AN: no murders this time. But something almost as shocking. ey. I would keep you in the dark but
here are some minor spoilers/hints: 1) Mii is a key, but not the main key character; 2) THIS STORY IS FINALLY HEADING TOWARDS ITS DESTINED GENRE OF MYSTERY OH MY GOD AM I A SLOW WRITER; 3) Rong Zhi and Takeko have a bit of a history. Not very nice, somewhat abusive and manipulative; 4) beige dress.
I make tiny hints here and there, and they aren't very well-elaborated upon, so that might confuse you haha but you can always PM me and I'll try to explain without spoiling you.
BTW,Rong Zhi in Chinese is: 蓉芝, and Su Tong is: 苏童. They don't have any specific meaning- I just chose them because I found them nice haha.
WARNING: ethnic slur below.
Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC
"I didn't realise you told everyone about your great reveal," Su Tong says, reminded of Mii as a sparkle of gold disappears into the crowd. "Rong Zhi."
"I didn't realise that either," Rong Zhi replies, snarky and amused. "Why?"
"Someone did," Su Tong says, slightly louder as everyone squealed around them. "Either that, or Mii's known you forever."
"I don't think-"Rong Zhi turns to face her, only to be interrupted by a few more screams. "Gosh, these people are uncontrollable-"
Su Tong tiptoes, leaning on Rong Zhi, trying to see past the crowd. There was a spotlight over a fallen body. Gasping, she tugs on Rong Zhi's hand, and pulls her through the crowd, rushing to the fallen Kasugazaki Kanako. Rong Zhi's grip on her hand tightens when they reach the front, and bloodstains can be seen seeping through the beige, chiffon dress.
Haruhi places her fingers over Kanako's neck, only to breathe a sigh of relief. "She's alright! Call the ambulance!"
"Haruhi!" Tamaki screams after finally processing the situation. "Get in! Mori-senpai, if you would help Kanako in, Hikaru- Kaoru, the guests! Kyouya, your police!"
After a few moments, they are pushed into the hall, as the twins start going around, calming the students. Rong Zhi starts comforting a few distraught students, as Su Tong glances around, and, spotting the golden dress next to a few suits, swiftly navigates her way through the crowd. Mii catches her eye, and stiffens. Before she could call out to Mii, Haruhi conveniently collides into her, and when Su Tong looks up again, Mii is gone.
"Haruhi," Su Tong grabs onto Haruhi's shoulder. "What's happened?"
"Ah! Su Tong- Kasugazaki-san was shot," Haruhi explains. "I'm going to calm the rest down!"
Su Tong lets go of her, nods, and continues moving towards the Hosts. There are two members of the Ootori Police blocking her way, warning her to stand back. Behind them, Kanako is carried on a stretcher, with a worried-looking male following her. Kyouya pulls him back, and starts talking to him in a collected manner.
"-she will be fine, I assure you, Suzushima-san."
"What- why did this- who did it?"
"We will be looking into the matter, Suzushima-san."
"I-" and then, gulping, he says, "thank you."
Now, Su Tong decides, "Ootori-kun, I was certain I saw Akiyama-san here just now."
Turning to face her, Kyouya dismisses his police, and fixes on a polite smile before replying, "Ah, Su-san. I believe Akiyama-san exited after giving her testimony; she had some family matters to attend to."
Su Tong raises her eyebrows, but thanks him nevertheless. "Has the shooter been caught?"
"We are looking into that, Su-san. There will be no need for you to worry."
"I am," Su Tong says, and then hastily adds, "sure."
Moving away from Kyouya and his glinting glasses, she tries to find her way back to Rong Zhi, only to meet Takeko. Takeko's narrowed eyes and balled-up fists have Su Tong faltering, before deciding to engage her directly.
"I hope you are not hurt," Su Tong says cuttingly, albeit lamely, unable to come up with anything else that would not be directly offensive.
"I know where this came from. I know who's in charge of this; there are only two in the school who can manage such an act of terrorism," Takeko spits. "Don't think you'll get away with this."
"I'm certain you do," Su Tong says politely. "Seeing as the Ootori police, who have free access to the scene and the victim, have not yet come to a conclusion. Now, if you'll excuse me-"
"Everyone will know, chink," Takeko says, pushing past Su Tong, "of your plans and involvement in this."
Ignoring her, Su Tong walks on, resolutely, mind still focusing on Mii's panicky state and possibly involvement in this. But why Kasugazaki Kanako? What would Mii's motive be? There was no reason for her to break up a ball that she was looking forward to. Looking around, she felt slightly dizzy at all the muttery pink mess. Pink was certainly a popular choice- and in all different shades, too.
Shaking herself out of that strange fashionista train of thought, Su Tong marches on, and finds Rong Zhi kneeling next to another student. Rong Zhi glances up at Su Tong, and sighs.
"Where did you go?"
"I thought I saw Mii-" Su Tong says, and changes the subject as Rong Zhi looks down. "It's a shooting incident. Nothing has been confirmed."
Rong Zhi helps the student up, and dusts her dress, murmuring a few words of comfort before turning to Su Tong. "The shooter?"
"Nothing has been confirmed," Su Tong says, and realizes that Rong Zhi's hands are trembling. "Are you alright?"
"I am," Rong Zhi replies, following Su Tong's gaze down to her hands. "What are the Hosts doing right now?"
Taking her hands, Su Tong squeezes Rong Zhi's shaky fingers gently. "I'm not sure, but I think they are trying to administer damage control. If they can't find the shooter, then the Host Club will be suspended."
"Nonsense," Rong Zhi chides, squeezing back. "The ladies love them too much."
"Everyone, this is Tamaki, President of the Host Club. We apologise for the series of unfortunate events that unfolded at today's ball. Please be reassured that the Police are already investigating, and Kasugazaki-hime is not in any life-threatening danger. The ball will be cancelled, and everyone will be escorted to the foyer by the hosts. We are prepared to die for you, our Princesses," a chivalrous voice boomed from the speaker, and words of chivalry flowed. "Please don't shed precious tears, for the Hosts are always here!"
There were a few squeals, however weak, from the audience, and everyone was placated a little by Tamaki's charm and brave demeanor. The muttering subsides, and soon, everyone was escorted out of the hall in small groups. No one seemed extremely upset about the unfortunate event, now that the Hosts were in charge and devoting their utmost attention to their clients. Any phone calls made within the room to their families were made under the watchful eyes of the Ootori Police. Surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly), no one was calling out the manipulative scheme the Hosts employed to ensure a media blackout; the Hosts' cheerful and knightly behavior apparently helped, with even Kyouya and Mori smiling.
Rong Zhi raises an eyebrow, and sighs at the easy way the students were charmed.
"And that settles it?" Su Tong asks softly, tracing Rong Zhi's knuckles with a thumb.
"The rich are not usually empathetic," Rong Zhi explains, and smiles wryly. "Besides, the Ootori Police are quite reassuring. I don't think the Ootori family would be very happy about this, though. It's additional leverage against them."
"Leverage, huh," Su Tong says. "Why do I get the feeling that most wouldn't actually use this against the Host Club?"
"They're rich, powerful and dashing. The school would hush it down before it spread, anyway. Besides, Kasugazaki-san wasn't of much social importance."
"… that guy there- Suzushima-san- is he related to Kasugazaki-san?" Su Tong points to an unmoving figure crouched by the wall.
"He's her fiancé, I believe," Rong Zhi says, shrugging. "Wait- Su Tong-"
But Su Tong was already making her way towards the man. She hovered before him, uncertain of how to approach him. He made the choice for her, however, when he looked up from his hands and offered a weak smile.
"Yes?" A thoroughly pleasant person who was steadying himself, indeed; he had a strong character- or perhaps his fiancée wasn't exactly the love of his life.
"Are you alright?" Su Tong asks, kneeling in front of him.
"I- I hope she's fine," Suzushima says, and returns to sighing into his palm.
"She will be. Now, stand up. I think you might be able to visit her in the hospital if you ask," Su Tong says, and gets up.
"Thank you," Suzushima says, pulling himself up, and making a concerted effort to keep his cool. "But you are?"
Su Tong stares at the sudden transformation from a boyish, worried character to a taller (he stands like he's tall) and more mature businessman, and says, "Su Tong."
"Suzushima Toru," he says, offering a hand.
She shakes it, and is quite unsure of what just happened. Rong Zhi's gaze on her is a silent sort of comment, and she doesn't know what to make of it- or the shape-shifter before her.
Finally locating her phone in the silence of the dressing room, she checks its call history. There are thirty alone from her mother, and five more from Yuusuke. Her phone vibrates again, to show her mother's identification.
"Ma?"
"Where have you been?" the voice is strained and soft.
Su Tong swallows, and decides that lying is perhaps the better option. "I- I've been at home, and I forgot to keep my phone on-"
"Do not lie to me," her mother cuts in sharply. "I know you were at the ball, and that there was a shooting incident."
"I- how?"
"You are not safe there. Yuusuke is going to fetch you."
"Yuusuke?"
"… Your father, I mean. But that is not important. We have discussed, and we will be changing your school by this week-"
"What?" Su Tong exclaims, almost dropping her phone. "What do you mean by changing my school?"
There is silence on the other side, and Su Tong presses on, "You're making a great deal out of this- it's nothing, really. It- I wasn't even targeted; it's probably just some rich people's politics that got out of hand, Ma-"
"Su Tong," her mother says, and sighs audibly on the other side. "It isn't safe."
"Ma, I'm safe. No one holds a grudge against me," Su Tong lies, keeping her tone gentle and firm. "Why are you so concerned, and how did you know about this?"
"It doesn't matter," her mother says, a little too quickly. "I have my means. But you have to promise me to be safe, and alert at all times. It's dangerous there, with all the politics."
"I will," Su Tong says, and glances at Rong Zhi, who is leaning against the door. "Is there anything you're not telling me?"
"… Is there anything you're not telling me?"
Su Tong stays quiet at this, and begins to say, "I need to know what's going on-"
"Su Tong, if something like this happens again, I want you to tell me directly. I don't need to hear about such news from a second source." A pause. "It's troubling and worrying for your old mother."
"Okay," Su Tong agrees softly, suddenly feeling small. "I'm sorry, ma."
Her mother hangs up after a bit more nagging- though this normalcy doesn't fully distract Su Tong from her own questions. Rong Zhi walks with her in silence to the foyer, looking to Su Tong at times, as though crafting sentences in her head to be said. In the end, she opts for a pat on Su Tong's shoulder, and a tug at her wrist.
When she sees Yuusuke later, he is astonishingly quite detached, and somehow awkwardly concerned, as though forced to play the part of a worried parent. Su Tong spares him the skit, and goes to her room immediately. There, she stares at the photograph of her and her mother , and tries to imagine a person like Yuusuke next to them, forming a 'perfect family'. But this Yuusuke she has conjured in her mind is more like a henchman, lingering at the back.
Feeling too tired for tears, she plops onto the bed and forces herself to sleep. Her dreams are a weird mix of her ex-school friends, a snowy park, and her mother (who transformed into Chairman Mao, walking her through the customs as she hugged a heavy plush bear to her chest). They don't make sense, and she gets the feeling that it's more of a memory than anything else- but the fact that her tiny hands are connected to Chairman Mao's larger ones in this visual construction dismisses that possibility.
When she wakes up, she forgets the dream, but remembers the weight of that bear, and her hands feel light, not empty.
AN: If OHSHC were real, the club would be shut down, man. But they're rich and in a capitalist society so meh. Also I tweaked a few details here and there, so this isn't totally canon haah.
Fun fact: When I started designing my characters, it was decreed that Yamada Yuusuke has pink hair and works part time at a bar. Make use of that information however you like.
Reviews: if you'd like.