It was three days since Nala had been released from the private hospital room, and five days since the attack of the Aka Manto. She'd been trying to get in touch with Maddy for several days now, still with no results, and she had the feeling she was forgetting something important that would remind her of where her cousin had gone off to.
She really doesn't travel much though….her father doesn't let her travel remember? UGH WHY IS THIS SO COMPLICATED!?
"Speaking of complicated, we still have the matter of physical examinations coming up. We managed to get through it last time, but this year with all the doctors who will be coming in and out of the school I have a bad feeling about this."
"Wait….did I say that out loud?"
Kyoya glanced over at her from where he was sitting on the other side of the small table in the club doing finances and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes Nala you did. I'm thinking we'll have Maria come in and stick by you throughout the day. I already called her and asked her to stop by for a quick briefing."
"What day?"
"Did something happen?"
Nala jumped a bit at the voices right behind her and turned to find the rest of the hosts gathered there with worried looks.
"Oh not me guys don't worry, it's about the physical exams coming up again."
"NO I WON'T LET THEM TOUCH MY DARLING HARUHI I CAN'T BEAR THE THOUGHT!"
"Senpai no one would be touching me…."
Tamaki didn't hear her, instead growing pale at whatever he was imagining in his inner mind theater and swooning to the ground as his spirit started floating away from his body.
"BOSS!"
The twins were instantly there, grabbing at his soul and trying to shove it into his now overdramatically prone body. Haruhi merely shook her head and muttered in annoyance under her breath. Chuckling, Nala stepped over to her.
"Ya know Haru, if i didn't know how hard he had fallen for you, I would think he's not straight with how he acts sometimes with men and women alike and the drama he throws into everything."
She shoved Nala's shoulder playfully and scowled.
"Oh yeah totally and I'd think that Kyoya was the leader of a gang of assassins."
Both girls both paused to glance back at the brooding boy who was having a quiet discussion with Mori over something. His face had a pleasant smile on it, but his eyes were sly as always behind his ever flashing glasses. Haruhi and Nala looked back at each other, and broke down laughing. Gasping for breath, with tears in her eyes, Nala shook her head at her best friend as they held onto each other to keep from falling down.
"Haruhi we both know that that's probably not that far from the truth!"
She sniggered.
"I'll have to work on my come backs with you."
We were still laughing to each other when the knock at the clubroom door came and Mori stood to open it. As the door swung open, it revealed a tall, American woman with curly, blonde hair, and cornflower blue eyes. With a gasp, Nala straightened and took off across the room.
"MARIA!"
Laughing the woman braced herself for Nala's hug and was ready for when the girl crashed into her.
"Hey there kiddo it's been a few weeks huh?"
Or course, they'd kept in touch through phone calls and texts, but with Maria needing to work not only on Nala's case, but others as well, and being the lead detective on catching officer Tokiya, she had been a bit too busy for afternoon coffee.
"It's been...eventful."
Nala was careful with her words, mainly because she knew that Maria didn't know about the hosts, but also just because she didn't feel comfortable discussing issues of believing in magic with the woman. Family or not, it wasn't a safe topic to discuss especially with how private she'd come to realize the world of magic was about it's secrets.
"I'm sure." Maria raised an eyebrow. "Now, would anyone care to explain to me why Mr. Ootori called me down here?"
"Ah yes. Thank you for coming detective." Kyoya stood and approached to shake her hand. "We had a bit of a matter that is coming up that we realized will need your attention."
"I'm listening."
Maria stepped past him and went to the table, sitting down and smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress pants at the action. Kyoya followed, and sat across from her, chin resting gently on his hands.
"Well, you see, physical examinations are coming up, and as such there will be quite a few strangers coming in and out of the building. We deemed it prudent to have you come and stay with Nala during the time because even though we're bringing in one of my family doctors to discreetly examine her herself, there will still be a great deal of strangers in the building so if Nala's enemies wanted a time to strike, it would be the perfect opportunity."
Maria nodded, her cornflower blue eyes solemn.
"Agreed. Speaking of enemies, officer Tokiya has been rather quiet of late. He hasn't been flirting up a storm like he normally does, and he's kept to himself. So something has happened within their organization that's gotten the pressure going on him."
The hosts stared at her as she spoke, and when she stopped the twins chipped in.
"So,"
"Does this mean,"
"That he'll make a mistake soon?"
"And you'll be able to get him?"
Mori nodded his agreement and Honey bounced around with a happy grin at the thought.
Nala on her part, looked at their exuberant faces at that thought, and even though she felt joy at the prospect, she really just felt tired. She was tired of looking over her shoulder, the lack of sleep because of the creaking noises throughout the apartment that kept her up at night, the worry that plagued her daily thoughts, and the confusion over how she had really gotten caught up in all of this.
Letting out a sigh, Nala joined in the conversation.
"Yeah, it would be really nice if they did. I'm so done with all of this and in all honesty I still don't really understand what's happening."
Maria glanced at her sadly.
"I know hun, it'll be over soon hopefully though and everything will be normal again. Since we hit dead ends on backtracking with Tokiya's records, we've been going through yours and your parent's to see if anyone could have any motivation against you."
"But who could have a motive against Nal-chan?"
Honey stared up at Maria with his big eyes opened wide, but as Nala stared at him, she noticed something she hadn't before. His eyes were so full of life. They were so open and quick, so full of a lightening intelligence that she hadn't seen in anyone but Kyoya before.
It shocked her seeing it and only just realizing that this child like young man, was in fact on par with the infamous Ootori. Glancing away in shock, she caught Haruhi looking at her, but to her surprise, Haruhi just nodded her head and mouthed the words 'I know' in complete understanding.
"We don't know yet. Against Nala there's really nothing I can think of or that has come up that gives anyone motive against her. Her father though," she shot Nala an apologetic look, "Well, he's a different story, but at the same time all the people we've checked out don't have enough motive to go for his daughter now that he's dead."
"Damn Nala, someone seriously hates you."
Seriously hates….seriously hates….where have I….
"IRELAND!"
Her sudden outburst surprised the other hosts, and Tamaki who had appeared out of nowhere spoke up.
"All of Ireland hates you?"
He looked highly confused.
"Huh? Wait, what? No! Ireland is where Maddy is! i just remembered because you guys were talking about people who seriously hate me, and I was over here like well Maddy's dad hates my guts, and then I remembered that's where she is, and I'm going to shut up now."
Nala stopped rambling at the looks the hosts were giving her.
The twins were full of humorous confusion, Haruhi was laughing at the shocked looks of the other hosts, Tamaki and Honey was gaping at her as she chattered while Mori looked on with laughter in his eyes, and Maria and Kyoya had calculating gazes as they stared at her.
"He hates you...I hadn't thought of that…"
"Do you think it's worth investigating Maria?"
Nala refused to let it irk her over Kyoya's comfortable use of the pretty, blonde woman's name, and the congenial way they got along.
"It could be worth investigating."
They can't be serious.
"Guys there's no way that Maddy's dad is responsible for this. I mean sure he hates my guts, but he's family…"
Maria raised an eyebrow, and Kyoya behind her at the table did the same.
They think way too much alike it's scary.
"Nala you've gotta take into account that married couples try to murder each other some time, parents abuse their kids," she looked pointedly at me, "distant family rape and sexually abuse others in the family. You can't take too much stock in them being family."
Nala sighed heavily, shoulders slumping as she realized what Maria said was true.
"It's ok Nala,"
"It's why you have us."
The twins were suddenly there, with their arms around her shoulders and grins on their faces.
"Yeah! The host club is a family!"
Honey clambered up her leg like a monkey, and Mori nodded with a "hm" of agreement as he patted her head. Tamaki from where he stood behind Kyoya with his arm around Haruhi's waist smiled and happy voiced his agreement in his own goofy way.
Without even realizing it, a smile had crept up over Nala's face at the antics of the hosts, and in that moment, she realized just exactly how much she really cared about them. Even if they weren't family by blood, they were the only family she would ever need to get through anything.
*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V
The sorcerer looked at the bloody mess on his table and huffed his anger. It had failed again. It seemed that no matter how many times he tried it, he couldn't perfectly meld the two bodies. They always came out like this. He turned away from the bloody mess of indistinguishable lumps on the old fashioned metal operating table, and stepped closer to the shaking man in the corner. He could smell the heat from where the man had wet himself in fear, and the rank smell of vomit was splattered across the floor and walls by the man.
"Officer Tokiya," The creature purred the man's name, and lightly ran it's claws over the concrete walls, enjoying the way the officer flinched in fear on the ground. "That, was a warning. If we don't get the girl soon for his lordship, I'm afraid that the next time you're down here with me, well, it won't just be to watch. Understood?"
The man whimpered and curled in tighter on himself as if he could block out the horror he had just witnessed happen. Sighing, the sorcerer jerked a hand carelessly towards the exit.
"You're free to go now."
Officer Tokiya scrambled to his feet and staggered towards the exit, carefully not looking at the blood splattered floors, or the body on the table. When he reached the rope ladder that led to the freedom that sunlight and clean air brought with them, the sorcerer called his name making him freeze with his hand on the ladder to stable it.
"Tokiya, remember, do not strike right now that they are expecting it. Wait till their vulnerable moments. If you do that, well, you're far less likely to end up on that table with the poor animals hm? Run away now little boy, I have things to do that would scare you far more than what you just witnessed,a nd since I don't see the need to shatter your mind right now, get out."
The officer was gone within seconds, leaving behind him only the swinging rope ladder, and the thick stench of fear. The sorcerer stood in the shadows of the room well away from the scarce light that the candles provided as he thought things over. Seemingly coming to some sort of decision, it turned, crossed the room with long strides and jerked open a door on the far wall that showed stairs that descended down into a darkness so black it felt tangible.
He needed to tell his master that the time was approaching, and that the contract would soon be fulfilled.
A glance back before he shut the door, and the monster carelessly shrugged before slamming the door with with a bang. The blood and body didn't bother him, if anything it's stench would keep people even farther away from his hidden abode than they normally did.
It had been a good day, maybe tomorrow he would try the spell he had created to meld animals and humans.
Maybe, if he was lucky, this time it would come out right.
**Author's Note**
Ok, so I know it's been a little while since we had a new chapter, BUT it's finally here! I hope it met everyone's expectations, and that you enjoy it. To bo entirely honest I had the most fun writing the sorcerer's part. It felt good to be switching up the viewpoint and having a little more of a dark undertone because I feel like the hosts have been a little lax when it comes to showing how serious the situation is. Anyway, what did you all think? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and also happy febuary vacation from me! i hope you all enjoy yours! I may have another chapter up next week, but I can't promise that right now. Enjoy.
Shout out to…
Kerva (As much as I want to answer that, you'll have to wait and see where her story goes because it's separate)
animegal1357 (AGREED! Don't worry though things are gonna start happening real soon)
bobisfake0 (Hehe I'm glad you enjoyed that! PM me if you can and we can talk about your bio there?)
ocean full of lies (Not at all! You're on a good track with that ! Shipping all around woohoo! Sorry sleep deprivation from midterms has me all out of whack)
ktmyldy28 (Shush of course you don't waste my time with your words! I truly enjoy responding to all the reviews :) As it is, I'm glad this chapter opened up all those questions for you guys because it means I'm on the right track, you'll have to wait and see where it goes though!)
Kerva + Black konako + AprilDaniel + bobisfake0 + MeganElizabeth99 + Mizuki6655 + Da DJ Jazzy Maxyne + Nimue Tsukikoi + Anghel Ni Kamatayan + CalicoKitty402 + SpaceWolf19 + Naiya Elise + DiamondThief360 + RhinoFangirl532 + NotTellingYou5334 + skittlelover1998 (You're all literally AMAZING so thank you all for the follows/favs!)