WooHoo! 8th chapter! I just want to say thank you to everyone who has kept up with this story. I appreciate every review, favorite, follow, and view I get. I realized I hadn't truly thanked you all for that. Thanks to my friends as well. Without their support, I don't know how far I would have gotten with this story. So, thanks all of you!

Chapter 8: Sweet and Silent Part 2

I'm not as invincible as I had felt. I let every little thing get to me. Maybe I'm just so weak, that I'm so aggressive and protective. I don't want to appear weak and helpless like women and girls seem to be expected to be. I just want to be able to do anything I want, without judgment and discrimination. I want to inherit the family company.

I'm a video game expert. I'm intelligent. I know what customers want (being a gamer myself). I'm a good choice for heir. Ichirou knows nothing about video games. He doesn't understand that kind of business. He doesn't know what the customers want. He's a terrible choice. He'd run the company into the ground. It's always been the oldest son that inherits a company. I want to prove that I am just as capable (if not more) than any man.

That's why I was not going to let the Host Club get the best of me. They were not going to impose anymore.

My temper was near to boiling over. "Um, Kuro-chan?" Honey contracted my attention. "I'm sorry I upset you. Please accept this cake as an apologly." He handed me another plate with another slice of cake on it. "And these cookies. And more cake. And these macaroons imported from France. And-" He kept handing me more sweets out of nowhere, but was stopped by Mori.

"Mitsukuni. Enough."

"Is this some sort of bribe?" I asked. It certainly felt like a bribe.

"Why would I bribe you, Kuro-chan?" Honey asked completely clueless.

"Because…because you need me to be quieter," I explained.

"Oh. I hadn't thought of that. I was too concerned that I'd upset you." It seemed like he was honest.

"Well, fine then. Thank you for the sweets," I said as I diverted my eyes. I went silent after that.

Yuki, who I had almost forgotten was there, decided to converse with the two hosts. She and Honey seemed to be having an interesting conversation about an anime. They were comparing Kyoya to some dark butler character. This doesn't make much sense, considering Kyoya doesn't seem anything like a butler. Mori was as impassive and silent as ever. I slumped down in my chair and silently ate my sweets, starting with the cake.

When the time was up (I'd finished my desserts long before then), I got up and Honey gave me a big hug. "I'm sorry again for upsetting you. I hope you've forgiven me!" He let me go.

"We'll see," I told him. His hopeful face turned into one of slight disappointment.

Yuki said her goodbyes, and she and I headed towards the door. Kyoya met us there. "I hope both of your times were enjoyable. Miss Shizuka, you can have a normal appointment tomorrow. Miss Kurosawa,"

"Kuro," I corrected him. He ignored me.

"You will be with Haruhi tomorrow. Please be here on time." With that, he walked away. Yuki and I walked out the door and headed home. Neither of us spoke till we parted.

"Honey-senpai! Mori-senpai! Report!" Tamaki wanted to know how it had gone with Kuro.

"Yes, sir!" Honey saluted to Tamaki with one arm and kept Usa-chan tucked under his other arm. "At first it went okay. Then Kuro-chan got upset when I accidentally said I met her brother." Honey said, sounding a little guilty.

"You what?!" Tamaki again looked like he would faint.

"But, it's okay. She seemed better after I gave her more sweets! She really likes them!" Honey reported with a beaming smile.

"She loves sweets, huh?" Hikaru and Kaoru joined the conversation. They seemed to be very interested in this information.

"Mmhh!" Honey confirmed with a nod of his head. The twins grinned at each other.

Across the room, Haruhi was getting ready to leave. Kyoya stopped her at the door. "Haruhi, you will be with Kohaku tomorrow."

She nodded and said "All right. Goodnight, Kyoya." She left.

Kyoya turned around to find Tamaki staring at him. "What is it?" Kyoya was clearly annoyed.

"Haruhi is next?"

"Yes."

"This could work for our plan! If the two of them start talking, they could realize their girlyness together! Thus, they become best friends forever!" Tamaki was sparkling in his brilliance.

"Or Kuro could be so insulted that it ends terribly and nothing works out as you planned!" The twins countered Tamaki. "Besides, Kuro all ready has a girly best friend."

"She WHAT?!" Tamaki was again dumbfounded.

"You didn't know? It's Yuki Shizuka, a guest of Mori-senpai's," Hikaru explained causually.

"Did everyone know except me?!" Tamaki asked.

The twins and Honey nodded their heads. Mori said "yeah," and Kyoya said "It's my job to know." Tamaki's jaw was dropped.

"How-how come I didn't know?" Tamaki seemed quite upset.

"That would be because you're a clueless idiot," Kyoya replied. Tamaki went and sulked in a corner.

When I got home, I yet again went to the kitchen. I yet again went upstairs. Ichirou yet again cornered me. "You know, you never gave me a straight answer. What have you really been up to?"

"I told you. I got involved in a club's activities." I tried to reply calmly.

"Why, and what club?" He tried questioning further.

"That's my business." He looked so outraged at this reply. Before I could register what was happening, a sharp, sudden pain enflamed on my cheek. Before I know what had happened, I was on the floor. My food scattered everywhere and my glasses had flown off my face. For several seconds, all I could see was the bright blur of the light on the ceiling. Then it hit me.

He slapped me.

I saw a dark shape move in front of the light. Ichirou's tall figure was a blur. When he started speaking I realized there was a ringing in my ears. I shut my eyes tight. The ringing subsided after what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes.

"Are you listening to me?!" he roared. "Are you going to tell me now?!"

"The…the ho-host club…" I could barely speak from the shock. "black-blackmailed m-me." I confessed.

"With what?"

"They said that they knew the family se-secret," I somehow managed to get the truth out.

"You stupid, stupid little girl! Do you know what this could do to us?! I'll tell you what, seeing as you're not smart enough to comprehend it! If word gets out that we were sued, the company will plunge into the ground! Knocking all of us out on the street with nothing! Do you know how hard it would be to rise again?! Of course you don't! You're just a stupid little girl who only cares for herself!" With that he stormed off to his bedroom.

I stayed there, on the floor, for several minutes. I felt vibrations through the floor. I finally noticed I had not yet reopened my eyes. When the vibrations stopped, I opened my eyes to see two blue slippers facing me. Next, a hand was reached out to me. The scene was slightly familiar, but I didn't linger on it. I reached out a hand of my own to the offered one.

Jirou helped me get up. He pulled me into a hug. "I didn't want you to see me like this," I spoke into his shoulder, trying to hold back tears. "I have to be strong for you."

"You are strong. Stronger than I could ever be. You may not be able to see it, but I think this is strength. Being able to lean on me and admit that, is strength in itself. I know you're trying to protect me, but sometimes even protectors need a bit of shelter from the storm." I could sense him smile softly.

"Jirou Ryouichi Takumi Kurosawa, you are wise for your age. You'll be the best of us. I can feel it."

I let my tears flow freely.

I think this might be the best chapter so far (or the strongest). I'm sorry about that bit of intense violence by the way. I felt it was needed (if you want a full explanation, P.M. me). But anyway, I dove deep into my characters' feelings for this chapter. It helped a lot in understanding them (and me) better. We also started to learn about this "family secret." Sued, huh? Hmmm….I wonder why….Well, don't forget to tell me your thoughts! Let me know what you think the best chapter is so far (or just your favorite)! And don't forget that constructive criticism! Thanks for reading and for your continued support!

P.S. I don't have a prediction for when I will get chapter 9 finished.

P.P.S. I also put another hidden reference in this chapter. If you find it, and are correct about it, P.M. me and you'll get a shoutout!