Thank you JadeCrispy, AnimeBestie (Hiiiiii, so good to see you again!), Guest, and GlassyTheRosePen for reviewing! :D It means a lot to me.

Here's a longer chapter this time. Hope you like it!

"Emi, let's sit with a different host this time," Ryuu said.

"Why?" She glanced at him curiously.

"Well, just…" He shrugged. "But not the Hitachiin twins!"

"Okay then." Emi examined the other Hosts, and then smiled. "Let's sit with Tamaki-senpai then!"

Wait, hang on- Ryuu watched as she skipped off to the most rosy and dramatic area of the music room. I take that back! Anyone but that blondie!

"Oh, Lost Princess, you've finally decided to join us?" Tamaki said, taking Ryuu's hands into his while gazing lovingly. "I'm so happy."

"Th-That's great." Ryuu gently pushed the prince away and scuttled behind Emi. "Why him? Of all people, him!"

"You did say no the Hitachiin twins," Emi replied, trying to hide her smirk. They seated themselves on a couch and watched Tamaki's flamboyant flirting.

"Recently, we've been drinking commoners' instant coffee!" Tamaki held up a package. "This time we'll be having espresso!" He then had Haruhi prepare the instant coffee for everyone to have a taste.

"Would you like to try some, Lost Princess?" Tamaki asked, holding a steaming cup towards Ryuu.

Ryuu stared at the dark liquid. He never was fond of the coffee Akimi was always drinking, so he shook his head. "No thanks."

"If you're scared," Tamaki leaned closer, cupping Ryuu's chin with his hand. "I can feed it to you mouth-to-mouth."

"Why the hell would I want that?!" Ryuu screamed, rising to his feet.

"Then how about you, Emi-chan?" Tamaki smiled at Emi.

"No way! No way!" Ryuu shook his head furiously.

"I'll just drink it by cup." Emi smiled as she accepted the coffee. "Thank you, Tamaki-senpai."

"And just when were you on first name basis with him, Emi?" Ryuu asked.

She took a careful sip while considering his question. Then she smiled at him brightly. "It might be because he reminds me of you. Just instead of easily angered, he's easily depressed."

"Huh? Him? Me?" Ryuu whipped his gaze back and forth from Tamaki, who was now flirting with another girl, to his sister. "In what way? How? Are you sure we're talking about the same person here?"

"Positive." Emi took another sip. "It's not bad. There's hardly any flavor though. Tastes like water. Um, Fujioka-kun."

Haruhi glanced over. "Yes?" She smiled in that amiable way of hers.

"Do you drink this kind of stuff?" Emi asked.

"Sometimes," Haruhi replied. "But I prefer tea."

"Me too!" Emi beamed. "Tea is more soothing."

Haruhi nodded. "It is. It's really nice drinking tea while studying."

"Right?"

What is this? It's just like listening to some girls talk, Ryuu thought, as he dropped down on the couch. That Haruhi is really girly. He even looks kinda like a girl. No wonder he seemed too cute to be a guy. So, he really is a girl? How can I confirm this? Ask Akimi-nee-chan? But-But-

"Ryo, since you aren't too happy here, why don't we check out some other hosts?" Emi asked.

"Sure."

"Are you two Host-hopping for the day?" Haruhi said. "It's a bit lonely without you, though, Emi-chan."

Ryuu swore he could hear the sound of Haruhi's words piercing into Emi's heart. She smiled anyway. "Ryo's just curious about what the other hosts are like."

"Of course." Haruhi smiled back. "I hope you'll choose to stay with me though."

Emi's eyes widened. "I'm sorry for betraying you, Fujioka-kun!" She grabbed Haruhi's hand in hers while staring tearfully into Haruhi's eyes. "Ryo, let's sit with Fujioka-kun now!"

"But-"

"Or you can go sit with others if you'd like," Emi said with a shrug, already following Haruhi back towards her table.

"I think I'll do that," Ryuu replied. He tromped away towards Honey and Mori. Glancing back, he saw Haruhi beaming at Emi.

"Thanks so much, Emi-chan! It really means a lot to me," she was saying.

"Anytime, Fujioka-kun!"

Now I know why Haruhi is called the Natural type. He's a natural at manipulation… And Emi has totally fallen for that trap! Ryuu thought with resignation.

"Oh, Ryo-chan, you're gonna sit with us?" Honey looked very excited. "Wow! Would you like some cake, Ryo-chan? Today, it's strawberry shortcake!" He held up a slice while beaming, as flowers popped up to surround his face.

Flowers? Where do those come from? Am I hallucinating?Ryuu rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times. The flowers had vanished.

"I guess I'll eat some." Ryuu accepted the plate.

"This is really good, Honey-senpai!" one girl said.

"Isn't it? Strawberry's my favorite!" Honey grinned.

"Kyaaa!" the girls suddenly burst out.

"So cute!"

"Honey-senpai, you can have my strawberry then!"

"Mine too!"

So no matter where I go...Ryuu thought. The fangirls react to every little thing these guys do. Just why did this happen to me?

Mori was watching Ryuu as he ate cake. "What is it?" Ryuu asked.

Mori shook his head, which, for some unfathomable reason, caused the nearby girls to gasp.

"Kyaaa!"

"Mori-senpai's stoic face is just too handsome!"

"His eyes are so beautiful!"

Ryuu sighed, trying to tune out their ridiculous fangirling. Seriously… Why?

"Hey, Ryo, I'm going to the bathroom real quick," Emi said, when the bell rang to signal the start of lunch the next day.

"Okay."

"Stay there. And stay put." She pointed at his seat. "I'll be back."

But the moment Emi left, doubts quickly filled Ryuu's mind. I should have just gone with her! What should I do now? Just wait here? Ah, I'll go find her in the bathroom. Who knows what might happen if I'm not there?

Ryuu got up and headed out of the classroom, maneuvering around the mass of girls that had surrounded the Hitachiin twins and Haruhi. Geez, they're so freaking popular. All 'cause of their above-average looks.

He headed down the hall. Where's the nearest girl's bathroom? Wasn't it this way? Yeah, I think it's this way. I'm pretty sure I studied the map well.

Meanwhile, Emi finished washing her hands and stepped out of the bathroom. An uneasy feeling sat like a heavy stone in her stomach, and no matter what she told herself, it wouldn't disappear. I knew I should have just asked Ryuu to come with me. Ah, no, that'd be too selfish. Besides, we have to get used to not being around each other all the time. Are we going to keep clinging to each other even in college? I'm in high school now. I have to toughen up! To make her point, she slapped her cheeks several times. Now let's get Ryuu and eat some lunch.

Upon entering the classroom, she found it to be completely empty. What? Even her bento box was gone. Did Ryuu take it? Oh my God. Is he that much of an idiot?! Did I not clearly tell him to sit still and wait? I wasn't even gone for five minutes!

Emi frowned. "Ryo? Are you playing hide-and-go-seek or something?"

There was no response. She sighed and headed back out of the classroom, almost colliding with someone who was trying to come in.

"Oh, Hitachiin-kun," Emi said.

"Just call me by my first name," Kaoru said. He smirked. "If you can tell which twin I am."

First name? I can't talk so casually to guys like that. I'm not like Chiharu. "Um," Emi said, turning back around. "Do you know where Ryo went?"

Kaoru looked up from where he was rummaging through his bag. "Oh, I saw her leave the classroom."

"Do you know when?" Emi asked.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked back.

"You're Kaoru Hitachiin," she replied. "Do you know which direction she went in at least?"

Kaoru stood up, a wallet in his hand and pointed to the left. "She went that way. Want me to help you find her?"

Huh? He's actually being semi-nice? Emi shook her head while smiling. "It's fine. Thank you, Hitachiin-kun."

"Sheesh, just call me Kaoru already," he said, following her out of the classroom.

She shook her head. "It's too-It's too casual for me."

"We're classmates," he said. He had his hands behind his head, strolling beside her.

Is this what Ouran's like? Everyone addresses everyone else by first name? Even between boys and girls? No way! "I, uh-"

"Besides, how would I know if you're calling for me or for Hikaru?" Kaoru asked.

I don't really want to call either of you at all! Emi thought. I'm happy just watching you two together. "Look, it shouldn't bother you that much, right?"

"It does," he said.

"Why?" Emi asked.

He glanced at her. "Well, it just seems like you can't tell who's who, so you just call us by our last names. Like you don't have to know who we are and can still talk to us and-"

"Okay, I get it. I'll call you Kaoru-kun then," she said.

Kaoru smiled. "Okay."

"Oh, I'll just call that idiot." Emi realized as she pulled out her cellphone. Maybe I'm the idiot here. No, he's also an idiot for not calling me first. I'm glad the hallway's empty though. The phone rang several times before someone picked up.

"Emi?!" Ryuu shrieked. "Where are you?"

"Where are you?" she asked. "Didn't I tell you to stay put? What are you doing running away? Are you a dog who saw a squirrel or something?" Kaoru snickered.

"No! I just got worried and I went to find the bathroom and I don't know where I am anymore! Why is this school so damn big?!"

"It's your own fault! Use the stupid map I gave you!"

"I tried. After I got lost." He sounded close to tears.

"Ugh, describe where you are."

"Um, well, like… The wall's pink."

"Every wall in this school is pink!" Emi yelled, earning another giggle from Kaoru.

"Okay, okay! I'm by a classroom, uh, room 3-B?"

"How did you wander into the third years area?"

"I'm sorry!" he said. "Just come and find me!"

"If you know which room you're next to, can't you use the stupid map to get to the stupid cafeteria?" Emi said. "Or are you so stupid that you can't use a stupid map? Or did you lose the stupid map too?!"

"Ah, Emi! Stop yelling at me! I'm sorry, okay?" he said.

"You're always doing this!" she continued.

"I know, I know."

"Oh, Kaoru! That's where you were!" Hikaru came running from down the hall. "Geez, what took you so long?"

"Emi's looking for her lost sister," Kaoru said.

Hikaru grinned and then began laughing. "The Lost Princess really is a good nickname for that girl!"

"Emi," Ryuu said quietly. "Is that who I think it is?"

"Yes. I'm coming to get you so-"

"Put me on speakerphone," he said.

"Why?"

"Just do it! Please!"

She sighed and turned on the speakerphone. "Okay. They can hear you now."

"You two better not touch my sister or I will whup your asses, you hear me?" Ryuu screamed loud and clear. The twins jumped, staring at Emi's cellphone.

"You know, when you say that," Hikaru said, wrapping an arm around Emi's waist.

"It just makes us want to touch her even more," Kaoru said as he did the same.

"Grahh!" Ryuu let loose a scream of frustration. "Emi get over here, right now!"

"It's your fault," she said.

"I'm sorry! Just please! Hurry! Or else I'm gonna eat all your lunch!"

Emi snapped the phone shut. He wouldn't dare...

"Oh? Are you gonna try and punch us now?" Hikaru asked curiously.

"I'll see you two later!" Emi then bolted down the hallway, taking a sharp turn to the right. If I remember correctly, the third year classrooms are on the second floor in the West wing. Just how did he wander that far?

"Emi, wait up!" Kaoru yelled.

Glancing behind her shoulder, she saw that the Hitachiin twins were following after. "Why are you guys following me?" Emi asked.

"Because it's fun!" Hikaru grinned.

Okay. These people officially have way too much time on their hands. She shrugged it off. If they wanted to follow her, then so be it.

Emi whizzed by another hallway.

"Oh! Hikaru, Kaoru! That's where you two were!" Tamaki said, as the twins breezed right past him. "Hey, you guys! Wait!"

The Hitachiin twins turned and saw the excited blond running after them. "Look! Look at what I found!" He ran beside them to show them something in his hands.

"What is it?" Kaoru asked, glancing between Tamaki's magazine and Emi who was still going at the same speed.

"There's going to be an art exhibition at the commoners' mall next weekend!" Tamaki said, eyes glistening. "We should all go!"

"Sure," Hikaru said with an indifferent shrug.

"What are you doing Hika-chan, Kao-chan?" Now Honey had joined the mix. He was riding on top of Mori's shoulders.

"Yes, what are you two doing?" Tamaki asked. "Why are you running through the halls?"

"Why are you guys running with us?" the twins said back.

"I wanted to show you this!" Tamaki said, waving the magazine in the air happily.

"It looked like fun!" Honey said. Mori was as silent as ever. Finally, the classroom was in sight, with an annoyed and concerned Ryuu pacing back and forth nearby.

"Ryo!" Emi yelled, sounding not the least bit out of breath.

"Emi!" Ryuu was about to smile at his sister when he noticed the strange horde behind her. Why are there- Why are they all following Emi?! To him, it looked like the Hitachiin twins had gathered the rest of the Host Club, harassed Emi who then ran away, and was now chasing after her. "You bastards! What were you trying to do-"

He was cut off when Emi flew into his arms. "E-Emi, uh-"

She let out a sigh. "Ryuu," she whispered.

"Emi." He pulled her into a tighter hug. "I'm sorry that I got lost and that I'm an idiot."
"Oh? Oh? What's going on?" Tamaki asked, looking extremely excited.

"How did you get here?" the twins said as they surveyed their surroundings. "This is really far from the classroom."

"Sh-Shut up!" Ryuu blushed in embarrassment. He buried his face into Emi's shoulder.

"Heeeh, so even Ryo-chan can be embarrassed." The twins grinned mischievously.

"I think it's cute!" Honey said, now on the ground. Flowers bloomed around him as he beamed.

"So just what were you guys doing?" Ryuu asked. He tugged on Emi's arm, ready for her to let go.

"Just a bit longer," she said.

"Okay," he replied. He understood why. Being apart from each other was both terrifying and unnerving.

"We were following Emi!" the twins said.

"And we were following the twins!" Tamaki and Honey said. Mori nodded.

"Okaaaay," Ryuu said.

"Ah, what do you two think about commoners?" Tamaki asked as he showed Ryuu the exhibit on the magazine.

"They're normal," Ryuu replied. "Emi, want to-"

Emi broke away from the hug and smiled. "You didn't really eat my lunch did you?"

Like I could possibly do that and live, Ryuu thought, as he held up her lunch. "Of course not. Here."

"You guys bring your own bentos?" Tamaki said, eyes widening. "Haruhi does that too!"

"That's great to know," Ryuu said, making sure to lay the sarcasm on thick.

Fujioka-kun's lunch! I wonder what it's like. Fujioka-kun's own, homemade lunch. Emi wondered curiously as the group began heading towards the cafeteria.

Hikaru suddenly reached over and ruffled Ryuu's hair.

"Ah! What the hell!" Ryuu yelled, a hand flying to keep his wig secure. "Don't touch my hair! Actually, don't touch me!"

"What a nasty tongue," Hikaru said.

Kaoru picked up some strands of Ryuu's long hair too. "Nice hair. Can we style it sometime?"

"No," the Mazawa twins chorused.

If they style it, he's so screwed! Emi thought, trying to stay calm.

"Aw, why not?" Hikaru asked, petting Ryuu's hair. "It's very silky."

Cause it's fake, Ryuu thought. "Stop!" He smacked Hikaru's hand away. But Hikaru's grip on the wig was strong and just like that, it slipped off.

"Gahhh!" Emi screamed.

"Gahhh!" Ryuu screamed too.

Everyone fell silent, staring at the Mazawa twins.

"Uh…" Hikaru stared at the limp wig in his hands. Emi's eyes darted between the Hitachiin twins and Ryuu, who seemed to be frozen in shock.

"Ryo-chan?" Honey was the one to break the suffocating silence.

"Y-Yeah?" Ryuu squeaked.

"Are you a boy?" Honey asked.

Ryuu's eyes met Emi's, pleading for some sort of help. I don't know what to do either, Ryuu! Don't look at me! We never accounted for meeting nosy boys who like to touch people's hair!

"Are you?" Honey prompted, leaning closer. "Cause you look like a boy to me."

Damn. Ryuu thought. We're caught.

"Y-Yeah," he said quietly.

"Gross!" Hikaru tossed the wig onto the floor. "I've been flirting with a guy this entire time?"

"So you admit to flirting with me?" Ryuu shot back.

"I can flirt with whatever girl I want," Hikaru said.

"And now you admit to being a playboy!"

"Says the pervert!"

"I'm not a-"

"The Lost Princess is…" Tamaki trailed off tearfully, effectively silencing Ryuu. "A-A boy. A-" He slumped to the ground, going into full-blown Depression mode.

Honey turned to stare at Emi instead. "But Emi-chan's a girl, right?"

"I-I'm a girl," Emi replied. She nodded, gulping nervously. "Please don't doubt me."

"Oh yeah," the twins turned to her. "What if you're also a guy?" Hikaru grabbed her hair, while Kaoru's hands reached for her chest.

"Ow! Stop it!" She lurched away, trying to fend off their hands.

"Don't touch Emi!" Ryuu yelled, having reattached the wig.

Then suddenly, she was in the air. Huh? What? What is going on? She found herself above everyone else's eye level. Mori set her back down and then nodded.

Gyaaaaaa! Emi tackled Ryuu in a hug as realization hit. He touched me! He touched my chest! Even if it was just a bit! Even Kei-kun never did that!

"Oi, what the hell was that for?" Ryuu asked. His arms went around Emi protectively.

"Well, that explains a lot of things," the twins said with a sigh. "What a disappointment. It would have been more fun if you really were a girl."

Tamaki was still in his depressed corner, muttering strange things.

"Tono, quit it." Hikaru nudged him with his foot. "Let's go eat lunch."

Seeing that they were leaving, Emi quickly let go of Ryuu and turned towards the Host Club. "Wait! Please don't tell anyone!"

"Why are you the one saying that?" Kaoru asked.

"A boy should come to a school as a boy!" Reinvigorated Tamaki said.

"Look, Ryuu's doing it for-"

"Ryuu huh," Hikaru said. A look of annoyance crossed his face. "That's your real name? Not just some 'old nickname.'"

Ryuu nodded.

"He's doing this for a reason," Emi said.

"Obviously," Hikaru snapped.

"It's not like he likes it," she persisted.

"Really?" the Host Club chorused.

"So crossdressing isn't just a hobby?" Honey asked. Ryuu nodded.

"Then why are you doing it?" Kaoru asked.

"Because-" Emi glanced at Ryuu. She wasn't sure if he wanted to say.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's a long story."

"Make it short then," Hikaru said. His eyes narrowed in irritation.

Ryuu met Emi's eyes. He wasn't sure if she wanted him to say it, but she nodded at him. "Um, long story short, Midoriyama Middle had a ton of girls. It used to be an all-girls school so there weren't that many guys. And, this may sound arrogant-"

"You always sound arrogant," Emi said. He frowned at her. "Sorry. Continue."

"Anyway, I was pretty popular there," he said. "And, there were these girls, like a small group of them, that had this tendency to throw themselves at me."

"Like what Emi did?" Kaoru asked.

"Sort of. They would..." Ryuu paled at the memory. He swallowed, trying to continue.

"Basically they'd break his personal bubble, hug him and kiss him on the cheek randomly. Sexually harass him," Emi said. "Which led to him developing a fear of women and-"

"A fear of women?" the twins said, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

Emi nodded.

"A fear of women? Ahaha!" They burst out into laughter. Even Honey giggled a bit. "That's so ridiculous! That's the lamest thing to be scared of!"

Ryuu blushed. "Shut up."

I suppose these two clearly haven't read enough manga, Emi thought. A fear of women has appeared quite often as a plot device.

Tamaki clapped a hand on Ryuu's shoulder with a hardly-concealed look of pity. "I'm so sorry."

"Shut up!" Ryuu sputtered. "I don't want your pity!" This only made the twins laugh even harder.

"Will you two please be quiet?" Emi asked, looming over the twins who were rolling on the floor. "It really isn't that funny."

The twins stopped and quickly jumped to their feet, still giggling. "Okay, okay, don't make such a scary face."

"Look I thought coming to Ouran as a girl, I wouldn't be attacked like that," Ryuu said. "And so far, the plan is working. No attacks. No crazy fangirls. No-" He glimpsed at Emi. No Emi getting hurt.

"And so, please keep this a secret," Emi said.

"Sure, if you'll be our toy," the twins said.

"Me? Or both of us?" Ryuu asked.

"No, just Emi," Hikaru said, slinging an arm around Emi's shoulder. "We don't want you, Ryuu-chan." He stuck his tongue out.

"Don't call me that! It's Ryo! Ryo!" Ryuu yelled. "And don't! Touch! Emi!"

The secret's out! Please review! :) I would love to hear what you think. Thanks for reading!