Day 29: Music Room

[mylackofeffort]

Quatre was thankful that his "name" wasn't called to be visited, but there was always the next shift. He knew he probably should have hunted down his comrades to see if they were safe this shift as well and if they could think of a plan to escape. It was strange being in captivity, Quatre had never been caught by OZ and when one of the remaining

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[kaerutokoro]

[Hope you don't mind.]

The Music Room was the last place Rena had expected to enter. The girl was hardly a fan of the audible arts; although she appreciated music in general, it was not the sort of activity she sought out. Plus, she had promised to visit the Sun Room for some business with the bulletin. If only her nurse hadn't shoved her into the wrong room...

Ah, well. There would be plenty of time to sneak off into the Sun Room later. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to take a look around considering there were so many new elements about. Maybe they would distract Rena from the unfortunate news at brunch. Pleased with this prospect, she took several steps into the room, pausing whenever something interesting caught her eye.

It did not take long for the girl to find a clear distraction. An older boy--around Satoshi's age, Rena estimated--was sitting in one of the chairs, his posture the perfect model of melancholy. Rena couldn't help frowning at the sight. He looked so sad...

Quietly, in hopes of not startling him, Rena approached the young man, pausing a couple of feet off to the side. With her hands folded behind, Rena tilted her head and offered a sympathetic, "Are you all right? Are you?"

[the_clown_king]

Tamaki looked up, and forced a small smile on his face.

"I'm fine," he said. "No need to worry, fair princess. I'm waiting for my friends - but I don't think they got my message. And I've the horrible fear I perhaps was supposed to meet them elsewhere." It had been the sort of day where keeping track of things like that hadn't been the easiest thing to do.

And he still needed to find his two special people... he hadn't seen or spoken to either of them since the day before.

[kaerutokoro]

Rena had never been called a princess before (much less a fair one), and it was arguably strange to hear it for the first time. A little embarrassing as well. "O-Oh, I see," she answered, considering how a princess could be associated with gray sweatpants.

So he was wondering about his friends as well. Remembering the earlier conversation with Luffy, Rena decided it was best to try and pass karma along. "Maybe I can help?" the girl continued. "If you can describe your friends to me, Rena can keep an eye out for them. Let them know you're looking for them." It was kind of a long shot, but it honestly couldn't hurt, at least in the girl's mind.

[hangenki]

Kaoru was still a little upset. Usually he'd sort his feelings out calmly with himself or talk to Hikaru, but he was just....rattled. And when he was rattled, he handled his feelings uncontrollably, like his twin.

He wasn't talking to Hikaru. Well, he was. He just wasn't...conversing? All he'd say was 'I'm not talking about it', 'you're being an idiot', 'just rest' and 'I don't want him near you again'.
He knew he was, himself, the idiot. But he was fairly certain the rest of it made some sense and had a right to be said.

Keeping a tight hold of Hikaru's hand, he headed to the Music room. He didn't even want to be here, listening to Tamaki tell them how their friends were gone. It was just pointless unless they knew where and if they knew where then it was probably bad, right? Somebody had died last night. It was all real.

Tamaki was, as usual, talking to some girl Karou didn't know. Already in his stinking mood, he walked up to the pair and said, 'If you're busy we can come back later.'

Although... Tamaki seemed to have lost a lot of his spark and the concern crept out of Kaoru's expression. He didn't want to leave. He wanted Tamaki to be an idiot and make him laugh.

[totallytheseme]

Kaoru was in one of his Moods, but frankly...Hikaru couldn't blame him. If it had been Kaoru with the bandages on his neck, and not Hikaru, he would've probably acted the same way.

On top of all that, he'd actually forgiven Kyon for hurting him.

Kaoru had every reason to be all sulky and upset.

Unfortunately, Kaoru's Moods were contagious. So now Hikaru was sulky and upset too.

And he really didn't want to have to deal with Kyouya's disappearance right now. It was too much to handle. One glance at Tamaki confirmed his suspicions, and his heart sank. Haruhi was gone, and now Kyouya too. Damn it.

Tamaki looked so sad...so...broken. Hikaru paid little attention to the girl he was Hosting (or talking to, whatever).

"No..." he said softly, not meeting his twin's eyes. "We'd better get this over with right now."

[the_clown_king]

"Ah, thank you, fair maiden. Truly, you are most kind." Tamaki continued to smile weakly at her, wishing he could bring himself to give her the smile and attention she deserved. It didn't matter that he didn't even know her - she was a woman, and therefor deserving of all his charming attentions.

But today just wasn't the day.

"And here they are now." His smile faded as he looked up at the twins, seeing they weren't in very good moods, either. "No, we aren't busy. This lovely young lady was only offering to keep my company, as I was here by myself. And we... this won't take long." He faltered over the words and he pressed the heel of his palm to his forehead, determined to keep the composure he'd fought so hard for earlier.

[kaerutokoro]

Her eyes widened slightly at the twins' arrival, surprised at their impeccable timing. Still, it was a relief to see this boy's friends arrive so quickly. Their presence should help him feel better, right?

"Ah, never mind then," she said with an encouraging smile. Rena offered a quick bow to the newcomers before addressing the boy again. "It was nice to meet you." She shuffled along to the other end of the room, hoping to give the three privacy.

[Going down in the thread.]

[hangenki]

Kaoru didn't have to meet his brother's eyes. They knew each other well enough and Kaoru knew Hikaru was right. It still surprised him when Hikaru acted mature some days.

The girl left and suddenly things felt awkward.
"Where's the princely talk and flouncing? It feels like we're in an alternate universe," he said plainly, watching the girl go.

He didn't look at Tamaki, it was making him too sad. Instead, he sat down.
"They're gone then. So what now?"

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru laughed tonelessly. "We are in an alternate universe, Kaoru."

He'd long since stopped believing that they were just in America. Home was a lot further than a hemisphere away. He sat next to his twin, sighing.

"We stick together, right Milord?"

There was no way they were taking Kaoru from him.

[the_clown_king]

"We stick together," Tamaki repeated, nodding. "Check in every morning, stay as safe as we can every night, just...stay together." There was nothing else they could do.

He didn't want to be so miserable, but he just couldn't help it. This place kept taking his friends from him. And he didn't know how, or why, or what happened to them.

"And we should know one another's roommates. Just in case."

[hangenki]

Kaoru wanted to argue that he and Hikaru HAD been sticking together. Only...if it were completely true, neither of them would have been hurt so bad. He also wanted to argue that sticking together had been his wish from the start. But things just....went wrong here. It was something in the air, maybe.

"Well, we know Ritsuka. Hikaru's got some timid guy and....mine's changed a few times."

He wanted Tamaki to smile. If that happened, then things would feel normal and he and Hikaru could relax and smile too.

[totallytheseme]

"Alfons," Hikaru supplied, frowning. This wasn't good. Tamaki being all serious felt...wrong. "My roommate's name is Alfons."

He really didn't like this.

"Damn it, Tamaki! Smile...be an idiot...something. Don't let this..."

Don't let this break you. Or I don't know if I can handle it.

[the_clown_king]

"How can I smile when there is nothing to smile about?" Tamaki frowned, the opposite of what he was being asked. What did they expect from him? "I've lost my best friend. And I don't know... we don't know..." He looked away, running a hand through his hair and sighing.

"I spent all night last night in my room, seeing to people who'd been torn open and burnt and broken. After failing to help my boyfriend. And this morning I find out that two people I care for very much are just gone, as though they never existed. Did this place win? Are they out there somewhere, living fake lives? Are they dead? Worse?" Tamaki's voice was quavering as he spoke, and his eyes were bright and wet as he finally let out everything he'd been feeling since that man spoke to him at brunch.

"How am I supposed to smile?"

[hangenki]

Kaoru wanted to run and hide. Not even the mention of a 'boyfriend' could brighten his mood.

"Tamaki.... if you can't smile, how is anyone else supposed to?"
He wanted to suggest that Tamaki stopped helping injured people, but he knew it wouldn't work. Tamaki had to help people and now he'd lost his spark, he needed a new way doing so beyond trying to make people feel loved and wanted.

"Come on. It's Kyouya, he can't be beaten. He's out there finding a way to get us out. And...Haruhi went missing before....she was fine when she came back, right? If they were.... well, someone would know. Like that other guy last night. Wouldn't they?" he reasoned. "So....wherever they are and however long they're there....they'll be ok."
Kaoru could feel his sulky cloud begin to lift a little. He wasn't happy, but he was determined.
"And we'll be ok too. Just like you said, we'll check in with each other every morning. We'll... we'll find something to do every day. To keep busy and help people and find our way out. Tamaki. We an do this...we....just need you to lead. Right?" he said, glancing towards his brother, finally making eye contact. A silent apology passed between the two boys.

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru just wanted to crawl in a hole and disappear. Tamaki was supposed to be the one holding them together. Not...this. He couldn't stand to see his friend so broken.

"Yeah," he said, echoing Kaoru. "I know that Kyouya's out there somewhere, threatening people with his private army. The Ootori are never defeated, right?"

He didn't want to talk about Haruhi. It hurt too much.

Leaning against his twin, he smiled a little. "Right. Tamaki, no matter where we are, you're still the Idiot King of the Host Club. And..." God, he didn't want to admit this. "...We need you to...you know. Be the Idiot King. Because where would we be without you?"

[the_clown_king]

"Yes. You're probably right." Tamaki didn't believe that, but he wouldn't say that out loud. Not when he had to be the strong one. Oh, he'd never really been used to this. He was realizing now that being a leader for real was a lot different than being a leader like he was used to.

It was strange, having people need him like this. And to think that they really did need him. But they did, and what he could he do?

He forced a smile, trying to make it as natural as possible. He didn't know how well he did. He couldn't laugh it off because it still hurt too much inside, but he'd just have to hide it. He'd done that before.

"Perhaps we should hold another meeting of the Club...."