((Thanks for your patience! And not killing me in my sleep! Yes, I know... I started other stories... but they were right there, tickling my fancy and I simply couldn't shut them off! So I wrote them down and posted them before this chapter. Forgive me, everyone, for my mind has wandered. But it's back...

Thanks to , samasbananas, Silentkiller013, Carmody, Priestess-Of-Love13, weirdunusualchick, mehbutterfly, Champion of Justice, Fallen-Autumn-Leaves, KyoyaMitskuniTakashi, silvermist1116, lullabydono, RubyFlash321, AstridMedlindes, Frozenheart23, SayaSama101, Ivy's Siren, and DeadlyVampire-DayDream Corp for all of their favoriting of this story and their reviews for it as well. So many people... I am truly humbled by your awesomeness!))

Chapter 11: Standing up For What's Right

A few days after the meditation incident, Takashi finally allowed Artemis to go to school. She had begun to heal well and she didn't have that fragile look to her. While she was still thin, her face held more color than before. It had taken a while but he did convince her that it was okay to speak to the Host Club without fear of what they would do. Two days of playing the slave card later, she finally withdrew her argument... after he challenged her. "Are you arguing with your master?" How he hated using it but it worked like magic, it had been so simple.

Kyoya had gotten permission from Tamaki's father for Artemis to use the school's cooking club kitchen to prepare the treats during school hours so they would be ready and easier to transport. The deal was that if she provided lessons to any students who wandered in due to curiosity, she could do as she pleased. And the morning she went with Takashi, Mitsukuni gave her the orders for what cakes to make for that day. She accepted them gracefully, verbally. Artemis couldn't read but she had a remarkable memory and proved it by reciting the treats that Honey had requested.

The bubbly blonde was currently bouncing in his chair, too excited to do anything school-related. He passed a note to the tall Morinozuka that stated he could smell the cakes baking and the icing being prepared. Mori had no doubt about that and tucked the note away. He wasn't much for passing notes but made up for it with a silent nod.

Class finally let out for lunch and Honey was racing out of the classroom. The tall male carefully gathered up his charge's notes and took hold of their bags before going to deposit them in his locker. Then he went to the cafeteria and paid for three lunches. He wasn't concerned with his missing cousin- he knew exactly where he went and walked up the stairs into the cooking classroom.

There sat the short blonde boy, still hopping on his chair. Artemis was smiling softly at him, her white dress flowing to her ankles. She had received it from the twins upon arrival and was shoved into a dressing room to change. She looked like a vision of purity from the Christian God when she wore white. It somehow made her look better, her black hair became even more luxurious, her pale flesh had more color. And it clung to her assets deliciously. He was glad that it wasn't made out of cheap thin cotton because he knew her undergarments were black.

Placing all the lunches down, Mori silently signaled for Artemis to come eat with them. She looked ready to refuse but stopped. She'd lost that very same argument just the other day. Her opponents had been the entire Morinozuka clan. No one could withstand their loud/silent demands. Though she didn't eat a lot, they all made sure she ate at the table WITH them, not at the furthest end to separate herself from her "superiors".

Slowly, the slave girl sat down and ate what she could. He knew she preferred simple foods so he got her some ripe fruit, a glass of milk, and a sweet bun. True, there was no meat on the plate but considering most of the meat was slathered in some kind of sauce, Takashi didn't want her to get sick from too much good food.

She thanked him while blushing, probably scolding herself for not getting her master's food for him, double-scolding for him having to get HER food. But she ate the food that was gifted to her quickly, not wishing to waste his effort or be rude to his kindness. And she gave Mitsukuni the sweet bun... well, half of it went to him when he said that they would share it. She ate it slowly, taking out cakes that were completely baked and frosting others that had been cooling. After she was done, she gave the small boy the empty frosting bowl and the buttter knife she'd used to spread on the cake. He ate it happily, alternating between his actual food and the sweet confection.

The bell rang to signal the end of lunch break and the two students exited the room to leave Artemis to her work. It seemed like such a short time but the final bell sounded for the beginning of club activities. She looked up, surprised to see her master there with a cart for the cakes. Softly smiling at him, she bowed respectfully before loading up the cart and attempting to push the cart to the club. But the task proved to be too difficult with Takashi refusing to let her do as such- she pretended not to be too put-off by it and pretending that he just really liked pushing carts and helping people with groceries, no matter of their social status.

So there she stood, serving cake and tea to the different tables filled with hosts and guests. She received several compliments on her baking skills and tea-serving expertise. Her previous master had been very picky about the type of service he got from her in regards to afternoon tea. And it was perfect timing for such thoughts as the twins disclosed to their guests that they were in the process of making a maid outfit for the slave girl, of course leaving out the slave-part of that sentence. They simply stated that they wanted her to feel more at home in the Host Club. Though why a maid outfit would accomplish their goal, she really didn't see it. She didn't reject it since there wasn't any point- Hikaru would just do whatever he wanted and Kaoru seemed to want to do it too.

Tamaki was flirting with females and causing them to faint with his princely-ness. Artemis was happy that he was leaving her alone in that respect. Her scars seemed to have a profound affect on him and he actually treated her like a piece of shattered, yet intact, glass. As if one wrong move would cause her to crumble on the ground. She wasn't so happy about that...

Turning her attentions away from the Host Club's number 1, the slave spotted the VP, Kyoya. He was super happy, a purple cloud of joy surrounding him as he crunched numbers on a calculator. Was she really saving them that much money? True, Honey was eating a lot of sweets but... yeah, she stopped that line of thinking right then and there. It wasn't her place to question her master's charge's appetite. All she could do was bake for them so the cakes and such cost less for the club.

Artemis caught sight of Haruhi and smiled softly. The girl looked like she was on cloud nine, eating strawberry-chocolate cake with strawberries to decorate it. She could see the sparkle in her eyes and the slight blush as she took a bite. Poor girl, she wanted to hug her for being so cute. But Tamaki beat her to it and now, he was being beaten down by Haruhi's blunt trauma words. She could really pack a wallop with a single sentence.

The girl was about to look over to see how Takashi and Mitsukuni were doing when an opposing force stood in her way. The blond, grey-eyed girl approached her, a false look of happiness lining her face. "So you didn't heed my warning, slut? Instead, I hear that you threw yourself at him like a common street whore... big mistake. Because now, I'm going to have to make good on my promise to break you down. Takashi is mine and you will NOT come between us." Her words were spoken with that same fake smile, soft yet harsh at the same time.

Artemis was about to object to the accusations. She didn't... it wasn't her place to... Her smoldering amber gaze caught sight of the twins with a pitcher of water and a plate of cake. What were they up to? Their grins were mischievous and they were sneaking up behind the venomous female in front of her. Just as they were about to throw the water on her, the slave did what was right. She quickly grabbed hold of the blond and twisted her to where she wouldn't get wet and took the water-punishment for her.

The room went silent as the dark-haired young woman was drenched from head to toe. The white dress instantly went transparent, exposing her black underwear and some of her scars for all to see. Cake fell to the floor from where it had clung to her black locks and shoulders. She released the blond rich girl and faced the twins with a firm glare. They had wasted her food, the food she'd spent all day making for them.

Artemis wanted to scold them but... was it her place? Master had said to say what she wanted and not be afraid of the hosts but... no, she would not question him. And so she opened her mouth and said calmly, "You are hosts... you should not have tried to do that to her. You would have ruined the club's reputation and for what?"

"She was harassing you! We saw her a few days ago! And she made you BLEED, Artemis!" Hikaru argued, glaring back at her. This was how they were repaid for punishing the bitchy heiress? This was Kaoru's idea, getting revenge for the slave. Though he was the one that decided on what to do. Still, it wasn't fair that they were getting in trouble by her.

"That is her right. If she wishes me harm, I would rather take it. She is my superior, Master's precious guest. And you dishonor her for a slave?" Artemis turned back to the blond to apologize for such rudeness towards her when she was struck across the face. The young woman ran off in a blur of yellow.

Tamaki was less than pleased and roared at Kyoya to ban the girl. "How dare she do such a thing! Artemis is a member of our club! Who is that princess? She must never be allowed back here again! She is exiled!"

The slave sighed and moved to the frenchman's side. Her cheek stung but it wasn't so bad. She knew what a real hit was like... that was no real hit. It was full of embarrassment, shame, and tears. And on the very edge of those sharp fingernails- a touch of gratitude. Her hand went to her cheek and she felt the lingering warmth from the abuse. It made her smile. "Do not punish her..."

As the guests left, all the hosts looked at Artemis like she was nuts. "But she hurt you... surely she said mean things too..." Honey said softly, his brown eyes hard with anger. He stood in front of the slave and she was positive he'd grown with that new-found attitude. She looked to the ground before turning her eyes to Mori. Should she stand up for her request? No, not a request! Never a request! A plea of mercy... that was what it was.

He seemed to be asking her to explain. So that's what she did. "The young woman has pride. She loves Master and did not want me to come between the two. I was insensitive because I did not heed her warning. I wanted to be his slave and still intend to do so, though there are sure to be other people who will be upset with me. I cannot judge their actions because my life was... well... I-I mean... I'm sorry but please... please have mercy..." Her last words were whispered, eyes no longer gazing up at everyone. Instead, they took refuge by staring at her hands.

There was no response for a while, the silence deafening.

A towel suddenly came around her shoulders and she looked up into golden orbs. Kaoru was staring at her in concern. Yes, he was confused at her words, but he was trying to understand her. "Okay, she won't be banned. But you still need to stay away from her. I don't... we don't want you getting hurt anymore, understand?"

Artemis blushed deeply and nodded in agreement. "I will try to avoid her. I did not mean to worry anyone..."

Mori moved up to the pair and placed a hand on her head. "Change..." A single word spoken as per usual. But it got a very unusual reaction from the "nice" twin. He was glaring fiercely at the upperclassmen. The slave moved off to do as she was commanded, seeming much less bothered by the words than Kaoru was. But he walked off to tend to Honey's needs. If the red-haired boy had something to say, he wasn't the type to hold his tongue if his emotions got too overwhelming.

((All done for now! Shall Kaoru blow up at Mori or hold his tongue some more and try to talk to Artemis to rally the troops against her wanna-be master? Just a question but your input would be most appreciated. Review, pretty please!))