Tales of the Stars

Book 1: Homecoming

Chapter 26

For the rest of the week Tamaki was painfully aware of the idle chatter in the halls of Ouran. He kept quiet as Staria had asked him too, but he just couldn't fathom how catty so many of the girls were. Even worse were the comments he kept hearing from the male student body. They were completely misunderstanding the situation at hand. He was about at his wits end with their filthy thoughts.

From seeing her leave with various men, someone had started a rumor that Staria was nothing more than a gold digging whore. No one bothered to ask, and find out that the men happened to be her brother and her tutors. They even had the gall to say that she was playing all of the Host Club as well. He couldn't let this continue. It wasn't fair.

"Tamaki chill out." Staria patted him on the back. "Yes they're assholes, but if you make a big deal about it things will only get worse. Trust me I've played this game before. Granted this is the first time I'm being called a whore, which is kinda hilarious all things considered. It's fine though. I don't want to be friends with people like them any way. Just ignore them. We know the truth and that's what matters to me the most." She gave him a smile.

"But Star…." He started and then sighed not knowing how to argue with her.

"You're here for me. I can deal. It wouldn't be the first time I've spent a school year with a wall of ice between myself and the likes of them." She smirked a little thinking that the ice could be a little more literal this time if she wanted.

"I still wish you'd just let us set it straight."

"If one of them has the guts to say anything to my face I will. Until then it's better if they think I don't care."

"I can't help but think this is regression in the progress you've been making." Tamaki held the class room door open for her.

"What progress?" She was a bit confused.

"Your opening up to people. I know that ice you were talking about. I thought we'd done a pretty good job at melting it away, but it seems to have come back ever since Lusion came on the scene." Tamaki kept his voice down so only she'd hear.

"Well I suppose you're right. I keep saying I want other friends, but you know what it doesn't matter any more. So let's just drop it." She ended the conversation and took her seat, leaving a frowning Tamaki to muddle over it all.

"Stop making that face, you'll get premature wrinkles." Kyoya picked on the pouting blond.

"Kyoya can you talk some sense into her."

"Who?" he questioned taking his own seat.

"Staria's being unreasonable."

"Over what?"

"I'm not allowed to say." He pouted more.

"Then it's none of my business unless she tells me. So stop sticking your nose in nasty rumors."

Tamaki blinked at his friend. "You already know?"

"I'm not as dense as you are. I hear what's being said, and if she chooses to ignore it then that's how it is."

"But how can you stand to hear what they say?"

Kyoya smiled "I can't, but the proper time to break them has yet to arrive." Tamaki sat down remembering just how scary his best friend could truly be when pushed. Maybe he didn't need to worry so much after all. Kyoya wouldn't let anyone get away with hurting his girlfriend, right?

"So you both think we should just let this all play out on it's own?"

"For now, but if the right opportunity arises we'll put a stop to it all." Kyoya tried to make Tamaki understand. "People are going to believe what they want no matter what we say."

"I still don't like it…."

"Not rushing off today?" Kyoya questioned with a smile as Staria was gathering up her things. It had become a rarity to see her taking her time after class.

"Nope. I've been given a break from my extra studies for a little while. They don't wanna burn me out." She gave him a smile back.

"Good to know. Can we expect you at the club then? It's been a while since you were there." He left his tone aloof but he was looking forward to having some time with her outside of class.

"I can come by…" Staria trailed off.

"You don't seem to sure?"

"Well…." she looked up at him, "I don't really think your guests are gonna want to be in the same room as me."

Kyoya frowned. "Stop that. The girls will behave, and if they don't they'll be asked to leave. We will not tolerate ill behavior in the club room." Staria knew he meant it but she couldn't help but still feel uneasy. She wanted to go have fun with everyone, but was still feeling self-conscious.

"Honey picked out a rather delicious strawberry cake for one of our treats today." Kyoya tried to bribe her a bit with the temptation of sweets.

"What is it with you boys and playing dirty with the snacks?" She called him out and stood up. "Fine I'll quit being a baby and come have fun, but I have to go take care of something first. I'll come to the club as soon as I'm done."

"We'll be waiting." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and made his exit. Staria watched him go, feeling an ache in her heart as she acknowledged again just how much she'd fallen for the boy. It was going to make leaving Ouran that much harder.

Staria frowned as she made her way to the club room. She knew that the Chairman had been at the school that day and tried to get in to see him. However he'd just left before she got to the building. She'd been hoping to talk to him about transferring schools so she could get an idea of what she needed to do to get the ball rolling. She had to settle for leaving a note for him.

She'd looked into the school her brother had recommended to her and it seemed alright. She just wished that there was a way to go check out the place before taking their transfer exam. Sneaking in didn't really seem like a good idea, but she also didn't know anyone who went there. Standing outside the gates to ask students how they liked their school just seemed creepy and she wasn't that desperate yet.

"Star you're being a weirdo, stop it…" she muttered to herself as she reached for the music room's door. She smiled as the boys welcomed her.

"Now that's what I haven't seen a few days." Tamaki smiled back. "That's a much better look for you."

"I'll try to keep that in mind." Her eyes wondered over to Kyoya. "Now I seem to recall being bribed with some cake this afternoon."

"Come sit with me and Takashi, Star-chan!" Honey chimed in a waved her over to a table loaded with goodies. "I saved a strawberry slice just for you since Kyo-chan said you'd be coming by today."

"Thank you Honey. He did say it was the one you recommended." She took a seat with the short blond, gladly taking the treat before her. The fluffy pink colored cake was topped with pale white whipped icing and a large hole berry on top. She almost hated to destroy the delicate looking desert, but her sweet tooth was calling, so she took a fork full and gave it a try. Her eyes closed as she savored the rich treat. "Mmmm…. That's really good." she bit the fork, holding it at her mouth for a short while as she contemplated taking her time or just scarffing down the delicious wonder.

"I knew you'd like it!" Honey laughed and continued enjoying his own large piece of cake.

"Uh huh…." She'd have to get Tamaki to order them a cake for at home. Staria was enjoying her treat so much that she didn't even notice some of the glances the girls were giving her. None of them made any comments and kept things civil, but Kyoya and Tamaki did share a few looks with one another. They were both making mental notes of who might cause trouble in the future.

Once the club room was empty Staria sprawled out on a couch as the boys cleaned up for the day. She was contently full and even sort of sleepy from all the treats she'd consumed.

"Honey if you keep picking out amazing cakes like those I'm gonna get fat." she laughed and hugged a stray pillow near her.

"Well for all the more you've dropped by recently that shouldn't be an issue." Hikaru commented.

"Yeah it's been almost a month since you hung out last." Koaru added in a bitter tone.

"You two know she's been busy with her independent studies." Tamaki practically lectured. "I for one am glad our little star decided to drop by, and it'd be nice if it could become more regular again."

"Ok, enough with the guilt trips. I get the hint. I miss you guys too, honest. Lusion's just a slave driver when it come to my lessons. I only got a break cause I 'wasn't focused enough' and that I 'need more stamina' or whatever." she made air quotations around Lusion's words as she ranted.

"Why do you need more stamina to study?" Mori asked. It seemed odd to him.

"Something about me getting tired easily and it crushes my focus I guess. They want me to start running daily, but I really don't want to. I'd rather swim to be honest, but I don't know where. I'd see about using one of the school's pools, but there's probably a swim team that have use of it."

"There is, and they're rather elitist when it comes to the pool." Kyoya answered without looking up from his books. "You'd probably have to join the team to use it."

"Yeah totally don't want to get into that. I just want to swim a few laps and that's it. I don't have time for full on club activities thanks to my tutors."

"We could always ask the captain if he'd make an exception for you." Honey offered. "I let other students use the dojo when I was still running the karate club, I just asked that they stay out of the way and help clean up after."

"No it's fine don't worry about it, really. I can find a gym to join I'm sure."

Tamamki frowned, "I don't think you need to work out to solve this issue. You just need to sleep and eat better. You're always up really late and you rarely ever actually eat breakfast any more."

Staria looked at him. She knew he'd sort of been keeping tabs on her, but she was still surprised. "I haven't been that hungry in the morning any more….." she didn't want to talk about the not sleeping part, since it was pretty much all stress related. Things had been going so nicely and now she wanted to go hide again, even though she technically opened the can of worms.

"Staria I don't know how many times I need to stress it, but you can rely on us you know." Tamaki sat down with her. "You don't have to take everything on your own."

"I know…" She muttered. She couldn't really tell them though. Not only would she put them in danger, but how could they ever really comprehend the full situation. No, fighting an evil that was threatening everything they knew, that wasn't something she was about to bring up.

"We got one." Mamoru said proudly over the phone.

"One what?" Staria said through a yawn. Her brother had called her first thing in the morning. She had hardly gotten out of bed when she heard the familiar ring tone. This was precisely the reason she had never wanted a cell phone, but it had become a necessary evil.

"A rainbow crystal. Are you really not up and moving yet?" he had a touch of disappointment in his voice.

"I don't need that from you too. Tamaki's been on my case enough about not sleeping." She fought back another yawn and went back to the main topic. "When'd you find the crystal?"

"The Dark Kingdom found another carrier yesterday. I lucked out and was in the area when the attack happened. The scuffle was a little more chaotic than usual. I took full advantage of it to get to the crystal, though I'm pretty sure I lost something pretty important to me at the same place."

"What's that?" It must be important if he brought it up.

"It's stupid, and I don't really remember how I got it, but I lost a musical star locket. I'm pretty sure it use to be my princess's. I've gotten into the habit of keeping it on me, but it fell out of my pocket somehow. I'm probably going to go back and look for it. It's more likely than not gone already though."

"I can come help look if you want?"

"Thanks, but no. It's fine, I just feel a little silly for dropping it. The crystals are still the priority. The locket can wait."

Staria gathered up her things for school as they talked. The thought that some progress might finally be made woke her up more.

"How have your training sessions been going?" They hadn't actually spoken in a while so Mamoru wanted an update.

"Just the topic I wanted to avoid. Do we have to talk about that now?"

"Well since you put it that way, yes. What happened?"

Staria gave him the short version of the story, letting him know that she was on a little break until further notice. He didn't like getting only the highlights, but Mamoru let it go for the time being.

"There are a few swim clubs in the area if you just want to use a pool. We can stop by a few next week if you want."

"Maybe, I still don't want to do any of it. Maybe Tamaki's right. If I just eat better and get some real sleep I'll be fine. I don't know." She was irritated. The morning was not starting out well.

"Star, we're going to be late if you don't hurry up." Tamaki sang as he knocked on her bedroom door.

"I know. I know." She shook her head as she exited the room and gave him a playful punch in the arm. "I'm working on it."

The blond responded by handing her a bagel with cream cheese slathered on it. "You can eat it in the car." He made it clear that it was mandatory, not an option.

Staria looked at him, but took the food. "I get it. I'll eat. Calm down."

"Thank you." Tamaki smiled. "Where you on the phone with Mamoru? I could hear you talking."

Staria paled a bit. She hadn't meant to be loud but she had a bad habit of not noticing her own volume when on the phone. "Yeah, it was him. What did you hear?"

He smiled, "Just you saying that I'm probably right. So I'm going to continue to make sure you get proper food and sleep. If you don't you're going to be grounded young lady."

Staria laughed a bit, "Ok dad, but you'd better make sure the food is stuff I like."