The only thing harder for Keindrich than actually witnessing Yasuko being carried off will probably be telling Iwao about it. let's hope that things turn out alright.

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One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand...Please Papa, I prayed, come to the waiting room soon. I need you here so the doctors can tell us that Yasuko is alright. I'm scared to bits and I can see shadows looming over me. Please Papa, don't leave me alone here.

No, I know the answer already. Yasuko is dead; she's been dead for two hours and forty-seven minutes. I'm just waiting for Papa to come so the doctors can break the news to him. I really hope he takes it alright. I could just see him dancing about in an exaggerated heart attack. Oh my.

Other students from the Academy were sitting with me in that room. I saw people of all ages and types crying and praying and muttering to themselves. I just sat in fetal position on my chair and glanced at everything. I couldn't bear to say anything for fear that I might start crying. I should be in here waiting on a new sibling, niece or nephew, even a child of my own. But instead I'm waiting for God to take a toll on someone's life.

Papa ran into the waiting room and hunted me out. "Kin-dreek!" He picked me up and squeezed me in a bear hug. "Thank God you're alright."

The others stared at me and snickered. I glared at them. "Hey, if your kid were nearly caught in a fire, you'd get this." They gave me flatter smirks. "Okay, he says 'Keindrich' right at home and in public. We're all pretty shaken up, so just go with it." (It's really pronounced as Cane-Drick, but as he named me, I suppose he can call me whatever the heck he wants.)

He set me down. At about 5'8", I reached the ground fairly easily, but he was still barely taller than me. Come to think of it, he was a scrawny thing-how'd he pick me up?! He looked about the room. "Say, where's your sister Yasuko?"

"That's why I called you here, Papa." I looked down at my hands and spoke quietly. "She's in one of the rooms to the left. Many people got caught in the fire including her and her friend Katsumi. She didn't make it out well, as she has burns in her hands and chest. It's because of her knowledge that Tamaki was able to warn everyone and get them out."

"But I saw Yasuko," said a student.

"Yeah, me too," said another, "and she wasn't anywhere near Tamaki."

I blushed. Maybe if I rephrase that..."She told me about it once after she learned it in school. I told Tamaki." Numerous "ahs" and cheers.

"Well, you were wrong." A boy walked out of a recovery room up to me. "They got my friend's test results back. Mari had a lot of sulfur in her system, but it could not have been sulfuric acid." I raised an eyebrow. "Sulfuric acid is a liquid. It takes an airborne toxin to do such damage, such as sulfur dioxide." That makes a lot more sense than my theory. He frizzed up my hair so that a straw lock now fell into my face. "Your sister had better do her research next time, aye?"

"Is 'Mari' at least alright?"

"She's stable for now but-" I cut him off.

"Then that's all that matters for now."

"Geez, how about a pirouette to accompany that attitude?" Great, now my own dad is cracking wise. And since when did we bring pastries up?

A nurse walked into the room. She had a grin on her face that she could barely suppress. "Um, Mr. Daokiju?" She waved us over. That's a good sign, right?

Yasuko was lying in her bed with her eyes closed, but didn't seem to be sleeping. There were bloodied bandages on her hands and left forearm. She had an ill pallor to her face, baggy eyes and blistered lips. She must not have gotten much rest yet.

The nurse poked her head in. "Miss Daokiju." Her eyes fluttered open, then glared at the light coming from the hallway. "You have visitors." At first when we walked in, she looked very annoyed. However, when she saw that it was us, she smiled a little. The nurse bowed and left. She held her arm out for a hug. "Hello, Papa, Kein-niisan."

I ran over and squeeze-hugged her. "Oh, Yasuko-chan, I was so worried about you because I thought you would push-up daisies and everyone would end up crying at a really big funeral-cuz it sounds like you have lots of friends from what you tell me-and I'd have to wear black clothes which are gloomy and happens to be the only thing not in my waredrobe and Papa would get really depressed and possibly die of grief and then on top of that I'd have Katsumi staring me down because I didn't get the message out fast enough-"

She put her hand over my mouth. "Kein, relax," she whispered. "I won't go quietly." She smiled again, only it was more of a jesting smirk. "Besides, I have plenty of black clothes you could've borrowed in the event that I croaked."

"Yeah, but I'm not a tranny like that Fujioka man who lives across the way! I embrace my manhood! Not only that, but it would've been stealing 'cause you wouldn't be alive to give permission!"

"Leave the boy alone for now," Papa interrupted. "Are you feeling alright?"

"My hands hurt like they're still on fire," Yasuko answered with a sigh, "and I've got a migraine and a horrid backache. But I'm fine besides that. The doctor says in a month or so, I'll be clear to resume normal activity." Only a month?

"But what about rest?"

I glanced at him. "you don't suppose she'll be running a marathon in that condition. She'll be resting here until then."

"No, actually," Yaki interrupted, "next week we should be coming home."

"'We?'" Papa and I said at once. Good grief, I hope she wasn't implying pregnancy. Did she have a bun in the oven? Great, another pastry reference!

"Yes. The doctor thinks I might be stable by then and my friend Katsumi needs a place to stay. Her cousin Nakomi has been driving her crazy and they got into a fight. I know it's pushing the envelope, but could she please stay with us, Papa? It's just for a week or so."

Leave it to Yasuko to find herself a worse victim. I supposed Katsumi would be treating me like a butler and expecting me to shower her with attention. Soon enough, I'll be going by the diminutive 'Kiki' and dressing as a maid.

"Well, Kein does need guides around the high school. Who better to help than roommates. And he'll even have tutors."

"What are you talking about, Papa? I've taken a tour of the public high school. It's pretty easy to navigate on your own." I paused. "Unless you're implying that I attend the academy." He nodded. Aw man; I didn't want to be teased by rich people. Well, we're well-off ourselves and Yasuko has no complaints about school. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think.

"I'm glad that you are so optimistic and want him to attend the academy as well, Papa. I'll do what I can." She looked at me. "And Kein, please behave. The kids at school are really nice. The teachers shouldn't give you a hard time either so long as you pay attention. Some of them even extend deadlines for you-but only if really necessary-or even let you eat or sleep in class. I know you'll like it there, because I do. It's no different from a normal school."

I hugged her again, my throat being choked by emotion. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Thanks, Yasuko."

"Oh, and if you see the host club, please tell them I am alright.

After another ten minutes of conversation, we said our goodbyes to Yasuko and departed. But just as I closed the door, I heard a long drone coming from the room. The EKG machine's off which means she's in cardiac arrest! I sprinted to the nearest doctor, but tried not to panic. "Sir, the EKG on my sister in room 242 stopped. I think she's in cardiac arrest. We need help please."

He ran to the phone, called up his emergency technicians and hurried them into the room. Papa and I waited right outside the room. We said a few prayers, paced, fidgeted anxiously and all that. It's the only thing we felt would be of any use. After ten minutes, the staff exited the room, distraught. I knew the sign. It was official.

The doctor came up to me and opened his mouth to speak. I held up my hand. "Not a word. I know that you did your best." And I honestly believed it. I was heartbroken, but I do not place blame in crisis. I took Papa's hand and led him to the exit. The other student gazed at me. I simply said, "It was too late." It was all I could say before the sobs surfaced.

~ONE WEEK LATER~

I feel like a brat right now. I honestly never wanted to go to this school in my entire life. I've always associated wealth with snobby behavior and I was wary of the students here. They seemed to have their head in the clouds and their hands in their pocketbook. But even Yasuko insisted that I attend the academy knowing my interests and personality. I know she meant well, but I now want even less to attend the academy because my only incentive, being Yasuko's life, is gone.

Nonetheless, I know Papa wants me to attend, for it is his dream to have successful children. Oh, man, I forgot my older brother, Ginei. He must have come back to visit Papa while Yasuko and I were in school and recommend we attend, because Papa started to bring it up at the store. That's how this whole thing started, I believe.

Not only has it become tradition now, but this was Yasuko's death wish. If I refuse, I'll be labeled as an ass for all eternity. Alright, I'll go, but for only for Yasuko and Papa's sakes. If I don't like the school, I'm transferring come the next semester. That's that and I'm putting my foot down.

There was a rap on the door. "Keindrich," Papa called, "your cousin Sango and friends Masuyo and Hiroki are here. Why don't you take a break from your busy packing and say hello."

I opened the door and looked into the hall. "I didn't start packing yet." He kind of glared at me. "Right. Sarcasm. Fine, let them in if you please." I felt bad for not wanting to get out of my room, but I was technically still in mourning. No 'technical' about it, really; it's still devastating.

Before I could even step away from the door, I got tackled by a tween girl. "Kein-niisan!" I backed into my dresser attempting to regain my balance. My friends simply laughed and entered behind her. I pried her off me and set her on the bed. This tackle-hug concept is over-abused in cartoons; I wasn't going to be subjected to it in real-life. She pouted and crinkled her nose. "Why don't you like hugs?"

"I do like hugs, Sango, but I also like breathing. I can't do that with your chest in my face." Masuyo laughed again. Both friends have gotten used to this scene by now. Plus, she gets tackled a lot as well. "So what may I ask brought you all here? I'm supposed to be packing now."

"For what? We know Yasuko passed away," Masuyo said, a little frightened now, "but we don't see where you would be going. Is Iwao sending you away like your dad?"

I was peeved off by this comment but, I didn't want to show it. I knew very well that abandonment was a possibility but I couldn't imagine why. Therefore, I don't think about it. "What are you talking about? The only dad that I have is Iwao. Now as for my leaving, I'm being transferred to-"

"Transferred," Hiroki cut in. "You mean like 'expelled'?" He grabbed my shoulders. "They can't do this to you. You didn't do anything wrong. I know that graffiti in the girl's bathroom looks like your handiwork but it's not that incriminating."

"We'll get you a good lawyer and a meeting with the BOE. My dad is part of the school board, so he can help appeal in your favor." Masuyo continued. "We even have witnesses that say-"

"Shut up!" Sango shouted. They froze and blushed. Sango looked at me and gave a cheesy smile. "Now then, you're being transferred..."

"Yeah, to Ouran Academy. Yasuko and Papa felt that since I know a bit about the school already and Yasuko had made some friends who could help me, I would have no problem going to school there." They all 'oh'ed. "I want to study geology and chemistry that way I can create high-quality jewelry. Then I'll either take over the shop or start one of my own. I was going to call you up and tell you about it tomorrow, but it seems you beat me to the punch."

"Why can't you just attend the public high school like us?" Masuyo asked. "They have a geology class and their science program is pretty good."

"Yasuko insisted. If she likes it, then chances are that I might actually get along okay. all I have to do is survive to summer, then I can decide whether to transfer permanently."

Sango punched the air and cheered. "That means I get to attend school with Kein-niisan next year! Yay!" Pause. "Wait, no, because you're fifteen and I'm eleven. Aw well. You can leave a legacy for me at Ouran."

I flipped my hair and adjusted my glasses. (Note: I usually wear contacts, but my eyes are sore and puffy from crying so I didn't bother today) "Well, I am pretty smart."

"And even prettier in a dress," Hiroki added. I groaned. Why does everybody insist on me being an okama?! "When are you transferring?" I didn't answer immediately. "It's tomorrow, isn't it?" I nodded. He ruffled my hair. "Oh Keindrich, you are hopeless." He then began to tousle it and hum. "If you're going to be going to an upscale school, you need to look mature and dignified. The skater locks and bushy brows do not a fancy man make."

"I can always tweeze my brows and get my hair trimmed a little, but I am not getting a short cut."

"Will you at least do something with it?"

"Would you quit busting on me about my looks? You're not my boyfriend." He cringed. Masuyo and Sango bit their lips. "Like I said, this is for Yasuko. I am going through with this my way." I hugged him. "Just think of it as my way of saying that I'm going to stay the same person."

I let go and Masuyo jumped on me just as soon. She planted a firm kiss on my cheek. "Behave yourself, Kein."

Sango hugged me from behind. "I'll miss you, Kein-niisan. Be safe."

Hiroki pried them off me. "You do realize that this isn't a day-camp, girls." They shook their heads, too embarrassed to speak. I had forgotten myself that rich people had to go home too.

He gestured for them to follow him out the door. "We have to get ready for school too. I'll call you on Tuesday." "Bye, oniisan! I'll call on Saturday if I can." "Bye, Keindrich! I'll try getting to you on Wednesday."

Hold on a moment. If students are supposed to come home each day, then where has Yasuko been sleeping all this time? Has she been staying with Katsumi? No wonder she would sympathize if her cousin was getting on her nerves. this was probably her way of returning the favor.

I opened my briefcase and absent-mindedly packed it with my Fairy Tail-themed notebooks and my pencil-case stuffed with every writing utensil known to man. Maybe Yasuko herself was making a legacy for me. She's so dutiful...

Tell me, do YOU think she was over Katsumi's house?

I think this honestly could have gone smoother. So in my original story, I had forgotten that the characters didn't sleep at the school. This came as a do'oy moment to me, but then I thought, "What trouble could a girl have gotten herself into at such a highly esteemed school?" Then it hits me.

So leave your thoughts, questions, whatevs with me. I'll most likely get back to you in a day or so. Guests are always welcome!

Pfft, unintentional Host Club pun...