Thank you for the follows favorites and reviews and to answer the question to any of those that don't know. A beta reader helps the writer with their mistakes and to help fix any problems they me having with the story to the best of their ability.

Edited: 5/2/14

Disclaimer: Nope.

I took deep breaths in and out as I felt Kaoru rub circles on my back with his hand. He had told me to close my eyes and pretend the dark was only behind my eyelids. I felt myself calming down. I scooted away and leaned my head against the door. My eyes were starting to adjust to the dark. I squinted my eyes trying to figure out where we were exactly. It looked like the science classroom. I turned when I felt a hand top of mine. I glanced to the ginger next to me.

"Are you alright now?" He whispered lightly. I could see the concern his face.

I breathed in deep. "Yeah, I just had to calm down." I'm still not calm being with him in the dark.

"I know what you mean." He said. "Whoever was responsible for that incident has really gave us a run for our money. Literally." He chuckled lightly.

I grimaced. "Yeah." He seems completely fine. Which just makes me feel more insecure and he wasn't even questioning the mental break down I just had all over him. Well, not really on him... but still. We fell into an uncomfortable silence. I didn't like it and couldn't take it anymore. I had to say something.

"Sorry, about you know...about crying all over you." Gah! What was that? You sound stupid Kris.

"It's okay, you were scared." He said. "I was pretty freaked out too. Things like that happen, don't worry about it."

His encouragement didn't help me. It only made me feel worse. "No it's not, this keeps happening. You think I could just have a scare and then get over it, but I can't. I have to freak out like a child." I was getting angry with myself. My eyes were watering again; I wiped my eyes with the back of my sleeve.

He was quiet. "...well these things happen. There are plenty of times where people wish they could just get over something and move on, but their stuck." I looked up at him.

I sniffed. "Yeah?"

He nodded giving me a smile. "Everyone has fears." He paused. "Do you want to know something?"

"What?"

I raised my brow. He looked as if he was going to reveal the secret of the century. I leaned forward a bit curious as to what he was going to say.

"I hate snakes." I stared at him, but he continued. "I can't stand snakes. I can hid it pretty well, but if there touching me, I can't move. There was this one time when Hikaru and I were with our class. We were having gym. It was during middle school, we didn't want to participate with the other kids, so we were further away. Hikaru and I were passing a ball back and forth when a girl screamed about a snake that had crawled past her. I'd let it pass thinking the girl was just being stupid, but Hikaru told me not to look down. But I did anyway and there it was the snake. I froze and Hikaru took it off me. I ended up running for the school. When the teacher asked me what happened. Hikaru covered for me saying "Can't a boy run to the bathroom or are you that nosy?" It was actually pretty funny." Kaoru laughed.

I stared at him. "That's quite a story." I don't think I can picture him doing that. I can however, see Hikaru telling off his teacher. "Why did you tell me this?

He looked at me. "Because I trust you and I want you to know that it's not only you."

"Yeah, thanks for telling me about it and, uh, trusting me."

"Plus I think you can keep a secret. You got so many of your own as it is."

I stared at him and shook my head smiling slightly. "...yeah."

He grinned. "Pretty embarrassing, huh?"

I shook my head. "Being afraid of snakes is a rational fear."

"Are you afraid of snakes?"

I shook my head. "No, I'd actually thought about getting a snake instead of a spider, but it just stuck."

He sighed. "Kris, you are not normal." He looked at me. "Why a spider or even a snake? Why not a cat or dog?"

"My mom is allergic to most animals with fur, so she wouldn't allow it. When I first wanted a pet, dogs actually were my first choice, but I knew I couldn't have one. My dad saw how interested I was in insects. So he offered to buy me my first spider. I named him Professor X."

"Wait, I thought it was a girl and its name was Bubbles?"

I nodded. "I got Bubbles in the eighth grade after Professor X died."

He raised his brow in amusement. "Where did you come up with these names?"

"Haven't you seen the Power Puff Girls?"

He shook his head. "Is that a movie or something?" He gave me a confused look when I looked at him in horror.

"It's a wonderful cartoon that you should look at." I said with a matter a fact tone.

"I'll think about it."

"You should." I said. "And I actually didn't name Bubbles."

"You didn't?" He asked curiously. "Was it one of your sisters, or parents?"

I shook my head. "It wasn't any family. It was a boy name Caleb."

"Caleb..." He said slowly. "Was this a friend?"

I was quiet. "Hmm, I wouldn't really call him that." I paused. "He hanged out with the popular kids most of the time and I was...doing other things. We saw each other everyone once in a while."

"So how did he end up naming your spider?" He persisted.

I looked up at the dark ceiling. "We were both on the way to the pet store. Well, we met each other there. Not on purpose, just coincidence. He was getting a dog and I was replacing my spider. I came there with my dad. Yeah, I think I remember him telling me he finally convinced his dad to let him have a dog. He was there with his stepmother. When I went to choose and pay for my pet, he asked me what I was going to name this one. I told him I didn't know. Funny how at that moment I was wearing a t-shirt with the Power Puff Girls onto it. He joked that since the last was Professor X then I should go with Bubbles because it fits me. I couldn't think of any other names so... that's about it." I shrugged.

"That's it?" He questioned a bit unsatisfied with my answer.

I gave him a slow nod. "Yeah, that's it. I lived a pretty simple life before I came to Japan. Nothing special."

He shook his head. "It must have been special for you to be the way you are here with me...us" He was staring at me.

I looked back at him.

"Uh..."

*Break*

"So um, you're a first year, right?" Rin asked the boy sitting next to her.

He nodded. "Class 1-A representative."

"Right..." There was an awkward pause. "I'm Rin Mazaki." She put out her hand for him to shake. He hesitantly took it.

"Kazukiyo Soga." He said. She smiled at him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You as well."

She leaned back. "It's pretty dark in here."

He sighed. "How long do you think we'll be in here?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I was surprised when we were thrown in here actually. Did you recognized that man or woman?"

He shook his head. "No, but I'm sure those Hitachin brothers do."

She tilted her head. "Why do you say that?"

"It's to big a coincidence that I hear a story about an evil ghost women wandering the school and suddenly she there!" He yelled.

She raised her hands. "Hey, hey, calm down." He took a deep breath and sat back down. "It actually a school legend. Lots of kids know about it." She said in a matter a fact tone. "So they probably went to test it out on us."

"I still don't trust those Hitachin brothers. They wanted to scare me and I'm on their team!" He yelled again.

Rin sighed. "I'm sure it was good-natured. I don't know them that well, but from what I can tell their nice people." She smiled.

He shook his head. "I hate Halloween."

'That sounds like someone else I know.' Rin thought. She still wondered where her scared friend went. Last time she'd seen him he was screaming down the hallway running at full speed. She tried to catch up, but she was to slow and was thrown into a room with the boy next to her.

"Why did you join the competition if you are so scared?"

He was caught off guard and didn't seem to know what to say. "I, um, y-you see..."

Rin was becoming curious; she leaned forward. "Come on. It's only us. I know you don't know me, but I promise I won't tell." For now.

He looked at her a bit unsure. "Well..." She nodded for him to continue. "There's this girl, Momoka." He blushed when he said her name. "I didn't want to be apart of this scary competition, but everyone else did...and she was so excited. She's always smiling and when I sad 'yes'. She looked so happy that we were doing this. I-I just couldn't say no and back out."

Rin stared at him with a look of admiration. "Wow, you are so nice. Have you talked to her?"

"Of course, I talk to her"

She shook her head. "No, I mean have you told her you like her?"

He blushed furiously. "O-Oh no, no, there's no way I can do something like that."

She smiled while pushing up her glasses. "Yeah I thought the same thing, but I still tried."

"What happened?" He asked. "Are you together?"

"No, I was rejected."

He looked wry and gave a short. "Oh."

"But it was okay, we're still friends." She said.

He looked even worse now. "..."

She turned to him. "But that doesn't mean that will happen to you. You never know what will happen." She encouraged.

He shook his head. "Exactly, I don't know what's going to happen. It doesn't matter anyway. She likes Haruhi. She's always there for him at the host club." He sounded sad.

She thought to herself for a moment and then blinked at him. "Oh, that Momoka." He looked at her. She smiled. "I don't think Haruhi likes her."

"Why do you say that?"

"I just know. Haruhi's never shown any interest in her or any other girl for that matter."

He sighed. "It's only a matter of time. Momoka is a wonderful person."

She rolled her eyes. He couldn't see that for it being so dark in the room. She wondered when someone was going to come find them and not a moment later the door was opened. They turned to see Hikaru at least she thought it was him.

"Kaoru!" He looked at them in disappointment. "Oh, it's just you."

Rin deadpanned. "Yeah, nice to see you too. You haven't found Kaoru yet?" She was secretly excited that she was winning at the twins guessing game.

"No! Does it look like I've found him?" He said with an irritated tone.

She frown. She was about to take back what she said about the Hitachin brothers being good people. "If your going to be snappy I won't tell you where he is." She crossed her arms.

He copied her movements. "And how exactly would you know where he is? You were stuck in here."

She shrugged. "Fine, whatever, who cares~" Of course she cared, but his attitude was in the wrong place.

His eye brow twitched as Kazukiyo stared back and forth between them. "Fine, take me to him." He grabbed her arm pulling her out of the room with class rep following after them.

She smiled. "Okay."

*Awkward times with Kris and Kaoru.*

We were staring at each other and Kaoru kept leaning forward. "H-Hey um, Kaoru, you know..." Darn it! I can't think of anything to say! What is going on; I had plenty of things to talk about before this! I can't think straight in this close proximity!

"Kris can I ask you something?" He asked.

Do I really want to know?

. "I uh...W-Well..." I was about to scoot away again, but he took my hand and held me in place.

"Can I?" He asked again. He looked like he really wanted to tell me something.

My heart was racing faster. Life truly was simpler back at home. He kept leaning forward. I put out my other hand to keep him back, but for some reason I felt weak. "Kaoru!" I squeaked.

Suddenly the door behind us bursts open. I took this opportunity to escape. I jumped away from Kaoru and ran for the door. I nearly tackled Rin to the ground.

"Ahh!

"AH!"

"Kris!"

"Rin!"

"Hi!"

"Hey!"

"Um, you alright?"

"Yep, never better." It looked pretty obvious that was a lie. I was holding a hand over my chest like I was having a heart attack.

I think I was, truthfully.

"Hey what's up with you? Your face is all red and so are your eyes, there puffy." She examined my face. I averted my eyes.

"Ah, the uh, room was really hot and made my eyes itch..."

"Uh-huh, sure." She said with a frown.

"Yep." I said. I looked around, seeing that we were missing a person. "Hey, Hikaru was Haruhi with you?"

He paused in his embrace with his brother. "Oh, crap." He said.

We turned around when we heard someone running down the hall. "T-Thanks a lot H-Hikaru. For, for waiting for me." She said sarcastically between her panting breaths. Hikaru walked up to her.

"Hey, sorry." He said genuinely. Rin's eyes twitched. He gave her attitude, but gave Haruhi sympathy. Not that she didn't like Haruhi.

I shook my head and glanced to Kaoru. He had that same look he did before in the clubroom. I turned around quickly when his eyes met mine. He's making it very difficult to be friends with him.

"Well sense were all here now why don't we find everyone else. It's already one o'clock." Haruhi said. Everyone agreed.

*Break*

When they meet up with both classes. The kids turned to them. "Hey, whoever pretended to be the schools ghost got us good." Hikaru said

"And you locked us in a room, that part I don't understand." Kaoru said.

The students looked between each other. "What are you talking about?" One of them said.

Rin raised her brow. "Didn't one of you dress like ghost and scares us nearly to death?"

They looked at each other an shook their heads. "I don't think any of us did something like that."

The group paled. "T-Then was it really a-a g-g-ghost?" Kazukiyo panicked.

"AH!" Two of the girls screamed. I turned to them it was Renge and I think the others name was Momoka.

"L-Look up there! I saw a shadow!" Renge yelled. She pointed toward the ceiling.

We all looked up slowly. It was a shadow of what looked like a demon. "AHHHHHHH!" Was the last thing I heard before I fainted.

*The next day*

I scowled at the news paper in front of me. It showed class 1and 2-A. Half of us had fainted out on the ground and the other half were screaming out of their minds. I'm still wondering who did it. When I find out, their going to wish they never existed.

Tamaki and Nekozowa shivered.

"Well they got us." Kaoru said.

"Looks like it." Haruhi said.

I glanced to the class rep of 1-A. He sighed. "Man."

Momoka looked at him. "Your actually a big wuss, aren't you?" He winced at her words. "Someone told me that you joined the game because the class wanted it and you didn't want to ruin it for everyone else."

He gulped looked at Rin who was behind the girl and gave him the thumbs up. I raised my brow. What is going on here? "Y-Yes..."

"That is...so completely sweet of you!" She said.

He blinked at her and blushed. "Well uh, you know."

They began to start talking and Rin started to silent cheer as she walked over to us. "What did you do?" I asked

She grinned as she pushed back a braid. "I am a match maker. I think I'll become a professional." She seemed to happy with herself. "See you guys later!" She skipped away.

I blinked at her. "Well then."

"Wha-what?" Hikaru said. "That's what we were trying to do!"

"Let it go Hikaru, it's over with." Haruhi said as the two began to walk away. I glanced over to Kaoru he had that look again. Lonely and sad.

"H-Hey you okay?" I asked. He blinked at me then smiled.

"Fine."

I rubbed the back of my neck. I still felt extremely awkward around since yesterday. "Well...see you at club!" I practically ran so he couldn't grab me.

*After school*

"-ris, Kris." I looked up to see Haruhi. "You alright, you looked distracted the entire time."

I looked around. All of the girls were leaving. I don't even remember what we talked about today. "Yeah, perfectly fine." I sighed. "I just really need some rest." I scratched my head as I began to yawn. I honestly couldn't sleep last night.

"Your eyes look tired." She said. "Go home and get some rest."

"Yeah, okay."

"I'm serious, Kris. Get. Rest." I blinked at her. Haruhi' suddenly reminds me of my mom. Without the knives of course.

"Alright, I promise. As soon as I get home." I said. She stared at her. "Really."

"Okay." She said. "But if I don't see a change then your staying at my house."

"Yes sir." I saluted her. She rolled her eyes and walked away. I got up and stretched out my body as I walked to the back to get my stuff. I went to go pick up my bag when I heard someone come up behind me. I turned expecting Mitsukuni, but jumped when it was Kaoru. "WOW! Hmm um, h-hey Kaoru."

He just stared at me before smiling. "I forgot to tell you this morning. I looked up that cartoon you were talking about."

I'm smiled trying to forget about yesterday. "Really? What did you think?"

He laughed. "It's pretty funny actually. What's his name um...the monkey?"

"Mojo Jojo." I said.

"Yeah that guy." He smiled. "Yeah I liked him."

"Really? Why?"

"I don't know just the way he acts like the boss." I snorted.

"What? No he doesn't! If you want to see someone who acts like Tamaki you should watch Johnny Bravo."

"Another cartoon?"

I nodded. "He's really funny. I watched it all the time as a kid."

"I'll think about it."

"You should." I smiled.

"I like this a lot better." He suddenly said. I blinked at him. "Your not acting awkward around me and were actually talking."

I pursed my lips. "But Kaoru the things you do...make it so..."

"I know." He said. If he knows then why continue this. He knows that I'm with Mitsukuni.

I frowned. "...Kaoru." He walked up to me and put a hand on my chin

I looked him in his eyes. "I've put this off long enough and I want one thing from you."

"W-What?"

"I want an answer."

*Break*

Honey skipped through the clubroom getting ready to leave. he'd decided that he would ask K-chan if she wanted to go home with him. He wanted to be alone with so he told Takashi that he could go home. Except he didn't know exactly where she was. He saw Haru-chan walking past him on to the way out the door.

"Haru-chan have you seen K-chan?" He asked. The brunette glanced to him.

"Oh, well I saw going to the back to get her stuff. Is she still back there?" She asked.

"I don't know I'll go check. Thank you Haru-chan!" He skipped away.

Haruhi shook her head with a smile, but raised her bow when she saw Hikaru. "What are you still doing here?"

"I'm waiting for Kaoru he said that he had something to do and its taking to long honestly." He folded his arms.

Haruhi blinked at him. "What's he doing?"

*Break*

I stared at him. "...an answer." I repeated slowly.

He nodded. "I don't want to keep stepping around each other. ."

I paused. Well what did I feel for Kaoru? Was it any different then what I felt for everyone else?

"Kaoru I..." I thought hard as I looked at his face. Realizing that we were very, very, close. I wanted to turn away, but his fingers on my chin kept me there. I took a deep and thought again. I can talk to Kaoru, but when he gets all touchy feely I get nervous. I still want him to be my friend, but how can I do that when were like this? If I gave him an answer would it really change the situation? We would still be stepping around each other. And I can't keep this from Mitsukuni.

I blinked. That's right, Mitsukuni.

Comparing how I feel with him is completely different then how I feel about Kaoru. When they touch me they both make me nervous. But with Mitsukuni I want him to. Kaoru I...

I looked up at the ginger again. "Kaoru I do like you ..."

But not the way you like me.

He looked at me and my expression told it all. He nodded his head with a bit of a sad smile. He leaned down. "Can I?" I gave him a skeptical look. "Only on the cheek. Americans do that don't they?" This felt weird because I was pitying him and I don't think he wants that. But after this we'll leave it alone.

I nodded slowly. He leaned over and kissed my cheek. I made a face. He smiled. "What, was I that horrible?"

I shook my head. "No it not I that I just..." I paused when I saw him looking at the door. "What is...it?"

Mitsukuni.

He staring at the two of us with wide eyes. "M-Mitsukuni I can explain, we were talking and then he asked and I uh...it didn't mean anything."

He stared at us and suddenly the atmosphere got very tense. "Oh I understand." He said and suddenly he smiled very wide as he tilted his head and squeezed the living day lights out of his bunny. The flowery air around him seemed depressing and they were dying. "You kissed him, right?"

"No it wasn't like that." I went over the events in my head. He clearly kissed my cheek it wasn't the same. I turned to him and my eyes went wide. From where he was standing it looked as if Kaoru kissed my...

"Mitsu-"

"And...he likes you, doesn't he?" He asked very sweetly. How long has he been standing there?

"Yes, well I... but-"

He giggled though it sounded more forces than anything. "I see."

I stared at him in disbelief. "I-Its really not..." I couldn't think of what to say. I looked to Kaoru for help.

He stepped forward. "Honey se-"

"Bye" He snapped in a happy tone if that was possible. That only made me panic more. He walked away from the door closing it with a loud bang.

"W-Wha!" I yelled with a hard breath. I pushed a hand through my hair. I went to go after him, but Kaoru took my arm. "What are you doing let me go!"

He shook his head. "You don't want to go after him right now."

I yanked my arm away. "And why not!"

He sighed. "Kris, a martial arts master has just witnessed, well thinks he's witnessed his girlfriend being kissed and accepting another boys confession. Which you didn't" He said a bit sadly. "Right now, Honey sempai is beyond mad could you tell?" I stared at him. "And I don't think you want to be in the way of that at the moment." He seemed a bit scared.

I looked at him in defeat. "I'm in trouble."

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