~Chapter Fifty Five~

Green Eyed Monster

Sometimes, I get so weird,
I even freak myself out.
I laugh myself to sleep;
It's my lullaby.

To walk within the lines
Would make my life so boring.
I want to know that I have been
To the extreme.

I want to scream;
It makes me feel alive.

Is it enough to love?

~Anything But Ordinary, by Avril Lavigne

Disclaimer: Me No Own; You No Sue.


"Sammy-nee-chan loves you so much," Kaoru continued when I only stared at him in a puzzled silence, "and I have not seen my sister this cheerful in forever." He smiled at me and shrugged his shoulders in feigned nonchalance. "You make her happy, Senpai."

With the utmost seriousness, I bowed low to him and vowed, "Hitachiin Kaoru, I promise to take care of her for the rest of her life and mine." My heart pounded strongly against the ribcage that kept it from flying free.

"…I know, Senpai," Kaoru gently said, smile considerably happier now. "Walk around and clear your mind; I'll explain to Kyoya-senpai if it becomes an issue." He conspiratorially winked at me. "You could also follow Onee-chan to keep her out of trouble."

"Thank you," I sincerely said and with his words burning deep inside, I slowly turned around, opened the door, and walked out of the Third Abandoned Music.


Sammy's P.O.V.

"'If I were a rich girl,'" I cheerfully belted out and bounced ahead, both hands holding the frayed strap of the old backpack thumping against my sides, "'See, I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl~!'"

Sigh. "You are a rich girl, Sammy-chan," Haruhi exasperatedly pointed out, though her eyes, nose, and the majority of her attention remained buried deep within the treasure trove of words written in her thick textbook – geometry this time.

Math, I thought, disgusted, and crossed both eyes as a means of expressing the dislike I carried for the boring, tedious subject. Blech! Literature is so much better! Then, I smiled wryly in amusement. Huh. I like literature, Takashi-kun likes history, Neko-chan likes science, and Haruhi-chan likes math. We would make the best study buddies ever!

One hand lifting to playfully pull at her short hair, I bumped hips with her, nearly knocking the book from her hands, which startled her into paying attention to me. "Yeah? If that were really true, then I could kidnap you and, and, and –!" Hands whirled like pinwheels as my mouth opened and closed to form the words for thoughts that would not come.

My brain fried and German curses spewed out like water, instead: Verdammt! Scheiẞe! Fick!

"Oh? Really? Beelzeneff have your tongue, Sammy-chan?" Haruhi asked, with her eyebrows lifted in amusement and her voice laced with it. She smirked, licked her finger, and turned another page. More shapes and diagrams. Fun…

Finally, I managed to think of something (shocker, I know), and I loudly blurted, "We could visit the hair salon! Get all of this hair trimmed! Invade Wisconsin! Conquer the world with STRING CHEESE and make it BOW down before us! MWAHAHAHA!"

Cackle, cackle.

…Cough…

Yeah, I might not be overly girly, and I disliked haircuts and manicures and the frizz that I called hair, but I absolutely loved hers. She let me curl and braid her hair sometimes, like I used to do for my younger sister, Sarah. Nobody but Caleb, Hikaru, and Kaoru knew of that favorite pastime of mine, though; I liked to keep it to myself. Hurt too much to think about, to be honest…

"You know that I haven't had the time to go and get it done," Haruhi chided, hand lifting momentarily and then pointing to the small slip of white paper now carefully tucked into the pocket of her blazer. My friend sighed faintly, "I still have to do the shopping tomorrow, too…"

"But, but, but," I protested, before glancing at the small, delicate teenager and playfully pouting at her. "You would be cute and fluffy, Stitch!" At her expectant expression, which I knew meant to hurry up and spit it out, I sheepishly smiled and continued, "'I like fluffy?'"

"I like you, too," Haruhi softly said, hearing what I really wanted to tell her: I like you. You're a really good friend! Best in the world! You're Haruhi, and I like you.

Blushing, I shuffled around the freshman to open a closed door, letting her pass me, and then smiled sweetly as we walked side by side again. "Ditto! I like you and all that fluffy hair of yours," I happily said, and then winked at her – "…But I still think it needs to be cut…"

A soft chuckle of amusement escaped the girl walking beside me, and Haruhi laughingly tossed her head side to side, brown hair falling in her eyes. She wanted to get her hair cut again, which is why I repeatedly slipped it into conversations with her. But Ranka refused to let his daughter cut off the rest of her beautiful, brown locks. A week had soared by since I suggested letting Hikaru and Kaoru touch her bangs up and trim the ends, too. My brothers were pretty good makeup artists (although, thinking back to their scary makeup at the Culture Festival, I questioned their supposed 'expertise') but excellent hairdressers.

Alas! Nothing I said could convince her to blatantly ignore Ranka and his wishes. I did not really understand it. Didn't make much sense given that the girl usually just did her thing, to Hell with everybody else! However…

Last month, when I visited her house again, I finally noticed the beautiful, immaculate picture of her mother in the small shine in her living room. She did not usually let others visit with her, but Haruhi prayed to her mother while I crouched beside her, eyes open and flickering from her the beautiful lawyer and back to her daughter. You know, I had thought then: Haruhi-chan looks just like her Okaa-san…

"Otou-san would maim you," Haruhi dryly stated the fact which – I shuddered – might be more a promise than anything else, "…horribly, I might add, and with his sharp, manicured fingernails, too."

"…Thank you so much for that wonderful thought, Haruhi-chan!" I cried, hands already reaching up and clamping protectively around the neck that would surely be in his clutches if I did not keep an eye out for Raging Ranka. He might be hiding around the nearest corner, an axe in tow.

Nearly-Headless Sammy I did not want to be!

NEIN!

"You're welcome," Haruhi kindly responded, her smile sweet and innocent and completely perfect for hiding the deviously mischievous glint in her chocolate eyes. Haruhi appeared quite…evil.

Warily, I eyed her expression, and then the lightbulb flickered to life, swinging to and fro over my eyes. I winced, shoulders hunching. "…Oh. This is about telling Tamaki-kun that somebody in the Host Club like-liked him, isn't it?"

"Damn straight," Haruhi deadpanned, sharply turning around another corner and disappearing into the library, its two monstrously sized doors slowly closing behind her like the library had swallowed her whole.

A moment passed, during which I debated the benefits or consequences of calling Dean and Sam Winchester to check out this rather supernatural (wink, wink) occurrence, and then –

"Um…" My friend poked her head back out. She clutched the side of the door in her right hand and leaned her head against the white wood, her smile small but sincere as our eyes met, linking with invisible thread. "…We're still going home together, right?"

Sorrow, almost colder than ice, thawed out and warmth streamed through me. I grinned brightly and bounced back and forth, back and forth, the toes of both sneakers squeaking against the tiled floor. I cheerfully chirped, "Of course!"

With another wave and quiet farewell, Haruhi shut the library doors behind her retreating form. I skipped off, small hands holding the strap over my shoulder, feet occasionally tripping over pink stairs and tiles. Air, too! Clumsy though I might be, I still had fun navigating the hallways to find the entrance to Ouran High School. No longer did I need to consult with the Marauder's Map! Because I could find it without assistance, thank you very much, and –

Uh.

How strange….

Squinting, I glanced around to find myself standing outside, in the courtyard nearest the – blink, blink – stables, where I had not been before. I smiled in excitement and hurriedly glanced from side to side, making certain that nobody else could really see me (or my crazed expression) and then darted forward to stand outside the stalls. I clutched at the windowsill and jumped to tip-toes to stare into the darkness of the stall. A shrill neigh whistled sharply through the stables, empty with the exception of the fourteen other horses used for Equestrian 101.

Cooing noises escaped before I could think anything of it and be embarrassed by the reaction to the white beast. All of the other horses glanced out through their stall doors, made sounds of discontent, and eyed the normal horse with irritation, turning their backs to her. I made faces right back at them because I loved to be completely abnormal.

Hands outstretched, I gently petted her forelock and smiled, brushing the golden hairs from in front of her eyes. "Pretty girl has such pretty eyes and hair," I mumbled to her with affection, before glancing at the slatted door to her stall, to find her nameplate: Koibito.

An English translation rested at the lips. "'Sweetheart,' huh?" I laughed, brightening at the familiar, affectionate nickname, and loving that I could feel this connection to such a sweet animal. Like Takashi, I had this strange sweet spot for animals. Children, too…

Wonder if Takashi-kun and I will have children in the next few years? I halfheartedly gave my own question thought and ultimately decided that whatever happened – well, happened. But I want them to have his eyes. I love his eyes…

Another horse, this beast much larger than the white mare, moved forward to reach his gigantic head out of his stall. She flicked her ears and tail at the sound of another neigh and whickered back to the other horse. He tossed his head back, letting a sheet of solid black locks fall to the side. Coal black irises rolled to the side to observe my own eyes, and silence reigned, broken only by the excited whinny of his little mate, Koibito.

Koibito turned, stretching her neck out and brushing her mouth against his. Kurai, his golden nameplate proclaimed, reached out to nuzzle her neck in return, the gesture tender and familiar. A dull rush of soft, wilting sadness hit me. My heart panged, beating faster and heavier with the sadness, until I figured out why it hurt. While Koibito was small and golden, somewhat like myself, Kurai was much taller, darker, and imposing, a pretty good representation of –

My smile soft and thoughtful, I petted the two horses again, handing them two carrot halves each from the box of apples and carrots to the left of their stalls. I dusted both hands off by carelessly wiping them on my waistband and meandered off again, but not without waving goodbye to the beautiful horses. A trumpeting neigh and soft whicker melodically intertwined to see me off.

What is Takashi-kun doing with the rest of the Host Club, I wonder?

Although I missed him, I smiled to myself and continued singing.

"'All the riches, baby, won't mean anything,'" I softly sang and continued walking forward, head moving from side to side to take in the newness of this part of Ouran Academy. My voiced lifted with my eyes as my sight caught hold of Takashi, who I had not expected to see.

"'Your lovin' is better than gold, I know…'" I began brightly, the lighthearted feeling in my chest taking flight and making it hard not to smile like a moron. My feet neared him, but I slowed, the lyrics tapered off in wariness – and fear.

Who is that girl?

Hesitantly, I hovered behind the nearest column, hiding in the shadow created by the tall, marble structure. I peeked around the round column and eyed the pair with misgiving. My Takashi, I trusted, but das Mädchen? No, I did not know her, and I certainly did not trust her. She was a very petite girl, delicate almost, with soft brown hair and dark navy eyes. Bangs curled softly around her face and braids pulled the rest back in a sweet hairstyle.

Beautiful. Chaste. A true noblewoman.

"Mai-hime," Takashi quietly said, hands in his pockets and head bowed formally in greeting. A breath of silence followed this opening before it shattered with the tinkling sound of her sweet voice.

"Mori-senpai! What should I say? I cannot keep this secret anymore," Mai murmured, posture delicate and formal, though her cultured voice faltered at the end. She cleared her throat. Breathed in the courage needed to continue and declared, "I really like you."

My fingers clenched tightly into fists, and I pressed them tightly against my warm mouth, letting the heat sear my index fingers and thumbs. It warded off the chill that crawled down my spine and caused clenched teeth to ache. I really like you. I really like you. I really like you.

How dare that girl? I seethed, the fire of fury burning in my mouth and threatening to spit out like fireworks. It worsened when the girl placed her right hand to the left side of his chest, covering his heart. A heart that belonged to me! Mine! Grrr!

Hoping I wasn't rabidly foaming at the mouth, I slinked closer and closer and closer to the pair of (hopefully) unsuspecting teenagers, jumping from column to column in the hopes of getting close enough to here the rest of their conversation. I finally stopped just behind the pair, cheek and hands glued to the column, teeth pulling at trembling lips. Nervously, I chewed the pink flesh and watched Takashi. Like Hawkeye. STARE.

My fiancé tilted his dark head to the side and appraised her, flicking his gray eyes over a sweetly shy expression and demeanor – and finding it lacking, I hoped. I didn't want him to find this girl pretty, but I doubted that something that obvious had escaped his observant gaze. Just because Takashi and I were now engaged did not make him blind to her beauty. Regardless, I wasn't worried that Takashi would like her – love her – more.

But…

Shallow though it might be, I worried. I worried that Takashi might find her prettier than me. I worried that Takashi might think of her when kissing me. I worried that Takashi might start wishing for smaller shoulders and hips, for straighter hair, for –

Does it really matter, though? I suddenly asked myself, slowing the worrisome train of thought – which threatened to become a train wreck of epic proportions – and maturely questioning these irrational fears. I frowned at my own worried possessiveness.

Mai was pretty, much prettier than I would be unless I spent hours in front of the mirrored vanity attempting to tame my eyebrows, and hair, and the occasional nasty zit. My mere cuteness paled in comparison, at least to me. It would not convince him to leave me or regret the engagement; I understood that much to be true, and I reveled momentarily in the fact that Takashi could actually love me more than this beautiful girl.

Still, I could not help but feel upset and –

Jealous. I'm jealous, aren't I?

My cheeks flushed red.

Firmly, Takashi removed her hand from his muscular chest and stepped back; her expression of hopefulness immediately fell like a wingless angel. "Mai-hime, I…" My fiancé began, and his voice gentled to ease the pain of the letdown. He frowned. "I cannot return these feelings."

A tearful silence made the air thicker than it should be with this nice weather. "Mori-kun," Mai breathed, with her slim hand pressed to her glossed lips, "You already have someone you care about – and deeply, too…"

"Ah," Takashi whispered the honest admission, without hesitance, without regret, and without apology. A light that I had not yet seen entered his silver irises, which glowed with affection. Could Takashi be thinking about…me?

Everything seemed to still and zip around like the speed of light all at once, a confusing concept that did not make sense until it happened. My heart warmed, its red blood rushing through my ears and making it hard to concentrate, to hear the rest of their conversation. I willed the blush away and prayed that I could remain silent and still long enough to hear its end. Hands to the column, I peeked around it again and listened closely to his words – and hers.

A bite to her lip, and then Mai approached again. I tensed, but I did not need to worry over anything because Takashi firmly stepped back with his long stride to compensate for each step that Mai tried to take forward. Eventually, Mai gave up on chasing him down the sidewalk and bitterly asked, "What is her name?"

My heart, which had been racing in my ears seconds before, halted its crazed dance of victory. I blanched, all of the color leaving my nose, ears, and cheeks for the moment because – Oh. My. God. What if Takashi actually decided to tell her? Kyoya did not want anybody to know! It would be like…like…Katniss and Peeta announcing their relationship at the Hunger Games!

Of course, Takashi would be Katniss, and I would be Peeta, but still…

THE SHADOW KING WOULD KILL US!

My fiancé, who stared long and hard into her chocolate eyes, searching for anything remotely threatening to us, smiled faintly. "Samantha," Takashi said to her, and to himself, for the first time in public. "The Hosts and I call her Sammy-chan, though; it is her preference."

A frowned marred the otherwise cheerful expression I had been sporting. Why would Takashi-kun mention the others? I love them all like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but…

Oh. A few months prior, I would not have really grasped why Takashi would mention the other Hosts, but it suddenly made all the sense in the world. Mitsukuni was a rather brilliant fighter, fiercely protective of his friends and family. Both Tamaki and Kyoya had the best connections at Ouran. Hikaru and Kaoru could easily make her life miserable with cruel pranks. Haruhi, who all of the Hosts liked, would stand by me. The Hosts – no. My friends would stand by Takashi and me, too.

So, Takashi silently buried the wealth of hidden meanings within his words, letting her sift and search through them to hear his threatening promise: Hurt her or me, and the Host Club will hear about it.

Mai slowly nodded her head in understanding, the true meaning of his words clear to her, and stepped back to place a more respectable distance between the two of them. She clasped her hands together in front of her torso and inclined her head. "How long have you and Sammy-chan been together?"

"Long enough," Takashi grunted. His quiet nature – and protectiveness – reared its head at that moment. He did not want to talk with her further, that much I could tell without asking, and the twitching of his right hand seemed to reach for…

Mine.

He's reaching for mine, I warmly thought, staring down at my own and letting the clenched fist slowly unfurl, stretching the fingers like wings. My heart seemed to take flight then, lifting into the air and leaving only a strangely full emptiness inside of me.

Eyes soft, I turned back around to face the gardens at the other side of the courtyard. Roses, lilies, and other beautiful flowers soared upward, to the sky, as my small form slipped down the white column. All of the breath left me in that instant. But I smiled. I smiled big, happily, and placed both hands to my mouth. A small exhale, shaky with weight of unshed tears, whispered out from between parted fingers.

"Oh, Takashi-kun," I whispered, hands trembling and chest lighter than feathers. My smile stayed, but tears started to trickle down my nose and onto the sidewalk beneath me, staining it black. "How can one person make the world brighter, make it spin faster? How is it possible…that I love him this much?"

Again, Mai decided to speak and quietly asked, "You are in love with her, aren't you?"

My heart stilled with this question, thumping in anticipation.

"Yes, I am, and I always will be."

Takashi…

My body reacted without conscious command. Without waiting for the sound of her swiftly departing footsteps to vanish, I leapt up and whirled around the white column, running. My feet slipped, but I hastily steadied myself with the help of another column that I passed by. I soared, feet barely seeming to hit the ground, though I could hear the steady beat of sneakers punching the sidewalk – again and again and again.

Lips parted, hands outstretched with only the desire to hold onto him, to have him hold tightly to me as well, I darted towards him. Tears continued to fall down from my eyes, and I desperately cried, "Takashi-kun!"

Eyes wide, Takashi whirled around to face me, an expression of shock painting his normally stoic face. He slowly stepped forward and breathed, "…Sammy-chan?"

Without another word, I rushed into his arms and wrapped both of mine around his slender waist, fingers curling into the back of his blue blazer. I fisted them there, holding him like I would if at sea and drowning, like everything depended only on my arms and hands and fingers holding onto him. In truth, I wondered if it really might, because I always seemed to gravitate towards him, to his presence. His touch and hugs and kisses. His love.

"Sweetheart! Koi! What is wrong? Has something happened? Did Nekozawa-san bother you?" Takashi exclaimed, and his words and tone of voice filled with concern. He hugged back for a second, though still shocked at the sudden attack, and then tried to pry me away.

"NO!" I cried, stubbornly leeching onto him with arms and legs – the former wrapped around his chest and the latter around his waist – and refusing to let him go. My best friend. My boyfriend. My lover. My fiancé. My soon-to-be-husband.

My Takashi, I breathed deep within myself, heart and soul singing with the wonderful truth of those two simple words, which could only be rivaled by the truth in the next three: I love you.

"…No?" Takashi softly said, body still and rigid, confused. He did not attempt to move away again, though, instead letting me curl into his hold. A hand curled under my rear and lifted, making it easier to crawl under his skin, and I hiccupped.

No, I would not let him go. I could not let him go. Never, ever, ever

"What is wrong?" He finally repeated his earlier question, and although rarely angry or upset, Takashi appeared to be losing patience. Worry and fear tended to make his temper shorter, especially if it concerned Mitsukuni, Satoshi, or myself.

"Nothing," I whispered to him, before laughing breathily in disbelief because nothing was wrong.

Warm and happy, I cuddled closer to my wonderful fiancé, face buried in his long neck. I deeply breathed in his strong, comforting smell – cologne, the barest hint of sweat, and the faint smell of his pets. "Nothing is wrong…"

Eyes flickered back and forth over my small form, searching for evidence to the contrary, before Takashi relaxed. He had been tensed, his muscles tensed and body coiled like a snake waiting to pounce and kill; however, his entire body seemed to melt with these words. Taut arm muscles loosened from their snakelike coils and curled lightly over my waist, instead. A forehead touched mine.

"'Nothing is wrong,'" Takashi repeated again and smiled down at me, a warm and tender glow in his shining silver eyes. He lovingly rubbed the tip of his nose against mine, like I usually did with his, and then pushed his lips to my warm, open mouth.

We kissed, lips and teeth clashing and fire burning in our veins. A tongue slipped in between parted lips, and I met it there, pushing him out and then pulling him back in. Takashi groaned low in the back of his throat and moved, long legs carrying us away, a good eight feet into the shadows. My back hit the column, and I shivered at the cold bite of marble kissing the bit of flesh bared because of his wandering hands. I teasingly kissed his bottom lip before gently nipping at it. My lover growled lightly and kissed back harder, hands and fingers touching everywhere and yet nowhere at all, heavy and lighter than air.

Wind rushed by us, and I vaguely recognized that the motion meant Takashi had started walking, closer and closer to the school. We stopped occasionally, hidden within the shadows and kissing each other without a care. We were moving again, though; Takashi seemed to be nearly running to – an empty classroom.

Blood pounding, I pulled back to breathe, heart beating faster with the realization that somebody might stumble upon us, a scary and simultaneously exhilarating thought. Takashi slowed, before gently placing me on a clean desk, his hips in between my open thighs. Lips to lips, hips to hips, and hands entwined, Takashi and I continued kissing, making out. A hand slowly, hesitantly, reached down to the hem of my shirt.

"Nothing is wrong?" Takashi hesitantly questioned, his voice deeper, huskier than usual, and his silver eyes warm with desire. Fingers and lips stilled, waiting for my response. He wanted to know not if I wanted to sleep with him, but if I would consent to touching and exploring together. And I…

My earlier words rushed back to me: "I'm ready to take the next step with you."

Forehead pressed to his, I smiled tenderly and kissed him soundly yet again.

"Everything is perfect."


***Author's Note***

Hello!

*Ducks Behind Desk*

Okay, okay! I might have deserved that and all, but please hear me out for the explanation for this so-called two month break! I am in the last semester of college, not including the semester for internships, and I'm drowning in coursework. I am about to be done with this class, though; I'll have time to update again! YAY!

Speaking of which, I will update this one as soon as possible, but I also plan to continue this last scene in the second chapter of Keys To My Heart. For those of you are interested in the limes and lemons of this story, head there! It will probably have about five or so. I plan to update it this before Monday. :)

Also, I am planning to hit the really good part soon (angst and drama, woohoo) and then wind down to the epilogue. It has been a wonderful ride, but Picking Up the Pieces is coming to its end. Takashi and Sammy might be showing up again in the one-shots I have planned for Kiki/Kyoya and Kotoko/Mitsukuni, though. Who knows?

Anyway! Thanks for the continued support and reading, favoriting, alerting, etcetera while I studied these last two months.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

Update = 760ish Reviews

Bye~!