Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 4: The Joining

"Excuse me," Yuki suddenly objected. "But I'm not sure I want to be a Host without seeing what is it exactly you do."

Haruhi nodded. "That's a very wise choice. First see what the Host Club's about." So you can run away screaming later, she muttered in an undertone. Yuki blinked in surprised and refrained from laughing out loud while Tamaki and the twins protested that she was being mean to them. Yuki intervened by asking what is it they specifically do to the girls. Tamaki popped out of his state of gloom immediately and exclaimed, "We simply treat the ladies like the princesses they are!"

Kyoya added, "For a price."

Hani piped up, "They pick the person they like the most. Tama-chan has 70 percent of the customers!"

"We also do cosplaying!" Kaoru and Hikaru said in perfect synchronization.

"What would Yuki-kun look good in?"

"Maybe the tropical costumes, Hikaru?"

"No, Kaoru. He's too fragile-looking for that. How about something white?"

"And a high collar."

The rest of the Host Club members and Yuki sweatdropped when they heard the twins avidly making plans for Yuki's costume.

"Hika-chan, Kao-chan! Yu-chan hasn't even decided if he wants to join," Hani reminded them.

"Mori agreed with a small "un." Yuki wondered, when did I become Yu-chan?

The twins grinned mischievously. "But it's so fun..." started Kaoru.

"...dressing up our newest toy!" ended Hikaru. Both of them glided over to the silent Yuki and casually leaned an elbow on his shoulders; Hikaru on his right and Kaoru on his left.

Kyoya remarked, "Don't scare him away now." Suddenly, Yuki ducked out and under the twins' arms. They teetered for a moment, then fell and crashed into each other, landing in a pile of red hair and tangled limbs. The Host Club looked curiously at Yuki. His long bangs were shielding his cool gray eyes, but when he looked up, all traces of friendliness was gone. It was replaced by coldness, anger, and the barest hint of fear.

"Don't call me your toy."

His voice was steely and held a slightly threatening note behind it. (Afterwards, Tamaki swore the temperature dropped 20 degrees at that time and he pitied any fool stupid enough to get Yuki mad at him.) Letting his icy glare settle a moment longer in the twins' direction, he could feel them withering. Then he grabbed his bookbag and stalked out of the Third Music Room. Silence fell like a heavy blanket, smothering all sounds for a minute. Ironically, it was the quietest person who ended the silence.

"Never call him your toy again," stated Mori simply. Kaoru and Hikaru had stayed on the floor during Yuki's little outburst, but then they carefully disentangled themselves from one another and shoved their hands down their pockets.

"We didn't mean anything bad. Sheesh," they complained, but everyone knew they were upset. Haruhi wondered, what made the cool prince get so sensitive about being called somebody's toy?

Yuki ran through the hallways, flew down three flights of stars, and barreled out of the front doors of Ouran where Hatori was waiting to pick him up. He sprinted to the loitering car and climbed in. Hatori arched his eyebrow quizzically at the panting teen.

"Are you all right?"

"Just drive."

The dragon didn't press him for information, and for that, Yuki was grateful. He buckled up his seatbelt, leaned back, and closed his eyes when the black car lurched forward. As Hatori drove in silence, Yuki was trying to repress the dark memories that appeared. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop them. They were like fragile bubbles, popping randomly, chocking him with his past...

He was alone, in a dark place...

Hurt...

Anger...

Fear...

All of them old acquaintances from his childhood, reappearing in a huge tidal wave of blood, wiping out all his attempts to stay afloat...

Suddenly, the crimson liquid surrounding him vanished, leaving him completely dry but forcing him to release racking coughs. His asthma was acting up. Yuki dropped to his knees, eyes watering like crazy, throat itching and he couldn't breathe, breathe, breathe...

After for what seemed like an eternity in darkness, his coughing subsided, but he still felt woozy. Slowly, he staggered onto his feet and breathed in the black air. It smelled strange, like...blood?

Right after he thought that disturbing thought, the backround gradually changed from inky black to a smoky gray, finally settling on a bloody shade of scarlet. A swarm of black bats flew around his head, shrieking in an unearthly tone. Then they all started screaming at him in Akito's voice.

"Nobody loves you..."

"Everyone would be happier if you died..."

"Your mother sold you to me..."

"You're my toy now."

TOY.

TOY.

TOY.

"Yuki? Wake up."

He sat up, blinking furiously. He had fallen asleep in Hatori's car! The doctor was leaning over him, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine." That came out a bit more brusquely than he felt. Grabbing his bookbag, Yuki climbed out of the back seat and thanked Hatori for the ride. After he drove away, the teen went inside. Tohru greeted him happily, and then noticed he didn't look so good.

"Yuki-kun, daijobu? You look very pale."

Yuki didn't notice how upset he felt until now.

"I'm all right." He climbed up the stairs unsteadily, feeling her worried gaze on his back. In the privacy of his own room, he changed from his Ouran uniform into his usual Chinese-styled shirt and a pair of blue pants. He ambled into the restroom and noted how ill he looked, and then splashed some cold water onto his face. Yuki stared intensely at his troubled reflection in the mirror, then muttered, "I am not a toy," over and over again. It was his own private manta to calm himself. He would not-could not fail his mission. Akito would not be happy. He would go to the Host Club tomorrow.

It had to be done.

The next day, the Host Club was preparing for the customers.

"Hey, Haru-chan, do you think Yu-chan will come today?" Hani asked sadly. Haruhi considered saying something to make her sempai feel more optimistic, but that was against her nature.

"I don't know. Probably not. He seemed pretty upset yesterday," answered Haruhi truthfully. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the twins wince a bit when a red arrow of guilt pierced them. Tamaki sighed miserably. "And here I thought we could snag another handsome host to help us!" The twins staggered when a green arrow smacked them, then many more colorful ones appeared as the others said how disappointed they were. Finally they collapsed, colorful arrows sticking out of them. Suddenly there were three soft knocks at the door. Kyoya opened it while saying, "We're sorry, but-eh? Sohma-kun?"

"Yu-chan! You're here!" Hani shrieked as he launched himself off Mori's shoulders and onto Yuki. Miraculously, he managed to stay upright as Hani squeezed him ruthlessly. The rest of the Host Club also expressed their happiness, just not by trying to squeeze him to death. Tamaki was the most dramatic of all, loudly exclaiming how overjoyed he was by having Yuki come back to him. The twins sidled up to Yuki.

"We're sorry we called you our toy," they muttered sheepishly. Yuki gave them a small smile and accepted their apology. Pretty soon they joined Hani, sobbing that he was too forgiving. Yuki and Haruhi sweatdropped as Tamaki joined the cuddling Yuki group, while Mori made sure his cousin didn't get squashed. Haruhi observed Kyoya scribbling calculations in his black notebook, probably trying to figure out how much profit this new guy could bring in. Yuki was genuinely surprised by all this affection so he stood still and forgot to escape. When he realized Hani, Tamaki, Kaoru, and Hikaru were crushing him, he valiantly tried to wriggle out of their grasp, but to no avail. They just clung on tighter.

Unexpectedly, it was Kyoya who saved him by mentioning all their customers were waiting outside, and if they killed Yuki, him coming back would have been for nothing. So they left Yuki to catch his breath, and welcomed their 'princesses' inside. During club time, Yuki sat and quietly observed the Host Club at work.

Haruhi charmed her customers with her natural personality.

The twins used their 'beautiful brotherly love' act that strongly reminded Yuki of the dog and snake, but they weren't this extreme.

Hani acted like Momiji; Yuki swore he could be the rabbit's older brother. Mori was the opposite: strong and silent was his selling point.

Tamaki outrageously praised the girls, but Yuki could see he actually meant it.

Kyoya managed to make his customers swoon while selling Host Club merchandise. A truely amazing feat.

Yuki gratefully noted that the Host Club wasn't terribly disturbing, besides the fact the twins' act got a little steamy at times and the almost-kisses Tamaki seemed to frequently share with the blushing Ouran ladies. Also, one of the hosts was a girl. Other than that, he thought the Host Club might be an excellent way to get to know Tamaki Suoh better. The only thing he was worried about was how close the hosts had to be with the girls. If one of them hugged him, it would all be over. Yuki seriously considered his options: join and risk having his secret found out, or leave and not become friends with Tamaki. Either way, Akito's wrath was inevitable.

At the end of the club, the members asked Yuki if he wanted to join. Yuki took a deep breath, and said, "Hai." The cuddling Yuki group was immediately reformed and attacked. Mori gave a pleased grin towards the gray-haired teen while Kyoya started thinking about how much money they could make off of Yuki. Again. Haruhi was glad Yuki was joining. We need some more sane people in this club, she thought dryly, looking at the 'king' and his 'twin devils.'

Tamaki called, "Okaasan, help us smother our newest son with love!"

Hani grabbed Mori and pulled him into the big hug pile while Kyoya sighed, adjusted his glasses, reluctantly inched closer, and was sucked in. That left Haruhi staring at the clock wistfully, wondering if she could get to the supermarket in time. The twins detached themselves from the tangle of limbs and pushed Haruhi into the hug! Thankfully, Mori stood unwavering between Yuki and her so his secret was safe...for now. He wondered how long it would take for him to transform in front of the Host Club.

He'd give it a week, tops.

Japanese Vocabulary:

Daijobu- are you all right

Hai- yes

Okaasan- mother

A/N: Whee! Chapter 4 is up! Mimi-chan just came back from Japan, so that's why I didn't update for a while. Now I am back, so look foward to more updates.

This chapter turned out more angesty than I originally planned...Oh well!

Will the Host Club find out about the Sohma's secret? When will they get to meet the unique and great-looking Sohmas? What will be the next Host Club cosplay? Only Mimi-chan knows! MUAHAHAHA! Oh, wait. I don't know the last one... :P

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

Please R&R or I won't update! (Gasp! Mimi-chan is threatening people! What is this world coming to?!)

jk. Or am I? 5 reviews. That's all I'm asking for.

Ja ne!

Mimi-chan

xxfirebubblesxx