Phantom: OMG, I feel so fangirly, it's kind of creepy. I can't believe that I'm writing this, and I'll probably get flamed, but I really don't care. I'll try to finish it quickly to spare you all… and myself. -
Aya was a musician. She loved what she did, and because of that she refused to get a real job. As a result, she was often very poor. Half of her life was spent eating nothing but ramen and bread. But today, that was all going to change.
She had been hired to perform for some upper-crust school for the rich and famous. Most of these kids were from wealthy businesses, and had a lot of money to spare. This meant that the school had a lot of money to spare, which meant more money for her.
Goody.
She skipped through the gates of the school, feeling light and happy. The sun reflected off of her auburn hair, giving it a warm glow. Her hazel eyes danced with the prospect of having food. She was going to have extra money to buy wonderful things like bacon and fish and eggs and bacon and chocolate and bacon! Just the thought of it made her stomach growl.
She stopped only to smooth down her hair and skirt before entering through the doors. She was immediately met by a nerdy looking man. He looked haggard and stressed. "Oh good! You're here! Listen, you can start scrubbing the ballroom floor, and then you can polish it. Don't use too much because I don't want people sliding all over the place."
She stared at him in confusion. "Excuse me?" she said.
The boy stopped his ranting to look her over. She held her sheet music in one hand, and she was wearing a shabby-looking coat. Her chin was concealed by her scarf, and her legs wore nothing but a black skirt and a pair of boots. "You're not from the cleaning agency, are you?" he sighed.
She shook her head. "Sorry. I'm here for the music."
He scoffed, "You're attending the ball?"
She offered him a half-smile. "Not quite. I'm here to play the music." She held up the sheet music and jiggled it slightly to prove her point. He merely sighed and told her she could practice in the music room. She smiled (well, more like grimaced) in reply and thanked him before he hurried away.
She descended the stairs and searched for anything that said "Music Room". She finally came upon a room labeled "Music Room Three". Breathing a sigh of relief, she clutched the door handle and pushed it open.
Instead of finding music, she found a Host Club.
--
As they watched the door handle turn, they happily awaited the arrival of their first customer. Most girls had gone home to prepare for the newly established (thanks to Tamaki) semi-annual Ouran Commoner's Tribute Ball, so this one would probably get all the attention for the day.
But before they could get a word out, she screamed. "WHAT THE HELL?"
Tamaki stood up. "Fair lady, there is no need to be alarmed." He assured her sweetly.
She put her sheet music in front of her as one may put a crucifix in front of them. "I-I'm really sorry. I was looking for a music room to practice in, you see I'm the musician for tonight's-"
Tamaki swept her into a romantic embrace. "My delicate flower, you're the commoner I hired?" he gushed. "I knew you would be talented but I had no idea that you would come even remotely close to matching my beauty."
She glared at him. "Don't do that." She huffed, slipping away from him. She looked around at the others. "Well… is there a piano in here or what?"
The twins motioned to the piano in the corner of the room, not saying anything for once. She held her head high and proud as she walked by them and seated herself at the piano. She shuffled through some sheet music, and then came upon one she liked. Smiling lightly, she set it on the piano and rested her hands lightly on the keys.
From the minute that she struck and first few chords to the minute she ended, everyone was silent and watchful. She sang softly along with it, "Shadows all around you as you surface from the dark, emerging from the gentle grip of night's unfolding arms. Darkness, darkness everywhere, do you feel all alone? The subtle grace of gravity the heavy weight of stone…"
When the song was over, she lifted her head to look at the host club. "Is that alright?" she asked. "If it's not then I can play something else."
Hunny smiled from Mori's shoulders and laughed. "Pretty!" he exclaimed.
Tamaki looked teary eyed. He turned to his fellow classmates and spread his arms out in a sweeping motion. "Now do you see why I have this ball? To pay tribute to those who are less fortunate whose talent goes unnoticed due to their poverty. I do this to help those who cannot find work and must slave away every day for nothing!" He was getting worked up; dramatic tears streamed down his face and he was making wild gestures. Behind him, Aya's face was a mix of horror and confusion… possibly disgust as well.
"I have a job you know." She muttered, gathering up her sheets and standing to leave. "I can find another unused music room instead. This is only number three after all. I could always go to number two or something like that…" she shook her head, realizing that she was getting off track. "Anyhow, if you want any specific songs, let me know. Otherwise I'll see you all tonight… I think."
She started for the door, but was blocked off by the twins. She sighed. "Now what?" she muttered.
They stared at her for a bit, making her feel a bit uncomfortable. Finally, they straightened and remarked, "You're not wearing that are you?"
She stuck out her lower lip slightly and straightened her scarf. "For your information, I'm not as poor and unfashionable as I look." She sniffed. She knew most of that was a lie. She really was as poor as she looked, and she didn't know shit about fashion, but she wasn't about to let a bunch of spoiled and snotty rich kids tell her that. She turned to the rest of the host club and assumed her 'don't-fuck-with-me-stance'. (This required putting one hand on your hip, bending the other arm and pointing your finger in an accusing manner. It was great for dealing with guys and women at the supermarket.)
"I don't care how much you all harass me, insult me or scare me. I'm not going to turn away from this offer. I'll show up in a fucking ball-gown if I have to, but I am NOT going to just walk away from this. Now, if you'll excuse me." She turned on her heel, pushed past the twins and marched out of the music room.
Everyone seemed to be shocked into silence. "What an unnecessary outburst." Kyouya sighed, scribbling down a few things in his black book. "We really should fire her for that."
Tamaki held up a hand to shush him. "This was most certainly NOT unprovoked." He turned to glare at the twins. "From now on you msut treat her with the respect and kindness which we treat our normal guests with. If I hear that nay of you has given her any more grief, I shall ban you from this dance. Is that clear?"
Everyone seemed to agree, no matter how reluctantly. And so it went that the musician named Aya began to change the Host Club...