Author: Fiction Company
Genre: romance, humor, general
Rating: T
Summary: Haruko models for the art club, Kayo trips into Mori, the girls find out Suzume is connected to the Host Club somehow, and Haruko gets recruited to play violin at one of the Host Club's parties.
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The Adventures of an Artist, a Musician, and a Writer
Chapter 1: Aching Legs and a Silent Mess
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Haruko sighed and then spoke.
"Can I sit down now?"
Kayo Iwate, one of Haruko's best friends, gave her a severe look.
"No, Haru. You can't move. Otherwise we may have to turn our sketches into abstracts."
The rest of the art club nodded in mutual agreement. If Haruko didn't stop moving then they'd have to do abstract style instead since the lines of her form wouldn't be clear. And they just couldn't do abstract. God forbid because, as everyone in the art club knew, the club leader Akemi Yamamoto hated abstract art.
Haruko sighed and tried to stand as still as possible in the running pose the art club had convinced her to stand in. Just a few more minutes…only a few more minutes…
In a little bit, they had all finished their respective drawings and placed them in a neat pile at the back of the room to be dealt with later. As they all got ready to leave, Haruko waited for Kayo in the hall. When she was done putting things away they started their walk home together. On their way through the front entrance, Kayo tripped and fell right into a boy walking past. They both fell to the ground in a literal tangled mess.
Haruko laughed and knelt down. "Honestly Kayo, I don't understand how clumsy you can be yet still be so observant. I'd think you'd see him there. Anyway, are you alright?"
Kayo responded with a muffled "Fine."
Mori nodded and stayed silent. He didn't really talk much.
"Well, okay. I guess I get to untangle you both, now," Haruko sighed. "So, Mori, if you just put your arm through here…yeah, that's right…uhm…now Kayo, move your leg that way…"
In fairly short order they were both untangled and standing. Kayo was busy having the dirt brushed off of her yellow monstrosity of a dress (at least according to Haruko,) and Mori stood in front of her, giving her an emotionless stare; the very same emotionless stare that he gave everyone.
"I-I'm sorry," Kayo stammered, her face reddening. "I just wasn't paying attention I guess…Are you alright?"
Mori nodded, with a slight smile on his face.
"Oh...okay. T-That's good."
He turned and walked past them, back the way he was going. As soon as he left, Haruko turned to Kayo and gasped.
"Ka-chan…he likes you. He so likes you."
"What are you talking about? Of course he doesn't," Kayo insisted.
"Yes he does. He smiled at you. He never smiles at anyone. Well…except Hunny. But even then, it's a rare occasion."
"…Eh."
"I'm telling you. He at least thinks you're cute."
Kayo blushed again. "We'll see."
--
On the way home they ran across Suzume Ishimoto. She was another of their friends and she completed their Inner Circle of Three. They waved and she joined them.
"Hello. How has your day been thus far?" she asked.
"Alright, Suzu-chan," Kayo answered in a sing-song voice. "Nothing that exciting happened."
Haruko rounded on her. "Nothing that exciting?! You ran into Mori from the Host Club!"
Suzume's eyes lit with interest. "Really now? You'll need to explain that encounter to me. I'd quite like to hear about it."
For the third time that day Kayo blushed. "It's not a big deal. I ran into him, we fell, and he smiled at me when we stood up."
"My," Suzume responded in surprise. "He hardly ever smiles at anyone. I wonder why he smiled at you."
"I don't know," Kayo sighed as they stopped in front of Haruko's large estate.
"Well," Suzume mused while looking over Kayo. "you are fairly good looking. And he must know about your artistic skills. Maybe he really does feel some kind of attraction to you. Would you like to find out? I have some connections with the Host Club."
"What?!" gasped Kayo.
"Suzu, what connections could you possibly have with the Host Club?" Haruko asked, aghast.
"Well, the Hitachiin brothers' parents know mine and are, apparently, close friends. I've met them before at a ball we were both invited to. I speak to them on occasion when I need something they can help me with. They can, however, be most troublesome," she finished with a frown.
"Well," Haruko spoke.
"Indeed. Now, I need to retire to my home. I'm afraid I have a rather large essay to write. Until tomorrow."
"Until tomorrow," Kayo and Haruko replied in unison.
They turned to each other and smiled.
"Bye, Haru."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
--
Haruko sighed. Her father had just told her that she would be playing violin at one of the Host Club's famous parties. She didn't mind so much, but it would be tight fit with her schedule.
"Let's see, if I move my meeting with the head of the track club to Wednesday, I should have time for this party."
Once she finished moving things around, she picked up her phone and called Suzu and kayo. The phone rang a few moments and the they both picked up.
"Hullo. I just got told I'm playing violin at one of the Host Club's parties. Do either of you want to go?"
"An intriguing idea. When is it?"
"This Friday."
"Alright. I believe I'm free then. I'll be there."
"And you, Kayo?"
"Well, I don't have anything going on then, so I should be able to come."
"Alright then. It's at 4:00 pm in Music Room 3."
"I'll see you there," Kayo replied.
"Yes, I'll be meeting you there as well."
"See you Friday."
"Bye Haru, Suzu."
"Mhm."
--
It was finally Friday and Haruko, Kayo and Suzume were walking to the site of the party: Music Room 3. They were a bit early so Haruko could go over what they wanted her to play. It would also give her some time to practice.
They arrived at the lounge of the Host Club and walked in during the pre-party preparations.
One of the members came over. He was tall and had dark brown hair. A set of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose and made him seem very intelligent. He was, in fact, very intelligent and routinely placed in the top five of the school.
He extended his hand to Haruko in greeting.
"Hello, you must be Miss Aoyama. I'm Kyouya," he said.
Haruko took his hand in a firm shake.
"You can call me Haruko. What type of music did you have in mind tonight?"
"Well, it's a pirate themed party, so I believe some pirate-y sounding music would suit it well," he replied.
Haruko thought for a moment and then spoke.
"I think I've got just the piece."
She pulled out her violin and quickly tuned it, playing a few experimental chords. Then she began playing a complicated piece that did indeed sound pirate-y. At that moment another member of the Host Club walked over.
"What was that? Oh, I'm Tamaki, by the way."
"Nice to meet you Tamaki," Haruko said, nodding in his direction. "Now, if you want to know what that was…Yo ho, Yo ho, a pirate's life for me…"
"…Huh?"
Haruko sighed. She always forgot that not everyone spoke fluent English, if any at all. "The song is just about this man who feels that he would prefer the life of a pirate. It's a simple enough song."
"Oh," Tamaki replied. "Well, it was wonderful! So wonderful! You should play for us all the time!"
"Well," Kyouya said, jumping into the conversation. "It would actually be very beneficial for the Host Club if she played for us frequently. Since we're going to be charging a five dollar admission fee for her concert, we'll be making a nice profit. And according to my calculations, there are many people willing to pay for such a concert."
Haruko looked at Kyouya. He had a frightening smile on his lips, but in a flash it was gone. Oh, well. I don't really care if he's crazy, so long as I get to play.
In between all of the conversations, Suzume and Kayo found themselves a table near where Haruko would be performing and sat down. Hani, yet another of the Host Club members, walked over and sat down, swinging a stuffed rabbit behind him. It surprised Haruko, but only slightly, as she had heard some of what the school's girls had said about the guys in the club.
"Hi! I'm Hani. And this is Mori," he said, pointing at the tall and silent bodyguard behind him.
Kayo looked toward him and blushed. He gave her a small smile and then resumed his usual emotionless stare. She laughed nervously to herself.
"Do you like cake?"
"Oh, yes. Sweets are quite delicious. Though they really aren't that good for your health if you eat them constantly," Suzume said thoughtfully.
"Yeah," Hani said. "They're just so delicious. Would you like some cake?"
"Yes, please. Thank you."
"Yep!"
While the two were chatting, no one noticed that Mori and Kayo remained looking at each other, silently sending signals of attraction through the air.
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A/N: Eithne: There goes the first chapter. Boy, was that hard to write.
Shane: It can't have been that hard.
Eithne: But it waaas! Dx
Shane: Yeah, well…it's my turn for the pain of writing the next chapter.
Eithne: Ha ha! –fingerpoint-
Shane: Well…I get to write the party scene.
Eithne: …Maybe. I may start it…possibly.
Shane: I'm so writing the party scene.
Eithne: -headdesk- Oh, and remember to review it guys!