"Oh," Ryuji looks over at Haruhi and I. I was holding the door open, waiting, while messing with my eyepatch. "You're not eating breakfast?"
"Mmm-mm," Haruhi shakes her head, slipping her shoes on. "Okay, well, we're off."
"Is it something talking to your dad won't help?" Ryuji asks.
"Why do you ask?" Haruhi replies with a question. "Really, I just don't want to eat this morning, that's all."
I Look down at my shoes. Haruhi really is lucky. Does she know that? I turn my gaze to the morning sky.
"There are certainly a lot of things in this world that you can't do anything about, try though you might." Ryuji walks up to Haruhi, setting his hand on her head, and pulls her into a hug. "Remember, Haruhi, this is exactly why you can't hesitate when it's time to stick things out."
We leave soon after. Before I close the door, I wave at Ryuji, smiling. "Sorry I can't eat, Ryuji. I'm sure it's really good."
I turn to leave, but Ryuji puts his hand on my shoulder. He doesn't say anything as my face grows dark with shame. When Ryuji takes his hand away, I start to walk again, without looking back.
I plaster another smile on my face quickly.
"Haruhi!" I call, running to catch up with the girl. I straighten the tie I was given the second week I had been going to this school. "Why didn't you eat? Aren't you going to be hungry later?"
"I'm just to nervous to eat, Char-chan," Haruhi replies simply. If only she knew...
The school was all fancied up for the school fair. Yesterday, I hadn't been there to help set up, but Kyoya had sent me pictures. It really was beautiful. I heard the Ouran Fair was one of the main events of the year. I had been excited to go since I first heard about it, which was last week. Tamaki wants me to help, and be in the parade with them. I don't know why, though. I'm not even part of the club.
I sulk off to the side, like I usually do, waiting for something to do. I watch Kyoya walk up to a woman. She looks out of place.
"Welcome," Kyoya says, setting a tea cup down in front of her.
"Youre one of the sons of the Ootori family, right?" The woman askes. Her voice is sly. I don't like her. "But as the third son, no matter how hard you struggle, you'll never succeed the family."
That little bastard! How dare she, mention his family at a time like this? Kyoya ignores the comment, however, and goes on to ask, "What would you like today?"
Is he... doing my job?
"How much of Haruhi Fujoka's debt remains?"
"Haruhi," Kyoya looks over at Haruhi, who was passing with a cart. "You've been requested."
I walk over and take the cart from Haruhi, smiling for her to go over. The woman's big, blue eyes glare back at us. What a bitch.
"Kyoya? Do you know her?" I sidle up to him, pushing the cart along.
"That is Éclair Tonnerre," Kyoya replies. "Tamaki's new fiancée."
I stop in my tracks. "Finacée? But... Haruhi likes Tamaki! No wonder she was so nervous this morning. How dare she?"
"We cannot do anything. If Tamaki is to get married, he is to get married. And the Host Club is to disband tomorrow," Kyoya tells me monotoneously, and steps forward to Takashi, Mitsukuni, Hikaru and Kaoru. "Now then, no more idle chatter. Our guests are waiting."
I bite my lip. Why today? Why does everything happen without me? And then I have to... Shit. My life sucks right about now. "Kyoya-senpai. Do excuse me. I will be but a moment." I nearly slip into English, talking so formally.
Slyly, I walk to a corner and rest my head against the wall. I've felt so... human lately. "Sebastian-sensei." I sense him behind me.
"Charlotte-san," Sebastian stands next to me facing the other way. "Do you remember that time you got drunk on wine at an occasian like this?"
"No. I don't. But that may be becuse I was drunk," I scoff. Waiting a moment, i think. "Is anything the same since I was last there?"
Sebastian nods. "There a few things. Undertaker's funeral parlor is still standing, somehow. Buckingham palace is still there as well. As with the manor, though the townhouse has been moved."
"And Funtom?"
"Still up and running."
"Good."
"What time would you like to leave?" Sebastian askes, turning to face me.
I smirk a little. "Still playing the lavish butler, are we? I though you would have given up by now. Or do you refuse to admit that you like us?"
I notice Sebastain grit his teeth. "I will tell the Young Master to have the plane ready by five. That should give you enough time, should it not?"
I nod silently, swivling on my heel. "Kyoya wants me. I must be off then. See you around, Michaelis."
"You as well, Miss Charlotte," Sebastain bows, before walking away.
"Kyoya-senpai. What's wrong?" I ask, sliding a cup of tea onto the table next to his computer.
"Would you mind telling me why in the world you happen to be leaving today?" Kyoya askes, his glasses glaring in the light of his computer, but he doesn't look up at me.
I bite my lip again. "Why does it everything happen when I'm not here? Tamaki getting engaged? The Host Club disbanding? I was gone for one day. One day! And now..."
Kyoya's eyes shift over, and his meet mine. "You never answered my question, Charlotte-chan."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I lie, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"You have lied too many times," Kyoya's voice turns harsh. "You were gone all of yesterday, with 'family problems', as you say, and Michaelis-sensei was asking you about a plane, was it?"
"Shut up, Ootori," I say quietly.
"Another habit you have, calling a person by their surname when annoyed or nervous."
"That's not true."
"Oh, but it is."
"Nothing is going on."
"There is, though."
"Shut up! I don't want to talk about it!"
This time, Kyoya turns back to his computer. "Okay."
I don't know what to say. I just nod and turn, my hands balling into fists at my own stupidity. How could I do this? I'm so... horrible.
All of a sudden, I feel a sharp pain. Looking back down at my hand, blood is dripping down my wrist. That's... impossible! How ? How could this happen? I watch it, and it didn't close. It didn't heal. It's like... I was human again... The feeling of prolonged pain is odd. And I oddly enjoy it. The feeling of being normal overwhelms me with happiness. But still... this shouldn't happen. How could this be?
I have no idea. But I love it.
***
I watch Kyoya put his phone down again. Tamaki isn't picking up, but we have a parade to do. The sun has started to dip into the horizon, illuminating the Vice President with a warn, yellow light. His face is concerned, though no one else can realize it.
"What is with this outfit?" Haruhi demands. I sit next to her on the floor, messing with the tassels on the side of my dress. She is in a beautiful pink dress I love, but mine is better. It looks the same as Haruhi's, but the colors are different. Phantomhive blue, I call it, as it is almost the same shade as Ciel's ring. The parts that are yellow on Haru's are silver on mine, and the white parts are the same. I love it. I reminds me of my childhood.
"We told you, it's a costume for the special parade," Kaoru says, almost annoyed.
"Haru-chan! You and Char-chan look so cute!" Mitsukuni looks so happy.
"No, not that. Why am I the only host dressed like a girl?"
"Who cares? This is cosplay," Hikaru leans forward matter-of-factly. "so dressing like a girl is completely okay!"
"Cosplay? Are you kidding?" I stand, twirling. "This was in style, say, about a hundred years ago. Not that long."
"Exactly!" Mitsukuni jumps up and hugs me. "I've seen pictures!" As he jumped down, he winks at me. So... old Phantomhive pictures... I wonder where he got those.
"Well?" Kaoru looks over at Kyoya.
"No good. He's not answering," Kyoya sighs. He looks so sad. He actually liked Tamaki, then. I stared down at my hand. Kyoya had given me gloves, for some reason. The white fabric covers the cut, but the bandage could faintly be seen beneath it.
Miss Charlotte!
I almost jump at the sudden voice of Sebastian. Michaelis!Don't... startle me.
The plane was supposed to leave an hour and a half ago! We will not wait anymore!
You know what? Leave without me! If I go back to England, I could...
I look up at Kyoya, who is looking out the window. His head turns to listen to the comments on Tamaki, but I don't listen. Last time I went to England... I look down at my hands. I don't notice, but my eyes flash red momentarily, remembering. Kyoya's eyes look to mine, before taking out his phone and calling a different number.
"Char-chan?" Mitsukuni looks down at my face, worry in his eyes. "Are you okay?"
I smile, looking up at him. "Yeah! I'm okay."
Miss Charlotte. The Young Master wishes to speak with you. Please come to the airport.
Shush, Michaelis! I am not going! That is my decision.
"That idiot!" Kyoya's voice breaks the sudden silence. We all turn to him. "Tamaki is planing to return to France."
"Tama-chan is leaving?" Mitsukuni asks, his eyes full of sadness.
"You've got to be kidding! I'm not about to let this end so suddenly!" Hikaru exclaims.
"Hikaru..." Kaoru looks at his brother.
Kyoya listens to the phone some more, before he looks out the window, leaning forward. "Tamaki!"
We all rush to the window, and watch as French Bitch and Tamaki are driven off the campus.
"Tama-chan!" Mitsukuni presses his hands to the window.
"Sir!" Kaoru does the same. "The Ouran Fair isn't over yet!"
I sit next to Haruhi, looking up at her. We are the only ones who didn't move.
"My family's car should be in the parking lot!" Kyoya responds.
"Haru...-chan?" I whisper. "I'm sorry..."
"Let's go, Haruhi!"
Haruhi looks up upon Kyoya's request. I urge her up,and Kyoya, Me, Hikaru, Kaoru, and her take off. Once we get down to the parking garage on the elevator, we follow Kyoya to his car. But I stop when then keep running.
Sebastian stands next to a black car, waiting expectedly. Our eyes lock, and he starts to walk forward when I run to catch up to the other four.
Miss Charlotte. You promised the Young Master that you would come.
I keep running, tugging at my hairpiece. I can't let Haruhi down!
You told him you would always keep your promises.
I slow a bit as a memory floods my senses. 'Charlotte!' Ciel calls out, running down the courtyard path. I run to him, my arms open in embrace.
'Ciel!' I reply, hugging my older brother that I had loved so dearly.
'I had started to think you would never return,' Ciel hugs back, letting his walking stick clatter to the ground.
Edward looks on behind us from the carragie, smiling before leaving. I turn and wave back before resuming my hug on Ciel. 'Didn't I tell you? I always keep my promises to you!"
I always keep my promises to you. The sentence echos in my head. I watch as the Black Onion squad begins to surround my friends. My friends. I turn and look back at the demon butler.
"I do keep my promises, Michaelis. And I always look out for the people I love."
I sprint to them, clearing the way for the carriage pounding behind me. Some of the men fall over as Takashi heels the horses. Mitsukuni jumps out, a grim look on his face.
"Use the carriage," Takashi tells the four behind him. "If you take the back hills bypass, you can cut them off. He too, jumps off. I look up at him, and he nods.
"It's Haninozuka and Morinozuka," One of the men manages, and the group around us backs off.
The twins get into the carriage, Hikaru at the reigns. Kyoya pushes Haruhi forward, and the carriage takes off again.
"What are you doing?!" A man cries. "Stop that carriage!" But Mitsukuni jumps on his head, and blocks the men from going to the carriage.
"Takashi, Charlotte," Mitsukuni says, his cute demeanor gone. "be sure to pull your punches!" He charges forward into the mass of black.
"I know," Takashi replies, as I surge into the men as well.
After about fifteen minutes, all of the Black Onion Squad were piled up in front of us. Us being, Me, Mitsukuni, Takashi, and Kyoya. Mitsukuni wipes off his hands, as Takashi vracks his neck. "I told you, picking on my friends was a no-no!"
"Don't think you can get the best of the Ouran Host Club," Kyoya adds.
I wipe dust of my skirt and shoulders. "Aww, dang. I ripped a seam." True enough, half the skirt was hanging lopsided against the rest of the fabric. I look up. There he is again. I grit my teeth, and lean over next to Kyoya.
"I'm sorry," I whisper in his ear.
Using my demon speed, I run over to Sebastian, where he allows me to get into the car.
"You love that man, don't you?"
I look up, and see my brother sitting next to me, his eye forward. I feel my eyepatch fall off, revealing my mark.
I wring my hands together, not replying. Do I love him? Can I love him? I watch as Kyoya's glasses glint again while we are passing. His hand waves minisculy.
It was at this time, I knew.
Kyoya Ootori would stay with me forever.
***
A few months pass, and Ryuji Fujioka was sitting in a chair sorting through his mail, when his cell phone rang. The man picked up, and was suprised to hear the voice on the other end.
"Is this Fujioka Ryuji?"
"Yes, it is."
"I'm Suoh Yuzuru. We have spoken before?"
"Yes, sir, I do believe so."
"I have called to inform you that your daughter will be able to attend Ouran High for the next year, and the next four years of her tuition have been payed off."
"What?" Ryuji was shocked at the sudden news. "Do you know who paid them?"
"No, the money was anonymous, and it was specified that it be used for you."
"O-oh. Anything else?"
"No sir. I hope to see Haruhi-san in the coming months. Good-bye."
"Good-bye, sir." Ryuji closed the phone, and set it down. At the movement, a letter fell from the pile and onto the ground. Ryuji Fujioka, it read, Apartment 203.
The man immediately recognized the handwriting and snatched it up off the ground, before ripping it open. Inside was a letter and a check. Ryuji read the letter, and started crying as his eyes read the letter over and over again.
Dear Ryuji,
It has been a couple months now, and I just wanted to check up on you. I didn't really know your address, so I had Sebastian deliver it last night. How are you? I hope everything is okay. England... changed, A lot. But I'm adjusting. It's weird, living like a noble again after being on the run for so long. I occurred to me a few days ago that I had never really said thank you for everything that you have done for me.
I never realized how much you and Haruhi meant to me until I left. You put up with my struggles, and were accepting of how different I was. No matter how many times I had tried to run away from you, or expressed how much I didn't like you, you stood your ground and allowed me to come to my senses. You let me go on for hours in the middle of the night, when you knew you had to work the next day, about my life, and my hardships. I always felt guilty afterwards. I never let you talk about yourself.
Now, I have business in England. I have a poem to decode, and murders to solve. I haven't made a contract yet, nor to I plan to. I started growing out my hair, too. I thought maybe it would help me get used to my life now, but I still miss my life there. How is Haruhi doing? Did she pass exams? I don't go to school here, yet. I've heard Sebastian talk about it, but I have no plans to go unless I go back to Ouran, which is a very low chance.
Just so you know, I'm the one who gave you that money for Haruhi's tuition. You two have enough to worry about, and school payments will be one less thing. Enclosed is a check for 11,000,000,000 yen. I hope you use it for something useful. Maybe you could come to England to see me. Or grocery money, your choice.
I miss you. I really do. You and Haruhi are the best family I could have asked for. And Ryuji? I want to thank you. Thank you for being my father.
With Love,
Charlotte Phantomhive.