Emi

"Eri," I began, fiddling with my fingers in my lap. "They said I'm the only one that can help you right now. We're gonna try the surgery... I wish you'd wake up... I..."

My eyes focused on where my sister lay, then flickered up to the machines surrounding her bed. They continued to beep in that quiet, even manner that I'd become all too accustomed to. A second later I dropped my gaze to my  hands, which had drawn my attention when something wet fell on them.

When had I started crying?

"E-Eri... I... I'm scared. This is the last thing they said we'd try. If this doesn't work..." I cut myself off by biting my lip.

Suddenly Eri sat up, her eyes focusing on mine. I flinched back when I realized they were blood red. She bared her teeth in a smug smile.

"It's useless, Emi. Cause it'll never really be over. It's just remission, you know. That's all you helped cause. You didn't cure me. You can't protect me. You'll be alone, eventually. Alone... poor little Emi-tan... all alone... maybe I should comfort you. Would you like that?"

Frozen to the spot, I could only watch as Eri lurched from the bed. All of the IVs stuck through her skin were torn out as she stepped towards me, sending the towering machines and IV stands crashing to the ground. My eyes were drawn to the blood dripping down her arms as the machines began to beep wildly.

BEEP! BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

When I woke up, I clamped one hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. Even my sleep addled mind knew what normally came next. Once I was certain that I'd calmed down, I just laid in bed for a few moments. If I got up, that meant getting dressed. Eri hadn't been joking when she'd said she would find a way to drag me to school herself. If I got dressed, that meant going over to see Eri.

It was always hard to see her after that dream.

Eventually, my alarms got to me. Cursing them under my breath, I dragged one arm out from my tangle of covers and beat at my bedside table until the damn thing went silent. Unable to stay in bed any longer, I shoved the rest of the blankets to the side and stretched, a faint smile appearing as I felt my stiff muscles pop with the movement. Urging myself to move, I quickly dressed and gathered my things for school. It didn't occur to me until after I'd finished to check and see what time it was.

I'd left myself with almost thirty minutes before I'd normally head to Eri's room. Shoving my irritation, and perhaps even relief, to the side, I seized my sketchpad from where I'd dropped it the night before and climbed back up on my bed. Once I'd had it open to the most current page and balanced on top of my blanket mountain, I started working on Eri's sketch once again.

As I'd expected, when one the maids showed up about ten minutes before I would normally force myself out of bed, she was shocked to discover me already completely prepared for school. I only spared her a quick glance seeing as I was almost done with the last minute touches to the sketch. Perhaps I'd get on the computer when I came home from school and scan this in. It took a long time, but it was always worth it to digitalize my drawings when they were done, seeing as it looked a lot nicer and a lot cleaner that way.

The maid stuck around just long enough to tell me that she'd serve breakfast in Eri's room as I normally requested at times like this. I simply nodded, sliding off of my bed and shutting the book. When I walked into her room only minutes later, Eri was still sleeping. I hesitated, the image of her laying there overlapping with my dream for a nanosecond. It was enough, however, to cause me to drop my things by the door and walk over to put the back of my hand to her forehead.

The fever had completely disappeared.

Relief flooded through me as I carefully took my normal perch on the end of her bed. It didn't surprise me that through both actions Eri didn't even seem to stir. She could be a rather deep sleeper as long as it was just me around. When we had guests I swear the drop of a hat a room away could jolt her awake.

The maid came in with our breakfast cart a short time later and I put a finger to my lips, gesturing for her to leave without a word. After I'd eaten my portion of the meal I wrote Eri a short note promising to behave in class and headed out. The more she slept, the sooner she would be able to do as she wanted. It also meant the sooner I'd be able to stop worrying and get a decent night's sleep. The nightmares weren't that common when she wasn't holed up in bed.

Once I'd arrived at school, I headed directly to the classroom. Despite what Eri had told me to do the night before, I had every intention of going home after school. She may have improved a bit, but I didn't want her to be alone for long in case something changed. I'm protective- sue me.

"Hello, Hano-san."

"Hello," I replied, not looking at the twins. They's spoken at the same time again, definitely a habit that Eri and I should pick up again. It was entertaining.

Damn, how much time do I have left since I came directly to class? I wondered, organizing the items on my desk. This could be the start to a very long day.

"So, have you thought about it?" one asked.

I glanced up, deciding that the one who'd spoken, as long as they were sitting in the same desks as before, was Hikaru.

"About what?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

Maybe I'd been rash in choosing this seat, even if it was close to Haruhi.

"The club," Kaoru said.

"Do you guys always talk like that?" I grumbled instead of answering.

Honestly, the idea of attending the club wasn't as horrible as I'd made it out to be. Sure, it sounded like a bad place at first thought, but when you put it into perspective with other club choices, it didn't sound half-bad. I'd rather be flirted with than have to do something that required teamwork or dealing with those girls who'd given me the snobby looks yesterday. It just didn't seem to be the right time to join a club, and it just didn't seem to be a good idea to join a club that they attended. Although... they had just asked me to come... they hadn't said anything about joining whatever the hell club it was.

Still... I had to go home to Eri.

Shit, I sounded like some old lady worried about her sick husband, not a concerned sister.

"Like what?" they asked at the same time.

I scowled, turning my attention back to my things. My notebook was open to a new page so that I could take notes for Eri. In an effort to show my annoyance, I began doodling instead of looking at them. I could easily imagine that they were either wearing those smirks from yesterday, or those smug smiles.

Honestly, what was I even thinking? Going to a club with these guys... they'd started dragging me down the hall the day before! I'd be better off figuring out where the art room was and asking about their club. Or maybe joining a sports team. I wonder if there would be any accepting members still, even though it was already a month or so into the school year.

"They do," a new voice spoke up.

My eyes darted away from the notebook to where Haruhi stood. He hadn't sat down yet and was offering me another one of those cute smiles. My fingers tightened around the pencil I'd been doodling with.

"I figured," I said, dropping my eyes back to my paper.

That smile was dangerous.

"So, the club."

The twins again, I had to resist the urge to growl.

"I'm not coming."

"Why?" they said in unison.

"I'm busy after school."

"Again?" asked one, I had to assume it was Hikaru, it seemed he tended to speak first, or at least, that's if he was in the seat he had been in the day before.

"Yes," I muttered, the doodle I'd been working on earning itself mean eyebrows as a result of my frustration.

"I think you're lying," Kaoru said.

"I'm not."

"Leave her alone," Haruhi instructed.

I'm sure that one of the twins would have added something to that, but the teacher stepped up to the board at that moment, meaning it was time for class to start. Reluctantly I flipped to a new page of the notebook and prepared to take notes, as doomed to failure as that venture seemed to be.

_________________________________

It took some major effort and anger management on my part, but I managed to avoid being dragged to the cafeteria for the second day in a row. Afterwards, despite my feelings, I stayed in class the rest of the day. Eri would have a fit if I came home early again. By the time that we got out, I could feel my impatience growing. I'm sure the twin next to me knew it as well, seeing as my pencil had begun tapping on the desk. I'd noticed that I was doing it, but couldn't bring myself to care.

The moment we were dismissed I had my stuff swept into my bookbag and over my shoulder. Right before I reached the door, though, I felt two hands fall on my shoulders.

"Hell no," I growled.

"Play nice," one of them said, I couldn't tell which one it was now that they were standing.

Tomorrow, I decided. Tomorrow I'll pay attention to which of them was which. I'm sure they left a way to tell them apart, I just hadn't taken the time to notice.

"I don't want to play at all."

By this point most of the class seemed to have decided to just walk around our little circus show. I could feel my temper flare. Eri was at home and I was stuck here.

"Just once," they said together.

"Why are you so stuck on this?" I demanded, turning around. They dropped their hands in one simultaneous motion.

"You're fun to annoy."

Another double answer. I take it back, it wasn't entertaining or fun, it was quickly becoming as annoying as hell.

"Go have fun annoying someone else," I retorted.

"You might as well come," Haruhi said, coming up next to us. "They're not going to let it go. Just show up once. Then they'll promise not to make you come again if you don't like it," he paused, looking at them. "Right?"

The twins looked at each other, smirking once again. I was beginning to hate that smirk.

"Of course," they said together.

I hesitated, tightening my hold on the strap of my bag. Eri had told me to go, and it's not like being relieved of the chore of going would be a bad thing.

"Fine," I said after a few moment's thought. "I'll come. Lead the way."

______________________________________

The moment I stepped into the room, I realized I'd made a dire mistake. Sitting across from the door were four guys, all of them as cute as the ones that had led me here. How did the school have this many cute and/or hot guys concentrated into one place?

"Welcome to the Host Club!"

Anything I might have said was stuck in my throat.

What the hell did I get myself into?

"You, my princess," one of the boys, a blonde, said as he seized my hand and raised it to his lips. "Are a rare beauty-"

Before he could finish, I yanked my hand away, a blush rising to my cheeks. As soon as the blush had registered in my mind, I raised a brow and painted on an amused expression. It wouldn't do to allow them to see how flustered that one motion had made me.

"You can't be serious. What the hell is this?"

The last part of my question was directed at my guides who had already crossed the room. Instead of helping me, the twins were busy with a guy with dark hair and glasses. He seemed to be annoyed, saying something about how they were late. Haruhi was still standing next to me, though, with a slightly irritated look on his face.

I brought my attention back to the matter in front of me as the one who'd been talking to me ran into a dark corner as if injured by my words. I couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled to my lips. That was... dramatic?

"It's the host club," Haruhi answered me, drawing my attention back to him. Now that he brought up the name again... a memory spurred in the back of my mind, of girls at my old school mentioning this place. Something about... "It's a club put together-"

"I've heard of it," I cut in, deciding just to leave it at that.

How had I not remembered when it'd first been mentioned, or at least when I walked in the room? It'd been infamous in Lobelia.

Suddenly, the blonde was back in front of me again.

"You have?! That's wonderful! Then you must know my name, I'm Souh Tamaki and-"

"You're the leader who flirts with every girl who enters the room," I finished for him, keeping a carefully even look on my face.

It was so hard not to laugh when he shot back to his corner.

By that time we'd drawn attention of the others. The other two boys, a young blonde one who I would have thought to be in grade school if I hadn't heard the stories, and a tall dark headed one, were watching us curiously. Meanwhile glasses boy simply glanced between Tamaki, Haruhi, and I before adjusting his glasses with a sigh. Seeming to deem us more important than the depressed president, he started walking to where we stood.

"You're the new student, Hano Emi, correct?" he asked.

Surprised, I gave a small nod. Quickly drawing up what I'd heard of the club back in Lobelia, I managed to select a name that had a description fitting the glasses boy before me.

"And you're... Ootori Kyoya," I replied.

Kyoya rose a brow, jotting down something in the notebook he held.

"Yes, I am. Would it be right to assume you know the rest of our names as well, Hano-san?"

I frowned, turning my attention back to the room. The kid seemed to be practically bouncing on his heels, the one beside him not really having any expression.

"Those would be...." I began, pointing in their direction, hoping I wouldn't mess it up. "Haninozuka... something or other, and Morinozuka something."

The kid grinned, hugging a bunny to his chest.

"You're right! Everyone calls me Honey, though, and him Mori," the little one said. "And this is Usa-chan!"

I couldn't help the smile that rose to my lips. He was so cute... Ugh, I shook my head, trying to knock some sense into myself. I may have a weak spot for kids, but I couldn't afford to let that affect me right now. They were all cute in their own way, which was dangerous. I was just going to check this place out and head home.

"Nice to meet you-" I began, cutting off when Honey suddenly crossed the room and grabbed my hand.

His face became dominated by a large grin.

"Do you like cake?"

Too adorable!

"I... um..."

"You like it, right?" he asked, his eyes wide and hopeful.

... I'm hopeless.

"Yes, I love it."

"Yay! Come eat some with me!" he declared, dragging me across the room to a table.

"Just a moment, Honey-senpai," Kyoya said, stepping between us and the table. "I wanted to ask-"

At that moment Tamaki appeared next to Kyoya again.

"So, what's your type~?" he cut in with a brilliant smile aimed in my direction. "There's the loli-shota type," he said, gesturing at Honey, who hadn't dropped my hand.

"The wild type." Mori this time.

"The little devil type." The twins, no surprise there.

"The cool type." This time it was Kyoya... I could picture that, although it was a bit more difficult than the twins. I'd see Kyoya as more of a nerd, with the glasses and constant writing in his notebook.

"The natural type." Haruhi... okay, I could see sticking around just to hang out with Haruhi. Did I mention that he was cute even when he wasn't smiling?

"Or you could always pick me," Tamaki said, moving a hand to place it under my chin and tilt it up. "The princely type."

"... if you're a prince, I'd rather have anarchy."

Unsurprisingly, he went back to his corner.

"Come on, Hano-chan~ Let's eat~" Honey said, seeming to ignore Tamaki's dramatics.

Giving him a small nod, I allowed him to lead me over to his table. I'd just have one piece, then I'd come up with some excuse to go home. This place had some issues and Eri was waiting. I'd rather be with her than some messed up prince and his gang.

"We told you, you'd like it."

A hand dropped on each of my shoulders again after I sat down. Annoyance flickered through me as I raised my head to look at where theirs were above me.

"It's fine, but I could do without the ass-hat duo."

They laughed, dropping their hands and walking to the center of the room. After sitting down a piece of cake in front of me, Honey also excused himself, saying he had something to do and Mori, who didn't say a word, trailed along behind him. A minute later the door burst open and the room was full of girls.

Maybe... I'll pass on the cake.