Chapter 11

KaoruxOCxHikaru

Death is such an inconvenience, especially to those who are affiliated with the one who passed away. Saying goodbye for a time is never easy, but what happens when you can never say hello ever again…? When you realize the last embrace you ever gave someone will forever more be the last. The last words you uttered to them will be the last memory you both ever share. And what if that last time you had with them wasn't a pleasant memory? The guilt one must feel knowing they can't ever take it back. The regret of feeling you didn't spend enough time with them… while you had the chance.

First dad, then mom, and now grandpa… I felt like every one of their deaths was my fault. Not many people experience so much death, especially people so close to them, in such a short lifespan of sixteen years. Was I just a magnet for bad luck? The ant hill perched below the magnifying glass of destruction and false hope? And to top it all off, I was alone… again.

Packing wasn't that hard. I didn't bring very much to begin with. Luckily not much food was going to be wasted; my cabinets were nearly empty. I had called Ouran High Sunday morning to tell them of my sudden departure, and also said I was moving back home. I had only been there for about a month, but despite all the bad that took place only nights before, I hadn't been happier anywhere else. For a little while, I felt wanted, loved and best of all, like I belonged, but that was all wishful thinking. I was always the outcast. The freak with her own style, who dyed her hair fire red and wore eyeliner, and listened to her music loud enough to silence the world around her. Yeah, that was me. I was in my world, and mine alone. I tried to fool myself into thinking I was happily content with that lifestyle, until I moved to Japan…

I wanted so badly to go to Ouran one last time, to see it one last time… to see them, one last time. To hear the word, "Welcome" one final time… but I didn't. Instead I just got on the quickest plane and retreated like a coward. I was worried if I saw them again… that I would break down… besides, like they'd want to see me anyway. Hopefully now with me out of the picture the twins would recover in no time and be as close as I saw them the first time they smiled at me.

Their smiles… what a gift Heaven granted me, to see those beautiful smiles…

The whole flight home I tried to cancel out the world with my music, but every love song on my shuffle list caused me tear up, they made me think of those two… I just couldn't go back one last time. I couldn't face them. I didn't want the last thing I had said to them to be "Goodbye".There would be nothing good about it.

When the plane landed, I arrived at Grandpa's house an hour later being escorted by a taxi. They were going to have his service there, and then drive his casket to the graveyard later that evening, after which, close family members were invited to see if Grandpa left anything behind for them in his will. I was invited, but grandpa had already done a lot for me while he was alive. Expecting anything else from him would be greedy and selfish.

I wondered if anyone else would take me now. I kind of hoped I could just live on my own and support myself. I didn't mind the idea at all; it was nice living alone. Alone…

The funeral was a real drag, as all funerals usually are. I went up to grandpa's casket one final time while no one else was around, and just had a quiet moment with him. I had memories of when I was little flashing back into my head like watching an old beat up projector screen fighting to stay alive. We did a lot of things over the summer, because I stayed with him a lot when mom couldn't be with me. She did have a lot of work to do after all. I bet I seemed so insensitive to everyone else, because I was the only one who didn't shed a single tear. I couldn't cry anymore… I had run out of tears to cry, and quite frankly, I didn't think grandpa would have wanted me to. I think, knowing grandpa, he'd have wanted the last thing for me to do, was smile and say "I love you".Much better than saying goodbye.

After the service, I watched as the others around me shuffled in their seats awaiting for grandpa's last testament to the world to be read. I knew some of the relatives; my aunt Kathleen being the closest. She was about to have a baby soon. It was sort of sad to think that the baby would never know its grandpa. When the man walked in and sat down at his desk, they all leaned forward, while I and Kathleen just sat back and watched. It seemed we were the only people who weren't anxious to take Grandpa for all that he was worth, which in all honesty was quite a lot.

"Good evening," The man said, "Roger," That was Grandpa's name, "wrote his will and requested it to be read aloud to you all." He put his reading glasses on and began,

"Hello everyone,

I hope you all managed at my funeral. I'm sure you're all eager to take what is now yours, but let me say, that no matter what you all mean something to me. All formalities aside, my decision is final. Both my house, all of my possessions, and all of the money, every cent I worked for, goes to my wonderful grand daughter Chelsea. As for the rest of you, you all get to keep the memories you made with me, which I'm sure for some of you was just a passing glance. Chelsea was the only one who showed any true gratitude for me, and she deserves a chance at life more than any of you do, since now more than ever, death has been her most valued enemy.

With all do respect, Roger"

The room fell silent, and my heart nearly stopped.

"Oh," The man continued, "There's something else written here as well," he noticed, "P.S. Don't any of you greedy mongrels try to take custody of her either to inherit the money. I already had the papers filled out, that she will be her own guardian, and choose where she wants to live. Keep the house or sell it Chelsea, find what makes you happy in life, and never let it go, no matter how hopeless it may seem. Your mother would want nothing more than that… for you to be happy. And by the way… I love you too."

He… knew. We both knew. He knew how happy I was in Japan, and he wanted to keep it that way. He knew I'd return to see him one last time. He knew I would tell him I loved him instead of goodbye. Grandpa knew me better than almost everyone… except…

"Find what makes you happy in life, and never let it go, no matter how hopeless it may seem."

He did it all for me.

Everyone was shocked, not only because they felt ripped off, but surprised that I was now in tears. Japan was where I was happy. Here I would only spend my time alone, but there I had… I had a family: The host club. Even when I insulted Tamaki he always greeted me with a smile as I passed by. Kyouya, although we never spoke very much always nodded when he saw me, because he could see me, and I wasn't invisible. Mori and Honey were always so generous and kind, and Haruhi was the best friend I could ever ask for, like a sister I never knew existed. The Hitachiin twins… they were… the people I loved the most…

I didn't want to sell Grandpa's house. There were too many memories still in that place. So I made a deal with Aunt Kathleen that she could have the house for her and the new baby on the way, and that if she ever decided to move to let me know so I could find someone else to take care of the place. She asked if I was sure that I didn't want to live there with her, but I told her I already had a home, and it wasn't here.

The very next day I got another ride from a taxi at the airport. My plane wouldn't depart for another two hours. I was so tired from getting no rest the other night. I was too nervous to go back to Japan, but I hoped I'd get a chance of redemption. I had my headphones on, and my eyes closed, with my head tilted back against the seat. Hikaru's and Kaoru's faces kept filtering through my head, along with the memories we shared. "Yankee…" I remembered that insult of a nickname Hikaru gave me. His voice was fresh in my mind, it made me smile.

"Hey, Yankee, I'm talking to you!" Hikaru growled, plucking the earphones out of my ears and my head went flying up, in surprise. My eyes widened to see the twins standing before me. They were here… they came all this way… why?

"Kaoru… Hikaru?" I thought I had either lost it, or was in a dream, but it was reality.

"You left without a word! What the hell is your problem?" Hikaru demanded an explanation.

"You didn't leave because of Friday did you? Did we upset you that bad?" Kaoru whined.

I couldn't move, my eyes were so fixated on them that, I didn't even want to blink, for fear that they'd disappear.

"Say something!" Hikaru commanded.

I tossed my MP3 player aside in one swift motion and hugged them so tightly I could have stopped their oxygen flow. This crying thing was really starting to irk me, "I missed you guys…" I whimpered. It was the most relieving sensation, to feel them return my embrace. I almost melted into the floor.

"Kyouya told us about your grandpa…" Kaoru mumbled, "but we couldn't just let you stay here. You belong with us."

I lifted my head and met their eyes again, "I'm coming home." I nodded. Then, they both smiled, and my world, was suddenly no longer my world, but ours.

"Well then," Hikaru said taking my hand while Kaoru grabbed my bags and stuffed the MP3 Player inside, "Let's get you home then, eh?" He said dragging me along, Kaoru in tow.

I realized then that it wasn't Japan that was home. It was Ouran High, it wasn't the host club, or even my apartment, but the twins. It's true when they say when you're surrounded by those that you love, that you'll always be home. You'll always be where you belong. This, was exactly where I belonged…

Author's Notes: Wow, the end of an era I swear xD No worries all, I shall write bonus chapters for you guys, should you request it. This chapter was such a relief at the end. I was actually feeling down until I wrote the word Yankee for the first time in a while xD fear not though, I can't say goodnight to this story just yet, so I'll try to update from time to time. Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this project, and I would love some feedback if you guys have time.

Oh and if any of you guys have questions for me, ask them in the review, and next chapter I'll answer them in the writer's notes. It's just an option encase anyone has any questions about my character and whatnot. Thanks again everyone!