Chapter Twenty

Taking the Step

"Well it was a rather boring trip. But I still enjoyed it." Emi sighed exiting the plane. Kyoya followed behind smiling graciously. Ai and Tachibana followed down the steps, both exchanging glances. The whole trip had been strained by Emi's constant demands. Kyoya was managing many things including his father's business on par with his brothers as well as dealing with Emi's annoying personality. Ai wondered why Kyoya was dating such a person since he seemed to hate this kind of personality the most. She watched Kyoya's gentle smile as he listened to Emi whine, saying nothing but small apologies here and there for the inconvenience. Ai couldn't help feel for Kyoya, she realized on this trip that rich people had difficulties that she could never understand. She looked down to her feet. There were still many questions she had and wanted to discuss with Kyoya about what had happened between them, but Kyoya never acted like anything occurred. He had gone back to normal, talking and addressing her normally without ever touching her once like he promised.

'But...' She thought back to his expression that first night. She just couldn't escape his gaze. It was so gentle and yet so powerful that it left a deep impression and burned the image in her mind. She dreamed of his expression and thought about it often, haunting her everyday. She wondered what happened to Kyoya and wanted to help him. Even though he had done such a rough thing to her, she still believed that it was not like him to hurt her on purpose.

'Something must have happened...' She concluded. She just couldn't accept that he would betray her and knew that he was not someone who could do things like that without a proper reason. But she wanted to know what he was struggling with.. Emi's loud laughing broke Ai's train of thought. It was a very distinct laughter that forced people to look at her. She truly was a attention hog.

"Kyoya-sama...I pity him." Tachibana sighed in a low whisper. Then it occurred to Ai that perhaps it had something to do with Emi. After all it did start around that time. Ai placed a pondering finger on her chin drilling her mind hard. What could she do to make things easier for Kyoya. Emi seemed to not like Ai near Kyoya, her bullying tactic was very similar to the bullying girls in the orphanage. It was a dark chapter in her life that she thought was closed, and though Emi wasn't as bad as those girls; she cringed at the thought of being bullied in any way.

She knew she had to do her best to make it clear to Emi that she and Kyoya had nothing between them. She looked straight to Kyoya again, this realization making her a little sad- something she should not have felt.

Emi left in her families private car while Kyoya and Ai left with Tachibana's limo pick up. It was sort of awkward for Ai to see someone else other than Tachibana driving, but he seemed very comfortable not driving as he took a little nap. Ai and Kyoya were silent for a long time.

"So. What did you think of Australia?" Kyoya asked nonchalantly.

"I loved it very much. Thank you so much Ootori-san for taking me." Ai smiled happily, blushing a little. Somehow things were less awkward when they were alone.

"That's good. Sorry that you didn't get to see much of it." Kyoya replied flashing her a rather striking smile. Ai knew this smile very well and it shocked her that he was giving it to her. It was his business smile, the smile he gave to people that came to the host club, or to his brothers; it was fake. She felt disappointed and sad and she wasn't sure why it hurt her feelings to have him smile at her like that.

"No not at all. I'm happy to even sit in the airplane." Ai said in a soft smile looking down. Kyoya's eyes were a little cute looking and then he started to giggle unexpectedly.

"Just sitting in a plane?" He laughed making Ai blush happily. To see him laugh unreserved relieved her worries that he might treat her like another person he had to put a facade on for.

"Alright, next time you want to sit in a plane, let me know." Kyoya said calming down. He smiled to her whole heartedly, making her spirits rise. He was really handsome, and to see him laugh made her want to cry. It was inexplicable why she felt like that since she always cried when she was sad.

"Thank you Ootori-san." Ai smiled brightly. The car jerked, even the driver and Tachibana were struck down pretty hard. That smile of hers was dangerous and Kyoya couldn't help but lock himself in place worried that he might reach over and touch her.

"Hm." Kyoya looked away nodded. If he wasn't careful he might fall down again.

Ai was in her room. She had just finished wrapping up her small new years gifts for Ms. Ueda, her coworkers and for Kyoya and Mr. Ootori. She was really looking forward to greeting Mr. Ootori who was essentially the man who saved her. She beamed with happiness. This year was going to be filled with many more blessings.

But the Ootori family was spread in different places and Kyoya went to the New Year shrine visit with Tamaki who was also alone. It was really heartbreaking to see the two friends walking through the crowd of family by themselves with just her and Tachibana. Was it always like this for Kyoya and Tamaki. She suddenly understood why they were such close friends even though they were polar opposites. They were both always alone.

After the shrine visit, Ai presented Tamaki and Kyoya with a New Year box with some cookies she had baked. Tamaki was very grateful and gave her a nice pat on the head stating that Kyoya was very lucky to have her. Kyoya heard it but couldn't say anything.

"Tamaki-senpai!" Haruhi rushed to to them while her father lagged behind. Ai was surprised to meet Haruhi's father who she thought was her mother at first. He cleared up the confusion very happily and told her to not feel badly about her misunderstanding. Tamaki was ignored by Haruhi's father for the most part, but even he threw a new years red envelope on his face stating that Tamaki didn't need it or deserved it since he's rich but it was the right thing to do for a close friend of Haruhi's.

Kyoya and Haruhi's father got along very well to Ai's surprise even though he abused Tamaki dearly. Haruhi cheered Tamaki up by holding his hand and walking the 6 foot tall handsome guy around like a lost boy. Ai giggled. She was very grateful for even the sad experiences because they all brought her here to this very moment. She was surrounded by kind people, enjoying things that she thought she could never enjoy. When it was her turn with Kyoya to make a pray, she prayed with her whole heart. Kyoya looked at her praying with a beautiful smile on her face. He knew that she was most likely praying for her parents. And he was right, it almost brought tears to her eyes since she missed them dearly and wished that time could go back and somehow she could have them back. It hurt to be celebrating a year without them, but she was glad that they were always watching over her.

They enjoyed some of the festivities before heading their superate ways. Everyone had been staring at them since both Tamiki and Kyoya glowed. They were like celebrities and it wasn't hard to tell they were from a very different class of people.

They would meet 2 days later for a New Years dinner with the rest of their friends. Ai wondered what Tamaki and Kyoya were going to do for dinner tonight since both their parents were always missing in action. Ai wondered if Mr. Ootori would at least have dinner with Kyoya.

However, no such thing happened. Kyoya was being served dinner in his room. Mr. Ootori had flown earlier in the afternoon off to Paris with Akira while Fujimaru left for Kyoto. Just when Ai was about to enter with his meal cart, Fuyumi popped up surprising her.

"Ai-san! Hello, Happy New Years." Fuyumi somehow had the same feeling as Tamaki but not as bright as him.

"Good evening Fuyumi-san." Ai smiled back. She looked down to the meal cart and knew right away that Kyoya was having his dinner in his room again.

"This boy. Never calls for me during important times like this." Fuyumi sighed sadly. Ai sadly looked at her as she burst open the door in a flying rage.

"Kyoya, you little brat, whats this! Not even calling your older sister on such an important day." She shouted rushing over to strangle him. Kyoya caught off guard wasn't able to grab to untie her wrists from his neck.

"What are you talking about? I called you and spoke with you first thing in the morning." Kyoya struggled to say as she choked him.

"I dont' mean about that. I mean for this!" She screamed with tears flying out of her eyes. Ai shocked tried her best to calm down Fuyumi with a large tear drop hanging down her head.

"Listen to me Ai-san, this stupid brother told me that he was going to have dinner with Fujimaru oni-san, but then I find out that Fujimaru-oni-san already left." Fuyumi whined still crying fountains. She slumped down to the ground crying like a little kid, Ai knelt down to soothe her as she buried her face into her chest.

"This stupid boy won't even rely on me even a little." She continued. Kyoya rubbed his neck and then sighed kneeling down.

"Onee-san. You're going to be married next month, and you are currently going around to different occasions with your husband to be, how could I call you here for such a small thing." Kyoya explained. Ai's eyes widen, was it really that serious to call for your own sister to be with you during an important family occasion. She had a lot of respect for Kyoya for not being more sad, putting on a brave face all the time just for the sake of others. Ai's heart sank a little.

"It's fine! It's fine for moments like this. Be a little selfish. Idiot!" Fuyumi shouted as she embraced him tightly and crying very uglily on his shirt. Kyoya cringed as did Ai when she blew his nose into his shirt.

"Okay, I understand. Please stop crying." Kyoya sighed and said in a very low voice patting his sisters head as she buried further into his chest crying many 'you idiots' before settling down.

"I'm sorry, okay. Now that you're here, can you stay for dinner." Kyoya asked smiling as Fuyumi moved back and wiped her nose and dried her tears with the tissues Ai presented her.

"I'll bring some more food." Ai smiled. Somehow both Kyoya and Ai felt older than Fuyumi who nodded cutely.

"In the meantime, lemme tidy up your room a little. " She said with beaming bright eyes, before Kyoya could stop her, his hand still twitching.

"This kind of onee-san." He grinded his teeth but there was nothing to be done, she had already started folding clothes that were folded before.

"Ootori-san, I'll bring you a shirt." Ai smiled as she went upstairs to fetch him a clean shirt since the one he was wearing was drenched in snot and tears. Kyoya nodded and took off his dirty shirt and gave it to Ai to put in laundry. Fuyumi saw this and couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had never seen Kyoya allow anyone to get him clothes from his closet nor had he ever seen him undress in front of another girl other than her and Ueda-san.

Kyoya saw that Fuyumi stopped to look at him and he looked confusedly at her.

"Are you done cleaning?" Kyoya asked rather blankly knowing full well of the hazard she was going to create. Fuyumi smiled and pulled out his school books from his drawer.

"I'm going to organize your books first." She smiled happily, Kyoya only sighing defeated. Ai came down and handed Kyoya a clean shirt.

"Shall I prepare the dinning room Ootori-san?" Ai asked Kyoya who left Fuyumi to do what she liked, he could hear some kind of screw driver in the background and really wanted to see what she trying to fix but heard a crash and ignored it.

"No here is fine." He sighed putting his hand on his head. Even though it seemed annoying for him, Ai could tell that he was still very happy to have Fuyumi there.

When dinner was served, Kyoya thought to invite Ai, since she too was completely alone. More lonely than her, she truly had no one. But he was hesitating, was this something he would normally do for her? Or was it being too sentimental and favouring her? While he battled himself for it, Fuyumi asked Ai instead.

"No it's alright. I couldn't possibly. Please do enjoy your dinner though." Ai smiled politely excusing herself to make tea for them. Fuyumi was a bit sad and pouted.

"She's just too nice." Fuyumi sighed digging in.

"Ah! This is delicious! Did the chef change?" Fuyumi asked. It had been a long time since she ate at home, let alone with Kyoya. It was nice to be back home, even though this home was a very cold distant place; it was still her home.

"No, Sakamoto-san makes all my meals." Kyoya replied. Fuyumi gave him a sneaky grin.

"Please don't give me such a disgusting smile, it's unbecoming of a bride to be." Kyoya calmly said.

"She cooks all your meals?" Fuyumi asked thirsty for more details.

"No just dinner." Kyoya replied almost reading Fuyumi's mind.

"It's nothing like that. She just wanted to do more." Kyoya replied.

"Eh? Then attending Ouran was her idea too?" Fuyumi smirked largely, Kyoya's left eyebrow twitched.

"Tachibana, surely I will give him a good talk to." Kyoya responded realizing that Fuyumi most likely tortured it out of him. He could picture the tough Tachibana weeping like a helpless boy before Fuyumi's large and overbearing body laughing with folded arms.

"So how is it having a beautiful young girl like Ai-san around." Fuyumi smiled calming down a little.

"Normal like all the other workers." Kyoya replied. Fuyumi looked at him. She wasn't always around, in the absence of their mother she was the one who usually stayed with Kyoya.

"Not cute at all." She sighed causing Kyoya's eyebrow to twitch again.

"Aren't you even a little moved?" Fuyumi asked looking Kyoya straight in the eyes.

"No. And I'll like to keep it that way, so please don't concern yourself about it one-san." He replied cooly with a smile. Fuyumi observed that smile carefully and knew right away what his feelings might have been.

"You know Kyoya, sometimes it's okay to break the chains." Fuyumi said. Kyoya knew all too well about breaking the chains. He had already very well broken the chains he needed to.

"And sometimes it's not okay." Fuyumi added much to Kyoya's surprise but of course he kept his body language the same.

"I know how you must feel, I'm no different. I'm marrying into a family, and to a man who is very wealthy. I'm very fortunate." Fuyumi smiled. Kyoya looked at her, he saw that there was a loneliness there. But he knew it was not that she missed home, since this home was never a complete home.

"After mother died, things have changed a lot here, but I remember mother loved you very much." She continued. Kyoya put his fork down unable to control the fact that he did miss her a lot.

"Don't forget that she would want you to be happy too Kyoya." She smiled to him.

"I know." Kyoya replied smiling softly back.

"No Kyoya, be happy. Like really for real happy." Fuyumi smiled placing a hand on his. The small floor table became really silent as Kyoya tried to decipher what she was saying.

"I'm marrying into the Michimoto family, and my groom loves me a lot." She smiled.

"But I'll definitely be by your side no matter what you decide in your life." She added much to Kyoya's surprise.

"You shouldn't do that, Hiro-san will surely be troubled." Kyoya laughed jokingly.

"I'm serious Kyoya, choose a happy path. Don't get swept up in our family's affairs and throw away your chance to be happy." Fuyumi said suddenly being more blunt then before.

"In fact I don't like Emi Takara at all, I would much rather you marry Ai-san instead." Fuyumi said with a blunt smile as if what she was saying was not a big deal. Kyoya wondered why she beat around the bush just moments ago but was suddenly being so obvious now.

"The way you change is staggering." Kyoya said unable to answer back to his sister, and continued to eat.

"That Takara girl is just bad news. You're dating here but she's been seen coming out of hotels with other partners. She's not fitting with you Kyoya, but Ai-san on the other hand-"

"That's impossible. Emi-san may have her bad points but going steps lower to someone like Sakamoto-san is even more unrealistic." Kyoya asserted cutting her off. He couldn't admit to her that he had tried to picture such a thing, marriage with Ai; but it was so impossible he couldn't even picture it.

Fuyumi sighed, she knew exactly what was tying him down to Emi. It was this Ootori name. Kyoya was the 3rd and the last to get any place in the Ootori empire, he worked 3 times harder than any other brother to earn a place. She looked up to the large vaulted ceiling.

"Sometimes you think it's okay if you aim for some unreachable things, but what about the reachable things Kyoya." She explained very insightfully.

"Would being unrealistic be so bad if it makes you happy." She asked smiling kindly like a mother would. Kyoya couldn't say anything to that. Fuyumi knew all to well the harsh reality of what it meant to be born in this society, in the kind of class they were born into. Their father had arranged this marriage with Michimoto group, all for a contract that amounted to millions in business with their pharmaceutical branch. That was the only reason their father threw his only daughter to the Michimoto family. It was only Fuyumi's luck that Hiro, their son, was a good man and loved Fuyumi dearly. But he was not going to be any different from the same reality Fuyumi was facing. He was going to marry a girl who belonged to a beneficial family and right now, that person was Emi.

"If..." Kyoya said his glasses fogged slightly.

"If I lost sight of things and think of only happiness, than I'd lose sight of my goals, and that's not happiness at all." Kyoya added hoping that would explain enough. Fuyumi somewhat understood what he was saying. That he would not stop what he was doing because all the things he worked for would disappear. She sighed.

"I guess that's the Ootori curse running in your veins." She pouted.

"Only father's side has such a thing." She pouted further going back to eating. Kyoya smiled knowing full well of the disease she was talking about.

"Nevertheless, if you decide to go after different goals, I'll support it." She smiled just as Ai knocked the door and walked in.

"Ah Ai-san, good timing." Fuyumi smiled.

"The food is really delicious." She added happily. Ai smiled back.

"I'm glad. Please enjoy yourself." Ai replied pouring her some fresh tea.

"AAHH, Ai-san I wanna take you with me to my new home!" Fuyumi whined like a little child tugging on Ai's skirt, she smiled a little awkwardly.

"Stop it you're scaring her." Kyoya sighed.

"Is there anything else I can bring." Ai asked smiling. Fuyumi wanted to say something cheeky like 'yes move in with me' but Kyoya interrupted that to dismiss her and return in about 30 minutes. Ai bowed and left the room to give them some privacy.

"Aw why'd you dismiss her. I wanted to talk to her more." Fuyumi whined again.

"That's quite alright for you not to do." Kyoya replied nonchalantly remembering that there was a huge mess that Fuyumi had made behind him, but dared not to look at.

"Hmm? So it's okay then Kyoya, since you've chosen this path already?" Fuyumi asked matter of factily. Kyoya looked at her confused unsure what she was talking about.

"If someone was to swoop in and just take Ai-san from here, you won't feel even a little bad?" She asked. The question was something Kyoya had thought about, and knew very well that Ai would not stay here forever.

There was a moment of silence before he smiled with soft eyes looking straight into his sisters.

"It's okay." He replied. Fuyumi's eyes widen, her mouth parted as her hands came down to the table from her chin. She was shocked.

"Kyoya..you-"

"Let's just enjoy dinner, after all you have a huge mess to tidy up after this meal." Kyoya grinded his teeth a little as he turned dark and malicious. Fuyumi cringed and agreed. She couldn't believe it, she knew that very second that Kyoya might really...have feelings for Ai. If that was the case, things might get really difficult. She sighed. She really felt for Kyoya. For such a young man to be so torn, and yet showing not even the slightest bit of his turmoil.

'Oh mother...what's going to happen to him if this continues.' She thought.

The night ended with a Kyoya giving Fuyumi as she sat formally on her knees, a huge lecture about folding shirts as Ai tried her best to support her. In the end she went home happily after Hiro came to pick her up, leaving Kyoya and Ai the task of tidying up what she messed up.

"Seriously that woman. I worry so much for her." Kyoya sighed annoyed with the current condition of his room.

"I'll have this cleaned up in no time Ootori-san." Ai smiled nervously with Kyoya's very agitated presence.

"No it's alright, I'll do it myself." Kyoya said gently touching Ai's shoulder to move aside. At first she looked a bit alarmed but then she giggled.

"This reminds me of the first time Fuyumi-san came." Ai smiled cutely. Kyoya remembered it too. Back then he didn't have these feelings for Ai, he wondered when it was that he started to fall for her. He stopped himself from thinking any further, or it might brew feelings he couldn't have.

"Even after all that time she still hasn't learned to fold?..." Kyoya said to himself as a large tear drop hung down Ai's head.

"That girl...Hiro-san sure is a patient man." Kyoya said shaking his head in dismay as Ai giggled unable to say anything to her defense.

Ai had a day off the day before school started, and she left early in the morning to meet Aizawa. Kyoya had no idea and was still sleeping. He had a very long Winter Break with the many things that had happened, he decided today he would sleep in. Ai understood his instructions to not wake him up but to bring him his lunch at 1. She had never heard of Kyoya sleeping so long before, but understood his feelings. He had many difficult things on his shoulders and he did need the rest.

"Ai!" Aizawa said waving his hand. Ai smiled and walked to him waiting for her close to the park. It was pretty crowded since it was the last sunday of the holidays. People were still enjoying the cold festive atmosphere.

"Where do you wanna go today Ai?" Aizawa asked happy to see her again. It felt like it had been a really long time since they last met up.

"Anywhere is fine." Ai smiled just as happy to see Aizawa.

"Okay, how about the Aquarium?" Aizawa smiled.

"Sure...and Shiho?" Ai was scared to ask, but she asked anyways just to hurt herself further. Aizawa looked down to her sad eyes.

"I'm sorry Ai...she wasn't really allowed to." Aizawa said in a sad low voice but trying his hardest to be convincing. Ai smiled back, very sadly and painfully.

"Don't worry Ai...one day...things will be better." Aizawa said placing a caring hand on her head. Ai shook off her sadness and smiled.

"I know. Thank you." She smiled brightly to him, stopping other couples including women to blush as they walked by. Aizawa knew this girl was very dense and didn't even know that she was just that beautiful to stop traffic. Regardless he sighed and smiled.

"Oh before I forget. Here. You're Christmas present." He smiled and pulled out a simple gold necklace and placed it around Ai's neck. Ai didn't expect it and gasped at how pretty it was.

"There, its beautiful on you." Aizawa smiled blushing a little for being so bold. He wanted to express his deep feelings for her and hoped that she would happily accept his gift.

"It's so beautiful Aizawa...I can't accept something this expensive." Ai started to blush madly. This was her first time getting such a gift from a boy.

"No please, I bought it with you in my mind." He replied stopping her from removing it. Ai blushed and smiled sweetly.

"Thank you Aizawa." She said in a gentle voice. After all she had been through with Kyoya it was nice to be with a familiar face who made her feel comfortable and stable. She wondered if she could tell Aizawa what had happened with Kyoya, but decided that it was probably not a good idea. She knew that he would believe her but it would also worry him; and he would most probably quit school, get a job to support her (like he had tried to do after her parents died). It wasn't something she could easily say either. This would have to be a secret that she never told anyone.

Days ticked on, and soon school was the first day of school. Ai never did get a chance to meet Mr. Ootori to give her his new year box. She decided to leave it until she could meet him, hopefully sooner than later. She looked at herself in the mirror. It had felt like ages since she last put on her Ouran school uniform. She touched the necklace sitting just perfectly under her uniform. She smiled. This year she wanted to start fresh and positive and again do the best she can.

Kyoya had to be woken up, even though he had so many alarms going off. He wanted to be awake before Ai came to his room, but that plan failed. Ai woke him up gently as ever and as always when he opened his sleepy eyes, he couldn't help pull her down as always even though he knew it was her. He snuggled her and Ai didn't feel scared to be with him. Since he sorted out his feelings for her and fell out of love, he felt a little calmer but still every now and then moments like this when she was within his grasp; his affections start to bubble. He suppressed them very well.

"Ooroti-san, it's 7:05" Ai said, her hands on his shoulders gently shaking him. He didn't really want to move away from her, and he really did want to stop doing this with her. But if he stopped that would alert her that something is different, and slowly she might figure out what he felt for her.

"Hm." He said gruffily getting up from her.

"My school uniform." He said as he sluggishly walked to his bathroom. Ai sat up and smiled, she was happy to have the normal Kyoya back.

The school was fresh and beaming with enthusiasm. It was a new year and a new semester. The weather was bright, snowflakes falling gently to the ground, giving everything a white glow.

"Ah this is bliss." Said Tamaki as he gazed out to the beautiful courtyard from the Host clubs room.

"What a nice feeling." Kaoru said as he and Hikaru drank some hot chocolate. They had conflicting feelings about being back at school. On one hand it was nice to be back to the club room, on the other, it sucked to have to study.

"It's great to be back at school. But I'm really worried how you guys are going to do with the school work since your before winter break midterms were so bad." Haruhi said still unable to get over how these 2 even sitting two seats apart could get the exact same bad mark.

"Nah don't worry we have a plan." The twins smiled as they eyed Haruhi and gave her a thumbs up, implying that they would be enlisting her help this year too.

"I wonder where Kyo-chan and Ai-chan are." Honey said. Mori looked a little more blank than normal, he seemed to be in deep thought even though nobody could be sure what he was thinking.

"We're here. Sorry, traffic was pretty bad. There sure are a lot more cars at the schools lately." Kyoya said observant.

"Good morning kyoya-senpai, Ai-san." Haruhi said as Kyoya put his book bag down and as Ai came to greet the group.

"Good morning." She smiled and gave a small bow. The group fell silent, dropping whatever was in their hands, blushing. Ai blinked not sure what was wrong. In a flash they huddled by the window with Tamaki holding on to their chests in pain and panting harshly.

"That smile is really dangerous." Kaoru said breathing heavily.

"Yeah, it's not good for the health." Tamaki replied in the same state.

"Haruhi, your drool! You're drooling." Tamaki burst into tears as Haruhi wiped the drool from her mouth. Even as a girl she still was impacted greatly by Ai's beauty.

"Eh?" Ai said not sure what was going on as Kyoya sighed crossing his arms and nodding his head side to side disappointed.

Class was as hard as ever, this time they were all given their own laptops to work on. Ai was in a panic and did her best with Kyoya's help. It was around this time, that she noticed that some girls had been staring at her on and off throughout the different lessons. Ai wondered if she was just thinking too much.

But during lunch it was very clear that she was being stared at. Kyoya thought that this was perhaps just the girls in the school learning more and more of Ai and becoming more and more jealous of her. After all, no one, even he, couldn't deny that she was beautiful. And she was gaining the attention of a lot of boys, but no one dared to approach her because Kyoya was always there right next to her. Kyoya knew that he should give her chances to make new friends since he had already finished with his feelings with her; but still something in him just wouldnt do it just now. He noticed a few moments where he knew that something was off.

Ai still didn't suspect anything until PE. Usually some of the girls would talk to her and ask questions about Kyoya outside of the home or ask for booking details for other members including for Kyoya himself. But today, no one talked to her, in fact they all seemed to be avoiding her.

"Oh. Excuse me you dropped this." She said to a girl after picking up a hair tie that had slipped from her hair. The girl gave her a glare as did the girl next to her.

"Can't you see I'm talking. Just throw it away." The girl barked harshly turning her back to her. Ai felt dispirited and awfully embarrassed as some other girls giggled.

"I'm sorry to bother you." Ai replied turning around to throw the tie away.

"Hey! What are you doing? Why are you throwing that away. Do you know how much that costs?" Barked another girl slapping Ai's hand before she threw the tie away.

"Whats wrong?" Another girl said coming towards them.

"She was about to throw away Yoshioka's hair tie." The girl said snatching the hair tie and returning it to the girl who was thankful.

"Thank you so much! I can't believe she was about to throw it away. How low." She said looking dreadful. But Ai could see the malicious smile behind that look.

"But I asked you and you had said to throw it away." Ai said trying in a small voice to defend herself.

"This tie cost more than 400,000YEN! I would never tell you to throw it away." The girl shouted as another girl pushed Ai.

"Lying and thinking you can get away with it. Don't get full of yourself just because you're close to the Host Club. You are nothing but a servant." A tall girl snarled. Ai felt very hurt, the girls left the changing room, leaving her behind dumbfounded as to what happened. Why was she being treated like this.

During PE class, the girls isolated Ai further. No one paired with her to do the warm up exercises or to play ball. Ai was quiet about her treatment because she already knew what all this way. This was nothing compared to the treatment she recieved at the orphanage. She was determined to not let it get her down. She didn't say anything to Kyoya about it either during class. Tamaki asked how PE class was when they gathered eager to hear what the girls did today for gym. Ai smiled kindly as always and told him, but some how Kyoya felt strange about her.

The ill treatment didn't end there, it continued all the way to the end of the day right to her time at the club. The Host Club members were busy with their clients so they hadn't noticed that some of the girls who came early, came early to abuse Ai. They were cunning about it, smiling and being friendly all the while insulting her. Ai's expression said it all, but she did her best to shrug off their words.

"Must be tough on you Sakamoto-san to be working here as well as working at the Ootori home." One of the girls said, Ai looked up at the girl wondering if she was going to be nice now.

"But still how pitiful to be treated as a servant day and night. Oh well. Don't get any big ideas of marrying into the Ootori home though." She laughed casually coming a little closer to Ai as if she was about to share a secret.

"They won't allow a low grade girl to marry into such a family." She whispered giggling as if she said a joke. Ai looked down to the appointment book without saying a word, but her expression spoke volumes of her hurt.

Kyoya once again noticed that something was just not right. The girls friendly expressions were not matching wit h Ai's sad face. He closed his eyes and continued to entertain his guests.

Days ticked away and Ai's treatment by the girls were only escalating, but it was always the most severe when she was not near the club members. Ai though never once complained to Kyoya about what was happening, and because she said nothing; Kyoya ignored that he noticed the bullying for now. He knew that this couldn't just be the girls just suddenly deciding to bully Ai, after what happened with Sugiyama-san. This was something and being orchestrated by one person or family.

"Hmm so she's pretty stupid uh?" Emi smirked.

"Yeah she is. I thought for sure she'd complained by now, but she's really just that dumb." The girls who were present during the incident in the changing room, laughed.

"But..." She added. Emi looked at her wondering what she was going to say.

"It doesn't seem to be affecting her." The girl reported.

"Yeah, like she just brushes it off...maybe she just doesn't care?" Another girl who joined the bullying said. Emi wondered about this. She didn't know Ai very well, but she didn't seem like a strong willed girl. But it had already been a week and the girls had done everything from taking her notebooks to pushing her down. This kind of mental damage should have been enough to make Ai cry, but she never once even looked bothered according to the girls.

"Hmm maybe we're not doing enough." Emi smirked with a powerful idea.

"Women like Ai need to get a more clear message." Emi grinned.

"I have a little trick up my sleeve. It's a little something I did a few times myself. It should be just enough to get her to leave that school and resign." Emi continued. The girls were smiling eager to fulfil Emi's wishes.

"Ai-chan, where are you going. It's free period now so we're going to study in the Club room." Honey said holding on to Ai's hand. Ai turned around and smiled to him and Mori who smiled gently to her.

"Yes, I just need to go to my locker. I forgot my book again." Ai smiled kindly. Honey nodded and waved to her letting her know to hurry up. But somehow Mori looked at her leaving a little bit longer. He wondered why he felt like Ai was lying lately about her forgetting her books. She didn't seem like the kind of person who would do that. He was very interested but followed Honey to the club room instead.

When Ai got to her locker, she found the lock broken again. She sighed and opened it carefully. For how long was this going to keep happening. She had learned not to keep anything in her locker anymore, but the girls were still breaking in and taking whatever she did have in there. She was glad that she only kept her outdoor shoes in there, but now they were covered in mud. She would have to go and clean them.

"Excuse me, Sakamoto-san, could you come with me for a little bit." A small voice said. It was a girl from her class, who wore really thick glasses despite being able to wear contacts she wore such spectacles instead.

"Where to?" Ai asked not feeling any hostility from the girl since she seemed sincere and a little afraid.

"Um well, I saw some girls that had broken into your locker and I saw them leaving just now..." She stuttered. Ai understood, this girl was probably being bullied herself and was trying to help. Just having another girl talking to her made her feel calmer.

"Thank you." Ai smiled kindly making the girl blush.

The girl walked her carefully to the back courtyard of the school. It was a heavily forested area by the side building wall. There a girl quickly grabbed Ai from behind and slammed her harshly against the wall.

"Nice work Haruka. As promised we won't bother you for the rest of the semester. Now get lost." The girl smirked. Seven girls, all from Ai's class surrounded her as she looked at them in disbelief. She couldn't believe that she fell for such a stupid trick, to follow a girl who looked like someone trustworthy. She felt foolish.

Kyoka, Nanami, Norika, Kaori, Reiko, Ayaka, and Akane were all girls who never really interacted with Ai, but they were from high level families, and also frequent customers of the Host Club.

"Seems like you've become really arrogant these days Sakamoto-san." Akane who seemed to be the ring leader smirked as the other girls giggled.

"Why are you doing these things? I haven't done anything." Ai explained hoping that some sense would be shed as to why she was being bullied by all the girls in her class.

"What have you done? You exist isn't that enough?" Kaori said in an angry tone. She had a big crush on Kyoya and was aiming for him from the start of the year, but he never showed her any attention but was always talking to Ai.

"And furthermore, you did your fair share of bothering Emi-san-." Kyoka tried to explain but the girls cut her off from saying anything more. Ai's eyes widen, it all made sense now. She was the mastermind behind all this. Ai's eyes narrowed a little, not believing that Emi would do such a thing.

"Doesn't matter. Right now, you should only be worried about yourself." Akane said pulling out a small pair of scissors.

"If you don't agree to resign immediately from the Ootori home and leave school, you're going to get a lesson." Akane smiled as the girls revealed another pair of scissors and a lighter. Ai looked on in horror she couldn't believe this. Suddenly her body froze and she was unable to speak. This brought on flash backs to her time in the orphanage. There was a time when she also faced such a moment there. The girls had surrounded her then too and threatened to cut her face and hair then too if she didn't stop flirting with the boys. But she had never done any such thing.

"Are you going to leave or not!" Shouted Akane.

"Look at her! She's acting like she's high class!" Kyoka barked. Clearly Ai was not being anything of the sort and could only still look on in panic.

"Figures, such behaviour from a dog born from dogs! You're parents sure taught you well! Bad breeding" Nanami snickered. The pupils in Ai's eyes dilated, she could see and hear everything clearly now. Ai unfroze, that was then this was now. She wasn't going to be the quiet girl who accepted brutal treatment. Her parents worked hard everyday at the restaurant which they started with so much love. They taught her many good things on how to be a good person and showed her what true love could conquer. And then there was the sadness left behind in her otherwise emptied heart at their funeral.

There were many days in the orphanage after those sad days where she hid in her room not even coming out for dinner because she was so afraid that the boys would talk to her and it would anger the girls. There were other days where she would spend hours fixing her school uniform after they tore it. She took in a deep breath and clenched her fists, becoming determined.

"I will not! I may be from a lowly background, but at least my parents taught me how to be a well mannered person!" Ai shouted for the first time in her life.

"You wicked person!" Akane shouted slapping Ai hard on the face while Reiko and Kaori grabbed her from behind pushing her down to her knees.

"How about we teach you a lesson your dead parents should have taught you." Akane smiled cruelly as Kyoka handed her the scissors. Ai was afraid, very afraid and wanted to cry. But she didn't want to cry because of these girls. Didn't want to show them the satisfaction. They pulled her hair up and readied to cut it.

"Stop!" Ai shouted trying to fight out of their grips. They tightened their grip forcing her to gasp in pain. Akane was getting ready to cut her hair off when a strong hand grabbed hers and flung her back.

The girls looked up in surprise to see Mori was hovering beside them suddenly with a very angry expression on his face. The girls let go of Ai in a panic, their faces flushed. They didn't expect to be caught.

"What are you doing to her!?" Mori spoke in a deep growl as he lift the shivering Ai on to her feet. Her head hung low, as Mori pulled her to him. His gaze was still on the offending girls. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.

"Speak!" He growled again. The girls flinched.

"We don't have to answer to you. Do you think we'd be afraid simply because you caught us." Akane said standing straight and facing Mori with a flushed face filled with embarrassment but determined eyes.

"You're right." It was a voice that brought shivers down the girls spine. Without turning around they already knew who it was and it was bad news for them.

"You don't owe any explanations to Mori-sempai, but I'm sure you'll have plenty to say to Principle Souh" Kyoya voiced sternly as he stepped closer to them. Tamaki followed with Honey, the twins and Haruhi close behind. The girls flinched, panic and fear very apparent on their faces.

"Akane-chan, what do we do now?" Kaori asked in a small very scared voice.

"They can't do anything to us. They're just bluffing." Akane said still determined to win this battle.

"Emi-san will clear our names before you even get an appointment with the Principle to complain about us." Akane said with a victorious smile. The name forced Kyoya's expression to somewhat change, though subtle but speaking loudly of his rage. He knew it had something to do with her, there was no other explanation for Ai's treatment this week.

"Who's Emi-san?" Honey asked innocently but bitterly. Tamaki glanced at Kyoya before shrugging the girls comment.

"I don't think this 'Emi-san' can do much to save you." Tamaki said stepping into the lime light forcing the girls to take a step back.

"Are you looking down on Emi-san! How dare you!" Akane raged as the girls tried to calm her down.

"Because I'm sure this Emi-san is going to be the first one to say 'that she had nothing to do with this and she doesn't even know who you guys are.'" Tamaki smiled making Akane and the girls realize what had really happened. They gave up Emi's name, who said to keep her name out of it and to do this discreetly, but they had been caught. Akane's eyes widen, her pupils small and panicked.

"I advise that you clear out your lockers today." Kyoya said flashing them a serious smile. The girls flinched and a couple fell to their knees crying. This meant expulsion, and there was no way out of it as Kyoya started to play the last few minutes of their bullying Ai. It was all over.

Tamaki looked to Mori and saw Ai in his arm with his hand on the back of her head. He walked to her and in a soft voice asked her if she was alright. Ai nodded still unable to look up. Mori's eyes softened, he felt horribly for Ai, to suffer like this all because of Kyoya and the Host club. Then he looked up to Kyoya standing by a couple of feet away but not saying anything to the frightened girl in his arm. Kyoya and Mori exchanged a long moment of just silently looking at each other when Mori had had enough of his vague attitude.

"Ai-san, I'll take you inside." Mori said softly pulling her ever so delicately to walk with him. Kyoya watched them walk and noticed as Ai's hair flew back a little that there was little tears dropping like crystals down from her face. She was clearly shaken. Kyoya felt the pull to take a step forward but stopped before he went after her and Mori. Tamaki looked back at Kyoya and then to Mori and noticed what had happened even though nothing was really said and the other members didn't seem to realize at all.

"This is bad." Tamaki sighed putting his hand on his head.

"What are you doing?" Mori asked with a blank face. His old demeanour had come back. Kyoya looked to his desk in the Club room with one hand in his pocket playing dumb.

"What do you mean?" Kyoya asked not really feeling like he should answer to Mori.

"You knew all along that she was being bullied." Mori said not surprising Kyoya.

"She suffered a lot without saying a word." He went on, with Kyoya still silently watching.

"Why did you act like you knew nothing?" Mori asked stepping a little closer. He was calm and blank on the outside but he was infuriated inside.

"She never spoke up and said anything to me. I didn't want to interfere." Kyoya blankly explained.

"Who are you lying to?" Mori smiled rather pitifully.

"Me or yourself." He added. Kyoya sighed looking more and more annoyed with this conversation.

"I know you wanted to record what those girls were doing as evidence, but to stand by and watch her...even with all that threatening her; she still didn't say she'd leave this school." Mori said in one of his rare sentences. Kyoya looked straight into Mori's serious eyes.

"Nor did she say she'd leave you." He added a little defeated. Kyoya's eyes opened a little wide from shock. He looked down quickly not wanting to admit that that rattled him.

"I can't get caught up with empty emotions. I had to do what I had to do. In the end the preparators were dealt with. I don't know what your concerns are exactly Mori-sempai." Kyoya said turning his back to him and busying himself with his book bag.

"I'm concerned of your lack of indifference. At least for her, don't calculate things and just let your body move." Mori said sternly. It was eerie to hear such powerful words in such a powerful tone from the otherwise gentle giant. But Kyoya restrained himself from turning around to him to yell at him about how many times his body just moved when it came to her. And how hard it was to stop himself. How painful it was to unlove her.

"Thank you for your consideration Mori-sempai, but it's none of your concern." Kyoya replied. Kyoya recalled the scene very clearly, how Mori rushed down the hall, down flights of stairs and out of the building to get to Ai. The calm on his face didn't do justice to the panic in his eyes. Honey had come flying into the room to alert them of what they saw. And when Kyoya realized that was why Mori was running so fast, his heart was in a dizzy mess. What did he feel first, jealous that Mori was rushing out to save her, free from any chains he could go to her. Or if it was panic that the girls were going to harm Ai, a girl he really did want to protect.

Kyoya had still made it in time rushing after Mori to stop him from stepping in, calculating that they would need evidence of the occurence, because he only had a hunch what this was about. But that it traced to Emi, wasn't a surprise. He still recalled the beating flustered heart that pounded against his hand as he restrained Mori with his arm. He knew it wasn't just the running that caused this maddening thumping in Mori, his fists were clenched even though his face was expressionless. Kyoya couldn't help but feel anxious again.

"Okay." Mori sighed knowing very well that no matter what was said, Kyoya would not change his position. He could see in Kyoya's back no change, but knew that he was restraining himself too. Kyoya didn't turn around still and busied himself with the club book.

"I'll drop this matter." Mori said leaving the room.

"Only for now." Mori added as he left the room and shut the door. Nothing changed about Kyoya, only that his back became a little straighter. As if he was justifying to himself that this didn't bother him at all. Mori's great concern for her went beyond any other club member, and his actions were similar to Kyoya's when it came to Ai. He wondered, is it because he had known Ai from before, or if Mori has the same feelings as he does.

"Correction..." Kyoya said to himself angry with himself for making such a slip up. He was no longer in love with Ai, if Mori HAD the same feeling as he DID.

Akane and the 6 other girls present that day had been expelled much to their parents outrage. When they tried to pin it on Emi, Emi took no responsiblity stating that she wasn't in the school and didn't have anything to do with these girls. She sent a formal letter to the school expressing how terribly she felt that Ai went through such a thing and that some of her old comrades who she had not seen in awhile were responsible for the torment. In the letter she also expressed her deep regret that Ai went through the bullying and that if there was anything she could do, she was willing to do. It was the perfect lawyered letter and Kyoya knew that it was something she had her lawyer write up probably the day she enlisted the girls. Since she was just as calculating as he was.

That night Mori walked down the long wide hallways of his home to one of the multiple living areas, where his mother and father were seated traditionally watching a Japanese drama on a wide screen TV. It was a weird combination but his home was like that, a blend of new and old.

"Mother, father, I would like to talk to you about something." Mori said quietly as he knelt down before his parents.

"What is it Mori, is something the matter?" The parents asked wondering if this had something to do with Honey, since Mori's life centered around Honey and his family line. Mori looked straight into his parents eyes with serious eyes.

"I have a request."

The other workers pitied Ai even after 3 days had passed since the incident and wanted to take over her shift so that she could take care of her face. The right cheek had swollen and become purple and black. Ai tried to smile it off saying that it didn't hurt anymore. Even so, the bruise to her heart was much harder but she couldn't explain that.

When she came to Kyoya's room to deliver the news that his father and brother Akira were home and were going to have dinner with him; she found Kyoya still in his school uniform. This surprised Ai.

"Ootori-san, did you just get home?" Ai asked wondering if he went back to school after dropping her home. Kyoya turned to her from his desk a bit shocked that she asked him that.

"No why?" He wondered why she would ask him that.

"You're still in your uniform." Ai explained. He realized just then he was indeed still in his uniform. He was bewildered. Why hadn't he changed out of his uniform. Usually by this time he was bathed and ready for dinner. He looked at Ai as she approached him with concern on her face for him. His eyes landed on her badly bruised and swollen cheek and couldn't help but feel heart ache. His anxiety was coming back in waves. It had been awhile since he felt like this with her. Ai looked at him closely wondering if he was feeling ill.

"Are you alright Ootori-san?" She asked touching his forehead. Her warm hand on him felt comfortable and he almost didn't want her to stop touching him.

"I'm alright. How is your face doing?" He asked inspecting it carefully, stepping closer to her face. She smiled telling him she was fine and that it wasn't painful anymore. Ms. Ueda had put on a cooling bandage on her right cheek and it was very comfortable. His face was close to hers, and for a moment an energy sparked between their bodies that only Kyoya felt; and knew exactly why he felt it. He wanted to kiss her.

"It's good that it's better. Take it easy." Kyoya replied to her but just couldn't pay attention to what she was saying. His heart was in a flurry. He turned away from her and started to walk up the stairs to his room to get changed. Ai followed behind to put out his clothes.

'What the hell am I doing?' Kyoya asked himself splashing water on his face. He had spent a few hours now just sitting by himself thinking. What Mori said to him hit him hard that day in the club room.

'Don't think, at least for her, let your body move.'... Those words haunted him severely. He wanted to say more to Mori, tell him exactly what he thought but he couldn't think those thoughts anymore. Those things he felt were in the past, and yet when he saw Ai on her knees being abused by those girls he really wanted to rescue her. Was it really that he wanted to get it on recording, or was it that he couldn't take the step he wanted to. It burned badly that Mori took that step instead.

When he came out wiping his face, Ai handed him a clean shirt to wear to dinner. He couldn't dress casually even in front of his own brother and father and Ai found this a bit strange. It was like he was going into a business meeting when it should have been a good time having dinner.

"Are my brothers and father home?" Kyoya asked knowing that the only reason she pulled out a dress shirt was most likely because he would have a rare dinner with his father.

"Yes, I believe Akira Ootori-san will be joining you." Ai smiled putting on his suit jacket. Kyoya nodded, looked at her one last time before leaving the room. Ai wondered what was going through Kyoya's mind. He was certainly not acting like himself.

The room was silent until he came into the dinning room. He bowed and apologized to his father and brother for being late.

"Good to see you Kyoya. How are you doing?" Akira asked smiling as if he was indeed pleased to see his little brother.

"I' m well. How are you doing Oni-san?" Kyoya asked in return. They made small talk about school and Fuyumi coming home for a short time during new years. Kyoya knew he should have felt it was weird that father and his brother didn't bother to call her to see how she was doing. He felt really badly for Fuyumi. However Kyoya would never voice such a thing.

"The girl, Sakamoto Ai." Mr. Ootori said. Both Akira and Kyoya fell silent and looked to their father.

"How is she? Has she been a help to you?" Mr. Ootori asked with his eyes closed and an 'I don't care' expression on his face.

"Yes. She has been helpful." Kyoya replied. He wondered why his father was so interested in how Ai was doing. Then it hit him, of course his father would ask; since Ai was most likely working under his fathers orders. It was a speculation he made a long time ago, and was looking more and more plausible.

"I heard there was an incident at school same days ago. Is the girl alright?" Mr. Ootori asked looking dead straight into Kyoya's eyes. Those sharp old eyes were full of mystery. It was always really hard to decipher what he was thinking.

"Yes. It's been resolved though." Kyoya smiled hoping to clear any misconceptions his father might have about the situation.

"Was Emi Takara involved?" His father asked still maintaining eye contact. The question surprised Kyoya and he really wanted to ask his father how he knew, but knew his place better.

"It seems her name came up. But that allegation was quickly turned down." Kyoya replied as diplomatically as he could.

"Good, take good care of the situation Kyoya. There must be no mistakes when dealing with the Takara Emi." Mr. Ootori ended the conversation as Kyoya nodded. But this matter weighed hard on his head. How did his father know that Emi's name came up in the incident with Ai's bullying. As they ate and he thought in the background about it, he realized a crucial piece.

'How stupid can I be...' Kyoya thought coming to a conclusion. How could Kyoya fall in love with such a person, who was working with his father to test him. Ai must have told his father. Whatever game his father had going with her, Kyoya would make sure he won. Suddenly he no longer felt badly for Ai, nor did he feel as pained as he did for not taking the step Mori did.

However, even so, he couldn't get over the lingering feelings he had for Ai, something he had to make sure he burned to ashes.

EPP so that's this chapter!

On the Next Chapter: It's Fuyumi's wedding and the Morinosuka family is coming. At the wedding she runs into some trouble with another plot by Emi, what impressions will she leave on Kyoya and Mori.