Like a Cloud in the Wind
By Meganes Ultimate Fangirl
Chapter 14 – Moving On
Kyoya refused to allow me to go straight home, insisting that I go to the hospital first.
The scars on my hands that had once been infected had healed and were nothing but memories of the past. My ankle, which I had apparently sprained, hadn't healed right so I would walk with a slight limp for awhile until physical therapy corrected it.
Amazingly, I hadn't broken any bones. Even with all the kicks to my gut, I suffered from no serious injuries. They kept me overnight, just to make sure. Koharu never left my side, Kyoya leaving only to get my family and the Host Club, much to my despair.
–
Somewhere along the line I'd had to ask, "Kyoya? How long was I missing?" Both had failed to tell me the date or what this fact was. Koharu was asleep in an armchair in the corner so I figured it was a good time to have a private conversation with him. He looked up at me from where he was scribbling in his bloody notebook. What the hell did he write in that thing anyway?
He heaved a sigh and stared me in the eye. "Guess."
I rolled my eyes and put a finger to my chin in thought. It had been the 26th of September when the stupid ransom picture had been taken at the hole. The ball had been on the 11th. I must've been in that blasted hole for at least 12 days after that bringing it to the 8th of October. I had absolutely no clue how long I'd been in the warehouse. Three or four weeks maybe? That was about two months. "Two months?"
He shook his head, smirking in that way that always annoyed me. "I've been looking for you for almost three months, Kaydence. You were set to be killed on November 26th if the ransom wasn't paid. It's the 25th."
I stared at him. Bloody hell. Three months? I blinked back tears at realizing how much I'd missed. I hadn't seen my family in three months. I hadn't seen anyone but Alrod, Arthur, and Tate in three months. "W-Why didn't you give up?" I mumbled.
He let out a short, harsh bark of laughter. "I couldn't very easily do that with your father breathing down my back and with guilt looking me in the eye everywhere I went could I?"
I gave a resigned sigh. Alright. So, my sense had been wrong about him. Sure he could manipulate you into the next century. But he wouldn't give up on something he had faith in doing. That was why he was going to be the CEO of the Ohtori empire while I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. "Kyoya?" I asked, diverting his attention from his notebook again.
"Yes, Kaydence?" he replied patiently.
"You may seem like a heartless bastard... But you're a really good friend," I muttered, swallowing my pride in the process just to give him that bloody compliment. I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye before he stood and left the room.
–
I saw Pierce before he saw me. His blond hair was longer but his identical green eyes were wide with amazement and relief. A smile was plastered on his handsome face as well. "Kaydence!" Pierce exclaimed, running forward as soon as he caught sight of me lying in bed in my hospital room. "My baby sister's safe at last," he murmured in my ear as he embraced me. I squeezed him, smiling slightly even though I was reliving the dream I'd had in the hole of him leaving me in despair.
"Where are Mum and Dad?" I asked, surprising myself by using the names for them that I hadn't used since I was 10.
"I think Father's talking to Kyoya out in the hall. Mum's probably out there, too," he muttered, peering into my eyes like he was looking for something. "How're you? Feeling alright? Kyoya said you got really sick somewhere along the line."
I nodded, flinching at the memory of being in the hole and thinking I was going to die because I couldn't hold food down. His face turned into a frown when he noticed the flinch. "I'm fine," I reassured him halfheartedly, "Really, Pierce. I'm fine. Or at least I am now."
He smirked at me. "Happy that Kyoya got to you?"
I snorted. "Please. I'd be dead right now if it weren't for him. I'm more than happy. I'm ecstatic." He just let his smirk turn to a grin and shook his head.
"Poor, naïve little sister," he murmured as a small yelp came from the door, startling Koharu awake. I looked over at the door to see my mother standing there with her hands over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Her black hair, like Pierce's, had lengthened considerably and now fell a little past her shoulders. Her green eyes held the same sort of love that it always had, only with a different intensity
"Mum," I whispered, staring at her. She strode forward quickly and I immediately remembered why I avoided worrying her as I was enveloped in a bone crushing hug. We didn't say anything. Just stared at each other as she stroked my hair and attempted to hold back her relieved tears.
I looked up when I heard a cough. I smirked, looking at the blond haired ponytail that I was hanging at the nape of my father's neck. That probably drove Mum star-crazing mad. She'd always hated it when Dad and Pierce would refuse to cut their hair to a reasonable length. His hazel eyes twinkled with a different light than they used to. "Dad," I acknowledged softly, watching his face break out in a grin.
"My little girl," he murmured as my mother moved aside to let my father embrace me. "You have no clue, how worried I've been."
I rose an eyebrow at him. "You? Worried? Never!" I exclaimed sarcastically. He glared at my sarcasm but smiled all the same. "Y'know... It's all his fault," I added, pointing in Kyoya's direction where he was seducing Koharu while leaning against the door frame. He looked up, smirking like always.
"I know," he replied, glaring at him, "It's all his fault that you were taken in the first place."
"No," I stated slowly, eying him oddly, "That, was my own stupidity and lack of control. I was talking about the fact that I'm here, alive, that's all his fault." My lips twitched upward into an amused smirk at the look on his face. Like he'd prefer to die than ever admitting that Kyoya had actually done some good. "Kyoya, has be apologized to you yet?" I asked, glancing over to see him shake his head. I turned my eyes back to my father who was looking down at my sheets shamefully. "Dad, apologize," I commanded in a tone I wouldn't normally use with Layne.
He rolled his eyes for a moment. I eyed him dangerously. He wasn't getting out of this. Somehow, my hate for Kyoya had transferred to my father. We'd switched roles the minute that I'd been kidnapped. Kyoya instead of being the savior of his daughter's sanity and the source of my daily annoyances had turned into my savior and the source of my father's dislike.
Begrudgingly, he turned to my friend and took a deep breath. "I apologize, Kyoya," he said quietly, wringing his hands behind his back like he'd rather strangle me for making him apologize. I had to smirk to myself at a mission accomplished. My smirk was echoed by Kyoya's at the apology while he nodded in acceptance.
Everything was back to normal. Layne was wanting to strangle me. Felicity was fretting over my every issue. Kyoya was getting on my nerves. Koharu was just grinning at everything. Pierce was quietly sitting in a corner with an amused look on his face, occasionally inputting something that annoyed the hell out of me even more.
And yet, there was still something missing.
But I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
I looked around the room again as my family plus Koharu and Kyoya chattered endlessly. It wasn't Tate. Tate didn't even belong in this perfect picture anymore. My heart ached slightly at the thought, but I pushed it aside and shook my head, frowning.
No, it was something else.
But what was it?
The romanticized yell of my name from the outer hall gave me a hint. A startled nurse that was standing outside my room looked up with a blush on her face as 5 handsome men swooped into my room, followed by a bored-looking, annoyed Haruhi.
So that was what it had been.
Never thought I'd miss the Host Club. But as soon as they had entered the room (which was getting rather cramped) everything finally seemed to be exactly as it should be.
"Princess Kay!" Tamaki exclaimed, gliding over as if his legs were made of wisps of smoke. I glared at him. Seeing the glare made him immediately correct himself. "Kaydence." I rolled my eyes. He would never get it right.
I felt two arms around my shoulders and sighed as identical cheeks rubbed against mine. "We missed yooooou!" the twins chorused in whiny voices.
"Guys, you're suffocating her," Haruhi muttered, saving me from them. I shot her a quick, thankful smile. She returned it with a nod.
"Kay-chan!" Hunny said excitedly, bouncing up and down in the manner he always had. "Kay-chan, Kay-chan!"
I laughed softly. "Yes, Hunny?"
"Me and Takashi brought you some cake! Get better, alright?" he responded, beaming down at me from Mori's shoulders as he presented me with a triple layer rich chocolate cake that I was sure I would hardly be able to touch. I smiled at him and took it anyway. "We were worried about you, Kay-chan! Right, Takashi?"
"Ah," Mori replied, though his eyes were soft when he looked at me. I offered a sheepish look. Had I worried every person on the face of the planet with my disappearance? Apparently I had.
But, now that didn't matter. I was safe now. And no one had to worry about me. No one ever had to worry about me again.
I'd always remember the 25th of November as a memorable day. It was the day that I'd been ripped away from death's doorstep at the last minute. Granted, I was probably going to be traumatized by this entire event for the rest of my life and Tate's memory would haunt me, but maybe that would cause me to open up more like my mother had always wanted.
–
Koharu and I giggled as we caught up and reminisced. We were staying in one of the guest rooms on the opposite side of the house that my room was on since seeing the door of Tate's bedroom had almost made me collapse in a fit of crying.
"So," I murmured, "what exactly happened while I was away?"
She grew rigid. "What d'you mean?" she asked cautiously.
I sighed. The naïviety of this girl was amazing sometimes. Honestly I meant what had happened to her while I was missing. Before I could reply, her cellphone started ringing boisterously on the table top. I glanced at the caller ID and smirked. She snatched it up, shooting a glare at me with a face red as a tomato before hurrying out of the room.
I sighed and laid down on the floor in surrender to my stiff back's cries for movement. I winced as it cracked and got used to the position, straining to listen to Koharu talk on her phone outside of the room. She was so cute. It was like we were little schoolgirls again. Crushing on boys and glaring at each other for talking about them.
I closed my eyes. Ahh, the heartache was still there. Dammit, I'd never let myself be so vulnerable before this. Before this entire charade with getting kidnapped and treated like I wasn't human. Before the ball had happened and I'd kissed Kyoya. Before Tate betrayed my friendship.
No! I can't think that! I shook my head furiously and wiped tears from my eyes. I couldn't start crying over this again. I wasn't weak. I didn't need a therapist to sort out my problems. I could do it myself. I was strong.
"What'cha thinkin' about?" Koharu asked from the bed. I jumped, not having noticed her return to the room. I shook my head and laid back down. She gazed down at me sympathetically. "You won't ever forget it, Kay. No matter how much you want to."
"I know," I mumbled, raising my arm to cover my eyes. Damn, I was tired. "So, what happened while I was gone." I shifted the subject easily.
Koharu frowned. "Your parents both freaked out. Tate was a jerk. Pierce g–," she started rattling off events but I cut her off with a shake of the head.
"I mean with Kyoya," I murmured, "As you very well know."
"What about him? Nothing happened," she answered, a bit too quickly to keep my curiosity at bay. She shifted her eyes away from me, glancing at the computer screen sitting behind her. "Oh hey, loo–!"
"Koharu," I deadpanned, "I can see the way you look at each other. Just tell me what happened."
Koharu sighed and looked at her hands, which were folded in her lap. "Well..." she trailed off as my cellphone started ringing. I glared at it, willing the person on the other end to just give up and leave me alone. However, the ringing persisted. I picked it up off the floor and pointed at Koharu. She wasn't about to get away with not answering me. I glanced at the caller ID. 9 – Kyoya Ohtori.
Now, what the hell could he want?
I flipped it open. "What?" I asked in a bored tone.
"What was it that you said you lied to me about?" he asked curiously. I felt all color drain from my face. It was odd for him to ask questions of me in the first place. Somehow, I'd known that he would ask eventually, though. But did he have to do it while I was interrogating Koharu for information?
"Do we have to do this right now?" I asked with a frown, "I'm busy interviewing Koharu about her relationship." With you, I added in my head.
"Yes, we do have to do it now. Because I won't be able to sleep until I know every single one of your secrets," he retorted sarcastically. There was the Kyoya I knew and loved. I couldn't help smiling.
"Honestly?"
"Honest to God," he replied, sounding very much like he was taking an oath. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I probably wasn't going to get out of telling him this.
"Hold on," I grumbled. I pulled myself off the floor and held a finger up to Koharu. Soon, she was going to spill all the beans, even if it would kill me. Because I was about to spill all my beans and I felt that we needed to be even. I strode out the door, closing it behind me, and headed for the stairs so I could sit. That way, Koharu also wouldn't be able to overhear, too. "You remember what happened at the ball," I started, freezing because I was really reluctant to tell him.
Seriously, I would take this secret with me to the grave if I had to. But then, he wouldn't leave me alone.
"If I remember correctly, you kissed me," he replied, a slight tone of amusement laced into his voice.
Way to get to the point. Though, I would have rather beat around the bush for awhile. I took a deep breath. "Yes."
"And you blamed it on hormones, too. Such a flimsy excuse."
I spluttered. "Flimsy? Flimsy?" Did he have to do that? Honestly. "For God's sake! What else was I going to blame it on?!"
"Your unbearable attraction to me," he responded. He was just barely holding on to his laughter. I could tell. If I could glare at him through the phone and have that one look kill him, I'd bloody do it.
"Blood hell, Kyoya. If you knew, why did you have to call?" I asked angrily, hanging up immediately afterwords. I ran a hand through my hair and rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. Such an infuriating bastard. He would probably call back.
Sure enough, a few seconds later my phone started ringing like crazy. I ignored it for a while. Let him keep guessing. He deserved it, the bastard. When I finally did answer I didn't even get the chance to talk. "Are you that mad with yourself?" he asked bemusedly.
I frowned, feeling my left eye twitch in annoyance. "I'm not mad at myself. I'm mad at you."
"If you were mad at me, you wouldn't have picked up the phone again, Kay. I know you too well." Damn him. Damn him to bloody hell. "So... You like me?" He sounded pleased with himself.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Don't give yourself a big head now," I muttered, ignoring the voice in the back of my head that was telling me I was loving this conversation. Just hearing the sound of his voice, really.
"Do you, Kaydence?"
I sighed. There was no holding back now. "Yes. I do. Happy? But that doesn't matter. Since you obviously are in love with my cousin."
"Thought you were looking at us funny," he murmured. Did he sound... sorry? Was that just a little tinge of regret I heard in his voice? I must be dreaming.
"Are you happy with her?" He was silent. "I'll take that as a yes. And she's happy with you?" Again, silence assaulted my eardrums. "Good luck to the two of you then. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go interrogate your girlfriend."
This was when he chuckled softly. "You're really just going to give up like that?"
I shrugged nonchalantly, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the conversation now. "If you're happy and she's happy, I'm not going to intrude on that."
He was silent for a moment, seemingly in thought. The words that came out of his mouth when he spoke, surprised me. "Thanks, Kay. Thanks a lot." He wasn't sarcastic or harsh in any sort of way. It was pure, genuine gratitude.
"If you ever need your life saved, tell me. I owe you one," I retorted with a halfhearted joking tone, feeling slightly heavy in the heart now. He let out a short bark of laughter.
"Goodnight, Kaydence."
"Night, Kyoya," I mumbled in reply, bringing the phone away from my ear to press end and leaning back against the wall. That had been the tough part. Now came the healing process that I'd be able to take care of by myself. I pushed myself off the floor and headed back to the guest room Koharu and I were staying in.
Time to interrogate all the juicy facts out of my cousin.
–
Tate's funeral was held on the 1st of December, after Kyoya's initial shooting of him had been passed off as defending and saving me. I wished, when I looked in that fancy coffin, that I could remember him for something other than what he had turned into towards the end of his life. But memories of his angry, screaming face always blurred out the fond, happy ones.
I wished, that I could push past this. Or forget about it completely.
I wished, that for once something like death of this caliber, didn't have to hurt so much. Even when it had ended so harshly.
"Kyoya, is there a kind of drug that can make you forget about 3 months of your life?" I asked softly as I stood by the coffin, gazing down at Tate, with Koharu and Kyoya next to me. "Is there any way?" The pain in my voice was apparent even to me, though I tried to force it out of it.
He sighed. "Unfortunately, no."
"Why would you want to do that, Kay? You're so much more fun now than you were before," Koharu interjected, half-joking, half-serious. I made a face at her. She reflected it back at me.
"Because, it hurts. It hurts that I can't remember him as he was to me before. That I can't look past that horrible evil that took over him..." I trailed off, covering my mouth and closing my eyes as tears threatened to spill over onto my cheeks for the millionth time in the last week. It wouldn't go away. This horrid pain in my chest. No matter how much I tried to erase it, it just wouldn't.
I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders and glanced up quickly. Kyoya. He squeezed my shoulders. Despite the fact that Koharu was his girlfriend, neither of them seemed to be bothered at all by how he was comforting me. Maybe it was because they both knew I'd given up.
He drew in a breath sharply. "Kaydence. If I could offer some advice," he murmured. I nodded, wiping my eyes. "Therapy is a very nice way to get over death or traumatizing events."
"No," I muttered, "I can do it myself. It'll just take time."
"Kaydence," he tried to reason, "Even you need help sometimes."
"I know that," I retorted softly, "That's why I have you, Koharu, and the rest of the Host Club." He sighed gently in consent. "And I know you'll help. You're from a family of doctors after all." He smirked at this and nodded. I was so incredibly happy to have him as a friend, who was quickly becoming my best friend.
I turned away from the coffin, drawing in a shudder breath.
Time to get on with my life.
–
I couldn't get out. There was no way that I'd get out. He wasn't going to make it. No one was ever going to make it. And those cruel, swimming faces were just taunting me. Taunting me with their horrid ways of mockery.
I couldn't stand it.
I had to escape. I had to escape but the walls were closing in on me. I banged on the door, tears running down my face. "Let me out!" I screamed as the door swung open. The swimming faces were there and a gun was pointed at my head. "No," I whispered, eyes widening with terror, "NO!"
"Kaydence!"
"NO! STOP IT!"
"Kaydence! Honey!"
My eyes flew open, staring wide into my father's eyes. He was sitting on the edge of my bed, pushing my hair away from my face and holding my flailing fists gently in his grasp. "Dad?" He sighed softly and pulled me into his arms, squeezing me close to him.
"It was just a dream, Kay. It was just a dream. You're safe. You're safe," he murmured in my ear, stroking my hair and kissing my cheek. "You're ok."
I choked out a dry sob and clung to his night shirt. I felt like a little kid again. A little 8-year-old girl that had a scary dream and needed the comfort of her father's arms around her until she calmed down enough to sleep again. I didn't want to be that scared little girl. I wanted to be the strong 16-year-old that I was. "Dad," I mumbled, glancing at the clock. 3:17 AM. On December 8th.
"Yes, Kay?"
"I love you."
He smiled, holding me close. "I love you, too."
"I'm sorry I woke up you."
"It's alright. You need me more than I need sleep."
"I think, you can go back to bed," I muttered, pulling away from him. He frowned.
"You're sure?" I nodded. "Alright, Kay. Sleep well. You'll be ok, honey." He patted my hand and kissed my forehead before standing. He walked toward the door slowly, yawning and rubbing his lower back. I felt slightly guilty for keeping him up on various nights. I'd been having the same hellish nightmares almost every night for the past week.
"I know, Dad. Goodnight."
"Night, Kay."
–
During breakfast the next morning, Uncle Yamato was sitting at the table instead of Kyoya. I eyed him for a moment, running through all the reasons why he could be here in my head. "Uncle Yamato. What're you doing here?" I asked, smiling since I hadn't seen him in awhile.
My father beat him to the punch. "Kaydence, do you think you'd prefer to live with Koharu and Yuigo in their apartment?" I stared at him. Seriously? That was why he was here? I opened and closed my mouth. "You'd be here on weekends when they go back to the main house, but during the week you could live with them. It's closer to the school, and it'll probably be easier on Kyoya to be able to get the two of you at the same place."
"You're serious?" I asked, still gaping at the two of them. "I could live with Koharu?" Dad nodded. "You're sure you want your little girl off all by herself?"
He smiled sadly. "Not too sure. But I trust your cousins to keep you safe. And they'll be there to help you when you need it better than your mother and I can."
I stared at them with my mouth open for a few more moments before nodding. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes. I'll do it." My face broke out in a grin as I nodded my head furiously in agreement.
I couldn't wait to tell Koharu.
–
"How're those nightmares of yours, Kaydence?"
I rolled my eyes at Kyoya. We were walking down the hall to the third music room for club after school right before Christmas break. "Hellish and persistent as always. I just feel bad for my father. He's always the one that has to calm me down."
"There's a way to solve that you know," he murmured, keeping his eyes straight ahead as I narrowed mine at him.
"I refuse to see a shrink, Kyoya," I deadpanned.
He sighed. "Whatever you say." We came to a stop in front of the door. I tapped my foot impatiently while Kyoya fished the key out of his pocket.
"Where's Koharu today?" I asked, smirking to myself as his face turned to a frown.
"I have no clue," he muttered, pushing the key into the lock and turning. "You mean you don't know where she is?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I shook my head.
"Perhaps, she's sick. Or maybe–."
"Maybe she's standing right behind you," Koharu finished in a grumble. She kissed Kyoya on the cheek as he pushed the door to the third music room open, making me slightly uncomfortable in the process. Sure, I'd conspired to let her have him. But that didn't make me any more comfortable around them. I coughed awkwardly. Kyoya sighed and ushered us in. "Next time you keep me up all night I'm gagging you," she added, pointing at me. I rolled my eyes.
"You should really do something about those nightmares, Kay," he continued. I sighed exasperatedly.
"For the last time, no. I have my friends and family. I don't need a bloody shrink." He shook his head in my direction. "I can take care of myself, Kyoya. I don't need anyone than those that I already have."
"Alright, alright," he mumbled, setting up his laptop on his usual table.
– Six months later –
Eventually, the combined forces of Kyoya and Koharu got me to go to a shrink eventually. Amazingly, it helped and now I had successfully put my past behind me, for the most part. Months of torturous therapy and endless support from the Host Club and my family had helped me with that. The end of the year ball was coming up. I still hated dancing and I still didn't want to go.
For some reason I got the feeling that it might just bring up bad memories. And those were the very memories that I'd taken all the time to bury. "I have a bad feeling, Haruhi," I muttered as I pulled my dress over my head. We were at my house, getting ready.
"Kyoya-sempai will be there the entire time, Kaydence," she answered.
"Really, Kay. You're going with my boyfriend. I don't get what you're so nervous about," Koharu muttered, moving to adjust Haruhi's tie.
I snickered. "Just because you have to pose as a male, doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy myself," I retorted. "Besides, it's just for old times' sake. I'm not going to steal him away or anything."
"I dunno. You did like him once upon a time," she murmured, eying me suspiciously.
I spluttered at her. "Yes. Because back then I totally tried to steal him away and I totally still like him," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes and pulling at the front of my navy blue dress. It hung way too low for my liking. "Annabeth!" I called. The little Irish woman scurried into the room a moment later. "Is there anyway you could pin up the front of this dress?"
She smiled. "I thought you'd want that, Kay." She pulled out a needle and blue thread. "That young man better keep you safe, or your father will have a fit," she said softly with a pointed look, threading the thin string through the needle eye and tying a knot in the end with practiced ease. I rolled my eyes again.
"Dad almost didn't allow me to come to this one," I muttered as she started weaving the needle up the low-cut v-neck of my dress. "About 2 inches should be good." She nodded in acknowledgment and continued working.
"Kyoya should be here soon," Koharu stated, looking at her cellphone where he had probably sent her a text message. I frowned. Good thing I'd done my hair earlier. He lived right next door so I doubted 'soon' meant 10 minutes like it would for normal people. A few seconds later Annabeth tied off the thread that was sewing up my front.
Barely a minute after that the doorbell rang, announcing Kyoya's arrival.
I shuddered as memories from events after the last ball flashed through my head. I shook it and took a deep breath as my therapist had taught me. Haruhi and Koharu both patted me on the back on their way out my bedroom door. "Have fun, Miss Kay," Annabeth said with a smile. I nodded, pursing my lips and feeling slightly numb.
I drew another deep breath and strode slowly out the door.
–
"Will you relax?" Kyoya asked crossly as I caused more pain to his toes by jabbing my heels into his feet. I sighed. I couldn't relax. Everything that I'd done tonight had put me on edge. It all brought back things that I'd worked to push behind me.
"I can't," I muttered, "I just can't." I could practically feel the gun in my side and the hand over my mouth. I shook my head to clear the thoughts.
He sighed softly. "Kaydence, I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he murmured, "I'm not going to let you walk home. I'm not going to let any convicted ex-criminals near you. If it so pleases you I won't even let you out of my sight."
I shook my head and breathed deeply. He stopped spinning me around in the middle of the dance floor long enough so that I could concentrate on breathing. Other couples bumped into us but we ignored their annoyed looks. "What time is it?"
He checked his watch before answering, "9:15." It felt more like two in the morning. I bowed my head for a moment, continuing in my breathing. "Kaydence, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," I mumbled.
"Come here," he muttered, taking hold of my elbow and dragging me toward the balcony. "You need air." He closed the glass double doors behind us, shooting a look at Koharu and Haruhi in the process. "Alright, what's wrong?"
"I-I keep reliving it. Keep thinking that it's going to happen again." I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to clear my mind of the bloody images running through it. Kyoya gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look at him.
"Listen to me. Nothing like that is going to happen to you again. I won't let it. Koharu won't let it. The rest of the Host Club won't let it. No one can get to you," he stated firmly. I stared into his eyes, feeling my panic wane slightly. "Got it? No one will get you."
I nodded, breathing a little more easily. "Thank you," I breathed. He nodded and led me back inside after a few minutes.
–
"I told you, you'd be fine," Kyoya muttered as he delivered me to my doorstep at midnight. I sighed softly. He had been right. All of his fucking firm reassurance had gotten me to feel at ease for the rest of the night after my near breakdown.
He'd been right the entire time. As he always had been. I shook my head. "Why are you always right?" I asked. His bloody smirk made an appearance.
"Because, if I was ever wrong the world would end," he retorted. I rolled my eyes.
"Sure," I muttered drily.
He shook his head, still smirking. "I'll see you and Koharu on Monday. Goodnight, Kaydence."
"Night, Kyoya," I murmured, stepping inside the door of my family's house.
Everything was fine. And now that I'd faced my fear, I'd always be fine. Therapy had helped push it behind me but it had been facing the fear of it being repeated that made me realize I was free. I was free from my past and now I could do anything.
–
A year later, Pierce was named heir to the Malronda fortune, as I'd always expected. We were set to go back to England in a month. I didn't want to leave. I'd created something for myself here, in Japan. I applied to take the entrance exam to Ouran's college unit so I could stay in Japan. I knew Kyoya was going there, Koharu too.
Kyoya had been named the inheritor of the Ohtori medical empire. Just as I'd always thought he would. And as he had said back on September 11th, 2010 he was going for a medical major plus a double up of business one. Crazy bastard.
Koharu was going into politics, seeing as she had most of the United Nations in her house. I thought she'd enjoy herself quite a bit. And if she ever needed a lawyer, Haruhi would be going into law after she graduated. The same blunt girl also had a summer internship at one of the biggest law firms in the country, thanks to her own hard work and a little bit of mine and Koharu's influence on the head.
I had finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life. After receiving the suggestion that I become a doctor from Kyoya, whom I snorted at and turned down with a smirk, I decided instead do a double major of forensic psychology and medical psychology. Meaning, Kyoya and I actually shared a class or two.
I was going to do the psychology that I had always found so enthralling while reading about in murder mysteries. Forensic so I could catch bastards like the ones that had kidnapped me a year and a half ago, medical so that I'd have a fall back. I'd always have a job open at one of the Ohtori hospitals. One of the many perks of having Kyoya as a best friend. Though, some would consider that cheating. I could actually be a rather useful therapist.
I'd still get the occasional flashback to the kidnapping. But other than that I was free from it. I was free from the traumatizing events of my stupid past.
I was free and though I hadn't found anyone to live for like Koharu and Kyoya had, I was fine with it. I didn't need anyone. I still had my family and friends. They were enough for me.
And nothing would never be as sweet as that.
–
A/N: Y'see what would've happened if I'd kept that going as a big long final chapter? It would have been 23 pages! Now, instead, there's a 10 page one and a 13 page one. Whee.
Oh my lords. I can't believe it's finished. Really. What the hell am I going to do with all my free time now? Maybe, I'll write another fanfic. Though if I do that, expect it to be KyoHaru or TamaHaru. I have ideas running through my head constantly, I just don't have the patience to turn them into full blown developed stories. Maybe I'll work on little one-shots.
Kudos to Kiriyu-chan, KageNoNeko, the anonymous "M.", Sethrox9730, thearistocrat and Koharu Veddette!
See you all next time!