*HELLO THIS IS PART TWO OF MY STORY! So remember in part one where I said that Hotaru shows insanity when she is in despair and that it was inspired by Dangan Ronpa behavior... this is where it shows. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED AND ENJOY!*
*Hotaru's POV*
After countless hours of nonstop mixing, spilling, and laughing with Haruhi, we finally stare at the almost-ready batter that took the entire day to make. Haruhi told me how it smelled so good, but I told her it will be even better with my secret ingredient, which was a mix of my own creation. However, I realized that I had left it in our room, so I told Haruhi that I needed to go fetch it real quick. As I left her in the kitchen to continue mixing. My arms were so tired from the mixing earlier and, though faded, my scars didn't help much anyway (good thing I had on my sister's jacket or the chefs would have seen them and probably not let us in in fear of me cutting myself or something). So I entered the room we were sharing and went to grab my secret ingredient, but when I turned around I heard a knock and, when I told them to come in, I saw Tamaki enter the room. He seemed different though. He wasn't his usual happy self, he seemed... nervous? upset? A little angry? Either way, it was a negative look and Hotaru knew something was wrong. Quickly hiding the secret ingredient inside the drawer that was behind me, I stayed in my spot as I started the conversation.
"Tamaki, what's wrong?"
"... Hotaru, I need to ask you something."
"Well, go ahead Tamaki. I'm all ears."
"... What are you hiding Hotaru?"
"What?"
What was he talking about?
"We know that you're hiding something Hotaru and it seems that Haruhi is the only one who knows. Are you hiding some kind of secret from us?"
Oh no, he finally realized! I didn't want to tell any of them about my secrets, I didn't want to worry them! I only told Haruhi because she had caught me red-handed, but even she got worried about me and I didn't want that, not at all! I just wanted them to be happy and act normal around me. No, I can't tell him my secret!
"Of course not Tamaki-senpai, I-I'm not hiding anything!"
Damn my horrible sense of lying.
"But if that's the case, why do you spend so much time with Haruhi?"
"Well, we are both girls and we just do g-girl stuff together."
I looked at Tamaki's face and, with the way he looked at me, I knew that he knew I was lying. This is going so well...
"What about your family Hotaru?"
"Oh, well we're, um, distant and stuff. But what does that matter, we're here to have a vacation right, not worry about that kind of stuff!"
"The thing is, Hotaru, we've been noticing these things and, well I'm going to be honest with you, we kind of feel that you are taking Haruhi away from us."
"What?! But that's not true!"
"Evidence says otherwise. Maybe it's because you need to spend more time with you family or something but... as of now... you are resigned from being a member of the Host Club. After discussion, we feel it would be best for us, for Haruhi, and for yourself. You leave immediately, Kaoru already sent a ride who will pick you up and take you to your house, not Haruhi's. So pack up and get ready to leave."
As Tamaki left to his room next door, I couldn't help but feel... empty now. They didn't want me to spend time with Haruhi anymore, they thought I was taking her away from the Host Club, away from them. But I don't understand, I just wanted to be friends with them and not have them pity me or anything! ... Where did I go wrong?
*Tamaki's POV*
I knew I had to stay firm for that, but I will admit it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I couldn't even have the guts to look her in the eyes as I said my final words to her. I didn't want to see her face, whether it was all an act or not! But what's done is done, I might as well wait for her to pack so that I can see her off one last time.
*3rd POV*
As the limo pulled up at the front of the resort, Tamaki entered Haruhi and Hotaru's room to see her bags packed and her eyes hidden beneath her curly bangs as she looked down. As she walked towards the door, she passed by the breakfast tray that was left behind since the morning and though she grabbed something, Tamaki failed to see what she grabbed exactly. She had hidden it somewhere fast enough that Tamaki didn't even see where she put it, but he couldn't care right now as he saw his friend leave to the elevator and disappear behind the elevator doors.
As Hotaru walked out of the elevator, Haruhi passed by, on her way to see why Hotaru was taking so long, when she saw her with packed bags and her face shadowed by her messy curls. Before she could go over and ask what's going on, however, she got pulled back by two pairs of arms, no doubt the Hitachiin Twins. As Haruhi got pulled back, Hotaru walked outside the resort, glanced at the limo, and walked away from the limo into the direction of the bustling city as the sun sets from the sky, her mind slowly sinking into a familiar deep dark place... and passing that to sink further into the unreachable recesses of her mind.
As she walked off in some random direction, not caring where she was going anymore, Haruhi was dragged off to the pool by the twins, where she met up with everyone else except Tamaki, who was walking towards their direction. Honey-senpai noticed Haruhi and jumped off Mori's shoulder, where he was previously going to jump off of to dive into the clear water, swam to the edge of the pool, climbed out, and ran to glomp Haruhi.
"HARU-CHAN YOU'RE FINALLY HERE! Where's Taru-chan?"
"That's what I was wondering, I saw her heading towards the exit with her bags packed! What's going on?!"
At the mention of Hotaru's leaving, Kyoya looked up immediately, closed his little book, and walked over to the rest of the gang to see what was going on. Tamaki, being the President of the club, spoke first to explain.
"Everyone I have an announcement to make."
By how serious he sounded and how straight his face looked, not holding any hint of his usual goofiness, everyone knew this was a serious matter that he was about too bring up.
"As of today, Hotaru is no longer a member of the Ouran High School Host Club. After some discussion-"
"WHAT?! Why would you do that Senpai?!"
The one that spoke up was, unsurprisingly, Haruhi herself as she stood up after hearing the outrageous news from the goofball of a prince. What did surprise everyone, however, was the amount of rage that emitted from her very being, causing everyone, except Kyoya (who tried his best not to release his Shadow King persona, which would put even Haruhi's current anger to shame) and Mori, to cower away from her. Tamaki, being the one to say the news in the first place, spoke up, despite his current fear.
"W-well Hotaru was t-taking you away from us and w-we were worried that, being a former Lobelia Girl, she may have convinced you to leave us!"
As Tamaki wailed at this point, the twins decided to but-in to the conversation before their boss had a mental breakdown from Haruhi's anger.
"Yeah, she is from Lobelia and we noticed that she was hanging out a lot with you, even today you didn't spend time with us."
"It's true, what if she was working with the Lobelia psychos in secret and was taking you away from us to make you leave Ouran?"
"We didn't want you to go Haruhi!"
As both twins said those words, Haruhi couldn't believe just how dumb these people were. She knew she had to go find Hotaru now, she couldn't waste her time here with this group of damned rich people! So Haruhi turned to leave, but the twins grabbed her arms and made sure she stayed put. While this was happening, Honey was crying, Tamaki was mumbling and close to having a mental breakdown from Haruhi's anger, and Kyoya's Shadow King aura was practically oozing around his body, but he still stood there, making it all the more eerie. What a sight to see...
"You guys, let me go! I need to find Hotaru NOW!"
"Why, so you could go off with her and leave us behind?!"
"Besides, we got her a ride to send her off home, she needs time with her family!"
"WHAT?! You can't do that!"
"And why not?! You don't want her to be with her family!"
"SHE CAN'T GO BACK HOME BECAUSE THEY ABUSE HER THERE!"
*Haruhi's POV*
"SHE CAN'T GO BACK HOME BECAUSE THEY ABUSE HER THERE!"
Everyone finally managed to shut up, but I just told them the truth, the one Hotaru didn't want anyone to know. I remember that same day, when I caught her in the bathroom with that bruise, we made a promise to each other: she stops cutting herself and let's me check her arms everyday if I don't tell a living soul about what she's done and gone through. I just broke that promise, but I had to! They wouldn't let me go until I do... I'm sorry Hotaru, but they needed to know.
I looked back up to see the others staring at me in shock. I took this opportunity and told them everything that happened to her.
*Hotaru's POV*
Hehe, so nobody wants me, huh? My dad didn't want me, Lobelia didn't want me, not even the Host Club wants me. Maybe Haruhi didn't want me and only hung out with me out of pity? How should I know, I never asked her to find out! I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO FIND OUT AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WHEN SOMEONE DID! I should have been more careful, should have checked that day, should have pushed myself out of the bathroom, should've could've would've, it doesn't matter now.
No one wants someone like me around, after all look at all the lives I've ruined, all the things that I've done. I killed my mom and sister, ruined my father's life, couldn't kiss another girl, broke an expensive tea set with my STUPID clumsiness, exposed my secret to someone, became a burden for that person by being checked on like a child and living in their own home, interrupting their normal lives, and took this person away from her original friends. Hehe, I must be some kind of asshole to have done so many bad things. I don't think I can even name a good thing I've done for anyone... wow am I just a waste of space, what am I doing here again, living a life that will only serve to ruin others?
Hey look a lake, when did I even enter the forest area near the city? Ah, who cares because soon it will all be over... hehe, it will all be over, it will finally be over!
I'm just gonna go sit by that tree, right next to the deep area of the lake, and make myself bleed until I fall into the water and let it consume my body, my entire being into the abyss that lays under the surface. Hehe, yes it's perfect, IT'S FUCKING PERFECT! I WON'T HAVE TO RUIN ANYONE'S LIVES EVER AGAIN! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, GOODBYE WORLD, NO LONGER WILL I HAVE TO MAKE YOU A CRUEL ONE!
Oh, but first let's tie the jacket to this tree way way WAY over here, where my sister won't loom over me and watch this scene take place. I wouldn't want her to see such a horrific scene and be disappointed in me, oh no, I can't have that. There we go just tie the arms around the trunk and THERE. Now my sister can hang over here with this tree in this peaceful forest and I can finally leave this world, make life better for everyone around me. Goodbye sister, I can only hope that I will join you and mother soon. Now back to my tree so that I can end this, once and for all!
*Haruhi's POV*
"Her mother and sister died in a car crash while they went to pick her up and her father started abusing her, blaming her for their death and beating her. The Lobelia Girls also didn't help because they always wanted to kiss her, but she isn't a lesbian so she always refused, becoming an oddball in that school. She became miserable and lonely... so she started cutting herself. She even started looking around the area for another house to live in, but always failed and ended up going home to another beating! Then she moved to Ouran and joined us after breaking the tea set and she actually started enjoying herself for once. I wasn't supposed to know, but I caught her applying make-up on a bruise she had one day in the bathroom during hosting hours and I didn't let her leave until she told me everything. After that, we made a promise that I wouldn't say anything if she stopped cutting herself and let me check her arms everyday. Those times we said she was sleeping over was because she actually started living with me and my dad, to keep her away from her dad so she wouldn't get abused anymore. She seemed so much happier, we became really close friends, and she was doing so good... but now all that is ruined! Her only friends and now it looks like they don't want her, I have to find her now! She did not go in that limo and she probably went off somewhere to cut herself... or worse!"
I noticed at those words Tamaki had a face of realization, as if he just figured something out. What did he-
"Haruhi... you're right. When Hotaru was leaving her room, I noticed that she grabbed something from the breakfast cart before leaving the room, but I couldn't see what. Do you think she..."
At those words, everyone rushed to the hotel room and glanced at the breakfast cart. The spoon and fork were there, but...
"The knife... it's gone."
"She took the knife! Guys, we have to find her now!"
*Kyoya's POV*
That idiot, why would he do that?! Why didn't he talk to me about this, I was completely unaware of this action!
As everyone headed out, I stopped Tamaki by grabbing his shoulder, and when he glanced back and his face turned to one of sheer terror, I knew at this point the Shadow King persona was clearly showing.
"Tamaki... why didn't you mention any of this to me?"
"Well, um, you see, Kyoya, it's that-"
"You usually always go to me before making such drastic decisions. So why not talk to me about one such as big as letting go of a member?"
"The thing is that, well, um, I didn't think you would-"
"I would what?! Make the right decision, after all the times I usually made choices that kept this Host Club afloat all this time?!"
"But Kyoya you're in love with Hotaru!"
I saw Tamaki's face go pale once he said that and I loosened my grip on his shoulder, not realizing that I had been tightening it this whole time. I looked up to meet his fearful blue eyes before sighing, not even bothering to deny it to him.
"Yes, that's true. I am in love with Hotaru."
"We didn't think that you would be able to let her leave because of it, think clearly of the situation."
"But now look what's happening! You still should have spoken to me Tamaki! And we? Who else was involved in this?!"
"... the Hitachiin Twins."
"Of course, who else would it be? Tamaki we must find Hotaru immediately... and don't you dare tell anyone about my infatuation, understand?"
"Y-yes K-Kyoya!"
"Good, now let's go! You and the twins will receive punishment after this is dealt with."
After Tamaki shivers in fear of what that punishment might be, we both ran to join the others and search for Hotaru.
*Hotaru's POV*
Look at me, I'm a mess. I can't stop crying from all the pain, but I also can't stop laughing. I look like a crazy person right now, but I don't care anymore. At least I can enjoy one last sunset here before I finally leave. I feel myself getting dizzy and my arms are throbbing and bleeding profusely, but at least I can die on such a beautiful sunset...
*3rd POV*
After hours of searching around the city with little results, the Host Club met back near the end of the city, where the forest met the city.
"Where is Taru-chan?! Do you think she's..."
"No, she isn't! We just need to find her!"
"Yeah, but we don't know where! What do you think boss?!"
"I don't know where she went! But we can't give up on her just yet! We have to keep searching!"
As the Host Club panicked over the fate of their lost friend, Kyoya, Haruhi, and Mori looked towards the forest and noticed something in the distance that seemed... out of place. Upon closer inspection, one would say it was something aqua tied to a tree... wait a minute, aqua?!
Haruhi and Kyoya dashed into the forest while Mori grabbed Honey and followed them, leaving the twins and Tamaki to trail behind them, asking where they were going.
When they all reached the mysterious object, they finally realized that it was an aqua jacket, it's arms tied tightly around the thin trunk of the tree.
"That's Hotaru's jacket! She must be in here!"
"Men, let's search the forest, but stick together! We don't want to get lost here, with creatures roaming and waiting to get us!"
"Boss, that doesn't help at all!"
"Let's just go find Hotaru!"
They all wandered around the forest, sunset finally hitting the sky with it's bright orange hue, until they managed to bump into the lake. They heard an eerie laughter that mixed with sorrowful sobs echo throughout the area as they entered.
"W-w-what was that?!"
"A ghost?!"
While Tamaki and the twins shook in fear of a ghost popping up in their faces, everyone walked closer to the lake and looked around. Out of everyone, however, only Kyoya spotted the depressing figure, covered in red and misery and madness, as it tipped over and fell into the lake, making a big splash. Only Kyoya noticed as he ran towards the lake, not warning everyone else of what he just saw, and jumped in where teh figure fell in.
*Hotaru's POV*
So, this is what it feels like to be dying. Funny, I expected it to be more painful, but the water makes it soothing, as if accepting me with its cold open arms into it's embrace. I couldn't keep my eyes much longer, I knew I was leaving, but I remember the last thing I saw was something splashing its way into the water and swimming towards me, as if reaching for me to get me away from the lake's embrace, before I was met with eternal darkness.
*Kyoya's POV*
I had to grab her arm before she drowned in this lake! I swam as fast as I can, and it seemed to be enough, because I finally managed to grab her wrist and pull her up to the surface with me. I pulled her out just as everyone else came to the shore of the lake where we were. I checked for a pulse and, although it was there, it was very weak. I tried pushing her chest to get rid of the water in her lungs and doing CPR to breath air into her, but I knew that we needed to take her to a hospital.
"Someone call the hospital, NOW!"
3 Days Later
*Tamaki's POV*
Three days... It's been three days since Kyoya saved Hotaru from drowning in that lake. Ever since Hotaru was brought to the Ootori hospital that was nearby, she hadn't woke up once! And it was all my fault, if I had just trusted her more instead of assuming she was a spy for the Lobelia Girls... if I had trusted my daughter more, I would have never thought of kicking her out of the club. I could tell that the twins feel just as guilty as I do about all this and Haruhi is so mad at us that she won't even let the three of us set foot in Hotaru's hospital room. I can't believe that it all came down to this, one of our own friends inside the hospital because of some stupid mistake I made and the jealousy I had. Kyoya won't talk to me either, in fact he practically stays in Hotaru's room all day. What an anniversary this turned out to be...
*Haruhi's POV*
I can't believe this happened. What were they thinking?! They got jealous just because I spent more time with her, but didn't Senpai want me to have more girl friends?! Maybe it's because of the whole Lobelia thing, but still she wasn't a spy or anything! Looking at her arms, all wrapped up in bandages, I knew we both broke out promises that day, I revealed the truth and she cut herself again, even tried to end herself. I just wish she knew how much we cared...
I know Tamaki, Hikaru, and Kaoru are sorry for what happened, they even sent a bunch of flowers to her, but I just couldn't let them in. Not until she wakes up so they could apologize to her... and yes I'll admit I'm still a little angry at them over what happened. Honey and Mori come in to visit and Honey always cries over seeing Hotaru's current state. He always asks if she will be alright and Mori simply says "yeah", though you could tell he wanted her to wake up as well. We were all worried for her, especially Kyoya...
It was so obvious that Kyoya liked her back, the way he dove in to save her so quickly and how he always seemed to let her avoid the Shadow King persona, unlike the rest of us. Heck, he even stopped her from bumping into alligators back at his family's water park! There are other things, but I think that would take me forever to list. He hasn't left the room unless he had to use the bathroom or was forced to go eat something, which is what he was doing right now. Me and Kyoya kind of took turns with keeping an eye on Hotaru, if Kyoya wasn't here, I was and vice verse. We just wanted her to wake up...
"Mmm..."
My head shot up from my hands at that as I noticed that Hotaru was stirring. Finally, she's waking up!
"Hotaru! You're awake! I'm so glad that-"
I stopped right there as I finally looked into her eyes, which finally opened. She may have opened her eyes, but she was no where near awake. Her forest green eyes didn't have their usual shine, instead holding a gloomy dullness in them that just made her look so sad and empty, as if all her spirit just left her body, leaving only a hollow shell behind. She started to mutter under breath, but it was quiet enough to catch some of those things.
"... my fault... should be dead... shouldn't be here... why..."
The tears I held back before finally came spewing out of my eyes as I saw that Hotaru was lost, deep within her own depression. I got up and gently grabbed her hand, but I knew she didn't even notice because she continued to mutter nonsense like that over and over again. She couldn't even make complete sentences and I knew I couldn't do anything at this point to help her, I didn't know how! I should try speaking to her though, maybe...
"Hotaru, it's Haruhi. Everything will be fine, but you have to snap out of it. Please come back to us, you're my friend, OUR friend! Come on Hotaru..."
"... Haruhi... I'm sorry..."
I felt my hope shoot up at the mention of my name.
"No no, don't be sorry Hotaru. It was just all a big misunderstanding! Don't apologize."
"... ruined everything... It's my fault... All my fault... I'm sorry..."
As she mumbled again, my hope went crashing down. How do I snap her out of it, there has to be a way! But how?! Just as I was trying to figure something out, I heard something drop and I turned to see Kyoya at the door, a candy bar at the ground long and forgotten. Kyoya rushed to the bed, excited to see Hotaru awake, but then noticed the mumbling. His face sunk back to sadness as he looked at me.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. She woke up and started mumbling like that... I don't know how to wake her up."
"... Haruhi, can you please give me some privacy? I think you should tell the others about this."
I simply nodded and headed out of the room to tell the rest of the Host Club, hoping that Kyoya could do something about it.
*Kyoya's POV*
I couldn't get my eyes off of her dull green ones, couldn't believe how eyes once filled with life now looked like a dying forest, withering away.
"... Useless... troublesome... not wanted... should be alone... should leave... my fault... make world less cruel... I'm sorry..."
She was still muttering under breath, almost like a haunting chant or prayer that sent her deeper into despair and shot more pain into my own heart. How could she think all these things? She was a great person who was always filled with life, despite her clumsiness and dense behavior. I always looked forward to seeing her, the way her smile brightened up the room (for me at least), the way she trips over with her cute clumsiness, the way her curly messy hair always made her more radiant... you shall never tell anyone of these thoughts, understood?!
"Hotaru, why would you say such lies about yourself? How does that benefit you in any way?"
"... my fault... should be dead... I killed them..."
"No you didn't kill them. You didn't do anything wrong."
"... Useless... ruined everything... shouldn't be here..."
"That's not true! You should be here, with us... with me! So stop it!"
I couldn't take anymore of this and I ended up hugging her, being careful as to not reopen the wounds on her arms. The hug seemed to silence her mumbles, and I also started feeling wet drops fall onto my shoulders, so I decided to continue.
"Hotaru, you are a very lively girl who is always looking at the bright side of things. You have optimism and a great talent for baking that made the entire school fall in love with your goods! Your father was dumb enough to do those things to you because now he doesn't have you and I will make sure he never has you again! You have great friends here who need you to snap out of it! You can't leave us because we need you Hotaru! We need you... I need you Hotaru. I've observed you along the way and I have felt weird around you, but it was a good feeling, one I have never felt before for anyone else. Hotaru, I realized that I'm in love with you! I love you Hotaru and I can't lose you yet!"
I lifted myself slightly so that I could look into those lifeless forest green eyes, glistening from tears and needing to feel loved and nurtured. I felt myself leaning in slowly, but I didn't want to hide it anymore.
"... I love you... Hotaru..."
I then closed the distance between our lips and kissed Hotaru, finally revealing all the love I felt for her.
*Hotaru's POV*
... It was so dark here, I couldn't see anything. It's strange, I felt myself awake and my eyes open, but it's like my brain shut down and was showing me something completely different. I do know where I am though... I've been here once before, but it seems I went even deeper into it, for surrounding me was darkness even darker than the last time. This was despair. I didn't care though, it's not like anyone cares about me right? I ruin everything for everyone I know. All these hurtful words flew around the dark abyss, hitting me like a bat every time as I sink further into despair, but that only made them follow me as I sunk lower, the words growing louder and hitting me harder.
I know I deserved this but... it's so painful and lonely. I didn't want to be sad or in pain, I just wanted to make people happy for once! I didn't mean to ruin everyone's lives! I just wanted to make things better! Why couldn't I even do that right?! I hoped that maybe me dying would finally relieve everyone of me, but I couldn't even do THAT right! What was WRONG with me?!
"Hotaru, you are a very lively girl..."
What was that? It was a voice and it sounded... familiar. Whose voice was it?
"... You have optimism and a great talent for baking... made... entire school fall in love... your goods!"
I couldn't recognize whose voice it was, the hurtful words kept muffling them up! I needed to listen in more, figure out who it is! I didn't even realize that I was slowly surfacing up from the darkness as I tried to reach that voice.
"You have great friends... you can't leave us... we need you Hotaru!"
Friends? But the only friends I had was the Host Club, but they didn't want me... right? They don't need me.
"We need you... I need you Hotaru."
What? Someone said they actually... needed me? Someone needed me? But I don't understand, who would need someone like me? I tried reaching up to the voice, I needed to know who this person was! I can feel their name at the tip of my tongue!
"... I love you Hotaru and I can't lose you yet!"
That was all I heard before I felt some kind of pressure reach my lips, but I couldn't see what! Whatever this pressure was, it felt loving and passionate, something I'm not familiar with at all! I saw a light reach up above me from this abyss of despair as some unknown force pushed me up into the light, pushing me away from despair.
As soon as I passed the light, I was finally able to see, but it seemed all blurry at first. The hurtful words finally silenced though, but a dull pain in my arms suddenly appeared and I felt a pressure on my lips. My cheeks felt wet and it took a moment to realize that I must have been crying. I blinked so that my vision could be less blurry, but when it cleared, I noticed that... that...
... was Kyoya... kissing me? Was he kissing me?! Does that mean... that voice... was it him?! Kyoya brought me back?!
At realizing this, I felt more tears rain down my pale face as I slowly kissed him back, not able to move my arms since I was bandaged up and Kyoya had his arms wrapped around my figure, trapping me in his embrace. I fluttered my eyes shut, tears still falling, as Kyoya opened his widely at realizing that I was kissing him back. He separated from me to look at me, eyes filled with shock and, what looked like, relief.
*Kyoya's POV*
I knew it was not proper of me to just kiss someone who may not even like me back, but when I actually felt her kissing back I just had to back up and see her. Hotaru, eyes now fluttering open and face red with blush, smiled at me as tears flowed down her face. Her eyes, they were full of life once again, the forest green nurtured to life once again and shimmering in all its beauty with the tears falling. Her smile, it was a true genuine smile that I grew to love throughout the time she was with the club. Her hair was even messier than before, but that just made the curls look even more beautiful for some strange reason. Then again, plenty of things about her were strange and that's why I fell in love with her.
"Kyoya, I'm sorry for hogging Haruhi. I didn't mean to, it's just-"
"I know. Haruhi told us everything."
"Oh... I'm so-"
"Don't apologize. None of it was your fault and I mean none of it. We will have to deal with your father though, he must face his consequences."
"Wait, Kyoya! Can't we... wait? I'm not saying to let him go free or anything, but he still owns the company and I'm still too young to take over yet. When I'm old enough to take over the business, that's when we should do something, but not now. I can't lose the business."
"Fine, but as soon as you're old enough, I will deal with your father myself."
She simply nodded at that as we looked at each other. It seemed like an eternity before any of use finally spoke, Hotaru breaking the silence.
"Kyoya?"
"Yes Hotaru, what is it?"
"... did you mean it? What you said?"
"So you were able to hear me after all."
"Not completely. Just bits and pieces. Some stuff came off as blurry though."
"Well then allow me to tell you what it was I said exactly. I said, and I quote, 'Hotaru, you are a very lively girl who is always looking at the bright side of things. You have optimism and a great talent for baking that made the entire school fall in love with your goods. Your father was dumb enough to do those things to you because now he doesn't have you and I will make sure he never has you again. You have great friends here who need you to snap out of it! You can't leave us because we need you Hotaru. We need you... I need you Hotaru. I've observed you along the way and I have felt weird around you, but it was a good feeling, one I have never felt before for anyone else. Hotaru, I realized that I'm in love with you. I love you Hotaru and I can't lose you yet.' and I meant every word of what I said. Hotaru, I love you and I want you to be mine forever."
*Hotaru's POV*
I couldn't believe it! Kyoya, the man I have loved ever since I joined the Host Club loves me back! And my friends do care about me! They didn't want me dead and gone! I had never been more happy in my entire life then right now, even if I was in a hospital bed with bandages mummifying my arms and my hair in one big mess! I couldn't hold back the tears that once again threatened to spill from my eyes, and apparently neither could Kyoya since I saw tears beginning to fall from his own brownish-grey eyes. I looked into them, wearing the biggest smile I have ever worn in my life as I said these next words.
"Kyoya, I love you too! And thank you for saving me."
"How'd you know I was the one that saved you from the water?"
"That's not what I meant, but thank you for that too. For saving me from the lake and my own despair Kyoya."
"Of course. I love you too much to let you go."
We leaned in and shared another blissful kiss, this one even more passionate and loving than the last, as I saw sparks fly and felt electricity shoot up throughout my body and fill me with life once again, locking away my despair for all eternity. This was the moment that marked the beginning of a better happier life for me.
-2 Days Later-
*Hotaru's POV*
I had been released from the hospital yesterday in the afternoon, being warned to be careful with my arms for a while and to keep them clean with antibiotics and newly wrapped bandages and whatnot. I was told to rest, but I still had unfinished business to handle: my brownies. I couldn't leave them undone and not have some kind of gift to give and thank everyone with. How can I forget how after Kyoya and I confessed and got together, he and Haruhi allowed Tamaki and the twins to come in and apologize. They were crying like babies and hugging me and saying sorry over and over again. I couldn't help but giggle as I obviously forgave them. Tamaki wouldn't stop with telling doctors to be careful with his "precious daughter" and the twins kept trying to pull pranks on the doctors all day to make me laugh. Honey and Mori came in and Honey gave me a death hug (he avoided my arms thankfully, but DANG that small boy can hug!) and Mori gave me a grateful smile that said more than any action he could have done. Haruhi stayed by my side and scolded me like a mother would before giving me a hug of her own, glad that I was alright. Kyoya stayed by my other side the entire time, holding my hand and smiling at me as he saw me enjoying everyone's goofy company. It truly was a day to remember, seeing so many people that cared surround me and being glad that I was ok in the end. It's a memory that will always bring a smile on my face.
I had to thank them and I had to finish my brownies, so I ended up sneaking out of my bed, grabbed my secret ingredient that laid in the drawer for five days, and sneaking towards the kitchen. I had to be careful to make sure that any Host Club members didn't catch me or I would be screwed! Lets say when we got back, everyone was very protective of me and didn't want me to leave the room for a second! After many twists, turns, and hallways, I finally reached the kitchen. I wasn't expecting what I saw beyond the kitchen doors though.
When I came in, I was met with the scene of the Host Club, covered in brown batter, chocolate, and other stuff, running around and trying to work in the kitchen. Haruhi seemed frustrated but amused at the same time as she stirred something in a bowl, Tamaki was in his emo corner for some strange reason, muttering about why he couldn't stir something, the twins were at the oven, raising the temperature with a somewhat scary amusing smirk on their faces as they played with the oven. Honey was licking a spoon covered in brown batter and Mori stood by him, making sure he didn't eat too much batter. Kyoya was asking Haruhi questions, like if they needed to add more water or eggs or something.
By the look of the batter, it was obvious to me that they were trying to make brownies. But the scene happening in front of me... it was just too funny!
"Hahahahahahahaaa, Oh my god, what happened in here?! You're all messy and stuff! A-are you guys making brownies?! Hahahahahahaaa"
They all froze when they heard my laugh, except Honey who kept licking his spoon but did stare at me, which only made the scene funnier! This was too much! It was Haruhi who broke the silence first, since everyone else was still frozen.
"Hotaru, shouldn't you be resting?"
"Yeah, but I wanted to finish what I started before the bad stuff happened. Are you guys making brownies?"
"Yeah, I told them about what we were doing and why we didn't hang out with them that day, so they wanted to make brownies for you... and also because they wanted to try out baking."
"Baking is fun Taru-chan! You should join us!"
"Hotaru should go back and rest-"
"Oh please Kyoya, I'll be fine. Trust me I am perfectly-"
As I walked in, I failed to notice the random banana peel as I tripped and fell over. My face never hit the ground, however, as I looked up to find Kyoya had caught me. As he lifted me up, ready to tell me to go back to my room, I quickly kissed him on the nose, shocking him (and everyone else... no literally, even Mori's jaw dropped to the ground) before I freed myself and turned to the others.
"Sure I'll join in on the fun. After all I am still a Host Club member. However, you guys are missing something: my secret ingredient!"
I lifted up my bottle for them all to see and as I added the right amount of it into the bowl that Haruhi was stirring, everyone smiles and went back to their part in baking the brownies, I walked around and tried to help everyone (I was raised in a baking company after all) without using my arms (they were still bandaged). After spending the whole day baking, the brownies finally finished by 10:00 p.m. and we all went to my and Haruhi's room to enjoy our company and eat some brownies. I sat on Kyoya's lap as I saw everyone enjoying the brownies.
Moments like these are ones that I will remember forever. I've never been happier that my clumsiness made me break that tea set! It brought me the best friends that I have ever got to meet and it even gave me the best boyfriend in the world. I have a reason to live now and it was all thanks to this strange bunch of hosts.
My life had never been sweeter!