Alright everyone, the votes are in and KaoruxSei won by a landslide! Thankyou everyone who voted and told me who you'd rather see my Sei with! I myself was hoping that it'd turn out this way, I just love Kaoru to death xD!
Anyway, I've been working on this chapter all week, so I hope ya'll like it!
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It's a Twin Thing
Chapter 13
The next morning Sai woke up first, stifling a yawn as he rolled over onto his side to see his sister still asleep, snuggling up to his chest. He blinked before frowning at her pained expression, she must've been having a nightmare about the previous night, and he really couldn't blame her, he had had an awful dream about it aswell.
The night before had certainly been painful and had taken quite a toll on Sei, he had decided to stay with her through the night to comfort her and he knew that she felt safe and secure with him around.
He glanced over at the digital clock and sighed before lightly shaking his sister,"Hey Sei, it's time to get up..."
She scrunched up her face and let out a loud groan, "Ugh...but he's gonna be there...
Hearing the hopelessness in her voice made his heart break, he wanted desperately to protect her from their father's decision, however, they both knew that there was nothing that either of them could do to get their father to rethink his choice. Sai tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her closer to him, he felt her relax in his grip.
"It'll be okay Sei, I can promise you that we'll get through this together."
"I hope so..." She choked into his chest before gently pushing herself out of his grip and going to get ready for school.
Sai smiled sadly,"It will be, Sei..."
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Sei went through the day as nothing more than a ghost, she didn't even seem to make much of an effort in any of her classes, it was as if she hadn't even been there at all. She remained quiet and distant, opting to sit in the back of all her classes instead of her regular seat. Her friends seemed to take the most notice to her obvious change in attitude and periodically sent her worried glances.
School seemed to go by excruciatingly slow for Sei and she was actually happy when the bell rang for the end of school, signaling the start of the Host Club. She hadn't seen Itaru at all that day, which she was unbelievably glad for, she didn't think she could handle it just yet...
"Oi, Nanami-chan, something bothering you?" The Hitachiin twins popped up on either side of her as soon as class let out and for once she didn't shrug away from them.
Sei bit her lip and shook her head,"No, I'm fine."
Haruhi placed the back of her hand to her friend's forehead,"You're not still sick, are you?"
"I wish I was..." The burgundy haired girl mumbled.
Her three friends frowned, having heard her comment,"What was that?"
"No, I'm not sick anymore, don't worry about it, i'm okay." She tried to give them her best convincing smile but it was weak and the twins saw right through it, as did Haruhi.
As the four walked through the halls of Ouran, in the direction of the 3rd Music Room, Sei couldn't shake the foreboding feeling that something bad was going to happen, and she wished she knew what it was...
"Ohayo Nana-chan! I saved this chocolate cupcake just for you!" Hunny grinned, bouncing over to her while holding up a tiny cake dish with said pastry out to her. Several girls squealed at the overly cute gesture made by the loli-shota.
"Thanks Hunny-senpai, but I'm not all the hungry right now..."
"Nonsense, you didn't even touch your lunch today, I bet you're starving." Came the smooth accented voice belonging to none other than the shaggy blonde haired, grey eyed boy known as Itaru Dawson.
Sei whirled around to face him, her jaw clenched, she didn't want to see him, especially not at the Host Club,"Were you watching me?!"
Itaru flashed her a dazzling smile,"Is it a crime for a man to care about his fi--"
"--Okay, well, if you needed to talk to me that badly couldn't you have just called me...or better yet, drop out of my life forever?" She cut him off, not wanting everyone to know about the new development in her and Itaru's loathesome, unwanted relationship.
He frowned,"I see you still hate me...but that was forever ago, I've changed."
The Curious-Rebel snorted,"I don't believe that."
"Then let me show you, can't we talk and have a nice civilized conversation without arguing?"
The problem was was that Sei didn't want to trust him, she didn't want to talk to him, she didn't want to know him and she sure as hell didn't want to be bound to him through Holy Matrimony! On the other hand, if she rejected his offer she would seem heartless, which could possibly effect her, Host-wise that is.
Hikaru and Kaoru wrapped their arms around her waist and she subconciously shifted her weight so that she was closer to Kaoru. The twins sent identical dark looks towards the blonde boy,"Want us to take care of him, Nanami-chan?"
She narrowed her eyes at the blonde boy before her and then glanced around the room to see the eyes of everyone staring straight at her, wondering what her answer would be.
"Er...no, I've got it." She faltered a moment and Itaru grinned brightly, sincerely. But could he really have changed? It hadn't been that long ago that they had been enemies, one couldn't just simply change their ways that quickly...could they?
"You won't be sorry Sei, I'll show you that i've changed." His eyes twinkled,"We'll be perfect to--"
"--Yeah, okay well I've got work to do so you need to leave." She cut him off again and the twins vaguely wondered what Itaru had meant by what he had said, or rather started to say.
Itaru chuckled, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder, which she promptly shrugged off,"Alright m'dear, I suppose I'll see you tonight."
She narrowed her eyes,"What's that supposed to mean?"
He grinned,"Why it simply means that my family and I have been invited over for dinner." the blonde boy smirked,"I'll see you then." and he swiftly turned on his heel and left the Host Club, leaving an air of confusion in his wake.
Tamaki was the first to speak,"Sei! What's going on? Does daddy need to go have a talk with the american?"
Kaoru frowned,"What was that all about Nanami-chan?"
She shook out of her annoyed daze and shifted her gaze to Kaoru, who was on her left,"Nothing, c'mon we've got customers to entertain." and then she plastered on a dazzling smile and took a seat between Miwako and Kaiya.
Tamaki pouted and was about to march over to Sei when Haruhi stuck out a hand and held him back,"Stay out of it." the blonde host king frowned and for once he actually listened to her.
Kaoru and Hikaru exchanged glances, they knew they wouldn't get anything from their burgundy haired friend so they decided to ask the next best thing.
"Oi, Kyouya--"
"No." The bespeckled boy answered evenly, but the twins were persistent and continued to stand by him, repeatedly asking him to give them info on Itaru Dawson.
Kyouya pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose,"What would I gain from this?"
The Hitachiin's grinned,"We can get Kamiyani Kaniya for the fashion show."
The Host Club was hosting a spring fashion show in a few weeks and all proceeds would directly go into the club's funds for future outings and events. Kaniya was a well-known teen model, having her at the fashion show would surely double the turnout.
Kyouya seemed to realize this and took a moment to think about it, he smirked,"Alright, deal." the twins grinned and leaned in closer to listen to what the Shadow King had to say about their dear friend Sei and the annoying american named Itaru Dawson.
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She quirked an eyebrow at them, ever since Itaru had left the Hitachiin's had been rather clingy, well even more so than usual, and she wasn't sure what had gotten into them. Sei sideways glanced up at Kaoru who was on her left while his brother was on her right.
"Do you need a ride home, Nanami-chan?" Hikaru asked.
"Do you want to come over to our house afterschool, Nanami-chan?" Kaoru suggested.
She chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip while eying the two boys suspiciously,"Alright, spill, what do you know?"
The two boys mirrored hurt expressions while clutching at their hearts,"What ever are you talking about, Nanami-chan? We just wanted to spend time with you..."
Sei rolled her eyes,"Hah, yeah sure you did."
Her phone started ringing and she fished it out of her pocket, disappointed that she couldn't further pester the twins.
"What do you want? We've been through this before, that's how I answer the phone." She rolled her eyes, sighing annoyedly,"Yeah, so I've heard from the devil himself, tell dad not to have a cow i'll be home when I can. Alright, love you too, bye."
Sei pressed the end button on her phone and slipped it back into the pocket of her trousers, turning around to face the two waiting boys.
"I've got to go, Sai's freaking out about being home alone with father and the fact that the Dawson's are coming over for dinner tonight..." Her eyes narrowed as she spoke of the Dawson's, she was startled to hear a low growl coming from Kaoru at the mention of them...
Hikaru tilted his head to the side, watching his brother intently for a moment before frowning,"I'm going to go rescue Haruhi from tono, see you tomorrow Nanami-chan!"
Sei watched as the boy walked off to pry the king of drama off of their poor friend who was trying to leave the 3rd music room. She laughed as Hikaru said something to the overly dramatic blonde, causing him to retreat to his corner of woe.
"Hm, I better get going, I'll see you tomorrow Kaoru." She sighed and turned to leave when she felt a hand clasp around her wrist, she glanced behind her to see that it was the ginger-haired boy.
"Er..yeah?" Sei asked hesitantly.
His eyes shown uncertainty before he pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her in a light embrace, startling Sei. She was used to the twins picking on her and being affectionate, yes, but this was different somehow, it was...warm. She shook out of her daze when he brought his lips to her ear and whispered,"Leave it to us, princess, we'll save you."
And as soon as it happened, he was gone, joining his brother in tormenting the host king, leaving Sei to mull over the words he had left her with. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and bit her lip before pushing open the double doors and making her way down to the parking lot where the limo was waiting for her.
"I guess it's now or never..." She sighed, slipping into the back and leaning her forehead against the cool, smooth glass of the window, her mind kept wandering to the hug Kaoru had given her and his cryptic parting words.
She didn't want to go home and would've rather accepted Kaoru's offer to go to his house and escape the disaster that was sure to happen in her own home. She let out a bitter laugh, her father would kill her if she screwed up his time with the Dawson's by not showing up to his little dinner. The only good thing about all of this was that she would have Sai there with her, he was her security blanket and she needed him more than he'd ever know.
Sei was startled out of her daydreaming when the door moved out from under her, she quickly regained her composure and let her eyes wander over the mansion infront of her as she stepped out of the limo. Never before had her home felt so unlike...home.
"Hey," Sai offered her a smile from the front porch,"how was your day?"
Her eyes softened and she ran up to meet him, swinging her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest,"Not too great..."
He rubbed her back soothingly before she pulled away,"Everything's going to work out, we'll figure a way to get out of this.."
She nodded and he led her inside where one of the maids took her bookbag,"Ah, where's father? I still need to change..."
"Yes you do, don't you?"
The two quickly whirled around to see their father standing behind them, his harsh eyes narrowed in on them as he crossed his arms across his chest. Sei swallowed hard and self-conciously glanced at what she was still wearing, she was in deep shit now unless she could try to play it off somehow.
"Why're you dressed up as a boy, Nanami?" He quirked an eyebrow.
Sei racked her brain for a decent cover-up story that would side well with her father and keep her out of trouble, but nothing came to her quick enough.
"She was modeling school uniforms for Kani's agency and they didn't have enough guys so she offered wear it." Sai supplied calmly, his eyes never leaving their father's.
Tsukyoshii Hideki sent Sai a harsh glare,"I believe Nanami can speak for herself, Kaito." He turned back to his daughter,"Is this true, Nanami? Were you modeling?"
Sei nodded her head, looking as confident as she could possibly be under her father's scrutinizing gaze,"Yes I was, Kani-chan called me earlier today and said that they needed some more models for the school line shoot so I decided to head down to help them out."
He let out a chilling chuckle and Sei subconciously took a step back,"What do you take me for? You are going to be punished for going against my wishes young lady, but for tonight you are to behave yourself for our guests."
Sai narrowed his eyes,"She's been punished enough, being forced to marry that sonova--"
"Enough." Hideki's voice was hard and cold, resounding through the empty foyer where the three were standing.
"In my defense you never specifically said for me to not dress as a guy, so really there's no reason to punish me for this." The burgundy haired girl piped up bravely.
"Do not smartmouth me Nanami-Sei, I am your father and you will do as I say." His booming voice commanded respect,"you're just like your mother."
The emerald eyed girl let a tiny smile tug at the corner of her lips, which her father caught and returned it with a scowl.
"That was not a compliment."
Sai clenched his fists at his side, listening to their father speak illy about their mother brought with it a surge of anger. Tsukyoshii Sayu was a kind-hearted, creative, lovable woman who always strived to help others, to hear someone say something awful about her made both twins very angry.
"Go and make yourself presentable for tonight's dinner, we will speak about this another time." He turned and stiffly walked towards his study.
Sei turned to her brother, a worry stricken expression plastered on her face,"Niichan, what if he pulls me out of Ouran? I don't want to go anywhere else, I like it there..."
The boy next to her bit his lip in thought before giving her a confident look,"It'll be okay, you go get changed and I'm going to call Okaasan and tell her what he's done, I'm sure she'll have a solution for all of this."
The emerald girl felt relief wash through her at the mention of their mother, Sayu, who always had great ideas when it came to sticky situations, she'd know exactly what to do to get Sei out of this stupid arranged marriage.
"Alright, tell okaasan that I love and miss her." She smiled and left to go change into a more 'presentable' outfit.
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Sei scowled across the dining room table at the blonde haired, gray eyed menace who sent her a small smile. She idly rolled her peas around on her plate with her fork and mixed the rest of her turkey and mashed potatoes together, not feeling very hungry.
Sai sat next to his sister at the table with a fixed glare focused on Itaru throughout the whole meal and then his eyes darkened and he grit his teeth. His sister broke from her own heated glare towards their father and turned to examine her brother curiously.
"Unless you're trying to play footsie with me, you've got the wrong person." He growled lowly,"and if you touch her at all you're dead." the last part was whispered so silently that Sei was sure that she was the only one who had heard it, but from the surprised look on Itaru's face she could deduce that he had been able to hear her brother just fine.
"Behave Kaito or you will be dismissed to your room." Tsukyoshii Hideki sent Sai a cold look before returning to his conversation with Elijah Dawson, a tall man with short dirty blonde hair styled neatly with gel and light blue eyes. The two men went all the way back to their high school years where they had been very close friends, and remained so to this very day.
"Nanami why don't you go show Itaru the garden."
Sei made a face,"I'd rather not."
Hideki's face hardened,"That was an order young lady."
She hesitantly stood, chewing on her bottom lip as the blonde boy waltzed over and gave her an expectant look. The burgundy haired girl sent her brother a pleading glance before turning around to leave the dining room, but Sai's hand shot out and grasped her wrist.
She turned around and was quickly engulfed by her brother's arms, pulling her into a tight embrace,"I'll be there as soon as father let's me leave. Be careful." he whispered into her ear before releasing her from his arms.
Sei nodded and turned and leave for the second time, Itaru at her side with a smirk plastered on his handsome face.
"So where's this garden at?" He asked.
"Around back." She snapped.
His smirk grew,"I find your feisty-ness rather attractive."
Her mouth snapped shut almost immediately after he had said that and instead she settled for shooting him scathing glares. What the hell was her father thinking? What could he possibly be gaining from this arranged marriage anyway?
"Bite me." She growled in annoyance and he chuckled.
"Maybe I will."
They were now in the garden located in the back of the mansion, strings of lights were strung around trees and bushes, giving the green garden a magical feel to it. However, what ever magic the garden had held quickly dissipated as soon as the two arrived. Sei narrowed her eyes and turned around to face him.
"What is your problem?"
He shrugged,"I didn't think I had one. I'm not the one getting all snappy over the littlest things here, Nanami."
"I'm snappy because I'm annoyed and pissed off." The shorter girl huffed,"and don't call me Nanami."
Itaru quirked a brow,"You let those identical nuisances call you Nanami."
Hearing him refer to the Hitachiin's as nuisances, even if it was true most of the time, made her temper rise even more. They were her friends and no one insulted those she cared about and got away with it.
"Because I like them, they're my friends and therefore can call me whatever they please. You on the other hand are nothing to me--"
"I'm your fiancé." He cut her off,"you don't run your life anymore, get used to it dear."
A sudden chill ran up her spine and she forgot what she had been about to retort with, the change in his voice had surprised her. Itaru sounded much colder now and his words were harsh, she didn't like him before but she sure as hell liked him a lot less now. She was frozen where she was, unsure of what to say or do now.
He stepped forward and she snapped out of her daze, taking a quick step back out of instinct, the slowly forming grin he was displaying scared her a bit and she wasn't going to lie about the fact.
"Cat got your tongue, love?" The blonde smirked, his hand shot out and tightly grasped her waist, his strength was keeping her completely stationary. Her stomach lurched and she began to feel nauseated as he leaned forward, making her roll her head as far back as she could to prevent him from getting closer to her than he already was. Itaru let out another quick chuckle as he placed his other hand on the back of her head and forcably brought her closer to him.
Sei felt as if she was going to be sick right then and there, his lips came crashing roughly onto hers hungrily. Her hands pushed against his chest to try and loosen his hold on her, but he was much stronger than she was and it didn't move him not even an inch. He began to trail little rough bruise-inducing kisses down the side of her jawline and she felt a cry escape her lips, she needed to get away.
He once again brought his face up to hers and captured her lips with his own, slipping his tongue into her mouth. Sei panicked and bit down hard, Itaru let out a startled cry of pain and withdrew himself from her, wiping the blood away from his mouth with the back of his hand.
His gray eyes narrowed as he spat blood onto the ground,"What the fuck, Sei!" he raised his hand into the air and brought it down against her cheek, the ringing sound of the slap reverberated across the silent garden.
Sei felt the sting wash through her body and lifted her cold hand to the burning mark on her face where he had struck her. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes before falling freely down her cheeks, leaving trails where they had traveled.
Itaru was once again infront of her, stroking her face with his thumb,"You tell anyone about what happened and you just might find yourself an only child."
Fear ripped through her as his threat to hurt her brother rang in her ears. She stared absently out at the garden as he turned and walked away with a triumphant smirk, once he was gone she fell to her knees and wept. He had won and they both knew it.