Chapter 2: Beyond Lost

When I said I was free tomorrow I really didn't think I'd actually end up back here. I looked across the way to the girls fawning over the small blonde. I found myself sitting next to him, with only he, Slender, and I occupying this sofa. (I also just learned that Slender's actual name is Mori…I don't care.)

I looked over (more like down) to the chattering blonde who, for some odd reason, decided to nestle himself in my lap. I let out sigh and looked over towards the door. I could just leave. I mean, I owe him nothing and I've no obligations to him. If anything, he's indebted to me! Not that I'd hold it against him. But seriously, I don't even know this kid and I really don't owe him anything! That's right! I should just up and leave! Yeah, that sounds like a plan…I…I have no idea how to get home from here. Ugh! I bet he planned this. Little ball of evil blondeness! Holding me captive in this weirdo magnet of a place. Ugh…another sigh. I felt the blonde shift and saw him leaning the back of his head upon my chest, eyes quizzically peering at me.

"What's wrong Chi-chan?" he asked, obviously filled with concern.

Ugh, the kid! Either I have a brother complex or this kid is just abnormally adorable, not that I'd admit either aloud. I shook my head before running my hand through his fluffy hair in the same manner I'd always do for my brother. Goddamn his hair was soft!

"It's nothing. I'm fine."

The small boy continued to look at me so I gave him an unsure smile and he grinned back in kind before turning his attention back to the other girls. My heart can't handle all this cuteness! I look around again to try to find something to capture my attention, but frankly everything about the place is just plain weird. It's not just the extravagance of the school that disturbs. Nor is it just being looked at as if I were some sort rare exhibit at the zoo. No, no. What bothered me the most was that creepy tall blonde guy. He's been watching me all afternoon. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I'd committed some ultimate crime and hit like nine puppies with my get-away car.

I suppose he fancied himself stealthy. At first he would 'casually' stroll by. Then he'd give awkward glances from his section of the room. Then he was behind a pillar and the next a potted plant. Now, he was standing right beside me. I gave his figure a sideways glance and accidentally made eye contact. I quickly snapped my gaze back to Mitsukuni, focusing on running my fingers through his hair. The he sat beside me, uncomfortably close. I let out a defeated sigh. It's best to confront a problem head on.

"Is there something I can help you with?" I tried to ask as politely as possible, despite being so irked.

He startled, probably not expecting me to address him. His face flushed red and he silently shook his head and turned his body to rest his elbow on the arm of the sofa. I shook my head before resting it upon Mitsukuni's. I caught Mori looking at me out the corner of his eye. Unlike the blonde one, when eye contact was made Mori did not turn away. It was almost as if he was trying to ask me something via telepathy! Joking aside, it was peculiar feeling to be seen like that. I offered him a weary smile and he gave me a slight nod before turning back towards the girls. Could it be he was worried about me?

"Chi-chan!"

"Yes?!" that caught me off guard.

"Mori thinks you're looking a bit bored so let's play a game!"

"A game," I repeated as I eyed Mori, but damn did the guy have a poke face, And wouldn't I have heard him tell Mitsukuni that? Maybe he really is a telepath!

"What kind of game?" I asked.

Mitsukuni hopped off my lap and twirled in a quick circle before facing me and throwing himself into my arms.

"My favorite game!"

Okay. So…I haven't played hide-n-seek since I was…I haven't played hide-n-seek in a long time. I also never played hide-n-seek in such a huge area. Don't get me wrong, I've played in the woods and whatnot, but hide-n-seek in this school is just plain stupid. Not to mention unfair! It was decided that everyone would play and that we'd split up into teams of sorts. There would be two seek teams: Mori, Mitsukuni, and I. The blonde guy, glasses guy, and Haruhi. The twins were to be a duo team. All the girls were supposed to be the 'hiders' and every 'hider' had a red rose with them, courtesy of creepy blonde kid.

The point I'm trying to make is this school is freakishly huge and I'm lost. Not just as to the current situation that is at hand, aka being at this school to begin with, but also in the sense that I can't find Mori or Mitsukuni anywhere and I've climbed up and down a million flights of stairs in search for the third music room. Turns out every floor has a third music room. (Each floor actually has five. Yeah…five.)

Wondering further down the slowly darkening hallways as the sun set, I kept a look out for a flash of blonde hair or an oversized human being. Neither decided to make a much needed appearance. I stopped on my tracks to catch my breath before stomping a foot upon the ground, the sound echoing down the empty hallway.

"Why is this happening to me!? I just wanna go home! Is that too much to ask for!?" I exclaimed tugging at my hair, most frustrated.

"Home," a voice slithered down my neck.

I leapt as the breath ghosted over my shoulder, "Holy hell! Why!?"

Spinning around on my heels, I turned to face whatever idiot decided to come up from behind me. I pride myself on my senses and gift in martial arts, but I didn't even sense anyone's presence. Fist readied, I swung, a clean left hook nailing my new 'friend.' I watch a cloaked figure hurriedly crawl into the darkness of a nearby clove, folding their body into a small ball and leaning away from me. Their face remained hidden beneath the bundling cloak, aided by the darkness of the clove. They person said nothing as I eyed their dress and current huddled position, my head tilted to the side in confusion. A silence continued and absolutely neither of us spoke nor moved, before I processed just what happened. Quickly, I dropped my hands to my side, easing my defensive position.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry! My body just kind of reacted!"

They said and did nothing.

"I mean it, honest. I don't just go around punching people. Though to be fair, you did creepily breathe down my neck. Not that it justifies me hitting you, but—"

"You're lost?"

His (as I just discovered due to his voice) sudden response caught me off guard.

"Uhh…yeah. Yeah! I am beyond lost," I said as I took a few steps toward him, "Do you go to school here?"

With a slight nod, the boy stood but made no move towards me. Noticing his seemingly uncomfortable state, I ceased my approach.

"If you're worried about earlier, don't be. I promise nothing like that will happen again. So long as you promise not to do anymore weird stealth tricks. Deal?"

I tentatively held out my hand, hoping he'd accept my apology. Reaching out his hand he took my own into both of his.

"You are of a strong spirit," he muttered.

"Uh, thanks. I guess..."

He looked down at me with piercing blue and tightened his grip around my hand.

"Ethereal and fierce,"

"What?"

"Please allow me to escort you, my dark goddess," he breathed, dropping to one knee and laying a kiss on the palm of my open hand.

"What?!"

I could feel my eyes widen to an alarming size. There was no way in the world this guy was serious. But then again, the students here aren't exactly…normal.

"Okay…do you know how the get to the…oh what was it called? Ouran club? Male harem club? I don't know." I ran agitated finger though already ruined hair.

"Could it be, my queen, you mean the Host Club?" his eyes were wide with what looked like worry.

"Yeah, that's it," I replied with a slight smile.

"Is my Shadowy Angel interested in one of the men from the Host Club?"

"Okay. Firstly, it's Chiharu, so you can stop with the strange names. Secondly, no. I was coerced to being here by Hunny and I'd much like to go home now. I'm exhausted and I still have work tonight."

"Chiharu. It's alright for me to address you as so?"

"Yeah, sure. It is my name, after all. No need for formalities with me."

The boy gave me a wry grin and I gave him a small smile back. He turned to look down both sides of the hallway before gesturing for me to sit on the window ledge with. Eager to be off my feet, I followed him.

"Coerced, you say?"

"Coerced might've been a bit harsh, but that kid has those blasted puppy eyes. I was guilt-tripped!"

The boy chuckled and I gave him a half-hearted glare. Noticing that I couldn't make out his face, I thought back to earlier.

"How's your cheek? I did kind of punch you."

"It's fine."

"So sorry…"

"I mean it Miss Chiharu, it's fine. It's a welcome mark. A sign of you and your dominance."

"…I have no idea what you just said and I'm not even going to try and figure it out," I replied as I softly.

He gave no response and merely stared. Just as I prepared to ask him if something was wrong, I heard someone call my name…sort of.

"Chi-chan! There you are Chi-chan!" Hunny exclaimed as he hurried down the hall towards me, the other host members following leisurely behind.

Throwing himself into my lap, Hunny proceeded to latch himself to my person, all smiles and giggles.

"Geez, Hunny. A warning would've been nice. I mean, honestly," I muttered as I gently petted his hair.

The small blonde leaned into the touch, coindecidentally forcing him to lean toward my new acquaintance. With that Hunny, ceased his wriggling, readjust himself to properly face the other boy.

"Nekozawa?" You know Chi-chan?"

"Nekozawa…oh! Is that your name? I never did ask for your name. Sorry." I replied, wrapping my arms around Hunny's small torso.

Nekozawa shook his head, "It's of no consequence. But only my classmates call me Nekozawa. You, my love, may call me Umehito, if you so desire."

"Yeah! That's cool with me." I gave him a genuine smile.

"Are you and Nekozawa friends now?" Hunny questioned, looking up to me from his spot on my lap.

I looked to Umehito, who was now back on his feet, before nodding," Yeah, I think so."

"Commoner Chiharu! We were wondering as to where you'd run off. I was quite worri—oh my heavens!" Tamaki exclaimed before ducking behind the glasses guy.

The twins took a wary step back when the caught sight of Umehito. Only Haruhi and Mori continued to approach closer.

"I'm glad you're okay," Haruhi said with a smile.

I gave him a smile, "Yeah. A bit tired, though."

"I bet," Haruhi said with a rather sassy look upon his face and a small snort, "I remember the first time I was dragged to the host club."

Haruhi looked off and out the wide window before shuddering and shaking off whatever thought that managed to enter his mind.

"Anyhow, Hunny-senpai, I think Chiharu-chan is ready for you to take her home."

I probably gave Haruhi the most pathetic look, but those words almost made me cry. I was so ready to go home…and then to work…ugh!

"Really? Do you have to?"

And there were those damned puppy eyes that got me here in the first place. No! Be strong Chiharu! Just tell the suddenly adorable blonde yes. That's all you've got to do.

"Yes…"

I have never seen a hopeful look disappear so fast in my entire life. Weak, so very weak.

"But let's get together another day, yeah?"

Weak!

Hunny's face lit almost as fast as it fell. So cute! Damn my brother-complex. Damn it so much!

"Yay!" Hunny cheered as he wrapped his arms around my neck, before hopping off my lap and with that I stood to my feet.

I turned to see the other host members were much closer, but Tamaki seemed keen on hiding behind Glasses. Weirdo.

"How about we go home together," Haruhi suggested.

"Home? Together? Perhaps not. I don't exactly live in riches."

"And neither do I. Actually today, during the game, I realized why you looked so familiar."

"Oh, yeah," I asked raising a curious eyebrow.

"Yeah," he replied holding up his index finger, prepared to make a point, "We live in the same apartment complex."

"What! No way," I replied in eagerly, but with slight disbelief, "The how'd you wind up here?"

"Haru-chan is super smart!" Hunny exclaimed, latching to my side, arms around my waist.

"I bet. You look it. Smart, I mean," I replied impressed as I unconsciously ran a hand through Hunny's hair.

Haruhi gave me an embarrassed smile, "Thanks."

A yawn slipped past my lips and decided it was officially time to scram. Turning to Umehito, I gave him a grin.

"Thanks…for earlier, I mean. It was nice having someone to vent to. And I'm sorry about punching you."

"You did what?" the twins asked curiously and in complete harmony.

Umehito simply shook his head before reaching into his cloak.

"I am just as pleased to have met you. It must've been fate, that I'm certain of."

I giggled as I shook my head. What is he talking about?

"Take this, a token of my devotion."

Reaching out I took Umehito's sudden gift in hand and stared at it curiously, holding it up for further examination. Tamaki made a strange keening noise and the twins gasped. Even Haruhi seemed a bit surprised.

"It's puppet. A cat puppet," I said to no one in particular as I slipped a hand inside the slot.

Tamaki again made another noise, a gurgle almost.

"Aww! It's cute!"

"Cute!? That thing is evil!" Tamaki shouted.

"Evil? No, it's precious. I love it!" I said holding it close to my chest.

"She's so brave," the twins muttered and Haruhi just shook her head. Glasses and Slender remained silent, merely observing.

"Thank you so much, Umehito." Grinning, I pulled him in for a hug.

That was when everyone seemed to gasp, even Slender. As I pulled back, Umehito remained still for a moment before quietly whispering, "You're welcome."

He stretched out his arms and took my hands into his own before placing kisses upon both my palms.

"Until next time, my dark seraph."

With that, Umehito headed down the hall, cloak billowing behind.

"It is cute!" Hunny shouted.

Haruhi leaned in to get a closer look, "It is, isn't."

"I can't believe Nekozawa-senpai—"

"—Gave you his Beelzenef."

"Though knowing him—" one arm around my shoulder.

"—He probably has a million." And then another.

"Wow, that twin things is really eerie," I stated as I looked between the two boys wrapped around me, Beelzenef safe in my arms.

Those damn gingers just grinned.