I bet you're all jittery in your seats to find out what's going to happen? Well, I'm not gonna waste any of your time by chatting here for no reason. Just to say;
Ouran Highschool doesn't belong to me, credits goes to Hatori-sensei for creating this wonderful manga for us.
Lobelia, class 1-A, morning after;
The whole class is in a buzz as the school prepares for the carnival that will ultimately attract students like bees to flowers. Class 1-A is no exception; girls are running about and shouting as they get their props ready. The class president, Manami Kaede, ensures that the chaos is under control. With their main attraction still sick, she's the one having to keep everyone in check and not panic.
"Alright everyone! Have the tables set up? How's about the decorations and menu? Where's that white bow for the centerpiece?" she shouts over the chaos. The students who are in charge of the props gave her the thumbs up, as well as the chef and cooks and even the decorators. She smiles with satisfaction and heads over to Haruhi who seems to be a little down. "Is there anything the matter?" she asks gently.
Haruhi turns her head to the class president and gave her a forced smile. "I don't know actually. I really missed Ouran, and I thought by coming here, I'll be free from their shenanigans, but lately I've been feeling this empty void and I want to be part of their shenanigans. I'm not sure whether to leave Lobelia or to stay,"
Manami could only sigh tiredly. If Haruhi were to work with the class for their Maid Café project, she would reprimand her for sulking around instead of doing her job, but since she's not any part of it, Manami lets it slide. She pats the brunette on her shoulder to relieve some of the tenseness. Haruhi thanked her for that and leans back against the chair.
"Haruhi, you've been in Ouran far longer than you've been in Lobelia. That culture shock is still there and I know it's quite hard to adjust if you're that type of person who sticks with how things normally go. Just ask yourself, is Lobelia really the place where you meant to be?" Manami asks sternly yet gently that made Haruhi stunned. She never asked herself that before and now that Manami mentioned it, her heart's been screaming to return to Ouran.
Smiling, Manami returns to her friends who are working on the props for the entrance, leaving Haruhi to her thoughts.
888
After Haruhi's visit, Hikaru thanked Hunny for the use of his extra home and brought Kaoru back to the Hitachiin mansion. His brother is still quite sick but thanks to Haruhi's medicine, he's regaining his strength faster than normal. Seeing Kaoru's eyelids fluttering open, Hikaru turns off his mp3 and scuttles over to his brother's side.
"How're you feeling?" he asks gently. Kaoru gave him a weak smile.
"Terrible, but better than yesterday," he rasps out. Hikaru gave his brother some water to drink and wipes his forehead clean from the sweat that's been forming.
"So, you got Haruhi to change her mind on staying at Lobelia?" Hikaru asks. Kaoru merely sighs and flops back down on the bed, feeling unusually tired. Hikaru regretted asking that and lay down beside his sick brother. He called Kyouya that he would be staying at home to take care of Kaoru, the shadow king groaned but obliged, leaving Hikaru happily babysitting his brother.
"Kaoru, you have got to get better, tomorrow's the carnival and that's our final shot to bring Haruhi back. I'm not pressuring you; in fact, I'm going to make you feel much better," Hikaru exclaims. Kaoru blushes madly when he caught on to what his twin is planning to do. Hikaru would tease him with all sorts of things that could make the fangirls' head explode if they were in the Host Club right now just to make Kaoru heat up. That and shoving honey down his throat whenever he gets the chance.
"Hika, you would not dare," Kaoru hisses out and stressing every word. Hikaru paid him no attention and leans close until Kaoru could feel his brother's breath down his neck, sending shivers down his spine. He could feel his cheeks warming up and sweat starting to form under his shirt.
With a husky chuckle, Hikaru runs a finger down Kaoru's neck, making the younger twin shiver more and his body continues to heat up. Kaoru tries pushing his brother away but Hikaru is stronger than him, and his strength is only half than normal so he could only endure Hikaru's teasing silently. Kaoru whimpered and tries to push his brother off but he could feel his strength depleting rapidly, he was about to relent when their maids' voices cut through the air from the other side of their door.
"Young masters, it's time for lunch,"
Kaoru breathes a sigh of relief when Hikaru finally got off of him to glare at the door. The younger twin took this time to shield himself using the blanket. And when Hikaru finally realizes it, he tries to yank the blanket off but one whine from Kaoru immediately broke his bravado.
"Can't I just warm up on my own?" came the weak protest. Hikaru sighs and got off the bed with a huff. Kaoru slowly lowered the blanket to look at his brother but Hikaru was being rather sly, he swoops in and gave his baby brother a peck on the nose, earning a surprised yelp from Kaoru.
"That is for denying me of my warm time with you. Don't worry little brother, I'll bring in some food for you, so you just sit tight and don't wait up, 'kay?" Hikaru grins out. Kaoru pouts and was then left alone. Now that Hikaru isn't in the room to mess him up, Kaoru tiredly stumbles out of the bed to check the calendar hanging on the wall.
'The carnival's tomorrow huh? I have to get better, for everyone's sake,' he thought ruefully. Kaoru then stumbles over to the cupboard where his maid dress is hanging beautifully, waiting for him to wear it. Eyes filled with determination, Kaoru went to his bedside and poured pure honey into a tablespoon and gulps it down in one go. And then he pops in some amphetamine and buries himself under three layers of comforters.
'I will get better, and by tomorrow, everything will be just as it was before,' was Kaoru's last thought before sleep calls in. When Hikaru returned, he smiled and placed Kaoru's food at the side and gave his brother another peck on the forehead before leaving him to watch some nice TV.
888
Meanwhile, in Lobelia...
"What're we suppose to do? If Kaori-chan doesn't return by tomorrow, the whole café would be ruined!" Rio cried out in alarm. The class is almost complete in preparation, only waiting to be used in the carnival. The girls are putting final touches and even made some last minute adjustments to the signs, menus and props.
"Don't worry, don't panic, I'm sure she'll return as fresh as a daisy tomorrow," Airi comforts her friend in the best way possible, but Rio continues to pace around the classroom and screeching at the top of her voice. Airi turns to Rena who's casually sipping water from her bottle.
"I can always kidnap Hana for a cute maid," she said in a leisure tone without even meeting her friend's gaze. Airi was about to snap when she stops and did a double-take. Rena slowly leers at her friend when Airi slowly nods to herself. "You seriously think I'd do that?"
"What other choice do we have? If Kaoru, I mean, Kaori, doesn't return tomorrow, we'll need another substitute almost as cute as he is. And I believe people adores loli-type children," Airi grins out. Rena went over to her friend and gave her a hearty smack at the back of her head which earns her a rather evil glare. But Rena's undeterred and returns the glare twice over.
"We are not sending my junior out to cosplay in some sort of Maid Café that might get her freaked out for no good reason," Rena hisses out so that her classmates wouldn't hear her. Airi snaps back by slamming a foot down on to Rena's. The other students who noticed the display can only shake their heads with mirth. After all, it's not the first time Rena and Airi engaged in a friendly squabble.
"Whatever it is, all is up to Kaori-chan now, we'll have to go on without her if she doesn't recover by tomorrow," Rio sighs out as she sat down with a flop. Without the other girls knowing, Osamu had been standing outside their class listening in to their conversation all these times. As he heard the defeat in Rio's voice, he went off, leaving the girls to themselves.
'Kaori-jou, please return to this school safely,' he thought grimly. The man currently has got his right upper arm, legs and midsection wrapped up in bandages because of Hikaru's antics yesterday. Apparently the twin decided to go Mr. Smith on him and blasted him with everything he's got. That includes his shoes. The prints are still at the back of his head if he checks hard enough.
Osamu made his way to the teacher's lounge and sat casually at his seat. He went through the scenarios in his head and even consulted with his heart that, yes, he's infatuated with the black haired, blue eyed girl. He's been with many girls and women in his life, but he has never met one as beautiful and as gentle as Kaori. Smiling and giggling to himself, he imagined the beautiful things he would do with his probably soon-to-be-wife. Decision made, he leans forward sharply and inhaled with new vigor.
"Tomorrow is the day that I'll confess my feelings to Kaori,"
In the Hitachiin mansion, Kaoru could feel a chill running down his spine and cracks an eye open. At first he was baffled because Hikaru wasn't there with him, but he heard the ruckus going on downstairs and the loud music blasting through the walls, he knew that Hikaru is either watching TV, listening to his songs, harassing the maids or doing all three at the same time. He chuckles weakly and pulls the comforter tighter around him. His headache has receded but he still eats some antibiotics to ensure that it stays that way.
'I wonder how everyone, both in Lobelia and in Ouran are doing. I bet milord is doing the best he can to make up the best apology letter for Haruhi,' he thought gleefully. How he wished he was at Ouran right now to see the blonde idiot reciting his lines in the most ridiculous ways. But he knew better, so he just shut his eyes and drifts into a peaceful slumber.
888
Ouran, after school, hallway to music room 3;
Hunny idly strolls through to reach his destination with usa-chan clutched tightly in his embrace. His cousin still has kendo practice and he had volunteered to go first, Mori seems a little reluctant but nods anyway. So here he is, humming to himself and imagining all the cakes he could eat later when a voice to his left caught his attention.
He went over to the source and found out that an unused store room is now supporting quite a number of girls chattering and looking absolutely peeved. Hunny strained his ears just so he could catch whatever they're saying and was shocked when he finally heard enough conversation. He listens in more and when he deems that he now has a hold of that piece of information, he dashes to the clubroom as fast as he could.
In the clubroom, Tamaki, Kyouya and Hikaru are minding their businesses when the door bursts open to reveal the disheveled little blonde. One of his hand waving frantically in the air while the other keeps a firm grasp on his stuffed toy.
"Everyone, trouble! The girls of this school are going to storm Lobelia demanding for Haru-chan's return in half an hour! They're going in a convoy of helicopters with Renge as their leader!" he screeches out, face turning bluish from the harsh panting and the rising panic. Tamaki leapt to his feet and is looking quite pale. Hikaru simply visits the Host Club to check Tamaki's progress while Kaoru's at home resting, but hearing that news made him feel even more protective of his brother for some odd reason.
"We can't just sit here; Renge will destroy everything we've worked so hard for! And I bet this time Kaoru couldn't convince Haruhi to return anymore!" Tamaki wailed pathetically. Kyouya simply pushes his glasses up and closes his laptop. No other person on this planet could persuade Renge once she's determined except for himself.
"I will talk to Renge, Tamaki; you go and try to stop the other girls from leaving this school with your charms, Hunny-senpai; call Mori-senpai from his practice saying that we have a situation, Hikaru; inform this to Kaoru so he could contact his friends in Lobelia, they might need a heads up," Kyouya went passed smoothly. Tamaki nods and runs out the door followed by Hunny. Kyouya remains in his seat and pulls out a phone with a sigh and notices Hikaru doing the same.
"I wonder why Renge even thought of such an insane idea. What, are her other insane ideas not enough to bother us?" the twin growls out ferally. Kyouya ignores him and calls the so-called manager of the Host Club, only to huff in annoyance as it goes into voicemail. He could vaguely hear Hikaru talking to his brother about the situation, and from the conversation, it could be seen that Kaoru is panicking on the other side. Kyouya tries again, and again his call is lead to Renge's voicemail.
"Hikaru, it's no use. We need to stop Renge ourselves, she's not picking her phone," Kyouya drawls out as he turns off his laptop and gathers his items. Hikaru bids Kaoru goodbye and went over to his senpai. It was odd for the twin, normally Kaoru is the one close to Kyouya, and he on the other hand is with Haruhi. That made Hikaru think, when had a gorge appear between him and Kaoru?
"Yeah, I'll go to Lobelia first, or at least try to intercept Renge and her gang in the middle," Hikaru said out. Kyouya nods his head and heads off to one direction while Hikaru going to the opposite direction. In his head, Kyouya is practically screaming with rage for Renge's foolishness, but he kept a cool posterior so that other students wouldn't go around thinking that the son of an Ootori suddenly went mental. He doesn't need that, his father doesn't need that, and nobody needs that.
Reaching the west wing of the school, he could vividly hear the girls swooning over Tamaki as he uses his host skill to the best. Despite himself, Kyouya smirk at the notion of easily-swayed females. It doesn't take that hard to distract them. Looking around, he sees no sign of Renge anywhere, but he did see Mori running towards him with Hunny on his shoulders. The senior approached him in no time at all and without breaking a sweat.
"Good, you're here, we need to find Renge as fast as possible and try to stop her. If she declines..." the VP of the Host Club sighs out dejectedly and pats the tall senior on the shoulder. "If she declines after so many persuasions, I want you to act out like the twins to make her distracted. I bet she'll adore BL not just between twins," he grounds out. To Kyouya, it was rather painful, but the two seniors simply nod their heads in understanding and went off.
Kyouya, a little dumbstruck but didn't show it, continues to scour the hallways in search of the otaku girl. So far, he's had no luck in finding her, until he sees the girl getting into her limousine with a headband over her forehead written; HARUHI BELONGS TO OURAN along with a few other girls, crazed up expression on their faces. Kyouya could be seen getting paler as he dashes towards the courtyard, only to find himself alone as the limousine drove off towards its destination.
Pulling out his phone, he quickly calls for Hikaru. "Hikaru, Renge is on the move, she just got out of Ouran, and you have to intercept her in any means possible," he said out evenly, making sure his voice doesn't crack. Hikaru replies with a confident 'you got it' and cuts off the line. Kyouya then proceeds to call Tamaki, Mori and Hunny to meet him at the courtyard so they could go to Lobelia. The three understood immediately and heads off to where Kyouya is waiting with his limo.
Without wasting anymore time, he told his chauffer to go straight to their destination without consorting the road rules.
888
Haruhi is packing her bag to get ready to return home after an intense training at the auditorium. But as soon as she steps out, she heard a loud commotion at the school's courtyard, making her somewhat curious and a little worried. There are screeching and shrill yelling all over that made the girl move towards where the ruckus is coming from. When she peeks over, she was surprised to see girls in familiar yellow dresses fighting with the girls of Lobelia. Straining her neck, she could see Renge being at the front of the group and fighting with a Lobelia girl with brown hair tied in a high ponytail while the other girls stand behind their respective leaders and hissing at each other.
"Haruhi doesn't belong in this school filled with lesbians! He belongs with us!" Renge shouts out as her hair turns into snakes. The opposing girl snaps back, now with fangs and claws and her hair stands on end like an angry cat.
"What makes you think Haruhi's a BOY? Obviously she's a girl or maybe you're too dense to notice that? And she belongs with us, not some perverted school filled with snobs who think nothing but themselves!" she screeches back only to make Renge launch herself at her, starting a brawl which in turn, creates a chain reaction and all the girls are reenacting the Civil War.
Haruhi gasps when she sees the state Lobelia is in right now. She's worried that her secret would be revealed to the Ouran girls but she's also worried that the discipline teachers would hear the commotion, punishes everyone and informing Yuzuru Suoh about what had happened. The last thing she wants is that everything becomes chaotic.
From afar, she could see Hikaru and the rest of the Host Club members trying to stop the girls but failing. Even Tamaki couldn't charm the girls with his specialty anymore.
Tamaki... It's been a while since she saw him, and to see him right now looking quite serious for the first time she'd known him, made her think twice about staying in Lobelia. These boys, not only do they make her life more colorful, they also get to learn about the ways of the commoners thanks to her. If she didn't teach them, they'd probably be looking down upon people like her and think they're nothing more of a nuisance. And for once, she was glad that she's their friend.
Making her way towards Kyouya, she made sure that she couldn't be seen by the brawling girls. She slowly, stealthily made her way towards the boys and was glad when Hunny saw her. She quickly shortens the distance and stood with the rest of them as the boys shielded her from the other girls' view using their bodies.
"What is going on here, what is Renge doing? And what's with this fight?" she moans out irritably. Hikaru gave her an apologetic smile but she was surprised to see only him alone and without Kaoru. "Where's Kaoru?"
"He's at home, a dog bit him on his leg so now he's healing it," Hikaru said sharply. Haruhi arches a brow but didn't press it any further. She then turns to both Kyouya and Tamaki, her expression clearly showing that she wants answers on the spot. She's angry, yes, but she misses them too much to stay angry, and now she's seeing them again, her heart calls out for her friends whom she's attached to all these times and seized her chest. For the first time ever since her mother's death, she wants to cry and just run into their arms.
"Renge wants you to return to Ouran now, so she's using force against the girls of Lobelia," Tamaki said ruefully. Upon closer inspection, Haruhi could see the dark bags under the boy's eyes and his reddened corneas, indicating he didn't get any good sleep in the past few days or maybe even weeks. And with a voice so broken, so tired and so apologetic, he hugs the girl and rested his head there.
"Haruhi...I'm so sorry,"
That was it. That was the tone Haruhi needs to really convince herself that Ouran is where she belongs. All the noise, all the other people was nothing more than a whispered hush as Tamaki silently cries on her shoulders. She missed Ouran; she missed the Host Club, but...
"I'm staying,"
Ohohoho, there's that reaction I'm looking for. Fufufu... Don't worry my dearies, the final chapter will be up soon, cross your fingers. As you all know, I'm very busy this year, so please be considerate and understanding. I would've posted this chapter SOONER if my parents suddenly didn't decide to go help my foster sister and her wedding.
I died of exhaustion both from helping for 4 days straight AND the long, 8-12 hour drive. Seriously people, I couldn't feel my ass!
Wish me luck in my life...