~Chapter Twenty-Two~

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Thought that I was strong.
I know the words I need to say,
Frozen in my place,
I let the moment slip away.

Never meant to lie,
But I'm not the girl you think you know.

'Cause I've been screaming on the inside,
And I know you feel the pain.
Can you hear me?

~The Change, by Evanescence

Disclaimer: Me No Own; You No Sue.

It reminded me of something that my mother used to sing to me, long ago – a distant dream of princes and princesses, evil witches and dragons, and magic. Fairytales.

I felt a hand cup my chin and lift my face upwards, urging my gaze to meet his own. Blue eyes focused on the man holding me gently to his chest. He was so beautiful, inside and out – a true friend, and a wonderful person. Falling in love with him had been accidental on my part, but I could wish for nothing better in my life.

After all, this princess had already fallen in love with her prince. So what more could she ask for, except for a happy ending?

Sammy's P.O.V.

Against the wishes of his older cousin, Takashi allowed me to follow in his wake as the Host Club went about their shady business. Probably selling drugs to little, unsuspecting children and whatnot. I trotted after him, doing my best to keep up with his long legs. Alas, I was but a small blonde with equally small legs, so that was impossible – I couldn't keep up with his pace if my life depended upon it. In conclusion, I was left in the dust (or was that marijuana smoke?) as he trailed after our friends.

"Ah, the nostalgia!" Hikaru cried, to which his brother dryly added, "It is overwhelming, ne?"

I rolled my eyes at the pair, shaking my head in exasperation and honestly questioning their sanity. At times, it appeared that the two were from another planet. I grinned stupidly. Yes, the Twins were from another planet, in a galaxy far, far away. The only things missing were the green skin, odd accents, and old, white robes. Or lots of brown fur.

"I wonder if any of my doodles are still visible after so many years," Kaoru mused with a thoughtful expression on his pale face.

Golden eyes scanned the room, before settling on two desks in particular. The boys walked over to their old seats and examined them with critical eyes, muttering to each other about their days together in middle school; it was a time in which neither cared for anyone other than the three of us. It was simply Hikaru, Kaoru, and Sammy. In fact, my brothers did not associate with anyone their own age during that time in their lives.

And for that, I was solely to blame. Because shortly before my sixteenth birthday, the familiar ache in my heart reappeared. It wanted more, so much more than it had already been given. Instead of a motorcycle, and a luxurious bedroom suite, and a mansion surrounded by rose gardens, it wanted an old bicycle, and a mismatched bedroom set, and small, brick house overrun by honeysuckle. My heart was broken, and I was homesick.

The doctors that I began to visit diagnosed me with clinical depression. And when I refused to eat or sleep, my adoptive parents became worried. In the end, Kouta and Yuzuha thought it in my best interest to visit my childhood home, at least for a few months or so. They transferred me from my high school – a school for gifted children – to a private academy in the States. I was much happier there, so a few months quickly became two years.

It never occurred to me that, by healing myself, I was breaking someone else – or rather, two others. But I should have known. After all, Hikaru and Kaoru were quiet to begin with, and they absolutely refused to speak honestly around anyone other than those in their immediate family. Sometimes, the boys even refused to speak to their own parents. And that was because Kouta and Yuzuha regularly left the country on business, often for weeks at a time; thus, I was the only constant in their lives. I was the only person that they could depend on.

Until I broke that trust by leaving them just as suddenly, that is.

Faced with that final betrayal, the Twins resolved only to trust one another. They built a wall around their minds, their bodies, and their hearts. (Well, in their case, it was more like an electric fence with really sharp shrapnel at the top, but I digress…) Nevertheless, no one was allowed to enter their little world. Not without first braving a difficult test. It was referred to simply as – Which One Is Hikaru?

Everyone failed them, including me. Yes, I may have been able to tell them apart from day one, but there were many other things that I failed to see – like the desperation in their eyes as I fell apart, or their pain upon finding that I was leaving them behind.

It was so very selfish of me to leave them all alone. My eyes closed at the painful thoughts, but I had to admit that it was true: I am such a bad big sister…

Thankfully, Tamaki arrived in Japan in their second year of middle school. He created the Host Club, in which my brothers were included, much to their chagrin. Over time, the pair became less reserved around their classmates and actually began to enjoy themselves at school. And only at school. At home, the tension remained thick in the air. Kouta and Yuzuha were at a loss and did not know how to resolve the issue. But on my eighteenth birthday, I returned to the Manor.

And, strangely enough, I was welcomed with open arms. I was still their precious big sister, just as they were still my darling little brothers. It took me a little while, but I finally realized that this was my home.

"Look, Onee-chan! I think that some of my scribble is still on this desk!" Kaoru grinned at me and gestured to what was once his designated spot. Snickering, he muttered, "And that makes it really old…"

The other redhead smirked, catching on to the plan, and together the boys chorused, "But not as old as you!"

"And this coming from the boys with a fetish for moisturizing lotions and anti-aging creams! At least I actually admit to my real age," I retorted with an evil smile. "Right, Haruhi-chan?"

The younger girl ignored me. "Why the hell am I even wearing this outfit?" At our befuddled expressions, Haruhi glared at us and hissed, "It is utterly pointless to have a disguised infiltration if you bring this crowd with you!"

Hikaru grinned, waving a hand in the air as he drawled, "Oh, Haruhi! Don't be such a spoil sport." He gestured pointedly around the classroom. "There is absolutely no one here, so there's no need to worry!"

"Everyone is visiting with their clubs right now anyways," Kaoru added, grinning faintly in the hopes of appeasing his friend. "So, as Hikaru said – no need to worry!"

Following the script of any good horror movie, these words proved fatal. As it were, we could distantly hear the sounds of a single pair of shoes hitting the marble tiles in the hallway – right outside the classroom that we were loitering in. All we had to do now was head for the gym, take a shower, and wait for the killer to find us all hanging about in our birthday suits. Friday the Thirteenth absolutely adored that particular scenario. Come and join us, Jason! Evil laugh.

Haruhi startled, eyes going wide at the very thought of being caught, simply because she had her scholarship to think about. The younger girl frantically searched the room for an appropriate hiding spot, but gave up almost immediately; the room was surprisingly bare. Finally, she ducked under a nearby desk and stared apprehensively at the classroom door. Every other member of the Host Club followed suit, diving and ducking under various desks as they sought to avoid detection.

I was too caught up in my thoughts of crazy murderers and deadly showers to follow their lead, however, so I simply stood there like an idiot. Staring at nothing in particular. Probably drooling, too… Takashi had to reach up, grab my arm, and physically drag me under his desk. My boyfriend raised an eyebrow at me in question, silently asking what I had been thinking about; I merely grinned up at him. With a small, bemused smile, the older male wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. I snuggled into his side with a content sigh.

"What are the two of you doing over there?"

My face flushed a lovely shade of pink at having been caught doing something so girly, let alone by one of my brothers. Thankfully, it was Kaoru that had spotted the two of us cuddling under the desk, and not his hastier, nosier, and meaner brother. And while both of my brothers were overprotective, Hikaru was much more possessive – times infinity and beyond! I shuddered to think of what the younger boy might have done had he found me in such a position. My boyfriend of three days would probably be on Prank Row by now, come to think of it.

Takashi rolled his eyes my silence, turned to my brother, and quietly responded, "Hiding."

If one were listening closely, he or she might have heard the obvious duh that accompanied that simple statement.

"Right…" Kaoru eyed us with skepticism, probably noting that it was rare for me to be in such close physical contact with anyone other than my closest friends and family. No one else.

I chewed on my lower lip in thought, before whispering, "I'll tell you and Hika-chan once the three of us finally get home, okay?" A quick glance at my boyfriend assured me that he did not mind; in fact, he appeared rather pleased. "Pinky promise!"

The younger boy nodded at my words, satisfied for now, and said, "But, back to the problem at hand – if one of the teachers sees us hiding in here after hours…" Golden eyes flickered to the door, and then to his brother.

"…it will be such a bother finding an excuse for our being in here." Hikaru groaned at the thought, deeming it unworthy of his time.

Their soft banter (which had grown louder and louder by the minute) was interrupted by a sudden noise. Haruhi turned to us and hissed a quiet shush! The younger girl made a zipping motion over her lips using the fingers of right hand, urging us to be quiet. Or, knowing my polite and sweet best friend, it was more along the lines of – shut the hell up, you damn, rich bastards!

The others stared at her with dumbstruck expressions on their faces, all of them obviously wondering the same thing: what the hell was up with that undeniable cuteness? I had to admit that I was curious, as well. Was it something that she was born with, or was it an acquired skill? Maybe I would gain access to the new attribute after leveling up my character with more experience points.

I quickly shook my head to clear it of any and all thoughts of World of Warcraft. We had other things to attend to! …other things that I was still unaware of, might I add, as the Host King had neglected to fill me in on the current matters at hand. Stupid, lazy French Fry. Damn him for forgetting his kingly duties.

After a moment, Haruhi trotted to the door and poked her head out. "Well, it appears that the coast is clear," she whispered, "but what are we going to do about Shirou-kun now that we've infiltrated the building?"

My nosed scrunched up in thought as I grumpily muttered, "Who the fuck is she talking about?"

"Proper ladies do not use such foul language, Miss Steel," Kyoya reprimanded – and gently, at that! What was the world coming to?

I winced and quietly responded, "Sorry about that, Kyo-kun." Didn't want to piss him off again!

And to all of the people staring at me with incredulity, I shouldn't need to remind you that one of the most talented blackmailers in the world discovered the truth behind my recently uplifted mood: Takashi and I were dating! Oddly enough, Kyoya also approved of my new relationship, so long as the two of us kept it a secret from the rest of the student body. Yes, things were finally beginning to get better between the Shadow King and myself. So I did not – under any circumstances – want to ruin the unspoken truce that we had created in the hallway just moments ago.

"Interesting…" Kyoya murmured. He stared up at the photographs that lined the wall closest to the doors, before drawling, "Apparently, he is in the Classical Music Club." The light on his glasses flickered eerily at that little discovery.

I sweatdropped. Mein Gott! No wonder the Shadow King figured out that I was dating Takashi so quickly. He is a bona fide creeper…

Haruhi came to stand behind us and gazed up at the photo, smiling faintly. "Huh. It appears that he's having quite a bit of fun. I had no idea that Shirou-kun could smile like that…"

After a moment of silent observation, Kyoya motioned for us to follow him. He quietly led us into the hallway and towards a wall lined with shiny, glass windows. And through the windows was a classroom full of young elementary students, all of whom were playing classical instruments – all of them, except for one. The young boy was gazing out the window, his stormy, blue eyes dark with sadness. My heart ached for him. I felt even sorrier for him after a cute little girl walked up to him and invited him to play the piano with her, sensing his answer before it was spoken. As expected, he declined, and it was suddenly clear to us that she was the reason for his sadness.

Even so, Shirou appeared to be happy as he watched her play through the sheets of music. It was almost as though the young boy was in love with her. But, that was impossible…right?

To my right, a young girl exited the same elementary school music room, gray eyes intent upon the water fountain across the hall. All that the poor girl wanted was a drink of water to quench her thirst; instead, she was inadvertently drawn into the antics of the Host Club. Hell, she hadn't even taken a full step into the hallway when she was attacked by the overeager King.

Tamaki offered her a beautiful white rose, bowing elegantly as he addressed her, "Hello, young lady." Blue eyes were shining with sincerity (pedophile!) as he continued, "I could not find a rose as beautiful as you, but please – take this."

The young girl took the rose with shaking hands, blushing as she stuttered, "…eh?"

Tamaki smiled at the timid response, before pointing to the glass windows. "Incidentally, is it possible that you might tell me about the young lady currently playing the piano in your club?" he asked curiously.

After pointing to the other girl, she happily explained, "That's Kamishiro Hina-chan." The two of them must have been friends. Or else, this girl was a stalker! For shame…

"Hina-chan, is it?" Tamaki murmured as he gazed thoughtfully at said elementary student. There was a strange expression on his face, almost as though he finally understood something that had been eluding his grasp for quite some time. "Kamishiro Hina…"

"Oh, but you can't fall in love with her!" The young girl tilted her head downwards to sniff at the delicate, white rose. "You see, Hina-chan and her father are leaving next week because of his work. She's moving to Germany."

I stiffened in surprise at hearing the final word. My eyes were wide, unfocused, as I stared through the little girl standing in front of us. Germany… Her friend was going to the place of my birth. She would visit, and see, and breathe the sweet air of my homeland – my mother's homeland. I miss you, Mutti. The young girl sitting at the piano and playing classical music was going to live in a place that only existed in my memories now.

No, this is my home now!

Takashi placed a hand on my shoulder, leaning down and quietly asking, "Are you okay, sweetheart?" His gaze was attentive as the older male patiently awaited my response.

Sighing heavily, I realized that it was time for me to start being honest with the people around me, especially my friends – and my boyfriend. I could not solely rely on my brothers to listen to my fears anymore. It was time to grow up and expand my horizons, to interact with others, and to trust them, as well. I needed to stop being so selfish. In order to pick up the pieces of my life, I had to tell him the truth: I hate myself. I hate that I'm a coward, and a ditz, and a lousy sister.

My heart skipped a beat, stuttering to a brief stop upon hearing my thoughts, even as they came to an end.

I hate myself for what happened eight years ago.

The truth hurt, but it was supposed to set you free, right? And I missed my wings. But I could not open my mouth to tell the older male what was wrong. Instead, I swallowed my resolve to speak the truth and nodded to indicate that I was feeling fine. But, that isn't true… Pretend, Sammy, just pretend to be fine. I'm not okay. Keep nodding. Dammit! Ignore the pain, and it will go away on its own. Not true, not true, not true! You damn liar!

I cocked my head to the side, absently wondering if my pants were actually on fire, or if the lingering smell of smoke was from my drug dealing buddies, the members of the Ouran High School Host Club.

Takashi frowned at my lack of a verbal response. "If you insist, but make sure to tell me if anything is wrong," he insisted slowly, as if debating on whether or not I was actually being honest with him.

"Of course!" I chirped, plastering a smile on my face at his words. Thankful for the distraction, I focused on the opening door and pointed out, "Oh, look! The little pianist is about to make an appearance! And the Host Club welcomes its guest star, Shirou the Stupendous…"

Gray eyes narrowed at my words. It was suddenly very clear to me that he was beginning to suspect the dishonesty that coated my words like poison. Romeo was finally stumbling across the scared little girl that was hiding behind my plastic smile, locked inside by the overwhelming fear of being discovered. Appearances were deceiving; this girl wasn't a happy, kickass prankster that liked to live on the edge. On the contrary, she was actually scared, sad, and afraid of being left all alone.

Juliet was a fake.

But I didn't want anyone else worrying about me, so I focused on involving myself in the conversation at hand. Waving at my brothers, I smirked and haughtily commanded, "Drum roll, please!"

Hikaru and Kaoru grinned evilly at one another and simultaneously removed pencils from their back pockets. "Your wish is our command!" they crowed, before beating on the head of their beloved Kingwith said instruments of doom.

"Stop that this instant, you demons!" Tamaki barked angrily and swatted at them with his long, flailing arms. He missed striking my youngest brother by mere inches; I bit back a growl. "Be gone!"

Shirou chose that moment to burst through the doors, exclaiming, "What are you idiots doing here?"

I resisted the urge to tell him that we were all running away to join the circus and that he was the main attraction: Monkey Boy! Polly wanna cracker? Er, I mean – anyone wanna banana?

Upon being lifted into the air by a rather demented Host King, the boy cried out, "Oi! What are you doing?" He growled and struggled against the hold. "Put me down, dammit!"

Tamaki shook his head in the negative and said, "Everyone, it's time for us to pull out." Though quiet, it was clear that he expected his orders to be followed. Fucking Nazi…

Behind us, the door opened once more, and this time it was his friend, Hina, that stepped into the hallway. Having caught sight of his crush, the boy suddenly paused in his efforts to get away. Shirou looked as though he were about to cry. The two children stared at one another for a moment, before he renewed his efforts to escape. Biting, scratching, and kicking. Shirou's screams of fury were lost to the silence of the nearly hallways as the members of the Host Club made their way back to the clubroom in the high school section of the campus.

I did not follow them. Instead, my eyes were focused intently on the small, sad girl staring after Shirou. With a pained expression on her face, Hina turned around and returned to her classroom, and even though I did not know her personally, I could easily relate to her feelings. Because I was familiar with that particular look. After all, it was the very same one that people had directed at me for so long – it was one filled with sadness, doubt, and even pity. And shame.

It always hurt to be the target of such a look.

"Are you coming with us, or will you be staying here, Sammy-chan?"

I smiled upon finding my boyfriend waiting for me, but I shook my head in response to his question. "No, I actually think that I'm going home now," I responded softly. Prayed that he couldn't tell I was about to cry.

"Ah, I see. Well, would you be so kind as to do me a favor?" At my nod, Takashi tapped me on the nose, and ordered, "Be sure to call me when you get home. Okay?"

Blushing, I turned my attention to my yellow shoes and agreed, "Okay." The older male nodded at my mumbled response, so I added a warning – "But it might be a little late, seeing as Otou-san gave my chauffer the day off. I have to walk home today."

"What about your…" Here, Takashi grimaced, before sourly continuing, "…motorcycle?"

I bit back a grin, knowing how much my (please insert: severely overprotective) boyfriend hated my preferred mode of transportation. "My baby is currently in the shop, as it were."

Takashi scowled. "I'm not too fond of the idea of you walking home alone, sweetheart. Not in that particular part of town anyway," he protested with a dark expression on his face, probably thinking about all of the trouble that I could get into in such a situation.

"Don't worry about me, Takashi-kun!" I chirped, bouncing on the balls of my feet. "I am more than accustomed to the demanding life of a commoner. I used to be one, after all!"

Glumly, he muttered, "And I honestly believe that to be the source of all my worries."

"Hey," I said softly and reached for his hand, hoping to distract him. "I almost forgot to say 'thank you' for letting me tag along with you guys so far." Smiled widely. "So, thanks! It means a lot to me that you'd include me in all of the fun."

"Only you could refer to this nonsense as fun." Takashi gently squeezed my hand, tracing a random pattern on the rough skin with his thumb. "Silly girl."

I pouted, taking note that he grinned at that, and retorted, "Oh, but I actually like to play hide-and-seek! It's so much fun." Blue eyes danced playfully at his exasperation; it amused me to no end that he was so easy to annoy sometimes.

"Only you, sweetheart…" he repeated with a chuckle. My blush darkened when he leaned down and kissed me on the corner of the lips. "Remember to call me later."

"I will be sure to pencil you into my busy schedule, good sir," I drawled and struck a haughty pose, my hip jutting out to the side as I primly lifted my nose in the air.

My boyfriend stared at me for a moment. "Are you absolutely certain that you don't want to talk about it?" he asked, gray eyes watching my every move as I fidgeted under his gaze.

I cannot believe it… I thought to myself in awe. How does he always know?

It was strange that someone I had known for such a short time could see through my cleverly crafted lies, behind the mask, and into my soul – strange, but not unwelcome. I smiled. After all, the fact that Takashi had a really big heart was only one of the many reasons that I loved him so much. Truthfully, I wanted him to know that I was feeling sad. I did not, however, feel comfortable discussing the reason for that discomfort. Not yet. In the end, I chose to compromise.

"Not really," I admitted, shaking my head in the negative. "At least, I don't want to talk about it at this very moment. Maybe someday in the near future, but not today."

Two, strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist, and I leaned into his embrace. While I may not have felt comfortable talking about my past with him just yet, I was more than happy to accept an affectionate hug or two. After all, one should always take that simple route over artificial happiness – hugs, not drugs, man! It's a much healthier lifestyle for all involved. And hugs were cheaper, too!

"Well, if you change your mind, you know how to reach me," Takashi insisted doggedly. Gray eyes flickered briefly over my face, before he hugged me once more.

And…the silent giant was still here. Dammit. Couldn't he take a hint?

Nodding at his reassurances, I smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you very much for your concern, but I do not wish to discuss female issues with my boyfriend. That's a little out of my comfort zone."

Surely that bit of unexpected information would send him running for the hills! And not the Silent Hill, either. Honestly, I wasn't so cruel as to torture my boyfriend for trying to weasel his way into my life, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong… (Damn, nosy boyfriend.) You know, the longer that line of thinking continued, the more I longed to chuck him into that creepy town. On the plus side, Takashi – being a kickass martial artist – would more than likely survive the numerous demons, crazy cops, and miscellaneous psychos.

And I would be the unfortunate person to end up stuck in an alternate reality, like Sharon and her daughter, Rose. My bad luck guaranteed it – even came with a lifetime warranty.

Takashi coughed into his fist. "Ah, right." He blushed and turned his head to the side, staring at the opposite wall with feigned interest.

Bingo! My inner voices cheered with a nifty accent, much like Botan of Yu Yu Hakusho.

"Er, that's not really necessary. And I should be getting back to the others, before Mitsukuni gets himself into any trouble." The older male grimaced at the thought and tiredly sighed, "…again."

"Excellent idea!" I agreed, grinning happily and giving him two thumbs up in approval. "And be sure to keep my brothers in line for me! They've a nasty habit of causing mischief, you know."

"Right…" Takashi mumbled uneasily.

I watched with interest as one gray eye began to twitch at the thought of said boys – or perhaps it was because I'd implied that I was on my period…? Meh, who knows! Men were such mysterious creatures. Nevertheless, I waved a cheerful goodbye to my sexy, mysterious, and easily distracted boyfriend. After a moment of walking in the opposite direction, Takashi turned back around and smiled at me. The next moment, he was gone, having turned around another corner. I was alone. And now, I could officially have a breakdown – this time without an audience.

With a shaky laugh, I backed up a step and braced myself against the wall. Slowly, I slid to the floor, landing in a pitiful pile of wrinkled, stained clothes and watering eyes. I sniffled and buried my face in the open palms of my trembling hands. God, it was so damn strenuous to keep up my continued façade. And it was even harder now that I'd decided to immerse myself in the complicated life of a normal, happy teenage girl. In high school, no less!

…oh, forget it. What teenager was ever normal, let alone happy?

Only one name came to mind. Well, in regards to the happiness factor, that is. This particular person was not normal in any sense of the word. Unfortunately, that person was also several thousand miles away – and there was an entire ocean between us to boot. But I lived in the age of technology and was incredibly rich; thus, I could afford to do make a long-distance call or two. So I stuck my hand in my purse and retrieved my iPhone, hastily tapped a shortcut on speed dial, and waited impatiently for the person to answer on the other end of the line.

One, two, three… "Hello?"

I smiled. No matter the time of day, or what was happening at that moment, the phone was always answered on the third ring. The fact that this had not changed was a comfort. And it was a sorely needed one, at that.

"Hey," I whispered softly. My stomach clenched at the sound of the familiar voice, but I welcomed this particular wave of nostalgia; it made me feel safe. "Do you have a minute to talk?"

There was a small, cheerful giggle, and then – "Could I spare a minute to talk? Me, the incredibly busy, amazingly popular, totally awesome…" At my insistent cough, there was another giggle. "For my sister from another mister? Fuck, yeah!"

The nervous tension in my shoulders slowly drifted away. Every ounce of pain, worry, and doubt vanished into the atmosphere without a trace. I clenched the phone tightly in my left hand, savoring the faint return to normalcy that those words presented. This was the one person that had known me for my entire life, the only one that I could trust to understand me without giving me any ultimatums.

"I need a favor…"

***Author's Note***

...um, hello? ;D

*Crickets*

Yes, I agree - it has been quite a while, eh? Ha, ha...ha.

Right, well, sorry about that! XD And Happy Valentine's Day to all! For those of you without boyfriends, like myself, feel free to gorge yourself on awesome chocolates, which always taste wonderful. ;)

P.S. I will try to update this weekend, since I finally have access to my computer and internet again. If you guys are up to it, hitting 145 reviews or so would be nice. I really do miss talking to you guys!