Chapter Thirty-One: Dissolution
"Quitting...the Host Club?" the words sounded strange.
This was another curve ball, just when Kiiro was thinking they could figure things out. Looking up from the table, everyone was shocked still. And she was sure Kyouya was the worst. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control. And maybe it had been this way for a while. This was all part of Tamaki's grandmother's plan, and not a one of them had seen it coming, nor had they been able to prevent it.
"What do you mean quit?" Kiiro was entirely surprised that she had been the one to break the silence.
Snapped out of their stupor, the Twins followed up with, "Did your grandmother tell you to do it?!"
Tamaki was still smiling, that ridiculous smile, ingenuine, "Well, yes, Grandmother did tell me to do it, but the one to make the decision was me alone. No one else. Since entering the main residence. I've been seriously studying the Suoh business. To be honest, my hands are full with this, and I'm enjoying it, too. Day by day, I feel the thing I want to do becoming clearer. So..."
"'So' nothing!" the Twins objected in unison. "You shouldn't quit the club!"
"I have an idea, Tama-chan, you could be like Mori and me and come when you can!" Hani tried.
"I don't want to do things halfway..." Tamaki excused through his smile. "Because I asked you all to form this club, I apologize for my selfishness. I entrust the club to Kyouya, and I don't mind if you all continue, with one exception... Haruhi, you should quit."
"Tono?"
"Haruhi was dragged into this club against her will. Kyouya, what is the balance on her debt?"
Kyouya seemed to start, quickly calculating, "She has 372 customers against her quota of 1,000. At 2,000 yen per head, that's 744,000 yen. Deducting the gains from various actions from the remains of the vase, it's 4,589,332 yen."
"Okay, I'll take responsibility for that amount!" Tamaki stated.
"Tama-chan?"
Tamaki stood up, "Haruhi, thanks for putting up with us all this time. You did well. Your debt has been paid." he patted her head and walked off.
"Tono! We won't be silent and listen to something so stupid and selfish!"
"Thanks for the meal." Tamaki waved, ignoring the brothers' outcry. "It's almost time for the first bell. So, if you'll excuse me."
Even from this far away, Kiiro could see that his smile had vanished.
"Tama-chan?"
"Hold on, Tamaki, this needs to be discussed!" Kiiro was grasping at straws.
By this time, everyone but Kyouya was standing, ready for some continuation. Tamaki only kept on walking.
"I don't agree with you!" Haruhi yelled, anger clear on her face.
He halted.
"Please explain yourself! Breaking that vase was my own carelessness! Tamaki-senpai there is no reason for you to shoulder my debt! In general, this doesn't sound like something you'd say. What did the president say to you? If you can't tell us, then at least tell us the reason for what you just did. Believe in all of us. Whatever it is, can't you be frank with us?"
He hid his eyes from her, "The reason I can't talk about this...has nothing to do with you, Haruhi. This is my problem and it has nothing to do with you. I don't want to talk about it and I don't want your understanding. And that's all there is to it."
And, with that, he walked off.
"Tono!"
Kiiro realized she was shaking with anger or panic or both.
"Haru-chan?"
Haruhi was quickly packing up everything.
"Haruhi?"
She ran off towards the gates. The Twins, Hani and Mori followed.
"Kiiro..." Kyouya began, he wouldn't look her way. "Will you go after them?"
"Y-yes." she nodded, jogging off after them.
"Haruhi wait!"
"Haruhi! Wait, where are you going?" Hikaru was the first one to catch up to her. "Calm down! We know you were really offended by what Tono said, but we don't know what his motives are, do we? Even if his grandmother said something to him, there's nothing we can do."
"I know that!" she snapped.
"Haru-chan?"
"Hani-senpai, do you know where the Suoh Headquarters are?" Haruhi calmed down.
"Eh? Y-yes, I know, but..."
"I'm sorry, but, could you please tell me?"
"Hold on, Haruhi we should probably be getting back." Kiiro tried.
"...Haruhi?" the Twins prompted.
"If Tamaki-senpai can't tell me anything then...I'm going to ask the president directly!"
'Sorry to interrupt you, there's trouble.' Kiiro texted Kyouya, who, right now, was in class.
"Why can't we talk to the president?" Haruhi asked the women at the front desk. "I have something I must ask her about her grandson."
"I'm sorry, but Shizue Suoh is not here today." one woman replied. "And we cannot make an appointment while she's away. We can take a message, though."
"Hey you guys!" a voice came from behind the group. Everyone turned to see Tamaki's father. "I heard there were some noisy Ouran students in the lobby." he turned to the front desk. "Oh, and it's not necessary to report this to the president."
"Yes, chairman."
"I'll hear what you have to say." the chairman led them to another room. "Come, let's go to the reception room."
The situation was explained, "I see... Tamaki did that kind of thing... However, I respect Tamaki's independence. It is regrettable that this is what he desires, but at the same time, there's nothing for me to say about it."
"Chairman!" the Twins protested.
"Quitting the club in this manner, is something I don't think Tamaki-senpai desires." Haruhi tried. "Don't you think so too, chairman? Furthermore, if this is what he wanted, then, why didn't the second residence staff come with him and why was Antoinette taken away?"
The chairman smiled sadly, "Fujioka-kun, I'm pleased with you. And, I thank you all for being good friends to Tamaki. I must admit I'm beat. Compared to you all, my current self has very little influence on Tamaki."
The door flung open with a loud bam! and Tamaki and Kyouya walked in.
"Haruhi!" Tamaki yelled.
"Tono!"
"Tama-chan! Kyou-chan!"
"You guys! What did you intend to accomplish by skipping class? Haruhi, go back to school right now!" he grabbed her arm.
"Tamaki-senpai, I want to know the real-!"
"Shut up and go back to school!"
There was a stunned silence. Never in a million years would they have thought Tamaki could say something so harshly to Haruhi.
"Haruhi please, I beg you, because...it's troublesome!"
And with that, Hani and Mori pulled the shocked Haruhi out of the room as everyone went back to school.
"I'm sorry about that." Kiiro said on the way back in Kyouya's family car. "In the end I wasn't able to prevent them from going."
He stared out the window, "No, it's fine. It was enough to follow them even if it meant leaving school grounds." he turned to her, "Will your mother be upset when she finds out?"
She hummed, "It's fine if I tell her what happened."
A long moment passed. She touched her hand to his, slowly entwining their fingers. He smiled at her, briefly, like he was tired.
"You know, I'm experiencing something new right now." she spoke up, with the hint of a grin. "Anger so acute, that I want to kill someone."
He chuckled then, "I'm glad then. Because that makes two of us."
"So, what do we do now?"
"For now, we're going to have to wait." he admitted, and after a moment he added, "I think you may have been right, about how the chairman has something else in the works. So, for now, we'll have to wait for that."
She nodded. Remembering what that she had said after Haruhi's kidnapping, "I've decided I'd do anything to protect them." She hated waiting, it made her feel useless. And she had had enough of feeling useless. But she was certain Kyouya knew what he was doing. She would trust him implicitly.
"Gah, this week." Kiiro exclaimed, running a hand through her hair.
Kyouya tried explaining the latest situation to her and the Twins.
"Wha-What does it mean?" the Twins asked angrily. "All the activities of the Host Club suspended for an indefinite period?"
"That's right." Kyouya answered. "I was called to the principal's office and told this."
"And what is the difference between this and being abolished?" Kaoru screeched while his brother stood silent. "Why? Is it because yesterday we went to the Suoh's main office?"
"Yes, that is the official reason." Kyouya sighed.
"This is asinine." Kiiro confessed. "Maybe we were out of line but..."
"But this... Wasn't it originally the Suoh's who started behaving weirdly? This... I won't accept a punishment this hard! What did Tono sa-..."
"What is he doing...?" Hikaru spoke up. "Tono... What the hell is he doing?!"
"Hikaru..."
"I'm aware that something happened, and that it must be serious enough that he can't tell anyone..." he balled his fists. "But to the extent of putting the club on hold for an indefinite period... How can he be fine with it? And then...with Haruhi..."
"Kaoru, where is Haruhi?" Kyouya asked.
"I got an email from her. She said she would stay home today. I guess we can't help it... After being told that by Tono... Who would..."
"Yesterday the lawyer, Kousaka, went to Ranka-san's place under the order of the president and offered the opportunity for Haruhi to study abroad. There is no doubt that the president wants to get rid of Haruhi. Also, I still can't understand what the headmaster is thinking. And, in the middle of this whole situation where he can't even lift a finger, Tamaki is trying to fight in his own way. Even if I don't know...whether his method is right or not... I think there should be a meeting for the day after tomorrow... There's something we need to discuss..." Kyouya stated.
The thing that broke Kiiro out of her thoughts was the Twins hassling of a "boy" in the hall. It was enough to make her stop dead, though Tamaki and Kyouya continued on toward them.
This "boy" wore thick, square-rimmed glasses, had tousled hair and instead of a uniform donned a large, brown sweater over a white button-up. But the resemblance was undeniable.
"H-Haruhi...?" Kiiro stammered, she could definitely see how the boys had mistaken her for male at the beginning of the year.
"Haruhi?" Tamaki asked quietly.
The three second years turned to the seniors, surprised.
"That appearance..." Tamaki continued.
Haruhi marched over to him, resolutely.
"Haru...?"
"It's because you want your grandmother to understand, isn't it?" she asked as she walked by. "You were forbidden from joining club activities by her. You're not a person capable of ignoring her will and doing what you want. This is something you want her to understand, that's why you need time. And I'm not just referring to club activities. You're grandmother is also a precious member of the family, right?"
Kiiro was amazed that she wasn't mad at him, that she understood what he was trying to do.
"It's for that reason that, for now, I can't be near you. In these circumstances, I'll go back to being the Fujioka Haruhi that didn't know Tamaki-senpai. So don't be worried and do what you have to do."
King smiled, and patted her head, "Thank you..."
Haruhi walked off.
At that moment, everyone felt the same feeling. Strength and determination. Perhaps even the two exmembers in the university felt it.
Everyone smiled as they went their separate ways.
"Hey, Kyouya." Kiiro spoke softly.
"Hm?"
"Have you heard of SLE syndrome?"
Kyouya looked at her with a surprised expression.
"That's it, isn't it? That's what his mother has."
SLE syndrome, or more commonly known as Lupus, is an auto-immune disease. There is no cure and only vague ideas as to what causes it. The disease is more common in females, but it affects males as well. Primary symptoms are fatigue, fever, joint pain, organ damage and skin rashes, though these vary from person to person. With medication, these symptoms can be relieved for short periods of time. As the person ages, though, the medication loses it's effectiveness and the condition becomes more severe. In rare cases, this disease is eventually fatal.
'This is what Anne-Sophie has...'
The meeting was held at Kyouya's house and everyone but Tamaki was in attendance. They sat around a large coffee table, listening to the details of their research.
"This is all that Kaoru, Kiiro and I found from our investigation." Kyouya began. "Tamaki may not know this himself, but his mother, Anne-Sophie, without a doubt suffers from SLE syndrome. Kiiro and I met her five months ago during the trip to France, and it seemed her symptoms has naturally subsided."
"Which is rather common with SLE syndrome." Kiiro chimed in.
"But, the whereabouts of her current attending physician, Dr. Alleman, as well as the whereabouts of Yuzuru Suoh's right hand man are still unknown." he paused. "The surrounding circumstances are too strange and bring more questions to mind. For example, given Yuzuru's position, why doesn't the chairman do anything about the lawyer, Kousaka's, activities on behalf of the president? Furthermore, Tamaki was separated from his mother and then later moved into the main residence all seemingly without Yuzuru's knowledge. Why didn't the chairman have to make an appeal to the president for this to happen. What's the chairman waiting for to happen? And, when it does happen, what then? None of this makes sense to me, so I want all of your cooperation on this matter."
Haruhi was the next one to speak, "Can you think of any reasons why Tamaki's mother's condition wouldn't be temporary?"
"Haruhi...you..." Kaoru began. "When you're around just us, can you stop dressing like that?" he yelled as she was still in her lazy, boyish clothing.
"Eh? But I don't have contacts." she returned nonchalantly.
"Moving on, Kyou-chan, how about the miracle theory~?" Hani asked, ignoring the two. "Perhaps it was a miracle that made Tama-chan's mother get better~? Aren't there stories like that about cancer~!"
"That's something I can't declare because it's too simplistic and doesn't give us much to think about." Kyouya replied simply.
"...Live medical testing, maybe?" Hikaru's serious voice came from the corner of the group.
"Hikaru...?" his brother questioned.
"Tono's momma is the test subject for a new drug and the doctor is being confined so he can work on development." he started shaking. " And the chairman is being weird because it's a national secret!" he stood freaking out. "We're all going to be eliminated! Auugh!"
Kiiro jumped up, "No one's being eliminated! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Hikaru, calm down!" Kaoru tried. "Geez, you've seen too many science fiction movies. A human test subject is too frightening a story!"
"No, it isn't." Kyouya said calmly.
"What?" the Twins and Haruhi were shocked.
"I've also thought about that possibility." Kyouya continued. "Maybe there is an ongoing development of some kind of wonder drug for Tamaki's mother's illness."
"And, maybe, Tamaki's mother is using it. It is...possible." Kiiro added.
"...In a Stage II clinical study."
"A Stage II clinical study?" Haruhi prompted.
"After animal testing, human dosage testing begins. At first, only a fraction of patients are used. If this is the case, then Tamaki's mother's health improvements are believable and it follows that, as Hikaru said, her attending physician is participating in the development. Dr. Alleman has been studying the illness for a long time, so he is very knowledgeable."
"I knew it... It is human testing!" Hikaru babbled.
Kyouya opened his laptop, "However, I can't find any information. Usually the basics of a clinical study are made public. It's unusual for the results of a Stage II clinical study not to be available. Since Suoh took a stake in it," he continued. "the advances the Grantenieux Company has made in the pharmaceutical industry, have made considerable headlines. So, no matter how you look at it, there's no reason the results shouldn't have come out."
"As expected from a future medical student." Kaoru commented. "You did a lot of studying."
"Who said I was going into medicine?" Kyouya asked of him.
"What~! You're not~?" Hani was shocked. "I thought it was a given~!"
"My two older brothers are studying medicine, so I figure I ought to become a management expert." Kyouya explained. "I'm thinking about going to a university in the U.S. And then, after graduation, I'll stay in the U.S. to get an MBA. My older brothers- especially Akito-niisan -think I'm chasing behind them..."
'And there's the evil smile.' Kiiro chuckled.
"But, I intend to take a different route."
"Um, can I borrow a list of the clinical studies?" Haruhi asked.
"Anybody can see them on the Internet."
"But I...don't have a computer."
"Haruhi, you can borrow my laptop." Hikaru kindly offered.
"Wha? Really?"
"Yes, but before you use it, I'll have to make some customization."
"All right starting now it's the 'Let's get Haruhi on the Internet project'!" the Twins announced in unison.
"Wha?"
"Yay~! It's been a while since I've had Haru-chan's home cooking~!" Hani cheered.
"Well,treating everyone is-!" Haruhi tried objecting.
The Twins, Mori and Hani ran out of the house. Haruhi followed after them.
Kiiro stood, directing a smile at Kyouya, "Well, at least we've made some headway. After all of the initial idiocy, this week has brightened up a bit."
He nodded, closing his laptop, "Now we just have to find the study."
She pulled him closer to her by his tie, kissing him deeply and for as long as she thought she could get away with.
He hummed as she pulled away, "I love it when you're in a better mood." he grinned.
She giggled, "C'mon, let's get after them before they get suspicious."
"I'm home~!" Ranka announced as he walked through the door to his apartment. "Work was tiring again... KYAAA!" he screeched as he discovered Mori, Hani, Hikaru and Kaoru on the floor of Haruhi's room asleep in a huddle. "What the hell is going on here at this hour in my marriageable daughter's room?" he picked up Hikaru.
"Kyouya-senpai, Kiiro-senpai." Haruhi called, apparently she was ignoring her father.
"What?"
"Yes?"
"At this 'Anneau' research institute, there was a Stage I clinical study that tested a drug for the same disease Tamaki's mother has." Haruhi looked over the entry on the list. "But the results are not available."
"In that case, it's safe to think the experiment failed." Kyouya said.
"But last spring the research institute became a public corporation." Haruhi continued.
"They went public without publishing results?" Kyouya looked confused. "'Anneau Pharmaceuticals', I've never heard of it."
"Anneau, that's French, right~?" Hani rubbed his eyes as he woke. "It means 'ring'."
"The same as the meaning of 'tamaki'." Mori realized.
"Hey...moreover, the spelling." Kaoru began. "If you remove 'au' from anneau it leaves 'Anne'."
"Tamaki's mother's name!"
"Just as I thought, the chairman is backing the Grantenieux Company's drug development." Kyouya said. "Furthermore the new company that was set up is already preparing for a product launch. If that's the case, then, how could they possibly keep it hidden?" his eyes widened. "Is my family involved in this? ...If Father is involved, then controlling the production information, of course, would be easy... That guy will do whatever it takes. Anneau pharmaceuticals owner is probably the Grantaine family. By setting up the new company, the chairman is allowing the Grantaine family to make enormous profits. If the Grantaine family can stand on its own, then they won't need the Suoh family's support. And, they won't be under the president's control. Tamaki and his mother will be free, this was the chairman's objective the whole time."
"And, therefore, they had to keep absolute secrecy. In order to hide it from president." Kiiro analyzed.
"However, the chairman's real objective is terrible."
"What do you mean?" Kiiro questioned.
"The morning news is out!" the Twins crowded around their laptop. The announcement of the new drug was the headline.
"A-already?" she stuttered.
"...If I'm not mistaken...the chairman plans to oust the president!" Kyouya concluded.
'His father will destroy Tamaki's dream of a complete happy family.'
"He didn't come to school?" Haruhi asked while they stood in the hallway.
Kiiro shook her head, "I'm not very surprised, though."
"Yes...and there hasn't been any information from his house. Also, just a few minutes ago, I got a message from Tachibana. It seems that the retirement of the president was formally announced at this morning's Board of Directors meeting." Kyouya placed a hand to his forehead.
"So, it's like the article said." Kaoru held up one end of the newspaper. "But, somehow I still don't understand."
"How does the restoration of the Grantaine family relate to the fall of the president?" Hikaru pressed. "Does it mean the headmaster has been planning this from the start?"
"You see..." Kyouya gestured to another group in the hallway. The group clustered around a newspaper. "The other students are shocked by this morning's news. I hope this doesn't turn into unnecessary trouble." he pushed up his glasses.
The next week passed quickly, and Tamaki was absent every day.
"Tono didn't come today either?" Kaoru asked again.
"Hasn't it already been five days?"
"Yes, and now everyone is talking about it." Kyouya sighed. "I heard that Tamaki is completely ignoring the headmaster. And knocks on the door of the president everyday, but she doesn't come out. He ends up waiting for hours in front of the door. I talked to Hani-senpai and Mori-senpai today, we've decided to visit the main house today. What will you do?" he asked Haruhi.
"I-I want to come to!" she announced. "Please take me with you!"
The Suoh's main residence was thirty times greater than the second residence.
"Hello, I'm Ootori, Tamaki-san's friend." Kyouya said into the speaker at the gate.
"Please wait. I'll announce you." came the response.
"That's so fast~! They're announcing us~!" Hani cheered.
"It means that the president's power has been reduced in the main house."
"Ah!" Haruhi stood by the gate.
"Tono!"
"Tamaki!"
"Tama-chan~!"
Tamaki greeted them sadly, "Everyone, you came. I'm sorry for being absent the past few days."
"Tono, did you lose weight?" Kaoru asked, worried.
"I take it that everyone knows what happened?" he ignored the question. "I think father has his own reasons for acting like he did. Probably the only reason I'm taking it out on him is because things didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. But no matter what, I can't bring myself to look at him. I want to stay as close as possible to my grandmother. So, I'm sorry but, would you please go home?"
Without saying anything else he made his way back to the mansion.
"Tono?"
"Let's go." Kyouya hid his face from the rest of them, but it was clear he had been pushed to far, he turned around and grabbed Kiiro's hand.
"Kyou-chan, where?" Hani asked as Tamaki walked away.
"Isn't it obvious? The Suoh main office."
"I was expecting you to come." Yuzuru Suoh stated as the group stood before his desk. He looked on at them tiredly. "I'm going to Narita in a short while. I'm meeting someone. I don't have much time. Tamaki isn't speaking to me, can you tell him this on my behalf?" he smiled weakly. "What happened was by all means something the whole company wanted. And, it was all done for Tamaki's sake as well."
"You're wrong headmaster." Kyouya corrected him. "It was also done for yourself. For the reason that you, too, more than anyone else, have been oppressed by the president for a long time."
"As the third son of the Ootori family, you might indeed know how that feels." the chairman stated. "It's true, for so many years, I did all my mother asked me to do. I was forced into a marriage where there was no love from either part, pretending that I didn't know that my wife was having an affair on me with someone else. But, then I fell in love and, for the first time, opened my eyes. I divorced my wife. And, of course, after that my mother continued to pressure not only me but Tamaki and Anne. And, you all know the rest. Finally, I'm able to get rid of my mother by myself. I was so sure that Tamaki would have been happy with this, too."
"You're a fool!" Hikaru yelled. "What you did only hurt Tono!"
"That's right!" Kaoru yelled. "I'm sure things must have been hard for you also, but-!"
"Hikaru, Kaoru..." Kiiro placed a hand on Kaoru's shoulder while Kyouya held an arm out in front of Hikaru.
"Calm down, the discussion isn't over yet." Kyouya began. "And what about you letting the lawyer, Kousaka, move around freely? Is it because you knew she was an acquaintance of Haruhi's parents, or more specifically, her father?"
"...Yes, I did." Yuzuru admitted. "I could see that my mother wanted to get rid of Haruhi-kun because she thought she wasn't worthy of the Suohs and I thought that Kousaka, due to her feelings with Haruhi's father, would stall this plan. She was also really talented in helping to get Tamaki into the main house. I wanted Tamaki to be accepted into the house because of his own efforts, and he did produce great results. Yet, my mother would still not acknowledge him because of her pride. So, I had to do something to pressure her. Just then she started to investigate Tamaki's close friends and I thought I could use this. If Tamaki managed to enter the main house only because of my mother's downfall, then his efforts wouldn't have been rewarded, would they? That's why I wanted him to be accepted in before the Board of Directors meeting. Kousaka turned out to be a very talented person. She was composed enough to talk my mother into making considerate decisions, and she also became a good ally for the Fujioka family."
"You mean Kousaka was doing your bidding from the start?" Hani asked, shocked.
"I'm really sorry for that hard disposition toward the club." the chairman apologized. "But, I knew that Kyouya-kun was doing a lot of research. And, it would have been inconvenient if a foolish action would have attracted the president's attention." he smiled. "You can reopen the club anytime you want. I'll notify the principal!"
"Wha?" the Twins began yelling. "Don't joke with us! Deciding things for your own convenience!"
Kyouya stopped them again, "I understand you are a loving father that only wants the best for his son. And also that the development of the new drug originally began with your desire to help Anne-san. But, you completely misunderstood that the most important thing is Tamaki's feelings. And I can't forgive you because you used Tamaki to get revenge on your mother!" he paused, grabbing Kiiro's hand. "Do you understand why he bore with every cold treatment that he was given by the president?!" he yelled.
"Kyouya, calm down." Kiiro attempted to calm him down, squeezing his hand with hers.
"It was because, since she is your mother, she was family!"
"Kyouya..." she tried again, hand still in his.
"And, in all this, you were the one who made him long for a family to such an extent!"
"Kyou-chan?" Hani and Mori helped hold him back.
"Dammit..." he said under his breath. "Don't take me for a fool!"
The chairman covered his face and they all left the room.
Kyouya was still shaking by the time they returned to the car, she could feel it in his hand. His other hand was on his forehead, and he hid his face from her.
At first, she said, "I know he made a mess of things... But, Tamaki will be able to fix it if you give him time..."
"I apologize for my outburst...or if I held your hand too tightly." he exhaled deeply, calming himself down, he let go of her hand.
For the first time in a while Kiiro saw him put up his mask, the one he had used for so many years. And in a way it irked her.
"Kyouya, don't..." she leaned into him, pressing her head to his shoulder, winding her arms around his neck. "You were justified in what you said. So don't say you're sorry. Especially to me. You don't have to hold it back around me..." she let go, looking down at her hands. "Because, I love you..."
He brought a hand to her chin, lifting her face to look at her, and he kissed her, "I love you, too."