Rated T for Language

Song Inspiration

"Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide."

- Demons by Imagine Dragons

Chapter 21 - 2nd Step: Understanding

Raiden spent the final weeks of the spring term studying for finals, avoiding Toya, and trying to spend as much time with Kaoru as he could. Archery club was taking a good portion of his time as well. He wouldn't lie, archery club was a great decision on his part. He knew it was done at his grandfather's request, but he was enjoying himself.

His sister on the other hand, he wasn't too sure. He continued to spy on her in between classes. He felt weird about it, but it was the only way he could see what she was doing during the day.

She socialized and was friendly with so many different people. There was one in particular that struck him as odd.

Raiden looked around his familiar pillar, down the corridor of the third years classrooms.

Reina was standing next a window and talking excitedly next to Kanan. Kuze was standing off to the side.

Mori soon joined her and seemed to stand closer than he usually did.

Kuze gave Mori a knowing grin and pulled Kanan away.

Reina waved after them and then looked at Mori with an more excited look. Raiden saw Hani bounce out of the classroom and join his friends. Then, he watched another boy walk up to Reina and give Mori a glare. The boy probably didn't even know he was glaring.

Raiden chuckled to himself. His sister was oblivious of the boy's glare and returned the smile he offered her. He said a few brief words before glaring slightly at Mori, giving a happy wave to Hani, and then walked away.

"It's funny isn't?"

Raiden jumped away and looked into Toya's teasing expression.

Toya relaxed his shoulders and hid around the corner and peered around.

"I think she knows."

"Knows what?" Raiden returned to his hiding spot.

They watched as Reina, Hani, and Mori talked amongst themselves and give a few words to anyone who passed by and greeted them.

"I think she knows Chisaka likes her. I'm pretty sure he does like her, especially after what she told me about last weekend."

"What happened last weekend?" Raiden asked quickly.

"Stargazing is pretty romantic don't you think?" Toya began, looking Raiden straight in the eye. "She said he was really sweet with her. Showing her various star constellations and planets with the telescope."

"That sounds so…"

"Cheesy?" Toya offered, with a chuckle. He looked around the corner again. "Reina just thought he was being friendly, but oh no, he's being more than friendly."

"Great," Raiden groaned. "She's going to get another boyfriend. She was doing fine on her own."

"You think?" Toya asked, sounding sincere. "She seemed pretty down if you ask me."

"What?"

"But I don't think she's interested," Toya shrugged. "Raiden?"

Raiden turned to him to let him know he was listening.

"Do you think your sister would be so adamant against you being in a relationship?" His eyes moved from Raiden's eyes to something behind him.

"What? I-"

"Don't you think she'd support you?"

"Of course she would, but that's different. I don't-"

"She would. You should support her too."

Raiden sighed.

"What do you have against relationships anyway?"

"What?"

"Hey, Raiden!" Kaoru and Hikaru ran up to their classmate. "Come on, we have to go after Haruhi." Kaoru grabbed Raiden's arm.

"Why?"

Toya gave a slight eye roll and walked away with a wave.

###

"Tamaki-senpai is gone again?" Raiden looked up into Kyouya's eyes.

"Yes. Host club is canceled today. I hope that isn't too much of a bother," Kyouya chided.

"What? No," Raiden stammered. "It's just the guys didn't tell me. I wonder why?" He thought out loud. He had spent a good part of the day with all three hosts, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi, and they failed to mention anything about the host club being canceled. "What am I going to do now?"

Kyouya shifted his blazer slightly. "Don't you have your own club activities to attend too?"

"Archery ended early today. Hayashi-senpai ran off with Toya for some reason."

"Really?" Kyouya's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Yeah. Is that weird?" Raiden watched his upperclassmen closely. He never noticed him taking an interest into Toya's actions.

"Slightly, yes. From what I understand they didn't part ways on good terms."

"What do you mean by that?"

Before he could answer, Kyouya had already begun to walk down the corridor. Raiden jogged to catch up with him.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. It's not my place to discuss," Kyouya replied casually.

Raiden huffed after him.

"Is your sister still on campus?" Kyouya suddenly asked.

"What?"

Kyouya hesitated. "Is Reina still on campus?"

Raiden shrugged harshly. "I don't know. I never know with her anymore."

"You sound frustrated. You've given up already?" Kyouya sounded more amused than anything else.

"I'm annoyed, not frustrated," Raiden reasoned. "How would you feel if the person you care about the most was doing something behind your back. She knows I know something is up now. Why won't she just tell me?" Raiden threw his arms into the air.

"I don't agree with her decision, but it's her decision and you have to respect that."

"You know something, don't you?" Raiden asked. For some reason, he felt a tingling feeling that Kyouya was hiding something from him. He asked him to help with his "investigation", but Kyouya hasn't disclosed anything.

"I don't think I know anymore than you do," Kyouya sufficed.

The dark haired teen stopped suddenly, his attention concentrated on something outside.

"Senpai?" Raiden moved around Kyouya and looked out the window.

They both looked down and watched Reina walk alongside one of her classmates toward the outer courtyard where cars waited for students.

"Kawazawa," Kyouya muttered.

"Lawyer family right?" Raiden leaned forward, placing his face fully on the glass.

"Yes, business management and acquiring," Kyouya explained, following their forms with his eyes.

Reina stopped next to a newly polished black four door car. Raiden noticed her familiar driver step out of the driver seat.

Kawazawa nodded toward the driver and opened the door for Reina. They leaned forward to each other and looked to be sharing a more intimate discussion.

"What do you think they're talking about?"

"Your grandfather's company? Or maybe they're talking about class," Kyouya said with an eye roll.

Raiden openly glared. "She's getting in the car!" he jabbed the window pane with his finger. "Let's follow her!"

He began to sprint down the corridor. He heard Kyouya's footfalls behind him.

Once they reached the courtyard, Kyouya took a long breath. "How exactly are we going to follow her? You don't have a car."

"I don't have a car," Raiden noted, "but you do."

###

"How did I get caught up in this?" Kyouya sighed loudly.

"Oh shush, you're secretly enjoying this." Raiden tried to strain his view around the other cars, trying to concentrate on his sister's vehicle.

Kyouya fingered his cellphone, swiping through apps and then his email.

"Aren't you even a little interested?" Raiden turned his attention back to Kyouya.

Kyouya slipped his cellphone back into his pocket. "I am interested, but I'm not going to bury into her business."

"I don't even know what I'm doing anymore," Raiden contemplated. "I want to make sure my sister is okay. I don't want her to be in some sort of trouble."

Kyouya leaned back in his seat and stared out the front windshield. "You make it sound like Reina can't take care of herself."

"It's not that. Our grandfather is harsh and," Raiden paused, "controlling. I hope my sister isn't being controlled. That's all I want."

Kyouya shook his head. "Reina wouldn't let herself be controlled like that."

"How would you-" Raiden stopped suddenly. He turned in his seat quickly, eyeing the taller boy, "Since when have you called my sister by her first name?"

Kyouya opened his mouth, beginning to say something, but decided to leave Raiden's question unanswered. "Your sister is not being controlled."

The car stopped suddenly, causing Raiden to lurch forward. Luckily, his seatbelt held him in place.

Two cars ahead of them they watched as Reina's driver helped her out of her vehicle. Reina continued walking into the building.

"This is a Suoh building. Tamaki should be here as well," Kyouya said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Raiden unbuckled his seatbelt and leaped out of the car, racing after his sister.

Kyouya groaned loudly and reluctantly followed after him, scooting across the leather seats and out of the car. He caught up to Raiden, who was hiding behind a large marble pillar.

They peeked around the pillar and found Reina in the lobby speaking with Tamaki.

"It looks like they ran into each other," Kyouya announced. His eyes strained, trying to look through the glass lobby windows and doors.

"What is Tamaki-senpai doing here anyway?" Raiden asked, his attention divided between his sister and Tamaki's appearance.

"He's beginning to learn more about his family's company," Kyouya explained.

"Really? I didn't know Tamaki-senpai was so interested in the company." He kept his eyes on his friend and sister.

"It's a fairly recent development, but I'm not surprised by it." Kyouya hid himself behind the marble and crossed his arms over his chest, tired by their spying mission.

"Why not? He doesn't seem like the type of person to-"

"Well, then you don't know him very well," Kyouya interrupted. "I'm sure anyone in his position or similar would eventually want to become part of their forefathers company."

Raiden nodded in understanding. "Is that," he hesitated, trying to predict Kyouya's reaction to his question. Would he be mad? "Is that how you see things, senpai?" He finally asked, his voice small.

Kyouya's eyes narrowed slightly. Kyouya knew what Raiden was instigating. "Not quite. I have slightly different ambitions."

Raiden concentrated his gaze on the floor. Even the floor leading up to the lobby doors were exquisite. The concrete held tiger and lion designs leading to the doors.

"What about my sister?" He asked.

"What about her?"

"Do you think my sister is actually trying to learn more about the company? Is she really trying to become a part of it?" Raiden found it hard to believe.

"Why does it seem so unbelievable?" Kyouya seemed to read his mind. "You don't seem to know what your sister's true desire is," Kyouya mentioned harshly.

Raiden flinched at the tone of his voice. He kept his eyes on the floor. "My sister has never told me-"

"You never let her," Kyouya interrupted again.

"What?" Raiden finally faced Kyouya. He noticed how serious Kyouya looked.

"You never let her tell you," Kyouya leaned forward slightly. "You jump to conclusions and you automatically assume she's doing something wrong. We've all seen it."

"What do you mean we?" Raiden whispered.

"First her boyfriend," Kyouya continued, "then her modeling. Now this."

Raiden's breathing began to quicken. He never realized how much he criticized his sister's actions. He just wanted her to do what was best for her.

"You're not her father, Raiden. You can't dictate what she does. Honestly, she doesn't even let her father do that."

Raiden was surprised by the seriousness in Kyouya's tone. He was scared by his candor. Has he really been so critical of his sister?

"She's still trying to figure out what she's doing," Kyouya sighed. "Regardless, I hardly believe she's being forced. She isn't the type of person who would let herself be controlled so easily."

"How do you know?" Raiden's voice trembled.

"Because she's just like me."

###

"Tamaki-kun!" Reina gripped the boy's forearm. "I heard the host club was cancelled for today, but I didn't know you would be here today? What brings you by?"

"Rei-senpai, what a pleasant surprise. I'm here to see my father," Tamaki explained.

"Oh? I'm here to see my uncle! His office is here in this building. Floor 32."

Tamaki whistled. "That's a long way up."

Reina groaned playfully. "I know. The trip up is so irritating." Reina smiled brightly, trying not to reveal how distressed she was really feeling.

The last thing she wanted today was to run into Tamaki or anyone from the host club or Ouran. She didn't want anyone to know what she was doing, not until she was ready.

"Senpai?" Tamaki looked over her head briefly. "What are you coming to see your uncle for?"

"Oh, just," Reina placed a finger to her chin, her forehead creased at the center, "family matters."

"I see." Before he could say anything else, his cell phone began to buzz. "Oh no, I'm sorry, Rei-senpai, but I need to go."

"That's quite alright, Tamaki-kun. I don't want to keep you."

Tamaki bowed and left Reina alone in the lobby. Her expression downcast.

Business men and women of all types passed by her. Ignoring her existence completely.

Raiden spent the last week in a sort of daze. Kyouya's disclosure made him question everything. Has he really been so critical of his sister so that now, she never told him anything?

He loved his sister to death. The last thing he wanted was his sister to feel pressured by his own criticism. He could hardly believe what he had done.

"Because she's just like me."

Kyouya's comment scared him more than it should have. Is his sister really that ambitious?

"You're pretty sluggish today, Moriyama," Hayashi scolded slightly. "What gives?" His arms crossed before him.

"It's nothing." Raiden lined himself back on the shooting line. He raised his bow and began to pull the string when he heard hushed murmuring behind him. He turned around and found Mori, Hani, and Toya standing in the back talking amongst themselves. Hayahi skipped over to the newcomers.

Raiden looked at them quizzically. What were they doing there?

"Raiden!" Hani waved.

"Hey, Hani-senpai. Mori-senpai," Raiden greeted them. His eyes veered over to Toya. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Toya smirked.

Hayashi punched Toya softly in the shoulder. "Did you come to visit me?"

"Shut up," Toya rolled his eyes, but a smile remained on his face.

"We haven't seen you in awhile, Raiden," Hani commented.

Raiden scanned the floor and sighed softly. He hadn't gone to the host club in over a week or gone to see the third years in their classroom "Yeah, sorry about that. I've been busy."

"With what?" Toya asked. "I haven't seen you in awhile either. It's like you're avoiding us."

"Us?" Hani asked.

"Yeah, Reina and I," Toya disclosed.

"Toya?" Hayashi interrupted. "You busy?"

Toya shrugged. He glanced at Raiden one last time before focusing his attention on his classmate. "Nope. I'm free for the rest of the afternoon."

"Really? Great. Club is almost over. There's a new art exhibit over at the MET*. Do you want to check it out?"

"Really? I wouldn't mind going. Reina ditched me today again."

"Awesome! Let me just finish up here." Hayashi turned to Raiden. "You done for today, kid?" He looked around briefly noticing the other members were already cleaning up.

Raiden looked around too. "Yeah. Sorry." Raiden quickly put his bow and arrows away. He began to slip off his keigo-ki, the kimono top of his uniform, when he noticed Toya and Hayashi standing off to the side near the door.

Raiden could see Toya's flushed face from where he was standing. Hayashi was leaning forward, teasing him about something.

"Rai-chan?" Hani suddenly appeared before Raiden.

Raiden stepped back startled. He had forgotten Hani and Mori were there.

"Do you want to go home together?" Hani asked sweetly.

"I," Raiden looked over to where Toya still stood. Toya's eyes were narrowed, but his ever present playful grin was spreading on his face. He must have said something because Hayashi was blushing.

"I," Raiden tried again. "Sure if you don't mind." Between the uncomfortable feeling he was getting in the clubroom and the inevitable irritation he would feel if he took the train, he knew he would get some peace if he rode with Hani and Mori.

Raiden slipped off the rest of his uniform behind a screen and quickly put his school uniform back on. He jogged after the cousins who were walking slowly toward the door.

The threesome slipped out the door quietly, unbeknownst to them, a pair of dark eyes trailed after them.

"Alright settle down," their literature teacher barked, his voice echoing around the room.

Reina kept her attention outside the classroom, watching a bird walk back and forth on a tree that was right next to her window. It was days before their final exams and she was dreading every hour left of school.

Studying was taking up too much of her time. At this rate, she just wanted to go home put some sweat pants or a loose dress on and eat a pint of ice cream.

"We need to partner up for the next assignment. You have the rest of the class period to work on the assignment."

Reina tapped her fingers on her desk and rested her head in her hands. Why was this class so boring? she wondered.

She felt Chisaka's chair hit the front of her desk. That was when she noticed Chisaka was moving uncomfortably in his seat and murmuring under his breath.

"Moriyama and, let's see," the teacher paused, looking around the room. "Nekozawa."

Chisaka bounded his fist on his desk.

"Chisaka. Kuze!"

"Ha!" Kuze yelled out.

The teacher called out the rest of the students and dispersed them. Reina picked up her books and tip toed over to Nekozawa's desk.

"Umehito-kun!" She squealed. Her previous dull attitude gone. She was excited to be working with her old friend. She dropped down in the now empty desk next to him. "Let's get started."

"Yes, lets." He gave her a small smile.

###

Mori and Hani scooted their desks together. They were partnered up once again for a class assignment.

Chisaka groaned loudly. He had stayed in his seat and groaned again when Kuze dropped down into Reina's empty desk.

"Tough break man. What did you think would happen?" Kuze chided, shaking his head.

"Shut up."

Kuze and Chisaka both looked across the room. Mori instantly followed their gaze. They were either watching the teacher at his desk in the classroom or they were staring at Reina and Nekozawa.

Reina suddenly grinned brightly at something Nekozawa said. Mori heard Chisaka sigh next to him.

"You should just get it over with," Kuze said, opening his textbook.

"What?"

"Just ask her out already. What is there to lose?"

Chisaka threw one more glance her way, sighing under his breath.

"I just need this semester over!" Reina's voice echoed around the room.

"Moriyama!" the teacher scolded.

Laughter spread around the room.

Reina banged her head on the window. Finals were finally over. Now she didn't have to deal with school for the next six weeks. All she had to worry about was modeling, the company, and her brother.

She banged her head on the window again. Her brother has been avoiding her for weeks. They held limited conversations and when they did talk it wasn't for long. She could hardly stand it. Sometimes she cried herself to sleep just knowing how much stress she was causing him. She didn't mean to, but she wasn't ready for him to know.

She made a move to bang her head across the glass again, but a strong grip around her arm stopped her.

She stared at the hand and immediately blushed. She knew whose hands those belonged to and she wasn't sure she could face him right now.

"Stop," Mori said calmly.

"I'm sure you did fine," Hani said cheerfully, appearing from behind his cousin, assuming her actions were related to her performance on their final exams.

Mori's hand trailed down her arm softly, causing shivers to go up and down Reina's spine. Her breath quickened.

"Moriyama!" Chisaka ran out of the classroom and skidded to a halt once he noticed who was standing next to her. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were busy. I'll just-"

"No, it's fine," Reina interrupted. "What is it?"

Mori's hand finally dropped completely.

"Can I ask you something?" He pulled her away from Mori and Hani and she let him, not noticing the distance.

Mori and Hani watched from afar, but they knew what he was probably going to ask.

"So, summer break is finally here," Chisaka commented.

Reina was focusing on something over his shoulder and out the window. "I'm so glad. You have no idea how tired I am of reading classic literature and graphing derivatives."

Chisaka laughed lightly. He rubbed the back of his neck. "You're right. It's a total bore."

"Didn't you want to ask me something?" Reina finally looked him in the eye.

Chisaka jumped slightly, his gaze wavering. "Yeah. Uh, since summer break is starting and all, I thought maybe we can hang out sometime."

She cocked her head to the side. "Really?" Something suddenly dawned on her. "Are you trying to get a rematch from the tennis match the other day?"

"What? No, it's a da- No. I'm just asking if you want to hang out...over the break."

"Oh," Reina settled. "That doesn't sound too bad. I wouldn't mind." She smiled.

Chisaka took a large breath. "Great. I'll call you."

She shrugged. "Okay."

Chisaka moved away slightly, but startled back. Neither Chisaka nor Reina noticed Mori and Hani standing closer than they were before. They must have moved closer while they were talking.

"Well, I'm done for today," Reina huffed. "I need to find a gallon of ice cream." And figure out what to do about my brother, she thought to herself.

She strode away from the teen boys. She missed the narrowed eyes Chisaka aimed at Mori and the slight grin Hani had on his face.