Chapter 19 – This is Our Ouran Fair! Mom Knowns Kyo-Hyung's Dad?!
A quiet morning was what I awoke to today. Mom and Mika stayed put at the dinner table while I just finished putting on my shoes at the door.
"Mao, are you sure you don't want any breakfast?" My mom asked me.
"No thanks…I'm not hungry." I said and turned around, "Well, I'm off then!" I headed out in the early hours of the morning to get to the school earlier than usual. Yesterday, I arrived to school late, but I forgot that it was the Ouran Fair. Today, it was the continuation of the School fair. Day 2 is the main fair. Yesterday was the opening ceremony and not what I expected yesterday.
Like yesterday, we were at the central building salon and this time, I made sure that Mom and Mika would stay put at the house. Mika didn't have school today since they were closed due to the Ouran fair so Mika would have to take care of Mom until I got back so I left her with instructions on how to make Mom's afternoon herbal tea.
As I was serving drinks to the guests like yesterday, I caught glimpse of Kyo-Hyung talking to Lady Éclair. He seemed to have stiffened a bit at something that Éclair said, but I didn't know what it was until he called Haruhi over. The two started talking and talking until I finished up and I had to pick up their dishes to wash them. As I was about to leave, I felt Éclair's hand grab my wrist. I had to turn around and look at her and she looked at me with a smile. No, not a genuine smile that I've seen a lot with the Host Club, but a sarcastic smile.
"Oh Mao, won't you sit down and talk to me?" She said to me. I pulled up a chair, but Haruhi stood up saying that she'll take up on my shift while I talk to Lady Éclair. One side of me wanted her to not leave me here alone with Lady Éclair and one side of me said that she should go away quickly and not come back because I really wanted to hurt someone and badly.
"It has come to my attention that Tamaki has some kind of fondness for you and your friend, Haruhi." She told me.
"I'm sorry, what exactly are you saying? You're not jealous are you?"
"Oh, look at you." She leaned her arm forward and then rested her chin on her hand, "Tamaki won't be coming today. I warned him that if he ever showed his face here at the Host Club again would make me upset." She said.
What exactly did you do to that poor boy?
More importantly, what exactly is Tamaki thinking about? Someone just doesn't become all happy and then within a few hours announce that they're going to quit everything that they worked for. It just doesn't seem right!
It's Tamaki's business, not yours Mao. Just enjoy the moments while you can.
You're right; I should enjoy everything while I can. Tamaki will live on to do what he needs to and I will as well. Same goes with the others. I'll be going back to my ordinary life as a culinary scholarship student and step up my mission.
"What did you do with your hand? It wasn't from sheer jealousy was it?" Éclair stated. Sh*t, I forgot to hide my hand from her view. I pulled back my hand and hid it on my lap, pulling up a smile to keep up with my act.
"Now, why on earth would I do that? As I have said yesterday, jealousy is irrational." I said.
"Also, are you Tamaki's lover?" She said. Oh great, one of those huh?
"No Miss Lady Éclair. I am not." I said.
"Oh, that's good to hear. I guess you mean nothing to him."
"As cliché as it sounds, as long as I am around and breathing, I will know that I am not nothing to him. I just..." I said and that seemed to have irritated her a bit so she stood up and walked away. We did talk for some time, longer than she had with Haruhi. Not saying that this is a contest or anything, who was counting anyways?
As she did so, I soothed my bandaged hand to comfort me at the change that was happening. I understand that everything changes, but I would have thought it would have taken some time before this kind of thing would have begun. We still had a few months and years before we started dissolving the Host club. It's all just too soon.
In these past months that I've been in the Host club, I started noticing some small things like the way I started to feel some kind of weight lift off my shoulders. I started having much more fun than what I would have in middle school.
I've been through so many things with these guys that I'm not looking back at them and just wanted to laugh at the things we did together. I even had a blush sneak onto my cheeks when I remembered all those moments with the guys. That night in Okinawa with Kyo-Hyung…That day when Tamaki found out about my dad, that night in school with Hikaru, that date with Kyo-Hyung, that work day Kaoru came in, the day when I was hospitalized. All those moments, I've spend time with some of the most amazing guys I've ever knew.
"Thank you for all of your hard work Mao." I came out of my train of thought and looked up at Kyo-Hyung, who stood up in front of me and smiled.
"That request from Lady Éclair. Your debt and Haruhi's has been paid. You finally repaid us from that renaissance vase you two broke. So you and Haruhi are free to quit the host club. If you want, that is."
I looked down at my injured hand I got and started thinking about all of that. I've been through so much trouble along with Haruhi all because of some stupid eighty million yen worth vase that we broke. These rich kids lived in another world that I haven't known so well beside the Dramas I've watched and now, looking down at my hand, I've realized that I got this injury because I cared for Tamaki. Not only Tamaki, but the twins, Kyo-Hyung, Mori-Oppa and Honey-Oppa. Haruhi-Noona. My mom, Mika, and Caesar aren't the only ones I care about anymore.
I want everyone to be just as happy as I have been all these years. There may be those days where the world is against you, but that's the beauty of it. Instead of accepting the glass half-empty, try to make things better for you and the people you care about. But remember, if you want to do anything for others, think about yourself first.
I was going to reply to his indirect question, however, that wasn't just going to cut it since I heard footsteps coming at our direction. Kyo-Hyung glanced at that way and I lifted my head up slightly to see it was Ootori-san walking behind him and then some other guy. His dad stopped just right behind him.
"When they're young, many assume that they have all the time in the world but really that is never the case." He said, glancing back at Kyo-Hyung. "And don't waste your time that will ultimately have no value." He finished. I gasped quietly and stood up quickly without even thinking. I don't want another person I care about hurt much more than they already are. It's just not fair.
"You have no right to say that!" I said loudly, stepping in front of Kyo-Hyung and looked at his dad and I carefully predicted my actions, even when Ootori-san looked back at me. "More importantly, you shouldn't take your frustrations on your own son, your own flesh and blood. This Club does much more than you may see. I don't give a damn what you say Ootori-san, more importantly, I don't give a damn what high position you may hold and that just makes me sick thinking I would pay my respect to you just because you hold such a high title. It makes me sicker that you think all that Kyo-Hyung is doing here is wasting time! Kyo-Hyung does his best for you and yet that's still not enough for you! A father, no, a parent must always support and encourage their child in a positive way! Kyo-Hyung's one of a kind! And I'll be damned if anyone discards him as how you think!"
Well, it was nice knowing you guys.
I'm about to get slapped in the face by Kyo-Hyung's dad and I was prepared for that until I felt hands on my shoulders.
"Mao, is everything alright?" I heard a soothing voice and I looked back that it was my mother.
"Mom!? What are you doing here!?"
"I wanted to spend all the time I can get at this school. I always wanted to come here, but I couldn't. However, Masato was able to do that for the both of us." She said, smiling softly at such a memory. My eyes are tired now from that entire eye widening thing that I just merely blinked in shock.
"Dad…was an alumnus here?" I said.
"…Yuki?" Turning over, I saw Ootori-san look at Mom and vice versa. Kyo-Hyung must have noticed it too and Mom broke eye contact, giving out a weak smile.
"It's nice to see you once again Yoshio." She said, surprising me and Kyo-Hyung.
"Mom, what's going on? Do you happen to know Ootori-san?" I asked her and she just avoided eye contact with me and instead looked over at Ootori-san, at which Kyo-Hyung stood next to.
"Father, how do you know Mao Kurosaki's mother?" He asked.
"Mao Kurosaki?" Ootori-san said – more shocked than concerned from what I would have guessed. "She's the culinary scholarship that you've been telling me about, is that correct Kyoya?"
"That's correct sir."
…
Mom was probably the only person that tried to reassure me from all this awkwardness and the silence. It wasn't comforting.
Man, I wish Mika was here now. It would have been much better if she were here.
"She's very much like her father, Yuki. I'd like for her to visit my manor one of these days. If you'll excuse me." Ootori-san said, walking off into the crowd.
Say what?
That can't be right. Isn't the rich supposed to be like cruel or so to the middle class? My family is in middle class.
Wait, did he say he knew my dad?
"Mr. Ootori! Wait!" I called out, but it was too late. I didn't get a chance to run up to him and catch him. I was a little slow and he already disappeared. Dammit!
"Mao, I was wondering if you'll make mommy here some sweets? Would you do that for me please?" Mom asked me, smiling sweetly when I know that that is the smile of a she-devil.
"Mom, at least tell why are you even here anyways?!" I yelled, earning a haughty laugh from her.
"Mika dropped me off here when she and Hatori wanted to have a romantic date at the park. She's fine and I met the Chairman, who brought me here. Such a nice man. Now, about my sweets?" Despite the fact that she tries her very best to hide her worry, she still keeps up the act of the innocent woman who only wants her sweets. I sighed deeply and turned around in defeat.
"Sure Mom. Kyo-Hyung, can you watch over my mom please?" I asked. He replied with a smile and lightly pushed me off to where I was headed.
((Yuki's POV))
"She certainly has changed, hasn't she?" I turned to the Ootori boy beside me as I looked over to him and he began to type on his laptop. Cute.
"Indeed." He replied in a small smile that I've only been able to see only once before. No matter, I think of it sweet that he would do anything for Mao. I mean, look at him. He promised Mao that he'll look after me before she returns from getting me some sweets that she's always been making for me ever since she was a little girl.
How Mao ever made him and others fall for her charm, I'll never know. She's never been interested in dating because she's always been busy with school work and actual work that she barely has time for anything else like fun or actually enjoy teenage life. Other parents would have wanted a child as Mao since she's obedient, but I only want her to enjoy things at a slow pace instead of trying hard to grow up. She's still only a child and should be worrying about her next three years of high school instead of worrying about the next cell phone bill payment. They didn't just make the youth just because you know. There are things that they should be doing and they do indeed have all the time in the world. People like me, we don't.
"Kurosaki-san, exactly how do you know my father?" Kyoya asked me. I straighten up in my chair and fiddled with my hands, thinking about what I was going to say.
I sighed deeply and what I was about to tell Kyoya should not even reach Mao's or Mika's ears. They should not know about this under any circumstances.
"Masato-kun always had such good connections around here. He was an alumnus here after all!" I said, smiling even though it was a sad day for everyone, especially Mao. If Masato were here, he would say to always look on the positive side of everything, especially the bad.
"But that still doesn't answer my question Kurosaki-san. How can your husband know my father especially since-! Unless of course…" Everything was starting to piece together in Kyoya's head; I could see how it was working with that look in his eyes. It was entertaining to see, yes it was.
"Masato De Las Nieves Kurosaki was his full birth name. Masato-kun hated his father's name because how cruel the family treated his mother. They weren't really fond of interracial people. His grandparents named Masato's father the patriarch of the De Las Nieves group even before he met his mother. Before Masato was born, they got married here in Japan before Masato's grandparents got word of it. After he was born, his father was denounced as the patriarch and moved to the second eldest, Masato's uncle. He saw potential in Masato so he provided everything Masato would need to get a good education and so he applied to Ouran Academy against his parent's wishes. That's when he met your father and another man, and became friends. Your father and the entire family, besides the Kurosaki's and his parents, don't even know if he's alive anymore. He broke all contact with everyone after he married me and adopted the girls; disappointing his father's family since he was a potential candidate as the next patriarch." I said.
There was still too much that these children needed to know and it was all too soon for them to find out as well. I promised Masato when he adopted Mao and Mika that much. I promised him that I wouldn't tell, no matter how much it hurt me.
"Yuki, Mao is to not know anything about herself or her past until she becomes of age. I don't want you to go and continue talking with my old friends either. I promised Wiliem that much."
"But…Masato, I!"
"Listen to me please. I promised Wiliem that his child would go on living a lifestyle much different than his and the others. Look at me, my father and mother raised me this way as well and they never been so much happier. I'm happy as well, even if these children are not truly mine and even if you have frail health. I love you and the love you give to me is much stronger than what my father's family tells me. I married you because I love you, not because I pitied you.
"I will raise these children as my own. I will raise my friend's child as I have promised him upon his death. He knew of our trouble and has made our family grow more."
"Are you really sure it doesn't bother you Masato? What if everything won't be planned out like you and the others wanted?"
"My father and mother taught me to always look into people's hearts, to always do the right thing even when others don't agree with you. A true family is made when you are surrounded by the people that love you, not by relations of blood. I love these girls, even if they belong to another family, I love them with all my hearts and I'm glad that I have become their father and you their mother."
"And do your daughters know about this?" Kyoya asked me as I tried to remember that I was in a conversation before I started to begin a flashback. I shook my head.
"They don't. I promised Masato that I would tell them once they become of age. You see, Mao's past has a secret and I promised to not tell one soul."
"Kurosaki-san, your daughter has been searching all these years for her family and you happen to know! Why can't you tell her now?" Kyoya asked me, really wanting to know why on earth I am not telling my own daughter this vital information. I shouldn't even have told this to him since this was really important. I understand that Mao has been looking for her family all this time and I also know that she applied here to find them and use the resources available. She's no fool and neither am I to not even notice this.
"I can't Kyoya. As much as I want to, I can't. I care about Mao more than you can imagine. Even if it's keeping one clue to her past a secret, I can't let her know. It's to protect her and I don't want her exposed to danger."
"Expose me to what kind of danger?" I heard Mao say, holding out a plate of red-velvet cake with her famous cherry flavored icing and some of her herbal tea that has kept me from getting majorly ill. I straightened myself and Kyoya continued to work on his laptop as I gave her another smile, messing her hair up like I always had.
"I don't want you exposing yourself to fire young lady. I've seen you eying on that liquor the other day to make a meat dish. You know alcohol is flammable!" I scolded at Mao as she gently placed the tray on the table, beginning to fix her hair from before.
"Mom, I just wanted to try something new. Everyone's doing it." She said. Yeah, that will only work for Italians just like how they get their drivers licenses on Grand Theft Auto.
I think I'm buying way too many video games for the girls and then been secretly been playing them along with reading every meme Mika creates.
"Nope. You're not doing it. I don't want to say I told you so when you're at the hospital being treated from your burn wounds." I told her and started to laugh. Kyoya joined in on the laughter by chuckling and Mao just pouted.
"Mom, what did you do to Kyo-Hyung?!"
~/+/~
((Mao's POV))
"Oh? Pardon me for asking, but are you Tamaki's lover?"
"No Miss Lady Éclair. I am not."
"Oh, that's good to hear. I guess you mean nothing to him."
"As cliché as it sounds, as long as I am around and breathing, I will know that I am not nothing to him. I just..." She stopped to rethink her words and lifted her head up right. Something that morning told her that she's just going to have to accept things as they are now and in time, she'll be rewarded. Even if she was hurting on the inside because she felt as if her family was leaving her again, she had to keep being strong like her dad always told her.
There will be no more hiding in fear and in anguish. There will be change and that change will make her become a better being….a better person that could handle anything.
She gave her signature smile despite the fact that she didn't like this girl, she kept on.
"I just want you to know that I hope you make Tamaki happy. You may hate me, but I'll cope with your hate only to have my friend be happy, to you as well." Mao seemed to have surprised Éclair with what she said that she stood up in shock and proceeded to leave until.
"Do you really care about him that much? You care about him so much that you'll leave him in my care?" Éclair asked. Mao looked at the girl, not knowing what to say.
"I may become the saddest fool on earth, but I'll be more than happy to know that Tamaki will be happy, same with the others. Their happiness is my happiness. Tamaki, after all that he's been through, should have a person that cares about him stand beside him. He may forget about me one day, but I just want to leave his side forever by knowing that I at least done something to make his life better."
What the hell was I thinking?
It's not like my words are going to soften up her heart and get Tamaki to stay in the Host club and stuff. That will never happen because he's just going to accept things the way they are right now and that pissed me off a lot like yesterday. Don't worry; I won't be punching any windows anymore.
I'll be punching tables now.
However, that's the least of my worries.
"Kyo-Hyung, I know I was going to wear a dress, but did I really have to look like freaking Maria Theresa?" I said, gasping for air since this is the first time I'm required to wear a corset. Take my word on this, don't go about tightening a corset too tightly if you're a beginner. You'll regret it!
"We told you and Haruhi that it's a costume for the special parade!" Hikaru told me.
"I think it looks adorable on you Mao. This is my second time to see you so dressed up as a girl." My mom cried, wiping the fake tears out of her eyes.
"You look so cute Mao-Chan! Haru-chan!" Honey-Oppa yelled, being all cute as always.
"I don't understand. Why am I the only one dressed up as a girl?" Haruhi asked. She obviously missed me and I don't know how she did since I'm so hard to miss. I mean seriously, this dress was not that hard to miss. Look at me, I feel like I'm impersonating a historical figure, which I sort of am.
"Haruhi, you need glasses or those contacts are dull now. As you can see, I'm wearing a dress!" I yelled, making her jump and sweat drop.
"Sorry Mao. Things have been on my mind lately." She admitted and I understood why she would get that distracted.
"Aw, come on you two. It's cosplay so it's okay for you two to dress up as a girl." Hikaru said, giving the thumbs up.
"I agree. Finally, my daughter is getting her girl genes back! Yay for cosplay!" Mom said, high-fiving Hikaru and I just glared.
"Well?" Kaoru said suddenly, looking at Kyo-Hyung.
"No luck." He said, closing his phone shut.
"I don't get it. I thought for sure he was going to show up despite what she said." Haruhi said and here comes the unwanted gloom in the room. Mom noticed it soon enough and placed her hands on my shoulders to at least comfort me. The whole room was just silent and I didn't like it. A quiet Host Club is a messed up Host Club.
Kyo-Hyung tried again in dialing Tamaki, pressing the buttons much more than he needed to. This is just like when some idiot presses the button harder to make the attack more powerful. It's not going to happen you know.
"Hello Shima, its Kyoya. It's been a while." Kyo-Hyung said. If I'm right, Shima is one of the head maids/keepers of the estate Tamaki was living at.
I couldn't hear well from the phone conversation that Kyo-Hyung was having, but I could tell that on the other line, they were just as upset as we were and the news of whatever Kyo-Hyung was hearing, it was just making him upset.
"How can he be so stupid?!" He said. The rest of us looked at him in worry and anxious to know. He pulled his phone out of his ear and decided to announce what was so troubling.
"Evidently, Tamaki is planning to return to France." He said. All of us straightened up, all surprised.
"Tama-chan is going to leave us?!" Honey-Oppa yelled.
"You're kidding me! We can't just let it end so suddenly!" Hikaru yelled, shaking if furry and Kaoru looked over at him in worry. I was too, but I was in more shock than anyone else right now. Haruhi maybe, but not a whole lot of people will understand the pain that I'm going through.
I think of Tamaki as a family member to me, someone that just so happened to waltz into my life accidently and made me care about them. That accident, despite how many times I said I hated the things the host club did, I was always glad that I was able to join this club despite the fact it was due to breaking a freaking renaissance vase.
"Do you know when he's leaving Shima?" Kyo-Hyung asked as calmly as he could.
"I'm afraid his flight is this evening." She said.
"What?! Why is he leaving so soon!?"
"He said he would have left sooner, but he wanted to wait until the Ouran fair ended." At that sentence, I heard a car zoom pass by. As that sound came, I leaped off my chair and looked at the window to spot a car. Not just any car but a car that Éclair was on as well as Tamaki.
"Tamaki!" I yelled, pounding on the window as much as I could without breaking the glass. I looked over to my mom with an exasperated look and she understood immediately that I had to take action now.
"The Ouran fair isn't even over yet!"
"My family's car should be in the parking lot! Haruhi, Mao! Let's go!" Kyo-Hyung called out for us. I looked at my mom and she nodded her head as the two of us and Haruhi ran as fast as we could with the other to the parking lot, wherever that is. However, Mom decided to run off into another direction.
"Mom! Where are you going?!" I asked her.
"Just go! I'll meet up with you later! Get him back Mao. I know you can." She last said to me before running off to God knows where. It's not that I don't trust her, but I worry a lot.
~/+/~
It took us a while to get there, but we made it to this black car. Kyo-Hyung led the way and was now talking to the driver.
"We're in a hurry! Can you drive us?" He asked the driver, who seemed hesitant at his request. What the hell? Can't that man see that we're in a hurry?!
I didn't understand what the hell he was getting at until I started hearing footsteps from behind us. I looked back and I saw all those police force guys from the water park and the beach.
"You want to tell me your orders." Said Kyo-Hyung darkly, "Let me guess, you've been hired to protect Lady Éclair."
Hikaru and I pushed Haruhi behind us. He was almost about to push me back as well until I gave him that look and then he remembered what I did to that jaguar.
"I'm truly sorry it has come to this. But as you know, as members as the Ootori Private Police, we answer to your father." One of the police guys said. I looked behind to how Kyo-Hyung would react to it and he freaking punched the car hood and dented it. Damn!
"I'm terribly sorry sir, but we're not to allow any of you to leave even if we have to stop you by force." The police guy said again. Okay.
I'm just going to summarize as much as I could. I have a friend that's about to leave the country. I have friends here that want to stop that. My friend is also blinded by that fact that he's holding us back when in reality; he's the one that pushed us forward into who we are today. I'm really pissed off and I'm so close into taking out all my anger into these police guys and it's not going to be a pretty picture once I'm done with them.
Just as when I was getting in my fighting stance, a familiar clotting noise was heard from my left and then so came the carriage with Honey-Oppa and Mori-Oppa. As if that wasn't a surprise enough, a motorbike came out of nowhere and the person on the bike did a front wheely, kicking down a few of the police guys. They stepped out of their bike, ready to join in on the fight.
"Hikaru, take the carriage. If you use the Bike Hills Bypass, you can cut them off." Mori-Oppa said, stepping off the carriage and stood beside Honey-Oppa who just looked like he was just ready to kill. The person with the helmet pointed at me, motioning me to hop on the bike.
"It's Haninozuka! And Morinozuka!" All the police force gasped and started having second guesses on if they should fight us or not.
"Come on!" Kaoru stretched out his hand to Haruhi, who was worried about all this.
"Haruhi! Go get that idiot!" Kyo-Hyung said to Haruhi, pushing her into the carriage as he looked back at me to get on the bike. Funny, this bike looked like the one I used to make deliveries. I started the bike anyways but before I took off, I ripped off some parts of the dress and the hair piece to get more aerodynamics going on. Hikaru motioned the carriage to go and the police force guys wanted to stop us, especially me since I was easy to take on and the little vehicle that I was in. I was about to be tackled down when the helmet person jumped in and kicked that guys jaw, sending him flying towards his buddies. I gave that person a thank you nod and quickly drove off to catch up to the others and protect them from any other police force what will come at us.
Luckily for us, there were no other police force guys as we made it out of the parking lot. Little did I know that I will be surprised to know who the masked bicyclists will be. I think Kyo-Hyung and the other have figured it out once they were done fighting.
"Picking on my friends is a big no no!" Honey said, yelling at the police force. Well, it was more like a pile of them stacked one by one. Mori cranked his neck left and right at the satisfaction of getting some frustration out at least.
"You should never underestimate the Ouran Host club." Kyoya said, his arms were crossed and also looked on at the pile. The masked bicyclist nodded their head and cracked their knuckles, earning the attention of the three host club members that were left behind.
They didn't know this person and this person just so in fact had the same fighting style that their very own Bipolar Tiger uses. There wasn't that much connection…yet…
"By the way, who are you?" Kyoya asked the bicyclist, staring into the eye piece of the helmet that the bicyclist wore. The said person crossed their arms and finally decided to speak.
"Come on now. Surely, you all don't recognize my husband's and daughters fighting styles. Who do you think taught me?" The person said, earning surprised looks from the boys. They were even more shocked when the person removed their helmet and revealed brown layered hair and the familiar blue eyes of Mao's mom.
"Yuki-chan?! You're the masked bicyclist?!" Honey yelled, really surprised that the frail woman could even fight.
"I sure am Honey. It's good to know that I have some fight left in me yet." Yuki said, chuckling lightly and maneuvered the others to follow her into one of the cars that she borrowed from a friend of hers. Speaking of her friend, she also borrowed the helmet.
"Come on. We have a host club member to bring back."
We were pretty far from the school right now and I was having trouble keeping up with the others and they were in a carriage. I underestimated the velocity of a carriage and I now respect them.
"Hikaru, aren't you going a little too fast? Someone could get hurt!" Kaoru said to his brother just when I was able to catch up to them.
"We're not slowing down until we get the boss back!" Yelled Hikaru. I could tell, even though the sound of the motorbike was louder, I could still hear Hikaru's and Kaoru's yells through all of that.
"But Hikaru!"
"If it wasn't for Tamaki, then the two of us would still only be lost souls. We were able to become friends with Mao, Haruhi and the others because the Host Club brought us together. To think that it can all end so suddenly like this! It's something I can't tolerate!" Haruhi looked on at Hikaru as he was yelling. I was paying close attention to what he was trying to say and he had a point. This host club brought us together and here was Tamaki trying to get us all to spread out and go back to the lives that we all had before. I once thought that it was a good idea until I started to realize that I liked this host club and this host club started to become a group that I really can't live without especially the people that are in it.
Tamaki. Kyo-Hyung. Hikaru. Kaoru. Mori-Oppa. Honey-Oppa. Haruhi-Noona. Renge-Noona. Everyone is just as important as Mika, Mom and Caesar!
While in my thoughts, I didn't notice that the carriage that Hikaru had under control was now losing control because of how fast they were going. It jumped way too high and it resulted with Hikaru flying out of the driver's seat and landing on the pumpkin patch not too far from the crash landing site. Luckily, Kaoru and Haruhi were still in the carriage unharmed. I quickly stopped the bike, looking over to Kaoru, who jumped off the carriage and ran to his brother.
"Hikaru! Are you okay!? Is your arm hurting you!?" Kaoru said.
"This can't be the end boss! It's just not fair! The Host Club is the only thing that made us happy! Dammit!"
I was just there, watching the two brothers comfort each other as by the second, we're closer to losing the one guy that was able to bring us all together.
"Well, I'm off then!" I said, opening the door. Well, I was about to until my mother's voice broke the silence that was only there for only a few seconds.
"What? You can't talk to your Mom about it? What's wrong Mao?" Mom said to me and made me look back to the dining table where she and Mika were sitting, both looking at me. I turned around and still kept on smiling. I felt as if petroleum jelly was smeared on my teeth.
"What do you mean?" I asked and all that I got as a reply was silence. "I'm just not that hungry this morning, that's all."
"Mika, go get ready." Mom suddenly said and Mika, surprisingly, did what Mom told her to do and went upstairs with Caesar and I was just left alone with Mom on the second floor.
"You're not fooling me Mao. The last time you skipped breakfast was after your dad's funeral and it was some time later that you could eat again."
The image of the ocean appeared and the flowers, sunflowers and roses, were thrown all over the currents for them to float towards the crash site if it could reach over there. I held my mother's firmly on one end and Mika had her other hand. We looked at Dad's family – his parents and brothers – come over and cry over such a loss. Mom's family was there as well and they did the same.
"We won't get to see Dad no more?" Mika and I said in unison.
"Mao. You can't always change the past no matter how hard you try. However, you can always rebuild…start over again and make the best of it. Masato may have been our strength but his strength has always been us. He always wanted you to know that no matter what, always be strong even when things don't go according to plan." My mom walked up to me despite how comfortable she was sitting, she stood up and walked up to me to at least comfort me from all that I've been through today. She wrapped her arms around me, bringing me closer to an embrace. I just wanted to cry right there and then, but something told me to save my tears for another time.
No.
No! I'm tired of all of this sadness! I told myself that I wasn't going to let anything get me down. Not even this sudden dissolvent of this host club. Starting the bike once again, I took a few seconds to rev up the engine and stared down at the road in front of me. Haruhi looked at me for a brief second until she started noticing that this Host Club is anything but trouble. It's anything but just a Host Club. She took off her hair piece, revealing her short brunette hair. She also took off some part of her dress and picked up the reigns of the carriage. Haruhi stormed off with the carriage as I followed right behind her, not really bothering to look back at the twins.
Not far on the road, I was able to spot the car on the road. Haruhi must have noticed too since she looked to her right and then went faster with the carriage.
She actually had more control to the carriage than Hikaru did back there.
I looked on ahead and saw that there was no more road left. I hesitated in slowing down at first until I felt my hand twist the handle, accelerating the bike more. Haruhi landed perfectly on the road and I was beginning to jump off the cliff and then spend a few seconds in midair.
I thought for sure I was going to miss my landing when the motorbike was so close to the ground. I closed my eyes so I won't have to see stuff that I will regret. I already regretted watching the dramatizations of this ER show that showed a bunch of emergencies like a pike going through a guy's mouth and out the back of his neck. And he was still texting. When I realized I made the jump, I sped up as fast as I could, catching up to Haruhi and Tamaki.
"Haruhi! Mao!" Tamaki yelled when he looked back at us. Éclair also looked back, staring at us in awe at just how far we'll go to get Tamaki back.
"What are you two doing?! This is dangerous! Stop the carriage and stop the bike!" He said. I didn't know what pissed me off more, the fact that he left without a goodbye or the fact that he's still old fashioned and crap about this stuff.
"Senpai! Please come back to Ouran!" Haruhi yelled back, not heeding to Tamaki's demands.
"I mean it! Stop the carriage Haruhi! Mao, tell her!" Tamaki turned to me and wanted for me to convince Haruhi into stopping the carriage. It's not going to happen you idiot!
"Shut up and just listen to us will you!" I said.
"All of us will be completely lost without you senpai!" At those words, Tamaki stopped and then relaxed and looked confused.
"But they all said they were put out by the host club." Exactly, how do I like this guy?
Wait…
Did I just admit that I….like Tamaki?
"TAMA-HYUNG YOU IDIOT!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, earning the attention of the half French idiot and Éclair.
"You really are an idiot! What's wrong with you!?" Yelled Haruhi, "After all this time we've been together, you still can't tell when we're joking and when we're serious?!" Boy, this is as pissed as I'll ever see Haruhi. She was beyond pissed off as she was yelling at Tamaki. "Everyone loves being in the Host Club. They really do! Even me senpai!" She said, taking one of her hands off the reign to grab Tamaki's hand if he changed his mind.
"I love being part of the Host club too!"
"Same with me!" I said, speeding up to the car, "This stupid and troublemaking Host Club may have gotten me in debt, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life! Because of you, everyone was able to be friends! I was able to be friends with Haruhi, the other and you Tamaki! I love being part of the Host Club!" I retreated back and watched as he reached his hand out towards Haruhi until Éclair stopped him with her hand.
I'm running out of ideas and I'm running out of time especially when the horses started acting crazy and Haruhi just lost grip on the reigns all together. The carriage rammed into the side of the bridge and before I knew it, Haruhi was flying out of the carriage, out the bridge and flying in midair to await her demise. Okay, not really her demise but she's was going to land on water.
"Haruhi!" Tamaki and I yelled out together. I decided to take some drastic measures and it involved sacrificing the bike. I stood up on the bike and threw myself into the air, basically running towards Haruhi to catch her. I was only a few inches off from grabbing her hand and I was flying off into another direction. Damn!
"Haruhi! Mao!"
"Senpai!"
What I saw next would make my teeth rot away from all that sweetness. Tamaki jumped out of the car and towards Haruhi's direction and grabbed her hand. Within those few seconds I was able to see that, I smiled before I went head first into the water.
"MAO!"
SPLASH SPLASH
There were utter silence and total darkness when I opened my eyes. I opened my mouth to utter a scream, but that was a really stupid idea; don't ever do it. I almost lost all the air in my lungs because of that. My head turned left and right to find those two. When I couldn't, I guessed that they might have swum back to land and here I am, ruining a perfectly good dress. Great, Kyoya's going to kill me…
Kyoya? Did you just call him Kyoya? What happened to Kyo-Hyung?
…You're right…I didn't call him Kyo-Hyung like I always did. I called him Kyoya.
That's just going to have to wait. I had to get to the surface quickly before I worried any other people. I swam as fast as I could to the surface that I didn't realize that I sunk so deep. As I broke surface, I breathed in as much air as I could and swam to where a worried Tamaki and a frantic host club were waiting at the bank and all ready to dive into the water.
"Mao!" They called out. I cracked a grin and waved at them, swimming with much more encouragement.
"Mao!" The twins yelled and helped me stand up with the wet dress that I had on. "You're all wet." They said.
"Shut up. I can see that." I playfully punched them on their shoulders and I made sure I was careful in punching Hikaru's good arm. They laughed with me alongside just when I noticed the masked bicyclist. They gave me an approving nod and that's when I realized who it was.
"MOM! I TOLD YOU TO NEVER FIGHT AGAIN! DON'T YOU EVER LISTEN?!" I yelled at her while she bursted out laughing and removed her helmet to reveal her long brown hair and a smile written all over that pale face of hers.
"Come on! I have to admit, this is the most fun I had in years! Besides, I always wanted to be a part of a high speed chase like in Grand Theft Auto."
"Mom! Just how long have you been playing the video games!?"
"Ever since you bought them for Mika. Oh, have you ever considered buying Need for Speed? Or better yet, Assassins Creed?"
"No! Are you crazy?! I can't buy more video games right now! I'll be broke because I just did heavy damage on my bike! You know, the bike that I make my deliveries with!" While I was arguing with my mom, all the others were watching in amusement because who wouldn't want to watch me and my mom bicker at each other over silly, little things. One time, we fought over which accent was hotter. It was a tie between German and Russian and that was just Mika.
"Kyoya, shouldn't we stop them? We have to get back to the fair." Said Tamaki.
"They can fight on the way back. Besides, let them have this. Kurosaki-san hasn't been able to get along with Mao since yesterday."
~/+/~
Well what do you know? Everything does end happily like in a drama. Well, at least for this week it did end happily.
I guess now I'm a true believer in happy endings now.
I never would have thought that I would get to dance the waltz again until tonight where most of the population that's at the school here now was dancing it and we're basically required. I laughed when Honey-Oppa was dancing with Haruhi and they twirled all round. Mori-Oppa was pretty funny too because he's too tall for Haruhi and yet, it couldn't have been better. Hikaru and Kaoru got their chance to dance with Haruhi as well and Haruhi made the mistake of grabbing Hikaru's bad arm caused by the carriage accident. They all danced happily until they made the switch again and in front of Haruhi was Tamaki. However, Kyoya cut in at the last second and got his chance to dance with my best friend. It was hilarious to see Tamaki angry that his best friend got to dance with Haruhi before he did. The girls loved this though. They even had hearts in their eyes. The last Host to dance with Haruhi was Tamaki; those two smiled at each other like they could only make each other happy.
I think I hear wedding bells now!
"Hey Mao-chan!" Honey-Oppa's voice interrupted my thoughts and I looked in front to see a well-dressed Honey with a smile. "Let's dance!" He said, grabbing my hands and began twirling me like he had done with Haruhi. I was surprised that I didn't get dizzy at all from all that spinning.
"Go Mao-chan!" He said, lightly pushing me towards the dance floor again and the next person who I was dancing with was Mori-Oppa, who grabbed my hand and led me through the dance.
"I'm sorry that we caused you concern. It looks as if Grand Tonnerre will not be purchasing my company after all." Kyoya's father said. Present in the chairman's room was the Chairman himself – who was standing in front of the window with his back faced to his guests, Yoshio Ootori and Mao's mother who was personally invited by Yoshio himself. Yuki was surprised herself that after all these years, who would have thought she would have ran into her husband's old friend. She didn't know that Yoshio was in trouble with that Grand Tonnerre Company.
"An unexpected banker turned up and bought the company before Grand Tonnerre had a chance. The banker said he was turning all the management rights over to me." Yoshio finished, receiving a smile from Yuki.
We exchanged a few words until he stopped in front of Hikaru and walked away. I didn't know how to react until Hikaru grabbed me by my waist and we began dancing. I was careful enough to not touch him on his bad arm, I just hope he heals soon because he's my punching bag if Mori-Oppa's not around.
"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" He said to me near my ear. My eyes widened as I tried to keep eye contact with him until he swung me off to his brother who caught me and made me spin into him. This wasn't part of the waltz by the way. If there was a waltz that I prefer, it's that waltz in that Harry Potter movie and the Viennese Waltz. Just saying.
"That was a bold move. Which funds manager was it?" The chairman asked in amusement.
"A student investor called KO. He cleverly left his name from part of the deal, but it didn't take me long to figure out who it was. KO is Kyoya Ootori. He was none other than my own son." Yuki giggled in delight, sipping her tea before glancing back at the man who gave her a concerned look. She said it was nothing and the two looked at the Chairman to hear more.
"I guess we don't have to worry about the future." He said, his back still turned to the other two adults, "I knew how brilliant Kyoya was, but it seems he's smarter than I thought."
Kaoru smiled at me as I tried to keep up with his advanced dance moves. He was full of surprises with our waltz that he even picked me up a few times. He laughed lightly when he was the blush on my cheeks. Before I knew it, I came face to face with Kyoya and he gently took my hand with his, making me put my other hand on his shoulder and his other hand on my waist.
"I see you've been practicing." Kyoya said, smiling down at me. I returned his smile because how could I ruin such a perfect and happy night?
"Always have Kyoya." I answered, seeing that his eyes widened in surprise at the call of his name. Yeah, he knows that I've only been calling him Kyo-Hyung, but not anymore.
"What? Can't handle me calling you Kyoya? That is your name so might as well." I teased.
"It is," He chuckled, "If I can call you Mrs. Ootori."
"J-just Mao is fine. Thank you." I blushed. I don't know, but did he just indirectly say he wanted me to be his wife?
"Maybe so, but I think your son is truly amazing."
"Hm?"
"I am responsible for the entirety of Kyoya's education. I always knew that he'd surpass his older brothers someday."
"If only you would have said that sooner to Mao, Yoshio. Mao told me everything about the other day and made you her public enemy number one." Yuki said, giggling. Yoshio awkwardly coughed and continued.
"However, I must say, I'm shocked. While I can imagine Kyoya taking over a company, I'd never dream he'd turn around and give it right back to his original owner. As Kyoya grew up, I was constantly dangling the Ootori company right into his face, torturing him with something he could never have. Now, not only has he taken it from under me by force but he's basically told me that he doesn't want it and has thrown it back in my face."
"Do you understand what that means?" Finally, the Chairman looked back at the Ootori man, curious at what his friend was about to say.
"It means he's finally found it."
Kyoya stopped dancing and turned me around to lightly push me towards Tamaki, who waited patiently for me. Like Kyoya, he grabbed my hand gently and proceeded to led me into the dance.
"Having fun?" He asked me.
"It's better than the other one I was in. This time, I get to do some dancing." I replied back and he chuckled at my silliness. What I didn't realize was the small pink-red blush on his cheeks as he smiled at me.
"I told you."
"Told me what?"
"I told you and Haruhi that this will be the best Ouran fair yet." Oh yeah…he did tell us that.
"I guess you did Tamaki." I think he waited for a few seconds before he realized that I meant to say only Tamaki. His reaction was priceless.
"T-tamaki?"
"Yeah. It's your name after all."
We stayed put for a brief minute until I looked over to my left and saw fireworks lighting up the night sky. Wow, they got pyro-dynamics! Fireworks! Man, I'm kinda glad that I applied to this school. Tamaki noticed my enthusiasm and watched with me the whole firework show. The only times I ever get to see these kinds of shows is whenever New Year's comes.
"He's finally found something that has even greater value to him." Yoshio said, "And that's probably thanks to Tamaki."
"Let us not forget Kurosaki's daughter, Mao for this. She brought some wisdom to those two that I've seen from only one other person; a friend of our past Yoshio."
"I didn't think I was ever going to see her again after that night. And after everything Yuki has told me, I still can't believe it."
"Now, now gentlemen, that's all in the past. As Masato would say, think about now and what's to come. I think you two will get along just fine from now on." Yuki said, gesturing the men to talk about something non-depressing after all that she's been through right now. She had to beat up Ootori's Police Force just to make her daughter happy today. The two gentlemen nodded their heads.
"I agree. I think we'll get along famously like our children do."
In content, the woman looked over to the window to enjoy the firework show being displayed. All these colors in the sky near the heavens.
"I almost forgot. There was one more thing I wanted to run by you and Yuki here."
Whoever brought these pyro-dynamics, they're cool in my book from now on. I just think they're so cool and from they were showing, I hope dad could see them from where he's at right now. He always liked these kinds of things.
The guys came around to enjoy the firework show, along with everyone at the fair. We all stopped what we were doing to marvel at the colors displayed in the sky like it was a canvas for these lights.
"The Culinary student girl, Mao Kurosaki yes? I think she'll make an excellent wife for my Kyoya in the future. She's grown up in a way Masato and Wiliem would have wanted her to. I just wanted you two to know my intentions." Yoshio said so suddenly that Yuki had to spit out her tea in surprise.
"Well, it looks like we're not going to get along after all," The chairman said, "I'm sorry, but that's the one thing I could never allow my friend. I too want my Tamaki to have a wife like Mao in the future. I am considering Haruhi Fujioka as well." Yuki was surprised that these two were even considering having her daughter get married to two of the most powerful families in all Japan. Let alone be friends with their fathers?
"Whoa! Mao's not a bargaining chip! I demand that you speak about my child in an appropriate manner! I won't allow Mao to find out so soon about herself."
"Yuki, she's at that age now where she's to find out who she is. She should-"
"No Yoshio! I promised Masato that until she's eighteen she'll find out!"
"Masato is dead. This changes everything especially with what's happening in Denmark right now. Mao deserves to know what happened that night ten years ago. She's the rightful heir, not that crook that led to Wiliem's death. We have to tell Mao everything one of these days! I want her to come to my manor to hear everything from me." Yoshio suggested, looking down at his hands.
"Yoshio…"
"Yuki, Denmark deserves to have their princess back. Please have her come to my manor."
TO BE CONTINUED…