Author's Note:
Ugh. Another story. -.- I'm not very good about pacing myself. *sighs*
Anyway, I know it starts kind of slow, but it will pick up pretty fast, don't worry =) more fun chapters come after the annoying first chapter, which is always the hardest part.
LOSGAP =D
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club, the Hosts and everything else belong to Bisco Hatori. I only own this tiny place on the internet to share my creativity with the world and my original characters.
Kitsune Koyama stared up at the sky as rain splashed down around her‚ falling in silver rivulets down her clothes and streaming down her hair.
Her deep red hair, usually only shoulder length, seemed almost waist length as she tipped her head back to look up at the storm. Her green eyes, stark bright against her pale skin, peered upwards into the rain. Her only movements were her eyes as they blinked when rain fell too close to her eyes.
She didn't mind the fact she was getting soaked. The rain felt wonderful against her skin, its cool touch soothing.
She jerked her head down suddenly, a bell ringing off in her mind. She was standing in front of the school, and the courtyard was almost empty now. Her breathing quickened with excitement as she hurried towards the front entrance. Today was the day! She was finally going to take the entrance exams!
Oh, how she hoped she would pass it. The thought of becoming accepted into a prestigious school like Ouran Academy set her heart into a frenzy. The colleges that would be open to her then, the careers afterward…!
There she went, day dreaming again. At this rate she wouldn't even make it into the classroom, let alone the school. Shaking her head, she braced her shoulders and pushed open the front doors, striding confidentially down the halls to (hopefully) her future.
---
Kitsune squinted ahead, her head throbbing. She had been studying for months for this, yet it had truly tested her; the test had been a living thing, sensing her weaknesses and changing the questions accordingly. Every question had felt like a punch to send mentally reeling until she sat trembling in her chair. Only two other students had dared take the same test, and one of them had thrown up in class.
She was finally home though, she thought in relief as she opened the door.
She kicked her shoes off, letting them fall to the floor as she turned her head, looking for her mother.
Her mother appeared into the living room then, smiling broadly.
"Welcome back!" Her hands said. "Did you have a good day? How were the exams?"
"I think I passed. Maybe. I won't know for sure for another week." Kitsune's hands replied. Jueru smiled pleasantly. "I'm glad."
---
One summer of endless days later, Kitsune found herself standing at the pearly gates.
No, not those pearly gates. She wasn't dead. Not yet, at least. She was standing before Ouran Academy, her eyes wide and awe-struck as she took in the sheer extravagance of the place.
It was pink, for one thing. She'd never seen a school- or any building, for that matter- that was anything but dull colors. The color didn't offset her, surprisingly. It only fed her imagination of this being the perfect palace to work towards her future in.
She walked quietly down the halls, her eyes roving around hungrily, devouring all in sight. She couldn't believe she had actually gotten in on a full scholarship; this was the stuff dreams were made of!
She walked lightly, as though afraid if she made too much sound the dream would be dispelled and she would awake in her bed to find it had all been, as Shakespeare had said, "too sweet to be substantial".
Her hair bounced in shiny red curls around her face and neck, and she reached up to curl one around her finger. Her mother had been so eager to do her hair this morning, she could not have possibly have refused; she was glad for it. She rarely took notice of her own hair, but her mother loved to faun over it.
Still a bit dazed, she dream-walked to the door of her first class and opened the door.
---
Kitsune stumbled forward as yet another student bumped into her, and yet again they did not apologize, or even seem to notice her. So far, this was the only downfall of the school; she was looked upon as if she were the scum on the bottom of their expensive shoes. She was not wearing the uniform- the scholarship did not cover it, but she was scrounging her pennies for it- and that seemed to automatically demote her in everyone's eyes.
At least back in middle school, people had glanced at you if they had bumped into you; here, you had to have a certain family name or a few Nobel Peace prizes under your belt before you were awarded any attention.
Despite herself, she took an immediate dislike to the students. Especially the male ones; the girls were fine; they were mostly spoiled little girls who thought the world was their playground. They took no notice of her, and that was all right with Kitsune; she was used to it.
The men, however, almost walked through her like she was smoke. If she dared cross their path, they would look down her nose at her for a brief moment of disdain before diverting their attention to someone much richer and therefore more interesting.
The libraries were packed full of them; she avoided them like the plague, trying to find a place to read. She wanted to prolong coming home as long as she could; she would stay and do her homework for an hour or two before finally dragging herself away from her paradise.
She tried almost every door she passed, glancing at the signs above. Most were broom closets, which began to look more appealing as time went by.
She tried another door handle to find it was unlocked and glanced up at the sign. It was an unused music room; surely no one would mind if she just read quietly in here?
She hesitantly pushed the door open to a blinding bright light.
Rose petals swirled gently towards her and she blinked in surprise as one, soft as a butterfly's kiss, brushed against her cheek.
She looked up at six boys standing in a circle around one large plush chair, where a seventh boy sat.
"Welcome." Their lips said. Kitsune stared in surprise at them all. What was this place?
The boy in the chair leaped up and bounded over to her.
"Are you an honor student?" His lips said, so fast Kitsune had trouble catching his words.
Hesitantly, she nodded, wondering why they were paying attention to her.
The tall blonde turned eagerly to a younger boy, with large, inquisitive brown eyes. Kitsune couldn't see what he was saying, but the brunette rolled his eyes.
"Just because she's an honor student doesn't mean I know her." His lips said. "Please don't lump me together with all 'commoners', senpai." He said.
Kitsune was distracted when a hand fell on her shoulder and her head turned to look at another boy.
He was tall, with sharp gray eyes and immaculate black hair. His lips formed a question, and by his demeanor she guessed he was repeating himself.
"Are you Kitsune Koyama?" His lips said and she nodded. Understanding dawned in his eyes.
"Are you the new student here?" His hands asked and Kitsune's eyes widened in shock, an excited grin tugging at her lips as her head bobbed eagerly, her hands quickly forming words.
"Yes! I am Kitsune- please, call me Kit." She replied.
The blonde's head popped into view, watching her hands with wide, fascinated violet eyes.
"What are you doing, Mother?" He asked and Kitsune blinked at him, not understanding.
"He's harmless, don't worry about him. Stupid, but harmless." The boy with glasses said and Kitsune had to fight a laugh.
"What are you saying?! What strange code is this?!" The tall boy demanded, looking intrigued.
"This is Tamaki Suoh. I am Kyoya Ohtori." The tall boy said, ignoring Tamaki for the moment.
"Please to meet you." Kitsune replied, bowing slightly at the waist.
"Would someone tell me what's going on?!" Tamaki's lips said furiously; by the way some people cringed Kitsune guessed he was screaming.
"This is Kitsune Koyama. She's the new honor student; she's also completely deaf." Kyoya said, turning to address the rest of the Hosts.
"A real deaf person!" Tamaki gasped, coming closer to Kitsune. "How extraordinary!"
"Wait, how does she know what we're saying?" He asked suddenly. "I'm sure she can read lips." Kyoya replied patiently.
Kitsune frowned, not liking how she was being treated like a new toy as the rest of the Hosts came closer to examine her, asking questions. She couldn't keep track of them all and turned quickly from Host to Host; the only ones who didn't bother her were the same boy Tamaki had spoken to earlier and an incredibly tall man she hadn't noticed at first. He was easily twice as tall as her; with skin like dark honey.
"Ignore them. They'll settle down eventually." Kyoya's hands said. Kitsune nodded.
"Wait, Kyoya-senpai, how do you know sign language?" The brunette boy's lips said suddenly.
Kyoya adjusted his glasses. "An American emissary stayed at our house a short while ago. His daughter was also deaf; she was my age, so I was taught sign language in order to make her feel welcome." He explained.
"That was nice of you." Kitsune said, not quite getting he hadn't learned it by choice. Kyoya pushed up his glasses and smiled slightly.
"Well, what do we do with her now?" One of the two ginger headed twins asked, resting his hand on the other's shoulder and peering down at Kitsune curiously. Kitsune flushed and her hands immediately began firing back a response.
"You do not need to do anything with me! Just because I am deaf does not mean I am helpless! I came here looking for a place to read, that is all. Since I am here, what is this place for?" She asked, finally calming down a bit. All eyes turned to Kyoya for translation.
He pushed up his glasses. "She wants to know what the Club's about."
Kitsune rolled her eyes at the fact he had left the beginning out but did not argue, deciding she would have to find a new way to get her message across.
"It's a Host Club." Kyoya's hands explained. "We entertain young ladies… for a fee, of course." He said. Kitsune frowned. "What do you mean, 'entertain'?" She demanded.
Kyoya smiled at that but didn't answer.
"Well, since you're here, do you want to stay for one free trial period?" Tamaki asked eagerly. Kyoya frowned. "I'll cover her cost!" He promised. "I want to learn more about what it's like being deaf! And maybe she can give me an insight into Haruhi's home life!" He said eagerly. The brunette, Haruhi presumably, rolled his eyes.
Kitsune fumbled in her skirt pocket and pulled out a notepad and pen, scribbling down something before she held it up.
"'I'll stay, as long as I don't have to be 'entertained' in a way I don't like.'" Tamaki read aloud.
---
"I wanted to meet all of the Hosts today; so far, I like you the best." Kitsune's paper said.
The boy she had handed it to, Haruhi, blinked in surprise. "Really? Thank you." He said, smiling pleasantly. Kitsune flushed. He was so cute. It wasn't like her to get all flustered around a boy, but Haruhi was driving her a bit crazy.
"I heard you're an honor student too. Did you get ignored in the beginning too?" Kitsune asked, sliding her notepad over hesitantly. Haruhi smiled. "I did. These guys are actually the closest things to friends I have here." He said.
"Can we be friends?" Kitsune's note read. She wished she didn't have to look at Haruhi to read his answer.
To her surprise, Haruhi smiled. "Sure." He replied.
For a moment Kitsune's heart stopped beating before she smiled tremulously back, resisting the urge to squeal and sigh like the other girls at the table.
Haruhi suddenly looked up as though responding to his name. He nodded and turned back to the girls. "Guess hosting hours are over." Haruhi said. Kitsune slumped in her chair with disappointment.
"Can I come back tomorrow?" Kitsune scribbled down quickly on her notepad and handed it to Haruhi. "That'd be great! It'd really help me a lot!" He said, smiling widely. Pink tinged Kitsune's cheeks and she nodded quickly, smiling slightly.
It wasn't until after she had left that she wondered how she would cover the fee. She paused outside the doors of the school and stood there, lost in thought. Should she get another job? She already worked at the supermarket after school; she doubted she would ever get enough for even one week, especially when she was saving up for one of the uniforms; she was so tired of sticking out like a sore thumb.
She sighed, shouldering her backpack and heading off to work, wondering how she was going to see Haruhi again.
Author's Note:
Like I said, slow start but it'll get moving pretty soon.
I know Kitsune seems a bit bland so far, but Haruhi seemed bland in the beginning, didn't "he"? ;)
We all there's more to people- er, characters- then it seems. So have some patience, all will be revealed in due time.
Ta ta loves!
LOSGAP =D
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