Chapter 7: Conspiracies and Plotting

Takashi watched closely as Artemis took a seat between the Hitachiin twins. It was clear that she wanted to be in a seat where escape would be easy but she wouldn't state her opinion. She would sit where she was told and "be happy" with it. However, he didn't want her to just go along with whatever. She should have at least her own opinions.

He blinked as he looked down at his young-looking charge. Perhaps she did... she just couldn't voice them. Similar to his situation, when Mitsukuni put his foot down on something reasonable, he didn't object. He also didn't say anything- just nodded in agreement. He was sure that she did have a mind of her own.

He watched as Kaoru offered her an assortment of cakes that she had made. It looked like he was trying to get her to pick the one she would eat. His ears caught hold of her answer. "Whichever one you do not want, I will eat... Hitachiin-san."

"That's not your choice, though. What happens if you don't like the one that I don't want? Or if you're allergic to that same one? I'd rather you just tell me what kind you want to eat."

Mori's eyes narrowed a fraction. Kaoru was being too... nice. It wasn't like the boy was mean-spirited but Hikaru seemed to react even more harsh toward the girl when his twin was trying to get her to talk. Hikaru did have a temper but nothing like this. The older twin started insulting the girl, calling her stupid for not "being able to make up her mind". The samurai's right hand clenched into a fist at his words.

"Takashi?" Honey asked, wide eyed as he watched the tall male express anger in the open instead of hiding it away like always. He looked over at Artemis and the twins and tilted his head. "Hika-chan's being so mean... and Kao-chan... do you think he likes her, Takashi?"

The silent host's head couldn't have moved any faster or he would have lost it to whiplash. The brown-eyed blond blinked curiously. "Well, it's just that Kao-chan's fawning over her like a mother hen and her chick. And remember when Hika-chan started liking Haru-chan? He didn't realize it until someone told him. So maybe Kao-chan likes Artemis-chan but doesn't know it... or maybe he does. Kao-chan isn't as naive as Hika-chan."

Takashi's mind drew a blank. Artemis... the object of someone's affection? It didn't seem like she would go for it. But Kaoru was a very manipulative person with the smile of an angel when the time called for it. And the slave didn't really react too differently when she stripped in front of everyone. Granted, her back was to everyone and it was for medical attention. But at a certain angle, the swell of her breasts would be exposed and her flat stomach, covered in scars, could be seen clear as day, making her breasts appear even larger. Did Kaoru like scars? Was he a sadist? No... that was Hikaru. But still, he could very well like scars.

Mitsukuni watched his cousin's mind-freak. He smiled innocently, hiding his not-so-innocent thoughts. Takashi would never know that the loli-boy was as conniving as the twins. Sure, he knew how to scheme but the degree would always be hidden. He knew every thought that rushed through his cousin's head and was pleased that it had gotten him thinking about her as more than just an unfortunate female. Perhaps with enough hints that way, he could begin to see Artemis as a woman, flesh and soul.

However, the only problem was Artemis' mindset. She was stuck on the slave-station and she needed to think about Takashi as something more. It would be good for the both of them. But how to proceed with that half of the plan...

"Hmmm... I may have to talk to Kyo-chan..." he mumbled to himself, mind spinning.

"What did you need, Honey-sempai?" The Shadow King's glasses glinted as he seemed to appear out of nowhere, scaring Mitsukuni and breaking Takashi's trance.

"K-Kyo-chan... I have to... talk to you about the cake. Come on. Takashi, keep an eye on Artemis. Kao-chan seems to have gotten closer to her."

With the tall young man's eyes off him, the small blond pulled the vice president into the corner. It was time for him to get some allies for his cause.

Artemis was becoming flustered. How hard was it for a non-slave to choose which cake they didn't want to eat? What was all this nonsense about her preferences? Didn't they understand from yesterday that she was a SLAVE? Slaves had no will of their own! There was no decisions because using your brain for anything other than fulfilling the whims of your master was dangerous and ended in pain and misery for the slave! It was a simple lifestyle that some were blessed with nice masters that didn't beat them. But she wasn't so lucky, obviously.

"Really, Kaoru, don't even bother. Give her the coconut cake and be done with it. We don't like coconut, remember?" Hikaru replied haughtily. Was it just her or was he becoming even nastier to her? "If she's too stupid to pick a piece of cake, we shouldn't even be dealing with her. Stupid little runaway." Yes, he was being quite vicious.

She wasn't a fan of coconut but hid the disgust from her face. If it would end the line of questions that she couldn't answer without stating her opinion, she'd willingly suffer that grated sweet product.

Unfortunately, Kaoru wasn't having any of that. "Hikaru, we can't let her eat that stuff. It's gross and shouldn't be consumed by any person with decent tastebuds."

The older twin scoffed, "Yeah, well, she made it, remember? What's that say about the person who baked the coconut cake?"

Artemis's cheeks flushed and she looked down. Just because she didn't like it didn't mean that no one else did. She made it special, with pineapple juice to sweeten the white cake so it would become more like a pina-colada cake. Her amber eyes trembled as she remembered all the times she didn't make food the way her ex-master liked. The agony that was ripped into her back, the tears she forced back, the basement where she was locked up for hours and sometimes days.

"Kaoru!" Hikaru's voice snapped her out of her memories and she looked at the nice twin to see him... eating the coconut-crusted cake? But she... the cruel twin said that they didn't like coconut! And Kaoru himself had called it gross! So why would he eat something that he didn't like?

"You don't have to... please don't... you'll get sick, Hitachiin-san..." She tried to stop him but he shook his head and forcibly swallowed the cake, shuddering.

His eyes were watering as he looked at the slave. "You made this cake for the Host Club... the least we can do is eat it until we get sick or explode... Hikaru went too far when he insulted you. I'm sorry."

Artemis looked at him with worried eyes before shaking her head with a soft smile. "Master has such kind friends... you didn't have to eat it... there are more kinds of cake that I made for everyone here... you should eat a different kind to get the coconut taste out of your mouth."

Kaoru was drowning his mouth and churning stomach in tea as she spoke, her words slowly becoming quieter. When she stopped talking, he put the tea pot down and sighed. "... what kind works better for getting rid of coconut-nastiness?"

She blushed softly and pushed a dark chocolate cake with milk chocolate frosting towards him. It was one of the plainer-looking cakes but the flavor was right on the money.

The kind twin grinned. That had to have been her own opinion, right? She wouldn't admit it but you could only know that if you didn't like coconut. He nodded and began to partake of the chocolatey-goodness. Some of the color came back to his cheeks and his stomach stopped threatening to turn inside-out. "Thanks, Artemis..." he said softly, feeling much better. His only response was a nod and deeper blush.

Mori's eyes turned away from the scene, his rage and... dare he say it... jealousy barely concealed. The only thing that kept him silent and steady was that she was going home with him and wanted to be HIS slave. Not Kaoru's.

"... I see what you mean..." Kyoya watched the teens, pushing up his glasses before taking down notes in his black book.

Honey giggled with a nod. "It's so obvious... will you help? I really want my plan to work out for everybody..."

"Not everybody will be happy with the results, Honey-sempai... but this is too interesting to watch while standing aside idlely. You have my cooperation." The youngest Ohtori smirked. Mori-sempai would be in his debt if they managed to pull this off. And while they were all friends, friendship only went so far in the world of business. If the two really were soulmates as Honey claimed, it could be advantageous for him in the future. But Kaoru was throwing a wrench into that plan. If the first year really did like the slave girl, he would have to break it off before it ruined everything. The haphazardous Hitachiin wasn't one who would be in anyone's debt if someone hooked him up with a hot date. In fact, even if it was entirely thanks to someone else, the boy would probably just blow it off and go on his merry way. No... Kyoya would get Mori and Artemis together at the expense of Kaoru's heart... and he would work every angle he could to make it happen HIS way.

((Thanks to everyone who has favorited this story and those of you who review it! Now... review MORE! Or no chapter 8... -locks chapter 8 up in the confines of her mind- Review, I say!))