It was the back to school ball that evening. Tomorrow, Rose would leave for England, and then get married to Alexander four days later.
The host club were attending, by flying over two days after her. Hikaru – at first – refused, but when Kaoru decided he wanted to go for some unknown reason,
She dressed herself calmly, pulling the yellow tinted gown over her head carefully, and slipping her feet into the golden strappy shoes.
She was just clipping her earrings on when she heard a faint knock at the door. She called for them to come in, and Patrick stood awkwardly.
"Hey Paddy."
"Hey Rose."
They were quite the opposite of Hikaru and Kaoru. They were twins – an unknown fact to many, as Patrick looked about thirty – but unidentical. They shared no bond. Each saw the other as a person whom they would write to once a year at Christmas. The only reason Patrick did not attend Ouran was because he already had a job, and with his father being who he is, he got away with it.
"I... I feel bad." He sheepishly admitted. "With this whole wedding thing."
"Don't." She shrugged. "It's not your fault."
"I know about Lilly." He blurted, and Rose span around instantaneously. "I overheard Alexander talking to the guards. I... I have some details that might help you."
"Paddy..." She stared at him for a moment, eyes widening. "Y-you mean that there..."
"There's a chance." He nodded. "It's slim, but it's there."
--
The ball was well underway. Haruhi, after much assistance from Rose, looked beautiful in her silver gown, much to Tamaki's fan girl's disappointment. She found herself being waved at by the couple, so Rose hurried over to them, heels clicking against the floor noisily.
"Have you seen Kyoya Senpai?" She asked quite breathlessly. They shook their heads mutely. She cursed in English, and scanned the room furtively.
"I have." Kaoru's voice in her ear stopped her heart for a moment. "But first... you and I need a chat." Her eyes widened and she gulped.
"Now Kaoru, wait a second..." Tamaki attempted to intervene, but Rose gave him a look.
"Al-Alright." She mumbled, and allowed him to purr, 'excellent' into her ear, and pull her away. She gave her abandoned friends a hopeful look, and let him pull her into the back room. "No Hikaru this evening?"
"He refused to come anywhere near you." Kaoru drawled. "Not that I blame him. Do you?"
"No" was her curt reply. She moved across to the window, staring out at the sky. "Did... did he mention anything about Christmas?"
"No- should he of?" He sounded puzzled. She gave a bitter half laugh.
"I knew he'd forget." The English girl chuckled to herself sadly. Kaoru's eyebrows rose.
"Do you want to marry Alexander?" Rose pulled a face.
"No. Never. Ew." She added the last one in hopes of a laugh, but it drifted in the air, making an uneasy silence. He coughed awkwardly after a while, breaking it into shards.
"So... why are you-."
"Dad." She sighed, falling back on her original excuse. "As usual, the controlling, manipulative asshole I have the misfortune of calling Father. Now will you please remove your wig, Hikaru? It's incredibly harsh of you to think I'm THAT stupid."
The twin froze, before doing as he was told. The replicate of his original hair fell to the floor.
"Why aren't I surprised?" He grumbled, dishevelled at his revealed plan. She shrugged.
"I know me, I know you."
"I thought I knew you." Her – apparently – ex growled, and made for the door. She made no move to stop him.
"Just remember Christmas. I haven't taken off the necklace, despite the fact the silver clashes with my dress."
"Will you STOP!?" Hikaru span around, facing her with a look of pure betrayal. "Do I want to be reminded of how you LIED to me?! Seeing as you know me so well, that should be easy!" She allowed him to vent, he screamed at her, her grabbed her shoulders and shook her, he did everything he could to make her break down. "Why... why haven't you told me?"
She blanked.
"What?"
"Why haven't you told me about why you're marrying him? I know it's more than your Dad. And... It's been bothering you for a while."
She smiled, despite herself.
"I told you, you know me." She mumbled abashedly. "However, this once, I have to ask you to trust me, even when you have every right to hate me. I don't love him. I will always love you."
"What?" She loved how confused he got at English – he still seemed furious.
"I will always love you." She repeated, this time in his native tongue. His mouth formed an 'o' shape, before he scowled, and pushed past her.
"Stop lying."
"I remember Christmas." Rose dryly commented. "How you asked me to sing for you if you ever asked me."
"So what? It's not like I'll ever ask now, is it?" He spat, once again turning to face her. She sighed to herself, placing her index finger under his chin, as he had done to her shortly after they met.
"Ask me."
"No."
"Ask me."
"No!"
"Ask me."
"..."
"Ask me?"
"..."
"Hika, for goodness s-!"
"Sing for me? One last time..."
"..."
She gripped his hand and pulled him back over to the forgotten piano in the middle of the back room, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm still furious at you." Hikaru reminded her, forcing himself not to smile.
"I know." She cocked her head to the side at him guiltily, and sat at the piano. Hikaru frowned at the cuteness.
"W-what are you going to sing?" he mumbled, and she looked at him, bright eyed.
"I figured I'd make it up as I went along." She laughed, and he couldn't help but grin. She played around with a few keys, before frowning. "Fuck it. I'll do Taylor Swift, but you won't understand it." He chuckled at her, knowing she was the only person in the world who could say that and still seem adorable, as she abandoned the piano and searched out a guitar. He stopped himself quickly, as she sat cross legged on the floor, guitar resting on her knee.
"I see your face in my mind as I drive away,
Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way...
People are people and sometimes we change our minds,
But it's killing me to see you go after all this, time..."
Hikaru watched her, almost fascinated with the fluid movement of her lips. He had always loved her voice, and no matter how furious he was, this was no exception.
"And you know it's never simple never easy, never a clean break
No one here to save me,
You're the only thing I know, like the back of my hand..."
Her strumming was getting sloppy, but she knew Hikaru wouldn't care. She knew he wouldn't understand. But he would.
As soon as she could.
"And I can't, breathe, without you, but I have to,
Breathe, without you, but I have too..."
What she WASN'T expecting, was for the rest of the host club to come waltzing in, Tamaki taking the moment to take over the vocals. She should have realised someone like him would be a huge Taylor Swift fan...
"It's two am, feeling like I just lost a friend, hope you know it ain't easy, easy for me..."
She shrugged, and joined him.
"It's two am, feeling like I just lost a friend, hope you know it ain't easy, easy for me...
He stopped (as did the rest of the club) as other than the twins, they'd never really heard her sing before.
"And you know it's never simple never easy, never a clean break
No one here to save me,
You're the only thing I know, like the back of my hand..."
They were entranced.
"And I can't, breathe, without you, but I have to,
Breathe, without you, but I have too...
And I can't, breathe, without you, but I have to,
Breathe, without you, but I have too..."
"What are the lyrics?" Kaoru hissed to Tamaki, but the king replied by smoothing Kaoru's face to silence him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
There was a brief silence, before Rose gave a half smile.
"It's a wonder I even remember the chords to that." She mumbled, cradling the guitar. She looked up, caught Kyoya's eye, and grinned.
"Kyoya-Senpai, perfect! Just the man I needed a chat with."
And she disappeared, Ootori in tow. Hikaru just stood dumbfounded.
"Come on." Tamaki ushered them out. "I'll print you off a translation later."
--
"How did she do that?" Hikaru blurted the second he and Kaoru were away from the others.
"No idea. You got completely broken down." His brother replied, frowning. "She did seem serious though. She does love you."
"I don't think so." He grumbled, shuffling slightly. "But- But she didn't cry, or yell, she was completely calm, and I reacted, and I'm confused!"
"I am too." Kaoru murmured soothingly. "But don't let it get to you just yet. We have our big act coming up..." Hikaru snickered for a moment, distracted.
"You sure you wanna go through with it? It is your first-..."
"I don't mind." Kaoru bristled. "I mean- you're you. It's..."
"I know."
--
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some news to inform you of." Tamaki stood proudly on the stage, bowing to the audience. The twins stood centre of the audience, perfectly positioned. Haruhi stood to the side, chuckling, and Kyoya and Rose were stood at the back, in deep conversation.
"Ah... you may need to see this." He cut her off, mid furious retort, and she froze.
"Wha?"
"It has come to my attention that one of our Hosts, Hikaru Hitachiin, is no longer unavailable."
Rose exhaled softly.
"His girlfriend, ehem, EXgirlfriend, is engaged to another. So, twin fans, you're in luck!"
"HIKARU!" Kaoru's shout, of surprise and showed a hint or so of upset. "Why didn't you tell me you broke up?"
All eyes were on them.
"Kaoru, it's... things just got so awkward when I started going out with Rosemarie-san, I didn't know how you'd react..." Hikaru placed his forehead on his twins, fingers grazing his twin's cheek. Rose bit her lip. Too close. Way too close.
"H-Hikaru... you know I'm always there for you... I'd never betray your trust..." (Like she did). Those last three words were unsaid, but everyone heard them, and Rose squeezed her eyes shut, tight. The simultaneous gasp echoed around the room when the next event happened was too much. Rose turned away, tongue in cheek, as they kissed, far more intimately than she and Hikaru had ever kissed. When she heard a light moan tear from her love's throat, she excused herself.
Before she could leave, Kyoya grasped her wrist.
"I can't do it." He hissed, obviously displeased from the depth of what just happened. Rose raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you knew about it... You were the one who told me to watch." She mumbled miserably. Kaoru let a particularly explicit moan rip from his lips.
"They were supposed to do nothing past their usual hosting activity. This is of their own doing. This..." he stared at her in a hard, quite blank way "... is them, getting back at you."
She silenced, and nodded, feeling pain swell inside of her.
"You should feel guilt free now." He laughed, almost sadistically. "I can't... I can't risk it Rosemarie-san. I'm... sorry."
She bit her lip harder, and nodded.
"Um, hang on; speaking of this little fact, there is someone who requests Rosemarie Cooper in the hallway." Tamaki continued to speak, obviously perturbed by the twins impromptu kiss.
She lifted a hand to show she heard, and began to make her way to the door, when it swing open, disrupting the twins at last, each wearing a satisfied smirk. Alexander marched through, a snide grin on his face.
"Just wanted to see you, darling, you left before I could check that you packed." He almost simpered, and Rose almost wept.
"... I've packed." She replied softly, and he smiled what most people would think was sincerely.
"Excellent. Would you like to accompany me back to the estate now, or wait until later?" He thrust his hand forward, and she knew she had little choice.
"... I'll be out in a few minutes. I've said everything I need to say – I just want to add a few goodbyes."
The moment this left her lips, Tamaki latched to her, wailing.
"Don't go! Daddy won't let you!" He bawled, making Rose chuckle.
"Daddy?" She raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Sorry 'Papa', but I have to go." She hugged him back for a moment, and he cried something about what a good daughter she was to him.
She supposed, for a moment, he was a father like figure.
Haruhi soon joined them, and Tamaki pried herself off his new daughter to allow her to bid her close friend farewell.
"See you in a few days. I got my biological dad to get you a passport." She mumbled into her scholarship winning friend's ear. Haruhi smiled.
"Don't give up just yet." She whispered, before squeezing her shoulder. "The host club has a habit of getting people out this sort of thing."
"Not this time, I'm afraid." Rose sighed softly. "Oh, you're a bridesmaid, just so you know."
Haruhi smiled.
"So, see you soon Rosemarie-san." Kyoya offered his hand to her, and she took it.
"I'm sorry Kyoya-Senpai. For my request earlier, I-..."
"I would have done the same." He bowed slightly, and patted her head.
"Mommy, isn't it sad to watch one of our children leave home?" Tamaki preened. Rose rolled her eyes.
"So Kyoya's my mother?"
"HIKARU! KAORU! SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR SISTER!" Tamaki dragged them across the room like one would drag two small boys to their rooms to tidy. They did not meet her eye.
"Thanks." She grunted, still annoyed at the display of affection. "Nice to know after all that, you went to such childish measures for revenge."
They looked up.
"It hurt. A lot. Mission accomplished. I meant what I said before. I really, really did." Her voice was lowered to a strained whisper, and Hikaru shuffled his feet anxiously.
"Rosa-k-..."
"Hitachiin-san, you call me that, I hit you." She hissed, fury evident in her eyes. This was a deeper fury than the anger she felt at being woken on New Year's Day.
This was pure hatred.
"I... I have no idea how I can still love you."
"Oh stop with the bullshit Rose!" Hikaru snapped. "You never loved me."
"What?!" Rose flared up. "No, THAT'S the bullshit. You meant everything to me, and you still do!"
"If you loved me, you would have said no to your Dad, OR you would tell me the truth!" He snarled. "What is the real reason you're marrying him?!"
"Hikaru, listen to yourself! You've made these stupid assumptions, that I had a choice in the matter! You're rich through fashion, I'm rich through politics, think about it! There are something's that I can't say no too!"
"I have, you know I have thought about it!" He roared, grabbing her shoulders. "Either, you love the people who use you, your family, more than me, or you love HIM more than me. In either case, I feel downright insulted."
"Are you serious?!" She was almost screaming.
"I think, what she's trying to say, is that she's in love with me." Alexander's hand came crashing down on her shoulder, restraining her. "And... she was merely hurt for my indiscretion, but doesn't wish to hurt your feelings. Right, Rosa-kun?"
Her eyes were wide. So were his. He silently dared her to react to the name. He silently dared her to pull away. She could end it there and then, lose Lilly forever, but live blissfully with Hikaru, forever.
But she couldn't.
"Please don't make me say it." She pled in English, knowing only she, Tamaki and Alexander would understand. "P-please..."
"I have to insist." She could feel his grip tighten. "Do you want anything to happen to your darling sister?"
She exhaled.
"Is it true?" Hikaru whispered, eyes closing slowly, and it killed Rose to see, but there were... tears. "You just... used me?" his eyes flew open as he felt a small realization burst in his chest.
"I... I didn't mean... Hika, I..." The grip tightened, and she looked at Alexander, avoiding Hikaru's hurt gaze. "I don't love you."
"Get out." It wasn't Hikaru that spoke, but Kaoru. He gripped the wrist and pulled her roughly, throwing her to the door. "Never, ever, come near my twin again. Got it?"
"... Whatever you say Kao. Whatever you say." Her voice was bland, emotionless. Many people thought it because she didn't care. Actually, it's because, at last, she was dead inside. She felt Hikaru's gaze stick to her, and she shivered.
The only positive to this, she dryly commented to herself, is that she wouldn't hurt anymore.
--
"Kaoru, Kyoya, come here." Tamaki instructed, and the two remaining hosts looked at the king questioningly. "You need to be filled in. Immediately."
--
There was a crumpled note on her pillow when she stumbled into her room that night.
Number four.
----
I'M .
Gosh I am so sorry, my laptop has only just healed, and I have so many exams and coursework, and ARGH I HATE GCSES.
Not to mention I'm totally ill.
But that doesn't matter.
Elliot Minor – Shiver.
Analysis next chapter.
I own nothing but my OCs.
Peace and Love!!!
xxx