A/N: ok, so i watched a couple more dubbed episodes of Ouran Host Club and i was back in the game! ^.^ sorry for the long wait! enjoy!

Chapter 21: A Ball

"Now, be careful," Saigo warned Mariko as she started toward the door. "Don't let those twins get any closer than they have to. And when you dance, dance like this…" Saigo held Mariko's hands and shoved her at arms length.

"Dad," Mariko laughed, pulling him toward her to hug him. "I'll be fine."

Saigo sighed and hugged his daughter tight as he breathed, "I can't believe it's Friday already."

"I know," Mariko giggled looking up at her father. She looked so beautiful, her hair in a curly bun on top of her head with a few stray curls behind her ears and wearing the dress the Twins had given her, the mask in her hand.

"I can't wait to see Sakura! She said she was gonna be in one of Carlotta's dresses."

"Carlotta…Which one is that again?" Saigo wondered.

"The one that was the prima donna before Christine," Mariko reminded him.

"Right," Saigo nodded then frowned at her. "Why would she want to wear one of her costumes?"

"I don't know," Mariko replied, then looked at her father's watch. "Crap! I have to go!" She kissed her father's cheek and hurried out the door to the waiting limo.

"Be careful!" Saigo called again from the door.

"I will!" she called back and got into the limo, shutting the door then turning to the driver.

"School," she instructed, playing with the feather in her mask as she held it. The car started moving and she couldn't help but grin. Finally, after having decent time with the Twins she was getting to spend almost the whole night with them at the ball! She was so excited she thought she was going to faint. She couldn't wait to see what they had decided to dress up as. She could see Hikaru as the Phantom and Kaoru as Raoul but she hoped they had switched because she adored the Phantom.

"I hope Yukio isn't there to ruin it for me," she thought, making a face as she thought of him. "Rose will probably be there, too."

She made another face but didn't dwell on it as she daydreamed about what could happen at the ball. She saw herself and Kaoru dancing and couldn't help but giggle. The limo suddenly stopped and she couldn't believe she was at the school already.

"Thank you," she said to the driver and he only nodded with a small smile as she got out. She hurried through the halls of Ouran Academy until she reached the room the Host Club was having the ball in. The doors were wide open and she could see girls in costumes, dancing and laughing and having a grand time. She quickly fixed herself then held her head high as she strolled into the room.

"Mariko!"

She turned to her left to see a blonde girl in a golden dress, a black feathered hair ornament in her hair and a golden mask on a stick in her hand. Mariko knew exactly who that was.

"Sakura! You look fantastic!" she grinned as the blonde ran toward her and hugged her fiercely.

"And you look absolutely stunning, Mariko!" Sakura complimented then leaned into her ear. "I am sure Kaoru will agree."

"Hush!" Mariko hissed, playfully. "Not so loud!"

"That was not loud!" Sakura gasped.

"Where's John?" Mariko asked with a smirk, changing the subject.

"I have not seen him, yet," Sakura replied, looking around the room for him. "But I am sure he will arrive soon."

Mariko nodded and glanced behind Sakura in time to see a tall boy with a curly, black head of hair coming toward them in a Don Juan costume, a black mask over his eyes.

"Sooner than you think," Mariko murmured, knowing who it was. Sakura frowned at her but Mariko only nodded to the boy now behind her and Sakura whirled around she gasped in surprise.

"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you," he said quickly and Sakura grinned from ear to ear.

"John! You came!" she giggled.

"Of course," John replied with a smile, his sky blue eyes more brilliant behind the mask. He looked Sakura over.

"You look beautiful," he sighed with a bit of a goofy smile and Mariko giggled at the scene as Sakura shrugged cutely, swaying from side to side.

"You look very handsome as well, John," she smiled and he sighed again in relief.

As they began talking, Mariko snuck away to find the Twins. She took no offense at all at being forgotten. She weaved in and out of the crowd, but she couldn't find them, or any of the Host Club for that matter. She sighed in a huff, her hands on her hips. She suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder and whirled around, hoping it was one of the Twins.

"Oh," she blurted when she saw who it was. "It's just you."

"Yes, it is I," Tamaki said, ignoring her 'just' comment or not hearing it at all. "Princess Mariko, I have come to greet you on your arrival. May I compliment you by saying you look absolutely radiant tonight?"

"Why, thank you, Tamaki," Mariko smiled as he bowed at the waist and when he stood tall, she examined his costume. A period black suit with all the trimmings: white shirt, cravat with a pearl pin in it, a vest beneath the jacket and Mariko wouldn't have been surprised in the least if he was even wearing the undergarments of the period.

"I see," she nodded with a smile. "You're supposed to be Raoul, aren't you?"

"The hero of this fine story…yes," he confirmed and Mariko couldn't help but glare at him. The Phantom was the only true hero to her.

"Well, thank you so much, Tamaki, for greeting me, but I have to go find the Twins," she smiled.

"They'll find you, Princess," he smiled and she couldn't help but giggle. She knew it was true. "And I expect a dance with you later."

"You shall have it…viscount," she smirked, giving a little curtsey.

"Tamaki!" a girl called and suddenly came up next to him, drawing his attention. "Won't you dance with me?!"

"Of course, Princess," he smiled, warmly as she wrapped her arm around his and giggled in delight. Mariko turned back to searching the room for the Twins. She blew out a sigh when she couldn't find them and strolled to a group of girls on one side of the dance floor. She recognized some of them as the Twins designates and was sure they were waiting for dances from them.

"They'll have to show up some time," she thought to herself as she took a place in the group. Searching the dance floor she saw Mori and Honey dancing with some of their own designates and noticed they were dressed as the managers of the opera. She giggled at it, not thinking anyone would dress as those two.

"Did you hear?" she heard one of the girls whispering to her friend. "Rose Destler will not be designating any hosts after this ball!"

Mariko couldn't help but lean in slightly to hear a bit better.

"I hear she was jealous of that girl that attacked her," the other murmured. "Tamaki talked to her privately that day."

They must not have noticed Mariko standing right there because the other girl replied, "That girl must be a favorite of all of the hosts."

Mariko only rolled her eyes and shook her head. Such jealous minds these girls worked with. She continued shaking her head as she decided to go look for Sakura instead. As she headed from the crowd of girls she bumped into someone and as she looked toward the person to apologize she gasped.

"Kyouya!" she smiled as he straightened himself out. She frowned in confusion at his outfit but when she saw the conducting baton in his hand she knew he was a maestro, which wasn't too far from his role in the Host Club.

"I'm sorry I bumped into you," she continued. "I should have been watching where I was going."

"It's quite alright, Mariko," he nodded, fixing his glasses.

"Have you seen the Twins?" she hoped and he smiled slightly.

"I saw them a little while ago, but not since," he replied and she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest making Kyouya chuckle.

"They enjoy making me frustrated, don't they?" she guessed and Kyouya only shrugged.

"I'll be sure to look for you if I find them," he only replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find Tamaki to ask him something."

"Is something wrong?" Mariko asked as he started to walk away and he stopped.

"I'm sure it's nothing," he assured her. "I only noticed someone I wasn't sure we invited."

He continued on his way and Mariko frowned in thought but shrugged it off. She sighed as she scanned the room and noticed another familiar face standing next to a pillar watching everyone dance.

"Haruhi!" she grinned to herself and hurried toward her. "Maybe she'll know where those two rascals are."

She wasn't at all surprised about her costume. After Mariko had found out Haruhi was a girl, Hikaru and Kaoru told her all about how the Host Club, Tamaki, mostly, would try dressing her up as a girl at every chance they got. Tonight they had slapped a wig of long curly hair on her head and dressed her in a white flouncy dress Mariko knew was the dress Christine had worn during her solo Think of Me. However, Haruhi did not look happy at all.

"Those boys are too much," she smiled. Suddenly, a hand around each of her wrists stopped her and she gasped when she was pulled back again and another hand covered her eyes. "What---?!"

"Looking for us, Princess?" she heard the murmur in stereo and grinned when she recognized the voices. She hurriedly pulled the hand over her eyes down and whirled around to see the twins grinning at her. Kaoru was dressed as Red Death Phantom, and Hikaru was dressed as the Phantom as well.

"You two look wonderful!" she grinned, widely and looked around as she stepped toward Kaoru to whisper, "Especially you. How did you know this costume was my favorite?"

"It is?" Kaoru wondered, honestly and Mariko only giggled with a nod. "Well, it's a good thing I didn't come in the costume Hikaru came in then."

"Either way," Mariko shrugged and stepped back to glance between them and smile, "You both look very dashing tonight."

"Thank you, Princess," they replied, bowing. "You look lovely, yourself."

"Thank you," Mariko giggled then was distracted when she heard music for a waltz begin.

"Would you like to dance, Mariko?" Kaoru murmured in her ear and she smiled with a slight blush and a nod. Hikaru stepped to her right and Kaoru wrapped her arm around his as they led her to the dance floor. Mariko looked between them in worry then around at the girls. She saw a few of them eyeing the three with glares.

"What's wrong?" Hikaru wondered, noticing her uneasiness. She looked at him with wide eyes as they stopped on the dance floor.

"Why don't one of you dance with one of your other designates," she suggested. "I don't want to get you in trouble because you're spending so much time with me."

The twins nodded and Hikaru walked off toward a crowd of girls he knew where his and his brother's designates, leaving Mariko and Kaoru on the dance floor. Kaoru suddenly pulled Mariko close and framed her for the waltz and she smiled with a slight blush as he began to lead.

"You know, Princess, you're blushing an awful lot tonight," he smirked and Mariko cast her eyes down as they continued dancing.

"Really?" she murmured and looked at him again to see him nod. "I guess it's because, everything's going so well."

"Well?" Kaoru wondered and Mariko nodded.

"I haven't seen Rose or Yukio here tonight," she whispered. "Do you think they've given up now that they don't have Kris-Akiko in my home to spy for them?"

"I hope so," Kaoru murmured, placing an Eskimo kiss to her nose. "I really do, Princess."

Mariko giggled but they stopped when Kaoru noticed someone come up behind her and she felt a tap on her shoulder. She whirled around to see Tamaki bow and he asked, "May I cut in?"

Mariko looked to Kaoru and he nodded, but before he let go of her hand he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I want your last dance."

Mariko nodded before turning to Tamaki and Kaoru handed her off to him before walking toward the crowd of girls that his and Hikaru's designates. Mariko watched Kaoru walk away and she bit the corner of her lip. This did not go unnoticed by Tamaki.

"You should try not to be so obvious, mon ami," he whispered and she whipped her head around to look at him with wide eyes. "The girls are already a little jealous of you because we all like you. Try not to spend too much time with him, as hard as I'm sure that will be."

Mariko only nodded, knowing he was looking out for the both of them. It was bad enough she had Rose and Yukio after her, she didn't need the rest of the Host Club's designate list after her as well. She didn't want to stay away from Kaoru, or Hikaru for that matter, but she knew that she couldn't let them show favoritism any more than they had already.

The waltz ended and Tamaki bowed low as she curtsied, bowing her head and he thanked her for the dance then escorted her off the floor toward a table with some refreshments.

"Have fun, mon ami," he smiled and she nodded as he walked away, not taking offense that he was leaving her. He had his own girls to please.

Mariko turned to the table and served herself some punch then took a few small sandwiches and places them on a plate for herself, suddenly feeling a bit hungry. She was glad she had something to eat before she'd gone. There were only finger sandwiches and punch. She stepped to a table and sat herself down among chatting girls and nibbled happily at her sandwiches, watching couples dance on the floor.

"Tamaki," Kyouya called, walking toward the blonde who was charming one of his designates. Tamaki excused himself and met his friend half-way. "Did you invite Rose Destler?"

"Yes," Tamaki nodded. "We'll have to keep a close eye on her. Has she arrived?"

"Yes," Kyouya nodded. "I have Mori and Honey watching her closely, but there is another matter. Did you invite Yukio Hayate?"

Tamaki's eyes widened in horror and he could only shake his head.

"That's what I thought," Kyouya nodded again. "He must have been brought by one of the girls."

"Kyouya, we can't let him anywhere near Mairko!" Tamaki whispered harshly then thought for a moment. "I'll keep an eye on Yukio. Can you watch over Mariko?"

Kyouya nodded and Tamaki shot off to look for Yukio while Kyouya headed off to find Mariko.

"Thank you so much for the dance, Hikaru!" one the girls grinned as he escorted her off the dance floor.

"You're welcome," he smiled with a nod and she ran toward her friends when he let go of her arm. He suddenly noticed a crowd around a table and wondered what the fuss was about.

"Hikaru, what's going on?" Kaoru wondered, suddenly appearing next to him and Hikaru shrugged.

They walked toward the crowd of girls and carefully moved through them to get to the center. What they found made their blood run cold. All the girls were chatting with one girl in the center in a pink and purple dress made of taffeta and a matching hat, sitting prissily on a chair and sipping at some punch, her emerald eyes roaming around the crowd until they landed on the Twins with a piercing gaze.

"Rose," they breathed together then asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited," she smiled, all eyes glancing between the twins and her as she set her cup down on the table and stood, elegantly. "Are you surprised to see me?"

"You had better not hurt Mariko," Hikaru growled and Kaoru became angry as well.

"Why would I ever do such a thing?!" she gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "She attacked me! If I were you, I'd be watching out for these other lovely girls here. She may attack one of them, next. Of even one of you."

"She was provoked, Rose, and it was you who provoked her," Kaoru snapped and the girls looked around in horror.

"Well, I have to say, you're being very rude in accusing me of starting anything, Kaoru," she retorted. "If it weren't for the fact that you two are actually very nice boys I'd probably walk out of here right now."

"Why don't you?" they replied, flatly and Rose stared at them with wide eyes.

"Hikaru! Kaoru! Why are you being so rude to Rose?!" one of the girls gasped but none of them looked at her.

The twins stared at Rose in disbelief as she began sobbing, dramatically and sunk back into her chair. Her wails were heard throughout the room and everyone rushed over to see what was happening.

"You really are horrible!" she sobbed. "You want me to leave! How can you two be hosts?! You're supposed to treat girls nicely and make them feel special, but you're being so mean to me!"

She continued sobbing and soon, the entire Host Club was standing with the twins and a crowd was around them, the music had stopped.

"What's happening here?!" Tamaki called and looked at the twins but he got his answer from one of their designates.

"They were being so rude to Rose!" she snapped and tried to comfort the still fake-sobbing 'Princess.' Kaoru suddenly noticed Rose look up from her hands she had buried her face in and glanced beyond the crowd for a split second then sobbed into her hands some more. He whirled around and tried to see above the crowd at what she might have been looking at, drawing his twin's attention.

"Kaoru, what is it?" Hikaru asked and tried to see what his younger brother was looking for. Kaoru suddenly found himself wondering where Mariko was. He didn't answer his brother and continued looking through the crowd and beyond it, but he couldn't find her. He turned back to Rose with a burning gaze and she cried out when he marched toward her and yanked her up by the arm.

"Kaoru! What---?!"

"What have you done?!" he snarled at her, ignoring the girls around him that gave gasps at the scene. He watched Rose in burning anger as she gave an evil smirk.

"Kaoru!" Hikaru called and he turned to his twin who was looking beyond the crowd. He let go of Rose who slammed herself into her chair and claimed it had been Kaoru that shoved her, but the twins looked to one of the doors in horror to see Yukio dragging a struggling Mariko out of the room.

They both started shoving through the crowd to get to her while Tamaki whispered to Kyouya to try and settle everything then went after the twins. Kaoru ran as fast as he could to the door he'd seen Yukio drag Mariko through but felt his heart clench in terror when he slammed the door behind himself and Hikaru and heard Mariko give a heart wrenching scream.

"Kaoru!"

A/N: the end...JUST KIDDING! lol i'm horrible, i know. how can i leave it on a cliffhanger like this?! well, you won't have to wait long this time. i'm on a roll! i know, i know...so much cheese it's not even funny. anyway, reviews?