Sorry for the long wait, hope this long chapter makes up for it. DX
November 12, 2014
I'm not in love with my sister. I swear. That's wrong, on so many levels. But it was hard getting the image of her half-naked form out of his mind. Kaoru hung his head in his hands, the cold shower water brushing against his hot skin and relieving him of any sweat. "What am I supposed to do...Hikaru?" Kaoru hated being a teenager. Hormones, testosterone... Kaoru's eyes shot open and he nearly banged his head against the shower faucet. "I got it!"
Kaoru felt more than relieved when he realized what was going on, but still felt rather disgusted with himself. He wasn't in love with Alex. It was just because he was a teenage boy who had no true romance experience with a girl, and seeing a young pretty teenage girl exposed like that to his eyes made him lust. It was just one big understanding!
He was so relieved he felt like crying. I'm sorry, Alex...I'm so sorry... I love you, but only as my sister. He knew how she felt about Kyoya and how the Shadow King felt in return-they weren't as subtle as they thought they were. I promise to never think of you like that again. Forgive me.
"Hey, Kaoru! I'm comin' in! C-Cold!" Hikaru screeched, stepping into the shower as the water spray hit him on full blast. Kaoru flinched and apologized to his irritable brother.
November 21, 2014
"How much longer do you plan to hide this from my son?"
"I-I don't-I don't know... I don't want to tell him."
"You don't have that long left, Alex. He's my son, and despite how cold-hearted you common-folk believe me to be, I do care about his wellbeing."
"How'd you even find out about us?"
"Kyoya is extremely intelligent-the smartest out all my children, and yet even he cannot hide something like you from me. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. To think that the young girl I saw walking out of the hospital cafeteria that day, the one who had been talking to both my eldest sons, would be dating my youngest child. And to later find out that she was the newest female heiress to the Hitachiin family? Just what are you planning to do?"
"...What am I going to do?" Alex asked herself, finding the question rather amusing. However, as the tears streamed down her red cheeks, she could only hold back a sob. "I'm going to say goodbye. He won't know it, but by the time I'm gone, we'd have already said "bye"."
There was a long silence before Yoshio spoke, his deep voice as cold as ice but as warm as a father's tone could be, "The only reason I have allowed your relationship with my son to go on is because not only for the sole reason he is my youngest with the least responsibility, but because he's learned something. My daughter comments about how he's less "grumpy" and constantly leaving the house-for reasons other than the Host Club. You have given my son something special, Ms. Hitachiin. You gave him love, something that I have been unable to do in his life. He deserves to know the deadline."
The deadline of just a few months. Alex wasn't going to live very long. She woke up coughing one day and after that, it's been blood splatters in the sink and splotches in tissues and napkins.
She had Tuberculosis. But despite the fact that Tuberculosis was practically curable now, there was something wrong with Alex's DNA which made her system immune to the medicine, thus causing any treatment needed worthless. Alex was a dead girl, and there was nothing they could do.
And it was all because she wasn't from this dimension.
"R-Right...I-I know that, but...But how am I supposed to tell him!?" Alex broke down sobbing, unable to stay strong any longer as she sunk down to her knees in her bedroom's bathroom, burying her head in her left arm. The cursed thing. It should have been ripped straight off. "I...I don't know what to do! You're his dad! H-how am I supposed to tell Kyoya that..."
How was she supposed to tell anyone that? She didn't even tell Hikaru or Kaoru about her "swap" with Akari. Haruhi and Kyoya knew...she suspected that Mitsukuni and Mori knew something, but...the two people who have been taking care of her since the beginning? They deserved to know the most. Kyoya, the man she loved more than anything by this point, who believed her despite how ridiculous all the words coming out of her mouth sounded...he needed to know the most.
Alex didn't want to die. How was she supposed to live her "second chance" to the fullest if she was a dead girl to begin with?
She can't face anyone now. She was dying. She was dying and there was nothing she could do to stop it. The medicine wasn't working, her immune system was too weak- the sickness was merely spreading.
November 25, 2014
Kyoya observed the cherry blossom he was holding his hand, the sound of girls squealing hitting his eardrums. More than used to the sound, he tuned it out and instead focused on Alex out of the corner of his eye, admiring briefly the way the lavender kimono looked on her, complimented with a darker green. However, that soon turned into annoyance when he recalled the way she's been avoiding him.
They barely had any time together as is, trying to keep their relationship a secret, but Alex... What's gotten into her? He went through all possible reasons why she was avoiding him, and the only thing he could come up with was the idea that she was on her "time of the month". But even so, she was acting rather distant last month as well. He knew she was sick, he also knew she was smart enough to visit the hospital-he checked the records of her visits and saw that she had entered and received a check-up.
But he knew she was hiding something. He knew she had done something and may have possibly changed the hospital records-or had someone of influence do it for her. Alex was more clever than she knew, or maybe Kyoya was just thinking too far ahead and overestimating her.
He frowned, seeing the sweat trickling down her pale face as she laughed weakly at something a boy said. She didn't look so good. She looked sick... sicker than usual. Kyoya felt his lips turn down in a frown, but quickly focused on the girls in front of him and kept his smile plastered on his face.
...
Alex smiled at something Daichi said, but quickly turned her head and coughing into her sleeve, pain hitting her in the chest. Daichi and Nagihiko looked alarmed and opened their mouths to ask if she was alright, but she quickly raised a hand and said, "I-I'm fine! Just-Just keeping talking. So... You and-You and Aya, huh?"
Nagihiko blushed, the pink-and-red shades spread across his face like a wildfire. Alex found that highly amusing, and let the smile spread on her face. Pulling out a napkin that she had hidden in her sleeve, still hiding her face from everyone, she wiped the blood off of her face and hand, before folding the napkin up into a tiny little square that was impossible to make out. It was as if she had never coughed in the first place. Alexis kept her smile on her face, but every so often it would twitch and fall. "Y-yeah... We-Well, I asked her yesterday and...she said yes."
"That's wonderful!" Alex exclaimed loudly, grinning like a madman. She felt a surge of happiness flow through her. "Congrats! I'm so happy for you two!"
"Oh, uh, th-thank you, A-Alexis..."
Ever since Daichi had started calling her that, the other male guests have started to do so as well. They claimed it "suited her" and her "feminine" personality. Alex found it ridiculous, but didn't bother to question it.
She cleared her throat and said with a smile, "What about you Daichi?" Daichi's face flared red, but before he could say anything Kaoru and Hikaru had ran up and tackled Alex from behind, wrapping their arms around her neck and sending her tumbling forward. She screamed as she face-planted into the ground, but wasn't able to react as she broke out into another serious of harsh coughs.
The twins, Nagihiko, and Daichi all tensed, looking at her in worry.
"You alright there, Alex?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked in unison. Hikaru's eyes grew wide, stunned, and Kaoru looked like he was about to call Kyoya over and demand him to "fix" whatever was wrong with Alex.
"I-I said I'm fine!" She gasped, wheezing slightly as her faze turned red. It...It's so cold... She sneezed and shivered, and the twins pulled off of her quickly. Hikaru grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back into him, making her lean against his chest, and Kaoru quickly raised a hand up to the girl's forehead, brushing all the hair out of her face.
Many guests watched in anticipation, awaiting to see what would happen next. Many were fangirling, while others were staring in worry and awe at their close sibling relationship.
"You're burning up!" Kaoru exclaimed, pulling his hand away instantly. Her skin felt like fire. "Why didn't you stay home today?"
"I'm fine!" She argued, pushing herself away from them and onto her feet. She stumbled a little, the kimono restricting her movements. "H-How about we go play some game?"
They stared her, confused at the sudden change of subject, "Game?"
"Like what?" Hikaru asked. Kaoru frowned, not wanting to leave the subject of her being sick alone, and said,
"Are you sure you're up for it?"
She laughed a little, trying to smile as best as she could, and waved them off. "Y-yeah, yeah. I'm always up for a good game! How about...Kemari?"
Hikaru grinned and quickly threw a hand in the air, "Hey, boss! You want to play some Kemari ball with us!?"
Tamaki wasted no time in sending a charming line to the guest he was currently with, before dashing over like his life depended on it.
...
And that basically the reason how they ended up in the Newspaper Club's room, Tamaki apologizing repeatedly to a man who was accidentally hit with the ball upside the head.
Will this guy just shut up already? Alex wondered in annoyance, helping Haruhi pick up the pieces of broken window glass. It was so obvious he was faking being in pain just to win to Tamaki over.
"-just a ball flying through the window and hitting me upside the head." Alex coughed a little, trying to clear her sticky throat, and could see Tamaki bowing to the man out of the corner of her eyes. One of the Newspaper Club President's members was holding an icepack to the man's head, as if the club leader was incapable of doing it himself.
"Forgive us, please!"
If Alex remembered Kyoya's information correctly, his name was Akira Komatsuzawa, and he was High School third-year. "Oh, don't worry; this works out perfectly! I was just thinking about approaching the Host Club for a cover story!"
Akira's "friends" were Chikage Ukyo a first-year, the one holding up the icepack, and Tomochika Sakyo, a second-year.
"I wouldn't suppose that you'd be interested?" Akira finished, smiling.
Haruhi spoke, surprised, "I didn't even know we had a newspaper club."
Hikaru and Kaoru walked up, holding up different newspapers.
"It's more gossip drag than newspaper," Hikaru informed.
Kaoru agreed, "Yeah, like a trashy tabloid. It's filled with stories like "scandalous love affairs" and "family power struggles'' and junk like that."
"It's just a lame gossip paper that specializes in stirring up scandal!"
Hikaru and Kaoru gained sour faces and sent a look towards Akira. "And everyone knows it's all lies, so nobody reads it anymore."
Alex snickered a little at their words. Just enjoy what you can, Alex... You don't have that long left. She swallowed thickly, wincing at the taste of blood. She felt so dizzy... Maybe a day's rest wouldn't have been so bad?
"I guess we have lost sight of the truth because we've been worried about drawing in more readers," Akira said sadly, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin on his hands. "It's a shame we're just now realizing our error...now that the paper is at risk."
Tamaki tensed, gasping.
"We finally realized what we should have been reporting to the students of Ouran." Akira stood up, and Tamaki took a step back in surprise. Akira and his henchmen bowed. "Help us, please. For our last paper, we'd like to do an up-close special edition revealing the charms of Ouran's Host Club's members."
The entire Host Club gathered around the desk at that point, looking at the people in surprise.
"I'm begging you... Without your help, our club will close."
Tamaki smirked and brushed the bangs out of his face, before sliding a foot forward and placing a hand on his chest. "You can count on us! On behalf of the Host Club I-CHYAAA!" He shouted as Kyoya gracefully pushed him out of the way, a smile plastered on his face.
Alex felt her lips twitch upwards.
"We have to decline," Kyoya smoothly interrupted Tamaki's words, causing the blonde to throw a fit.
"But Kyoya, he got hurt because of me! What's the big deal-!?" He tried to push past the Shadow King, but Kyoya easily elbowed him in the stomach and placed his other hand on the blonde's shoulder, holding him back. Alex stumbled over and grabbed Tamaki's arms, helping him with holding back the blonde.
"So sorry," Kyoya apologized with a small smile. "We have a strict policy forbidding us from sharing any personal information about our hosts with anyone other than our guests. But we'd be more than happy to pay any medical expenses relating to your injury."
"And another thing," Kaoru began from his spot next to Alex and his brother, "What makes you think we want to help you spread more rumors and gossip?" He sounded annoyed. "We got a reputation to uphold and you'd just ruin it." He crossed his arms, scowling.
Hikaru, with his hands behind his head, said, "Besides you guys cause a lot of trouble for other people, and who'd want to get caught up in that?"
Haruhi made a face, and Alex cast a glance at her from behind Tamaki's tall form. She almost burst out into laughter, almost able to guess what the brunette was thinking.
Akira fell into his chair, acting depressed. "I understand. I guess you really can't erase the sins of the past, can you?" He gripped the chairs arms, "People won't even give you the opportunity to try and redeem yourself! Oh! My head is killing me!" He cried, placing his hands against his head as he rested his forehead against the desk.
Tamaki relaxed in Alex and Kyoya's hold, and they were able to release him. Alex blinked at the man's horrible acting, watching as his two "friends" went over and freaked out over his "poor" health.
"I'm okay, don't worry you two-" He went into another fit, crying out in false pain. Alex felt like smacking him upside the head-or, better yet, hit him upside the head with another kemari ball. "Oh, no! I'm getting dizzy!"
"President!" Ukyo and Sakyo cried.
"No, wait, I'm fine-Oooh!"
"President!"
Alex slowly reached up and tugged on Kyoya's sleeve, surprising the older teen as Alex had previously been avoiding him, and looked down at her. He held back a smirk at the look on her face.
"Can I please hit him?" Her eyes read.
Kyoya was half-tempted to wrap and arm around her shoulders and pull her to his chest, to plant a kiss on her forehead. He lightly berated himself in his head for having such thoughts, but he let them linger. Alex seemed to bring out the worst in him. She made him actually seem human, instead of the Shadow King that he prided himself on.
"I guess all we can do at this point is disband with grace..." Akira finished, pretending to sulk.
Tamaki finally snapped. "No, you don't have to!" Akira and his lackies looked surprised. "You can always make a fresh-start! We'll help! We will rally the power of our Host Club and we can reestablish the Newspaper Club together!" He was so determined and dramatic that he raised a fist in the air.
"Well, count us out." Hikaru and Kaoru said immediately. Kaoru wrapped an arm around Alex's shoulder and started to drag her away, Hikaru doing the same with Haruhi.
"You're way too trusting, boss," Hikaru told the blonde, who was gaping at his club members. "We can't just go along with everything you do forever."
Kaoru couldn't help but to agree with his brother. "Yeah, we've had enough."
"We're leaving too, Tamaki." Kyoya informed, he, Mori, and Mitsukuni all walking to the doors. They were ready to accompany the twins and the females out of the Club room. "We're going to hold an evaluation meeting in the Club room-mostly about you."
"Hold it." Tamaki growled, causing everyone to stop. They were slightly surprised at the change of his voice, but said nothing, "How can you be so heartless? These men are about to lose their club; don't you feel sorry for them?" Tamaki whirled around, tears streaming down his face. He held a fist in front of his chest, "Their family's breaking up!"
Akira, Ukyo, and Sakyo had no idea what Tamaki meant by that, but they faked sobs and held handkerchiefs up to cover their noses.
Tamaki pointed at the rest of his club, "As leader of the Host Club I demand you help them, and that is a direct order!"
Kyoya, Hikaru, and Kaoru all turned their heads, giving Tamaki a dark look. "We're not going to do it!" Haruhi stood their in silence, a bored look on her face. Alex chuckled, but coughed lightly. She cleared her throat again, blinking away the tears in her eyes.
Tamaki screamed, his world shattering before him.
...
He was moping again. Still dressed in his kimono, he was pushing a kemari ball back-and-forth with his index finger, glancing back every so often at the rest of the Hosts with big sad blue eyes.
There was a long silence, in which Mitsukuni casually munched on a piece of cake with Mori watching him. Hikaru and Kaoru had their arms wrapped around Alex again, and Haruhi was left standing in front of Kyoya.
She's refusing to stand near me again... Kyoya thought in annoyance, seeing how Alex was gravitating around the twins more than him again. He resisted the urge to sigh and focused his attention on Tamaki, his little black book tucked against his side with his other hand on his hip.
Hikaru broke the silence. "Well, he's obviously upset with us."
"Yeah," Kaoru agreed, nodding his head. "He hasn't even changed clothes."
"I hate it when he ignores us when we're right in front of him; he's such a child." Kyoya scowled. Alex seemed to find that amusing and smiled.
"That's Tamaki for you."
"Indeed," Kyoya replied.
Mitsukuni interrupted, "Naah. Tama-Chan's just a lonely guy, you know?" Haruhi turned her head, surprised. She bit her lip, frowning thoughtfully. She then turned her gaze back onto Tamaki, who was pouting and mumbling to himself.
"A club is like a family... Their family is about to be broken up. I feel sorry for them."
Haruhi sighed, slumping her shoulders. She had to admit that Tamaki, as crazy and delusional he may be at times, had a point. The Host club did feel like one great big dysfunctional family to her. So if the Newspaper Club started to fall apart... I'm turning soft.
Haruhi looked up at Kyoya and began, "I'd hate to give in, but would it really be that bad to help them out with their newspaper?"
"What?" Hikaru gasped.
"Hey, since when are you taking his side?" Kaoru demanded. Alex blinked.
"I thought you were on our side."
"I'm not on anyone's side," Haruhi corrected with a frown. "Just listen, okay? I know any moment now he's going to look over here with those puppy-dog eyes of his that he uses whenever he wants something, and none of us will be able to say "no" and so he'll win."
Hikaru and Kaoru asked bluntly, "Let me guess; you're speaking from experience, aren't you?"
Haruhi made a face, knowing she was caught. "Besides, isn't this the kind of thing you guys usually go for?"
Alex sweatdropped as the twins released her, raising their arms up in the air.
"Well, no. This seems like more trouble than it's worth."
Alex swallowed, sticking her hands in the overly big uniform pockets. I... I can't tell Kyoya. Not yet. I'm not ready. She was too scared. This...This whole thing was more trouble than it was worth. She was supposed to have a second chance at life. Why was it being taken from her so suddenly? It hadn't even been a whole year yet since she got here.
"Alex?" Haruhi questioned.
"Ehehe... No?" It came out as a question. Haruhi frowned, biting the inside of her cheek, before moving over.
"What about you, Honey-Sempai?"
"Count me out! I have this cake to eat, and Takashi sticks with me, right?" Haruhi was growing annoyed. Why is everyone here so damn stubborn?
Mori nodded his head, "Un."
Haruhi felt a pair of eyes looking at her and she slowly turned her head. Tamaki turned his head and looked at her with big blue doe eyes, before quickly turning his head. That caught everyone's attention. "Those are the eyes..." Tamaki rolled the ball back-and-forth again for a moment before glancing at them again.
Haruhi and Alex gave in.
"Puppy-Dog eyes..." Hikaru and Kaoru muttered as Tamaki looked at them, raising his eyebrows and making his eyes water.
They couldn't take it. They slumped their shoulders and went to sulk next to Haruhi and Alex.
Tamaki turned his head one more time, sticking out his trembling bottom lip in a pout. Tears threatened to fall down his face.
Kyoya was completely silent.
Tamaki glanced over one last time, and the Shadow King quickly turned his head and pushed up his glasses, clearing his throat.
"There will be some conditions." Tamaki looked like he was going to burst with joy. "The outline for their article will be submitted by us. Interviews are prohibited, and our clients identities will be kept strictly confidential." Tamaki let out multiple barks, turning around to face them with a smile on his face. Kyoya slammed his book shut with one hand, having opened it and was reading from it. "Do we agree?" Kyoya questioned.
Hikaru sighed. "Well, if you think it's cool, Kyoya-Sempai..."
"Then we do too." Kaoru finished, closing his eyes. Alex grumbled to herself before reaching out and wrapping her arms around Haruhi's shoulders. The taller girl made a face.
"Sounds good to me."
Haruhi turned her head suspiciously towards Kyoya when Mitsukuni said, "I'll help too since Kyo-Chan says it's okay!"
That's the Shadow King for you... Haruhi briefly wondered about Alex's influence as the supposed "Shadow Queen".
...
"Of course!" Akira agreed immediately. "If you allow us to cover you, then we agree to your conditions!"
"Wonderful," Kyoya replied with a fake smile. "Then I expect you to start tomorrow." He was holding a medical kit in his hands.
"Excellent!" Akira grinned, lacing his fingers together. Alex paused uncertainly from her spot behind Kyoya, but her times from hosting made her keep a smile plastered on her face. She needed to act inconspicuous-both from her knowledge of knowing that Akira was up to something, and to hide how badly hurt she was emotionally from her whole sickness ordeal.
Alex asked, feigning curiosity, "I've been wondering Akira," The man looked stunned at her use of his name and her question, "How's your injury doing?"
"Oh, that?" He asked, a small smiling spreading across his face. "It's not big deal. I hardly feel it anymore," Not like he ever did in the first place. "I owe a lot to this bump, because if it weren't for that we may have never gotten together for this article! Thank you so much for worrying though, Miss Hitachiin."
Word had gotten around about her being a part of the family. Mainly from the twins bragging mouths. Not that Alex could complain really, she was more than excited to be an actual member of their family. But now... with everything that's happening...
It wasn't that good of a thing anymore. It'll just cause more pain.
"Oh, I wasn't too worried." Alex replied easily, waving a hand in front of her face. Her chest was starting to hurt again, and her breathing was slightly labored. Kyoya cast a glance down at her out of the corner of his eyes, but kept his host smile on his face. "But we are still guilty..."
"We're very sorry that it happened, Mr. Komatsuzawa. In fact, I even brought you something as an apology of sorts." Kyoya walked over and set the first-aid kit on Akira's desk. He opened it, and Alex stayed where she was, smiling "kindly" all the while. "This is a first-aid kit, made by my family's company."
"Thank you, I appreciate it." Akira responded, smiling as well.
"No problem, please excuse us." Kyoya said and turned around, Alex beginning to follow the older teen out. Akira stopped them however.
"Oh, it just dawned on me! Your family runs the Ootori Group, right? They manufacture medical equipment, don't they?" Kyoya's smile, which had slipped off of his face the second he turned around, spread across his face again as he turned his head to smile at Akira.
"We mostly deal with hospital management."
"I'm so glad that we'll be working together! The Hitachiin family... isn't that computer software?" Alex nodded politely. "My father happens to be a President, just like yours Kyoya. He's the President of the Komatsuzawa Publishing firm."
"Yes..." Kyoya spoke, a hand on his hip. "We are both well aware of that." Before they had arrived, Kyoya had filled Alex in on all the details of Komatsuzawa's family-everything that he knew, she now knew. In return, Alex came up with the idea to give Akira the medicine kit. "So being in charge of the Newspaper Club is your way or preparing to take over the family company?"
"...Well, yes, to an extent. You see, I have this younger brother. He's a bright young man and my father's very proud of him. So now my father has decided to turn all future management of the company over to him." Oh, how much Alex wanted to smack him upside the face. Was he really trying to win Kyoya over with this? It was Ayanokoji all over again. She watched Akira reach his hands up and bite his thumb nail, "And thereby passing over me, the eldest son."
Alex had a brief flashback to the phone call she received a while back from Yoshio. She was still wondering how he got her number, but didn't bother questioning it. He was, after all, Kyoya's father.
"However, if I pass through my third-year of High School as the successful leader of a Newspaper Club, then he might just change his mind and make me his successor." Kyoya turned away and placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, ready to walk her out of the room. Alex turned around, facing the door uncertainly. "Do you understand? I can not allow this club to fall apart, no matter what." There was threat underlying his tone.
Both of them noticed.
"Please, excuse us..."
"Actually, before you go, I was hoping to speak a little to Miss Hitachiin?" Alex tensed, alarmed. She wanted to walk with Kyoya-as painful as it may be for her to do so. "I...do hope that's all right?"
"Oh, that's perfectly fine!" Alex said quickly, sending Kyoya a quickly look. He caught the message and nodded, saying,
"Of course; I don't see why not. I'll wait for you outside the hall."
"Thanks." She said, voice suddenly quieting. I-I still need to tell him... But she can't. It was going to be impossible for her. She watched as Kyoya opened the door and walked out of the room, closing it behind him. It was silent. "So, what did you want?" She asked, grinning. She could feel her scar stretch across her face.
"...Now, I'm just asking this out of curiosity, but what made you join the Host Club? I was under the impression that only males could become Hosts."
Oh... He was trying to get info out of her. Haha. Funny. Alex beamed and placed her hands on her hips, gaining a thoughtful look as she lifted her head.
"Hm...Why did I join?" Kyoya forcefully made me join. If it wasn't for that... Her heart fluttered in her chest, and an aching feeling formed once again. She swallowed. "Well, because I wanted to. It seemed like fun."
"So you like toying with mens hearts?"
"No. Where'd that come from?"
Akira grinned, and Alex gained the feeling that "Akira" was a name that belonged to cold people. No offense to those with that name or anything, it was just a coincidence. The Akira she knew was actually nicer to her now than she used to be before. "Oh, nowhere. I have a favor to ask of you, Hitachiin-San...Can I call you Alex?" She opened her mouth to protest, but he quickly sent her a slimy smile and said, "Yes, Alex...What do you think about Tamaki Suoh? Does he seem...suspicious to you?"
"Nope." She replied, popping the p. "Why?"
"No reason, no reason." He said quickly, before standing. He strolled over to the smaller girl, placing a skinny hand on her shoulder. "Do you... know anything about him? Anything...dark?" He smiled down at her, and Alex wanted nothing more than to kick him and make a break for it. She also had an urge to yell for Kyoya. But if she did, then their whole plan would fail. She'd have to put up with it...for now. She'd get her revenge in the end.
Oh hell, he really did rub off on her a little too much. She's becoming manipulative. Not good, she thought, eyeing Akira's hand disdainfully.
"You can tell me anything about him that bothers you, you know..." He ran his thumb across her cheek.
Ew. EWWWW! Gross! Why couldn't it be Kyoya-
No. No. She's not thinking about it. Her chest hurt at thought.
Right now, this whole situation was making her stomach churn uncomfortably. Alex reached up and placed a hand on his wrist, removing his hands from her and taking a step back with a polite smile. "I appreciate the concern, A-Akira, but there really is nothing wrong with Tamaki. He's one of the nicest people I know!"
She made to let go of him, but Akira quickly reached over with his other hand and grabbed her. She tried not to make a face. Akira really needed to wash his hands. They were all sweaty. "I really do appreciate how you were worrying about me. I just want to return the favor..."
His two lackies stood in the background, watching the scene awkwardly.
Kyoya's voice called out from the door, "Alex? Are you done?"
"Y-yeah! I'm coming!" She slipped her hand out of Akira's and quickly walked away, saying, "Like I said, there's-there's nothing wrong with Tamaki." She coughed a bit into her sleeve, looking relieved when she saw no red liquid. She opened the door and left, intent on washing her hands and face, and burning the school jacket she was wearing. Hikaru had like fifty of them-surely he wouldn't care if he lost one.
Ukyo question Akira, "Mr. President, are we to assume that you were trying to win over Kyoya Ootori and Alexandria Hitachiin?"
Akira smirked from his spot where he was standing. "That is correct. My only real enemy here is Tamaki Suoh. Originally I was planning to use my power as President of the Newspaper Club to become popular here at Ouran Academy. But then Suoh showed up and started his stupid Host Club, and suddenly he became the big man on campus!"
"But President, that's not what Sakyo and I heard-" Ukyo started to protest.
"Yeah, I heard that the newspaper you printed before was just as unpopular as it is now!" Sakyo said.
Akira ground his teeth together and turned around, glaring at his "friends". "That's enough! All it takes is one call to mother to have all ties between our publishing companies cut off." Ukyo and Sakyo stood up straight, stiff. "They obviously got special standing! They're not affiliated with any sports or cultural clubs! They don't even have an advisor!" He growled. He continued, "All they do in that club is fake romance. Those poor girls and boys that visit them are being suckered. It must be Suoh's way of flaunting his power. Using his parents power to let he and his buddies do whatever they want this those students! All those Hosts, including Kyoya Ootori and Alex Hitachiin, were supposed to be my underlings!
I was going to invite Alex to join this club...she was going to be my "Queen" of sorts. Instead, Suoh roped her into joining their club and making her into a Hostess! He's demeaning her! Suoh is much more shrewd than you'd expect... He may seem like a nice guy-he's got the act down... but I'm positive he's got a dark side. I'll dig until I find something scandalous! And if that means I have to seduce that woman myself than so be it! She may be a Hostess, but all women are weak compared to men... I'll make her break. She'll spill everything she knows about Suoh to me." He slammed the medicine kit shut, growling with a smirk, "That'll teach them a lesson."
"But sir-"
"Silence! Don't make me call mother."
November 26, 2014
"Great, he's looking at me..." Haruhi grumbled, stress lines forming on her face. Alex laughed lightly, not letting her self laugh loudly in fear she'd get caught hacking up blood, and patted Haruhi on the back. "I should probably start acting like I'm happy to be here..."
"Probably."
Ukyo stammered from his spot next to his boss, "Um, President... I'm too sure as to what he's saying."
"Are you sure he isn't just a complete idiot?" Sakyo asked, his face turning blue.
"Don't let your guard down just yet!" Akira warned, "This is all just part of his strategy!"
Kyoya started to walk away, sighing, "I'm done with this..." Haruhi leaned over and groaned, Alex laughing at her. As he walked past, Kyoya slowed and gave Alex a frown, remembering their conversation the other day.
"Why didn't you just head back to the Host Club without me?" Alex questioned in confusion, frowning. She didn't understand it. Kyoya raised an eyebrow at her, his arms crossed.
"Is it crime to be nice to you, Alex? No one will suspect anything just from this little thing." Maybe not, but...being around him hurt. Seeing him hurt. It was a pleasant hurt, and an aching hurt all at once. "Or did you have a sudden change of heart about everything? Is that why you've been avoiding me?"
"That's not it!" She protested, hurt flickering on her face for a moment. She turned her head, refusing to look at him. She wanted to tell him. "I... K-Kyoya..."
"What is it?" They stopped walking. Alex's fingers twitched and she swallowed thickly, feeling another cough coming on her head started to hurt. "Alex?"
"I...I can't.. I'm..." I'm dying, is what she wanted to say. We should stop whatever this is. I don't want to hurt you... It was foolish of her to even think that he'd be hurt from her death, but that day at the beach when he... She wasn't foolish enough to think that he doesn'tcare about her. "Um...A-Actually, do you have any sanitizer on you? Akira grabbed my hands and they were all slimy." Kyoya frowned, knowing she was hiding something from him.
However, he felt anger at Akira-anger for touching Alex. Kyoya was indeed a possessive person. But he remained calm, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small bottle.
"There she is..." Akira muttered with a grin, pushing up his glasses. "Alex, there you are!" He walked over to the girl, holding his notepad up with a smile. Alex tensed and smiled awkwardly at him, not really in the mood to put up any facades. "What can you tell me about the Host Club?"
"O-Oh... It's fun most of the time, and we do everything we can to make our guests happy."
"I see..." This isn't what he wanted to hear at all. "And you joined because you thought it was "fun" correct? Any other reason specifically?"
"Not...necessarily?"
"So Suoh didn't force you to join? He didn't bribe you or anything? Come on, Alex, you can tell me anything." He placed a hand on her shoulder and slid it down against her back, pulling her closer to him. Women were weak to shows of affection... Akira tried not to smirk as he gave the kindest smile he could muster.
"He...really didn't bribe. Tamaki's not like that." Alex tried to push herself away, uncomfortable with the new position. Kyoya... She didn't see him anywhere. Damn it... Okay. I'm on my own again. Got it. "Tamaki's a nice guy. What's your issue with him?"
"Issue? Oh, I have no issue with him! I'm just curious; what's your relationships with the other Hosts?"
Alex was this close to hitting him. "Hikaru and Kaoru are my brothers, and I'm friends with everyone else. Can you let go now, please?"
"Oh? I'm sorry, I didn't even notice-My deepest apologies, Alex! Please forgive me?" He grabbed her hand and smiled, before kissing it. Gross! What is his problem!? Ew, ew, ew-
"Oh, it-it's fine. Don't-Don't worry about it!" She laughed nervously, reaching her hand behind her and wiping it on her pants. "I'm...just going to go find Hikaru and-gyah!" Alex wasn't given time to finish as said twins ran up and snatched Alex up, shouting,
"Chop!" They laughed loudly, and Mori and Mitsukuni took the pleasure of snatching up Haruhi in their stead. Kyoya and Tamaki had their pinkies interlocked, and Tamaki looked enraged.
"Hey, wait; those weren't the things you were supposed to cut, you know!?"
Kyoya's glasses had glared over, his eyes obscured from view. He turned his gaze from the running High Schoolers over to Akira, who looked completely lost. Behind his glasses his dark eyes narrowed.
After a while, they game changed. They were now playing Kick the Can with Kyoya as the "it" man.
He sighed, arms crossed. "If I must." Alex resisted the urge to poke him in the side, tempted to say "You know you're having fun" and instead clung to Haruhi's arm, biting the inside of her cheek.
Tamaki nodded and braced himself, reeling his leg back and screaming, "STARLIGHT KIIIIIIIIICK!" He kicked the can, sending it flying through the air past Akira's head, causing the man himself to scream.
It took a few seconds for him to recollect his jaw from the ground, and he placed two fingers against his forehead. "If you honestly think that I'm going to fall for the same trick again, you got another-AAARGH!" He screamed as he was nailed upside the head, knocked onto the ground.
The Host Club members were left running around, trying to find a hiding place. Tamaki quickly snatched up Haruhi, Mori went with Mitsukuni, and Hikaru and Kaoru quickly snatched up Alex.
"One...two...three..." Kyoya was left counting. Akira was left cursing, "four...five..." Kyoya stood when he heard Akira and his goonies walking away. "Six..."
"You'll pay for this Tamaki Suoh!"
Kyoya smirked.
...
"H-Hikaru, K-Kaoru, slow down-" Alex started to scream, the twins running as fast as they possibly could down the hallways of the school. "I can't-!" She wheezed painfully, and the twins only released her when she started to cough. She stumbled forwards, crashing into Hikaru, a hand covering her mouth as she coughed-hacking roughly and painfully into her hand.
She coughed, hard and wet until-
The twins froze, horrified at the sight of the blood against her hand. She continued to cough, the droplets not stopping there. She pushed herself out of Hikaru's grip, blood splattering across the marble floor. She gasped painfully, and tears started to well up in Alex's eyes as her chest burned. Blood bubbled up her throat and she gave one last hard cough, panting and heaving heavily as her head pounded harshly. The world spun lightly, and it took a moment for her to regain balance and vision.
Without even thinking about it, something that had become a habit the past few months, she ripped out multiple napkins and tissues she had stuffed in her sleeves and pockets and started to wipe up the blood on the floor.
Hikaru and Kaoru didn't talk, didn't move...they only stared. Caramel eyes wide, horrified, stunned, and... betrayed.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, I-I'm fine..." She mumbled to herself breathily, trying to calm her frantic heart as she gathered up all the bloodied tissues. "I'm-" She cleared her throat, coughing once more but less harshly. "Perfectly fine..."
"Fine... The hell just happened-!?" Hikaru started to shout, and Alex tensed as if finally noticing that they were still there. Her head turned robotically towards them, and they finally saw the tears welling up in her eyes.
"Alex..."
"Don't..." She began, swallowing thickly. She was caught. Alex was seen. "Don't tell Ky-Kyoya..."
Hikaru pushed himself on one knee, narrowing his eyes at her. "Don't tell him what, Alexis?"
"What are you not telling us?" Kaoru demanded, having a really bad feeling about all this. That was... That was blood. Her blood. She was coughing up blood. His brain seemed unable to process that fact. The girl he considered a sister was coughing up blood.
Her lips curled back and she opened her mouth, ready to speak, but instead all that came out was a choked sob. The brothers moved forward to hug her, but froze when they saw her shake her head frantically.
"N-No... We-We have to go...The-The plan..."
"Damn it," Hikaru cursed. He stood and pulled Alex to her feet, growling, "This isn't over! You're explaining when we get home, understand!? Damn it!"
"Hikaru, calm down-"
"How the hell am I supposed to calm down, damn it!? Did you not see-"
"I saw it, too, Hikaru!" Kaoru snapped. He glared at Hikaru, who looked startled at his brother's sudden anger. Kaoru was always the calm one. "You think I'm not pissed off, too? That I'm not worried!? That I'm not scared!? She's my little sister, too, damn it!" His voice sounded strained from all the yelling, and he looked like he was about to cry. "She's my little sister too! You-You aren't the only one that cares, H-Hikaru..." His voice cracked and he swallowed, blinking multiple times as he raised his head to the ceiling, as if that would help stop the tears from falling. "C-Come on..."
"K-Kaoru..."
Alex bit her lip, pained. She wanted to break down crying at that moment. She was so scared... She didn't want to die. She didn't want them to know she was going to die. She didn't want to have to face that reality...
She had died once...
Alex didn't want to do it again. Knowing the deadline was scarier... at least with the car, it was fast. It was sudden and quick. She didn't have time to react.
Now...
Alex swallowed and reached up, grabbing them both my their uniform sleeves. "L-Let's just go..." She had stuffed the bloodied tissues into her pockets. She would throw them away later. There was something more important that needed to be done. Someone was threatening not only Tamaki, but the entire Host Club as well. And that person was a creep. "We need to-to catch up with the others..."
Alex wanted to live.
...
"Well, if you do that, then the Host Club won't exist anymore," Alex stated bluntly, grinning. "We can't have that happen, can we?"
Akira had barged into the Newspaper Club room, declaring on how he was going to "expose" Tamaki.
Hikaru hummed, sitting on the left of Alex on Akira's desk. Kaoru spoke from his spot on her right, "So we were right all along."
Akira narrowed his eyes. "You three..."
"Well, I guess it was pretty obvious." Hikaru stated with a smirk, staring at him coldly.
Kaoru mimicked his brother's expression, just the slightest bit more cold. "Boss is the only one who hasn't caught on yet," He said, narrowing his eyes. "He can be pretty dense when it pertains to anything about himself."
"I should warn you," Hikaru said, "If you harm him there will be consequences."
"Are you ready to have the Hitachiin's and every other club members family as your enemies?" Kaoru questioned. Alex smiled, so glad to finally get revenge on this guy.
"You really shouldn't make us angry, Akira. Messing with Tamaki is sure to put you on that route."
Akira looked like he was going to rage. "I knew it! You're nothing but his lackies and his slaves... Tamaki's holding his parents power over all of you!"
Did he not listen to anything they just said? Talk about an idiot.
"That's not true," Mitsukuni's voice rang out, and Akira turned around in surprise to see the honey-blonde boy holding Usa-Chan to his chest, Mori standing protectively behind him. "We don't hang out with Tama-Chan because of his parents." Mitsukuni smiled. "We all love Tama-Chan. That's why we enjoy being around him."
Kyoya spoke from his spot on top of multiple newspaper stacks, somehow managing to look like a complete bad-ass while doing so. He pushed up his glasses, "He may be a hopeless idiot, but ever so..."
"Hey Kyoya! Let's start a club together!"
"Hello there, Haninozuka-Sempai. I know this is sudden, but I was wondering if you'd like to join a new club I was starting?"
"Morinozuka-Sempai!"
"You two seem to have a lot of free time... If you ever get bored, feel free to join our new club!"
Alex's memory wasn't exactly the same as everyone else's but it... it was still there. It was a vivid reminder of her spot in the club.
"Stop trying to enforce your opinions of yourself onto other people! Really, for being someone who hangs out with Kyoya during lunch and club time all the time, you are an idiot!We would never hate you Alex, even if you were a zombie or an alien or anything different! Get your head out of the gutter!"
"Well?" Hikaru questioned.
"What will you do?" Kaoru asked.
Alex narrowed her eyes. "Don't make a mistake."
"Please leave Tama-Chan alone!" Mitsukuni pleaded. "Okay?"
Akira growled. "I'll get you all..." He suddenly said, "It's not just about him anymore. I'll write an article that'll ruin all of you!"
Alex snorted. "Yeah. Have fun with that, jerk." Kyoya smirked at Alex's words as he strolled over to the desk which held the medicine kit.
"She's right. Go ahead, be my guest. Although..." He gave his usual Shadow King smile, pressing down on a button on the kit and causing a small CD to pop out. Kyoya held it up with a finger. "What do you think we should do about this little disk? You see, it's been here since yesterday, and it recorder everything. Even your little "chat" with our favorite Hostess."
Oh, yes. Kyoya knew about that. It pissed him off to no end what Akira thought he could do to his Alex. Hikaru and Kaoru's gazes sharpened onto Akira, and the man tensed, feeling not only their glares, but Mitsukuni's dark stare on his back.
"President.." Ukyo squeaked, terrified.
"J-Just give up already!" Sakyo begged of their leader. Akira fell to his knees, and Kyoya smiled as he stepped forward to speak to Akira.
"Let me explain it to you in term that you can understand... You would do well to remember that the Ootori Group and the Hitachiin Family alone are enough stock to remove you father as President of the Komatsuzawa Publishing firm." Kyoya was silent for a moment, and let the threat loom in the air. After a minute, he continued, taking a slight pleasure at the look of despair on the man's face, "However, we would never do something like that. We are not like you. What we strive for...is fundamentally different." If he couldn't punch him, then Kyoya would just settle for the look of defeat on Akira's face. Akira had went too far.
...
"Found you~!" Kyoya sang calmly, seeing Haruhi and Tamaki underneath a chapel.
"Where the Newspaper club?" Tamaki asked instantly, confused when he didn't see them.
"They had to cancel; something came up." Hikaru and Kaoru explained. As the walked out of the maze, they passed a bush-a bush with four different and oddly colored roses. One was blue, tangled tightly with a pale orange. A green petal had stubbornly pushed itself into the top middle of these two flowers, and beside it was a lavender rose, entwining itself with the green.
No one noticed however, or even knew the significance that this would mean.
Alex said, arms crossed, "They promised to right true articles from now on, so they might not get shut down." She felt Hikaru and Kaoru tighten their grip around her shoulders, and knew that she wasn't off the hook just yet. She swallowed, beads of sweat trailing down her pale face. Alex wasn't feeling the greatest as of yet...
"Oh, really?" Tamaki asked in surprise, passing by a bush with two roses tucked in next to each other-a coral pink and dark purple.
"Let's hurry back to the club room and eat some cake!" Mitsukuni suggested excitedly, sitting on Mori's shoulders.
"Yeah."
Tamaki grinned in agreement. "That does sounds good! Cake! Cake!" He held his hands up in the air, passing by a bush with a single white rose, accompanied by a beautiful red one.
"Hey, Kyoya-Sempai...I was wondering, is the Suoh-Sempai really that big a deal around here?" Haruhi asked after a moment's silence.
"Well, the foundation of their business lies in corporate finance." He explained, "However they do have some real estate as well. You've heard of the Roy Grand Hotel and the Outo Theatre, haven't you? They also had a hand in other things, like school management for example."
Haruhi looked shocked. "Really? What school?" Kyoya stopped walking, surprised. Haruhi slowed to a stop and turned her head in confusion.
"Why...Ouran Academy." Haruhi went still. Kyoya started walking again. "You've been here long enough that you should at least know what the Chairman's name is. You know, if you think about, the only reason you were able to attend school here was because of the financial aid received from Tamaki's family. You should be grateful to them."
"Haruhi~!" Tamaki sang, waving a hand in the air as he called her over. She robotically turned her head to stare him, unable to believe what she had heard. Alex was grinning like a madman at her, despite the pained look in her eyes. "If you don't hurry, we're going to leave you~! I would hate for you to end up lost again~!"
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