"I said it was a death not a party!" Kyouya hissed into Tamaki's ear as he saw the set up in the Third Music Room. "That is a huge picture of that woman's face on a pedestal with out of season flowers surrounding it- it's too much!"

Tamaki tapped at his chin. "Perhaps the smaller pictures at every table might have been a little much."

"It's too much!" Kyouya growled under his breath.

"Ah! We'll have the guests write something sentimental on notes and tie the notes to this string that's hanging across her large portrait."

Hani walked up while coughing. "Too much incense!"

Mori waved his hand to clear away some of the smoke. "We should open the windows."

"Yes, let's do that!" Hani rushed over and hopped up and down in attempt to reach one of the latches on the windows. "Takeshiiii, I can't reeeach!"

Kyouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "This needs to be toned down before Kodo arrives."

"What the hell is this!"

"Ah, speak of the devil." Kyouya muttered before walking away from that recipe for disaster.

"Purple-chaan!" Hikaru and Kaoru picked her up by her shoulders and spun her around. "Let's get you into a kimono!"

"NO!" Kodo struggled to get out of their grasps. "My mom's not Japanese, not even half! There's no reason to give her a Japanese reception!" Pulling her arms away from them she rotated her shoulders. "Tamaki. If you want whatever respect I have for you to stay in place, you'll rip this down before the customers get here!"

"Wow.." Haruhi muttered as she saw the room set up for the first time today. "I'm so glad Tamaki-senpai didn't do something as ridiculous as this for my mother after he found out."

Suddenly, Tamaki's face grew pale as the incense caught flame to the large picture of Kotaphira. "I.. I think I've insulted her. Mama-Kodo, I'm so sorry!" He yelled as he pulled out of his jacket to beat at the small flames.

"No, Tama-chan, you'll just fuel the fire!" Hani shouted at him. "Takeshi, we need a fire extinguisher!"

"Right." Mori nodded and bolted off.

"It's spreading, it's spreading!" The twins started stamping at the fire.

Haruhi ran up to the doors as they were opening. "The Host Club's not open right now!" Even though she pressed herself against the doors, she wasn't very strong. "Ah- Don't- come in.. please!"

"Haruhi!" Kodo ran up and shoved herself against the doors. "They may not be able to hear you over those idiots shouting! HEY!" She called out between the cracks of the doors. "We're closed right now! Come back in a bit!"

"Why don't you lock the doors." Kyouya walked up and grabbed the bolt, sliding it into the fixture in the other door.

"Takeshiii! Hurryy!" Hani had hopped up on a couch to get away from the flames.

"No, Hani-senpai! Get down to the floors, it's where the smoke won't get to you!" Kaoru pointed.

"Right!" Hani leaped down and rolled under the couch with Usa-chan. "We'll be safe here!"

"Hikaru! Kaoru! It's getting bigger!" Tamaki pulled off his shirt and whirled it around his head. "I'll use my shirt as a fan, and fan the smoke out of the open windows!"

"Idiot.." They both muttered.

"We can't hold the doors closed much longer!" Kodo grunted as she pushed against it. "They won't let up!"

"Maybe they didn't hear you!" Haruhi said as she pushed too.

"Ah! Look, the bolt! It's breaking!" Kodo stared hard at the metal. "How is that possible?!"

"The flames caught the wall on fire!" Hikaru and Kaoru yelled. "We have to do something, now!"

"Ah! It's spreading to the couch!" Tamaki whipped his shirt against the arm rest as the flames started climbing the side.

"Ah.. Ahhh! Taakeshiii!" Hani called out as he huddled further away underneath the couch.

The doors eased on their swelling for a moment before something hard and heavy pushed from the other side, hard enough for the bolt to break and the doors were pushed open suddenly, Kodo and Haruhi forced to the floor as they slid away.

"Look out!" Mori charged in, aimed the fire extinguisher, and pulled the trigger.

-x-

As a cleaning crew came in and fixed their mess, Kodo approached Mori. "I'm really sorry, Mori-senpai. I didn't realize you were the one pressing against the doors." She bowed to him, holding her arm.

"No, I was too hasty. I hurt you both in the process. I apologize." He bowed to Haruhi and her both.

The only thing Kodo could think of what to do was to place her hand on his head. "We're okay. Right, Haruhi?"

She nodded. "Thank you for coming in when you did, though. Otherwise the whole room would have burnt down."

"Aren't there water sprinklers supposed to go off in the case of a fire?" Kodo asked as her hand retreated, looking up at the ceiling.

"They probably didn't expect there to be a fire in a music room." Hikaru and Kaoru shrugged.

"In any case, it's very dangerous and should be installed in every room. I'll contact Ayame-chan's family and notify them immediately." Kyouya flipped open his phone.

Kodo couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of something in her chest when he said that. Ayame.. -chan? Is this.. jealousy? Why would I be jealous? He refers to all the customers as -chan, we all do except for the male customers.

"I am so sorry, Kodo." Tamaki bowed low to her. "I did all this without even considering her or you in the process." Looking up, he reached for her shoulders. "Please for-"

"OW!" Kodo pulled away from his hands as she rubbed her arm and seethed. "I- I know, you were trying to do something nice. But really, you don't have to. Her-" her voice lowered a little. "Her official ceremony is being held tomorrow. You're all invited, of course." It was still hard saying it.

Tamaki's gaze softened. "We'll have everyone write something nice for her."

She shook her head. "No one really knew her, so there's no need. I think, instead of buying me things like bouquets and food, they should donate to organizations that help others. Like for disasters and whatnot. That's the kind of thing mom would do. Er- w-would have done. Besides," She glanced at Kyouya, "can't you get a tax write-off if you do? Otherwise if you buy flowers or something you have to account for that."

"Some organizations allow for non-profit, it depends on the one you choose." Kyouya inputted.

Tamaki looked at Hikaru and Koaru then to Kyouya before glancing at Mori, Hani, then Haruhi, who all had a similar look on their face of agreement. "Then that's what we'll do! Encourage the customers to donate to an organization!"

"As long as nothing is sold in the process that belongs to the Host Club." Kyouya pushed up his glasses.

"Even if you sold limited edition Host Club memorabilia and gave a fraction of the profits to an organization like that, it wouldn't hurt sales. Actually-" Kodo tapped her chin. "If you hiked the prices a little, you could get away with a perfect profit and still be able to donate some. That way you won't lose out on anything, and it would up your reputation with being a caring and soft-hearted person, while still maintaining your sales. And, who would notice a little bit of an increase in prices? It IS a special special edition, after all."

"You do have a way with words." Kyouya smiled at her.

"Wow, even a genuine smile from you is scary!" Hikaru and Kaoru shuddered as they walked off with Tamaki.

Kodo glanced away from Kyouya as she felt herself become flustered. "Hahaha.. i-idiots." She muttered as she rubbed her arm again.

"You seem to be nursing that arm frequently. Did you hit it hard when you fell?"

"No, I'm alright."

He poked it with his pen.

"OW!" Her shoulder jerked away as she held her arm close to her. "Why'd you do that?"

"Hm. You may need to go to the infirmary."

"It's probably just a bruise." She tried rotating it a little.

"It would be problematic if you were not able to perform your duties as a host. You should have it looked at."

"I may just need a cold press or something, I'll take care of it at home."

"Even Tamaki is fussing over Haruhi's fall."

"So what, he fusses over her period." Kodo noticed how Tamaki was acting so concerned, while Haruhi was sweatdropping, her hands held up. But something entered her mind. Glancing up at Kyouya, she noticed his eyes were averted. Was this his way of fussing over her? Smirking a little, she turned and crossed her arms, being gentle with her bruised one. "Kyouya-kun?"

"Hm?" He looked back at his black book.

"I'm okay." Though how much of that was true, she didn't know.

Snapping the book closed, he inserted it into his jacket before turning around and quickly preparing a tray. "If you say you are fine, then hold this for me." Turning back to her, he handed her the tray.

"Okay.." Reaching out, she felt the dull pain in her upper arm for a moment but ignored it as she took the tray.

"You have it?"

"Yes."

He let go of the tray and allowed the weight to sink into her gripping hands. "Ah-" The weight affected her bruised muscles in her upper arm. "Ow."

"Keep holding it."

"For how long!"

"Until I say." Raising his wrist, he stared at his watch as she waited.

The dishes started rattling on the tray and Kodo felt sweat start to bead at her brow. "I don't think- I can- Ah!" Her arms gave way and the tray slipped from her hands. Thankfully Kyouya seemed to be anticipating this and was able to grab the tray quickly, managing to catch the falling dishes in the process.

"You would have made it from the serving cart to this table here. After three rounds you would have been physically unable to serve anyone else without suffering more damage to your arm, which means it would take much longer to heal. And that's only to this table here. On an average day you serve these four tables and offer each table approximately four rounds per half hour. The losses received from that would be too much, you might as well not come at all."

Kodo's lips pursed as her hand slid down her upper arm to her elbow. "I think I prefer Tamaki's way of fussing."

His brows raised at her. "Did you not understand?"

"No, I got it. I'm useless to you with my arm like this." Glancing around the room, she sighed. "But with the fire incident, aren't club activities suspended for today? It'll give time for it to heal."

A heavy exhale left Kyouya's lungs. "Come with me." His hand reached for her elbow of the uninjured arm and he pulled her away into the music room's private bathroom and sat her down on the couch in the entrance area.

"Uhh- uhm.." Kodo's heart began racing as she watched him and his movements.

Sitting next to her, he undid the tie in her collar, then reached around her to undo the clasp at the top of her dress. "This is the best way to access it."

She couldn't bring herself to stop him. In fact, she felt herself lean toward him as he unzipped the back of her dress. "This is for my arm.. isn't it?"

"It is."

Shouldn't I feel relieved? Why do I feel disappointed? Lifting her arm up, she pulled it from her sleeve and with her other hand held the top of her dress up so it covered her chest despite wearing a camisole. She couldn't bring herself to look at his face, instead looking away to stare across the room. But his hands on her skin made her inhale sharply.

"Did that hurt?"

"No."

"It doesn't look good."

"Huh?" Turning her head back, she looked down to see her arm from the upper muscle to almost the bend of her arm was a purple red in color, about five centimeters wide. It made her wonder how deep it was.

"Relax." Reaching up, he placed a hand on her shoulder and with his other hand took her elbow and slowly raised it upward.

Her breath was shallow as she watched his hands. They were warm on her skin and worked in a steady way. His mind has to be in doctor mode. Otherwise, wouldn't his hands be much shakier? I can barely breathe with him so close like this. "I spoke to your father this morning." She had to say something to break the silence.

Kyouya's hands stopped her arm in mid air before continuing, slowly testing the mobility she had. "Is that so?" He put her elbow back to her side before taking her wrist in one hand and her elbow in the other.

"Yea. He was at our house this morning talking with dad. I made sure to apologize for the other day. After all, you were right. I did leave very suddenly. But I think your father feels indebted to my mother for her assistance in the medical field. Ow." Her elbow bent funny as he moved her wrist back and forth slowly.

"Hm." He raised her arm again and gently slid his hand up the back side of her arm, eliciting a sharp gasp from her. "Pain?"

"N-no." Kodo said breathlessly. "S-sensitive skin."

"Do you think my father is arranging something like this as a thank you to your mother?" He sounded as if he already knew the answer to his question.

"No, I don't think so. My father talks too much; I think your father is much more interested in my inheritance. Ah, I don't mean to sound insulting." He'd gently twisted her arm so her palm was facing up, and she could feel the cloth of his shirt against her knuckles.

"Make a fist."

She did so.

"Press against my chest."

"Okay.." Pushing her fist forward, she felt her muscles complain about being used, but what caught her attention to the most was that she could feel his heart was beating hard.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes." Her eyes darted to his, and she wished she hadn't. Usually, Kyouya's eyes were hardened or judging or condescending. But in this moment they weren't even softened as she'd anticipated. They were.. heated. "Are you okay?" Dumb question.

"Yes." His throat cleared as he looked back down at her arm, using one hand to hold her wrist as the other reached up to press against the muscles under her skin gently. "Keep pressing."

Swallowing hard, Kodo continued as he'd asked, though his rapid heartbeat wasn't letting up. Her own heart was starting to beat faster too, she realized. "It does hurt."

"Where?"

With her hand that had been holding up her dress, she reached for his hand that was pressing at her muscles and moved it to her chest, pressing his palm to her left breast as the top of her dress folded over into her lap. "Here."

"K-Kodo, I meant-"

She cut him off as she leaned forward, kissing him on the mouth, her fisted hand uncurling and resting against his chest, still feeling his beating heart.

"Mh-" He pushed her away as he leaned his head back, cheeks reddened. "Don't do this."

"What?"

"You keep going around in circles. Decide what you want and stick to it."

She felt confused. What was he talking about? "I'm not-"

"First, you act as though you wish to start a relationship with me, then you push me away the other night, and now you're doing it again. It's very off putting."

Swallowing hard, she glanced away. "I got upset.. because I didn't know what you were thinking, and you made assumptions and came to conclusions left and right. If you'd just asked, told me what you were thinking.."

"Would you have said yes?"

"I don't know. Things were different several days ago."

"Don't say yes now."

"Huh!" She looked up at him quickly. "We have that thing three days-"

"Don't say yes. It's easy for you to give in to pressure right now because of what's going on. You should do what is best for your situation."

She bit her lip. "But I won't get my inheritance if I don't marry before the thirty-first. And if I don't get that, I won't have anything, like, at all."

His head raised a little. "That's against the law."

"If it's something that's agreed on in a court of law, it won't matter. Especially if it's in someone- like my mother's- will."

"More research needs to be done before you agree to this."

Her head tilted as she looked up at him. "It can't be so bad, right?"

"If my father is intending to use you for your inheritance, it can be. Though if it's revealed that it isn't very much in amount, perhaps he'll back off."

"It's almost thirty-nine billion yen." Dammit, my mouth's just as big as dad's.

His face paled as he stared at her, the muscles in his face relaxing as it seemed his mind was quickly doing calculations.

"And before you come to any conclusions, I had no plans on allowing anyone else to touch it!" She'd leaned forward and realized their hands hadn't moved from each other's chests. "Ah.." Slowly taking her hand from his chest, she placed her hands on his that was still on her breast. As she pulled his hand from her, she quickly felt the missing feeling of it and desired to put it back.

"My apologies." His hands slid from hers. "I'll allow you to get redressed." Standing up, he turned away from her.

"Oh, so now you're acting all polite. You just couldn't wait to get my dress off a minute ago."

"Get.. get your.. dress.. off? KYOUYA WHAT KIND OF THINGS WERE YOU DOING! And to your sister no less!" Tamaki shouted as he barged in, grabbing his friend by the arm.

"Tamaki, her arm is bruised! I was only seeing if it was sprained!" He wrenched his arm from Tamaki's grasp. "Take heed of situations before barging in!" Straightening his jacket, he shouldered past him to leave the bathroom. "Kodo." Pausing, Kyouya looked back at her as she was struggling to rezip the back of her dress. "Put a cold press on it tonight and rest with your arm above your heart." With that, he walked out.

Kodo's shoulders slumped as she looked at Tamaki, who was gritting his teeth at the doorway. Idiot. "Jeeez, what is it, Tamaki?"

"I was going to say that I could take you home! You still walk to back and forth right? I can take you."

"No thanks." Standing up, Kodo brushed off her skirt. "I don't want the neighbors to get the wrong impression." Walking past him, she paused. "Thanks anyway." With that, she walked out to see the twins leaving with Mori and Hani right after them. Haruhi was the last left. "Haruhi, do you mind if I walk with you?"

"Sure." Haruhi nodded as she picked up her school bag.

I could talk to someone who's gone through a d- a death..

-x-

The next day was the funeral, and Iwao's lawyer had done most of the setting up of the arrangement along with his old secretary. Kodo barely comprehended everything going on, and while she sat there in the front row she suddenly felt everyone's gaze on her. Looking up slowly, she glanced around before looking to her father who was nodding to the podium. Did he expect her to say something? Oh, he'd said something about that the previous night. Standing slowly, she looked at her father for reassurance. He nodded and she slowly made her way up to the microphone. She supposed, since she was the closest to her mother, it made sense. But what would she say? As she stood there, looking out at everyone, she picked out the familiar faces of her friends and those she'd met at that business meeting. And in the back were customers from the host club that had attended that day, promising to make donations to relief organizations. They were staring at her. Gulping, she felt something in her throat as she suddenly felt shy. How was she supposed to do anything when she could barely breathe? This was like torture, trying to speak to a large group of people.

"H-hello." The microphone squealed and she winced as her mind struggled to think of something to say. "My name is Kotaphira Sagano." She inhaled and she could hear her breathing echo throughout the large room. "Daughter, of Kotaphira Vogel. Today marks the passing of a great woman." This was good, as long as she kept talking, perhaps her mouth would just say what she wanted to say. "A woman who was everything to me. She cared for me, raised me, was always attentive to what I had to say.. No matter what, she always made time for me." Another shaky breath. "And yet she was successful. So successful and passionate about what she wanted to do that she didn't let anyone stop her. My whole life, she always told me to raise my head high, and not to be afraid to stand for what was true; it was something that she followed, and something I'm proud to repeat. No matter what-" A shakier breath this time as she felt her voice waver. "No matter what, I know that as long as what I stand for is true, I can lift my head and be proud of who I am." Tears were sticking to the sides of her eyes as she noticed the crowd was becoming blurry. "It's something I hope we can all find wisdom in. Thank you, for coming today and remembering Kotaphira Vogel for who she is. For she may be gone, but her legacy will continue." With that, she stepped away from the podium and bowed deeply while the audience applauded. As she returned to her seat, she felt the tension in the room die down a bit (no pun intended) and she felt more at ease.

The rest of the event continued by in another blur as people paid their respects and shook hers and her father's hands. Person after person passed and she could only nod in thanks. At the end of it all that were left were the host club members who shook her father's hand before practically huddling around her.

"Jeez guys, you don't have to suffocate me." She muttered as Hikaru and Kaoru held on to her.

"We have to look after you nooow!" They whined as tears fell down their faces. "We'll be your mommies!"

"Stop, please." She pushed them away.

"That was a good speech, Pu-chan!" Hani smiled and held her hand. "Mama-Kodo would be proud!"

"Haaa.. Haruhi, I'm really sorry we called your mother Mama-Haruhi."

"It's alright." The younger girl smiled and placed a hand on Kodo's shoulder. "I'm glad there was a nice turn out."

"These people showed up mostly because of my mother's reputation. Call me pessimistic, but I think a lot of those people showed up because they met me at that business party and were trying to leave an impression on me."

"Isn't that.. narcissistic?" Tamaki thought out loud.

"Ah! That's not what I meant!"

"Wow, Tamaki-senpai, I didn't know you realized that term described more than just you."

That sent him to huddle in front of a tree.

"T-Tamaki-senpai, I... am kind of sorry." Haruhi went after him again.

"Hm. I think, this is what I like about you guys."

"What's that?" The twins asked.

"You never really change, yet you change all the time. You're all oxymorons."

They stared at her a minute as they tried to put together the word. "Breathing.. idiots?"

That made Kyouya scoff in amusement. "No, a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction with each other."

"Huh?" They asked at once.

"Like, pretty ugly!" Hani lifted a finger matter-of-factly.

"Oh- hey, Hani-senpai, there's a sweets shop nearby. Would you like to go afterward?"

His eye slit up. "Oh, can we?"

"Sure thing. I'd like to do something to lift this gloomy mood from today."

"Today is sunny, though." Mori looked up at the sky.

"Yes, but I'm sure you know what I mean."

He nodded.

"Why don't you guys go on ahead, I'll catch up?" Kodo smiled and watched Hikaru and Kaoru as they teased each other, running off, with Hani and Mori trailing them.

"Kodo?"

"Yea, Kyouya-kun?"

"Your mother's hair is red, isn't it?"

"Yes, why?"

His head shook. "It's nothing."

"What a weird question to ask." She then saw his father approaching. "Oh.. your dad came, too?"

"Of course. My siblings would have come but they were unable to."

"Ohtori-san." Kodo bowed when the man approached.

"Sagano-san." The older man nodded to her. "It seems you're well acquainted with Kyouya even after the incident the other night."

"Oh.. of course, we are in the same club together. We are friends after all."

"Hm." He seemed to really disapprove of her statement.

Was she not allowed to be friends with Kyouya? It put her on edge.

"I am sorry for your loss. If there is anything the Ohtori group can do for you, let us know." He shook her hand and bowed his head again.

"Thank you." She returned the gesture, feeling sick to her stomach the amount of times she'd heard that in one day.

"Come along, son." He motioned for Kyouya.

"One moment, I've yet to properly give my condolences, father."

Oh Lord, not you too. Smiling with her lips pressed together tightly, Kodo raised her brows as she looked up at him expectedly.

"Your mother would be proud to see you now." He shook her hand gently.

How can he say that like he knows? That's so unlike him.

"And," He hesitated, "congratulations on your engagement meeting." Kyouya's head bowed and he turned, leaving quickly without making eye contact.

What was that about? Why did it feel like he was saying.. goodbye. She'd noticed he was rather curt with her today, and hadn't made eye contact with her once, often brushing her off. She opened her mouth to call after him when Haruhi approached with Tamaki.

"Aren't we going to that sweets shop?" She asked. "Do you think they'll have sandwiches or pastries to try?"

Tamaki let out a soft laugh. "Ah, Haruhi-chan, you're so cute when you're hungry."

"T-Tamaki-senpai, don't say such weird things!" Her cheeks went red.

"Come on you guys." Kodo pushed them from behind.

"Where's Kyouya?" Asked Tamaki as he looked around for him.

"He had to leave, his dad insisted."

"Awww, it's not a proper outing without himmmm."

"I'm sure he had important Kyouya-things to do anyway, he always does. Come onnnn, I want to eat some cake before Hani-senpai gets it all!"

A/N: Yay, longer chapter! Next up, THE THING. The- the meeting thing, you know. Also, i feel like I might be losing my touch when it comes to relating things emotionally in stories. :c I'm trying though, I promise.

To YuYuHakushoObsesser: THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. YOU JUST READ IT. GG.

To hailentheailen: But your emotions didn't come with a "fragile" sticker. Or a "for ages 15+ only" tag.

To wealhtheow: Is it time for... SCOOBY SNACKS?! Sorry. I love you. Please don't hate me.