiin: Yeah he totally is. The worst part is I'm going to leave him like that for a bit. I love having Kaoru tease Hikaru. It's a refreshing change. (In my opinion anyway.)
Oceanlynn: Yeah, Howl-chan's pretty awesome like that. (Don't tell her I said so.) *looks back at chapters* We're only at 11? Wow. I'm not sure if it feels like its gone by too fast or too slow...it also occurs to me, I don't have an ending figured out...oh this is going to be interesting.
Howl-chan: Thanks again for the fashion help. I'm sure the readers thank you that they didn't have to read my stuff. I'm pretty sure you already read this chapter...I hope.
Ryadai: I congratulate you on having the longest review so far. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I'm glad you noticed how she didn't know who they were exactly and that she gradually got used to them! I went back and read some of my stuff and realized that I don't have her interacting with the whole club as much as I want, so after the nest chapter or so I'm going to try and change that. Oh, speaking of nect chapter, Kimi will be in that one more than she as been in any of the others so far. Thanks for commenting on her. I was hoping she wasn't overshadowed by Kali. Heh, Shopping...um...like I said before I'm terrible with fashion, so they don't go shopping persay. I hope the chapter stilll meets your expectations.
Crimson TigerLily: Haha I have an update! *magical flourish*
Disclaimer: *looks up* Eh, too long. I'll put it at the bottom.
"I thought you said we were going to the mall?"
"We are."
"Without the guys?"
"I called them and said we were going to the mall early and would meet them there."
While Kali and Kaoru talked, Hikaru remained strangely quite as he stared out the window. He was contemplating deep thoughts about a certain brunette who had recently almost fallen out of a tree. Said brunette broke his thoughts with a light hit to the head.
"Hey! What was that for?" he asked, looking at her.
"We're here and you still haven't gotten out of the limo." Kali said, standing outside the open limo door. "Oh."
For a refreshing change, the twins weren't dragging Kali around. In fact Kali and Kaoru were dragging Hikaru around. He was still a little spaced out. Not even the splendor of the Commoner's Mall had pulled him from his thoughts. Kali had to once again revive him.
"Oi! Hikaru." Kali called, snapping her fingers in front of his face.
"What?"
"Which flavor do you want?"
"Huh?" Hikaru asked, more confused than before.
Kaoru rolled his eyes. "Two cherry." he said to the man at the counter of the candy shop that they had apparently walked into. The man handed Kaoru two red lollipops. Kali thanked him as they left the shop.
"Oh, how I love free candy!" Kali said happily, taking a lick of her grape lollipop.
The three walked around for awhile, looking around the stores, watching people, just having fun in general. Finally Kaoru got a call from a now awakened Kyoya.
"Kyoya-senpai says they're at the arcade." he said, hanging up the phone.
"There's an arcade? Sweet, let's go!" Kali grabbed the twin's arms and began to run.
"Um, Kali-san. The arcade is in the other way." Kaoru said, pointing in the opposite direction.
"Oh." This mistake, however, didn't hinder her enthusiasm in dragging the twins away. When they reached the arcade, Kali was ecstatic. She hadn't been to an arcade since she left America and she couldn't wait to play the games. Or more accurately she couldn't wait to beat the pants off of anyone who was foolish enough to accept her challenge. She knew just the sucker, I mean, person. From across the room she saw a head of blonde hair bouncing excitedly amongst the 'commoners'. Kali raced to him. "Tamaki-senpai! I challenge you to a game!" she exclaimed, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at him.
Mother, did you hear that? Our darling niece wants to play a game with her oji-san!"
"You play?" asked the Hitachiin twins.
Before Kali could answer, Tamaki butted in. "I am so happy that you two are caring for your cousin, but fear not! Although I have more experience with these commoner's games I shall go easy on your cousin to prevent her from losing self esteem when I win!"
Poor Tamaki had no idea how wrong he was.
Ten minutes later Kali had beat Tamaki at every game they'd played.
"But how?" Tamaki despaired.
"Better eye hand coordination." Kali stated.
"More skills." Hikaru added.
"More experience." Kaoru joined. There was the briefest pause while the three waited for an absent Kimi to also comment. However only the three noticed it, and only Kaoru felt the slightest bit lonely.
"And just better overall." they finished in unison. Tamaki did what was the most natural reaction. Well, for him anyway. He found the darkest corner in the room, plopped down, and began cultivating mushrooms. Classic Tamaki.
"Tamaki, please refrain from your usual depression activities while in public. Not only do you present a negative image of the Host Club, but its not very sanitary. Profits will go down if you aren't able to host due to sickness." Kyoya said, making notes on his clipboard. Payback for waking him up rudely and rather early as well.
Kali laughed along with Hikaru and Kaoru at Tamaki's broken hearted expression. However her laughs did not last long.
"Kali? Kali Anderson?" asked a voice from Kali's past. She froze and became pale. Without looking back she walked away from the Host Club and, more importantly, the voice. When she heard the voice call her again, she quickened her pace. She heard more voices. Concerned voices calling her back. However right now she didn't care. She just had to get away from that one voice.
Japan! She moved to Japan and he still managed a way to haunt her. She was happy here. Why did he have to come. Wasn't ruining her first life enough?
She turned a corner, almost running now, and found herself at a dead end. She turned to go back, but her exit was blocked by a silhouette.
"Hey, I thought that was you." he said, coming closer.
"And I thought it was you." she said, crossing her arms.
"Oh don't be that way. I'm really glad to see you."
"If my ignoring you before hadn't made it clear, I'm not happy to see you." She tried to push past him. He blocked her way out, pushing her back into the dead end.
"Where are you going? Is this how you treat a friend after not seeing them for months?"
"Funny, I don't see any friends around here."
"You're right."
She paused. What?
"I'm your boyfriend, so I should get a kiss."
Knew it.
"In your perverted little dreams." she hissed, trying to get away from him. This time he pinned her to the wall. She could now see him smooth black hair and sharp green eyes. She had never wanted to see those eyes again. She tried to kick him, but her was able to avoid her every time. When she gave up on trying to kick him she tried to release her arms from his grasp. It didn't work. She ended up just glaring at him, hoping he would make a wrong move that would allow her to escape.
"You look cute when you glare like that." he said, leaning closer to her.
What's he doing? He wouldn't….right? What am I saying? Of coarse he would.
Realizing his intentions, Kali tried harder to get away. However his grip didn't loosen a bit. She tried moving her face out of the way, but he used his hand not holding her to keep her face still. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't find her voice. Kali squeezed her eyes shut and hoped that something would stop him.
"Oi! What are you doing to Kali-san?"
That works.
Kali opened her eyes and sighed in relief when she saw the Host Club. They stood blocking his escape.
"Who are you?" asked Kaoru, following up for his brother.
"Who are you guys?" he asked, taking his attention off of Kali to look at the Host Club.
"I believe we asked first." said Kyoya in his normal cold voice.
"Baldwin, Ryan. Kali's boyfriend." he answered, taking Kali by the waist.
No one in the club missed the look of disgust and fear on Kali's face when he said that. They also noticed her trying to get away.
"Like hell you are. Get away!" she yelled, finding her voice now that they were there.
At that Mori came over and offered Kali a hand, which she gratefully took. He tried to lead her back to the Host Club, but Ryan wouldn't let go. "Hey, man, back off. She's mine."
This seemed to be the breaking point for the twins. They came right up and got in his face.
"She is not your girlfriend."
"She wants you to let go."
"So get away, NOW." they finished together, shivering from the amount of willpower it was taking to not attack this stranger.
"Phft. And what'll you do if I don't?" Ryan challenged.
The twins were a millisecond from hitting him when Kyoya intervened. "Hikaru, Kaoru. I'd rather we not cause an unnecessary mess, so let me handle this."
The twins backed off just enough to let Kyoya step a little closer. "If you leave now not only will my family's private police force not arrest you, but your family's business ties with mine will not be jeopardized."
Ryan gave him a weird look. "Your family's business?"
"Yes, the Ootori Group." Kyoya said, adjusting his glasses.
Ryan paled a little. To his credit he held himself together rather well, but no one holds up against an Ootori forever.
"Hmph. I'll be going then." he said, releasing Kali to Mori, and putting his hands in his pockets. The Host Club members moved aside to let him pass. "I'll see you later Kali." he called before disappearing from sight.
Kali sighed, hoping that she wouldn't see him again. All the Hosts turned to look at her. "I don't want to talk about it."
"But-" Hikaru started.
"Hey Honey-sempai, their giving out free lollipops at a candy store in the mall! Ya wanna go?" Kali asked, ignoring Hikaru.
"Sure Ka-chan! That sounds like fun! Right, Takashi?" Honey said, respecting the girl's privacy. "Ah." Mori answered.
"Good let's go!" Kali said, grabbing Honey's hand and skipping in the direction of the candy shop, a smile plastered on her face.
Kali's past rears it's head. What will this mean for her? What will this mean for Hikaru? Where is Kimi? Who is Kaoru's date? What will-
Kaoru: What's with all the questions?
Me: When did you get in here?
Kaoru: I don't know. I don't even know where here is.
Me: Come to think of it, neither do I.
Hikaru: Kaoru, what are you doing here?
Kaoru: I just answered that.
Hikaru: Really?
Kali: Hey, Kaoru, what are you doing here?
Kaoru: I seriously just answered that.
Kali: Really?
Kimi: Hey, Kaoru-
Kaoru:I just answered that.
Kimi: You already answered why my name is scribbled in your journal?
*Silence from all*
Kali: Well, this is akward.
Me: Hey, Kaoru. Do the disclaimer and this won't happen in the story.
Kaoru: The recently renamed Naoko Matatabi doesn't own Ouran. She owns only Kali, Kimi, and the plot.
Me: Please review!