Mix Sixteen: Love Beats

"That it, I am gonna die! Please release now!"

"Don't be a baby, it's only for a few more seconds and then you can go recover.

"Don't pull it harder, my boobs are gonna explode if you keep doing that!"

"No one's boobs have ever exploded from this."

Sally screamed out as Kaoru pulled the corset strings tightly to keep it in place. He had almost resorted to putting his foot against her back to pull the strings tighter but decided not to do it, as he knew that Sally would have kicked a field goal with him.

"Oh my fucking god, why the hell am I wearing this bullshit anyway?" Sally demanded as she slapped Kaoru's hands away from her cleavage to fix it herself. "I didn't even volunteer to put this on!"

"Since you're an unofficial member of the host club it's pretty much important you join us in cosplay." Kaoru walked over to the nearby mannequin and picked up a white blouse. "Here put this on and then try to tuck it into the corset without undoing the strings."

"Why the fuck didn't I put this shirt on before you tortured me with your damn corset of doom!"

Sally wanted to punch Kaoru for it but decided not to maim him. She sighed pulling on the shirt and then tucking it into the corset carefully. She could barely breathe but did not want to go through the hell of the corset strings of doom.

"Hey dude, I have to ask you something important," Sally turned around and walked over to Kaoru so he could tie the large fuchsia scarf.

"What's that?" Kaoru asked.

"How come you're not freaking out about seeing all of me?" Sally asked. "I am in my panties and you're not even trying to cop a feel. Are you asexual or something?"

"I am training to be a fashion designer so I have to get over my shyness of girls sometimes," Kaoru shrugged. "And I've helped Haruhi once or a twice with her costumes so I am used to this."

"I see," Sally shook her head. "I am actually surprised you're calmer than Hikabro with this."

"He doesn't care about doing all of this," Kaoru finished fixing the scarf and grabbed the black shorts from the chair and handed them to Sally. "He's more interested in becoming a game developer like our dad."

"I see," Sally slipped on the shorts, as she made sure they were on her body snuggly before she sat down in the chair to let Kaoru style her hair. "So you two are going to be different career dudes? That is kinda cool. I really think it fits you really."

"You do?" Kaoru asked going through his makeup case to find what he needed. "I didn't think much of it since Hikaru and I did like the same things at one time…well some things."

"Which is all right," Sally leaned back in the chair and put her hands behind her head. "Hell if I had a twin I doubt she'd be into lucha libre or know how to kick ass. She'd probably be a flouncy powder puff."

"I don't think the world could've handled two of you," Kaoru chuckled. "And I think it's great that Hikaru and I aren't both into fashion design. It saves our dad the trouble of having to run the gaming company for the rest of his life…the company is practically made for Hikaru anyway."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, it's called Shining Cannon Software," Kaoru shook his head. "And Hikaru's name means shine so it fits him."

"I see, well I guess that means you're free to be the lone fashion designer," Sally turned and looked at Kaoru. "I can see it now…Jeans by Kaoru or wait a fragrance line called Mischief by Kaoru."

Kaoru laughed quietly and walked over to Sally as he gently pushed the chair up so he could begin styling her hair. "I do hope that one day I can do that and maybe run a few businesses on the side too."

"Ain't nothing wrong with that," Sally looked into the mirror and saw the curtain they were behind rustling.

"Kaoru-dear?"

Kaoru paused in his movements and slowly turned around. He turned bright red at the sight of Romey carrying a dress. He had forgotten he had to get her dressed next. "What's wrong Romey?"

"Well umn…I was wondering if you could help me with the corset's strings?" Romey turned around lifting her hair up so Kaoru could see the still loosened strings. I tried to give you less work with helping me put on my costumes but…maybe I should've waited."

"No it's fine," Kaoru sat down the hairbrush, walked over to Romey and gently began helping her with the corset. "It should be tight but not too tight so to avoid it crushing your ribs."

"Oh I see umn…thank you." Romey had a light blush on her face and gave a small squeak when Kaoru's hands brushed against her bare back.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No, I am fine," Romey, whispered. "It's tight enough…"

"All right," Kaoru stepped away. "Do you need any more help? I can help you in a second when I am done with Sally."

"No, I got it thank you." Romey bowed before leaving the area to go back to her dressing area to finish getting ready.

"Ok," Kaoru watched as Romey left before he turned back to begin styling Sally's hair. His face was a bright crimson and his hands were sweating. He always got flustered whenever he was around Romey.

"You have a crush on her?" Sally asked curiously.

"What? Me and Romey? No no we're just friends and we like cooking." Kaoru said quickly. "Why? Did she say something about me?"

"Well I don't know if she did or not but I can tell from the way you're sweating and the way your voice is shaky that you want to be more than friends with her," Sally smirked. "Dude you should go for it. I think you and Romes are cute together."

"I can't ask Romey out!" Kaoru cried. "We're friends and that'd screw up our friendship and what if she laughs in my face or gets angry at me for trying to ask her out?!"

Sally rolled her eyes. "You need to get some balls," she said. "You should try to ask Romey out and I doubt she'd friend zone you right away. She's not the type to do it…just really shy."

Kaoru shook his head as he continued styling Sally's hair. He pulled it up into a high ponytail and carefully began clipping a metal ponytail holder around the base of it. "I just don't think that Romey and I will be more than friends and I am ok with that."

"Sure dude and pigs will fly out of the ass of George W Bush over in America," Sally snickered.

"Yeah I guess," Kaoru walked around to the front of Sally and started working on her makeup next. His hands expertly yet carefully used the brushes to apply blush to her cheeks, as he made sure not to hurt her or make her look like a painted up clown. He finished a few minutes later and began putting away the makeup kit.

"Dude, you did a great job," Sally stood up and looked into the mirror with a small smile. "All right I am so ready to steampunk the hell out of the club today." She grabbed the hat that was sitting on a mannequin and put it on her head. "Fuck I am one sexy steampunk bad ass."

"Just don't do any extreme activity," Kaoru said looking at the corset. "I don't know how long that thing will hold but it may break if you move too fast or jerk suddenly."

"I will be careful." Sally walked out from behind the curtain and adjusted the hat before she took notice that Tamaki entering the room. "Dude, what's up?"

"Oh, I just…um…" Tamaki rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I was just coming back in here for something."

"What?"

"This err…this…" Tamaki grabbed a potted plant and held it up to show Sally. "This potted plant! I needed it for the theme and I just came in to get it."

"I see," Sally shook her head. "Anyway are you sure you're cool with me being here? I don't want to intrude on this theme."

"Its fine, I really want you here and everyone's pretty much paired up together for today's theme." Tamaki explained.

"Paired up?" Sally tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Well I am with you," Tamaki explained. "The twins are with each other unless Kaoru decides to go help Princess Romey in the kitchen, Renge's with Haruhi, Mori-senpai's with Honey-senpai and Princess Mimi, and Kyouya's with…well I don't know since he refused to participate today."

"Wait hold up, so we've all been paired off…and you left Kyo alone in the dust?" Sally demanded in fury.

"Yes, I tried to convince him but he refused and told me to…well he sort of told me to shove the costume somewhere." Tamaki whispered.

"So basically Kyo's pissed off and he told you go shove the costume up your ass for asking him to join in?" Sally asked. "Well you know I can see his point of view, he is basically the odd man out in this because he doesn't have anyone to be with during this theme."

Tamaki fell silent, he really did not pay much attention to Kyouya's feelings nor did he bother to think that maybe the idea of having everyone work together in teams was a bad idea. After all, he knew perfectly well that his best friend was not much into the idea of a team cosplay theme.

"I'll go find him," Sally gave Tamaki a small smile. "Don't worry dude, I'll bring Kyo back here after we have a long talk."

"You're not going to drag him back here against his will are you?" Tamaki asked. "I don't want Kyouya to be angry or miserable."

"Trust me," Sally winked at him and headed off to find Kyouya.

Kyouya stood on the balcony alone as he leaned against the railing. He looked down at the pocket watch he held his hands and listened to the melody playing. He really hated how alone he was. Part of him knew that his anger towards Tamaki was fueled by loneliness but another part of him knew he had overreacted in a childish manner.

However, he had his reasons…it was all because he could not find HER. The girl he had been searching for since the moment she invaded his memories. Shaking his head he looked down at the only picture of he had…of when they were kids at a party, their families had thrown.

"YO KYO!" Sally leapt onto Kyouya's back and wrapped her legs around his waist. She laughed loudly looking over his shoulder. "Hey what's that?"

Kyouya stumbled forward but quickly hid the pocket watch in his jacket when Sally asked him about it. "It's nothing…what are you doing here anyway?"

"I came to find you," Sally shrugged. "Rene told me about what happened and how you left early without even trying on your costume."

"I don't have time to care about childish games that Tamaki has concocted in that blonde brain of his." Kyouya sighed. "And could you please get off me? I was enjoying peace and quiet before you showed up."

"Fine," Sally climbed off his back but not before pickpocketing him. "Anyway, I think you're being a real pain in the ass for leaving, I mean you could've hung out with Rene and me during your club today."

"Please leave." Kyouya grumbled.

"Fine, but you should know that if you're going to be a sourpuss then you'll never find happiness," Sally walked back into the building but stayed behind waiting for Kyouya to notice the pocket watch was missing. She wanted to test a theory.

Kyouya made sure that Sally was gone before he reached into his pocket to get the pocket watch back out. He froze up when his hand did not feel anything inside. He took off the jacket and started shaking it before throwing it to the ground. He started looking around before a realization hit him…he must have dropped it off the balcony.

"What is he…" Sally whispered before gasping in horror when she saw Kyouya about to climb off the balcony. She ran outside and grabbed him. "You idiot! Are you crazy!?"

"Miss Moore let me go, I lost something important and it may have fallen down there." Kyouya said struggling to get away.

"I got it here," Sally said moving away from him as she held it out to show him. "Now listen to me, calm your shit and tell me about this."

"Give it back!"

"Not until you tell me what's so important about it," Sally said backing up. "You were about kill yourself over a trinket."

"It's none of your business," Kyouya growled. "Give it back now!"

Sally sighed, walked over to the balcony and held the pocket watch over it. "If you don't tell me about it or if you don't calm your ass down then I'll drop it."

Kyouya didn't move nor did he say anything else. He eyed the pocket watch and then looked at Sally. "Please…give it back."

Sally shook her head. "Tell me what it is."

"It's a…a…it's something to remind me of someone!" Kyouya said.

"Someone?" Sally opened the pocket watch and looked inside of it. She saw the picture inside and looked up at Kyouya. "You lost two children?"

"No…the girl in the photo…" Kyouya whispered. "I lost her."

"Did she pass away?" Sally asked gazing at the picture closely. She could see the small tears on the corners and the glass on the face of the watch was slowly becoming cracked from the years not being too kind to it.

"No, she moved away," Kyouya fell silent almost seemingly like he was on the verge of tears at the sheer mention of the mystery girl's fate. "I hadn't seen her in years but I have a feeling that we'll see each other again."

"So you're hurting because you cannot see her?" Sally asked as she studied the picture for a long time. Her face twisted up into a thoughtful frown. "You know why don't you just try to get in contact with her family? I am sure they'll tell you where she is now?"

"I can't just call them!" Kyouya snapped. "They hate me!"

"What did you do?" Sally asked raising an eyebrow. "They can't hold a grudge for you shoving her into a mud puddle when you were a kid. It was just your way of showing that you liked her."

"I did no such thing," Kyouya argued. "I am an Ootori and I cannot be seen let alone contact her or her family."

"I see…well that's just pathetic," Sally shut the pocket watch and tossed it to Kyouya. "If it were me I'd say to hell with my family and find the person I miss."

"That's where we are different Moore-san," Kyouya put the pocket watch back into his pocket and sighed. "I have no merits in finding that girl anyway."

"Merits?" Sally raised an eyebrow. "So you don't miss her? You don't want to see her again. Seriously man you just stood there and said you want to see her and yet now you are saying you don't. What the fuck?"

"She isn't of merit to my family,"

"So you only do as you want if your family says so?" Sally rolled her eyes. "That's pathetic and wrong."

"It's none of your business of how I run my life or take care of my affairs," Kyouya mumbled. "Everyone I meet has some kind of merit to me."

"You…you…" Sally narrowed her eyes balling up her fists. "So you don't care about your friends?"

"They have merit to me," Kyouya shrugged. "Just like Tamaki's friendship is a merit to me. It's what my father wanted."

"You jackass!" Sally threw a punch into Kyouya's stomach and glared at him as she watched him to fall to his knees.

"What was that for Moore-san?" Kyouya demanded holding his stomach.

"You're a jerk you know that? Merits? Treating friendships as if they're beneficial to you?" Sally questioned. "I can't believe you don't care about anything but how you can get ahead of people in life! What the actual fuck Kyo? If you have an ounce of care for anyone but your precious ass merits then you need to drop that bullshit and focus on what's important!"

"You wouldn't understand!" Kyouya shot trying to stand up. "I have to earn favor with my father to be head of the family."

"Fuck that shit," Sally shouted. "You don't need to follow some bullshit because Daddy Warbucks said so. You need to make a decision on your own! You want to be friends with the host club then go right ahead. Fuck what your old man says. That girl you are so hung up on. Get off your lazy ass and find her! You obviously love her or you would not have tried to kill yourself looking for that watch when I took it. Don't give me that merit bullshit because deep down you know that you want to tell your old man to go fuck himself."

At those words, Sally strode back into the school and left Kyouya behind to think about what she said. While she felt bad for hitting him, she also knew that he needed someone to kick him in the ass so he could get his rear into gear. After all what kind of person would let their parents dictate their lives? It is not the end of the world if a person rebelled occasionally. Shaking her head, she hoped that Kyouya would be all right. She had missed his solar plexus after all.

She did wonder if maybe just maybe she should follow her own advice. It wasn't as if she was hiding that she was in love with Tamaki but part of her wanted to keep their friendship intact. Maybe she was thinking too much into this. She had given love advice to two people today and yet did not follow it for herself. Yeah she was some kind of hypocrite for glorifying love confessions and yet she could not do it.

"There you are," Tamaki smiled as he came to a stop. He got lost while following Sally but was glad he found her. "Did you find Kyouya?"

"Yeah, I talked to him," Sally shrugged. "Dude needs to chill more…hey Rene…can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

Sally took in a deep breath trying to figure out just how she was going to do this. She had to tell Tamaki how she felt. "Listen Rene…I really like you and I enjoy the time we spend together. I was hoping that we could go out sometime."

"Sure, that sounds a lot of fun." Tamaki said. "We can go to the arcade and play Uki Doki Memorial Fighter 8."

"No, Rene I don't mean like a regular outing!" Sally said running a hand through her hair. "Damn it Rene I…I…" she did not say anything more but let her actions speak louder than her words as she pressed her lips to his.

End Chapter

Author Notes: Oooh will Tamaki react positively to this kiss. Or is he going to spurn Sally's confession? What of the other hosts? Will they be cool with their Host King being with the Soul Queen? Find out in the next chapter!