Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran High School Host Club.

TamakixHaruhi pairing. My second fanfic; first for Ouran, and it's an AU. If you like AU, then read on! Warning: mature characters. Don't forget to leave your mark. Review please! XD

Just Pretend

Chapter 1: Welcome, Mademoiselle!

A black jaguar rolled down the curb, pulled to a stop, and parked. The driver's window rolled down, and a dark-haired woman looked up to read the pink neon light on the wall of a non-descript building. The sign's brightness, a stark contrast to the night, is a sore to the eyes of the prudes. But the woman is no prude, and she has found the place she's looking for.

The place is not popular, in the usual sense. In fact, it does not have hordes of people scrambling in line to get pass the red line, the burly bouncer, and the black metallic door, because there is no need for such trivia. Truth be told the place does not even have a guest list; entrance is solely by invitation.

The maitre d' knows everyone who comes to patronize the place; knows them not only by name, face, or status, but also sources wealth, nature of power, and intricate details of personality and perversions among others. The boss is very strict with his clientele.

In this secluded part of the city, only the rich came to party.

She had received the invitation by courier mail a month ago. It had arrived in a gold envelop. She had disregarded the letter as a petty waste of time; had not even opened it until earlier this evening, when she sat alone opposite an empty chair and a candlelit dinner. She had waited two hours. He called to say he's not coming, and so she stood up, blew the candles, and left the cold food untouched.

She stands now in front of the grand door, the gold envelop in hand. From it she took out a gold key, her invitation into the Ouran Host Club.

With the door unlocked, she turned the handle and was met with loud blaring noise of nightclub music and people shouting on top of their lungs to be heard by another. She had not expected the scene of sweaty, scantily-clad bodies dancing, gyrating very close to one another; men and women caught within the frenzied atmosphere of disco music, free liquor, and hazy smoke. She was disgusted. She expected something -- classy.

What were you thinking, she berated her self. "Filthy club," she said, disgusted.

Standing like a statue on that vibrating room, she was bound to be bumped by someone, and pushed onto the dance floor, if she doesn't move her ass out of there. And so she turned to leave.

"Leaving so soon, my pretty?," an outrageously cheery male voice asked from behind. He grabbed her elbow and swung her toward a recluse area and caught her face to face.

xoxoxoxoxo

She stared up into happy blue eyes.

The man, she noticed was tall and blonde, has a big radiant smile on his face. An idiot, she thought.

"Get your hands off me," she commanded, and pulled her elbow away from the strange man.

"Forgive me mademoiselle. I do not mean to upset you," he returned to pacify her. "I have not introduced my self. I am Tamaki, at your service," he said, and in a very princely manner gave her a deep bow.

"Do not expect me to give you my name," she said curtly.

"Oh, no I do not, Mademoiselle Haruhi," he said clearly to tease her.

She opened her mouth to admonish his insolence, but was beaten to it by another man's interjection.

"Is that a way to treat a first-time guest?," said the tall dark-haired man with glasses to the now brooding blonde man. He turned his attention to her and said, "Please excuse Tamaki-senpai's audacity, Fujioka-san. My name is Ootori Kyoya, maitre d', at your service.

Let me show you around. I hope this loud music has not disappointed you so much, Fujioka-san. There are other rooms in Ouran that I think you will find more to your liking," Kyouya said, while offering his hand to her.

Hesitating just for a second, Haruhi took Kyouya's arm and allowed him to lead her away from the noise into a sound-proof door and up a grand staircase to the second floor leaving the comically outraged Tamaki behind.

The entire floor was impeccably designed, and was quiet and bright that she felt like she warped into another world.

"Why do you know my name?," she finally asked.

He turned his head, adjusted his glasses, to look at her, and said, "In Ouran, Fujioka-san, we know much more than names. You have received the golden key, no?"

She nodded.

"Elite clientele come here to have fun as what is written in your invitation letter. You can avail of the same. Downstairs you can party like a wild animal."

She frowned at the suggestion. He took notice.

"Up here, it is calmer. Wealthy and prominent people, such as your self, come here to dine first class, relax in the spa, and luxuriate in many other things. Client satisfaction and privacy are of topmost priority here in Ouran," he explained with a cordial smile.

She relaxed, and gave him a little smile.

"There's another entrance, by the way, if you do not want to go through the chaos downstairs," he pointed to a door down the long hallway.

She looked to where he pointed, and was amazed at the size of the place, including the numerous doors that may just lead to other dimensions she's only beginning to imagine.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Thanks for reading! Help me improve by telling me what you think. Okey? XD