ｉｍａｇｉｎａｒｙ ｓａｆｅｔｙ ｎｅｔ

『 your p.o.v 』

          "Usamaro, how did you manage to make such a large mess again?" I asked as I sat up in my large bed only to find hay scattered all around my beloved rabbit's cage that sits directly in front of the large window overlooking the front of my father's estate. "I just woke up and you're going to make me vacuum again..." I sighed.

          The bunny with golden-colored eyes, it's white fur pure as snow, looked to me and tilted his head some as he stood on his hind legs a bit, his front paws dangling cutely. "Oh don't give me that look- you know you shouldn't have been running so fast around your cage considering I let you out to play for over three hours just last night." I said with an added shake of my head as I swung my legs over the side of my bed and stretched my arms high up above my head.

          Usamaro seemed happy with being the little inconvenience he is as he happily began hopping about his cage, kicking up more hay in the process and honestly, I love my Usa-chan with all my heart, but I didn't sign up for this. He's going to drive me insane.

          Sparing my evil bunny a fleeting glance, I went ahead and got about to completing my morning routine. My makeup and hair were fixed up rather quickly as I then got dressed in my Ouran Academy uniform. I still don't get why they have us wear such plain yellow dresses? I'm sure the Hitachiin's mother could have come up with a billion and one better designs than this and yet the school didn't think twice about enforcing such a hideous dress code. At least I can pull off yellow just enough to not look like something that's crawled out of hell.

          After vacuuming up the hay and random bits of bedding Usa-chan had kicked up and flung out of his cage, I grabbed my small bag and then walked down the large staircase leading to the main hall. It's weird being here at this estate with no one in it but myself and my beloved Usamaro. When I'd come to visit mother here, she was always surrounded by loving and kind maids and butlers and the staff would welcome me with bright, gentle smiles and now all of that feels like a distant dream.

          "Maybe moving into the main estate wouldn't be too bad..." I murmured under my breath as I walked down a couple more hallways and into the kitchen.

          If I was to move into my father's main estate, then I would have a number of staff to wait on me, but it would still feel just as lonely. The staff can't replace family that isn't there nor here so I might as well get used to this feeling of loneliness- ah, but I'm not all that lonely.

          Starting up one of the burners, I placed the pan over the open flame and hurried off to grab some butter and crack two eggs. Eggs and toast with a steaming cup of sweetened coffee is the perfect way to start off any morning.

          When I go to school later, I won't be alone because I'll have Tamaki and Kyoya in class and then later in the afternoon I'll have the entire Host Club to spend my evening with. I even gave Usa-chan some extra food and made sure to refill his water bottle so that I can stay after and talk with everyone without having to worry too much about that pesky bunny rabbit. Though something tells me I'm still going to be stuck vacuuming the area around his cage again once I return home because he's too energetic for his own good...

          Taking a sip of my coffee, I leaned against the countertop beside the stove as I munched on a slice of toast, my eggs nearly finished already. Back when I was living with my father in France, the maids would always cook so it was hard for me to get any practice in but I do like to cook when I get the chance to do so. Now, since I'm living alone here, I have all the time in the world to teach myself how to cook, but I don't know where to even start...

          Oh, Haruhi's a commoner so maybe he'd be able to teach me some basic dishes? I hope it wouldn't be rude for me to ask him for help considering I'm only going to him because he is a commoner, but I have no other choice. I can't continue to eat eggs and toast with a mug of coffee every morning or else my life is going to get boring and boring quite quickly.

          Finishing off my breakfast, I washed my dishes before placing them back in their correct cabinets and drawers. It's easier to just take care of things as I use them considering it's only me living here.

          Loud knocks on the front door rung out into the main foyer just as I was stepping back out of the kitchen and into the dining room, my messenger bag hanging off my shoulder to rest against my hip. I stared at the set of large doors for a moment. I'm not expecting visitors so who could be knocking this early in the morning? I was just going to call a taxi too...

          Sighing, I approached the door and struggled to look through the small peep hole. Though when I saw who was standing there, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

          "I wasn't expecting to see you two before class this lovely morning." I said as I opened just one of the double doors, a certain blonde and onyx black-haired boy standing in front of me, the two of them already dressed in their school uniforms and everything.

          Kyoya looked to me with a small, gentle smile. "I apologize for coming unannounced." He responded smoothly.

          "Well, you know us, we just wanted to make sure you're adjusting to your life here at Ouran Academy!" Tamaki said with a bright smile. It was funny though because it was clear to see that he was trying to make something up on the spot. He didn't think this through at all. How cute.

          "Tamaki," I said his name, trying to not giggle as he looks to me with knitted brows, "I'm not even at the Academy yet and already you're trying to make sure I'm adjusting well? What's the real reason you and Kyoya came here so early?"

          The blonde's eyes widened. "N-No other reason!" He exclaimed.

          Chuckling, Kyoya pushed up his glasses some as he flicked his attention from the self-proclaimed king of the Host Club to me. "Tamaki was worried that something terrible happened to you in the night and so he insisted on us driving you to school from now on."

          My smile softened some as Tamaki's cheeks flared up with a vibrant red. "How thoughtful, but you didn't have to go through all this trouble just for me. I'm perfectly fine taking a taxi to and from school-"

          "No!" He said before clearing his throat to gain his composure some. "That's not something a beautiful, independent young lady such as yourself should have to do when there are six perfectly capable handsome young men ready to give you rides to school and take you out to dinner and, and-"

          "And you're rambling." Kyoya cut him off lamely. "What Tamaki is trying to say is that he was worried about you being by yourself and that he wants to personally look after you as to make sure you stay safe."

          "Safe?" I repeated with an amused lilt to my voice. "Am I in some sort of danger?"

          "You are living alone in your father's secondary estate without any sort of protection and this knowledge is well known among the wealthy so of course Tamaki would be worried. It's only natural when your father has been making such brash business decisions, someone's bound to come after you."

          "I assure you, I'm perfectly safe here."

          "Yes well, for how long will you be certain of this?"

          With my smile never faltering, I took a step outside my home and made sure to close the large door behind myself, locking the double doors as I did so. Kyoya has a point. My father hasn't been thinking rationally as of late and the way he's spending our family businesses money isn't wise, though no one outside can directly see what I see. All they see is the buying of large businesses and the grand accumulation of wealth my father must be experiencing because of his thoughtless purchases while in reality, our money is not infinite and it's only a matter of time before we either have to begin selling off our newly acquired businesses little by little or risk filing for bankruptcy. But because no one else knows this and all they see is the flaunting of extreme wealth, then Kyoya is right and Tamaki does have every right to be worried about my wellbeing. I'm liable to being kidnapped if my father doesn't learn to either be smarter with his purchases or to be more discreet about them...

          "So, who's car are we taking?" I asked, looking to the two handsome young men with a gentle smile.

          Tamaki placed his hand on the dip in my back as he began guiding me down the large steps that lead up to the front doors of my father's estate. "I brought along my car this morning after picking up Kyoya earlier."

          "More like kidnapping." The black-haired boy sighed as he walked on the other side of me.

          With a laugh, the princely blonde brought me just ever so slightly closer to his side as his driver opened the limousine door for us. "Oh you know you were just as concerned for ___'s safety as I was, Kyoya. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come along.

          The onyx haired boy didn't respond as we piled into the limousine with me sitting between the two of them.

          As the limo drove off down the wide road leading up to my father's estate, I was surprised to find a decent-sized military-grade black police van parked just outside the large gates. I flicked my eyes to Kyoya for a fraction of a second before watching as the police van disappeared from my sights the further from my home we drove. I guess the rumors about the Ootori family owning a private police force weren't simply a set of rumors.

          "Do you plan on playing the piano again today ___?" Tamaki suddenly asked, breaking me from my thoughts.

          I pretended to think for a moment as I offered the blonde-headed boy a warm smile. "If you'll allow me to then I'd love to play for you again."

          Kyoya's eyes closed as he leaned back into the plush limousine seat, crossing one long leg over the other as he does so. "You were quite popular among our guests and we'd be stupid to not ask you to play again for us."

          "And what of my engagement to Mitsukuni? Did that cause any trouble?"

          "Not at all. If anything, he used it to his advantage and managed to work it into his innocent boy lolita act."

          Giggling, I glanced over outside the window, city buildings now passing us by in a blur. "I'm not surprised. For as innocent and young as he appears to be, he's surprisingly sharp and manipulative," I mused, "always knowing just what to say to get what he wants."

          "You know Honey well," Kyoya noted.

          "I am his fiancé," I responded easily, Tamaki glancing between his best friend and I with knitted brows, though he never says a thing all the way up until we make it the Academy.

          Class today flew by in a vague blur. I didn't pay much attention to what was being said in all honesty. Ever since I returned from France, it's been a little hard to truly concentrate on any one thing. I didn't think mother being gone was affecting me as much as it is, but, I'm not all that surprised either. Though I'm more worried about my father right now. He's taking this far worse than I ever will...

          Tamaki had run off to the Host Club the second class let out, leaving Kyoya and I behind in mere seconds after dismissal. I watched him go with a small smile dancing across my lips. He's a very joyful person, isn't he? That blonde-headed prince type doesn't look like he has a care in the world. A refreshing sight to see considering that when I glance around to our classmates, all I see is a sea of overworked and stressed rich kids. Tamaki is truly a refreshing sight to behold.

          "You're lost in thought," Kyoya spoke up as he stood up from the desk placed beside my own. "Curious about Tamaki I'm guessing?"

          Standing up as well and then smoothing down my dress, I grabbed my small bag while taking hold of my pencil I had left sitting idly on my desk. "Not particularly curious but rather taking mental notes is all."

          "Mental notes?"

          "The same as you do."

          The onyx-haired boy looked to me with a sweet smile, motioning for me to walk ahead of him out of our classroom. "Whatever do you mean?"

          Our steps lined up as we walked side by side down the hallway, Tamaki nowhere in sight considering he practically sprinted for the Host Club. Something interesting must be happening today for him to be so excited. "I can see it in your eyes." I finally responded as I glanced up to the tall, glasses-wearing young man. "You're always silently watching over everything and everyone from the second you step into a room. You did the same two days ago when Haruhi brought me to the Host Club. You never once took your eyes off of me while I was talking with the other members, watching my every move and taking mental notes on just how I interacted with everyone and how they interacted with me." I said knowingly. "Though I'm curious, why do you take your mental notes, Kyoya?"

          "Why? To use that information for my own personal gain of course." He responded nonchalantly as we turned down another hallway, many students watching with hearts in their eyes as we walked past. "What's your reasoning?"

          I thought for a moment, absentmindedly moving to walk just a little closer beside Kyoya as more and more students stared at us, their whispers slightly unsettling though nothing I'm not accustomed to. "I'm just a curious person you could say." I said softly. "No two people are the same in this world and it's interesting to try and figure someone out. To understand why they think the way they do and in turn broadening my own horizon and opening me up to new perspectives."

          "Something else your mother taught you, I'm guessing."

          "Just one of many."

          We walked the rest of the way to the Host Club in silence after that, neither of us finding a reason to talk anymore. Kyoya and I have already more or less came to an unspoken acknowledgment of each other. It's clear for us to see that we're not all that different from one another, though we're not all that similar either. It's almost as if we were two of the same people and yet simultaneously total strangers who couldn't be more opposite. It's, interesting, to say the least. Just as all the Host Club members are, Ootori Kyoya is a very interesting young man.

          Opening the doors to the music room, Kyoya motioned for me to walk in first. Silently thanking him, I made my way inside and wasn't all that surprised when, for the third evening in a row now, Mitsukuni quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face into my abdomen as his way of greeting me.

          From a young age, he was always clinging to me. Back when we were kids, he'd come running to me first thing after every karate and judo championships he won, showing off his new medals and trophies all in some vain efforts to impress me. It was cute and I still find him to be unbelievably adorable. But, being cute won't win me over sadly and I think he knows this so I wonder why he insists on still clinging onto me to this day after not seeing each other for nearly a decade. He must have gone crazy from all the cake he consumes...

          "Mitsukuni," I said his name with a small laugh as I returned his hug only to not find that familiar pink rabbit anywhere near this short blonde. "Where's Usa-chan?"

          He pulled back just enough to smile brightly up at me, his hazel eyes glimmering with a familiar warmth. "Takashi has him!"

          Glancing around some, my eyes soon landed on Takashi who was sitting at one of the many round tables, casually sipping some coffee while Usa-chan sat on his lap. I couldn't help but smile. Such an intimidating handsome boy sitting there with a pink bunny rabbit stuffed animal is pretty cute. It's no mystery why he's so popular here at a high school host club, though I guess the same could be said about all of them.

          "Have you figured us out yet?" One of the twins asked as they both sauntered on over to where I'm still standing with Mitsukuni hugging me, Kyoya already long gone over to join Haruhi at a different secluded table, most probably talking about something having to do with commoners coffee since that's all I heard about yesterday afternoon while playing the piano. "Or do you need more time?" The other twin then asked.

          Mitsukuni didn't seem too bothered by the emergence of the twins as I flicked my attention between the two of them, trying to identify something different about the two. No matter how identical they may appear to be, there has to be something that can be used to differentiate between the two of them. If only I could spend time with them without the rest of the hosts around then maybe I'd be able to use their personalities as the determining factor here. But, until I get closer to them, I guess I'll be stuck guessing like the rest of their beloved guests.

          "You're Hikaru and you're Kaoru." I said as I pointed from one twin to the other.

          One of them scoffed. "Correct, how did you know?"

          Shaking my head, I offered him an apologetic smile. "Lucky guess," I said with a laugh.

          The short blonde-headed boy's arms around my waist suddenly tightened some. Glancing down to Mitsukuni, I patted his head some. "Head on back over to Usa-chan. I'm sure he misses you." I murmured, urging him to let me go.

          If there's one thing I do remember from growing up with Mitsukuni as my fiancé, it's that he's very possessive and jealous of others when they happen to get just a little too close to the things he loves. Cake seems to be an exception to this since he can always just order more cake to be made. But when it comes to me and Usa-chan, he's never made an exception. He put another child into the hospital once for attempting to ask me out on a date. Ah, our childhood sure was eventful.

          "Okay!" Mitsukuni chirped as he happily released me from his tight hold and began skipping his way over to Takashi and Usa-chan, the black-haired boy sparing me a fleeting glance before handing the short blonde his beloved pink stuffed rabbit.

          Shaking my head some, I looked around a bit with knitted brows. "Where did your Host Clubs prince go?" I asked.

          One of the twins laughed. "You think Tamaki's a prince?"

          "He's just our boss." The other responded easily.

          Though almost on cue, the man of the hour came out of the side storage room with a single pink rose in hand. He began going off on some monologue that I think most of us tuned out, the twins and I the only ones humoring him and pretending as if we're listening. If I had to guess, I'd say he was practicing a makeshift confession of sorts. Hikaru and Kaoru didn't seem too shocked when I glanced to them with a confused expression.

          They simply shrugged their shoulders as they walked off. This must be a normal thing for them. No one else in the Host Club batted an eyelash at their club president's theatrics either. They aren't fazed in the slightest bit. Just how often does Tamaki go off on little tangents like this?

          Suddenly making his way over to me, the blonde prince held out the rose for me to take while placing his free hand over chest. "As a thank you for playing the piano for us, princess."

          Host mode activated.

          Taking the rose, I smiled despite knowing Mitsukuni is looking directly at the two of us now. "Why thank you Tamaki, that's very sweet of you." I said as I began walking off towards the grand piano near the back of the music room. "Do you have any requests for me to play this evening?"

          "How about Beethoven's Fur Elise?" Haruhi asked, already standing near the piano after leaving Kyoya to sit alone at the table he's currently typing away on his laptop at. "That's one of my favorite piano songs."

          "The piano is popular among commoners?" One of the twins asked as they followed us over to the piano as well.

          I glanced over my shoulder to the twins just as I was sitting down on the piano bench. "Of course it is. Just because commoners are commoners doesn't mean they can't enjoy classical music."

          The two auburn-haired twins held up their hands in mock defeat as Haruhi stood beside me now, peering down curiously at the piano. "I always wanted to learn how to play the piano, but I had no time to learn since I did all the chores at home."

          "I could teach you." I responded without a moment of hesitation, even surprising myself some. It's not necessarily rare for me to offer help, but, when it comes to the piano, that's very rare.

          Haruhi's deep brown eyes widened as he met my gaze. "Really? You'd give me lessons?"

          Smiling, I pushed away my apprehension as I nodded some. "Of course. Only if you promise to teach me how to cook though." I said with a light laugh.

          "Deal."

          The Host Club opened not long after that little scene had long passed. The female guests watched me play and so did all the hosts at one point or another. I took a few much-needed cake breaks here and there, spoke with the twins a little as well about their mothers new bathing suit line that's to be coming out in the near future, and then returned to playing for the rest of the evening. And when the Host Club closed for the day, all of the heart-eyed guests leaving with blissful smiles gracing their features, I talked with the hosts about this and that, making small talk while my thoughts wandered on to different more pressing matters at hand.

          I can't shake what Kyoya had said earlier about my father's second estate not being safe. I know he's right and I've known that this was a possibility the minute I convinced father to let me return to Japan, but hearing him confirm my suspicions so calmly is unsettling. And father hasn't gotten in contact with me since I told him I had made it back safely to Japan so of course I'm worried about him as well. If mom was here, she'd know what to do. Then again, if mom was here, none of this would be happening.

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          I don't know what I'm writing right now but ya knowwwww what's new lul

          Question of the Chapter: Any guesses as to what happened to the protagonist's mother? I have a few ideas of what will be the most popular guesses and I'm sure no one is going to be able to guess what really happened to her so this should be fun.~

          I love how casually Tamaki and Kyoya are just showing up to her mansion like hey, hi, how are youuuu? The fact that even Kyoya went though is surprising and I was lowkey thinking of not including him on Tamaki's early morning raid. Clearly that didn't happen since he's still written into this chapter lul But I'm glad the protagonist and Kyoya are so similar with how I'm writing them. It's fun to have them interact with each other xD and lowkey jelly bean Mitsukuni is what i live for so even though I doubt he'd realistically be the jealous type, I'm writing it in cuz I can and it's not too ooc for us to not imagine this as a possibility lmaO my reasoning is flawed but I'm keeping in jelly Mitsukuni and no one can stop me

          As always everyone, I love each and every last one of you lovely cuties and thanks so much for taking the time to read this chapter <3 It means the world to me to have you all read my stories and I hope to see you return for the next chapter ^^

    ~ ｋａｔ ♡