Chapter Twenty-Four: Tanuki and France
"Welcome!" the Hosts greeted, smiling as guests filed in. Today's theme was Scotland, so the boys, excluding Tamaki, and Haruhi were dressed all in tartan kilts with sporrans along with formal jackets, dress shirts and ties. And, of course, they all had bagpipes.
Tamaki sulked in the corner, wearing only a loincloth, as per Kyouya's orders once Tamaki lost the Sports Festival.
"Today there's no point in waiting for Tono!" the Twins told the girls. "What he's wearing is sure to make you laugh!" they grinned. "He'd put on his usual airs and say something like, "Come with me to the sumo ring of love!" "Even the greatest referee wouldn't be able to judge between us!" He'd say something like that!" they cheered.
"You find a person's misfortune that funny?" Tamaki stood, breaking out of his depression. "This isn't a sumo mawashi, it's an ordinary loincloth!" he shouted at them.
Kiiro had to cover her ears to block out the raucous "Kyaa!" that resounded in the room. For a moment, she despaired at how well-designed the Third Music Room was for acoustics.
The guests nearly fainted at Tamaki's near-nakedness, the flash of their cameras only served to increase King's embarrassment. "Kyouya!" he pointed to his friend accusingly. "I suggested today's cosplay! How is it I ended up with a loincloth when you all have flashy costumes? So obviously uncomfortable!"
"So, you actually have little self confidence in your body?" Kyouya redirected the conversation with his ever-present fake smile.
"What?!"
"Didn't you say in the relay race that if you lost to Kyou-chan you'd wear one?" Hani questioned.
"What's this? Going back on a man-to-man promise?" the Twins whispered to themselves as the rest of the boys huddled together, gossiping about Tamaki right in front of him.
Tamaki sulked again as the boys joked about him. He was so embarrassed that when Haruhi came over to him, he shrieked and hid behind a curtain, nearly pulling the rod down on top of him. He babbled something about how he would never break a man-to-man promise before she gave him a powerball, asking him to play with it a be quiet. For the next few minutes, Tamaki forgot all about his embarrassment and flung the ball all around the room, chasing after it with child-like glee.
"That's okay. At least he's acting like an idiot like normal." the Twins shrugged, watching him from behind a curtain. "For the time being it seems he hasn't noticed our uneasiness."
"I hope he hasn't." Kiiro sighed, crossing her arms.
"I was surprised when they said the second-years were going to France~!" Hani stated, clutching Usa-chan closer to his chest.
"I wonder what Tono's reaction was?"
"He has been calm." Kyouya explained, his expression pensive. "He has been aware of it for a while, since the destination is chosen by vote. However that is the land where he was raised. He must be supposing that his missing mother is out there somewhere..."
"But, Tamaki-senpai's grandmother has forbidden him from seeing his mother." Haruhi frowned, also appearing to be lost in thought. "I wonder how Tamaki-senpai feels right now..."
"Anyway, we have two weeks until the second-years leave, we must keep Tono unaware of our unease!" the Twins nodded, dismissing their somber mood. "We have to act 'normal'."
"Yeah~! Be normal~!"
"Normal meaning: tease, ridicule, annoy, play around with." Kiiro clarified, eyebrow raised.
"Exactly! We must keep Tono from thinking about France no matter what happens!"
"Guys, look at how bouncy it is!" Tamaki yelled, his amazement clear in his eyes.
The Twins ran up to him, arms outstretched.
"Hika-chan! Kao-chan! Act 'normal'!" Hani shouted, really discreetly.
"Okay! You're so sly, Tono! Give us that ball!" the brothers cheered.
"Don't! Haruhi gave me that powerball!" King tried to keep the ball away from them.
"It's okay! Give it here!" the Twins clamored. They knocked the ball right out of his hand, it soared out the open window behind them.
"Oops." Kiiro cocked her head.
"The powerball Haruhi gave me!" Tamaki cried, tears streaming down his face.
Everyone crowded around the window, watching the ball fall to the grounds and bounce into a bush...before being thrown back out onto the path beside it.
"Ne?" Kiiro ticked, confused.
"The powerball came back out of the bush...?"
"Usually bushes don't 'give' things back." the Twins peeked over Haruhi.
An abundance of sweet potatoes spilled out of the bush. A great abundance.
"Ne?" Kiiro's confusion intensified.
A cute little tanuki, or raccoon dog, sprinted out of the bush, pausing to look straight up at the club members.
"Ah! It's Haruhi!" the Twins announced with poker faces.
"Huh?" Haruhi glared at them.
"But it's a raccoon dog..." Kiiro tilted her head at the Twins's accusation.
"I would say that was definitely a tanuki." Kyouya stated.
The tanuki skittered off.
"Ah! He ran away..."
"Tanuki-chan brought Tama-chan's ball back and some sweet potatoes~!" Hani laughed.
"Ooo! He's one of Haruhi's friends! I must express my thanks!" Tamaki covered up with a curtain.
"Eh?" Haruhi's mouth twitched.
"That reminds me..." Mori piped up. "...after morning practice... I gave my onigiri to an exhausted tanuki."
Most everyone looked shocked.
'So... the little guy feels indebted to Mori-senpai...' Kiiro leaned against the windowsill and looked on after the tanuki.
"Kiiro, there's something I'd like to ask you." Kyouya stood next to her.
"What is it Kyouya?"
He shut his book, "It's a favor..."
Kiiro nodded, "Alright."
For the next few days Mori was all over the newspaper for the touching story. The was a nice increase in his customers. And, Tamaki, the Twins and Hani kept trying to get his autograph for being, as Tamaki put it, "the grandfather figure of the story".
And once, as Kiiro followed everyone into Music Room Three, "Ah! Now he's broken into the club room!" Tamaki gaped at all the broken dishes.
Every inch of the room was trashed, there was smashed and chipped glassware everywhere, many of the cabinets were busted and dirty paw prints stained couches and tables, forming tracks all over the floor.
"It looks like a tornado hit..." Kiiro said, surveying the damage, picking up a broken teacup.
"Overall, it seems the security of the school was breached." Kyouya sighed, aggravation plain on his face. Kiiro could swear she saw the numbers working in his head.
"Maybe this is Tanuki-chan's idea of cleaning~!" Hani looked over a pile of teacups.
"Here there's a mound of vegetables..."
"...and acorns." the Twins rooted through the heap.
"This reminds me of the time Takashi's shirt got dirtied after Kendo Practice~!" Hani held up his index finger, remembering. "Tanuki-chan left little footprints and acorns~!"
"Just like the time when Mori-senpai had to redo his homework..." Haruhi joined in remembering when Mori found his workbook full of muddy prints.
"So, basically, he's leaving a signature!" Tamaki smiled.
"We need to lure him with someone he hasn't seen much of..." Hikaru began plotting.
"Someone shy to attract him..." Kaoru joined in his brother's scheming.
"Maybe Haruhi can understand Tanuki-san's feelings? Since they're comrades?"
"I'm sorry but I can't fulfill your expectations, please be quiet," Haruhi shot them down. "But, this morning, when I came to school, I found a large amount of chestnuts under my desk." she held up a plastic bag full of chestnuts.
'Perhaps she and Tanuki-san are acquainted?'
"In any case, if he feels he needs to repay a 'debt of gratitude', he could dig up buried treasure, or find a hot spring." Kyouya pressed the buttons on his cell phone. "But, on the other hand, he causes problems to the other students. So far you've rejected the option to sell him, but it can't be helped."
"How mean!" Tamaki yelled at him. "Tanuki-san is only repaying his debt to Mori-senpai! It's a modern otogi story!"
"Well then... what do you propose?" he sighed.
"I will..." Mori began. "I will listen to his personal story..."
"But, how will you communicate with the tanuki?"
Mori produced a box, which he opened to reveal Piyo the chick. He began chirping loudly in admiration for Mori.
"Oh? So you'll use Piyo-chan~?"
"He's grown a lot since the last time I saw him."
"If they can become friends, I'm sure they can communicate with each other." he held up the loving chick.
"What's this? Buddha's salvation speech?" Hikaru asked flatly.
"Isn't it impossible for Piyo and Tanuki-san to understand each other?" Kaoru asked just as flatly.
"Takashi is a romanticist~! That's quite unexpected~!"
Mori looked dejected, borrowing Tamaki's corner of woe.
"No! Mori-senpai is right!" Tamaki took the usual pose. "We will persuade Tanuki-san that we are his friends!"
The Twins deadpanned, "Um... Tono... How are we supposed to persuade animals that we are their friends?"
"If animal friends can understand each other, than why can't human and animal friends!" Tamaki defended. "Besides, just think about it!" his expression became serious. "Why does a wild tanuki stay on Ouran grounds? Why does he repay Mori-senpai's kindness of giving him onigiri? Tanuki-san is probably lonely... Separated from his family... Stranded in an unfamiliar place... That's why Mori-senpai's kindness really makes him happy..."
Kiiro's eyes widened a bit when she realized exactly who this rant of Tamaki's could pertain to.
"That is why this is not just a 'simple capture' strategy! We will befriend Tanuki-san by our own means! It's the 'send Tanuki-san back to his native mountain project'!"
It had been three days since Tamaki had decided to befriend their stray tanuki, but, so far, there had been no luck finding him. Besides Mori, no one had even seen him. Kiiro, Kyouya and Tamaki were out again searching for him after club activities. Well, a more accurate description of this is Tamaki was fervently searching for the tanuki, checking every bush and shrub and calling for him, while Kiiro glanced around here and there, and Kyouya stood in the background doing more supervising than anything else.
"Tanuki-san!" Tamaki hollered, crouching to look beneath another bush.
"Ne, King, if you're too loud, you'll frighten him away." Kiiro tried, peering around a cluster of trees.
"But how is he supposed to know I'm looking for him if I don't call out to him?"
She sweatdropped, wondering- not for the first time- if he was serious. She sighed, a small smile playing on her lips, "Oh well, whatever keeps him distracted." she chuckled, turning to face Kyouya, "And why aren't you helping, Shadow Lord?"
He raised an eyebrow, shrugging with a playful grin on his face, "Do you really expect me to do something like that?" he nodded to where Tamaki continued to rustle through a shrub.
She rolled her eyes, about to come up with a comeback when she thought she felt a rain drop on her face. Looking up, the sky was now gray and gloomy, "Was that-?"
Her pondering was cut off by a complete downpour, she jumped, icy rain soaking her through to the bone in a matter of seconds, her dress clung to her like a second skin.
The group of second-years headed back to the shelter of the school.
"Ah! I'm soaked!" Tamaki whined as he burst through the doors to the club room. "Towel! Towel!"
"Tamaki-senpai! Kyouya-senpai! Kirro-senpai! You're back!" Haruhi handed them towels.
"Haruhi! Thank goodness you found shelter!" Tamaki smiled.
"Yeah! By the way, look..." she pointed to Mori.
He held the tiny tanuki in a towel.
"Ooo! Tanuki-san!"
"I found him~! I lured him with cake~!"
"No. When we entered the club room, he was eating from the mound of food."
"For the time being, until we find his home in the mountains, I will ask if I can keep him at home."
"Ooo! That's a good idea! Good for you Tanuki-san!" Tamaki clapped.
"It seems he a Piyo-chan get along well!" Haruhi watched as Piyo fed Tanuki a mushroom. Mori picked both up and they cuddled up to him. "Somehow it seems like they've started a 'We love Mori-senpai club'."
"Huh? Where are Hika-chan and Kao-chan~?" Hani looked towards the door. "I thought they had returned to the club room after the rain had started... I wonder what they're doing?"
"I hope they didn't get caught out in the rain..." Kiiro stated, attempting to towel dry her hair.
Hani shrugged it off and tried to feed the raccoon dog cake.
'At least this kept Tamaki occupied...' Kiiro smiled as she watched Haruhi and the seniors fuss over their new found friend. When she looked back to King and Kyouya, however, her smile faltered a little. For the first time since the location of the second-year's trip was announced, the smile Tamaki wore didn't meet his eyes, instead a kind of melancholy resided there. Again, Kiiro found herself rather disliking his grandmother, whom she had never met.
'Of course Ouran has its own private jet...' Kiiro sweatdropped, looking out at the massive thing on the runway.
The days until the trip passed quickly and soon Kiiro found herself drawing in the luxurious lounge of the airport. Kyouya sat across from her reading over some important papers.
"Kyouya, we've heard Tamaki isn't coming, is that true?" one of the girls asked, worried.
"I regret to say so but, yes, it's true." he looked over the papers. "He has severe diarrhea." he put emphasis on 'Tamaki's condition'.
Kiiro nearly broke her pencil, she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, 'Of course he would say something as embarrassing as that!'
"I bet he exposed and chilled his stomach while he slept."
"Oh no! That's terrible!"
"I'm really worried about him. And it's too bad as well... I was hoping to go shopping with him in Paris..." Kyouya smiled.
"Do you have any plans, Kyouya?" one girl asked. She offered, "If not, please come with us."
"I'd love to but," his glasses gleamed. "...I have a little private matter to attend..."
At this Kiiro smiled, sneaking a glance at him, he never really ceased to amaze her.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry." Kiiro walked up to the man at the reception desk in yet another health resort in Cannes, France. She held a photograph in her hand, a woman with curly blonde hair smiled wide and bright for the camera, holding a small blond boy in her lap, "Would you happen to have a patient like this woman here?"
He looked over the photograph, "I don't think I've seen her around here, my apologies, miss."
"No, it's okay." she put the photo away. "Thank you." she made her way back out the door. 'Not here, either...' she sighed, looking up at the autumn sky over her. How could one woman be hidden so well that even Kyouya's sleuthing skills were next to useless? They had so little information on the whereabouts of Tamaki's mother that the task had seemed rather intimidating when Kyouya had explained it to her.
Of course, that made the challenge all the more rewarding when they did find her.
It was only the first day, and she had only checked six places. But she would look everywhere. Because this was the favor that Kyouya had asked of her...and he hardly ever asked for favors."
She hopped into the car her driver, who had come along for the trip, had rented, "Next destination, if you please, Mr. Imai." she said to her driver.
"You mean you haven't found her yet, Young Miss?" Imai glanced up into the rear view mirror.
"No, not yet. But, I'll keep looking." she half-smiled.
She felt the buzz of her phone and fished it out of her pocket, "Hello?"
"Any luck, yet?" Kyouya asked.
"No, not yet, I've checked six places and they didn't know anything at all. I'm going to try to stop at as many as I can today though."
"You didn't have to do this."
"I know, but it's rare when you ask me for a favor." she looked out the window.
"Thank you, Kiiro." he said flatly.
She grinned, "You know you don't have to thank me, Kyouya. He's my friend, too, and if I can't do this for him, I'll go crazy."
"I know." he chuckled. "Ah, it seems I'm at the next destination. Remember not to stay out past the free period, I don't want to have to come find you."
She rolled her eyes, "Alright, good luck, Kyouya." she hung up.
'Sound disinterested all you want...' she watched the city roll by outside her window.
She winded up checking seven more places that day, all to no avail.
Each and every day the two would split up and search as much as possible in the time allotted to them. Kiiro got more passionate with every stop. Though, she suspected that Kyouya was just wearing himself out. She wished he would go to bed earlier but he seemed to be determined to find Tamaki's mother, despite his denying that this was anymore than a passing interest.
By the sixth day, when their class was visiting Barbizon- a village by the Fountainebleau Forest that had been the gathering space of many great Impressionist artists, and a place that Kiiro couldn't help but obsess over despite her current mission- they still had no clue on where she was now.
Walking along the edge of where the village ended and the great forest began, she found herself so involved in the scenery that had once inspired so many painters, she nearly ran into a woman and her dog.
"Sorry!" she stepped out of the woman's way, still focused on the old stone of the village and the thin stretch of trees a ways off.
"It's alright." the woman replied, leading her dog away.
Kiiro looked back, there was something about her hair that reminded her...
'No, it wouldn't be that easy..." she shook the thought from her head. With a sigh she tore herself from the beauty around her, and called her driver, withdrawing the map from her coat pocket.
Nothing, as per usual, six stops this time before she had to stop at the hotel for lunch.
'We're running out of places to check...' Kiiro sighed as she walked up to the front of the hotel.
"Ah! Kiiro," Kyouya spotted her. "...could I borrow your phone?"
"Sure." she reached into her pocket. "What happened to yours?"
He made a wrenching motion with his hands.
'He broke it...?'
"A text from Tamaki." he said simply.
"Ah." she handed him her phone.
He punched in a number, and waited, "Ah, it's you, Haruhi."
'I wonder how everyone is doing.'
"Sorry for calling you this late. My phone was not working, I just checked my answering machine today."
Kiiro wondered what sort of text Tamaki had sent Kyouya, one that could make him angry enough to destroy his phone.
"...Yes, so what did you want to talk about?" he tapped his foot on the walkway. "...Tamaki has diarrhea." he emphasized.
Kiiro took out the notebook were she was keeping the name of all the facilities she was visiting and began crossing out the dead-end leads.
"This guy has stayed at the hotel since we arrived." Kyouya sighed. "He couldn't really participate in the outings. Therefore, he always expects souvenirs..." he sighed and acted aggravated.
'Believable.'
"That's all. I'm so busy now, I have to go."
She could hear Haruhi through the phone, "Wait! Please wait!"
"What?" he huffed. "...Haruhi?...What's wrong?"
Kiiro shut her notebook and leaned on the wall next to him, her interest piqued. She could faintly hear Haruhi, "Just now... In front of my house... There is a person who is supposed to have diarrhea..."
"Ah..." Kyouya looked bested only for a second. "Ah, by the way, since he had a stomach ache, I told him to go back to Japan. Now take care of the rest." he hurriedly closed the phone and handed it back to Kiiro. He smiled, most likely at some musing about Tamaki.
"Nice save." she grinned.
He went to make a comeback, but was interrupted.
"Kyouya-sama!" Tachibana ran up to them. "Tamaki-sama's mother!"
"Did you find her?" He stood up straight.
"No..." he sighed. "In this health establishment, there is this person who used to be one of her employees."
Kiiro perked up, "Really?" Finally, a breakthrough.
Kyouya smiled again, "Let's listen to her story. Please, lead us to her." he grabbed Kiiro by the wrist. She hurried along.
"Yes!"
They sat on one of the benches outside of a rather beautiful health resort. A small, elderly woman smiled as she talked about working for Tamaki's mother's family.
"About two years ago...?" Kyouya questioned her.
"Yes. Since Rene..." she stopped herself from using Tamaki's actual first name. "Master Tamaki left for Japan. As Anne-Sophie-sama wished, we left the mansion at that time. Most of the employees returned to their hometowns." she folded her hands in her lap.
"And then where did the Grantaine family go afterward?"
"I wouldn't know. It was kept a secret... even from us." she looked a little sad but perked up, "By the way, you are Tamaki-sama's friends from Japan, are you not? How is Master Tamaki?"
"He is doing fine, way too much." Kyouya sighed.
"Always so chipper." Kiiro smiled.
"Everyday he is full of energy."
The woman laughed, "Is that so...? He may look like it on the surface... but, in the past it was different." she looked fondly on her memories. "Master Tamaki was bright and smart, but on the days when his mother's condition was bad... he would be sad. He wouldn't smile to anyone he talked to. But, on one particular day when his mother was sick in bed, she told him that even though she wasn't feeling good, if he were to have fun, she would be happy. Ever since that day, it was his goal to help every one have fun." she chuckled.
'That's sounds exactly like Tamaki.' Kiiro smiled.
Kyouya stood up and shook the woman's hand, "Thank you for telling me this story. We'll tell Tamaki about this meeting."
"You're welcome. Thank you. I know you are Master Tamaki's close friends." she shook Kiiro's hand. "A while ago, I told you I didn't know. Even if it's not much, if you listen to what I'm going to tell you... Far from Paris... There is a village near a big forest... In spring, chestnut trees and wisterias are beautiful. In fall, the golden color of corn fields spread."
Their eyes widened, grasping exactly where she was talking about.
Her eyes half-lidded as if she was describing a dream, "In the past, a lot of painters who loved nature came to this land."
Kyouya grabbed Kiiro's hand, leading her at full speed toward the car his bodyguards had rented.
"Let's return to Paris right away! In the direction of Barbizon!" he ordered as Kiiro was near forcibly slid into the middle seat in the back.
The car sped off.
"Yes... but Kyouya-sama, she isn't there." a member of his security team, Hotta, tried.
"Shut up, Hotta!"
'I don't know why I couldn't just call my driver...' Kiiro thought groggily. The car sat five, Kyouya, herself, and his three bodyguards. It was very late when they finally arrived in Barbizon. They had sat in the car all night and it was now six in the morning. And Kiiro had not found a good night's rest in the car. Tachibana, the leader of Kyouya's bodyguards, had been kind enough to wake her and was now attempting to rouse the Hypotensive Demon Lord beside her.
He was in a worse mood than Kiiro had ever seen him in. His expression made her grateful that looks really couldn't kill.
"...I'm awake." Kyouya said angrily. He shrugged off his blanket. "Or rather, I didn't sleep. I can't possibly sleep inside this narrow car."
"Well... that's why we should return to the hotel for now." Tachibana tried. "Yesterday, when we drove through Paris, it would have been fine to stop at the hotel and rest for just a little and starting again this morning."
"But, what would have happened if Tamaki's mother came out while we were resting?" he asked.
'Would she of come out during the dead of night?'
"The trip's free period will end this evening. Tomorrow we'll be above the clouds. I can't waste one single moment. And more than anything, if I return to the hotel to sleep, I don't think I'll be able to wake up on time." he held his head in his hand. "But, I am at my limit." he confessed.
He put on his glasses and they parked the car. Kyouya stumbled out, immediately almost falling, "I'm suffocating, my body hurts and Hotta is noisy..." he whined.
Kiiro got out, "Kyouya?"
"Eeh... I'm sorry...!" Hotta apologized.
Tachibana followed, "Kyouya-sama? Where are you going?"
"Anyway, it's too early to go and interview her pretending to ask for directions." Kyouya fell over on the cobblestone sidewalk. "I'll sleep here. Please wake me up when the sun rises a little bit more."
"You can't sleep here, Kyouya-sama! It's the roadside!" Tachibana tried.
"C'mon, Kyouya, you have to get up..." Kiiro kneeled next to him. She heard a barking, and Tachibana said, "Antoinette?" She turned, recognizing the name of Tamaki's dog.
"Hachibee?" some dainty voice said.
A dog that looked remarkably like Antoinette licked Kyouya's face.
"Hachibee? Don't walk so fast..." Kiiro heard the dainty voice say in french. The owner knelt by Kiiro, her blond, curly locks hid her face. "The boy I saw two days ago?"
Kiiro looked at her in astonishment, "Miss...?" the woman she had passed the day before, the woman in her picture.
Kiiro could have kicked herself.
Kiiro woke to piano music, 'Sounds like Tamaki's playing the piano. Did I doze off during club hours?' She sat up on the comfortable couch and saw the quaint house she was in. It took her a moment to recall the last few days.
'No, that's right, I'm in Tamaki's mother's house.' She found her glasses on the table next to the couch. 'Which means...'
The piano music stopped and a woman spoke in french with a young boy.
"Well, I had planned to go the field for a bit." Anne-Sophie said.
"Don't exhaust yourself. Looks like sometimes your fevers come back." the boy kindly advised.
"I'm okay. Now, let's go together."
'I wonder if Kyouya's still asleep...?' she looked over to the couch across the table from her. 'He looks exhausted.' At that exact moment he sat up violently, startling Kiiro.
"Woah, calm down. You scared me." she held her pale hand over her heart.
He grabbed his glasses from the table and looked around them, "Where are we?" he stood up, his expression changing from shock to wonder.
"Take a guess?"
He scanned the room, looking at all the pictures propped up on the fireplace. Kiiro had had a chance to examine them earlier before she fell asleep, they were all pictures of Tamaki. In his middle school uniform, talking to the girls, even a few from the recent Sports Festival. Quite a few had members of the Host Club in the background or up close. Kyouya looked surprised.
Anne-Sophie walked in, dirt smudged her cheeks and she carried a basket full of potatoes as Hachibee, a dog closely related to Antionette, followed her. "Ara? Are you both awake?" she slowly blinked her violet eyes.
Kyouya deadpanned, his bafflement clear on his face, he had thought she was of a weak constitution. But, she was quite lively looking.
So far as Kiiro could tell, Anne-Sophie didn't know who they were, or she did and didn't hint to it.
"Ehh? Hum." Kyouya was confused.
"It doesn't matter what place, but don't you think it's dangerous to sleep by the roadside?" she nonchalantly addressed Kyouya. "It was hard to carry you here even though mother and father and this girl helped." she smiled at Kiiro, who had forgotten to introduce herself. Perhaps it was better that way.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you." Kyouya apologized.
Without any notice of his apology Tamaki's mother went on, "Look! I picked up some potatoes from our field!" her smile was exactly like Tamaki's. "You must be hungry. I'll prepare something to eat!" she gestured to the flowers she had set up in vase, "They bloomed in the garden this morning! Aren't they beautiful?"
'She certainly doesn't seem sick...' Kiiro thought. 'Perhaps...a disease with highs and lows...? But still...'
One look toward Kyouya told her he was thinking the same thing.
As he tried to get Hachibee to stop licking his leg he asked, "Why are you speaking Japanese?"
"Ara!" she snapped. "You're right! Speaking of Japan, there's a question I was meaning to ask you! Is there a kotatsu in your house?"
Kyouya's look was priceless.
'Oh my god...' Kiiro suppressed her laugh. 'So the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.'
The next half hour was spent explaining to Anne-Sophie that Japan wasn't exactly what she had been told it was.
"...I see." she looked disheartened at the end of their talk. "So Kyoto isn't Japan's wonderland... And... Goryokaku, Shisa and Namihage aren't in Kyoto..."
"But... Kyoto is a splendid sightseeing and cultural city...!" Kyouya explained trying to cheer her up.
"Yes, it is twice as beautiful as any words can describe...!" Kiiro added not wanting to see Anne-Sophie so sad.
"But I have learned something! It's great that I know now!" She quickly recovered. "Would either of you like more soup?"
"No thank you, but it was delicious." Kiiro replied.
"No as well. Thanks for the meal. Could I have another serving of tea, though?" Kyouya asked.
"Yes, with pleasure!"
As Anne-Sophie went to fill his tea cup, Kyouya steered the conversation in the direction of her health, "It seems like you're living here happily."
"Eh?"
"Um... no, that's not what I meant..." he hesitated. "You're doing field work even with that frail body."
She smiled, "It's because I came here. I certainly didn't have good health before. A little while ago, I lived in a mansion in the neighborhood of Paris. I was surrounded by the servants. I didn't do the most essential things myself. But, father's company didn't go well... Because of this weak body... I had to separate from the most important person to me. ...Since then I undertook some support... I could of kept living the same way as before but..." her expression fell and she hid her face behind her blond bangs. "A person who sold their son shouldn't be forgiven."
It was Kyouya who spoke up, "Saying this..."
"But!" she cut him off and gave him his tea. "Since I came here my physical condition has gradually improved! I have always yearned for a life surrounded by nature. For the time being, the house keeper has been coming by, but I do what I can by myself. When I'm feeling well, I teach piano to the neighbors. And although it's small, I rented a field. My father, his family, and associates are working toward making over the company. My mother is even helping in their efforts. Only, I can't sleep. My son, even though I can't contact him directly, I know he's getting along cheerfully..."
'It's odd.' Kiiro thought. 'Tamaki's grandmother forbade contact between mother and son. She would help Anne-Sophie keep in good health if Tamaki went to Japan. But, Anne-Sophie looks like she's getting along very well. Shouldn't something have happened by now? Surely the chairman keeps tabs on this woman, why is Tamaki in the dark?'
Kiiro saw Kyouya clench his hand into a fist, most likely angry at the situation. She sighed. He finished his tea and sat up, "It's probably time we take our leave, sorry for all the trouble. The meal was delicious."
They walked out onto her porch.
Kiiro smiled, "Yes, thank you. For the meal and the story."
"No, you're welcome. Sorry I made you listen to that boring story." the beautiful woman said as she stood on her porch. "When are you returning to Japan?"
"On tomorrow's flight... hm..." Kyouya hesitated once more. "It may be a rude question but... Don't you feel resentful for having to separate from your son? Supposing your companion you hold a grudge on were here. Would you...?"
"No..." she smiled a little. "Because I want to believe in him."
'The Chairman...' Kiiro smiled.
"This person...?"
"Yes, but also because... he is the person I chose myself..." her eyes filled with a patient love.
Kyouya chuckled, "Like I thought, both of you are similar..."
She looked confused, "Eh?"
"Our best friend... he is really similar to you..." he smiled.
They left quietly, heading toward the rental car down the block in silence until.
"Thank you, Kiiro." he murmured from her side.
She smiled, "I thought I said you didn't have to thank me?"
"All the same, you even cut your time in this village short." he gestured around them.
The late fall air swirled around them and she tugged her scarf a bit tighter around her, "I don't mind it, you know. It was worth it, to meet her. Seeing someone like that, makes me happy."
She felt his hand entwine with hers, squeezing lightly, "Perhaps we'll come back here sometime, to make up for you having to miss out on it this time?" he suggested, giving her a sidelong glance.
She held a hand to her mouth, feeling her heartbeat harder, "I'd like that." her cheeks flushed as she returned his glance.
He hummed in agreement, kissing her chastely on the lips.
'I can't wait to get home. And I have a feeling Japan's missing its evil king...' she looked over at Kyouya who was sleeping in the seat across the aisle from her. 'It was really nice of him to orchestrate that sort of thing. Even if he knew it wouldn't benefit him and it would be tiring... I'm glad I could help.' She stood up and headed toward the airplane's bathroom and as she walked by Kyouya she whispered, "Je t'aime, Kyouya." so quietly that the air barely took notice of it.
At the end of the school day, their first day back from France, they had gathered with the rest of the club in the Third Music Room.
The first change Kiiro had noticed, was that Hikaru had dyed his hair a dark brown.
"Now gather everyone," Kyouya smiled brightly. "I will hand over presents."
The twins and Hani jumped for joy as the- thankfully well-rested- Shadow King began to pass out souvenirs.
Tamaki, however, sat in the corner moping. The fact that he had stayed behind in Japan had gotten out, and the rest of the club had branded him a liar.
Kyouya went on, "Hikaru and Kaoru, as you requested, I brought you back books and miscellaneous items." The twins accepted them happily and began reading. "For Hani-senpai and Mori-senpai, yakigashi and stuffed dolls." Hani looked at the stuffed monkey in awe as Mori cradled the stuffed chicken with admiration. "For Haruhi..." he produced two small boxes. "...chocolates and accessories. They should suit you."
The jolt that hit Tamaki had not gone over Kiiro's head, she chuckled as King looked back, the effects of the betrayal in his eyes.
"Th...thank you...very much..." Haruhi replied a little uncomfortably.
Tamaki stood, crossing the room, approaching Kyouya as if he was shy, "Kyouya-kun, what about me? My two-meters tall eiffel to-..."
Kyouya ignored him, "Hikaru, you have changed your hair color. It looks really good on him." he laughed.
"Hehehe. Really?" the dark haired twin blushed. "I thought you would say that, Kyouya-senpai."
"How mean... a certain person didn't notice it at all." Hikaru and Kaoru said in unison.
"You're lying!" Tamaki accused. "I noticed it from the beginning, you lying twins!"
The Twins looked over their shoulders at him evilly, "Liars? Who are you calling liars?"
'Does everyone in this club have a horrifyingly evil look?'
"Did you hear that, just now?" the twins whispered. "He has been hiding the fact that he didn't go to the field trip. It looks like a typical case of skipping class."
"It seems like you didn't trust us even though we worried a lot..." Hani frowned.
"Like I said! I have already apologized for that yesterday!" King yelled. His mad expression became happy, "Haruhi, you have forgiven me, right~? You gave me a rice ball, right~?"
The second change, was evident in the angered expression on Hikaru's face as he looked at Tamaki.
This was quickly followed by the third change, when Kiiro saw Haruhi blush as she avoided Tamaki, she turned to the twins, "Hi...Hikaru, Kaoru, what kind of books did you get?"
"Haruhi?" Hikaru blinked, concerned. "What's wrong did something happen?"
"No, nothing." Haruhi blushed, face full of worry.
"Ah, which reminds me." Kyouya suddenly interrupted. "We met a blonde woman in France." He was turned from Tamaki but his words were directed at the sulking boy. "And there was a dog who looked like Antoinette. The dog has siblings in Japan. The woman thinks everyday of her son, whom she was separated from. She is living with this dog and her family."
The room was quiet, until Hani asked, "Was she...beautiful?"
"Yes, very, wasn't she?"
"Mmhmm." Kiiro nodded.
Haruhi pushed her way from between the twins, "Was she...was she doing well?"
Kyouya and Kiiro smiled, "...Yes..."
"She was really doing well. She was smiling a lot." Kiiro added softly.
"She wishes her son in Japan is living happily." Kyouya finished.
From the corner there was a quiet, "...I...see..." You could hear the subtle choke in Tamaki's voice. "She is living with a smile on her face... I see..." he stood up and wiped the tears from his eyes.
Haruhi's eyes filled as well.
"I fear we've missed quite a bit." Kiiro whispered.
"Much too much." Kyouya replied. "You should be at my house later. I want you to help me sort this out."
She nodded, looking at everyone as they tried to make sense of what was happening.
Kiiro had always found it a testament to Kyouya's arrogance that he had more than one room, in fact, exempting a kitchen or dining room, he had what could be considered a house withing his house. His own sitting area and office, a large bedroom and bathroom. And he had his own maids and butlers, though at this hour most had retired to their own homes. Meaning, besides the security and a skeleton crew of servants, he was the only one in that entire wing of his family's large mansion. She would feel horridly lonely having so much space to herself, because even though she technically lived alone, she mostly kept to her bedroom.
"Kyouya-sama, Ms. Harper is here." one of the butlers announced as she made her way to one of Kyouya's various rooms.
"Thank you. Hello, Kiiro." Kyouya greeted as he reclined in the sofa.
"Kyouya, exactly why am here?" she asked as the butler left.
"I thought I'd told you; to sort out what had happened while we were away." he smirked. "What? Did you have something else in mind?"
"No, but you do." she blinked innocently.
"Not entirely." he admitted. "I am looking to get something done today." he sat up straight. "Tamaki's training under his father to take over his business."
"I knew something like that would happen." Kiiro confessed. "I suppose that's not a bad thing in itself." she perked up, "Ah, I'd been meaning to ask you. Did you realize it in Barbizon as well?"
"Yes, his mother seemed much healthier than I expected."
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking of doing a separate investigation." he shrugged. "But, that's a different story. I want to know what you think of the club's security."
"I wish I could say I had no clue. But, I've got a bad feeling." she sighed. "Haruhi has quite the spell on her."
"Hikaru, Kaoru, Tamaki..."
"Exactly. And now it's taken a turn for the worst."
"That idiot must have done something compromising."
"Kaoru seems to have given up. But, Hikaru seems to have finally realized it." she slumped. "Of course, I'm not even going to mention how the relationship between the two of them has shifted..."
"What will happen..."
"...if Haruhi realizes she's fallen in love with Tamaki?" she glanced up at him.
"Yes..." Kyouya sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I doubt the twins would just quit the club." Kiiro added. "They would be more likely to fight for it."
"I'm not worrying about that." he hesitated. "I'm starting to wonder if the club is winding down."
It was an odd statement that hung about the air. It may be a small thing but it was an alarming notion to the both of them. Kyouya had grown attached to the Host Club just as Kiiro had. Nothing would be the same if they were to lose it. Kiiro had always hated changes like these. But, both of them knew that nothing lasted.
"I don't want that to happen." Kiiro said quietly, cocking her eyebrow.
"None of us want it to happen." Kyouya sighed again. "There may be a way to prevent it, though."
"There better be." she said determinedly.
It seemed out of the blue, but he chuckled, "What's wrong? Afraid that if the club is disbanded, you won't get to see me as much?"
"Don't be so arrogant." she warned him. "I already see you too much, you've become a hazard to my health." she mocked and giggled.
"How so?" he got up from the black couch. An intense look in his eye.
"You know exactly how." she shrank away from him, chuckling. "Every time we're alone, we play games." she got up from her chair and began wandering about the room. "I'll try to get away and you'll try to catch me." he followed her, true to form. "See?"
"I see." he smirked. "Then what happens?"
"You'll catch me, corner me..." she trailed off.
She leaned against the wall and he stood before her and placed his arms on either side of her, "Like this?"
"Yes, exactly like that." she faltered as she realized what she was doing.
"I'm intrigued. What happens next, Kiiro?" he grinned.
She kissed him, and when she pulled away said, "You think I would let you catch me that easily?" and ducked under his arm.
"Yes." he tried. "You never object to me when I do catch you."
She glared at him, "Are you so sure of that?"
"I am. You may not admit it, but I know you like what I do."
She blushed but had nothing to say to his remark, so she just backed away.
"Kiiro." he warned playfully. "Come here, won't you?" he slowly made his way towards her.
"No." she stood behind the chair. Inching in the opposite direction. She chuckled, feeling like a child playing tag.
His eyes narrowed and he started picking up speed, trying to get to her. But, the room was large and Kiiro was always just out of his reach while she was behind something.
"Why do you always chase me, Kyouya?" she asked as she backed up.
"Because you always tease me." he said simply, reaching for her as she got away.
"How am I teasing you?" she grinned.
"Come here, Kiiro."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to come here." he raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" she tried to back away from him.
He rounded the corner of the couch and grabbed her arm before she could get away.
"Caught you."
She blushed, "But, I was having fun." she half-whined.
"Do you even care for my response to that?" he laughed and kissed her neck. He pushed her back onto the couch.
"Always with the ulterior motives."
"What was that?" he smirked.
She kissed his neck, this time, "Nothing."
"Good." his lips met hers, and when he pulled away he reminded her. "Keep in mind that you promised me I could stay over at your house in return for my help during the "Hostess Incident"." he hummed.
She felt a new surge of butterflies in her stomach.
(A.N.) The sleepover will take place in a separate story, a one shot set right after this chapter.