"Tales of the Stars"

Book 1: Homecoming

Chapter 9

Yuzuru Souh just smiled as the two confused students shared a look. "Now come have a seat and I'll shine some light on things."

Mamoru reluctantly sat down. The twins had been hinting that their friend shared his last name, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. There were lots of families in Japan that shared surnames but were in no way related. He still didn't like the chairman's grin though. He had a look in his eyes that appeared like he was looking at two relatives he hadn't seen in ages.

Staria sitting down next to him brought the young man out of his thoughts. The whole situation had just turned awkward.

"Very good." Yuzuru shut the door and took a seat behind his desk. "I know you both haven't exactly had easy lives, but your experiences have shaped you two into fine young adults. I'm sorry I couldn't have made things easier for you, but I have been doing my best where I can." He looked at Mamoru first. "You have always been offered the best education, yet you are always mindful of those taking care of you and despite going to less prestigious schools you have remained top of your class in everything you do. You're an excellent hard worker my boy and I commend you on that. Your caretakers have also informed me that you've been holding several part time jobs along side school to help save for your future correct?"

"Yes. I'll be moving out of their care once I graduate high school. It's better to have something set in place than being a burden on them longer. You can't live in this world without some kind of savings or steady income. I'll need pay for my university studies as well so I can't slack off sir." Mamoru was still confused on where this was all going.

"As I've offered before you would be more than welcome to attend Ouran's university if you like, but I seem to hear of you having bigger plans."

"I've already been accepted into Tokyo University, but I do thank you for the offer."

"Such an accomplished young man already. You indeed must work very hard to achieve access to our country's top college, but then again your father got in easily as well." the chairman smiled again before Mamoru could ask. "Yes my boy I knew your father. Quite well actually. He was a remarkable man, as is your adopted father Staria. How is Captain Wolf these days?"

"He's a training officer now." Staria was caught off guard by the sudden attention brought to her. "He doesn't have to move all over the place any more. We got to settle in California for good, back when I was twelve."

"Good to hear. He hated having to constantly move, though that's what brought us all together. He, Chiba and I all attended university together back in the day." his expression grew softer, almost pained. "But I should get to the point shouldn't I."

Staria kept looking at the floor, too scared to look up for fear of how she'd react. Quietly she interrupted the chairman, "You're going to say that Mamoru's my older brother. That he didn't die that day of the accident. Aren't you? He was just lost, and by the time he was found I was already on my way back to the states with my current parents." her voice was just barely loud enough to be heard but clear. "That it was too late to keep what was left of the Chiba family together. My mom, my adopted mother that is, told me that both my parents had been only children and my grand parents had all passed away already. Our family had been small, no one to take me in after the accident. She said they couldn't leave me alone."

"It's true Staria. You two are the last of the Chiba family. Brother and sister. Mamoru there was no sign of you when the police found the car and your parents. It was days later when you were dropped off at a hospital by an anonymous savior with no regards as to who you were. As soon as I heard of the accident I wanted to take both of you in, but my family wouldn't allow it. I knew Staria was with the Wolfs and would be taken care of. So I took it upon myself to find what had happened to you Mamoru. I was very glad to find you alive, but knew I couldn't bring you into my household. So I made sure that where you were placed would take good care of you and not use you in any way." Yuzuru paused to let them take it all in.

Mamoru's head was spinning a bit. His name was indeed his, but that still didn't answer who he was. He took a quick glance at the girl next to him. She was his younger sister. They didn't really look a like though. Not that he could see any ways. What did Suoh have to gain if he was lying to him? Staria was still looking at the floor when he glanced again. He wonder what exactly she was thinking. She'd known she had a brother, but probably though him long dead with her parents. "Why wait until now to tell us this?" he finally asked.

"You are about to go out into the world on your own. It's a scary place when you're alone. I wanted you to know that you are not alone. You do still have family and I hope that you will come to me should you ever need anything. I truly wanted to adopt you two as my own, but it's far late in life for that."

Staria smiled a bit at that thought, still not looking up, and chuckled. "Tamaki could have been my brother too, that would have made things even crazier."

"Tamaki worries about you quite a bit Staria, and I will say he did not want me to tell you all of this. Something about letting you go at your own pace."

She finally looked up. "He's been trying to get me to look into my birth family since I got here." She turned to Mamoru, "No offense on not instantly hunting you down, but I was pretty sure you were dead, and I wasn't ready to go find a family grave."

"None taken. I honestly don't remember anything before the accident." Mamoru smiled at her. "Though you're friends were trying their hardest to find out the truth for you. Those twins are the reason I even called for this meeting. They're very good at getting under a person's skin. Though I am glad to know that the name I've been using is really mine and not just some label."

Yuzuru smiled at them talking naturally. "You two were six and four the last time I saw you. It was for Mamoru's birthday and you're mother wanted to have a small get together for it. You've both grown up beautifully. Your parents would be proud of you both. There is more we need to discuss still, but if you wish we can save it for another day. I know I've dropped a lot in you laps already."

"I'd like to hear whatever it is if you don't mind. I've gone so long without knowing anything." Mamoru said.

"I know, and I'm sorry again for that. I needed to make sure you were protected until now. You're going to have some choices to make in the next few years. You can continue to work if you wish but it's really not necessary. There is an account in your name that has more than enough money for you to live off of comfortably for the rest of your life. Your family trust funds will also be fully available to you as of your twenty-first birthday. I have been watching your investments since your parents' passing and neither of you have anything to worry about financially unless you simply squander it on excess, and even then it should still last you most of your life."

"Wait a second. What do you mean?" Staria looked at him like he was crazy.

"My dear the Chiba family had large holdings in botanical research since your grandfather was young man. You father expanded the business into electronics. You'd still be considered 'new money' to most of the powerful families in Japan, but you're both heirs none the less. It's good that you haven't been spoiled and limited by our world, but at the same time it might handicap you not being use to it. You both still have a choice though. The Chiba companies went public quite some time back so you don't need to worry about running anything, unless you want to. Then it's just a matter of getting you back into the works. Introducing you to the right people, and buying up the majority stocks. You can choose to stay out of it and just take your money quietly and keep your normal lives. Or you can choose to join the world of the elite and we will start planning your introductions into society when your trusts have matured fully."

The Chiba children stared at him for a few moments not fully believing what they were told. "So we're rich…" Staria finally spit out.

"Yes. I am sure you both are quit capable of making a living on your own, but this little that I could do was not going to be wasted. Staria once you turned eight-teen your parents would have informed you of this. You just get to know a little early." Yuzuru beamed at them, very proud of himself.

"I don't know if I'm ready to deal with all of this right now after all." Mamoru said. "Knowing I don't have to worry about money is nice, but this is an entirely different world than what I'm use to."

"I understand and I don't expect an answer. The funds that are already available to you can be accessed here." He handed Mamoru a bank book. The younger man's mouth almost fell open when he looked at the number of figures. He'd never seen so much money in his life. "Staria I spoke to your mother this afternoon and she said to call her later. In the mean time she doesn't feel that you need to worry about your account just yet, so if there's anything you want just ask me and I'll get it for you."

The three of them spoke for a while longer before the chairman had to be going to another meeting. Staria and Mamoru found themselves standing in the hallway in silence. What do you say to a sibling you haven't seen in over tens years?

"Want to go get something to eat?" Mamoru finally asked.

"That would be nice, but I'm not really dressed to ride on a motorcycle." She spread her hands to the side and looked down at the yellow school uniform.

"Good point." Mamoru laughed a little. "What is with this place's uniforms? You look like you're ready to go to a tea party."

"I know right. Slap a hair bow and apron on me and call me Alice." The two laughed, and it was a good honest laugh.

"If you don't mind my asking, since the situations changed a bit, what did bring you back to Japan?" Mamoru asked. "It might not be a pleasant place to start, but I would like to get to know my little sister."

Staria smiled at his sincerity. "Alright but let's go find some where to sit. Then we'll swap life stories. She took him to an alcove near the music rooms, so she could see when the host club closed for the day. The windows in the alcove had cushioned bay window seats, where students could watch outside, or study in the sunlight when it was too cold to just be out. The two took a seat and Staria explained her past with Gene and the need to escape it all for a while.

"So you left to get away from one stress just to land in another." he concluded.

"Pretty much, but I'll say all of this is better than wallowing in depression and self pity." Staria shrugged and smiled.

"You don't seem depressed to me, so you're friends must be doing a good job." Mamoru was actually impressed at how well she seemed to be handling her emotional stress. For a sixteen year old she was pretty composed.

"I don't know if the twins really see me as a friend or just a new toy. They're pretty self serving as I'm sure you've seen. Tamaki's been amazing though. He's a bit eccentric at times but he really does care about everyone he meets. I don't think I've ever met anyone as true to his feelings as him."

"Was that the guy with you on Saturday?" Mamoru watched her face go beat red as he asked it. It wasn't really the reaction he was expecting, but he couldn't help but pick a bit. "Is that a yes or a no?"

"No…that was Kyoya. He's Tamaki's best friend and my classmate." she knew she was beat red and couldn't do anything about it. Mamoru wasn't stupid either so there was no use hiding it. "And yes I'm kind of crushing on him, but it's pointless so don't make a big deal. Tamaki does that enough for everyone…" she turned toward the window trying to recompose herself. Mamoru thought it was cute, but at the same time was curious about this person. What made it pointless? He wondered if Motoki felt this way when his little sister talked about boys.

"You shouldn't say things like that, you'll make me want to pick on you. Why's it pointless? He already have a girlfriend?"

Staria looked at him and shook her head. "No. I'm just not in the same class. Everyone here is from a completely different world that I just don't fit into."

"But if things had been different you would be a part of their world. We both would. So doesn't that change your reasoning? Besides if he's only about class then he's a jerk and doesn't deserve your time."

"Kyoya hasn't ever treated me as a lesser, but he also doesn't stand to gain anything from a relationship with me. He and Tamaki are true friends, but even that started as a link to Souh family for his own family. Everything here is about networking. It kinda pisses me off."

"So change schools. Don't cause yourself more problems than what you need. You should be having fun and getting an education. Not making yourself miserable." Mamoru tried to understand her thinking.

"I'd feel bad mooching off of the Souh's if I wasn't even going to their school." Staria admitted. "I've thought about it though, I really have."

"How long's your exchanger period for?"

"As long as I want. It can be for a term up till I graduate. I'm pretty sure the chairman set it up so I could do whatever I wanted. I guess in the light of all this, my transfer wasn't just luck."

"It's just an idea, but you could take a transfer exam to any other school you'd want to go to, and then when I get my own place you can come live with me. You can enjoy being a teenager for a while." Mamoru surprised himself a bit when he offered. It was a feasible idea. They were family after all it wouldn't be seen as weird. She'd need to talk to her parents about it, and find a school she'd want to go to but it was all possible. Then maybe he could enjoy some form of family life too.

"Can I think about it?" She finally responded.

"Of coarse. I still have to graduate myself so it'd be after spring any ways, but it'd give you time to plan a head." Mamoru smiled. They were brought out of their conversation by the sound of a large group of girls exiting one of the music rooms. They watched the sea of yellow dresses and well kept hair flow from the room and separate into their own paths home.

"Looks like club's out." Staria noted.

"I guess that's my cue to call it a day too." Mamoru pulled out his cell phone. "What's your number? I'll give you a call later."

"I don't have a cell phone, but I can give you the house number and my e-mail." She started writing down the information on a blank page of the sketchbook she always had handy.

"A teenager without a cell phone…that's a rarity here."

"It's by choice. I don't really like them."

"Well then I won't offer to get you one till you change your mind."

"You don't need to buy me things. Your girlfriend will get jealous, even if I am little sister."

"I don't have a girlfriend to get jealous."

"I find that hard to believe. You're smart, good looking and have a good personality, from what I can tell. So you must just be picky or hard to get." Staria voiced her observations with no shame.

"Look who's talking. Don't meddle with my love life till you have your own under control." he took the paper from her and put it in his pocket. "I'll e-mail you my info when I get home. Call me if you need anything, other wise I'll be in touch." he placed a hand on top of her head and messed her hair up a bit. "Go catch up with your friends. I can make my way back out."

"Bye Mamoru. Have a safe drive." She watched him go until he was out of sight. She liked the idea of having an older brother. She did forget to ask him about having any strange dreams. It'd have to wait until later.

The boys were cleaning up the club room when Staria finally walked in.

"Have another profitable day?" She asked peeking over Kyoya's shoulder for a moment.

"Yes actually. Feeling better?" He inquired, as he scribbled down a few calculations.

"I was feeling fine before lunch thank you very much."

"Star!" the twins bounded over pulling her away from the dark haired boy. "Did you take good care of Mamoru?" they asked as one, putting way too much emphasis on Mamoru's name.

"Yes I helped Mamoru. He just left actually. Now you two get to answer my questions for once." she put her hands on her hips trying to show she meant business.

"Oh? Do we?"

"What kind of people get pleasure from toying with others?"

"Ones that are bored." They answered with no remorse.

"You two are terrible. Please never breed, you're twisted enough I'd be afraid of what you'd produce." She left them without a clear hint as to if she knew the truth or not.

Tamaki was looking out the window when she walked up beside him and leaned her head on his shoulder. He was watching Mamoru get onto his bike and leave.

"You ok?" he asked, just loud enough for only her to hear.

"Yeah I'm good. Sorry to make you worry. You're dad's crazy. Just like you." She teased a little. "But very well meaning just the same."

"Sorry I didn't tell you."

"I didn't want to know. All you did was respect my wishes. I'm not upset. It's kinda cool knowing I have a brother. I'll introduce you next time."

"I'd like that." He moved wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave a little squeeze. "Your dress is ready by the way."