I could only gape at the guy in front of me.
"Uhh….umm...I'm sorry...I'm not here for that...I, er, took a wrong turn….Point me to the door and i'll just, um, get outta your hair…" He stepped a bit closer, head cocked to the side, and i let out an involuntary squeak.
"Are you quite sure?" I nodded vigorously, head tucked into my chest and eyes averted from the guy in front of me. There was a moment of silence, before something touched my cheek and i let out a small shriek and leapt back upon finding the guy right in front of me, head bent low to mine having caused his hair to brush my face. "Are you ok? You seem...frightened." I could only stutter in shock at his sudden closeness.
"N-n-n-no-o-o-o i-i-i-'m f-f-f-i-i-in-ne." His eyes narrowed as if he was looking deep into my very soul.
"No you're not. You're terrifie-wah!" Somehow, he lost his balance as he leaned closer and fell. Tipping into me and knocking us both down. Suffice it to say it was an awkward position to be caught in as even as we hit the ground a light suddenly appeared as a door was thrown open and Tamaki was heard screaming,
"WE'RE COMING FOR YOU NALA DO NOT FEAR WE WON'T LET NEKOZAWA HAVE…..you?" I craned my head over the shoulder of the figure on top of me to find the horrified host club members staring in at us.
"Uh..hey guys...wanna help a sister out?" Tamaki, the twins, and Honey continued to gape.
"Mitsukuni don't look." Mori put his hand over Honey's eyes and began pulling him away from the door.
"Takashi what is Nal-chan doing with Nekozawa-kun?"
"I'll tell you later." My face burned and i couldn't help but holler,
"Dang it Mori! Nothing is happening that needs to be told of or not told of!"
"Hmph." I rolled my eyes before giving my best puppy dog eyes to Tamaki.
"Tttaaammaakkiii help me please!" Rather than help me, i could've sworn i saw his soul float away as he crumbled to the ground muttering to himself. "Hikaru? Kaoru?" They appeared to snap out of their dazed state, but i knew i was screwed as soon as i saw the matching smirks on their faces.
"Nope!"
"You got into it,"
"You can get out of it." And with that they grabbed the 'boss' and pulled him away. That left Haruhi standing there staring at me in shock.
"Haru don't leave me to!" I was starting to panic a bit at the thought of being stuck alone with this guy in the dark. I hate the dark "Don't go Ha-" Even as i spoke and she stepped forward, Tamaki appeared out of no where seemingly perfectly fine and shouting,
"NO HARUHI MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER DO NOT ENTER THAT ROOM OF EVIL AND CALAMITY!" And yanked her away in a small whirlwind. I began to freak out then.
"Get off of me!" Thrashing furiously, i shoved the guy off of me and scrambled back away from him as far as possible. He dazedly sat up and began talking to his hand puppet cat thingy. I caught something being said about it being too bright, before, a moment later the door slammed shut pitching the room into total darkness.
"Hey! W-wait a minute! Turn the light on! Black magic club guy!? HEYY-Oh." My shouting stopped a split second later when a candle flickered dimly across the room throwing its' wavering light over the 'small' side room. I glanced warily at it, before glancing from side to side.
Scooting forward a few feet, i glanced from side to side again before zipping across the room to the wonderful little light source. Ahhh thank goodness. Wait….pausing i furrowed my brows in confusion. Where'd that guy go? He must've heard me and lit this so he can't be a total creep...granted his introduction could've used some, er, work. But he must have a sense of humanity. Sooo… "Hey!" I hollered into the darkness that the light danced at the edge of. "Cape dude! I know you're there so come out here right now!" There was no response and i stamped my foot in frustration. What on earth? That little….wait! I'VE GOT IT! Sliding my hands into my pocket i grinned when i found what i was looking for. Now what was it Tamaki called him…? Oh right Nekozawa! "OY NEKOZAWA! I've got gum! Come out and i'll give you a piece!" A moment later there was a small scuffle in the dark and a whisper.
"Gum?" I heaved a sigh. He sounds like he has no idea what i'm talking about.
"Ya know? Chewing gum? I dunno do you rich people have a fancy name for it?"
"No." He appeared at the edge of the light and i held myself very still. Rule numba 9: Do not show fear.
"Cool. Here." I stuck my hand out holding said piece of gum and began to deliberately avoid looking at him as he edged forward. It was like trying to convince a shy animal to come towards you, and i couldn't help but feel a tad bit successful upon feeling him take it from my hand.
"Sssoo….." Is now a bad time to mention the door and leaving? Before i could act upon my thoughts he murmured a thank you and being the polite human being i was i responded how social etiquette dictates.
"No problem….so, uh, you don't get a lot of visitors to your...club...do you." He shook his head.
"No not many people are interested in it."
"Hmm. Might have something to do with your getup….and the darkness….and...yeah." He shrugged, not looking at me.
"I couldn't change it even if i wanted to. I'm allergic to the sunlight so it would be a problem." My heart pinged almost painfully at the idea of not being able to go out into or see the sunlight, to not be able to feel it's soft warmth radiating down on you, or seeing the light licker and play over the ocean.
"I'm sorry. That sucks dude. I-" I was cut off by the door opening to frame Kyoya in the light.
"Miss Fuyumi, you have guests waiting for you." Urgh Kyoya!
"Fine, fine. I;m coming Ootori hold your horses for a minute will ya?" I could picture his eyebrow going straight up if his cynical response was any clue to how my comment made him feel.
"I have no trouble holding my horses Miss Fuyumi. Unless of course you'd like to prove me wrong on that account as well?" I balefully rolled my eyes muttering not nice things under my breath at him as i stalked through the door, not so softly brushing by him. Gosh he ticks me off sometimes! Flicking a glance back over my shoulder i waved back at Nekozawa before Kyoya shut the door behind us both.
"What do you think of domestic abuse Nala-san?" I raised an eyebrow at Kana's question quizzically.
"Are you asking from experience or just because?" She looked horrified and shook her head waving her hands frantically.
"Oh no no no! Just because! Not from experience!" I pursed my lips thoughtfully. How to answer this….Wait! Got it!
"Ladies... no one should put their hands on you. I mean no one. There's a difference in giving a simple 'whooping' or being hit violently out of anger... it's not a mistake when it happens more than once.. it becomes a habit. Some of you may or may not have been abused or you at least knew or knew of someone that was being harmed in their own home or by a partner. The classic excuses 'he said sorry', 'she said she will make it up to me', 'i love them'. Before you love anyone else, please love yourself first."
Sometimes i wish i had said something years ago.. but i was only a child. I was scared… "You should have room in your heart for those that actually love you and for yourself. You're worth so much and we start degrading ourselves for that one person. If you know someone is being abused, speak up" .I gave the girls a sad smile. "My biggest problem though is this. This generation doesn't speak up or reach out...we are too afraid or don't believe things will get better. So we think sitting there will make things better? No.. you have to try. Your safety is important. . You're important, and i say this because i care. Do not ever making excuses for them. Someone who loves you wouldn't put you down, hurt you or enjoy seeing you in pain. You need to leave them as soon as you can so you can avoid more hurt, because it only gets worse." Kana and the other girls looked at me tearfully, clutching their hands together over their hearts and one girl began swooning.
"Nalaaaaa-san is so smart!"
"She isn't afraid to speak her mind on these things!"
"Ayyyeee!"
I facepalmed. Here i am totally serious and i get this? Why do i even…..
"Nala-san….." I turned to face the mousy looking girl who's name i seemed to still be unable to remember. "I...Kana was asking because…." She turned away so i couldn't see her face, and my heart skipped a beat in fear of what her next words would be. "My boyfriend...he started hitting me recently…" The words were the barest whisper of shame and i heard the soft hiccupped sob in her voice. "It's all my fault...i tried to take your advice and stand up tall but he…" Her lip trembled. "Didn't like that…." My pulse skyrocketed and anger filled my veins to the brim.
"Look at me darling." She slowly, hesitantly turned to face me when i gently took her face between my hands. Leaning my forehead against hers i spoke softly. "This is not your fault. The only one at fault here is your damn abuser. He is a no good asshole who can't see the beautiful girl he was blessed with to love him. Darling….don't beat yourself up over it, you are worth the world to so many people. I know i care for you so much, as a friend and even as the club's family. I won't let this continue." She broke down then at my low, whispered words and threw herself into my arms. Over her head i made eye contact with Kana as she teared up while she watched me embrace the sobbing girl. "You did well Kana. I'm proud." I spoke softly, before gently disengaging the girl, i placed her in her friend's arms and stood up.
"Nal-chan where are you going?" I glanced over at Honey's concerned voice, and smiled humorlessly.
"To teach this bastard a lesson." I then sprinted out of the room. Kana is a genius my gosh. Puzzle pieces from the last few days began replaying over in my head. Her showing me a picture of the boyfriend, mentioning his name, the sport he played after school, it all led me to where i knew he would be at the moment.
Storming into the guy's locker room, i hollered at the top of my lungs,
"BOTAN AKIHIKO GET YOUR ASS IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW!" The two other boys in the locker room stared at me in horror as i stood there, practically trembling with rage as Botan rounded the corner of a row of lockers.
Tall, with evil looking brownish red eyes, and a mop of unruly, dull black hair with a permanent sneer etched onto his mouth, i wondered what on earth possessed the girl to go out with him. But, pushing those thoughts aside i took a more direct course of action.
"Botan you asshole!" I shrieked and lunged at him, slugging him in the face as hard as humanly possible. I think i busted his nose because he reared back clutching it with a roar of pain. The other two boys bolted from the locker room, presumably to get a teacher, leaving me alone with him. "You hurt her! You hurt your girlfriend! THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS YOU ASS! We are put here to be protected and cherished! Never hurt! We were taken by God from the side of a man as his equal, not from under his foot to be walked all over, but from by his heart to be protected, under his arm to be held. You don't fucking mistreat a girl cause you wanna!" My voice dropped to a furious whisper as i snarled my next words. "You don't deserve her you incompetent fool." His hair fell over his eyes so i couldn't see his expression, but what i didn't expect, was the dark laughter that started bubbling up out of him. It made fear flash through me and i took a small step back. Hands raised in fists in front of me protectively.
"Don't deserve her you say?" His head lolled back and i let out a small yelp upon seeing his eyes completely blank, devoid of any and all life. It was like staring into clouded glass.
"B-botan?" What the hell is this!? He grinned evilly at me.
"Botan cared for that stupid girl yesssss." The words hissed out of his mouth. "But I did not like that. She was weak, hheee wassss sstrong. It took me weekssss to get even a sssssmall hold on himmm. But now? Noww Botan isss mine!" I took another step back as he advanced, and accidentally knocked over a baseball bat left lying against the locker. Might want that….this isn't going as expected….So thinking, i scooped it up.
"What the hell are you talking about? Not Botan? If you're not Botan then who….or what the hell are you!?" The door behind me banged open and Kyoya's voice filled the locker room.
"It's an Amanojaku." Say what?
"What the hell Ootori? Where'd you come from? And he's a whoey?" I heard Kyoya sigh and could only imagine him pushing his glasses up in exasperation at my questions.
"If you didn't keep getting into trouble and give me these premonitions i wouldn't be here Miss Fuyumi. As for what that is, it's an oni-like creature. Not directly an Oni but still part of the Waru. They are just a particularly twisted type of youkai, or ghost, who is able to provoke a person and instigate him to do evil deeds. They're often the spirits of contradiction and perversity. And this fellow, has been possessed by one." He sighed heavily again. "And you Nala, have managed to provoke it enough to reveal itself. Honey and Mori will take care of the situation from here, it's their job." Even as he spoke their names there was a soft tug on my jacket and i flicked my gaze down to find Honey there.
"Don't worry Nal-chan. We know what we're doing. Please go out with Kyo-chan until we're done?" I hesitated, but was thoroughly convinced that leaving was the best option when Botan flashed teeth that were suddenly far too sharp to be human teeth.
"Ya know what i like that idea! Let's go Ootori!" And so saying, i thrust the bat into Mor's hands, grabbed Kyoya's hand and zoomed out of the locker room slamming the door shut behind us.
"Honestly Miss Fuyumi. I swear you attract trouble right and left, you're worse than Haruhi." I rolled my eyes, dropping his hand and stepping away.
"Yeah, yeah." Glancing back at the door upon hearing a resounding thud and a cry, i turned back to Kyoya. "Hey….is he gonna be ok…?"
"Who is?" Another glance towards the door from me.
"Botan. He...this...his girlfriend...it's all just insane!" Kyoya sighed at me, probably lamenting my stupidity.
"He'll be fine Nala. After Honey and Mori are done he will be...strongly convinced that leaving Ouran and his girlfriend is for the best. It's a win win for all parties." I gave him a funky look.
"Hey Ootori?"
"Yes?"
"Did you know that every time you sigh a little bit of happiness escapes?" He blinked at me in confusion.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me the first time buddy." Another thud and i winced. "Moral of the story is that you shouldn't sigh as much."
*Thud*
Ok i give up this is ridiculous i can't listen to this! "Alright i'm going back to the host club i can't stand here and not do a thing to help!" Turning i began walking down the hall, before slowing, then pausing. "Ootori?"
"What?" Now he just sounded peeved.
"Hey don't pull that attitude on me! I was just gonna say that i'm sorry about causing trouble for all you guys i...didn't expect him to be possessed and all that crap." Another sigh from behind me. At this rate i'm going to find myself checking his head for grey hair. Honestly you'd think he had the most ridiculously hard time in the world dealing with me when all i'm doing is trying to help!
"It's fine Nala. Just head back and take care of your customers. You seem to have a bad habit of leaving them every time something works you up.
"That was one time!"
"It doesn't matter." WHY IS HE ALWAYS SO CALM AND COOL ABOUT THIS STUFF MY GOSH! I began walking again, and called over my shoulder rather than stopping again.
"Ya know i see this as the beginning of a wonderful and bright friendship between us one of these days buddy!" Without waiting for a response i dashed off leaving a thoroughly bewildered Kyoya standing by the guy's locker room door.
***Authors Note***
I seem unable to not bring drama into everything gee whiz haha! But yeah working on incorporating more SN stuff. Let me know what you all think plz it means a lot to me to get your reviews and PM's and kinda perks up my day. I'm sorry for being so slow again just...life is falling apart and i find myself unable to get ideas while everything is going on but i'm trying. Everyone who sent me ideas for my writers block problem really helped me out a lot and i find myself getting more inspired these last few days. So thank you all for everything even the small things like the reviews, follows, or favs really makes me happy and i find myself more able to work on this so thank you all and enjoy this new chapter!