Hey! This is a collaboration between Hatori's Snowdrop Princess and xxlostdreamerxx! We hope you guys enjoy it!
Disclaimer: We do not own Host Club, it is purely the work of the genius manga-ka, Bisco Hatori-sensei! However, Anko Minamoto and Keiko Kaien are out OCs and any other character not existing in the Host Club world in this story are ours, too.
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Secret 1: Meeting
A wave of awkwardness coursed through her as she felt completely out of place with a duffle bag filled with some of her possessions, a black and grey messenger bag, and a vinyl guitar case slung over her shoulder. Beside her was a taller, elder man with kind, warm, mahogany eyes behind glasses, black hair, and cream-and peach skin who looked to be in his late twenties.
"Now you behave, all right? I don't want to hear any word about you being wild an untamed all right?"
"I promise," she grinned, pulling up her pinkie. Her father chuckled softly and wrapped his pinkie around hers.
"I'm keeping you too that," she nodded in reply and a small silence fell between the two. He brushed her bangs that curtain her right eye behind her ear and lets out a sad sigh. "I'm sure going to miss you, Kei," he hugged her tightly.
"I'm gonna miss you too, Dad," she hugs him back. "But at least I'll get to see you every Sunday right?" She smiled weakly. She was trying to sell the idea more to herself than her father at the moment.
"Yeah, that'll be the highlight of my week from now on," he pressed his lips to her forehead. She smiled reassuringly and he ruffled her hair a bit. "I better get going; it's a long drive back," he says a bit hesitantly, fiddling with his glasses a bit, like he always did when he was nervous.
"Yeah…. Call me when you get home."
"Sure thing sport, I guess this is good bye," he smiled sadly and hugged her once again. A small twang of panic struck her and she gripped him tightly.
"Don't say that! I'm going to see you again!" she mumbles as she childishly hid her face in his chest. He looked at her curiously for a bit, but slowly smiled softly and nodded more to himself.
"You're right. I'm sorry, I'll see you Sunday," he kissed her atop of her head and gives her one last squeeze before letting go and heading out to his car, "Tell Yuzuha that I'm sorry I couldn't stay and that I say hello," he calls out from the car.
"You got it, see you later!" she waved to him as he drove off. She let out a small sigh as she returned to the house, taking off her sneakers by the front door. I guess this is my life from now on. She circled in place a bit as she looked at the all too familiar décor. She combed her pale cream-and-rose fingers through her mixed golden brown and black hair. It was styled in a way that it was layered and the longest length just past her shoulders and parted on the left. Her translucent frost silver-grey-blue eyes scan the area as a small smile grew on her pale frost rose pink lips. Out of habit, she played with one of the various earrings she had on her right ear. She knew she stood out like a sore thumb in all this finesse since she was dressed in worn out jeans, a slightly baggy t-shirt, various bracelets, a few necklaces, earrings, and rings. She was about 5' 6 ½" in height and had a slim figure with subtle curves. But, she couldn't care less since she has been her so many times in her life.
"Keiko, is that you?" she heard a familiar female voice call out from above and behind her. She turned on her heel and looked up to the top of the staircase to see a beautiful woman in fashionable clothes.
"Yuzu-obasan…!" she called out as the woman rushes down the stairs and envelops Keiko in a hug.
"Oh, look how much you've grown!" she pulled Keiko arms length away and looks her over. "Oh it has been so long! How are you doing? I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit sooner. How is he? What happened?"
"Kaien…he's…." Keiko choked up a bit as she felt her throat constrict and shifts her gaze to the floor. "It was my fault.
"I won't hear any of that. What happened, happened and nothing can be done now. I'm just glad one of you is safe and sound." she hugged Keiko tightly once again. "I assume your leg is better now, I heard you broke it somehow."
"Yeah, it's fine, scarred, but fine," she shrugged lightly. "How have you been? Still taking the fashion world by storm?"
"Always," she smiled graciously like a sophisticated woman of high class. "Now let's get you and your stuff upstairs and if we're lucky enough I can get you to school just in time for the first few classes," she says, glancing at her watch.
"Oh, Dad says hello and that he's sorry he couldn't stay and wait for you to say it himself but it is a long drive and all."
"Oh, I completely understand no need to explain. I'll just call him later when I get the chance," Keiko hoisted her bag up and followed her aunt up the stairs and down some halls before they reach an all too familiar bedroom door. Normally, a ton of the servants would have taken her luggage but everyone here knew well enough that Keiko would not allow it, use to the commoner customs.
They entered into a lovely pastel grey-blue room with rich mahogany furniture with antique and gold detailing, a walk-in closet, a personal full bathroom, and plush carpeting. A few flower shaped wall sconces adorn the walls of the room. She set her things down on the bed and let out a deep breath as she headed to one of the windows and pulled the fine silk curtains aside to reveal a beautiful view of the garden.
"Man, I missed this room," She said more to herself as she turned to her aunt once again but this time sees her holding a uniform that consists of a pale lavender blazer, black slacks, black tie with a middle lavender stripe, and a white button down. On the left breast of the coat was the school insignia.
"I assumed you saw the girl's uniform and was appalled." Keiko cringed at the thought of the poufy pastel yellow dress with a high white collar, cuffs, and a tiny red ribbon. Yuzuha saw the look of disgust take over the once calm face of the young teen girl before her and giggled softly at the childish antic. "I was correct, so I ordered the boy's uniform for you. You better get dressed; I'll be waiting down stairs."
"Yuzu-obasan, you shouldn't have!"
"Ah, not a word, now go freshen up and change so I can see if it is a good fit," she placed the clothes in Keiko's arms and lightly pushed her towards the bathroom door. Keiko chuckles at the refreshing behavior of the famous fashion designer and quickly showered before she changed into the clothes and replaces all of her accessories. She came out with the tie loosely hung around her in a Windsor knot and the first few buttons of her shirt undone, showing bits of her necklaces. The uniform fit perfectly. Keiko did not have a prominent chest so she had no issues with the cut of the blazer at all. Yuzuha quickly looked her over a bit before fussing with Keiko's hair, styling it with some gel, making the layers seem messy yet cohesive all at once, the parting still on the left. "Where is your make up?"
"Make up…? All I have is eyeliner really," she shrugs, pulling it out from her messenger bag.
"We've really got to expand that collection," Yuzuha sighs and grabbed Keiko's hand, leading the young teen to her personal make up room. She sat Keiko down on the chair and applied some barely noticeable eye shadow that matched the jacket, eyeliner, and some lip gloss that matched Keiko's lip colour. "And viola, we are done!" she moved from the mirror for Keiko to see who just grinned at her slightly rocker, yet elegant look.
"Thanks, Yuzu-obasan," she hugged the beautiful woman who gladly hugged her back.
"Now quickly go back and get your shoes, they should be in the closet and your messenger bag. I'll tell the driver to get a car ready," Keiko nodded in reply and did as was told. She headed down with her messenger bag and the shoe box with her new black loafers. She put the shoes on as she reached the front door and thanks the maid who opened the door for her as she walks out and into the awaiting limousine.
The ride was pretty calm, she leaned back into the comfortable seats, the windows partially rolled down as she and Yuzuha caught up. She had not seen her aunt for about ten years or so since she had such a busy schedule and they lived too far away. After about ten minutes or so, the limousine stops at the school's gates.
"This is my stop," Keiko sighed, looking at the stall castle like academy.
"Well, enjoy your first few hours of school. You should head to the main office first just in case but you are enrolled in the first year class A, the same class as Hikaru and Kaoru."
"Oh really, that's sick!" she grinned excitedly and hopped out of the car after giving her aunt one last hug. "See you when I see you!" she says to her aunt and thanks the driver and waves to the car as it drives off. After it turns out of sight she let out a sigh and looked up at the looming academy with a blank expression. This is going to be quite the adventure. Maybe I'll get a chance to see the amazing Host Club the two always talk about. They're in it right? I think I'll pay them a surprised visit. She smirked to herself and walked into the building, masking her anxiety with an indifferent expression. From the outside she looked calm, cool, and collected. On the inside, she was a jumble of nerves knotted with frantic butterflies.
She eventually found her way to the main office after asking for some directions from some giggling girls in the yellow dress she calls a monstrosity. They actually make it look decent. Keiko noted, seeing the various girls in the dress. She had thanked them and gave a courteous bow before heading on her way. They went into a flutter of giggles as Keiko left them but she did not really care to hear what they and almost all the other girls in the hall were tittering over. She talked to the main office for a bit and got whatever information and papers she needed before heading to her classroom and scoping it out. No one unique caught her eyes except for one girl that also wore the boy's uniform. Ignoring it, she handed the teacher a note that said her name and what not.
"You can all just call me Kai, pleasure," she said before the class president could say anything with a shrug and headed to a seat by the window, ignoring the twins. A few girls giggle and whisper but she ignores it and takes the empty seat. A girl with her own variation of the girl's suddenly walked in soon after. Her hair was long and wavy in a brilliant espresso color, the right side of the hair that hung in the front by her bangs had a streak of blonde and the back was collected in a messy bun with the top layer of hair and the bottom layer reached her hip. Her pale gold skin was enhanced by her hair.
The way her fishnet black stockings were torn under her ripped, less puffy canary yellow dress skirt with a pale yellow peeking out from under the canary yellow that reached her knees. She donned a yellow ripped tank top with what looks like was once short sleeves that she made from the remains of her dress' top, now fully detached from the bottom and taken from the boys' uniform were the tie and blue jacket. Her navy yellow slouch boots and yellow gloves just covering her wrists completed the outfit with the diamond studded black belt that hung from her not so thin, yet not fat, waist. There was nothing unique physically about her. She had the body parts for a young teenage girl, but there was this unique quality to her that struck Keiko that somehow made this new girl different from the rest. For one thing her uniform was the same yellow but not the same cut. This girl actually made that sewing machine explosion in Keiko's terms to look somewhat decent.
The teacher directed her to the desk a row and a seat away from a girl that caught her eye. She was wearing the boys' uniform and no one else seemed to notice that 'he' was a she; in fact, she almost had Anko fooled. Her hair was beautiful with a two, maybe three toned look. It was a golden brown on top, verging on blonde, but not quite, the bottom layer was black, some streaks peeking through the top layer giving it an amazing three dimensional look. She smiled and decided that she would talk to her when given the time. When the break came for lunch she stood up quickly and looked around the room, finding that the girl was gone. She moved without watching where she was going and bumped into a cute looking boy, no girl, no boy. She looked hard at her as she got up.
"Eh, another one? My, my, this school has a lot of cross dressers… Oh, well, who the heck am I to talk? I've destroyed this uniform," she thought to herself and then spoke to this boy, maybe girl, person, "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going."
"Oh, no, it's fine," he/she said.
"Haruhi!" a couple of voices called from behind her and she realized that they were talking to this person. "Over here!"
Anko's heart stopped, "Oh… my…" The glistening smiles of the boys (yes, she was sure THEY were boys) made her heart melt like butter during a heat wave. Haruhi gave her a little farewell gesture and went to join the boys. Looking at them stand together she noticed how incredibly tall the boys were, tall and handsome. The auburn hair, the easy faces, the slim builds, she screamed in her head, "They're freaking gorgeous!"
The other students took their seats, still whispering when the 1-A class president, Kazukiyo Souga cleared his throat, "Um, this is Minamoto Anko, another new student. Please welcome her." Anko bowed her head slightly and looked up with her large, amber eyes and a somewhat shy smile, "Pleased to meet you all."
The classes seemed to breeze on by and soon she was headed down to the cafeteria, where she should be at the moment. It was packed with various kinds of students and filled with chatter with excellent dining wear, elegant tables and seating, and gourmet food. Not really seeing any vacant seats, she headed to a far corner in the room. She let her bag drop to the ground and lightly thuds against the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor.
Anko noticed this as she takes a seat in the back corner by the windows. Just as Keiko was about to hit the ground she shouted "No!" and Keiko froze. She looked up to see where the voice came from and saw at the seat nearest the girl with unique uniform there. Her brows were furrowed a bit in mix of what seems to be disgust and disappointment with a dash of shock.
What was her name…Minamoto Anko was it?
"Uh, uh, come here!" Anko demanded."Sorry," Anko continued. "You are NOT sitting on the floor. Come on, where's your sense of pride? Come sit with me." Anko made a swooping gesture with her hand and the girl sat down.
"Oh…okay," Keiko straightened up and grabbed her bag before taking the seat across from the girl. "Thank you." She bows her head.
"No need to thank me," she said softly, which intrigues Keiko a bit.
Is this really the same girl that demanded I sit here instead of the floor? She's much meeker. She ponders a bit at the sudden shift in personality. The girl begins to eat her food and Keiko watched her a bit before letting her eyes wander around the room and take in the trivial details that strike her.
"Why are you wearing the boy's uniform?" Keiko looked back at the girl with a raised brow. "I know you're a girl. I can tell." She rolled her eyes lightly as Keiko smiled.
"I didn't like the girl's uniform," she shrugged.
"Yeah neither did I so I fixed mine up," she grins proudly. "I did it myself."
"Really, that's cool! I never thought about that. You did a great job from what it looks like."
"Thank you," she smiles with a light blush.
"I worked pretty hard on it."
"Well it paid off." Keiko nod and notices a manga amongst the girl's possession. "You read manga?" she asked a bit hesitantly.
"Hunh…? Oh yeah, all the time! You…?"
"Yeah…!" Keiko smiled and stuck out her hand. "My name is Kian Keiko. But you can call me Kai."
"Minamoto Anko, you can call me Anko."
"Well it is a pleasure to meet you Anko-san." As soon as she hears the san, Anko's nose wrinkled in slight distaste.
"I don't like san, I prefer chan."
"Well then Anko-chan it is."
"What about you, what are your preferences?" Keiko looked at Anko with a blank expression. She never really thought about a preference for that. She just shrugged in reply.
"I don't really have a preference per say-so whatever you want."
"Well since you look like a guy I switch between kun and san!" Anko finally decides after a few minutes of thought.
"Haha yeah, I'm like an ironing board!" Keiko joked along.
"Hey maybe you were a boy at birth but then your Dad decided her wanted a girl after two seconds and made you go through surgery!" Keiko just stared at Anko for a bit, not expecting that at all but eventually starts laughing at the thought.
"Maybe, maybe…!" she agreed as she calmed down. "Ah, you are something else, Anko-chan. I never expected to meet someone like you!" she grinned.
"Is that a bad thing?" she frowned lightly and Keiko instantly felt guilty for giving the wrong impression.
"No, not at all, I didn't mean in that sense! I'm sorry, that was my bad! I meant it in a good way! I'm glad I met someone like you in this place. I thought I'd be stuck with a bunch of superficial snobby airhead heirs and heiresses!" she quickly explained, scratching the back of her head.
"Oh, okay," she smiles once again and ate some of her food. Keiko pulls out a sandwich she made out of precaution and began to eat that.
"So what does your family do?" Anko randomly asked.
"Hunh…?" Keiko looked at her, oblivious to what her new found friend means.
"What is your family known for? Like my family is full of famous chefs and has a line of successful restaurants worldwide."
"Really…?" Keiko looked at her, completely stunned by the enormity that entails. "No wonder your name sounds so familiar! I read about it in the news a few days ago. Your family opened a new site somewhere near here right?" She nodded her head in response. "Wow…." she rested her cheek on her fist with her elbow on the table.
"So what about you, what is your family known for…?"
"My family…? Oh I'm a commoner. My Dad is a teacher at a school in the town over. My aunt insisted on sending me here and paying for the costs." she frowned lightly as the idea of how much this all costs resurfaces in her mind. How am I going to pay her back for this? There has to be some kind of way! She ponders on about the subject when Anko's voice pulls Keiko out of her thoughts.
"Hello, Earth to Kai-kun!" she waved her hand in Keiko's face.
"Eh? Sorry," she smiled apologetically. "I'm glad I'm not the only new kid though."
"So you're new here too?" Anko looked up with a slight glimmer of hope in her eyes which is reassured by Keiko's nod.
"So do you by any chance know anything about a 'Host Club'?" she asked, using air quotes. They did say it was popular amongst the girls, right? But then again she is new also…maybe news spreads fast here.
"Host club? Well, some girl was talking about them a little while ago, but I don't really know. I didn't stay to listen."
"Ah that stinks…would you like to join me in my quest for this club?" she looked to Anko with a slightly pleading look. If I'm going to get lost in this kingdom of a school, might as well be with someone I can actually get along with right? And as they say, two heads are way better than one. "This place is huge and I am looking for this club because some people I know that go here are a part of said club. I want o surprise them-if they can tell I am me that is," she said, toying with her ear cuff on her left ear cartilage. "I vaguely remember them saying it is in some music room…I think the third," she thought for a bit, furrowing her brows a bit as she concentrates on one of the chandeliers hanging nearby. Why can't I remember the darn room they spoke about! I could go ask them now…. She looked over at the handsome twins pestering the undercover girl and snickers at the sight, knowing just how the poor victim feels. She has been on the receiving too many times to just simply forget. But she also has been on the pranking end as well and knows the adrenaline rush of it. At least I know they aren't rusty.
"Sure, why not?" Anko shrugged lightly. "That sounds oddly familiar…" Anko put on a quizzical look and started to think hard. "Where is it?"
Just then, a girl sneaks up behind them and shouts, "The Host Club?! I can tell you where they are!"
"Uh… Okay," Anko said and waits after looking at Keiko in confusion. Keiko shrugged; clueless herself, as to how or where this overzealous sugar high teen came from.
"You just have to go to Music Room 3!" Renge announced and then disappeared as soon as she had come.
"Thanks," Keiko and Anko said to the thin air Renge left behind.
"That was awkward…." Keiko said after a few moments of silence. "But at least we know where the club is." She shrugged. "And it seems like lunch is ending soon so I guess we should head back to class?"
"Uh…yeah…." Anko rose from her seat, pushing the strange event to the back of her mind. "This school just seems to have more and more surprises from cross-dressers like you, rebels like me, and ninjas like her."
"Heh, maybe she is from a ninja family?" Keiko suggested, shrugging nonchalantly as they leave the room. Not really looking where she is going, she bumped into some girls. "Sorry, wasn't looking where I was going."
"O-oh, no it's all right!" the girl said, her face turning a tinge of rouge.
"You okay…?" Keiko looked at the girl, concerned. "You look kind of flushed."
"Oh, n-no I'm fine."
"O-okay…" she stepped aside to let the girl pass and she runs to her friends giggling. "That was weird…." She looked to Anko for an explanation. She shrugged in reply so Keiko just left it as is, another yet to be explained event. Lunch wrapped itself up and the two walked back to the classroom together to finish up today's classes. Keiko sat and wondered what kind of chaos would ensue when they stepped through the doors of Music Room 3. Would there be music? An onsen…? She looked over to see if Anko was paying attention, because she wasn't. She had too much on her mind to think about the Japanese history lesson. The final class ended and this time she waited for Anko at the door.
"Are you ready?" Keiko asked her.
"Sure," Anko replied, grinning, "This is gonna be interesting since we have no clue where music room 3 is."
Keiko made a face that said she hadn't thought of it as a group of giggling girls went by talking about the Host Club and how they wanted to get there first so that they could have Tamaki-senpai first or Mori-senpai and how cute Hunny-senpai is.
"There's a lead." Keiko and Anko shrugged and followed them up the stairs, down the hall, and together they opened the doors to a bright light with a gentle whirlwind of rose petals, that when it cleared would become the Ouran High School Host Club.