Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran High School Host Club, or any of the songs in this fanfiction. I only own Sora Kawashima and other OC's
This chapter is about Kai Kawashima, Sora's younger sister and the second youngest Kawashima. This chapter is meant to fill you in on Sora's family dynamic and family issues a bit more.
Next chapter will be back to host action dw
Chapter Eight/ The Kai Kawashima Complex
You know... I really don't like hating my big sister. But from the moment I first laid eyes on Sora, I just couldn't stand her.
{Kai Kawashima's POV}
{Flashback}
I reunited with my sister, Sora, on her and Shouta's eleventh birthday. I was almost nine, and still living with my grandma at that point. Unlike Minato and the twins' mom, my mom didn't give me up without a fight. Not because she really wanted to raise a kid, so to speak, but because she would do anything to spite my dad.
But in the end, Nagi Kawashima wants, Nagi Kawashima gets
So without warning, I got stuck in the main house with my older siblings and miserable parents.
"Kai, honey, go say happy birthday to your brother and sister." Dad told me, nudging me gently "You haven't seen them in a while."
I shook my head. I felt like I didn't even know them.
Every other Kawashima love child was allowed these large parties thrown by he and his wife, Nagi.
Not me though.
This lavish birthday party was something only the main-house children received. I was too new to that scene to ever get one. Shouta was loving the attention and was going around greeting the dozens of other children there, and Sora just talked to her mom, Shino. Shino and Sora look just alike to me; same silky, long black hair, same pale skin, same big toothy smile, same head shape.
And I looked like no one. I have chestnut red-brown hair that doesn't quite match my mom's auburn hair or my dad's dark brown. My mom has a thin face, big lips, and a fierce look in her eyes, our dad is just a goofy guy. I look out of place, though, I guess we all do since we're all illegitimate.
Dad sighed and handed me off to my other older brother Minato, who was sixteen at the time. I watched the party going on silently and in the arms of my big brother. I watched Sora and Shouta go on a stage to open presents and felt a strange feeling flood my little heart. I didn't know what it was, but it felt unpleasant. Made me mad.
I remember how Sora tore open a gift and how her eyes sparkle in joy. It was a new gaming console that wasn't scheduled to come out for another year. She's... weird. I thought rich girls were supposed to like clothes and jewels? Shouta, on the other hand, received diamond earrings to put in his newly-pierced ears. Their mom, Shino, smiled happily at the sight of her children's happiness and I caught dad staring at her with love in his eyes.
Then I saw him look at Sora with pride.
Oh, I see.
I'm jealous.
It must feel good to be dad's favorite, huh?
It must feel good to be one of the Kawashima twins—the the only children dad actually ever wanted.
Life isn't fair was my takeaway that day. Super unfair.
[Ouran's Middle School Buildings]
"Kai! Congratulations on winning a national championship in girls swimming!"
"Kai! You're so cool!"
"Kai! You're awesome!"
The fourteen-year-old Kai Kawashima paused, looking back at three of her male classmates. She gave them a small, shy smile and raised a peace sign. "Thanks."
One of her fanboys sighs dreamily, "Are you off to train now, Kai~?"
"Yup."
Kai was never much of a talker. Especially as a kid; her 1-2 word replies used to drive her biological mom absolutely bonkers. She had her family's tendency to babble occasionally, especially when emotional or overwhelmed, but never felt chatty enough to just strike up a conversation with strangers.
Conversations wasted too much time; precious time that could be spent on training.
From the moment she moved in with the rest of her family at the age of nine, Kai was forced into weekly therapy with her other siblings. Shouta and Sora, who love water parks, encouraged the aquatic center sessions more often and gradually, Kai got into swimming.
The second she learned how to swim without the use of floaties a sense of euphoria washed over her. Swimming and discovering her talent for the sport made her feel a sense of belonging she, at that point, had never felt before. Soon after, the young girl started swimming competitively and even swam for her school back in South Korea. Even though she came to Ouran a little too late to join the swim club, Kai swims for a competitive league outside of school and trains every day.
The girl was an immediate star at Ouran's middle school after moving back to Japan. Unlike Sora, who lacked close friends due to her overly defensive and introvert-at-heart nature, Kai was always a popular girl among everyone due to her athletic and adventurous nature, despite being a girl of few words and serious demeanor when it came to sports.
Miraculously, Kai simply just has absolutely no trouble at all in school, except-
"…Kai is cute and all, but her sister is hot."
Kai twitched a bit but still kept walking. Her left ear turned big to keep listening in on the other two boys gossiping.
The other boy nodded, "There's something so bold and elegant about Sora's appearance that just makes Kai look a little childish, don't you think?"
Kai inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. She will not lose her composure over something like this; it's not worth it. After all, it's not like Sora is better looking, the two just look very different.
All four of the Kawashima siblings looked nothing like each other, but Sora and Kai shared the most differences. Sora is tall and lanky, has long, straight black hair, dark, sharp eyes, and paler skin. While Kai, on the other hand, is of the average height for a Japanese girl, with chestnut brown (almost red) short hair that flares up at the ends, tan skin, and big, chocolate brown eyes.
Her attempts to calm herself down must've been noticeable, as the girl felt two hands suddenly pinch her cheeks before she could lash out at the gossiping boys.
"Yiiiiiikes, Kai~" A female purrs, shaking Kai's face in her hands "Anger is totally not a good look on you!"
Saki Yoshida is the daughter of the owner of an alternative energy company, and thus, has a calm and "hippie" personality. She's a tomboy who styles her super short, copper brown hair into spikes.
Another girl, with long khaki brown hair tied into a high ponytail, hits Kai in the back of her head. The three girls go way back, having spent their entire childhoods as friends. Although Kai's brief move to Korea had separated them, she was easily able to keep in touch with them and once she was back in Japan, it felt like no time had passed at all.
Kai gently moves Saki's hands away and glares back at the other girl, "Nagisa!" Kai quietly hisses "Don't hit me"
Nagisa Sakurazuka was also an athletic girl, who plays every sport at Ouran offered to her. Her dad is a famous basketball player, so it runs in her blood. Nagisa glares back at Kai, "Mind your manners, Kai! If you get all worked up about your dumb sister, she wins!"
The three girls started walking towards Ouran's pool, bickering all along the way. Once they reach the indoor pool area, Nagisa placed her hands on her hips firmly.
"Listen to me, Kai!" She demands with a furious glare planted on her face. Kai simply gives her a blank stare in return but furious lightning crackles between the two regardless "Just use this energy to swim, not to bitch at some random guy for bringing up Sojo, Sarah, or whatever her name is."
Saki closes her eyes, "Sora." Nagisa hums nonchalantly," Clearly you've been so focused on Sola that your times went up by-"
At that, Kai rips off her sweatshirt that had been covering up her school swimsuit and pulls down her skirt. A group of boys ogles at the sight, causing Saki to awkwardly shield Kai, who was too fired up to even notice that getting changed in a hallway is not the best idea. "Yooooo, could ya please stop getting naked in front of everyone?" Saki asks meekly. Kai ignores Saki and focuses her attention on Nagisa.
"Up?" Kai growls, pressing her forehead against Nagisa's. Kai likes to think she has the calmest head out of all her siblings, but when it came to swimming? Insulting her skill is the one thing that could get her so mad, she'd raise from the dead just to fight about.
Nagisa smirks and returns the same energy, balling her hand into a fist "Ha! If you're mad then so something about it!"
...
...
"There is so much tension between you two" Saki waves her hand "Just kiss already"
The sound of Saki's skull hitting the pavement echoed all throughout the school.
"….Kai get the same time for her 100M Freestyle"
"She sheds two seconds off of her 100M Backstroke"!
"And only one second off of her 100M Breaststroke…."
"OOOOOOOH BUT BOY, SHE IS A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES! She-s-she-SHE'S WAVING AT US HARU! HEY!"
Though Kai could do without the narration from the baseball players, it felt nice to be supported by such… passionate...fans? The baseball players usually did come to watch her finish up her training after they get done with their practice, but today they seemed to just be getting their stuff and make comments supporting Kai while passing through. Kai lifts herself up using the wall, sitting on the edge of the pool.
She removes a part of her wet hair off of her face "Hey. Heading out?"
Riku and Haru, best friends, baseball players, and Kai's number one fans, would usually wait until Kai finished and walk her out to her ride home. So it was unusual that the two boys had already packed their things up. Riku tears up, "S-Sorry Kai! We would stay if we could but-"
"…The karate club says we're too loud in here and that they need to use the locker room space today." Haru finishes, his tone much calmer. He hands Riku a handkerchief, which the boy then uses to blow his nose.
Kai offer the two a small smile "It's cool." She tilts her head, "But... why is the karate club suddenly whining about you being loud?"
Riku sniffles, "Because the captain is a jerk!"
Haru carefully looks around, then drags Riku closer to Kai. Haru leans closer to the girl, "Their captain is a Haninozuka, so we shouldn't talk trash! But he's just being an ass recently because he lost another fight against his brother!"
Kai, not taking the hint, snorts "That's lame." her voice seemed to echo all throughout the building.
Riku and Haru go stone-stiff in fear and then run away quickly. Leaving a trail of smoke behind them. Kai looks around, confused as to why they were so afraid. Soon after, she just shrugs it off and drifts her focus back to the water. Riku and Haru are just oddballs in the first place, so she figures she should just learn to ignore their actions.
After a few moments of just listening to the silence of the building, Kai lets herself fall back into the pool, submerging herself completely under the water. She had been at it for a while and her muscles ere starting to tighten up, but she'd figure there's no harm in doing some lighter exercises.
She swam across the pool while completely keeping her stomach pressed against the pool floor, only occasionally going up for air and then immediately going back down. 'God. Being in the water feels so good' She thinks to herself, letting her eyes flutter close. The fourteen year old imagines this is how birds feel when they fly, or how baby sea turtles feel when they make their way to the ocean. The pool is truly her home away from home
And Kai loves to be away from home. She needs to be, in fact.
On cue, Akio Kawashima flooded her mind and interrupts her peaceful state of mind
"Kai! C'mon, why are you being so mean to your sister"
Because you spoiled her, dad.
Sora popped into her head next. Her usually lively and sharp eyes soft with sadness and insecurity.
Don't guilt-trip me... I should've never went to the beach with that stupid club and you should've never 'protected' me.
The 'beach incident' was the biggest scandal of the century in their household even though only three people knew about it so far. Keito was the one to pick Kai up and although the two can usually just enjoy each others company in silence, he successfully grilled her as soon as she entered the car. Kai did not even have to sway the story in her favor, Keito himself pinned the blame on Sora immediately.
But... even Kai felt sorta bad about that. After all, just like she went out of her way to invite Sora's friends over the day of the party* in order to annoy her, Kai had accepted the invitation to the beach knowing good and well Sora was not the one inviting her.
Feeling guilty is an unpleasant feeling. Shake it off. Focus on something else
Shouta appears
"I didn't mean to leave pee on the toilet seat but while we're on the topic-"
...
...How long has it been since I went up for air?
Kai comes up to the surface, gasping for air. The argument between Shouta and Kai about him leaving the toilet seat down while he pees was not the thing she meant to think about. Kai's eye twitches, "I think I just had a near-death experience," She thinks to herself while struggling to catch her breath
Despite the way she felt her life flash before her eyes, she immediately goes back down into the water.
I wonder what Shouta's doing right now. Dad just stuck him in a different school without giving it much thought. Damn, he's probably on his way to get kicked out of there too.
The murmured sound of feet walking on the floor by the pool startled Kai and she heard a voice call out for her. She rose up in the water gracefully, flipping her wet air off her face as soon as she reached the surface. Kai looks around. Nagisa stood with a hand on her hip, annoyed. And strangely enough, the members of the karate club all stood in front of Kai too. Kai lifts herself out of the pool and scratched her cheek, "Uh… What's up?"
Nagisa marched up to her friend and flicked her forehead, "You've been in here way too long! We're supposed to have dinner together, remember?" She wraps a towel around Kai's shoulders.
Kai grips the towel and looks behind her shoulder with a deadpan expression, "…Not really" She mumbles while staring absent-mindedly off to the side
Nagisa smacks Kai on the head with a tennis racquet, knocking the Kawashima girl out. "Oh sorry, I thought that would help you remember!" She wraps Kai's now-limp arm around her shoulder, "Sorry about her, everyone! We'll be off now!"
"…"
"…"
"…Took you long enough." Someone murmurs, their tone of voice dripping with annoyance.
Kai, not one for unnecessary rudeness, gained consciousness immediately
"Excuse me?"
The karate club members all stepped aside, afraid. The one in the middle stood still. He was only one inch taller than Kai herself and had a cute face hidden behind a pair of glasses that were way too big for his face. He swept his golden-brown hair out of his eyes, "I said— it took you long enough."
The light reflected off his glasses, revealing light brown eyes. Kai holds back a snort. Wouldn't have been able to guess the karate club leader had such a baby-face.
Kai shakes off her initial surprise and makes eye contact with the boy, expression lacking emotion but stern "You're the one intruding my practice."
The karate club leader rolls his eyes. Nagisa sighs and wraps her long, light brown ponytail into a bun, "Kai" she whispers, "C'mon... you've been at it for a while anyways, and I have to get home soon..." She drifts off in hopes her friend would be able to get the hint
Kai simply nods in response "Go ahead. You can leave without me."
The Karate leader pushes up his glasses, "You might as well follow after her because we're using this space and you need to leave.*"
Kai resisted the urge to roll her eyes "Oh? And what exactly do you guys need with this-" She motioned to the locker room in front of her "-specific locker room."
"Those hyperactive baseball monkeys are too loud and this locker room is the closest to where we train. And since their practice ends before ours I told them they need to start using the locker room in the general athletics building and we use this one... That way we can get a full practice in without being interrupted by noise."
Kai gives into the temptation and allows herself to roll her eyes. Usually she'd try to maintain a more mature approach but this was stupid. They could change anywhere, why be so stuck on this one building? Entitled, much? "Not leaving. So-"
"YASUUUUUUUUCHIKAAAAAAA"
Suddenly, a tall boy with short, messy black hair whacks the karate club member on the head with a shinai*. Everyone in the room freezes at the sight of the karate club leader gets smacked onto the ground by none other than Satoshi Morinozuka, Yasuchika's cousin and closest companion. Satoshi bends over with a glare on his face with comedically angry eyes, "Yasuchika! That's no way to treat a girl!"
Kai blankly stares and blinks in both shock and in thought. Yasuchika...? He and Satoshi are both in her class but she's never really paid much attention to either of them. After all, the three of them have very little in common except-
"Hey..." Kai says, walking up to the limp, half-dead Chika. She wraps the towel around her waist and crouches down, "Your brother..is in the host club, right?"
A gust of wind whooshes past every student in the building. Yasuchika prevents himself from lashing out at the swimmer and simply stands up and scoffs. He whips his head back around and faces his club members, "What are you all gawking at?! Go home!"
Satoshi grows humorously tall in fury, "Yasuchika..." He warns angrily, holding the shinai in his hand. He usually would just hit the boy, but Kai was standing too close for him to do so.
The red-haired girl shrugs her shoulders, "Yes, right? You're Yasuchika Haninozuka and your brother is that weird kid, 'Honey'"
"Yeah but... Wait" Yasuchika blinks in confusion, "...Did you just call him... weird?"
"Yeah, Kai!" Nagisa cracks her knuckles and lightning crackles behind her, "Did you just call a world-renowned martial artist and our senpai 'weird'?!" She hisses angrily. Kai slightly shivers at Nagisa's anger but focuses her attention on Yasuchika alone.
Funnily enough, he and his brother look identical minus the obvious difference in height and hair color. Kai casually shrugs "He is weird. I-"
Nagisa grips Kai's shoulders and shoves her back into the pool, holding her beneath the water. She turns to look back at Satoshi, "I apologize for my friends' rude behavior. She's usually not this stupid but she must've lost brain cells from being in this chlorine so long~" She exclaims cheerfully
Nagisa ignores Kai's movement and her attempts to get back up, "We'll be on our way!" She announces. She pulls the semi-conscious Kai up and carries her out of the door. Satoshi waves goodbye happily and Yasuhika merely watched the girls go on.
He pushes up his glasses, "See that, Satoshi? I'm not the only one who thinks Mitsukuni is strange!"
"Oh shut up!" Satoshi hisses while smacking Yashuchika again due to his disrespect.
...
"So... You went to the beach with the host club and your sister had to fight two perverts?"
The three middle school girls were sitting near the Kawashima pool gossiping amongst themselves. They decided to skip going to school today as Kai feigned illness to prevent anyone from reporting her misbehavior to her father or the school. Shouta, Sora, and even their driver Denji all left without her, knowing good and well that Kai was full of it, but none of the three-spoke up against her.
Saki blew out smoke from he Juul* while she talked, accidentally blowing directly into Kai's face. Kai coughed and tried to wave away the smoke taking up the air around her.
Although she truly couldn't care less about her friend smoking near her, the young athlete wouldn't dare raise a cigarette to her own lips. The fear of getting caught was one thing, but the fear of doing damage to her lungs and affecting her swimming? Crippling.
"Yeah... It was super crazy. The really cute, quiet one with glasses called my Keito to come to pick me up, and I heard from Nagisa's older sister that the commoner saved Sora."
Nagisa put a finger on her chin in thought "Why'd they invite a middle schooler?"
Saki inhaled the smoke, "Cause they were afraid Kai would tell people the Tamaki Suoh went to Minato's party*, right?"
"Nah"
Both Saki and Nagisa look at the annoyed-looking Kai with confused eyes. Kai leans back into the lounge chair near her pool, "That could be a small part of it, sure.." Her eyebrows scrunch up in thought "But I feel like they were being sneaky inviting me behind Sora's back. Maybe they thought I'd give them some dirt on her or something."
Nagisa scoffs, "C'mon, Kai!" She jumps up, "My sister Kimiko* goes on and on about how nice everyone in the host club is! Why would they ever mess with one of their own like that?"
"I have a better question... Why are you three here?"
The sound of a deep voice shocked the girls, causing them to go stone-stiff and white in fear. Shakily, the three turn around to see the oldest Kawashima son, Keito, standing at the back door. Saki quickly throws back on her orange t-shirt and jeans and Nagisa collects her belongings and hides Saki's Juul in her own purse. She shoots Kai an apologetic look of concern and waves goodbye, "W-well me and Saki better be going we have- er, w-w-we-"
Saki grabbed Nagisa's hand, "...We have to go to school! Hope you get...less sick, Kai!"
The two quickly run out with dust of smoke trailing behind them. Keito lets out a long, exasperated sigh at the embarrassing sight. He walked over to Kai, who simply let out a small, nervous chuckle.
Keito was clean-cut and mature, having neatly styled black hair and relaxed brown eyes. He's handsome, and the tallest one in the family having reached 187cm*. He places a hand on Kai's forehead and almost chuckles, which was unusual for him because he was famously unfriendly. "You're not sick and your friends made you smell like cigarettes."
Kai smiles, knowing good and well Keito would never tell on her.
"Weren't you supposed to be flying back over to China, brother?" Kai asks. She stands up to give her oldest brother a brief but friendly hug, wrapping her small arms around his waist.
Keito, as the oldest child, was set to take over management in one of the main locations of A.K Entertainment. Their father is CEO of the entire corporation, but since A.K Entertainment is a multinational entertainment company, it had several different branches throughout the continent. Keito is the chief financial officer and president* of the Chinese branch.
He shrugs nonchalantly "I decided to stay a few days... After all-"
He hugs his little sister again and effortlessly brings her up to his face to slowly nuzzle her cheek against his own. His expression remained blank and his demeanor remained stoic, which did not match the affectionate action and flowery air around them. "...I have to make sure my precious sister is safe." He states blankly with zero emotion found anywhere in his voice
[...Sister complex?]
Kai doesn't say anything in response nor does her face change. After a while of being squeezed, she finally lets out a small giggle.
Kai was the only sibling Keito truly got along with. Perhaps it was because she was the quietest, or so easy-going, or because of her status as the youngest. But more likely, Keito felt especially close to her because of of all of his half-siblings, Kai was the only one who got along with his mother, Nagi.
The oldest Kawashima pats Kai on the head and allows a small smile on his face, only to quickly frown again in thought. "I still can't believe Sora would be so stupid to allow her middle school sister to go to Okinawa with a bunch of high school boys."
His angry tone and jab at Sora made a familiar feeling of guilt wash over Kai but she didn't dare speak up in Sora's defense. Technically, Sora could've sent Kai home the moment she realized she was there, so wasn't some of the fault hers?
...On the other hand, Sora didn't invite Kai in the first place. So... no.
Kai sighs and shakes her head. Despite really wanting to ignore it, Kai's guilt is starting to overwhelm her. But, really. Isn't Sora at fault just a little? She shouldn't be in that club in the first place, right?
...
...
Damn.
"Keito? Please don't tell mom* about this."
The words slipped out of her mouth before she could further debate it. It felt unnatural for the fourteen year-old to even say.
Keito's eyes widen a bit, "What do you mean?"
"Don't tell Nagi about me going to the beach, Sora letting me go with her friends, don't tell her about anything Minato..." Kai looks up at her oldest brother with pleading eyes, "Please don't tell mom about any of us."
Keito frowns. Kai was usually the first to criticize Sora and the rest of the Kawashima siblings, so this type of behavior was... surprising, to say the least. Kai was also not afraid of the Kawashima matriarch in any way so to be so adamant of Keito not letting his mother know any of their misbehavior was also out of character for the girl. Keito sighs.
"Fine. I won't tell her any of that, but..."
He pats Kai on the head again "This won't make the family meeting any easier."
Kai laughs dryly and crosses her arms.
"Trust me onii-san*, I know."
[Six hours later]
[The Kawashima Residence]
"You look like someone's mom, Kai."
Kai flinches and shakily turns back around to glare at her older brother Shouta, who was dressed equally stupid.
Nagi Kawashima, the mother of Keito and wife of the Kawashima patriarch, announced that they were all to get together for a dinner. What this usually meant is that Nagi is pissed at one of the illegitimate kids or wants to make a 'professional' announcement. It was always a formal event and all of the kids had to dress for the occasion, which didn't suit any of them at all.
Kai was wearing a dark blue sweater tucked into a black pencil skirt. She did look like someone's mom. "Shut up." She rolled her eyes and pointed at his ears "Take your earrings out."
Shouta does a play, dramatic twirl and a hair toss "You don't like? But they go so well with my new haircut and suit~"
"A suit?!" A voice exclaims
Suddenly, the second oldest Kawashima son, Minato, runs into Kai's room. Minato's long light brown hair was tied in a bun and he wore a simple black button-up shirt with jeans. He gasps, "You guys think we're in enough shit for a suit?!"
Shouta laughs, "Dude... This has to be about me getting expelled. So I don't know about you, but I need to wear a suit."
Kai puts on a black headband to hold down a cowlick in the center of her hair, "Nah." She asserts vaguely while putting on a pearl necklace. Again, Kai was often a girl of few words. Especially when surrounded by her own family (with the exception of Keito, who was the only one she liked talking to)
"...Maybe dad knocked someone up again" Shouta jokes. Both Kai and Minato flinch fearfully at the suggestion.
"Don't even joke about that Sho!" Minato begs frantically while shaking his head, hands covering his eyes in fear.
Sora walks past the room, dressed just as formally as the rest. Sora was wearing a black sweater, black pencil skirt, and black tights underneath. She had also put on a light amount of makeup and put her hair in a high ponytail. Shouta walks out and stops Sora and tugs on her hand to signal that everyone was in Kai's room. Kai huffed a breath in annoyance and whipped back around to face away from her sister and onto her own appearance. No one seems to take notice (or they have just learned to ignore actions like that when it comes to Kai)
Minato points an accusatory finger at Sora "Maybe this is about another eligible bachelor for you! I won't allow it!"
Sora let out a long sigh. "I seriously doubt it."
Shouta snorts, "More importantly...I did say you-" He points at Kai "-look like a mom. But..." He flares his nostrils at Sora, "Why do you look like someone's mom at a funeral?"
Kai peeks at Sora through the reflection of the mirror. That.. was pretty accurate as well. The all black ensemble with pantyhose and no quirky accessories was unusual for Sora, who sported a deep frown on her face instead of the usual grin. Sora glares at her twin brother and scoffs, "I'm the one in trouble so I need to look my... best." She drifts off before shaking it her head "...Come on guys, Nagi-san is waiting."
Minato and Shouta exchange looks of confusion at Sora's comment and poor attitude, but follow her out nonetheless. Kai silently rolled her eyes at what she deemed as overdramatic behavior and puts on a bracelet.
Kai is the only one who knows that none of the Kawashima kids are in trouble, after all, she was the one who prevented Keito from snitching on any of them. Compared to the last dinner, which was about Shouta buying drugs-
Or the one before that, which was about Sora messing up everything South Korea*
Or the one before that, which was about Minato debuting with his band before finishing college or going into the family business-
Or the one before that... which was to announce their father was in the clear and not the biological father of about three more kids from three different women... This dinner should be a piece of cake.
Kai hustled out of her room and down to the main floor. The table was already set and her step-mother, Nagi, already sat at the head. Kai gave her a polite bow and small smile when the two make eye contact.
Nagi was not old by any means. She was only eighteen when she got married and nineteen when she had Keito, but she was aged by her mean look, constant frown, and preference for traditional, formal clothing. She had her short black hair neatly combed and tucked behind her ears by clips and bright red lipstick on to match her red kimono.
All of the children stood by the stairs, waiting for a signal to take a seat. Keito, who was already downstairs prepared, cleared his throat and waved everyone over, sitting right beside his mother. Kai felt Minato give her, and the other two's, hands a quick squeeze, sensing the usual tension in the air.
The assistants and butlers all brought out the food and placed them accordingly. Minato sat across from Keito on the other side of Nagi and Shouta sat beside him. As usual, Kai took her set beside Keito, which left the final seat next to Kai to Sora. Awkwardly, Sora sat next to Kai and scooted her seat closer to the table. Kai fought off the urge to sigh and simply bowed her head at Nagi.
"Hello, mother." Kai greets with a polite tone and smile, "We haven't seen you in a while."
Nagi grabs her chopsticks and prepares to take the first bite of their main course, "I've been in China preparing to open up the acting school your father announced a few months ago. As you know, he wants the entertainment company to extend to school management. Performing arts-based schools, of course."
Her voice was cold and emotionless as always and she didn't even bother to look up at Kai while speaking. Nagi chews and swallows her food and no one dares to make a noise until she finished. She lets out a small noise to express her satisfaction and the Kawashima kids can almost feel the relief of the kitchen workers.
Nagi offers a quick glance to Shouta and scoffs, never humored by the sight of Shouta's piercings and messy hair. Shouta glares right back, having very little respect for his step-mother in the first place.
The woman ignores Shouta's disrespect and turns her attention to the one beside him. She gives Minato a look, "You should cut your hair. A man of your age shouldn't go around looking so feminine. You won't attract very respectable women* with hair like that, now would you?"
Yikes
Minato smiles and bites his tongue. He knew very well when to choose his battles with Nagi, and this was not one of those times. The 'women' comment was meant to be a low-blow, but the twenty-three year old chooses to ignore it. He sips water to try and control both his irritation and volume, "Where's father?" He asks, ignoring Nagi's statement. Sora nods her head in approval over the change in topic.
"I don't keep track of your father," Nagi explains while swirling her wine around in the glass "Perhaps he's busy with work, perhaps he's busy with women... Who's to say?"
The bitter jab at their father caused a cold feeling to wash over all of them. Even Keito, who was close with his mother and just as cold as her, was uncomfortable at the clear distaste she had for Akio Kawashima.
Nagi smirked at the cool chill in the air and turned her attention onto Sora "Anyways. It has come to my attention that you're involved in a club"
Sora flinches and feels her hands grow cold in fear. She bites her bottom lip nervously. Sora being in a "host club" was one thing, but the fact that Keito had threatened to let Nagi know of the beach trip and how Kai was allowed to go made Sora want to die.
Akio Kawashima is the patriarch, the CEO of A.K Entertainment, and more wealthy than his wife, but Nagi was the one with the power.
She runs the household with an iron fist.
She's the one calling the shots.
Sora gulps nervously "Y-yes I am! The boy you set me up with? In the marriage meeting*, Kyoya Ootori? He runs a club with Tamaki Suoh."
Nagi takes another bite, "I'm aware." She lets out a small laugh, "That 'Suoh' family are an interesting little bunch, aren't they? That Tamaki boy collected a bunch of little misfits to be in his club. I find that charming, don't you? Sora?"
Her statement was supposed to hurt the girls' feelings, as evident by her mocking tone, and it did. However, the sixteen year old figured this was just the calm before the storm; no use wasting energy on the pre-game. The beach trip felt like weight dangling over her head as she waited for her step-mother to say something about it. Nagi dabs her mouth with a napkin, "That being said... Good job."
Sora's eyes practically pop out of her head at those words. Shouta, Minato, and even Keito do a poor job of hiding their shock at what sounds like praise coming out of the matriarchs mouth. Only Kai keeps a straight face.
Nagi goes on, "The Ootori's provide medical care to us, and the celebrities under the entertainment company, the Hitachiin's are designers for us, and Suoh's family has a marvelous history in business and fabulous wealth despite the issue of the half-breed himself. You were being a very clever girl when you joined that club. You did well listening to my—" she pauses "your fathers advice and becoming allies with that family."
"I..." Sora stops herself and hides her trembling hands, "Thank you, Nagi-san."
Kai and Sora glance at each other. Kai doesn't smile or speak up. She simply offers her older sister a small nod, which causes Sora to immediately understand why Nagi didn't bring up the beach trip:
Because she doesn't know about it.
Sora nods backs gratefully. She'd thank the girl later, but now's not the time. Both girls turn their attention back to Nagi, who had an sinister air to her as always.
Nagi takes a sip of wine and taps her fingers on the table, creating an even more nerve-wracking environment for the rest of the family. She smiles, "I didn't just come here to give you all notes, and I must be going soon if I want to take the family jet back to China. I just have an announcement to make."
Minato clears his throat and smiles "What's your announcement, Nagi-San?"
Nagi's long smile didn't suit her face. It made her lips seem thin and wide, and almost looked creepy. The woman pushes her half-empty plate forward and allows one of the butlers to take it away. Cheerfully, Nagi claps her hands together "I'm pregnant!"
...
...
...
"You're what?" Comes out of the fourteen-year-old Kai's mouth, her head tilted and her mouth agape.
Usually surprises didn't phase her but... this? This was... a lot.
Nagi hums happily in response, "I'm going to be having a baby, Kai."
Sora and Kai just stare at the woman with the widest eyes and ghostly pale skin, both holding back the urge to scream. Keito, Minato, and Shouta look traumatized but Shouta shakily raises his hand as if he were in a classroom, "A-a-ah... As in with... Dad's baby?"
Nagi nods, "Don't ask such a foolish and offensive question. Of course it's Akio's baby."
"Oh my god."
Nagi snaps her fingers and the rest of her dishes are quickly carried away to be washed. She stands up and allows her assistant to dust her off and push her chair in, "This baby is the first since my son to be legitimate, and because of that I ask you all to listen to me."
She snaps her head back and looks at each of the Kawashima children, "None of you are to contact your mothers from this point on."
Sora shakes off her intial shock and disgust at the announcement of Nagi's pregnancy, "I'm sorry?"
"None of you-" Nagi repeats, "Are to contact your mothers ever again. Not Tomoe, not Seika-" She looks at Sora and glares, "And not Shino either."
Kai blinks absent-mindedly at the request. Akio Kawashima couldn't give a shit about reputation if he tried; but Nagi? She had to fight the media, the family, their mothers, their workers, everyone, just to uphold their reputation.
Again, it's clear as day that four of the five Kawashima children weren't related to Nagi. They look nothing like her. But Nagi paid a good sum of money to both fake medical documents and bribe gossiping magazines. Everyone can have their suspicions, sure, but Nagi had 'evidence' of their legitimacy, and anyone who dared to say otherwise would face a hearty lawsuit.
'After all that, it makes sense that Nagi doesn't want us putting her hard work at risk.' Kai thinks to herself, nodding silently. She looks towards her siblings in search of a physical response similar to her own but doesn't find it.
Shouta balls his hand into a fist, "But why!? That doesn't make sense."
Nagi scoffs, "It does. The media doesn't know all of you-" She motions to everyone except Keito, "-Are illegitimate, but anyone who pays attention can guess that you are...For too long we risked letting word get out that you all have different mothers because we let you all still talk with them...Not anymore. This child will be born into a respectable family and if any of you defile that in any way-"
Her thin smile from earlier returns "You'll simply be out of this family."
...
Kai stared up at the now-night sky, feet in their family pool. Nagi had left straight after the "family dinner" was over and forced Keito to travel back with her. Her announcement and her new rules affected each of them differently.
Minato who was simply perplexed on how Akio, who not-so-secretly hated his wife could get her pregnant, was just going to ignore the rule. Minato is grown, nearly done with college, and in a popular band. Even if he were to get kicked out of the main house and left without a dime, he'd have something to fall back on.
And, well, don't tell Nagi, but he has a boyfriend he'd be able to live with push-come-to-shove. So Minato was more than willing to risk Nagi's anger for his mom.
Shouta, on the other hand, was furious. He struggles with authority as it is, so there was never any chance of him listening to anything Nagi was going to say in the first place. Ironically, Nagi's announcement and demands at dinner distracted her from punishing Shouta over getting dismissed from Ouran. He'd be fine. Shouta is always fine, Sora too.
And Kai? Kai doesn't care. At all.
Kai's mother, Seika, was.. young when she got pregnant by Akio. She was a university student who didn't have time to raise a child and was stressed out by not only the fact that she was now raising a wealthy child, but that she was legally obligated to keep Kai's parentage a secret or to give her up. Annoyed by it all, Seika essentially just dropped Kai off at her mother's house one day and never came back for her. Too overwhelmed by the idea of raising another kid at her age and dealing with rich folks, Seika's mother quickly gave Kai up too. Now both grandmother and mother alike don't even speak to Kai.
Shino, on the other hand, adored Shouta and Sora and did everything she could to talk to them*
"Kai?" Sora calls out, coming to the backyard to talk to her younger sister. Kai didn't turn around, deep in thought.
Shino was still involved in her children's life despite the constant threats Nagi would give to her. Shino fears no one.
"Kai? Can we talk?"
In fact, no wonder Nagi banned Shino in particular. It's almost as if...dad wanted children with Shino even if they couldn't be married. He wanted to be with her.
...
...
"KAI!"
"I'm jealous of you, Sora!"
Both girls paused and jump away from each other in shock, taken aback by Kai's confession. Kai felt her face grow red at her statement, not wanting to admit to Sora the very thing she's never wanted to admit to herself. Sora blushes as well, shocked by Kai's proclamation, "What!? Jealous of what!"
Kai groans and sits back down onto the ground. She buries her head into her hands, "Ugh..." Kai hates being emotional like this and if feels like recently her sister is the one to bring out this side of her.
"You're clumsy and stupid, you don't put in as much work into the family as me and Keito do, you stopped performing music because of.." Kai drifts off and makes eye contact with Sora. "Well, you know why.. Which is so stupid to me. I work hard everyday and yet you're dads favorite! It's not fair... I'm tired of feeling like an outsider in my own family."
A deafening silence follows after Kai's confessions, both girls unsure how to go on. This was the most Kai had ever spoken out loud to Sora before... ever. The two Kawashima sisters never had a conversation that wasn't either incredibly brief or incredibly tense and angry. After collecting her thoughts for a moment, Sora cautiously sits down besides Kai, who has to resist the urge to scoot away.
"Kai... You shouldn't make it sound like I live an easy life compared to you." Sora raises her hand up to stop Kai from immediately protesting in her defense. Kai pouts, but lets her sister continue nonetheless "All of us; you, me, Sho, Mina, and even Keito, all have our own relationship and feelings towards dad. You say I'm his favorite but...I sure don't feel like it."
Sora scrunches up her face, "..If I'm being frank dad is... well you know dad. And I don't really get along with my mom either, if that's what you're wondering."
Oh?
That was news to Kai. Shino seemed so kind and loving towards the twins, and Shouta praised her as the worlds best mom to everyone in the house who was willing (or hell, even those who weren't willing) to listen. The younger sister frowned at the revelation, feeling slightly naïve for assuming Shino and Sora got along. She didn't want to ask why or what the issue with Shino was, instead letting her older sister ramble on as she tended to do.
"...As for the whole 'outsider' thing.." Sora continues, "That's how you make me feel, Kai."
Kai's eyes widen and she stares at Sora with her mouth slightly hanging open in surprise.
Sora, for the first time in a while, feels comfortable enough to keep talking to her little sister and goes on, "You are the only one out of any of us to get along with Keito and you're so popular and so undeniably gifted even Nagi never criticizes you! I've always wanted that! Nagi just thinks of me as a fuck-up, but you? She thinks you're totally perfect!"
Kai's stunned by her sister's confession but her face quickly twists into a glare, "You could be like that too, you're just afraid to stand up to anyone in the family."
"Well, yeah" Sora shrugs, "Why wouldn't I be? The only one not afraid of Nagi is you, Kai."
Something about that statement fills Kai with an energy she's never had before. Kai always pictured herself as that little eight-year-old girl she was back at that party years ago. Lonely, digging herself out of a dark path filled with monsters while her siblings all walked the other path towards the light, with Akio and their moms, away from any fear or judgment.
But now the fourteen-year-old girl understands that she's not that eight-year-old girl; she never truly has been. She's always been just as big and strong as the rest of her siblings and they've always been walking that same path
The same dark path, surrounded by the same monsters. But at least they were together.
Kai looks up at Sora and, for the first time ever, gives her a genuine smile. "Sora," She says, "We have to do something about Nagi and dad."
Sora gives Kai a gentle smile back "That'd be great, but.." She sighs and brings her knees up to her chest, "Nagi's too much. As much as I want to break them up or expose Nagi for the controlling bitch she is, or expose dad for being a slimy dude... I'm not losing my family name and future. It's too scary."
Kai scoffs at Sora's pessimistic statement and stands up, pacing around energetically "Oh please! Nagi totally married into money when she got with dad. We're Akio's heirs, not her. She has no right or the power to prevent any child from seeing their mother."
Sora's eyes go wide and she stares up at Kai, "That reminds me of...Tamaki. His grandmother doesn't allow him to speak to or see his mother."
Kai knew what her sister was doing. Sora famously puts things in 'to-be-discussed' later category to avoid thinking about things that are hard for her to deal with. The older sister was just trying to change the subject. Luckily, Kai wasn't one to give up that easily.
"Then... One day, once we deal with all of our issues, we'll do something to help Tamaki too." Kai states, holding a hand out for Sora to grab
"What do you say?"
Sora grins happily at the reconciliation between her and Kai, relieved by finally getting rid of the bad blood between the two by talking for what seems like the first time ever. Sora accepts her hands and stands up, only to be shoved into the pool by Kai.
Kai smirks and sticks her nose up, "Clumsy."
[The next day]
[Ouran Middle School, Class 3-A]
"Haninozuka! Good morning!"
Yasuchika, "Chika", Haninozuka turned around at the sound of his classmates calling his name.
[Yasuchika Haninozuka, 14]
[Follows the motto: Be strict with yourself, be strict with others]
The boy who called out to him was a baseball player named Riku. Riku skips up to the youngest Haninozuka and claps his hands together as if he were praying, "Could you please let me copy off of your math homework? I forgot we have to present our answers today..."
Chika closes his eyes and sets his stuff down on his desk, trying to ignore the pitiful look on Riku's face. "Isn't math in the afternoon?" Chika says, "I'm sure if you work on it between the morning and lunch break you can get it done on your own."
Even though no one asked him too, Chika continued. "Before you ask others for help, you should put in your greatest effort. I refuse to help anyone who doesn't do that." He says, a scary glare appearing over his big glasses. Riku started crying and retreats into the arms of his best friend Haru and the rest of the gossiping baseball boys. Haru pats Riku on the back, "Yasuchika is as mean as always.."
"You idiot! You shouldn't have asked Haninozuka in the first place" Another boy whispers
A fourth boy shrugs, "But isn't his older brother in the high school department a lot nicer?"
At that, Chika stiffens in annoyance. He tries his hardest to just ignore the gossip and mention of his brother. The baseball boys continue their thoughtless gossip about Mitsukuni Haninozuka.
"Well... he's cuter than he is 'nice' I would say"
"He's sooooo tiny and always super cheery!"
"The one always hugging a stuffed toy?"
"Yeah... Yasuchika should take a page out of his book and learn how to smi-"
Before Yasuchika could lash out at the gossiping boys, he feels a hand tug on the back of his blazer. Suspecting Satoshi, he shakily turns around, prepared to be hit on the head by some sort of object. Instead of his cousin, he sees the Kawashima girl from yesterday holding onto him. Kai had her brown blazer cropped and her skirt shortened to fit her better and she was standing somewhat too close to Chika with an emotionless frown on her face.
The girl clicks her tongue, "You're lame." She states matter-of-factly
Chika shook off his initial surprise and scoffs, "Did I ask for your opinion?"
"No."
Chika felt an eye twitch, "Then why would you approach me with your insults? Keep it to yourself."
"Nah."
Her one word replies were starting to make annoyed veins pop in Chika's head, causing him to slap her hand off of his blazer. Before Satoshi, who had just walked into the classroom, could scold his cousin for being rude to a girl, Kai let out a genuine giggle at Chika's comment. Her friends, Nagisa and Saki, stare in confusion at the sight of Kai interacting with the karate club leader, but they remain at their seats nonetheless, watching the drama unfold.
Kai stops giggling and smiles at her classmate, "No need to be rude. Let's be friends."
The baseball boys all back away, somewhat ashamed by the fact Yasuchika can hurt their feelings but not hers, Nagisa and Saki's jaws drop, and Yasuchika just rolls his eyes, assuming she was attempting to mock him. "Could you move? I need to get to my seat."
Kai smiles again and tucks a part of her red-brown hair behind her ear, "Of course." She bows politely and moves aside, feeling the angry energy behind her, "As you wish."
At that signal, Satoshi comes over and whacks Yasuchika on the head, knocking him out. Satoshi Morinozuka, younger brother of Mori, and lifelong companion of Chika scolds the unconscious Chika about him mistreating Kai before turning his attention back onto the girl, who was now sitting on top of Chika's desk.
Satoshi smiles, "We know each other, right? Not only did we meet the other day by the pool, but our siblings get along! They're in the same club, right?"
"Yup" Kai happily confirms. Her tone didn't give much away but her willingness to associate with her sister throws her friends off even more. Kai's expression goes blank for a second in thought before allowing a small, gentle smile to grace her face, "So.. Let's be friends, huh? Morinozuka and Haninozuka-kun?"
Chika groans and attempts to protest against that, only to be hit by Satoshi once again.
Satoshi's bright cheery smile practically blinds Kai, "We'd be happy too! Lets all get along!"
The entirety of the class gossip at the sight of the three and the exchange they just witnessed. Saki crosses her arms and grins happily, "That's our Kai, alright~" She gives her friend a playful wink from across the room, "Doesn't say much but still somehow manages to befriend the most popular guys in school."
Nagisa sighs tiredly, "That girl is more like her sister Sora than we ever thought."
Chapter end
Face claims: Saki is based on Saki Yoshioka from Idol master and Nagisa based on Nagisa Aino from Idol Master if you need a visual reference. To see Kawashima siblings face claims refer back to previous chapters
Author Notes:
WOO! Now I can finally finish writing the Lobelia chapter now that I got one of the "filler" (non-episode) chapters out! I hope you guys don't mind this!
My biggest pet peeve with the Ouran anime is that THEY CUT SATOSHI MORINOZUKA OUT! How can you have a Chika without a Satoshi? They're so cute :( So I had to bring Satoshi back into the mix
Did any manga readers catch that the asking Chika for his math homework thing happens in the manga? Chapter 30 to be exact!
Also from this point on, I'm trying to move it forward so I can start incorporating manga only events into the story. I try to mention how time is passing so I can include the Football club drama, Hikaru dyeing his hair, Kaoru confessing to Haruhi, Haruhi falling in love with Tamaki, Mori, and Honey graduating, and all of Tamaki's family drama in this story without making it too long. I'm excited!
Chapter Notes (there's a lot oops)
*this is one of several hints about Nagi and her dynamic with the kids/Akio's babymamas that will be explained in a couple chapters
*Yasuchika is asking Kai to leave the pool while the karate club uses the locker room is because he doesn't want any of the karate club members to act up around her. Plus, Ouran has a rule about males and females using the same space for non-coed sports and since Kai swims for a female league, Chika doesn't wanna risk getting in trouble (He's not a bad boy he's a rule follower uwu)
*A shinai is a "sword" made out of bamboo
*The party they're referring to refers to the party the host club attended in whats technically Chapter 7, "You Guys Aren't Invited!"
*Nagisa is mentioned in the last chapter. Kimiko is one of Haruhi's guest (the one with short light brown hair) and Nagisa's older sister
*187 CM is 6'1. Keito Kawashima is one inch shorter than Mori senpai, who is 6'2
*Keito particularly controls the financial aspects of his branch of the company and is pretty much the boss of his branch.
*Kai occasionally refers to Nagi as mother since Kai is so distant from her bio-mom.
*Onii-san is a formal way of saying big brother.
*The "marriage meeting" between Sora and Kyoya takes place in what's technically Chapter 5 "Kyoya and Sora's Awkward First Date!"
*Shino and Sora have a complicated relationship, which Kai finds out this chapter. The narration was from Kai's point of view which why it suggests that the two are close even though thats not true. Shino will be formally introduced in Akio's chapter
-Comments-
purplekittycatofthemoon- Why, thank you! She loves you too! Tbh I try to make sure Sora isn't too Mary Sue cause I feel like when I first started writing this she was a little too quirky and predictable so I try to showcase her dumb and human side a little more. She'll improve over time! Thank your for the review! :)
I love you all! Thank you so much for reading!
Make sure to follow, fave, and review for more! It motivates me!
Next chapter is: A Challenge from Lobelia Girls' Academy