Mind Games (Ouran High School Host Club) Ch.13

"So what brings you here, Nekozawa-sempai?" Haruhi asks. We all look at him for an answer, but he was distracted on playing with Belzeneff.

Nekozawa-sempai doesn't like bright places; in fact, he couldn't go to any places with bright light. Or so that is what everyone was telling me. It was why all the curtains were closed, blocking the light from coming through the glass window. Even though there wasn't much ray of light coming from that cloudy icicle of sky.

Apparently, the Host club isn't going to start in about half an hour, so we might as well kill time. By doing so, we were all form a circle with the chairs pulled together. The silence was so tense, that I don't think it couldn't get any more awkward than this.

"Hey sempai?" I ask Nekozawa, almost coolly.

"Yes, Ms. Kinmichi?"

One of my eyes twitches in irritation. "My name is Alex."

Nekozawa just grins wickedly in reply.

"Would you mind keeping my identity a secret?" I ask.

"Yeah, we sort of haven't figure out what to do yet." Kaoru said.

Hikaru nodded in agreement."It's true."

"And I don't want Al-Chan to leave either!" Honey exclaim unhappily.

"I enjoy her company." Mori-sempai said suddenly. Everyone stares at him, and so was I. Mori-sempai stares blankly back at us in reply. What? Mori-sempai's blank eyes question our curiosity.

"She also owns a dept to repay me." Kyouya interrupts almost too much amusement in his tone.

I sigh while shaking my head at his comment.

"Hmm..." Nekozawa said thoughtfully. "I will, but with one condition."

"What condition?" I ask.

"I will keep your secret safe, if you join the Dark Magic Club, and I'll even add a curse doll for you."

"I-"

"No, no, no, no, NO!" Tamaki exclaims suddenly, and we all jumped in surprise at his outburst.

"Well why not?" I ask.

"You don't understand Alex; he can do terrible things to you!" Tamaki shouts too loudly, while standing up from his chair, and frantically waves his arms in alarm. "He will curse you!"

"There's no such things as curses, you just went to the wrong class and took the wrong test." Hikaru lamely said.

"Yeah Boss, you panic and run after you stepped on Nekozawa's doll." Kaoru said, backing up his brother.

"That isn't true, because I was the one experiencing the curse and you damn twins doesn't even know what he can do with your minds like he did to me!" Tamaki yelled at the twin with flames of madness in his eyes. Is that even possible?

I sigh in frustration, and confuse at what they are talking about.

"Its real I tell you, it's real!" Tamaki shouted. "Don't you believe me, Haruhi?"

Haruhi sigh out. She was clearly annoyed with him too. "Sempai…"

"Yes, you do believe me, don't you?" Tamaki asks, with his eyes sparkling with hope, while he folds his fingers together as he was about to pray for his answers.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Hikaru and Kaoru's story is more plausible." Haruhi said, almost apologetically while she scratches the back of her head. "Your story just doesn't sound right to me."

Tamaki looked at her with his mouth gaped open and his wide eyes stare at her in appall. I couldn't believe my eyes when a purple cloud of woes loom over his head as he crouched himself at a corner in isolation.

"How does he do that?" I ask out loud, while blinking my eyes in disbelief.

"Well, this is an anime show, after all." Kyouya said from behind as he literally slides himself into view.

My eyes twitch. "Right…"

I look over at Nekozawa, who wasn't paying much attention to the last fifteen minutes. One of my eyebrows rose in question as I stare at him and his doll, and I suddenly got an idea of how to fix this mess. I got up from my chair and slowly and unnoticed as I walk myself to the close curtains. My fingers attach itself to the silk red fabric until I got a good grip of the cotton. And still with my time stalling to get the Host Club's attention, they never once notice me. That is until my whistling is loud enough for their eyes to snap their attention at me.

All their eyes grew wide when they know what I was about to do.

"Hey look Nekozawa-sempai, sunlight!" I said suddenly, as I forcefully pull the curtains back. Through the gray clouds, a tint of light beams into the room like laser shot from the cloudy sky. I herd Nekozawa-sempai squeals in frantic while covers his head with his puppet. His body trembles in fear. I took my first chance, and quickly snatched his cat doll away from him while I hopped on top of the closest table in triumphed, as I swing his puppet like a rag doll.

"Hikaru." I said without hesitation. He looks up at me in amusement.

"Hand me a sharpie please."

"Here catch." Kaoru said from behind his brother, and tossed me a pink sharpie. I easily snatched it and stare at Kaoru in surprise. The Hitachinn Twin both grinned at me, and I return the smile. I bit the cap off the sharpie as I aim the tip at Belzeneff like the marker was a weapon.

They knew what I was up to. I thought to myself, and I sigh pleasingly.

Those twins…

"Alex no don't! Don't do it!" Tamaki bellows in alarm. His hands were smash against the sides of his cheeks as his eyes shows horror, disbelief, and fear.

I grin. "Try me."

I look over at Nekozawa-sempai as he was kneeling on the ground, with his right hand desperately reaching towards me like there was shackle strapped to his legs and he couldn't move, even though he actually could.

"Please, not my curse doll!" Nekozawa begs below me. I stare down at him, with the corner of my mouth twitching in amusement.

"Nope, you said that I could have him if I join your club." I said teasingly, while sticking my tongue out at him. "No Belzeneff for you, Mr. Magic Man."

The twin snickers.

"It's true." Kaoru agrees.

"You did say that if she joins, you would give her a Belzeneff doll as promised." Hikaru said, while shrugging his shoulders.

"But, but that's a limited edition!" He whines as he was on a verge of tears. I pretend to act like I was thinking through things, as I tap the end of the marker against my chin.

"How about I make another deal?" I suggest.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Kyouya warned, with his back towards me. He was scribbling something in his booklet again.

That damn book….I sneer at the thought while narrowing my eyes at it in disgust.

"Yes, yes anything!" Nekozawa-sempai said hopefully, as he ignores Kyouya's comment.

I smile. "I'll give you Belzeneff, if you promise to keep my identity a secret."

"Yes, yes I promise!" He nodded repeatedly.

I grinned, and tossed his doll to him."Yes!"

"Way to go Al-Chan!" Honey said cheerily. I notice the corner of Mori-sempai's lips curved into a small smile.

I high fives the twins from the coffee table while Haruhi merely laughs at our little victory.

"Oh lord." Tamaki said tiredly, as he sunk to the floor in relief.

"You know, we've only got ten minutes minute left before our customers arrived." Kyouya interpreted my celebration. "We better start our preparations."

I frown."Way to ruin the fun Kyouya-sempai."

One of his eyebrows rose in question."Sempai?"

"Huh, I guess so." I said in wonderment, while realization struck within me. The others look at us in curiosity, but didn't know what we our conversations really meant.

I've never called him by that before. I thought at my own confusion.

"Hey, Nekozawa-sempai?" Kaoru asks.

"Huh?"

"Would you mind leaving, we don't want you to scare our customers away." Hikaru said bluntly.

"Well that's rude." Nekozawa said in disappointment. "But fine, if you want me gone, I'm gone."

"Wait." I interrupted, as I watch Nekozawa-sempai came to a halt. He knew I was talking to him as he half-turn to face me. His noticeable blue eyes peek through his black wig in question. I cross my arms over my chest, inhaling oxygen, while closing my eyes before I slowly release my breath.

"When's the next meeting?" I ask, while looking out the window. I watch as the snowflakes falls across the sky, and some of them was being blown against the glass. The sun was no where to be seen.

"What?" Nekozawa asks.

"Your club…." I said slowly, and took a peek at the corners of my eyes. "When does it start?"

Nekozawa-sempai looks stun and frozen at the spot. "You…you want to join my club?"

I shrug my shoulders. "Sure, why not?"

"WHAT?" The Twins and Tamaki question in bewilderment.

I completely ignored their puzzlement.

"It's next Tuesday, after your Host Club ends." Nekozawa-sempai said hesitantly.

I nodded."Alright see you then, sempai."

He hesitated on taking another step away. His expressions showing that he was contemplating about what the situation had beheld upon him. With just a blink of an eye, Nekozawa turns back into his usual dark self. He then lowers his head to cover his eyes, as his wicked smiled form upon his lips once more. I watch as he slithered backwards into a mysterious black door that I haven't notice, and it closes with a soft click. A second later, I herd his devilish laughter from behind the door.

"See you soon my little apprentice!" Nekozawa's words echo around the music room.

Its official, this school is whack.

"Anyways, with that over and done with, Alex, I suggest you should get off of that table before you hurt yourself." Kyouya said to me. Then he pointed his pen that he was using earlier at the table I am standing on. "It's not stable."

I snorted. "I think I can handle standing on this little thing just fine."

Now I just sound like my quibbling Mother. I thought immediately. Not a moment later, I blink back in reality, and step to the side as I reached for my footing of on of the chair below me.

"Be careful." Kyouya warn again.

"Okay Dad." I emphasis the last word, while snorting at him. "I don't need your—ah!"

"Alex!" Tamaki and Haruhi said suddenly. Their voices caused me to lose my footing as I fell forward with the tipping table. Oh shi-

Ow! My head…?

"Are you alright, Alex?" Mori-sempai asks. My eyes flutters open, and Mori-sempai was the first thing I see. I blink in confusion at the unanswered atmosphere, until I notice that I had been caught from the table because…

A gasp escapes my lips.

I fell on top of Mori-sempai! I thought.

"I-I'm so sorry, Sempai!" I apologize, and quickly got off of him. Mori-sempai sat up slowly, and scratches the back of his head.

He sighs. "It's alright, but are you alright?"

"Yes thanks to you!"

"You're so reckless, Alex." Hikaru said, while placing his hands on each side of his hips.

"Yeah, you could have gotten really hurt like you did at the library." Kaoru said.

I flinch at the memory.

"Sorry!" Kaoru quickly apologize, while holding his hand in defense.

"Takashi!" Honey cried as he ran over to his cousin. "You okay?"

I look over at them to catch Mori's reassuring nod.

"Are you sure you're fine, Alex-sempai?" Haruhi asks, as she came to my side. Her eyes were a bit weary.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm alright, really."

"My poor, sweet, and innocent little daughter!" Tamaki exclaims as he unexpectedly jumped from behind, and tackled me with his bear hug. "I thought you were going to get hurt, and you should have been more careful!"

Haruhi and I snorted in response.

"Hey, I'm not you're daughter for one!" I protest. "Oh and by the way, your so called 'little daughter' is quite older than you, so don't call me that!"

"But I-I…." Tamaki was flustered, unsure of how to reply.

"And besides..." I mumble lowly. "Haruhi is your daughter from the beginning."

"Don't bring me into this position, Alex-sempai!" Haruhi exclaims.

An amusing smirk play upon my lips.

"You're...you're right!" Tamaki exclaims, as he hammered his right fist against his left palm.

"I hate to interrupt everyone's dilly dallying, but we have a club to run." Kyouya butted in. He looks over at his watch and said, "Now we only have five minutes, and thirty-five seconds left."

"Chill Kyouya." I said, while waving my hand at him to relax. I let out a sigh for his impatience, while combing my hair out of my eyes.

Kyouya narrows his eyes in response.

"Give me four minutes tops and we'll be ready." I said confidently.

The Shadow King raises one of his eyebrows at me. "You think you can set everything up within that amount of time?"

I smile playfully. "Watch and learn from the master, Kyouya."

(*)(*)(*)

Fast, yet graceful. I moved with such elegance than any ordinary person, and from table to table I glided in loops and turns. One arm was holding the plates, with the other setting it into places on top the coffee table. Once I finished, I proceeded with the sweets, while sliding across the carpet I pick each delicacies into the cake stand, and place it in the mid section of the table. Then following the utensils, napkins, teacups, and a small flower vase placed directly in the middle. My task was finish yet, as I skidded to a stop on my roller skates. I look around the room, and slightly frown at the quietness.

I sigh. "Will you guys please stop staring at me, and do what you were told?"

The Host members fascinated stares snaps back to reality as my irritable glare shock them back to normal. They quickly nodded and went to set up the rest of the items that was needed. I sigh again, while wiping the sweat out of my forehead.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, you two find some red jam and clotted cream." Tamaki instructed, while pointing at them commandingly.

"On it Boss!" They both saluted, and dashes to the storage.

"Haruhi, get the teas ready."

"Right..." Haruhi nodded, and ran out of the music room.

"Kyouya, is our costume ready?" Tamaki asks his best friend.

"All set as usual. "He replies coolly.

"Mori-sempai, you and Honey-sempai go get ready." Tamaki commands.

"Yes sir!" Honey said cheerily, and ran to the next room with Mori-sempai.

The blond then turns his attention to me. "And Alex…"

"Yes?"

"You can change into this outfit if you like." Tamaki said, as he present a blue Christian Siriano's Flow Gown. "Haruhi can wear one too, but in yellow."

"No thanks." Haruhi said from behind Tamaki as she was walking by. One of my eyes twitches in irritation like Haruhi was.

"Aw, fine." He pouts, and hands me the original plan outfit. "This is custom made, so it should fit you."

I nodded, while accepting the clothes, and without another word, I went toward the changing room. I closed the yellow curtain behind me, and begin to shed my school uniform off as quickly as possible. My whole body was mostly covered, and right in the middle of slipping my arms through the black tail coat, a muffled voice was heard on the other side of the curtain.

"Who's there?" I question.

"Relax, it's only me."

It was Kyouya.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You forgot your tie." At that moment, his words made me look around for it, and found none.

"Thanks." I said, while opening the curtain to face Kyouya with his outfit on with a black tie held by one of his hand. He wore a while long sleeve cotton shirt under his black and gray vest with a short bow tie tied around the collar of his shirt.

I smile in hilarity.

"What?" He asks.

"You actually look descent in a butler's outfit." I compliment. I notice the corner of his mouth twitches in reaction. Then he tossed me the tie, while examining my own outfit.

He almost smiled! I thought gleefully.

"Same goes to you." He said. "Fit's you perfectly as expected."

I look at him in confusion on what he was applying to. I was about to question him, but he walks away before I could consult his inexpressible words.

"Oh, and you miscalculate your timing by three seconds." Kyouya said in mockery, before leaving the room completely. I roll my eyes, while lacing my tie on, and leaving the room as well.

"Is everyone ready?" Tamaki said, as he seats himself in his royal kingship chair. He then crosses his leg over the other, while resting his face against the palm of his right hand.

"Ready." Everybody said, while he huddles close to each other. We stare at the closed door of the entrance to the music room. The sudden stillness brought tension up my spine. Something felt wrong about this, but I didn't know what. But before I could protest, the door flew open.

I expected red roses to go flying out like they always do, but this time the petals were flying towards us. Not red roses, but blue. Flashes of bright lights blind our eyes, when my ears caught the three harmonize vocals of our intruders.

"Lobelia.!"

"Lobelia..!"

"Lobelia…!"

"The Lobelia Girl's are here!"