A/N: I'm back with a chapter, thanks to for prodding me, as my best friend is her job but credit shall be given! Anywho thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed! Gosh I love reviews, as does most writers. As I'm sure ya'll want to get to the good stuff, here it is! Digital Cupcakes to reviewers: Jaz-147, QueenyLeAaCh, that one Guest ;3, Lunaconspiracy365, jadez123, FlameAlchemistLove(special credit for helping me write), BaaSheep, and last but definitely not least . ! Now on to our story!
Kat leaned back against Kyoya's torso and sighed from their perch on the floor leaning on the couch. "I've not heard from Kaoru or Hikaru for a while. You think they're okay?"
"I'm sure they're fine, Kitten," Kyoya said, shifting so that his legs were slightly curving to move her closer and she snuggle deeper into his chest. He put one arm around her stomach and the other hand behind his head. He closed dark eyes and smiled. "You shouldn't worry about them."
"Why the hell not?" she demanded, moving her hands off his leg in a gesture he couldn't see. "They could be in trouble."
"Oh yes," Kyoya agreed. "I'm sure they're in big trouble. Did I forget to tell you? I must have, I'm sorry. I'm keeping my science project in the kitchen. I'm breeding lions and venomous piranhas to see what the outcome is. Unfortunately, my most recent hybrid kind of turned on me and is now running haywire in there. I'm sure he's having quite a meal back there right now. Although," he added after a pause, truly thoughtful, "I don't know why he would eat Hikaru and Kaoru. I'm sure they're mostly skin and bones, even with what they eat."
Kat rolled onto her stomach so she was level with his head and smacked Kyoya's chest. "Stop it!" she cried, although she was smiling as well. Then she grew serious, kneeling above Kyoya's laughing figure, and said, "But they could have gotten caught up in something."
Kyoya regained his composure and pushed himself up onto his elbows, looking up at the girl kneeling in front of him. "Kitten, I know right now it seems like the world is an evil, cold place with no regard to anyone close to you, hmm?" He didn't wait for her response. "You know that the Host Club, if for anything, is for its friends, members, and family." He touched her nose. "You fall into two of those categories. I know you're still upset after what happened with your grandmother, but you don't have to worry." He smiled gently. "We're here to help you get back on your feet, and we'll be here until we're not needed anymore."
Tears filled Kat's eyes. "But, Kyo," she whispered, "how can you make a promise like that when you can't even tell what's going to happen five minutes into the future?"
"I don't have to be able to tell what's happening five minutes, five months, or even five years from now to make that promise," Kyoya said. "All I see in our future is you and I and the rest of the Host Club." He cocked his head slightly and smiled. "We'll get through anything. Trust me."
A few drops of wetness fell down her cheeks. She scrubbed her eyes, cursing furiously under her breath. A sob shook her shoulders as her hand paused over her eyes, but she didn't remove it as she continued. "But you...and any of the others...could l-leave...just like Grandmother did. Just-just up and gone...without a word." She looked at Kyoya. "How can you promise me anything?" The last word broke on a sob she had desperately tried to hold back.
Kyoya pulled her close against his chest and stroked the back of her head as she clung to him, trembling as she cried silently. "Hush, Kitten, it'll be okay. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. You and I will always be side-by-side if I have anything to say about it. And you know me." He smiled very slightly, his eyes unreadable as always behind his glasses. "I will always have a say in it."
Despite her tears, Kat couldn't help but smile. She knew that things would get better. Somehow they would and until then she had someone to hold on to.
All the while Kyoya couldn't help but wonder how they had got to the sweet place they were now. It began she was someone he was slightly annoyed by and then all of the sudden every time he look at her he went breathless for a second or two. He didn't know exactly when it began and every once in awhile he couldn't help but wonder what exactly he was feeling. For now he set aside the thoughts and just held her in his arms. The next morning Kyoya woke up to Kat's alarm ringing in the bedroom. He opened his eyes to find a sleeping Kat on his chest, she looked so angelic her hair slightly messed up and flipping out in every direction. He knew she hated that about her hair. Though he thought her hair looked amazing no matter what. He sighed and got up to turn off the alarm clock. He heard Kat start to move so he asked Marsha to make them a cup of coffee. He slipped into the bathroom and took a shower.
While Kyoya was in the shower Kat was slowly awakening to the smell of coffee. She looked around for a moment wonder why she was on the couch then she remembered falling asleep in Kyoya's arms. She smiled as she realized he must have carried her to the couch, he must have had stay with her, and got up to get her coffee. He liked his black and she like hers with lots of cream and a bit of sugar. She thought about her grandmother, it was truly like losing a piece of her soul. She could still smile and laugh but at the end of the day it felt like it was all nothing. She chewed on what Kyoya had said that night, about getting through it. She knew that the world wasn't really this cold but it damn well felt like it. As she was going along this train of thoughts she went to the bedroom to get changed. Though it seemed the day was destined to end in hell. As they got ready Kyoya had her ride in his car, with was waited outside for them. After that time spent in silence just wrapped up in each other the blur of school came and they were whisked off in separate directions, her to the maniacal trigonometry. Later in her study period she got a phone call...
"THEY DID WHAT?" Kat yelled into her phone.
"Don't yell." Katrina said.
"Rina," She was exasperated, "They invited every Blueblood I've shared two words with in my entire life! Not to mention completely disregarding the people I personally invited and dis-invited!"
"It's not that bad." Rina soothed.
"Oh really? And to top that I have to wear a formal gown." Kat seethed.
"Oh stop fussing! It's only five hours."
"I hate this, but there's no way of getting out of it now." Kat said flatly. "Just make sure that the people I dis-invited aren't there."
"I know, we won't have your secret getting out." Trina assured her.
Kat was distracted by her earlier conversion with her sister and was tuning out the constant drone of female chatter.
"Hey, Kitty." They twins bellowed, bringing her from her thoughts.
She wasn't focusing, and looked at the boys languorously "Hm?" The boy's looked a little concerned.
"You may want to start before Kyoya glare burns a hole straight through you." Hikaru said in a low voice, giving her an affectionate smile.
She glanced at the Shadow King and winced, "Thanks."
"No problem, Kitty Kat." Karou grinned.
"Anything for our precious Kitty." His brother agreed.
Kat rolled her eyes half-heartedly at the nickname but did start enticing the girls.
"So Kat," Nameless-fan-girl asked, "What are you doing this weekend?"
She downplayed her own activities, "Just some party. I'm sure you're doing something much more fascinating."
"You mean that big party at the mansion on Raven Street?" Other-nameless-fan-girl asked.
"Yes," Kat answered, pausing to allow a sensuous smile to steal it's way across her face, "but I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy myself-" She glanced up through her lashes, "without you." The girls all swooned and spent the rest of the afternoon in a daze of fangirlness. After the girls left, Kat immediately found a strong cup of coffee. She leaned against a doorframe and massaged her temples, today was really a drain. Unbeknownst to Kat, Kyoya was observing her with faint traces of concern on his normally stoic features. Kat drinking any kind of stimulant is unusual, due to her low tolerance of caffeine. He casually got up from his chair and, crossing the room, picked up a coffee as well.
"Something wrong?" Kyoya asked as he sipped his drink, surprising Kat.
She turned sharply and found her front pressed against his.
"Nothing to worry about." She assured, looking faintly uncomfortable.
However Kyoya did not seem inclined to move, in fact he wrapped his free arm around her, pulling her closer. He just gave her a look, giving her to firm impression that he didn't believe her.
"Nothing to worry about, really." She gave him a half-hearted smile, "Are you guys coming tonight?"
He gave her a rather incredulous glance, "Of course." Kyoya stated, as if it was a given. Well, Kat mused, it probably is. Kyoya wouldn't pass up on a good PR opportunity, plus he had promised months before.
"Fabulous," Kat's smile was radiant, and tension visibly drained away from her posture, inadvertently pressing her body closer to his. She stiffened immediately. "I don't have to worry about business." His knowing smile made her knees feel weak, but he gave her more space.
"Glad to know someone's thinking straight." He quipped, turning and leaving Kat alone with her thoughts.
Kat hid a soft smile behind her coffee as she gazed at his retreating figure.
It's nice to know he's there.
~Later that night~
Kat looked at herself in the mirror with a critical and practiced eye. Well, She inwardly sighed, It isn't going to get much better than this. She ran a gloved hand over her satin covered curves. The dress was a lead colored satin, ruched tight to her body and flaring out at the bottom. The thin halter and border of her neckline were heavily adorned with pearls. She was wearing hair extensions for the evening and brushed her long red away from her face with one hand; revealing pearl earrings so long, they brushed her shoulders. She heard Marsha say something about a limousine that her parents sent over. She paused long enough to slip on her matching stole and clutch.
"Marsha, only those on my list allowed in while I'm not here."
"Of course Miss Khaos!" Marsha huffed, rather insulted by the insinuation she needed to be reminded every time. Kat barely refrained from rolling her eyes at the AI's antics.
"Don't wait up honey." Kat tossed over her shoulder as she walked out. Kat immediately put in her iPod once in the limousine, fingers drumming on her leg restlessly as she attempt to relax on the way to her parents home. Once there, she took a moment to calm herself before braving whatever the night might the driver opened the door for her courteously, her parents greeted her.
"Darling, how absolutely marvelous to see you!" Her mother enthused as she hugged her tightly.
"Mum." Kat said tightly, nodding towards her in acknowledgement, but her mother was already greeting another guest.
"You did beautifully on the modeling gig." Her father told her, kissing her cheek.
"Thank you Papa." She replied, with a smile, which faded when she realized he wasn't paying attention either. Kat mingled with the guests, laughing falsely with the wives of business associates, schmoozing the sons of enemies, pandering to the egos of her peers, until, blessedly, the Host Club arrived, en masse.
"About time you lot showed up." She smiled wearily but teased good naturedly. The twins looked irritated and jerked their thumbs at Tamaki, who smiled nervously and blushed.
"He couldn't decide what to wear." Haruhi said with a grim set to her mouth, obviously exasperated.
She gazed at him in amazement, "And it took you four hours?" He was wearing a classic black and white tux, "How did that take four flippin' hours!?
"Katerina is that you?" A male voice smoothly interjected. Kat looked over to see Kuon, Kyoko and Kuon's manager, Yoshiro.
"Aunt Kyoko, Uncle Kuon" She beamed happily," you came!" She embraced them both, and noticed Yashiro watching the interaction closely, even while he was conversing with someone else.
"I see your classmates came." Kuon said, noticing the group.
"Yes of course!" She turned to her friends," Kuon, Kyoko these are my friends, Tamaki, Hikaru, Karou, Haruhi, Mori, Hunny, and Kyoya." She announced each with a smile.
"It's a pleasure. I'm already acquainted with Mitsukuni and Takashi." Kuon said.
"Really?" Kat asked before seeing something alarming over his shoulder, "Uncle Kuon, go say hello to mother before she strangles you." Kat said with mock exasperation.
Both women laughed when he glanced over and paled visibly at the sight of Kat's mother glaring fiercely at Kuon. Kat spent the rest of the evening chatting and dancing with the other hosts happily. But when someone brought up how she looked like a certain model, Kat quickly escaped to the kitchen. Her mother followed after a while.
"Isn't it a great party?" Her mother asked with a sigh of content.
"Wonderful, mother." Kat said with a wry smile, "You've outdone yourself again."
"Oh thank you dear," She tittered for a few moments, before glancing sideways at her "You don't look very happy."
Of course she has an ulterior motive in following me, Kat thought with a mental death glare at her mother, with wasn't exactly mental.
"Just been a long night." Kat evaded the accusatory tone in the statement.
"You have never enjoyed parties much have you?"
"Not particularly." Kat glared at the ceiling, "It's always been your thing."
"Don't glare child! It isn't ladylike." Her mother corrected her sharply
"Do I give?" Kat asked drolly, inwardly seething over the 'child' comment.
"You should if want to be worth anything. Don't resort to glaring until the last battle." Her mother quoted her favorite book of etiquette.
"I was hoping it was the last battle." Kat murmured as she angled herself closer to the door.
"Are you having problems at school?"
"No mother."
"Boy problems?"Her mother persisted.
"No! Why do you always think there's a problem?!" She protested.
"Because that behavior says something's wrong."
She gave her mother a look. "The only problems I'm having are with you and Papa."
Her mother scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous, we're wonderful parents."
Kat was silent a few moments, struggling with what to say.
"Do you even know my favorite color?" She finally decided on.
"Yes," Her mother got a dreamy look on her face, "Your favorite color is baby blue, like mine when I was your age, and your second is bubblegum pink. You love horses and kittens, and you're just going through a rebellious faze right now. After it's over you'll be back to the sweet, wonderful, princess we love!"
Unknown to Kat and her mother the twins had their ears pressed to the door and were listening with growing disgust and horror as Kat's mom ranted. They could practically hear Kat's heart breaking.
"Well, now we know why she lives alone." Karou said after a moment.
"Her mom's really going at it in there." Hikaru winced sympathetically.
The twins carefully moved away from the door but were suspiciously silent. Eventually Haruhi had enough and confronted them.
"Nothing." They replied in tandem, their gaze shifty.
"If you don't tell me," She threatened, "I'll never let you come over to my house."
The twins look at each other with fear, then sighed. "Well Kat and her mother got into a fight…"
"The guilt card was played a couple times..."
"It was ugly. Her mom starting ranting about princesses and kittens." They both shuddered.
"And we got the feeling it was a pretty mild fight for them." The Host Club gaped at the twins, excepting Kyoya. They knew she had problems with her family, but no one really knows what's going on, even Kyoya didn't know the full extent. Which they both knew that each had problems with their parents but had never really discussed it.
"Hello," Kat's sister greeted the group, "You boys are from the Host Club, right?"
"Indeed, madam." Tamaki said, regaining his composure.
"Lovely to see you again." Trina said, "My sister never stops talking about you all."
"Likewise." Hunny said.
"May I ask where my sister is?" Trina asked.
"We saw her…"
"…go into the kitchen." The twins announced together.
A strange look passed across the older girl's face, but quickly dissipated.
"Oh? Thank you, I hope you will enjoy yourselves." She said distractedly, as she quickly walked away to speak with her Aunt Kyoko. Just then, the twins saw Kat rush out the front door, looking utterly distraught. They gave each other significant looks and hauled Kyoya away from the party.
"What are you two doing?" Kyoya hissed.
"Get…" Karou said.
"… your ass over there to her place." Hikaru finished.
Kyoya looked up sharply, just in time to see her limo pull away from the house. He turned his questioning gaze back to the twins, who grimaced.
"It was really bad." Hikaru said solemnly.
Kyoya merely nodded and swiftly called his own limousine.
Kat was sprawled across one of the couches with a bottle of wine in one hand. She felt like a heavy weight had settled over her heart, hurt and frustrated by her parents. She furiously blinked away tears as she gazed blankly at the fire dancing in the grate. With a pang, she thought of her grandmother, who could always soothe her after an especially painful encounter with her parents. If only you were here… Kat thought dejectedly.
Downstairs, Kyoya's Limo pulled up behind the building and he quickly boarded the elevator. As he waited impatiently, his heart feeling like it was doing somersaults in his chest over his concern for Kat.
"Should I notify Ms. Khaos of your presence, Mr. Ootori?" Marsha asked him in the elevator.
"Just let me in." Kyoya said sharply.
The doors opened and Kyoya cautiously stepped inside the foyer, he walked towards the living room but halted in the doorframe, at the sound of muffled sobs. He slid his glasses off his nose and ran a hand through his dark hair uncertainly. He avoided overly emotional women as a rule, but when he saw the state Kat was in he couldn't help himself. Carefully he pried the alcohol from her hands and set it on one of the tables, discarding his tuxedo jacket and bowtie as well. Then, gently, he gathered the distraught girl into his arms. Kat felt herself pressed against a strong chest and clung to it like a lifeline, completely uncaring of who or what at this point. Kyoya felt his heart squeeze painfully, at the feel of the soft, vulnerable girl pressed against him, noticing and trying to pretend he hadn't noticed that she was clothed only in a cream colored slip. Holding her closer, he shushed her quietly and ghosted a kiss across the top of her head.
"It's alright," He murmured, leaning his head against the top of hers, "I've got you, it's alright." As the tears dried up, they lay on the couch in silence.
"Kyoya" Kat called softly, hesitantly. He looked down, struck by how fragile this normally strong girl looked in his arms, how fragile she had been since her death.
"Hm?" Kyoya murmured, absently caressing her cheek. She was momentarily distracted, leaning into the warmth she craved so desperately.
When she pulled away a little, his dark eyes caught her golden ones and she saw nothing but, understanding, affection, and acceptance. "Thank you. I can't even tell you-"
"I know, kitten."
"I-" Kat began again, but silenced by his lips on hers. Kat started, but relaxed into his embrace, praying it wouldn't end. When they had to break for air, Kyoya guided her head back to his chest and held her there. Kat blushed hotly when she realized what this looked like.
"I'm not… I didn't have that much to drink." Kat said quickly.
Kyoya looked at her blankly for a moment; when it finally processed, he just tossed back his head and laughed. After they just laid like that and soon Kat closed her eyes and fell asleep against him.