Chapter 1

No Big Deal

The moment Haruhi saw her belongings floating in one of the school's fountains; she knew it was only beginning. It had occurred to her when she had applied for the scholarship to Ouran that being bullied was always a possibility. The school had so few accounts to bullying that it was almost suspicious, but being the only commoner in this world, it was bound to happen. Quite honestly, she was surprised that it had taken this long for them to start.

Of course Tamaki's interference in the situation only made it worse. She knew that he had only held good intentions when he banished that princess from the clubroom. However, it made many other girls, and several boys, quite upset. With Haruhi of course. No one ever seemed to truly stay mad at Tamaki for too long.

It was a week after Princess Ayanokoji's banishment that Haruhi began receiving the hate filled letters. They were all similar and hardly creative in their threats. Somehow they managed to appear in her books, her bag, and sometimes she would find them in her locker. For the most part, she had no issue ignoring them. No need to worry over petty words of jealousy and hatred. The only threat that actually had a slight impact on her was the letters that suggested they could have her scholarship revoked.

This concern however was laid to rest when Kyoya revealed that Ouran Academy's Chairman was in fact Yuzuru Suoh, Tamaki's father. As much as she loathed depending on anyone, she felt a slight sense of security in the unlikeliness of Chairman Suoh expelling her. If only to keep his son from pestering him too much over the issue.

As bullying goes, it was worse some days, and others were just fine. Unfortunately today was one of those not as good days. Someone had slipped a razor in one of her textbooks. Which really would not have been so terrible if she hadn't dropped the dumb thing. In her haste of reaching out to catch it, she didn't notice till it was too late the razor sliding out. She ended up catching the razor, rather than the book, and slicing her palm fairly deeply.

Despite all of this the part that annoyed her most was the fact that the Hitachiin twins were with her and had witnessed the whole thing. Their voices instantly began buzzing about her. Kaoru found the classroom's first aid kit and began to do his best to clean and wrap her bloodied hand. While Hikaru took to glaring and demanding the perpetrator step forward and admit to their act. Which made her want to roll her eyes.

Like anyone would admit to bullying in front of these two…

"We need to get you to the infirmary." Kaoru frowned at the blood seeping through the gauze.

"Its not that bad. If I keep it wrapped it will heal just fine." She quickly disagreed.

"Possibly, but it may get infected-"

"Or scar. If you don't get it looked at." Hikaru finished.

Haruhi shook her head vehemently. Ouran had the best doctors available, but she wasn't completely sure her scholarship covered medical expenses. If it ended up costing her, it would be a huge chunk of money that she just did not have. Not that the twins would understand that. Or worse, they would try to cover the expenses for her.

They frowned at her, before sighing in unison. "Fine. But Boss isn't going to be happy."

She cringed, already picturing his overdramatic reaction to her very minor injury. "There is no need to tell him anything. This in no way has anything to do with him." She tried to shrug it off.

"If you drop a tray and break a tea set because your hand hurts he'll notice." Kaoru pointed out.

"And Kyoya is likely to add the price of the set to your already large debt." Hikaru chimed in.

They had a point.

"I'll talk to Kyoya myself then. Maybe we can figure something out." If anyone knew how to avoid extra costs, it was Kyoya Otori.

They arrived early enough that the twins immediately got dragged into helping pick out the costumes for next week while Haruhi pulled Kyoya aside to explain to him the situation.

"Hmm… that is unfortunate. Normally I would say you could just entertain our guests conversationally, considering that's all you generally do anyway. However, if a certain King catches wind of this he will forgo all his own duties in one of his fits."

Haruhi nodded. She had come to the same conclusion.

"I believe it would be more beneficial if you went home now and studied for that upcoming exam." His spectacled eyes never left his clipboard.

"Thank you." Haruhi picked her bag up off the floor. "Also, if I were you, I would keep an eye on the twins. They were there when it happened and they sometimes get those ridiculous notions."

Kyoya nodded in agreement before giving a half wave as he headed to check on the food selection that Honey was heaping on to the tables.

Explaining the incident to her father went better than she could have hoped.

"Kids can be so cruel." He wept pulling her into a gut-crushing hug. "But it is to be expected when you are the only one of your kind. You are a beautiful dolphin swimming in a sea of piranhas! Eventually you are going to get bit. If you want to transfer to another school I will support you five million percent!"

Once she had untangled herself Haruhi just smiled at her extravagant father. "I'll be fine Dad. It's not like they are trying to kill me, its just little pranks that are more annoying then anything else. Since this happened, now I can't work in the clubroom today."

A day working off my debt lost… what a waste…

Her father sighed tying his long hair back into a messy bun. "Your priorities never cease to amaze me."

"I do have homework and studying to do… I'll have dinner ready before you leave alright?"

"No!" Ranka blurted. "I will go get us take out!"

"Dad-"

"No arguing! I got a really hefty sum of tips last night and it was well within our budget for the month."

She gave him a disbelieving look, but could tell this was one of those battles that it was better to let him win. "If you're sure…"

"Absolutely!"

Haruhi smiled. "Alright. Thanks dad."

And it was because of that smile that Ranka knew she was really ok.

Please Review!