I stirred awake from my dreamless sleep, but didn't move much. Although it'd been warm and still was, my body was a little stiff from sleeping on the ground.

I pulled in a full breath of warm summer air and let it out in a soft sigh, snuggling up a little more and pulling my jacket closer. As I moved my makeshift blanket a sweet, tangy smell rolled off it and hit my nose. The scent puzzled me with its familiarity.

The next second it took everything in me to keep my eyes from flying open as my heart slammed to a stop.

Anger rolled through me as my groggy senses sharpened instantly. My torso and head were propped up, my neck stinging slightly from the angle. I could hear a heartbeat from where my ears laid on a chest or stomach.

The jacket was slowly sliding off and I felt the body move to adjust it. I felt like the rage was eating me but I stayed still. I could feel a spot of warmth – a hand – resting on my shoulder.

I slited my eyes evilly and glared upwards. Now they know everything!, I thought despairingly.

"What the hell do you two think you're doing here?" I growled as darkly as possible. My throat was dry and scratchy from crying and sleep, only making me sound scarier.

"That's not exactly the welcome we expected," Hikaru said blandly, right above my head. I locked him in my gaze and pumped as much rage as I could into it. I was lying in his lap with my head set on his stomach – no wonder it hurt. I fleetingly thought that I must've been tired if they moved me that much and I didn't wake up.

"But then again, we didn't expect to see what we saw," the higher voice came from behind my back. The hand on my shoulder squeezed slightly, though I don't know if he was trying to comfort me or himself.

There was another cold thrill of fear that turned to anger. I pushed myself up off the ground, away from them, letting my shoulders arch and head hang. I fixed them in a glare over my shoulder, my hair hanging in my face. "This is exactly why I didn't want any of you over again." Their jacket slowly slid off me, clinging onto my shoulder for a second before dropping into my lap. "What could've possibly possessed you to make a trip to my house when I told you my parents said no one could come over?"

They both looked like they were in pain, staring at me with soft, sad eyes. Anger clenched in my stomach again.

"Actually, we all went over to apologize for you getting in trouble because of us." Hikaru's words dropped ice shards into my stomach.

No, I thought, eyes wide. No, he can't mean all of them when he says that. He can't.

"After seeing . . . your house, we went out to look for you," Kaoru said solemnly.

The rising fear inside me was turned into anger as I spoke. "What do you mean all of you?"

The twins looked up then to each other and back to me. They seemed confused that I'd asked such a question. "Just what we mean when we say it," they answered together. "Us – the Host Club. We all went to your house."

I could feel something frail break in my chest. Not only did I lose my house, my parents, but now the only people I'd bonded with at school would see me as the poor commoner girl who'd lost everything. Like they'd want to hang out with someone they pity, I thought bitterly as weak anger rose in me again.

But something was weird. "Why did you even bother looking for me then?" I spat as I waved at the bushes that had hidden me; it would take some real searching to have found me.

They looked completely taken aback.

"What, don't you get it?" Hikaru asked, some harshness coming into his voice so he sounded normal. It seemed better, more natural that he was speaking with that tone.

"We were worried about you," Kaoru answered a little disbelievingly. "The entire club was worried about you."

"Yeah, we all split up to make sure you were okay," Hikaru ended. "Once we found you we let them know."

"They're all waiting at our house so they can make sure you're all right themselves."

At their words I had a very strange feeling. I was touched that they all cared so much and would go to lengths such as looking for me to be sure I was okay. Yet I also felt uncomfortable with all the attention and worry. I didn't feel I was worth so much effort on their part, and I wanted to shove it away from me.

I drew away from them slightly, sensitive to their attention. "Well thank you for caring enough to make sure I was okay, but I'm fine and I have been. I don't need your help. Now if you don't mind I'd appreciate it if you left."

Irritation ran through their bodies. "No," Kaoru said solidly, crossing his arms as his brother said, "Where are you gonna go, then?"

"I've been getting by perfectly well, not that it's any of your concern," I growled.

"You've been sleeping in your car haven't you?" His stare was all irritation and boredom.

"No!" I snapped defiantly, ignoring how much of a lie it was.

"Oh my god, you have," Kaoru groaned. "For how long? And why didn't you tell anyone?"

I screwed up my face. "I told you, I haven't been! And I didn't tell you because you'd only see me as the poor commoner, who had no parents, no home, nothing to live for!"

I hadn't consciously thought of saying, or more screaming, those words. As soon as they were out my hand slapped over my mouth, eyes wide in shock at myself. But my words rang true with how I felt, and now I could feel my throat and chest tighten, eyes filling up as I waited for the rejection to come.

The brothers looked just about as shocked as I felt. Anger at myself bit at my stomach when a pained look entered their eyes as they saw tears forming. I clamped my teeth together, trying to force the water from my eyes and pain from my throat.

Stop it, I told myself harshly. Stop it right now.

"Shay. . ." Kaoru whispered, voice faltering. He reached out a limp hand, but when I made a move away he let it drop.

"Do you really believe that's only how we would see you?" Hikaru's voice was quiet and had a pinch of anger to it. With my jaw set I dropped my hand and looked at him. "Do you really think we're so shallow?"

I had to take a second to honestly think about the question. They could make a big fuss over small things, but in the end it was all for show or laughs. I gave them wary looks when I had my answer.

"You said it yourself before," Kaoru started.

"We're all friends-," Hikaru continued, setting his hands in his lap.

"-And friends are there for each other, no matter what," they finished together – of course.

I felt myself relax, even lighten up, at their reassurance. It was cautious, but it still felt good.

I turned my head slightly and stared at them. "Okay, thanks, but enough with the mushy sentimental stuff. Besides," I said, frame drooping as I felt the soreness start in my heart, "it's only been a few days without them. You can't exactly expect me to be bright and cheer on the third day, especially their funeral. . ."

I trailed off, my insides hurting too much. The Hitachiins gave me sullen looks as we fell silent for a few moments at the thought of my parents.

It was reaching the point where I didn't know who was going to break it, though I knew I wouldn't.

"Move on." Kaoru's quiet voice rang out. I looked at him, half confused and half offended. He took a quick glance at his brother before clearing his throat and speaking louder.

"Like what you told everyone one day," he clarified, looking at me with meaning. "What happened, happened. You have to let go of it, get over it. And the best way to get over it is to move on."

I stared at him, snippings of rage biting at my stomach. I tried to ignore them but heard its presence in my voice. "These are two completely different situations."

Hikaru opened his mouth to defend his brother, but Kaoru spoke first with a determined look on his face. "Yeah they're nothing alike, but the message is still the same. You can't do anything to change the past, so the best thing to do is for yourself is accept it."

His words shocked me down to the core, that was for sure. Not only did I not think he'd use my own words against me, but the wisdom with which he said them threw me off.

So I was simply sitting there starting at him when Hikaru piped up.

"Besides," he said in a hushed voice as he looked down. "How do you think your parents would feel about how sad you are, and how much you're putting yourself through alone?" His eyes pouring into mine, soft and thoughtful. I never would've expected that from him.

Looking at their expressions – Kaoru fierce and Hikaru sober – I realized they were playing opposites, and it was working.

Damn, they look incredible, like models, I thought. Especially Kaoru. So fierce. Like a tiger. Rawr. . !

The sudden thought broke through the tension in my body, my lips turning up. As they saw this the twins looked at me like I was unstable, which really set me off.

"Your faces!" I laughed as my eyes started to water. I felt like I hadn't laughed in ages and it felt like magic. "Look at each other and see what you look like! Haha!"

Their heads snapped to one another and back to me nervously. "Uhm, if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know," they said like they didn't know what they were offering.

"You idiots I'm fine," I replied as I settled down with a big grin on my face. They had strangely been able to make me feel much better. "Thanks for saying that. Really. It helped a lot more than you two know." It was true – I wanted to keep my parents happy and proud even after their death and being moppy about it wasn't going to help.

At my change in attitude they lightened up as well. "Hey, what're friends for right?" they harmonized cheesily.

I rolled my eyes, and made a show of it. "Thanks. But you don't need to do anything else."

Now it was their turn to glare and look irritated. "Where are you staying tonight?"

I irked but tried not to let it show. "Where I've been since the fire – my friends?"

"Oh yeah?" Kaoru asked.

"What's her name?" Hikaru shot.

"Taylor!" I said too quickly. I scrambled to recover. "Taylor. She went to-to my old school with me."

They weren't fazed. "You're sleeping in your car again aren't you?"

Dammit! "What d'you care anyway?"

The twins simply stared at me. "Fine, then it's settled," Kaoru said, closing his eyes.

"You'll be staying with us from now on." Hikaru turned his nose up, copying his brother.

"I'd really rather not," I grimaced. I didn't want to impose on anyone by staying at their house, but it was a little more than that as I thought about staying with those two.

"Too bad," they chorused. "It's been decided; you're staying with us."

I groaned. It was nice to offer – insist really – but I didn't like how I'd had no real say in it. "Fine, I'll go with you," I said reluctantly, to which those stupid red heads brightened at. "But pull any weird shit on me and you'll be sorry." They were the 'devil' type after all.

"Sure, fine by us," they smirked.

"Come on, let's head over there right now," Hikaru said, getting up.

"Yeah everyone else is there waiting for us," Kaoru recalled.

"Uhm, alright then," I mumbled, standing and brushing myself off. At least sleeping on the ground hadn't made me too sore. Hikaru grabbed the jacket from the ground.

I heard low groans and snapped my head up, glaring. "Man, you should've asked us for a dress."

"Yeah, you always wear such plain stuff."

"I didn't want to be fancy," I growled. "Go on, I'll be with you guys in a minute." Thankfully they got the message and left my secluded sanctuary.

Sighing tiredly, I looked at the simple headstone softly. Even though I'd just stood up I crouched down in front of it. "What've I gotten myself into, huh?" I asked with a sad smile. "I miss you guys." I let the pain run through me for a second before standing again and walking to my car, where the twins were waiting.

-F-

A/N: I am SO. SORRY. For being gone for so long. I sprained my ankle, pulled something in my back, and fell behind in school, not to mention Halloween (which I hope you all had good ones). But as a heads up, yes, I will only be updating once a week from now on. Possibly even every two weeks, depending on my schedule. So sorry again this was so late. This is just . . . what happens when she wakes up. Enjoy. R&R PLEASE! See you all in a week then.

I do not, in any way, shape, or form, own Ouran High School Host Club.