Hi everyone! :) It's been a while. I can't believe it, but it's been over a year since I started this story! O_O Time sure does fly by.

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And here's chapter 23!

The feeling of being watched continued for the rest of the week. Emi just couldn't shake it off, but when she turned in the direction of the sensation, she never could find the source of it.

"Hey Em-chan," Honey said on Friday when they were cleaning up after the day's hosting. Ryuu was sitting dazed on the couch. He'd hugged a girl today, and his face has turned as red as a tomato. Emi swore she saw his eyes spin and steam come out of his head when the girl finally released him.

"What?" Emi said, packing her notebooks away.

"There's someone at the door for you." Honey pointed at the double doors. "Oh! He ran away."

"What?" Emi whipped around, but there was no one there. So, I wasn't imagining it? There really is someone following me?

She stepped out of the music room and glanced around the hallway. It was silent and still. Wouldn't be more bullies would it? But they tend to be more confrontational, unless they're spying on me in hopes of finding a weakness?

"What is it?" Kaoru asked, following her out of the room.

"Oh, nothing," she said with a smile and a shrug. "I don't know what Honey-senpai was talking about." They headed back inside.

"He was looking at you, Em-chan," Honey said with a grin, "but maybe he was just too shy."

Woah, what does that mean, Honey-senpai? Emi's eyes widened and she snatched her schoolbag up. A secret admirer? That's a joke, right? She pulled Ryuu up to his feet. "Okay then. We're going home. Come on, Ryuu."

"Ugh," he said, head rolling back.

"See ya everyone."

The feeling was back again on Monday, and Emi sighed every time she looked to find empty space. This is so annoying. Whoever this is needs to either be more discreet so I can't feel him, or just stop following me!

It was only when she walked out of the bathroom that she spotted a flash of black. She frowned. It was lunchtime and the halls were quiet. "Hey!" She stomped in the direction of the person. "Quit hiding. What do you want from me?"

She rounded the corner to see a guy in a black cloak sprinting down the hall. "Hey, come back here!" Emi took off after him.

"Waa," he yelled while running. "Do-Don't! Don't follow me."

"That's what I want to say to you," she shouted back, as they turned a corner. The Hitachiin twins were up ahead, walking from the cafeteria. Oh no. I'm getting other people involved in this. "Wait!"

"What's going on?" Hikaru said as the two of them came barrelling closer. Emi kicked up her speed. Must. Get. Dude. Before. Kaoru-kun!

It didn't happen. As the guy swerved around the Hitachiin twins, Kaoru's arm shot out and grabbed the guy by the hood of his cloak.

"Are you the guy who's been following Emi?" Kaoru said, yanking him over.

"W-Wah!" His hood had fallen off, revealing the blond hair.

Oh. The guy I ran into the other day. Emi slowed to a stop before them.

"I-I-I-" The guy was shaking his hands like a desperate beggar. "Please- I just-"

"Kaoru-kun, I think you're scaring him," Emi said. Kaoru had shifted his hand from the hood to the collar of the guy's cloak.

"Well maybe he deserves it," Kaoru said, leaning over the guy with a dark look on his face. Kaoru-kun? Emi watched as Kaoru's face split into a dark smirk. Hikaru was watching with a raised eyebrow, a juicebox in his hand.

"U-Um!" She grabbed the poor boy's shoulders and turned him towards her. "What's your name?"

"O-Orochi. Ayabito," the guy said, reaching for the hood of his cloak. Kaoru slapped his hand away, but released his hold on him.

"Are you a… What year are you in, Ayabito-san?" Emi asked.

"Second," he said. His voice was soft, and she had to lean in to hear better. But when she did, he stumbled backwards into Kaoru, who was watching him with narrowed eyes. Orochi scrambled forwards again with a squeak.

Emi straightened up. "Ayabito-senpai, is there something I can help you with?"

He nodded.

"What is it?" Emi asked.

"Um," he said. "You-You have something… of mine."

"Okay, what do I have?" she said.

"M-M-My-" Orochi's face turned scarlet and he scooted to the side. The next word he said was so quiet she didn't catch it.

"I'm sorry, what?" she said, inching closer.

"My p-puppet," he said, then let out a great sigh.

Puppet?

She furrowed her brows. "Uh, what? I don't ever remember having a puppet, or even taking one from you."

"When I ran into you," he said, "it disappeared."

"Your puppet?" she said. He nodded. "But, I didn't take it, or pick it up."

He shrugged.

"Why do you think I have it then?"

"Cause when I ran into you, it disappeared," he said.

"Okay then," she said. "I don't have it, so sorry."

His face crumpled then. "Wh-What?"

Oh shoot! I just like crushed his dreams or something. "I-I'm sorry," she said. "I'm really sorry, but I really don't have it."

"What does this puppet look like?" Hikaru asked.

"Um, li-like a cat, sorta," Orochi said.

"I'll help you look for it," Emi said, "but I really don't have it."

Orochi looked up at her. Hope was shining in his dark blue eyes again. "Really?" She nodded, and a small smile curled his lips upward. "Thanks."

Yo, he's nothing like a second year! Although, I guess neither is Tamaki-senpai.

"Why are you helping him, Emi-chan?" Kaoru said with a frown. "There's no reason to."

"Yeah, plus he's in the Black Magic Club." Hikaru said. "You know, the group who screwed us all over?"

"But, I mean, I did run him over," Emi said. "And, this puppet seems really important."

"When'd you run him over?" Kaoru asked.

Hikaru snickered. "Did you run him over with a car?"

"What?" Emi said. "No. It-It was at school, when I was looking for you guys."

Orochi tugged on her sleeve. "Help me look for it," he said.

"Right now?" she said. He nodded. "I haven't finished my lunch yet."

His face fell again. Oh my God, stop! You look like a kicked puppy. "How about after school?" she said. "There's more time to look then anyway. Did you even check the school's lost and found yet?"

He nodded.

"Okay, then I'll see you later. After school," she said, moving towards the cafeteria. He nodded again. "Bye."

So, as promised, Emi helped Orochi search the halls of the school while the Host Club was running its daily activities. They went first to the place where the two had crashed into each other, but the halls were clear.

"Are you sure it's not at the lost and found?" Emi said while they walked down the hall for the tenth time.

Orochi nodded. "Maybe it's at your home," he said.

"What?" she said, stopping to stare at him.

"Neko-chan… doesn't like being alone," he said. "He might have grabbed onto you, and gone home with you."
What the heck? That's creepy! Emi grimaced and took a step back. "You're kidding right, Ayabito-senpai? Can't you use some kind of magic or something to call this Neko-chan back?"

He shook his head. "I've tried. He's too far away."

I am never dealing with the Black Magic Club again after this, she thought while sighing. "Okay, I'll check my house when I get home."

But Orochi shook his head. "I'm coming with you."

What? Emi stepped further away. That just leveled up the creepiness right there.

"Sorry, but no," she said. "I promise I'll look for your puppet. Just tell me what it looks like."

Orochi shook his head. "He looks like a cat."

"Okay, but like what color?"

"Black hair," he said. "Blue eyes, with black ears. He's wearing a black cloak and he has a tail."

"Uh, okay. I got it." Emi nodded. "Don't worry. I'll find him." She backed away, heading towards the Host Club.

Orochi's arm reached forward and she hopped away, almost tripping over her feet. "Wh-What?" she said. Her heart was pounding in her ears.

"Take me with you," he said.

"Sorry, but no," she said. "I swear I'll bring your puppet back."

"I don't trust you," he said.

Oh my God. She continued walking backwards. He followed. "You made him disappear," Orochi said. "I don't trust you."

"Okay, but I don't want your puppet," she said.

"I don't trust you."

"Yes, you said that already." She felt her back bump into a wall and stepped aside, continuing down another hallway. "Stop following me. I'll bring your puppet back."

He shook his head. "Where do you live?"

Oh my God. Should I run? Can he catch up to me? If I run to the Host Club, what might happen? Would Ryuu kick him in the face? But that'd be bad. "I-I-"

"Take me there," Orochi said. "I know he's there."

"Well then why didn't you tell me that sooner? We wasted so much time looking around here," Emi said. They'd reached a new hallway and she turned, still moving away from him.

"You said you'd help me find him."

"I will. When I get home, without you," she said.

"Why won't you take me there?"

"Cause I hardly know you," she said. She saw his mouth turn into a frown. "You don't trust me, but I will get you your puppet back. I don't want it. Okay?"

They'd reached the hallway where the Music Room was. Orochi stopped. "Fine," he said.

"What?" Emi stepped forward. She wasn't sure of what she'd heard, but he turned and walked away.

Um. Okay then. Let's just hope he doesn't go home and curse me. Please don't curse me! With that thought in mind, she darted inside.

Emi got down on her knees the moment she returned home, searching the floor of the living room.

"What are you doing?" Ryuu said when he sat down on the couch. There was a bark and the sound of scurrying footsteps. Emi glanced up, and she grinned as Roro sprinted at her.

"Roro!" Emi fell to the floor as Roro licked her face. She giggled and pet his black head.

"Emi, you've been doing that everyday since Roro came back with us," he said.

"So? Roro's the best." Emi scratched under his ears, and Roro snuggled even closer. "Who's the best? Yeah, you're the best, Roro."

Ryuu sighed. "Weren't you looking for something?"

Crap! Emi looked at him. "How'd you know?"

"Kaoru told me some creeper was following you," he said.

What? Kaoru-kun? What? Emi felt a light blush creep up her cheeks. "Um. Well. It's no biggie. I just have to find his puppet and return it, and he'll stop. I mean, he was following in the first place because he thinks I have his puppet."

So she went back to searching under the couches.

"I'll help." Ryuu swung his legs off the couch. "What's it look like?"

They combed the mansion, checking the living room, kitchen, and dining room. Then Emi went upstairs to her bedroom. This is gonna be really creepy if it's in my bedroom. Like seriously. It better not move or talk when I find it.

Her closet was empty of any puppet, and same went with her desk and the area surrounding her bed. She lifted her blankets - and screamed.

"What-What is it?" Ryuu said, sprinting towards her as she came jumping out of her room and right into his arms.

"It-It's on my bed," she said. She took a deep breath and then let go of him. "God, what the heck? That was freaky."

"It's on your bed?" he said, eyebrows raising. He inched away. "Sorry, but I'm no help if this puppet moves by itself."

"I know. It just surprised me." Emi tiptoed towards her bed once again and lifted the blanket up by its edges. The puppet was there, and it wasn't exactly as how she imagined it. It looked like a doll with cat ears and a tail poking out of its black cloak. It had black hair that covered half if its bright blue eyes, and there was a crooked grin on its face.

Emi reached over and picked the puppet up. It was about the size of Beelzenef, with flopping arms. "It almost looks like Nekozawa-senpai… Neko-chan?"

"What?" Ryuu said. He was poking his head in.

"Doesn't it look like Nekozawa-senpai? But cuter?" Emi turned and showed the doll to him.

He grimaced. "Um. Sure. It's creepy."

"It's cute," she said with a smile. "But yeah, all dolls that appear on your bed are pretty creepy. Where should I put this?"

"Put it in the car," Ryuu said. So Emi did. When she returned she heard him mutter, "We better not get cursed."

"Here, your doll." Emi held the human-cat out for Orochi. His mouth fell open and he grinned.

"Neko-chan!" Orochi snatched the puppet out of her hands and petted its head. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"So, we're all good then?" she said.

Orochi nodded. "Yes. Thank you, Mazawa-san."

He knew my name? Her jaw dropped. "Yeah. No problem. See ya then."

He waved before whispering to his doll. Emi felt her shoulders relax as she walked back. Then she paused and turned back around. "Ayabito-senpai, is that puppet something like Nekozawa-senpai?"

Orochi froze and glanced at her through the corner of his eyes. "N-No." He tossed his hood on, but not before Emi caught his red ears.

Oh my God, I ship! She smiled while watching Orochi scamper away. Well, glad that's over with.

When she returned to Music Room Three, the club was in the middle of their Save Ryuu Operation. Renge was hosting once again. "I have a medium-level question. Who'd like to take it?" She waved the card in the air, and hands shot into the sky.

Renge picked one girl who skipped forward with a grin. "This is a question about Haruhi Fujioka," Renge said. "What is Haruhi's father's name?"

"What?" Haruhi said, glancing around.

"Ryoji Ranka Fujioka," the girl said.

"Correct!" Renge twirled and then pointed at the girl. "Select your host for a hug."

"Why do you guys know my dad's name?" Haruhi mumbled.

"Didn't you know?" Hikaru said.

"It's common knowledge," Kaoru said.

"I pick Kaoru," the girl said and stepped over to the Hitachiin twins.

"Okay." Hikaru smirked and opened his arms. "Come on then."

The girl stared at Hikaru and then at Kaoru. "I thought this was Kaoru though."

Kaoru chuckled and knocked Hikaru's arms away. "Good job Asari."

Emi turned away as the two embraced. It felt like someone was jabbing daggers into her chest. She found Sumiko standing off to the side of the crowd and hurried over.

"Hey," she said

"Oh hey," Sumiko said, glancing up from her phone. "It's Kaoru this time huh? He's been popular these days."

What?

"Time's up," Kyoya said, holding a timer in his hand.

"He's timing it?" Emi said while the two broke apart.

Sumiko giggled. "Of course. I think I'll use my next question on Haruhi. You wouldn't mind, would you, Emi?"

"Of course not," Emi said with a shake of her head. I want a hug from Kaoru-kun, but I don't think I could. A hug from Haruhi-kun wouldn't be bad though. She's so cute! Yes, let's hug Haruhi-kun this week.

She'd used her handshake on Ryuu last week as well, since he looked like he was about to pass out everytime. Maybe this week.

Another girl had answered a question and was running to Kaoru for a handshake. Emi looked away. "I'm going to the bathroom," she said.

"Okay," Sumiko said.

Walking to the bathroom, though, Emi heard other footsteps. When she glanced back, she saw a flicker of movement. Guess it's not Ayabito-senpai. He's way better at stalking then these girls.

She turned the corner of the hallway and then waited for the girls to appear.

"Ah!" The first girl flinched. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Um-"

"How can I help you?" Emi said with a smile. There were only three girls, but it was the same group as last time.

"We just have a question," the first girl said. She cleared her throat and smiled.

"Okay. Go ahead then," Emi said with a wave of her hand.

"Why have you only been picking Ryuu?" the girl asked. "You could easily go with Kaoru or Haruhi or anyone else. Why are you passing up on this rare opportunity?"

"Don't tell me it's because if you want a hug from a host, they'll gladly give it to you," another girl said, narrowing her eyes.

Emi gulped. Crap, I think the Hitachiin twins said something like that before, but that was a joke. "Uh, well, you see-"

"Or is it cause you actually have a crush on your cousin?" the third girl said. She gasped. "No way. It's true!"

"I haven't said anything yet," Emi said.

"Spit it out then," the first girl said.

"It's just that, if I pick a host, then Ryuu would find out which one I like," Emi said. "I mean, he'll think I have a crush on that host, and that wouldn't be too great."

"Why don't you just take turns then?" one girl said.

"Yeah, if you pick a different host every time, he wouldn't know," the other said.

"Shut up," the first girl said, shooting glares at the other two. "We're not here to help her with her stupid problems." They clammed up.

"I guess I could do that," Emi said.

The first girl leaned in. "Is that really your reason?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Emi said, leaning away.

"Hm." The girl straightened up. "Well, alright then. See ya later Mazawa."

"Wait, I have a question."

The girls paused and turned around.

"Why are you targeting me? It's not like you stop other girls from crushing on the hosts, and they even ask them out. You don't stop them, so why are you trying to stop me?" Emi said.

"Stop you?" the girl said, shaking her head. "Oh please, we're not trying to stop you from crushing on a host." She stepped closer with a smirk. "We're making sure that you don't come close to any host."

Emi took a step forward as well. "But why? I'm no different from the other girls. So what if my cousin is Ryuu? That's not going to make any of the hosts magically love me. Do you honestly think they would fall in love so easily?"

The girl tilted her head and said, "That's just say that we're being proactive."

"But-"

"Look," the girl said, holding up a hand to silence Emi. "We don't have to worry about those girls because we know that the relationship between them is just host and customer. You, on the other hand, have created a friendship with them, and that could lead to very dangerous outcomes. For all we know, you could have already created your harem in the Host Club."

God they're so dramatic.

"You have nothing to worry about, because the only harem in the Host Club is Haruhi-kun's," Emi said.

The girls giggled. "We all wish that were true."

"It is," Emi said. Her eyes widened. "Wait a minute, are you saying that you think I have a chance with the Host Club?"

"Uh, no we didn't," one girl said.

"We kinda did," the other girl said in a whisper.

"That's not what we were trying to say," the first girl said. "Just know that you're not getting any closer to the hosts than you are now."

Um. Okay? Emi nodded. "Sure. Alright then."

"Good bye," the girls said. Emi waved and watched them waltz back to the music room. Once they'd disappeared inside, she let out a sigh and turned towards the bathroom. At this rate, I can go be a politician. I'll be a master at BS-ing my way out of everything.

But, they definitely said that they're worried about me because they think I stand a chance. What nonsense. There's no way Kaoru-kun will ever look my way. All the hosts are too in love with Haruhi-kun. Ahh, I should have just kept crushing on Haruhi-kun!

Or is it possible? Can I hope that maybe Kaoru-kun will look my way someday?

Hehehehehe...

Thanks for reading! Every follow, fave, and review really means a lot to me. :D So thank you! I hope you are all well. ^-^ See you next chapter!