Chapter Twenty Eight

Kaoru

"I think Mori-senpai's spotted us."

I glanced up from my phone. Sure enough, Mori was eying Hika and I from his position in front of the tech building where Kanami had her last class. He was holding true to his word on making sure Kana was escorted around campus. I had caught him darting through the common building earlier between classes. He was on edge-but then again we all were. Kanami Inao had unintentionally shattered what we all knew to be as normal. School, clients, events, that was our life. The seven of us, Haruhi included, hadn't allowed anyone to get this close to us since high school. We kept everyone else at arm's length, even the ones we allowed into our beds.

At least we wouldn't get bored of her.

"We aren't exactly hiding, Hika." We had been sitting on a bench, waiting for her for the last half hour.

"Should we? This is a kidnapping attempt." Hikaru crossed his arms, still staring Mori down.

"Well, we didn't exactly take her bodyguard into consideration."

"Think he's going to let us take her?"

"He might protest." I shrugged.

I hated keeping secrets from my twin. It went against every fiber of my being. We've always shared everything from the time we were born. Not only was I keeping a secret from Hika, but Kyoya and Tamaki didn't know Kana's situation either, and I doubted that Honey had told Haruhi.

"Takashi and I will be keeping watch over her until we hear back from Ritsu." Honey's words were surprisingly lighthearted. "But since you know too, you're going to help keep her safe, 'kay?"

I wasn't a fighter. I could hold my own, sure. But there was something more that Kana needed beyond physical protection. The pain in her eyes was a look I recognized far too well. I knew she would hide behind her walls and try to keep us out.

"We're up, Kao." Hikaru grabbed my arm, tugging me along behind him to where Kana was making her way out of the tech building. "Time to give the princess a distraction for the night."

A distraction. That was exactly what Kana needed. Her posture told me everything. Normally she held herself with a certain stature that could only come from someone who had lived a much harsher life than they deserved, yet still came out stronger on the other side. Now she looked like she was trying to make herself smaller, less noticeable. Her arms were wrapped around her stomach and her shoulders were tilted forward slightly.

"I believe you're being relieved of your duties, Senpai." Kana's lips curved into a cautious smile.

"She's right. As of now, Kana-chan is officially ours for the night." Hikaru draped his arm around Kana's shoulders.

"We've got plans." I took Kana's hand, forcing her to uncross her arms. "You're staying with us tonight."

"Kaoru." Mori's voice held a bit of a warning.

"We're working on our midterm project." I winked. I met Mori's eyes for a brief moment. He blinked slowly, keeping his expression blank. "So we'll be staying in tonight."

"Don't ruin it Kaoru." Hikaru, clearly oblivious, was stroking the side of Kana's face as he spoke.

"Make sure she's up in time to eat in the morning." Mori touched the top of Kana's head lightly.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, we feed our models." Hikaru turned, causing Kana and I to move with him.

"Your models?" Kana shot me a worried expression as we were half-dragged along by Hikaru. "I don't do pictures."

"What the hell was up with Mori-senpai?" Hika was clearly avoiding Kana's statement. The three of us made our way through campus. Part of me wondered if Kana noticed the eyes that were on us, mostly from females who were obviously being way too judgemental for their own good. Hikaru and I were used to drawing stares everywhere we went.

"He's probably tired from chasing me around all day." Kana sighed. Her fingers were loose around mine. "How did he even know my schedule? I didn't tell him."

"Kyoya." Hikaru and I said.

"I knew he'd been following me." The thought seemed to annoy her. Curious.

"Could've been Tamaki. His father's the President, you know." I shrugged.

"I don't think that Tamaki's that close to him." Hikaru frowned.

"Blaming Kyoya's easier." Kana's eyes narrowed. I sensed a small bit of a temper within her. I didn't know if it was her lack of language skills or a stellar sense of self-control that had been keeping it at bay.

Still I wondered how far Kana could be pushed before she eventually broke. And I wondered which one of us would be the person to pick up the pieces once she fell.

"There's no way that's going to fit me."

Hika and I had brought Kana back to our mansion, where we had set up one of Mom's dressing rooms with our midterm project for our design class-aka the deep burgundy evening gown we had designed just for Kana. Well, technically Hikaru had designed it while I had spent the last two nights doing the majority of the stitching to meet his specifications. I wasn't surprised at Kana's reaction-the gown was made to show off her figure. It had a high neck with tulle paneling in the front, an open back, and a slightly flared waist that led into the full skirt.

The design overall was simple for Hikaru. Normally he'd add a ton of embellishment and he tended to favor a mermaid fit, but he genuinely took Kana's simpler preference to heart.

"Trust us Kana." Hikaru wrapped his arms around Kana's waist, holding her from behind. He still had it in his mind that we could sway her with our typical act.

I took Kana's face in my hands, feeling her face warm beneath my touch. "Trust us."

Her eyes searched mine. I saw the briefest flash of fear. "I'll try it on, just don't laugh."

"We promise." Hikaru and I said.

"We've got a condition of our own." Hikaru's lips were close to Kana's ear. "Wear it to the Ootori gala this weekend."

"But what about the other-"

"Kana, that was one of Mom's designs. We want you to wear ours." I grinned.

"So that way, when people ask you who you're wearing-"

"-you'll have to tell them it came from us."

"Are you sure this is for your midterm?" Kana raised an eyebrow.

"Partially." I admitted. "We might also want to prove a point."

"Consider it a favor to us." Hikaru said.

"I exploit software vulnerabilities, you two send me to an event in a dress you made instead of your mother." Kana shrugged herself out of our touch. "I'm in."

This set Hikaru into action. Before Kana could protest, he was pulling her behind a privacy divider, giving her instructions on how to get herself into the gown. I watched in mild amusement. This was Hikaru's element. He was the one with the potential as a creative director and designer, while I was happy with staying mostly in the background. I preferred working with fabric, not people. Models could be unbearable.

Hikaru stood beside me while we waited for Kana. I could sense his nerves rising. Hikaru would never admit it, but he was desperate for her to like what he'd come up with. He thrived on approval. We both did.

My breath hitched in my throat once Kana reappeared. Hikaru had been right, the fit and style were perfect for her. I watched as she found her way to the three panel mirror we'd set up for her. The lining of the bodice hugged her figure, showing off the generous curve of her hips. I had to force myself not to comment-I knew the curves that I adored so much were most likely the target of her mother's abuse.

"We did good." Hikaru's hand had found mine.

"That we did." I cautiously met Kana's eyes in the mirror. "What do you think?"

"I was right to trust you." Her lips quivered as though she were trying keep herself from smiling.

Kana's words sent Hikaru into work mode. He tugged me forward. "Check the fit. Kana, let's talk heels. Are you more comfortable in a platform or a stiletto?"

"Can you even walk in heels?" I couldn't keep myself from poking fun at her.

"Can you?"

"Yes." Hikaru and I answered together.

Kana blinked slowly. "This isn't my first event. Just nothing too high, please."

"Size?" Hikaru was already halfway to the door.

"Twenty three and a half."

"Mom wears the same size. You might've just bought me an extra minute here." I said once Hikaru had left. "Mind raising your arms for me?"

"Did you make this?" Kana asked, holding her arms to the side.

"Hika came up with the idea, I put it together." I ran my fingers between the fabric and her skin. "I need to take this up a bit here. Is it too tight anywhere? Too loose?" I tapped her arm lightly, signalling her to put her arms down again.

"It's amazing, Kaoru." Much to my surprise, she wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me close to her. "I love it."

I held her face in my hands. "As much as I'd love to kiss you right now Kana, I've got something I need to ask before Hika comes back."

"What is it?" Her brow furrowed.

"Did I add enough support?" Even after asking this question dozens of times to the models we worked with, it still felt weird asking Kana. She still seemed completely innocent to me, even though I was certain she had slept with Kyoya at this point. "To your… You know."

"You know, I was wondering how you managed to guess that one." She narrowed her eyes at me. Despite her expression, I could hear the playfulness in her voice. "You tell me. Do they look okay? Just pretend this is business."

I nodded. I took a step back, allowing myself to get a good look at Kana's partially exposed breasts. The dress's paneling was cut just enough to show the slightest glimpse of her cleavage, something that Hikaru had insisted on. "We could stand to add a bit more of a lift. If you're comfortable with that."

"I'll let you make that call." She flushed. "If I'm being honest, Kaoru, I've never worn anything that makes me look so…"

"Appealing?" I offered. "Do you not see how people look at you Kana-chan?"

"I just thought that's how the Host Club treated everyone." She shrugged.

"It isn't just the Host Club, dear." I ran my hand through my hair. "Do me a favor and start paying attention to your surroundings, alright?"

Hikaru was back before she could respond. He was carrying a stack of boxes that threatened to topple over. "I think I've got it narrowed down to these. Did you talk to her about accessories Kaoru?"

"He's having way too much fun with this." Kana whispered, giving me a small wink.

"Oh, and Kana?"

"Hm?"

"We've got to do something about your hair."