A/N – Okay, so I got a few people who responded to the Danny Zuko thing, but everyone said someone different. I decided to write down names and stick them in a cup and decide that way since there was no majority vote (except for Haruhi, but Haruhi can't sing in the anime/manga so using her would be taking too much poetic license). I hope you enjoy the choice. Once I picked it from the hat, I found that it worked incredibly well as far as personality type for the two characters.
Thank you to KageNoNeko for being an extremely consistent reviewer, your reviews have helped a lot.
This is the second to last chapter. The next one is it. There also may be a short epilogue, but I am not sure about that yet. I may actually post the last chapter tomorrow night because it is the chapter that I have had in my mind since the story begun having plot. Thanks to all of you for your support so far, and I hope that you continue to give me your input.
The music in this chapter is Don't Stop Believing by Journey and Heaven's Not Enough, performed by Steve Conte, written by Yoko Kanno, and from the anime Wolf's Rain (if you're looking for a good anime series I would recommend it.
Don't forget to review!
IIIII
And So It Goes
"I know it's the first day of the new semester so I'm not going to give you any homework, but I'd like all of you to make sure you know all of the basic formulas because when come back tomorrow we are going to move right on to Pre-calc. Don't forget that if you're in Physics after lunch I want your angular momentum summer projects handed in before class starts. It's even better if you drop them off now."
"Kurt, you're harsh to your students. This is why I don't teach science or math; there's no room for creativity. No mome raths outgrabeing, no velar nasals, no misplaced modifiers. Just numbers and numbers scare me; there are too many of them." I leaned back in the chair I was sitting in and placed my legs on top of the desk. It was the first day of classes and, being the intelligent person I am, I decided to come with Kurt and sit through his morning lectures. The school was already buzzing with people figuring out what they were doing for the Ouran fair. Insane people. Rich people are insane people.
"Uh, sensei. Can I stay in here for lunch?" A student with red hair asked Kurt. The kid was freaky looking, not going to lie.
"Sure Casanoda-kun, just keep it down today?" Kurt told the student, coming over to the desk I was at and shoving my legs off so that he could sit down. He was wearing these really awkward red corduroy pants with an untucked pink shirt and white tie.
"You know, just because we're back at school doesn't mean that you have to look like a complete geek." I grabbed his shirttail and flipped it up, giving him the stink eye before laughing at myself, "Then again, you're pretty damn sexy anyways." I shifted a look back at the student behind me before grabbing the hideous tie and pulling him down into a kiss.
"You're only being romantic because you're upset that no one in the Host club can be Danny Zuko. Even Tamaki turned you down."
"Tamaki has to play the piano; we have no one else to do that. Besides, can you really picture Honey as Danny Zuko? He's shorter than Momoka for heaven's sake!" I was still screwed on the whole lack of a male lead for the Choir club's production of Grease. I was already banking on the fact that I would have to step in and try and act like a man. It was a good thing Momoka was around my height, because I was already going to make a fool of myself. Today was going to be a horrible day, and not just because of the mysterious case of a missing greaser. Tonight I was cashing in on the promise I made my mom. I was going to talk to my father for the first time in fifteen years. All of the paperwork and logistics were worked out as far as the prison system went, and tonight was the night. Needless to say, I was not looking forward to that phone call.
"Don't worry about it, Kate. Something will turn up, it always does. Besides, shouldn't you be focusing more on what you are going to say tonight? I would be more worried about that if I was in your shoes." Kurt was getting good at guessing what I was thinking about. That was kind of creepy, not going to lie.
"I am going to worry about it now. I have to try and do all I can for these students while I am here at Ouran and…"
"Don't stop believing. Hold on to that feeling. Streetlight people, oh oh OH!" I flopped my head backwards over the chair as a voice interrupted my words. Through my upside-down vision I saw the scary kid rocking out, in English, to probably one of the greatest hits of all time. A sickeningly sinister grin that would rival even Kaoru and Hikaru's etched its way onto my face as I slithered out of the chair, casually walking towards the student in the back.
"Kate. Don't hurt him; He's a student. No prowling in my classroom." I heard Kurt say behind me as he followed me, but I ignored him.
"Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world." He sang again. He must have restarted the song. He had good taste. He had a good voice. He was mine. I sat down in the desk next to him, Kurt sitting next to me as I grabbed the headphones and pulled them out of the crimson haired boy's ears.
"Hello, Casanoda-kun. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a proposition for you." I grinned at him narrowing my eyes. He widened his gaze. Was I intimidating him? You bet.
"Uh. I, uh."
"My name is Kate Amendier, and I used to teach at this school until recently. What would you say to joining me on a quest to save the Choir club from complete and utter humiliation?" My voice was like butter as I extended my hand and placed it on the desk, very close to his. This was the oldest trick in the book. If you are physically closer to anyone, male or female, it makes them let their guard down a bit, and he already looked as nervous as Tamaki did when the twins were spreading their mischief around.
"I don't think that would be such a good idea. Most people stay away from me so I doubt that I could do anything about it." Casanoda said, trying to stand up. Not going to happen. You aren't escaping from me. I grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back into the chair, giving him a small glare as I raised my eyebrow at him.
"Casanoda-kun." He looked over to Kurt, probably trying to get some support. Obviously I was frightening the poor student. Deep inside of my heart I wanted to hug this boy and ask him why he didn't have any friends, but that was so deep down that it would take an insurmountable wave of energy to drag it up to the surface. I would be concerned about him later, "The school musical is this Friday evening, and I am in the precarious situation of not having a male lead. If I do not find a male lead then the entire production will be shut down and the Choir club will be the disgrace of this year's Ouran Fair." So it wasn't completely true because I was planning on jumping in if I couldn't find anyone, but telling him that everything rested on his shoulders would be rather effective in getting what I wanted.
"I'm sure they would rather have that happen then me apart of something." Damn this kid's depression was making it difficult to reason with him. Again, I probably should be telling him that people do like him and that he isn't a complete loaner, but I really just needed him to be my Danny Zuko, regardless of his insecurities.
"Look, Casanoda-kun, you have two choices," I heard Kurt whisper my name under his breath, trying to berate me for the sudden shift of tone that I was exhibiting, but it didn't matter. Something had to go my way, and I would make it happen, "Choice number one, choose to learn the music and lines by Friday and perform in the musical, saving the Choir club and becoming the school idol for being a supreme vocalist. Choice number two, do none of those things and someday, somehow, I will find you and beat you with a stick after telling everyone at Ouran that you don't hang out with people because you are gay. I would choose wisely if I were you."
For dramatic emphasis I stood up and walked out of the room, making sure that I fluffed my hair behind my back, making an exit. Once I got out of the room I turned and stood against the wall.
3
2
1
"Kate-san!" Casanoda came out of the room, almost knocking into me. Yahtzee!
"Oh, Casanoda-kun. You made a decision already?" I flipped back to the sultry smooth voice, uncrossing my arms and linking them behind my back, trying to look innocent.
"I'll do it. I've been meaning to try and improve my character lately and maybe this will help me. If it doesn't I'll probably have to still go see Morinozuka, but I'll do it." I smirked, patting Casanoda on the shoulder. I didn't really care what he was planning on talking to Mori about, but I did care that I now had a Danny Zuko. Besides, since he was so frightening looking he could definitely play a greaser, though, we would have to use a lot of stage make up so that he didn't scare away the audience. Oh well, that's the price we pay for being one hundred percent amazing.
IIIII
Heaving an exhausted but proud sigh I plopped down on the couch once I had gotten home. Kurt locked the door and set his messenger back down, joining me on the couch, lifting up my head and setting it on his lap.
"You know, you probably should have treated Casanoda-kun a bit nicer this morning." Kurt admonished me as he began to stroke my cheek.
"He'll be fine. He's a tough guy. Besides, once everyone stopped staring at him during rehearsal and actually had to get close to him, he seemed to be enjoying himself. I knew what I was doing." I reached up and patted his cheek with my hand, nuzzling my nose into his belly, "He learns things pretty fast, so he should have it down by Thursday's dress rehearsal. I gave him a copy of the entire musical, and I expect that he will have most of it memorized by tomorrow's rehearsal. I even spend an extra half hour helping him run lines today while you were teaching physics. Things will work out."
"It's nice to see you so happy and boisterous, especially after everything that's happened." He kissed the top of my head before standing up slowly so that my head didn't slam onto the cushion, "What are we having for dinner?" I sighed, sitting up and glaring at the man who was looking into the refrigerator so intently that I thought his eyes would get freezer burn. Shaking my head I got up and squeezed into the space left between his arms and the refrigerator doors, grabbing a bag of marinating chicken and vegetables. I moved to a drawer and pulled out a few skewers, making sure that I poked Kurt with one of them.
"It's been a month since Mom died; I'm going to talk to my father and finally put all of that behind me. I'm moving on up and heading on out. It's going to feel fucking fantastic."
"Language." Kurt placed his chin on my shoulder as he watched me stick the meat and veggies onto the skewers, placing the completed kabobs on a platter.
"Now, grill-master, you go slow grill these things outside while I make my phone call." I handed the plate to Kurt and washed my hands, leaning over for a kiss before watching him walk outside. After drying off my hands I walked into the bedroom and shut the door, picking up my cell phone and waiting. I didn't want to do this. I hadn't had contact with this man for over fifteen years, and I didn't want to start now. I wonder if getting the call, saying hello, and then hanging up would be considered keeping a promise.
Tell me that you're alright
Yeah everything is…
"Hello, this is Kathrin." I said hesitantly, my voice cracking a bit. Calm down, Kathrin. Just breathe.
"Kathrin Amendier," A computer voice answered. Stupid legal crap. Let me just say hi and bye and hang up already, "If you would like to accept a call from inmate Charles Mitchell Damien press one, if you would like to talk to someone else please stay on the line…"
Beep
"Greetings, Kathrin. It's been a long time." His voice was like poison in my ears. I squinted and tried to pretend it was a bad dream, but when I opened my eyes I was in the same place, holding the phone to my ears.
"Hi. Da..da.."
"Don't worry, Kathrin. You don't have to call me that. I wouldn't expect you to ever call me that again. Just call me 'Mitch,' it's what everyone else calls me." How the hell could he be so cavalier about this conversation? He had killed my sister. He had fucking killed my mother. He had tried to kill me. What was his problem? I should just hang up.
"Kathrin. I know you probably want to hang up the phone right now, and I know that you are only doing this because your mother told you to. She came to see me you know. She showed me some pictures of you, including ones from Japan. I have to say, I like the one of you standing underneath the cherry blossom trees. It was always my dream to go to Japan and see them. I guess that's one thing that you and I have in common: our mutual love of Japanese culture. Not to mention your mother told me that you recently received your masters in Linguistics like I did. I knew you were a smart one."
"I'm nothing like you." I spat. I wanted him to yell at me, or curse at me, or tell me I was worthless. Having a normal conversation was one of those things that I hoped would happen, but now that it was happening, it made me feel as if I was the criminal for wanting to completely debase this man I was talking to.
"I used to think I was nothing like my father. He was a horrible man. Came after me with a butcher knife when I was thirteen. You never knew this but he took my arm off that day. The arm you grew up seeing was a prosthetic. I was a young man then though, so I was able to fight back, unlike you or Lily."
"Don't you dare talk about her." It seemed like he was trying to rationalize his behavior by telling me about his troubled past. I didn't believe him.
"Kathrin. I can't tell you that I am sorry about what I did. I can't even tell you that I regret what I did. It was such a sudden decision. I loved you, your mother, and your sister more than anything. Then, one day, all of you suddenly made me realize that I hated emotion, any emotion. So I got angry. Then I became apathetic, and once that happened all of you were liabilities. A psychiatrist the brought to the trial said that I suffered a type of sociopathic break. He said that my father most likely suffered from it as well."
"Do you think I give a flying fuck?" Shut-up. Shut-up. Shut-up! How could anyone be so remorseless within a conversation.
"You're a curser too. I kicked the habit. In prison having a filthy mouth doesn't prove that you're an alpha dog like it does on the outside. Let me ask you a question, Kathrin. Do you have hard time showing emotion and tend to distance yourself from people when you feel too strongly for them?"
I didn't answer. Mostly I didn't answer because I didn't want to answer that in the affirmative. I cared about the people I loved. I had even gotten a lot better at outwardly expressing my emotions while in Japan. I cried in front of people here, which had never happened before.
"When your mother passed away did you weep and grieve all day or did you rationalize what happened and choose to distance yourself from it? Do you use humor to compensate when something is bothering you? Do people who are flamboyant and incredibly positive make you think that they are mentally ill? When you're with the person you love the most do you both always seem to speak in playful banter, not really diving into deep conversations unless it is about someone else?"
"Who do you think you are? You don't even know me!" How can you see through me? The last two questions he asked. It was Tamaki and Kurt that went through my head. That first day when I met Tamaki and bluntly said It must be hell inside your head. And Kurt, how many deep and profound conversations did we have? We must have had a few, but most of them were broken up by me trying to be funny.
"Kathrin. I know you because you are so much like me. When your mother came to see me, I asked her about you. She even told me herself that you reminded her so much of the man she fell in love with."
"You're lying. I don't believe you." I did though. There was no way he could have affected me this much with his words, words that rang too true, to be able to make it all up. He couldn't be this good of a judge of character after fifteen years of never seeing me.
"Your mom showed me pictures of those boys that you've been teaching, and that man you've been with. Kathrin, don't let what happened to you happen to them. My father snapped; I snapped; who's to say that you won't."
"I'm nothing like you!" I spat, ignoring the tears that were streaming down my face. Everything he had said this far was me. In some way or another they were things that I had said to myself. I didn't want to accept it, but…
"Remember that day when you were seven and came home from school and a boy on the playground pushed you off of the slide and you hurt yourself. When you got home your mother and I tried to figure out what had happened during your day because you had a bruise all up your arm, but you just forced a smile and said that nothing happened. Once the principal called us we finally figured out what happened. Your mom was so upset that you didn't tell us what happened and she grumbled 'you're ya fathes chil' alright.'"
"Shut-up." I didn't know what bothered me more: him talking about a time when we were still a family or the fact that I knew that that wasn't a false memory because I remembered her words very clearly. She had even said them to me in college, though then she qualified them with the words, 'before all o' that mess happen.'
"Kathrin, get out before you snap. Get out while they're still safe. Just get…"
"Your time with this inmate has reached its close. If you would like to petition California State Prison systems for further time with this inmate then press the pound symbol on the keypad. If you…"
I hung up, slamming the phone down on the bedside table. I grabbed my waist and sunk off the bed, towards the ground, pulling my knees up to my chin. I wanted to say that nothing he said was true, but that would be a lie.
Hearing the screen door open and close, I quickly got up and ran to the bathroom, wiping away all trace of tears from my face, splashing some cold water on my face and taking a large breath before walking into the kitchen.
"Damn! That smells so good." I said, sitting down at the barstool next to Kurt as he slid some of the grilled food onto my plate.
"Of course it smells good. I made it." He flashed me a grin before sitting down, slipping me a kiss on the cheek before slipping his food off of the skewer.
"Touché Hisugawa, Touché." I smiled, forcing back the voice of my father talking about playful banter.
"How did your conversation go with your father?" Kurt took a bite of a large pepper, turning to me with his cheeks full of food.
"It wasn't very long. I just told him about Mom's death and that I forgave him, just like Mom wanted me too." I grinned falsely before sticking my own food into my mouth. Lies. We at the rest of our dinner in silence and then I went to bed shortly after, putting my headphones in and putting on some music to try and help me fall asleep and forget about everything that man had said, to try and banish his words from my mind and slip into my unconscious.
And heaven does enough
You think you know it and it uses you
"Ranka! Ranka what happened?" I ran towards the man who was lying on the ground, his limbs splayed in awkward directions, deep cuts all through his body. He was trying to whisper something, so I moved his red hair from his face and bent down.
"Ha…Haru…hi." He breathed out as he pointed towards a large lake. No! No! She couldn't be. I sprinted towards the body of water, diving in, feeling the cold water stab my skin like small toothpicks.
I saw so many things
But like a dream always losing me in a cloud
Haruhi! I found her, she was floating under the water, suspended. As I reached her I choked back tears. Her big eyes were lifeless, tiny bubbles escaping her mouth. I tried to grab her when I felt something grab me by ankle.
"Kate-sempai, don't leave us!" Hikaru and Kaoru pleaded together, the two of them trying to reach out their hands to mine. I extended my arm, reaching with all my might, but they seemed to drift further and further away from me. The more I tried the more life flowed from their eyes until there was nothing left and they floated down.
Cause I couldn't cry
Cause I turned away
Couldn't see the score
I swam downwards into the depths, trying to find the twins. Trying to find something. Anything.
"I'm scared, Takashi." Honey. Oh God, where's Honey? I looked around only to see Mori cut in front of me, cradling the smaller teenager. They looked like they were heading towards the surface, but all of a sudden the sound of rushing water surged around me as the three of us were caught in a whirlpool. I screamed, trying to swim out of the current, panting when I was finally safe.
Didn't know the pain
Of leaving yesterday really far behind
"Honey! Mori!" I yelled across the still waters of the lake, but no one answered. Shit. No, no, no this isn't happening! I dipped my head underneath the water, only to see the two young men clutching one another stiffly, their eyes closed.
In another life
In another dream
By a different name
"Ame-sempai!"
"Tamaki! Thank God." I hugged the blond boy that had just swum up to me. Thank goodness.
"Follow me. Quickly. We have to save momma!" As quickly as Tamaki came he dove underneath the water. I followed him, swimming down to the depths of the lake.
Gave it all away
For a memory
And a quiet lie
"Kyoya! Kutano!" The two of them were on the bottom of the lake. I yelled, rushing towards the two of them. Kyoya's leg was attached to a solid ball and chain, "Tamaki, try and get him unlatched from that. I'll get Kurt."
And I felt the face
Of a cold tonight
Still don't know the score
I swam over to Kurt whose torso was being crushed by a boulder. He tried to open his mouth but I covered it with my hand, forcing him to keep holding his breath as I maneuvered the rock off. I grabbed Kurt's body and shot him up into the lake above me, hoping that he floated all the way to the top as I turned towards Tamaki.
But I know the pain
Of leaving everything really far behind
"Ame-sempai, just leave. Go on. I'm going to stay with him." Tamaki told me as I shook my head in refusal of the fact. Kyoya wasn't moving and Tamaki had not been able to take off the ball and chain. I watched as Tamaki grabbed Kyoya by the hand, his body convulsing as the water filled his lungs. I couldn't watch anymore, so I swam upwards, trying not to sob underneath the water as I felt the weight of the water crush around me.
And if I could cry
And if I could live what truth I did
Then take me there
"Kurt! No. Please no!" I grabbed his shoulder and dragged him towards the shore. The warmth was leaving his body; I could feel it escaping my grasp as I pulled his body towards me, laying his head on my lap, "Who did this? Who did this to you?" I watched fresh tears fall upon his blanching cheek as I leaned over for him to whisper in my ear.
"You. You. You."
Heaven goodbye
"Holy shit!" I whispered, jolting myself up in bed, placing my hand on my heart. I opened my eyes and looked over at Kurt who was still sound asleep. With my hand, as softly as I could, I brushed a stray hair from his face. Getting up I took out my headphones and turned off my iPod, heading upstairs to the study.
Sitting down, I took a huge breath while waiting for my laptop to turn on, holding my breath in for a while before letting it out slowly.
Get out before you snap. Get out while they're still safe.
Who was I fooling? I didn't belong here with these people. Everything my father said was so logical, so rational. How could it not be true? I knew it was. I knew it was, and I had made up my mind.
I opened the internet browser and typed in the URL for United airlines, booking a flight for Saturday morning at five a.m. Friday night was the performance, and the Host club would be coming over after the musical for dinner. It would be suspicious if I canceled. If they all left by midnight, that would give me enough time to make sure Kurt fell asleep and to hail a cab at three a.m. so that I made it to the Narita airport on time for my flight. It was perfect.
I closed my eyes, letting a stray tear fall down my cheek. I had to do this. I just had to.