Chapter Two, The Twins from Hell
The limousine ride over to here had been pleasant. I don't think it was possible for anyone to feel uncomfortable around Honey-sama. He chatted contentedly between me and Mori-sama until I finally relaxed. His cousin was as quiet as ever, but there was nothing intimidating about him. It was his height that got to me. He was one hundred and ninety-two centimeters tall. How could I not be intimidated by that? I was only one hundred and fifty-two centimeters tall. In other words, I was a puny little thing. I was short. A little taller than Honey, but shorter than everyone else. I was accustomed to it. I just wasn't accustomed to people being as tall as Mori-sama. It was really easy to be frightened by people that tall.
"I think you'll like Tama-chan," he said, gazing up at me innocently.
"Riku-san mentioned him," I said with a small smile. "I don't want to be a customer. I'd much rather just see Ashia," I explained.
"Aw, but you'll miss out on the experience Etsuna-san. If you're going to come to the Host Club, you should at least try it once. I'm sure Kyo-chan won't mind."
"And if he does?" I asked respectfully. I had heard more about Ootori-sama from Riku when she was hosted by Mori. She had offered a less influenced opinion of him then. She had admitted that he could be a little cruel. But never to his customers. I wondered how true that was.
His brows drew together in a small frown for a moment before he grinned again, "I'm sure we can talk Kyo-chan around. Do you agree Takashi?"
"If the hosts like her."
I turned to him, wondering if Mori liked me. "Is there… anything I should know about the hosts?"
Honey regarded me gravely, and then he and his cousin exchanged measured looks. Mori spoke, "Stay away from the twins, if you can."
"Good advice Takashi. I don't think you'll like them very much, Etsuna-san."
"They can be… overzealous."
I nodded. I had heard a little about the twins from Riku. She didn't like the twins that much. As she worded it, they were affectionate as brothers should not be. She didn't like talking about them, and I had let it go with that. I didn't like to press topics that my friends were uncomfortable with. I felt it better to just leave things be at that point in time. I didn't want to inflict memories of something obviously unwanted.
The limousine ride was pleasantly short. I tagged behind Honey-sama and Morinozuka-sama as we made our way towards the school. It was built like the university. Ostentatious and extravagant. I smoothed down the buttercup yellow dress I was wearing. There were a few differences between the high school uniform and the university one. I had to admit that they were certainly welcome ones. My dress had small pockets in the front, and the color was slightly more intense than the school ones. The dress lacked the princess-poof that the high school ones had and there were no cuffs. A simple, pale, pink ribbon was tied at the base of my neck as part of the uniform. I had to wear white, yellow and pink banded stockings with my loafers which were a part of my uniform. It was similar with the male uniforms for the university. Honey-sama and Mori-sama wore essentially the same uniforms but their colors were a tad darker than the high school students.
Wherever we went, eyes followed us. Students were just leaving, yet they seemed transfixed on my two companions. I was glad to disappear behind them. They attracted the most attention. After all, the slight intensity of the color of my dress as well as the pockets was hardly noticeable. Everyone knew the two men leading me. I felt like a nobody. This only reminded me that I was one. I had never been here before. I was unknown to all these people. I liked the feeling of being a stranger. No one could judge me, here. Not right away anyways.
We came to a stop outside two large white doors. Above them, three words were engraved. The Third Music Room. I glanced at them and they opened the doors. I was greeted by a stunning sight. I was becoming accustomed to ostentatious rich people. This room was the epitome of financial bliss. It was decorated as a winter wonderland. Fake snow was even falling in the room, with the low heating keeping it from melting and turning it into a hazard. The floor was covered with something slip proof as well. I could see the marble under my feet, but I could also see that there was something over it.
"Honey-senpai! Mori-senpai!" I heard someone shout, rushing over eagerly. I spotted him as I maneuvered closer to Honey to see. Mori was tall enough to obliterate anything beyond him. I sighed, resigned to my genetic stature.
"Tama-chan this is my new friend," Honey proclaimed as he grabbed my hand and pulled me further into the room. I hadn't realized that I had been cowering in the doorway.
"Beautiful princess!" he said, taking my free hand and letting his lips brush again. "Your name must match a beauty such as you."
I blushed, and gently tugged my hand free from his grasp. "Etsuna Shiori," I managed to get out.
"Welcome to the Host Club Etsuna-hime," he said, his violet eyes twinkling. "I am Tamaki Suoh, the princely president." And for added effect, he struck a small pose.
"Tamaki, who is our new guest," asked a clear and precise voice. I recognized that it belonged to Ashia's husband.
"Etsuna-hime," he announced pleasantly.
Kyoya Ootori walked over to us, clipboard in hand and gray eyes meeting mine. He smiled pleasantly. "So tell me, what is your preference? We'll get you settled with a host immediately." He paused, "That is, supposing you do have sufficient funds?"
I was supposed to pay? Even if I had the money I wouldn't waste it on something as superficial as all this. I struggled to say something, but I only managed to emit an unintelligible, "Uh?"
"What is your preference, princess?" Tamaki-san inquired. "The princely type," He indicated himself, "the cool type," he gestured towards Ootori-sama and I shook my head vehemently, "the wild type?" he gestured towards Mori-sama. I looked up at him, and shook my head. "The lolita type, maybe?" a gesture towards Honey-sama. "Or perhaps…"
"You like," a voice whispered into my ear.
"The devil type?" finished another voice in my other ear.
I squeaked and lurched away from the twin boys who looked at me. They both sported identical looking smirks as they looked at me. As they walked towards me, I started to back away, my eyes wide and fearful.
"What about the last type then, Hikaru?" inquired the only twin left.
"Ah yes. Maybe it is the…" started the other twin.
"Natural type, which you are drawn towards?"
They both indicated another boy who was seated with a girl not too far away. I only noticed then what they were all wearing, as I realized that Honey-sama and Mori-sama had both disappeared. The hosts were all wearing dark, drab colors. Dark blue with gray. I knew that it wasn't their uniform. Part of their club, maybe? Ootori-sama looked colder than usual, the colors complimenting him unnaturally. Tamaki-san looked regal in those colors, as though nothing could ever dampen his personality.
"Which is it," began one of the twins. I jumped when his breath brushed against my ear.
"Do you think that her type is?" finished the other. "I'd say the natural might suit her best."
I leaped away from him, almost crashing into a table. "Personal space," I said quietly, holding my arm out in front of me. "No closer. Ever."
They both chuckled. And then they began to move towards me. I stepped back, skirting the edge of a dangerous table. "Do you get the feeling that maybe…"
"Etsuna-hime doesn't like us?"
"I do actually."
"It's a shame really."
"So cruel."
"Didn't even do anything to her."
"Stay away!" I screeched, pulling back from them fearfully.
They grinned evilly, continuing their advance on me. I didn't want them to invade my space. I liked my space. I liked my personal bubble. Yet these two were determined to invade it. By this point they had passed by the limit I had offered them. An arms distance away.
"No politeness?" one of them tsked. I didn't care who was who by this point. I just wanted them away. Far far away.
"I thought she would have at the very least…" began the other.
"Known some manners."
"But it doesn't seem like it, does it Kaoru?"
The shifted their positions, and I kept backing up. "Please," I begged. "Please stay away."
"That is no way to be polite, really."
"You can't ask someone to go away with politeness…"
"Makes people think that you don't really mean it."
And then I realized why they had shifted their positions as my back met a wall. They had cornered me. I stared at them nervously. I hated them for saying that. One minute they wanted me to be polite. The next they said that it made no difference. Well screw them!
"Get away from me," I said warningly, shifting further back from them.
"What'll you do…"
"If we don't?"
What would I do? Scream? I had no self-defense techniques at hand. There was nothing I could do to keep them away from me. I could hope that someone would come to my rescue. That was it. I snuck a furtive glance to look at the other hosts. It seemed that customers had come in, and I was left to face the two devil twins alone. I had no idea what to do. And while my thoughts were frozen, they were rapidly approaching me. I had even less room than I wanted to have.
"Get away from me!" I shrieked. Unfortunately for them, I have a rather high pitched painful scream. It hurts people's ears, but it does draw attention.
But sadly, not in time. They threw their hands over their ears, but they took a step too close to me. The walls were closing in. Like the walls that were pressing against me, the twins were blocking my exit. They were getting closer and closer. I had no room. I couldn't breathe. No room. No room at all. I was suffocating. My chest started to heave deeply. Air, I needed air. I needed space. But there was none. No. No! The walls were moving closer. I couldn't escape. I was trapped. Trapped! And there was no air. None at all. I couldn't get air into my lungs, towering walls were closing in cutting it all off. There was no way free.
With that, my eyes rolled back and my body crumpled to the floor.
At the sound of a glass shattering scream, Honey looked in the direction it came from to see the twins at the far corner. He saw a yellow dress collapse and the twins stepped back in panic. "Kyo-chan!" he shouted, rising to his feet worriedly.
The vice-president was already on his feet and directing the customers out quickly and efficiently. He made his way towards the unconscious Etsuna-san, where Takashi was lifting her up. Tama-chan was looking on worriedly and Haru-chan was thoroughly scolding the twins. They both looked horrified. Honey wondered what had happened. He informed them that he would be at the infirmary and hurried after Takashi. He caught up to his cousin shortly as they made their way to the first infirmary.
The nurse indicated for Etsuna-san to be placed on the canopy bed and Takashi placed her there gently before drawing back. Honey moved closer, worried about his newest acquaintance. The nurse observed her pulse and opened her eyes, opening her eyes and shining a light in them. She sighed, sounding relieved as she drew back from the unconscious girl. She turned to them both, offering smiles. "Your friend here just fainted. She'll be fine in a few minutes." She left the room and returned carrying a glass of water which she set on nearby stand. "When she wakes up, make sure she drinks that. And let me know when she does." She gave them a satisfied nod and left the room, drawing the curtain around them.
Honey cast a concerned look to his cousin as he took a seat beside the canopy bed. "What do you think happened to her, Takashi?" He knew that the twins wouldn't be good for her, but he didn't know why she would pass out from them.
"Ask the twins," offered his cousin.
Honey looked at her, debating on whether he should find out what the twins had done or wait for her to wake up. He sighed, not sure what exactly he should do. "Will you let them know what has happened Takashi?" he asked. He didn't think that the nurses or Etsuna-san would appreciate it if the Host Club burst in demanding to know happened. His cousin nodded and left the room.
Honey's foot dangled a little above the air. If he wanted to, he could have touched the marble floor but he didn't. It wasn't like the twins to cause someone to faint. He frowned; he had not seen what had happened after Kyo-chan had rushed him off with his customers. He had thought that she would be fine. Everyone had thought so. It wasn't everyday that someone fainted, and especially not in the Host Club.
If she had been having a problem with them, she could have easily called for help. Maybe that was why she had screamed? Had she been frightened of something? But if she had been frightened, of what exactly? The twins had just been having fun, naturally. Not meaning any harm to her, but something had happened there. What exactly was it…
He glanced at her when he heard her move. A small groan escaped her body. The next instant she sat bolt upright, eyes open and arms flailing. She sucked air into her body, hyperventilating. She coughed suddenly, her body relaxing as she expelled the extra air she had inhaled. He kept his eyes on her, smiling widely as he waited for her to take notice of him. Dry coughs racked her small frame, and he passed the glass of water to her. He noticed that her eyes were tearing as she accepted the glass. He didn't have a chance to see if she even recognized him as she drank the water happily. She quickly drained it, letting out one cough as she returned the glass to the table. She leaned back against the bed, sighing with exhaustion.
Honey spotted the nurse and waved her over, happy to not disturb Etsuna-san. The nurse came over and asked her a bunch of questions. From how many fingers she was holding up, to how she felt. Apparently her answers were satisfactory as the nurse smiled and nodded. "You'll be fine to leave shortly. Just wait until the palpating sensation fades, alright?"
"Yes ma'am," she replied meekly, averting her gaze until the older woman was gone.
"What happened Etsuna-san?" he inquired concernedly when she turned her blue eyes to him.
She looked towards the door and he followed her gaze noticing their latest guest. Ashia-chan stood there, her teal eyes narrowed and her hands on her hips. She had recently taken that stance, and everyone knew that it meant she was disapproving of something. Honey thought it made her look old, but he wouldn't say anything to her. The twins had already tried that one, and it hadn't gone over that well.
"Is this how we're to reacquaint ourselves, Etsuna-san?" she asked exhaustedly, letting her arms hang at her sides.
"Apparently so," she replied, her lips quivering slightly.
"Ah, hello Honey-senpai," she greeted smiling.
"Hello Ashia-chan," he greeted.
"Do you mind if I talk to Etsuna-san alone?" She looked at him, her teal eyes twinkling. "We went to high school together and I've missed her."
"If Etsuna-san is okay with it," he said, starting to get to his feet as he cast a gaze at her.
She smiled and nodded, her blonde curls tumbling down her shoulders. She rubbed her face. Honey got to his feet and with a cheery wave joined his friends outside. Kyo-chan was seated on one of the benches with his clipboard out and rapidly writing things down. Tama-chan was pacing anxiously and the twins were sitting with Takashi, looking dejected. Takashi was worried too, his lips drawn together tightly. Haru-chan was sitting with Kyo-chan, looking at her folded hands. She too looked concerned over their customer. Tama-chan and Kyo-chan had probably been after them for having made one of their customers faint. But still, no one knew why.
"She's awake," he said with a big smile. "Ashia-chan is talking to her."
Both of the twins sighed in relief and Tama-chan stopped his pacing. "Do you know… why she fainted?" Kao-chan asked.
"No," he said, saddened.
He took a seat beside Takashi and the twins, waiting for Ashia-chan and Etsuna-san to come. It was a few tense moments before the two emerged. He was a little surprised by how Etsuna-san looked. Her face was wan and she looked unsteady on her feet. She kept her eyes on her feet, or at least tried to. It was hard when Tama-chan had taken her hand and was profusely apologizing on behalf of the twins. He cast a furious glare at them, and Honey noticed that Kyo-chan was watching all the drama unfold as Etsuna-san squeaked and pulled away from him, hiding behind Ashia-chan. Or at least trying to.
The height difference between them really made it pointless. Ashia-chan was only one hundred and fifty-nine centimeters, while Etsuna-san was one hundred and fifty-two. She was still easily seen, but when Tama-chan tried to go around her, Ashia extended her arm to bar his path. He looked at her startled, but withdrew quickly. Kyo-chan walked over next, staying a few feet away from the girl.
"Etsuna-hime," he said, his tone gentle. Honey hadn't known that he could speak with such a kind, soft tone. Maybe Ashia-chan had made him do it? It still didn't seem quite right, either way.
She looked out from behind Ashia-chan, "Yes, Ootori-sama?"
"I offer you a free visit to the Host Club, should you wish to return. You have all of our sincere apologies, and should you wish to come back, I will personally see to it that the twins do not bother you." And there went his gentility. He sounded menacing, as was more usual for Kyo-chan.
Honey kept his eyes on her face, as she looked away from Kyo-chan. He stepped back and returned to writing on his clipboard. Honey wouldn't have been surprised if she decided to not return. She had come, only to see Ashia-chan and now the two of them were talking again. He sighed sadly. He wished that she would come back. It wasn't fair to have her leave with only this negative experience. It seemed that Haru-chan and Tama-chan had the same idea.
Tama-chan made his way towards her, but Haru-chan got to Etsuna-san first. Ashia-chan was still standing there, looking rather patient and protective of her charge. "I hope you'll come back, Etsuna-hime," she said with a gentle smile. "This was just a bad day. The twins didn't know after all, and if you come back they will leave you alone."
Honey heard Hika-chan mutter darkly, "Why is everyone deciding for us?"
No one distinctly listened to him.
"That's right Etsuna-san," he spoke gallantly. "We'll make sure that if you come back, you'll have the best time ever."
Her eyes found his, bright silver-blue eyes. She nodded. "Just, keep them away from me," she whispered, her voice wavering slightly. "Please?"
"We're sorry!" Kao-chan announced, standing up. He looked in her direction and she immediately looked away from him. "We didn't know."
"I told you to leave me alone!" she said, her voice bordering on being a wail.
"Kaoru," Kyo-chan said warningly. "Hikaru."
The two looked away from the glare that the vice-president shot them. "We look forward to seeing you again, Etsuna-hime," Tama-chan crowed.
Haru-chan smiled. "Next time will be better," she promised.
A tentative, shy smile, spread across her features. "Look at that, Etsuna-hime! You are even more stunning when you smile."
She backed away from Tama-chan, her eyes narrowing. She didn't seem to be one for flattery. Or at least not from the extroverted prince. "Tamaki-san," Ashia-chan said warningly, lifting an eyebrow elegantly.
He backed away swiftly, lifting up his hands in surrender. Honey wasn't certain why, but it seemed like everyone had an awed respect for Ashia-chan. He figured that it was due to her marriage to Kyo-chan. Haru-chan was especially awed by her, but the two were close friends.
"We'll drive you home," Honey offered, glancing at his cousin. Takashi nodded and rose to his feet.
"Thank you," she whispered, again her eyes on her feet.
"Do you want to go now?" Ashia-san asked kindly.
She nodded mutely. She looked like she would rather be anywhere else but here. Honey was grateful that she was going to be coming back after this experience. But he did wonder at what had happened to cause her to faint. Ashia-chan let her arm fall to her side and Etsuna-san quickly strode off away from the twins. Takashi followed after her, pointing the correct direction that they should be leaving. Honey was surprised to notice how fast she was walking. She really didn't want to be there.
"What happened?" Kyo-chan's icy voice carried his anger clearly. "She could sue the Host Club for this –more specifically the twins for harassment." His glare went to the twins, who stood up with an irritated groan.
"Waste of time," Hika-chan grumbled.
"We didn't do anything," Kao-chan announced, turning on his heel.
"Didn't even know that it would bother her," they said in unison before walking away.
Kyo-chan sighed frustrated. "Ashia?"
"She's claustrophobic," came her steady reply. "And extremely shy. The twins cornered her and she fainted from her fear."
"Honey-senpai if you're going to go with them, shouldn't you leave now?" Haru-chan asked with a gentle smile. "They did leave rather quickly."
He smiled up at her, "You're right Haru-chan." He ran off after them, wondering at if there was nothing more complicated than what had happened with her collapse. Was her claustrophobia a natural fear? The poor twins though. They hadn't known and had ended up tormenting a poor customer. Kyo-chan and Tama-chan were not happy with them.
He caught up to his cousin and peer just before they crossed the courtyard. He smiled up at Etsuna-san, and she returned a mousy one. She was disturbed by her experience to say the least. He wished that he could have had Usa-chan to give her. But he wouldn't be able to bring his bunny to school until tomorrow. Etsuna-san looked like she needed Usa-chan right now. He grabbed her hand and she looked down at him, a little startled. He just smiled.