Chapter 25

Disclaimer- I own nothing!

This one's for you and me, living out our dreams
We're all right where we should be
Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes
And now all I wanna see
Is a sky full of lighters
A sky full of lighters
~Lighters; Bad Meets Evil~

Tamaki chased Emma around the living room trying to get her to get ready for bed. Tomorrow was a big day for her and he wanted her to get a good night's sleep.
"Gotcha, your mine now!" Getting his arms around her they both laughed as he pulled her closer. Alice jumped on them to play too only to completely cover Emma and cause Tamaki to lose his balance.
"Oh no Emma, Alice is trying to save you."
"Yay Alice!"
Keeping his arms around her he lifted her up to carry her upstairs trying not to fall from Alice jumping around him.

"Okay princess in bed."
"But mommaaaaa…"
"No buts, don't' you want to be fully rested and ready for tomorrow?"
"No, I wanna stay with you."
"Stay with me? You want to go to work with me? You've never gone to work with me. And I promise you'll like school. Grandpa and I own it so we promise it will be fun. You'll make friends and do fun activities."
"Promise mommy?"
"I promise Emma."
Slowly she climbed into bed to be tucked in. Once she was good Alice jumped on the bed to lay by her feel while Tamaki gave Emma her favorite stuffed animal.
"Good night Emma. May your dreams be pleasant ones and mommy will see you tomorrow." Kissing her good night he went to the door to turn the light out and get comfortable himself.
"Mommy?"
"Yes Princess?"
"Can you stay here?"
"Emma. Okay I'll stay until you fall asleep, alright."
Turning the light out he walked over to the chair in the room to sit and watch over her until she fell asleep.
"Thank you mommy."
"You're welcome Emma, now try to sleep.

Finally being able to walk into his own room he collapsed on the bed to just lay there for a moment.
"Kyouya, our little girl starts school tomorrow. I can't believe it's been three years already since you've been gone. I can't believe she is five already. She needs to stop growing up so fast." It was hard to believe how much time had passed since Kyouya's death and now and how he managed to get by without him. It wasn't easy he knew that much not even financially speaking for they were fine there but there was everything else that wasn't. He was missing so much of her life. Rolling over he shut his eyes and fell asleep, some nights he could swear he felt his arms around him. He hoped this was one of those nights. He always slept better and his dreams were always of the three of them together, such pleasant and happy dreams. Other nights he didn't dream of anything or if he didn't remember when he woke up.

Emma futzed around fixing her school uniform while Tamaki helped her finish getting ready.
"Stop Emma its fine I promise."
"Do I have to go to school mommy, can't I stay here?"
"Sorry but you have to and I promise you'll love it. Just give it a try." Taking her hand he led her downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. If she didn't have to go he would keep her home, teach her himself but he couldn't and he wanted her to expand her social horizons. Besides her younger cousins he hoped she would play with someone her age this way. She stayed close to him during breakfast and while they were in the car. Obviously someone was worried about today, though he learned that last week when her uniform arrived. He had to practically drag her out of the car once it pulled up to the school. Ouran, every time he stepped foot on any part of the campus the memories of his time here flooded back, from the first time he ever came here to his graduation. All the memories, good and bad came back.

"Hello sir, this must be the Emma. Oh isn't she simply the cutest."
She hide behind Tamaki as the woman knelt down to talk to her.
"Say hello Emma, this is your teacher. Forgive her she seems shy all of a sudden."
"Oh that's quite alright. Many students are nervous on their first day but Emma I promise we'll have lots of fun this year."
Turning around and kneeling down Tamaki tried to get her to walk away and meet the other students. He needed her to walk away before he became emotional as well.
"See Emma you'll be fine I promise. Look everyone is a little nervous for their first day. I will be back here to pick you up later so go have fun alright."
"Promise mommy?"
"I promise princess."
Hugging her tightly he let her go and saw other parents were having a hard time just like he was. He swore it had to be just as hard on the parents as it was for the kids. Once he saw she was alright he got back in his car to head to work so the day could start so it could end and he could pick her up. His father would understand why he couldn't stay until five he was certain of it.

"So how did it go Tamaki? Did you cry?"
"Oh very funny father. No I didn't cry and it went alright I guess."
"I can't believe Emma started school today. Seems like yesterday she was born."
"Tell me about it." Actually he would rather not even think about it. "It feels so strange to know she is at Ouran and I can't stop worrying about her. She was so scared to leave me today and last night she had trouble sleeping. I hope she is doing alright.
"Tamaki, you do you know you run the school correct?"
"What?"
"If you're that worried about her than go check on her. Your administration, you can create an excuse to leave here and go see her. I did it a few times to you when you first started there."
"So that's why I ran into you in the halls between classes those first few days; you were spying on me!"
"It's not spying; I was making sure you were adjusting well enough. It was a new environment for you and I was a little worried about you managing."
"Okay so what excuse should I use?"
"Well safety inspections are coming up."
"That's perfect. Thanks father." Grabbing a notebook off his desk he headed out the door.

With the school's head secretary in tow he looked over each building starting with the elementary building first. Emma's classroom was the last one down the kindergarten hall. So he wouldn't see her until last but it worked better this way. He could stick to his excuse better, made him look less obvious this way.
"As you see sir we just had these tiles replaced due to water damage for fear they would fall apart and these outlets here are all covered so no little fingers can touch them."
"That's great but my main concern is the classrooms where the students are most of the day. I want to see if anything needs to be replaced so we can get to it right away."
"Of course sir."
They walked over to the first one to go over to it and make sure everything was fine in it He was learning a lot right now too making this trip work out for everyone, plus it saved him time later on by getting everything fixed now. Walking into Emma's classroom he tried to act cool, not have anyone realize he was trying to check on Emma.
"Hello sir, can I help you with something?" The teacher walked over to them at the door.
"We are checking the room to see if anything needs to be fixed, safety inspecting are coming up so we want to make sure all rooms are safe for the staff as well as the students.
"Of course sir. The room is yours, the children are working on projects to help learn similar interests with their classmates."
"Thank you for your cooperation, we shouldn't be long." He could tell Emma was staring at him from her seat. A part of him was surprised she hadn't yelled hi to him, it seemed he taught her well. Though he wouldn't have gotten completely upset at her since that was something kids her age did. As he walked in the room to start he looked over at her and smiled. She waved and he couldn't help but wave back. The smile on her face as she went back to work on her project and talk with the other people at her table made him relax and he felt better letting her go to school this year.
"That's your daughter isn't it sir?" His secretary whispered to him as they looked over the inspection list and the room.
"It is."
"She has gotten so big and beautiful. She definitely takes after you."
"Thank you, she is beautiful, our looks aside." The secretary smiled as she waved hello at Emma who looked confused but waved back.

"Mommy!" Emma ran out of the building and into Tamaki's arms once school got out.
"Hello Emma, I told you I would be here. Did you like school today princess?" As they got into the car she told him all about it and gave him some of the pictures she made in class. He was relieved to see it had gone well and to hear how excited she was for tomorrow.
"You came into my classroom today mommy!"
"I did, are you upset with me?"
"No! I love you mommy!"
"I love you too princess." His face blew up in a huge smile as she hugged him tight.
The rest of the night she told anyone she could find about her first day of school and was excited to go to bed knowing she was going back tomorrow. Tamaki was happy to see her so excited though she wouldn't settle down even after he tucked her in for the night.
"Emma, what are you doing?" He watched as she got out of bed to run over to her bookshelf.
"Mommy will you read me a bedtime story." She couldn't have asked five minutes ago?
"Sure Emma, which one?"
"This one!" She pulled out her favorite fairy tale story and ran back to her bed to wait for him to walk over. He could tell from where he was that it was one he read to her often, she could probably read it word for word without even looking.
"Alright, but only because I love you." Walking back over to her bed he sat beside her and took the book so he could read it.

Tamaki sat with Ranka at a little shop to just get together and chat. They had gotten closer these past few years and for both it was nice to talk to someone who had been there, compare notes so to speak.
"So what does Emma think of school so far?"
"She loves it. She has already had a few meet ups with her classmates which is great."
"But,"
"But nothing really, it's something else that's bothering me."
"Is it that dream you've told me about?"
"Thankfully no." A few years ago Tamaki told Ranka about his dream wondering if he experienced anything like it before. It had also gotten to him because it came back a few months after Kyouya had died and it showed Tamaki choosing Emma. Just like he had right before he had passed away. He had blamed himself for what happened to Kyouya until he told Ranka about it. He hadn't had a dream like Tamaki had but he still managed to help him feel better and realize he had nothing to do with Kyouya's fate.
"No, I'm just having trouble coming to terms that she is growing up. Knowing she is five and getting bigger and that Kyouya's not here is getting to me I think."
"When Kotoko died I had trouble getting into a life without her. You willingly jumped back in,"
"I wouldn't say willingly."
"But you did, you pushed yourself to get back a sense of normalcy. Perhaps you need to get away again. Take a vacation with Emma this time. I know that's what I needed when I felt time was flying by. Though I was never able to really afford one but I figure you must certainly can."
"True, I never thought about that. Though I never thought I would be too weak to heal. I never had any intention to move on but I figured I would heal better."
"You aren't weak. You were in love."
This was why he enjoyed talking to Ranka. He understood everything so perfectly. He never would have been able to become so strong if they didn't become friends.

Emma sat on Tamaki's lap while they watched TV for a little while before she got to her homework. She was in love with this one show and he had no problem watching it with her, as she snuggled closer he could tell she had no problem with him being here either.
"Mommy?"
"Yes princess?"
"…never mind…"
"Emma, what did you want to tell me?"
She stayed silent as she held her stuffed dog tighter and went back to the show. What did she want to ask him? She was five and not that good at keeping secrets yet so he wasn't worried about it being something serious. When the show ended she slid off him at his command to do her homework.
"Will mommy help me?"
"Help you? Sure Emma why not." Watching her smile while she took his hand so they could walk into the kitchen together he forgot about earlier. It was probably nothing anyway. She was too cute working on her spelling and counting homework. She didn't have too much trouble with it as she was the child of very smart parents but watching her figure it out and the wide smile and excitement in her eyes as she checked with him to see if she was right was too much. He enjoyed their routine together, everything was just right and seeing her so happy made him certain that she enjoyed it too.

That weekend Tamaki took her to the park to spend the day out and meet up with her cousin. Natsumi was still too young to really play with Emma but they got along pretty well most of the time so they got together whenever they could. Plus, a day out of the house was always nice. It seemed Akito had gotten there first as Tamaki saw him and his wife with their two kids. Their son was born a few months back.
"Mommy?" Emma stopped walking when she felt Tamaki stop suddenly. He had never realized how much Akito and Kyouya looked similar. Sure they were brothers but he never really saw it before. He had to double take to make sure he wasn't going crazy.
"Momma, come on!" She started pulling his arm so they could get closer so she could play.
"What? Oh sorry Emma, yea let's go." She ran ahead to get there faster.
"Uncle Akito!"
"Emma! You're getting so big, look at you!"
"Uncle silly!"
"Oh am I?"
They started laughing as Tamaki caught up.
"Here mommy!" Giving the back pack Rin made for her to him she ran off to play on the jungle gym with Natsumi.
"Thanks Emma." Sighing he laughed as he sat with the other two to watch the girls play.

Tamaki was dragged under a tree by Emma so they could have lunch. The others had gone off for a moment to change their son, man he didn't miss those days at all.
"Having fun Emma?"
She nodded excitingly while she dug through her bag looking for something.
"That's good, I'm glad."
Finding what she was looking for she handed him a juice box so he could open it for her.
"Please mommy?"
"Sure princess."
Taking it from her he got the straw in and tried to give it back only to realize he lost her attention.
"Emmmmaaaa, helloooooo." Looking at what she was staring at he saw Akito coming back playing with Natsumi who was in her arms.
"Mommy where is my dad? How come I don't have one like Natsumi does?"
His body froze at her question; he knew this day would come sooner or later. She looked at him waiting for her answer. He could see the wonder and sadness in her eyes that came from not being able to see her father everyday like her younger cousin did. He couldn't get his throat to open, to let any words come out.
"Mommy tell me! Where is daddy?" She stood next to him pushing his shoulder trying to get him to tell her. Akito and his wife stopped just short of where they were as they heard Emma's question. He held Natsumi a little tighter as he looked down at his feet. He could feel his wife watching both him and Tamaki.
"He isn't here Emma. You do have a father, everyone does but yours is no longer with us. That's why he isn't here."
"What happened to him? Did I do something wrong to make him leave?"
All three adults' heart broke at hearing that. Tamaki looked over at her with horror and tears in his eyes.
"No princess you didn't. I never want you to think that ever again. Your father loved you so much, more than you could imagine. He got very sick before you were born and he fought so hard to stay with you but it still won. That's why he isn't here with you or with us."
She stopped pushing to sit down and ball up holding her stuffed dog. She was sorry she asked seeing how sad her mother's face was.
"Emma, princess, please don't be upset. You didn't do anything wrong. See princess everything is fine." Quickly wiping his eyes he threw a smile on his face and tried to get her to smile back. Feeling his hand on her shoulder she got up and ran down the path her aunt and uncle just came from.
"Emma! Emma, come back!" Tamaki was on his feet in no time to chase after her. Akito went to help him only to be stopped.
"I know you want to help him but this is something he has to handle on his own."
His wife had a point but he couldn't help but want to chase after her. He owed his brother that much, to look after the daughter he left behind in his place.

"Emma! Come out, please don't do this!" Tamaki looked around the area where he lost track of her. She ran into the bushes and when he looked he couldn't find her. "Emma where are you? Please come out!" He started to panic as he couldn't find her. She should have been around here. What if she was kidnapped? He was sure he had enemies and she was the perfect target. Checking the bushes one last time he started to head back to the others and ask for their help. Seeing the jungle gym come into the view he stopped to check to see if she had snuck past him and was hiding here. Hearing crying he followed it as it got louder. Grabbing the hole in the floor of the square house thing above him he pulled himself up to see her huddled up in a corner with her dog.
"There you are. You know you scared me." He sat next to her to watch her bunch up tighter. "You're so much like your father." Grabbing his legs he stared at the plastic wall across from them to look at nothing.
"Mommy. What was my dad like?"
"He was a great man. One of the best. He loved you very much, no one, besides me, could love you more. Gentle and loving while not allowing others to push him around. You know you're a lot like him. In both looks and mannerisms."
"I'm like my dad?"
"You are, since the day you were born."
She dug her head into his side happy she wasn't upset with her.
"I'm sorry mommy for upsetting you and hiding from you."
"I'm not upset. You have every right to ask and I'm just glad you're safe. I couldn't bare it if I lost you. I love you Emma and I always will. We are doing well just the two of us though aren't we? Sure your father isn't here like I would have loved but that doesn't mean we can't get by on our own does it?"
She held him tighter as he felt her start to cry again.

Akito relaxed seeing Tamaki carrying Emma on his back. He was getting worried when they were taking awhile to get back. Walking over he placed her down and together they all ate lunch.
"Emma, play?" Natsumi was pulling her sleeve while she ate.
"I want to play with my mom after lunch."
"Okay!"
Tamaki noticed she moved closer to him while she finished eating. She really was the best.
"Ready to play Emma?"
"Yea!" Finishing what she was drinking she threw her trash away while she ran back to the jungle gym to play with Tamaki.
"See Akito, everything is fine."
"I know. I know Tamaki is handing everything well and I shouldn't worry but still. I feel I owe my services to my baby brother's family. He would have done the same for you."
"I know he would have. Tell me my love will you ever find peace though?" Kissing his lips she noticed he was watching Tamaki and Emma. She could tell he still felt guilty that Kyouya couldn't join them, that he was no longer with them.
"I don't know if I'll be able to answer that."

0o0o0o0o0

I should have had this done a few days ago but my body was adjusting to school schedules and that meant I was out of commission after class. Hopefully I can update again before NYAF/NYCC next weekend. Anyone going? Please review and leave thoughts. I love you guys for reading and reviewing and favoriting. It means so much so thank you.
~Femalefighter~