Alright! Chapter 10! This should be interesting. Also I wanted to clarify something. In the last chapter I said Mister instead of Mr; I started noticing that when I put Mr in front of a name and published it the entire name would disappear. This happened a lot in chapter two and it was to important for that not to happen in this one so that is how I will be doing it from now on. So big thanks to my reviewers SoulEaterd17, As-The-Fire-Blazes, ERidg17 and Lirara xox! You guys are the best! Anyway, Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran High Host Club. I do, however, claim ownership of my OC(s).
"How rude! Oh but have I surprised you? Yay!"
The hosts continued to stare at the girl with slack jaws and wide eyes. She was grinning widely at them and giggling. Suddenly she grabbed Tamaki's arm.
"Lets visit before going to see Sissy kay? You must be Tamaki! Briar was right! Your face is a little more stupid than the other's!"
Tamaki simply let her drag him and the other hosts followed. Kyoya went to the door and let the girls know that the club would be closed today. When all of them had left he turned to look back at the girl.
Why do I get the feeling Eyrie and Camille have two very different personalities?
She immediately got comfortable on one of the couches and looked them all over like a child in a candy shop. Kyoya walked over with his notebook.
"Excuse me miss-"
"Oh silly! Call me Camille! You are all so stunned! This is great!" she giggled. Her voice was a higher pitch than Eyrie's thick, sultry voice. "Did Sissy not mention me? How rude! Oh but she probably wanted to save the best for last! I am, of course, the fun one!"
"Um ah," Tamaki started, only partially recovered from the shock. "You and Miss Eyrie...are different from each other."
"Tamaki how tactless." Kyoya said while pushing up his glasses. "What he meant to say was, to what to we owe this pleasure?"
"Oh no he's right!" she gave them a big smile. "She's noble, selfless, stoic, and would never lord our family's position over anyone. I, on the other hand, am cowardly, vain, talkative, and use our family's power whenever I can!"
As she laughed to herself the hosts sweat dropped. They found it strange to see Eyrie's face on someone so cheery.
"Ah well. I don't really mind being that way but that's probably because I grew up differently." she said with a shrug. The smile hadn't once left her face. Suddenly the twins were in her face.
"What do you mean you grew up differently? How is that possible? You're twins!"
She looked at them with surprise.
"Oh she didn't tell you?" she scanned the faces of the host club. "We didn't grow up together. We actually didn't even know the other existed until about two years ago. But we're super close now!"
The hosts looked at each other. Even Kyoya's face held mild shock.
"We don't mean to pry but...do mind us asking why that is?" Tamaki asked kindly. Camille turned away from the twins to look at him. Though her face was still smiling her eyes were serious as she scanned them one by one. She sighed and turned to Mitsukuni.
"You're the one Eyrie saved yes?" Hunny nodded slowly. "Do you consider these people your family?"
Hunny looked at her with surprise then nodded with a smile. "I'm sorry Cami-chan but what does that have to do with it?"
She gave him a soft look then turned to the rest of the host club.
"Alright then I don't mind telling you. I don't think you understand just how serious Eyrie's actions were. Not because she got injured but because she risked her life."
The host looked at each other, confused by her change of attitude.
"In our family it is said that we are descendants of Adonis, a mortal beloved of Aphrodite herself. He was beautiful and a wonderful warrior. It is said that in one of the times that they met, Aphrodite made him pledge to always be her warrior and if he was to ever risk his life, she asked that it be for love. After he died, every time one of his descendants would marry she would call them before her and demand that they show her a 'love mark', or a scar from a point in time they risked his/her life. She also gave them the name 'Omorfie' to honor their beauty. This may sound like a silly story to all of you but through the generations it has been taken very seriously by each member of our family. Whenever a member of our family receives a scar that was meant for another this other person is considered part of the family. It they so choose they could be a marital partner but in many cases these people are welcomed into the family and treated with respect. The love needed to save someone...is not always romantic."
She had stared at the ground as she explained to them, a soft expression on her face. She looked up at Hunny and gave him a big grin.
"I don't like giving information to strangers but you're family now and if they are your family then that means they are part of our family now too!"
Hunny and the others looked at her with wide eyes.
"What is there like a rite we have to go through or something...?" Tamaki asked. Camille giggled and shook her head vigorously.
"No its nothing like that. It can mean...a place to always call home. Eyrie can be that for you. But anyway. You asked why we didn't grow up together. Its kind of a long story so are you sure you want to hear it?"
The hosts nodded hard and Kyoya leaned in a little closer.
"If it's anything like that last story, we're in." the twins said.
"I definitely want to hear it but...will Eyrie be mad at you for telling us?" Tamaki asked. Camille smiled.
"Nah. She'll be fine. Oh I'll tell you the story the same way Eyrie told it to me! Well my father and uncle are twins. A long time ago our grandmother sent them to live normal commoner lives in America. Uncle didn't really mind but father was livid. Well when they got there and got to school the first person they saw was this strange girl in dark clothes, smoky make up, and piercings. She had immediately gone up to them and despite all odds she was kind and gracious. Her and uncle fell in love. Her name was Willow. They finished high school together and even though Willow tried to understand her beloved's brother he pushed her away. That was the only way she could tell them apart. He was cold and distant while her beloved was warm and welcoming. Other than that everything about them was the same. Same face, same body, same voice. After a while Uncle and Willow started talking of getting married. This made Father angry. He had spent the year in misery and his brother in paradise."
Camille paused for a moment to look down at her hands. She inhaled sharply then continued.
"Father didn't want Uncle to be happy. So he started by telling her the truth of their origins. How they were rich and even if they did marry, she would have to go back home with them. This broke Willow's trust. They fought and, in a spur of the moment decision, went back home without telling Willow. The next few days Father began to court her, and in her anger at his brother, she let him, eventually ending with mother's pregnancy with us. Since her mother was very religious they were forced to marry but divorced after about a month since Father had given up his façade of warmth. In the custody battle Mother got Eyrie and Father...got me. Though it wasn't until after that he realized Mother had tricked him into taking the youngest and leaving the eldest behind. He was much too proud to let a younger twin become heir, especially since that would mean his brother would have a chance at becoming heir before him. Our mother knew this."
She finally looked into their eyes and smiled.
"Sorry that our family life is so soap opra-ish. You guys must be bored." she giggled. They continued staring at her. Though they hadn't really known what to expect they hadn't been prepared to hear how awful a person their father was. Since Eyrie was so kind and Camille was obviously cheerful it hadn't crossed their minds that they could have been raised by someone like that. Camille cocked her head at them.
"So, ahem, why isn't Eyrie with her mother still?" Tamaki asked to break the silence.
"Mom died about two years ago. Car accident. I didn't know her and I had always been told she was dead anyway so I didn't really mind but I still feel like I knew her. Uncle told me everything he knew about her when I was little."
She smiled sweetly. The twins, Tamaki, and Hunny launched themselves at her and smothered her in hugs.
"Ah! Hey get off! That wasn't a queue for you to pity me! Let go!" she laughed at their dejected faces. "But anyway I was raised by servants and got everything I wanted while Eyrie was raised in a way that makes her work hard for everything she wants. I know she wont say anything to me but I know rich people's way of living disgusts her. She hates to think of all the people that work their way to the top just to be shoved aside for someone who was 'born into it'. I suppose that's one of the many things I admire about her. Isn't she the greatest?"
She gave them and excited grin.
"Anyway we should go! I wanna see my Sissy!"
"Sissy!"
"Lovely!"
The two twins embraced and Camille immediately started chattering while scooting Eyrie over so that she could sit on the bed with her. The hosts looked at each other and decided to wait to say hello. They turned to the small table sitting at the opposite wall they started arranging the flowers they had brought and Takashi unloaded the armful of stuffed animals he had been carrying onto the chair next to it.
"Well what are you guys doing? Give Sissy a hug! How rude!"
They turned to see that Camille had finally remembered they were there. Eyrie was shaking her head in amusement and Camille was sitting, giving them an indignant look.
"Hugs aren't necessary. A simple hello would-"
"No we'll hug you!" Tamaki, the twins, and Hunny smothered her in hugs, much like they had done to Camille earlier. Camille gave a satisfied look then sat back.
"Where's Briar?" Camille asked looking around. "And Uncle?"
"Uncle went for food and Briar went home to sleep. Actually Uncle should be getting back about-"
"What the hell?! Who told you boys were allowed in here?!"
The hosts turned to find a handsome, red faced man holding a take out bag. Camille giggled wildly and Eyrie raised a brow at him.
"Don't worry Uncle! They're family! That's-" Camille skipped over to him and dragged him by the arm to meet everyone. He relaxed and actually started smiling by the time introductions were over.
"Ah. So you're the host club. Briar has had much to say about you lot."
"Oh um. Sir don't you mean Eyrie?" Tamaki asked politely. The older gentleman shook his head.
"Oh no I mean Briar. As you probably know by now Eyrie doesn't talk much." Suddenly there were tears on his lower lashes and he brought one hand up to his cheek and the other to cover his heart. "Not even...to her dear uncle!"
Suddenly he rushed over to Eyrie and was an inch from her face.
"Why Bunny, why?! You know Uncle is always there for you! Why didn't you tell me it was a bunch of guys that were coming into the family?!"
"Why does it matter that they're guys?! Uncle you really need to learn about personal space!"
He assumed the same dejected pose that Tamaki uses. All the hosts sweat dropped.
There was a knock at the door and her uncle straightened. Two gentleman slowly eased the door opened.
"Father." Mori and Hunny said at the same time. Eyrie slid from the hospital bad and bowed respectfully.
"Mister Haninokuka. Mister Morinozuka. You honor me. To what do I owe this visit?" to her surprise Hunny's father walked right up to her and bowed deeply.
"You saved my son's life. I only regret that I could not see you sooner to express my thanks; Mister Ootori informed me that you might have been a bit worn out from his visit so out of consideration for your health we waited until today. Thank you so much for what you've done. We will be forever in your debt."
"As I told your sons yesterday: I will accept your thanks but there is no need for you to 'be in my debt'. Please stop bowing." she sweat dropped slightly as he straightened to give her a determined look.
"A Haninozuka never forgets a good deed!"
"Nor does a Morinozuka." Mori's father said with a bow. The boys watched all this from afar, not wanting to get involved.
"I would like to invite you, and whomever you choose to bring, to our estate on your break so that we may express our gratitude! It is the least we could do!"
I cannot refuse; this is a matter of pride for them. Eyrie heaved a mental sigh and bowed again slightly.
"I would be honored. Thank you."
As the two older gentleman turned to leave they took notice of her uncle, who had been standing there watching the exchange in stunned silence.
"Ah! Are you her father?" Hunny's dad reached to shake his hand. Her uncle tore his gaze away from his niece and clasped the man's hand in his.
"No I'm her uncle. I'm sorry; her father isn't here. I am Ballare Omorfie."
They exchanged a few pleasantries before leaving and soon after they left so did the hosts.
The rest of the week past in a blur. She caught up easily in school and she was visited everyday by Kyoya's father for an examination to see how her wound was healing. He would show up at the club after school and after the initial examination they would sit down for tea and a battle of wits. He learned that she was not only very intellectual but that she also knew quite a bit about business and what was happening in that world. His frequent visits made the hosts nervous and they usually skirted around wherever they were sitting with extreme caution.
"I heard that you will be spending your days off with the Haninozuka's is that correct?" Mister Ootori asked before sipping his tea.
"Yes they wish to express their gratitude. I didn't see that harm in it." she shrugged, her nothing expression in place.
"Yes they invited me as well, though I'm sure that is simply because we are old friends. Will your father be accompanying you?"
"No sir. My father does not live in Japan."
He looked at her over his tea cup. "I see. Well you will have to let me know when he is in town. I have a proposition for him."
"Do you want me to go in as well Mistress?" Bear asked her as they pulled up to the estate.
"I think we'll be fine Bear; thank you." Ballare patted him on the shoulder then got out, holding the door opened for his nieces. They came out holding hands, Camille bouncing with excitement and Eyrie stiff with dread. They were greeted at the door by an enthusiastic Satoshi and a serious Chika. Eyrie promptly introduced the two to her family members then they were lead to a room filled with people. After a boisterous welcome from Hunny's father he took them around and they were introduced to everyone on the room. At some point they were separated and after talking shop with company reps who's names she had forgotten for a good ten minutes, she began to wander around the room. Her gaze was drawn to a frantic waving that was coming from the corner of the room. She looked over to see the host club and her twin trying to get her attention. Eyrie nearly sighed in relief and walked over.
"Eyr-chan! We didn't get to say hello earlier! There are a lot of people huh?" Hunny said, smiling up at her. She nodded and looked around again. Her uncle was laughing with some other business men and looking like he was having a grand time.
"Our uncle, the social butterfly." Eyrie and Camille said together.
"Miss Omorfie!"
Eyrie turned to see Kyoya's father approaching with two men in tow. One she recognized as the eldest son.
The other must be the middle son. she thought before offering Mister Ootori her hand.
"Sir. A pleasure as always. And I see you've brought your other two sons for me to meet. I hope we can be properly introduced this time." she said to the eldest. He smiled and shook her hand.
"I am Yuichi Ootori. The elder of the three. Nice to officially meet you."
She turned to the other who had gotten caught up in talking with some passerby.
"Akito!" his father snapped.
"I'm sorry father who was it you wanted me to meet?" He turned back and his eyes fell on Eyrie. She held out a hand for him to shake and he took it limply while staring at her with wide eyes.
"Nice to meet you. I am Eyrie Omorfie."
His words caught in his throat for a moment and her sister giggled. "Ahem. Yes I am Akito Ootori. It is nice to meet you as well."
She gently slid her hand from his and bit her lip to keep from smiling. Just then Hunny's father walked up.
"It is time to eat. I have had servants set up a separate one for you and your friends. I wouldn't want you to spend your entire evening talking shop with old men like us." he grinned at her and clasped Mister Ootori's shoulder. "Though I must insist on coming in for a little chit chat occasionally. Even we get bored at these sorts of things!"
She nodded and servants came to show them where they would be eating. They found Satoshi and Yasuchika already there with bored expressions on their faces. The room was set up in a traditional Japanese style and there was a door opposite where they had come in that was opened to reveal a rock garden. All of them were starved from the tense atmosphere of the other room and immediately started eating. Everyone joked and laughed and occasionally one of the older gentlemen would pop their head in for a word with the guest of honor. They had been visiting for a good two hours when they heard a commotion.
"Sir if you'll please wait outside I will go get whoever you are-"
"Damn it! Get out of my way! I'll find that bitch myself!"
Both Eyrie and Camille paled as the door burst opened to reveal a man with the same face as Uncle Ballare's only his was contorted with rage and hatred.
"You! How stupid are you?" he rushed over to Eyrie who was sitting calmly. Before anyone could take a breath he picked up Eyrie by the collar and slammed her against the wall. "You dare bring some random person into my family?! You think that just because you are my heir you can go do things like that without my permission?!"
"I didn't realize I needed your permission to save someone's life. Next time I'll be sure to send you a post card." Eyrie said in a toneless voice. Her face never showed any emotion even when he slammed her into the wall again.
"Don't you sass me ever again." he hissed into her ear. The hosts, Satoshi, and Yasuchika all started to stand but Briar walked up and planted himself between them and Eyrie.
"I'm sorry. I can't let you do that." he said to them, his eyes filled with sadness. Eyrie's father looked at him and smirked. He grabbed her jaw and pointed her face at Briar.
"See that? You might call him a friend and he might even wait to report your actions to me till days later and you might think you can trust him but there is one thing you're forgetting. I own him. Everything you think you have, everyone you think is precious to you- they are mine." he tried to fling her to the ground but she simply bounced a little then straightened to look him in the eye. He gripped her injured shoulder so hard they could see blood leaking through. "So you had better learn your place. Never do that again."
"Father you might think you can control everything and everyone but what you do with them isn't always in the best interest of this family so the fact that you are lecturing me for doing something that happens to be an age old tradition in our family is laughable."
He raised his hand to strike her but was interrupted.
"Brother!"
They all looked in the doorway to see Ballare standing there, shaking with anger. He took in the bloody hand print on Eyrie's shoulder and Camille's frightened, teary face and strode over to his brother.
"What did you do?" he hissed.
"These bastards are mine not yours so that isn't any of your business." the man grinned maliciously. Suddenly the fathers of Hunny, Mori, and Kyoya strode in.
"We heard an angry man forced his way in here so we- oh. Are you Miss Eyrie's father?" Hunny's father stuck out a hand for him to shake, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere. "Its an honor to meet you. You have quite the daughter."
The other fathers introduced themselves as well and Eyrie went over to Camille to wipe her tears and met eyes with the others and shook her head, silently telling them to keep their mouths shut. Camille looked at Eyrie with frightened eyes.
"I'm so sorry. This is my fault." she said in a barely audible whisper. Eyrie shook her head, harder this time, and gentle touched the tip of her finger on the tip of Camille's nose. Camille responded with a shaky smile.
"All three of us actually have something to discuss with you." Hunny's father said, clasping the shoulders of the other two. "We talked it out and decided that to make it fair we would all ask you at the same time."
"Oh really? How exciting. What is it?" her father asked with a pleasant smile. The three men bowed.
"We would like to request that your daughter be in an omiai with one of our sons. Which one is for you to decide." Kyoya's father said. They all straightened and looked at him. Ballare gasped. Eyrie's eyes widened and Camille pressed a hand to her mouth, fresh tears forming at her eyes. The sons in question all looked at each other with surprise and then turned their gaze to their fathers. Briar got pale and brought a hand to his heart.
"Omiai? Arranged marriage? No I'm sorry our family has always made it a point to let our children pick their marriage partner." her uncle said quickly.
"Well she isn't your child is she? So you really have no room to talk." her father said coldly. He turned back to the three men and looked them over. "That sounds like a fine idea. Though, may I make a suggestion, to appease my brother?"
The men nodded uncertainly.
"My daughter will choose one of your sons. She may take as long as she wants to choose and if she does not want any of your sons..." he turned and met her unfeeling gaze. "She will marry Briar."
The men, not knowing who that was but happy their requests were being considered, shook his hand.
"Oh my." Eyrie said calmly, standing up and looking her father in the eye. "I wonder what grandmother will think of my arranged marriage. You will let me be the one to tell her wont you Father?"
His composure slipped and he backhanded her across the face as are as he could. After seeing her actually be struck the occupants at the table gave sharp cries. Eyrie's head snapped back and she staggered a bit from the force of the blow. The fathers all looked at her in shock. She brought her head back to look at her father with a smirk.
"Hush! You get that mouth from your mother!" he hissed in rage.
"Hitting me and giving me compliments isn't going to protect you from grandmother's wrath." she said softly. She turned to the three men that were still standing there and bowed. "I am terribly sorry for my father's behavior. He can be childish at times. I am honored that you thought of me when planning your son's futures."
Before they could say anything a servant rushed in, telling them that many of their guest were anxiously awaiting their arrival. They looked between Eyrie and her father. She suddenly gave them a sad look and brought a knuckle to her lips.
"Oh I see. You don't want to go back because you're embarrassed. My father's actions have made you reconsider and now you're to embarrassed to go back to your friends and tell them one of your sons might marry a man-child's daughter." she sighed. "I understand. You can pretend you didn't ask at all if that would make you feel better."
Hunny and Mori's fathers facial expression turned frantic and they both said, "That isn't it at all! We'll go tell everyone right now!"
They rushed past Kyoya's father and out of the room. Mister Ootori looked at her with the same expression Eyrie had seen Kyoya wear at times. He look at her like an equation he hadn't quite mastered yet. He obviously wasn't buying her act but he nodded and left anyway. As soon as he was gone Eyrie's father turned to her and slugged her in the stomach. Briar grabbed both Satoshi and Yasuchika when they launched themselves out of their seats to help her.
"Trust me I'm doing you a favor." he whispered into their ears. All of the hosts were standing now, obviously thinking the same thing as Satoshi and Yasuchika. "I do not want to fight any of you; but I will be forced to if you insist on attacking the Master."
They all took a step when Eyrie was grabbed by the throat and shoved against a wall. Her uncle was desperately trying to pry his brothers fingers away but his hand didn't budge.
"Don't you ever talk like that about me again you bitch! Who the hell do you think you are?! Damn you are your mother's daughter aren't you? You are just like her!" his hand tightened. Eyrie didn't lift her hands to stop him; her face didn't acknowledge her shortage in air. She simply stared into her father's eyes with her nothing expression. "I promised you I was going to ruin your life."
The hosts all looked at each other. Camille was sobbing with her hands against her face as she tried to block out the sight of her twin being hurt by their father. She heard a sharp slapping sound. Their father leaned closer to Eyrie's face.
"How am I doing so far?"
He let go of her abruptly and she stared at him as she watched him motion for Briar to follow. She stiffened and took a step when he grabbed Camille's arm and told her to follow him. Camille saw her move and shook her head.
"I'll never forgive you if you let yourself get hurt again." she said softly. Then she was gone. Eyrie stared at the doorway for a long time. She turned to the host club.
"I'm so...I'm so very sorry." her shoulders shook slightly and she wouldn't look them in the eyes. "Your family's were so kind, offering to let me into your families, but I cannot accept."
"What? Even if it means getting away from that?!" Haruhi asked with anger. "How could you just stand there and take that?"
Eyrie finally looked up at them and gave them the saddest look they had ever seen. "Haruhi I understand what you mean and I appreciate what you mean by it but you don't understand. I refuse to fight him physically because I promised my sister. I will not break that promise. I will also not leave my family with him."
"But...you can marry one of them and still help your family right? You don't have to do it alone. Their families connections could even help you!" Tamaki insisted.
"You don't get it! None of you get it!" she yelled, pressing her fist to her temple and hunched over slightly. "Everything I touch-everything-it always breaks!"
The hosts sat in stunned silence as she ran from the room with her uncle on her heels. Tamaki started shaking. The others looked at him curiously.
"There's nothing we can do to help her." he said with anger. "All those other times...when people were troubled...we could do some thing about it. But she...we can't help her."
"I think there's something else we're ignoring." the twins said and turned to Kyoya, Hunny, and Mori. "All of your dads are expecting you to marry her. What will happen when you tell her she refuses?"
There was silence for a moment. Kyoya was the one that broke it.
"We wont say anything. We'll just have to change her mind."
This chapter is a lot longer that the rest but I hope you guys think it was worth it! This was really interesting chapter to write because it reveals a little more about Eyrie. Please let me know what you think! Review, review, review! ERidg17, I know this answers a couple of your questions so I hope this was a satisfying chapter for you! SoulEaterd17, I would apologize...but I'm totally not sorry *evil face* mwahaha! Cliffhangers are there to keep you interested...and to torture you XD haha. As-The-Fire-Blazes, I was wondering if that would happen too but thankfully no one started with that. Anyways, Thanks for reading!