I'm leaving to Hong Kong for a few days to meet up with a friend, so I quickly threw this together before I leave ;_;

"Fine Line"

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new" -Brian Tracy

Chapter 7: Lesson One from K and S

I felt more segregated here than I did at Club Prism.

At Club Prism, I was a weirdo. Here, I was an alien.

I sat at my stool, pulling myself in as much as possible, wanting to stay away from as many people as I can.

This…Club Sacred…was the complete opposite of its name.

Won't something that is called sacred be related to something more….refined and quiet?

At Club Prism; the girls were all the noble, porcelain dolls, the pink outside but green inside type. I preferred that than this. I'd rather get sneered at by the lady in red Nioh entertained than be here.

This was not my type of environment.

It was too….lively.

"Ahhhhhh! Wakato-kuuuun!"

I cringed, the voices of the numerous girls crowding a single man on the other side of the room reaching me, despite the distance between us.

Everything ran at a low sound level at Club Prism; elegant and beautiful.

Here, it can be described as Elegant Punk.

Everything was as beautiful as Club Prism (including the men of course), but it was a completely different world here. Even the system was different.

They did not have the eternal nomination system like Club Prism. Girls and women can choose whoever they want, no matter how many visits they paid.

Which is why, it seemed like all the customers here seems to be familiar with all of the hosts. And boy, did they act really friendly with them.

I blanched when I saw one of the more…desperate, for lack of a better and nicer word, girl almost literally expose her chest to one of the hosts; in an attempt to get his attention. He gave her his attention alright, like he was supposed to, but he did not seem too pleased with the way she was acting. Briefly, I pitied hosts.

I noted he had red hair, just like Marui's, but with a streak of purple in it.

'Marui this, Marui that-' I clamped my subconscious down.

Here, it was also a pay by entry fee; probably cause that their drinks aren't as expensive as the ones in Club Prism, but still expensive nonetheless.

Loud pop music blared from the speakers located around the room, not the classical that I expected. Many girls were dancing around with one another; some were dancing in groups of 4 with one host! It astounded me how they did that.

In fact, it astounded me how they can even dance.

I know I can't.

I can only describe this place to be similar to a bar…or a disco. But with an air of superiority and beauty to it.

None of those flashing bright lights; they had chandeliers that cast off a silver glow around the room. They didn't have tiled floors that changed colors. They had pristine marble that seemed to blend from one color to another from the light. They didn't have waitresses in skimpy uniforms here. They had men in pressed suits serving drinks, each with their own flair.

But neither did they have girls which covered their mouths and let out soft giggles. They had screaming (fan)girls that horded the men. I don't see any heartbroken women with cheating husbands either. It seemed more like these women were cheating on their husbands.

So I could only conclude this was the paternal twin of Club Prism; or maybe a stepbrother. Similar, yet completely different.

And I preferred the other twin. This twin was way too open and social for my liking.

I jumped, a yelp escaping my throat when someone suddenly touched my shoulders. Luckily for me, it was too loud in here for anyone to notice, other than the select few that were nearby (casting me weird looks now by the way), and the person who scared me so. I should start wearing a sign that says "Easily scared."

The host that greeted me when I first entered looked at me with one raised eyebrow, amusement painted in his eyes. "I'm sorry to have scared you." He smiled apologetically.

"I-It's okay…I scare easily anyways…haha…ha…" I'm so lame.

He took a seat beside me, waving down a drink from the bartender- later offering it to me. Aw man, is this one of their tactics to get money from the women? By getting them drinks even if they didn't want one?

"I…err…" I hesitated from taking the drink. I know Asuka will pay for me, but that doesn't mean I should drink as if I hadn't drank for 100 years.

"Don't worry. My treat." He offered.

I don't know if it's because I look like a pauper or something, but I seem to be getting a lot of free treats. Not that I mind. I save more….

"T-thank you…" I sniffed at the liquid curiously, the fuzzy gold not helping the uneasiness of my stomach at taking something new.

"It's doux." He spoke, watching me eye the glass. As if I know what doux is supposed to be.

I took a small sip- a sugary taste entered my mouth, and I took a larger sip this time.

"It's…sweet." I concluded, blinking stupidly at him.

A soft laugh escaped him, smooth and deep. I find it hard to imagine how a host like him works in a club like this. He seemed more suited to be in Club Prism. "You don't look like the type that likes bitter tastes." He commented, hailing down a glass of water for himself.

I blushed at myself at this. Hosts usually drink whatever their customers order, since the customers usually order for themselves and them. And here I was, letting him treat me and taking plain water for himself. I felt so cheap.

"How do you know…?" I asked, trying to get his attention away from the drinks and hopefully from noticing my apparent stinginess.

He crossed his arms on the island counter, closing his eyes in a peaceful manner. "Working as a host for a period of time has its benefits." He turned to look at me. "It allows me to read others, particularly women, more easily."

"I see…" I murmured, silently thinking that it did make sense. You have to know the customers to keep them happy and coming.

"Kumiko-san, is it?" He asked.

"Ah- H-hai" I stammered. Sometimes I wondered if I have to be diagnosed for speaking disorders.

"Why are you here?"

Despite myself, a blank look washed over me. What kind of question was that?

Kajimoto instantly noticed my look and quickly sat up straight, correcting himself. "No, sorry. I didn't mean it like that." He smiled, almost sheepishly. "I just thought that, since you entered here, you've been sitting here, unlike Asuka-san."

As if on cue, a loud and shrill cheer came from Asuka, and I looked behind to see the girl swinging two bottles of wine around and jumping to the beat while two other hosts stood around her and laughed.

Facing to the front, my eyes closed in deep mortification. Sometimes, I wondered how did I ever got the acquaintance of a person like Asuka. We were completely different.

Asuka recommended several hosts to me when we first entered, Kajimoto being one of them. But being the turtle I am, I made an excuse that I would like to look around the place first- pssh, as if people came here to look at the glimmering walls, when there are other much more attractive things to look at…Of course in the end, Asuka quickly got absorbed with all the activity going on and I chained myself to the bar stool, sketchpad on my lap and pencil twirling about in my hand.

I felt like such a schoolgirl here. Here I was, sitting in a corner with a bag filled with stationeries and a pad, whilst others were mingling around and drinking to their hearts content. Yep, I was a schoolgirl alright.

I didn't feel like an 18 year old…and I bet I didn't cut the look of one either.

Seeing that Kajimoto was still expecting a reply from me, I quickly answered."Well…Asuka-chan is more familiar with this than me…" I laughed nervously.

I never held such a close-knit conversation alone with a guy before. Marui didn't really count…he was slightly childish. It was easier to hold a conversation with him…that's how I felt anyways, even if I still felt slightly awkward around him. That is probably due to him being of the male gender…

Kajimoto was just….mature; and regal.

Several blinks of the eye were all I got from him and he stared at me in a way that would have made most girls faint- because it was so darn cute!

I didn't tell that to him (as if I ever would), but I did blush. No matter how much of an extraterrestrial I was by human standards, I was still a girl; one that was not immune to males.

Him just being a great-looking one just makes things more difficult for me, and I was trying hard to just not flop unconscious to the floor, or run away to the bathroom and hide.

I elaborated what I meant further. "It's just…this is only the second time I came to a place like this." The second time at Club Prism didn't count. I technically wasn't a customer at the time; just a freeloader they had to take in for the sake of their club's prestige. "And I kinda expected things to be more like the other club…"

"Which other club did you go to?" He questioned curiously.

"Club Prism."

His eyes alighted. "Ah~Club Prism." He smiled at me again then."You must have been treated like a princess."

"I was literally a princess." I snorted. I recalled how they referred to me by 'hime' and all that. And dear gods, although I felt as if I was going to die of embarrassment, I know definitely that that night was one I would never forget. Because Club Prism made me feel as if I was important; that I was somebody.

Kajimoto smirked at my answer. "That is to be expected when you go to a place ran by Atobe."

I cocked my head to one side. I remembered Atobe himself and Oshitari briefly mentioned about the name of Atobe to me during the champagne call. "What is so important about Atobe anyway?"

I regretted asking that question as soon as it left my mouth, because although his face remained placid and cool, it was clearly written in his eyes that he thought I must have been living under a rock.

"Err…" God I felt so silly now.

"Atobe owns a multi-million dollar corporation; needless to say one of the classiest Host Club around~" A new voice piped up from my left, and I whirled over to set eyes on a man sporting ash eyes and similar light ash hair. He lazed casually on his seat –why hadn't I noticed him?- cheek propped against the palm of his hand. "Ahh~" He sighed. "If I had that much money like that guy, I can buy all the vitamins I want- Esctasy~!"

………………………….

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..........................

…say what?

Vitamins….? ….Ecstasy?

I didn't know what my face looked like. But I figured it was something akin to the expression someone would get when they see a skinless koala bear feasting on kangaroos….yea. That's it.

"Shiraishi! You have enough vitamins and health products in your cabinets to feed the entire Japanese diet!" Kajimota exasperated, although he raised one eyebrow in amusement at the antic of his companion.

"You can never achieve absolute perfection like that, Kajimoto-kun." Shiraishi replied, a lazy smirk running across his face.

He suddenly took my hand- I know what he's going to do!!- And smiled at me, keeping my hand in his grasp lightly. "Shirashi Kuranosuke~ Pleased to meet you."

……..

Hmm.

He didn't kiss it like the other hosts did. I expected him to since that seemed to be the standard greeting…

"A-ah…Ishimaru Kumiko…Nice to meet you too." I greeted in return, although I was still slightly weirded out and bewildered by his statements from before. Is it possible that there is someone as weird, or possibly weirder, than me?

"Shiraishi-kun!" A girl, she looked to be about 20, came up to him with 2 of her other friends. "Shiraishi-kun! You still haven't told us about the types of nutrients we could get from the plants in our own backyard like you promised!" She pouted, and her friends agreed, all throwing looks at Shiraishi.

The man just smiled, and waved his- bandaged?- hand airily. "Ah~ Sorry. I'll compile a list for you guys to make up for it instead, how's that?" Cue a brilliant smile from him here, and instantly all three girls were as red as a tomato. Even though that smile wasn't meant for me, I could not help the slight pink of my cheeks.

Kajimoto chuckled from my right and I looked at him curiously.

"Even after so long working with him, I still can't understand this man and his obsession with perfect health." He commented and I could not help but laugh.

"Health?" I repeated, my tone of voice betraying my disbelief of it.

"Yes, health." Shiraishi answered. He had appeased all three girls instantly and had them swaying over to another side of the club in a giddy….ecstasy.

He raised a bandaged hand to my face, and lightly held my chin in between his index and thumb.

"Eh?! Ummm…" Instinctively, I stiffened as he examined me; for what, I do not know. But I suddenly felt very conscious of myself, and my grip tightened around my pad as pink dusted my cheeks.

He stared at me for several moments longer before he finally released me.

I just sat there numbly and dumbly, looking at him. He gave me a cusp of a smile and a smirk. "It seems like you take good care of yourself, Kumiko-san."

"Eh?"

Kajimoto shook his head, again in exasperation. "Are you going to tell me that she gets enough vitamin E, D and A?" he commented sarcastically but in friendly jest- his face still remained cool as ever even when being sarcastic.

Shiraishi laughed joyfully, and I watched this interaction between the two. It made me think and feel that they were…close friends. And it made me smile to think that hosts are so friendly with each other even if they are out rightly competing with another for customers. Usually that would cause tension and disagreement between any two parties, but…they were all getting along.

I suddenly felt…inspired.

In my mind, I completely painted- imagined- this scene. I could already see the colors that would fly across the painting; and it was clear to me that I found my topic for my first medium: paint.

Quickly, I flipped open my pad and started scribbling down notes onto the side of a page, just so that I wont lose all the colors and emotions that were passing through my mind right now.

I sensed the two peek down at my pad, but I continued to jot down whatever I could before I lose all of this inspiring moment.

"What are you writing?' Kajimoto asked, leaning over so that he could see. "Relaxation?"

I scratched my cheeks uncertainly. "I couldn't think of anything better…."

"What for?" This time Shiraishi asked.

"Well, to be honest, I don't really…take to going to host clubs. No offense!" I quickly added at the end when I saw them raise their brows at me.

"I just…" I sighed. It wasn't really nice nor smooth to tell hosts that you didn't like host clubs. "I was just looking for inspiration, and I just wanted to confirm something for myself…" I wanted to confirm that what Yura said is wrong. "So here I am." I shrugged sloppishly, hoping they weren't mad.

To my surprise, Kajimoto laughed, and Shiraishi smiled absent-mindedly. "Don't worry about not liking to come to host clubs." Shiraishi told me. "It'd actually be nice if more of our customers were like you. We wouldn't be so busy like that then~ Ecstasy~"

"If all our customers were like her, we might go out of business soon." Kajimoto commented jokingly. I wonder, how does this man joke and be sarcastic without letting much emotion slip into his face? A smile and a smirk here and there; but that's the extent of it.

"So you're here to get inspiration?" Shiraishi continued, saving me from my embarrassment.

"Uh, yea…It's for my art course at college…I have to hand in 3 pieces of work done in different mediums." I mushroom sighed again. "The last few days I have been at a block."

As I said that, I suddenly realized that I was feeling less…nervous. Less enclosed and frightened with talking to them. When did that happen? Moments ago I was still stammering about as if I suffer from heart attack.

"Hmm~ So you're going to draw us?" Shiraishi asked, amusement littering his voice as he picked up my sketchpad.

"H-hey!" I startled, and tried to grab for it. "It's private!"

As if he did not hear me, he flipped through my pad and I just sat there helplessly, pouting angrily.

"That's new. A girl coming here for inspiration" Kajimoto commented, as he looked over me at the sketchpad.

"Not really. We do give the girls inspiration after all~" Shiraishi smirked at me and I blushed harder.

"It's not like that!" I protested, not liking what he insinuated.

Ignoring me again, he merely contemplated what I wrote minutes ago. He suddenly passed the pad over to Kajimoto who took it, albeit a bit hesitantly. Hm, seems like Kajimoto is more sensitive to my feelings at least. But alas, he did not give it back to me either and flipped through it.

As he looked through it, Shiraishi turned to me. "I think that, you should make my side of the painting have plants sprouting by the bar counter, and in Kajimoto-kun's side, his plants are wilting."

I deadpanned.

Kajimoto looked up at him, frowning. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Shiraishi did not reply, and merely propped his cheek against his palms again, looking at me. "So? What do you think of that idea?"

I didn't know if he was joking or not. Plants? Seems like this person is a big fan of…plants and herbs. When I felt the pad fall back into my lap, I opened to the page where I wrote down my ideas.

Picking up my pencil, I started a small thumbnail sketch, portraying two figures sitting a distance apart from each other on a bar counter- and for the heck of it, added plants into the image.

Kajimoto frowned down at the image. "You can't be seriously using that idea, Kumiko-san?"

His expression caused me to laugh, whilst Shiraishi appraised the drawing. "Not as the final, I won't, Kajimoto-san." I assured him.

I wanted to portray two people who are complete strangers, or maybe not strangers, but rivals to a point, having a relaxed and friendly time together; hence the bar counter and the distance in which they sat apart. I don't know exactly what else I will be adding to it to make the painting much more vivid and interesting yet at the moment, but that was the inspiration that these two gave me.

It honestly did amaze and interest me, how competitors in close quarters got along.

And I also admired them for this.

I guess, in the end, coming here to Club Sacred wasn't so bad. Not only did I find a new inspiration, I also learnt one thing about the hosts.

They weren't all selfish and stingy.

That's one point proven to Yura.

I don't understand why I was obsessed with proving Yura wrong; its not as if these hosts directly affected my life or anything. But…I just didn't like the bad image painted about them. I can't explain it, but it left an unsettling bubble in my stomach.

I didn't know how long it was that I sat there that night, talking to these two very charming hosts – speaking of which, I think it was these two that Asuka said were "quite the charmers" when we were in the elevator. She didn't directly mention their names, but I could take a guess.

Because they definitely charmed my heart that night.

A thought about Marui suddenly crawled into my mind, causing my laughter to die out. What Yura said about Marui to me also came with the thought on Marui. It seems that now, whenever I think about Marui, I would also think about what Yura said.

Marui…

Has he really got me wrapped around his finger, like Yura said?

I felt…slightly insulted from that. It made me sound as if I was a girl easily manipulated.

Still, it's hard for me to just obliterate all the small times I had with Marui, no matter how brief or little they were. In fact, it's hard for me to forget how these hosts all treated me!

Maybe that's what hosts are supposed to do; give you an unforgettable time so that you'd come back. But I felt that, they were sincere in what they do. The hosts here at Club Sacred and Club Prism at least…

I don't feel as if they were in it for the money. Well, maybe a little….. (People need to make a living after all). I just don't feel that slimy vibe from anyone of them; I felt that they could be trusted…

I raised my hand, and the bartender came over immediately. "Two glasses of tequila for these two please~ And an apple juice for me!"

Shiraishi choked on air in jest, and Kajimoto quirked yet another brow at me. 'Tequila for us and apple juice for you?"

I laughed, rubbing the back of neck. "I can't take alcohol…and I heard that people get really weird when they take tequila sometimes!"

"So you want us to make a fool of ourselves?" Shiraishi guessed, smirking that ever nosebleed-inducing smirk. "Just so you know, we have high alcohol tolerance….and I love tequila."

I frowned. "You do? Oh…" Ah well. I didn't exactly want to see them turn red from the taste or gasp from drinking the shot, though it would have been fun…

I just wanted to treat my friends to several rounds of drinks.

Yea…I just wanted to treat my friends.

I cheered when the both of them simultaneously gulped down the shot glass and ate the lime.

Aiyah, Kumiko-chan just doesn't see that she is easily manipulated x3 And the rule I set for myself is working!...so far at least. Hope I can keep it up and not reply to reviews instantly XD

Hmm, as I was writing this, I just realized that Kumiko is almost EXACTLY the type of girl Kenya and Shirashi would go for….hmmmm *starts typing down notes*

And sorry if Shiraishi seemed slightly OOC to you guys. But this is how I imagined him to be like ._. He's a captain, but unlike Tezuka or Sanada, he isn't so strict and all unemotional. He's more…friendly, and actually jokes about with his friends. It was also evident in his Valentine Kiss song, and also those little bouts of randomness he has in the story =D so I see him as a guy who can be serious, but he's also pretty much a friendly guy who has fun when he can. And in case you didn't know, Shiraishi is a health freak (yes, really) and a very, very, VERY botanically inclined person XD

Thanks for taking the time to review guys!

PhoenixRage92- lol well, I just like the idea of putting a girl who is completely afraid of bugs in a den of handsome lions ;D muhahaha-coughchokes and do you happen to have a deviantart or something? Cause your name is REALLY familiar; way before I came here lol I thought I saw someone else on another site with the same name as you.

Demonsadist- well, if someone made you doubt something, you'd go prove it, wouldn't you? XD ….well, I would x_X

Lady Ladington- yea haha Kajimoto has lavender eyes3 I seem to like all the guys with lavender eyes….Marui, Kajimoto, Sasori, Toutaku….lol XDthough Kajimoto would be the odd one out since he has brown hair; the other 3 all have red hair XD And I think I have the ending, although I'm not sure if I want to use it yet haha I'm still open for other options XD And Kajimoto's skill was the L-Drive serve, where he bends over and catapults his serve over haha *he's the man!*

A jealous Marui didn't really go with what I have in mind, but it still might work for one part of the story =D but its just hard to make Kumiko…have a fling with one today and another the next day x_X; the hosts would start thinking she's a slut or something lol But I'll see what I can do, since I have a big attachment still to Kajimoto and one to Shiraishi x3 And its slightly troublesome to start whole new stories on them lol

Midnight Strawberry- haha true, true XD I know I'd lose half my mind first ._.