HEADS UP! LAST CHAPTER WAS AN "ALEX IN WONDERLAND" THING, JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T GET IT AND ARE VERY CONFUSED. I'm sorry that it didn't make much sense, but I was tired and it was late and it was school night. I'm also sick currently, so whatever happens might be just as confusing. Oh, well.

Anyway, big stuff WILL Be happening. Truth just made an appearance, foretold a possible death of Alex, and what's with her cough? Why has no one been questioning that? I've been waiting for a "Why does she keep coughing"? I'll tell you why-

Ha. Got you. Anyway~! Big stuff planned. Don't plan on stopping, but there will be long intervals of which I won't be updating because of procrastination, make-up work, being a freshman, unrequited love-and life. The suckiness of life. OH! OH! OH! Do you guys like Heart no Kuni no Alice?

I'm doing a "possibly fanfic" for that on my quotev, too, and might be updating the "Madness in a Fairytail" Or "Part of a Fairy Tail" I forget what I actually called it, XD, and I'm also working on the Kinji Rareta Unmei-Amy just found out Senri was a vampire-DUN, DUN, DUN! and blacked out from blood loss. Also, I'm trying to get Ryan to get the flipping page back from Miss Gerber, who's apparently a jerk, which I need to finish typing his part of the PJO story Darkness Beyond Sun. This is why I work alone. Ugh. I know I'm complaining a lot, but...

RAWR. RAWR!

Okay, I'm done. Internet rant, over. Please read, and please comment. This might be a bit weird. But...

It's important.

October 31st, 2014

Halloween. Alex loved this day. It was the day she met her "siblings". On Halloween Night...

"Someone got cursed?" Nekozawa questioned, Alex walking by his side into the classroom curiously. Since it was Halloween, all the classes have been cancelled. Alex reached up and tugged on Nekozawa's sleeve, causing him to look down at the small brunette curiously. "What is it, Alex?" His voice deepened, giving it a creepier tone as he said the girl's name. She grinned and asked,

"Since it's Halloween, could I wear one of the Black Magic Club's costumes?" Nekozawa grinned at the question, and he motioned Beelzenef with his hand, clapping the puppet's small hands together as it smiled with a blush on its face.

"Of course... Fufufufu..." Alex grinned widely, her eyes gleaming childishly. She resisted the urge to tackle him. However, it didn't last for long and she quickly tackled him, grinning widely as she wrapped her arms around his waist. A strangled gasp escaped his lips in surprise as he awkwardly held his arms out, staring down at the small girl who was hugging him. "A-Alex?"

"Oh!" Alex realized who exactly it was she was hugging-the shy, recluse Umehito Nekozawa. It wasn't that Nekozawa hated hugs, or people, he was just not used to such contact from people. However, Alex has been trying to get him to come out of his shell a little more often the past few months, and he was slowly getting used to her random hugs. She still tried to hold back from tackling him, however, like she often did with the twins, Kyoya, Haruhi, Akiko, and Mitsukuni. She pulled away and smiled sheepishly at him, grinning as she scratched her left arm nervously. "S-Sorry..."

He slowly began to relax as she pulled away, and Beelzenef happened to be a dark shade of red at this point. "It's...fine... I'm just not used to such...endeavors from creatures of light such as yourself." She looked up at him, and smiled.

"Hey, don't sell yourself short because "You're a creature of darkness"." She attempted to deepen her voice to add a creepier affect, making clawing motions with her hands in the air. She laughed and held her arms up in the air, practically jumping up and down at this point. "Gah! You have no idea how much I love Halloween! It's the best-holiday-EVER!"

You could only see the grin from beneath his cloak as his blue eyes shown underneath the darkness. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a black bag, holding it out to a confused Alex who was staring up at him. "It is a good thing that I had brought this... I know how you appreciate the dark arts like I do... Here." She took the bag in surprise, and barely had time to react when Nekozawa suddenly moved over and clamped a hand on a scared Haruhi's shoulder.

"N-Nekozawa-Sempai!" The twins had dressed the petite girl in a children's witch costume.

"According to my oracles, approaching such a curse head-on means certain death." Alex froze from her spot near the wall, remembering Truth's words from before.

"You won't die too soon..."

"The Witch's Curse is only effective on Halloween day...and to receive such a curse...I'm envious of Haruhi-Chan...If possible, I'd like to receive it instead?"

Alex's face deadpanned as she watched a giant gust of wind fly into the classroom and knock the wig and hood off of Nekozawa's head. Umehito screamed in complete and utter horror, pained.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH! CURSE, I BE OF THEE! RETURN THYSELF TO HARUHI FUJIOKA!"

"Aaaand he's gone." Alex muttered, face-palming as she watched Nekozawa run away in terror, hiding in the custodian's closet. She sighed and opened the back, surprised at the sight of an old Victorian Maid dress that was black-and-white, accompanied with a small black-and-white maid beret. There were a lot of ruffles, and even a corset, but the dress was beautiful all in itself.

And the shoes. The goddamned shoes.

Alex wasn't sure whether she should hate them or be totally in love with them. They were black. Alex loved the dress. Nekozawa was a god.

Alex looked around for a few moments, found a really big desk, climbed in it, and proceeded to change. Unfortunately for her, someone opened the cabinet when she was in the process of putting on the corset.

"A-Alex?" Kaoru stammered, his face turning a red color when he found her half-naked in her undergarments and trying to tie a corset on. Her face flushed dark red and it took all her willpower not to scream. Kaoru quickly diverted his eyes and cleared his throat, looking around the room and making sure no one else was watching. He whispered at her quickly, "What are you doing in here!?"

"I-I'm trying to change into the costume Nekozawa gave me..." She swallowed, feeling a lump form in her throat. This was incredibly awkward-even more so since they weren't actually siblings-adopted or no. "I-I'm having trouble with-with the corset..."

Kaoru hesitated, but turned his gaze towards the tangled strings that Alex was trying to tie behind her back, her arms bent behind her lower back with her dark brown hair falling past her shoulders and framing her round face... He didn't realize how slim Alex actually looked until then. And how...girly she looked with that red splashed across her cheeks and the way she was trying to tie the strings together. Something fluttered in his chest and his fingers twitched. He quickly turned his head, cursing himself for being a guy, and reluctantly asked, "Do...Do you need help?" God, he swore his voice cracked. Alex was supposed to be his sister! What was going on with him?

"That...That'd be n-nice?" It came out as a question, and her voice squeaked a little. Alex wished it was Kyoya instead of Kaoru, who had caught her in this sort of situation, but she knew Kaoru wouldn't try to do anything. It was just awkward...for both of them. Alex was an only child, biologically, and yes, she had grown used to the twins tackling her and waking her up in the mornings by tickling her when they were both shirtless, but she was not used to being caught half-naked. She was practically in her underwear.

Kaoru nodded and looked around again, still not look directly at Alex, before motion for her to move the dress and scoot forward. Her face turned dark red as she quickly released one of the strings with her right hand and frantically brought her arm to her chest, making sure the corset wouldn't fall and expose what was left of her dignity. His throat felt dry, and Alex could feel the nervousness creeping up her spine. She then used her left hand to move the bag the dress was in forward, before doing the same with the boots, and scooting farther into the cabinet. Being a kitchen, it was surprisingly large, and for some reason very empty.

The young male teen climbed in after her and tried to ignore the warmth he felt coming off of her skin. He felt sweat form on his face as he reached forward and slowly, agonizingly slow, began to tie the laces on the corset. Alex flinched when his cold hands touched a part of her back.

"Sorry!" He apologized quickly, flinching. Kaoru was not used to this kind of situation. He was used to compromising positions with his brother, as it was part of their work, but with the girl he considered a sister? They weren't even blood-related! Kaoru tried to keep his thoughts under control. He was a host, and Alex may be his adopted-key word, adopted-sister, but he was still a guy...and it was natural to be attracted to the opposite sex when they weren't really your family, right? What the hell is happening to me, Hikaru? Kaoru wondered, a pained expression on his face as he finished the last of the laces. He felt his hand linger longer than it should have and yanked back his arm, whirling around and leaving the cabinet before a nervous Alex could turn to see his red expression. "I-I'm done! H-Hurry up and get changed! I'll-I'll just wait here and-and make sure no one else sees you. Okay?"

She nodded slowly, her face still a little red, and stammered, "Y-Yeah, sure..." However, that wasn't really what she was worried about. He'd seen the full extent of her scars. He'd seen the scars from her shoulder reach down onto her back, he'd seen the scar on her hip, and worst of all...He'd seen the scar on the back of her neck. She reached a hand up and placed it over it, wincing as tears formed in her eyes. Her hands had a couple scars on them from when she tried to cook, but kept cutting herself while trying to chop food up or doing the dishes when she was thinking about why things were happening the way they were.

Suddenly, a violent cough sent her shaking, hacking as she leaned against the wall of the cabinet for support. She felt a little light headed, and her vision was a bit dazed, but she soon felt well enough to finish putting on the dress.

The dark dress clung to her top and flared out at the waist, stopping at her knees with black ruffles. Alex wore a pair of white socks that went up to her calves and a pair of plain black slippers. At the top of the dress was a white collar with a black bow, tied at the chest. She quickly climbed out of the cabinet with the bag in her hand, and fixed the beret in her hair. Kaoru turned his head and relaxed greatly at the sight of her fully-clothed, and had to admit that she looked rather cute in such an outfit. It reminded him of a gothic-lolita type of outfit.

Won't Sempai be surprised? He thought, frowning when he realized he wasn't very amused by that thought anymore. He stared down at Alex, who was fiddling with her hair and trying to make sure it was positioned straight. Before Kaoru even realized what he was doing, he had leaned down and tucked some hair behind her ear, smiling, as he fixed the small beret and centered it perfectly. He then brushed some of the hair out of Alex's eyes and smiled.

She blinked surprised, not expecting Kaoru to suddenly fix her hair for her, but figured it was only natural since his mother was a fashion designer. She smiled widely at him and said, "Thanks!" He nodded and turned around, slapping her on the back. She blinked at the sudden action, stumbling forward. "Kaoru? What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Just...Kyoya-Sempai's waiting for you in the club room with all the guests... You gained quite a few more admirers, Alex."

"I have?" She asked in confusion. The main people she ever remembered visiting her was Daichi and...Nagihiko, who had actually stopped. He and Akiko went out for a few months, two at the most, but stopped. Akiko and Hikaru are actually getting along now-how she doesn't know, but they're..."Nicer" to each other, now, then they were before. They still argue, but not as constant, and aren't totally hating on each other. "Oh!" The realization hit and she asked, holding up a finger, "You mean Kento and Yuki, right? And Jounouchi and Rin?"

"Yeah. Just...go." Alex frowned, not sure why Kaoru was acting this way towards her. Was it...

Her heart clenched and she turned around, walking away with a dark expression on her face. Of course... He hates me. I'm a monster, after all... He's seen the scars at full... She knew it. She was hideous. Not even her so-called brother loved her. So what would happen if Kyoya saw her like that?

The thought nearly made Alex break out into tears, and it took all her willpower to force a strong face. Kyoya wouldn't hate her. He wouldn't...

But he might. Kyoya isn't known for his affection for others. He might turn around and leave...

But that time at the ice cream shop, when those girls were making fun of her... He had turned around and pulled her to him, acting like they were a couple-when they were not, which they still technically aren't...and told her to ignore those girls.

But, what if Kyoya suddenly changes his mind and starts to hate her? Alex doesn't...she wouldn't survive that. She might actually break, then.

"Lexi-Chan!" Alex let out a small scream when Mitsukuni, dressed in a wolf's costume, suddenly ran up and tackled her around the waist, laughing giddily. "You look so cute in that outfit! Right, Takashi? Isn't Lexi-Chan cute?"

"Yeah." Alex looked up at Mori from her spot on the floor, surprised to see him in what appeared to be a sort of dog costume.

Mitsukuni looked up at Alex with a beaming face, but his eyes slowly dimmed when he looked into hers. He could see behind the smile, the mask she put up. He could see through her just as well as he could anyone else, Kyoya included-the master of masking oneself. Kyoya and Alex both held masks, for reasons very similar to each other but for reasons also very different to each other. Mitsukuni and Tamaki were probably the only ones who could see it, if not Kyoya and Alex seeing it in each other.

"What's the matter, Lexi-Chan? You look sad." Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Wh-What? What are you talking about, Mitsukuni?" She laughed, sounding truly surprised at his question. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm just heading to the Club room. Kaoru said-" She nearly paused, and both he and Mori noticed. "-that Kyoya wanted to talk to me. Most likely about the preparations for the Halloween ball. For all we know, Tamaki might have gone overboard again and we need to cut down on some things 'cause of the budget-" She was cut off when Mitsukuni suddenly lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her neck, hugging her tightly. "M-Mitsukuni?"

He frowned sadly, hating it when one of his friends were sad. "Don't be upset, Lexi-Chan... Usa-Chan, and Kao-Chan, and Hika-Chan, and Tama-Chan, and even Kyo-Chan get upset when you're hurting...Haru-Chan, Takashi, and I do too! So don't be sad, Lexi-Chan... You're much cuter when you're happy."

Alex tensed, stunned at his words. Those words were something that a little brother might say to an older sister whom he respected a lot and cared for, but in reality this was probably the other way around. An older brother speaking to his younger sister... She felt a small smile form on her face and she reached a hand up to ruffle Mitsukuni's hair, grateful to have him and Mori, and all the other Hosts in her life.

Even if her life might be cut short, she was going to live it to the fullest.

She returned the hug, ignoring the tears that were trying to well up in her eyes, and mumbled, "Thanks, Mitsukuni..." She blinked and her eyes opened, startled, when she felt Mori patting her head.

"Yeah. Smile."

Was it just her, or was it Mori and Mitsukuni who were the ones to cheer her up more often than not? Heh. She smiled widely at them, beaming as she gave a closed-eyed grin. "Okay! I'll try too. And I better get going before Kyoya gets mad at me for being late and he's not very friendly when I'm late..." She laughed nervously and scratched her left arm.

Mitsukuni's eyes trailed over to said arm and eyed the action, having long long ago noticed the difference. He hadn't asked, he never bothered, but he was curious. He wanted to know why her arm was suddenly usable after such damage, and only a few months after her surgery. The year was almost over, and yet... As much as she trusted them, her eyes were hiding many things. He wasn't the only one who had noticed; he knew Takashi and Tamaki had as well. Hikaru and Kaoru remained oblivious, but Haruhi and Kyoya must know the true reason why.

No wound such as that would heal so quickly, and even if it did heal that quickly...there was no way it would work like a normal arm should. But it did. And Alex was hiding something from them...something she was scared of. Looking into her eyes, he could see fear. He could see sadness, and pain, and fear. Fear that something would get out, that something she wanted so desperately kept secret would come to ears and she would be forever pained...

Mitsukuni wanted to know what it was, but it wasn't for him to pry it out of her. Turning to Mori, he beamed widely as he held up his Usa-Chan to his chest, saying, "We should get going too, huh, Takashi?" He nodded.

"Yeah." Mitsukuni turned and waved at Alex, who was giving him a peace sign as she walked away.

"Bye-bye!"

"Later!"

Alex would tell them when she was ready...even if it took longer than he and the rest of those who knew liked.

BONUS CONTENT

"Kyoya!" She exclaimed, rushing into the club room, only to pause when she saw his costume. She nearly busted out laughing, clamping a hand over her mouth. "Wh-Why are you..." He turned to look at her, a cross necklace hanging against his chest, his black book took underneath his arm, and wearing a black cloak. "Why are you dressed like an exorcist!?"

Kyoya was the Shadow King. The complete opposite of an exorcist! Alex couldn't help but keep laughing.

THWACK!

She screamed and cried out in pain, kneeling over and clutching her throbbing head. Kyoya had calmly walked over, and with closed eyes behind glasses, smacked her upside the head with the spine of the book. "Oww! You didn't have to hit me! That's abuse-YOW!"

"I wasn't supposed to appear in this chapter." He told her, frowning. "If it weren't for the fact that you don't know how to tie corsets, I wouldn't even be here at all."

"What about the fact that the author is too lazy to write a ten-thousand word chapter at 10 o' clock at night?"

"She's still typing, isn't she?"

"She was, until you went an' rudely said that!"

"You're American accent is peaking through, Alex." Her face turned a little red and she clamped her hands over her mouth, embarrassed. Sometimes, without realizing it, her American accent peaked through her apparent perfect Japanese-which she wasn't even aware she was speaking when she first arrived at Ouran. He smirked, and almost told her that her reaction was "cute", so as to tease her and get a reaction, but there were too many people around.

However, now that she was an Hitachiin, if he was caught in a relationship with her, his father may not mind so much. But that only depends on what she chooses her future to be. Fashion designer, which appears to be very promising for her and her rather good drawing and designing skills, or a computer software developer, which could also happen if she chooses to go in that future. However, her math skills aren't the best, but with a little work...

Kyoya could feel a headache forming. Just how was he supposed to get an actual relationship with Alex and keep it without making his father angry? Oh, why did she have to be so different? However, the main and big question was...

What was Alex going to do in her future, and what was she planning on becoming?

MORE BONUS

"We just..."

"We just wanted to spend time with you, that's all!" Hikaru finished, his and his brother's faces a dark red. Haruhi looked at them surprised, and tugged on her witch's hat. Akiko stood behind, making a sour fact at the twins as she was the victim of them "switching the cookies". Tamaki started to scold them, yelling at them from cracking a classroom window and scaring Haruhi, and making it seem like she was cursed.

The gust of wind that knocked of Nekozawa's wig? Mere coincidence.

Haruhi sighed, exasperated, before tugging on her hat against and saying, "Fine...Whatever. Hikaru, Kaoru, let's go."

They looked up at her in confusion, and she explained,

"We gotta go dance together at the ball, don't we? Akiko, you can come too. And Alex, if you see her."

"Right!"

Haruhi continued to speak as the twins ran over to walk next to her and Akiko, "I'm telling you this now, but I don't know any of the steps, so don't get mad if I step on your feet."

"It's fine!"

"Just leave it to us!"

Tamaki was left crying, dressed like a Vampire, depressed about his lack of the role in this chapter. "WHY AM I JUST LIKE THIS!?"

"Perhaps it's better this way?" Kyoya suggested, pushing up his glasses with a book resting on a wounded Alex's head. She was still pouting with teary eyes from when Kyoya had hit her earlier. "Less drama and enthusiasm."

"What's wrong with enthusiasm?" Alex moped, her shoulders slumping. She had wanted to dance with Kyoya at the ball, but nooo. They had to stop Tamaki from killing the twins, and Alex had to stop Kyoya from killing Tamaki so he could kill the twins. Because of the twins, they were going to be billed about the cracked window.

Kyoya wasn't happy.

"Hey," Mitsukuni spoke, smiling, "At least Takashi got a bigger role this time!"

He nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

Alex hung her head and shook it, a depressed aura forming as mushrooms grew around her feet, "This fanfiction is becoming a total nutcase...I can't even keep track of my character development anymore. I went from whiny and bratty, to being being scared and loud, and now I'm just calm and sarcastic..."

Mitsukuni moved over and hugged Alex's legs, telling her everything would be okay. It was a rather comical picture.

Tamaki was standing in the front with tears streaming down his face, with Mori in the back behind Kyoya, who had his book resting on Alex's head, who had a hand ruffling Mitsukuni's hair as she cried waterfalls with mushrooms blooming around her.

Read, review, tell me what you think-was it bad, was it crappy, am I being a jerk, am I making things too complicated, or should I just ditch the whole thing with Kaoru and rewrite the entire mumbo jumbo? I was thinking of just having it be a "Never seen a girl like that" thing and he was just getting confused. Nothing big, just a small misunderstanding on his part. I dunno. Read and review, please! I luvvles you!