Genre: Romance, Drama, Humor with minor Angst (Hey, teens are just angsty at times, lol)
Universe: Manga-verse; set near the end
Rating: Teen to Older Teen for occasional cursing and violence
Pairings: Kaoru x OC with secondary pairings of Haruhi x Tamaki, Mitsukuni x Reiko, and Takashi x OC; possible Kyoya x OC
Full Summery: She was merely another face in the crowd, your average Jane that seemed to come a dime a dozen within the ever-constant flow of Host Club attendees. The girls Kaoru had encountered in his life had always been of the same mind-set, not caring whether it was his brother or him who got their attention, not caring for the true well-being of their hearts. So why then has he just now begun to notice how quiet she was? Or how she subtly gave him her full attention when he alone spoke? Perhaps Haruhi's influence had caused his world to become more open than he had thought…and maybe, just maybe, that world is filled with more color than he could have ever thought possible.

Author's Notes:

Alright. So. This is important. PLEASE READ! This is a trial chapter, basically. I'm working on two books right now: this one, Colors, and the second installment in my TMNT series, Hollow Hearts. I've been flopping back and forth between which to finish first, but really need to settle on one. This is where you, as a reader and fellow Ouran fan, comes into play. I would like for you to tell me if this introduction chapter interests you enough that you would like to see it done ASAP. Or if you don't mind waiting. Comparatively, this is going to be an easier project with just 22 chapters and not 34. It also lacks the masive spider wed from my Cause and Effect series...Anyways. Please continue and thank you for your time. :D

Disclaimer: Ouran Host Club and all its great characters belongs to our beloved Bisco Hatori. The Original Characters and cover art of this book, however, belong to me alone.

Episode 01 - Distractions

Hitachiin Kaoru flashed an easy smile. No, it was not particularly real, since those kinds of smiles were reserved for special cases; however, it was convincing enough that the unwitting group of female Ouran students around him and Hikaru in the academy's third music room swooned with overwhelming emotions—like usual. Blushing madly, their voices high from flattery, they returned the compliment Hikaru had just given before the twins preformed an act based on their roles as two Steampunk brothers journeying across the countryside to make a name for themselves as great Revolutionary inventors.

Really, the motions of the act were just that—motions. Even though the Host Club had been reinstated over two weeks ago and things calmed down with the Shou family, Kaoru's mind still drowned in enough distractions to keep him from fully submersing himself into anything—not school work, not games, not even club activities. He found the distractions to be very annoying—like unwanted company—but they also weren't the kind to be easily dismissed, no matter how reassuring Hikaru was in insisting he's fine. Added with Haruhi's decision to study abroad, he just couldn't find the heart to apply himself like he wanted.

"Kaoru?"

Kaoru blinked numbly for a moment, staring into the confused eyes of his twin, before he realized he had missed a line. "Ah, f—forgive me, Hikaru," he said a bit dramatically. "I'm afraid it's my brain tumor. It—it must be affecting my motor skills…already." Kaoru's teary eyes hadn't been any more real than his previous smile, yet a chorus of sharp gasps rung out as the younger twin fell to his padded knees, hugging his stomach in fake nausea. While the twist hadn't been expected by Hikaru—Kaoru knew—the older twin had no problem moving forward with the new plot element. He reacted naturally, with an ease perhaps only they could accomplish with one another, and also fell to his knees. He used a gloved hand so he could lift Kaoru's chin to draw his face closer to his own.

"No, it can't be!" Hikaru replied urgently, his voice cracking. "The doctors told us we would have more time. You can't leave me, Kaoru—not yet, not when I need you the most, not before we realize our dreams! You must stay with me!"

Under the soft gaze of his elder brother, Kaoru momentarily froze. Why? Why did Hikaru have to pick words like those? They stung the youngest twin's heart and turned his stomach upside-down.

"I could never abandon you," the younger twin whispered honestly. There was another pause in the act as Hikaru reeled back just enough that only his brother could notice. His soft expression contorted into puzzlement, and they continued to stare at each other, though they both knew now was not a time for questions. After a brief moment, Kaoru stood, pretending to cough when he turned his back to his brother, so their trance would remain broken. "We have far too much to look forward to first," he added. "I will not allow myself to leave you, Hikaru, no matter how fragile my body grows. No matter how far I must travel, no matter how much I must endure, I will never leave your side!"

"Kaoru…" spoke Hikaru softly from behind. He took a careful step forward to place a hand on his brother's leather shoulder guard; however, he didn't make Kaoru turn around.

Kaoru gave an inward sigh of relief when the group of young women awed, tears glistening in their wide eyes as they drew their hands to their gaping mouths, eager for more. Turning slightly, the auburn-haired teen meant to continue his act for the sake of the club, but in a chance moment his gaze caught that of the customer closest to him. It was the gaze of a pale young woman whose somber magenta eyes contrasted all amount of energy the others around her expelled. Her groomed brows were furrowed and she gripped tight to a worn notebook on her lap, her thin lips pursed, almost as if she had noticed Kaoru's momentary pain were real. Still, she didn't move. She didn't speak. She just watched with enough indisputable attentiveness to prevent Kaoru from overlooking her completely like he normally could with other young women.

"Kaoru, are you alright?" Hikaru whispered into his brother's ear.

"Yeah," Kaoru whispered back, smiling. "I've just been distracted recently. That's all. Shall we continue?" The older twin nodded; however, Kaoru was painfully aware that the subject would be brought up later.

By the end of another Host Club day, Kaoru stood with Haruhi beside Kyoya at the club's sign-in podium. Now redressed in their school uniforms, the club members were helping in taking down the Steampunk theme decorations—all save for Haruhi and Kaoru, who had just finished their contribution to the job rather effectively. The two remained quiet as the club's Shadow King added up their daily profits until Haruhi turned her attention to the youngest Hitachiin brother.

"Kaoru, are you feeling alright?" she asked kindly.

"Yeah," Kaoru answered offhandedly. He kept his attention on his working friends rather than the calm expression he knew Haruhi sported. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you seem off lately," the brunette answered, frank as always. "Ever since we reopened the club you haven't been putting in as much effort as before. So you must not be feeling very well. Are you getting sick?"

Kaoru hunched his wide shoulders under Haruhi's stare, yet laughed at how simplistic his friend's conclusion was. He always found it funny how she can be so perceptive yet dense at the same time. It was a trait both he and Hikaru loved about her.

"No, I'm fine," answered Kaoru when his laughter died. "It could just be nerves from all the past excitement."

"I don't think I buy that," she responded, "you guys are usually quick to get over your nerves…" Digging his hands into his pockets, Kaoru gave in and twisted to face Haruhi, although her brown eyes were now settled on Tamaki as she spoke evenly. "Are you sure you aren't feeling sick?"

"I'll be O.K.," the amber-eyed teen answered with a genuine smile. Haruhi had not been fully convinced, like Hikaru, though she nodded then left to help their Host King, who somehow wrapped his entire body in a banner. As the blonde's dramatic cries of distress rang throughout the grand room, Kaoru turned to Kyoya, eyeing the black-haired teen while he recorded data in a laptop. "Hey," he called.

"Yes?" replied Kyoya simply. He did not cease his task or even glance up.

"Do you know the name of the girl who sat closest to me today?"

"You two move around quite often and so do your clients; you would have to be more specific for a name," Kyoya responded, dull.

Kaoru nodded. "Yeah, but she never moved from her spot the entire time. It was like she was…stuck there or something."

"Hum." After several more clicks from the keyboard, the Shadow King finally made eye contact with his friend. "You seem uncharacteristically interested."

If he didn't know any better, Kaoru could swear the faintest trace of an amused smile graced Kyoya's pale face, but it was probably just a play of the light. "I'm just curious as to if she's new or not," he replied with a casual shrug of his shoulders. "She has waist-length orange hair that's wavy with magenta eyes. She wore a gaudy hair ornament…It was actually really ugly, a fashion disaster."

"Ah, you're talking about Arashiita Yukita."

"You know her?"

"Aside from school, I've met her and her family a few times before at some gatherings. Nothing more." Immediately after his answer Kyoya returned to entering data. "Her mother owns a record company called Arashii Records that specializes in discovering young talent. She attended Juuban Elementary for only two years before being pulled out for private tutoring. She scored an eighty-seven on her entrance exam and now attends class two-B. She's been a customer of the club since very near the beginning."

"Really?" The question left Kaoru's lips before he even realized it.

"Yes."

"It doesn't feel like she has," the twin muttered to himself. His brows furrowed as he thought back to the slightly concerned expression Yukita had given him earlier. "I don't think I've ever seen her before…"

"She doesn't speak, so others tend to miss her," remarked Kyoya.

"Do you know why doesn't she say much like the other girls?"

"Because she doesn't speak." The Shadow King sent Kaoru a pointed stare through his black-rimmed glasses before his words clicked in the latter's mind.

"You mean she's…mute?"

Kyoya gave his own equivalent of a shrug. "It's not my place to say. If you want to know that, you would have to ask her yourself; however"—the computer keys began to click faster as an unmistakable smirk quirked the side of the raven-haired teen's lips ever so slightly—"I can tell you that she turned seventeen this past October twenty-second. Her star sign is Libra. Her blood type is O. She weighs fifty-one kilograms and reaches one hundred and sixty centimeters high. She—"

"Hey, that's enough!" the Hitachiin said hurriedly. His hands slipped out of his pockets to wave for Kyoya's attention, even if he knew he had never lost it in the first place. "I don't need to know all that, really; I was just asking to pass time."

Kyoya replied only with a mild grin, his attention falling to the noisy group the two males had managed to tune out for a time. Hikaru was teasing Tamaki about some matter and the fool was clinging to Haruhi like a lifeline. Behind them Takashi and Mitsukuni walked calmly until they stood before Kyoya.

"Your plans always ruin things for Haruhi, Milord," Hikaru said in a deadpan manner as he pulled Haruhi from the blonde's grip. "Just ask Kyoya and Kaoru; they'll agree that you shouldn't be involved in any planning. You just need to show up."

"But—But," Tamaki managed through his overdramatic tears.

"Tell him, Kaoru."

Jumping onto the conversation train wasn't hard in the least, so Kaoru easily fell in line at his brother's side, knowing just where to pick up. "You make stupid choices, Milord," he said. "We'll find ways to make the party classy."

"I can make things classy!" the tall blonde countered, his emotion rising. He charged forward to retrieve Haruhi, but Kaoru helped his brother keep the little brunette from their Host King's hands, forcing Tamaki to stumble into one of the closed mahogany doors.

"Yet you don't," added Hikaru monotonously.

"You just make things tacky," Kaoru continued in the same tone.

"Cut it out, you guys," Haruhi interrupted, sighing. She pried herself away from the twins she hadn't bothered to immediately fight then side-stepped her whimpering boyfriend on the marble floor in the full knowledge that he had endured worse injuries for his shenanigans. Her slightly hardened brown eyes roamed over the group before she sighed again. "You guys know I hate you fussing over me, so if you're going to do it, do it while I'm not here. If Tamaki wants to plan something, let him. Even if I hate everything his hand touches, I'll know he put his heart into it."

"Ha—Haruhi," croaked Tamaki, grinning his trademark foolish grin. In seconds he rose from the floor to wrap his girlfriend in a dramatic hug, one which she naturally tried to escape.

Only a twin could notice the subtle tenseness in Hikaru. Kaoru spared a glance at his brother, just for a moment, though he didn't require the conformation of Hikaru's pained eyes to know the sight struck a sore spot. Of course, Hikaru was happy to see two of his closest friends find compatibility with one another; all the twins longed for now was the safety and happiness of their friends, their family. Still, Haruhi had been the first woman he ever let into his heart. Overcoming that lost love would be hard for anyone, let alone for the kind of people the Hitachiin twins were—the kind who have spent years building walls to keep outsiders at bay. Hikaru would always play it off as something minor, like old scratch that no longer required attention; however, Kaoru knew the wound still needed tending. And moments like these serve as proof of his beliefs.

"Kao-chan?"

"Huh?" Kaoru snapped his attention to Mitsukuni, who starred up at him with kind, wide eyes.

"You were staring into space," Mitsukuni continued sweetly. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," the youngest twin said. He sensed Hikaru glance his way, but ignored the inquiring gaze. "Haruhi asked me the same thing, but really, I'm fine."

Mitsukuni's lips pursed. "You seem more distracted recently."

"I…Well…" The Hitachiin sighed. "I just have some things on my mind, that's all. It's nothing." Mitsukuni looked like he wanted to ask more, yet he kept quiet, sending Kaoru an unsure nod that had apparently become commonplace that day. He watched the short blonde return to Takashi beside the new couple. Thankful for the lack of prying, he smiled brightly then swung an arm around his brother. "Hikaru and I will come up with a layout for the party decorations when we get home," he told the group over some of Tamaki's whining. The five pair of inquisitive eyes immediately settled on the devilish duo, one of which did so with exasperation.

"You guys have a month," Haruhi said blandly. "You should focus more on studying for the final exams."

"We're excellent multi-taskers," Hikaru and Kaoru replied in unison, grinning impishly. "I thought you knew us by now, Haru-chan."

"Besides," added Kyoya as he pushed his glasses closer to his smirking face, "when one draws out the release of something highly anticipated—like a limited edition collection of pictures of Haruhi's days as a host—one can charge a price higher than would be expected under normal circumstances because the demand would be impossible to ignore by the time of Haruhi's farewell party does arrive. It's elementary marketing that any smart company knows." The Shadow King's low chuckle caused all his friends to deadpan, though they all should have sensed that line coming.

"So I'm basically walking advertisement?" questioned Haruhi.

"Ever the opportunist," Kaoru remarked.

"To the day he dies," Hikaru contributed.

The female sighed then headed for the door. "Well, I'm going home. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Wait, Haruhi!" Tamaki cried out behind her. "Let me walk you home!" The blonde disappeared behind the tall mahogany door, along with Haruhi, yet the couple's muffled voices could be heard for several moments afterwards. Mainly, it was Tamaki lamenting over being continuously denied his request.

"They've gotten together and yet act no different around one another," noted Kaoru offhandedly.

"That's good," Kyoya responded in place of the group. "It means they're remaining true to themselves and not allowing their relationship to define them."

With a small grin, Kaoru nodded towards Kyoya then turned to his brother. "Ready to head home?"

"Yeah," Hikaru answered evenly. He sent everyone a small wave goodbye then walked past his brother, pausing momentarily to whisper, "I wanted to talk with you anyways."

Kaoru managed to repress a sigh when Hikaru moved on then also waved his friends goodbye before following his twin out of the room.

Author's Note: Eh. Waddya think? Should I continue? I may post chapter two as well...not sure yet. Well, off to bed I go.