Warning: This chapter has mentions of abuse, mostly in the later part of the story. The most descriptive section has been labeled with a viewer discretion warning. A summary is provided at the end for those who cannot read the labeled section.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I was finishing up my second piece of cake with Honey-Senpai, I looked at the time and then proceeded to choke on the bite of cake I was eating. Honey-Senpai panicked, flitting around me without knowing what to do while I coughed my soul out. Mori-Senpai quickly ran to grab a glass of water while Nii-Sama came rushing over and began hitting my back. When Mori-Senpai came back with the water, I quickly gulped it down and thanked him once I was able to breathe properly.

"Karino! What happened?!" Nii-Sama asked, crouching down in front of the couch I was sitting on, worried out of his mind. I waved him off.

"I'm okay. I'm okay. Don't worry!" I said with a large smile once I was able to recover my breath. "I just remembered though! I have a competition I need to practice for!"

"What is it for this time? Piano? Didn't you just have a piano recital?" Nii-Sama asked. I shook my head.

"Nii-Sama, I just had a cello competition last Wednesday. In 3 days, Thursday, is my piano competition. My last piano competition was two weeks ago, Nii-Sama." I huffed.

"Ah, yes. What is it this time? A classical piece composed by Chopin and then what?" Nii-Sama trailed off in thought.

"A self composed piece," I filled in. "I practiced Chopin's 12 Etudes, Op 10 for the classical piece. For my own composition..." I stared at Nii-Sama who I realized had never heard my piece yet. I smiled brightly and innocently. "I'll show you right now."

I looked to Honey-Senpai who was staring at me in confusion.

"Ah, do you have a piano?" I asked him cutely. He snapped out and it and gave me a big smile.

"Of course we do! This is a music room after all!" He led me to a closed curtain, pulling it back to reveal a Steinway grand piano. Wow. I guess I should've expected only the best for this castle. It took me a few moments of admiring the instrument before I remembered that I had to practice.

I bounded down to my bag to grab my sheet music, one of which was hand written in pen. They were both secured in one of those extra long piano binders. Placing the binder on the piano, I turned to face the Host Club and my brother and bowed before sitting down on the seat. I took a deep breath and imagined myself in the large concert hall. Opening my eyes and focusing on feeling the music, I played the first note.

~~~

Each participant in this concert was allowed up to an hour for the classical piece and up to fifteen minutes per composition, though most probably wouldn't reach that limit . For the host club, I played my composition, which I titled 'Goodbye Memories'

As I ended the piece, I lowered my hand gracefully off the piano, waiting for the reaction of the club. When silence followed, I started panicking internally. Did I play something wrong? Did I pick the wrong song? Do I have enough time to write a new song if they said it wasn't good?

I looked over to the group slowly, scared for their reaction.

"Uhmmm..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, I was attacked with a hug by the one and only Honey-Senpai who started shaking me and yelling saying that that piece was the most beautiful piece he had heard.

Tamaki had tears start running down his face and started mumbling something about a daughter. Isn't he only a second year? I don't think he has any children yet...

The rest of the club just stared at me in silence, even Watanuki-Nii-Sama. Finally, after a full minute of silence from the group, Kyoya-Senpai pulled out his smart phone and started searching for something. Once he found it, he put his phone on his black notebook and started writing as he read it out loud to the club.

"Karino Makoto, the Musical Prodigy. Just over 10 years ago, Karino Makoto lived normally with an average-income family. Her story is one of a girl who single-handedly brought her entire family from rags to riches through the pressure of competition and the pain of the death of a parent. Starting from age 5, she composed her very first piece and published it, gaining instant fame. The piece composed, a piano concerto, was said to be on par with Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Over the last 10 years, Miss Makoto has not only composed over 50 astounding pieces that are famously used in various recitals, movies and TV shows; she has also been the only known high school student to master over 25 instruments. At age 4, she started with the piano, eventually progressing to the violin, double bass, cello, flute, guitar, harp, viola, clarinet, ukulele, harmonica, ocarina, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, lyre, organ, trombone, marimba, trumpet, drums, oboe, mandolin, guqin, piccolo and the guzheng. Miss Makoto has competed in various competitions for composers to musicians and has successfully dominated the musical competition of any recital she attends. No judge has not heard of her name or her accomplishments. Every instrument she plays in any competition always places within the top 10, and usually within the top 3."

Kyoya stopped reading and closed the notebook with his phone still inside.

"Clearly, you are over-accomplished for an academy that doesn't focus on music. With your skills, a musical scholarship is the least we can offer to have you attend Ouran Academy." Kyoya stared me down, as if wondering why I decided to attend Ouran when I had not only finished my education on my own, but I had established myself in society and could very much so handle myself. I couldn't tell him that it was because as a minor, Watanuki-Nii-Sama and I are required by law to stay with our father. If Watanuki-Nii-Sama was 18, we would've gladly made our own living elsewhere far away from home, but alas that wasn't the case.

"Nii-Sama, how was my performance?" I asked with a cute, but anxious smile. He returned a similar smile to me.

"That was wonderful," he said sadly as he patted my head. We both knew that 'wonderful' wasn't always good enough. It depended too much on the judges and the other contestants during the recital. I could only practice it and hope for the best.

"Kari-chan! You're so talented!" Honey-Senpai exclaimed as he ran around the host club with Usa-chan. I put on the most convincing fake smile I had despite my anxiety.

"Thanks, Honey-Senpai!" I glanced over at Nii-Sama who also had put on a facade. However, we could read each other like an open book. Talent had no meaning here, only the result mattered.

"Ah, Kyoya-Senpai," I called out before he left to go do something else. He hummed in reply. "May I have permission to play the piano during club hours until my recital Thursday?"

Kyoya thought about it, and then mumbled something about free entertainment. Scribbling notes through his black notebook, he looked at me with a practiced business smile and agreed.

~~~

Throughout the week, Nii-Sama and I would make our way to the host club after school. I'm proud to say that I have memorized the paths from the front of the school to my classroom, from my classroom to the host club, and from the host club to the front. Anything outside of that triangle, I still need a guide for.

Nii-Sama was put to work while he was at the host club as well. He was their errand boy for the time being, or at least that's what the host club said. They mentioned something about his type and how he could attract girls and whatnot. I didn't really understand, but if Nii-Sama was fine with it, then I wouldn't say anything.

Nii-Sama, in general I think, didn't really do all that well as an errand boy. Not because he couldn't do it, but because he was so protective of me in the unfamiliar environment. Every day, girls came in and out, as well as the occasional boy, and I wasn't exactly comfortable, but I did what I had to so I could practice. Nii-Sama watched me like a hawk. If I got a paper cut from the sheets of music, he'd immediately drop what he was doing to give me a bandaid. If my hand cramped up, he'd start massaging my hand. I sadly knew the reason for his tension for the upcoming recital; he did this every time we approached a new recital.

On Wednesday, Kyoya-Senpai approached us and said that after my recital on Thursday, the two of us would be promoted to full-fledged hosts. Nii-Sama was declared the Protective Big Brother type and I was the Little Sister type. We were to entertain guests while keeping our determined images. Nii-Sama and I quickly agreed. Anything for a reason to stay later.

~~~

It was the day of the recital and Nii-Sama and I were backstage together. One family member could accompany you to the backroom where each performer was allowed a room to prepare. The room was fully furnished with a baby grand piano as well as a TV that projected the current performer on stage. We had the option to turn off the TV, but I wanted to hear the different pieces being played. It helped to calm my nerves before my own performance. The host club and my father were somewhere out in the audience. That fact made me shiver.

The performer before me was announced. I believe her name was Yuki Natsu. I stared at her on the screen as she bowed to the crowed and then sat down. Her first piece, the classical piece was Chopin's Op 25. I hate to admit it but she played it beautifully. Then came her composition, which also spelled the death of me.

I swear, she looked right at the camera as she announced her 'original' piece titled 'Goodbye Memories.' I shook heavily when she started playing the piece I had written. Nii-Sama too stared at the screen in shock. He knew that no matter what, I would never plagiarize someone else's work. It was too big of a risk for the two of us for me to copy someone's work with our current situation. For the first time in a while, Nii-Sama cursed this Yuki Natsu out. I stared at the screen blankly, not knowing what to do. Since it was a composition, I got careless and didn't prepare a second piece.

"N-Nii-Sama..." I trailed off as I stared at her playing the piece. The piece itself wasn't very long, and so I had to think of something quick.

"Karino, just - " Nii-Sama stopped himself, standing up and pacing while running his fingers in his silver hair. "Can you make something up on the spot?"

"I can, but it won't be as good as having a piece prepared..."

"It's better than getting disqualified for playing your piece." Nii-Sama gripped my shoulders tightly. "Karino, whatever happens on that stage, know that you tried your best and it isn't your fault. Its this Yuki Natsu girl's fault, okay?"

I nodded, although I couldn't exactly process what he was saying. My head was spinning as I heard the piece I composed being played by someone else. How did she even get her hands on it. The only time I ever left my sheet music alone was... at the host club.

"Nii-Sama... I think she's a customer of the host club..." I claimed, still shivering in shock. He looked up at the girl on the screen and stared, as if memorizing her face. She had just finished her performance and was exiting the stage. At the same time, a backstage worker knocked on the door to the private room, letting me know it was my turn.

Nii-sama gave me a tight hug, whispering to me again that whatever happens, it wasn't my fault. With shaky hands, I exited the room where Nii-Sama stayed to watch my performance.

~~~

The recital had ended and I was back in the room with Nii-Sama. We held each others hands tightly, our silver heads bowed in anxiety and anticipation. I had improvised on the spot for the composition. Nii-Sama was right. Improvising and taking the risk of a new piece on stage was way better than getting disqualified for playing the same piece as Yuki Natsu.

After a long 30 minute wait, the results were announced on stage. They announced backwards, starting from the 10th place up until the third place. Then, they gave a moment of silence and began to announce the first place winner. Nii-Sama and I tightened our grips on each other. I shut my eyes tightly as I listened to the announcer.

"First place goes to..." The announcer left an annoyingly long pause. "Yuki Natsu! And that leaves Karino Makoto with second place. Great job to all of our contestants!"

Nii-Sama and I froze. Second place, but that wasn't good enough! I needed first place! I was so close yet I didn't make it. I wanted to cry. Nii-Sama put his hands on my shoulder and squatted in front of me, making me look directly into his purple eyes.

"Karino, look at me. We'll be okay." Nii-Sama wasn't convincing me with the tears at the corner of his eyes and his shaking hands. We weren't going to be okay. Because of me, because of my carelessness, I was putting Nii-Sama in danger.

Nii-Sama and I slowly made our way out from backstage. We were greeted immediately by the host club. Nii-Sama glanced at me before putting on his best smile at the same time I did.

"Kari-chan! That sounded so good! Even though you changed your piece, that was so beautiful!" Honey-Senpai exclaimed excitedly while gesturing wildly with his hands. I gave him a wide smile and thanked him. The other hosts said similar comments and I returned it with gratitude while hiding behind my mask.

Nii-Sama felt a buzz in his pocket and he fished his phone out. I stood on my toes to get a peek at the text. I didn't see exactly what it said, but I do know that it was from our father. Nii-Sama quickly made up an excuse and guided me outside where our father was waiting. The driver was sitting in the car, apparently warming it up after a cold day.

Father said nothing as he gestured for Nii-Sama and I to get into the car. I crawled in first, followed by Nii-Sama. Father got into the passenger seat after harshly slamming the door shut behind Nii-Sama. I shivered and gripped Nii-Sama's hand tightly. Father told the driver in a short tone to drive us home. Clearly, he wasn't happy. The driver said nothing, but glanced worriedly at the two of us in the back before peeling out of the concert hall parking lot.

Within just a quick car ride, the car was pulling up to the manor we supposedly called 'home.' In reality, this place hadn't been home since our mother died. The driver pulled into the parking garage and as soon as the garage door closed, Father jumped out, yanked Nii-Sama's door open and pulled him out harshly. I cried out in fright for Nii-Sama as I saw him wince. Father reached into the car again, this time gripping me with bruising force and pulling me out of the car. I was trying my best not to make a sound despite the tears streaming down my face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viewer Discretion is Advised
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Father dragged Nii-Sama and I down to the dojo in our backyard. Nii-Sama and I were both trained extensively in martial arts, but so was father. He might've been trying to climb the corporate ladder, but the reality was that his martial arts skills were on par with the Haninozukas and Morinozukas, two very well known families for their martial arts abilities. Father personally trained Nii-Sama and I so that we could defend ourselves; he claimed it was more fun that way.

The dojo itself looked normal from the outside, but that was simply the facade. Inside was more of a prison cell. The walls were made of metal so that during the fights Nii-Sama and I couldn't break down the walls and run away. With a tight trip still on both Nii-Sama and I, he led us to the back wall where a couple pairs of chains lay. He looped the chain first around Nii-Sama's neck, then tied his hands and feet together before chaining him to the wall. Nii-Sama had to breath shallowly to prevent the chains from choking him too much. Father did the same to me with the other set of chains laying nearby. He then walked to the front door and shut it closed, locking it shut with a heavy metal bar and a key that he kept around his neck.

I kept staring at Nii-Sama, trying to make sure he was alright. He did the same to me too. Unfortunately for us, we knew we weren't going to be going to school tomorrow. Father looked at us and smirked, then went to the wall where he used his key to unlock a sliding wall. Behind it laid various weapons: swords, maces, knives, throwing knives, arrows, whips, the list went on. He slowly picked his way through the weapons before settling on the whip. He tended to prefer long range weapons because he didn't want us to get close to even hitting him.

First, he unchained Nii-Sama. I screamed, but the walls were made soundproof. I could scream all I wanted and nobody would hear except the three of us in this room. Nii-Sama looked back to reassure me, but a whip cracked right in front of his feet, forcing him to look at father.

"What have I taught you, you useless fool!" Father yelled. "Keep your eye on your opponent at all times! If you get this key, you're free to go."

Nii-Sama growled at father and then launched himself. The key was always our goal. If we were able to touch the key, we were free. Until then, Father could enjoy torturing us one by one until he either got bored of it or we exhausted ourselves and passed out.

I cried as I watched Nii-Sama try his hardest. Punch after punch, kick after kick, Nii-Sama kept getting hit by the whip flying around. Nii-Sama and I were both trained to push past the pain of getting hit, but the training was harsh. Before we were able to resist falling from the pain, we would be sliced and whipped for each second we were down. Quickly, we learned to take the pain and force our way past it and continue our attacks. It was a long 30 minutes of Nii-Sama attempting to get the key, but to no avail. Father took the butt of the whip as Nii-Sama got close and slammed it onto Nii-Sama's neck. With that, Nii-Sama crumbled onto the floor. I screamed.

Father stared down at the unconscious body of Nii-Sama before kicking it unceremoniously to the side of the dojo. I was crying, but through me tears, I stared at my father in hatred. He walked over to me and stared me down with no emotion, the whip in his hand still covered in Nii-Sama's blood. He unhooked the chain from the wall and used it to drag me to the middle of the room. I felt like I was choking.

When he finally released me, I coughed heavily, trying to get air back into my lungs. He walked over to the wall that he had locked after getting the whip and got a new one, tossing the blood covered whip into a little container within the wall and then locking the wall again. He walked back over to me and released me from the chains, backing up quickly as I jumped towards him like a rabid animal.

I was livid. Nii-Sama was bleeding and passed out. I needed to get that key from him so I could help Nii-Sama right away. I used every single martial arts skill I knew to give an all out attack on my father. He only smiled as if enjoying my fight. At one point, the whip cracked against my hand, but I was able to grab a hold of it and pull myself in to punch my father. I reached for the key, but he quickly backed off, holding his bleeding nose. A small victory of mine in this war. He growled angrily at me and he cracked his whip as hard as he could against the ground. I winced as it easily tore through the bamboo mats that were stained with blood. He stared me down, this time with the most serious face I had seen. It scared me a bit if I had to be honest. For a split second, I feared for my life.

I glanced over a Nii-Sama and saw that he had woken up slightly and was trying to say something to me, but was too weak to make a sound. As I looked at Nii-Sama's crumpled form, new rage came up in me. Even if it killed me, I had to get Nii-Sama out. I launched myself again at father, ignoring the cracks of the whip against my skin and the light headed feeling of blood loss. After another 20 minutes of the fight, I finally managed to get the key. I collapsed onto the ground, still conscious and gripping the key, but unable to fight. Father stopped and stared at the key in my hand before nodding. He grabbed the key back, unlocked the weapons cabinet and threw the whip in. Then, he unlocked the door and left, leaving the two of us in an empty dojo.

I crawled my way over to Nii-Sama who was bleeding just as much as I was. Father always went harder on whoever he pulled out first, making sure they passed out. He alternated, sometimes Nii-Sama would go first, sometimes me. It depended on who he hated more at the moment. Whoever he was mad at went second because it hurt just as much to see the first person get beat down and scarred.

With all my strength, I pulled Nii-Sama's head onto my lap as I lightly slapped his face. Tears rolled down my face as my silver hair fell around us.

"Nii-Sama, wake up. We can leave Nii-Sama. I got the key." I couldn't help but cry. Nii-Sama slowly opened his eyes and stared at me. His hand brushed a small scar on my face that was bleeding from the whip. I gave him the best smile I could muster in that moment. Father always tried to avoid hitting our faces. He didn't want people to be suspicious. Granted, even if anyone said anything, unless they controlled the police force, nothing would be done. Father had connections, which he had been using extensively to hide his abuse. Those connections allowed him to send us to the hospital sometimes with no questions asked. We were treated minimally and then sent home to recover.

Nii-Sama winced as he tried to sit up. I did my best to push his body up with the wounds that currently littered my body. The two of us slowly stood up together, leaning heavily on one another. With our wounds dripping blood, we made our way out of the dojo and into the main residence. The maids stared at us worriedly as they rushed to clean up the blood and give us first aid. All the servants in the house knew of the horrors that father did to us, but if they tried to protect us or testify against him, they would be beaten to death. If they tried to run or quit as a servant, they would also be beaten to death. It was horrible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viewer Discretion End
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The maids helped support Nii-Sama and I until we managed to make it to the main living room. They had us lay on the cold marble floor and started tending to our wounds. I shivered as I laid there, tempted to ask for a blanket but I knew that they couldn't give it to us. If father saw any speck of blood in the house after one of his beatings, the maids would get punished. I dare not ask them to put themselves out there to get Nii-Sama and me a blanket.

Once we were all bandaged up, the maids led us to our individual rooms, which were side by side and had a connecting door. Before we entered our room, we smiled sadly at each other. Once we entered and were able to finally relax, we knew we'd be in too much pain to leave the room for the rest of the weekend. We trusted the maids would take care of the other and we both entered our rooms.

I heard one of the maids assure me that Nii-Sama and I would be excused from school, saying that we had both caught the stomach bug. I stared sadly out the window as I laid down. It didn't matter what excuses they gave. In the end, if anyone found out, it didn't matter and things just continued the way they always did. Exhaustion washed over me as the pain from my injuries set in. I breathed deeply as one of the maids put a breathing contraption over my head and stuck an IV into my arm. Nii-Sama and I both had our own set up in our rooms. This was fairly common, so the maids were medically trained for situations like this. They stared at me sadly as they gave me a sleeping pill so I could rest sooner. I accepted it and downed it with a gulp of water. It didn't take long for me to start getting drowsy.

I wonder, if the Host Club found out, would they save Nii-Sama and I, or would they turn away like everyone else?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viewer Discretion Section Summary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Makoto family developed a form of martial arts that is on par with the Haninozuka and Morinozuka style martial arts. The two Makoto siblings must use this form to fight their father in a locked, reinforced dojo in their back yard. To 'win' the fight, the siblings must fight their father one on one until someone manages to touch a key that hangs around their father's neck, which is the key that unlocks the doors. Usually, the sibling to go first is rendered unconscious or unable to continue fighting and the second sibling must get the key. Their father will fight them until either one of them touches the key or he gets bored of the fight.