Chapter 42 | The Host Club Declares Dissolution

--six days later--

~Kaoru's POV~

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" I demanded as I stood at the door of Arabella's house. We had been in a fight over the phone, and I now I showed up at her house.

"Because, Kaoru, I was afraid it would hurt you!" Arabella shouted.

"Too late for that! It's already hurt me! What really hurts though is that you told HARUHI before ME." I said.

"And what exactly is wrong with that?! She's my BEST FRIEND."

"Oh yeah? Well, I'm your BOYFRIEND! Boyfriend trumps best friend!"

"Oh, does it now? Well, SHE WAS THERE FOR ME WHEN I NEEDED IT. She's my PERSON, Kaoru! She's the one person I know I can go to."

"Aren't I your person too?! You KNOW you can come to ME when you're going through something, Arabella! I will ALWAYS be there for you! You know you can tell me anything! You know that!"

"I know, but I PANICKED. I was afraid of telling you because I knew you would take it the hardest out of everyone! Look, Kaoru, I really DON'T want to go back to America! You know I don't want to go to America for my mother's promotion, but I have to, even if I really don't want to!"

"Why don't you try to stay? Huh? Why?"

"Because she's my MOTHER. And I want to make her HAPPY."

"What, you don't want to make ME happy too?!"

"OF COURSE I DO! YOU THINK I DON'T?!" Arabella practically screamed at me.

Silence.

No one said anything for several seconds, because no one wanted to.

Finally, Arabella spoke up. "Kaoru, you know there's nothing I'd want more than to stay here with you and the rest of the Host Club. But, unfortunately, I can't. This is my mom, Kaoru, and she is really excited about this job. She's done so much for Daniel and me... she saved my LIFE. After I tried to commit suicide and was on the floor DYING from all those pills I ingested, she didn't snap under the pressure and give up on me, she got me to a hospital and saved me. She's done SO MUCH for me, Kaoru. So, I think I can do this for her."

I nodded. "You're right, I know. I just... I really don't want you to leave me, Arabella. I have REALLY STRONG feelings for you, I've never felt more strongly for someone as I have for you. And now you're telling me we might never see each other again..." I said.

Arabella's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Kaoru, I really am..."

"Don't say that! We can see each other again! We... we can do long distance! We can!"

Arabella shook her head as the tears began to streak down her cheeks. "No, Kaoru, long distance never works. Plus, it'd be too painful; never getting to see you, never getting to hold you, never getting to kiss you or touch you... I couldn't do it, Kaoru, I couldn't... I can't date you long distance... and if I can't date you long distance, then I guess... I guess I can't date you at all..."

My eyes widened. "Arabella...? W-What are you saying...?" I mumbled. "Are... are you breaking up with me...?"

Arabella sniffled. "I... I guess I am..."

I tried to fight back the tears that were now starting to come. "W-What...?"

"I love you, Kaoru," Arabella sniffled again as more tears made their way down her cheeks. "I really do... but I can't do this. I'm so sorry... I love you so much."

"I... I am deeply in love with you, too..." I said.

Suddenly, Arabella looked more disappointed, like she wanted to hear something else. But what else was I supposed to say?

"I just wish... I just wish there was something to keep me here... like someone to tell me something that would keep me here... I really wish there was someone to say something that would make me stay..." Arabella said.

I nodded solemnly. "Me too, I really wish that too..."

Silence again. It was as if Arabella was waiting for me to say something, but what exactly?

Arabella sniffled one more time before she gave me a kiss on the cheek and backed away. "W-Well... if there's nothing else to be said, I've got to keep packing my things..."

I just gave her a sad look, because I couldn't do or say anything else.

Then, without another word, Arabella backed up inside her house and closed the door.

~Third Person POV~

Since that happened two days ago, the memory was still freshly imprinted in Kaoru's mind. Since those two days, Kaoru hasn't spoken to Arabella, and she hasn't spoken to him. Even though he was the guy who broke down her walls without her even noticing, she hasn't spoken to him. And even though after he broke down the walls and rebuilt them, he added windows to let the sunshine in, she hasn't spoken to him.

Even though he was the boy who made her really feel, she hadn't spoken to him.

In fact, she hasn't spoken to anyone on account of her mother pulling her out of school to focus on packing and getting ready. Mrs. Hashimoto pulled Arabella and Daniel out of school three days ago.

After two days of no word from Arabella or the rest of her family, he's pretty much given up all hope. Why? Because Arabella's family was supposed to be leaving tomorrow.

Arabella told them she was moving six days ago--almost an exact week.

Since then, nothing's been the same between the two of them--nothing's been the same between any of them.

After his breakup with Arabella, Kaoru never left the house. For the past two days the only thing he really did (besides going to school) was stare at his bedroom ceiling and sulk.

That's all the Host Club did now--sulking.

However, they didn't have long to sulk, because the day of the Ouran Fair had arrived.

Arabella leaves on the second day of the Ouran Fair, which was tomorrow.

So, of course Arabella isn't at the fair, but even if she left after then, Kaoru knew she wouldn't show up anyway.

What really makes Kaoru sulk even more is that she's leaving without even saying goodbye.

They couldn't really focus on anything to do with Arabella because they were too busy getting ready for the Ouran Fair. The Host Club especially was busy rehearsing for the fair's special parade, in which they get to ride in a horse-drawn carriage and wear costumes.

In fact, Hikaru was the driver.

Hikaru loved driving the carriage around, he'd look really content when he held the reigns in his hands for which he uses to control the horses.

He had said, "Kaoru, you should've come and practiced with me!"

Kaoru had said, "Sorry, Hikaru, I really wasn't in the mood."

His response to that was, "Kaoru, you haven't been in the mood for a week now. Cheer up."

And to that Kaoru had said, "Is your girlfriend leaving you to go across the world after breaking up with you and not even going to say goodbye? Call me when that happens to you, and then we'll talk."

Hikaru had shut up after that.

Soon after that began the opening ceremony which was at the Central Building Salon.

There, the Host Club was now open to not only their usual customers, but to the general public.

For that, they were dressed specially.

"Remember, as a special event during the school fair, the Host Club will be open to all the parents and visitors, so for today and tomorrow, we will entertain them even more extravagantly!" Tamaki told everyone.

"Mitsukuni, your button has come undone. Let me fix it." Mori told Honey before he kneeled down to Honey's level and fixed it for him.

Honey smiled. "Thank you, Takashi!"

Every female sitting at a nearby table squealed with hearts in their eyes.

Hikaru and Kaoru sat at a table with two women across from them.

"Mother and father are usually so busy, so we're usually left at home all alone... It's some times so painful and lonely, right Kaoru?" Hikaru said.

Kaoru's facial expression was sad, but not because of what Hikaru was saying. While Hikaru hosted, Kaoru looked off into space, obviously thinking of nothing but Arabella.

When Kaoru didn't answer, Hikaru nudged him.

Kaoru still didn't respond.

Hikaru gave a soft smile at the two women. "My apologies for my brother; he's so grief-stricken by our parents' recurring absences from our lives that he can't say anything. He doesn't talk much at all."

The two women sighed. "Oh, you poor boys!" they said together.

Haruhi rolled her eyes as she walked past them. "Figures..." she mumbled to herself.

Kyoya stood off to the side talking with other guests. "In this club, one of our themes is to aquire societal culture, so we are able to research a wide variety of customs, pastimes, and historic traditional dress from countries all over, on a daily basis." he told them.

"How excellent!" one man said.

"What an unashamedly politic thing to say...," Haruhi mumbled. Then, she looked all around and sighed. "I really miss Arabella..."

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

"I have to say, this sure is a ritzy event. It's too much money to be spent on a mere school fair." Haruhi said as Kyoya typed on his laptop.

Tamaki appeared. "What are you talking about? This grand campaign strategy is a chance to show off the charm of the Ouran Host Club, far and wide, throughout the world!" he said. "Besides, Arabella would've loved this...!" He sniffled.

"Uh, no, I'm pretty sure if she were here, Arabella would agree with me." Haruhi said.

"You're right in that we have overspent our budget on this." Kyoya said as he typed.

Tamaki's eyes widened. "Kyoya..."

Kyoya closed his laptop. "Use of this salon notwithstanding, we had a classic carriage flown in all the way from France. As is always the case, I don't know how to deal with all your capricious plans." he said.

"Isn't that the truth..." Haruhi said.

"Hey, Haruhi! You be quiet!" Tamaki said. "The whims of the Host King are the whims that make everyone happy!"

Haruhi wasn't listening to him as she approached a lady with blue eyes wearing a red dress sitting at one of the tables. She also held a pair of opera glasses in her hand.

Haruhi smiled. "Welcome. May I bring you something sweet to eat?"

The lady's eyes narrowed slightly. "You are a member of the Host Club?" she asked.

"Yes." Haruhi replied.

"Father!"

Both Haruhi and the lady looked to where the cry came from.

Tamaki stood up straight and proud, looking at someone.

A man in a white suit had entered the room. "'Father' is too familiar. Address me as 'Superintendent' while at school," he said. "Besides, I am here as a guest today."

Tamaki's facial expression turned serious.

Kyoya came to stand next to him. "Welcome, Superintendent," he said. Then, he gestured to an empty table. "Come, take this seat here."

The superintendent nodded. "Thank you," Then he faced Kyoya. "Kyoya-kun, this club owes everything to your management, doesn't it? My son must give you no end of trouble."

Kyoya smiled. "Not at all. The Host Club is here because of him," he said. "Can I get you anything?"

The superintendent motioned for Kyoya to come closer. They began whispering to each other. Tamaki watched, trying to figure out what they were saying.

Just seconds later, the whispering stopped and Kyoya stood up. "Haruhi, you have a request." he said.

Tamaki's eyes widened. "What?" he shouted.

Haruhi made her way over to the superintendent.

"So, you're Haruhi Fujioka-kun, are you?" He gave her a smile. "Come, have a seat."

"By your leave." Haruhi said before she sat down next to him.

So, this man is Tamaki-senpai's father? she thought. They don't look much alike...

Haruhi smiled at the superintendent. "I'm pleased to meet you! I was thinking that I should have paid my respects to you sooner, Superintendent."

"Superintendent is so stuffy...," he said. Then, he pulled out a rose. "You can call me Uncle."

Tamaki fell in the nearby fountain.

Now I see the resemblance... he's Tamaki's father, alright... Haruhi thought.

"I've been so busy. I haven't been able to get around the campus much, but I am always hearing about how exceptional you are." the superintendent said.

"Thank you." Haruhi said as she was about to take the rose. Before she could, however, he clasped his hands around hers.

"Uh..." Haruhi said.

"If you ever have any trouble, feel free to come to me any time." he said.

"Sure..." Haruhi said.

Tamaki emerged from the fountain and glared at his father. "Father..." he warned.

The superintendent glared at him as well. "Call me Superintendent!" he said.

Tamaki stayed quiet for about two seconds before he said, "What are you doing?! Remove your hands at once, please!"

Before anything else could be done or said, a loud slap rang throughout the room.

Everyone gasped and turned to where the sound originated.

Kyoya was on the ground, picking up his glasses that had fallen off and putting them back on. His father stood before him, rubbing his hand after he had slapped his son.

"Kyoya-senpai!" Haruhi was surprised.

"This is the sort of ridiculous club you've been in?" Kyoya's father sneered.

"That's Kyo-chan's father, right?" Honey whispered.

"Yeah." Mori replied.

Kyoya's father, Yoshiro Ootori, stood, not facing his son. "Are you trying to embarrass me?" he said curtly before he approached the superintendent. "Well, if it isn't Suoh-san. I'm sorry you had to see that."

"That was pretty harsh, as exceptional as Kyoya-kun is," the superintendent replied. "For someone that has four such fine children, your avarice sure does run deep, indeed. I've heard the news. It's only a matter of time before the press starts making noise. Please tell me you weren't taking it out on him."

Yoshiro said nothing, and walked away.

Tamaki immediately approached Kyoya. "Kyoya, are you okay?" he said.

"What a mean dad!" Hikaru said.

"Yeah, to hit someone with glasses like that!" Honey said.

Kaoru sighed. "That's not what he meant..." he mumbled.

"Did he hit you because you're in the Host Club?" Haruhi asked Kyoya.

Kyoya pushed past his friends. "It's alright," he said as he walked away. "I've been expecting it."

Tamaki just stood there, watching him go.

"It was because... of the Host Club...?" he muttered.

Tamaki's father walked past him and stopped. "Your capriciousness carries a high price. Standing in a position of greater responsibility than regular people also means that you are no longer free to pursue the matters you like, the items you like, or the people you like." he said.

"Haruhi-kun!"

Tamaki turned to see Haruhi with a group of her regulars.

"Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to come visit us at the Host Club, today!" Haruhi said.

"We heard about Arabella moving, and we're sorry. We know she was a good friend of yours." one of her customers said.

"She still is. She's just far away now, that's all. She says hi to you all and hopes you're having a great time!" Haruhi said.

"What do you want to do from here on?" Tamaki's father asked him. "Do you want to take over the Suoh family? That would be a difficult choice. I still have not been able to find the answer. Do you really know what it is you want most?"

Suddenly, the doors to the salon opened. An old woman with two men in suits behind her stepped in.

"Look," the superintendent said. "Your grandmother has come."

Tamaki's eyes widened as he smiled. He ran to his grandmother. "Grandmother! You were good enough to come!" he said as he approached her.

"Wow, that woman is Tamaki-senpai's grandmother?" Haruhi asked.

Honey hugged Usa-chan close and looked down. "I hate that woman." he said.

Haruhi just looked at him.

"Come, have a seat!" Tamaki said warmly to his grandmother, who just walked ahead.

"Don't touch me," she said to him. "You disgust me." Then, she said, "Éclair-san, come over here."

The lady with the opera glasses in her hand Haruhi had been taking to earlier gracefully walked towards Tamaki's grandmother.

Haruhi's eyes widened. "Hey! I was just..." Her voice trailed off.

"Who is she?" Hikaru and Kaoru whispered.

The lady, or Éclair, twirled her opera glasses around in her hands as she approached Tamaki's grandmother.

"For the duration of the school fair today and tomorrow, you are to escort Lady Éclair here."

Éclair gave a smile.

"Is something wrong? I thought I just gave you an order." Tamaki's grandmother said to him.

Éclair looked up at Tamaki through her opera glasses. "I am in your hands, Tamaki." she said.

Tamaki stood there for a second before he smiled at his grandmother and said, "Very well, grandmother. I will do everything within my power to see that she will be happy."

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

"Tama-chan isn't coming back, huh?" Honey asked.

"Is he seriously planning to escort..." Hikaru started.

"... that girl for the durability of the school fair?" Kaoru finished.

"I think her name was Éclair." Hikaru said.

"But, who is she?" Kaoru asked.

"I know her."

They all turned to see Renge, who was dressed formally like everyone else.

"Renge..." they said.

"Éclair Tonnerre, the third daughter of the renowned French Tonnerre family, which descends from royalty." Renge said.

"Well, Renge, you did grow up in France and all." Kyoya said as he typed on his laptop. "Yes, the Tonnerre family doesn't simply have a high social standing, they are also the owners of Grand Tonnerre, the company that the financial world has been clamering over of late, for being a foreign-funded firm, rapidly buying up businesses in our country. Of course, we do not know why their daughter has come here to see Tamaki..."

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

A boat drifted peacefully along the beautiful waters, with Tamaki and Éclair both on it.

"So, what do you think?" Tamaki asked Éclair. "The idea is to enjoy a leisurely cruise on the gondola, while being able to admire the works of the Art Club."

"It's boring. I don't care for any student work." Éclair said.

"That's pretty harsh, but I don't know what I can do; the Ouran Fair is a fair for the students. Where might I show you that would please you?" Tamaki said.

Éclair looked through her opera glasses. "I want to hear you play the piano, Tamaki," she said. "Please."

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

Haruhi straightened her tie.

"Of course, we do not know why their daughter has come here to see Tamaki..."

"In here?"

"It is a music room, after all."

A few seconds later, Haruhi heard the sound of a piano being played beautifully.

Tamaki, no doubt, playing for Lady Éclair.

Haruhi pressed herself against the door to hear better.

Éclair's eyes popped open.

"Is this room always where you conduct your Host Club thing?" she asked Tamaki. "I was watching you in the salon, and you all seem to get along very well."

"That's because the Host Club is like a family. Unfortunately, one of our members isn't a member anymore..." Tamaki said while still playing the piano.

"They quit?"

"Well... they are moving away very soon. Tomorrow, actually. Actually, the only reason she joined us in the first place was because she owed us money."

"How much?"

"One million yen."

"Hm."

"However, the longer she worked for us, the more she got attached to us, and vice versa. So, she's like a part of our little family, and we're all devastated that she's leaving... one of us particularly, but I won't get too personal."

"Has she even paid you back?"

"Almost. Kyoya gave her a pass on the rest, though... since she's leaving and all," Tamaki explained. "My point is, we get along so well because we think of each other as family."

"In Japan, they call pretending to have a real family, even when it isn't one, 'playing house', don't they?" Éclair sniffed.

Haruhi listened.

Tamaki didn't answer, however, he just kept playing.

When Éclair knew Tamaki wasn't going to answer that question, she said, "Tamaki, you are making everyone else suffer because of your capriciousness, aren't you? I mean, that host with the glasses was even struck by his father, right?"

Tamaki's eyes widened just as he stopped playing.

Is it possible that everyone is actually having to secretly give up various other things? he thought. It's true, Haruhi, who wants to spend every minute she has studying, has given up her precious time, forced to attend club activities day in and day out. Arabella has too.

The door handle turned.

"Come in." Éclair said.

Haruhi entered.

"Haruhi, what are you doing?" Tamaki asked.

"I came back here to change outfits," Haruhi said. "Senpai, you were the one that said to change three times a day, right? Neglecting the salon now, after being the one to tell us to do so, everyone is upset with you."

"Oh, my apologies, Tamaki belongs to me right now. But then, somehow, you seem to be jealous." Éclair said with a smirk.

Haruhi's eyes widened.

Tamaki's eyes sparkled with happiness. "Jealous?" he squealed. "Is that true? Is that true? Is that true, Haruhi???"

Haruhi opened the door. "No, it's not. I'm sorry for disturbing you two." she said before she left.

Tamaki blinked. "Disturbing us? Haruhi, wait--"

He was cut off by Éclair grabbing his arm.

The door closed.

"What's this? Tamaki, you would rather have that little shrew?" Éclair asked.

"How rude of you! Don't call my little girl a shrew!" Tamaki said.

"Your little girl...," Éclair mumbled. She gripped Tamaki's hand. "Your little make-believe family is, in the end, just make-believe. A surrogate."

Suddenly, in one movement, she yanked Tamaki onto a nearby couch and got on top of him, leaning in.

"What are you doing?!" Tamaki shouted.

"Tamaki, I can give you the thing that you want most." Éclair whispered.

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

"My!"

"How cute!"

"Fantastic!"

All the girls swooned as Haruhi entered the room in her newly put on suit.

"Haru-chan is so cute~!" Honey said.

"Yeah." Mori said.

Kyoya sat at a table, yet again typing on his laptop. By now, they all had the suits on.

"Nice." Hikaru commented on Haruhi.

"Where did Tono go?" Kaoru asked.

"Yeah, he was looking forward to this most of all!" Hikaru said.

"Senpai was in Music Room 3. With Éclair." Haruhi said curtly.

"Oooh~! What was that~?" Hikaru sang.

"It sounded like jealousy to me." Kaoru said bluntly.

Haruhi glared at him. "You're the one to talk, Kaoru; if any guy even says hi to Arabella, you're quick to get jealous." she said.

Silence.

Everyone looked at Kaoru.

Haruhi realized what she'd just said. "O-Oh! I'm sorry, Kaoru, I didn't mean to--"

"To what?" Kaoru snapped. "Mention my M.I.A. now ex-girlfriend in front of me? God, guys, you don't have to act like you're all walking on God damn eggshells when you mention her name around me. It's not like it's some sort of secret she dumped me and is moving to America. Don't apologize to me. I don't want your apology. I just want her back, but that's obviously not happening. So, you all don't have to act like it's a fricking curse to say her name."

The silence continued until Haruhi spoke up again. "Anyway, like I said, it is NOT jealousy!"

Hikaru gave her a look. "Like you said?"

Haruhi ignored him. "Still, Tamaki is being a bit irresponsible this time. Ordinarily, you might call it capriciousness, and it's that..."

"Well, let's give him a pass. It was none other than his grandmother who ordered him, after all." Kyoya said.

"True, Tamaki's grandmother did seem pretty cold to him. Is there any reason for that?" Haruhi said.

"Well, everyone knows about it... In short, his highness is an illegitimate love child," Hikaru said. "Twenty-some years ago, the head of the Suoh family at the time passed away at a young age. The superintendent of this school, Mr. Yuzuru, entered into what could be called a marriage of political convenience with a woman of his mother's choosing, and succeeded the family. However, several years later, the superintendent found true love with a woman he met in France."

"And later, Tama-chan was born." Honey said.

"The superintendent told his mother, Tono's grandmother, he was going to leave his wife and marry Tono's mother. But, his mother was strongly against it. His highness's mother is sickly, and there were other obstacles to have her live in Japan. So, Tono grew up in France until he was fourteen. He seemed to have a happy childhood, in its own way. But, as time went on, his mother's family business failed. And after they had become burdened with a great debt... his grandma, who had started worrying about there not being any heirs to the Suoh family, came up with a proposal. She said she would provide Tono's mother with enough money so that she'd be able to live comfortably from then on. In exchange, she would have to send Tono to Japan, alone, and she and Tono would never be able to see each other again." Hikaru explained.

"Wow..." Haruhi said.

"Mr. Yuzuru may be the current head of the Suoh family, but in actuality, the highest power still belongs to its director, the grandmother. What's more, Tamaki's mother being of frail health, she knew what would happen if she was left destitute without the Suohs' assistance. And so, Tamaki agreed to go to Japan alone. Afterward, whether out of sadness or over guilt for having basically traded Tamaki for money, his mother apparently moved away somewhere, and went into hiding. Currently, her whereabouts are unknown. And so, ever since, Tamaki has never seen his mother even once." Kyoya explained.

I never knew... He's always so cheerful, I didn't know he had such a painful upbringing..., Haruhi thought, then remembering Arabella's childhood. It seems most of my friends had painful upbringings... Even so, if I was Tamaki-senpai, I wonder if I could keep from resenting my grandmother.

Kyoya stood up. "It's easy to feel sorry for him, but I'm glad Tamaki is who he is now. He will be fine. Having accepted everything he's been through, he's here now, in the Host Club."

Suddenly, the doors opened.

Honey smiled upon seeing who entered. "Ah, Tama-chan!" he said.

Tamaki stood with Éclair next to him. His face was unreadable. "I have an important announcement for everyone." he said.

Everyone looked at him with confused faces. "Huh?"

"As of today, I am officially engaged to Lady Éclair Tonnerre. Furthermore, the Host Club will be dissolved following the Ouran Fair," Tamaki said, his face void of any emotion. "That is all."

.
.
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"He broke down her walls without her even noticing. And when he rebuilt the walls, he added windows to let the sunshine in."

--unknown