I left the Host club in suspense that night. I still wasn't ready to get them involved. I knew I couldn't avoid it forever. But I thought I had longer... I didn't think that curiosity would get the best of my friends.

~~Kyoya's P.O.V.~~~

My phone was hot against my face. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Though, it all really added up, I still couldn't believe it.

"Thank you," I told the man on the other end of the line. "Goodbye."

I clicked the phone shut. What... how did Rikku get involved in something like that? She's just a kid.

I might not have know just yet what her reasons for being involved in something that, but I was going to find out. Before something really bad happened.

I hoped.

~~Rikku's P.O.V.~~

Another rough night, I thought as I struggled to pull off my tee - shirt. My muscles burned in protest of the movement.

I buttoned up my shirt and slid on my dress pants. I really hated the uniforms but the boys uniform was a hundred times better than the girls.

I carefully pulled on my shoes and walked to school. It was a long walk but it was nice.

I can't keep this up much longer. Something has to give. I just hope that something isn't me. I should've almost paid Boss off.

As usual, I was greeted by the twins in their vice like cocoon hugs. I'd gotten so used to it that I didn't even yelp anymore. After the twins got done sticking to me, we'd trump off to class. After school, we'd head off to the host club. Yep, just a normal day.

"Ri - chan!" Honey greeted me happily with a tackle hug. "How was your day?"

"Great Honey - sempai," I said smiling at him. "Hello Mori – sempai."

He nodded at me,with a slight smirk. I had to look away to hide the growing blush. Yeah, I was totally crushing on my sempai. It was a classic situation. which made me want to throw up. It wasn't one of those girls.

As the guests arrived, we all took our places. I entertained like usual. After the guests left, I cleaned up because that was part of my deal to pay off the Host Club.

Usually, the guys just left but this time, they hung back. That instantly made me suspicious.

"Rikku," Kyoya said. "We need to talk to you."

"Um, okay?" I said cautiously. "What's wrong?'

All of them looked at me seriously. My eyes connected with Mori's. He didn't seem to know what it was about but I couldn't really be sure.

"I hope you won't take offense when I tell you that I've been having the Ootori private police tail you for the last week," Kyoya said, straight up as always.

"How could I not take offense to that, Kyoya - sempai?" I cried my eyes flashing with anger. "What - why is it any of your business what I do?"

"We all kinda convinced him to do it,"Hikaru said.
"We were really worried," Kaoru agreed.

"I don't care! What I do with my life is my business!" I snarled at them.

"We're your friends," Honey said.

"It's still not your business," I snapped.

"But you can't keep secrets from your beloved daddy can you?" Tamaki said, attaching him self to me.

"You're not my dad," I told him flatly, trying to shrug him off.

He went to his dark little corner where he was ripping paper.

"Stop making a mess that I'm going to have to clean up!" I yelled at him.

"I'm not making a mess," he said pouty. "I'm making a hamster home."

"You don't have a hamster!"

"That's enough," Kyoya said adjusting his glasses. "Don't you want to know what information that my investigation uncovered?"

"enlighten me," I said but I already knew.

"We found that you are involved in an illegal underground fighting circuit," he told me, matter of factly. "We all know that you lack in fighting ability so the real question is why?"

I sat on the couch, putting my face in my hands. I took a big breath to calm my nerves before beginning. "When I was little, I was really sick. My parents didn't have a lot of money so we couldn't afford the doctor bills. So, my dad struck up a deal with Boss Sebachi. He paid the doctor bills and promised to pay Boss back...
"My parents were killed in a car crash three years ago. I didn't have anybody else. boss wanted me to pay it off... since it was my debt. So, I went to work for him. I'm mostly a bait fighter."

"What's that?" Honey asked.

"They throw me in to fight against better fighters. Ones that will make them more money. I'm there to lose. that's why I get hurt so badly. Sometimes, I'm allowed to win, just to shake it up. but that's pretty much the whole story."

There was a silence. I knew that they wouldn't be able to handle it. I felt like crying because I felt so trapped.

"How much?' Tamaki asked. I hadn't noticed him leave his hamster home.

"Huh?" I blinked.

He put his hands on my shoulders. "How much was the debt?"

"I - I don't know," I stammered. "I've almost have it paid off. Just a few more big fights and I'll be... I'll have it paid off."

Tamaki stared at me. "I'll pay it," he said. "You don't need to be doing this."

"No!" I cried, standing up. "I can take care of myself! I'm okay! I promise!"

"No," Tamaki insisted.

I pushed him away, knocking him down. He and the rest of the club looked shocked.

"I'm fine on my own! I don't need your help and I'm not asking for it! I'm fine!"

I ran out. Down the hall. Someone was following me and I tried to speed up and get away but the person was taller and faster than me. They reached out and grabbed me.

I almost fell but the boy grabbed me, holding me against him.

"M - Mori -sempai?" I stammered, flushing super red and looking up at him.

"It doesn't have to be this way," he told me. "You can come out of this. Just let me help."

"I'm sorry, Mori - sempai," I said, pushing him away. "But, I have to do this on my own."

I pushed away and left him standing there.

"You're late," Boss said. "You have to lose this fight and lose it good."

It doesn't have to be this way. Mori's words rung in my ears.

"Rikku," he said shaking me.

"No," I said quietly.

"What?"

"NO!" I screamed. "I won't do this anymore! I know I've paid my debt! I'm done!"

I turned and ran out of the building. In hindsight, I should've just went straight home but i thought that the host club might be there to corner me.

I walked the deserted dark streets, staring at the ground. I still have any idea what was going to happen. I was just going to trust that I'd made the right choice.

But, like with every right choice, you had to pay the price.