Chapter 10: Exposing Her Dark Past

A/N: I have been gone for a long time and I'm sorry for that. Life happened, depression struck, and I'm swamped with school work alongside with being an IT intern so yeah. I'm so busy that I'm not able to write and update my stories. I'm not going to promise that I'll be able to update frequently but I'm going to do my best to do so.

Without further ado, here is a new chapter for your guys.

Standard disclaimers apply.

After comforting her granddaughter, Kumiko left the couple alone to give them time to think of what to do next.

"So what do you want to do now?" Len asked Megumi while gently rubbing her knuckles.

"I..I want to hold a party to celebrate your birthday." She said after a few minutes of silence.

Len kept quiet just waiting for her to elaborate.

"I know that we already had a private celebration but I want to celebrate it publicly regardless. We'll invite everyone including the Fujiokas." Megumi told him.

Len's grip on her hand tightened before he loosened it and spoke up, "What are you planning? You and I both know that Kumiko-sama will never allow them to be near you. Especially after what happened."

"I know but I'm sure she will agree once I tell her my plan." She said while looking into his eyes directly before continuing, "I want to prove to them that I don't need them. I want to show them what I have and how they can't provide anything for me. I want to let them see just how out of reach I am to them. That whatever they do, they will never be able to stand and be on the same level as I am."

Len squeezed her hand and gave her forehead a kiss.

"I understand. I'll be with you every step of the way. You can count on me." He told her.

Megumi squeezed his hand back and gave him a smile.

Len's expression softened before he stood up to leave the room.

"You should rest for a bit before dinner." He said before leaving the room but not without leaving another kiss on her forehead.

Megumi frowned once he was out of the room and whispered, "I don't deserve you Len."

Dinner was on-going when Megumi spoke up, "Grandma I want to hold a post-birthday celebration for Len."

"What brought this up darling? I'm sure that celebrating Len's birthday is not the only reason." Kumiko pointed out.

"I'm planning on inviting all the Host Club members including him." Her granddaughter told her, emphasizing the words all and him.

Kumiko knew who she was referring to and her lips formed into a thin line.

"I will not allow them to step one foot in this place. You know this Megumi. I will not let them hurt you again." She said in a serious tone.

"I know Grandma but I want to show them the difference between us. How they can't hurt me anymore because of this huge gap." Megumi reasoned out.

Everyone became quiet but after a few minutes Megumi spoke again, "Last time they thought that I was still within their reach that's why they were able to hurt me but this time, they will know how flawed their thinking is. I will prove to them that they can't and will never be able to reach me."

"I see. When are you planning to hold this party?" Her grandmother inquired after a while.

"This coming weekend Grandma. I'll personally organize everything." Megumi answered.

"Very well then. You have my permission to do so." Kumiko said before standing up and going to her granddaughter.

"Make sure they see the difference between them and us." She whispered while looking at Megumi's eyes.

"I will Grandma. There would be no doubt about it." Megumi assured her grandmother.

Kumiko saw the truth of that statement in her eyes so she nodded before leaving the room.

"So twins, huh." Hikaru said as a way of greeting.

"Good morning to you too Hikaru." Megumi replied with a small smile, ignoring his statement.

"Hikaru don't be rude." Kaoru chided.

"It's alright Kaoru. It would seem that she told you. I was actually wondering until when she could keep it a secret." She told him.

Len was keeping quiet but the twins saw him narrow his eyes at them.

"Anyway, here's something I baked last night to make it up to you guys." She said while motioning for Riku to approach.

Riku neared them carrying a box and the twin's curiosity was piqued.

Megumi opened the box and took out two maple cupcakes with candied bacon.

"I baked this specifically for you two. I know how you love maple so I hope you like it." She told them while giving each of them a cupcake.

This was happening just as Haruhi entered the classroom.

"Here you go. I wouldn't want you to think that I forgot about you. We wouldn't want you to feel left out now, ne?" Megumi said with a sickeningly sweet tone while placing a strawberries and cream cupcake in her hand.

Haruhi just shook her head and thanked her for the cupcake before taking her seat.

The twins felt awkward with the situation but before they were able to do anything about it Len spoke up breaking the current tension that built up.

"I'll pick you up later for lunch koi." He told her before kissing her forehead and turning to leave the room but not before glancing at Riku.

Riku gave him an imperceptible nod and dutifully stood behind Megumi.

"Look, I will explain everything later after your Host Club duties. So please don't try to pester me with questions before then." Megumi told them with a glint in her eye that caused the twins to nervously swallow.

"Of course Megumi-san." Kaoru acquiesced.

"Please don't be so formal with me. We're the same age. Megumi would do, alright?" She said and they gave her a nod in agreement.

It was lunch time and the Host Club members were just seated when Megumi stopped in front of them with Riku standing a few steps behind her.

"I promised that I would make it up to you guys so here is a little something that I baked." She said while opening the box Riku was carrying.

The hosts had expecting looks on their faces that Megumi smiled widely at them.

"For Mitsukuni-senpai, I have a strawberry cream cheese cupcake for you. For Takashi-senpai, a vanilla bean cupcake. Tamaki-senpai here's a red velvet cupcake fit for a king." She told them while giving out the cupcakes to their respective recipients.

While lastly giving Kyouya a dark chocolate cupcake.

The hosts gave her their thanks before Honey spoke up, "How about Hika-chan, Kao-chan and Haru-chan? Where are their cupcakes?"

"We already got ours during first period senpai." Kaoru answered.

"It was really delicious." Hikaru added.

"I'm glad that you liked them Hikaru, Kaoru." Megumi said with a smile before continuing, "I'll be going back now. Len is waiting for me."

"Of course hime. Enjoy your lunch." Tamaki told her with a flourish, causing her to giggle cutely before giving him a small curtsy.

Tamaki gushed how Megumi was the only one who truly appreciates him as the Host Club king.

"Did you see that Kyouya? Only Megumi-hime shows me the proper respect. She even baked me a red velvet cupcake!" He exclaimed before taking a bite from the said cupcake.

"This is really delicious! Truly fit for a king!" He added before happily munching on the treat.

While the other hosts were content with eating Megumi's treats, Kyouya and Haruhi were observing the couple across from their table.

"Don't think that only the hosts are getting treats." Len said just as Megumi took her seat.

"What do you mean Len?" She asked with her head tilted to the side.

Len then pulled a box beside him and carefully placed it on the table.

"When did you get this?" Megumi inquired, her confusion clearly showing on her face.

"While you were conversing with the Host Club I had one of the bodyguards get this from the kitchens." He told her.

"You had the kitchen staff here have this for safekeeping?" She asked getting more curious so he just nodded.

"This must be really special if you're being very careful in handling it. What is it?" Megumi questioned.

Len opened the box's cover and delicately took out a blueberry cheesecake from it.

Megumi's gasp resounded in the cafeteria making almost everyone stop and look at them.

"When did you find the time to make this?" She asked while checking the cake carefully.

"This morning." Was Len's simple reply and Megumi just nodded.

"I know how you've been craving for it so I asked Asano-san to teach me how to make it just the way you like it." He added before taking her hand in his.

Megumi squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes.

She was able to see all the love that he has for her clearly visible in his eyes.

'He's really trying hard to make me forget about Kyouya that it's unfair to not return his feelings.' She thought before moving closer to him.

"Thank you Len. I really appreciate it." Megumi said softly.

The blue haired lad smiled gently at her before kissing her knuckles just as Kyouya and the others walked past their table.

Kyouya couldn't focus in class knowing that his greatest rival was sitting right beside him.

He can't get out how intimate their interactions are whenever he sees them together and it's bothering him.

"Does it bother you that much that I'm with Megumi that you can't focus in class?" Len whispered beside him.

Kyouya gave him a sharp glare before replying in the same way, "What makes you say that? It doesn't bother me one bit. As I've told everyone, we are just childhood friends."

"If it really doesn't bother you then what are you still doing here when class is already over?" Len pointed out.

The bespectacled teen gritted his teeth and tried to come up with a reason.

"Don't try making up a reason to tell me. We both know that it's going to be a lie." The violinist told him before standing up and leaving Kyouya alone in the room.

"Damn it." Kyouya cursed before fixing his things and leaving the room.

The Host Club were so busy entertaining their clients that they didn't notice Riku opening the double doors for Len and Megumi.

"I come bearing gifts for you, Your Majesty!" Megumi said in a loud voice before curtsying gracefully, catching everyone's attention.

Len also bowed his head while holding one of Megumi's hands.

"Oh Hime-sama, Tsukimori-san! What a pleasant surprise!" Tamaki exclaimed readily going in front of them and taking Megumi's other hand and giving it a kiss.

"Hikaru, Kaoru a table for our esteemed guests if you will." The Host Club king instructed with a huge grin, feeling like a real monarch giving out orders.

The twins quickly did his bidding with a salute and a wink to the Tsukimori-Kurosaki couple.

Megumi just giggled and squeezed Len's hand that was holding hers.

Len gave her a soft smile in return, seeing how she's having fun.

Once they were seated, Tamaki asked them what gifts they brought, making Megumi laugh.

"We will be performing for everyone Your Majesty, as a way to make up for not being able to join you yesterday." She told him with a smile.

"That would be wonderful Hime-sama. What would you be doing for your performance?" Tamaki asked curiously.

"A piano and violin duet Your Majesty." Megumi said before turning to Len.

Len stood up and helped Megumi from her seat before leading her to the grand piano.

Riku then gave Len his violin before standing to the side carefully watching.

"I'm hoping that our duet would be pleasing to Your Majesty and to our other esteemed guests." Megumi said with another graceful curtsy before sitting down in front of the piano and starting to play an adagio of Bach's Sonata for Violin and Piano in B minor with Len following soon as his part began.

Their audience was so captivated with their harmonious playing that they didn't notice how Megumi was slowly starting to shake with light tremors.

The only ones who did were Len, Riku, Kyouya and Haruhi.

Riku wanted to stop his Oujo-sama from playing but he knew that it wouldn't end well if he did.

Len knew as well what would happen if he stopped prematurely so what he did was put his anguish into his playing, and it showed.

If anyone noticed, they thought that it was part of the performance.

Kyouya wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her but he knew that it wasn't his place to do so, so he stubbornly stayed where he was.

Haruhi was conflicted whether to stop her or let her continue playing as it was clear to her that Megumi was not okay.

Her concern for her twin won so she went to her and stopped her abruptly.

Megumi stood up and turned to her with a cold glint in her eyes.

"What do you think you are doing?" She softly stated in a tone that sent shivers down Haruhi's spine.

Len promptly stopped playing and went to Megumi's side, his violin hurriedly given to Riku while everyone else was shocked by Haruhi's actions.

"Koi." Len said lowly in a warning tone that belied his tender way of addressing Megumi.

Megumi was still looking at her with the same intensity but upon hearing Len's voice she turned to him as if nothing happened and with a sweet smile on her face.

Haruhi was stuck in place not knowing if what happened was just her imagination or not because it happened so quickly.

"I apologize if our performance was abruptly cut short." Megumi announced looking at Haruhi meaningfully before continuing, "As a way to compensate for this, I would like to formally invite all of you this coming weekend to join us in our estate for a post-birthday celebration for Len."

Riku then came forward and started distributing the invitations to everyone.

The Host Club's guests began teetering and talking about the event as if nothing happened while the hosts looked on not knowing what to do.

Everyone were holding their invitations except for the scholarship student, so the hosts and Haruhi herself were wary as what will Megumi do.

Riku walked towards Megumi with the last invitation and the hosts noticed that it was entirely different from everyone else's invitations.

"Of course I didn't forget about you. We wouldn't want you to feel left out now, ne?" Megumi said while walking towards Haruhi.

"Besides it wouldn't look good if you were excluded from this event. We wouldn't want anyone thinking that I'm bullying you or anything, ne?" She whispered into her older twin's ear when she was near enough and placed the invitation into her hand before walking back towards Len and ignoring her.

Twin's POV

"Why does that sound familiar?" Hikaru muttered lowly to his twin.

"Because that's exactly what she said to Haruhi this morning when she gave us the cupcakes." Kaoru pointed out.

"Yeah. You're right." The older twin said before he and his brother shared a look.

"Something doesn't feel right about this." The younger twin said.

"I gotta agree with you on that. So should we tell the others?" Hikaru asked.

"Let's just observe for now Hikaru. We might make things worse if we do something right now." Kaoru told him.

"Better to be careful. It's obvious how they're currently not on good terms right now." He added before looking towards the other pair of twins in the room.

Honey and Mori's POV

"Takashi what can we do to help Haru-chan and Megu-chan patch things up?" Honey asked his tall cousin.

"Ah." Mori replied with a shake of his head.

"Nothing, huh." The shorter of the two stated with a sad tilt to his lips.

Mori just placed his hand on his cousin's shoulder in comfort.

Kyouya's POV

Kyouya felt the palpable tension between Haruhi and Megumi.

He wanted to do something to stop it from worsening but he doesn't want to side with anyone and make things more complicated than it already is.

Megumi is his first love and Haruhi is his friend.

They are both important to him and he doesn't want to hurt either of them, especially Megumi.

He's done enough of that already to last him a lifetime.

So he did what he did best, he closed himself off from the situation.

Tamaki's POV

Tamaki knows that the female set of twins were not on good terms right now and he wants to help them clear things up but he doesn't know what he can do to help.

He keeps on wondering how things got out of hand as quickly as it did since everything seemed fine before Haruhi interrupted Megumi's playing.

'What triggered Hime-sama to turn cold and harsh towards Haruhi all of a sudden? And why did Haruhi interrupt her all of a sudden?' He thought while looking at the two of them.

"I'm sure that you would want to get your dresses and other accessories ready in time for the party so I would suggest that we end today's activities for now to make way for necessary preparations." Megumi spoke up suddenly, gaining everyone's attention.

"Of course Megumi-sama." The Host Club's clients all agreed before bidding the hosts and the Tsukimori-Kurosaki couple farewell with Megumi smiling at them until the last guest left and closed the double doors behind them.

"So on to business shall we." She then said looking at each of them before proceeding to sit in the nearest couch, Len following close behind her.

Once seated, she motioned for them to take their seats and they did so feeling as if they are following orders from someone of royal birth.

"Since you had the audacity to tell them the truth about us while disregarding the terms of the contract I believe you would be hearing from our lawyers soon." Megumi began by speaking directly to Haruhi.

Haruhi tried to say something but she was floundering.

Megumi continued as if Haruhi's reaction was nothing.

"I can only put them off until the end of Len's party. So you can expect to receive a letter from them the following day." She said casually as if she was discussing something simple like the weather.

The hosts were dumbfounded with what they were hearing but they can't dispute her words as they didn't know anything about a contract.

"It would seem that they didn't know about the contract, did they?" Megumi asked tilting her head towards the hosts.

"No, don't answer that. Their reactions are all I needed as proof." She amended.

"Anyway, as I'm sure that she already told you everything about our past history, there is nothing else that I could say." She paused for a short while before continuing, "Well maybe except for a warning that if any of you do decide to help her, you can expect that the consequences of doing so would not be good for you or for your families."

There was a tense atmosphere that came with Megumi's warning.

"Why are you doing this Megumi?" Kyouya asked after a long while.

He was looking at her directly and it made her second guess herself but then Len squeezed her hand in assurance so she straightened up and answered him honestly.

"You of all people should know why Kyouya." Was her simple reply.

The bespectacled boy felt like she physically slapped him with her words and he couldn't say anything in response.

When no one was willing to say anything else, Megumi stood up to leave but Kyouya stopped her with his words.

"If you are doing this to get back at me then stop it Megumi." He said in a low voice but everyone still heard it.

She faced him with an incredulous look in her face before saying, "You think that this is all about you?! Well let me tell you that my world doesn't revolve around you Kyouya so stop making things be about you when they are not!"

"Do you know how much I had to suffer because of her?!" She shouted while pointing at Haruhi.

"Do you know how often I have nightmares of my mother's death?! How traumatized I was and still am with what happened. How my fear of lightning, thunder and loud noises came to be? Do you even know anything about me at all Kyouya?!" Megumi screamed at him while tears started falling from her eyes.

Everyone kept quiet so she went on.

"She didn't tell you about that, huh." Megumi said before laughing sarcastically.

"Well let me tell you how she just stood watching from the safety of our house as our mother was bleeding to death while I was asking for anyone to help but no one came. At the same time, I was so scared that the shooter will come back and shoot me just like what he did to my mother. I can clearly remember that it was raining that day. The thunder masking the sound of the gunshot. Haruhi was just there staring blankly at us, not doing anything to help Okaa-sama. She wasn't hearing my calls for help. Okaa-sama then died in my arms and I couldn't stop screaming." She told them in a trance.

"That's enough Megumi." Len said puling her towards him and hugging her tightly.

"They need to know Len. They need to know what kind of person she is. They need to see that she isn't what she portrays to be. That she is a monster behind all that innocence." She said hysterically before looking up at him and saying, "I can't let her hurt them too."

Her words ending in a whisper before she started crying in earnest.

A/N: And there you have it guys. This Word document is 11 pages long with 3,794 words. I can say that this is one of the longest chapters that I have written and typed on my computer so far. I already have ideas for the next chapter. I'm only hoping that I'd have the time to write it down what with my busy schedule and all that.

Anyway, please tell me what you think of this new chapter. I want to hear from you guys.

Thank you =)