Mind Games (Ouran High School Host Club) Ch.21

"Have you been well, Alex? I miss you." Anne-Sophie asks from the other line.

My voice was caught in my throat. I couldn't reply. What should I do? What should I say? I didn't know. Her call was so sudden that it took me off guard. Why was she calling? Did something happen? Again, I didn't know.

"Are you still there?" She asks me when I didn't respond a second later.

"Yes…"I manage to choke out, smiling sadistically. I notice that Kyouya is watching my every move, but I didn't care."I'm here."

"Good, because I want to tell you that you can come back home."

What did she just say?

"C-come again?" I stutter, turning my back against Kyouya and eyeballing him at the corner of my eyes. He was definitely watching me.

"I mean, just during the winter break." Anne-Sophie added nonchalantly. "You've been away too long, and I wish to see my daughters' beautiful face again."

"I'm touched by your words." I said smoothly, smiling heavenly at the phone. "I'll see what I can do, but right now, I'm at school."

"Oh, you are?" She asks; surprise. "I'm sorry if I have caught you at a bad time. But none the less, I'll wait for you to get out of school and hear from you."

"Alright," I said, while I look over at Kyouya one more time as I spoke in my French tongue. "Je t'aime, ma dame. Je vais vous parler un peu."

I ended the call and shove the device back into my pocket.

"So." I said casually, while shoving my hands in my pockets."What were you saying. Kyouya?"

Kyouya brought himself back from his observation and stare right into my eyes.

"Who was that on the phone?"

"No one special." I said while shrugging my shoulders. "May I come in?"

The Shadow King was taken aback when I ask, but he stood aside and let me enter the music room anyways.

"What are you doing here Alex?" Hikaru ask.

I stare at him blankly."Are you prohibiting me from coming here even after being fried as a Host? How rude."

My comment made Haruhi elbow Hikaru for ever asking.

"No, you're welcome to stay here as our customer." Haruhi said. Then she eye Tamaki at the corner."Well, at least I think so."

"So what business do you have here, Alex?" Kyouya asks from behind.

Don't. Not yet. Don't tell Tamaki. My conscience told me.

"I'm just passing by so I can go meet up with Neckozawa-sempai." I said casually, while walking across the room towards the black door that leads to the magic club.

"But Al-chan, I though the club doesn't start till tomorrow." Honey recalls.

"Yeah, that's right." I said levelly. "I just wanted to know more about what I'm getter myself into."

"So then, I'll see you guys later." I said lastly, while opening the door, and stepping inside the room, purposely slamming the door behind me.

I sigh while shaking my head in frustration. "It will have to do for now."

(*)(*)(*)

"Hey Tamaki-sempai…" I said while handing him a cup of tea."I was wondering what Alex had said at the end of her call. It was spoken in French right?"

Tamaki raise one of his eyebrows at me for my curiosity, and set the tea away from his lips and onto the table. The other Host must have herd my question as they all gather around him, they too are curious on what that was all about.

"Why the sudden curiosity Haruhi?" Hikaru ask, a bit devilish.

"You wouldn't happen to have a liking to her as the rest of us now are you?" Kaoru joked while chuckling in amusement.

"Actually, I do like her." Kaoru's sudden laugh stops short as everyone else stared at me in surprise.

"What? I think she's a good person. Is there something wrong with that?" I protest, while glaring at them for their unreasonable expression.

"We're going out of subject." Kyouya interrupted, while looking over at his best friend."Tamaki, are you going to answer Haruhi's question or not?"

"What question is that again?" Tamaki asks innocently, while fiddling with his fingers.

Everyone dropped dead to the ground at his idiotic self. Apparently he hasn't been listening to us the whole time as we bicker about my admiration. What was on that mind of his anyways? Never mind, I don't want to know.

"Can you translate what Al-chan had said in English?" Honey asks.

"Well what did she say?" Tamaki ask, obliviously.

This…idiot! I thought while one of my eyes twitches in irritation.

"Je t'aime, ma dame. Je vais vous parler un peu." Kyouya recited Alex's words fluently. Everyone was taken aback by Kyouya's memorization.

"It means "I love you, my lady. I'll talk to you in a bit."" Tamaki said. "Why does it matter? It doesn't seem like it could be important to be repeated."

"You're wrong." Kyouya said suddenly. "Alex intended to hide those sentences from us, but she carelessly forgotten that you also know French."

"So?"

"So who do you think Alex in talking to who also understand French, and is called "My Lady?"" Kyouya ask.

"A lover?" Hikaru suggested.

"No."

"A sister?" Kaoru asks.

"No exactly."

I looked quizzical."A step-mother."

Everyone grew silent at the thought.

"Maybe…"

"Why is that a possibility?" Tamaki asks, as I watch Kyouya walk towards his computer and logged himself in. He quickly typed something and different sites pop up automatically.

"Because there must be a reasonably explanation on how everything turn out this way." Kyouya explains."By having an adult supervision and the wealth to travel and relocate herself here must have a purpose. Including the people around Alex, they must be involved with it somehow."

"But Al-chan told me that she only came here to find her mother." Honey said.

"That's right." Mori agreed. "I was there with Mitsukuni."

"And she did." Kyouya said, matter-of- fact."Then why is she still here?"

"Because she doesn't want to go back to France." Everyone said altogether.

"Now why would you think that after all she's been through?" Kyouya said. "We forced her into the club, found out her secret, then banned her; we barged into her house unannounced several times, and cause her injuries. How does that not make anyone go mad leave the country?"

Everyone grew silent at the realization. We all knew that Kyouya was right, but we were all too stubborn to admit it.

"With so much going through her life, it's pretty hard on her." I spoke up quietly. "It seems like Alex is carrying this burden on her shoulders, and not letting anyone help her."

"That's because she doesn't want to show us her weakness." Kaoru said suddenly."She doesn't want our sympathy."

"Poor Al-chan." Honey said, while Mori petted his head.

"Tamaki sempai." I said, while looking over at the blond price. I smiled."You know what to do don't you?"

Tamaki quickly caught on to what I am trying to say when his eyes brighten up."Men."

Everyone came into attention as our Host King stood himself off the chair, and waves his arms around elegantly.

"It is our responsibility as member of the elite Ouran Host Club to make every girl happy." Tamaki said, while everyone smiles at the Host famous quote. "Then, are we all in agreement?"

"Absolutely."

(*)(*)(*)

My footsteps echo inside the dark room as I walk towards the only light source in front of me. The candle light flickered ever so often as I approached it in steps.

"So what brings you here?" Neckozawa voice startled me as I jump back on impulse, and choked in my scream.

"I'm here…" I said slowly, while trying to steady my rapid heart. "I'm here because I wanted to know what I'll be doing here tomorrow."

Neckozawa chuckles."Oh that…"

"Well, I haven't really thought about it." Neckozawa said sheepishly, as he continues to babble on."I mean this is the first time that I actually have a member. I'm so excited that I never thought forward when the time has finally come! I think I'll teach you the basics of black magic, potions, sorcery—"

From then, I lost all interest what he was going to say, as I irritably walk back towards the door. This was just a waste of my time.

"W-wait Alex!" Neckozawa said, as he rush pass me and blocked the door with his body."How about tomorrow, we can just start by getting to know a little about each other."

His words caught my attention as I raise my eyebrows at him."Oh?"

"No magic or curses, I swear by the Belzeneffs' name." He said while raise his puppet doll in the air.

"Fine." I said finally, while crossing my arms over my chest."You better not take back your words."

Neckozawa nodded and stood aside to let me out. I walk pass him without another word and enter the empty music room. The Host club must have ended half hour ago.

"Hey Al-chan!"

Well I thought it was empty, when I turn around to face Honey. But where was Mori-sempai?

"What is it, Honey-sempai?

"I just wanted to tell you how much I love you!" Honey said sweetly while hugging Usa-chan, and smiling up at me. My heart flutter in response.

"Uh, thank you?"

"You're welcome!"

Awkward silence.

"What are you doing here anyways? I thought the host club ended already." I stated.

"It did, but I was waiting for you!" Honey giggles."I just wanted to tell you that since it's two weeks till winter break, the Host Club is throwing a party this weekend before the break, and I wanted to invited you to it so what do ya say, you coming?"

I blinked. How did he say all of that in one breath?

"I'll think about it." I said, unsurely. "Thanks for the offer."

"You're welcome again." Honey chime, while skipping to the front door."Well, see you tomorrow!"

Then he shuts the door behind him; leaving me once again alone in the empty music room.

Did I just miss something obvious? I thought.

(*)(*)(*)

"I haven't told you or anyone else the whole story about Alex." I said.

Tamaki Suoh, my first friend, look over at me from the couch he was sitting on. I seated myself on the high stool stead neck to the table bar as I look over the file pages repeatedly. I readjust my glasses again when it slide down against the bridge of my nose.

"I don't blame you." Tamaki said coolly."It is Alex's life after all, and it really isn't our business to be snooping around in the first place. Though, you're doing these things right now, aren't you, Kyouya?"

I smirk."Precisely."

"So what you go that you haven't told anyone else?"

"It's not really about Alex, but a connection to her." I said cautiously."It's about her butler, Sebastian Augustine."

"You're saying it as if you detest the guy."

"I do."

"Why?"

"He has done something unforgivable." My frustrated words caught his attention as he stood up from the couch and walk over to me. Tamaki place his hand on my shoulder, reassuring me that whatever I'm about to tell him, he wouldn't say a words about it to the others. I close my eyes and sigh out at length when Tamaki said:

"Tell me what happen."

And I did.