In the prestigious Ouran Academy, the Host Club, their families, and a few of their associates were preparing for a performance of the Tim Burton classic, Corpse Bride; and Kyouya was cursing whatever thoughts had led him to showing the blond fool the animation, no matter how intriguing.

Mr and Mrs Ootori were also rather upset, while Tachibana was letting relief wash over him. Why was it their son who had to cross-dress?

Well, Mrs Ootori wasn't very happy about her corset and the general character she was playing; but seeing Kyouya in a petticoat and corset, ready for his first appearance, was also a little unsettling… as was how feminine he actually looked with hair extensions and light makeup.

"I don't see why you're content to let Suoh bully you into crossdressing in front of all your peers, prospective partners," Mr Ootori tutted, "It's embarrassing."

"It's perfectly alright, Father," Kyouya sighed, "He didn't bully me into it at all, it was only a request."

Knew to bite their tongues at that point, and accept the mortification.

"Besides, it's not the first time I've cross-dressed for the host club," Kyouya shrugged, flabbergasting his parents.

Kyouya had worn dresses before?! In front of everyone, no less?!

Before the parents' better sense could set in, their minds got caught in an approximation of Tamaki's mind-theatre…

"Kyouya, I want you to wear this today; no objections!" The Suoh boy ordered their son, violet locking on startled grey.

In the blond boy's hands was a very risqué maid's dress, complete with thigh-high socks and heels. Their son took one glance at the costume and blushed, looking away.

"But Tamaki… They're girl's clothes," The boy sniffed, his dark eyes shining with unshed tears, "I'm a boy, I can't wear those."

"You could have fooled me, Kyoko," Tamaki leered, pushing the outrageous ensemble into Kyouya's arms, "You look so… pretty in a dress."

"That's not what happened," Kyouya interrupted, irritated, "What do you think I am? A little uke in a yaoi?"

"At least I won't have to dress as a maid," Tachibana sighed, feeling quite smug that he managed to get a part that only required a butler's garb, "That would have been awkward."

"You're not feminine, nor androgynous; it would have looked ridiculous," Kyouya cut in, "We aren't exploiting cheap comedy in this club… Unless you count slap-stick."

There was a crash outside the room, followed by the scream of, "Mommy!"

Kyouya just sighed, as if it were commonplace. "That's my que," He informed, "Curtain up is in thirteen minutes, arrive backstage in five; read through your lines quickly to be sure you've memorised them, and break a leg."

"MOMMY!"

"Mommy's coming now, daddy!" He called back, not looking at his parents, "I trust you to deliver satisfactory performances."