Hi there! Thank you for clicking my story from the list! This is my first fic so I hope that you won't go hard on me!

I intend this to be a Hikaru-Kaoru story (it also contains a bit of Kyouya) but as of now it cannot be seen as this is only an introduction.

Here's what it's about: The Host Club is asked by the Theater Club to participate in a play that they are going to present. Tamaki, for the love of making girls happy agrees. For Kyouya, this is not a good thing. Will they accept or reject?

I don't own Ouran High School Host Club. Bisco Hatori is the one who owns it. I only own my OC's. :D

Please Review! :D

The Grandfather clock in the Third Music Room read four twenty-seven. Club activities are now finished and the host club members sat at the long, white-mantled table. Tamaki was at the head of the table, with Kyouya at his right and Honey at his left. Of course, Mori sat beside Honey. The twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, sat beside Kyoya and Haruhi sat opposite to them.

It was unusual for them to have this kind of meeting—sitting formally around the table to discuss matters. It was also the first time that their guests asked to speak with them after the activities. For the first time, four girls sat at the other end of the table.

"A play?" the host club members inquired in unison.

"Hai," nodded the spectacled girl whose dark-brown hair was tied in a tight ponytail.

Of all the members of the host club, it was always Kyouya who scrutinize their visitors. Well, he scrutinizes everyone. And now, because it was the first that a club was trying to tie up with theirs, he was in deep concentration on weighing their guests' statements.

"We're doing this for the semester's presentation of our club," she continued. Akira Miyazaki is from Class 2-A—the smartest next to Kyoya, Tamaki and Ayame Jonouchi—and even though she is still a junior, she is now the president of the Theater Club. She is intelligent and very talented too—it was possible that she can exceed Jonouchi, or even Tamaki, if she hadn't been balancing her time on the arduous task of managing her club with her studies. She is very responsible and diligent indeed. Her only flaw was her trait of being a perfectionist, a trait that resulted to her being ill-tempered sometimes. But for Kyouya, it can be overshadowed by her being eldest daughter of a movie producer and a famous businesswoman.

"And we thought that the host club members will be perfect for the lead roles," another girl said. Namiko Taniguchi from class 2-A, Kyouya identified. She is the Theater Club Vice President and serves as the club's top playwright. She is one of the most popular girls in school, as she possessed an immaculate beauty together with her infamous writing capability. In fact, she often writes in the school's official newsletter (not the one which publishes obviously crafted gossips). Well, that was expected of a daughter of a famous author. With wavy light brown hair that she always neatly ties in a low ponytail with a ribbon, an amiable face and her mellow voice, it is usual that she can attract attention. Only, sometimes she becomes a little bit weird and out of the world, maybe because she is lost thinking about something to write.

"Hmmm…and what benefit can we get from this?" All heads turned to Kyouya. He was expected to ask that. The "egoist" side again? Haruhi thought.

Miyazaki flashed the prettiest smile that she can do and started her answer, "Well if you're asking for the benefits that you will get, publicity is one. I know that the Host Club is already famous throughout the school, but surely girls will be delighted to see their idols act on stage, right?"

To this, her companions nodded with affirmation.

"Yes, yes. And people who are not students or teachers in this school can also watch, so the expected audience will be large. For sure, your fame will spread not only within the bounds of this school that cherishes lineage over wealth and material possessions, but also to those who have the intense and passionate love for literature and performing arts!" Taniguchi exclaimed.

"Mm," answered another girl. Sakurako Murakami, a student class 2-B, Kyouya identified her like some database. She was the prettiest of them and probably the one of the most beautiful in the school. Her red-orangeish hair, usually in a side-braid and the beauty mark near her eye that emphasizes her perfect facial features are her trademark. Her fair height and slender built probably made her more attractive in the eyes of men. Very lady-like, kind, sweet and shy—it might be true that she had a history of having a heap of red roses and chocolates with letters and notes of adoration and asking her out, found on her desk one Valentine's Day morning. But she doesn't have a boyfriend, as no one directly confesses to her, and unfortunately innocently dumps a guy without knowing it—much like Haruhi, without being smart. She came from the States, but even though it was her second year in the Theater Club, she was proclaimed to be one of their best performers. She is also an occasional customer of the host club. Occasional, because she only goes there whenever she does not have a rehearsal and has time to spend with the Host Club King. "Just to imagine the hosts acting in a dramatic tragedy, and to see Tamaki-sama playing the role of the protagonist, and to hear you sing, it would bring tears of sadness and happiness!"

The hosts only stared at her teary-eyed speech, maybe thinking whether she is really an actress or if she is really just another fan. All of them stared without speaking, except for Tamaki who reacted immediately.

"Oooh really, Princess Sakurako!" he said enthusiastically and he walked over to where the girl sat, knelt in front of her and held her hands, "Will you be happy if I perform?"

"Yes, Tamaki-sama! Of course, I would be so happy—so happy I would not be able to contain my tears," she said, still eyes still watery and now blushing due to the words of her Tamaki-sama, "And, it would be lovelier if you perform alongside the other members. That will make all the girls happy." Then she smile her infamous sweet smile.

Tamaki gasped in happiness. The girl's trademark smile while shedding tears really moved him. He then stood up and changed to the "I've made a decision" mode.

"Well, it's been decided. The host club members will—"

"Wait a minute, Tamaki," interrupted his best friend, "We still haven't agreed to it. Keep in mind that we still need to consider what factors." You baka…you are easily swayed by your emotions.

"W-What? But Kyouya…isn't it our job to make these lovely girls happy?"

"Yes, it is," he answered promptly, "...but we need to ask the opinion of the others."

With this he, and the girls, looked at the other members.

"Honey-senpai," he began to ask them, "Do you agree to participate in the play?"

"Mmmm, Kyo-chan, actually…I don't know. I've never been in a play like this before…the last one I remembered was a play in elementary where I played a bunny…Oh, do you think I look cute in the bunny costume, Takashi?"

"Mm," Mori nodded in approval.

"So, I assume it is the same for you, Mori-senpai?" Kyouya inquired.

"Aa."

"Okay," Kyouya said, "How about you, Hikaru and Kaoru."

"We don't know too. We don't have any experience too," they answered in unison while shrugging their shoulders.

Tamaki frowned at this. For him, it was a way of saying "no" to these pretty girls. And for him rejection is a thing that makes a girl sad.

And now, his hope was like a candle set near a window on a windy night. They know Haruhi had a bad experience with the last theatrical play she joined—or was forced to join. And everyone knows that has been a traumatic one for her. The memory of three ladies spinning like ballerinas was still fresh…and haunting.

"Ah, I see," Kyouya nodded, forcing himself not to smile at his victory, "What's your opinion, Haruhi?"

"Huh? Me?"

It seemed like Haruhi was thinking deep. Tamaki thought if it could be that she was thinking of what happened with the Zuka Club. Tamaki's heart pounded as he stared at his only hope. If Haruhi will agree, then there is hope that the discussion might be extended more. Suspense filled the air as everyone waited for her answer. Doki…doki…doki…

Haruhi too did not know what to answer. The incident with the Zuka Club was still on her mind. Yet she did not want to hurt the feelings of their guests. She weighed her answers in her mind. And she avoided Tamaki's eye, knowing that he, too, was hoping she would say 'yes'. She felt the pressure as everyone looked at her, particularly the girls who watched her intently.

Doki…doki…doki…

Then she took it out, "Ano, I'm really not such a good performer. Actually I don't know how to sing…"

The boys except for Tamaki and Kyouya sighed of relief, as the pressure went down when she stated her answer. Tamaki bowed his head in defeat and disappointment.

"…but I guess I can try," she continued. Tamaki and the girls' face lit up with hope. "And I don't think you guys can't perform. I think you're all talented."

Kyouya frowned at the answer. He was about to comment but Miyazaki stood up from the other end of the table.

"Yes, you're right, Fujioka-kun! That is another reason why we chose you! I personally think that you are not just handsome and charming, but very talented as well."

Her Vice President came to her aid. She, too, stood up.

"Yes! We will certify you that we will sharpen your talents given by the One above! And don't fret, Haruhi-kun, we will help you construct yourself into a fine, talented performer. We, as theater club members, believe that everyone is has a concealed gift and that there is no hindrance to the development of it!

"And we don't think that the race of Adam is unequal to us women, not like the overly women-empowering ladies from our neighbor school St. Lobelia! It is our job to discover and cultivate talents! We must not discriminate between men and women. It does not matter if you are a man or a woman. Everyone whose gift he or she wants to unfold and present to everyone shall have the right to do so!

"Apparently, there is a saying that says 'Nobody is perfect.' But we lovers of the theater and performing arts believe that practice makes excellent!"

The hosts almost clapped Taniguchi's speech when…

"And that's the problem, Taniguchi-san," Kyouya immediately replied, "We will be needing constant practice to be able to perform well in your play. You see, we too as a club have activities to hold for our dear customers. If we will practice, the time we should be spending with them will be lessened. And aside from the regular activities, we have also planned special activities. And those needed funding. I am aware that you know of our special activities—I believe you have attended some of them, Murakami-san?"

With this, Sakurako gave a little nod as she looked down on her hands.

"I see," Miyazaki said, as if to understand. She sat down again on her seat. Now her smile has gone and her face was dead serious…just like Kyouya's.

"Don't worry, Ootori-san we have that in mind. We are aware that to ask you to perform also mean to practice. And so asking you to participate is also begging you to spare us your time too…

Kyouya smirked at her. Well, she seems to understand. Her mother was a businesswoman, so she must know the value of time equals the value of money.

"…and I am aware that you value time because you use it to fund your activities."

"Yes, that's what I said, Miyazaki-san."

"We are willing to pay you a part of the play's profit. I should have told you this earlier so it might have been clearer," she said looking straight at Kyouya's eyes.

Kyouya bowed his head so that the sunlight reflected on his glasses, preventing anyone to see his eyes. She hit it, the hosts thought. Now, Tamaki hopes are rising.

"Well, how much are we talking about?"

"Hmmm…a percentage?"

"How much?"

"Thirty percent," she replied

There was a pause.

"I think we misunderstand each other, Miyazaki-san," Kyouya said with a serious expression."

"What? But that's not a petty amount!" she raised her voice. "Do you have any idea how large the audience is? We will be performing at the school's largest theater! I'm sure that's more than enough to—"

"Ah, I am aware of your huge audience and also the profit that comes along with that," Kyouya cut in, "You know what, Miyazaki-san? It is not what you think I am talking about.

Liar, Haruhi thought. Also, Miyazaki was thinking of it too.

"I am talking about time and the opportunity cost of participating in your club," he continued, "Time is also preciously not only to the club but also for the members. We have other matters to do too. And some of them are personal too. If we are to participate in you play, we have to sacrifice our time for other things too. Like Haruhi, for example. He has to do study to maintain his scholarship. Aside from that, he is the one who does household chores, too.

And he even used me to get what he wants, Haruhi said in her mind.

"So…Miyazaki-san, will you adjust your offer to compensate for that? We would like to get a fair share, you know?

Miyazaki almost gritted her teeth in anger. Rage was welling up in her body. You bastard! But no. No, she should compose herself for the sake of their club.

"…Fifty."

"No, that's too much! Sixty-five!"

Kyouya giggled at this. What a cheap woman!

Suspense rose up in the air again. Now it was strengthened by the tension between the two. It was like watching a chess game with no sides better than the other, with pieces just moving and threatening each.

"No," Kyouya sternly answered. He was looking eye-to-eye with the woman. He does not like a game that's taking too long, so he brought out his weapon.

"If you are not to accept my proposition, I guess I do not agree to yours too. I'm sorry, Miyazaki-san, but as Vice President and Financial Manager of this club, I really think that the price we will be paying if we participate is too high. And I think it's too bothersome, too."

Checkmate. He knew that for this woman, it was such a high price. She would be forced to withdraw and leave them alone.

Miyazaki looked away in defeat. She cannot think if she should comply or leave.

"But," a tiny voice said. It was Murasaki, the sister of Sakurako. She is from class 1-B. Even at a young age, she is already considered a legend for her singing and is one of the club's new stars. She is just an average kid aside from that. She was not really like her sister at all—she being a lot smaller than her, she almost looked like a child. In fact, she looks like one. With her red-orangeish hair tied with ribbons into two side braids, she looks barely fifteen. Her cuteness and voice seem to be her only charm.

"...we're are doing this play for a cause." She looked at Kyouya in the eyes.

"Huh? What cause?" Tamaki asked.

"Eh? Is it like, for an orphanage of some sort?" Haruhi too asked.

Murasaki then lifted her stare from Kyouya and looked down at her hands on the table.

"Yes, you're right," she began, "We are doing this—and we are here to ask you to participate—because we thought that this would make this semester's play a more successful one. We were hoping that…that this semester we will earn more for the gain of a charity for women and children who have cancer."

Tears welled up her eyes, and so were Sakurako's and Namiko's. Miyazaki, however, kept her head bowed down but it was obvious that she was shaking from fighting her tears.

"We always have beneficiaries that we give part of the profit," a crying Sakurako said, "…that we earn from our plays." She took out her handkerchief and buried her face to it."

Namiko too took out her handkerchief and dabbed the tears that were falling on her cheeks.

"The gain we earn, after deducting all the costs, usually sufficed and is enough to bring joy to the children in the orphanages we helped, or light up the lives of the old people in nursing homes, or give hope to the needy we decided to give a helping hand," she said before she blew her nose.

"But now that we have decided to pick the particular charity, we realized that our past earnings are not enough. And so we came to this idea of asking your club to help us."

"We really wanted to help them. It was heartbreaking to see them suffer. Yet, we wanted to help them have another life. But if what we are asking is too bothersome for you, Ootori-senpai, we apologize. I think we need to be content with what we can do with what we have or we have to ask help from others. I'm really sorry. "

With this Murasaki stood up and bowed to them. But then, she broke out as she sat back in her place. She could not stop her tears anymore that she buried her face in her hands. Miyazaki too was silently crying. Tears were trickling down her cheeks.

This was a very moving scene. Tamaki was now in tears too, as he was really sensitive. Hikaru and Kaoru were now holding their hands. Honey was now watery-eyed and Mori reprimanded him not to cry while he brushed Honey's tears before he stared back at the little girl. Haruhi also stared at her. Her gaze was nailed on the sobbing little figure in front of her. Suddenly, a little tear fell from her left eye.

It was Kyouya who was not moved by the scene.

Then, suddenly, Sakurako paused at her sobbing. Tearily she said to her sister:

"Murasaki, stop crying. You should not cry, you know."

Her sister answered. "Why, oneesan? Was there not a reason to cry?"

"No, you should not cry. That will be bad for your eyes. You know crying is not good for you for it will strain your eyes."

"But I can't stop! it's just…it's just…just to think of them"

"Shh…there, there, Murasaki. I just don't want to see you cry."

Sakurako then pulled out a clean handkerchief and wiped her sister's tears.

"You know, Oneesan does not like to see you sad," she stated and held her sister's face in her hands.

"But, Oneesan!" Murasaki hugged her big sister and cried all her heart.

The other girls' cries grew louder, and so was Tamaki's. The boys too joined in the crying.

Kaoru said he could not take it and cried in Hikaru—who also started to cry—'s arms. Honey let his tears fall too, and Mori brushed them off. "You should not cry, Mitsukuni," he reminded again.

A loud "I can't take it, Takashi!" was all that Honey replied before he buried his face in Mori's hug.

The boys' wails mixed with the girls', making a noise that irritated Kyouya. The twin's cries are loud. And they even cried with Tamaki.

"Well," Miyazaki said as she stood up and wiped her tears, "I think we should…"

Before she was able to overcome her sobs and shaking and finished what she was going to say, Tamaki shot his "puppy-dog eyes" look to Kyouya.

Kyouya stared hard on him, as if to reply his best friend's pleas. NO! This drama must be part of their plans. They were actresses after all. But what is this Tamaki doing to him, looking at him like that?

"I think we should go, girls."

"No, wait."

Conscience overcame him, again with Tamaki's help. Miyazaki stopped on her steps. All of them suddenly looked at him.

"I think the hosts doing charity is not a bad thing. It may even project a good image of the club to others too."

This simple statement made everyone smile and cheer up. It was only Miyazaki who just stood there, as if in disbelief.

"And I think we will be fine with seventy percent."

Miyazaki's face lightened up. Everybody was beaming now, as if no "drama" happened just a few moments ago.

"Thank you, Ootori-san!" She said and bowed. "Thank you, Host Club members!"

The other Theater Club members stood and followed her example.

"We promise that you will not regret your decision," Namiko said.

"As for the share, you can have forty percent of what we will earn from the play," President Miyazaki said, smiling at Kyouya. It was a small smile, but it was all natural.

"You're welcome," Kyouya simply stated.

After that and after everyone left the room, Tamaki spoke to Kyouya.

"Ah, Kyouya, you are really kind-hearted, mon ami!"

"Hmph. It was your entire fault."

"Ne, Kyouya. Don't talk like that. Admit it, you were also moved by all of us crying."

"Tsk. NO. I am not easily moved by crying girls and also by you. If you ask me, you look ridiculous for crying like that! You should really learn not to be easily controlled by your emotions, Tamaki."

"Hehe. But I think it's worth it all."

"After all, we made the lady smile," the Host Club King said as he left Kyouya.

We made her smile…did we, really?

Kyouya smiled to himself as he left the room.

A/N There! *Whew!*Thanks for reading! I'm hoping that I will follow this up with another chapter.

Please don't forget to review! Thank youuuuu! XD

~kairinjin