"Morimoto residence."

Ogen frowned, hearing silence on the other end of the telephone. She cleared her throat, a little annoyed and repeated her greeting. "Morimoto residence. Can I help you?"

There's a shuffle on the other end and Ogen was two seconds away from hanging up. She didn't have time to play games on the phone, she had a list of things to do and Hiroki needed—

"Ogen?"

The old caretaker came to a hard pause, grip around the phone becoming freakishly tight. She recognized that voice. She hadn't heard the voice in almost twenty years but she recognized it. It hardly changed, it wasn't as high-pitched anymore, having deepened with age but it was the same nonetheless.

"Miss…Masami?"

Well, she wasn't a Miss anymore, now was she?

"Ogen," Masami breathed softly, a smile on her pretty lips. "It is you, isn't it?"

"That would be correct…Miss."

Masami tutted. "I think I'm a bit too old to be calledthat, yes?"Ogen cleared her throat once more, unsure of what she was supposed to call the disgraced woman. "Madam, if you're calling about your daughter—"

"Madam?" Masami was grinning. "That's certainly a bit much, don't you think? Masami is just fine, Ogen. You don't work for me," she clicked her tongue dismissively.

Ogen shook her head before realizing Masami couldn't see her. "That's hardly appropriate, ma'am," she reminded her, remaining firm. It was obvious that Izabera got her relaxed ways from her mother, or so she believed. She hadn't met Masami's husband. "As I was saying, Miss Izabera isn't currently here at the moment."

Masami clicked her tongue again. "I'm not looking for my daughter though I do have some things to discuss with her." She sounded particularly cross with the brunette.

"She's a lovely young lady," Ogen said, though she wasn't sure if that was an appropriate comment to make. Okay, she thought it was unladylike that Izzy had gotten into a physical altercation with Katsu that one time but she genuinely liked the brunette. "I can tell she was raised well."

The other line was silent for a long moment. "Thankyou, Ogen. That…that really means a lot to me." And she meant that. Ogen wasn't just a stiff-lipped employee for her family. The woman had been there for Masami since she was a child, spending more time with her than her own mother. Her parents and siblings hadn't been the only ones blindsided in her decision to flee Japan.

"No need to thank me, ma'am. It's simply the truth."

Masami chuckled lightly before clearing her throat. "Ara, I'm not looking for my daughter right now but I was wondering if it would be possible to speak to my father."

Ogen made a strangled noise in her throat. "You…want to speak to Hiroki-sama? But you..you swore you would never speak to him again."

Again, Masami chuckled though this time it lacked any humor. "I did, didn't I? I was an angry eighteen year-old brat. I've done some growing since then and…well…" she sighed softly. "I really just want to hear papa's voice again."

She sounded so genuine, Ogen's heart clenched. She was sure that when Masami left, they'd never hear from her again. She said as much, screaming and yelling at Hiroki and Shinobu before vanishing the very next day. Morimotos weren't known to go back on their words.

"Is he…is he available…?"

Ogen smiled. "I believe he is, ma'am."

Izzy wasn't exactly sure how things turned out this way. Somehow she'd been on a date with Izuru, which embarrassingly enough, she'd been unaware of until the very last second. He managed to confess to her and even tried to kiss her only to have Mori swoop right in. That wasn't so bad, as it happened before.

However, as Mori was dragging her away, it began to rain. It wasn't even a slow-going drizzle. It was an outright heavy pour complete with thunder and lightning. The skies opened up, the clouds gathered ominously and suddenly they were absolutely drenched. Still. Not the absolute worst that could happen.

She then found herself at Mori's house. The plan had been to return to Haruhi's apartment with the brunette but with the heavy rain, their plans diverged and they ended up at Mori's house since it was much closer.

Thus, she ended up standing in Mori's front hall, soaked to the bone. Her hair was plastered uncomfortably against her neck and forehead, her clothes clung tightly to her body and her bandages for her ankle were a sopping mess slowly unraveling.

"That was unexpected," Izzy huffed, toeing off her soggy shoes and socks. She eyed her ankle apprehensively before removing the soaked bandages with another huff. She automatically shifted her weight into her good foot, cringing when her wet skirt stretched uncomfortably over her thighs.

Before Mori could agree or disagree, his younger brother appeared. He blinked at the sight of them, head tilted to the side. "Oy, aniki, I thought you said you'd be out all day!" Satoshi came bounding towards them, grinning so brightly it reminded Izzy of the sun. "And you brought Berry-chan!"

Izzy was rather particular about the juvenile nickname but it seemed like she was fine with Satoshi using it. She'd only met him once before but Honey insistently used the nickname in front of him and it seemed like it stuck.

"Satoshi!" Izzy smiled as he came to a stop in front of them. "Excuse the intrusion."

"We were caught in the rain," Mori answered simply. He glanced at Izzy, she would need to get out of her clothes before she came down with a cold. His gaze dropped to her ankle. It was still horrendously bruised but it wasn't as puffy and swollen as before.

"What happened to your ankle, Berry-chan?" Satoshi noticed it too, his face crumpling with worry.

"Just a little accident, it's not as bad as it looks," Izzy waved his concerns off.

He nodded though he was still frowning in concern. "You should hurry up and get her out of those clothes, aniki, before she catches a cold," he suddenly said with all the innocence in the world. "You need to get out of yours too."

Izzy sputtered, head ducking down as she choked on her spit. "I'm fine," she managed around a blush, holding a hand up. Of course she knew Satoshi's concern was genuine and they really could catch a cold but did he have to word it like that?

Hand at her elbow, Mori led her further into his home. She glanced over her shoulder, cheerfully waving at Satoshi but ultimately followed after Mori. She felt a little strange to be at Mori's house with none of their friends around. Especially with what happened just now with Izuru.

Her face flushed terribly. Maybe she was as oblivious to boys as everyone said. But then again, it wasn't like Izuru was upfront with his feelings like Chiba. And he never specifically called it a date. He simply asked her to come with him to a music show. That didn't automatically make it a date, did it?

And what was she supposed to make of Mori's very simple answer that there was something between them? What exactly was between them? More than a friendship, obviously but they weren't necessarily in a relationship.

Were they?

Of course not, neither had said as much, she reminded herself. She felt the pain beginning to bloom from her ankle, a slow-going notion that she needed to get off of it soon. Just in time too because Mori stopped their journey and ushered her into a comically large bathroom.

"You need to shower," he instructed, hand firmly at her waist as he nudged her inside.

"Shower?" Izzy parroted. "Oh, no, that's too much trouble. I can just dry off with a towel—"

Mori reached forward, hooking his finger into the front of her shirt. He tugged at the heavy material, gaze unimpressed with her denial. "Your clothes are wet, Bera. You're wet. You need to warm up."

She flushed terribly. "Fine," she gave in with a huff, hand reaching up to curl around his wrist. "I don't have anything to change though."

Mori didn't seem to care about her statement, pulling his hand back and leaving her alone in the bathroom. She watched him go, somewhat confused but closed the door either way. She undressed, wringing the rainwater from her clothes out in the sink. They were still wet and beginning to wrinkle but she neatly folded them anyway, tucking them away on the obnoxiously large counter.

She undid her ponytail, cringing when her hair clung to her skin, causing her to itch. She was just leaning over into the bathtub, trying to figure out how to work the temperature knobs when there was a quick knock at the door.

Izzy jumped with a short squeal, whipping around to face the door. "Just a second!" she called out before reaching for one of the towels. She should've figured the shower out before she undressed. Making sure the towel was firmly tucked, she popped her head out of the bathroom.

Mori eyed her, somewhat confused before he noticed her state of undress. She watched with big eyes as his face slowly darkened with a blush. Well, that was new. He glanced upwards, avoiding having to look at her and shoved something in her hands. "Are you okay?"

For a moment, she considered asking him how to work the shower but thought better of it. That was just pushing it. "Ara, um, yes! Thank you! I'll finish quickly."

But he only shrugged one big shoulder. "Take your time." Mori quickly left after that, face angled down towards the freshly waxed floors. Izzy watched him go, smiling despite the situation.

After fiddling with the knobs, she managed to get the shower going. "Saluti!" she grinned before ducking under the hot spray. She was immediately warmed up, sighing in content. She even ignored her pulsing ankle as she focused on chasing away the chill that started to set in.

"So much better," Izzy sighed once she was freshly showered. She wrung her hair out, her curls a little more out of control as she painstakingly dried her hair off. She unfolded the bundle Mori had passed off to her, discovering that it was a thick robe. Thicker than a normal bathrobe but thinner than a yukata. It was sinfully comfortable and she found herself sinking into it.

It smelled like Mori.

She shook those thoughts away before they could take hold and fester, tightly belting the robe shut. Now that she was dry and warm, what was she supposed to do?

Izzy opened the bathroom door, carefully peeking out only to jump out of her skin at the sight of Mori. He was leaning against the opposite wall, freshly showered and dressed in dry clothes as well. "Mori? How long have you been waiting?" she shuffled out of the bathroom, a little alarmed.

He eyed her carefully as if he was trying to make sure that she was no longer wet from the rainwater. Satisfied that she was dry and not in danger of catching a cold, he pushed off of the wall. "Not long," he shrugged languidly. He had a feeling she'd be embarrassed if he told her that he could, indeed, hear her singing at some point.

"Well…" she nodded slowly. "Thank you for the robe, it's comfy," she grinned and held up her arms as if to model it.

He smiled at her, his palm coming to rest on the crown of her head. "Feel better?"

"Tons!"

"Good." Again, he reached for her, this time grabbing her by the hand. She followed without a fight, a warm feeling settling in her chest at the feel of his hand around hers. She was a little caught off guard when he ushered her into his actual bedroom. Her face flushed immediately but Mori didn't seem to notice, pointing to his bed "Sit," he directed her. She blinked owlishly, mind short-circuiting. "Bera, your ankle." He held up a roll of bandages, waving them in her face.

She deflated, laughing nervously. "Right, right!" She felt like an idiot but did as she was told, plopping down on the edge of his bed. Her face was still terribly flushed and she tried in vain to will it away.

Mori eyed her, a spark of amusement dancing in his eyes before settling on the floor in front of her. She lifted her foot, sighing as he gently prodded at it, testing its healing process. "I probably could have wrapped it myself," she pointed out in a soft tone.

"Probably," Mori easily agreed, cradling her foot.

A comfortable silence settled over them as Mori began the careful task of wrapping her ankle. The black and purple bruises began fading, not by a lot but it was noticeable. That made him feel somewhat better. Not a whole lot because she shouldn't be bruised in the first place but it could be worse.

"I really didn't know it was a date," Izzy said, breaking the comfortable silence. She was staring out the window, watching the heavy downpour. Hopefully it would let up enough in time for her to go home. "I thought it was just a friend kind of thing."

"You really didn't realize Izuru likes you?" He glanced up at her, hands still weaving the bandages around her ankle.

"No? Did you?"

"Ah."

She bit her bottom lip, feeling like an idiot. Apparently she was missing something if Mori could tell. Izuru hadn't said anything that would give away his feelings yet Mori knew. Maybe it was a guy thing? Maybe she was just that oblivious. Tamaki's insistence that she was far too agreeable was getting harder to fight.

"He's been the one writing those love notes too…"

Mori paused in his task for a split second before continuing. "I know."

Izzy let out a strangled noise, aghast that he figured it out and she hadn't. Maybe she really was oblivious. And agreeable. She'd hate to admit it but Tamaki was really on to something when he pointed out her agreeable nature.

"You knew and you didn't bother to tell me?" Izzy whined, chaotic curls framing her face as she threw her head back childishly.

"You said you didn't care."

"Yeah, but still…"

Izuru was such a quiet guy, she found it hard to believe he was responsible for such poetic notes. He barely even looked her in the eye the first couple weeks of their friendship. But still, he'd gone on and on about the umber of her eyes, the blonde streaks running through her hair like starlight, the perfectly shaped cupid's bow of her top lip.

She was having a hard time making the connection. What exactly had she missed that Mori figured out? When did he figure it out and was Izuru one of the ones who'd been staring at her legs?

She came to a hard pause, recalling her outfit for the day. A sweater that hugged the feminine curves of her torso while simultaneously showcasing her freckle-covered shoulders and a sinful red skirt stretched across her mocha-colored thighs. She blushed hard and cursed her airheaded ways, wondering if he'd been ogling her again all day.

To be honest, she wasn't sure how to feel about the new revelation. She liked their very easy friendship and at no point ever considered something romantic between them. Had she done something that would make him think there was something more between them? She raked her brain, recalling their interactions from the time they met to just recently. She'd never been anything but nice to him.

Was that the problem? Maybe she didn't know how to turn her hosting persona off like she'd thought. She'd never really been described as nice before. At least, not back in Italy. Polite, obedient. But not necessarily…nice.

Was she a genuinely nice person?

"Why would he even like me?" Izzy blurted, lacking her usual grace.

Again, Mori paused and eyed her with both amusement and confusion. "Maybe it's the same reason I like you." He didn't word it as a question. It sounded factual, concrete and she nearly sputtered because how the hell could he say it so casually?

"Is it because I'm Eurasian?" the brunette asked blankly, a repeat question.

He shrugged one big shoulder, "S' not the only reason."

"Very funny," she sniffed. "But…ara…you do..? Like me? You told Izuru there was something between us but…" she trailed off, floundering hopelessly. She was new at this, unsure of how to navigate a new teenage love affair. She's a bit late to the game, after all.

"Was I wrong?" He finished wrapping her ankle, knotting the end of the bandages to stay put.

She wriggled her toes experimentally, judging if it was too tight or not. "No, I don't let boys kiss me like you've kissed me, after all. And evidently, you won't let them kiss me either."

"Did you not want me to?"

Izzy shimmied off of the bed, sinking down in front of him. She was grateful Mori intervened though she wasn't sure why these boys thought they just had the right to kiss her whenever they wanted to. Perhaps she was just biased because Mori tended to catch her off guard and she didn't shy away from him.

"I never said that," she said in a soft voice, scooting just a little closer to him, legs tucked carefully under her. "I was surprised though," she laughed and leaned forward, placing her hands on the floor. "I bet the look on our faces was hilarious."

"A little," Mori answered with a languid shrug. And it was a little funny to see the genuine shock and fear in their eyes at the sight of him. It was mostly Izzy's shock that amused him. "You can't keep agreeing to these dates, Bera."

She grunted and moved a little closer, subtlety shifting into his personal space. "It wasn't a date to me," she said almost lamely. It really wasn't though it probably didn't make much of a difference. It was a date to Izuru and it clearly meant something to him.

Just another issue she'd have to straighten out.

Izzy leaned forward. "I, um, I like you too," she whispered, almost like it was a secret to be kept. But there. It was out there, in the air, hanging above them. She couldn't take it back, not that she really wanted to but she had the tendency to panic about these things.

Mori smiled at her and her stomach fluttered at the sight of it, blooming flowers crawling up her throat and threatening to sprout from her mouth. Vaguely, she wondered if this was what her mother felt for her father or what Chihiro felt for Shunsuke. She realized at that moment that it was something much more than a simple crush.

She was in love.

It had only taken just a few months but it was enough. Her father knew he was in love with her mother after spotting her across a busy Italian shopping market. He loved to tell the story, claiming that one simple look from Masami was enough to do him in. He hadn't uttered one word to her but he decided he'd marry the green-eyed beauty some day.

She used to scoff at his storytelling, never taking him seriously. But now. Well, now things were different, she was different. She'd never been interested in boys, in romance, in genuine friendships until she met Mori and the Host Club.

She rolled forward on her knees, placing her hands on his wide shoulders to balance her weight. Her eyes were absolutely shining, resembling that pretty umber that Izuru was so fond of.

Izzy's kisses were gentle and careful, plush lips cradling his almost shyly. Mori reached around her to settle his hands against her back, coaxing her even closer until she was settled between his long legs, her legs folded under her. She tilted her chin up towards him, deepening the kiss and smiling, tasting like a burst of apples and sugar against his mouth.

The brunette pressed further into him, arms coiling around Mori's neck. He sighed against her mouth, arms tightening like vice, her kiss growing more sensuous. She hummed in delight, appreciating the feel of hard abs pressing against her soft stomach and his broad chest at her curvy breasts.

It suddenly dawned on her that the two of them seamlessly clicked together. Like two missing puzzle pieces, they fit together.

She could feel the warmth of his hands pressing against her back, burning through her robe into her skin. Mori urged her even closer, unabashedly pinning her against him. He dropped his hands from her back, placing them instead at her hips to keep her anchored in place.

Their kiss gradually grew into something more intense the more she gave in, curling around him like second skin. It was almost too intense, so intense that heat bloomed from her toes to the top of her head. Despite its intensity, it remained sweet and gentle.

Izzy was the first to gradually pull away, lips swollen. She glanced down at her knees, ignoring the twinge of pain radiating from her ankle before very carefully looking back up. Blazing umber and stormy gray clashed and for one lone moment, silence hung over the two.

And then, as if they were on the same wavelength, they smiled.

Izzy's cheeks were flushed but she continued to smile, mouth almost cracking her face in half. She began to shift around, sitting back and taking her weight off of her legs and more importantly, her ankle. She opened her mouth to say something but there was a sudden knock at the bedroom door. She turned to face it, locks of toffee settling haphazardly around her face and shoulders.

"Oy, aniki?"

Satoshi.

Izzy smiled again despite the interruption, far too fond of Mori's sweet younger brother. She glanced back at Mori and nudged at his leg with her foot, nodding towards the door. He eyed the door, clearly not amused as she was but grunted loudly, allowing Satoshi to open the door.

The younger look-alike paused in the doorway, eyeing the two with comically wide eyes. Izzy continued to smile, raising a hand to wave at him. "Berry-chan, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were still here."

And alone. In his older brother's room. With him. Sitting between his legs.

"Yes, well.."

"It's still raining," Mori motioned towards the windows. It was indeed still raining outside, storming actually. Izzy idly hoped that Haruhi was okay during the storm, reminding herself to call the younger brunette when she returned home. "What is it, Satoshi?"

"Oh! Well, Yasuchika came by and we thought you could watch us spar but since you're busy.." Satoshi took a step back, smiling all the while. Izzy glanced between the brothers, feeling guilty.

"Wait, Satoshi, it's fine!" She waved her hands animatedly, her smile turning apologetic. "Don't let me get in the way!"

Satoshi frowned and weighed his options. "How about you come and watch too, Berry-chan? It might be a little boring to you though," he suggested, his bright smile returning.

"Oh! Sure, that sounds like a plan!" Izzy easily agreed, excitement bubbling. "Wait, what am I watching?"

Mori snorted and pinched at her foot. "Karate. Satoshi and Yasuchika are in the karate club." He climbed to his feet first and nudged at her head, carefully helping her up while eyeing her ankle. She balanced her weight accordingly and then nodded, more to herself, that she was okay.

Satoshi led them out of his brother's room, his energy buzzing as he chattered animatedly about the karate club to Izzy. He explained that both he and Yasuchika were members of the club with Yasuchika being the captain. Despite his high energy, Izzy was able to keep up with him just fine. It probably had something to do with consistently dealing with the Host club.

She should have been surprised at the sight of a home dojo but she really wasn't. She was surprised, however, at the appearance of the waiting individual. It was safe to assume the young man waiting was Yasuchika but she wasn't expecting his startling resemblance to Honey.

He was much taller than Honey though he was still shorter than Mori, Satoshi and Izzy. His hair was a darker shade of blond but they had the same honey-gold eyes. Although he was polite in greeting Mori, he eyed her almost warily. "Who are you?"

She blinked back at him, a little thrown by his dry and blunt question. Satoshi and Mori eyed him. "Yasuchika, don't be rude," Satoshi admonished him, nudging him with his elbow. "This is Berry-chan."

"Ah, well—"

"You're Berry-chan?" Yasuchika asked with narrowed eyes.

"Technically, yes but—"

"Mitsukuni talks about you. A lot. What are you doing here?"

She's not exactly sure how to answer that. She wasn't all that surprised to hear that Honey frequently mentioned her but Yasuchika's sour disposition threw her for a loop.

"Yasuchika," Mori interrupted, expression blank. "You're being rude. Bera's a guest."

Yasuchika's icy facade dropped and with a small blush, grumbled out an apology. "I apologize, Berry-chan."

She blinked and began to wonder what the twins might think of not only Reiko calling her that but Satoshi and Yasuchika as well. "It's fine, ara, we were caught in the rain but Mori was kind enough to bring me here to warm up and dry my clothes." He nodded slowly but he was still squinting at her a little bit. "So, you're Honey-chan's younger brother."

"Unfortunately."

"Oh, wow. I'm sensing hostility here," Izzy chuckled. That was different. She had yet to meet anyone that disliked Honey and now that she's met that person, it turned out to be his own younger brother.

"Berry-chan's going to watch us along with Taka-kun," Satoshi said before Yasuchika could go off on a rampage. Izzy nodded along to his words, hands innocently behind her back as he did so. Yasuchika had gone back to squinting at her but she simply smiled.

Mori hustled her away towards a vacant bench to watch the two younger boys. He plopped down next to her, slumping comfortably with his legs spread, thigh pressing into her. She was essentially boxed in by his larger form but she only smiled bashfully.

Satoshi and Yasuchika were exceptionally talented at karate, impressing her as she watched them spar. She hadn't attended the judo club or karate club that often but she'd seen Mori and Honey enough to know that their younger brothers wanted to be on their level. Every so often she had a question for Mori, leaning in close to convey her inquiries and thoughts, oblivious that he leaned in just as close every time to answer.

They sparred for several rounds with Mori sharing his thoughts and critiques in between. Izzy complimented them as well, cheering them both on when they successfully landed a difficult blow. Mori also took the time to explain the difficult relationship between the Haninozuka brothers. She sympathized with Yasuchika but Mori warned her against conveying that to the younger boy, he had a feeling his younger cousin might not be pleased.

She could understand the frustration of being overshadowed by a sibling, confessing that she sometimes felt that way when it came to her own brothers. She wasn't nearly as outgoing as any of her brothers, was much younger than them and was only their half-sister. She always felt like the black sheep of her extensive family, being the child of her father's second wife.

But still, she didn't know Yasuchika well enough to connect with him that way. She would simply have to make friends with the younger Haninozuka in a different way. Luckily for her, a great opportunity presented itself not long after they finished their sparring for the day.

"Oh, Taka-kun, Yasuchika also wants to see Piyo-chan," Satoshi said casually, ignoring the other's stiffening posture. Mori didn't seem all that surprised, nodding in reply but Izzy was confused.

"Piyo-chan? Who's Piyo-chan?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. Yasuchika flushed horribly. "Are you okay, Yasuchika? You look like you're having a breakdown."

"Mind your business," he huffed irritably. Izzy didn't have a chance to reply when Satoshi slapped the back of Yasuchika's head.

"Piyo-chan is Taka-kun's baby chick," Satoshi answered, ignoring Yasuchika's sour mood.

Izzy blinked and then her ears twitched. "Baby chick? You have a chick as a pet?" she asked slowly, looking at Mori with an odd expression. He looked back at her and nodded once. "Can I…see the chick?"

Silence fell over the four of them for a second. "Do you…like animals, Berry-chan?" Satoshi asked after the pause continued to drag on. Izzy actually blushed though it wasn't as drastic as Yasuchika blushing. With one firm nod, she answered with an almost sheepish grin.

Mori eyed her, amusement sparking in his eyes. "Sure," he answered with a shrug, unaware that Izzy shared a love for animals. Her eyes brightened to that umber color, one that he was quickly becoming accustomed to seeing.

Several seconds later, Yasuchika was instructing the older brunette to cup her hands, carefully depositing a small chick into her hands. She, like Yasuchika, was enamored with the chick. She cooed and sighed at it, mixing in Italian terms of endearment.

"Do you have pets?" Yasuchika asked carefully. He'd be wary of her, he was wary of Mitsukuni's friends but the fact that she clearly adored animals was a comfort.

"I wish but papa always said no," Izzy replied with a soft sigh. "But he used to take me to the zoo a lot when I was a child. We had fun but I'm sure even he started to get fed up after a while." Izzy paused to chuckle, reminiscing about old memories with a fond smile.

Satoshi sidled up next to her, peering down at Piyo. She found it amusing that he was almost as tall as she was, despite her being three years older than him. "Have you been to the zoo recently?" he asked, reaching down to gently pet Chiyo. "Yasuchika likes to go."

"Shut up, Satoshi."

Izzy chuckled, highly amused. Satoshi and Yasuchika's relationship was like a reflection of Mori and Honey's relationship though the dynamics were drastically different. It was charming though, almost like a breath of fresh air.

"I haven't but it would be fun to go. Maybe I'll go soon," she amended serenely. Honestly she wasn't sure if Fumiko and Chi would be interested in a day at the zoo. "Maybe you can go with me, Yasuchika," she suggested. She knew he was more than likely to reject the notion but teasing him was all too amusing.

Yasuchika eyed her for a moment, a slight blush dusting across his nose. He seemed conflicted about something but opted instead to focus on Piyo. "Chika."

"Mm?" Izzy grunted, looking up at the younger boy.

He sighed irritably but she could tell it was all for show. "Just call me Chika."

Izzy fought her impending grin, knowing it would embarrass him. "Chika," she said, hoping this would be a start to a new friendship.

She stayed until the storm let up, deciding that the downpour was light enough sometime before dinner. Her clothes were returned to her, freshly laundered and dry much to her delight. It wasn't how she thought her day would turn out but she was pleased with it, though she reminded herself that she and Izuru would have to talk.

"Thank you for…well today," Izzy chuckled in good nature, waving her hand casually. "Satoshi and Chika are delightful but I think Piyo-chan might be the best out of the three," she joked with a grin.

Mori offered his hand as she slid her shoes back on, holding on even after she successfully got them on. She eyed him, grin still in place. "Are you free Sunday?" he asked after a moment, hand warm around hers.

She blinked at him, grin slipping for a second. "I should be, why?"

"D'you want to go to the zoo?"

Almost like Honey when he spotted dessert, Izzy's eyes lit up. They even sparkled like Honey's were known to do, if she became any more excited, flowers would bloom around her face. She pulled her hand free of him only to wrap hers around his hand, leaning up on her toes. "Can we?"

"Sure."

She nearly started bouncing in place but thought better of it when her ankle sent a dull throb shooting up her leg. Again, her grin faltered as a thought occurred at that moment.

"Are…you asking me out on a date?"

Mori shot the clueless brunette a rather dry look, one that had her laughing. She just wanted to make sure so that there was no confusion again. Apparently she had a habit of going on dates and not realizing that they're dates.

"Yes, Bera. I'm asking you on a date."

She tightened her hands around his and leaned in closer; eyes and smile bright. "Of course! That sounds like fun."

They discussed the details of the date, excitement bubbling in her stomach at the thought of it. She was almost irritated that she'd have to wait an entire week for the date but she continued to smile nonetheless.

When it was time for her to finally be led out to the waiting car, Mori pulled her back by the wrist. She stumbled backwards into him, eyes wide but Mori swooped in and dropped one lingering but chaste kiss against her mouth.

"See you tomorrow."

Though they decided that there was definitely something between them, Mori and Izzy decided it would be better to keep it to themselves for the most part. It probably wouldn't be good for the Host Club if two members were known to be romantically linked.

That didn't stop from Mori's very sly flirtations. It was usually too quick for anyone to spot but it often left her blushing and floundering. Her reactions only seemed to fuel his desire to see her squirm, growing bolder and bolder with each instance.

She also had the impending talk with her parents. They still had yet to even call her but Chi warned her that she would definitely get a call. From what her aunt could tell her, her mother wasn't exactly pleased with her sudden decision to stay indefinitely in Japan.

She could understand her parents' reluctance to allow such a decision. It was something that she decided on without talking it through with either of them beforehand. This was, after all, the longest she's ever been away from parents and now she wanted to prolong it. They weren't used to not having her around to look after.

But she made her choice. She had to take some direction in her life and though this was a little extreme, it was a start. It wasn't like she was never going to return to Italy, she would. Just…later rather sooner.

Of course she felt some guilt over her choice. It's not like she wanted to upset either of them and they had every right. She actually expected a fight when they finally got around to calling her. But of course, she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.

"Welcome!" Izzy hummed cheerfully, herding the girls into the club room. Her sisterly persona was getting easier and easier to slip into place, she'd begun to realize. She just wasn't ready to admit her sisterly persona wasn't exactly a facade anymore and that's why it was so easy to slip into it.

She noticed a dark shadow peeking around the corner into the room and with a smile, realized it was just Reiko. "Hello, Reiko-chan! Won't you join us today? I'm sure Honey-chan would love to have you," she approached the shy young woman with her signature smile, reaching out for her.

"Hello, Berry-senpai," Reiko greeted shyly with a small and careful smile. Izzy sidled up next to her, a comforting hand at the small of her back to usher her in. "It's nice to see you again."

"Always lovely to see you, Reiko-chan."

"Berry-senpai?" Hikaru and Kaoru repeated with narrowed eyes. "How come Kanazuki-hime gets to call you that and we don't?" They demanded, quite offended that the creepy girl got a pass.

Izzy flagged them away with a flick of her hand. "Because I like Reiko-chan, now off you go. You've got plenty of lovely young girls to cater to." She ignored them, hardly batting an eye at their dramatic reactions. "Don't mind them, Reiko-chan."

She hurried her over to Honey and Mori. "Look who's graced us with her beautiful presence," she hummed and hustled her into the seat next to Honey. She flushed terribly as Honey immediately turned his attention to her. "You'll be nice to our new friend, won't you girls?"

She could tell that Reiko's demeanor was a little off-putting to the other girls but they just had to get to know her. She really was a nice girl and Izzy liked her. Sure her interests in the black magic club were a little different but Izzy liked the gothic decorations of their club, it reminded her of Italian Gothic architecture.

Hisa eyed the leggy brunette before glancing at Reiko. She huffed and folded her arms but she wouldn't deny such a request, not when Mori, Honey and Izzy were staring at the lot of them. With a petulant frown, she wondered why Reiko got special attention from Izzy in the first place.

Izzy busily patted Reiko on the shoulder, still smiling. "You're in good hands, cara mia," she smiled sweetly before turning away to return to Haruhi's side.

"Cara mia?" Hisa mumbled under her breath, trying in vain to ignore that streak of jealousy that shot through her. It was one thing to be jealous of Izzy's affection for Mori. This Kanazuki girl was nothing to fret over.

But Izzy was oblivious, as usual as she focused instead on her obligations. Once Club was over for the day, Honey immediately followed Reiko to her own club, Izzy waving as he left.

"Honey-senpai really likes Kanazuki-hime," Tamaki rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Haruhi and Izzy busily cleaned around him. Izzy smacked him one good time and shoved him out of the way. "He spends a lot of time with her," he pouted and quickly moved away before Izzy could slap him again.

"A lot," Kaoru and Hikaru chorused together. "Mori-senpai, you have to do something before it's too late!"

He eyed them with a small squint, not entirely sure what they meant. "Do what?"

"Something about Honey-senpai and Kanazuki-hime. He spends way too much time with her now!"

"What's so bad about that?" Izzy asked from her spot across the room. "Kyoya, are you finished with your teacup?"

He handed the cup and saucer over, seemingly uninterested in whatever the trio were talking about. "Kanazuki-hime is weird," the three of them whined in unison.

"Pot calling the kettle black," Haruhi muttered dryly.

Izzy was also less than impressed. "As opposed to you three…?" she snorted. "Just because her interests are different doesn't make her weird. She's a nice girl with different interests."

"But she's taking Honey-senpai away from Mori-senpai!"

Izzy eyed the three of them with a hand on her hip, generally unimpressed. She thought it was nice that Honey was showing some interest in something other than baked sweets. She'd begun to think he wasn't interested at all in girls. "It's good that he's showing some independence, things will be different once we begin university anyway."

"Doesn't it bother you, Mori-senpai? He's practically abandoned you!" Tamaki screeched like a pterodactyl, arms waving frantically above his head. Izzy, Haruhi and Kyoya dutifully ignored his outlandish display.

Mori peered over the blond's head, eyeing a certain brunette but ultimately shrugged. "Not really." He had to agree with Izzy on the subject. Mitsukuni showing some independence and not dragging Usa-chan around with him was a good thing. Sure, Reiko was a little strange but weren't they all?

"Stop screeching, Tamaki," Kyoya ordered offhandedly.

"But Mori-senpai," Tamaki continued to flap his arms like a disgruntled pelican. "You'll be lonely without Honey-senpai!"

He really wouldn't be but Tamaki's concern was appreciated nonetheless. He understood Tamaki's strange obsession with a family-like relationship among them. But Izzy was right, attending university would be something completely different than what he and Mitsukuni were used to.

Mori patted Tamaki on the head. "I'll be fine," he said after a moment.

Tears began filling his pretty amethyst eyes, which didn't surprise Mori all that much. Tamaki was dramatic. "You're so brave, Senpai," he practically wailed before sailing away into Izzy. For once she didn't react violently, opting instead to loop one arm around him.

"There, there, Tamaki. Mori said he'll be fine," she patted at his back with a weak smile. "Besides, I'll still be around too so he won't be completely alone, remember?" Tamaki dramatically shoved his face into her neck, coiling around her like a snake. "I can't work like this, Tamaki."

But he wouldn't let go and that just allowed the twins to join in. She couldn't withstand their weight and it soon resulted in an impromptu dog pile on the floor. It wasn't complete without Honey jumping in but it didn't stop Izzy from eventually slapping all three of them when Mori finally decided to pull her out.

Izzy peeked into Ouran's dojo, grinning when she spotted Izuru. She hadn't spoken to him since Sunday but that was only because he was avoiding her. It didn't sit right with her, she was fond of their friendship and if she could salvage it, she would.

"Izuru!" Izzy called quite loudly, disrupting the club. She waved cheerfully when the entire club, Mori included, turned to look at her. She flushed and sheepishly waved at them, chuckling when they waved back. "Izuru, I need to talk to you!"

He didn't immediately move, so a nearby clubmate shoved him into her direction. "Pretty girl wants you, you shouldn't make her wait."

Except Izzy didn't really want him. But still, he couldn't really brush her off in front of their entire club. Not when they obviously adored the oblivious brunette. There's no way Mori would let him get away without ignoring her. So, he approached her, his shoulders squared.

"Don't look so glum," Izzy joked once he was standing in front of her. She turned and led him out of the dojo and into the silence of the hallway. "You've been avoiding me."

He shuffled his feet, staring down at the floor instead. "I thought it was for the best."

Her smile vanished immediately and she sighed. "I've been told by my friends that I'm a little…oblivious and far too agreeable. There may be some truth to that…"

"A little?"

She impatiently waved his words off. "I..I'm sorry I don't return your feelings and it was wrong for me to accept going on a date with you without realizing it was an actual date."

Izuru eyed the brunette for a long time. "Is it…really that hard for you to believe that someone has a crush on you? You can't possibly think that boys who do just want to be your friend."

She blinked at the question, a little caught off guard. "Shouldn't you want to be friends with the person you like? Every relationship needs a foundation to build off of, a friendship, right?"

Well, he supposed that was a fair point. One of the reasons he liked her so much was because of their easy friendship. Izabera was the sort of girl whose beauty could intimidate but once somebody got to know her, she was really just a sweetheart and he liked that about her. Izuru sighed, this was his fault anyway. He knew deep down that she wasn't romantically interested in him. She paid Mori far too much attention for her to be interested in anyone else, even if she didn't realize it.

"I'm sorry, Senpai. I took advantage of your kindness and put you in an awkward spot."

"I could have paid a little more attention. But…Izuru…I am sorry that I don't return your feelings but I really do enjoy our friendship."

"You do?"

"Of course! I was hoping this wouldn't affect our friendship but I understand if it does. No hard feelings on my end," she replied with an apologetic expression. It was probably selfish of her to want to continue a friendship with him knowing he had amorous feelings for her.

Izuru eyed her for a long second before sighing. "Friends, that's good, Senpai," he decided after a moment. He felt something in his chest flutter at the sight of her smile only for it to tighten painfully. He'd known perfectly well that no romance would really come from their relationship from the start. It had all been just wishful thinking on his part.

She clapped in victory. "Saluti," she cheered happily. "Let's be friends, yeah?"

It wasn't exactly what he wanted from her but it was enough. He wasn't in the business of forcing his feelings onto her or guilting her for it. She was right to point out that friendship was important.

"So," he turned back towards the dojo and she turned with him, obviously intending to return as well. "You and Mori-senpai?"

Izzy instantly began to blush. "Is that something you really want to talk about?"

"Not in particular."

She laughed and ducked into the dojo, waving again before finding her seat out of the way. Some of the other members who were standing nearby spoke to her briefly. All it took was one smile and they hurried away with red faces.

Izuru laughed, Mori-senpai sure had his work cut out for him.

"Hey, Fumi?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think Shinobu would ever forgive my mom?" Izzy asked as Ogen escorted them from Hiroki's bedroom. They'd spent their afternoon there after school, listening to their grandfather tell them all sorts of stories of their mothers growing up. He never really told them about Takuma but they never really asked.

It was obvious that Hiroki missed Masami but Shinobu never really said much about her daughter. There was the occasional insult or criticism but she never said much else about Masami.

She was still hoping that her mother would get over herself and speak to Hiroki before he died. It's what he wanted the most in the world so he'd accept the apology. But could the same be said for Shinobu? She wasn't really sure. She wasn't sure if Shinobu even liked Masami.

"I'm not really sure, honestly," Fumiko answered truthfully. Her grandmother wasn't exactly the forgiving kind and from the bits and pieces she's been told, Masami had spewed some nasty things to her parents before running off.

She always found that kind of hard to believe. The Aunt Sami that she knew was a sweet woman who liked to tease those around her. In fact, Masami reminded her a lot of Izabera. So maybe Masami's temper was explosive if it was anything like her daughter's.

"Does she really need Shinobu's forgiveness though?" Fumiko asked as Ogen held the door open for them. Izzy was sure to thank her. "Does she really need Hiroki's forgiveness?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Izzy asked, ushering Fumiko into the car first before sliding in after.

"Well, Shinobu and Hiroki ran your mom's life from the minute she could walk, right? She did everything they asked and when she finally wanted something for herself, they said no."

"Right…"

"Aunt Sami loved Uncle Al enough to do something like that and she still loves him. Why apologize for that?"

"Because she hurt others around her?"

"Like who? My mom? Shinobu and Hiroki's decisions when it came to my mom is what hurt her. I'm sure mama would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed. Besides, Aunt Sami's choice is the reason mom ended up with papa."

Izzy sat back into the expensive upholstery, frowning thoughtfully. "You know, you're far more insightful than you let on."

Fumiko grinned back at her. "I know, that's why I let everyone just think I'm an airhead. That way, they won't force me to partake in their ridiculous company."

"The ridiculous company is what lets you go on all those shopping sprees of yours."

"I suppose but papa has money too."

Izzy conceded with a laugh. She always wondered what Shinobu might think of Fumiko if she knew her airheadedness was just a persona so they wouldn't force responsibility onto her.

"Fumi?"

"Yes?"

Izzy paused with a thoughtful look on her face when the car came to a stop in front of Chihiro's massive home. "Can you help me with something?"

"Sure, what is it?" Fumiko could spot Aimi waiting for them, though she looked almost…nervous.

"I have…a date tomorrow."

Fumiko's gaze was hard as she stared at her older cousin. "Oh, for Heaven's sake! Who asked you this time? At least you know it's a date."

"Ara…Mori."

"…Excuse me?"

"Mori asked me out on a date. To the Zoo."

"Mori-senpai."

"Yes."

"From your class."

"There's only one."

"You're sure it's a date? Will the rest of your friends be there?"

"Not that I know of and he definitely called it a date. I just wanted your opinion on something to wear tomorrow."

"Finally!" Fumiko cheered, clapping excitedly. Izzy only followed after her, smiling in amusement. Truthfully she didn't really need her cousin's help but she thought it would be nice anyway. Besides, Fumiko was the one who believed there was something between Mori and her from the start. She deserved this victory.

"Welcome home," Aimi nervously smiled and took their bags. "Ah, Chihiro-sama asked that you meet her in the living room. It's important."

"Mama's home? That's different," Fumiko commented airily but made her way to the living room, Izzy on her heels. "What were you thinking of wearing, Iz? Something really cute."

"I'm not sure, I don't even think Mori pays attention to the type of clothes I wear."

"Doubtful but okay. You have to wear a skirt, obviously."

"Why?"

"Because you wore one for Izuru."

"Oh, for Heaven's sake."

Fumiko laughed heartily but came to a sudden halt once she stepped into the living room. Izzy nearly ran into her, skirting out of the way to avoid a collision. "Fumiko? What…."

Chihiro wasn't alone in the living room. She was sitting with five other individuals. Chihiro was smiling nervously from her spot but said nothing as realization hit Izzy square in the face.

"…Mama? What are you all doing here in Japan?"

Tee: sometimes I wonder if I should write little bits and pieces of Tamaki and Haruhi's romance but then I realized they literally have an entire anime and manga dedicated for that while my boy Mori was given NOTHING. Everyone got a good plotline for their character except Mori and when he did get some attention, it was usually had something to do with Honey. I fight for Mori-senpai's rights, I will go down for it.

Anyway, I had surgery again and once I was able to sit up somewhat, decided to finish this. Was it agonizing? Absolutely. But was it worth it? Always. So please enjoy this chapter and give me lots of reviews because we love it here.

One of my favorite things is when I get a review when I'm writing the next chapter saying they need the update. I'm like mama is on the way, you are getting that next chapter sooner rather than later. Lol, I appreciate yall and hope you enjoyed.