Yay for fall! :) Anyone see the lunar eclipse? I couldn't cause of clouds... ;_; but I saw pictures. It looked so beautiful.

As always, thanks for all who followed and faved!

JadeCrispy: Haha, thanks for reviewing. I hope you like the small KaoEmi in this chapter then! :)

Otaku's Melody: Yeah there's a bit more development in that this chapter. And thank you for the review! :D

BizzyLizy: Lol glad you liked it! ^-^ Thank you for always reviewing!

Here's chapter 19!

"That was exhausting." Ryuu had his head on the kitchen counter.

"Kyoya-senpai said he arranged it so that most of your fans are later in the week to slowly get you used to shaking hands. And the guests will be able to answer harder questions as the weeks go by. But you know, I think this could work," Emi said.

"Don't talk to me about this, God." He shook his head.

"Think about it, Ryuu, you just shook hands with five girls. That's a pretty big improvement."

"It's sad to think that shaking hands with five girls is considered a big improvement."

"Oh, quit moping. You're doing fine."

"Thanks." He sighed. Then he forced himself up to stare at Emi. "You know, you don't have to come and help me out like that. Just go and shake hands or hug whoever you want."

"It's fine, Ryuu." Emi smiled. "Or am I not helping out?"

"You are. So you don't have to help out any further," he said. "Be a guest, Emi. A client, a customer, whatever you guys call it. Don't be my sister when you're in that room."

She pressed her lips together and then sighed. "I get it. Okay."

Can't let him know that I may possibly have a crush on Kaoru-kun now. If he finds out, he'll be like, "What? That fast? And why him? One of those bleep twins."

But there's no way right? Kaoru-kun? In so little time. Sure, we did hang out quite a bit this summer... Emi froze, thinking of Karuizawa, Kyoto, and all the time she spent with Kaoru. Oh crap, no wonder.

"You know, Ryuu, you should fall in love with someone," Emi said.

"Why? What are you talking about?" He buried his face in his arms.

"Then you'd understand me a bit more. It's just a good, interesting experience in general," she said. "Why don't you try dating one of your guests?"

"I can't. That's impossible." His voice was muffled by his jacket sleeve.

"Host Club policy?"

"Partly that and partly cause-" He raised his head up, one hand in his hair. "-It's hard to imagine dating one of them. They're just so… fanatical?"

"That's kinda rude. They're all normal people like you and me."

"Yeah, but they're fangirls. My fangirls. Can you imagine an idol dating one of his fans?"

Emi frowned. "Don't be so arrogant, Ryuu."

"I-I'm not trying to. It's true though," he said.

She just shook her head. "Aki's your freaking classmate, Ryuu. You should know her well enough to say whether or not you like her. Or maybe date her."

"She's Ryo's classmate, not Ryuu's," he said. "There's a difference. The way she treats Ryo is different from the way she treats Ryuu."

"Then you should fall in love with Fujioka-kun."

"Huh?" Ryuu's mouth dropped open. "But- You-"

"It's fine, isn't it?" Emi shrugged. "Though I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get to go out with her, you can at least crush on her."

"No way!" he said, shaking his head. "No. I am not into traps or crossdressers-"

"Oh come on. It's not even about that," she said.

"Just no," Ryuu said.

"She's smart. She's cute, pretty, and makes a good trap," Emi said, listing things off her fingers now. "She's a commoner, which makes her modest. What more could you want?"

"Um. She crossdresses at school? She's super dense?"

"Just like you." Emi nodded. "See? Something you guys have in common."

Ryuu rolled his eyes. "She's also really blunt."

"Oh, aren't you blunt too?"

"And she's not good at reading the atmosphere."

"Same with you," Emi said.

"Oh quit joking, Emi." Ryuu put his head back down.

"Then you should go outside, right now, and walk around until you find someone you like. It can be a boy too! Don't worry. This family is very accepting!"

"Shut up. Falling in love isn't that important, Emi. Don't make it out to be like some life-necessity like in some shoujo manga."

"Fine. I just feel like the experience could do some good for you," she said.

"I get it. So I'll think about it, okay?"

"Sure."

"Dinner is ready," Bertrand said, carrying a plate over. "Come eat, Ryuu-sama, Emi-sama."

Emi woke up the next day with a bad feeling in her stomach. Nothing particularly hurt, there was just a nagging sensation that something was wrong.

Darn, I haven't felt this in a while, she thought while getting dressed for school. Last time was… Her eyes widened and she burst out of her room and into Ryuu's.

"Ryuu?"

The bathroom light was on and Emi could hear something unpleasant: the sound of retching.

"Ryuu? Are you okay?" she asked, while entering the bathroom. He was bent over the toilet, vomiting. "Oh my God. Are you okay?"

"Shit," he said, flushing the toilet and standing up.

"Are you okay? Did something happen?" Emi said again, while helping him to the sink. He washed his hands and splashed his face before answering, hands gripping the sink edge tightly.

"Damn. No. I feel like shit," he said. "Aw, shit."

"Okay, lay off the swear words for a moment," she said, rubbing his back. "I'm gonna go get Akimi-nee-chan."

"Dammit," he said as she ran out of the room. She was back with Akimi soon enough, and they found Ryuu laying in bed.

"Do you have a fever?" Akimi said and checked his forehead. "Let me go get the thermometer. Emi-chan, why don't you go and eat breakfast first. Bertrand-san can keep an eye on Ryuu-kun."

"No no no no no," Emi said, shaking her head several times. She was holding Ryuu's hand and sitting on the edge of his bed. "I'm not leaving Ryuu like this."

Akimi sighed, standing at the door. "Emi-chan, sweetie-"

"Don't call me that," Emi said.

"Fine." Akimi turned and headed for the stairs. "I'll have Bertrand-san bring your breakfast up then."

Once she'd disappeared, Ryuu said, "Emi."

"What is it?" Emi knelt down on the ground to get closer.

"Don't… stay too close," he said with his eyes closed. His voice was quiet, so she leaned forward to hear it better. "You'll catch it too."

"No I won't. My immune system has an iron defense!" Emi said.

"I don't care. Just don't get sick too."

She frowned and squeezed his hand. "I won't."

Akimi and Bertrand arrived at the room at the same time. Bertrand was carrying a tray full of breakfast, while Akimi had the first-aid kit. She popped the thermometer into Ryuu's mouth and began digging through the kit.

"You said he threw up, Emi-chan?" she said.

"Eat breakfast first, Emi-sama," Bertrand said, pushing the tray towards the girl.

"Yeah, he threw up." She nodded at Akimi's back and then shook her head at Bertrand. "I'm not really feeling hungry right now."

"You still need to eat," he said, setting the tray on the bed stand beside her.

"Eat... Emi," Ryuu said.

"Oh don't tell me what to do when you're sick," Emi said, rolling her eyes. She looked at the food and poked at it a bit. "So what do you think he has?"

"If he threw up, it's probably stomach flu," Akimi said. She came and checked the thermometer. "101.2 F. Oh dear. Bertrand-san, could you call and tell their parents?"

"Yes, right away." Bertrand gave Emi a look before leaving.

"I'll eat, geez," Emi said at the retreating back. She stabbed her chopsticks into the rice. "You guys are all too overprotective. Like a couple of crazy hens or something."

"What'd you say, Emi-chan?" Akimi asked, busy sticking a cooling sheet on Ryuu's forehead.

"Nothing," she grumbled. She shoved some food into her mouth. "I don't feel well either, Akimi-nee-chan."

"Do you have a fever too?" Akimi checked Emi's forehead. "You feel fine."

"No. Don't you understand the twin principle? If one twin is sick, then the other is too."

Akimi sighed. "I don't have time for this. Ryuu-kun, are you feeling hungry?"

"Not really," Ryuu said. "Just nauseous. Like shit."

"No swear words please. Would you like some water at least?" she asked.

"Sure," he said, voice getting scratchy. He cleared his throat to say, "Thanks."

"No problem, Ryuu-kun." Akimi smiled and then left to get the water. "Eat your breakfast and prepare for school, Emi-chan!"

"Ugh. Why do I have to go to school? I don't want to go without you," Emi mumbled while eating. "I'll go crazy not knowing if you're okay or not-"

"Emi," Ryuu said. "Just go."

"Why? Don't you want me here to support you? Or like-"

"Please go," he said.

Emi frowned and stuffed her mouth full of food before saying, "Fine."

"Take notes for me?" he said, trying to smile.

"You never take notes. Or use mine."

"Assignments then."

"Sure," she said.

"Tests too."

She rolled her eyes. "As if I'll take your tests for you. Besides, you'll get a worse score than if you took it yourself."

He smiled. "Thanks, Emi."

Emi looked away and chomped on her chopsticks. Tsk, don't use that cute I'm-weak-but-I-love-you smile on me. I can't handle that kind of soft smile! What happened to my idiotic short-tempered, overprotective brother? He's turned all sweet, soft, and squishy?

I kinda like it though.

"Emi? Where's Ryo-chan?"

Emi managed a shaky smile at Sumiko. "She's sick. Stomach flu. I think."

"Oh God," Sumiko said. "I hope she gets better soon."

"Same. Thanks, Sumiko."

"Hey," the Hitachiin twins greeted Emi when they'd arrived at the classroom.

"Hm?" Hikaru looked around Emi and the classroom when a certain person hadn't appeared. "Where's Ryo?"

"Sick," Emi said, sitting down. The twins turned in their seats to face her.

"How sick?" Kaoru asked.

"What kind of sick?" Hikaru said.

"Stomach flu, vomiting, fever sick," Emi said.

"You don't look so good yourself, Emi-chan," Haruhi said.

"Yeah… well, being away from your twin is a bit nerve-wracking. Especially when your twin is sick," she said. She looked at the Hitachiins. "You guys understand, right?"

They exchanged glances and then shrugged. "Sure. We usually get sick together though."

Emi sighed. "How nice. I wish I was sick too. Stupid Akimi-nee-chan, saying I had to go to school, and stupid Ryuu-" Her eyes widened and she quickly clamped her mouth shut. Fortunately none of her classmates nearby had heard, engrossed in their own conversations.

She sighed again and put her head down. Stupid stomach flu. How'd he get it anyway and I didn't? We eat the same thing. Except I eat the carrots and he drinks strawberry milk.

Could it be the strawberry milk?

"Akimi-nee-chan?" Emi said the moment the other end picked up. "Was it the strawberry milk?"

"What? Emi-chan, what are you doing calling at school? Class is supposed to start-"

"Was it or not? How else could Ry- Ryo have gotten sick and I didn't?"

"Emi-chan, it doesn't matter what caused it. I have to go, okay? Your mom is coming as soon as she can, so don't worry. Just focus on your studies."

"But Akimi-"

Ding-dong! The bell began to ring.

"Turn your phone off, Emi-chan. Bye."

"Akimi-nee-chan!" But the line had already been cut.

Darn it! Emi glared at her phone for a few seconds before closing it. Be that way then.

"Hey, Hikaru-kun, Kaoru-kun," she whispered when the teacher had come in. "Do you two know how to fake a sickness? Or like a fever?"

The twins grinned at her. "Of course."

Emi chugged down some hot water in a bathroom stall. Okay. I can do this. I just have to fake it all the way home, and then maybe Akimi-nee-chan will be too tired to bother sending me back. Then she pressed her water bottle against her cheeks and forehead.

After flushing the toilet, she stepped out and walked sluggishly back to the classroom. "Sensei," she said at the doorway. "Um, I'm really not feeling well."

"Why don't you go to the nurse's office?" the teacher said.

Emi nodded, swallowing and dragging her feet to her desk to grab her things. "Thanks, Sensei." Then she trudged out of the classroom. She stopped by another bathroom along the way to drink some more hot water.

"Excuse me," she said, pushing the door to the nurse's office open.

What greeted her was not a single nurse sitting at the desk but several, several nurses lined up by the door.

"Welcome!" they said, gesturing her forwards. "How may we help you?"

Oh dear. It's like the physical exam all over again. "Um. I'm not feeling well. Like, maybe I might throw up."

"Oh dear!" one nurse led Emi to a bed and felt her forehead. "My, you are quite burning up. May I take your temperature?" She pulled out a thermometer.

"Uh, no." Emi shook her head. "Last time… I don't like thermometers. Last time I got sick because of one."

"Well these have been properly sanitized," the nurse said.

Emi kept shaking her head. "Either trick the thermometer or have a good excuse for not using one." Thank goodness I'd ask those twins.

"Very well then," the nurse said. "Why don't you lie down and rest? I'll call your house. What's your name, dear?"

"Emi Mazawa." She slowly laid down and pulled the blanket over her, shivering.
"Pretend you're cold. Not hot. Ask for another blanket or something. It'll also help raise your temperature."

"Co-Could I have another blanket?" Emi asked.

"Of course!"

One of the nurses brought another blanket and pulled it over Emi.

Great. Working just fine. Now all Akimi-nee-chan has to do is say, "Bring her home!"

"Hello? Hi, this is Ouran High School's doctor."

That was a doctor? Wow.

"May I speak to Emi Mazawa's parents?... Oh they're not home? Then you are… Oh hello. Yes, she has a fever and doesn't look too well… No I haven't taken her temperature. She says she got sick from a thermometer once… Well I feel like perhaps she should go home… Oh her sister is sick as well, yes?"

Akimi-nee-chan, just let me go home!

"Well if that's what you think best… Very well. Okay… Thank you. Goodbye."

Emi sat up, trying hard to hide the smile. I can go home now right?

"I'm sorry, Mazawa-san, but your guardian, Yamaguchi-san, said that it'd be best if you rested here. If you really feel that you can't focus in class, you can stay here and rest until you're better."

"I'm not going home?" Emi asked, mouth dropping open.

The doctor gave her a small smile. "No. I'm afraid not. You should stay here, and we'll monitor your condition."

Crap. Backfiring. Dammit Akimi-nee-chan!

"Okay. I'll just rest a bit then." Emi laid back down slowly. Maybe I'll just take a nap then. She closed her eyes and soon dozed away.

"Hey, how you feeling, Emi?"

Emi blinked to see Sumiko standing beside the bed. She sat up quickly. "Su-Sumiko? What?"

"Woah, you're covered in sweat," Sumiko said with a giggle. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Emi pushed off the blankets and got off the bed. "What time is it?"

"Lunch time. If you're feeling better, let's eat together," Sumiko said.

"Sure." Emi thanked the doctor and the nurses and then went to the lunchroom with Sumiko.

"So that plan bombed like crazy," she told her friend later as they walked back to the classroom.

"You were faking?" Sumiko asked in a whisper. "Oh my God." She burst into laughter, and squeezed Emi's arm to steady herself. "I can't believe you'd try that."

"What? Well Ryo's at home, all sick, of course I want to be there with her," Emi said.

"You two are too close," Sumiko said, rolling her eyes lightheartedly.

"Yeah I know."

"Oh?" The Hitachiin twins quirked an eyebrow when they saw the two enter the classroom. "Guess you're feeling better?" They smirked.

"Yeah," Emi said with a sigh, sitting down behind them.

"What went wrong?" Kaoru asked, lowering his voice.

"My 'guardian' went wrong that's what," she said before realizing that he was staring at her, and she was staring back. Oh my God. He's staring at me. With those beautiful eyes. Oh God... My heart can't take this! She quickly looked away.

"That's too bad," Hikaru said. "After all our trouble too."

"Yeah," Emi said quietly, still staring at her desk.

After school, she headed straight for the school's entrance.

"No Host Club for you today, Emi?" Sumiko called.

"Yeah. I wanna be with Ryo," Emi replied, walking backwards to speak to her friend.

"Okay. See ya! I hope she feels better." Sumiko waved.

"Thanks. Bye!" Emi waved back. Then she turned and ran towards the doors. She'd messaged Bertrand to come pick her up right after school, and, sure enough, the car was waiting for her.

She hopped right on in. "How's Ryuu?"

"Ryuu?" Two twin maids sat facing her.

"Sorry. Wrong car." Emi reached for the door, but was stopped by the maids, each grabbing a hold of an arm.

"Not at all," they said. A chill ran down Emi's spine when she saw the matching smiles. "You're in just the right car."

What is going on?! Emi watched helplessly as the huge, pink school shrank further and further away.

"What do you want from me? Is it money?" Emi asked, not moving her arms away from the door.

"No," the twins said. "We want you."

Oh my God. I'm getting kidnapped. By some creepy twin maids. Ahhh! The maid on the right pulled Emi closer, while the one on the left pulled out a wig.

"Excuse us," they said, leaning towards her with identical grins. "We'll just fix you up real quick."

"Wahhhh!"

About fifteen minutes later, Emi was wearing a black wig and had changed into a gray hoodie, a white t-shirt, and baggy trousers. They'd taken off her long, white socks and shoes, replacing them with navy blue, ankle socks and elevated sneakers. They'd applied some sort of makeup, and, worst of all, they'd taken her glasses and forced contacts into her eyes.

"What is going on?" Emi said. Just then the car pulled up into the school through the back entrance.

Wait a minute… She touched the wig and it felt just like real hair. It was short and curly here and there. Just like Ryuu's.

"Don't tell me-"

The door opened and the Hitachiin twins stood there, grinning. "Hello Ryuu."

"Hikaru-kun-"

Hikaru tilted his head. "Oh? What happened to you, Ryuu? Trying to copy your cute cousin there?"

Emi frowned. "Hikaru, did you do this?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the car. "Come on. You sure took your time getting here."

"Maybe cause I was getting striped," she said in a low tone, while the twins ushered her inside. "You could have at least told me what was going on. I would have willingly changed."

"Would you?" Kaoru said. He was about to put his arm over Emi like Hikaru, when she threw both their arms off.

"Don't touch me."

"Might want to lower your voice there, Ryuu," Hikaru said.

"You're starting to sound like a girl," Kaoru said.

Emi grumbled and then cleared her throat. "Shut up," she said in a deeper voice. Perhaps the one good thing that came from this odd Ryuu disguise was that she was now three inches taller.

She stared at her shoes, wondering how they looked like normal sneakers when they'd elevated her so much. "Were those two creepy maids yours?"

"Yes," the Hitachiin twins said in unison as they arrived at Music Room 3.

"Hello Ryuu!" Tamaki said. "I heard that Emi-chan was going back home first to take care of- Wait! I thought you were sick?"

"I was," Emi said.

"It's good you're feeling better then!" Tamaki said, grinning and patting Emi's shoulder.

"But," Haruhi said. "Isn't that Emi-chan?"

"Hm?" Tamaki froze, then turned to the "Ryuu" before him.

Emi sighed. "Ryo's still sick, so Emi rushed home to take care of her. I'm not sick, and of course I don't want to catch those gross germs from Ryo, that's why I'm here."

"So it is Emi-chan!" Honey said. "Wow! You look just like Ryuu!"

"Thanks?" Emi said, trying to smile at the third-year.

"Excellent work, Hikaru, Kaoru," Kyoya said, a content smile on his face.

The twins smirked. "Of course."

"Now let's take a picture," Hikaru said, pulling out his phone.

"To send to Ryo," Kaoru said.

"Let's not," Emi said with a deep frown. She raised a hand to block the camera's view.

"Oh come on." Kaoru reached over to wrestle her hands down.

"Kaoru-kun!" She jerked back.

"It's Kaoru," he said, smiling at her. "Remember?"

She blushed. Her entire face turned a deep crimson. Holy crap. Like damn. I am so screwed here.

"Wow," Hikaru said, snapping several pictures. "Ryuu sure can blush."

Emi jerked her hands out of Kaoru's grip. "Whatever. Can we just open the doors already?"

"Wait, are you sure you'll be able to do this?" Tamaki asked.

"Act like my brother?" Emi said. "That won't be hard at all."

"I'm so excited for today's game!" Seiko Hanari said.

"Is it your turn today?" Emi asked, with a blank expression while pouring tea for everyone at the table.

"Yes!" Seiko replied with a grin. "When I get it right, I'm gonna pick you, Ryuu-kun!"

"Eh?" Emi paused and then tried to blush. She looked down and kept pouring tea. "No-No need. You don't-"

"Kyaaa!"

My ears. Oh my God. I think I need ear plugs. No wonder Ryuu's hearing has been getting worse. Must be from hearing these shrieks all day.

She finished pouring tea and set the pot down. Glancing up, she saw the Hitachiin twins looking her way. They must be worried I can't do this. So she stuck her tongue out at them.

The twins exchanged smirks and then stuck their tongues out back at her. Emi rolled her eyes.

"Oh my God," Seiko said, trying to hide a grin with her hand.

"HikaKaoRyuu is a real ship!" Akiko said.

Emi sighed and facepalmed. "Please don't."

The girls just giggled and squealed.

When the game time came, Emi shook hands with six girls and then the Host Club ended for the day.

"Nice job," Kaoru said, patting her head.

"Hey!" She pushed his hand away. "I don't like it when people do that to me."

"Why not?" Hikaru asked, reaching forwards to pat her head too.

She swiped his hand away with a scowl. "It feels patronizing. That's all."

"What?" The twins shared confused looks.

"Anyway, thank you." Emi bowed at the twins.

"For what?" they said.

"You did this to take my mind off of Ryuu right?" she asked with a small smile.

"As if we'd do something like that," Hikaru said.

"We just wanted to see you dressed like a boy," Kaoru said.

"Well either way, you helped us out. It's more believable for Emi to go home and Ryuu to come and host, than if no one came at all. So thanks."

"Whatever you want to think," the twins said, shrugging and looking away.

Then Kaoru held out a bag. "Your school uniform and glasses."

"Oh." Emi took it. "Thanks. And, uh, how do you take off the contacts? And the clothes-"

"Keep it," Hikaru said. "It's not like we need it."

"The wig too?"

They nodded.

"Well. Thanks. I guess," she said. "I'm going to go then." She waved at the rest of the club. "Bye."

As she was walking out of the school, someone ran in front of her. "Um. Ryuu-kun!" A letter was thrust in front of her. "Please read this and then respond to me! Thank you." The girl disappeared just as quickly as she'd came.

That was… Seikorin, wasn't it? Uneasiness sat like a heavy stone in her stomach as she climbed into the car.

"Berty," she said.

"Yes?" Bertrand turned his head quickly to nod at her as they pulled out of the school.

"Why didn't you come pick me up right away after school?" she asked.

"Some of your friends called saying that they could keep you at school so that you don't catch Ryuu-sama's illness," he replied.

Those twins, she thought.

"And how is he?"

"He's doing better. He was throwing up all morning and afternoon, but he's been able to keep some porridge down."

She stared at the letter in her hands. "That's good."

"Mm-hm."

When they arrived, Emi sprinted up the stairs and tossed the bag into her room. Then she burst into Ryuu's and began striping off the hoodie and trousers.

"Emi?" Ryuu sat half-way up before seeing her striping. "Gah! What are you doing?" He ducked back under the covers, face red, while she pulled the wig off and undid the ponytail.

She went back into her room to grab a pair of shorts before hopping into Ryuu's bed.

"What are you doing, Emi?" Ryuu said as she wiggled over next to him. "You're gonna get sick-"

She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled close. "I don't care, Ryuu." He sighed, turning on his side to face her.

"I missed you," she said. "Today was terrible."

He smiled and pulled her closer. "I missed you too."

"Oh there's a letter for you. And, do you know how to take out contacts?"

The KaoEmi development is moving forward! Also, about the Ryuu character development, that is coming. I promise you! Please be patient! _

Thoughts? Please share them.

Thank you for reading! :)