Guys I'm truly truly sorry! I haven't been able to get in a "writing mood" lately. I've been having trouble on where I want to take this chapter because I've only really had a couple concrete ideas of how this will go but I'm pretty sure it's just going to write itself in the end. Let's see how it turns out.

Disclaimer: Go to the previous chapters, I will no longer be posting this because at this point, I shouldn't have to.

Chapter 6

The next couple day's didn't go so good for me, I still couldn't believe they'd figured out which family I came from. I didn't hate the hosts for finding out but I didn't entirely feel comfortable with them knowing, plus I had to look out for their safety.

I found myself skipping school often but came after club hours to get my work. Just because I didn't want to see any of the students didn't mean I was about to lose my scholarship I'd fought to get. It was easy enough, except for maybe math. I was still having troubles with the new units they'd moved into. I'd also missed a lot of tests so I had to come in for those too. I just wondered why they would bomb us with so much before the Christmas break, it seemed insane!

I was careful to keep away from everyone although it wasn't hard. I'd gained a couple looks after going to the Host Club but they quickly disappeared after several days of being a no show, I was almost relieved. I stuck to my old logic I'd had when I first started out alone but it was definitely harder. Now I knew what it felt like to be surrounded by those who noticed you, even if it had only been for a couple days.

I'd also been having nightmares about that stupid story of the sun family. I'd be in the valley, looking at the 2 children playing while the parents looking happy and content. The mom would be doing laundry or making food while the dad would be doing more demanding work, like working on the house. They'd laugh and talk and I found myself smiling. Then the clouds would come, ruining the scene, and wiping away my smile. Not far behind was the moon family and to my dismay, they looked exactly like my family. They'd fight and then there were screams of pain, cries of terror. And then they'd take the sun child, the little girl of sunshine, from her family. It often changed at this point. They'd either kill her in front of the family and make them watch or kill the family and make her watch. Then they'd leave her behind at their graves and she'd scream and cry.

"Momma! Dadda! You have to get up! If you don't wake up, you can't do your work around the house! You can't do your jobs for the family! You won't be able to raise me and brother! Wake up!" She'd wail. She'd dig at the dirt and pound on it where the bodies had been buried in all the chaos and the wind. Her nails would be bloody and cracked, caked with mud under what was left. Her face was a mess of tears and hair clinging against her wet skin. Eventually her eyes would dull and she'd slump to the ground. She'd curl up in a ball or lay on her side and just give up. You could see the hope and life fade from the child that seemed to have been made of sunlight. Now she looked like a broken flower, waiting for someone to finish the job and trample her into the ground with the rest of her family. Whenever I saw her like that, it reminded me of those days I tried so hard to forget, when I would try and lose myself in the broken hopes.

I'd wake up with a scream stuck in my throat or silently weep against the pillows. I couldn't let the neighbors know about the seemingly soulless girl actually having feelings. I guess I deserved it though, humans could only take so much and this was my only relief. I could feel myself nearing my edge very often. Now that I'd felt what it was like to have friends, I couldn't forget the feeling nor that fake memory.

Whoever came up with that quote about sticks and stones really sucked. They say words will never hurt us, yet they're the very essence of our lives. It's all we do; talking, gossiping, spreading rumors and lies, it's how we communicate through the news. Human life couldn't live without words, without communication. It was a joke.

There's a reason wise people are so old, having been able to have those life experiences and know what it feels like. There were few exceptions otherwise, although I felt like I'd become one. People say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger but I've become scared that when we suffer more than we can handle, we won't be able to bounce back. It only makes you more weak and scared, the tragedies of life too great for young minds. I often found myself sighing, wondering if I'd finally jumped over the cliff and gone insane.

All these thoughts would bombard me at once, often during classes. It was the last day before the holidays and I found myself constantly watching the clock. When I wasn't looking at the clock I was often zoning out and trying to process these thoughts. I'd only snap out of it when I felt one of the twins or Haruhi coming towards me when class ended. I'd stand up quickly and run out the door, barely being able to grab my bag in the rush of escape. I could often tell who it was by the reactions when I was halfway to the door. Haruhi would sigh while Hikaru would grunt in either sadness or annoyance, I could never tell. Kaoru would whisper my name and I'd almost burst into tears, wanting to fall to my knees and weep in his lap, to explain what was wrong and why I just couldn't be near them. I had to protect them from my family but they wouldn't understand.

One day, I didn't get away in time. I felt a pressure on my shoulder and knew that if I moved, it would tighten and push me down into the seat so instead I sighed and tried to ignore it. I slumped down into my seat and lowered my head so they couldn't see my eyes. I kept them on an interesting nonexistent speck on my desk, tracing my fingers over it. The person maneuvered their hand while they walked to the front of my desk. They used their other hand to raise my chin and squatted down in front of me at the same time. I saw that it was Kaoru and thought, please not now. I could handle an oblivious Haruhi or a sarcastic Hikaru but I couldn't handle a caring Kaoru. Not right now.

"Akari, why have you been ignoring us these past few days? I can understand if you were hurt that Kyoya went looking into your family business but we meant no harm. You should know that," he whispered softly, as if trying not to comfort me with his voice.

"Kaoru, I-I..." I stammered, tears forming at my eyes. Damn, not now! I can't cry! I'm not supposed to have feelings and I'm definitely not supposed to cry! Why can't I be like I was before? Ever since I met the Host Club, my barriers have been torn down as if by magic and my feelings have been showing more and more. They shouldn't be, not with all those lessons Mom and Dad gave me when I was younger through those 'teachings'!

Flashback

"Akari this is going to teach you to stay in your place. You can't show others what you're feeling. You have to be lifeless, emotionless, and keep your barriers up. No one can know who you truly are and what you truly feel. That way they won't be able to break you," said Father.

"Emotion... less..." I whispered.

"Correct. If you don't, this will happen," said Mother and down came the crack of the whip yet again, causing me to scream and cry, going one stop closer to the edge of my sanity.

End of Flashback

I swallowed against the lump in my throat.

"Akari you have to let us know what your feeling, that way we can help you!" said Kaoru and I flinched.

"I can't! I can't! If I show you weakness, you'll use it against me, break me, torture me, just like they did," I said softly and was surprised by the venom in my words at the last part. I could see his eyes widen with surprise while softening with care.

"Akari, we wouldn't do that to you. I promise, we'll take care of you, you just have to trust us," he whispered gently and it was all I could take. At this point, he'd walked around to the desk, turning me so I was facing him. What I'd been able to scrape together for the past few days to use as a barrier shattered at his attention and I cried. I clutched at his shirt and leaned my head against his chest. He felt so warm, rather than my cold sheets and body at night. I cried and cried, whimpering when I felt his arms around me.

I later found out that the rest of the hosts had been watching from the doorway with smiles on their faces. They knew I needed taking care of, and would be happy to do it. They didn't want to disturb what Kaoru was doing knowing that if they came too close, I might back off and cut all ties, so they left.

I stayed in his arms like that for several minutes, waiting for the tears to subside. It had been a long time since I'd been held like this. I breathed in his scent and found myself passing out to the beat of his heart. I heard him call my name but was too far gone to answer, sleep finally catching up from the strain of the last week.

Kaoru's POV

Akari was so skinny! I could see the dark circles under her eyes from sleepless nights and when I picked her up, she was light from lack of food. I didn't want to wake her up so I decided to carry Akari to the music room. Picking her up bridal style, I laid her gently down on one of the couches. The other hosts came in and we all took turns sitting next to her, knowing she would feel abandoned and lied to if she woke up alone. We often found ourselves running our fingers through her bangs, making sure she was sleeping ok.

The girls who came in made sure to keep quiet, knowing that we cared a lot by the way we looked at her. I heard Tamaki explaining to them about the previous events but kept her last name out of the story. When I was sitting next to her at one point, she woke up. I was really startled, not having meant to wake her up. She looked at me through sleepy eyes and smiled.

"Kaoru..." she said softly and I smiled.

"Go back to sleep Akari, I'm pretty sure Tamaki will want to be able to have his turn with you before we all have to go. If you need a ride, just say so, we can take you home. And if you're wondering, your in the music room," I replied. She nodded. I wasn't quite sure at what but she drifted off once again. Then I got up and motioned over to boss that it was his turn.

"She woke up a little while ago but I convinced her to go back to sleep for you. Please don't disturb her," I frowned and he just smiled his typical smile back at me.

"I wouldn't dream of it Kaoru! I would never want to hurt my new precious daughter!" he exclaimed and I sighed. "By the way, how come you aren't with Hikaru? You two never separate from each other," Tamaki said and I realized I'd spent more time away than I'd meant to.

"Oops." I said sheepishly and Tamaki chuckled, going over to Akari while I ran over to Hikaru. I draped myself over his shoulders and apologized to him in our typical twincest act for the girls.

"I'm so sorry Hikaru! I hadn't meant to take so long away from you! I promise I'll never do it again!" I said wearing a face that had the fangirls dying in love for my sadness of leaving Hikaru.

"Oh Kaoru, I forgive you! As long as you promise not to leave me, I'll never be mad at you! If you want, we could leave and make sure you keep your end of the deal at home in our room, if you catch my meaning," Hikaru said, immediately going into the role. He said the last part rather huskily, just to add to it. The girls ended up fainting and I looked back over to Akari who woke up and looked rather embarrassed in boss' arms. I smiled, knowing it would be alright.

"I wonder if she wants to celebrate Christmas with us," I heard Hikaru comment, looking off in the distance.

"Oh crap. We have yet to set up decorations for it and you know how boss can be. We may have a couple days but it'll take months for what he sometimes wants. I bet it'll still be fun either way," I replied, and we smiled simultaneously at the thought.

Waaaaah why are Tamaki and the twincest act so hard to write! I'm truly sorry for any OOCness but I hope you guys loved the what could be relationship for Kaoru and Akari. Remember, if you want them to be together, go to the polls! I think that's all I have to say... Bye!

Note from her awesome beta: Yaaa! Honey's still at the top! Do me a favour and vote for Kaoru on the poll! I love that dude! On a different subject, Merry (Early) Christmas! Are you guys excited?!

J.K. Kelly's Awesome Beta, xMisaka.

Honey: 9

Kaoru: 8

Kyoya: 6

Mori: 5

Hikaru: 3

Tamaki: 2

Edited on 7/4/15 Geez, I look back at this and am finding so many things I'm changing. I feel rather embarrassed for having written this piece of junk lol. I also realize I was really repetitive with Akari falling asleep but I couldn't think of any other way to get the things I wanted done, done. *Sighs* Uuuggghhh.