-1"I said no, Yuki-chan! I don't want to go to Host Club."
"Onegai, Beth-chan. I want you to meet Tamaki-sama."
"Well, I don't want to meet Tamaki-sama. I want to finish my book."
"I can't believe you'd rather read that dusty old book than come to Host Club!"
"Gomen ne, Yuki-chan, but I don't see the point in watching some conceited Prince Charles wannabe drink coffee and chatter at me."
"You know, I don't think you're a real girl, Beth-chan. Fine. Enjoy your dumb book, cuz it's your only friend."
Beth watched the blonde girl disappear around a corner, giggling and laughing with her friends, and clutched her book to her chest. This book meant the world to her. She felt the embossed cover against her chest through the flimsy material of the tacky yellow dress she wore and sighed.
"Not a real girl, huh? I guess not. But if being a real girl means making fun of people and fawning over guys who lack personality just because they're handsome, I want no part of it."
She held her book tightly to her and headed outside. She walked home, really hating riding in her stuffy limo. On her way out she passed a tall brunette who adjusted his glasses and watched her leave before opening a large black file and flipping to a single page report, typed, with only a few paragraphs.
Enstone, Lady Elizabeth
Age 17
Lord Byron Enstone, a British vassal to the throne of Queen Elizabeth of England, recently deceased earlier this year due to a car accident in which there were several fatalities, including his wife, Tara, his two sons, Sidney and James, and their limousine driver, Richard Press.
Elizabeth, the only surviving member of the family, was the youngest child of Lord Enstone, shortly preceded by her twin brothers Sidney and James, Twins, deceased.
The young Lady Enstone is heiress to a multimillion pound (British Coin) Publishing company known as Enstone Literature works and seems to have managed the business fairly well since the death of her family.
Sources within Enstone Manor report that she has not shed tears or mourned in any way the death of her family. She was always withdrawn and reserved. This makes her different from her brothers as they were prone to laughter and mischief.
Lady Enstone moved to Japan and transferred to Ouran High School in late October of this year, reason unknown.
Kyoya snapped his file shut and walked through the double doors of the Third Music Room. He sat down at a table and opened his laptop, pulling up the Ootori Database and referencing Enstone Literature Works.
"Tamaki." His tone, as usual, left no room for argument. The Host King put away the dress he was holding against Haruhi's back and came over.
"Hai, Kaa-san?"
"We are not reaching everyone, Tamaki. I just heard a young woman, a very prestigious young woman, flatly refuse to accompany her friend to Host Club in favor of reading a book."
"A real girl?" He asked, quite seriously, making Haruhi smack herself in the forehead.
"How could there possibly be a young woman with better things to do than come here?" She asked sarcastically. Tamaki missed her tone and nodded fervently in agreement.
"Tamaki." Kyoya recalled his attention to the matter at hand.
"Go and find her. Speak to her, flatter her, seduce her, I don't care. Just find out why she refuses to come to Host Club."
"Hai, Kaa-san. Wait, seduce her? Such awful words, to be using around our Daughter, Kaa-san!" He exclaimed, hugging Haruhi to his chest.
"Senpai, you are not my father." She insisted, struggling. Kyoya put a hand to his forehead anticipating the oncoming headache.
"Tamaki, go, before she gets home."
"Hai, Kaa-san!" He bolted out the doors and raced out of the building. It wasn't long before he caught up to her. She had found a fully blossoming Sakura tree and had settled herself under it, reading her book.
Tamaki studied her for a moment, taking in the scene before him. She sat between two large roots, which cupped her like protective arms. She leaned back into the tree, resting the book on her knees, which were pulled up against her chest. The edge of her skirt flapped in the light breeze that also stirred her deep brown hair, blowing it across her face. She pushed it behind her ear, and turned a page in her book.
"Excuse me, Hime, but you will get grass stains on your dress sitting on the ground like that." He offered. She looked up, startled. Her gaze settled on the Host King, oddly calculating, for a female.
"So what?"
Tamaki blinked. He had expected a blush, perhaps a quick rise to her feet, but not 'So what?'. But she was watching him, not for a reaction, but with obvious distaste.
"A lady should not lower herself to sit on the ground in such a way." He replied after a moment.
"I'll sit where I bloody well please." She informed him, turning a page in her book. Tamaki realized she'd been reading the entire time she'd been talking to him and didn't like it. He'd always had the undivided attention of any female he'd spoken to, with the exception of his grandmother, who hated him for being illegitimate.
"Gomen ne, Hime, I didn't mean to offend you."
"Right. You just felt you had to interrupt my afternoon for my own wellbeing."
"Hime . . "
"Call me that again and I'll knock you flat. Where I come from we use each others names. Mine's Elizabeth of Enstone."
" I am Tamaki Suoh, son of the Superintendent of Ouran High School and President of the school Host Club." He struck a pose, with his hands on his hips and his nose in the air.
"Oh, so you're 'Tamaki-sama' then."
"Yes, I am."
"I'm happy for you. Can I go back to my book now?""
Tamaki vaulted onto the sidewalk.
"I . . . I . . ."
"Whats the matter, pretty boy? Can't file through your script for an answer?"
"Script?"
"Or are you just shocked stupid because I haven't fallen for your act?"
"Act?"
"Forgive me, please, if I've offended the mighty Tamaki Suoh, King of Hosts."
"Uhhh . . . ."
"Shouldn't you be at Host Club, making a profit off delusional women who you've duped into believing you care?"
"Did we at Host Club offend you in some way?"
"No. Of course not."
"Then what is wrong with you?" He shouted, losing his calm demeanor.
"There's automatically something wrong with me because I'm not worshipping the ground you walk on, is that it?"
"I do not require people to worship me!"
"Coulda fooled me with all your bloody fanclubs, you Prince Charles wannabe!"
"I can't help it if people fall for my charm and good looks!"
"You are a pompous, arrogant ass, and a complete fraud! You put on an act for all those girls! Do they know that every poetic phrase and every little touch is rehearsed and done from memory? That you've used every remark to entrance hundreds of others? All to make a bloody profit!?!"
Tamaki stood, staring at her.
"You discovered you were otherwise useless, so you set it up so you could deceive girls who put their heart on the line, wishing all the time that you might be their one and only, but knowing they'll never be yours. I suppose they're nothing but toys to you and your Hosts. People like you disgust me!"
"You . . You . . .you're not a real girl, Elizabeth of Enstone!" He finally yelled. She chuckled wryly.
"So they tell me." She walked past him and around a corner for home.