Authors Note: Hi, y'all! I was just itching for a good tsundere sort of fic, and I found an old plot bunny sleeping in the corner.

(OPTIONAL plot summary, skip if you would like)

This story is about a girl called Miki Okkido! She's the kind of girl who is more of a Tamaki type of person, if you know what I mean. You know, the kind that falls for syrupy nonsense like, "beautiful," and "princess," and stuff like that? She doesn't really like Kyoya that much. She considers him cold and his politeness to be a facade.

Unfortunately, when her parent's flower arranging company is about to be bought by a new competitor, the Ootori family is the only one who can save them. But Kyoya's father wants something in return.

He sees that Miki is a very bright, intelligent girl who is a natural 'people person', and pretty as well. That type of wife needs to smooth things over with the media and generally manage good relations. So he marries the son closest in age, Kyoya, off to her in exchange for generous financial support.

Miki is willing to put up with it for family sakes, but displeasure about this marriage from Kyoya constantly is starting to bug her. She's the only one he yells at, and is annoyed with. It's not a very happy time for her.

However, things change when Kyoya starts to care, little by little. )

STORY

First chapter: Pocky, Syrup and Simple Rings

I eagerly opened the doors to the Host Club. A shimmer of sparkles rained out and the bright white light faded to reveal the hosts.

My favorite, Tamaki, who blew a kiss to me and winked.

Honey, the adorable senior who always made me fangirl because of his cuteness!

Mori, the solid, dependable one who rescued me from a fix or two but barely said a word each time.

Hikaru, the mischievous twin whose description of his pranks always brightened my day.

Kaoru, the more understanding one who was there for me when I felt sad.

Haruhi, whose bluntness was refreshing in a school full of fakely polite people.

And Kyoya...I didn't like Kyoya. He was a cold kind of person, the ice cube to my hot chocolate. If it wasn't for him, my Host Club experience would be perfect.
But for some damnable reason, he didn't like me at all.

To everyone else, he was calm, and cool, and collected, and polite.

But even though I tried to be nice to him, he was often mean. When he wasn't being mean, he ignored me.

Do you need an idea?

*FLASHBACK*

I was a freshman at Ouran High and I had heard many amazing things about the host club and its charming boys. I really wanted to see myself what that was like.

So I ran through the door in my ridiculous banana-colored uniform, and tripped. Tamaki senpai immediately helped me up, saying in a low, seductive voice, "Oh, my angel, I wouldn't want a bruise on your face to mar your prettiness in any way!" Even though I knew that this was just his Host Club persona, I really liked it. What? I hate to admit, but I'm kind of a sucker for cheesy romance, like fifty roses and surprise gifts and tender kisses on the forehead. And if movies could be people, Tamaki was Titanic and The Notebook rolled into a corny, half-Japanese, handsome package.

He is still my favorite host!

"Oh god," I heard Kyoya say in the background. "We have one more of those 'syrupy nonsense' girls."

I scowled. "Ootori-san, I CAN HEAR YOU! Don't call me syrupy nonsense girl! I mean, I like cheesy and corny but there's nothing wrong with that, ok? I still have a strong head on my shoulders! I manage the accounting for my family because despite liking Twilight, I am really good at math and I don't know what that has to do with syrup and wait what was I-"

"Just stop talking, Please, Okkido-san. You're giving me a headache."

And from then on, I despised him.

*END FLASHBACK*

I say to Kyoya, who is the manager for the Host Club, "Please, Ootori-senpai, can I have an hour for the next two weeks with Tamaki?"

He smirked, and said, "I wouldn't expect otherwise." Then he muttered something.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" I yowled, much like my cat, Yuki, when someone accidentally steps on his tail.

"I wouldn't expect otherwise, syrup!"

"STOP CALLING ME THAT! YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE IT!" I yelled.

From the disastrous first occasion that we met each other, all he called me was "Syrup", in reference to my love for the romantic, "syrupy" nonsense that Tamaki spouted out like a fountain spouted out water. It sounds like an endearment, BUT IT'S NOT! He knows I hate it, and that's why he does it. He even smiles when he calls me that, because he is SUCH a sadist! Aargh!

I sit with Tamaki and all the other girls, who, like me, are a sucker for his sweet words and attention.

"Oh, angels, today, we're going to try 'Commoner' snacks! Like Pocky! HARUHI!" Tamaki shouted the last word and waited for the brown-haired boy to come.

"Senpai, come on! It's only Pocky!" She admonished.

"What is...Pocky?" I asked. I had never even heard about it before!

"You'll see," said Haruhi, and muttered, "stupid rich people" under her breath.
"Haruhi, I can hear you!" I said.

"I'm sorry, Miki-chan, but really, do you not know what Pocky is?"

"Well, I guess that I am about to find out, anyway!"

"Here you go, princesses!" Tamaki kisses the tip of each...I see it now, it's like a bread stick, sort of, dipped into strawberry and chocolate cream. So he kisses the tip of each of the Pocky and several girls faint from the prospect of an indirect kiss. However, I am more interested in trying this sweet that Haruhi has made such a big deal about.

I take a bite, and immediately sigh in contentment.

"This is so good! You're right, Haruhi! I AM stupid to miss out on such a thing!"

I buy a pack from Haruhi for a cheap price-about 20,000 yen.

I'm in a super good mood as I coast along home inside my limo, munching this time on Green Tea Pocky. I like this flavor, but I like strawberry more, I decide.

When the car stops at my house, I get out, walk through the huge garden up to the main entrance,a huge brass door, and the doorman, Kyou, opens the door for me with the tip of his hat. My cat Yuki runs to me and puts his head up expectantly. I pat it and he purrs.

I hear footsteps and crane my neck to see who's in the hall. It's father! Why would he be home, though, he's usually at work!

I am about to ask him why, but he says in a grave voice, "Miki-chan, please join us in the sitting room."

All of my questions are pushed to the back of my head when I hear the tone of his voice. Father is always, always, cheerful! Something is wrong.

"No, no, mother is okay," he says, reading my thoughts. "In fact, she's waiting for you in the sitting room. Hurry!"

We both walk briskly and enter the business-like room. I seat myself in a chair in the middle of my father, and my mother.

"Precious, we only have a little time before they come. All I ask of you-is to do this for the sake of our family."
Wait, what? Who is THEY? What is happening? Are we going to get kidnapped?

I am shocked to see the people entering the room. They are Yoshio Ootori, and that bastard Kyoya, that business-tyrant's SON!

However, I am glad to see a familiar face in the midst of all of this mysteriousness, and I shout, "Senpai!" with a smile.

This time, he is in a suit rather than uniform, but the look he gives me is the same look. The you are not worthy to waste my time in any sort of way look.

I immediately glower, and eye him menacingly as he sits down with his father in the seats across from us.

All of the adults eye this exchange, my mother, uncertainly, my father, sadly, and senpai's father, keenly.

"OK, I am still confused!" I shout, breaking the silence and tension in the room. "WHAT IS GOING ON? Why are YOU here, senpai? And why are you here, senpai's father-I mean, um, Ootori san?"

Yoshio, again, eyes me keenly and smiles, for some strange reason. "She is not any different from what you have described, Kyoya. Well, young lady, let me clear this up for you. Your parents' flower-arranging company and greenhouses are being bought by a new competitor. In a clever lawsuit, this competitor has taken away the financial resources of the company, which the company desperately needs to be avoided to be taken over.

I have decided to provide the financial assistance...as long as you marry one of my sons, and as Kyoya is closest to you in age, one year apart, in fact, he will be your fiancee, and eventually, husband."

My mind is reeling in shock. "Wait...but why me?" I splutter.

"Young lady, your grades are stellar, you are an intelligent and beautiful woman, if you don't mind me saying so, and you have the open face and personality that our family needs to give it a good public impression and to smooth things over with the media, and strengthen company relations. You are also smart, and won't believe everything told to your face, unlike other girls in Ouran High School fit to be the bride of a son of mine."
This sounded like a compliment, but it was said in a calculating voice that made me shudder.

"So what does this all lead to?"
"You…are marrying me." A voice pipes up, and I look for the source to see that it is senpai.

"ME?" I gawk. "AND HIM? BUT HE HATES ME!"

"That can be fixed," Yoshio says in clipped tones. "Anyway, sign this sheet. I am afraid that you have no choice, unless, of course, you don't want to save your family."

I was getting a headache. "No...no...I will…" I take the pen and I sign my name.

"Here is your engagement ring." Kyoya hands me a simple gold band, which I dislike immediately. If I could have chosen my engagement ring, it would have had a beautiful stone on it. However, this one seems like a handcuff more than anything else.