Hi everyone!

Sorry for the delay in posting a new chapter! Work got super crazy and I just started up a new quarter at school. Hope you like it!

I still do not own any of Bisco Hatori's characters.

xoxo cupidsrose

The next day started off like any other at Ouran High School. Students were bustling up and down the hallways before school. Hanako Matsumoto entered her classroom, just as the rest of her class had settled into their seats so their day could officially begin.

Mori snuck glances at Hana from across the room several times throughout the morning, which Honey took note of with a small smile on his face.

Hana was lost in thought, staring out the window. She had been tapping her pencil quietly to some unfamiliar beat, though everyone around her assumed it was one of her songs that she had written for her violin. She smiled softly to herself as she noticed the rain beginning to fall from the dark, cloudy sky outside.

It had begun to become gradually warmer during the passing few weeks and most of the snow from the winter had melted and brought with it some early spring-like weather. It was Hana's favorite time of year.

Time seemed to move quickly and before they knew it, the school day was over. The students in the classroom made their way out into the hallway so they could move onto their various extracurricular activities. Hana lingered behind, taking her time to gather up her things, relishing in the quiet moment. As she bent down to pick up her violin case, she saw that someone was standing next to her with it already in their hands. She turned her attention to the person, seeing that it was Mori.

"Ah, Mori…" She smiled sheepishly. "I'm… sorry about yesterday. You shouldn't have had to see me like that." She rubbed her own arm awkwardly, embarrassed about what had happened at the club.

"Hn." He held out her violin case to her, exchanging it for her books that he silently offered to carry for her. "I'm just glad you are okay." He smiled faintly, which helped to put her mind at ease.

Hana's smile then became more genuine as she tucked some hair behind her ear. Mori noted that her bruise was healing quickly and was less noticeable today than it had been previously. "Walk with me?"

"Hn."

The two strolled out of the classroom, their arms brushing innocently as they made their way down the hallway towards Music Room 3 and the Black Magic Club.

"Mori?"

"Hn?"

"Do you think it'd be alright if… if you listened to my new song? I wrote it for my parent's memorial banquet and I want to make sure it is perfect." She kept her gaze lowered at the floor, her fingers strumming nervously on back of the black violin case.

Mori reached out and gently grabbed her arm with his free hand, sufficiently stopping her in her tracks. He tilted her chin up so she would meet his gaze and smiled warmly at her. "I would be honored." He watched her, his heart fluttering as he noted her warm, hazel eyes brighten at his words.

"Really? Thank you so much!" She surprised him by giving him a hug, her scent invading his nose… he noted that she smelled like sunflowers. "That means so much to me, Mori."

"Takashi."

"Hm?" She looked up at him in confusion.

Mori blushed faintly under her gaze and began to rub the back of his head nonchalantly, avoiding eye contact. "You can… call me Takashi… if you'd like."

Hana blinked up at him, but then smiled. "Okay, Takashi." She then grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the rest of the hallway to Music Room 3. "Do you think I can play my new song for everyone in the Host Club? I know your guests don't usually show up for awhile and I'd like to apologize to Haruhi for yesterday as well…"

Mori simply nodded as he looked at their joined hands. She's… holding my hand.

When they arrived at the Host Club, she released his hand and the two walked in. Hana smiled at her cousin. "I figured you'd be here."

Reiko blushed faintly in response from her spot sitting next to Honey, the two having been in the process of splitting a piece of cake. "What are you doing here Hana?"

"I was hoping I could play my new song for everyone and if you could all give me your honest feedback. I… wrote it for my parent's memorial banquet next weekend."

"Of course, Hana-chan!" Honey beamed.

There were eager nods and several words of agreeance from the various hosts and they all took a seat on one of the couches that had space for the majority of them, the others having settled for either a spot on the floor or, like Mori, chose to stand behind the couch.

Hana undid the latch on her violin case and pulled out her most prized possession. She let out a small sigh as she held the bout of the instrument to her left chin, holding the bow just above the neck of the violin. She closed her eyes and began to glide the bow smoothly across the strings beneath it. Her song started out slow and then became gradually faster.

As she played, everyone that sat across from her felt their own breaths catch in their chests. Most of them had heard her play, but never in front of them and never as a private audience.

Mori watched in awe as the woman who had captivated him for as long as he could remember put her heart on display in the form of her music.

Hana played for what felt like hours, getting lost in her song. She could feel a small pain in her chest and throat as she fought back her tears. I miss them so much. As she continued to play, she, as well as everyone else in the room, was unaware of the foreboding figure approaching Music Room 3 in a rage.

The door suddenly slammed open, causing everyone to jump and Hana to cease her playing. Her glistening eyes stared at the doorway in horror, her grandfather glaring right back at her.

"Hanako! Where have you been?!" He stalked over to her and knocked the violin from her hands, causing her to cry out as she helplessly watched it tumble onto the floor in a loud clatter, the wood splintering slightly from the sudden assault. He then abruptly grabbed her wrist and yanked her towards the door.

"You are to come straight home after school and you are forbidden to do anything as foolish as you did yesterday again! And to be in a place like this. Disgusting and shameful. You need to act like a proper lady or no one will ever want you, though it would surprise me if anyone ever will."

Hana winced in pain, his hand squeezing her previously injured wrist tightly. As he began to drag her out of the room, she noticed Mori starting to move towards the pair. She shook her head solemnly and mouthed 'It will only make things worse.' She then turned her attention to the others and gave them apologetic looks.

The hosts and Reiko all watched in horror as Hana and her grandfather disappeared down the hallway where they watched him shove Hiro towards the door as well.

Mori clenched his fist in anger and slammed it into the wall behind them. "That bastard."

Everyone turned their attention to Mori, exchanging looks of surprise at his sudden outburst, as none of them, Honey included, had ever heard him use such language.

A week went by and none of the hosts, or Reiko, had heard anything from their friend herself. Hiro had told everyone that his sister was okay, but that she had been punished so severely after returning home that she did have to go to the hospital for a short time.

Hearing that news from Hana's brother had destroyed Mori. He felt tremendously helpless with the situation at hand, as she had made it abundantly clear that interfering would only worsen her situation. He hated her bastard of a grandfather and one day he would make sure that he paid for his maltreatment of Hana and her brother.

As the school week came to a close, everyone was abuzz with talk of the memorial banquet that evening. All of the well-known and prominent families had been invited to attend.

There was plenty of gossip on the female Matsumoto heir and her sudden absence from school, though most of it had been quelled when Reiko had threatened to curse the next person to utter her cousin's name. She was kidding… for the most part, anyway.

Mori went home with his cousin that afternoon, both of them planning to get ready together. Once they were ready, they would pick up Reiko, who had agreed to be Honey's date to the banquet, and then head to the venue. Mori was beyond eager to see Hana, partly because he wanted to check on her but mostly because he just missed her.

Honey glanced up at his stoic cousin. "Are you nervous about tonight, Takashi?"

"Hn."

"I'm sure Hana-chan is okay. Do you have it? Her violin?"

Mori had collected her damaged violin from the Host Club floor the day of her grandfather's outburst and had taken it to a specialist who worked to mend the instrument. He had been planning to bring it with him to the banquet as a surprise for Hana, knowing full well that it would mean the world to her and she would also then be able to play her song.

Eventually, the duo was ready and they exited the Haninozuka house. After getting in their car, they headed towards Reiko's home. Mori was anxious and couldn't wait to see finally see Hana again.

The trio – Mori, Honey, and Reiko – arrived at the banquet without much trouble. Mori wore a dark gray, well-tailored suit, it almost matching his steely gray eyes in color. Honey wore a traditional black suit with a dark blue tie that matched Reiko's floor-length gown.

Mori's eyes glanced over the crowd of people in the large ballroom of the Matsumoto mansion, searching eagerly for a head of auburn hair. His eyes found what he was looking for, but his heart sank when he realized it was just Hiro. Regardless, he approached her brother, hoping to question him on his sister's whereabouts.

"Hiro."

Hiro turned abruptly, his hazel eyes to similar to his sister's turning their attention to Mori. "Hai? Are you looking for Hanako?"

Mori nodded and Hiro shrugged his shoulders.

"I haven't seen her since this morning. Grandfather said he had a surprise planned for this evening, just for her."

As if on cue, they heard a tapping of metal against glass and everyone in the ballroom turned their attention to the front of the room where her grandfather stood.

"Hello and welcome to the Matsumoto mansion! Thank you all for coming." He smiled, though Mori grimaced, knowing how fake it must be. "Please, help yourselves to some of the h'ordeuvres. My lovely granddaughter, Hanako, should be along shortly." He bowed his head curtly, excusing himself as he went to collect the aforementioned girl from her bedroom.

Mori, knowing that he would lead him to her, followed discreetly behind the older man. They arrived at a hallway and her grandfather pulled a key from his pocket, unlocking her bedroom door. Mori could hear soft sobbing coming from inside the room and watched as her grandfather reappeared from within, pulling Hana behind him.

Despite her red eyes, obviously from crying, she looked absolutely breathtaking. She was wearing a lovely, form-fitting maroon dress. It had a lace bodice that accented all of her stunning physical features perfectly, from her supple breasts to her slim waist, and the chiffon-like skirt draped elegantly on her hips and bottom, flowing all the way to the floor. Her auburn hair was clipped up halfway on one side with one her mother's barrettes. Her skin had a subtle dewy glow and her lips were colored a warm red color, her eyes accentuated by the light gray eye-shadow and dark, black mascara.

"Come along, girl. You have someone to meet."

Hana pulled her arm from his grasp and frowned, planting her feet firmly on the ground. "I don't want to meet him. I don't want to meet anyone tonight. This is supposed to be for my parents, not so you can play demented matchmaker."

She grimaced as he turned on his heels and glared directly at her. He lifted his hand to strike her, but stopped short.

"Hm. We will finish this argument later, but for now you will meet him and you will like it. He is to be your husband, after all."

Husband?! Thought Mori.

Hana let out a sigh, but gave in and followed her grandfather down the hallway, both of them oblivious to the steely gray eyes that had just witnessed their small altercation.

As they reached the ballroom, her grandfather led her over to a pair of men, one much older than the other.

"Hana, this is Toga and his grandson, Akira."

Akira bent down and brought Hana's hand to his lips, planting a soft kiss on her delicate skin. "A pleasure to meet you, miss."

Hana felt like her skin was crawling where his lips had just been and she pulled her hand away from him somewhat rudely, though she gave him an apologetic look when she noticed her grandfather leering at her. "I'm sorry, but I think I need some air." She turned around and headed to the balcony.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to come face-to-face with Mori. "Takashi… you came." She shut the door to the ballroom behind her and the pair just looked at each other.

After a few moments, Mori stepped forward and pulled Hana swiftly into an embrace. She pushed back at first, but then gave into his hug, resting her head against his chest and closing her eyes. "I'm so happy that you're here."

Mori felt her nuzzle into his chest slightly and his grip on her tightened. "Hn. I brought you something."

Hana looked up at him with curious eyes. He pulled away from her, and motioned behind him. Her eyes followed his movements and fell on the black case that occupied the bench.

"My violin!" She rushed towards it, unlatching the case and pulling her violin out to inspect it. She looked at Mori. "You… fixed it." She set the violin down and walked over to him slowly, hesitantly at first, before she grabbed his hands. Without saying anything, she leaned up and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

The pair relished in the kiss. It was gentle, but meaningful. The warmth between their lips faded as Hana pulled back. She looked him and smiled. "Thank you for everything, Takashi. I won't forget it." She then turned to her violin and picked it up again. "I should go back inside... I have a song to play." Without another word, she disappeared back into the ballroom.

Several minutes passed and Mori remained firmly planted in his spot on the balcony. He heard her music through the door and he smiled to himself, a warm blush lingering on his cheeks. She kissed me… maybe I do have a chance, after all…