Eri

When classes were over I found myself following Emi’s friends to their club-room. She’d shared a little information about it, but mostly had just told me that she had avoided staying after it opened up for business. Something about how there were too many air-headed fangirls for her taste.

While they prepared to open, I sat myself to the side of the room in a spot that could see the majority of the area, including the spot that when they were completely dressed the boys were assembling in. It was about that moment when I caught sight of the bandages marring Haruhi’s fingers. Curiosity fluttered through me as I studied him as he went back and forth from job to job. I wonder what happened.

Either everyone else had known about them, or just hadn’t noticed, because they didn’t say anything about it. Instead they posed in that area they’d assembled in, watching the front door as it reached the time for the club to open.  I coughed lightly, my eyes settling there as well.

Suddenly girls rushed through and had set to work. I soon discovered that the table I’d taken a seat at was Honey’s and was accompanied by two girls who squealed over almost everything he did. I’ll admit that a lot of it was indeed somewhat cute.

My attention was drawn by a different event soon after the opening, however Hikaru and Kaoru were surrounded by a good number of girls, who were squealing over ‘brotherly love’. After watching the twins for a few minutes, and listening to them speak, I felt my cheeks heat up as I quickly found somewhere else to look.

That… was disturbing. Who acted like that with their own siblings? Although, they hadn’t been acting like that beforehand. Maybe it was just that, an act. Honestly, though, who would even want to “act” like that?

When I’d turned away I found my eyes connecting with Kyoya’s. He seemed to be studying me, obviously thinking about something. Of course that was the moment that a cough decided to break away from me, only slightly muffled as I clasped a hand over my mouth. His lips twitched up as he gave himself a swift nod, jotting something down in his book.

I spent most of the club meeting like this, simply watching what went on from my seat with Honey. He was easy company, seeming to be able to talk about anything and not seeming to care that I didn’t take another piece after struggling through a first. Eventually the time for the club to close arrived, and the girl’s reluctantly filed out one-by-one. Uncertain about what to do, I just sat there, watching as the boys cleaned up.

“You’re not hurrying home to your sister?” a voice asked suddenly, causing me to jump.

My eyes darted to Kyoya as apprehension flooded through me.

“She’ll be fine while I hang round here.”

Something about what I said seemed to amuse him, a smirk reaching his lips as he adjusted his glasses.

“I see.”

He was too perceptive for his own good.

“Emi-chan~” Honey called over, drawing my attention in his direction. Responding to her name was something that was easy to do.

When I spotted him he was standing by the door holding Mori’s hand. He waved with his opposite hand, it looked like he was getting ready to leave.

“Good-bye, Honey-senpai,” I replied, offering my own wave.

The others trickled out after that, making me realize that I should get going as well. I gathered my things and started towards the door when something caught my eye through the window. Walking over, my eyes widened as I caught sight of Haruhi and Tamaki wading in the fountain. Tamaki suddenly shot his hand into the air, seeming excited about something, before they both exited the water.

I frowned a little, noting the fact that there was a pile of water-logged things next to it. Something wasn’t quite right with that.

“Are you waiting for something?”

I spun around to find Kyoya watching me. I shook my head instantly, clutching Emi’s bag to my chest.

“No, my driver should be here.”

He pursed his lips thoughtfully as I started to take a step back.

“Do you think you’ll be coming again?” he asked. “Perhaps when your sister is better, the two of you could schedule an appointment together.”

Something about his question rubbed me the wrong way and I flinched, shaking my head.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I should go.”

He didn’t respond right away and I took that as a go ahead, making my way towards the door. It wasn’t until I had it open and was leaving the room that he spoke.

“Good-bye, Eri-san.”

I didn’t think.

“Bye.”

The door clicked shut behind me before I realized what he had said.

That wasn’t good.

____________________________________________

"You blew it in one day?" Emi asked, raising a brow.

I cringed as she started laughing. Of course she wasn’t mad, the whole thing seemed to amuse the heck out of her..

"I don't even know how! I didn't do anything really wrong, yet somehow he managed to figure out in a span of hours that I was you!"

Emi leaned her head back on the head of my bed, seeming to think this over.

"Maybe it has something to do with that laptop of his. It wouldn't surprise me."

Blinking, I tilted my head and studied her for a moment.

"For once, you have a good idea. I didn't know you could be smart."

Her eyes snapped open as she grabbed a pillow next to her and tossed it at me. I laughed, ducking but still managing to get nailed in the head. The laughing led to coughing, but I couldn't care less.

"I'm jo-joking!"

"You better be," she grumbled.

___________________________________________

The next day I convinced Emi to stay behind once again. I wanted to see if I really had blown it. What surprised me, however, was that the twins left me alone. If that wasn’t suspicious enough, they left after class without as much as mentioning the club. I shook it off before long, deciding that perhaps they’d lost interest now that they’d gotten what they wanted. Little kids were like that, so why couldn’t the twins be as well?

When I arrived home, however, was when I finally got my answer.

Emi and I had been discussing the strange way the twins acted when a knock came on the door.

"Emi-sama, Eri-sama, you have visitors."

Our eyes met, a frown matching my own showing on Emi's face.

"Bring them up."

"Yes, mistress."

My gaze was glued to the door for a moment before a thought occurred to me.

"You don't think..." I began, turning my eyes to her.

"There's no way," she replied, although I could see suspicion on her face.

"They wouldn't."

A few minutes later a knock came on the door, followed by the door opening to reveal seven boys. Seven, very hot, very familiar, boys.

"What the-" Emi began.

"Hell?" I cut in.

Tamaki’s eyes shot between the two of us, confusion sparking. At the same time,though, he raised his hands to show off a bouquet of flowers.

“A gift for the sick princess,” he announced. That explained why they were here, well, half explained.

At the same time, both of the twins stepped forward, smug grins on each of their faces.

“Care to explain the double vision?”

I didn’t bother to say a word. Instead, I took one look at Emi’s irritated face and dropped my head into the pillow I’d been supporting my elbows on.

“You should call before visiting someone’s house!” Emi snapped.

I peeked up from the pillow. It was easy to figure out who all had pieced together the truth using the evidence before them and Emi’s attitude. Tamaki still seemed confused, but the twins and Kyoya all seemed rather pleased with themselves. Honey on the other hand seemed excited and ready to jump on the bed with us, Mori standing behind him as if to cut him off the moment he tried.

“We didn’t have your phone number,” Tamaki answered, his confused look fading into a slightly dejected one.

Guilt flooded through me. Unlike the three standing behind him, he’d only had good intentions.

“Then that’s just too-”

“You’re the sarcastic one,” Hikaru interrupted, smirking.

“What” I asked, completely pulling my  head up from the pillow. I’m sure my face must have been burning red.

“The twin at school today and yesterday acted different, just a little, but different,” Kaoru explained.

“The first one wasn’t willing to agree to anything without being forced. The most recent one was much more friendly and willing,” Hikaru finished for him.

I flushed an even brighter shade of red and dropped my head back down. Now I understood what gave me away. A cough came out a second later, although muffled by the pillow.

“That one is also sick.”

I scowled, that stupid cough was not helping at all. A second later I felt something tap my head and I looked up in surprise.

“For the sick princess?”

Tamaki was holding out the flowers. If I could get anymore red, I was sure that I did in that moment. He still didn’t look like he’d understood as much of this as the others had, but there was a kind smile on his face.

“Oh plea-”

“Thank-you,” I said, cutting Emi off.

I reached out to take them and buried my face in the flowers instead of the pillow. The aroma they gave off was heavenly.

It was at that moment that Honey approached the bed. His smile was bright and cheerful as he glanced between the two of us.

“Which of you is which?”

I hesitated, glancing at Emi. She didn’t seem like she was going to answer without sticking in a snide remark, so I gave her a wave indicating that I’d tell them.

“She’s Emi and I’m Eri. I’m the older twin.”

Honey nodded, still grinning.

“You’re the one who ate and talked with me yesterday.”

I gave a nod, pleased.

"Ate?"

Emi was looking at me with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, Emi, I ate cake. If you hadn't skipped out on the club when you went, you would have, too. Don't pout, it's unbecoming."

"If I'd thought about the cake I would have stayed."

Everyone laughed, making the tension in the room fade away. Emi, however, just looked more irritated.

"Why don't we all go to the game room," I offered, slipping from the bed before she got a word out. "If you're here, you might as well have some fun."

"I love games," Tamaki declared, answering the question.

I nodded, eyes flickering over them as I started towards the door. When I'd almost reached it, I stumbled. A small squeak broke away from me as someone reached out to keep me from falling. My eyes shot up to meet the steely gray of the rescuer. I instantly jerked away, a shudder working itself through my body without permission.

"Th-thank-you," I mumbled.

"You're welcome."

I couldn't help but glance back up at him, my eyes having dropped the ground. His eyes were unreadable, but there was a pleased expression on his face. It seemed pretty easy to guess he'd been behind this whole visit.

"Are we going or not?" Emi demanded from behind me.

Startled, I nodded, tearing my eyes away from Kyoya and opening the door.

It didn't really matter who caused all of them to come. All I really cared about was the fact that now we had something to do besides sit all evening. It was better than just sitting there and having Emi constantly checking to see if I was alright. Even if the visitors happened to be a group of boys, I’d manage. I had to get used to being around boys eventually, right? Not all of them would be like Kaito, even I knew that.

A/N: It's going faster than I thought! One more chapter and I'll be 1/4 of the way back to where Double Trouble was! Also, even if you don't notice the differences just yet, trust me, they're there. I'm much more satisfied with this than I was with that. Vote, comment, etc. Do as you wish~ I love feedback~