Akiko's POV.

I walk with Haruhi to school. We were in a comfortable silence, with her holding Gem closely to her. The silence gave me time to think of how I would approach the Hosts. How I should come clean with them too, like I did with Haruhi last night. Speaking of which...

"Haruhi..." I whisper. She turns her head to me before humming in response. "Please don't tell anyone about my scars, or my past. I'll tell the Hosts when I find a good time to do so. I promise."

"Okay! I promise Onee-chan!" She nods enthusiastically before we walk inside the school.

"I'll walk you to your class, alright?" I offer, she nods as we head to 1st year, Class A. Where her class is, and Hikaru and Kaoru. I stop at the door and wave to her and the twins before walking away. Her teachers adored Gem, so they allowed Haruhi to have Gem in class.

"Akiko! Akiko~San!" I hear someone call from behind me. I look and see Ayanokoji running down the hallways, to me. "Hello, Akiko-San!"

"Ayanokoji? Why are you talking to me? I thought you hated me?" I whisper to her.

"What? Oh that! I never hated you! I was just jealous of you, since you got to hang out with Tamaki and the Hosts more than anyone else!" She says cheerfully, as though the pain she caused me, was nothing at all.

"Yeah, because that's so much better." I state before continuing to walk to my class. She follows me though, even after we pass her classroom. I stop suddenly and turn to her. "What is wrong with you? Do you want to cause me more pain?! Is that all your after- you think I haven't suffered enough?!"

"I just wanna be your friend!" She yells, surprised by my actions.

"I don't!" I snap. "I will not put more lives in danger! I am not gonna add you onto that list!" I yell hestarically. "I was considered a weapon at the age of 5! I was considered that- even acted like it- until I was 15! My brother died! He died because of me! Because someone was after me, and got to him! He was 5! I will not put your life in danger!"

"Akiko..." I hear someone mutter behind me. I tense before sighing and closing my eyes. I see Ayanokoji run off from my outburst. I turn and see Honey, and Mori standing there, frozen in place. I watch as Honey drops his stuffed bunny, and his eyes fill to the brim with tears.

"Akiko-chan!" He yells as he runs and hugs me, burying his face in the crook of my neck.

"Honey..." I whimper before I collapse onto my knees and sob as I hold him to me... Itashi would be his size by now... I wonder if he'd cling to me, like this, if he were here. "Itashi..." I whimper and Honey sobs harder. "I'm so sorry Itashi... I failed you..."

"Akiko–" Mori stops as the teacher runs into the hallways.

"I heard yelling- what happened?!" The teacher asks frantically before seeing me crying, with Honey, on the floor. "I'll call Mr. Hadashi."

"Thank you." Mori nods before the teacher goes into the classroom and Mori comes and picks both me and Honey up, holding us close as we sob. Honey, still in my arms, cries into my sweater, while I cry into Mori's overcoat for his uniform.

"Hime-sama? I came as soon as I could..." Otou-San says softly as he walks up to us. "Thank you, boys. I'll take her home now."

"Otou-sama!" I cry as Honey jumps from my arms and I jump into Rao's and cry against him. "I broke... I snapped because of stupid reasons..."

"Shhhh... Come, let's go home. I have a surprise for you..." He whispers as he leads me away. I look and see Honey clutching his bunny and tries to lead Mori into class, who simply stands, looking at me with guilt.

Rao leads me outside, and into his car. In the back seat there is a large black blanket, covering something. I don't question it and sit forward in the passenger seat, and watch as Rao drives us home. When we arrive, he picks up the thing in the back, and I walk inside ahead of him.

"Go ahead and go change, Hime, I'll make you something to eat." He says as we walk into the apartment. He sets the mysterious object onto the couch before I walk into my room. I walk back out in comfy clothes.

"So, what is that?" I ask, gesturing to the object.

"Akiko, you may want to sit for this..." Rao says hesitantly. I nod and sit down before the object starts moving. "You can take off the blanket now."

"Finally! It was hot under there!" A little boy with gold hair, and gold eyes complained. "Where are we–" he cuts himself off when he sees me. "Nee-chan!!!"

"I-Itashi?" I whimper as the boy tackles me into a hug, crying into my chest. "Is that really... You?"

"Nee-chan!!!" He sobs, clutching onto my torso as he continues to cry into my chest, his body trembling. "T-they said you were... Evil and a murderer! I know your not! Right, Nee-chan?" He lifts his head from my chest, his eyes puffy and his tear trails, red from how much he cried.

"No. No of course not, Itashi." I kiss his forehead. He didn't need to lose his hope and trust in me. He's obviously been through a lot. "Go ahead and go take a nap on my bed, I'm going to talk with Otou-San."

"Okay!" He runs to my room and closes the door. I look at Rao, hurt, confused and somewhat worried.

"How is he here?" I whisper.

"He wasn't killed by those assassins, just taken so that he wouldn't be put through the same thing as you." Rao says as he sits in front of me as we sit on the floor. "I should have told you when we moved into here, but I didn't know how to tell you..."

"So... He was kidnapped, and raised by the assassins, for two years?" I whisper.

"Yes, but only until I could adopt him after leaving your Father's company. They know that I've adopted you too, so they want to have me raise you right." He explains a bit. "I will protect you both, and raise you right."

"So... What now?" I whisper.

"You'll still be in Ouran, but Itashi will be homeschooled. He is permitted to go to school with you, if you both want that."

"Okay... I'm going to my room..." I whisper, getting up and heading into my room. I softly close my door, staring at my sleeping brother. "Itashi..."

"Nee-chan? Is that you?" He whispers, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Yes, Itashi, I didn't mean to wake you..." I say softly, sitting on my bed, leaning on the headboard, beside Itashi as he curls up against me. I run my fingers through his hair as he falls asleep again. "I'm here... Never leaving again..."

Next day. At school.

I wake up, Itashi curled up to me, laying his head on my chest. I hear a knock on the door before Rao opens it to see us.

"You want to go to school today?" He whispers. I nod and he leaves before coming back in with an outfit for Itashi. "Will Itashi go to school with you, today?"

"If he wants to, yeah." I look down at Itashi as he cuddles closer to me, me running my fingers through his golden locks. Rao walks out to give us privacy. "Itashi, it's time to get up... Do you wanna go to school with me?"

"Nee-chan..." He whispers as he slowly wakes up and lifts his head from my chest. "Wait! I can go to school with you?!" He asks excitedly, jumping off of me and running around the room. I nod. "Okay!"

"Otou-San brought clothes in here for you." I hold up the shorts and green hoodie for him.

He nods and runs out to change in the bathroom. I lock my door and change into jeans, a blue undershirt with a black jacket. I style my red hair to hide my left eye and put in gold earings. I walk out of my room and see Itashi ready to knock on my door. He looked so cute in his hoodie and shorts. I tie his shoes before grabbing his hand as someone knocks on the door, causing Itashi to jump and hide behind me.

"Itashi, it's only Haruhi, my friend." I ruffle his hair before opening the door and seeing Gem on a leash, beside Haruhi. "Hi, Haruhi, Gem."

"Onee-chan!" Haruhi cheers as she hugs me tightly. "I missed you yesterday..." She pouts before seeing Itashi behind me, holding the back of my jacket tightly. "Who's this cutie?"

"Haruhi... Remember how I said Itashi was killed?" I ask, she nods. "He was really... taken so he wouldn't have the same fate as me."

"He's a cutey! Hi, Itashi, I'm Haruhi, a close friend of Akiko." She kneels down to his height, shaking his free hand.

"C-can I call you H-Haru-nee?" He whispers shyly. She nods before he hugs her. "Who's that?" He points at Gem.

"That's Gem, the Host Clubs' puppy. Akiko found her a while back. Wanna pet her?" Haruhi offers as Gem sniffs Itashi. He pets her and she seemed happy.

"Okay, let's head out, yeah?" I ask, holding my hand out for Itashi. He runs to me, taking my hand as Haruhi stands and picks up Gem.

We walk to school, halfway Itashi wanted up, so I carried him into the school over to the music room, since we were super early. We walk in to find all the Hosts there, along with Renge.

"Morning." I smile as I feel Itashi hug me tighter.

"Who is that?" The twins chime, appearing beside me, startling Itashi.

"This is Itashi. My baby brother." I smile, feeling the confused gazes of everyone but Haruhi. "I'll have to explain it another time. Renge, are you going to be our manager, or something?"

"Yup!" She says happily, before getting scared at my serious face.

"Do not change anyone." I say sternly before she nods and I smile cheerfully, acting innoccent. I turn to the guys and set Itashi down, who runs to Honey.

"Hi! I'm Itashi! But you can call me Ita!" He shakes Honey's hand excitedly. He was happy that he had someone his 'age'.

"I'm Honey! I hope we can be good friends!" Honey cheered as he shook Itashi's hand too. I feel someone tap my shoulder before looking to see Mori.

"Taka– Mori, I'm so sorry..." I correct myself. He deserves to be called Mori by me. I owe him that much. "I don't know what happened yesterday..."

"It's okay. I'm happy your okay today. I'm happy that your happy." He smiled at me before I realise something...

"So, what'd I miss yesterday?" I ask him, rocking back and forth on my feet.

"Hikaru and Kaoru 'fought' yesterday, after a game of 'Which one is Hikaru?' Haruhi won it, causing them to argue. If was all a plot to go to Haruhi's home." Mori shrugs a bit. He tried to make it simple, since he doesn't talk much.

"I'm glad they don't fight whenever I win." I giggle before hearing the twins.

"Ita-chan! Which one is Hikaru?" They ask in unison. Mori and I watch as Itashi looks at them both with a thinking face on. He was a seven year old, so I hoped the boys would go easy on him.

"Uhhh... Are you Hika-sempai?" He pointed at Kaoru and I wince. The twins look at one another before glancing at me and shuddering at my glare.

"Your right!" Kaoru yells, trying to mimic his brother- somehow succeeding.

"Good job, Ita-chan!" Hikaru says, mimicking Kaoru. "How about you go celebrate with Honey-Senpai?"

"Okay!" Itashi runs off and I walk over to the twins.

"Thanks, you two. Your the best." I pull them into a hug and then walk off to watch Honey and Itashi before school starts.

Ring!

The bell rings and I go to pick up Itashi, but Mori beats me to it.

"Nee-chan! Help! Stranger-danger!" Itashi yelps, struggling in Mori's arms.

"No, no it's okay Itashi. This is my friend, Mori, he's Honey's cousin." I smile as I push some hair behind his ear. "Your safe, as long as I'm here..."

"You both are." Mori smiles at me before kissing my forehead. He walks off with Itashi, while I hold Honey's hand as we walk to our class.

"Aww! They look like a happy family!" I hear a girl squeal as she sees us walk in the hallway. Itashi starts tearing up and I let Honey's hand go, running to Itashi and grabbing him from Mori's arms.

"Shhh... It's okay, Ita... We're safe now..." I whisper as I hold his head to my shoulder as he cries.

"Momma and Papa hurt you..." He whimpers.

"Not anymore, Ita. See? I'm okay now." I pull his head away so he can see I'm okay.

"What about..." He looks around before leaning closer to whisper. "The scars?"

"Shhh..." I rock him back and forth. "Don't worry about them, let's get to class." We walk into the class and I have Itashi on my lap, facing me and sleeping.