Title: It's Not a Mask
Summary: Jack doesn't wear a mask, who he is at school is the real him. He's not hiding his gender, nor is he in the Host Club because of a debt or blackmail of any kind. He thought his life was pretty good when he was with the host club, but when his secret is revealed Jack will unwillingly become who he's not. This fanfiction is not about a girl pretending to be a boy. This is a story with a transgender protagonist, Jack is a female to male trans guy.
Warnings: This fanfiction heavily involves transphobia and homophobia in the later chapters. If you're uncomfortable with either or are triggered by said things, then continue at your own risk.

Chapter Length: 3029 | Total Length: 14863

Chapter VI
What did you say he saw?

It had been a few minutes that Danny had been left alone with Haruhi and Tamaki. He was actually just enjoying being around them, they were quite fun and pleasant to talk to. Especially Haruhi. Danny looked up and saw Jack hurriedly walking towards the trio with a crimson red face.

"Hey, Jack. So did you go on the ride?" Danny asked, his eyebrow raised at the lack of water on his friend's shirt. Indicating that he most certainly did not go on it.

"Danny, wanna go on the lazy river with me?" Jack asked, trying to seem casual. Trying to make it seem like he wasn't mentally freaking out about what just happened at the top of the stairs to the Kamikaze.

Danny instantly caught on to the slight panic in his best friend's voice. "Okay." He muttered, he then turned to Tamaki and Haruhi. "I'll be back soon then I guess." He then put his hands on the side of the pool and pushed himself out, walking with great haste as he tried to catch up with his speedy best friend.

"So what's up?" Danny asked as the two shared a dual inflatable ring, the two slowly floating down the essentially barren lazy river. His eyebrows knitted tightly together in both confusion and worry, Jack would usually give an explanation before whisking him away from Haruhi and Tamaki.

"Hikaru...uh. He saw my boobs." Jack forced out through gritted teeth. Danny could just tell that his friend's cherry red face would be darkening in colour just admitting it. Danny's eyes widened and tried to figure out how he could have possibly seen them without pulling Jack's shirt and binder up forcefully. Seeing no other explanation, his regular breathing halted.

Jack watched as shock took a back seat whilst anger reigned centre stage on Danny's face. He moved towards Jack and whispered in a dangerously low tone. "Do I need to fuck someone up for you?"

"No! No!" Jack hurriedly reassured his companion as his arms flailed about in front of him. "I-I think it's fine..."

"Will he tell?"

"I'm not sure, but I hope he doesn't. I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to tell them I'm a guy at heart. I just don't want it to turn out like last time..." Jack said, his nails digging into his forearm as his recalled the memory.

"Do you want me to explain it to them?" Danny offered, his voice now softer. He was seriously worried about his friend, he knew how bad his fear could get. He was worried this incident would start to chip away at Jack's strong shield he had placed up against the world. Danny took a shaking intake of breath. He knew that if Hikaru told, then things were going to get severely uncomfortable within the Host Club.

"No. No...It's not that I would have difficulties getting it out. I'm just worried that they wouldn't understand..." Jack started to trail off, before he suddenly picked back up again. "You know how my dad is. No doubt if their parents thought the same way, then most likely they will have the same opinion. It usually is the case. I-I'll just let them call me a girl."

Danny said nothing. He didn't think it was wise of Jack to just leave things, they would have to accept him. And if they didn't then Danny would just do what he did last time and they would just leave.

"Alright then. But I just want to say, if things get too out of hand, I'm going to say something."

"No! Please..." Jack cried as he grabbed Danny's bare arm. He looked up at the ashen blond with large eyes, his facial features pleading with him.

"Alright." Danny finally nodded and Jack's grip loosened. "Alright, I won't say anything."

"Thank you Danny." Jack smiled up at him. He wiped his face and without a moment's pause, he dove into the water. His head resurfaced and he spat water at his friend like a fountain would do. He then laughed as the water hit his friend directly in the eye.

"Oh my god, you did not just do that." Danny said, his eyebrow raised and a smirk playing at his lips.

"Oh yes I did, now what are you doing to do about it?" Jack challenged, he laughed swimming backwards.

"This!" Danny said as he flipped the inflatable ring. He then dove under the water, picking Jack up bridal style.

"Wait – what are you doing?!" Jack yelled, his voice breaking slightly in panic as he started to writhe in his friend's grip.

"Oh, nothing!" Danny said with a mischievous grin, he was walking through the water with ease towards the edge. After getting out the river, Danny grinned further and tossed Jack mercilessly back into the flowing water. A large splash was the result of Jack breaking the water, and Danny's cackles could be heard even from underwater.

Jack's head broke the surface, his eyes formed a piercing glare he sent Danny's way. "I hate you so much, do you know that?"

"Yeah, but you love me regardless!" Danny grinned as he jumped back onto the inflatable ring, ready to continue their journey down the lazy river.

"..."

"So...Jack's a girl then." There was silence between the twins as they descended the stairs. To Kaoru, it was piercing and more than a little uncomfortable. He was there to hear Jack's question so, he could only guess that "guy" was a girl. Hikaru was the one who saw her chest, so Kaoru was the one to ask. More like double check, just so he had his facts right.

"Yeah." Hikaru muttered with a red face, he seemed to be distant. Whether it was a result of being given the new information or seeing Jack's breast, Kaoru didn't know.

"Oh, there's the boss and Haruhi." Kaoru pointed out as he motioned his head towards the duo who hadn't moved still. They had been in the waterpark for almost forty-five minutes and Haruhi still hadn't moved in all that time. Kaoru wondered if she was getting bored.

"Guys! You would not believe what we just uncovered." Kaoru blurted out, desperate to receive a different answer to the blankness that his brother was dishing out. Kaoru grinned at the hosts before not-so-subtly nudging Hikaru's side.

"Yeah, uh, turns out...Jack's a girl!" Hikaru explained, a hand covering his neck. Kaoru's eyes flittered back over towards his brother, slight concern washed over him as he realised Hikaru tended to use that position only when he was deep in thought, or was in the middle of an internal struggle. What could possibly be going through his brother's mind?

Haruhi and Tamaki just stared at the duo, Haruhi had kept a neutral expression, her feet still moving backwards and forwards in the water. Tamaki however, was on a different level. His eyes were bulging out of their sockets, his jaw so low that birds would gladly have made their nest in his mouth.

"H-How did you find that out?!" Tamaki finally pushed out, completely incredulous at receiving the news. In his mind ran a thousand different scenarios. They had heard Jack's too-feminine scream and decided between themselves he was female? Jack, unable to contain "his" secret of her gender anymore and confessed to the duo just as they were alone. Or...had they done anything...perverted to learn of her gender?

Hikaru's face blazed redder than a sunburnt man's bald head. Kaoru laughed nervously for his twin. "Let's just say that Jack couldn't go on the Kamikaze because of her shirt."

Tamaki's jaw shut and his head tilted to one side in questioning. Haruhi had still appeared to remain neutral. The news didn't surprise her, but she was curious as to why they had concealed their sex on purpose. Many possibilities flittered through her mind before she shrugged them off. If Jack really wanted Haruhi to know, then they would tell her. And besides, there was no point in asking herself endless amounts of questions – she'd just infuriate herself.

The group had moved on from where they had set up a near permanent residence on the pool side. Thanks to the dark blue t-shirt and professional waterproof binder Haruhi wore, she could go swimming and not just sit on the sidelines. The twins had given her the chest binder and insisted she wore it when disguising herself as a guy. They had already been in so many close calls before, and this way if anyone caught her getting changed, then they would just see a guy's vest top.

It was a while before Jack and Danny was reunited with the other hosts. Jack had calmed down, his fears drowned in the lazy river and his mask was thoroughly abandoned.

Haruhi could feel the atmosphere growing increasingly heavy. All six were outside the changing rooms, now completely changed back into their previous clothes and ready to leave.

"So...You're a girl." Haruhi pushed out, she needed to leave to get home in time to make her father's meal.

"...Yes." Jack muttered, purposely looking away from each of the other hosts. Choosing to fix his gaze on his shoes.

"Then why did you join the host club?!" Tamaki finally spoke up.

Jack flinched at the sudden outburst. "I didn't want to fail homeroom." A half-lie.

Silence enveloped the group once again, and Danny couldn't stand it. "Well, I have to go. And Hibiki will bite my head off if I don't get hi— her back in time."

Danny awkwardly smiled at the rest, whilst pulling Jack towards the exit.

Jack took a shaky breath and he stared upon his house. It was a rather large English Victorian-esque mansion with a beautiful gardens and abundant water features. Whilst Jack had always thought of his home as beautiful, when his father was home it may as well have been a prison of the cruellest kind.

Jack turned to wave goodbye to his best friend, thankful for the ride back. Danny gave him a reassuring smile, a silent promise that everything will be fine. Jack couldn't believe him, but was thankful anyway.

Jack turned back towards the mansion and walked up the long path. He was glad that his father wouldn't be back for an hour, he'd have a chance to pay off the staff who had seen him in his male uniform. He hoped that his brothers would be in, or at least Hibiki would be.

Jack hated to choose a favourite brother, after all each were very different to each other but Jack would have to say that he got along with Hibiki the best. Always supportive and was more than willing to have a three hour conversation about current games and ideas for his games in production. Kiyoshi was very much a suck up to his father, but regardless he played nice classical music.

Yukio was always ready to put on a mini rock concert for Jack, and his constantly changing girlfriends gave interesting conversations to say the least. Jiro was more than inspiring to be around, an aspiring scientist willing to change the world.

Taro was probably the brother that Jack respected the most. The eldest son and heir to Dawson Chocolatiers. The absolute second in command of the company and a wonderful listener. He's often expressed his desire to head the family and ensure that Jack was accepted by the family. Each time he said that, Jack couldn't help but feel his throat close up in gratitude.

"I'm home!" Jack called, walking into the large hall. A maid nodded to him and averted her eyes, the usual behaviour when Jack came home in clothes his father would not approve of.

"Hey, runt." Kiyoshi smiled as he walked down the stairs, his long term girlfriend Minako walking beside him. She smiled in greeting with a wave. "I was just gonna show Mina that piece I played you last night, want to come?"

"Hey Mina, no thanks Kiyoshi. I have to talk with Hibiki before Dad gets back, have fun though." Jack smiled at the two. He liked Minako, she was a rather calm individual but didn't pass up an opportunity to tease someone, she was a delight to have around at dinner.

Jack scaled the large staircase as he headed towards the second floor. Jack walked to essentially the end of the left hallway before knocking on the last door. Hearing a slightly muted "come in", Jack pushed down the door handle and closed the door behind him.

Hibiki's room rarely changed. The black haired male was always sat down at his desk, most likely coding his recent project or typing out design points. The room was nearly always a mess since Hibiki never liked anyone but his family in the room, he banned all staff years back. The bed was messy though, hadn't moved an inch since yesterday, no doubt Hibiki stayed up all night coding. He usually did whenever he was in the zone.

Hibiki swivelled around in his chair to look at Jack as he walked in. "Hey there runt, how'd your day go?"

Jack heaved a huge sigh as he fell onto the large bed.

"Oh boy, one of those days huh?" Hibiki muttered as he stood and walked over to his little brother, choosing to sit next to him. "Tell me all about it, man."

"The club that I'm in found out that I was born female." Jack pushed out as he closed his eyes tight. He knew that his brother would be outraged, it was sort of a double edged sword, having accepting brothers. They loved him dearly, but they were so protective that anyone who had hurt him, would get fire rained upon them.

"Oh man. That's a problem." Hibiki sighed as he placed his hand on his brother's head. "I guess it's going to be tough there for you now?"

"Yeah." Jack muttered, as he thought back to the club. "Danny wants me to tell them. They're pretty good people, and really fun to be around as well. But...all but one are from the super elite rich families."

Hibiki nodded understanding what his brother was implying.

"There's a chance that they would accept me, sure. But the probability is low, and I don't think I'm ready for another do-over quite so soon." Jack explained. "Besides, I doubt Father will let me transfer again. I got lucky because I was moving into high school."

"I know, runt. I talked to Jiro earlier today when he came home for lunch, and he reckons that in a year or two, he'll be made the head of the family. After that, you'll be completely free to be yourself."

Jack took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself down. The breath got caught in his throat as a knock on the door shocked him.

"Master Hibiki, Mistress Jacqueline, your father has returned home early." A maid called through the door. Jack's eyes flew open as he rushed to leave the room.

"Thanks Unagi-san!" Jack blurted out as he ran past and sprinted to his bedroom. He rushed to throw off his uniform, throwing it deep into the bottom of his closet. He hurried pulled on a pink dress that his father would highly approve of, and threw on his wig, thankful that no one had let slip the fact that it was a wig. Jack looked in the mirror to give himself a quick check.

Jack sighed, confirming that it wasn't Jack Dawson staring back at him. Jacqueline Dawson, the prised only daughter of powerful Mark Dawson. Jack wanted to vomit, the shoulder length hair was beyond uncomfortable and the dress made him want to walk over hot coals for ten minutes than to wear it. Jack carefully put on some small pink heels before a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Jacqueline?"

Jack opened the door, revealing his father. Mark Dawson was an English born rich man, inheriting his family's century old company he moved to Japan when they decided to branch out thirty years ago. Though Jack's mother was Japanese, he hardly inherited anything from her gene-wise besides her complexion. Mark looked down at his "daughter" with approval, he much liked it better when "she" wasn't rebelling against his wishes.

"Father," Jack bowed as he moved aside to let him him. Mark Dawson walked in as he looked around Jack's room. Hoping to find something out of place, something that he could find and scold his child for. Jack couldn't help but want to smile, he had learned a few tricks over the years at hiding things from him. There wasn't a way that he could know without someone tipping them off.

"I heard that you're settling in well at Ouran." Mark commented, looking out of the window.

"Yes, father. I'm currently the sixth ranking student in my class. The teachers are excellent and I'm finding my way around the school very well."

"Sixth?" Mark scoffed. "That isn't very good. Please aim to place in the top three, Jacqueline. Your brothers never once let their grades fall below third place."

Jack swallowed a lump in his throat. "I apologise father, but I believe that's not true. Yukio regularly was placed in twelfth place, and Hibiki was often ranked in seventh."

"Regardless, you must hold yourself to a higher standard Jacqueline. They will have their roles to play in the family's success, as do you. You will need to present yourself as a model daughter at Ouran, that way the Dawson family will be looked upon highly."

"Yes father." Jack nodded. He had heard the speech many a time.

"I will take my leave now, Jacqueline. I shall see you at dinner." Mark Dawson nodded before walking out of the room.

Jack felt drained of energy.