"That was wonderful Ai."
"Another masterpiece."
"Thank you, I'm happy you all enjoyed it."
Ai loved cooking for the former host club. Mostly because she loved to cook, but also because no one gave her more praise about her cooking than them.
"And congratulations again Rebecca."
"Yeah, he finally got up his nerve."
"Our little lilo-sota is finally growing up."
Hunny had a faint blush as the twins played with him, but Rebecca, who was sitting next to him, just smiled. She was just as short as Hunny with big brown eyes and light brown hair cut short by her shoulders.
"I still can't believe what you see in him?"
"He's sweet, and gentile, and kind, and could beat my fathers best men. What more could a girl want?"
She and Hunny kissed to wild cheers from the twins. Ai looked at Kyoya, who was talking to Tamaki, and a small smile formed on her lips.
She didn't even realise the girl standing next to her. Chieko was nervous, and clutching a book to her chest.
"Chieko?"
Chieko looked at Kyoya, and he gave her a faint nod. Ai was curious about what was going on. The girl walked over and stiffly gave the book to Kaoru. He and his brother shared a look, and Ai got scared Chieko had crossed a line. She was about to say something when she saw the look in Kyoya's face. He wasn't just studying the whole thing. He was rooting for her. Ai realised this was what the look had been about and calmed down, a little.
Kaoru settled down in the sofa, and started to look through the pages. Not just flipping, really studying them. Hiakru on the other hand leaned forward and started to talk to her.
"You design?"
"Kind of."
"You don't kind of design. Do you or don't you?"
"I do."
He looked at her.
"I design."
Chieko bit her lower lip, and a faint blush crept over her face. She started to tug on her sweater, before she looked down on the outfit she was wearing.
"I designed this."
Upon hearing this Kaoru looked up. With one eyebrow raised he studied it before asking her to turn around. She did and he and his brother shared a look again before he looked down on the book again. He was barley half way through.
"How old are you know?"
"15."
"So you will be a freshman next year."
She nodded.
"At Ouran?"
She nodded again.
"What class?"
At Ouran high school your grades and your family assign what class you'll be in. A being the highest, D the lowest.
"A, of course."
Her face was glowing with pride.
"I rank third in my class now."
"So you work hard at your school work."
"Oh yes, Ai has always said that you should never take graduating for granted. An education is one of the best things you can have."
Hikaru looked at her, and now it was Ai's turn to blush.
"And she is right you know."
Again the twins shared a look. Kaoru was now finished with the book.
"You need to work on your penmanship. It's almost as bad as Hikaru."
"Hey."
Laughter.
"But you have talent. I like this animal/history thing you've got going. Rough, of course. But there is potential."
Chieko almost fainted. Her smile was so big you could see her molars. Kaoru gave her back the book.
"If you are aloud."
"And you work hard."
"We can look into getting part-time work for us."
"Just some boring stuff like getting coffee and such."
"But it would give you an idée about how it is to work with designing."
"Would that be interesting do you think?"
Chieko looked like she was about to faint. She looked over at Ai.
"May I?"
"As long as it doesn't interfere with your schoolwork."
Chieko made a sound Ai had never heard her make before, before turning to the twins and bowing. Remembering her manners.
"I would like that very much."
"We'll give Kyoya the details."
Chieko clutched the book to her chest, and almost ran out of there.
"I have never seen her smile so big in her entire life. Thank you."
"Don't thank us Ai."
"She really has a talent."
"Raw of course."
"But with a bit of work."
"A lot of work."
"She could be big."
Ai smiled and leaned back. Just happy for her sisters joy.
"That went well, didn't it?"Kyoya was sitting and writing on his computer as Ai sat down beside him and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you for Chieko."
"I didn't do anything."
Ai raised her head and he could tell she was looking straight at him.
"You believed in her."
She placed her hand over one of his. Forcing him to stop typing and look at her. Her beautiful clear blue eyes.
"Sometimes that is enough."
She wasn't just talking about Chieko. He caressed her cheek before kissing her. Her kisses still made his stomach twist and do summersaults. They stopped kissing and again she rested her head on his shoulder. He liked when she did that. He started typing again. Word after word, calculating. He loved his job. It was a part of him.
"We need to tell your family you know."
He stopped typing for a moment, but only a moment. With the exception of his sister, hadn't Kyoya any contact with his family.
"People are going to notice. They will talk, and your father will get the news one way or the other. Eventually."
"Then he can get it eventually."
"Kyoya."
But the topic was closed. He wouldn't let his father ruin another good thing for him. He refused.
"Mr Ootori will see you now."
Ai smiled to the servant, and he looked at her with confusion. Kindness was rear in that house. She walked into his office, and was shocked to see him. He looked much older than she had expected, than he needed. He was paler, and he didn't look good. He coughed.
"Yes Mrs Ootori?"
Ai opened her mouth, but nothing came out. This was the man who had let her father torture her most of her childhood. This was the man who had known what her father had done, how she had suffered, and just turned the blind eye. He had taught her why you couldn't trust some people.
He coughed again, and Ai frowned her brow. She didn't like the sound of his cough. It was long and deep.
"Mrs Ootori be quick, I'm a busy man."
Cough.
"I don't like that cough of yours."
Cough.
"Please Mrs Ootori, I'm a doctor. You don't…"
Cough, cough, cough.
Ai smiled as she walked over to the man and felt his forehead. He was burning up. He pushed her hand away, before coughing again.
"I know what kind of patients doctors are Mr Ootori. I'm married to one, or didn't you get the news?"
The look he gave her told her he had. She walked over to the door and got a hold of three of his menservants.
"Please escort Mr Ootori to his bedchambers, and don't care how much he protests. You call the family doctor; tell him Mr Ootori is ill. Which way to the kitchen?"
There was such a determination in Ai's voice none dared to say anything. They pointed her to the kitchen, before executing her orders. Mr Ootori was now coughing so much he didn't have the strengths to protest.
Ai went down to the kitchen, which was empty to her surprise, and started to make chicken soup. When she was done she brought it up to his room. She was a bit surprised to find him in bed, but was careful not to show it.
She laid the bowl in his lap, and watched him eat it. Not caring that over half of it landed outside of his mouth. When he was done she just grabbed the bowl and gave him a napkin to dry himself.
"How was it?"
"Okay."
She felt a lump in the bottom of her stomach, but didn't let it show.
"So, how are you feeling?"
"Better."
Ai smiled to the man, and to her surprise and pleasure, he gave her a small smile back.