//Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.//

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

FOREVER

If there was one thing about the twins that annoyed Asami, it was their bipolar nature. One minute they are fine and joking with you; and then in a second, they can become cold and distant. Right now, the twins are being the latter with her. She watches Hikaru from across the host club room, pouring some tea into a couple cups for the guests at Takashi's and Mitsukuni's table. Hikaru catches her eyes and immediately frowns, quickly turning his head. She heaves a tired sigh and lifts the tray of tea cups. She goes to take a step towards the table when suddenly, she steps on something and trips, causing the tea to fall right on top of her. She gasps in pain and blinks away tears. She glances up to see Kaoru staring down at her with a cold expression before plastering a fake concerned look on for the benefit of the guests. "Asami-Chan!" Kaoru cries out, dropping to his knees next to her. He pulls her in and gently pushes her hair out of her face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She snaps, quickly removing herself from his arms and shakily standing. A pair of soft hands grab her arm and Kyoya is in front of her with furrowed eyebrows.

"No, you're not. I need to treat these before they get infected." He comments. The guests swoon over the duo, whispering about how caring Kyoya is as a boyfriend. "Excuse me ladies, I apologize for cutting our time short, but I need to take care of my beloved."

"It's alright, Kyoya-Sama!" The guests chorus with identical grins on their faces. He leads her into a private room and to a sink, putting cold water on and pulling her arm underneath it.

The two sit in silence for a moment until Kyoya breaks it. "What's going on with you and the twins?"

"I don't know," she grumbles, "they've been on and off since we started 'dating', but they seem to be really on their crap this week." He hums in thought and sneaks a glance at her to see the stress lines forming on her face.

"The twins thrive on attention," he calmly comments, "if they're being cold with you, it's because they want a reaction."

"A reaction?" She grumbles and yanking her arm out of the water stream. He grabs a towel, softly patting her skin dry. "I'm just suppose to sit there and be their little puppet? 'Asami, give me a smile, laugh for me, scream at me'." She spats angrily. He starts to bandage her arm.

"Something must have happened where you did not give them their desired reaction. Can you think of anything?" He asks curiously. She pauses, her mind flickering to the post she saw of Kaoru and Hikari. Did Kaoru want her to freak out about it? "Ah, I see the clogs in your brain turning, I can practically smell the smoke."

"My brain clogs are well oiled, no smoke coming out of here." She jokes. "What do I do? Give them the reaction they so desire?"

"No, you outmaneuver them." He states.

"Outmaneuver the twins?" She scoffs. "That's rarely done. They're like mosquitoes," she scrunches her nose up, "you swat them away, but the moment you let your guard down, they're buzzing in your ears again."

"Mosquitoes?" His lips twitch upwards into a quick smile of amusement. "Now that is an accurate analogy of the twins if I ever heard one." The two chuckle, and before anything else can be said, the door to the room opens, revealing Hikaru.

"Asami—" Asami furrows her eyebrows. Hikaru, the confident twin, is faltering. He seems to be struggling to find the words he wants to say as he stares at her.

"We're just treating her burns. Is there something you need?" There's an edge to Kyoya's words as he ensures to lift Asami's bandaged arm a bit higher for Hikaru to clearly see. Hikaru frowns and quickly turns, shutting the door behind him while leaving. "I think it is time the twins learn they do not own you."

"Yeah," Asami smiles sadly, "I think they forgot that I'm not a toy." Kyoya offers her a hand. Asami accepts it, letting him pull her to her feet.

"You don't have to solve this today," he says evenly as he straightens the cuff of his blazer. "But I would recommend allowing them to stew." She blinks.

"Stew?"

"They've spent the last week attempting to provoke you." His glasses catch the light as he adjusts them. "If they receive nothing, they will either escalate..." He pauses deliberately. "...or realize the strategy is ineffective."

"That doesn't exactly comfort me."

"It wasn't meant to."

She snorts despite herself. "You're terrible at pep talks."

"I've never claimed otherwise." He opens the door for her. "Shall we return before Tamaki declares this a lovers' quarrel and stages an intervention?"

Asami groans. "Don't even joke about that." The moment they step back into the Host Club, every eye turns toward them.

Tamaki gasps dramatically. "My sister has returned from the battlefield!" Before Asami can react, Tamaki is already halfway across the room, tears practically sparkling in his eyes. "My precious sister! Your delicate skin! Your suffering!" He reaches for her only for Kyoya to casually place a hand against Tamaki's forehead, stopping him dead.

"She's fine."

Tamaki pushes against the invisible barrier. "Kyoya! Let me comfort my darling sister!"

"No."

"But—"

"No."

Mitsukuni tilts his head. "I have bunny bandages if she wants prettier ones." Asami smiles genuinely.

"Thanks, Mitsukuni-senpai."

Hikaru and Kaoru stand several feet away, just watching. Neither approaches. Neither speaks. Their identical amber eyes follow every interaction she has, especially with Kyoya. Hikaru folds his arms. "She seems happy."

"So?"

"So..." He mutters. "Doesn't it bother you too?"

"It shouldn't." Kaoru says.

"But it does." Across the room, Haruhi quietly sets another teacup down. Without looking up, she says,

"You two are acting weird."

"We're always weird." The twins respond.

"No." She finally looks at them. "Different weird."

For the rest of the afternoon, Asami follows Kyoya's advice. She doesn't look toward the twins. She doesn't try to make conversation. She doesn't chase after them. She treats them exactly as she treats a stranger. With Takashi and Mitsukuni, she laughs and plays family with them as their guests squeal. With Haruhi, she causally talks with. With Tamaki, she tries to hide from his antics. With Kyoya, the guests blush and squeal whenever he gently strokes Asami's hair.

With the twins...well, they need to learn a lesson. "...Tea?" she coldly asks Hikaru as she passes by with the tray. He looks at the offered cup.

"...Thanks." She nods once.

"No problem." She walks away.

Hikaru stares after her. "That's it?"

Kaoru frowns. "She doesn't even look back at us." Their guests frown, nervously looking between the twins and Asami, seeing the crack forming between their usual good friendship. By closing time, the atmosphere becomes unbearable between the trio—even Tamaki notices which is saying a lot for the oblivious dude. Everyone is quietly cleaning up while discussing what theme they will be doing tomorrow. Asami gathers tablecloths near the window. She doesn't notice the twins approaching until Hikaru speaks.

"Can we talk?"

She pauses and asks without turning around. "About?"

"Us three."

"There is no 'us three,' Hikaru." The words land harder than she intends. Behind him, Kaoru stiffens as Hikaru blinks.

"What?"

She finally faces them. Her expression isn't angry, it's tired; which is worse in the twins opinions. "I'm exhausted." She folds another tablecloth carefully. "I spent every day this week wondering which version of you two I'm going to meet. The twins who tease me. The twins who laugh with me. Or the twins who ignore me for days because I fail some test I don't even know I'm taking." Their mouths fall open. Nothing comes out. "You don't get to decide when I deserve kindness."

Kaoru steps forward. "Asami—"

She looks at him. "And you don't get to trip me with boiling tea in my hands."

The room freezes. Tamaki's eyes widen. "H-Hold on..."

Haruhi slowly turns toward them. "You did what?"

Kaoru's confident expression cracks. "I didn't think she'd actually-"

"You didn't think I'd actually fall?" Asami finishes quietly.

"I just wanted you to—"

"React." She lets out a humorless laugh. "There it is. Is it because I didn't react to that Instagram photo the way you wanted me to?"

"No," Kaoru snaps, "it's because I thought there was something between us and then suddenly," he points at Kyoya, "you're engaged!"

"I didn't choose this," her voice breaks, "it was demanded of me to find someone. I had a list! A list filled with of strangers for me to pick from and only three names I knew personally. I chose the one name I knew wouldn't do anything harmful to me. I'm sorry for protecting myself while meeting my family's expectations." She snaps. "Give me your locker key, I'm grabbing my plushie that I gave you." She holds out her hand towards Kaoru. "Only my friends get cat plushies." Kaoru seems frozen, staring at her in shock before ruffling through his pockets. He drops the key in her hand.

"Whatever," he scoffs and stalks away with Hikaru quickly following. Asami ignores the calls of her name from the other host club members as she briskly walks to the first floor where the lockers are. She finds Kaoru's locker and angrily opens it.

"I'm surrounded by idiots who don't understand a th—" the words die in her throat when her eyes land on a ring box. She shakily reaches in and carefully opens it. She gasps, recognizing the ring to be Edward Cullen's wedding ring, the one matching the Bella's ring she received not too long ago. Tears swell in her eyes at the sight, understanding that Kaoru returned her feelings and he was lashing out in hurt. He went on that date to try to move on from her. She wipes her tears and softly shuts the locker, taking a step back and taking a deep breath.

Her thoughts refuse to settle. Kaoru likes her. Or...at least he had. Enough to buy matching rings, enough to send her a love letter, enough to try to forget her. She presses the heels of her hands against her eyes. "This is so unfair..." She never wanted this, never wanted to choose between family duty and her own heart. The engagement to Kyoya had never been about romance. It had been survival. Out of dozens of names presented to her by her family, only three belonged to people she actually knew. Kyoya was safe. He would respect her boundaries. He wouldn't force expectations onto her. He would stand beside her in tough times. It was an arrangement of convenience for the two of them. Could she do it? Go against her family and choose Kaoru? Would she actually be disowned and kicked out?

Asami steps through the academy gates and pulls out her phone. Her thumb hovers over several contacts. She cannot talk to Kaori and Hikari. She cannot talk to Kazuki.  Finally, she scrolls farther down until she finds the one name that always brought her comfort.

Emica.

Her finger trembles slightly before pressing the call button. The phone rings once.

"Butterfly?" The familiar voice is what Asmai recalls hearing her entire life, the warm motherly tone that always reassured her whenever she fell and hurt her knee. It is nothing like the crazed woman Asami heard in the courtrooms.

"...Can I come over?" She knows she shouldn't. She's suppose to be distancing herself from her, moving on with her new family and new life.

A pause. "Of course."

"...I'll be there soon." Asami softly says through her sniffles.

•••

"Haruhi-chan~! Asami-Chan~! Let's play~!" The familiar chorus of voices echo through the Fujioka apartment. Tamaki assumes that the girls must be hiding from the club after what happened yesterday with the twins, who are sulking in the back. Ryouji Fujioka opens the front door, only to find the entire Host Club standing on the other side. Without a word, every single one of them slowly begin backing away. "Sorry," Tamaki says, forcing an innocent smile. "Wrong room."

"No." Ryouji reaches out, grabs them, and begins rolling the entire group back toward the apartment. "Come on, come on, come on." The Host Club stumbles through the doorway in a heap. Ryouji glares at them. "And don't give me that 'Damn, I just saw a cross-dresser without his makeup on' look, okay?" he warns. "I do grow a beard overnight, you know?"

"Ah! You're right!" Tamaki laughs nervously. "Hahaha! But of course!" He straightens himself and immediately switches into his most elegant demeanor. "My dear Ranka-san, I hope you've been doing well." He presents Ryouji with a beautifully wrapped box of confectioneries. Ryouji punches him squarely beneath the chin.

Everyone can imagine Asami laughing hysterically in that moment. Tamaki goes flying backward. Fortunately, Ryouji catches the box before it hit the ground. Unfortunately, Tamaki's head lands directly beneath Ryouji's foot. Ryouji calmly steps off him and opens the box.

"My, it's been such a long time!" Ryouji says cheerfully. "How are you boys?" He pops one of the sweets into his mouth. "Sorry for my indecent look, but I'm glad you all have come."

Mistukuni looks around the apartment. "Are Ami-can and Haru-chan here?"

"Sorry," Ryouji says. "Haruhi isn't home right now. Her girlfriends came over, picked her up this morning, and went out together. I don't recall Asmai being with them."

"They're not here?" Mitsukuni frowns. Tamaki sighs dramatically.

"Well, even Haruhi goes out with her middle school friends from time to time and has fun with them." He frowns. "I do wonder where Asami is then. Do you think she's with her middle school friends as well?"

The twins exchange a look. "Though we can't really imagine that," Hikaru says.

"That's why I objected to the idea of sudden visits," Kyoya adds calmly.

Ryouji suddenly snapps his fingers. "Oh, that reminds me." Everyone looks at him. "It was the first time I saw those girls from this morning. But to have such high-class female friends..." He smils proudly. "I'm proud of my daughter. We're talking about students from the prestigious St. Lobelia Girls' Academy coming all the way here to pick her up."

Tamaki freezes and his worried thoughts about Asami disappear as his concern for Haruhi grows. "What did you say?"

•••

Asami carefully adjusts her backpack, eyeing the house in front of her. She shouldn't be here and she knows that. The custody hearing for her and Tamaki are in one week. In one week the siblings will be back in the courtroom having to listen to Emica defend why she should have custody of them despite not being their biological mother. And now she's standing outside the house of the woman she testified against in the kidnapping case—Brilliant, Asami.
She can already imagine the questions.

'Miss Souh, if Emica Miura is so dangerous, why did you voluntarily visit her? Would you say you still maintain an emotional relationship with the defendant? Were your statements during the trial exaggerated?

Her stomach twists and the urge to leave overwhelms her senses. She shouldn't give the other side more ammo to use against her in the custody case like they had in the kidnapping one. She heaves a soft sigh, straightens her back and rings the doorbell.

The door swings open and Emica stands there. "Oh, Butterfly."

Asami's eyes sting. "Hi." She croaks out. Emica studies her face and frowns.

"You've been crying." She states in concern.

"I'm fine." Asami waves a hand dismissively.

"You've never been good at lying to me." Emica's lips tug a bit at the side. Asami looks away. Emica steps aside. "Come inside." Asami walks through the doorway. The familiarity of the house immediately washes over her. Emica has made this house mimic the one in their old town. She looks around in shock, wondering how she had done this because for a moment, she is nine years old again running through her home with Kazuki right behind her. Emica closes the door behind them. "Tea?" She asks.

"Yes, please." Asami sits at the kitchen island. Emica prepares the tea without another question. When she places it in front of Asami, Asami stares at it.

"You remembered." She whispers, eyeing the perfectly made tea.

"I remember everything." Emica smiles at her and sits beside her. "What's happened?"

Asami wraps her hands around the cup. "I'm having trouble with the twins."

Emica's eyebrow rises. "Hikari and Kaori? That's surprising. You three are the musketeers."

"No, not them." She shakes her head. "I have another set of twin friends. Funnily enough, their names are Hikaru and Kaoru." Emica snorts at that. Asami smiles in amusement. She goes into detail about everything that has been happening; the weird flirtatious moments between her and Kaoru, arranged marriage, the strained moments between her and Kaoru, the flirtatious moments between her and Kyoya that are confusing her, the date, the rings and the coldness.

"Oh honey," Emica gently rests a hand on top of hers. "This Kaoru likes you."

"Yeah, I think he does." She mumbles.

"And you?"

Asami stares at her tea. "I-I don't know." Her voice is barely audible. "No, no. I do know. I like him too."

Emica nods slowly. "But you're engaged."

"Yes." She sighs.

"To this Kyoya."

"Hmm." She nods.

"Do you like Kyoya?"

"No." The answer comes too quickly which surprises Asami.

"Then why are you engaged to him?"

Asami looks down. "Because he's safe. Because it's what's expected of me in this new family of mine." She humorlessly laughs. "This new rich family that doesn't make any sense to me sometimes."

Emica's expression changes. "Safe." A scoff escapes her. "Butterfly, I did raise you," Asami flinches, "to play it safe. This is entirely my fault." She shakes her head and her grip tightens on Asami's hand as she leans forward. "You need to stop focusing on the safe option and start listening to your heart no matter how reckless it is."

"What else was I supposed to do?" Asami croaks out. "If I break my engagement, my new family will reject me. If I don't, I'll never be able to be with Kaoru."

"I don't know." Emica's voice is gentle. "But I know what it's like to convince yourself that taking control of someone else's future is love." Asami goes completely still. The words hit exactly where Emica intended. She yanks her hand back, staring hard at Emica.

"Don't." She coldly says. "You don't get to use that."

"I know." Emica takes a breath. "Butterfly, you are making a decision that is impacting not only your future, but Kaoru's and Kyoya's as well." Like I did when I took you is left unsaid between them. "Yes, maybe you can learn to love Kyoya in the future, but you'll always wonder what would've happened if you had chosen the person you loved."

"I don't know what to do, mom." The word slips out without Asami noticing as she starts to cry. Emica stills, her eyes widening in pure shock and happiness before she moves, pulling Asami into a hug. She gently runs her hand through Asami's hair, rocking them back and forth. "And I don't know what I'm supposed to call you anymore." She cries. "Our screwed up situation bleeds into every aspect of my life because I can't discern my feelings about it."

"You don't have to call me anything." Emica mumbles.

"You used to be my mother. I can't call you that anymore. But sometimes...I still want to." Emica's eyes fill with tears. "I hate you. I hate that I love you. What I hate most is that when something goes wrong, you're still the first person I think about." Asami hiccups a bit.

"I know baby." Emica closes her eyes.

"I hate that I came here."

"You don't have to hate that."

"Why?"

"Because you needed somewhere safe."

Asami laughs bitterly. "You?"

"Perhaps I'm not the best person who should be your safe place." Emica winces. "But honey, you need to listen to me. If you choose Kyoya, choose him because you love him. If you choose Kaoru, choose him because you love him. Or choose yourself and choose neither which that is the one choice you have always deserved to make." A moment of silence surrounds them.

"I missed you." Asami quietly admits. "I love Tamaki, but my father and grandmother suck."

Emica closes her eyes and holds back a smirk. "I missed you too and I know."

"I still don't forgive you."

"I know."

"I don't know if I ever will."

"That's okay."

Suddenly, a strange feeling of sleepiness comes over Asami and she yawns, warily blinking her eyes. "W-what?" She slurs, trying to lift her head.

"Oh butterfly, you never learn." Emica coos while planting a kiss to Asami's head. Asami swears she sees someone else enter the room before everything goes dark.

•••

Outside the practice room, Tamaki, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Ryouji watch. "Is Haru-chan there?" Mitsukuni ask.

"Yeah," Tamaki says. "It seems like she's acting as the heroine in a tragedy, but..." The four watch in silence, trying to hide their winces at her horrible delivery. "She talks like a robot," Tamaki whispers.

"What a very bad actress," Hikaru adds.

"She's so bad that any help would be futile!" Ryouji exclaims.

"Why is no one pointing this out to her?" Hikaru asks.

"Looks like that's her only line," Kaoru says. Then he notices something. "Ah, but it looks like Haruhi is going to sing."

Ryouji's eyes widen. "You're kidding me! Her music grades have always been horrendous!"

The music begins and Haruhi opens her mouth to sing. "I am certain that at this rate, I will not lose anything at all." The four gape at her in awe. "Even the meaning of living under the skies that you are not part of..." Suddenly—the stereo goes silent. Hinako looks down.

"Oh?" She had accidentally tangled her legs around the cord. "I'm sorry! My legs got tangled up by the outlet."

Chizuru sighs. "Ah... Be careful." She plugs the stereo back in.

The music resumes. "The countless..."

Ryouji's eyes narrow. "She's lip syncing..."

Later, the Host Club finally infiltrate the theater. They slip into the seating area and try their best to remain inconspicuous. Above them, Benio watches.

"So they have snuck in after all..." Her eyes narrow. "The vulgar and incompetent Host Club." She frowns, not seeing the fair maiden Asami with them. She turns toward Chizuru, Hinako, and Haruhi. "Come! It's almost time to raise the curtains." She smiles. "Let us make this the best show ever." Then she turns to the others. "Everyone, just think of this event as the audition for Kurenai Tennyo."

Haruhi blinks. "Huh?"

Back with the guys, Ryouji looks around. "Oh? By the way, where's Kyouya-kun?"

Mitsukuni suddenly points. "Ah! There he is! It's Kyo-chan!" Kyoya stands in the control booth, calmly speaking with a woman.

"To be able to have the bocchama from the Ootori family come watch us is an honor!"

Tamaki's eye twitches. "That bastard..."

Kaoru grumbles to himself. "He sure can get around." Is this why Asmai chose him? He frowns, deciding to push her out of his mind.

The lights dim as everyone takes their seats for the play. The audience falls silent. The curtain rises. The play begins.

Takashi's eyes immediately found the heroine. "It's Haruhi." A spotlight illuminates Haruhi with her face covered in an almost ridiculous amount of makeup. She begins lip syncing to the music.

"Ahh, the sunshine eases us..."

The play progresses toward its final act. Benio staggers across the stage. "Ugh... Ahh..." She collapses into Haruhi's arms. "The injury I have sustained from the shot is too deep, after all." She gasps. "Does my fate end here?"

"Lord Frederick."

Benio smiles. "Marianne, I feel no pain at all, being held by your bosom." She closes her eyes. "I feel very peaceful right now."

"It's finally time for the kiss scene!" Someone in the crowd gushes.

"The kiss scene will just be a near-kiss, right?"

"Of course! Benibara-sama wouldn't really give a kiss!"

Tamaki freezes. "Kiss scene?" His face goes pale.

Benio continues. "Your warm eyes embrace me. Ahh, however..." Benio glances toward the Host Club. "...my love for you and my vengeance towards that man cannot be erased, no matter what." Several spotlights suddenly illuminate Tamaki, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Ryouji.

Haruhi stares toward them with surprise. "Senpai! Dad?" She frowns. "Where's Asami?"

Benio smiles.nShe grabs Haruhi's wrist and pulled her close. "I'm going to steal your first kiss before that man. That is my vengeance."

Tamaki explodes. "No!! Such unpardonable doing!" He points toward the stage. "Daddy won't let it happen!" Tamaki charges forward. Unfortunately, a monkey tosses a banana peel directly into his path. Tamaki steps on it and slips, crashing to the floor.

Benio and Haruhi are lifted upward on a platform. "Victory is mine!" Benio laughs. "I will now kiss the fair maiden's lips in front of you!" She pulls Haruhi closer. "Fair maiden..." and prepares to kiss her.

But in the control room, Kyoya calmly picks up a phone. "Yes." He types something into the computer. "Transfer that image right away." The projection screen descends and an image appears on the massive screen—A photograph of Haruhi and Asami kissing.

Tamaki's jaw drops. "Ahh..." His eyes slowly narrow in realization. "This is...The kiss at that dance party..."

Hikaru nods. "Yup, Haruhi..."

Kaoru finishes, "already had her first kiss." Oh how he wished that was him instead.

Ryouji stares at his daughter. "Haruhi..." He immediately charges toward the stage. "Between two girls! How shameless of an act! All right, Haruhi!" Ryouji shouts. "Explain yourself! What's the meaning of this photo?! Asami is no longer permitted to sleep over!" Three banana peels land on the stage. Ryouji steps on one, Hikaru on another and Kaoru on the third. The three go tumbling forward, landing directly on Tamaki. The entire stage dissolves into complete chaos and Haruhi could only stare at the disaster unfolding behind her.

"Asami," she sighs, "where are you? I could use your help right now."

•••

Asami wakes to a dull, throbbing headache. The first thing she notices is the ringing; it fills her ears, high-pitched and relentless, drowning out everything else. For several long seconds, she lies perfectly still, afraid that even the slightest movement will make the pain worse. Her eyelids flutter. Light immediately floods her vision causing her to wince and squeeze her eyes shut again, turning her face away from the brightness.

Where am I? Her mouth feels like sandpaper. Her tongue sticks to the roof of her mouth when she tries to swallow, and a wave of nausea rolls through her stomach. She tries to move.

"Asami." She freezes. "Asami, you must be thirsty." Her eyes snap open. Kazuki stands beside the bed. For a moment, Asami can only stare at him. He looks completely at ease, almost peaceful, almost content. He holds a glass of water in one hand, the liquid catching the light as he extends it toward her. "It's okay, my dear," he says gently. "I'm here for you."

Asami's heart begins pounding. "W-what?" Her voice barely comes out.

Kazuki's smile widens. "You've been asleep for a while." Asami's brow furrows. She tries to remember. The memories come in fragments.

"Where's Emica?" She snaps, after her memories catch up to her mind. He doesn't answer immediately. Something about his silence makes the hair on the back of her neck rise. "She drugged me again!" The realization hits her like a spark. Asami suddenly throws the blanket off. "I need to get out of here." She swings her legs over the side of the bed and tries to stand. The instant her foot touches the floor, something jerks violently around her ankle. Asami cries out as her balance disappears and she hits the floor hard. The glass in Kazuki's hand nearly slips.

"Asami—"

"Get away from me!" She scrambles backward, dragging herself across the floor. Something clinks. She freezes. Metal. She thinks and her eyes drop. A thick chain is wrapped around her ankle; one end is secured tightly around her leg and the other disappears beneath the bed. Asami's breathing stops. "No." She grabs the chain. Her fingers tremble as she pulls frantically. "No, no, no..." it doesn't move causing her to yank even harder. Nothing. Her eyes widen in horror. "What—" She looks toward Kazuki. "What is this?" Kazuki calmly sets the glass of water on the bedside table. Asami backs farther away until her shoulders hit the wall. "You chained me!" Kazuki says nothing. "You fucking chained me!" Her voice cracks. She pulls at the chain again, desperation quickly replacing confusion. "Let me go!"

Kazuki watches her, not angrily, not even with amusement; no, it was almost sympathetically. That somehow makes it worse. "Songbirds," he says quietly, "are such innocent creatures."Asami stops pulling while watching Kazuki's expression changing. There's something strange in his eyes now—something dangerous. "Human beings cage them for their own entertainment."

Asami stares at him. "What are you talking about?" She asks, furrowing her eyebrows.

"They rip away the bird's freedom simply because it creates beautiful music that pleases their ears." He takes a slow step toward her. "Songbirds are no longer considered living creatures to them. They become mere accessories. Beautiful little things humans keep because they find them fascinating." His voice remains gentle. That makes every word feel more sinister. He kneels in front of her and she instinctively recoils. His hand reaches toward her face and she flinches. His fingertips brush her cheek and she freezes. "What do songbirds sing about," he murmurs, "when they spend their entire lives inside the metal prisons they've been trapped in?" Asami's stomach twists. "Maybe they sing about freedom." His thumb moves slowly along her cheek. "Or maybe they sing about love." His smile becomes faint. "But I think they sing for a completely different reason." He leans closer.

Close enough that Asami can feel his breath against her skin. She hates that one of the first thoughts that crosses her mind is that, at least, he brushed his teeth. Because otherwise, she thinks she might actually vomit.

Kazuki's smile twitches. "They sing to remember." Asami's expression falters. "To remember the times when they were free." His fingers slide beneath her chin. "To remember what it felt like to have the wind beneath their wings." His grip tightens. "And to remember what it felt like to fly across the sky." Asami's breathing becomes shallow.

"Kazuki..." she gasps. His fingers suddenly clamp around her chin and he jerks her face upward.

"No living being should be kept in a cage," he whispers. His eyes are almost feverish now. "Because eventually, they may go mad from the constant need to escape." He tilts her face from side to side, examining her like something broken. "Is that what happened to you, my dear?" Her eyes begin to burn as tears of fear and horror swell in them. This isn't her best friend. "Did you go mad? Did you go mad because of the cage your so-called family put you in?"

"Let go of me." Her voice is barely audible.

Kazuki's grip tightens. "You wanted freedom." He hisses.

"I said let go." She cries out louder, struggling against him.

"Kazuki." The voice cuts through the room. Everything stops. Kazuki slowly turns his head. Emica stands in the doorway with an eerily calm expression. "Release her." Kazuki looks back at Asami. For a moment, he doesn't move. Then his fingers loosen. Asami immediately jerks her head away and scrambles backward. Kazuki rises to his feet. He walks over to Emica as though nothing happened, stopping beside her.

Asami stares at them. Her heart pounds against her ribs. Her mind races. Emica. Kazuki. The way Emica had always known exactly where Asami would be. The way Kazuki had somehow known things about her that he shouldn't. Her eyes shift between them. Then realization slowly dawns. "You...You're the one who's been helping her."

Kazuki's face suddenly lights up. "Ding, ding, ding!" He flashes finger guns at her. "We have a winner!" Asami stares at him in disbelief. Of all the things she expected him to say, that wasn't one of them.

"You have got to be kidding me." She shakes her head.

"Nope." Kazuki grins. "Completely serious."

Emica sighs. "Kazuki. Stop antagonizing her."

"I wasn't antagonizing her." He defends himself. Asami wants to cry at how normal this banter appears to be between them. How long have they been working together?

"You were literally holding her face."

"That was part of the conversation."

"You threatened her."

"I was making a point."

"You chained her to a bed." Asmai blinks at that information. She assumed Emica did it.

"She was going to try to leave." He says in a deadly tone. Emica walks into the room and closes the door behind her. The click of the lock echoes through the silence. Asami stares at it then at the chain around her ankle, then back at the two people standing between her and the only exit.

"Why?" Asami's breath is uneven. "Why are you doing this?" His smile fades.

"Because they took you from me."

Asami frowns. "Who?"

"Your new family. Your friends. The Host Club." His voice becomes bitter. "You found them, and suddenly you didn't need me anymore." She stares at him in disbelief.

"That isn't true."

"You used to need me." His eyes glisten. "You called me when you were scared. You told me everything. I knew your favorite foods, your nightmares, the things that made you laugh when you were sad." He spats. He takes a step closer. "I was there first, Asami. I watched them take pieces of you away from me. Tamaki became your family. The Host Club became your friends. Kyoya became your fiancé. They filled your head with new memories until there wasn't room for the old ones anymore." His eyes darken. "And I couldn't stand it." Asami recoils. "So when Emica came to me, I helped her."

"Why?" Tears slide down her cheeks.

"Because she promised she'd bring you back to me."

"And you believed her?"

"I didn't care if she was right." His voice cracks. "I just wanted you back." He looks toward the chain around her ankle. "The first attempt failed. I wasn't going to let that happen again."Asami shakes her head in denial that this is all happening, that her best friend since elementary would do such a thing.  "I took you back because you belong with me."

"I belong to myself!" The words echo through the room. For a moment, Kazuki is silent.

Then he smiles. "That's the thing, Asami." He glances toward the chain around her ankle. "You'll come to realize I've always been the only one that lets you fly." He rises and walks toward the door. The door closes behind him, leaving her alone with Emica.

"Butterfly,"

"Stop calling me that!" Asami screeches. "I thought you'd change! I thought I could trust you!"

"I'm giving you exactly what you need," Emica grins, "a safe place."

"This isn't a safe place." Asami practically snarls.

"Oh no," Emica chuckles, "not this room that we're in. All three of us are going somewhere else, where we'll always be together." Asami feels her blood chill at those words.

"What does that mean?" She slowly asks, her muscles tightening as her body urges her to fight and flee. Her eyes look around the room for anything close to her that she could use to get these chains off her ankle.

"I can't lose you again." Emica's face crumbles.

"No." Asami whispers.

"I can't watch them take you away from me."

"Mom, listen to me." She says frantically.

"I tried letting you go." Emica's voice cracks. "I tried telling myself that you were happy." She wipes away a tear. "But I wasn't." Asami's breathing becomes shallow. "And then you came back to me."

Asami shakes her head. "Because I needed someone to talk to." She knew this was going to be a horrible decision in the end.

"And I'm not letting you leave again."

"You don't get to decide that. The court will in a week." Asami growls.

"I know." Emica's voice is barely above a whisper. "I don't trust the court though. They'll take you away from me too. So I'll make sure you never have to leave me." Asami goes completely still.

"No..."

"We can finally be together forever. You won't have to worry anymore. You won't have to choose. You won't have to be afraid."

Asami's voice breaks. "I want to live." She cries out.

Emica's face twists with pain. "I know."

"You're my mother! You're meant to protect me!" She yells.

Emica brushes a strand of hair away from Asami's face. "I am protecting you from the people that will permanently take you away from me. I was never going to win custody of you, butterfly. I got lucky in my kidnapping trial. And If I can't have my daughter in this life..." She pauses. "...then I'll find a way for us to be together in the next." Emica stands up and approaches the door. Asami can only watch her leave in silence, tears sliding down her face as sons shake her entire body.

For several seconds, she doesn't move. She simply stares at the door. Then she closes her eyes.

Tamaki. She thinks of her brother's ridiculous laugh, his dramatic outbursts, and the way he throws himself into everything with far too much enthusiasm. She thinks of the way he calls her his precious sister and how, despite all his antics, she knows he would tear the world apart trying to find her. She wants to hear him call her that again.

Haruhi. She thinks of her quiet strength, her dry humor, and the way she can understand Asami without needing an explanation. Haruhi never treats her like she's fragile or broken. She simply lets her be herself. Asami wants to sit beside her again, listening to Haruhi complain about the Host Club while pretending she isn't secretly amused.

Takashi. She thinks of his quiet presence and the way he always seems to notice when something is wrong without needing to ask. He never overwhelms her with questions. He simply stays. Asami realizes how much comfort there is in knowing someone will stand beside you without demanding anything in return.

Mitsukuni. She thinks of his bright smile, his endless supply of sweets, and the way he can somehow make even the worst days feel a little lighter. She can almost hear him calling her "Ami-chan" and offering her one of his bunny bandages.

A tiny, broken smile pulls at her lips.

Hikaru. She thinks of his teasing, his temper, and the countless arguments they've had. She thinks about how much he cares even when he doesn't know how to say it. She misses the ridiculous twin who could make her laugh when she didn't want to.

Kaoru. Her heart aches at the thought of him. The ring flashes through her memory. His letter. His smile. The way he looks at her when he thinks she isn't watching. She doesn't know what will happen between them anymore, but she knows one thing with absolute certainty.

She wants the chance to find out.

Kyoya. She thinks of the quiet moments—the ones nobody else notices. The way he treats her injuries. The way he listens when she needs to talk. The way he stands beside her without trying to control her. Their engagement may have started as an arrangement, but somewhere along the way, Kyoya became someone she trusts. Someone she knows will fight for her.

Asami presses a trembling hand against her chest. She doesn't want Emica's version of forever.

She wants tomorrow.

She wants another ridiculous day at the Host Club. Another argument with the twins. Another lecture from Kyoya. Another hug from Tamaki. Another quiet conversation with Haruhi. Another afternoon with Takashi and Mitsukuni eating cake. She wants all the ordinary moments she once took for granted.

She wants her life.

Asami wipes the tears from her face and looks toward the locked door. "I'm coming home," she whispers, "no matter what."

And somewhere far away, her friends are already looking for her.