We never really got back to that talk. Mainly because i got sick.
"You really didn't have to do this guys!" My voice was raspy, and i began coughing after i finished talking, which sent the hosts into a flurry of activity. Kaoru and Hikaru ran to prop me up with pillows, Honey tried force feeding me water and toast, Haruhi was held back by Tamaki to 'avoid infection', and Mori held Honey back from force feeding my poor self while Kyoya merely ignored us all as he worked at Haruhi's desk on his laptop. "Guys, relax. I'll be fine, it's just a cold. Nothing none of us haven't had before." Well it is for now anyway
"B-but!" Tamaki began spluttering, and flailing his arms dramatically. "What if it's perhaps an evil spirit from the graveyard who took advantage of your weakened state and forced itself onto you thus bringing this infection into your body!" I rolled my eyes discreetly, but didn't laugh since i knew Tamaki was deadly serious.
"Tamaki, the likelihood of that happening, is about as big as that of having the split mouth woman approach me on the street, or the Aka Manto coming to me in the girl's bathroom in Ouran. Neither of which i count on happening." The guys had all gone quiet as i'd spoken, and Honey now staring at me solemnly, shook his head.
"Be careful Nal-chan. They don't like being spoken of so casually." His big brown eyes were scarily solemn suddenly, and a shiver crawled up my spine. "The Waru can hear you when you talk about them Nal-chan, that's why, even if you don't want to, you need to talk about them with some reverence." The shiver increased, until it felt like cold fingers were running their way up and down my spine, glancing at Haruhi, she just nodded at me confirming what Honey had said. turning my face back to him, i spoke quietly.
"My apologies guys, and anything else listening, i meant no disrespect." The sensation of cold fingers disappeared instantly, which freaked me out even more, but before i could question it, i sneezed. Hard. The hosts were now back in action, hurrying around in their attempts to help me. I shot Haruhi and Kyoya pleading looks, because all i wanted at this point was to sleep, and they seemed like the only two sensible enough to understand that. Haruhi seemed to get the message, because she shooed everyone out, shut the door in their wake, and pulled the blinds in her room. I could hear them outside, whispering and plotting, but choosing to ignore it, i faced Haruhi as she sat down next to me on the edge of the bed.
"Hey Nala."
"Hi Haru!" She smiled at me, and for the first time, i noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "Haru you need some sleep to! You look so tired." She deadpanned, before rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"I know Nala, Tamaki has been...insistent the last few weeks. It's starting to take it's toll i think." I frowned heavily. I gotta talk to that kid, he doesn't even realize it i bet. Realizing this was the perfect opportunity to ask her about the hosts, and their gifts, i snatched the opportunity up in the blink of an eye.
"Say Haru, what's Tamaki's gift like to you? Is it like he's just a vampire, and has more speed and strength than the average human, or is there more?" She frowned thoughtfully for a moment before replying.
"Well, it is more than just that. It's like being a vampire makes him desperateto show emotions, when his kind are renowned for being cold and quiet." She stared thoughtfully out into the distance for a second, "Or he's just as much of an idiot as he's always appeared, and just doesn't know it. I'm not sure i can explain it, when i first met him i thought he was a creep, and he did sexually harass me on a few occasions…" That sounds more like something the twins would do… "But i kind of came to realize that that is just how he is. He grows on you i guess."
I smiled at that,
"Yeah he does. I guess that- ah ah ahhhCHOOO!" I sneezed so hard and so violently that my head flew back and slammed into the headboard.
"Nala!" Haruhi's voice was horrified, and putting her hand to the back of my head, she withdrew it after a moment. "You're bleeding! You need to be more careful!" She sounded angry, which frankly surprised me, she should know better than anyone it wasn't my fault i was sick.
"Sorry Haru…" Reaching my own hand back, i drew it away to find it sticky with blood. Which means it's in my hair crap…. Struggling just a bit, i slid out of the bed. and managed to just barely walk to the door.
The cold had hit hard and fast the night before, which meant it was probably a combined number of health things just hitting me at once. Neither Haruhi or i had been too surprised when i'd started puking last night, because ever since i was little i had been prone to getting nasty colds and infections at odd, unnecessary times. She'd taken one look at me curled up, sweaty and weak, on the bathroom floor, and called the school to let them know neither of us would be coming in. Of course, the hosts all heard about it before first period was even over, and at the end of the school day had rushed to Haruhi's house on Tamaki's command to 'help take care of his poor, sick daughter.
*Eyeroll*
It had been appreciated though, and had made me just a little bit happy to hear Haruhi open the door to them, only to have them all rush to find me. Well except Kyoya and Hikaru. I swear that child has something against me. I would find him glaring at me at times, and whenever i was talking to Kaoru, he would come out of nowhere and do something to drag his twin's attention away from me, or the twin himself.
Weakly, i grabbed the door handle, deciding to worry about it another day. For now all i wanted was to get into a shower, wash the blood away from the small cut on the back of my head, and sleep for the next five years. Screw boys, they can all wait. Not like i really need to worry about Hikaru right now, it'll only make me feel worse.
"I'll be right back Haruhi, i need a shower i feel gross." Waving off her question over if i needed help, i told her i'd be fine, and slowly, hand on the wall the entire time, made my way to the bathroom. The shower felt amazing, in fact it was a little too good on my tired body, and i dozed off sitting down on the shower floor. I jerked awake to the gut feeling we all knew, and managed to find some small sudden burst of energy to throw myself out of the shower to get to the toilet where i proceeded to puke my guts up. I was so sick it burned up and out my nose, and brought tears to my eyes. Gasping for air, i leaned back against the wall ignoring how i was dripping wet, and dragged a towel around my body. There was a knock at the door.
"Nala?" Kyoya's calm voice soothed my mind, if only it could do the same to my body. "Are you ok? We thought we heard something, so Tamaki sent me to check on you." I was too weak at the moment to speak, but i managed to let out a broken, barely there 'no' in answer to his question. "Nala can i come in?" His voice was just as cool as always, nothing hinting what he was thinking, but i knew if i didn't open the door, he'd probably have someone knock it in. Crawling, i made it to the door, and slid my hand up to undo the lock. It took all the energy i had, but i made sure to pull the towel tighter over my body, and to shove back closer to the toilet.
"Come in." My voice was a raw whisper, but he heard it and entered the bathroom. When he came in, he let in the smell of food that was being cooked, and it set my stomach off again, so vaulting up, i collapsed in front of the toilet and began dry heaving violently. The dry heaving was punctuated by involuntary sobs from the pain my body was in. By the time i stopped, i became aware of someone gently rubbing my back, and holding my hair out of my face.
"Gomen Ootori. I know this is definitely not your first choice of things to do with me." I could almost sense his shrug.
"It's fine. Besides if you don't get better, host club profits will drop again." Cue another eyeroll from me. Before i could respond to that, the bathroom door burst open, and Kaoru ran in.
"You ok Nala?! We heard a thud after Kyoya came to check on you so i came to see...what..happened..?" He trailed off in a mix of shock and confusion when he saw the scene in front of him. Something happened in that split second, a tension filled the air between the three of us. It was broken a moment later, when Kyoya abruptly released my hair and pulled away from me, coldly saying.
"Here, you take care of her." Kaoru's response was equally frosty.
"Fine." They brushed by each other, trading places with Kaoru holding my hair for me and gently placing a hand on my shoulder as Kyoya walked off down the hall.
"Thanks Kaoru," I shakily sat up and gently pushed his hands away. "But i'll be fine. Why not you go so i can get dressed and all that, ok?" He stiffened, and something angry? flashed in his eyes before he nodded, and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
That was...strange. Sighing, i took deep breathes until my stomach relaxed enough for me to stand, and slowly get dressed. I don't get it, they've seemed fine, but then all the sudden when it's just us it's weirdly tense? I stared at my pale face in the mirror for a moment, before shrugging at my reflection and opening the bathroom door to leave. Well, maybe Kaoru pranked Kyoya or something? I dunno, if something happens to make it my problem i'll break it up, but for now it's probably best to just let them be. With a decisive nod, i headed down the hall back to my bed.
* A few hours of sleep later *
Sleep, and soup, do wonderful things. A nap for a few hours, and some of Haruhi's homemade soup had me feeling much better. No more queasy stomach, no more stuffy nose, no more hosts in the house. They'd all left while i'd been sleeping, or more aptly, Haruhi had kicked them out for being noisy and waking me up from my much needed sleep. A buzz on the nightstand next to my bed announced a new text from someone. When i checked it, it made me smile.
Maddy -
Just in case you need to hear this today: you are not a failure, you are not a waste of space, you are loved, you are wanted, I believe in you, you can do it! Haruhi texted me and let me know you were sick, just wanted to let you know i'm keeping you in mind, and hope you feel better!
The grin that stretched across my face made my cheeks ache, but i ignored it and continued grinning as i replied.
-Thanks Maddy :) I needed to hear that. Today has been weird to say the least….
-Oh? What happened? How to answer that…
-Well you see, I got sick in the shower and had to jump out to puke, then Kyoya came in, (He's one of the hosts, i think i've mentioned him before.) and he was helping hold my hair back while i puked, then all the sudden Kaoru (Another one of the hosts, I know i've mentioned this one. He's the twin who does the weird 'brotherly love' thing.) came in and seemed all weirded out to see Kyoya holding my hair back before he left the room.
And sent. Maddy didn't reply for a few minutes, but when she did, her answer didn't surprise me. She had always been one to get over dramatic while texting. Personally, i think she just likes to hit capslock.
-Yeah you've mentioned them all. AND PLEASE TELL ME YOU WEREN'T NAKED OH SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL NO WONDER KYOYA WANTED TO HELP YOU AND KAORU GAVE YOU GUYS A WEIRD LOOK!
-Holy crap no! Not naked at all! I grabbed a towel and had it wrapped around my body before anyone came in!
-Thank goodness. Geez dude you had me really scared there for a minute! Don't do that man!
I laughed. I could picture her face while she sent this. Her blue eyes would've been wide with excitement and horror, and she would've been shaking her head in disbelief. A moment later another message came in from her.
-Gotta run Nals, parental units are summoning me ugh. I'm excited for my trip to see you next month, call me later!
I read it, before putting my phone away. On a phone call a few days before, Maddy had mentioned that whenever she said bye, that neither Haruhi or I should text back. Because if we did her parents might see it after she had deleted the conversation, and become curious. Which in turn, would ruin our plans. Excitement flitted through me as i thought over the fact that in just over a month, i'd be seeing someone who was practically my other half, maybe not in blood, but in spirit. Gah i've missed her. I should probably start planning what we do while she's here for the summer, that way we won't have a dull moment. A thud and an argument breaking out from the front door between Haruhi and someone else announced the re-arrival of the host club, and another smile flitted across my face. Of course, it's not like there's ever a dull moment as it is.
* * Authors Note* *
Hey everyone! So ok, i never expected my story to get so many follows, favs, and reviews. Honestly, it has made my life so much better. If this means anything to you guys, but the other day i was having an awful day, it felt like my life was falling apart, and i was on the verge of just running and never stopping, when i got a PM from abitofananimenerd reviewing my story, and it was so sweet and nice that it made me cry. You all have no idea how much i value you guys, and your enjoyment of what i write. I do however have news, my next post will be an author's note of somewhat great importance, so for all those who follow and read this story, you'll want to read that. BUT DON'T WORRY I'M NOT ENDING THE STORY! It's nothing like that at all! Until next time my lovely readers, please enjoy! And let me know what you all think of the new chapter :) My timeline is slowly starting to shrink in the story towards the end and subsequent sequel, so what occurs in the next few chapters will be leading to the climax, so look out for the hints! Also, are you guys ok with me doing a sequel rather than making it one whole story?