CHAPTER SIX : Kelpi

"Hisoka-san, it's time for you to get up."

Hisoka opened her eyes. The sun leaked through the window, pooling over the hardwood and across her bed as Rin pulled open the drapes, dust motes drifting through the streaks of sunlight. Rin frowned, batting at the curtains and making a note to herself to clean them, before she continued with her duties. She moved with her usual swift diligence.

"Your uniform has arrived. The proper one, this time." Hisoka sat up slowly as Rin presented the yellow dress, hanging on an elegant silver hanger from the store it was purchased from. She pulled on one of the sleeves, frowning, her eyes calculating as she gazed down it's length. "Will you require help dressing?"

Hisoka turned slowly to look at the dress, and after a moment she sighed, slowly nodding her head. She pushed her hair out of her face and stood, making her way around the bed and stripping out of her pajama's. As she tossed aside the articles of clothing, Rin picked them up and folded them, placing them neatly on the dresser so she could take them to wash. As Hisoka clamored into clean under clothes Rin prepared her dress, and helped the young girl to step into it when she was ready.

She zipped up the back slowly, as to not catch her mistress's hair, and Hisoka reached back to pull it up out of the way. Then she presented her arms so Rin could cuff the sleeves, as she had always done before her dress had been ruined.

"You look lovely, Hisoka-san. Would you like help with your hair?"

Hisoka stiffened, and Rin seemed to realize she had made a mistake. She took a step back and bowed low, her pin straight hair falling around her face. Hisoka turned away rather rudely, though she had a distracted stance about her.

"If you require my assistance-"

"Just go, Rin."

There was silence.

Followed by the sound of the door closing. Hisoka let out a breath. She hesitated, running a hand through her hair, combing halfheartedly through the knots before she quickly made her way over to the curtains and pulled them closed urgently. The room fell back into darkness.

. . .

There was a comfort about fitting in that Hisoka did not realize she would miss. No matter how isolated she felt since the incident, she never felt alone. Not physically, of course. She stood out far too much in the crowded halls of Ouran High School, and even if she was alone, she still felt the sting of eyes focused on her from somewhere just out of sight. It was as if people were looking at her constantly, whispering behind her back about her.

Despite the fact that she was now dressed the same, it seemed that people were still staring. Almost more so than before. She could hear the whispers, but not what they were saying. Hisoka wondered if it was all in her head. It seemed real. Far too real.

She made her way to her classroom, and as she entered it was almost as if everyone stopped what they were doing solely to stare at her. She tried to ignore it, but the way her classmates glanced at one another, murmuring excitedly, she couldn't help but notice. She tried to ignore them, but as she quickly made her way to the back of the room she felt anxiety building slowly in her stomach. She vowed not to even glance at Natsumi and Miki. She didn't need to look to see their twisted grins and mocking stares. Surely they were the ones behind this, whatever it was.

"Is it true?"

Hisoka looked up. Standing before her was her friend Suzu. She was a small, frail girl with short blond hair and bright green eyes, and she was very quiet. They had been friends before the incident, but now she was sure that she would be too afraid to speak with her. Natsumi and Miki would probably tease her for it.

"Is what true?"

Suzu looked away, a slight blush coloring her cheeks before looking back at Hisoka. There was something sharp in the way she looked at her, something knowing, but Hisoka didn't know what to make of it. A mischievous smile seemed to pull at the corner of her lips, but it was gone as soon as it came and Hisoka knew that it wasn't like the little blond to be mischievous. She was far too sweet.

"That you and Morinozuka-sempei are dating?"

"What?" Hisoka nearly fell out of her chair. She gripped the sides of her desk until her knuckles turned white, her cheeks practically bursting into flames they felt so hot. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Well, you must be, right? Because you wouldn't do that kind of stuff with someone you weren't promised to... right?" Suzu asked, batting her eyelashes innocently and folding her hands behind her back in a cute, childish way.

"What are you-wh-wha...?" Hisoka gasped, her head spinning. By now the entire class was paying attention to their conversation, but Hisoka didn't notice anyone else. She could only imagine what kind of things... "Wh-what kind of stuff?" She managed to choke out. Suzu's eyes widened.

"I can't say it outloud," Suzu said quickly and quietly, looking somewhat abashed. "Describing that kind of thing, it's too embarrassing."

"N-no!" Hisoka shouted, standing quickly, throwing her arms down to her sides. Suzu stepped back, surprised. "No! We just talked! And he hugged me a bit, and I hugged back, but th-that's it!" She yelped, her voice rising several octaves. Suzu looked up at her, her eyes seeming to sparkle.

"So it is true! You are dating Morinozuka-sempei!"

"N-no, that's not what I-"

"Thank's for setting that straight, Hisoka," Suzu chimed, waving as she skipped away. Hisoka watched her go, her mouth hanging agape before she realized how unlady-like she must look. She snapped her mouth closed, her muscles stiffening as she whipped her head around. Everyone was staring at her. Her face grew pale and she quickly sat back down, but the room was already filled with excited chatter, her classmates glancing in her direction as they spoke rapidly to one another behind cupped hands.

"Mori-sempei has a girlfriend?"

"I can't believe it!"

"Isn't that against the rules for Host members or something?"

"What a strange choice..."

"I asked him out once. He said no."

"Why is she so special?"

Hisoka buried her head in her arms, wishing that she could vanish, or sink into the floor, or something. She didn't know why she was 'special,' but whatever god her parents had made angry to give her such a cursed life, she wished that the sentence would be over soon.

. . .

Hisoka let out a deep breath as the familiar smell of the school's little-used library surrounded her. She made her way towards her usual spot, sinking in between the stacks of books, smiling tiredly at her old friends. Books were not as treacherous as people were. They were far more trustworthy. They told the same stories no matter how many times she read through them. Only, she got to determine how she felt about them every time she reread an old favorite.

She wandered among the shelves for a short while, browsing the titles until she found one that looked interesting, but every time she pulled one out to read a bit it didn't catch her attention her nearly as much as she thought it might.

"I thought I might find you here."

Hisoka looked up, but she didn't have to see him to know who it was. Kyoya stood at the end of the row, pushing his glasses up his nose as he watched her. She pulled the book she had been about to take from the shelf and turned towards him. Hisoka tried to smile, but it never reached her eyes.

"Hello, Kyoya. How are you today?"

She couldn't see his reaction. The dim light coming through the far away windows managed to reflect off his glasses, making it imppossible to descern his expression. She took a step forward, hoping it would clear up, but it only seemed to make it worse.

"I'm fine." His speech was clipped and careful. Hisoka knew immediately that this was not an encounter she would enjoy. She watched him for a moment, before a sigh fell from her lips and she turned away, stealing herself for whatever it was he was going to say. "I imagine you're doing well."

"What makes you say that?" Hisoka asked carefully, placing the book back where she had found it, and pulling out another one to busy herself with. The cover was a light violet, almost white, and the title was written in an elegant cursive.

"I hear that you're dating Morinozuka, now."

Hisoka turned suddenly, and Kyoya almost stepped back from the fierce look in her eyes. She looked at him for a long moment, sizing him up, and then she looked away, opening the book in her hands a little more violently than necessary, turning her back on him. He found himself feeling oddly worried that he had said the wrong thing.

"You know better than that," she said coldly. Kyoya raised an eyebrow at her abrasive attitude. "If you're honestly here to-"

"Rumours such as that will do no one any good. I suggest you do your best to eradicate the issue as soon as possible." Kyoya folded his hands behind his back, watching the annoyance practically drip off of Hisoka's frail figure. He gazed at her thin back, and her long blond hair, falling messily over her shoulders. She hadn't brushed it that morning, he observed. The yellow dress didn't really suit her, either.

"Me?" She asked icily, turning around suddenly to glare at him. "Takashi was the one who followed me out into the hall—and Hunny was the one who invited me to the Host Club in the first place! Besides, it's not like anyone's going to believe anything I say. Why don't you do it?" She hissed, marching towards him until they were practically nose-to-nose, except Kyoya was taller than she was by at least half a foot. "Anyone would believe the all knowing Kyoya Ootori."

Kyoya stared at her in the silence that followed. She had a sharp snarl on her face, one that twisted her nose and bared her teeth.

"You have treatment tomorrow," he said icily, pushing his glasses up his nose and catching Hisoka off guard. "You must be nervous."

Hisoka knew enough about Kyoya to know that this was his way of asking her how she was feeling. She sighed, irritated but too tired to push a fight right now. She took a step back and wrapped her arms around her middle.

"I am." She paused, staring at the books, and Kyoya waited. "Now that I think about it, no one will probably even remember any of this by the time I come back. They'll get bored talking about someone they don't even see every day."

Kyoya watched as she glanced at him, shooting him a short, halfhearted smile. He thought for a moment, before abruptly turning on his heel and quickly walking in the other direction. Hisoka turned to watch him go, somewhat befuddled.

"Stop by the Host Club after school," Kyoya called to her. It wasn't a suggestion. She smiled sadly at his back. Sometimes she forgot how good of a person he really was. He was far too good at hiding it.

. . .

Hisoka stood outside the doors of music room number three, nervously smoothing down the skirt of her dress. She had butterflies in her stomach, and she had to remind herself that she wasn't nervous to be going into the Host Club again, even after what had happened last time.

The thought of her treatment starting up again tomorrow was weighing heavily on her mind. She just couldn't shake it.

With an abrupt huff, as if she were trying to blow the nervousness out of her lungs, she pushed through the doors of the Host Club.

It looked normal, but she could already see the curious glances starting. Several of the girls whispered to each other, and they watched her expectantly, waiting for her to make her way over the the Morinozuka boy. Instead, she found a pleasant thrill in being able to surprise them all by walking in the opposite direction, straight towards Kyoya.

He was sitting at his usual table, busying himself with his laptop and his black notebook filled with secrets. He glanced up at her as she came beside him, and he waved his hand toward the seat across from him. There was already a cup of tea waiting for her. Silver needle, same as last time. She shot him another look, but he wasn't paying her any mind.

"Miss Mara, take a seat." She did, settling uncomfortably in her billowy dress, and she lifted the cup to her lips. It was still hot. He must have just poured it.

"So, what is it you needed me for?" Hisoka asked, glancing at him over the rim of her cup. He typed several more things into his lap top before closing it and storing it away. He kept his black notebook out beside him.

"You are in Haruhi's class, correct?" He asked as he took a small sip of his own tea before setting it down. Hisoka was too busy looking into her cup to notice him flinch at the taste. He would never say it to anyone, but he hated the taste of silver needle.

"I am, but you already knew that," Hisoka laughed, setting her own cup back onto its dish quickly, but she kept her fingers wrapped around the handle to steady herself. She didn't want anyone to see how badly she was shaking. Kyoya shot her an irritated look.

"I asked him if he would be willing to gather all of your homework while you were away," he said simply. Hisoka's eyes widened.

"What? Why would you do that? I could just have-"

"I wont be affiliated with a 'flunky,'" Kyoya sniffed. Hisoka struggled to hide a pleased smile behind her fingers.

"You're too nice to me, Kyoya," Hisoka laughed. He stiffened, shooting her a glare, but Hisoka was too busy taking another drink of her tea to notice. She only caught the look as she was setting down her cup, and while for most people that sort of look from a prestigious Ootori man would chill their bones, Hisoka simply smiled.

"I'm merely being polite, as is expected of a gentleman-" he cut himself off with another, darker glare as she waved her hand at him dismissively. He felt something warm in the pit of his chest, but he couldn't describe it to anyone even if he wanted to.

"of a gentleman of high class such as yourself, am I right, Mr. Ootori?" Hisoka asked teasingly. That warmth seemed to grow at the annoyingly knowing smile she flashed in his direction. It disappeared the moment her smile did, and the moment two young women passed by the table.

Kyoya kept his eyes on Hisoka as she dropped her head, almost as she was ashamed, and withdrew. For a panicked moment he wondered if he had said something wrong, or done something wrong. When he had a moment to clear his head he realized that it wasn't his fault for her mood shift at all.

"Hi, Hisoka," one of the girls, Natsumi Renga Kyoya noted, said quickly. There was a strange grin on her face, an almost sadistic look about her.

"Why aren't you sitting with Mori? Did something happen?" The other one, Miki Nana, asked with a sneer.

"I hope you didn't break up already," Natsumi teased. Hisoka opened her mouth to respond without looking up, but she didn't get the chance to say a word.

"I hope you aren't convinced by such ridiculous rumors."

Hisoka looked up sharply, surprised to find Kyoya casually pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. They flashed menacingly.

"If Mr. Morinozuka happened to choose to be with a young woman, he would understandably announce it to the public beforehand. But you know that," Kyoya said silkily. "Let's see," he murmured, almost to himself as he paged halfheartedly through that black book he kept so close to him at all times. "I see that you were even being hosted by Morinozuka the same day these rumors started to get around, along with Hisoka. If I recall correctly that's when there also happened to be an accident regarding her book and a cup of tea. That's unimportant. I just would think that you would know for certain whether or not Hisoka and Morinozuka had been acting as a couple, which they certainly are not. As the vice president of the Host Club I would be informed of such developments." He closed his notebook with a sharp snap. "Funnily enough, from what I understand the rumors would have had to start from someone who was sitting at that table that day. And I know that it was neither Mori, Hunny and it definitely was not Hisoka."

Hisoka managed to remove herself from the shock of seeing Kyoya suddenly going off on such a wild, irritated tangent to glance at Natsumi and Miki. They looked both horrified and stunned, unable to walk away out of fear of being rude, but suddenly realizing that they had been caught red handed.

"You surely understand what these sort of rumors can do for the reputation of the Host Club, don't you?" Kyoya asked calmly, and then he was suddenly glaring icily at both Natsumi and Miki. They practically shivered. "For the sake of the profits that could potentially be lost by such a situation, I would normally demand that whomever started the rumors make a public retraction—"

"There's no need for that," Hisoka cut in. Natsumi and Miki looked at her, their eyes wide and clearly shell-shocked. She smiled at them halfheartedly, suddenly feeling bad for them. "You should go back to your host. They're probably wondering where you've been for so long."

They didn't need any more urging.

Once they were gone, Hisoka turned back to her tea and took a long drink, breathing in the pleasent scent. She looked up over the rum of her cup once again to find Kyoya staring at her. He wasn't glaring. Instead, he was just looking, cold and calculating as he often was.

"You know—"

"Don't interrupt me," Kyoya said brusquely. Hisoka stared for a moment, but she couldn't hold back the small laugh that escaped her lips.

Kyoya was surely something.


A/U: Hey. I'm back. BUT NOT FOR LONG.

I live by two things. Inconsistency.