Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran, but we all have dreams.

Chapter 2

Corcern and Cruelty

"Shima, how is Akane?"

"Tamaki-sama, this is the fifteenth time you've called today, and my answer is still the same. She is fine. Go back to class." The Second Suou Mansion Usher replied, her tone rather blunt and merciless.

"Is her breathing okay? What about her pulse? Has she been able to speak? Has she become mute?!" The concerned brother asked franticly, his mind forming new worries every less than .5 seconds. Club activities started in two minutes, but he still needed to check, just to be safe. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her and he wasn't there for her.

"Everything is fine. Go back to class,"

"Shima, please, can I at least talk to her?"

"Unless you want to wake her up, then yes," The elderly usher replied, serious her tone hinting on annoyance.

"Fine, should I come home early to check on her? Fluff her pillows? Make sure she doesn't choke on her food?"

"Goodbye, Tamaki-sama. Have fun at school."

"Shima!"

The line went dead, and Tamaki reluctantly snapped his phone shut, debating if he should try once more. No, she'll probably just hang up again. Maybe e could call pretending as a doctor, and then she'd have to talk. No, he wasn't in the mood. Shima was smart, she'd figure out it was him.

Stop it! Get a hold of yourself! Tamaki mentally slapped himself, trying to avert his mind to other things. All it seemed he could do was worry. It was ridiculous! During classes, he worried. During meals, he worried. At night, he worried. Even most of the time at the host club, he worried about Akane.

What if the doctors who were taking care of her messed up? What if she was eating and no one was around and she choked on her food?

He began walking to the club room, trying to push all the concerns out of his swamped mind. Taking a deep breath, he tried to compose himself enough so the others wouldn't notice his unease.

--

Somehow, I thought it would be lighter in heaven. That is, if I made it there...

Slowly crawling open, her eyes were submerged into almost absolute darkness. Her head throbbed as she stirred in her bed. Soft, silky sheets restricted her body from sitting up high, but she could still manage to weave her way to a raised position on her elbows. For some reason, she could barely accomplish this task, her body was so tired, like all the muscle she had completely disappeared out of her.

There was barely any light in the room, the only sources a few dim lamps spread around the room. After waiting for several moments, Akane confirmed that no one else was in the room.

She began to turn on her side to try and heave herself from the heavenly mattress. Her shoulder pressed lightly to the bed and she coiled back in pain, letting out a small wince that echoed through the room. Her shoulder was on fire, throbbing like her already hurting head. It felt as though someone was forcing small, sharp needles into her shoulder, all of them burning like hell.

Delicately pushing herself back to her former position, she looked down to her agonizing shoulder. It was wrapped in layers of white bandage, looking like they had just been put on. She discovered the same thing on her other shoulder, frightened she was in such a state. Trying to push up some of the covers, she gazed at the rest of her injured body.

Akane was wearing a loose sleeveless dress, but she could feel more bandages on her body. Her hand crawled to her torso, feeling several tight wraps around her ribcage. Then to her legs, were only her left knee wrapped up so that it was incapable of movement.

What had happened? Why was she so weak and bruised?

Then the memories flooded back; a blazing fire, a stormy night, roaring sirens, and even more chilling memories made her wince, since her head throbbed even more.

Why...why was I so stupid? No, I'm not stupid, I knew what I was doing...I knew what would happen. I deserve this...this pain is my burden. Once it heals...there will be more punishment. I'm not afraid though...I'm not...

Then Tamaki's calming face looked back at her, making her smile sightly. she wished she could drench him in her apologies, there was no way he'd ever forgive her. He most likely knew, and she let herself sob at the thought. He was so wonderful, he comforted her, held her hand, and even stroked her hair, like mom used to do. someone like her didn't deserve a brother so forgiving. She wished she was locked in a dark dungeon, instead of in this beautiful room, with her kind brother, who made her want to cry even more than she wanted to.

Easing into her resting position, she thought it'd be nice to close her eyes for a moment. Just a second, then she'd get out of bed...and ask someone in this house...if they...if they could...

Soon she had drifted off again, the throbbing in her cranium making her woozy and exhausted. Thinking was tiring, and so was trying to stay awake.

--

The grand clock in the Second Suou mansion struck two, letting out a bellowing

DONG...DONG...

A knock then echoed through the hall, and a pair of suited man rushed up to the main entrance. In perfect unison, they opened the doors, an elderly grandmother and her two black suited men following in behind her. Shima stepped into the hall, bowing in front of the head of the family.

"Mrs. Suou, how may I help you?" She asked politely, but still without a smile. You had to work for one of those.

"Where are the doctors working on the child, I wish to speak with them," The woman answered, no thank you or any sort of formal etiquette.

"Right this way, madam," Shima answered, leading the company head up the grand steps and to the left. Pressing a stern finger to her mouth, the usher lead the group into the dim room. In the monstrous bed lay Akane, her hair sprawled onto the pillows and her countenance lifeless, but still with a look of suffering on it. Next to her was a tall man, his thinning black hair combed sideways as to cover up the shining patches. He gently was holding her arm, wrapping her shoulder in the light bandages.

"Doctor Rokaro," Shima spoke softly, seeing the girl still sleeping, "a word?"

He nodded, obviously annoyed that his work was interrupted, but finishing his mending and walked reluctantly out the door with the group.

"Mrs. Suou, what is it you desire of me?" The aging man asked, a false politeness in his voice. He was a genius for his field, and hated being disturbed when he was in the middle of working. It was a state he had to work himself into, and this was completely breaking out of the state.

"How is she healing?" The girl's grandmother questioned, no trace of concern on her face or in her words.

"Her body is not the strongest, but another two weeks in bed; she should make a full recovery. Except for her broken ribs, those will take a little more time. But her other injuries were not as serious,"

"When will she be well enough for school?"

"Probably after two weeks, but we should allow a few days after that to be safe. Then she should be fine as long as she doesn't get into any more trouble. I can't believe this girl feel from a fire escape ladder and into—"

"That will be enough, Doctor. Thank you for your time," She dismissed him, the doctor grudgingly returning through the doors. He left the doors slightly ajar and the elderly woman glanced in at the sleeping girl.

She looked just like her mother. That wretched woman, who ruined the company's perfect relationship, was practically reborn in that girl. She did not completely blame her son for what happened, who could blame the man? That horrible French woman seduced him, and what was he to do but divorce his wife?

The first child looked plenty like the mother and every time she looked at him, she saw the company most likely doomed future. But this girl, this girl. She was practically her mother's clone. The same women who made her son worry and fret and get distracted, was lying here, in her mansion. With the same blonde hair, the same beautiful face, and the same weak body, was being provided by the same people who wanted her out of their lives.

"Mrs. Suou, are you ready to leave?" One of guards asked, catching the woman off guard slightly. She didn't show any signs of it though and nodded her assistant to prepare the limo.

Yet, she had figured out a solution. One that would benefit the company more than that filthy boy ever could. It would take time, but with proper guidance, Akane would give the company new success. That is, as long as she was willing. Hopefully she was as much of an idiot as her brother was.

--

Uh oh, the grandmother is EBIL! How many times does that happen?

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