Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High school Host Club. If I did, I would be a character and I would marry Kyouya.
Plot Summary: Katherine Yuri Inoue is your typical, average, half-Japanese, half-Spanish fifteen year old living in America. Except… She is secretly a Junior CIA agent, in training to become a full-fledged CIA agent. When she disobeys an order from her superior in order to save some people's lives from impending danger, she is sent to Japan on an individual assignment as a "punishment". Her mission: to find the Japanese ambassador's long lost niece. In Japan, she goes undercover as an Ouran Academy High school student. Kathy, who now goes by her Japanese middle name, Yuri, plans to find the ambassador's niece and return to America as soon as possible. However, she did not plan on finding herself with a group of new (and weird) friends, a club she has never heard of, a debt to pay, and… Love? Also, this secret agent not only has her identity and intentions to keep secret but a past as well that she doesn't want anybody to find out. Who is she really? And is only reason she doesn't want to stay in Japan because she was forced to? Or something else? And perhaps her newfound friends and a certain someone can change her mind…
_ _ _
Chapter 1- Meet CIA Junior Agent Katherine Inoue
Meet Katherine Inoue, a junior CIA agent who gets sent to Japan on a special mission. In her first couple of days in Japan, she displays resentfullness and keeps a secret past. On her first day at Ouran Academy, she meets the infamous Host Club.
CIA Headquarters: Junior Division
Washington, D.C.
U.S.A.
"This is your third violation for the last five months Kathy." Commander Sky Johnson paced the large room, his hands behind his back, refusing to look at the fifteen year old girl, standing in the middle of his office. Five other teenagers are behind her, shooting their teammate worried glances. "I specifically told you to wait until the rescue team arrives before doing any action. You almost got killed!"
"But sir," Kathy protested. "If I waited, those people could have been seriously injured or worse. That building was about to collapse!"
"The Fire Department was already on it," Commander Johnson answered, facing her now. "Remember, you are not a full agent yet. You still have a lot to learn. And one of these to listen and obey orders. How do you expect yourself to be instated as an official agent years from now if you cannot even follow simple orders?" He placed his attention to the other five. "And the rest of you, you didn't even stop her? Not only that but you followed her!"
"We did try to stop her sir," their team leader, Jake Stewart, said. "We only went after her to get her back but she was already inside so we had to follow."
"It's true sir. And while we were there, might as well help. Right?" Dylan Andres added.
Commander Johnson sighed and massaged his temple.
The teenage girl hung her head, guilty for worrying her commander who has been like a father to her while she is in training. But she does not regret what she did. She and her teammates/best friends were just passing by when they saw a commotion happening at a nearby building. Though junior CIA agents are not responsible for incidents involving the public, they still have to report them. While her friends called the main headquarters, she was itching to get into action. Kathy's first impulse when she heard the screams for help was to run inside the burning building and get the trapped citizens out. The rest of her team did try to stop her. But she knew that they couldn't resist helping out either. So, as a result, all of them are in trouble, especially her.
"You know that you have to pay a penalty for this."
"Yes, sir," they answered. Looks like another week of cleaning the training grounds.
Commander Johnson went to sit behind his desk and took out some penalty papers from a drawer. Then he paged the Vice Commander, Sydney Martins, to come to the office. They waited for a few minutes in silence, the only noise coming from the pen on paper, until her arrival. She greeted the team in her usual smiling manner in contrast to the commander's usual serious face. Everyone loves her.
"Good afternoon," she said. "So? What's the agenda Commander?"
"Team 1 violated an order."
"Again? Come on Sky. Give these kids a break."
Only V.C. Martins can get away with calling the commander by his first name. After all, they both started out as Junior agents at the same time, were on the same team, and moved their way up to their current positions together. Rumors say that they are secretly a couple.
"No," was the commander's reply.
V.C. Martins sighed and leaned down to whisper something, an alternative suggestion they hope, in the Commander's ear. He seems to consider it. Finally, he nodded and faced the team.
"You kids better thank Miss Martins for this," he said, returning the penalty papers back inside the drawer. He opened a different drawer and took out… Assignment papers? He handed them to V.C. Martins who in turn handed them the papers.
"Instead of the usual penalty, you will be given an assignment," V.C. Martins told them. "This assignment is mostly research and investigation." She handed another piece of paper to Kathy. "Miss Inoue, you will meanwhile be given an extra assignment."
"You will be sent to Japan," Commander Johnson said. "On an individual assignment."
Kathy's eyes went wide. "WHAT?! WHY JUST ME?!"
"Getting your whole team into trouble is one reason."
"But sir-"
"I'm sorry Miss Inoue but that is that. Please don't tell me you're going to disobey this command as well. I could put you on probation while the rest of your team does their assignment. You will be held back a year and you have already gone so far. Do you really want to put all your hard work to waste?"
"Well, no, but-."
"It's either this or probation Miss Inoue."
Kathy fell silent. She didn't want to go through probation. She's worked hard for this! And she can't imagine what her mom would way if she finds Kathy on her door step back in New York.
"All right," V.C. Martins continued. "This is the background. The Japanese ambassador, Ambassador Hirohito Watanabe sent us a request, actually more like a plea, a couple of weeks ago. His father, former Japanese ambassador Daichi Watanabe has been terminally ill for some time now. He is afraid that he might die soon and his dying wish is to see his only daughter's child. However, about sixteen years ago, she was disowned and she cut off all ties to the Watanabe family."
"Why's that?" Camille Fitzpatrick asked.
"Because she decided not to pursue politics like her father wanted her to. So, she changed her name, moved away, and married someone beneath her. The Watanabes have not seen her since. The last they heard is that she had died in an accident, leaving her husband and a daughter behind. They tried to find her husband and daughter but they couldn't. Mr. Watanabe hoped that fate would somehow let them meet but it did not happen. So now, he wants to find his granddaughter before he dies and make amends with her and her father, to make up for what he did to his daughter."
"Why can't the Japanese government do it?" David Reese inquired.
"Yeah. It's their ambassador," Mandy Rodriguez added.
"They tried. But unfortunately, they can't seem to locate her. Also, a rival of the Watanabe family is also looking for her, hoping to use her to make the ambassador give up his position so there are possible spies inside the Japanese government. Besides, the Japanese Secret Service does not have junior agents like we do. They cannot go undercover in schools to find the niece."
She turned to Kathy who had remained silent throughout the story. "This is why we decided to choose you for this assignment. You're Japanese."
"Half-Japanese," Kathy corrected. "And I'm not the only agent with Japanese blood here. There's Cherry from Team 3-."
"Miss Yanizuka cannot speak a word of Japanese since she was born and raised here and has never set foot in Asia," Commander Johnson informed her.
"Okay, but there's Yukito from Team 5-."
"He can speak a few words of Japanese but he is not fluent like you. Not very useful for this mission if you ask me."
"How about Ari from Team 6? She was born in Japan."
"Miss Toda is currently in Hawaii on an assignment with the rest of Team 6. Team 12 with Mister Nakamura is in England, Team 13 with Miss Itami is in Kenya, and Miss Shimizu sprained her leg on Team 16's last assignment and needs to rest."
The young girl sighed in defeat. "Am I really the only one left?"
The commander looked at her. "Yes. In fact, I believe that this assignment has been reserved especially for you. Besides, this could help better American's relationship with Japan."
Kathy breathed deeply to calm herself. Kami! Doushite!? she thought in Japanese. "Fine, I'll take it. What do I have to do?"
He smirked at her. "You will go undercover as a first year high school student in the school we suspect the niece studies in. You will find out who she is and when you do, contact us. We will put her through a DNA test first to be sure and when she is proven to be the ambassador's niece, she and her father will be introduced to the Watanabe family and you can come back home."
She nodded, solemnly. "What's her name?"
"That's the problem," V.C. Martins said. "We don't know. She is either your age or a year older. We just know from a certain source that she goes to this school."
"But how do you know that the source is reliable?"
"It came from the Japanese Secret Service. It is all their investigators were able to find. This case began two years ago and they were able to trace her last year actually. But before they can make sure, she already graduated and transferred to another school. The investigators assumed that she went to the same public high school that majority of her peers went to. But that wasn't the case. She now goes to a private high school but the problem is, there are a number of other girls who have the same background info and we don't know which of them is the real ambassador's niece. What you have to do is to observe these girls while the rest of your team investigates and researches the rest of the information. We will constantly keep in touch to let each other know of our progress."
Kathy nodded. "Okay. I can do that."
The Commander stood up. "Good. You can start packing your belongings. You will be leaving in three days. We already informed the Japanese Secret Service and they've arranged for you to stay with your cousin in Tokyo. She and her husband have been informed of your assignment and are willing to help. You will also go by your Japanese name so that your private files will not be easily accessible so no one will know you are from the CIA."
"Right."
He smiled at her in a fatherly manner. "Don't think of this as punishment Miss Inoue. Think of it as an opportunity."
She chuckled softly and smiled. "Alright."
_ _ _
Ouran Academy
Bunkyo, Tokyo
Japan
"Okaa-san!"
Kyouya Ootori sighed as he looked up from his computer at Tamaki Suoh. "Yes, Otou-san?"
The blonde haired, violet eyed, sixteen-year old stared at him gleefully like a child on Christmas morning. "Did you order them? Did you? Did you? Did you?"
"Yes Tamaki. They will be here Monday."
"Yey!"
Tamaki started jumping up and down. Mitsukuni Haninozuka looked up from his cake, bobbing his head up and down on time to the Prince's jumping. Takashi Morinozuka looked on blankly. Haruhi Fujioka and Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin tore their gaze away from their group project to look at their "Prince."
"Ordered what Kyouya-senpai?" the girl pretending to be a boy asked.
Their Shadow King sighed again. "Tamaki decided that the Club room needs a little… Make-over."
Question marks appeared on top of each of the hosts' heads. Tamaki stopped jumping and looked at Kyouya as if he betrayed him.
"Kyouya! It was supposed to be a surprise. How could you?"
Then he went to his corner of woe.
"It would have been a surprise if only you have not asked too loudly and jumped up and down like a maniac. You attracted too much attention, baka."
Tamaki sunk deeper into the corner.
"What surprise?" the twins asked, smirking evilly.
"Is it more cake? Or maybe cupcakes? I like cupcakes!" Hunny said, hopefully. "We don't have them at the club that much right Takashi?"
"Mm…"
"No Hunny-senpai. But if you want, I can look into the cupcakes and see what I can do," Kyouya answered, typing a memo on his laptop and calculating how much the cupcakes might take away from the club's treasury and what he can do to make up for the lost profits. "Tamaki wants a new addition to the club room."
"What is it?" Haruhi asked, curious now.
He looked up from the laptop. "Fish."
_ _ _
Chapter 2- From Kathy to Yuri
The airport is strangely full of bustling people, despite it being the middle of February, the midst of winter. The porter placed the small black traveling suitcase on top of two other small suitcases on the baggage cart. A teenage girl with brown-black, pink streaked hair that falls just below her shoulders thanked him. She swung her guitar case over her shoulder and pushed the cart towards the exit. Reaching the outside, her chocolate brown eyes scanned the area for a familiar face.
"Kathy-chan!"
Her head jerked towards the voice. A woman in her mid-twenties is waving her arms enthusiastically, the man beside her holding a placard with her name written in kanji. Kathy smiled and shook her head as she approached them. As soon as she neared the couple, the woman lunged herself at the teenage girl and enveloped her in a bear-tight hug.
"Oh my gosh Kathy! I missed you soooo much!"
"Um…. I missed you too Kaori-chan," she replied, gently trying to pull away from her cousin but to no avail. "Please. Let go. You're kinda choking me."
"Oh." Kaori pulled away a little, a tiny blush on her cheeks. "Gomenasai Kathy-chan. It's just that I haven't seen you for so long."
Kathy chuckled and turned to the man. "Ryou-kun, it's good to see you. Have you been taking care of my cousin?"
He laughed and hugged her. "Hai. It's good to see you as well."
"Well." Kaori clapped her hands. "Let's go. You will love the house Kathy-chan. And since we don't have kids yet, you can have your own room. If you need to have it redecorated let me know. I will gladly go shopping with you."
And she went on and on about how Kathy can feel at home, consistently suggesting shopping. This went on until they reached the car and even then, Kaori talked. Kathy simply listened. Knowing that her cousin and her husband are desperate for children but are still childless, she's going let them treat her like their own child while she's here. Practice for them, of course.
"How was you flight?" Ryou asked her when his wife stopped talking to catch her breath. "I hope it wasn't bumpy or anything."
Kathy shrugged. "It was okay. Except for the screaming babies." She shuddered at the memory. "But other than that, it was fine. Oh yeah, thanks for letting me stay with you guys while I'm here."
"It's nothing Kathy," Kaori said, turning from the front seat to look at her in the back seat. "You're always welcome to stay with us. Even though I'm retired now, I still don't mind getting involved."
Kaori and Ryou are part of the Japanese Secret Service. Well, Ryou is at present. When they got married two years ago, Kaori decided to retire and dedicate herself to family and teaching at a public middle school. Kaori is one of Kathy's inspirations for joining the junior CIA when she was found at the convenience store when she was ten years old. Even as a child, Kathy was very feisty. The convenience store she was in with her mother was about to be robbed by three men and they were going to take her as hostage but what they didn't know, is that Kathy has experience in Kung Fu. Commander Johnson was at that same store that time and approached Kathy's mother, explained that he saw Kathy's potential, maybe she's willing to serve her country… yada, yada, yada… and before she knew it, she left New York for Washington D.C. to begin her training as a future CIA agent. Kathy wanted to be like her cousin Kaori who is like an older sister to her.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Kathy-chan, I'm not going to be around while you're here," Ryou said.
She snapped her head away from the window to look at him. "Why not?"
"Ryou was given a mission only a few days ago. He has to go to Greece on Sunday," Kaori explained. "So you and I will be home alone for a while. I hope that's alright with you."
"Sure. It's fine, though I wish you could stay, Ryou-kun. But I know what it feels like to have to do something you don't want to do but since it's for the country..." She sighed. "By the way, you guys can just call me Yuri now. I have to get used to being called that while I'm here."
"Is that so?" Ryou said. "Then Yuri it is."
Kathy… Rather, Yuri smiled fakely and looked out the window. The last time she was here was for Kaori and Ryou's wedding. It still looks the same. But for now, she's no longer Katherine Inoue.
_ _ _
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
Kaori entered the room to see her young cousin sitting on the window seat. "Kath- I mean, Yuri-chan, is the room to your liking? We can go shopping tomorrow for some additional accessories that you might want. "
"Oh, it's fine. I love the room, especially this window seat. I don't really want to add anything," Yuri answered. But seeing the slightly disappointed look on her Kaori's previously eager face made her quickly revert. "But maybe a few things to make it feel a little more homey won't hurt."
The twenty-five year old woman lightened up and said, "Great! We'll go shopping tomorrow then."
Yuri smiled softly and returned her gaze outside. Noticing this, Kaori approached her and sat on the window seat next to her. She looked at her younger cousin. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Yuri…" Kaori gave her a look that says "You're-not-keeping-anything-from-me."
The younger girl sighed. "You know that despite the fact that I love my Japanese heritage and you guys and Grandmother and all. But I really don't want to be here."
Kaori sighed, realizing what is on Yuri's mind. "You know you can't run away forever."
She shrugged. "I can try."
Silence.
"Does he know? That you're here I mean," Kaori asked.
Yuri shook her head. "No. And I prefer it to remain that way while I'm here."
"You're going to have to face him somehow."
"That's what mom said when I called her before I left."
"And she's right. Yuri…"
"I know what you're trying to convince me to do Kaori. But I can't." She sighed. "Not now. Not yet. Besides, I didn't come to Japan for that. I came here on an assignment. And I'm doing it."
The older woman looked at her, sadly. "All right."
Just then, there's a knock on the door and both looked up to see Ryou poke his head inside the room. "I ordered dinner." He looked at his cousin-in-law. "Guess what we're having."
Yuri's eyes shined in happiness for the first time since she arrived. "Teriyaki? And soba?"
"You guessed it right."
"Awesome! Arigatou!"
After dinner that night, Yuri began to unpack her clothes. She is about to put her clothes in the closet when she noticed five similar cream-colored dresses already inside and a pair of black leather shoes. She took one of the dresses out of the closet and examined it. Just then, Kaori came in with fresh towels. She asked her older cousin about the dresses.
"Oh, those are your uniforms."
Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Uniforms?"
"Hai. To that school you're going to. Ouran Academy."
The teenage girl placed the dress back. "Sounds fancy."
"It is." Kaori placed the towels on top of her bed. "Ouran Academy is one of the most prestigious schools in all of Japan. Only the wealthiest and the ones from the most honorable families can enter Ouran unless you're on a scholarship and I've heard that it's hard to get those. Scholarships at Ouran are very rare."
"So, is that why I have to say that the government is sponsoring me?" Yuri asked, putting her clothes inside the closet. "I can't get into Ouran unless I have a lot of money, right? And as you can see, I don't."
"Exactly."
"Oh." She shrugged. "Ah well."
After Kaori said good-night and left, Yuri decided to continue unpacking tomorrow and retired to bed. Before falling asleep, she looked out the window. It's really dark out but at least there are stars. And she can see the moon from her bed. She sighed deeply, missing home but while she's doing this assignment, Kaori's home is her home.
I better find the ambassador's niece soon, she thought, snuggling under the covers. That way, I can be Kathy again.
With this thought in her head, Yuri Inoue closed her eyes and fell asleep.
_ _ _
Chapter 3- First Day
Monday
First Day at Ouran Academy
After last period, Yuri decided to check out the rest of the school since Kaori is running a few errands that afternoon and won't be back until 6 p.m. After Ryou had gone to his mission on Sunday, Yuri knows that Kaori is keeping herself distracted to keep from missing him too much.
Meanwhile, she had been introduced to Class 1-B that morning and had sat next to some very nice girls. That is, until they found out the government pays her tuition that they began to talk to her so pityingly she wished she could tell them she's not that poor. They said it must have been a shock for a "commoner" like her to set foot in a large building like Ouran. They didn't know that she has been to Buckingham Palace in Britain and has even met the Queen! Trust me; Buckingham Palace is waaay bigger than Ouran!
Sighing softly, Yuri decided to go check out the library. Maybe they have some awesome books she can take out to read. Or better yet, log into their computers and begin her search for the ambassador's niece. She heard that the computers have access to everything. She hopes that means access to some background files. But once she got there, all the computers are filled out with the rich kids doing nothing but nonsense on the computers which she knows are supposed to be used for school-related purposes only. But, whatever, rich people can do whatever they want.
Disappointed at another day of getting nowhere in her investigation, Yuri left the library but not before checking out a copy of Pride and Prejudice written in Kanji. She has to get used to reading Japanese letters everyday now.
Now what am I supposed to do? she thought, climbing up the large, red-carpeted staircase. I know investigating all by myself wouldn't be easy but I never thought it would be this boring! I'm not even sure where to start!
She ended up in a long hallway.
Why is everything marble here? And why white and gold? Do these rich people really see themselves as royalty? Seriously! And what is up with this uniform? Why can't they have the normal ones with the skirt and knee socks?
She walked down the hall, musing to herself. Just then, a door caught her attention.
Music Room number three? How many music rooms do they have here?
Tentatively, she approached the door. Hmmm… Might as well. I haven't played a piano in a while. And I have my music binder with me anyway. A little music might help ease my mind a bit.
With this comforting thought in mind, she opened the door.
_ _ _
Meanwhile…….
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Hunny-senpai, please refrain from tapping the glass."
The little boy, who is actually seventeen years old, looked up. He is standing on a chair in order to take a closer look at the different colored fishes, his finger inches away from the crystal clear aquarium
"I believe there is a theory that the tapping of the glass bothers the fish which could result in them dying," the Shadow King explained, looking up briefly from his laptop. When he saw the other boy purse his lips, looking frightened, he quickly added. "But, of course, the death part is simply a theory. It has never been proven."
"Oh. Okay. I didn't know that," Hunny said, relieved. He jumped down from the chair and picked up a pink stuffed bunny from the floor beside the chair. "Sorry Kyou-chan. Come on Usa-chan! We have cupcakes today!"
Then he walked off to join Mori on one of the tables and started eating the said cupcakes, talking non-stop at the same time. The taller boy put down the shojo manga he is reading to listen to his little cousin talk.
All the while, Haruhi glared at the three large aquariums that are now positioned on different areas of the club room. One is right next to the window, another is beside the pantry doors, and the last one, the one Hunny was tapping a while ago, is at the center of the room.
"Where did you say you bought these again?" she asked their Vice President.
"The Aquariums are imported from England and the fish are all from Hawaii."
Haruhi glared even more. "Why didn't you just buy them at the pet store? It's cheaper that way."
Suddenly, Tamaki is beside her. "Oh my dear, dear, dear, daughter and your commoner mind! We cannot give pleasure to our customers if we simply buy from a commoner pet store. They must be given the best of the best and the best fishes come from beautiful and exotic Hawaii!"
The girl sweatdropped. "Uh… How do you know that? Besides, I don't think they can tell the difference. A fish is a fish whether they came from Hawaii or not. Importing them is a big waste of money."
As expected, their Prince's face turned white and he huddled in his corner of woe… Again.
Haruhi raised an eyebrow then looked at Kyouya. "Seriously Senpai?"
"I am simply the Vice President Haruhi. I follow Tamaki's… Decisions. Although for once, I do agree with him. By simply mentioning that the fish came from Hawaii and the aquariums came from England will result in new conversations, therefore longer interactions, which means higher profits. Enough profits to pay for Hunny-senpai's cupcakes."
"Ugh! Whatever." She turned back to the Science group project-… Wait… Where's her group?
Looking around, she spotted Hikaru and Kaoru staring open-eyed and mystified at the fishes near the pantry door.
"Oi! Hikaru! Kaoru! We have a group project to finish!" she called.
"In a minute Haruhi," Kaoru said.
"Yeah, we've never seen these kind of fish before," Hikaru added.
"They're very strange."
"Indeed."
Sighing, Haruhi placed her hand in her hands. "Damn rich bastards," she mumbled. She is about to continue her diagram of the food chain when she heard creaking. She and rest of the hosts turned their attention to the door. They're not opening for another thirty minutes. Who could it be?
A girl with pink streaked black hair, a book bag and coat in one arm and a binder and a library book in the other entered, looking confusedly at the room then at the hosts.
_ _ _
Chapter 4- Meet the Host Club!
The music room is big. Really big. Wait. Is this even a music room? Where are the instruments. And… Who on Earth are these people?
Confused yet curious, Yuri stepped into the room. Then before she knew it, one of the guys, the blonde and violet-eyed one, had grabbed her by the waist and is dipping her to the floor. And where did that rose come from?
"Ahhh… Beautiful princess," he said, in a seductive voice. "What brings you to our humble abode so early? Can it be that you cannot wait to see us?"
"Huh?" she replied. Not wanting to be rude but not wanting his face too close to hers either, she gently pushed him away, disentangling herself from his hold. "Excuse me, but I thought this was a music room."
The blonde guy had stood frozen and white in front of her when she pushed him away.
What's his problem? she asked herself as the dark-haired guy with the glasses answered her question.
"I'm guessing that you're not familiar with the Host Club," he said, standing up from the table where he was sitting. "In fact, I don't think I've seen you around here before."
"Uh, no. Actually-"
"You're the new transfer student from 1-B, right?" two voices in sync asked.
She looked over to see two red-haired twins standing in front of an aquarium. For some reason, they remind her of Fred and George from Harry Potter.
"Oh right, I've heard of you," the only girl in the bunch asked. She has dark brown, cropped hair and brown eyes and is wearing the boy's uniform.
Why is she wearing the boy's uniform? She can't be a boy! It's so obvious that she's a girl, Yuri thought to herself.
"Yeah, it's my first day today actually, and I-."
Before she knew it, the twins had grabbed her and dragged her to a table with poster boards filled with diagrams. They picked up the poster boards and threw them aside. The girl dressed as a boy let out a yell and caught the diagrams before they hit the floor. Then, a little blonde boy and a really tall dark-haired guy popped out of nowhere. The little boy is jumping up and down excitedly. And he's wearing the high school uniform.
"Hi! I'm Mitsukuni Haninozuka, you can call me Hunny," the little boy said. He gestured to the tall guy. "And this is my cousin Takashi Morinozuka, you can call him Mori. And this-." He held out a stuffed bunny. "-is Usa-chan. Do you want some cake?"
"Uh… Hi," she replied, a little freaked out. "No to the cake but thanks anyway. Uh…I hope you don't mind me asking sweetie but why are you dressed in the high school uniform?"
His eyes brightened and he giggled. "She called me 'sweetie'! That's so kawaii right Takashi?"
The tall guy nodded. "Ah."
Hunny turned back to look at her, smiling cutely. "Actually, Takashi and I are third years. We're from 3-A."
Yuri's mouth fell open. "Huh?"
Damn it! Why do I keep saying "Huh." They'll think I'm an idiot. Way to go to make a first impression Kathy, I mean, Yuri.
Hunny giggled again. "I'm just small for my age, that's all."
With her mouth still open, the astounded girl just nodded. The twins on either side of her snickered then placed themselves in front of her holding out their hands for her to shake. She took them with both hands.
"I'm Hikaru Hitachiin!"
"And I'm Kaoru Hitachiin!"
Together, they said, "We are the Hitachiin twins!" Then they winked at her then looked closely at her fingers. "You're finger nails are purple?"
"Oh! Let me see!" Hunny grabbed one of her hands as the twins dropped them. He looked at her fingers, his mouth forming a perfect "O."
"Um… They're just nail polish."
Mori picked him up and took him away, saying, "It's not nice to stare at people's nails Mitsukuni whether they are purple or not."
One of the twins picked up bits of her hair and examined the pinks streaks. "Interesting," he said, his voice deeper than his twin's (A/N: It'Hikaru), placing a finger under his chin. The other twin looked on.
The girl on the floor shook her head and stood up. "Leave her alone you two." The twin dropped her hair and went back to his brother both of them smirking. Holding the posters with one hand while extending the other to her, the girl gave Yuri a warm smile. "I'm Haruhi Fujioka. It's nice to meet you."
Yuri took her hand and smiled back. "Nice to meet you too."
The dark-haired guy with the glasses walked over and gave a little bow. "I'm Kyouya Ootori, the Host Club's Vice President. And that-." He pointed to the blonde-haired guy who finally found the will to move and is now looking at her with mild interest. "Is our President, Tamaki Suoh."
Hmm… His name sounds familiar. Then, it clicked. She nodded. "The superintendent's son, right?" She stood up and bowed. "Honored to meet you Suoh-senpai."
He suddenly lightened up and yet again, Yuri found herself in his arms, dipped dangerously close to the ground.
"No need for formalities princess," he said, smiling at he. "Tamaki is just fine."
"Oh… Sure." She waited for him to let go. "Tamaki-senpai?"
"Yes my princess?"
"Can you please let go of me? This position is making me uncomfortable."
He gave a start. "Oh. Forgive me." He let go of her and she slowly stepped away from him, cautiously. The twins snickered at her reaction.
Haruhi muttered something that sounded like "Kami, spare the poor girl" before turning to Yuri again. "By the way, we don't know your name yet."
The other girl bowed. "Sorry. I'm Yuri Inoue."
One of the guys, Kyouya she believes, seems to suddenly perk up in interest. "Inoue you say?" he asked.
Yuri turned to him. "Yeah. The government sponsors me."
He quickly looked disappointed but hid it well by pretending to adjust his glasses. But she can read people easily. It's part of her training at the CIA to read other people's emotions in order to interrogate them or know if they are telling the truth or not. She saw disappointment in his eyes. I wonder what's wrong with him? she asked herself.
"What does that mean?" the twins asked.
"It means the government pays her tuition so she can go to school here," Haruhi answered, placing the posters back on the table. "I think the only difference is that she doesn't have to be number one like I have to be. Just as long as she's in the honors list."
"Oh, so you're a commoner too like Haru-chan?" Hunny asked.
"Uh… Yeah." Commoner? Why do they keep using that word in referring to the lower class? That's a bit rude.
"So… Uh… Host Club…" She began to look around the room again in curiousity. "What is the Host Club?"
She suddenly found herself back in the chair where the twins made her sit earlier and roses began to fall out of nowhere as the Host Club positioned themselves in front of her: Tamaki at the center, Kyouya on his right and Haruhi on his left, the twins behind her, and Mori behind Kyouya with Hunny on his shoulders.
"We in the Host Club," Tamaki explained in a dreamy voice. "Are a group of young men who have so much time in their hands and uses this time to entertain female clients, who also have so much time on their hands using our grace, charm, and beauty. We have… Hunny-senpai of class 3-A, the boy-lolita type."
Hunny giggled cutely and waved, the stuffed bunny in his arms.
"Mori-Senpai, also class 3-A, the wild type."
Mori nodded.
"Kaoru and Hikaru from class 1-A, the little devils type."
The red-haired twins smirked mischievoulsy and winked at her.
"Kyouya from class 2-A, the cool type."
Kyouya bowed then pushed his glasses higher up his nose.
"I, Tamaki also from class 2-A, the Princely type."
He produced a rose out of nowhere and threw it at her (the rose hit her in the head and bounced onto the floor.)
"Last and definitely not the least, Haruhi Fujioka also from class 1-A, the normal type."
Haruhi simply waved, making no attempt to look cool.
Tamaki looked expectantly at Yuri. "So Inoue-chan, which of us do you prefer? We don't start until three o'clock but we can make an exception for new customers."
She raised her eyebrows in a startled look and her New York upbringing took over. "Say what?"
All seven looked at her in surprise and interest. She quickly added, "I mean, I'm not interested. I just got her by accident."
They remained at their posts, though Haruhi looked ready to run away.
"No preference, none at all?" Tamaki asked, then broke away to place his face close to hers again. "Would you like to try me?"
Yuri can't help but make a face. "No, thanks. I'm good." She got up from the chair and picked up her school things and her coat from the floor. "It was nice meeting you but I really have to go." She began to back away, slolwy. "I have some stuff I have to do, so I'll see you around at school."
Haruhi gave her an alarmed look. "Uh… Inoue-san-."
"Really, it's fine. I hope you guys have a good day entertaining girls."
"Inoue-san…"
"You guys don't really need me here. So I'll be going now."
"Inoue-san!"
The next thing Yuri knew, her back hit some something hard and cold. Then, there was the sound of breaking glass and she felt something wet hit the back of her uniform. She turned around and gasped. She had accidentally hit the center aquarium!
To Be Continued…