So this is it, my first ever post. I hope you like it, but I'm just starting this story and I haven't quite worked up to my full ability yet. Bear with me, please!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran Host Club. I mean really, do you think I'm Bisco Hatori?
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
It was a gorgeous summer day. The trees blew in the gentle wind, a wind scented by flowers and plants it had passed already. The sky was empty with the exception of the few clouds that rolled lazily by and a light turquoise color.
A twenty-two-year-old woman sat upon a wooden bench in a public park, attention turned to a page in a borrowed textbook she was futilely trying to understand. Her smooth brow tightened in frustration, and she clenched her teeth, bitterly fighting to comprehend the words.
Finally she accepted reality. "I just can't do it. Not now."
Two almond-colored eyes drifted away from the book, and she relaxed as she watched the world around her. Her wide eyes swept the heavens as she leaned into the wood. "Harvard Law is way too hard. But if I get through it, I know it will help my reputation."
She looked down at her outfit. Fashionable wrap-around top adorned with a forgotten sticker, and denim shorts, flip-flops: an outfit given to her by her father. Even though she had left her boyish looks behind years ago, she would not have wasted money on designer brands as her father did.
Peeling off the "Hello my name is Haruhi" sticker she had left on her shirt after her part-time job (she was baby-sitting a sticker obsessed child), she wondered as to how her father was doing.
Her father was still in Japan, doing his own thing as always. Last she had heard, he was alive and well. He was happy she was doing well, but missed her, as she had expected.
Haruhi's mind drifted then to the Host Club. Of all its members, only Kaoru and Hikaru had popped in to visit since high school. Tamaki had sent her postcards and letters, each and everyone short and not especially attentive. Kyoya, Hunni and Mori had not even sent word.
A strand of brown hair fell about her face. Sighing, Haruhi left her reverie to push back the silken lock. Her fingers brushed against metal as she tucked it thoughtfully behind her ear.
Slowly, Haruhi pulled the chain away from her neck to study it. The chain was made of silver links, tiny interlocking ovals which held a locket. With a finger, she snapped the circle of metal open, glancing at the exterior (two birds flying) before surveying the empty interior.
She closed it with a sigh, then stood, stretching her stiff limbs.
It was time for a walk, she decided, and set off at a leisurely pace through the park.
Little did she know how much her future would be changed within instants...
Ohtori Household, Japan
Kyoya had not known why he had been called into his father's study, but he had not expected it to be good. He stood awkwardly in front of a large desk, awaiting the arrival of his father.
A few moments later the father in question entered, moving swiftly to sit behind his desk.
"Sit, Kyoya." The man gestured to a chair behind his son.
Kyoya pulled it forwards gently, then sat. Even sitting down he towered above his father (had he asked to be six foot four?) and the smaller man noticed the difference in heights.
Drawing in a deep breath, the raven-haired Kyoya asked, "What is it father?"
"I think it is time to discuss the matter of your marriage."
"But father..."
"But?"
But I'm only twenty-three, Kyoya thought. I'm not old enough to marry, and certainly I don't wish to marry for profit, as you expect me to. "Nothing, father."
"Very well. Now, seeing as you are not my heir, Kyoya..."
Kyoya drew a breath in harshly, the air hissing passed his clenched teeth. He had worked hard to be heir, but his father had not allowed him to be the next in line. It pained him, and his father knew that.
The older man paused, laughter in his eyes, then continued on, "Seeing as you are not my heir, I thought perhaps I should let you marry this girl..." His father shuffled through papers on his desk, searching for the right one.
Kyoya knew it would not, could not be her. And yet if he could pick one name it would have to be... "Fujioka Haruhi."
Kyoya waited for his heart to settle down. This was obviously a hallucination: it could not be really happening.
"I said, Fujioka Haruhi. I had thought you would be pleased."
"Of course I am, father," Kyoya said, in the realization that this was happening. "But... why?"
His father, the strict calculating presence Kyoya had once feared, smiled. "Because she made you believe in intangible benefits. Isn't that enough?"
"Of course, Father."
The man nodded. "Good. You fly to America tomorrow."
Kyoya returned the nod. He could hardly wait.
Hitachiin Household, Japan
Kaoru had not known why he and Hikaru had been called into their parent's room, but he had not expected it to be good. He stood casually in front of a large window, awaiting the arrival of their mother.
A few moments later the mother in question entered, moving to a couch and sitting down.
"Take a seat, you two." She gestured to a pair of armchairs opposite her.
Kaoru, with Hikaru besides him, paced to the seat and sank into the cushioned chairs. Even sitting down, they towered over their mother (they were both 6'1", not a bad height) and their mother laughed at the height difference.
In unison, as always, the twins asked their mother, "What's up, mom?"
"I think it's time for me to propose a contest. It concerns your marriages."
"But mom..."
"But?"
But your contest won't make it fun, Kaoru thought. There is only one girl I want, and any other girl you name will bore me. No one but her can even tell us apart... "Nothing, mom."
"Very well. Now, seeing as how you boys always go for the same girl, I will offer you one good choice for marriage. Whoever doesn't win her heart gets a different girl. Her name is..." Their mother, dramatic as always, delayed her next words to drag out the suspense.
Kaoru knew it would not, could not be her. And yet if he could pick one name it would have to be... "Haruhi Fujioka."
Kaoru knew immediately he was dreaming. He was obviously not awake yet: this could not really be happening.
"I said, Haruhi Fujioka. I thought you two would be happy."
The twins came out of their daze. "Of course we are, mom," they both said, having realized this was happening. "But...why."
Their mother, the joking happy presence they had once understood, turned serious. "Because she can tell you two apart. Isn't that enough?"
"Yes, mom."
Their mother nodded. "Good. You fly to America tomorrow."
Kaoru returned the nod. He could hardly wait.
Suoh Household, Japan
Tamaki had not known why he had been called into his father's office, but he had not expected it to be good. He stood casually in front of a large window, awaiting the arrival of his father.
A few moments later the father in question entered, moving to an armchair and sitting down.
"Tamaki, please sit." He gestured to an armchair matching his.
Tamaki drew out the chair and sank into its cushion. Even sitting down, he towered over his father (he was 6'5" and proud of it) and his father smiled at the height difference.
Breathing heavily, Tamaki asked his father, "What is it, father?"
"I think it's time for me to propose a match. I have found you the perfect wife."
"But dad..."
"But?"
But your match isn't my idea of a match, Tamaki thought. Only one girl is "perfect" for me. I only love one girl, and no one else comes close. "Nothing, father."
"Very well. Now, seeing as how your idiotic ideas scare most women, I think you should marry someone strong and loving. Someone who can put up with you. Her name is..." His father, dramatic as always, delayed his next words to drag out the suspense.
Tamaki knew it would not, could not be her. And yet if he could pick one name it would have to be... "Haruhi Fujioka."
Tamaki waited for his fantasy to end. This was obviously a fragment of his overactive imagination: this could not really be happening.
"I said, Haruhi Fujioka. I thought you would be ecstatic."
"Of course I am, dad," he said, glad it was real. "But...why."
His father, the teasing, loving presence he had depended upon, turned serious. "Because she can deal with your crazy antics. Isn't that enough?"
"Yes, Father."
The man nodded. "Good. You fly to America tomorrow."
Tamaki returned the nod. He could hardly wait.
Cambridge Massachusetts, USA
The tall woman left the park as the sun was setting.
Already Haruhi's mind was listing the things she hadn't done while in the park, and she barely had the strength to stifle it.
It was a short walk to her apartment building, as she didn't have a car, but she made it before dark came. Haruhi stared for a few moments at the metal structure, then opened the door.
Within minutes, she had taken the elevator to floor five and walked down the hallway.
She stopped at room six, fumbling for her key, finding it at last in the bottom of her bag.
Haruhi locked the door and dropped her bag on the wooden floor. It was a small place (a bathroom, bedroom and kitchen/living room) but Haruhi got by.
She paced to a desk and activated the old computer on its surface.
Knowing it took forever to load, she began to make dinner. There was marinated lamb in the fridge, which she threw into the oven. She pulled out the pot for pasta and uncorked a bottle of Finger Lakes Riesling.
Having set the pasta water on the stove and begun the boiling process, she walked back to her computer and logged in. Shooting down several pop-ups, Haruhi made it to her favorite browser and opened it. It loaded, slowly, and eventually she made it to her e-mail address.
Two from the twins, one from the mysterious benefactor who was paying for her education, three from her father, and one from another friend. She read them carefully, then left the computer to continue cooking her dinner.
Two hours later Haruhi had eaten and attempted once more to understand the textbook (she was starting law school in the fall and needed to be prepared).
She gave up yet again on the text, crossing to her bed room to prepare for the night. Haruhi slipped into silken pajamas, brushed her teeth and took her allergy medicine, then walked to her full length mirror.
It was a habit Haruhi had fallen into, checking her image each night. She smiled at the frivolity, then assessed herself.
The years of boyish looks were over. Haruhi was a full grown woman, 5'10" and slim. She was curvy in all the right places, with an aura she hoped gave an image of sophistication and grace.
With a yawn, she retired to her bed, pulling the covers over her shoulders and turning off the clap-on lights.
Haruhi stayed awake for a few moments, pondering her old friends. Would she see them, or hear from them any time soon? Their faces floated through her head. Mori, Hunni, Kyoya, Hikaru, Tamaki, Kaoru. With a laugh, she slipped into semi-consciousness.
Then she slept.
That's it. I hope you liked it, but looking back I see it's kind of dull. This is only the introductions, though: I promise (I hope) it will get better.
I apologize in advance to the Hunny X Haru or Mori X Haru fans , but I need some referees to keep the other four under control and those two seemed to work.
Review please. If I get 5-10 reviews I will post a new chapter.
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