Izzy blinked, watching as her classmates crowded around the scores for their midterms. "Everyone gets to see how you scored?" she raised her eyebrows in interest. "Isn't that...ah...invasive?"

Hisa eyed her, arms folded across her chest. "Invasive? Not really, it's how it's always been."

"Oh, must be difficult for whoever scored low. I hope my scores were satisfactory."

The honey-blonde rolled her eyes. "Come now, Izabera. I think we all know you have brains. It's your smart mouth that really needs help. Anyway, anything planned for the winter break?"

Izzy made a face but shook her head. "No, no plans. Maybe just some studying or something."

"Nothing? You won't go back to Italy for break? Don't you celebrate Christmas?"

"We celebrate Christmas but my parents are going to be in America for business. I don't see the point in going back if they won't be there either."

Hisa blinked, thinking of her own lonely holidays. "Oh, well, perhaps we could see each other during break. If you want to, of course."

Izzy looked at the honey-blonde and smiled. "Sure, that sounds nice. I got you a Christmas present anyway so I was planning on it." She watched as Hisa jumped, face flushing heavily.

"A present?"

"Yes, a present. I know it's not really celebrated here in Japan but I thought I should anyway. Don't be weird about it." Izzy waved the entire notion off. "Come on, I want to see how I did." She grabbed Hisa before she could protest before politely making her way through the crowd of her classmates.

Hisa was somewhat impressed as Izzy picked her way through the crowd with a simple 'excuse us'. They were at the front in no time. Hisa didn't really bother looking for her placement, not all that concerned. "Hisa, you're Top 10. Who knew," Izzy hummed, grinning when she felt Hisa's heated glare. She perked up immediately when she found her name. "Oh, I placed Top 5 overall!"

Hisa blinked and leaned closer, arms still across her chest. "Oh? You must have really been studying history."

"Well, yeah, with the help of Mori."

Hisa paused, head tilted to the side. "Mori-kun helped you study?" she leaned in closer, keeping her voice down to nearly a whisper.

Izzy laughed nervously. "Perhaps? I was having a hard time with History. He was helping me study so that I wouldn't fail…"

Hisa continued to stare at Izzy, feeling...well she didn't know what to feel, really. There was jealousy, she could tell right off the bat. She just...she couldn't tell who she was jealous of.

And that was the problem. She always liked Mori, ever since they were both first years. But she was having...strange feelings when it came to Izzy as well. She wasn't sure what she should do because she was positive Izzy didn't have strange feelings for her either.

And what's more, it seemed like there was something between Izzy and Mori. She had no idea how to feel about that because of course, as Izzy's friend, she wanted her to be happy. "Well," Hisa cleared her throat, realizing that Izzy was waiting for her to say something. "I suppose not even Mori-kun is immune to those hazel eyes, perhaps you'll give Honey-chan a run for his money."

Izzy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Friends help one another, it has nothing to do with my eyes."

"No? Perhaps it was your smile then."

"Shut up."

She wasn't sure why she felt the need to push them together, to get Izzy to just open her damn eyes. Whether she admitted it or not, Hisa had some amorous feelings for Izzy. Shouldn't she be trying to put a wedge between Mori and Izzy? It was a confusing time in Hisa's life.

"Oh," Izzy turned from Hisa, noticing Mori and Honey's arrival. "Come on," she tugged Hisa after her, raising her hand in greeting. "Morning! Guess who scored well?"

Hisa remained quiet as Izzy chatted with Honey and Mori. She was glad that Izzy didn't fail their midterms, knowing the brunette would agonize over it. She felt the odd feeling come back, that ugly feeling of jealousy. She just wasn't sure if she was jealous because Mori was getting all of Izzy's attention or vice versa.

She was at a very strange point in her life.

"What about you, Ozawa-hime?" Honey peered from around Izzy's hip. Izzy and Mori turned their attention on her as well, causing Hisa to flush.

She scrambled for her haughty mask, sliding it in place. "I wasn't concerned but Izabera said I placed in the Top 10."

"Bera." Izzy rolled her eyes. "Just 'Bera' is fine, Hisa. Good grief."

Hisa looked away with a sharp turn of her head, a slight blush to her face.

Good grief.

"Are you absolutely sure, Iz?"

Fumiko's eyes were pleading as Izzy helped her pack her overnight bag. The taller of the two only smiled placidly. "Absolutely, positively sure."

"But Iz," Fumiko reached over, fingers coiling gently around her wrist. "You should come to Thailand with us, I'm sure daddy wouldn't mind."

Fumiko and Chihiro were joining Shun for the winter break in Thailand. The invitation was extended to Izzy but she denied it without giving it much thought. Fumiko missed her father and the last thing Izzy wanted to do was intrude. But Fumiko insisted, feeling almost guilty that Izzy would spend her break alone. She'd been under the impression that Izzy would be joining her family back in Italy.

"I'm sure uncle Shun wouldn't mind but I would. It's fine, really. You and Chi should be with uncle without me tagging along. Please enjoy the break with your parents."

She peeled Fumiko's hand from her wrist and quickly deposited the bag in her arms instead. "Come on, Chi is waiting, you don't want to be late." Izzy led her cousin from her bedroom, down to the front room where Chihiro was waiting.

Chi smiled sadly. "Izabera, are you sure you won't join us? I'm sure your brothers would love to have you back even if Mami-nee and Al aren't home."

"It's fine, it's not a big deal. It's only a couple of days," Izzy waved the notion off. "I'm going to see Hiroki. My brothers and parents can get through one year without me running back to Italy. Now, please, off with you. Enjoy your trip!"

Chi shook her head but hugged Izzy tightly. "Don't stay cooped up in the house the entire time we're gone," she kissed Izzy's forehead. Izzy smiled and hugged Fumiko next, ignoring her stubborn pout.

She stayed at the door until they tucked away into the car, driving off and leaving her alone. She continued to smile and set off herself, intent on keeping her promise to Hiroki.

She swiped up a package on her way out, still smiling.

Ogen was surprised to see her. "I thought you would be in Italy for your break. Chihiro-sama said you did very well on your midterms," the older woman kept her gaze trained forward as she led Izzy through the manor.

"Oh, well, I didn't think it'd be worth it to go back just to come back to Japan. I don't like flights all that much," Izzy replied. She was beginning to get annoyed, it seemed like everyone was just pushing her out the door back to Italy.

Did they not want her around?

"I placed Top 5 overall, can you believe that?" Izzy grinned despite her twisted feelings.

"I would expect nothing less of you, young miss."

"Ah, because I'm Masami's daughter?"

Ogen paused outside of Hiroki's bedroom, looking thoughtful for a change. "No, because you're you, young Miss. Now, hurry up, you shouldn't keep him waiting." The older woman hurried away, leaving Izzy alone. She blinked, somewhat surprised before ducking inside with a grin.

"Oh, Busy-bee." Hiroki's eyes lit up the moment she stepped into the room. "Ogen mentioned you would be visiting. What are you grinning about?"

Izzy let him grab her hands, bending down to kiss him on the cheek. "Oji-chan, Ogen just complimented me! I think she's starting to like me."

Hiroki chuckled at her excitement. "She likes you, Busy-bee. What did she compliment you about?"

"I scored Top 5 for my midterms."

Hiroki patted at her hands. "I knew you would, you're a smart girl. Good job. I didn't think I'd see you here for your break."

Izzy settled down on the floor in front of him. "I came to Japan to spend time with you and get to know my heritage," she patted his leg. "It's early but I brought you a Christmas gift." She reached into her bag and pulled out a gift.

"I wasn't expecting this," Hiroki blinked in surprise but tore the wrapping away, revealing a recent picture of Izzy and Masami back in Italy. Her mother was dressed in a pink kimono, grinning widely while holding up the peace sign. Hiroki was quiet, realizing that he hadn't seen that particular grin in eighteen years.

"Do...do you like it?" Izzy was quiet. "I know mama was...I know that you must miss her."

Hiroki let out a huff, a laugh, thumb rubbing at Masami's face. "I miss her. More than you can imagine. I...when she left, I said awful things to her. If she were to never speak to me again, I wouldn't hold it against her."

Izzy was sad to hear that. Masami was infamous for her stubbornness. It wouldn't be a surprise if she really did hold her grudge for the rest of her life.

"But I'm grateful to her. She allowed it so that I could finally meet you," Hiroki cupped her cheek. "That's more than I could ask for."

She chuckled. "I don't know about that, Oji-chan. I've been told I'm just as stubborn. Worse, actually. My dad is pretty stubborn too."

"Is that so? Have some stories about him, Busy-bee?"

"That depends. Do you have some stories about mama?"

"Tons."

Izzy smiled and laid her head in his lap. "Trade?"

"Anything for you, Izabera."

"Ah, Mori, welcome," Izzy grinned as she came padding into the living room. She was dressed in a long sleeved red shirt with a checkered skirt and black panyhose. She'd been a bit surprised when Mori offered to come over and help her with their assigned work over the break but she appreciated it nonetheless.

Mori glanced around as she came to a stop next to him. "Where's Fumiko-hime?"

"Thailand. She flew there with Chi for break," Izzy waved it off casually, taking a step into the living room. She was stopped when Mori grabbed her by the wrist. She glanced up at him, head tilted to the side.

"You're here by yourself?" Mori pressed, his grip around her wrist firm.

Izzy chuckled. "Come on, Mori. I'm seventeen, not seven. I think I can handle a few days by myself. Now come on," she insisted. He wasn't all that convinced and she could tell by his frown. "Honestly. It's fine."

Izzy twisted her wrist until he let go, only to grab his wrist instead. "Let's get this homework over with so I can laze around the house," she grinned at him and tugged him into the living room. She was no fool, knowing that Mori was strong enough to snatch his wrist away.

But he didn't.

It didn't mean anything.

Right?

Izzy plopped down at the coffee table, tucking her legs under her. Her thoughts weighed heavy on her mind, causing Mori to poke at cheek. "Spacey." He said simply when she blinked.

"Spacy?" she pouted, gently swatting at his hand. "Don't tease me, it isn't nice," she wagged a finger in his face. "Now come on, let's get this finished," she said in determination. "Okay, so math is pretty easy so we can do that first and…" It didn't take them too long to get through most of their homework. Eventually that led them straight to History homework, which according to Izzy, was the bane of her existence. He never said as much but Mori thought she was being just a tad dramatic.

But he could see her frustration coming to a boil. She kept running her fingers through her hair in agitation. She chewed at her lip, bit at her nail and muttered in Italian. Maybe Japanese history was the bane of her existence. Mori reached over, plucking her pencil out of her hand. Izzy came to an immediate pause, blinking at the notebook before turning her big eyes on him. "I need that to write, Mori."

But he only shook his head. "Take a break."

"Ara?" she grunted, like her mind hadn't caught up yet. She squinted, brows knitting together. "We can take a break when we finish the homework."

"Take a break now, Bera-chan."

She pouted. "Later."

The two stared at one another, neither willing to back down first. Izzy made the first move, hand shooting out towards his hand. Unfortunately, she just wasn't as quick as Mori. He pulled his hand back, easily dodging her swipe. She tried again. He dodged again.

Izzy huffed when Mori reared back, holding his arm far from within her reach. She could have just given up, the homework was irritating her and a break sounded nice. But...well...she was a Giovanni. And a Morimoto. She was stubborn. She rolled forward on her knees, stretching across Mori in a vain attempt to get her stolen pencil back. She threw her arm around his shoulders, trying to use him to her advantage but it proved to be futile.

He held her pencil just out of her reach.

She tried, she really did, but dammit her pencil was just out of reach. The last thing she wanted to do was admit defeat but there was no way she was snatching it back from him. Maybe if she wasn't so intent on getting the pencil back, she would've realized how ridiculous she was being.

"Moriiii," Izzy groaned in frustration, nails scraping against his wrist. She pressed into him, blissfully unaware that she was pressing up against him, chest to chest. She rocked forward and realized her mistake far too late when the two tumbled backwards from all her pushing.

She caught herself on her hands and knees before she could fall on top of him, hands planted on the sides of Mori's head. For once, he was caught off guard, eyes wide and trained on her. Izzy was rendered speechless, hair tumbling down over her shoulders. "Ara…" she fumbled, drawing a blank.

She inched backwards but paused, realizing that if she sat back, she'd be sitting on top of him. Her face gradually turned red. This was completely her fault for insisting on trying to get her damn pencil back. This was all due to her stubborn pride and she cursed herself for it. She tried to think of an escape plan, wondering if it would be ridiculous if she just rolled off of him.

Mori reached up at that point, fingers brushing against her face, just under her eye. Along the curve of her cheek, down to her jaw. She blinked, lashes fluttering rapidly against her cheeks. He pulled away, hands coming up to rest boldly at her hips.

"Ahh...Mori, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" she trailed off, embarrassed. She could feel the heat from his palms, his fingers, seeping past the material of her skirt. Before she could roll off of him, he sat up abruptly, forcing her to reel backwards onto his lap. He was still holding onto her hips, she could feel the pads of his fingers pressing insistently into her. "I just...uh…"

Mori's thumbs pressed circles into the dips of her hips, almost thoughtlessly. She couldn't say for sure what was going through his head but she had to figure that she was far too heavy to just sit on his lap. "I'll just…" she trailed off as his eyes flickered. It was quick but she noticed it all the same. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Maybe she wouldn't have noticed it if she wasn't literally sitting up in his face.

What did...what did that mean?

She knew that whenever she chanced to look at his mouth, a thought of kissing him followed. With him looking at her mouth...did that mean that he wanted to k—

"Miss Izabera, I have—oh!" Aimi paused at the doorway, eyes going wide. She smiled wide at the sight of the two, face blushing all the while. "Oh my, excuse me!" Aimi turned and quickly ran off before Izzy could stop her, cackling all the while.

Izzy watched her go with a blank expression. Somehow, letting Aimi go was going to come back to bite her someway or another. She was probably going to tell the entire house that she'd been caught in some compromising position. It was bad enough they already thought Mori was her boyfriend.

"Good grief…" she muttered, momentarily forgetting that she was straddling Mori. Her blush returned tenfold when she turned to look back at him. "Right...ah...I should...get off of you now…"

They returned to their homework, quietly trying to put whatever that just was behind them. Well, Izzy was. Mori never said anything about it, whether he was offended or not. Maybe he understood it was accidental, she wasn't sure.

She wasn't sure about anything anymore.

Izzy wasn't the least bit surprised when Hikaru and Kaoru showed up, the day before Christmas Eve. She stared up at them, eyebrows quirked. They grinned at her, holding up bags. It didn't take a genius to figure out that they wanted to play dress up.

"...Why?" she asked after a long pause.

"We're throwing a party tomorrow at school and you need a dress for the theme," Hikaru said with no room for argument. "Now come on, where's your room?"

Izzy sighed but conceded, getting up from the couch. She tossed her book aside, knowing she wouldn't get back to reading until after they left. "What's the theme? I didn't even know we were going to have a party in the first place." Izzy made easy conversation as she led them to her bedroom. She smiled in amusement when she let them in, not surprised when Kaoru veered off straight for her closet.

"Boss decided at the last minute. It's a Christmas themed party," Hikaru explained while laying the bags out on her bed. "I don't know why he decided it but who knows how his brain works," he snorted, hands on his hips.

"No one wants to know why," Izzy muttered, chuckling when Hikaru snickered.

"Besides that, when were you going to tell us you were alone for break?" Kaoru asked, stepping back into her bedroom. "Were you planning on being alone the entire break, Senpai?"

Izzy folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Who told you, Hisa?"

They both made a face. "Mori-senpai." They chorused together.

She felt her face get hot, unaware that Mori told them that she was alone. "It's not such a big deal, it's just a couple of days," she waved their questions off. "Moving on, let's see what dresses you've brought me." She didn't want them to think she was lonely just because her aunt and cousin were gone for the holiday.

Hikaru and Kaoru both stared at her, equally unreadable expressions aimed at her. They gave in to her though, knowing she would become annoyed if they kept pressing her for information. She'd get embarrassed if she knew that Tamaki insisted on throwing a party for her sake only.

So they did as she asked, unzipping the bags to show her the dresses they narrowed it down to. A wine-red velvet dress, a champagne colored sequined dress and a black and silver dress. Izzy considered the dresses, head tilted to the side. "You don't think the velvet dress is too short?" she asked after a moment.

"It only seems that way because you have long legs."

"Ah. I like the champagne dress."

"Not the black dress? You always go for black."

"And yet I never actually get to wear black."

"You're catching on."

Izzy snorted, eyes straying to the red dress. It was a form fitting wiggle dress, shoulderless and cut straight across her chest. She pursed her lips. "You don't think I'll look ridiculous in this dress?" she pointed at it, feeling a little self-conscious.

Hikaru and Kaoru shared a glance, sharing a silent conversation. It wasn't often that Izzy behaved so insecurely. They could only guess that there was a key factor in this that they were missing.

Kaoru folded his arms across his chest. "If we thought you'd look ridiculous, Senpai, we wouldn't suggest the dress."

"Right, because we can't make the club look bad."

Hikaru elbowed her. "We don't want you to look bad, Senpai."

Izzy smiled, touched and looked away. "Well, I do look nice in red. But save the champagne dress for something else. I'm sure I'll need it for some other party."

They put the dresses away, hanging up the red dress in her closet. She wasn't surprised or even bothered that they didn't immediately leave, instead stretching out on her bed. She stretched out in the middle of them, on her back with her hands folded against her stomach.

They spent the afternoon discussing the Christmas party, bickering about hairstyles and accessories and footwear. Their conversation tapered off into other things, school, fashion, Izzy's life in Italy. It's their conversations that make them realize that she can tell them apart.

They realize it at the same time, when she turns her head and asks Hikaru something. It's...it shocked them. No one, other than Haruhi, can tell the difference between them. They weren't sure how to even deal with it.

"Hey, is something wrong?" Izzy asked once she realized neither replied.

Hikaru snorted, quickly saving face. "Of course not, Senpai. Now get up, we didn't even try the dress on!"

"I knew this day would end with dress up."

"Merry Christmas Eve," Izzy's grin was wide as the rest of the Host Club joined her and Hikaru and Kaoru. They arrived first, insisting on helping Izzy with her hair and accessories. Her hair was brushed and pinned to the side, her abundant curls sitting over her shoulder.

Hikaru and Kaoru argued over the color of her accessories, torn between green and black before Izzy pointed out that she'd look like a Christmas tree if she wore green. She was fitted with a simple black choker and earring studs to match.

"Merry Christmas Eve!" Tamaki and Honey exclaimed, bounding towards her to wrap her up in a hug. Maybe it was the Christmas spirit because Izzy didn't fight Tamaki off, turning her face away to avoid smudging her red lipstick on his white tux.

"You all look very handsome," Izzy complimented them, chuckling when both blonds refused to let her go. "Fumiko is going to kill me when she comes back and finds out we threw a party."

"Just blame Tamaki-senpai, she'll understand," Haruhi shrugged carelessly. That comment hurts Tamaki and he lets go of Haruhi to say as much, starting one of their many arguments.

"Mori," Izzy called just as Honey, Hikaru and Kaoru inevitably got involved in Haruhi and Tamaki's bickering. "I've got a bone to pick with you." She paused when he turned his attention on her. She could still feel his thumbs pressed against the dips of her hips.

"Save it for later," Kyoya appeared next to them, causing her to jump with a hand to her chest. "We have a party to get to." He began herding the others out, knowing Izzy and Mori would follow.

Izzy huffed at the interruption. As Mori passed her, she reached out and caught him by his tie, pulling his attention back to her. He only raised his eyebrows at her, somewhat amused with her stubbornness. "You are so not off the hook."

Mori chuckled and for a moment, she thought he was going to ruffle her hair like he was known to do. He thought better of it, not wanting to ruin her hairstyle. Instead he cupped her face, long fingers splayed gently against her cheek.

He let her go, following after their friends. Izzy blinked at his back, confused and flushed but followed suit. She wanted to say she was surprised by the sheer opulence of the Christmas party but then that would just be a lie. "That Christmas tree is huge." Izzy said first, marveling at the gigantic Christmas tree. "You got this done in three days?"

Tamaki nodded, proud of himself.

Izzy whistled, impressed. "Fantastic job," she blinked in awe at the lights and decorations. She felt like she was back in Italy, surrounded by Christmas cheer. It made her feel warm inside.

They integrated easily into the party, hosting blushing girls. Izzy had the unfortunate task of hosting both the girls and dancing with the boys when they asked. She could tell them no, she mused boredly, but then she'd be unapproachable.

"Can't have that, now can we?" Izzy thought sarcastically, thankful when the song she'd been dancing to finally ended. She smiled at the third-year, a handsome boy with a smug smile, before excusing herself.

"You're far more popular than we thought," Haruhi mused as Izzy joined her on the sidelines. She offered her a cup of punch, chuckling when Izzy rolled her eyes. When she faced the party, she was smiling in content. She was almost as talented as Kyoya with switching her facade on and off.

"Hard to say why, it's not like I enjoy this," Izzy pointed out, sipping demurely at her punch.

"It could have something to do with your dress," Haruhi shrugged innocently. "Don't be so clueless, Senpai, it's unbecoming."

Izzy snorted, unladylike but uncaring.

"Oh, Bera!" Hisa called, waving the brunette down. Izzy turned and waved back, thinking she looked pretty in her pink dress. "Look up!"

Haruhi and Izzy did as they were told, blinking. "Huh," Izzy pursed her lips, confused. "Mistletoe. Not sure why I didn't see that at first."

"Maybe because we weren't looking for it?"

"Who's idea was it to hang that up?"

"Take a guess."

Izzy nearly blew a raspberry. She sighed instead before looking back at Haruhi. "A kiss on the cheek? If you're comfortable with it, of course," she amended, knowing Tamaki was probably somewhere having a conniption. She internally apologized to the blond, knowing that the mistletoe wasn't meant for her to kiss anyone.

"Are you comfortable with it?" Haruhi asked pointedly. Some of their peers were beginning to watch.

"Of course I am if it's with you," Izzy rolled the notion off, unbothered that she'd be kissing a girl. It was only on the cheek, after all, and Haruhi was her friend. Besides, to everyone else, Haruhi was a boy.

Haruhi shrugged, also unbothered. Izzy leaned over, cupping Haruhi's face to affectionately plant a kiss against her cheek. She pulled away, laughing immediately at the kiss stain left behind. "Sorry for the lip mark." She cupped Haruhi's face again, this time to rub the mark away. "Next time you kiss me."

Haruhi only laughed. "You know boys are going to try their best to get you under some mistletoe now, right?"

Izzy paused at that, groaning softly. "I blame Tamaki," she grumbled. "Suppose I'll have to watch out for them, yes?"

"Suppose so," Haruhi mused. "Maybe if you stick by Mori-senpai, they won't approach you so much," Haruhi was conveniently looking away when Izzy turned to squint at her. "Of course, you'll have to avoid getting stuck under mistletoe with him as well."

Haruhi was right and Izzy found herself ducking and dodging a lot of mistletoe. She wasn't there to host any of her male peers so she really didn't care if they were offended or not. It was starting to get exhausting after a couple of hours.

Izzy snuck away outside, taking a deep breath of cold air. She thought about going back to get her coat but waved it off. She would only be outside for a couple of minutes. Just long enough to gather herself and get a clear head.

She wasn't all that surprised when she heard shuffling behind her. She ran down a list of people who it could be before turning, bracing for the worst. Her tight expression loosened into something akin to relief.

"Mori, what are you doing out here?" she asked as he approached her. He shrugged out of his jacket, slipping around her without much thought to it. "Oh," she blinked, comforted by his warmth, and tugged the jacket tighter around her.

"Looking for you," Mori answered honestly, sitting down next to her. "What about you?"

Izzy wasn't sure why his blunt honesty still surprised her. "Well, I just needed some air, is all," she smiled. "And a little peace as well. The guests are...ah...determined tonight. Have you been caught under the mistletoe with any of the girls?"

Mori shook his head. "I suppose you're too sharp. I got caught with Haruhi and that segued into guests trying to get me under it."

"Haruhi?" Mori pressed.

"Mm? Yeah, just a kiss on the cheek," she tapped her cheek. "Given the, ah, circumstances and everything. I asked if it was okay first. Better her than any of the guests."

"Just Haruhi?"

She snorted, "so far."

It was silent between the two before Izzy snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's right. I've a bone to pick with you." She scooted closer towards him, lips pulled into a frown. "You told them I was alone for break. That wasn't necessary, you know. I'm a big girl, remember. I'm fine."

Mori openly stared at her, silent as ever. Then, he lifted a hand, fingers brushing against the scar under her eye. It was hidden under makeup. Hikaru hadn't asked about it but he gave her a long look. She ignored it. Mori wouldn't ignore it.

"You're far too young to worry about someone like me," Izzy said after another bout of silence stretched between them.

Mori's head tilted to the side, "someone like you?"

"Mm, someone like me."

"I always worry about you."

Because she was oblivious. Reckless. Stubborn. He found himself thinking of this particular brunette far too much these days. Wondering what was going on in her head behind her false smiles. Wondering if she'd show up with a new scar hidden, with a new lie falling from plump lips.

Izzy needed someone to worry for her. Because there was something going on with her, with her cousin and her family. Something she kept under lock and key. She cracked every so often, allowed them to see the soft spots hidden under her facade, but it wasn't enough.

There were rumors. Rumors about her family, the Morimotos. Sinister. There was something sinister about them, about Morimoto Shinobu and Takuma, specifically.

Mori could still see her scar, even under her makeup. Even with her hair in the way or her face turned at a certain angle. Despite all of her tricks, he could still see it.

"What happened to your face, Izabera?"

She blinked, confused. "This again? I fell—"

"No, you didn't."

Izzy snapped her mouth shut, looking like a scolded child. She pouted and turned away, hiding her face away under her curtain of brown curls. She was trying to rebuild her walls brick by brick. Her mask cracked and she was trying to fill those cracks and fissures.

So Mori reached out, caught her by her chin, like he'd done time and time again. She always let him, never fought him. Her eyes were big as he pulled, gentle, coaxed her back into looking at him. Big eyes. Face red.

Pretty, so very pretty. So very Izabera.

"You didn't fall."

Slowly, she shook her head no. The bricks she'd been using to rebuild her walls began to crumble.

"You were hit."

Her mouth trembled. Her eyes flickered before focusing back on him. A slow nod. He saw the coils of bruises around her wrists. Her biceps. The scar on her face. He felt a muscle in his jaw twitch.

Mori was protective over his friends and Izzy fell somewhere in the category. More than a friend but less than a...he wasn't sure. She was something to him and he felt the compulsive need to protect her. From whatever. Whether it were her cousin, her family or even herself.

Shuffling behind them, a door swung open. Startled, broken out of her spell, Izzy pulled back. She turned, blinking as two second years tried to sneak away under the cover of the night sky. They froze at the sight of Mori and Izzy, smiling nervously.

"Mori-senpai, Bera-senpai!" the boy grinned nervously at them. He was in a lot of Tamaki, Kyoya and Fumiko's classes. Maata, if Izzy remembered correctly. She danced with him at one point and he nearly got her under some mistletoe. "I wasn't expecting to see you two out here."

Izzy raised a brow, cracked mask back in place. "Where do you think you two are going?" she asked, not amused.

"Um…" the girl, Shiiba, fumbled and flustered.

Bemused, Izzy twirled her finger in a circle. "Party's the other way."

"Yes, Senpai." Dejected, the two turned back around towards the party. Izzy was grateful they hadn't the thought to ask why Izzy and Mori were missing from the party, outside and alone with one another. She watched them go, sighing with an added roll of her eyes.

"We've been out here long enough," she decided after a moment. She didn't move though, didn't look at him. Maybe she was afraid.

But she didn't need to be, he thought. Not of him, never of him. He stood up first and reached a hand for her. She turned to him, hazel eyes bright under the night sky. She didn't say anything for a long time but maybe she didn't need to.

She took his hand.

Before the night ended, Renge insisted on a picture of the Host Club gathered together. Izzy had been in the middle of a conversation with Yuna, Ayame absent as she was vacationing in America with her family, when Renge yanked her away.

Yuna didn't mind, smiling weakly and waving as the excitable blonde manhandled her towards the Host Club. Tamaki caught her as she stumbled into them, confused and offended as he explained Renge's pushiness.

All she had to do was ask, Izzy scowled.

"Bera-senpai, you're tall so stand with Mori-senpai," Renge directed, wanting to get the perfect shot. Izzy did as instructed, standing next to Mori. She offered him a smile, hoping their conversation outside wouldn't put a strain on their already strange relationship.

He avoided ruffling her hair again, hand cupping the back of head instead. Neither noticed Renge taking a quick picture as the others around them bickered on where they should stand. No one but Kyoya. He said nothing of it.

Izzy took the reins, directing Honey and Haruhi towards the center since they were the shortest. Tamaki and Kyoya to Haruhi's left, the twins to the right while she and Mori picked up the back.

She curved into Mori, curling her hip into him as she reformed her Big Sister persona. A gorgeous smile, a teasing wink. It was easy, she realized to keep this front up. Maybe because it was less of a front now. Somewhere along the lines, she really did integrate into the Host Club. Became close to them, special, maybe. The big sister.

Renge took several pictures until she was satisfied with them, grinning maniacally to herself. Izzy decided to let that box of insanity stay wrapped, having no time to unravel Renge's...er...Renge. She had no time to unravel Renge, so she just didn't.

It wasn't until Hisa, with another grin, pointed out that Izzy was under the mistletoe once more. WIth the Host Club. Izzy blinked, head tilted backwards once more as she stared up at the mistletoe. She wasn't as alarmed, hand on her hip as she stood under it. She rolled her head into Tamaki's direction.

"You really tried your best with the mistletoe, huh?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

Tamaki laughed weakly. "I didn't think this would happen, Senpai."

"Right. Well, come one. Kisses for everyone."

She hugged Tamaki around his neck, pecking his cheek in affection. Hikaru and Kaoru squished her in between them, pressing their lips to her cheeks at the same time. She received Kyoya's kiss to the cheek with a smug smile, knowing she would pay for it later. Honey jumped into her arms and with a laugh, she peppered his face with kisses. Like the first time, she cupped Haruhi's face to kiss her cheek.

She came to a halt when it was time to kiss Mori. It had all been so innocent with the others. It was like kissing her brothers or cousins on the cheek. Platonic. Familial. Whatever she felt for Mori was not platonic or innocent.

And she was scared of it.

Because if she gave in, slapped a label onto her feelings—acknowledged them for what they were, she was no better than Masami. She didn't come to Japan for that, for history to repeat itself. That's what Shinobu expected of her.

But would that be so bad? A voice, maybe hers, crooned from a dark corner of her mind. So what if she were like her mother? Masami was happy in Italy. Who could blame her with a family like the Morimotos? What so bad about those feelings for Mori?

Izzy smiled up at Mori, reaching forward to wrap her arms around his arm. He didn't pull away, didn't fight her. There was warmth in her chest at the thought of that. She leaned into him, content with pressing her lips against his cheek and moving on.

Except. Well. Mori moved. A slight twitch, a fraction of a centimeter and—she didn't kiss him on the mouth. Luckily. Unluckily. Hard to say, really. Izzy's mouth, sinful red lips, brushed at the corner of Mori's mouth. Far too close to be considered an accident.

Oh, she was fighting a losing battle.

TeeBeMe: I'm all for their slow burn but somethings gotta give at some point, right?