Chapter Fifteen: Expositions and Haninozukas.
'Today may just be the day of my execution...' Kiiro thought. 'If so, then the question is: Do I accept that? Then of course, "To be or not to be?". And on whose terms, his or mine. To do it myself would grant me freedom over control... To let him do it is more dreary... Perhaps I'll be lucky and I'll live to see another sunrise?'
All the serious thought was thought under exaggerated circumstances. But, even though she knew they were exaggerated, her stomach jumped with every step closer to the door.
"Tamaki, if you're leading me to my death, I'll kill you." she said flatly, but sincere.
"Now, Kiiro, he isn't that bad." he chuckled as the Twins dragged her along.
"You've seen his devil eyes. There's murderous intent behind those!" she complained, squirming in the identical grip of the doppelgangers.
"Come on, Kiiro-senpai, murder isn't Kyouya-senpai's style." Kaoru pointed out.
"Yeah, there'd be too much of a mess to clean up afterward." Hikaru snickered.
Kiiro sighed.
Tamaki opened the door.
There, in the center of the bed, lay an inanimate lump of blankets, which one could safely assume was Kyouya.
"Kyouya! Doesn't this sound fun?" King cheered, bouncing up to the bump in the blanket, he held up a flyer. "The commoners don't have the cash to go on tours, hence the frequent such exhibitions to purchase such regional products at a special price! In addition to exotic products, they also gain a chance to experience the thrill of traveling! Ergo, we've decided to experience the commoner's culture to gain a better understanding of Haruhi!" he waggled the flyer before Kyouya's disturbed half-asleep form. "Let's go now!" he smiled along with the rest of the group, with the special exceptions of Mori and Kiiro, the latter of which was hiding behind Hikaru.
"Oh, by the way, in the interest of meeting the goals of our project, Haruhi won't be joining us today." the Twins explained.
Kyouya turned and gave them a horribly cold glance.
The boys shook him and tried to steal his blanket but he held on.
"Vacations are rare, how can you waste it by sleeping until the sun burns your bottom?!" Tamaki protested.
Kyouya sat up quickly, causing everyone to take a step backward in fear, "Listen up, I went to bed at five a.m." he said angrily. "Since it's a vacation, what's wrong with catching up on some sleep?" his cold words became utterly dark and wrathful. "Besides, who let you in? You sure have some guts!"
The boys looked scared, Kiiro took yet another silent step backward.
"Commoner's culture? Isn't it time you stopped with your childish games?" he snubbed. "If you really wish to go, then, do as you please..."
"Can we really do as we please?" Tamaki perked up, questioning.
Kyouya glared at him, then slumped back into sleep.
"He's nodded! The Demon King has granted us permission!" King interpreted.
"He's really nodded! It was definitely a nod!" the Twins seconded.
"I don't think it was a nod, guys!" Kiiro tried.
"You heard him, men! Let's dress him to the nines and bring him to the car!"
Kiiro sighed; "It's your funeral." she turned.
It was a bit overwhelming when they arrived at the commoner's mall. Tamaki dragged a still sleeping Kyouya on his back. There were billions of clothes stores and decor shops and stands and stalls with all sorts of things. The overwhelmingness of the place proved to be a problem. As soon as they stepped into the mall, everyone wanted to go somewhere different from the others, unfortunately, Kiiro was the only one who actually stopped herself from wandering off. Tamaki tried to round everyone up and sat Kyouya up against a pillar. But, after regaining control over the group, he led them away and left the bespectacled boy at his perch. Kiiro was about to remind them of the sleeping demon, but a little idea popped into her head.
'Just leave him here, he could use the rest. Plus, it could be a little revenge for messing you all those times.' She reflected on it. Of course, there would be consequence, but, it could be funny. With that Kiiro promptly turned on her heel and sprinted off to where the group was.
The mall was a little bit of a marvel, she tried ice creams and looked at all the mass produced clothes and visited all the little animals in the pet shop, wondering whether or not to buy Noel a friend, but then deciding against it because Noel was already a handful. Overall, it was fun, but perhaps she should have made a different decision earlier, because consequence followed her everywhere. When Hani finally asked where Kyouya was, Kiiro thought she might have a heart attack.
Ding! Dong! Dang! Dong! The mall's loudspeaker sounded, "Attention shoppers, we are looking for a lost child." the announcer said into the microphone. Tamaki suggested that this was how lost people were found in big commoner places like this one. "Ootori Kyouya from Tokyo! Lost boy Kyouya Ootori! Your guardians, Mr. Tamaki and Ms. Kiiro are currently looking for you at the information counter on the second level. Little Kyouya is 1.81 meters tall and wears prescription glasses. He's currently penniless, so his guardians are very worried. If anyone sees him, please help him to the information counter on the second level."
"Kyouya! It's great to see you!" Tamaki blubbered as he ran over to Kyouya, who had just approached the information desk, surprisingly, with Haruhi in tow.
He turned to them with anger in his eyes, when he was able to call Tachibana, he had all of the boys tied to poles.
"Since you all like commoner's shopping complexes so much, you can stay here for a month!" he ordered. He reimbursed Haruhi for his lunch and a few other things, with Tamaki's money of course. Then, he took Kiiro by her wrist and led her out of the complex.
"Gah! Not cool, Kyouya!" she whined, "Let me go!"
"You know, Kiiro, Tamaki's an idiot, I would expect this sort of thing from him." he ignored her struggle. "But, I have a feeling that you left me there on purpose. Is my guess right?"
The color drained from her face, "U-um...?"
"Don't lie to me, you're a terrible liar." he said as he led her to his family's limousine.
She gulped, earning his chuckle, he moved his face closer to hers, "You owe me."
"No, I don't." she sat still, unable to break his fiery gaze.
"Yes, you do." he whispered next to her ear. Then, after a moment of silence, he bit her ear.
Electricity shot through her body, "Ow! Why'd you do that?!"
"You're lucky that's all I did." he said plainly. "Tachibana, would you drop us off at Kiiro's home?" he smiled. He looked over at her still red face, "You'll be getting a time out." he told her like she was a child. "Besides, I miss Noel."
Kiiro was back at school again and had gotten through her classes as usual that day, but then time for clubs came around and she geared herself up for the unexpected. She just had a feeling that something new was going to begin that day.
She was right.
As she, Kyouya and Tamaki made their way to Music Room Three from 2A, Kiiro was reassured in her feeling.
"Oh no! Chika has produced a weapon!" The Twins announced.
A boy who looked suspiciously like Hani stood before them, with glasses and a staff in hand.
"Hey! Hold up isn't that cheating!" Haruhi refereed.
"Wow, it's been a long time! They're really into it..." Tamaki observed.
Kyouya sighed, "Couldn't they have chosen a better place to do this?"
"Oh, is that him? The one you told me about?" Kiiro asked Kyouya.
"Tamaki-senpai... Kyouya-senpai... Kiiro-senpai... How can you be so indifferent?" Haruhi screeched.
From the smoke that had gathered before the boy, Kiiro could just make out Hani in midair. The other boy swung the staff and it connected with Hani's torso. The senior was flung backwards.
"And Hani-senpai's sent flying!" The Twins narrated. "Could this be Chika's first victory?"
"Finally... I got you..." Yasuchika claimed.
"No... Mitsukuni won..." Mori clarified.
The smoke cleared, Yasuchika Haninozuka's pant legs were pinned to the floor with shuriken, or ninja stars.
'Oh, I missed it.'
Hani got up and dusted himself off, looking as if nothing had even happened.
"Hani-senpai displayed his awesome skills with shuriken in an instant!" The Twins concluded. "Chika has been rendered immobile!"
Yasuchika fell to the floor before his older brother, "Dammit! I admit to my defeat!"
"Yeah, you need to work harder." Hani replied.
Tamaki and the Twins held up their fists.
Haruhi was still confused, "Er... hey! I'm still lost here... Who is this Chika?"
"Eh? Can't you tell by their faces?" Tamaki explained, "He is Hani-senpai's younger brother. Yasuchika Haninozuka."
"Oh!" Haruhi suddenly grasped the similarities in the boys' faces.
Kiiro heard footsteps going at top speed behind them, "Chika! Yasuchika!"
Another boy appeared, this one appeared to be Mori's younger brother, "How dare you skip club activities!" he scolded. He smacked Yasuchika across the face with a shinai, or a kendo practicing sword. Chika went flying.
"Satoshi." Mori interjected.
"Taka-bro!" Satoshi turned, "How's your day been? Are you going to the Kendo Club today?"
Mori patted his brother's head while Hani cried for Chika who had a giant knot on his head.
"And..." Tamaki gestured toward the Morinozukas'. "Introducing Mori's younger brother."
"Oh, so that's how it is!" Satoshi rubbed his head. "I was so sure Yasuchika had deliberately skipped his club activities, I got all worried. Whoops! Sorry about that bruise, Yasuchika!" He apologized to the brooding, younger Haninozuka.
'It's funny, they look a lot alike but, they really are complete opposites from their older brothers.'
"I'm sorry for bothering you senpai's!" Satoshi went on, "Ah! This tea and the cake are simply delicious!"
"Yasuchika! Would you like some cake as well?" Tamaki offered.
"I dislike any sweet stuff, got it?" the younger blond said coldly.
Satoshi smacked him on the head, again, "How dare you disrespect your senpai in such a manner..."
"Ah... Satoshi... I really didn't mind, seriously." Tamaki assured.
"No way! No luxuries are allowed here!" Satoshi explained, adamantly. "For hundreds of years we Morinozukas' have served the Haninozukas'. As this is my sworn duty, I cannot let Yasuchika grow up as a spoiled brat! Not even if death came my way! This is only for his own sake!"
"Speaking of spoiled brats, what about this one here..." The Twins held up Hani, who was smiling sweetly and clutching onto Usa-chan. "The Haninozuka Heir?"
"Mitsukuni is okay. Because my bro never commits any errors." Satoshi stood up. "Taka is the pride of the Morinozuka family! His strength is without equal and so is his kindness! And, despite this, he isn't arrogant! He is also selfless and a man of few words!"
"I thought is was because Mori-senpai didn't have much going on in his head, that he's a man of few words..." Hikaru commented.
"Isn't he thinking about food all the time?" Kaoru asked.
"You know, I've been thinking lately, Taka might be Japan's last, living samurai."
'That would be cool.'
"I think that bro needs a little wake up." Hikaru started pouring hot sauce in Satoshi's tea.
"Maybe putting hot sauce in his tea will help." Kaoru held the cup.
Kiiro sighed, "Boys, stop tha-!"
"Wow! Absolutely delicious tea!" Satoshi thumbs-upped.
'Holy crap, he drank that?'
"I'll tell you something. This raw embarrassment of a boy, the one called Mitsukuni, will never be the Haninozuka Heir." Yasuchika said from the sofa. "I wanted to talk about this earlier but... brother... I heard that last week the Karate Club requested you to attend a joint practice with Oyama High."
"Wasn't Oyama High the national champion for last year?"
"Didn't we attend one of their practice sessions before?"
"Yup! It was so cool. Hani-senpai was fighting a whole bunch of brutes, tearing them into pieces!"
"Um, Tono? Karate isn't like that at all..."
"But, it is kinda cool watching the strong guys in uniforms, right~?"
"Why..." Yasuchika tried. "Why do you have to be so irresponsible? Did you not quit the Karate Club for over a year? Even though the Haninozukas' are a noble family, we have been exceptionally brilliant in martial arts. Using every kind of martial arts, we learned and used them to create our own individual style. It hence becomes the duty of every Haninozuka male to learn Karate and Judo, as well as our own Haninozuka style... We are taught to fight fellow clan members whenever we meet, in a second, so that we are constantly on our guard... Brother you are really very strong... But the basic principle of the Haninozuka style is to throw your ego, and achieve selflessness! You have no right to bear the Haninozuka name... You, who have caved in to your selfish desires and have thus become corrupted! It's preposterous that you would offer to help the Karate Club, just for fun! Let this be the last time you dishonor the Haninozuka family name!"
Yasuchika received the hilt of the shinai this time.
Hani was silent.
"Is that all you can tell your older brother?" Satoshi scolded, pinching Chika's cheeks.
"Satoshi, you idiot! Cut it out!"
"You're the one who is wrong here!"
"You didn't have to get this mad." Yasuchika had tears in his eyes but he quickly rubbed them off. "Anyway, I'm warning you, Mitsukuni! Like I always say, stay away from me in school!" he ran out the door.
Satoshi followed, "What did you say, Yasuchika?"
"Hani-senpai?" Haruhi started.
"It's okay~. It was my mistake, anyways... But, I guess this means... Chika really does hate me now..."
Kiiro sighed, because the feeling in her nerves didn't go away, this episode might just drag out.
They were currently watching the Karate Club train. Or, spying on Yasuchika, who was currently being smacked by Satoshi.
"Hmmm... This is such a simple complex." The Twins analyzed.
"He's always being compared to his brother." Tamaki started. "Their great resemblance causes a stir, so he unnecessarily began detesting Hani-senpai... It's a common pattern. Even though his eyesight is fine, he wears glasses to look a little different from his brother."
"So typical, so boring. Let's go find something else to do." The Twins walked away.
"Hey, hey! You jerks! What's with the attitude! This was your idea! Right from the start I said, even if Hani-senpai's quitting of the Karate Club was not the main reason for Chika's hatred, if Chika himself doesn't want to unveil it, then it's none of our business! But, no, you guys said..."
The Twins turned, "Tono, you can't understand because you don't have siblings!"
"We cannot bear to watch two brothers for each others throats constantly! Right, Kaoru?" They initiated, "Brotherly Love".
"That's right, Hikaru! We must show Chika just how wonderful brotherly love is!"
"I doubt Chika wants that kind of love..." Kiiro said under her breath.
"That's what you guys said!" Tamaki screeched.
"But we thought Chika would be concealing something much more interesting..." the Twins sighed.
"It seems the 'reconciliation force' was just a front for them to dig up Chika's personal secrets for their personal entertainment..." Kyouya analyzed.
"They really are the worst jerks." Haruhi agreed.
Kiiro nodded.
"For example... maybe Chika had a suspicion that Hani-senpai was an alien from outer space." Hikaru guessed.
"Or maybe Chika actually has a crush on Mori-senpai...and he's burning with jealousy over how Mori-senpai showers affection on Hani-senpai." Kaoru hypothesized. "By the way if it was the latter, we'd have shown him this photograph." Kaoru produced a photo of the group with an affectionate-looking Mori in the middle of everyone. "And told him, "Relax! Mori-senpai treats everyone with equal affection!" That's what we're planning anyway."
"Obviously fake."
"And if it were the former?"
"No solution for that one, right?"
"You two are really..." King fumed. "Just what do you take Hani-senpai and Chika's feelings for anyway? Even Daddy's patience is wearing thin!"
The Twins covered their ears.
"Tama... It's okay..." Hani and Mori wandered onto the scene.
"Hani-senpai..."
"I don't mind... being hated by Chika..." his eyes were far away. "All I want is to see Chika grow up healthy and strong... That's all I want..." then, he began to float away.
'What the...?'
"I think you're the one who needs to grow more..." Hikaru stated.
"Yeah, you should really face the facts and worry about yourself..." Kaoru added.
"Oh no! No!" Tamaki cried. "Hani-senpai's being drawn away to the distant future! Everyone! Pull him back to the present!" They all reached for him.
"Optic fibers! Optic fibers!"
"Computer virus!"
"The rent is going up next month!"
"Haruhi! Is that true?" King cried.
They all yelled present-time-catchphrases.
"Excuse me..." Yasuchika appeared. "You guys are making a lot of noise..."
The group pulled Hani down quickly. Chika saw him.
"Mitsukuni... Didn't I tell you not to come near me in school... But anyway... en garde!" he threw a kick.
"YASUCHIKA!" Satoshi roared. He pulled on Chika's judo gi. "You! What do you think you're doing in the middle of club activities?"
"Satoshi, you fool..."
"Chika!" Hani tried as Chika fell. "Little bunny cushion save!"
"Urgh! Don't use such disgusting moves!" Chika Mighty Kicked Hani high into the air.
"Hani-senpai!"
At the middle school's Sick Bay, Hani-senpai laid unconscious on the bed.
"It appears he has a slight concussion." Kyouya explained. "He'll regain consciousness soon. Since, Mori-senpai will be staying by his side, I think it would be better if we all left."
"Oh, well if that's the case..." Tamaki sighed. "Did you hear that? It's good news isn't it Chika?"
"I'm sorry... I," Chika rubbed his eyes.
"Hey, you don't have to get so depressed."
"No... I'm such a fool... I thought his bunny rabbit... I mean... it was so ambiguous... I... Actually, I... I was terrified that my brother was an alien from outer space."
Kiiro nearly flat-lined. The Twins high-fived.
"What?!" Tamaki screeched at the idea.
"Didn't you guys ever wonder about it yourselves?" Chika defended. "It's not just the weird moves he uses! He once ate three whole cakes by himself! And that was after a huge dinner! And just recently, I happened to wake up suddenly in the middle of the night... and I noticed a light on in the dining room...! When I walked in he was eerily gobbling down cake! Isn't that scary! Isn't that scary! It's so bizarre! Is he really all that cute? Is he really that cute? It's disgusting!"
"Didn't know he was like that at home..."
"If you ask us, we wouldn't have the courage to live with someone like that..."
'Idiots...'
"What do you think his bunny really is?" Chika went on. "A cosmic radio receiver? Does he use it to communicate with outer space? Well? Just having to look like him is scary enough! But they want me to smile like him, too! Are they crazy? You want to become an airhead like that, too? Would you be satisfied if I stuck flowers in my background, too? Would that make you happy? What do you think he got in return for helping the Karate Club last week? Ice cream! The heir of the Haninozuka's will do anything for ice cream! Ahahahaha! Well, isn't that just swell? Let me at him! Can I strangle him this time? Can I?"
"Chika, calm down!"
Chika snapped out of it, "... But, anyway... to stop myself from flying into a rage again, I'll put my glasses back on."
"So that no one will say you look alike?"
"No. It's so Mitsukuni will be out of focus when I look at him with these corrective lenses."
'Um...'
"No! That's dangerous."
Satoshi spoke up, "I've told him countless times, this isn't something to get worked up over, is it? Yasuchika has a bit of an overly nervous constitution, you see... What's the big deal about eating a whole cake? Personally, I've eaten two at a go myself. They weren't all that sweet, though."
"Shaddup! You have no sense of taste!"
"But, to be surrounded by such dense people..." Kyouya started.
"Chika, the stress of loneliness, it must have really piled up..." Tamaki tried.
"But even so, we used to be really close... My brother still had a sweeter tooth than most and he loved cute things. But, there was a time when he decided to turn away from all that... Until some busybody had to step in and interfere... and told him that recognizing his true self was a form of strength, too. And, in one fell swoop, he completely lost his focus and became the alien he is now!"
"I see, so the origin of all of our problems lies with Tono, huh?" the Twins began.
"Come to think of it, didn't the Twins say there was no solution to this scenario?" Kyouya added pointedly.
"There is a solution." Mori and Hani entered the room.
"Mori-senpai... Hani-senpai."
"Chika-chan, I heard what you said." Hani started. "I'm sorry for everything. I never thought you hated sweet things that much~! But, even if I were to listen to you and live up to your expectations, it would still be pretty awkward between us, wouldn't it~? And, I'm really grateful to Tama-chan, because... I don't think I'd have been able to change so easily~."
Tamaki looked touched.
"That's why..." Hani began. "Let's take this outside, Yasuchika, and put an end to this the Haninozuka way."
The wind whipped around the hill where the battle was to take place. Both Haninozuka's stood, battle-ready.
"Okay, Chika, there'll be one round, if I win, I'm sorry, but, you're going to let me continue as I am now." Hani explained.
"And if I win?" Chika asked.
"I'll cut down on sweet stuff just a bit~!"
"Is that really a solution?"
"And, I'll stop eating in the middle of the night as much as possible~!"
"Got it."
"That's all."
"Are you ready?" Mori asked. "...Then, begin!"
"Chika! En garde!" Hani kicked but Chika dodged.
They turned to look at each other, Hani charged. Hani leaped, Chika sweeped and Chika was thrown. Hani drew his staff.
"Umm, is it me, or does this look exactly like the fight in front of the club room?" Tamaki asked.
"It's opposite, Hani-senpai has the staff." The Twins cleared.
"I think that's what Mitsukuni intended," Mori explained. "Yasuchika will probably be using his shuriken next." Chika threw shuriken. Hani dodged. "I've been watching their battles for years. Yasuchika will always copy whatever moves Mitsukuni used in their previous battle. Mitsukuni realized this a long time ago. So he comes up with ways to allow Yasuchika to use those moves. Even though he calls Mistukuni an alien. When it comes to martial arts, he truly respects Mitsukuni and clearly wishes to learn from him. Though they can't see eye to eye on most things, they still connect on the things that matter the most. Between brothers, that's enough, isn't it? That's what I think anyway. What's more... Don't worry about the outcome of the fight. Mitsukuni will probably let Yasuchika have the win..."
'Wow, I've never heard Mori talk so much.'
"Chika! This is it!" Hani kicked Chika's head.
"Um..." Kiiro hummed. "Did Hani-senpai just win?"
Mori wavered and fell to the ground.
"Mori-senpai, it's okay!"
"Yeah, bro, you were great!"
"I won~! Cake~! Cake~! Cake~!" Hani cheered.
"So his love for cake supersedes his love for his brother?"
"Damn it!" Chika huffed.
"Chika..." Hani comforted. "The first flying kick and dodge, the chain attack in the middle, it was pretty close for me too~! You've improved, Chika~!"
Chika's eyes widened, he smiled like a child who had just been told he was getting a new puppy. Kiiro swore she saw chicks flying around in his background, like Hani's flowers.
'Happy to make his brother proud.'
Chika's expression changed, "Shaddup! You think you're so great. I just lost concentration for a split second, if not for that-!"
Satoshi hit him with the shinai, "Don't be such a sore loser! If you're a real man, concede graciously!"
"Ouch! Ouch! You stupid Satoshi! Stop it! Waaaah!" Chika cried and the chicks reappeared. "St-stop it! I hate you, Satoshi!"
"Oh no..." Satoshi looked stricken. "I wasn't that mad... Don't cry, please!"
Chika rubbed the tears from his eyes, "Remember this, Mitsukuni! Next time, I'll win and send you crashing down from space!"
"Could it be... that Chika actually has Hani-senpai's character deep down inside..." Tamaki muttered as Chika ran away, Satoshi not so far behind.
'Well, at least that's over. But, for some reason, I can't get that alien theory out of my mind...'
Hani picked up his rabbit.
"He's communicating."
"Definitely communicating..."