A/N I am so tired right now… Please ignore anything that sounds weird, I'm running on an empty brain here!

Disclaimer: Santa can only give so much

Chapter 2

Sometime that afternoon I came back when the Host Club was gone. I had a load of tiles and wood. After 4 hours, I had successfully built, plastered, and painted the wall. I also had a million little cuts and one huge scrape up my arm. I looked back to admire my work. It was good enough. And if that Kyouya person didn't agree, then he could just use that chunk of money I had to fork over to rebuild it. It was good to be the best carpenter in Japan's daughter. When I got home, I noticed that my black rose had died, even though I had put it in a vase. I'll ask him about it tomorrow, I thought drowsily.

After school I raced up the hallway to the Host Club. I ignored Tamaki's welcome and rapped on the wall.

"U-me-hi-to!" I said with anticipation.

The door creaked open. "Akari?" I nodded in response. He opened the door so I had just enough space to slip in. I saw that he wasn't wearing his cape or wig. I smiled and sat down on a chair.

"Hey, Umehito, your flower died yesterday. Is there any way I can preserve it?" I asked while playing with a Belzenef doll.

"Keep it in the dark. It can't survive the light, just like me."

"Okay." I raised my hand in a thumbs-up sign. He saw the bandages.

"What happened?" As he touched my hand I blushed slightly.

"Well…I fixed your hole last night."

"Why didn't you call a company and get them to do it?"

"Umehito!" I said sharply. "Do you think I'm the kind of person who just leaves her troubles to other people? Besides, it would take them an eternity to do, and they'd have to do it in the night. I know you hate interacting with people and the light. It would flood right through."

"But you didn't have to go through all these bandages and work for me."

"Of course I do! After all, you did give me this." I held up the keychain.

"Don't hurt yourself like that, I'd feel bad if you got an infection."

"Stop being so serious." I laughed and pinched his cheek lightly.

"Hey!" He drew back sharply. Again, I laughed.

"Fine, you can pinch me too." I pointed at my cheek.

"No thanks." He responded.

"Aren't you the ladies man?" Suddenly, he leaned over and pinched my cheek, hard.

"Hey-OW!" I rubbed my cheek and glared at the smirking figure. "I thought you didn't want to."

"I changed my mind." He shrugged. I lunged at him, and he casually dodged. I sat back in my seat feeling defeated. He picked up a piece of black paper and started to fold it.

"What are you doing?" I cocked my head to see it better.

"Making origami." He held up his work. "For you."

"For me?" I picked it up gently. It was a black rose.

"This one won't die." He smiled gently. Butterflies flew about in my stomach.

"Thanks, Umehito." I blew him a kiss. I swear I saw the slightest skitter of a blush flush on his cheeks. I blinked, and it was gone.

"Aw, that was so cute Umehito!"

"What do you mean?"

"You just blushed! I saw it!" I giggled.

"No I didn't!"

"Please. I know a blush when I see one."

"Sh-shut up!" I laughed. He was so fun to tease.

"You're going to make a brilliant housewife Umehito."

"What are you talking about?"

"You have crafty hands," I pointed at the black rose. "A cute hobby," I looked at Belzenef. "And a really pretty face!" he blushed.

"No, I do not! Besides, I will not be a housewife!"

"Aw, why not?" I asked slyly.

"Because I'm going to make someone my own housewife!"

"And who might that be?" I was getting curious.

"Of course that would be-" He stopped abruptly, and turned his head to hide his blush.

"Tell me!" I grasped his cheeks and I found myself staring into his eyes.

"Someone." He stated stubbornly, but he didn't move an inch. When he spoke, I felt his breath over my face. I blushed myself, and my heart skidded.

"You blushed too." We broke off. He and I both tried to cover our faces.

"Well, you blushed first!" We sounded like little kids.

"But…" I shushed him.

"No buts."

"What a stubborn person."

Before I could correct him, a huge bang shook the walls. Someone from the outside was desperately pounding on the walls. I helped Umehito get in his wig and cloak and I cautiously opened the door.

I gasped. In front of me, the Host Club was pressed against the wall and all of the guests had fled. Two scrappy looking boys carrying baseball bats were a few steps away from the Host Club, and they carried a menacing aura. The Host Club seemed relieved as they saw me. Haruhi, who had been banging on the walls, breathlessly pulled me out into the open.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to adjust to the new lighting.

"This stupid Host Club stole our girlfriends!" One boy said.

"All because they have some looks and a lot of money. This is why I hate rich people." Said the other one.

"For that pathetic reason, they came charging in, destroying our property and scaring away the girls!" The twins said together.

I looked around. Couches were broken, tables upturned, tea everywhere. I clenched my fists. I kept my eyes focused on the two boys.

"So all I have to do is beat them up, right?"

"No, then you'd get suspended. Just scare them off." Tamaki answered.

"Easy. But I'm not paying or fixing anything I break." Kyouya nodded.

"Hey, don't underestimate us!" The first boy said.

"Yeah, it'll be two against one!" The second continued.

I punched the wall next to me. It made a dent and some wallpaper tore off.

"Shut up, cowards. I don't even need a weapon to take care of you."

One of them threw their bat at my face. I caught it without flinching.

"What a load of crap. You can't even face me alone." I broke the bat in two with a flick of my wrists. They seemed horrified.

"Wh-What are you?" They gaped.

"Ever heard of the Marito-san, the Bull's Horns?"

"Yeah. He's a legend! He took out a whole gang in 3 minutes!"

"I taught him how to fight. Ask him, if you don't believe me." They backed away. I took a step towards them. They ran off. I heard one of them mutter as they sprinted.

"D-d-devil!" I laughed. In the end, I didn't have to do anything. The Host Club applauded me, and I bowed. Everyone thanked me, except for Kyouya. He was leaning over the dent in the wall, and he seemed to be muttering numbers sadly to himself. I high-fived all the other Hosts. Then I knocked on the wall for Umehito to open the door. He didn't answer. I knocked again.

"U-Umehito?" I asked, getting worried.

"Please don't hurt me!"

4 little words were uttered. I was shocked. I was strong, strong enough to make a hole in the wall, for god's sakes! But amazingly, my whole world came crashing down with 4 words. I knocked again. No answer.

"Hey Umehito." I lowered my head and talked to the wall.

"Umehito, you know the real answer to the answer you asked me? The real reason why I came back here yesterday night and fixed the wall was because… because ever since that day that night, I liked you. Wait, screw that. I love you. I love your hair, your wig, your cloak, Belzenef, everything about you! That's why I did it."

Of course, that's what I should've said. I should have told him my feelings. But I couldn't. It would be too complicated, and too hurtful. So I blinked back the tears and restarted my sentence.

"Hey Umehito, sorry I scared you. I didn't mean to, and I never had the intention of hurting you. So, sorry about that." I straightened myself out and bowed to the door. "These two days have been fun. Thanks for hanging out with me. Bye, Nekozawa." I couldn't force Umehito out of my throat anymore, so I went with his formal name. Then I walked calmly, swiftly, out the door.