Kira's POV...
The difficulties that the host club was having with Ritsu was...well, more than what we thought. The fact that so many people were afraid of him, made me feel special, and that was not a good thing. It was hard seeing him trying to approach others but not being able to. The worse about it was that I couldn't do anything about it. He wasn't my responsability, the host club was. Although now that I thought about it, Ritsu was also part of the club.
By the time it was lunch, he was clearly exhausted and sat in a corner of the Music room frustrated. I frowned as I walked towards him.
"Kasanoda, where is Mori-senpai?" I said as I crouched down next to him. He looked at me and his eyes were dead. I sucked in a breath and continued to look in his eyes.
"It's so difficult, I don't think I can handle it any longer Kira. I just wanna make friends who I can kick the can with." He put his face to his hands and his aura darkened.
I bit my bottom lip to his response. I didn't want to get into something that didn't have to do with me, but I didn't like Kasanoda struggling like this at all. Then at the same time our stomachs growled loudly to get our attention that it was time to eat.
"I say let's focus on eating something right now and then making friends." I turned to make my way to the door.
"I'm not going to wait for you. You coming or not Kasanoda Ritsu." I said over my shoulder and he got up quickly and scurried towards me. I glanced down at him and he had a small hopeful gleam to his eyes which made me feel at ease.
Other than that I was still weary about my siblings and Will discussing with the chairman about our current situation. Have to have multiple backup plans and other safety precautions for any possible situation. My brothers had already put a barrier around the school that wouldn't permit any of Sutekh's minions on coming here. If there were any, it would immediately warn us of intruders.
My attention went back to Kasanoda as we walked silently to the lunchroom which of course was filled with laughter and small chit chats amongst everyone's little groups inside the vast eating area. I didn't even look at Ritsu to know that he felt out of place.
I quickly got in line and got food for the both of us as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Kira I don't think it was a good idea bringing me here..." He looked at me and with a shocked look to his face.
I looked at him and handed him his plate of fragrant involtini di melanzane alla parmigiana. He gave me a puzzled look and I shrugged. "It's roasted eggplant stuffed with mozzarella, ricotta cheese, and tomato sauce. It's good, I've had it a couple of times." He looked away and I frowned as I thought of something that could go either way. I leaned to his ear and at the same time got a whiff of his hair. He had a different scent from before, he wore a very nice expensive cologne, and I could feel my face warm up a smidge. He jumped slightly as I could feel him get goosebumps, and the girls around us yelped in response.
"How about I make lunch for the both of us and not have to go through here again? Then we can find a nice place outside to enjoy our food. How does that sound?" I stood back straight and he looked at me with a stunned face. I chuckled and smiled as we took our plates and walked to the host club.
The Next Day...
I woke up early to make some breakfast and had bought some bento boxes on my way home. I made some white rice in a rice cooker and put some black sesame seeds to garnish once I put it in the box. Then I made some chicken fried cutlets, shrimp, and crab meat sushi. Adding a couple of more things and made some tea that would go nicely with what I prepared.
I had informed Ritsu that I was going to meet him in the morning, so I had to change and left the house by 7:30.
Will's POV...
I woke up and the house seemed too quiet. I was about to knock on Kira's door when I saw a note.
Wilbur,
I'm going to school early. I made some lunch for you, and my brothers. Make sure you give it to them. If you need anything just send me a message.
I smiled and it faded as I knew why she was going to school as early as she is. That peculiar Ritsu character looks a lot like Rinnai. Then the thought of him angered me. Why was he doing this? What are his motives in working for the enemy? I want to stop Kira from what she's doing because this war was coming sooner than expected. May is around the corner then summer break then back to school in August for the end of the semester. They all need to be prepared before then. Kira knows this for a fact, but she's putting others before her.
The pressure on her and how she's dealing with everything must be more than any human can bare.
Kira's POV...
I sat in the corner as I looked at the host club deliberate on what to give Ritsu. Yesterday was a disaster as they gave him dreads, a green and yellow polkadotted bandana, and Tamaki's bear to be a lovely item.
I couldn't be more embarrassed for him, and of course I didn't say anything as usual, but I could most definitely feel Ritsu's pleading aura. Then suddenly out of nowhere the twins put Ritsu into a maid costume. I stood up as I was about to say that they were going too far with this but the door opened and it was Tetsuya.
"Little Lord could you be here?" Tetsuya's face when he saw Ritsu was of pure distraught caught Ritsu off guard and he yelled.
"It's not what it looks like!" The frustration he let out was immense and he bolted out of the club room.
"Ritsu!" The guys yelled as he ran with the costume on.
"You guys really messed up you know." I said as I got his clothes from the dressing room and went after him.
"Wait you don't even know where he is." Tamaki said as he looked up at me. I rolled my eyes and gave him a snort. "Remember who you're talking to fellas. I can track any man or beast. Leave him to me." I was about to walk out when it hit me. "I think Haruhi is the one who should console him after."
Haruhi pointed to herself. "Me? What can I do?"
I looked at the bag of clothes in my hand and smiled softly. "You're the one who showed compassion to him when you least noticed. You're oblivious to some things you know? It's not completely bad, you should just be more aware that's all."
I walked out the door when someone called my name.
"Kira!" I looked at Tetsuya who had a worried face and I knew what he was going to ask.
"He's going to be fine, I'm going to talk to him. He has no idea he's really lucky to have friends like you. You're people are going after him. He was saved by Mori-senpai, but just make sure to talk to them when the club catches them. I've already discussed the matter with Mori and Honey. They're planning something, but not sure yet so just follow them."
I was about to leave when he tugged at my blue blazer.
"Wait, how do you know all of this?" His confused eyes searched my face as I stood straight and sensed the air.
"I have eyes that see everything and ears that hear Sendo Tetsuya. Heir to a rivalry syndicate, ran away after a dispute with your father and now reside in the house of the Kassanoda's. Quite a story you have, but I'll keep it confidential between the two of us now if you'll excuse me. I have to find Ritsu."
I finished with him and made my way to the garden. The thoughts I had for poor Ritsu as he ran out of the club were curious on why he let the club go so far in trying to change him. He has so much going on for him, he's just closed..himself...off.." I thought for a second as I looked through the gardens. 'He's just like me.'
Just as I was about to scream his name I saw him crouched hidden to the seeking eye. That and I could see over the hedge.
I jumped over and landed by him. By the looks of it I startled him. "I'm sorry if I scared you Ritsu." I crouched down and the look on his face was very unhappy.
I frowned and couldn't think of anything to say but to hand him his clothes.
"Wait.."
I paused just as I was about to jump over the hedge and stood straight.
"Why aren't you scared of me like the others? No chick especially has ever been this close to me as a... friend... well, if you could consider me one."
I looked at him and remembered the time he rescued me and asked me the same thing then kneeled down.
His eyes were looking down and he balled his fists turning his knuckles white. I pulled up his chin and made him look at me straight in the eye.
"Do you want to know why I do not fear you? Because I see me in you. Because I am a monster and you have no idea how lucky you have it Ritsu. I could care less about what you're history is. You just have to open your eyes. You cannot make people like, love, understand, validate, accept, or be nice to you. You can't control them either. Good news is: It doesn't matter. You don't have to change for anyone. People will accept you for who you are or you don't need them in your life. That's a fact Kasanoda."
His eyes started to water as I continued.
"You have such a caring heart and I see it. Ritsu I owe you my life. You saved me that night and there is nothing in this world that I can give you to express my gratitude to you. Though know that if you ever are in need of a friend to play kick the can, if I am busy I will leave and go find you. Okay?"
I smiled warmly and his face grew warm and I let go of his chin as I stood up.
"Change quickly so we can leave."
Without a hesitation I jumped over the hedge, and a few moments later he came out from the shrubs with his face still red.
"I...I would like to show you something."
I looked at him with a neutral face and quirked an eyebrow.
"I'd be more than interested to know what it might be." I said curiously.
He peeked up and then started walking as I was about to follow him he faced me and stopped me.
"Wait here! Please. It'll be just a moment."
I put my hands in my pockets and shrugged my shoulders.
"Go ahead. I'll wait. I won't be going anywhere."
He smiled and ran like a small child to wherever he planned on going. I looked to the sky and only wondered if my brother was looking at the same sky as me. Then I focused on what really mattered.
"What do you want Will?"
He jumped over the hedge and brushed himself off as he looked at me intently.
"I can see the resemblance in appearance from the files that I have acquired between Ritsu and Rinnai."
"What does that have to do with anything?" I looked at him emotionless.
"You are looking out for him because you feel responsible for what happened to Rin. You are trying your best to make him feel like he belongs. I mean he's a good kid, but it isn't your responsibility to baby him like a mother does her children."
I looked at Will with an intense gaze.
"Who are you to tell me if my actions are right or wrong. I know the path that I am taking, what about you? Are you prepared for the future? I have to be strong, even though I myself am having an internal conflict with myself. I need to focus no what I need to do, and distract myself so I can enjoy the good times before the bad."
Will didn't display any emotion as I spoke what was on my mind.
"Kira, I know. I was, I'm just too overprotective. You're brothers are also worried, but not as worried as I."
He walked closer to me and put his forehead to mine.
"What are you doing?" I said faintly.
"I'm.."
"HARUHI!"
I whipped my head and then sensed the others close to her. They were going to talk to Kasanoda about the ones going after him.
"I'm going to the club room. Kasanoda's probably going to forget about me, seems like Haruhi got paint on her. I can smell it from here. Stay here if you'd like, you're acting a little strange."
I made my way to the club and walked inside the storage room to prep for tomorrow's event and when I opened the door I saw Kasanoda with a struck face.
"MA!" He yelled and shut the door as Haruhi yelled to close the door.
"Kasanoda!" I yelled and he looked at me like a child would if he were to be frightened.
"Fu...Fujioka! She's! I mean he's! Gahh! What's going on?"
Then his eyes constricted as I could see regret in his eyes.
"I forgot about you."
The door suddenly opened and the twins bombarded Ritsu and he quickly got nervous as the twins started bombarding him with questions until the rest of the group came and the twins were going to club him.
"Enough!" Haruhi yelled and she came out of the changing room.
"Kasanoda, I don't care if you see me as a man or a woman. I don't care if you tell anyone about it."
He looked at her and I could see something in his eyes change. It was like he was changing already.
"Well. she does hold a debt of 8 million with us." Kyoya said as he pushed up his glasses.
My phone started to vibrate and I opened it to see a text from Hachi.
Kira, we are in need of your assistance. Come home quickly.
I quickly grabbed my things and left without anyone noticing. Leaving the gates I started running home in a hurry and made it in 5 minutes with the help of wings of course. I dived as I saw my brothers in the lake near my house.
As I approached them I changed back panting slightly and as I looked at them my heart sank.
"What's going on with your two? Your faces look like someone took the life out of you."
Orion looked at me and pointed to the side of the mountain and my armlet quickly started to warm up.
"Kira, our bodies are not fully able to sustain the earth that you live on. For that we must go back for a short time. Although, the time difference in this world and yours is very different. One day there can only be but a minute or months here."
I didn't know how to react to this but I couldn't just leave everyone here without them being protected.
"Don't worry about them. They are safe, the amount of power we have used was more than we thought we would use." Hachi said as his breathing started to become heavier.
"When did you start to feel like this?" My brothers avoided eye contact and that's when I knew.
"You risked yourselfs to come here for me?"
They looked down as they held each other up panting and sweating.
"Why? You two more than I know you can't leave."
"Yes Kira we know, that's why we have been also trying to keep the gate open." Orion said and I backed up incredulous.
"WHAT! Orion that's a lot of power in itself! Why would you want to do that?!"
Then suddenly something hit me.
I looked at them and they faltered as they looked at me intensely.
"What are you planning on doing?" Hachi asked as he groaned.
"Your purpose was to teach me magic, but I have learned things on my own."