A/N: I know I said in the last author's note that this was during the anime/manga, but I am going to make chapters completely made up. Just a, you know, warning.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OC's and stuff like that.
Stress
Kaede
"I don't know if you know this, Ootori, but Tamaki-senpai has got to be the most idiotic person in the world."
"Anyone who doesn't know that may just be more idiotic than him."
Ootori and I was just having our usual talk after school, him drinking that expensive coffee (not) and me drinking a delicious Frappuccino made by Ootori's kitchen staff. Although, when I thanked them, they turned the cold shoulder. They seem to like him quite a bit.
"He's doing that father-daughter thing with Haruhi again," I said, standing up in alarm. "Ugh, Japanese host club guys are so perverted." Ootori laughed.
"You are a Japanese host club guy, Shirai."
"No, I am a Japanese host club girl, get it right," I rolled my eyes. "Excuse me while I interfere with them."
"You're excused."
I walked up to Tamaki-senpai, who was unknowingly harassing Haruhi into wearing a dress. I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Care to tell me what you're doing, Tamaki-senpai?" I asked.
"W-well, I wanted Haruhi to wear this dress for me and look like this!" he cried, pulling out a picture of Haruhi in middle school. I admired it for a moment, then maneuvered to take senpai's hands and twist them on his back.
I whispered into his ear, "I know you're all innocent, senpai, but you are harassing sweet little Haruhi." My warm breath on his neck made him shiver.
"S-sorry," he stammered. I released him, and Haruhi pulled me away.
"Thanks, Kaede," she said gratefully. I smiled at her.
"S'okay," I replied, walking back to Ootori. He looked impressed.
"Sometimes, I believe you might actually kill someone by intimidation, Shirai," he commented. I tied up my hair as we spoke.
"Pfft, the pot calling the kettle black" I rolled my eyes. "By the way, this is a music room, right? Where's the piano?" I hadn't played piano in a while, as my hands were full with quite a few different things.
Ootori tilted his head, fixing his glasses. "You still play often?" I remember he used to listen to my piano playing when were little. Ah...good times.
"Yeah, it's a big part of me," I smiled. Piano was comforting and relaxing; it was a truly beautiful instrument. I loved it more than anything, and that says a lot, considering I do pretty much everything. Ootori stood up, setting down his coffee.
"Follow me," he replied, walking to the corner of the room. He unraveled a beautiful, sparkling grand past the purple curtains. I wasted no time, running to get a random piano book and turning to the hardest song.
I stretched out my fingers. I've been waiting to play on a grand since the plane ride here. To think they had a Steinway right under my nose! My fingers flowed with the piece, and I unconsciously closed my eyes as the rhythm became soothing. Even in sight reading, I could just close my eyes and go with instinct.
Over the piano, I heard the door open and a charming "Welcome, ladies," blended in with the sound. When I reached the last note, it was answered with an awed silence. Then, polite applause broke the air.
"Waa! Kata-chan's a music prodigy!" Mitsukuni-senpai ran to me, rolling in my lap. I cringed at the name again; right, the ladies are here...
"Thanks, senpai," I said with a genuine smile.
"You should join the piano club, Kae-I mean-Katana," Haruhi exclaimed.
"Naw, I'm more of a solo deal," I shook my head, standing from my seat. "Anyways, I'm in the theater club, the host club, and the robotics club. No need for one more." My plate was rather full; I hated being bored and idle, so I signed up for as many things to do as possible. I might be overdoing it just a little bit, though; I haven't slept more than 3 hours a day in this past week.
"How do you even have time for three clubs?" asked the twins, joining into the conversation.
"Time is an illusion."
"You didn't answer the question."
The Next Day...
"How come you always score second?" Haruhi asked me. It was before class; the usual time for me chatting with Haruhi. "Kyoya-senpai told me that you want me to keep first place." Ootori, I'm going to kill you one day...
"If I score first place, you will score second. Therefore, you will break the agreement for your scholarship here and will be expelled," I said. "I'd rather you not. Plus, if I score second, then there's nothing bad for me." I sat back in my chair, putting my hands behind my head. "Me scoring first would be practically meaningless. I rarely study, but you actually do." I don't really have time to do something so tedious, anyways.
I took out my leather notebook to sketch a bit. Haruhi spoke. "Kaede is kinder than she lets out," she commented. A smile tugged at my lips.
"Thanks, I guess," I said, looking back down.
After School...
I speed walked quickly all over the school. First; bring the robotics club the sketch I planned out for the new robot. Second; take 10 minutes of practice in theatrics. Third; go to my athletic clubs (I had been scouted by quite a few) and get some practice in. Fourth; run like a mad man and tie up my hair to go to the host club room.
When I opened the door, I saw it was already open for business. "You're late," I heard Ootori come up to me as usual with his black notebook.
"Oh well," I said. "Wait-" I raised my index finger, "-oh, I was supposed to babysit my cousins today!" One of my shadows/bodyguards came out carrying two kids to me.
"Your aunt, Kaede-sama, told me to give these kids to you," he said. I carried my 2-year-old cousin, Aya, and held my five-year-old cousin, Tomi's, hand.
"Oops, sorry," I sucked in a sharp breath. "Out of all the things, I forget you two?" I smiled warmly. As a condition for moving to Japan, my mom had ordered to help my aunt in the next town over. It was a pain, but I liked my cousins a lot.
"It's okay, Kaede-nee-chan," Tomi said cutely. I froze. Oh yeah, I have to host as I baby sit them.
"Okay, Tomi, Aya; Today, I'm not Kaede-nee-chan, but Katana-nii-san, okay?" the two nodded in understanding.
"Anything for Katana-nii-san~" the two said in unison.
"Wow, these kids love you," Ootori commented.
"I'm great with kids, Ootori, you should know that," I sniffed and went inside.
My guests loved my little cuties. "Tomi-chan, do you want ice cream?" I asked my cousin.
"Yes, Katana-nii-san!" he sparkled. The girls squealed at the cuteness. I stood to get some chocolate ice cream for myself and strawberry for him. When I looked all over the room, I found out that everyone had gathered to see me with my cousins. Although, there was one little guy who was sitting in the kitchen, eating cake with a melancholic expression.
"Mitsukuni-senpai?" I asked in surprised, as I opened the fridge. "Don't tell me you're jealous of my little cousins, now are you?" I took out the strawberry and chocolate.
"Maybe," he muttered. "Wanna eat ice cream with me?"
"How about club?"
"I'll take a break for today..."
"Why?"
"I don't like immature people, senpai. Act like a man and do your work," I exitted, with the mugs of ice cream in my hands and a depressed senpai behind me.
The Next Afternoon or So...
I felt a cold hand on my forehead. "Shirai, you have a fever," I heard Ootori say.
"Makes sense, I guess. I haven't slept for the past two days," I explained, breathing out of my mouth. I was lying down on the couch during host club hours, as Ootori watched over me. "I've been dizzy the whole day." My voice was hoarse, due to overwork and stress. "I even scolded poor Mitsukuni-senpai yesterday."
"You only have three clubs to do, Shirai; you can't be this stressed," Ootori said.
"I joined the piano club after taking over the president's position. And I have sports after school like kendo with Takashi-senpai," I replied. "I'm also an assistant librarian at the public library in town." Before he could answer, some girls went over to Ootori.
"Who is she?" they inquired. Can't you see I'm a just poor, helpless sick person? I sat up, ignoring Ootori's orders to lie down.
"Kaede Shirai," I said with a cold gaze, gaining my voice. "I may be sick, but I'm still rich and powerful." They shuddered, and turned to Ootori.
"So, Kyoya-kun, what'cha doin'?" they moved on. Ootori followed my example.
"I'm watching over a friend of mine as they recover from overwork. I won't be able to fulfill my duties in the host club today," he said charmingly, making the girls swoon. "Shirai, lie down." He glared at me until I did what he said.
The girls walked away, satisfied, to their rich girl land, escaping me, a [sick] intimidating girl, and Ootori, a [demanding] handsome "caregiver."
"Do we have chocolate chip cookies?" I asked, sniffing the air with my stuffy nose.
"Yes."
"Can I have some?"
"No."
"Oi, Yochigami, can you give me two cookies?" I asked a shadow nearby. In an instant, I had two cookies in my hand. "See, Ootori, I can get cookies any time I want."
"Er... Kaede, are you supposed to be eating that many sweets when you're sick?" Haruhi asked as I ate yet another cookie and sneezed once again. Haruhi was walking me home, since my house was on the way to her apartment. Despite Ootori's protests, I didn't call my car to pick me up. I wanted the afternoon air, as well as someone to accompany me home.
"Are you on direct orders from Ootori?" I inquired.
"Yeah...," Haruhi said. "By the way, why do you call Kyoya-senpai 'Ootori?' You call everyone else by their first names, and you don't even call him senpai." It was true; I called everyone by their first names except Ootori.
"Well, I tried calling him Kyo-chan when we were little, and he got mad," I replied with thought. "Plus, Ootori sounds like we're macho friends."
"So, it's true, then? Kyoya-senpai is your friend?" Haruhi said. I looked away from her perceptive eyes.
"Yeah, I guess," I muttered.
Haruhi laughed. "I think you're amazing, Kaede." I tilted my head in confusion. I mean I know, but Haruhi isn't usually one to flatter...
"How?"
"One: You were able to survive this long while neglecting your health," she started. She paused before she went on, her lips contorting into a smile. "And two: you're probably the first person Kyoya-senpai has ever called a friend."
I was taken aback, but after a moment, gained my composure. "Haha, I guess that's true, he's pretty dishonest when it comes to that," I chuckled, remembering how he was when we were little. We reached my house, and walked up the steps. I unlocked the door. "Bye, and thanks, Haruhi."
I woke up the next day with a splitting headache. It was apparent to me that I still hadn't gotten back the sleep I had lost. I refused to miss school, though, so I gulped down an aspirin tablet and rushed to the academy.
"Why didn't you take the day off?" Ootori asked at lunch. He grinded his teeth and glared at me, annoyed that I had disregarded his orders.
"I haven't missed a day of school since 3rd grade, Ootori, and I intend to keep it that way," I said.
"Weren't you homeschooled?"
"That's besides the point," I sniffed, taking a bite of the school lunch. I didn't have time to cook myself lunch today, so I brought money with me to buy some of the cafeteria's. I refrained from spitting it out. "This cuisine is nothing but rich materials mashed together with no harmony whatsoever," I commented, gulping it down with a stone hard face.
"It's just like Kaede to judge poor food," Kaoru said.
"Seriously, Kaoru, have you ever looked into the art of cooking?" I asked. Both Hikaru's and Kaoru's eyes widened.
"Wait... you can tell us apart?" they said together.
I shrugged. "It's easy, right, Haruhi?" The girl nodded in agreement. "I have a seme and uke radar, anyways."
"Seme and uke?"
"It's nothing for you to be concerned about, Haruhi."
"Anyways...it's nice to have a girl in the club with me," Haruhi admitted. "Kaede isn't as annoying or irritating as the rest."
"Thank you, Haruhi," I grinned, leaving the boys to fend for their own.
"Do only girls make Kaede smile?" Tamaki-senpai asked, going up to our table.
"Takes a lot for boys to make me," I said, shrugging.
"Kae-chan has a beautiful smile," said Mitsukuni-senpai, with Takashi-senpai behind him.
"Thanks," I smirked, then coughed.
"I told you, Kaede, you should've stayed home today," Ootori said with a glare. "At this rate, your voice will fail."
"I'm okay. I've been to school somewhat sick before, I'll live. I'll rest at the club."
"Katana-kun isn't here again, and Kyoya-kun is watching over that girl again," I heard the girls murmur amongst themselves.
"Oi, Ootori, how long are you going to deprive me of my afternoon ice cream?" I asked, sitting up on my special couch.
"Until you get better," Ootori said. "You know, you've been awfully irritating when you're sick."
"Nice to know I'm not when I'm healthy," I replied, standing up to go to the piano. "I'm playing piano."
Kyoya
Kaede's sickness played no effect as her music fell over the chatter of the room. It was true; she was a bit irritating when she was sick, but I'm used to it. I knew something was wrong, though, as she hit a sour note.
"That's enough, Shirai," I stopped her hand from playing the next note. Her face was flushed, and her hand was warm.
"I'm oka-" She slipped off the back of the bench. I caught her. "...or maybe not, I don't know."
Kaede
Ootori half-carried me back to the couch, lying down to my original position. "I coulda walked by myself," I frowned.
"That's funny."
I took a blanket nearby and wrapped myself with it. I got a book out to read.
"You know, you can just go home, Shirai; there's no need for you to stay," I heard Ootori sit down on his favorite chair.
"I like surrounding myself with people, Ootori," I yawned, then coughed. I reached for some water just out of arm's reach. Ootori slipped it into my outstretched arm and smoothly put a pillow under my head. I grinned. "Arigatou, ne, Kyo-chan~" Take that cute attack, Ootori. I closed my eyes before I could see his reaction.
He bonked me on the head. "Ugh, just go to sleep...[Ka-chan]"
"Haha...I heard that..." I smiled, and drifted off into sleep.
Third Person
"Kaede, it's time to go," Haruhi tapped the Sleeping Beauty on the shoulder. The girl was sound asleep; none of the host club members had realized how tired and stressed the poor girl actually was. It was, in a way, amazing, considering that she's only been in Japan for a couple weeks. The club gathered around the pretty girl, who was snoring softly on her couch.
Mori was about to carry her by the orders of Tamaki, but they stopped as they heard Kaede talk. "...stop...," she muttered under her breath in English, loud enough for the hosts to hear. "Shut...up..." the host club watched in awe as a tear streamed down Kaede's cheek. "...REI!" Kaede jerked up from her sleep. Her eyelids flew open.
She felt the moisture on her cheek.
Ootori was the first to speak. "...Shirai."
"Don't ask," she growled hoarsely, and exited the room, followed by Ootori.
The Next Day
The host club in particular was worried for Kaede. Her sickness was at its peak, with fever and all, and she was sent to the infirmary in the middle of the day. Kyoya didn't hesitate to excuse himself from class to watch over her.
Her eyelids snapped open again, to the faces of the host club. It was afterschool once more, and music room #3 was currently taking a break for about 10 minutes. "Are you okay, Kae-chan?" asked Honey, who still was kind of cautious, as he'd never been scolded so harshly by a girl before.
"I'm fine, I guess," Kaede sat up. Then, she gave a bunch of papers to the Hitachiins and Haruhi. "This is my make up work for today; I sent my guard to grab it from my desk."
"Oh... I was wondering where your papers went," Hikaru said with thought.
"We'll give it to the teachers now," Haruhi and the Hitachiins excused themselves.
After Kaede's sleeptalking, the host club was at a loss. They hadn't known Kaede's life back in the States, but thought that it wasn't as bad as what her talk suggested. Awkward silence fell over the room. Kaede suddenly stood, reaching the height of Kyoya. "I'm going," she whispered. Then, she got her things and went.
Tamaki didn't hesitate to be Tamaki.
"HOW BEAUTIFUL!" He waved his arms dramatically. "A HOST WITH A TRAUMATIC STORY, SPARKING INTEREST AND PITY FROM THE BEAUTIFUL HEARTS OF GIRLS!"
"How inspiring!" Honey-senpai exclaimed.
"How strong!" The twins re-entered.
"Hn," Mori-senpai nodded.
Ootori kept silent.
"But actually, what happened in the states?" Haruhi asked.
Kaede's fever was gone the next day, and she seemed to be her usual self again. The host club thought it was alright; maybe what she had said in her dream was just a nightmare, nothing real. Kyoya, though, was still worried.
"I have to take a retest," Haruhi sighed, sitting at the lunch table with the club. "Kaede scored higher than me on the exams, and, according the deal for my scholarship, if I don't score first, I'm to be expelled."
Tamaki and the twins gasped in horror, then clung to Haruhi. "What did you get on the exams? Tell Daddy!" Tamaki cried in despair.
"105% on all of them," she said, pushing the boys away.
The twins looked confused. "That's pretty high, Haruhi. What did Kaede get?"
They all turned to the black haired girl sitting next to Kyoya. "Oh, my score? I got 200% on all of them," she said nonchalantly. All of them but Haruhi, Kyoya, and Mori gasped.
"How can you get such a high score?!" Kaoru asked.
"That's impossible!" Tamaki yelled.
"I finished each in 5 minutes, corrected 11 mistakes, plus they gave me extra points on the written since it was 'well said,'" Kaede told them, biting in her chocolate filled bread bun. Kyoya fixed his glasses.
"You're still not recovered, are you, Kaede?" he asked.
"How does that mean she's not recovered?!" Hikaru cried.
"I spaced out so much during the test, I forgot to be mindful of Haruhi's situation," Kaede sighed. "Haruhi, can you go with me to the office? I'll ask them to take off my test from the rankings."
"Oh, you're back, Katana-kun!" the girls cheered happily as the handsome "boy" came towards the table.
"Yeah, I was doing business for my mom," Kaede lied smoothly as always. The girls came close to her, as if telling her a secret.
"You know, Kyoya-kun has a girlfriend now," they said. "He was caring for her in the host club while you were away." Kaede choked on her Frappuccino.
"We're sorry, Katana-kun!" they all cried.
A.N.:
Please review! I don't even care how brutal you are; be as brutal as Kaede, if you'd like!
-AmbiWriter-
