Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran

Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran. Bisco Hatori owns Ouran. I'm only borrowing the characters for entertainment, not monetary purpose. Please do not sue me. Thank you.

CHAPTER 11: OXYGEN

Ohtori main dining room…

Dinner was, as always, a rather somber affair at the Ohtori mansion, full of oppressive silence and contemplation among the three brothers and Kyouya's father Yoshio Ohtori. His sister and mother (who had both left the family years ago) were absent, and thus provided neither conversation nor distraction for the Shadow King.

Kyouya meditated on his police report as he picked up one of the softer slices of tuna and deposited it on his plate next to the wasabi and ginger. He didn't even look at his father and brothers as they quietly ate their rather expensive dinner and didn't even bother to look at him.

As he slowly chewed his food, he thought of this unexpected development in his investigation into the discovery of explosives. He couldn't fathom the idea of Haruhi's landlady harboring such dangerous and undoubtedly illegal items in her apartment. What were they doing there? How did she obtain them? Who was helping her and why? He resolved to do more research, but he also resolved to keep this knowledge from the others—especially Haruhi—until he could be sure of his findings and the landlady's motivations. Coupled with Ranka-san's hospital treatment, Kyouya could almost feel the frosty, heavy air of the burden between his slender shoulders sinking down on him.

This is all very interesting. Disturbing, but interesting. I look forward to making sense of it.

Meanwhile, Yoshio Ohtori, the family patriarch, retained a glacial stoicism about him that even Kyouya couldn't help but grudgingly admire. The man was like a cold slab of obsidian and marble, focused on little more than business, finance, merit, profit, and succession; five words which dominated the man's thoughts, feelings, and mannerisms. Yet despite the lack of emotion his father displayed, Kyouya knew that the man was one of the sharpest and most dangerous businessmen in Japan, if not the world. And that dangerous businessman was currently eyeing his youngest son through his peripheral vision.

"Kyouya."

That one word resonated down the Shadow King's spine like a frozen icepick gutting a small fish. Yoshio Ohtori was a man of few words, but many actions. When he spoke, his brothers also took notice, set down their chopsticks, and listened to their father. Kyouya was secretly amazed by how even his brothers still feared their father to the point where they would drop everything and focus only on the older man's unreadable expression and piercing gaze.

"Yes, father?"

"I understand that Fujioka-san's father is currently at the main hospital receiving treatment for his injuries." The older man spoke in a curt, chilly tone that held no pity for the unfortunate crossdresser.

"Yes, father." Kyouya spoke respectfully and also wasted no words. He wanted this conversation to end quickly, so he pretended to agree with what the older man said in order to expedite the flow of the dialogue.

"Because of his income, he is little more than a charity case. Long-term treatment for the man would not be economical for the hospital. He cannot stay for more than two weeks."

Kyouya nearly choked on his tuna slice as his mind exploded.

Two weeks?! Ranka-san needs longer than that in order to make a recovery, because the reconstructive surgery and physical therapy. How can you just eject him in the name of cutting costs? That's unconscionable!

But instead of voicing the inner drama to the older man, Kyouya swallowed his food clumsily and simply asked, "Father?"

"That is what has been decided," Yoshio coldly announced. "A crossdresser who works in a local gay bar would have no hope of recouping the cost of treatment even if he did have insurance. He can have two weeks at the hospital and no more."

The younger Ohtori couldn't believe what he had heard. He knew his father was only interested in the business and advancement of the family, but he never suspected he would willingly discharge an injured patient in such a callous way. Granted, Ryoji Fujioka did not have any real medical insurance to speak of, but he had become a friend to Kyouya and the rest of the Host Club through his daughter, Haruhi. To deny him further treatment despite an inability to pay grated on the teen's mind. But at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to contradict his father. Kyouya knew if he made trouble Yoshio would probably disown him and discharge Ryoji Fujioka immediately as opposed to half a month from now, making his recovery more difficult if not impossible. At least for now, Ranka-san had a small grace period in which to try and recover.

Kyouya could survive being disowned, but he would never forgive himself if he endangered Haruhi's father in the name of securing his position in the family. He had managed to learn some compassion from the commoner he kept in constant debt, even though the manner in which he showed it was backhanded and usually in the form of debt reduction.

I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised, Father. It's just like you to take the long view of problems, even if it means eliminating those short-term problems that don't have any merit to you. But I'm sorry to say that I don't feel the same way.

Finally, Kyouya finished eating his food and politely excused himself, retreating to his room and locking the door behind him. He set his school books down on the contemporary and spotless table that served as his workstation and started his homework assignments.

Homework was an insignificant matter to Kyouya, being that he was the top student in his class. Rarely did it take more than an hour and a half at most to work through the schoolwork. He nodded blankly as he finished his French essay to his satisfaction and started his advanced calculus problems.

Calculus? That's the exam that Haruhi was studying for the night she lost her home and her father ended up in the hospital. And now here I am studying calculus the night I learn that Haruhi's father is going to be tossed out of our hospital after a month since he can't pay. First a fire, then explosives, now Father's cost-cutting crap! What could be next?

As he shut his calculus book on and started to check over his agenda for tomorrow, his cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

The conversation lasted no more than one minute, but as soon as the person on the other line cut the connection, Kyouya snapped his laptop shut, stuffed it and his clipboard into his schoolbag, got to his feet and strode toward the door. After he opened his bedroom door and ascertained that his father and brothers were no longer in the immediate area, he walked briskly out the front door and called for his driver.

Meanwhile at the Hitachiin estate…

Haruhi indulged in an evening walk through the family gardens wearing a beautiful canary yellow dress with a light blue cashmere sweater, courtesy of the twins' mother. For once, she was alone, having asked for a little privacy so she could clear her head from dinner and homework. Like Kyouya, Haruhi had little trouble with any of her schoolwork, and with no tests to study for at this time, she felt she could take a respite from her worries. Since Hikaru and Kaoru were still busy with their homework, Haruhi decided to do some solo twilight exploration.

The Hitachiin gardens were a marvel of beauty and meticulousness put together, like a private Elysium made just for her. Haruhi had toured the gardens with the twins before, each of them holding her hands and showing her all the flowers, even putting some in her hair. A myriad of colored flowers surrounded the brick path that she currently trod with a set of matching yellow sandals. To her left, a dozen rose bushes bloomed with different shades of red, purple, yellow, and even a few white ones. Nearby on the right side, more rose bushes, tulips, and various species of orchids greeted her with flared-out petals. The sound of water trickling from various marble fountains added more tranquility to the garden, calming her further. Clearly, this place was warm and inviting, despite the blowing night breezes that made her pull her sweater closer to her body.

As she walked further down the path, she heard someone humming a soft tune coming from a small and somewhat secluded clearing surrounded by a group of willow trees. Curious, Haruhi approached the darkened area that was suddenly lit by time-activated lights. Looking around, Haruhi noticed that the entire path lit up along with the clearing.

She approached the sanctuary tentatively, not wishing to disturb whoever was there, but also not wishing her curiosity to go unsatisfied.

Peeking under a tree and staying as quiet as possible, Haruhi saw a woman bent over a set of bright purple orchid plants and busily pruning its excess branches. Upon further investigation, Haruhi noticed that the old woman had her long gray hair tied back in a simple ponytail and she was wearing typical gardening clothes that had dirt all over them. Despite the dirt, however, the woman still looked striking and aristocratic compared to Haruhi in her much cleaner dress and sweater.

Then the petite brunette remembered the description of this person from Hikaru and Kaoru. This was Akemi Hitachiin, their grandmother, a woman as famous for flower arrangement as her daughter Yuzuha was for fashion design. She was probably preparing these orchids for another display to add in the mansion, possibly to showcase at a shrine or elsewhere.

After a minute, Haruhi started back toward the luminous brick path. This was no doubt a sacred spot for the distinguished eighty-four-year-old Hitachiin matriarch, and Haruhi didn't want to invade her privacy. But then the woman stopped humming, straightened herself up as much as her age would allow, and faced the intruder. The mildly chastising look that she normally saved for her grandsons was quickly replaced with a softer, friendlier look for their guest.

"Hello, Haruhi-chan."

Haruhi bowed low and long for the older woman. "Please excuse me, Hitachiin-sama. I didn't mean to…" But the twins' grandmother gently interrupted her.

"It's all right, dear. I was nearly finished, and you aren't nearly as boisterous as Hikaru and Kaoru. Please, come have a look. Aren't they lovely?" Akemi waved her slender yet grimy hand toward the plethora of brilliantly-colored orchids that were the product of time, attention, and artistic flair.

"Yes, they are." Haruhi admired the plants and smelled their sweet fragrance when Akemi spoke again after putting her pruning shears back in her bag.

"I'm sorry I didn't greet you on your last tour of the gardens, but I had some particularly contentious rose bushes that needed my attention." She gestured toward a small set of two cushioned chairs and a table near a small waterfall which flowed into a small stream nearby. Akemi took the time to rinse off her hands in the water before she spoke to Haruhi again.

"Please, have a seat."

Haruhi moved toward the soft blue-cushioned chair and sat down with the twins' grandmother. Even the waterfall near the table was lit up. As a maid poured a dark oolong tea into Haruhi's cup, Akemi gave her a measuring look with the same amber-gold eyes that Haruhi had seen in Hikaru and Kaoru. The main difference was that there was nothing calculating about the look. It was calmer and more benevolent, but no less catlike than those of the twins.

"I hope the boys aren't giving you too much trouble, dear. I know that they are pretty mischievous."

That's for sure. "They're fine, thank you." Haruhi sipped the tea, marveling at its flavor and feeling warmer in the chilly evening air.

"Hikaru and Kaoru have always been crazy bundles of energy, especially when they were bored. I can't tell you the number of times that Yuzuha and Keizo have had to interview and hire nannies for their sons only to have these would-be nannies run out the front door threatening to sue for psychological damage. A few of these people lasted no more than a day, but I must say, I've never heard of anyone making a mural with maple syrup and rolls of colored bathroom tissue. It took the maids about a week to get rid of the mess, and I don't think that syrupy smell on the servant's floor has gone away to this day." Akemi chuckled a little as she picked up her tea and sipped it elegantly.

Haruhi giggled at the image of a couple of identical toddlers running around the house squirting blobs of maple syrup on walls and sticking bathroom tissue on said blobs in the hopes of making as big a mess as possible. She knew the twins were full of troubling antics when they were bored, but this took their games to a whole new level. She hoped that they would never do this sort of thing in the third music room, because she would be asked/blackmailed into cleaning up after them.

Best not ask about this incident. Or any other incident for that matter.

The two women continued to share stories of the Hitachiin brothers as they sipped tea and even ate some cake. Akemi was amazed that Haruhi knew so much about her grandsons, and they both laughed at the "horror" stories that they exchanged with each other. Haruhi felt a bond of camaraderie forming between her and the Hitachiin matriarch due to their varying histories with the twins, and the two continued to chatter and laugh happily as the evening continued.

For a little while, Haruhi could forget her problems.

Suddenly a young man's voice rang out from the distance.

"Haruhi!"

Unlike with most other times, Haruhi heard only one set of footsteps running down the path towards the willow tree where she and the twins' grandmother were sitting. A few seconds later Kaoru's silhouette appeared panting outside the clearing. He was prepared to run to the table to get Haruhi, but upon seeing his grandmother, the younger twin stopped and bowed in a respectful fashion for her and tried to keep his voice calm.

"Please excuse the interruption, Grandmother. I need to see Haruhi immediately." Akemi nodded and indicated that her grandson was welcome to approach. The young redhead caught his breath and started to walk toward the table as Haruhi got up out of her seat, hastily bowing for Akemi and excusing herself before joining her friend.

"Kaoru?" Haruhi asked, puzzled. Even in the artificial light coupled with the evening shadows, Haruhi could still tell which twin was which, once again amazing the Hitachiin matriarch. "What's wrong, Kaoru? Where's Hikaru?"

"He's on the phone with Kyouya-senpai, and he sent me to come get you. Come with me, please, hurry!"

Haruhi's eyes widened. This no doubt meant that her father was in some kind of trouble. She swallowed hard and looked toward the twins' grandmother, who looked equally worried.

"Kaoru, what is it?" Haruhi asked anxiously as her hands started trembling.

"That's what Hikaru is trying to find out. But for now, we need to go. I'm sorry, Grandmother, I need Haruhi to come with me." Kaoru bowed once again for his grandmother and she nodded, indicating they were free to go. Kaoru took Haruhi's small wrist and started back toward the house as fast as he could.

"Thank you for the tea, Hitachiin-sama," Haruhi called back to Akemi as she gave the girl a small smile. After they had left, she allowed her worried expression to return. Motioning for the servants to clean up, she silently took out her pruning shears and started pruning the orchid branches in the hopes that things would be all right for Haruhi. The twins' grandmother sought her solace in her work once more.

Kaoru swiftly led Haruhi back toward the mansion while keeping a tight grip on her wrist. Being naturally slower, Haruhi had to ask him to keep her on her feet so she wouldn't trip and fall. As they came into the front courtyard, Haruhi noticed Hikaru standing outside in front of their limousine. The driver bowed for the other twin and his friend and opened the car door. Hikaru moved aside and let Haruhi and Kaoru in first, then following behind him as the driver shut the door behind the trio.

Hikaru immediately touched the button for the black glass shield between the front and the back seat and the glass once again rolled up, cutting off contact between the driver and the passengers. No one spoke right away, but the twins each held one of Haruhi's hands tightly, as if trying to pass on some of their strength to the young woman sitting between them.

Finally Haruhi asked again. "What is going on?"

After a moment, Hikaru looked at her and sighed. He wasn't looking forward to telling her about this unsettling development, but he knew he couldn't keep it from her, since she would find out soon enough.

"Ranka-san had to be taken in for surgery."

TBC.

Author's note: Yep, just had to through another cyber monkey-wrench into the gears that make up this story. But it was bound to happen anyway, so why not sit back and enjoy the ride. Oh, and be sure to keep your hands and arms inside at all times.

Anyway, thank you for all your reviews and suggestions. I know that you're all rooting for me to update. I know I am slow, but I do have a couple of not-so-lame excuses.

I work fulltime and am currently going to school. Also, I tend to work in spurts, so it's drought of flood for me. Plus, I would much rather take a longer time between updates and put out a more thoroughly-prepared chapter than to simply post for the sake of posting. That's just my style.

Oh, and to the fan artists out there: Anyone want to try and draw Haruhi and Akemi Hitachiin having tea? Maybe a picture of Kaoru interrupting them? See Chapter 7 for a more thorough description of Akemi. She's a cool lady, your typical Hitachiin woman.

Again, thank you for all your reviews and support.

Until then, I remain,

Tsukiko Hitachiin (jumps into a moonbeam and vanishes)

P.S. Like the new pen name?