"I walked in those doors, and my life changed. Everything grew better, until the year was almost over..."
Tamaki smiled brightly, running towards a woman with gray hair up in a bun and strict, brown eyes. She wore a purple kimono with a light pink haori.
"Grandmother," Tamaki declared, eyes shinning brightly with happiness. "I'm so glad you could come!" The maid and butler behind the old woman bowed to Tamaki. At that moment, when he caught sight of his Grandmother, he looked as though he couldn't be happier.
Haruhi and Isami smiled, seeing how happy Tamaki looked.
"Aw, that's so sweet." Isami commented with a small smile. Hikaru and Kaoru glanced down at her, frowning slightly. Kaoru had his arms crossed, while Hikaru had his hands on his hips. Mori had one hand in his pocket, the other hanging down by his side, a slight frown on his face. Hunny clutched Isami's arm tighter at the sight of the old woman, a deep frown narrowing his cute features. Usa-Chan was held tightly to his chest with his free arm.
"So, that's Tamaki-Sempai's Grandmother?" Haruhi asked, also smiling. Her s hands were clasped behind her back, a happy smile on her face, seeing how happy Tamaki was. When he was happy...she seemed to feel happy as well.
Hunny's bangs covered his eyes as he looked down, gripping Isami's arm and Usa-Chan tightly, muttering darkly, "I hate that woman." The Fujioka sisters' looked down at the loli-boy surprised, never expecting something like that to come out of the boy's mouth.
Why? What was wrong with her? Both Isami and Haruhi wondered and turned their heads to watch Tamaki welcome the elder.
"Grandmother, please, come in." He extended a hand towards her, intending to lead her towards a couch to sit down, "Please, take a seat-"
"Don't patronize, or touch me." She told him in a cold face, walking straight past him. She stopped a few inches away, stating, "Filthy Child."
Isami's blood ran cold as she froze, Haruhi's eyes widening with shock. Their breathing seemed to halt.
The woman spoke up, "Lady Eclair, come over here for a moment, please." Tamaki stood up straight, turning slowly with a sad look on his face.
Everyone watched as the woman from earlier, with red dress and hourglass figure, stood and walked elegantly towards Tamaki.
Once again, Isami felt a stab of jealousy hit her as she looked at the woman-envying her for her looks. "Hey..."
"-we were just," Haruhi continued, but cut herself off. Kaoru leaned over, Hikaru leaning on his back with his hands on his shoulders,
"What?" They asked softly.
"For the remainder of the day and tomorrow," Tamaki's Grandmother continued. "You will be Lady Eclair's personal escort." The dirty blonde smiled at Tamaki, tilting her head. Her blue eyes shone brightly, standing out. Her bright red lipstick seemed to bring out the color in her skin and made her even more noticeable. Her name was Eclair Tonnere. Haruhi felt something tighten in her chest as she watched the woman lean closer to Tamaki, looking up at him intently, and causing him to lean back. "What's wrong?" She questioned sharply, "I gave you an order."
"Hello there," Eclair greeted, a slight hint of flirting in her voice, as she raised her eyeglass to her eyes and looked at him. "Tamaki." Tamaki blinked at her, silent for a moment, before smiling at her.
"Very well, then, Grandmother." Tamaki replied, "I will do everything in my power to assure her happiness." Haruhi's eyes widened and just as Hunny released Isami's arm, the pale, brunette lurched towards Hikaru and Kaoru, wrapping her arms around them both. "Just as you wish." If the Hitachiin brothers' were surprised, they didn't show it. They merely wrapped their arms around her, hugging her comfortingly, all three of them silent.
Isami didn't understand it. She didn't understand it all all. Why-Why do so many people do such cruel things to their children-their grandchildren?They were family, family members are supposed to love one another. They weren't supposed to hit them, they weren't supposed to call them "Filthy Child" or cast them aside coldly... They were supposed to love them, and appreciate every single moment they had with them.
Here was Tamaki's Grandmother, insulting him and calling him filthy, casting him aside coldly as though she didn't give a single rat's ass about him. And yet, here he was, doing his best to please her, and stay on her good side. He loved her, but she didn't love him.
Why? Haruhi thought silently, in shock and slight anger towards his Grandmother, Why does she cast him aside so coldly, when all he is trying to do his make her happy!?
She didn't like that woman.
Not.
One.
Bit.
"Tama-Chan isn't coming back, is he?" Hunny asked, saddened, sitting down at a table with Mori standing next to it. Hikaru, with an arm on Kaoru's head, his chin resting on his arm and his other hand on his hip, asked,
"So, does he really plan to spend-"
"the entire fair, escorting some stranger?" Kaoru finished, his chin resting on the palm of his hands, his elbows on the table Hunny was sitting at and propping his head up. Isami shrugged, sitting next to Hunny, and asked quietly,
"Who knows?" The entire event seemed to put her in a bad mood; She was quiet and didn't speak that much.
They remembered how Tamaki said, "Come my Princess, let us be off." with a smile on his face as he escorted Lady Eclair out of the room.
"Eclair, was it?" Hikaru questioned, a frown on his handsome face. "Or something like that, anyway...
"Who is she to him; that's the mystery." Kaoru said as Hikaru removed himself from him, instead placing his hands on the table. Kyoya typed away silently on his Pineapple laptop, there being a short silence before Renge, her voice serious and solemn,
"I can tell you..."
The Host Club turned their heads to look at her, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Isami saying in unison, "Oh, Renge."
"Eclair Tonnerre." She spoke, a sad look in her eyes. "She's the youngest daughter of the renowned French Tonnerre Family, which descends from Royalty."
"Indeed, "Kyoya spoke as he typed away. "The Tonnerre Family has quite a history." He smiled at Renge, saying, "Their wealth is something of a legend among financial heavy-weights. In fact, just by being associated with them makes you part of being in a very unique group. They also own Grand Tonnere. A firm that has been buying up a lot of businesses up in Japan, lately. Of course, that doesn't explain why her being here say anything to do with Tamaki."
Haruhi listened from her spot at a table, near the cart she was pushing around.
Haruhi and Isami were changing their outfits, when Isami noticed Haruhi's deep-in-thought, sad look. Isami pulled on her white tailcoat, questioning softly as Haruhi fixed her tie,
"Haruhi...Do you like Tamaki?" Her gaze shot up to her sister in alarm, surprised by the questioned.
"What are you talking about? Of course not." Why would her sister even ask such a ridiculous question? Isami didn't stop there, no, she continued,
"Are you sure? Does your heart speed up when you're around him? When-When he isn't there by your side, do you miss him? Do you think about him a lot? Do you feel nervous-"
"Isami, stop it. I don't like Tamaki-Sempai like that," Haruhi told her bluntly and firmly, effectively getting the brunette to shut up. Though, it did make her think a little...
No, it's nothing. Probably just a cold. She shook her head and Isami sighed as she saw her sister in her denial. She shook her head and walked out of the changing room, just as Eclair's voice rang out,
"In here?" Her voice was tuned out and Haruhi barely noticed it. The voice she did hear, much more clearer than Eclair's, the voice that snapped her out of her thoughts and made her race slightly, said,
"Well, it is a music room, after all." Haruhi turned slightly, her head facing the way where the voices came from. Her thought was instantly,
Tamaki-Sempai? And then something bubbled in her stomach uncomfortably, realizing that Tamaki and Eclair were heading into the piano room alone. She looked intently at the door they entered through, frowning, only to have her spirits lift slightly as beautiful piano music echoed through the rooms. She took a few steps towards the door before stopping, the music filling her ears and having emotions pour through her.
She didn't like the fact that Tamaki was playing the piano for Eclair, she didn't like the fact that the two were in the same room together, she especially didn't like the fact that Tamaki was going to spend the entire fair with Eclair, and she especially didn't like the fact that her sister may be right.
Before Haruhi had realized what she was doing, she pressed her back against the door, causing it to creak slightly.
"So this is where that precious little Host Club of yours holds court, is it?" She heard Eclair question Tamaki. "I must admit, it was actually impressive seeing you all in action earlier. You must be very close."
"Naturally." Was Tamaki's reply. Haruhi held her breathe slightly as he spoke, "You know what they say, "The Family that plays together, stays together."
"Family? What a sentimental notion. I hear in Japan that they refer to it as, "Playing House."
Haruhi was silent, arms clasped behind her back as she leaned against the door, listening to Tamaki's piano playing. She didn't like the tone Eclair was using, nor the way she was addressing the Host Club like that.
"And that boy...The one with the long hair?" Haruhi tensed again, furrowing her eyebrows confused. What about my sister? She wondered silently.
"Yes, what about Isami?"
"You're so whimsical, Tamaki, I bet he falls all over himself trying to keep up with you. In fact, I say the entire club does-especially that one in the glasses. The one that got slapped by his father? Besides, wasn't that long-haired boy beat as a child? I bet he feeds the guests his sad little sob story, just so you don't kick him out of the club."
Tamaki's piano playing slowed down, only to stop instantly when she mentioned Kyoya's punishment, and froze when she mention Isami's past.
The moment of Kyoya getting slapped by his father replayed in his mind, and then the moment when Isami first opened the doors to the Host Club...
He could remember he roughed up appearance, the bandages and the bruises, the badly stitched and torn clothing she wore...The way she looked as though she was going to drop dead any moment from starvation... Her cheek bones were sunken in, she had bags under eyes, there were bruises on her face and neck and arms and hands, and that scar on her collarbone...
Back then, he thought it was only because she was a Commoner that she was dressed like that. But when he heard the news that it was her own Uncle who did that to her... He could only imagine the kinds of things she went through as a child. He cared for her like a brother would, more than a father. And Haruhi... He loved her...He still didn't fully believe it himself, but it made perfect sense as to why he acted the way he did when she was around, and why he thought the way he did when she wasn't...
And Kyoya... It was all his own fault that his friend got slapped. "Must you always be so capricious?" He remembered Kyoya asking him as the boy pushed up his glasses. "Your impulsiveness overwhelms my accounting skills."
"They hate me! They-They all hate me!" Isami crying voice echoed in his head and he frowned. She seems to believe that everybody hates her, but in fact, everybody cares for her deeply.
"Tamaki-Sempai..."
And then a terrifying though hit him as he slowly removed his hands from the keys, Could-Could it be true? Is everybody making sacrifices just to keep me happy? Haruhi could be even closer to becoming a lawyer by now if I haven't forced her to become part of this club... She came here to study, but I completely monopolized all of her free time! He snapped out of his thoughts when the door handle turned and creaked. He gasped slightly as Eclair turned her head and questioned,
"Who is it!?"
The door opened, revealing Haruhi, who had frown on her face, and Isami, who was clutching onto Haruhi's arm tightly. Isami re-entered the changing room to talk to Haruhi, only to find her pressed against the piano door. She walked over just in time to hear Eclair mention Kyoya and herself.
"Oh, Haruhi, Isami!" Tamaki exclaimed, standing. He was surprised, "What're you two doing?"
"We-We came back to change outfits..." Isami stuttered, following Haruhi closely as her sister walked.
"You were the one who wanted us to change outfits at least three times a day," Haruhi finished, slightly cold. The sisters' stopped walking, and with a hand on her hip, she spoke, "Look, everyone's upset with you for disappearing on us like that, you should be with your Club." She added a harsh emphasize, accidentally letting some of her jealousy through.
Tamaki gained a face of "Uh-Oh...I've been caught" and allowed his jaw to drop slightly.
"My apologies," Lady Eclair spoke, holding her eyeglass up to observe the two sisters. "but he belongs to me for the time being." A smirk crossed her lips as she lowered the eyeglasses, and said, "Forgive me for asking, but do I detect a hint of jealousy?"
Haruhi turned her head and looked at Eclair shocked, surprised that she was suggesting the same thing as Isami.
Suddenly Tamaki had gained his puppy-love face and asked, "Oh, Haruhi~! So, is it true?" Eclair turned to look at Tamaki shocked, not expecting him to react like this. He scooted up towards the couch, "Is it twu? Are you actually jealous~!?" His face turned a bright red as his heart beat frantically, multiple thoughts racing through his mind like lightning.
Maybe it's true!? I hope it's true-Haruhi really does love me! Maybe, I hope-Please, please, please, let it be true!
The light bulb in Eclair's head flickered a few times as she looked up at Tamaki.
Isami had let go of Haruhi's arm and let her go to the door, "Sorry, but no. Guess I'll be leaving now..." Haruhi sighed as she closed the door. "Some of us have work to do." Tamaki was about to chase after her when Isami turned and bowed to Eclair, apologizing,
"I'm sorry-I'm so sorry, please forgive Haruhi! H-he isn't in the best of moods right now!"
Eclair turned to look at Isami, a frown forming on her face, "What's with that over-exaggerated apology?" She questioned, not liking Isami one bit. Isami looked up at Eclair confused, "You sound like a peasant begging for mercy; Are you planning on giving me your sob-story next? You know, the one of how you were beat as a child? You don't even look the part..."
"I-I'm sorry?" Tamaki tensed up, looking at Eclair with wide eyes.
Lady Eclair doesn't really think that-How could she say something like that!?
Isami dug her nails into her palms, a sickly feeling bubbling in her stomach as the waved of hatred hit her.
"How about you go back home to your mother and cry about how your daddy beat you when she wasn't there?" Tears pricked Isami's eyes and her shoulders started to shake as her chest tightened painfully. She whispered softly, voice cracking slightly,
"I...I don't have a m-mother..." Eclair raised an eyebrow and raised the eyeglass back up to her face, observing Isami's reactions closely.
"Oh, is that so? Or is that just another sob story you made up to tell to your guests just to get them to pity you? To make sure you don't get kicked out? Honestly, a petty little thing like you shouldn't even be in a school full of aristocrats-"
"I know already, stop it, please!" Isami snapped, the tears streaming down her face before she could stop them. Eclair was slightly taken aback by the shouting; She expected Isami to run out of the room crying rather than scream at her, "I don't care-okay!? I get it, I know, I know, I know that everyone hates me-I got it, I do! If it-If it makes you feel any better, I didn't even want-I didn't even want to go to Ouran in the first place!" Her chest heaved up and down heavily as she tried to catch her breathe, already feeling weak. "But-But just because I'm not-I'm not pretty, or-or smart, or rich like you doesn't mean that I can't be here! I-I have friends-I-I have Haruhi and I-I have the Host Club and Hikaru and-and Kaoru and Hunny-Sempai, and Mori-Sempai, and-and even Kyoya-Sempai and Tamaki-Sempai! I-I..."
"Isami-!" Tamaki cried out and raced forward to try and comfort her, but had his arm sleeve caught by Eclair, who prevented him from chasing after the girl after she ran out of the room, sobbing. The door slammed shut and there was a silence in which Tamaki felt completely hopeless.
"Please, you can't possibly be interested in little shrews like that?" Tamaki snapped, but tried to not anger the girl,
"My lady, I would prefer it if you did not refer to my little girls' as shrews! And how dare you hurt Isami like that, she did nothing to you!"
"Your little girls?" Eclair questioned, feeling slightly envious to the two girls'. Mainly Haruhi, though, who had captured Tamaki's heart. She gripped Tamaki's hand and caressed it, "But they're not real family, Tamaki. So stop playing house." Tamaki's eyes widened in confusion for a split second before alarm took over as she gripped his wrist and threw him onto the couch roughly.
"What're you doing-?" He questioned, alarmed when Eclair suddenly climbed on top of him. She began to lean closer to his face, causing him to start to lean back, as she asked seductively,
"Wouldn't you prefer the real thing? Because I can give it to you, you know..."
Isami found herself back in the dressing room, sitting down against a wall with her knees tucked up to her chest, her arms wrapped around her knees, and her head buried in them, crying silently. It's been a while since she last cried...
I'm just one big, giant crybaby, aren't I? Heh, I seem to do nothing but cry nowadays... Isami laughed bitterly as the tears streamed down her face. She felt like one of those useless side-characters in a story, who could never seem to do anything by themselves and just cried about it. "I can't help by feeling sad, though I guess it ain't to bad...Calling from the setting sun, took my hand and flew away-" Her voice cracked slightly as she sang quietly. "Tell me why, tell me why, no one ever tells me why...Why they hate me and-and despise when I haven done a thing..." Her shoulders racked violently again as another sob passed through her, "In the rain...all I feel, is this never ending chill...but, a trillion, trillion, trillion years have left me freezing cold..."
There was the cracking of a door opening, slowly, as if hesitant, and Isami barely paid it any attention.
"Can I die, Can I die?" She was singing slowly, complete opposite to the fast-pacing of the song, "I'm just waiting 'till I die..."
Footsteps sounded through the room as it clapped against the pink marble, towards the petite girl.
"Never dreamed a single dream so kind in my en-entire life..." She stumbled a bit on the last part. "No one knew, even cared, for this fleeting fairytale, then it slipped into the seething sun and soon it sailed away." A figure knelt down in front of her and she ignored it, continuing, "All this time, it bore, right down to the core. All the pain, had tore, and left me sore. Right behind, you had, all this time been, watching from my side." The figure didn't speak, just listening as she sang sadly, "Cannot look, or hear, or speak to me, But you did, "Your name, will you tell me it please?" I can't give, and I wish I did, but I just don't have the tongue. Crave a home I've never had, though I guess it ain't too bad. "Let's just leave and go back home" take my hand and fly away..."
She felt two arms embrace her and she didn't even have to look to see who it was. "Hikaru..."
"Isami...Who did this to you?" She slowly wrapped her arms around his back and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. "Who made you cry?" He asked, though he felt as though he already knew.
"I'm fine..."
"Isami..." Hikaru's voice held a warning tone to it.
"It was just a few words...I-I'm over it," She was lying to herself and she knew it. She was just sick and tired of being a freaking crybaby. That was all she ever does; cry and cry and cry.
Hikaru, deciding that Isami wasn't going to tell him the easy, decided to try a better method. A seductive smile graced his face and he leaned towards her ear, whispering with a hint of a promise, "If you don't tell me, I'll have to punish you..."
Her face flared red instantly and she stuttered, "You-That-I-I-I'm not-You aren't-"
Grabbing the lapels of her tailcoat, he started to unbutton it with a smirk, causing alarm and nervousness to flutter through her. She placed an alarmed hand on his wrist, trying to stop him from undressing her, and cried out,
"H-Hey, no-!" She found her back slammed against a pillar, Hikaru's body pressed against her's and his mouth attacking her neck. "A-Ahh, Hikaaaaaru..." Her eyes squeezed shut as her heart rate quickened intensely. Warmth spread through out her body as Hikaru laced hot wet kissed on her neck before finding a spot and biting down gently, drawing out a rather loud moan from the young girl. She felt him smirk against her skin and a dark blush spread across her face- It was official, she hated his punishment games.
He sucked on the tender skin repeatedly and moved his hands from her shoulders to her waist, tracing the curves of her body with his hands. He moved from her neck to her lips, ravishing her mouth dominantly, but lovingly. It was a wonder how he managed to do both in this situation, but Isami soon found herself caving and kissed back just as passionately, if not slightly embarrassed by the position she was in. He forced her mouth to part with his tongue and she flinched slightly as their teeth clacked together, his tongue roaming around in her mouth; brushing against the roof and the sides, and rasping over her own, drawing out another moan.
Feeling slightly bold, she caught his tongue and began to suck on it, getting revenge on him for torturing her. He moaned into the hot kiss and began to grind his hips against hers... She gasped loudly and lifted her head back as he went back to placing lovebites on her neck, crying out, "Hikaru!"
He lifted his head and whispered in her ear huskily, heat and adrenaline rushing through his body, "Who was it, Isami...Tell me..." He forced her hair out of it tie and kissed her roughly again, one of his hands trying to finish unbuttoning the tailcoat she was wearing.
"It-!" She gasped through his hot, wet, dominant, demanding kisses. Hikaru moved to her jawbone, placing wet, butterfly kisses down it. "E-E-It was Eclair..." She panted, out of breathe. She felt his hand brush against her ass and she jumped slightly, surprised.
Blunt with your actions, much?
Hikaru purred into her ear, a smile from ear to ear, "I knew you'd come around..." And kissed her one last time. He grinned cheekily at her as he pulled away, watching her fumble to button her coat and fix her outfit, "Maybe the next time you come over to mine and Kaoru's place, we can play "Doctor." Her face flared instantly and she stumbled, causing her to button her jacket wrong,
"I-I-I-I-I'm fine," Her voice squeaked slightly and Hikaru couldn't help but think it was cute. A small smile grew on his face and he placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair, but still slightly excited from the events that took place a few moments ago. "Th-Thanks though..."
"Here, you buttoned it wrong..." Hikaru spoke as he pushed her hands away and caused her to hold her arms out awkwardly to her sides as he began to fix her outfit, considering he was the one who ruined it. Once he was done he placed a kiss on her forehead. He reached down and gripped her hand, twining their fingers together, "Come on, everyone is waiting."
"It's about time you two were finished," Kaoru's voice rang out, a small hint of a smirk. "I almost thought I was interrupting something." Isami and Hikaru's faces both went dark red, embarrassed. Kaoru caught them. "I'm jealous, Hikaru, you got a make-out session with Isami and I didn't? How cold..."
Hikaru grinned, saying with a smirk, "Oh, don't worry, Kaoru, Isami promised that we could all play "Doctor" later." Her mouth went dry as she went to protest, but no voice came out.
She felt Kaoru's arms around her waist and found her chest pressed against his before she knew it. His voice whispered in her ear, causing dirty thoughts to appear in her head, "I'll be waiting..." And moved to hold her other hand, curling their fingers with another. They left through the doors, all them dismissing the fact that Isami's hair was down.
And despite what had just happened, despite everything Isami let out, she was still pained. Her past would always haunt her, it didn't matter what anyone told her or what she did, it would always be there. It's not something one could so easily forget or get over... and being told that you just made it all up for attention-it struck Isami hard. However, she forced herself to normal her breathing and relax her shoulders, standing up straight as she and her boys' walked to the doors. Hikaru and Kaoru released her hands with grins on their faces, both opening the doors simultaneously, like gentlemen, and said,
"Ladies first." Isami tried to hold back an amused, goofy, grin as she giggled. She walked through the doors and down the steps, Hikaru and Kaoru slowly closing the doors behind her.
"Oh my!" She heard a girl gasp, the other guests declaring similar things.
"Dashing!"
"Oh, look, his hair is down!"
"He's so cute! Almost like a girl!"
"Awww, he looks so good with his hair down like that!"
Haruhi turned her head once she saw her sister and smiled slightly, only to frown when she saw the look in Isami's eyes. Something was up...and she had a feeling Eclair was involved.
"Isa-Chan looks so cute!" Hunny gushed, smiling brightly with little, pink flowers blooming around him. "She looks so cute with her hair down like that!"
Mori nodded in agreement, a small hint of approval on his face, "Yeah."
"Isami always looked better with her hair down," Haruhi inputted, "but she always suggest wearing it up."
Kyoya, typing away on his pineapple laptop, paused for a brief second to look at the pale, brunette from the corner of his eyes. He watched as she walked down the steps quietly, eyes looking slightly pained, only to have Hikaru and Kaoru flank her sides and wrap their arms around her waist. He smirked slightly; Hikaru and Kaoru were never afraid to show their affection for the young girl. It was the way their relationship worked, Hikaru was the more dominant of the three, Isami the most submissive, while Kaoru was eager to listen to both sides and go on from there. He was the more gentler of the brothers, and treated Isami with care, while Hikaru was the more dominant, and treated Isami as though he wanted her for himself-even if he was more than willing to share with his brother.
Hikaru saw Haruhi and grinned, complimenting, "Not bad." Isami grinned goofily at her sister, saying,
"What's up, Haruhi? You look great." Haruhi smiled at her sister, mood increasing slightly.
"Thanks, you too." Isami's face turned slightly pink at the compliment and she nervously fiddled with the hem of her tail-coat, tugging it down slightly.
"Th-Thanks..."
"So, where'd the boss go?" Kaoru questioned curiously, causing both girls' moods to drop instantly. Isami removed herself from the twins and over to her sister, gripping her hand tightly, before relaxing and squeezing it comfortingly-even if she needed comfort herself. "He was looking forward to this the most..." he trailed off, seeing both girls' expressions. One of hurt and confusion, while the other was filled with jealousy, anger, and hurt. Haruhi's face was sour and Isami's saddened as they both spoke,
"Our King is currently lounging in Music Room 3,"
"with Lady Eclair."
"He's currently entertaining her." Haruhi finished sourly.
"Well, well, well," Hikaru began, a small smirk forming on his face as he and his brother observed Haruhi closely.
"Looks like someone's a little jealous." Kaoru added, his grin wide. Mori and Hunny nodded from behind the twin brothers', agreeing with them.
"I told you, you liked him..." Isami muttered quietly to her sister, who scoffed and turned her head, frowning deeply.
"For the last time, I'm not jealous, and I don't love him!" Isami glanced at her sister with confusion, saying with furrowed eyebrows and a tilted head,
"I...No one said you did...I just said you liked him."
"For the last time?" The Hitachiin brothers', Mori, and Hunny all questioned in unison, confused. Yes, even Mori questioned it.
"Look, I-I just think he's being more irresponsible than usual, today." Was Haruhi's weak defense. She tried to come on a bit stronger this time, her grip unconscionably tightening on Isami's hand, "You said it yourself, Kyoya-Sempai, he's impulsive."
"True," Kyoya agreed, a small smile worming it's way onto his face. "He certainly is. But in this instance, he's obeying the whims of his Grandmother." Haruhi's eyes went wide and Isami inhaled sharply, both remembering the way Tamaki's Grandmother treated him, despite how happy he was to see her and the warm, loving welcome he gave her. He was so happy to see her, the love and adoration clear on his face and in his eyes-and she just went and shot him down, calling him "Filthy Child" and just walking away, before giving him the order of escorting Lady Eclair during the duration of the entire fair.
"Why...Why did Tamaki's grandmother seem to hate him so much?" Isami spoke hesitantly, unsure if she was allowed to bring up the topic or not. She knew what it was like to be hated, but she doubted Tamaki was abused.
"Yeah, is there some special reason for that?" Haruhi added, just as confused. The Host Club went silent, Kyoya moving his gaze to look at Haruhi and Isami, slightly surprised. Mori and Hunny glanced at each other, gasping slightly, Hikaru and Kaoru gaining sad faces. Hikaru placed a palm against his cheek, his elbow resting on a couch as he bent over,
"Well, everyone else knows about it." He said after a few moments. Kaoru leaned down onto the couch, his chin resting on his arms.
"See..." Kaoru spoke up next, face just a solemn. "Tamaki-Sempai is...illegitimate." Both girls' gasped, eyes widening greatly. They were talking about Tamaki, right?
... Music Room #3...
"Twenty-some odd years ago," Hikaru began. "the Suoh family patriarch died at a young age. For political reasons, Chairman Yuzuru was rushed into marriage at the behest of his mother, to a woman of her choosing. That's how he became head of the family. But, several years later, the Chairman feel passionately in love with a beautiful, young woman he met in France."
"Not long after," Hunny cut in, a small, sad smile on his cute face. "Tama-Chan was born."
"The Chairman told his mother that he was going to leave his wife and marry the young, French girl." Kaoru continued with the story, "The Chairman's mother vehemently rejected. Because of her poor health, living in Japan proved too difficult for Sempai's mother, and so, she raised him in France until he was fourteen. His childhood seemed to have been a happy one, but as time went on, the business on his mother's side failed, and when they were forced into debt,"
"The boss's Grandmother," Hikaru continued. "worried that there would be no heir to carry on the family name, came up with a proposal. She would provide Sempai's mother with the means to live comfortably, for the rest of the time she would live, if Tamaki-Sempai moved to Japan with her, alone and without his mother. They would never be able to contact each other-so, in other words, Tamaki could never see, or speak, with his mother again. It would not be negotiated, his mother had to either accept, or decline."
"That's horrible..." Haruhi exclaimed, eyes wide. Isami had tears pricking her eyes as she whispered,
"He could never see her again? Or talk to her?" That's almost as if saying that she died, not having contact with one's own mother... Or their child.
"The current patriarch may be Yuzuru Suoh technically," Kyoya spoke up. "but in all actuality, all the assets to the company remain in control of Tamaki's Grandmother." His voice went more quiet and grave, "Once more, with his mother's health so frail, Tamaki knew the grave prospects that would be facing her if she were to continue living in debt. So...he decided, it was best, if he were to head to Japan alone with his Grandmother. He had her promise that she would take care of herself while he was gone. And not long after, whether out of anguish or just plain guilt for having bartered her son away for money and security, Tamaki's mother left France in shame and went into hiding. Her current whereabouts are unknown. To this day, he's never seen her again. Not once."
Everyone in the Host Club was silent, saddened and moved by the story, feeling pity and sympathy-feeling sorry for him. What could they say to that?
"What's wrong?" A little Isami asked her sister confused. She was completely oblivious- she didn't know why they were standing by a grave, surrounded by people who were all dressed in black. She didn't even know why they were dressed in black themselves. Haruhi looked at her sister with teary eyes, whispering hoarsely,
"Mommy's gone...A-And she's never coming back." Isami looked up at her father confused, not understanding.
"Daddy...What does sissy mean by mommy being gone?" Ranka, or Ryoji at this point, looked down at his daughter sadly, tears streaming down his face.
"She's gone, sweetie. We'll never see her again." Tears pricked Isami's eyes, causing them to sting, as the tears started to fall down her face. Her shoulders shook and her lip trembled as she burst out crying.
Isami and Haruhi gripped each other's hands tightly, both thinking the same thing. It would've been impossible to know...
"He's always so cheerful, though..." Isami spoke up, on the brink of tears. Her voice cracked slightly as Haruhi added,
"I had no idea..." Who would've ever guessed? If I were in Sempai's shoes... I don't know if I could ever forgive my Grandmother for something like that.
How could his Grandmother do something like that to him? Not being able to see your own mother...How was Tamaki able to smile like he did when I first met him? When Haruhi met him? When Hikaru and Kaoru met him? How was he able to smile so easily like that...
"Riddle me this, Isami." A voice rang in Isami's head, that strangely reminded her of Tamaki. It was faint, like a memory or something, but she heard it. She imagined someone smiling gently at her, like a brother would, and heard "Tamaki" ask, "You have flaws, fears, hatred, and scorn, but roses paint their colors all over you and perfection pricks its thorn. Red trickles down the stream and a reflection of white is revealed. What are you?"
Perfection...Beauty? No...It's on the tip of her tongue... Purity. No, it's close, but, it's not it... What about...Innocence? He's been through so much hardships in his life, but, he still wants to make everyone smile, even his own Grandmother that oh-so obviously loathes him. He loves her, he wants her to smile, he wants her to be happy-he was like a child. Naive, wanting everyone to be happy, even those who hated him. He was like a little child, oblivious and naive-so innocent.
"It's easy to feel sorry for him," Kyoya spoke up again, standing up and placing a hand on his hip as he smiled slightly. "but if it was the hardships he endured as a child that made him into the man he is today. He'll be fine." There was a small silence as everyone listened to Kyoya speak, "The Host Club is his refuge. Which means, when all is said and done," He turned towards the Host Club, a small smile on his face. "He still has us."
Isami let a small smile cross her face as she glanced up at Kyoya, turning her head to look at her sister, who was gazing around at the smiling Host Club members silently. Haruhi, too, soon let out a small smile, realizing that they were all right.
The doors to the piano room opened and Haruhi and Isami stood, the entire Host Club turning their head to look a Tamaki and Eclair.
"Tama-Chan!" Hunny declared happily, a bright smile on his face. Isami grew confused quickly-Why was Tamaki look so grave and solemn, and why was Eclair smirking like she just won the lottery?
"Everyone, I have an important announcement." Tamaki spoke up, voice grim. He didn't sound like his usual, happy and cheerful self. "As of today," Everyone seemed to hold their breathe, "Lady Eclair Tonnerre and I, are officially engaged."
Haruhi's eyes widened and she inhaled sharply, a pain so sharp hitting her right in the chest, feeling as though it was taking her heart and squeezing it tightly.
"Furthermore," Tamaki continued, a pained look in his eyes, his voice monotone. "the Ouran High School Host Club, will be permanently dissolved, after the Ouran Fair. That is all."
"With the opening of doors and a few simple words, these few memories of roses...started to wilt."