Yep still alive. Kyoya centric chapter, the mystery deepens. Yes its off canon, if your looking at it perspectively, but I like to fill in my holes.

This chapter is pretty important and yes we will return to the other host club, but I like doing chapters focused on certain characters to help them flesh out. New arch is started, and there is a reason they are in New York City, which will come to play much, much later in this EPIC story line. So bare with me dear readers and hang on.

Disclaimer: If I owned any of this I would be a lot more famous than I am.

Chapter 35

Kyoya couldn't sleep and this time it wasn't because Tamaki would not stop calling his phone, in fact the club had been quiet. The twins last he had checked had gotten Haruhi to sit and watch a movie with them in the den, while Tamaki had passed out after eating one of everything at the small Chinese restaurant they had found.

Even the American version of Chinese was salty and bathed in the watered down sauce, it was filling, but not exactly good.

He didn't need good as he leaned over the side of the bed planting his feet firmly on the floor as he waited for the hum of the TV to come from downstairs. The night was bright and yet swallowed by darkness. They said in the city you couldn't see the stars, but he didn't think that was true.

New York had its own set of stars shining from bright in the form of a thousand different lights from a thousand different buildings and a thousand different people.

It was almost something to behold if he didn't have such contempt for the rest of the world. He rubbed his hands through his short black hair brushing it back as he reached for his glasses. He would dress down, but well for walking the streets as he pulled on the jeans.

The t-shirt one of the only ones he owned laid somewhere sprawled in the drawer, it was something his sister had given him. He glanced at the old black shirt with the strange design, something an old fling had given her, something of his design. He traced the dragon on the side as he tugged it on, as he reached for the black coat shrugging it on.

He fiddled with the buttons as he let out a shiver, as he blinked trying to focus in the dark. He reached for his shoes shrugging them on as he fiddled with the laces tightening them with a few nimble fingers before he straighten grabbing only the pad and cell phone with his slip of paper.

He wasn't sure what to make of any of it right now, which was not a good state for him to be in as he headed for the door opening it slowly as he made his way down the stairs. The hum of the TV was the only noise that greeted him as Haruhi lay sleeping on the couch.

He didn't see the twins, but it seemed they had abandoned her to the couch alone to find refugee in their room. He sighed, as he picked up the remote of the floor, flipping off the TV so the cable bill wouldn't be through the roof, placing it neatly back on the little table.

Haruhi stirred stiffly turning the other way as he stood over her for a minute. She could be quite unruly when she wanted to be, sprawled on the couch like a large loafer her arm draped over her eyes, her wrinkled clothes, the messy hair.

He blinked as he reached for a blanket draping it over her as she quickly folded herself into it nuzzling deeper into the couch.

He turned the second asset on their team taken care of as he pocketed the keys to the pent house and shut the door behind him. The elevator greeted him with a hushed ding that said I know we need to go. He felt sneaky leaving the rest of them in the middle of the night, but he was the shadow king.

The news had grown bored of Mikan giving another update along the bottom that said she was still missing. She would

It wouldn't get out of hand, he reminded himself firmly, he was always in control and he would find her. Or she would make herself known, where ever she was with Jin. Or-

He had to stop thinking this hard, he was here to un ravel the next clue from Jizo, that was something he could see, something he could understand. He would call Kagame if Mikan didn't make an appearance or an attempt to notify them where she was by the morning and get the media circus under control.

It would only take two phone calls to the station manager for the story to be pulled and something more interesting to take its place.

He sighed as he stepped from the glittering warmth of the hotel lobby to the rather bitter cold of the outside. He moved with the crowds as he glanced up at the street signs, but it might as well have been written in French.

He walked a little further, but the silence was doing nothing for him. He needed someone, someone logical to talk to. He pulled out his cellhphone as he clicked to dial her number.

The phone rang once, twice, and then a murmured, "Hello?"

"Hey its me." He answered moving faster across the street, "Are you in New York?"

"How'd you know?" Kagame asked as she rustled, probably in bed, "And its midnight, why are you calling me this late?"

"I-uh-need some place to talk without the club." He answered with a quick cough, "Can I come over?"

"I'll text you my address." She answered, wiping her nose, as she shuffled across the floor, "Call me when you get here and I'll buzz you up."

He clicked the phone shut as he hailed a cab that pulled over to the side as he read off the address, as the cab pulled back out into traffic.

"Visiting?" The driver asked as he turned down the radio glancing at the rearview mirror. Kyoya pushed his glasses further up his nose as he gave a sullen, "No."

The driver didn't take the time to make conversation the rest of the ride as he kept his focused on the road and Kyoya kept staring outside as the cars flashed by them. The ride was short, as he dug out a wad of cash, handing the bills quickly to the driver as he shoved open the door of the cab and slammed it shut behind him with a thump. The address, he had to double check, but the apartment building seemed like, well a dump.

It wasn't exactly falling to pieces, but it wasn't what he was used to seeing with the brick front and bars on the lowest windows. He ran up the stoop, dialing her number again as there was a buzz, letting him through the door.

He glanced at the new text message, 3rd floor, last door on the right. He again wasn't expecting, what much out of Kagame? She was a strange woman when she wanted to be, but he thought she would be in a pent house or a bit more suave neighborhood.

He didn't New York City that well to make that call.

He hit the door for the elevator, but the doors refused to ding open. He sighed heading for the stairs as he jumped them two by two, making the third floor with ease. He glanced at the average hall and the average pair of black doors as he rapt on it with his knuckles.

"Kagame." HE called softly as the doorknob jingled and swung open.

The goddess stood in her half dressed glory, with her hair in a tangled mess, her eye liner running, but she was wearing a tang top and luckily for him a pair of boxers. She turned letting him in as he glanced around her rather quaint apartment. It was tastefully decorated, with wood floors, a kitchen, and a living space.

The apartment was dark, but bathed in the lights from the outside. He could see easily where they were going, from the windows that dotted the first two small rooms.

There were probably more rooms to the back, but she didn't seem headed that way as she slumped her way over to the couch instead picking up her phone and a mug of something steaming.

"What's that?" He asked as he caustioly followed behind her, placing himself in the second high backed green chair. The furniture didn't match itself, with the couch bright orange and the chair respectively green and blue, it was like a haze mat on his face.

He bit his tougne to even mention someone come decorate it professionally, because it was neat, and Kagame didn't seem in the mood for him to give any comments.

"Herbal tea." She answered blowing across the steam with her pursed lips, the half smeared lipstick. She apparently had not given much thought to wiping off her make up before she went to bed.

He pulled out his pad as he gave a cough trying to clear the air before he moved onto the important topic, "So Kagame about your sister-why are you in New York?"

"I was heading here before my little sister took off with Jin." She answered giving a yawn as she slurped down the mug, "So I'm enjoying my holiday and catching up with some old friends. What are you doing at my apartment at midnight?"

"You let me up." Kyoya answered leaning back in the seat as he braced the chair arms, "I need some guidance, you know Mikan the best."

Kagame gave a barking laugh as she brushed back her silvery black hair, pushing up her top and folding her legs under on the couch.

"Know her? I wonder sometimes." She coughed as she slurped the tea down with another long gulp, "Oh herbal you are to good for my soul. And before you ask I have no idea about anything, you said you had a tracker on her."

"I do on her cellphone." Kyoya answered as he tapped the pad with a pen, "but the last logged locations, there's no pattern, and no way she could get to each place to fast."

"Ah." Kagame blinked as she shook her head as she leaned back and took a deep breath slowly waking back up, "Well what about-uh-clues."

"Clues." Kyoya murmured, "We received one that led us to a restaurant and we were given seven slips of paper-" he pulled his from his pocket, "No further instructions."

Kagame took it lightly from his fingers, as she placed it on the table, "It's a square, its thin, but I don't know, I don't think its something you buy in a pack, like something someone hand made."

She gave a snort, "This is your clue. Fuck you guys are screwed. I have no idea what to make of it, have you ever thought of just letting Mikan do her thing. She'll come back."

Kyoya glared as he raised an eye brow. He didn't like that idea and he didn't like the attitude she was taking at the moment. "I have a certain set of assets in her, if we let her do her own thing, we might loose her."

"Oh there you go-"Kagame flicked her hand in his direction as she shrugged her shoulders and scrunched her nose, "Talking about assets, is it always about money for you. My sister will come back when she's ready."

"And what I'm supposed to do, tell them that its fine we're going back to Japan Mikan will follow. What if she marries Jin? What if she's lost and waiting for us to come?" He countered as he jabbed a finger at Kagame glared.

"What? You think she'll really just get up and get married?" She snorted as she slammed down the mug, "Chasing her around New York City, isn't going to do much Kyoya."

"At least I'm trying to do something." He gave her a silent, cold stare as Kagame flicked her hair at him.

"What's that supposed to mean? That I'm not being there to support her?" Kagame was getting angry now as she bunched her body like a tigress ready to strike, "What you think it was easy taking her to ballet class, making sure everyone was where they needed to be-I finally get a bit of time to myself and I have to play mother to my little sister.'

Kyoya sighed as he ran two hands through his hair almost ready to rip out his hair, "Someone has to Kagame. She's reckless, stupid, and infuriating at times. She doesn't get it-"

"Get what? Get the politics? Money? How the fuck people look at-" Kagame paused as she gave a sudden bitter laugh, "Why the hell am I even arguing about this with you-your what in high school? Your Kyoya-not-not-forget it. I'm tiered. I am going to take a shower, make something to eat and then you are out of here."

"Stop avoiding the problem!" Kyoya raised his voice as he stood up trying to tower over her, it was a bit difficult as they were almost matched for height. She laughed again shoving him slightly back with the palm of his hand. The anger flushed from him, and he felt more like a stubborn child than the cool, collected shadow king.

"Kyoya I am the shadow goddess, your techniques don't work on me." Kagame shook her head. She gave him a long glare before she turned away walking back towards the other set of doors he hadn't noticed, "I am going to take a shower and when I'm done, I'll be in the right state of mind and I'll forget that we almost had a fight."

He sunk back in the chair as he drummed his fingers against the chair arm. It was stupid, what had they been fighting over. Kagame wasn't her mother, Mikan wasn't that stupid, but still, he couldn't let it go.

What about Kagame made him want to make her give a damn? She was to like him, to clever, to organized, to everything. She was bit more eccentric than he would ever be, but there was still that cold calculations about people. He glanced the clock that sat on the long book shelf against the white wall.

It was now officially 12:30 am and he felt disgusted. He wanted to sleep, but the stupid piece of paper wouldn't stop nagging him. It was a mistake to come here, it was all a mistake, and he should just slip out now before she was out of the shower.

Somehow he couldn't will himself to stir from the chair, as he sighed folding his arms over his chest.

He wanted company that was it. He wanted somebody to help him, and he was failing rather miserably at getting it. He rubbed his face again, he would beg her forgiveness whenever she reemerged, and get off the topic Focus on finding on what to do with the clue, the more they waited the longer it would take.

He waited a few more moments for Kagame to come back, but when she didn't resurface he decided it would be better to make himself a cup of tea. He wandered over to the stovetop as he swished the kettle, lighting the fire as the dim glim danced off the wall.

He waited till it hissed as he reached for a mug, pouring the water slowly as he pulled down the small tin of tea. It was just like where he would keep things in their kitchen at home, it was disturbing, but not unexpected.

He dunked the tea bag, once, twice as he added a second one. He needed some strong tea. He watched the steam rise from the cup, as he lifted it up ready to sink back in that chair when he heard a door slam, followed by Kagame's phone ringing rather loudly.

"Kyoya!"

He heard Kagame hiss as she ran out to him dripping wet and barely covering herself in a small towel, "You need to hide. Put down the tea and get to my room!"

"Why?" He glanced at her, as she gave him a frustrated glare as she grabbed his wrist and tugged him forward as the towel slipped. He quickly turned his head away, as he was rewarded with slamming straight into the door.

"Ow." He muttered as his glasses clattered to the floor, but Kagame tugged him on down a small hall. She shoved him quickly into a rather well furnished room, and then into a rather cramp closet.

"Stay. I'll get you when its safe to come out." She waved a finger at him breathless, as she turned, slamming the door shut with a foot. Kagame sank to the floor shifting around the dresses and shoes, as he stretched out his legs best he could, without anything going numb.

He wanted his glasses so badly, as his fingers went to reach fort he bridge of his nose and found nothing. He gave another low sigh, so much for making up, what was her deal? She had run at him half naked, well practically naked. He wondered suddenly if she had forgotten that she was expecting someone, it would explain why he was now hiding in the closet.

The door creaked open as a hand reached through tossing his phone and glasses into his lap, before it shut again. He gratefully placed them on, blinking as he adjusted to the darkness.

He could hear her shuffling about, closing drawers, tugging on clothes, as he waited. She was getting re dressed? It was close to one in the morning. He glanced at the phone as he quickly texted.

What are you doing?

There was a frustrated sigh, as the return text read.

I forgot I was expecting company. He didn't get off till midnight, and I said he could come see me at one.

He smiled as he raised an eyebrow.

Oh? Who is it?

She answered again; it took her longer as something clattered onto the chest.

A chef. Hoyt. All right. I'll sneak you back out when I can get him distracted long enough.

Kyoya leaned against the closet back as he texted back.

Why can't you let me out now?

There was hardly a pause period between her next one as he could hear her rapidly mutter something under her breath as the beep, beep, of her hitting the buttons.

Because he's here waiting and drinking that cup of tea you made. Give me five.

If he could see her he would have muttered a silent oh, but he just texted her back with a, K.

He could wait, he was Kyoya, and he was patient. He closed his eyes, drifting off slowly, and it wasn't only the buzz of his phone that woke him up. He rubbed his eye as he stared at the time.

It was three in the morning. He creaked the door open slowly, half expecting to see Kagame there, but she was gone. He stepped out as he stood up slowly, stretching out his arms. The lights were still all off as he walked out into the hallway. He moved slowly, pausing at the set of doors.

There were no sounds, as he creaked open the door slowly feeling more like a burglar than a friend. He moved forward slowly, but Kagame wasn't in. She had apparently left as far as he knew as he moved again slowly. Each step cautious like he was going to trip off a silent alarm.

He paused by the table, the piece of paper he had left, was neatly folded into a something. He picked it up, as he stared at it, but he couldn't see properly in the dark. He sighed, pocketing it gently as he moved towards the front door.

The night hadn't brought him any closer to solving the next clue, and Kagame was off touring new york with a new Bo name Hoyt, leaving him utterly alone in his own council. A dangerous thing.

He moved out of the apartment, half wondering if he should head back to the pent house for a decent night of sleep, but he also wondered if that's what he needed, if that's what he wanted.

No, he needed time away from everything and everyone. The club, to many conflicting emotions, Kagame had left him, and he needed to find a place to sleep in peace and fast.

He let his feet trudge him forward now, as he moved through the streets not really sure where he was going, just that he needed to get there and fast. He felt the phone ring once more in his pocket.

My friend has a place you can crash.

He gave a grateful shiver at Kagame's message, as he glanced up at the street. It couldn't be more than a few block from where he was standing as he moved at a brisk pace. He hadn't realized how tiered he really was as the wind whipped around him.

He hugged his coat tighter, as he didn't try to stifle a loud yawn, refusing to fiddle with glasses again. The apartment, like Kagame's, wasn't much to look at on the outside. The same chipped paint, same bars on the windows and iron wrought fence, but he climbed the stoop and rang the buzzer once.

The door opened to let him to the sweet smells of something cooking as he climbed the stars. It was the first door on the left, as he could smell spaghetti sauce. A small girl with bright purple hair was manning the stove as she turned and held his gaze.

"You speak Japanese?" She asked with a tiered smile as she plopped some kind of spice into the pot, "Yeah? Good, because my English isn't that great yet."

"Room cost 15 a night." She yawned as she pointed to a small door to the left of the tiny kitchen, "Don't mind the other two roommates, they'll keep to themselves."

Kyoya gave her a grateful nod as he opened the door. It wasn't like the accommodations he was used to, with the small one bed, and the two massive sleeping hounds on the ground on either side. He re shut the door with a soft click, as he threw himself on the bed, rocking on the springs.

He shut off the phone, as he turned over once, and then twice as he tugged the blanket up around him and left the world behind for just a few hours.

When Kyoya woke up, there was something or someone slobbering his face as he gave a disgusted grunt and turned away.

He was warm now as he kicked off the blanket as he took a minute to try and realize where he was. It all came back to him now, sleeping her closet, forgetting to make up for trying to start a fight. He had walked down the street, loosing himself in the night and just when he felt like he was going to pass out he got the address with a girl with a room for him to crash.

He rubbed the hound dog's ears as it shook its giant head giving a woof as he leaned over the bed. His cell phone was on the small stand as he turned it back on to be greeted with the sight of 20 new voice mails and 30 new text messages from Tamaki.

He sighed, typing in a short message that he was staying at a company house and would return by the afternoon, before pocketing the phone. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair felt more like a mash of goop than well groomed, and the sun was shining bright through the shades.

He pulled the phone back out as he glanced at the time reading 2:00 pm. So it was the afternoon, damn him and his need for sleep. He did feel rested despite it all in the small room, as he tapped his feet on the floor.

He stood up stretching, as he glanced at the small bed, surprised he had been able to actually sleep on it as he walked forward out the door. The girl, or there had been a girl from last night wasn't in the empty kitchen. There was a round table now, with a small place mat.

There was an egg on the plate and a glass of orange juice and as he leaned forward, a bill resting under the cutlery.

He pulled out the only chair as the only other occupant the hound rested his head on his knee wagging his tail. He rubbed the hound's head; he had no tags, as he turned to the plate slicing up the egg. He didn't know how hungry he was as he shoveled down everything in a few minutes.

He pulled out the phone as he dialed her number again, thumbing the table.

"Kagame?" He asked as he yawned, "How was your night?"

There was short scoff, "Fine. Fantastic actually. How was your night, where ever you were?"

He smirked,"Your friend has a neat little apartment. I don't mind the hound dog, but the bed was small and lumpy."

There was a long pause as Kagame cleared her throat, "My friend? Kyoya, what are you talking about?"

"Didn't you send me a text-" Kyoya began as he pushed back from the table rubbing his stomach now full, "Saying you had a friend-"

"Kyoya, I half expected you to tumble out of my closet, when I got back. You weren't there when I got in, so I thought you just went back to wherever your accommodations are with the rest of the club." Kagame answered as she cleared her throat again, she sounded like she was getting sick.

Kyoya glanced at the hound and the empty plate, and the bill. He lifted it up, but it didn't look like a bill at all, it had the number 15 written at the bottom in script. He stared for a moment more turning it over in his fingers.

15. He pulled reached for the paper wad, as his fingers grasped air. He reached into his other pocket, but it wasn't there either as he searched his pants, but nowhere as he gave another frustrated sigh, he was out one piece of paper and in with another.

He pulled out a couple bills laying them on the table carefully trapped under the plate as he took up the actual paper bill stuffing it in his pocket.

"Alright. You stay." He turned to the dog as he stood up heading towards the door, "Be good dog."

He didn't move, wagging his tail as he barked once. Kyoya shut the door behind him with a click, as he walked on down the hall rubbing his face as he reached for the phone once more.

"Alright, KAgame. I need your help. I just spent the night in a strange apartment owned by a girl with purple hair and a hound, well there were two hounds last night. And that piece of paper I got, I have a bill with the number 15 written on it." Kyoya muttered into the speaker, "These clues aren't making sense. I get one and this one comes instead."

"Kyoya, back track from you spent a night in a strange apartment.' Kagame ordered. Her voice echoed, which meant she was back safe in her own abode as he paced around, back tracking the streets. He wasn't really in a hurry, having made little progress with any of it.

He started from when he woke up in her closet to finding the piece of paper gone and the bill instead with the number.

"Again. " Kagame paused as she coughed on the other side, "You are fucked."

"Yes well when your ready to give me your actual advice I'm all for hearing it." Kyoya growled as he glared at the phone as Kagame sighed.

"Look." She snapped suddenly, "I'm sorry you can't just let it go, and I'm sorry you're obsessing about my sister who is happily avoiding all of you. Listen I'm going to be pretty busy for the next few days, so come meet me for dinner alright? We'll talk this over like civilized people."

"Fine. ' He glared at the phone as he shut it off. He wasn't obsessing, that was such an ugly word. He was being Kyoya, and analyzing every last detail, but he supposed she was right. She was always going to be right. So he had a note with the number 15 and six more pieces of colorful pieces at the pent house, given that the other's didn't loose them.

He walked half considered hailing a cab and argued against it. He needed time to collect himself, get his front back, the night had been in a word unnerving.

He walked briskly swinging his arms back and forth, as he hardly noticed the other people around him. It was some how lovely to be with himself, and away from the others, just for a day or two or three. They probably up to no good, unless Tamaki had suddenly fallen ill. He began to worry, refusing to break out into a run.

HE reached the hotel and their floor in a half hour, which wasn't to bad from all the blocks he had wandered from as he flung open the door. The place was neat and clean, smelled like flowers. The maid service had obviously been by, if they had a maid service.

He glared at the clean room, but noted it only to himself.

"Tamaki? Honey? Mori?" He called out in order as something stirred on the couch. Haruhi scratched the back of her head as she looked around the room.

"Kyoya. " She waved one hand as she collapsed back onto the couch, "They said something about taking out a an Ad, and that they would be back tonight."

"Tiered Haruhi? What makes you think you can just sleep all day? You're supposed to be searching for the puppy." Kyoya shook his head as Haruhi moaned. She didn't look to well, some what pale and her hair matted around her face. She was still in the pile of clothes she had worn yesterday as the TV was off. In short she looked horrible.

"Leave me alone. I don't travel well." She murmured ducking under the blanket, "I just need one day of rest and then I'll be able to around and be crazy with the rest of them."

He should be worried, but he wanted to change and shower before he bothered with anything remotely connected with Tamaki. IT would be easy to see if any charges had been made to the club accountant with his computer and what they were up to. He glanced at Haruhi, who was happily snuggled into the couch, and he considered for a moment somehow adding that to her debt.

If she got sick, he would add the cost to her debt, but she seemed to just suffering a headache.

"I'll be going out to dinner tonight." He called down to her from the stairs, "if you want to eat, it would be wise to call Tamaki or the twins."

"Okay." She gave another muffled reply as he shed off his dirty, dog slober, moth ball smelling clothes onto the floor. An outfit he was not going to wear again soon. He put down the bill with the 15, what he needed was a long shower and some time to think.

Poor Kyoya, I don't think he enjoy's conflicting, confusing feelings over clues and well torture is fun.

I wonder if anyone can see where this is going, feel free to guess about the 15 and the piecies of paper, or just wait till I update.

Suggestions welcome for what the host club should do, over the top, I have a few ideas, but I always enjoy hearing what people suggest.

As always leave a review, come on guys you are great at adding my to your fav's but a few words of encouragement really help me to keep this story going and I know alot of you, I still hope, are enjoying it.

Feedback is always welcome, but not always taken seriosuly.