Hey guys, I really hope you liked the last chapter and it seems I'm getting a lot of Kaoru fans but Honey always seems one step ahead. Until now! Kaoru has actually taken the lead but several votes so you guys must've done something! That or I forgot to add something... If any of you think I'm showing favoritism, I'm really sorry! Especially towards Honey. I only wrote him first because he was in the lead and I needed someone for Akari to tell the story to. None of the other hosts would make a good listener for a story. If your character is losing though, try getting a band of friends together to read the story and vote!
Also, my beta will be out until the day after Christmas for me! Some of you might call it Boxing Day and if you're around her time zone, it might be the day after Boxing Day. So if my story starts to get kind of bad grammar, or words could be rearranged, I'm sorry! You can wait until she comes back which will be in... 3 days? By that time, or around it, I'll have reuploaded some of the chapters and they'll be a lot better, trust me. She didn't get to beta my last chapter either, so that may be why it might've sucked compared to the other chapters. Replies!
KR Wolfe: Well I bet you'll be glad to know he has taken the lead! I'm really glad you like my story! Yeah the your and you're stuff always gets me but I'm glad I fixed it a little for you to say it was in previous chapters!
Emma: I'll add him to the poll! It's always ok to vote and it makes me happy when you do! :)
Extended Experience: Lol well one of them has taken the lead so I hope you're happy with that!
Sorry for such a long author note, onto the story! (It's also super long)
Chapter 8
"Akari! Can we come in?" I heard voices call from somewhere on the other side of the apartment. I thought I was imagining it so I rolled over and pulled a pillow over my head. Best to ignore things in the morning. I can never tell what's real or imaginary in the morning.
"Akari! Wake up!" I heard a voice call yet again and barely had time to register it until I felt a pressure over me. The pillow was pulled away and it took a minute to adjust to the light. When my eyes did, I was shocked. The hosts had broken into my apartment!
"What the hell are you doing here?!" I yelled at them. How did they even find out where I lived? I looked over at Kyoya who seemed to be avoiding my gaze. I sighed, should've known.
"Remember when I said we'd spend the day at yours or Haruhi's place? And we'd do what you guys wanted to?" Hikaru asked and it dawned on me.
"Oh man..." I whispered. So they had chosen my place. "Too bad, I'm still tired and I'm not getting up," I snapped. The hosts seemed taken about. Then the twins wrapped their arms around me and literally pulled me out of bed. We fell down to the floor and I was squeezed between them.
I felt someone grabbing my shirt and pulling me up. I looked up to see that it was Mori. He pulled me out of the twins grasp and let me go. I landed on my feet and frowned down at the twins. They gave me sheepish grins in return.
"Akari! Akari! Do you want a piece of cake?" Honey asked me while tugging on my arm.
"No thanks Honey. I'd rather have some breakfast first," I said heading towards the kitchen. I didn't need to look behind me to know the hosts were following. "Do any of you want some breakfast? Or have you already eaten?" I called behind me.
"No thanks, we already had breakfast," Someone answered. I'm guessing Kyoya. I nodded and got myself some pancakes. I finished in a couple minutes and sat down next to everyone.
Hey Akari? How come you don't have a Christmas tree?" Kaoru asked me.
"Because I don't have the money," I replied, startled at the question. I looked towards the living room where one could be.
"Let's go get one then!" Hikaru exclaimed and I stared at him.
"Yeah! We'll help pay for it!" Kaoru added.
"Why do I feel like I'm going to owe you," I sighed exasperated.
"Depends. Wanna make a bet on it?" Hikaru asked deviously.
"Obviously not," I replied.
"Oh let's go! My dear new daughter definitely needs a tree to celebrate Christmas! It's decided! We'll all go shopping to decorate Akari's home!" Tamaki cheered and I paled.
"Yay!" The twins and Honey cheered with him. I saw Haruhi sigh and Kyoya kept writing in his notebook. Mori continued to watch but there seemed to be a softening to his eyes.
Time Skip
We had driven in their stupid fancy limo to the nearby store. It had attracted more attention than I or Haruhi wanted but ignored it. We ended up getting wall hangings first and what would go on the tree. The hosts let me pick out the tree because it would go in my house. I ended up finding this perfect one but someone had been stupid and put the price at the top.
"I can't reach it..." I whispered. I was about to walk away when I felt someone pick me up and lift me towards the price tag. I yelped and looked down, surprised to see Mori. I looked back up the price tag and looked at the height just to make sure. It fit! And I could afford it with my own money!
"Thank you Mori. Can we get this one?" I asked down towards him. He grunted and nodded. Then he put me down and lifted the tree up. He was definitely strong. We met up with the other hosts. Tamaki was going on about how he would be decorating the room all by himself while we could do the tree.
When we got home, I helped Mori set up the tree. The twins coordinated everything and Kyoya helped Tamaki. Haruhi helped decorate the tree and we both put the star on the top with the help of Mori and Kyoya. When we were done, we all sat down near the tree in a circle. We exchanged stories about past Christmases or made up stories. I did a little bit of both.
"Akari tell us a story! Your last one was good!" Honey said with excitement.
"Are you sure? My stories are usually sad and you seemed to be having fun sharing your own stories," I asked.
"Oh you have to! Your stories are absolutely adorable!" Tamaki exclaimed in his usual charm.
"Tell! Tell! Tell!" The twins yelled. Honey was nodding enthusiastically.
"Yeah," Mori muttered.
"Why not? I bet it'll be interesting," Kyoya said nonchalantly.
"Well ok then.
"Several years ago, there was a little boy and girl. The boy doted on the girl, but left her side when she needed it most. It was when she was against her parents. They beat her and they hit her but she never let it break her. It was because she had a little imaginary friend. He was always there by her side, even if you couldn't see him. He always told her not to fear, for it would be better one day. She was sad because she couldn't touch him, even she realized that. But she believed him.
"One day, the little girl escaped the clutches of her family. She ran away to the nearby city. When she got there, she realized she hadn't heard her friend's voice for quite some time.
"'Friend? Where did you go?' She asked worriedly.
"'I'm sorry, my dear friend. But I have to go. If you follow that star in the sky, I know we'll meet again.' she heard him call faintly.
"'Wait! You can't leave me! Remember our promise? We promised we'd always be there for each other! You can't leave me!" She shrieked to the wind, crying from the betrayal. She looked at the sky like he had said and indeed found a brightly shining star. Running towards it, she noticed it started to move.
"'Wait for me! He said for me to follow you! I have to follow you so please! Wait for me!' She called after it. After what felt like hours, she came across a small village. The star shone down on a house at the far end up on a hill. She ran to the house and saw what looked to be a barn with people in it. There were 2 peasants that seemed to be parents. The only woman was clutching a baby in her arms. The woman looked up and smiled at the girl.
"'Do you wanna see him?' she asked kindly. The little girl nodded and came closer. When she got there, the baby was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. All of a sudden, she sensed her friend again.
"That's when the baby looked at her and smiled a brilliant smile that seemed to light up her whole world. It was the light she had seen in the darkness of her room, the warmth she had felt in the cold of her beatings. She smiled a sweet smile back, the first in a long time, and it would be a while till she smiled again.
"'Can I touch him?' the girl asked the mother. The mother nodded sweetly and the girl brushed her fingertips against his forehead. She knew right away that this was her imaginary friend. But he wasn't imaginary anymore. The little girl smiled and started to sing a lullaby.
"The little baby boy smiled yet again to her singing. He would laugh and clap but towards the end, he just fell asleep with a smile on his face. The little girl was satisfied and said her goodbyes to the parents. She continued to the next city and stayed there. She never forgot that night and she never forgot her friend." I finished, looking at the other hosts to gauge their reactions. Before any of them could say anything though, the door burst open.
"Akari!" Came voices that made my blood run cold. The hosts saw my reaction and immediately knew something was wrong.
"Akari what's wrong? Your really pale and shaking. Who are these people?" Honey whispered.
"T-t-t," I whispered, too scared to say anything.
"Akari dear! Who are these lovely young men?" The woman asked.
"Guys, meet my family. Family, this is the host club," I said shakily, glad I didn't stammer that time.
"Hamada-sama's! It's nice to meet you," Kyoya said standing up and shaking hands. I froze, too scared to move. Everyone seemed to recognize my feelings towards them because they all grew weary towards them. Then I heard words that made me nearly faint.
"Akari, we came to bring you home with us!" My mother said. I looked towards my brother but he wouldn't meet my eyes.
"B-b-but m-m-mother," I stuttered.
"But nothing dear! Your coming home!" She said, words dripping venom that people can only detect if they are listening close enough. Obviously everyone was because their faces darkened. Everyone stood up and stepped between us.
"I wouldn't advise that, Hamada-sama," Kyoya said coldly. She blinked at him in surprise before her features darkened.
"I don't care what you advise. Akari is coming home with us," my mother replied, showing the viciousness known for the Hamada family. Every member stiffened except for Honey and Mori.
"Takashi," Honey said, acting really serious, a far cry from his regular self.
"Yeah," Mori said, understanding what his cousin wanted. Mori picked me up and made everyone follow him. My mother realized he was trying to drag me away and started screaming. Honey got into a defensive form and held her off. I screamed at Honey trying to warn him what they were capable of.
"Be careful Honey! They probably have a weapon on them!" I shrieked worriedly. I clawed at Mori's back. I knew their full rage was a deadly calm that came before the storm. Anybody else that came against them had never seen daylight the next day. I had heard the tales of Honey's power but I still worried. "Mori you have to go back for him!" I screamed. We had gotten to a big window in my room and Mori was helping everyone out.
"He'll be fine," Mori said but I could tell he was really shocked at how I was showing so much emotion.
"Yeah he's right. You must've heard the stories about his power. Plus Mori wouldn't lie to us," Tamaki said, unusually serious too.
"You guys don't understand what their capable of though! You haven't been at the hands of their rage! You don't even realize you've lost control of your fate until it's too late, until it's in their hands!" I continued to scream, trying to get my hands on anything I could use to get out Mori's grasp.
"And you have?" Hikaru asked jokingly, not realizing the truth.
"Yes I have! You don't understand!" I cried, giving up at my confession. They all froze and stared at me shocked. Mori put me down but he didn't let me go. "How do you think I got these?!" I asked them, lifting up the back of my shirt a little to show them the whipping scars I'd gotten from those torturous days.
"Oh Akari no wonder you…" Haruhi whispered as realization dawned in their eyes. It was why I had been emotionless before they met me, nobody even realizing I was there. It was why I was scared every time they were mentioned and why I was freaking out now.
"I'm the only living example to show what they're capable of," I whispered. Honey then chose that moment to appear next to us seeming a little scraped but ok other than that. I stared at him in amazement. No one had ever gotten away from my parents.
"I couldn't hold them off. I'm sorry Akari," He whispered.
"It's ok. Let's just get out of here," I said back and we all took off running. We didn't get very far because a black limo pulled up in front of us, forcing us to stop in our tracks. The window rolled down and all I had time for was the image of the gun before I heard a blast and felt a sharp pain on the right side of my chest.
"Akari!" Everyone screamed. I looked down and found red staining my shirt. I looked up in shock and confusion. Then I passed out.
Hosts POV
They all looked at Akari's fallen body in fear. Honey and Mori ran over to her and checked her pulse.
"She's alive!" Honey called. Gone was his child like manner and replaced by the seriousness of the person he could be if he let go of his cutesy things. Kyoya whipped out his phone and called for an ambulance and everyone made sure to stay away from the limo but it was already driving off.
"Merry Christmas my dears!" Came the cry of Akari's mother along with a maniacal laugh that disappeared as the limo got further away. The ambulance showed up quickly and they boarded in with Akari. Mori stayed by her side the entire way and never took his eyes off her. Everyone had a sad air about them and nobody said a word.
They arrived at the hospital shortly after. The doctors said Akari would be fine. Surprisingly, it hadn't done a whole lot of damage to her except for a breaking the skin. It was only the size of the bullet that made the hole big and therefore the blood that seemed to be a lot of blood loss.
"Something must've happened in her past because she had serious scars all over her body but her skin toughened up because of the abuse. If it had been anyone normal, they might be fighting for their life due to blood loss," The doctor told Kyoya. They were shocked and only then realized just how much she must've been put through.
They were all allowed to go see her so they did.
"Akari! I'm so sorry! I couldn't protect you!" Honey wailed jumping onto the bed and into her lap.
"Akari I promise you we'll be by your side whenever you need us. You don't need to carry this burden alone," Tamaki told her, keeping the same manner from the house.
"Akari you don't have to tell us but please," Kaoru started.
"Tell us what they put you through," Hikaru finished. Everyone nodded and so she did.
Akari's POV
They all sat there, horrified expressions on their faces. Kyoya noticed the time making them realize they should get home. None of them wanted me to go back to my apartment for some time, fear of my parents coming back to take me with them. We all decided I could go with Tamaki for a while after I was released. They all left except for Mori and I took this opportunity to thank him.
"Thank you Mori," I said quietly. He looked at me and I could see the little spark of surprise in his eyes. "If you hadn't picked me up and rushed us out of the apartment, I might be far worse. When Honey couldn't hold them back, they'd eventually break through all the hosts and take me away. So thank you. And if I hurt your back, I'm sorry." I whispered. He grunted in response and I was content with his acknowledgement. I knew I could rely on Honey and Mori to protect me along with everyone else. I knew I would be alright and we'd figure it all out tomorrow.
"Merry Christmas, Mori," I said quietly nearly asleep. I almost missed his reply.
"Merry Christmas Akari."
Holy crap guys! That was a super long chapter! I'm sorry I made it sad but I hope you liked how she ended up safe with Mori. What did you think of her mom? This didn't quite go as I was hoping but yeah. Akari's fine! See you next time! Merry Christmas!
Honey: 17
Kaoru: 22
Kyoya: 13
Mori: 9
Hikaru: 6
Tamaki: 2
Oh man! I added in the reviews and Kaoru took the lead by a landslide! I'm wondering if I forgot to add stuff before… Oh well Kaoru is in the lead!