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THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAVE REVIEWED SO FAR! I LOVE YOU GUYS! YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTH IT! PLease enjoy this chapter. Sink your teeth into it, savor it and then spew it all over the place when you read what the heck just happened? Don't be surprised if you break your neck doing a double take!!!!!
AND WE"RE JUST GETTING STARTED!
Chapter Twenty Eight IN WHICH EVERYTHING CHANGES!
"Mikan you look much better." Haruhi complimented
"Well a good weekend rest." She answered, "And I'm back at it. You'll never guess what happened though I got in the recital. I'm in the chorus, but I'm going to talk to the headmistress about being an understudy."
'That's great." Haruhi congratulated her.
The mess of the week before had faded quietly, the buzz of the topic was popular at the host club with girls asking Mikan about it, but all they got was a head cock or a yip. They finally stopped asking her and asked the hosts, the twins happily talked about it, she avoided the question with it didn't really matter, and Tamaki was wounded every time someone brought it up.
Mikan had recovered nicely, back to her usual bouncing self. She didn't speak of what had happened, she had passed it off as a prank gone wrong.
Haruhi wasn't so sure, but she didn't press the matter. Kyoya had asked her if she had noticed anything odd or been approached by a girl named Mya.
She had explained Mya's odd behavior, her few mutterings about Mikan being thrown out of Ouran, but she hadn't heard anything threatening about it.
Kyoya had a look that said, you have no idea, but she didn't read into it. Kyoya was always being mysterious.
"Tamaki! Who's a good boy? Whose a good boy?" Mikan cooed, it was the newest fad she had taken on.
Kyoya had encouraged her to branch out, Haruhi wasn't sure if making Tamaki sit, stay, or roll over was the best way. The girls seemed to laugh at the Lord who then could make Mikan leap, spin, and balance.
Mikan seemed to enjoy the trade off. It was odd to see her in the maid costume again, since of the short break from host club activities.
Haruhi turned her attention back to the other girls, who smiled.
"Where's Yui?" She asked
"Oh, she decided to be with Tamaki." Momo explained. Haruhi could recognize them by name now, along with some of her other regulars. It was strange Yui still kept her distance in the hall, but waved and said hello if they passed each other. She assumed it was some part of some un said rule book these girls followed.
"More tea?" Mikan asked cheerfully as she poured three cups at once, that rested calmly on her arm.
"Mikan don't spill-' Haruhi started
"I couldn't spill, I has perfect balance." She answered as she put the tea pot on her head, "See."
"Mikan." Haruhi covered her eyes, but Mikan ignored her skipping off and humming to herself.
"You see very happy today." Kyoya commented to her, as she poured him a cup which he took silently.
"Your welcome." She answered pouring some of the tea into her mouth, "And I am. I'm back in dance. I'm going to be on the stage."
"What's the production?" He asked
"Swan lake." She answered," I'm going to be one of the four little swans, but since Mya got the part of Odette, I'm going to see if I can be her understudy."
"Isn't that the lead?" He asked
"Yeah. Antoinette is playing the black swan. She played Oddette already." She answered, "Plus she's leaving this spring, and will be away later on."
"I will pretend I understood that." Kyoya answered, "How are you?"
"You've asked me everyday." She answered, "The same response, I'm fine."
"Em-hmm." He nodded
"What?" She crossed her arm.
"Mikan you were drugged and handled, it's alright if you feel residual anxiety." Kyoya answered
"I'm fine." She promised again, she had that look in her eye, that glint that she was hiding something, but she was a good liar, "Something going right dance wise, just let me enjoy it without worrying that some maniac is going to come after me with a machete."
"I doubt it. Too heavy." Kyoya answered
"Not going to even answers that." Mikan shook her head.
Kyoya watched her go, but he had that nagging feeling in the back of his head. There was always something going on beneath the surface, but his research had pulled nothing but a million articles on Mikan and her fall from potential glory. There had been one repeating name Natacha Dorogoi who at the time had been competition for the same position and had not been offered it again even after Mikan's accident.
If he had known Mikan would be this much drama when he offered the position, he wondered if he would have still hired on. She worked as hard as usual, and she made the costumers come as always, perhaps even more.
He pushed it from his mind, they would never get rid of the puppy, until the host club ended, and that hopefully would not be for a while yet.
"Hey! That's my tea cup."
"No puppy do a trick and you can have the tea cup!' The twins answered holding it over her head.
She laughed, licking Karou's cheek instead, "That's for you. Now mine."
She grasped from his hand as the twins laughed patting her head.
"Silly puppy." They teased, "Don't break a leg eh! We're not carrying your around again."
'Pft." She answered, "Like I would let you.'
"You would beg us." They called
"Maybe if I got on my knees." She answered skipping away, 'Hi Hunny. The cake is a lie."
"But I like my cake!" Hunny cried, "I really do like my cake. Mori why is the cake a lie."
"Yeah mori why?" Mikan asked grabbing a plate and taking a bite.
Mori shrugged.
"Hey stop not talking." Mikan giggled patting his head, as she poured tea for the girls who thanked her softly, "Hunny remember to do a couple laps, I don't want to be rolling you by the end of the year."
"Ahh!" Hunny screamed again as Mori shook his head at Mikan, "I'm glad the puppy is happy again."
"Ah." Mori answered
"We are to Hunny-san." One of the girls started
"We have not seen her this happy in such a long time." Another started
"Mori-san where did you learn to lift girls like that?"
"Ah." He shrugged
"Mori is really strong." Hunny answered, "Would you like some more cake?"
"No we're good." They answered together.
"Mori why is Mikan so happy?"
Mori blinked and pointed to the cake as he took a bite.
"Mori san do you think dancers are like graceful swans?"
"Ah." He answered
"I like swans." Hunny answered, "I want a swan to raise. There so cute when there little, or maybe a bunny like my bunny. Do you think I can get a pink bunny?"
The girls giggled distracted from the subject of the puppy. Everyone asked about the puppy, but no one asked the puppy.
"Mikan!" Yui called from Tamaki's side, "Tamaki says that you've become something of a celebrity at school."
"No." She answered, "I'm just Mikan." as she poured the tea smiling still.
"She never admits to it." Yui answered, "Did you see that?"
"How could we not?" another girl answered
"Mya hasn't been to the host club in awhile." Someone else commented
"I didn't know she attended the host club."Yui picked up a cookie as she dunked in the tea. Tamaki-sempi was a lot more amusing than Haruhi, he was always jumping on topics to. She missed Haruhi's quiet charm though.
"Yui are you dunking your cookie?"
"Commoner trick." She answered popping it her mouth, "Puppy taught it to me."
"Wow." The girls nodded to each other, "Tamaki-sempi are enjoying the weather. It will be spring soon."
"Ah yes. I cannot wait , for spring is the time for love." He answered, "And bloosming flowers."
"Oh." They cooed and swayed.
"Tamaki-sempi, do you like the spring or the summer more?" Yui asked generally curious.
"Which ever one you prefer more." He purred as he touched her arm.
She blushed and smiled, "I asked the question, you answer. Besides I like fall."
"Oh, then summer." he answered as he retracted.
She nodded, munching on another cookie, maybe it was the twins she liked more.
Mikan glanced at the clock impatient as the girls began to leave. She had cups to clean as she ran around the room scooping up the plates and cups in her hands and running to wash them.
"Haurhi! Help now!" She demanded as Haruhi nodded following her.
"Here you wash I need to change." Mikan began to throw her clothes off, pulling out her bag.
Haruhi only shook her head, 'You better hope no one walks in."
"Please." Mikan answered as she pulled on her tights and leo tard. She yanked out the pigtails, as she ran a brush through the unruly mess, putting on a hair net.
"What's with the hair net?" Haruhi asked
"Better bun." she answered, "They make them in different colors so I got one to match my hair."
"Ah. Why are you in such a rush today?"
"Rehersal." She explained quickly, "Can't be late for warm up."
"Do you warm up on stage?" Haruhi started
"Ehm, hmm." Mikan nodded, 'Have to. Class room is only so big and we try and do dry run throughs on stage before we even learn the whole dance. We all know the coregrpahy by heart, everyone has had swan lake."
"Oh." Haruhi answered, "Swan lake? Sounds familiar."
"Russian ballet. Tradgey. Famous for the dying swan and the four little swans." Mikan explained as she pulled on her pointe shoes and leg warmers wrapping a black skirt around her waist.
"Oh." Haruhi answered as Mikan quickly joined in.
"I can still you give you a ride home, unless you don't want to wait around." Mikan offered
"No Yui say she could take me." Haruhi answered
"Yui? My yui? When did you meet her?"
"Oh we talked while you threw up." Haruhi answered, "She's nice."
"Yeah. Cool." Mikan nodded, "Huzzah dishes are done. Alright see you tommorow."
"Bye Mikan." Haruhi waved taking the cups and putting them away in their proper place. The host club room was already empty the other members had already left for the day.
"Haruhi!'
"Hey Yui." She waved picking up her bag, "Thank you for this."
"Of course." Yui nodded, "I have never been by a commoner's house."
"Well its not much." Haruhi shrugged as she followed her friend out. She supposed she could call Yui a friend at least out side of school. They had that rule book to abide to here inside the walls of Ouran.
She climbed into the small car, "You don't take a limo?"
"I don't like them.' Yui answered, "TO flashy. Driver to-"
Haruhi told the address as the car pulled out, "Mikan is better."
"Oh I saw." Yui answered with a nod, "You know I don't find this odd at all, riding home with a host club member."
"I'm just Haruhi outside of school." She shrugged, "What should be odd about it?"
"Sorry." Yui apologized. They passed the time in silence, as Haruhi spotted her house.
"This is it. Thank you again." She called
"Any time." Yui replied as the car pulled away.
It was a little odd, but as long as no one saw them, there was no harm in it. Besides it was not like she was someone like Tamaki-sempi, she didn't have people obessed over her. No there was nothing wrong with being friends with Yui.
"And one and two and one and two."
Mikan watch from back stage as the chorus began to warm up, she was still trying to escape from Jin's tight embrace.
"You left me for way to long." He argued
"I just saw you a week ago." Mikan answered as she pushed away. She didn't need to risk any hug injuries.
'For the first time since well New York, and no internet does not count." as he thumped her head, "You know I have to keep up appearances around here, these girls jump on anything."
"You don't need to tell me." Mikan crossed her arms. It felt good to be here. It felt right in her shoes, with fresh ribbons with the smell of hairspray, with the bandages and tape and skirts and chatter. It was home for her.
"So I'm going to be an under study." She announced as she glanced at him with a half smile. It wasn't that she was upset, well okay maybe a little, okay a lot, that she didn't make the try outs because of her damn addled condition. She had managed to beg and plead with her teacher who had an in with the company director to let her at least be an understudy. She threatened to hold onto the woman's leg and make her drag her around until she agreed to talk to her. It worked though.
"For who?" He asked
"No idea." She shrugged as she shifted the straps of her leotard, "Has Mya made her appearance yet?"
"No not yet. We missed you in the winter recital."
"I had a sprained leg." She answered looking away, "Couldn't be helped."
She had avoided the winter recital like the plague, it would have been horrible to watch Mya with her smug statisfaction like some up tight bitch, oh wait, Mikan thought she was one. She shook her head, she was reading to far in to it. It didn't matter, not really.
"Of course." He nodded, "Your sister has already made her rounds."
Mikan shook her head; she couldn't understand why Kagame always popped in out of nowhere, with Kyoya no less. He seemed rather at ease with the dancers, then again most of the dancers were commoners and posed to threat to his status. He probably has a basic file on each of them and could name their blood type if asked.
She rolled his eyes, "How long has she been at it?'
"She still trying to get into Jake's pants." Jin offered, "I don't she ever gave up one him."
"He was a good guy." Mikan answered remembering one of Kagame's early exploits, 'He was number five, and early one."
"She's such a little slut." Jin smiled, "IN that good way." he added a little to quickly.
"Yeah in that Kagame way." Mikan answered knowing her sisters tendecies to attract boys like flies on honey though flies would have stayed longer, "So fill in on the drama."
He began to recount who had dropped out, who hated who, who had moved, who had been accepted into a different program, who had given up dance all together.
"The patrons have more of a say here." Jin added. His tone came as a warning, and off shoot of what she should keep a heads up for.
"That's odd." Mikan commented. Sure patrons could run a studio or back a favorite dance, it was all part of the politics of the company. For them to have so much control as Jin seemed worried though was making it seem as if Ouran was more like the Godfather only with ballet dancers.
"So they say." He nodded, "But here the theatre runs on their donations and so they in turn get a say in what we produce who dances, etc."
"How un biased." Mikan commented. So that was it, money, it was came down to money. Ouran seemed to be the best at everything, it wanted to show case the best, even if most the dancers were commoners. That was ironic considering the history dance the royals would always watch commoners for entertainment, some kind of poetic justice.
"It doesn't matter." He shrugged, "Most of the time the position's and leads are set, so it's not a big deal."
"Says he who carries the company." Mikan rolled her eyes as she ran out on to the stage joining the other girls at the bar. She loved Jin, but he had a big head and a good heart that usually became inflated with each new level of drama. He was cool about, but she knew he had more tabs that a bill at a bar.
She went through the warm up, with no problem, she knew every step by heart as she raised her arm, pointed her foot.
The music played softly as they continued, Mikan counted in her head. She spied Kagame talking to Jin as she waved to Mikan.
Mikan smiled as she could have sworn she saw Kyoya as well, but what would the shadow king be doing at her rehersal?
She shuddered to think what that could mean as she switched side, putting her leg on the bar to stretch it. She saw some of the new younger recrutis, that wouldn't become part of the company until after middle school. They warmed up with the chorus though, and would have minor side stage parts to get a feel for everything.
She glanced again at Kagame, god what she wouldn't pay to hear what they were saying.
"So far nothing bad." Kagame smiled crossing her arms, "Why did you want to come again Kyoya?"
"Why not?" He shrugged pulling out his pad, "I've decided that despite my information gathering skills, I can't always get what I need from my files."
"Gasp, does that mean I win?" Kagame smiled, feeling some odd accomplishment at this sudden victory "I feel flattered."
"Don't get ahead of yourself." He warned eyeing her with that usual glare of the glasses that sent most people packing. She was Kagame though, and she sent the glare packing instead.
"Please when have I done that?" She answered rolling her eyes and tossing her hair.
"I can count a few." Jin smiled as he walked over.
"Oh no you don't." Kagame eyed him, he always did have a nice body like all the other dancers she had ever been with, "Hey Jin what do you know about Natacha Dorogoi?"
"What do you want to know?" He answered as if offering her a cheese platter of the greatest parts of the gossip, and he only knew which ones were the best.
"Don't play games." She crossed her arms as she scolded him lightly.
"It would help us." Kyoya explained as he stepped forward dawning his air of don't fuck with me I have a note pad aura that he got in these information sessions "And since you are a dancer-"
"Alright I get it." Jin rolled his eyes as he ran away saying something that sounded like, "Assumptions. Assumptions."
He returned a moment later with what looked like a book bag as he pulled out a pile of paper, "Here you go."
Kyoya glanced at the stack of papers, "Jin?"
The mild shock was not hidden behind his otherwise cool gaze that would put an ice cube to shame.
"What? Can't I gather information on potential patrons to support my own company when I have to retire from the stage?" He asked as if insulted.
Kagame slapped a hand to here face, shaking her head, "Jin. I can't believe you."
Well no that was a lie. She could and she did, and after the things she had seen Jin know about people, Kyoya had been no surprise. It was like the two were separated at birth, only Jin had longer, better hair, a bit more lanky, and no bad eye sight.
"Quiet evil Guinness." He answered smiling as if the title was something he had officially been given by the office of evil in the head quarters of evildome. Kagame was pretty sure
Kyoya had a piece of paper from the same place.
"No. No. Evil yes. Guinness no." Kagame answered as Kyoya shifted through the various papers. She couldn't let him win that much against her. She needed to keep her status above both of them. She was the Goddess after all.
"This is amazing. You have all her files, right down to parking tickets in New York." Kyoya was in awe.
"I try." Jin answered as if he wasn't smug about the whole affair at all. Oh no, he would pass it off as if it was a walk in the park getting everything.
"This will take me few days to sort through." Kyoya began
"Stuff on top is her ballet records stuff on the bottom is personal." Jin explained
"What happened to boundries?' Kagame asked knowing full well there was no such thing.
"You don't want to see the file I have on Mikan." Jin answered
"I do." Kyoya muttered, "You think you could do one on Kagame."
Smack! That was it. She had enough.
"Stupid boys!" Kagame muttered stomping off as Kyoya grinned with Jin.
"She just doesn't appreciate the fine art of information gathering." Jin shrugged as Kyoya nodded pushing up his glasses.
"Who is this Caine White? He seems to pop a lot in her files." Kyoya started as he noticed the same highlighted name over and over. Natacha sure got around New York City, and Tokyo and her native Russia.
"Her ex partner, they used to date." Jin answered, "I have much small file on him." as he seemed to pull a file out of no where.
He was handsome, with a strong face, strong body, less lean that most dancers, and tall with brown hair and brown eyes, paired with Natacha the Russian bueaty, they would have been a star pair.
"They broke up?" Kyoya asked not really caring to know the personal details.
"Dancers dating dancers is not always the best thing." Jin answered, "Trust me I know."
"Ah." Kyoya nodded eyeing Jin, "You know you seem to have a past. I was checking your own information."
"Really?" Jin asked as if he was waiting for Kyoya to start naming half the things he did only to smile like he had done twice as much, "Well maybe that's because I've guarded all my information."
Kyoya felt his face fall as he eyed Jin, "How do I know you weren't the one to drug Mikan?"
"Let's just say, we had a thing." Jin shrugged as his glance told Kyoya be wary of where the heck you stick your nose, "Like I said dancers and dancers don't work."
Kyoya raised his head as he stared out at Mikan who seemed to be helping a fellow dancer with a position, "Right."
There was a sudden yelp as he distintcally heard someone crying. The dancer Mikan had been helping out was sobbing hysterically as Mya stood above her, her lips twisted in a smile or maybe a scowl.
"I don't know why mom lets it this trash. She couldn't hold a first position if she tried." Mya was saying loudly, as the girl shoved her face into her hands and ran off the stage in tears.
"What the hell Mya." Mikan snapped as the fellow dancers stopped and looked at the pair.
"Mikan-"
"Don't." Mikan warned glancing at the girl who backed off, "You know Mya I never really got you, but know I do. You are just jealous. You know that your not as good as a dancer as I am. You know that and so you try and get at me."
"The only reason you got in here is because your Mom got rich. Everyone knows since Julliard and the scandal with Jin no studio would take you." Mya answered
"I fell of a stage, I dated a dancer." Mikan argued, "Where's the scandal in that? I had to leave dance because of my injuries."
"You followed me to Japan. Your stealing my spot light."
"Oh yeah. Is this because I'm your understudy?" Mikan asked suddenly getting close to Mya's face, "Is it?"
"Get away!" Mya shoved her, "Go play fetch with your man whores."
"Their not man whores." Mikan yelled back
"Yeah then why do you let dress you up." Mya argued, "Your nothing but a bitch. Everyone in the studio knows it, you act sweet, but you put glass in someone's shoes to get the part."
"Do you see me bullying dancers?" Mikan answered, "I worked to get here. I didn't suck Mama's ass to get my position."
"Oh no you just paid her off, to let you in late." Mya answered, "Or maybe it's because Kagame slept with her ex husband."
"Bitch!" Mikan yelled shoving her back.
"Whore!" Mya answered
"Everyone knows that you only-get-every-god-damn lead because of your mother's kiss assign tendencies to the damn patrons, and the fact that you throw a fit if you don't get what you want." Mikan yelled," Don't you dare try and pull like that again."
Slap!
"Learn your place!" Mya answered
"Shouldn't have done that." Mikan warned as she pulled out Mya's bun letting the bobby pins fly.
Mya screamed shoving her back against the bar as Mikan stumbled. The girls had fled the stage letting the two rivals duke it out. It was quiet, because no one was going to get into the middle of that fight. There was more screaming as Mikan managed to rip a chunk of Mya's already short hair.
"Break it up!" Kagame ordered as her voice thundered around the hall, "Mya get a hold of yourself. This is not how the lead dancer acts, you want this part than dance it, don't go beat up on other dancers."
"Oh says the little bitch who slept with every lead dancer in New York." Mya spat.
There was a pause as Kagame's face darkended and her fist came back and
Wham!
Mya screamed as she held her face, "My eye!"
She had a lovely black eye forming as she stumbled back.
"You listen here, you pull something like that again, and I'll knock one of those shiny teeth." Kagame hissed, as she pulled Mikan off the stage, by the back of her neck saying all the wile "And you should know better."
"Fuck you." Mikan answered shoving her sister away as she ran into the wings. She rushed past the girls who quickly got out her way and stood to the sides. There was going to be huge repercussion to deal with by the end of it, but Kagame was angry enough to bite off the next person's ear.
That little bitch was bringing up age old rumors that didn't need to see the light of day. Mya didn't get a bunch of shit everytime she went out with a dancer, she didn't have to deal with the reporters following after her everytime she tried to get a bite to eat with a boyfriend.
"Mikan." Jin started after her as Kyoya eyed a fuming Kagame almost curious.
"Every male lead-" He started as she grabbed him by the collar.
"Kyoya-this close." She warned, "This close. Come on, lets get out of here before I throw someone off the stage."
Kyoya looked for Jin, but all he saw was the ballerina's forming tight groups of whispers.
"Kagame where did Mikan go?" He asked as soon as he was sure it was safe
"Probably back stage, that girl just brings out the worst in me sometimes." Kagame fumed, "I was justified in punching her, don't forget that."
"I won't." Kyoya answered as he sighed, "Lets go by the stables. You can go be with some of the finer thourghbreds. Horses seem to calm you."
"No, they make me smelly, but they don't judge." Kagame answered, "As long as I give them sugar."
They made their way quickly to the outside. The weather had begun to improve as the snow had mostly melted off the grass besides a few patches. The wind was still nippy. They followed the path from the theatre, it was going to be a long walk. Kagame seemed to be softly seething, as her fists clenched and her teeth gritted against each was comtemplating how slowly she could roast Mikan for being stupid enough to give in. Mya had it coming, breaking a young dancers dream and then trying to start something with Mikan. It wasn't enough to have a girl fight, but then again Mya always did have it coming.
"So, what are we going to do about Mikan and Mya?" Kyoya began, "They can't keep trying to kill each other."
"It's something she'll have to face with every company. There can only be one star dancer." Kagame answered, "And there is no we, there is us, you make it sound like we're parents raising a kid."
"Maybe we are but it's easier since she's a puppy." Kyoya answered
Smack.
"We are not going there, wrong sick thoughts."Kagame told him as she stuck her hands in her pockets. She was wearing clothes today as odd as that was for her, as she shivered despite herself. The long scarf trailed in the wind as they pushed on. It was too cold to be angry for long out here. There would be whispers, probably something to do with community service. It would all be kept private, no director wanted a scandal, no director, unless they were stupid.
"So, were does Mikan want to go?" Kyoya asked after another minute had passed.
"Joining Ouran was the most stable thing she could do and she really like the school besides that. She knew if she got into the theatre program it could jump start her back into a company by senior year." Kagame explained, "Of course we didn't know Mya went here when we did that."
"Are you worried?" Kyoya started
Kagame gave a thoughtful pause, "Nope. Not at all. I figured my Mom will give them hell fire if they try and pull anything, you don't want to see my mom angry."
Kyoya shuddered, "I'm guessing your mother does not have a quiet anger."
"She'll ram a boot up your ass if you look at us the wrong way." Kagame answered letting the wind run through her hair, "Almost there."
The stables which sat farther away from the main school, housed over forty horses, twenty of them belonging to the show team that Ouran hosted of the best riders, and others for classes. It was an elective to learn show technique to avoid more gym class.
The three main rings were used in the spring and summer, with one separate for the jumping course, and two indoor rings heated in the other main barn for the winter practice. The team should be out today at a competition so it wouldn't be a problem for them to come say hello to the others. Kagame heard the wild knicker of a horse, as if it was rearing or fighting something. She took off running to the sound, it could be a stupid novice and nothing was more painful than getting kicked by an angry horse. She knew from fist hand experience with the sore spots on her ribs.
"Hey! Kagame!" Kyoya yelled after her as they rounded the corner of the barn to get the front doors, but a horse burst through first knocking them back. Kagame panted climbing up as she took after the horse. Kyoya peered inside the barn, as a man seemed to brush himself off, "Was that your horse?"
The man heard the question and took off running the other way, "HEY!"
He was torn, did he chase after the stranger or Kagame and the wild horse? He pulled out his cell phone instead, "Security? There's been a breech on campus at the stables. Male, about 5'9, I didn't see his face. No no one's been hurt."
There was a scream and another wild neigh from the horse as he slammed the phone shut. This day just kept getting better as he carried the heavy stack of papers with his pad, over the grounds as the wind hissed against him.
"Kagame?" He called running through the snow, as he saw her holding the halter of the horse that had run widly out the barn. He recognized it immediately, SpiritTracks, the champion five years in a row at Ouran's home competition.
"Call an ambulance." Kagame told him as she panted holding onto the horse who still pranced and snorted, "Mya got run over. Her wrist is snapped."
The moaning and screams were coming from Mya with her black eye, and now hurt wrist as she lay in the snow. She was in her ballet clothes, but had the foresight to put on pants and a jacket and shoes so she wasn't at risk of freezing to death anytime soon.
Kyoya kneeled next to Mya who seem to wither in pain, "Mya. My name is Kyoya, I've studied medicine, and your wrist is broken. The pain is probably going to last until we can get you to the hospital. What are you doing out here?"
"I heard someone call my name." She sobbed, "So I went to see, and this stupid horse came out of no where."
"Okay." Kyoya sighed pulling out his phone dialing the number. This smelled of a brewing lawsuit for the head master and Spirit Tracks owner. What a mess. He hoped Mikan was fairing better.
"Argh!" Mikan screamed as she hit the punching bag over and over and over again, "Take that and this. That and this." It swung harder as she kicked it harder.
"Mika-chan!"
Wham! Thump! The punching bag had managed to knock her to the ground.
"Oomph!" Mikan muttered, "Honey? Mori what are you two doing here?"
"Practice." Honey answered in his white robe, "What are you doing here?"
"Getting out my anger." She answered as she stood back up. She adjusted her tights again, she loved when she had holes so she could pull them up over her feet.
"Did something happen?" Honey asked as he watched her attack the bag again and again and again.
"Yeah. You could say that." She nodded as she punched it again and again.
"What happened Mika-chan?" Honey pushed as he stood beside her now.
"I got into a stupid fight with a stupid girl and I'm just really really annoyed." She answered sitting down on the ground as she rubbed her wrist, "Sorry."
"It's okay." Honey answered as he sat beside her. Mori had paused the punching bag and simply stood behind Honey as silent as a staute.
Her hair was a mess and her eyes were puffy from the tears she had been crying as she sat with Jin backstage. Mya had touched some deep wounds.
"Have you gotten out all your anger?" Jin asked as he watched Mikan.
"Yeah Jin you can come over." She told him as Jin walked over calmly.
"Mori . Honey. This is a friend from dance, this is Jin." She gestured to him as she panted. "Nice to meet you." Jin smiled as the tall guy, Mori, seemed to grip his hand a little to hard, but his expression didn't change.
"Are you Mika-chan's boyfriend?" Honey asked as Jin exchanged a glance with Mikan and they both laughed. It was nice to have something lighten the situation. She wasn't going to even try to explain to any of the host club what had gone on today. She kept them separate from the rest of her life.
"Not even close." Mikan assured him as she stretched, "Should we go back to practice?"
She really didn't want to. She didn't want to apologize to Mya, not that she should even have to. She didn't want to deal with gossip and girls and shit. She wanted to bury her hand in the sand and run away and scream and make it all go away. She wanted something to go her way for once.
'Probably." Jin nodded helping her up. She brushed of her butt as she managed to re arrange her hair well enough so that it pulled of a half decent bun.
"I want to come." Honey begged leaping into her arms as she caught him with little grace, stumbling back wards. He was a heavy kid for someone so small. It was probably all the cake he ate.
"Honey don't you have practice?" Mikan eyed him as he leaned back wrapping his arms around her neck.
"No." He shook his head.
"Ah." Was Mori's answer as he took Honey from her arms and put him on his shoulders.
"Awww Mori!" Honey complained as the giant walked off without another word.
"What not even a good bye!' Mikan demanded as she put her hands on her hips. Her lips were twisted into a smile as she felt her spirits rise just a little bit. Mori was always nice to be around, he didn't pester her.
"Bye." Mori answered as Mikan smiled.
"Wahoo! Mori said something! Way to go Honey, next time we'll see if we can get him to say a sentence." Mikan called after them as Honey said something, but she didn't manage to catch it. She snorted turning back to Jin, "Boyfriend! Yeah right."
The walk was short and quiet as they made their way back to the theatre. She could see students swarming on the grounds in large bubbles as if something was going on. She dimissed it though, seemingly Ouran always had something going on. It really didn't matter to her, as long as she wasn't caught in the onslaught of the crowd.
She glanced again it was rather unsual to see so many students though who looked like they had gathered without a reason besides something that happened four minutes ago.
Mikan had hardly made it through the front door, when she was attacked.
"Mikan! Mikan! Did you really intend to kill Mya with that horse?"
"Mikan! Are you going to stop now that she's been hospitalized!"
"Mikan is it true this isn't the first time you've attacked a fellow dancer?"
"WHAT IS THIS! TWENTY QUESITON!" Jin yelled as the dancers fell silent. They weren't in their dance clothes, but regular clothes with their bags, "Out of all of you. Shouldn't you be at rehearsal?"
"Rehearsal was cancelled." Someone said quietly. Jin was looked on something as a God among the other dancers, he had reached some kind of major level of respect that the others just couldn't command.
"Jin." Antoinette came to him from the crowd, she had changed to, "Come on."
"Come on Mikan." Jin ordered and as soon as they were far enough away asked, "Antoinette what's this all about?"
"Mya's claiming that Mikan tried to kill her. She's screaming about how she paid her sister to set a wild horse on her." Antoinette started as she seemed to be on the verge of crying, "The police want to question her, it's a big mess."
"What the hell we're gone for maybe twenty minutes and Mikan's being accused on homicide." Jin demanded as Mikan laughed and shrugged. What could she say? She was going to have to explain to the police about how she was just working out anger, not to mention the past she and Mya shared- well no that didn't need to be said. Mya if she was hurt by the horse, which she was wondering how the hell that one had happened, was probably either on pain meds or in extreme pain and was going to scream out anything she could.
"That's kind of funny, but I have an alibi." She answered, "I was at the dojo, beating a punching bag. I didn't even know Ouran had a stable.
"Well the headmistress wants to see you." Antoinette answered after a minute, "That's why she cancelled practice."
Mikan rolled her eyes as Jin laughed, "Oh boy someone's going to get beaten with a pointe shoe."
That was odd as well, then again news traveled at the speed of light at this school. It would explain why all the girls and guys had gathered outside. She was sure the headmistress would want to see her, maybe to talk about the thing with the firebird and of course why her daughter was screaming that she was trying to kill her.
"If I come out with bruises I want you guys to stand as witness." Mikan answered, but Antoinette didn't smile or laugh with them. MIkan knew the pair of oak doors well; they reminded her of when she had been called to the head masters.
"Good luck." Jin smiled as he watched Mikan disappear, "Now what's this all about Mikan?"
"Jin." Antoinette started, "I think you should sit down."
"Antoinette tell me what's going on." His voice contained an edge to it.
"Mya's mother is connected to those patrons because she owes hundreds of favors. The patron' s favorite is Mya. What do you think is going to happen?
"What?" Jin started, "You think May is lying to get back at Mikan. There aren't going to be any charges, there's to much proof that Mikan was no where near the stables, not to mention she didn't even know they existed."
"Well of course their bull shit." Antoinette answered, "This has happened in what the span of twenty or so minutes? I know that, but you know how this system works."
"They wouldn't dare." Jin began as Antoinette shook her head. He didn't want to believe that as the oak door creaked open as Mikan silently walked out a letter in her shaking hand. It had been all of a few seconds as she seemed to hold a quiet gaze in her eyes.
She had already begun to cry as the tear slid down her face. Jin recongonzied with a look of horror on his face why Antoinette had been so worried, he suddenly understood what was happening, why the headmistress would call them and not a teacher.
"I'm expelled." She said softly as she held up the letter with the words, and the sealed mark with the signature of the headmistress, "I can't dance at Ouran anymore."
"Mikan." He started, but she ran past him, "MIKAN!"
She was gone. She was running faster and faster down the hall as the ringing of her name being called by him only out lasted the words she had heard of the headmistresses lips.
"You are expelled."
It wasn't happening to her. It was some horrible waking nightmare and she would wake up and find Tamaki panicing and the twins making jokes and she would find out she had done something stupid again.
Expelled. Expelled. She heard it ring over and over in her head as she wanted to scream. She wanted it to end. Damn Mya! Damn Kagame! Damn them All!
She wanted to scream. She needed something anything to hold.
She ran until she hit something with a thump as the rush of cool air hit her face. She saw white as she stared up into the strangers face.
"Mikan." She heard him say her name as she pulled herself up and e rushed into his arms sobbing.
This is what she needed. Just someone to listen. Just someone to listen.
Jin glared at her as he threw open the oak doors and marched up to the desk, "WHY!"
He had tried running after Mikan, but Antoinette had a screaming Kagame trying to rip into the headmistresses office. It was Kyoya who managed to finally pull her away as she screamed and swore. He had never seen a woman respond so fast to a cell phone call, but she hadn't been to far away when she got it. She had panted and looked red in the face as she tried for the double doors.
Someone had to find out why.
"I beg your pardon." The head mistress demanded as she sat behind it like nothing had just happened. He could see the glossy piece of paper in her hand, as she seemed to smile. The letter that every dance dreaded, the letter that seal their fates.
"Tell me now." He demanded as he thumped a fist onto the desk.
"Your forget your place." She answered coolly as she tucked one neat strand of black hair behind her ear, "Do you want to end up like Ms. Tanaka?"
How many times had he, stood before her desk in a fury with fists clenched at her choices. How many dancers' dreams had she beaten down? How many times had he had to sit and bear it so he could keep his place within this company?
This theatre was run on lies and gossip, the dance didn't matter, and it was the politics, the scandal. He couldn't take it, he wouldn't let her win this time, and this was personal.
He stared into her cold eyes, her tight lips, her cool demenor that warned every dancer of their place in Ouran. Then he smiled.
"I quit." He said softly
There was a clatter as he watched her mouth drop as she stuttered for a minute and then her face scrunched as her lips twisted into a scowl. She tossed the blank letter to the floor.
"You are what?"She asked him, daring him to say it again.
"I-quit." He smiled wider now. It felt good to have the power even for a minute.
"You can't quit. I have you under contract for major companies." She was almost hissing now as she braced the desk.
"My Laywer will handle the paper work." He answered, "You made your own bed. I quit."
"You are making a mistake." She told him as she regained her compsure coolly as she eyed him, "This won't help her. She assaulted my daughter, she set a horse on her. She is expelled from this company."
"No. Good luck finding a new lead male dancer in time for the show." He answered as he turned and shut the door leaving her fuming, "Antoinette come help me find Mikan."
"Jin." she started, "What did you just do?"
'It doesn't matter. That's between me and her." Jin answered. Mya's mother, the great black widow of dance world, the infamous Akane. The one who held all the cards, Ouran wasn't a leap to the dance world, and it was a factory, stockyard, because they knew that most of the dancers wouldn't be able to afford the lessons or tuition of the other dance schools. They made it seem like you had a fair chance, but unless you were one her favorites, or one of their favorites you never made it far. You got stuck in the chorus.
He could hear Kagame screaming down the hall, as she was know telling a cop off, getting his badge number and threathing too have him shipped of to Africa. He shook his head; this was going to be hard to sort out. Kyoya managed to force her away as he smiled and said something as the cop seemed to laugh and nod. He wrote something down and walked away as Kagame walked faster still storming and yelling angry gibberish.
"Where did you think she went?" Antoinette asked as they walked the way Mikan had run out.
He could think of one place, "Come on."
Antoinette followed behind him, "Aren't you cold?"
"Freezing." He answered as they walked down the path, he was ready to start running or even jogging if he had to, "But I'll get over it."
"Where are we going?" Antoinette demanded as she panted to keep up with him. Her shoes clacking against the tiles, as approached the tall building. He was lucky enough to get it so Mikan wouldn't punch him.
He opened the door to the dojo, but it was empty. Just the empty dark space and the punching bag staring back at him. He closed it again as he turned around and rested against the door.
"I thought for sure she would be here." He started
"A dojo?" Antoinette asked him as she grabbed his arm, "Come on before you break."
He turned silently as they walked together, as she dared to ask again, "Jin what did you tell headmistress?"
There was a rush of cool air as he breathed it in and relaxed.
He paused as he smiled, "I quit Ouran."
Antoinette felt her jaw drop, "WHAT! You can'! You mustn't."
"I can and I have. Antoinette you're lucky, you don't see how they work us here. You don't need to see it. " He answered with a shrug, "SO don't worry about me."
"But-but how are you going to get a spot in the company-" She began again as if she was going to start suddenly fretting over him like a mother over a sick child.
"I won't." He answered, "Not the one's I was going for anyways. See something just snapped in me. I never wanted the patrons support, I was keeping track of how much under the table dealing had been going on in the theatre. I've long suspected the headmistress of favorite, but I didn't quite realize how far she would take it till now, so I quit. My research is done."
"Jin please makes sense." Antoinette begged him. She clung to his arm in that annoying habit she had as if she knew what was good for him. He didn't yank it away from her as she leaned against him.
"Like I said forget about it." He told her coldly as she got the message and released him from her grip.
They walked on in silence until they reached the lockers. He thought about it, two words that held so much weight. They came so easy, so quickly, as he stared at her evenly saying I know who you are and what you are. Antoinette would never understand why he had done it. She knew only dance for achieving her dreams of being part of a main cleared out his shoes, his tights, his shorts, as he changed into his regular clothes. He left nothing for evidence. That was the strangest part for a dancer, to clear out something that was a part of who you were. MIkan would do the same in a day or so the talk would follow in the theatre, but they wouldn't hear it. Everyone thought that quitting lasted days, but the actual proposition was a few moments in time, a quiet stillness like a knife slashing butter. A blow to the dancer, a blow to the company and a blow to the director though they acted indifferent to it, even if it was a favorite.
"Come on Antoinette." He ordered as she followed like a lap dog, "I feel like getting very drunk and I am sure I can find at least three people who would join me."
They walked on out the hall as they almost ran into the Giant and the midget and a tiered puppy.
"Hey Jin." Mikan waved she didn't want to tell him how she got their, Mori was being nice enough as it was to carry her sorry ass around, "I just got questioned by the police."
"And." Jin started expecting the worse out of it.
"Nothing.' She shrugged, "They said thank you for your time and walked away. Mya's mother has wanted to press charges, but between Kyoya and Kagame they left speeding away in their patrol cars. They said something about how she had wasted their time and that they were going to deported to Africa over it."
There was a pause as everyone simply looked at each other. Something ironically funny about what had happened, sweetly ironic.
"Who wants a drink?" Jin smiled as he shifted the bag over his shoulder, he felt like hugging the giant. He was sure he had something to do with why the Police didn't take action, that and Kagame's rage.
"Oh will there be cake?" Honey asked as he suddenly perked up at the thought of a party.
"Yeah, a big round cake." Mikan answered pulling out her phone, "I'll text the others. I like celebrations."
"You can't be serious." Antoinette started
Jin only looked at her, "Antoinette I've learned when life gives you lemons trade them for limes and get your self bottle of good vodka."
"Beer." Mikan answered as she nudged the giant in the sides who turned. They had changed as well, as Mikan had stayed in her leotard and tights. It was almost funny in that way.
"You want to clear out?" Jin asked Mikan sniffed.
"I want cake and beer and a hug." She answered as Mori walked on.
"Cake! Cake!" Honey chanted, not catching severity of the situation, "I love cake.
"So where'd you run of to?" Jin asked
"Well the dojo was locked and Honey and Mori had finished early and they saw me running around sobbing and holding a letter. So I talked it out or tried to, and Mori just lifted me on his back because my feet were soaked and cold. Pointe shoes weren't meant for cold weather. Then the police where waiting for me, and I gave a statement and Honey and Mori were my witnesses. Apparently Mya broke her wrist and screamed that Kagame had let the horse hit her, and then I had paid her." MIkan laughed, "God now that I think of it, I think the cops were trying to keep from laughing to. Someone had been in the barn, and Mya an unfortunate bystander."
"Life is strange." Jin offered as Mikan's phone vibrated.
"We're meeting up at my house." She told him, "Kagame's here in the truck with Kyoya. They had to give statements to."
Jin had to smile at that. Kagame hadn't given a statement as much a death threat to the cop.
"What a mess." Jin shook his head again, "Did I tell you I quit?"
"Good for you." Mikan answered as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Her eyes might as well have been beats with all the crying she had done. Her hair fell limply on her shoulders and her walk seemed to sag. It was like she was saying now where in the same boat so lets eat the fish while it lasts.
"Quit what?" Honey asked as they walked along. Jin threw her an accusing glance, how could she had not at least told them why the police where looking for her or at best why she was crying. He realized that Honey had meant the question for him as he regained himself.
"Dance, well at least at Ouran." He answered, "See I'm here on scholarship."
"We were supposed to be going to try outs." Antoinette butted in as if she found something unholy disproving about his attitude, "But no chance of that now for you."
"I'll be fine. See a dancer joins a company so they can dance for a living and do be able to make it into a company you have to go to a school for dancers, and Ouran offers such a school." He shrugged, "But I quit."
"Why?" Honey asked again as if trying to dig deeper.
"Because." Jin answered as they walked out the front door. Mori carried Mikan all the way to the truck where she jumped down and leaned into Kagame.
"Bye guys see you in a bit." Mikan waved
"Come on Taksahi. I want to get some cake from home first." Honey urged as Mori eyed Jin and walked on with Honey to their waiting car.
"Kagame." Antoinette started as she looked at her. There was an air of silence between the two, a kind of high tension. Kagame had the power though in their friendship, she had always had the power in any relationship be it friendship or something more. It didn't help that Antoinette wasn't Mikan's friend, but Jin knew she felt sorry for the Pink headed girl.
"Go. You don't need to get caught up in this.' Kagame answered as Antoinette bowed her head in relief and walked away, "You and me will talk later. Kyoya will give you a lift."
"Thanks. I have my own ride." Jin turned and walked away already done for the day.
Kagame watched him go, "Oh I am so in need of getting drunk. Wasted on the floor."
"And we don't have to go to school hung over." MIkan chimed in.
"Nope." Kagame nodded, "Kyoya bring the files, a couple extra pair of eyes and we should be able to wrap this up."
Kyoya nodded walking away as he looked back as Kagame climbed into the beat up truck and tore away, no doubt to pick up Haruhi.
How had this happened? How could any of this have happened in one day? He climbed into the limo as he sat against the seat. Mikan had been expelled, plain and simple from the theatre, not the school. So she couldn't dance there any more she could attend classes, but that was the main reason she had come. To get into a company, he had seen her potential.
The limo door opened for him as he climbed in, "Home." He ordered as the driver started out.
Where did this leave the puppy? Would she stay at Ouran or be moved? If she stayed what would happen with the rivalry? It was too planned; Mya hit by a horse, her mother having Mikan expelled then ten minutes later. Had she been waiting for an excuse?
Kagame was right they needed a drink and a plan and an extra few sets of eyes to figure out this tangled web.
Gah holy crap! Is this the end of puppy? Of course not! But it is the start of many other things! Enjoy this chapter! It will be awhile till I update next. Yes I am evil so sue me and call me betty.
Review. i know you will, because your all addicted to this! I want to know your thoughts and feelings and everything else? Has mikan lost her mind? Has jin lost his? Where will she go? Will she stay? Does Mori actually feel for her or is he using his usual tatics? How will the rest of the host club react!
Stay tuned .
just when you thought it couldn't get more dramatic.
Oh note.
In case anyone was confused, the events took palce on the same day actually about the course of half hour maybe less. Serisously stuff happens fast when your in the midst of drama!