Summary: AU Haruhi wanted to be a lawyer, and Haruka wanted to be a composer, but by unfortunate events they swapped places.

"Eh?"

Haruka blinked and glanced back down at her parchment, then up at the building. Sure, the school was beautiful and all…but it was the wrong place.

This wasn't Saotome Academy.

She fumbled with her paper when a gust of wind blew against her back, and it managed to slip out of her fingers. "Ah! Wait!" The girl chased after it, but tripped over a crack.

"Owie…"

"Are you alright, my lady?"

Surprised, Haruka looked up to see a handsome boy offering her a hand. Metaphorical rose petals floating in the background.

He smiled. "A lovely miss such as yourself should be more careful. Are you alright?"

Haruka blushed as she accepted the help. "Y-yes."

'Oh Grandma,' she thought, 'what did I get myself into?'

Haruhi blinked and she glanced back down at her parchment, then up at the building. She didn't know why those men had brought her to the airport and fly across Japan…but this wasn't the right place.

This wasn't Ouran High School.

'This is bad,' Haruhi thought as she ran her fingers through her hair, ruffling it up more than it already was. 'This is really bad. Mom, what should I do?'

First things first, seek the headmaster and demand for an arrangement. There must have been a mistake with the student entries, right? That's why it didn't make sense as to why those men brought her here. Well, her father was more than ecstatic for some reason, but she didn't want to dwell on the thought any longer.

As of right now, she didn't know where the headmaster was, so she reluctantly followed the crowd of students that were making way to the central where the opening ceremony was held. There was a large stadium that stood before them. A man walked across it and to the microphone where he began the typical "Welcome, we're so psyched to have you here, yada yada yada yada" intro. When the man called for the headmaster, nothing happened. The teachers that sat to the side of the students began looking around in confusion, and the students imitated.

Suddenly, a low booming voice echoed across the area. "Anyone who doesn't know love, don't even think to speak of songs! Just leave here at once!"

Standing on a balcony of a tall tower was a man dressed like a joker, laughing manically.

Haruhi frowned at the biased statement. She didn't know much about music, but she sure knew about love (much). Or was it just plainly vice-versa?

"The beating of the heart," he announced, "is the first source of music!"

Then he jumped off, arousing screams and shouts from everyone. He swooped down like a preying eagle and, as if bouncing in mid air, came up again above the crowd. Haruhi could see the ropes that held the man.

"Yes, my friends, the headmaster is me, Shining Saotome! Welcome to Saotome Academy, or rather, to this shining world!"

Shining Saotome then did some wicked dance moves in the air and landed onto the stadium while whipping out of his costume. Cue in the terrible music and terrible dancing.

"Music is love! Come on, soul! Shine!"

Haruhi frowned again at the oddity. This was definitely not the school she was supposed to be in.

"…and then I ended up here," Haruka explained sadly.

The boy, who introduced himself as Suoh Tamaki, rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, my lady," he said with a small sigh, "I can see that you are in quite a predicament. Unfortunately, you are not the famous Fujioka Haruhi this school has been expecting, much to my despair for I would have loved—no, be honored to have you here with us."

Haruka blushed.

"Alas, I can see that it is made to be, making amends so that you may attend to this Saotome Academy so you may fulfill your dreams to become a composer for this Ichinose Tokiya." Tamaki made a sweeping gesture and tilted his head back. Dramatic. "But…But I am sure of one thing, one certain thing, that our encounter was designed by fate. Nay, for me to hear one single word by an angel who cascaded down by the heavens to bless me so."

Haruka turned even redder, but had to add, "A-ano…I said Ichinose Hayato…"

Tamaki froze. Oh crud.

"O-of course you did! I meant Ichinose Hayato, not Tokiya! Ahaha…!"

Haruhi didn't know why she didn't see this earlier.

She had the parchment in her hands that told her everything.

She was currently standing on the campus of Saotome Academy—wherever the hell that was—and it was a musical school. Great, she just had to be in an institute that generally taught her worst class yet. And to top it all off, she could have shown the men and told them that they had made a bloody mistake! That she was not this Nanami Haruka person!

She knew better than to let her frustration reign over her judgment, to bring down others because of her own troubles, but this was getting ridiculous.

Haruhi was somewhere far that required a plane to get back home. And she needed to get home.

And this teacher wouldn't let her do that.

"Now look at what you've done," the man said, frowning at her disapprovingly. "The bell rang and you made us late for class!"

"I told you, this is very urgent! I need to speak to the headmaster," she said, quelling a growl.

"The headmaster is busy at the moment. I suppose you may follow me since it's most likely that you had missed your teacher's introduction."

After a twitching eyebrow and a long-suffering sigh, Haruhi followed the man. She didn't pay much to her surroundings, which were exquisite for a school, by the way, as she observed the teacher. Tall in height, auburn short hair, well-muscled build, and a strong jaw. He looked familiar too…Perhaps she had seen him somewhere?

When he took her to his classroom, the S class, Haruhi was surprised to see that there was a diversity of ages. Sixteen to eighteen. So this school was solely on music to disregard the age differences…

"Everyone, settle down," the man barked. That had gotten them to sit in their seats. "You can sit wherever is available."

Haruhi nodded and walked towards an empty seat in the back, oblivious to the many stares at her.

"Students," he began, "welcome to Saotome Academy. As you can see, you are the few percentage that managed to enter this school. Quite a privilege."

The man introduced himself as Hyuuga-sensei, and he continued on from there.

"Saotome Academy is a vocational school that is very dedicated to cultivating idols and composers who write songs for them," Hyuuga-sensei droned on, sparing everyone the sharpness of his glare. "Our facilities and environment are also quite amazing. Every homeroom teacher here is an idol and all the other teachers are very famous, first-rate poets and composers. If you distinguish yourself well, then you might be in for a major debut."

So basically it's work hard and don't fail, otherwise you'll be booted out of the competition.

Haruhi almost slumped in her seat. Yeah, she'll definitely have to patch things up.

"And one important thing." Hyuuga-sensei gave everyone the stink-eye before saying, "There absolutely cannot be any romance involved!"

Well, at least this school was that devoted to work.

By the time Hyuuga-sensei was done educating the students and it was break, the man took off somewhere before Haruhi had the chance to talk to him.

"Dammit," she groaned, banging her head against the desk.

"You seem to be worse for wear, and literally too."

She looked up. A friendly-looking guy with dark hair grinned down at her. "Rough day?"

"You have no idea," she grumbled. "And what do you mean by literally?"

"Well, it's just that hardly anyone would come to school with an over-sized sweater, slacks, and hair that looks as though you rolled out of bed. Oh, and those hideous grandpa glasses. Ew."

Haruhi, however, took it all in stride, not offended. "I wasn't given my school uniform, not to mention it was laundry day; I did, in fact, roll out of bed; and I lost my contacts."

The boy laughed. "Takamura Saito, at your service!"

"Fujioka Haruhi," she offered.

"So why'd you come to class late? And with Hyuuga-sensei? Did you lose your way?"

"No. I was trying to ask the teacher something, but he wouldn't listen to me, and since I got us both late he said to follow him."

"You don't have the S class?"

"No."

"Then what class do you have?"

She didn't have any classes here, but she didn't feel like mentioning that. Haruhi grabbed the paper that was stuffed in her pocket and read, "A class."

"Huh." Takamura sniffed, impressed. "Just one class below. I'm guessing you're pretty good."

At music? Hell no.

"Do you want me to take you to your class? I'd be glad to help."

"Actually, I don't feel motivated to move at the moment," she sighed, propping her chin on the surface. It was unlike of Haruhi to sulk, but she wasn't up to being rational as of right now. Everything was off balance, and trying to steady it would give her white hairs. "I prefer to wait till that man comes back."

"You'd be doing Hyuuga-sensei a whole lot by just returning to your class, you know," a boy with a fedora commented. He propped his hands on his waist.

"I'm surprised he didn't berate you on your dress code," she deadpanned, eyeing the hat.

He flustered. "That's not the point," he snapped. "The point is that you are supposed to be where you are supposed to be!"

"I'm guessing that it was granted that you were supposed to be eaves-dropping our conversation as well as the dress code…?"

Takamura attempted to stifle his laughter, but he couldn't hold it in. "Oh hell, Fujioka!"

By this point, the boy was turning red. "Why you…"

"Now, now, no need to get upset, o'chibi-chan."

"I'm not SHORT! Dammit!"

A tall guy strolled right in, wearing an air of debonairness and confidence. Haruhi felt a prickle of annoyance by now. Why must another one interfere?

"I'm sure we can settle this civilly," he said. He regarded her coolly, though Haruhi knew that he wanted her to get out as well. "And I'm sure that you don't mind leaving, do you?"

"Oi, Jinguuji—" Takamura began, but was halted by Haruhi when she raised her hand.

"And if I do mind?" she challenged.

One thing she learned from the judge and crime channels: do not waver and submit. Wavering was bad enough, but submitting meant giving up the whole ordeal. If Haruhi wanted to be a lawyer, she had to put up a good battle. Winning was not an option, it was a goal.

The older boy arched a delicate brow. "Well, either way, you are going to get booted out of this classroom."

"It's not as if I plan on staying here for the rest of the day, you know," she said reasonably.

He shrugged indifferently. "I know, but it would make things easier if you would just leave."

"How so?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?"

She gave him a flat stare. "No, I really meant by how so."

"Dammit, why can't you just get the hell outta here!" the fedora boy growled, pointing at her. Takamura looked as though he was going to defend her, that until a voice cut through the clamor.

"Just what is going on?"

Haruhi craned her neck to see who it was, and was taken back that there was a crowd surrounding them. They didn't really attract this much attention, now, did they?

The students parted to form a pathway for Hyuuga-sensei to walk through. He gave each of them disapproving frowns, eliciting a flinch from the fedora boy. "I hope there's a reasonable explanation for this."

"H-Hyuuga-sensei," Takamura stammered, unable to say anything else.

"Well?"

"Well, sensei, I—" Jinguuji began, but was cut off.

"Anyone else besides Jinguuji?" the man pressed.

Silence.

"Ichinose!" he suddenly barked, and all eyes turned to a solemn boy sitting alone by the door. "What the hell happened here?"

"The boy wearing the glasses, Fujioka, started it," Ichinose answered simply, not looking up from his book.

Hyuuga-sensei snapped his eyes back on Haruhi. "Is that true?"

Haruhi paused to sift through her thoughts. The fedora boy suggested her to leave, she commented on things that had gotten him flustered, Jinguuji made him even more so, the whole thing became a debate…She may have not known he had a temper, but still…That would've mean she was the one who started it, probably.

And did Ichinose refer her as a boy? Ah, well, it doesn't matter.

"Yes, sir," she responded calmly.

He didn't seem to expect that answer. "Erm, right then."

"Fujioka, no way!" Takamura cried.

"Silence!" There was silence. "What's your name?"

"Fujioka Haruhi."

"Now, Fujioka, what's all the hub-bub about?"

"I was supposed to be in the A class, but I would not move."

Hyuuga-sensei frowned. "Then…why didn't you?"

"I was waiting for you."

"And what for?"

"So that you may finally listen to what I had to say, and since you were the first teacher I've met all day, I felt obliged that it had to be you."

Hyuuga-sensei had to quell a flinch at the stressed words. For some reason, he felt as though he couldn't win against the kid before him. But no matter, he was the adult, the man of the room.

"You could've gone to another teacher during break."

"Since you were the first teacher I've met all day, I felt obliged that it had to be you," Haruhi repeated with a monotone.

Again, suppressing a hurtful flinch. "That's no reason."

"I'm sorry, sensei."

And again, the kid threw him off. "…It's alright."

Takamura was proud to declare that he was Fujioka's new best bud, even though Haruhi never put her input whatsoever.

Suoh Tamaki was able to confront the headmaster about Haruka's problem, but there was an issue contacting Shining Saotome, the headmaster of Saotome Academy, so Haruka had to wait. That meant she was forced to go through Fujioka Haruhi's—the one who somehow swapped places with her—place.

It was a bit awkward taking the classes. One, she was being stared at a lot (whether it may be the Saotome school uniform she was wearing, or the fact that she wasn't Fujioka), and two, the classes were extremely hard. Haruka was amazed that someone who came from a common-household just like her was able to attain a scholarship at a prestigious school like Ouran High School. It made Haruka feel obliged to work harder than ever, just like Fujioka.

But the classes, nevertheless, were draining.

"Grandma, what am I going to do?" Haruka sighed, leaning against a wall. "Ugh, I almost want to give up."

A moment later, a hand fell on her shoulder. Haruka gave a jump and a small yelp from the touch, and turned around to see twins smirking at her deviously. "Princess Haruka, we presume?" they said simultaneously.

Haruka blushed and looked away. She had been blushing a lot lately. "W-well, I'm not a p-princess…"

"Haha, oh, so modest," one twin chuckled, brushing away the comment. "C'mon, princess, your kingdom awaits."

"M-my kingdom?"

"Yes, yes!" the other twin chimed. "And all the king's men—"

"And all the king's people—"

"Eagerly wait for the arrival—"

"Of the one and only—"

"Beautiful princess—"

"Haruka," they ended.

Haruka blinked. How did they end up here before two grand doors? She tossed a glance over her shoulder. It seemed like a…dream.

"Are you ready, your majesty?" they said, hands on the handles.

Haruka looked at them and nodded.

The doors opened, revealing…a kingdom.

"Welcome, my princess."

Haruhi ended up not going to the A class, but staying in the S class, much the dismay of the fedora boy.

"It was as if Fujioka was trying to pick a fight with Kurusu!" laughed Amori Kyo, a lanky brunette with a cowlick.

"That's not true," Haruhi grumbled, glaring at her shoes. It wasn't as if she wanted to make an enemy out of fedora boy, but he was worsening her day by telling her what to do. And he wasn't a teacher.

Takamura and his friends didn't seem to mind.

Hojo Sasaki was the level-headed one out of the bunch. He blew his black bangs from his glasses and said, "Now Kyo, keep your voice down."

"But it's true, ain't it? I mean, it's about time someone put those two good-gooders in their places!"

"I was kind of surprised how there wasn't a single girl standing up for guys like Jinguuji and Kurusu," Takamura said. "You'd think that they want to make a good impression in front of them, eh?"

"What does it matter?" Haruhi sighed. "It's over, finally. And anyway, it's not as if I'll be staying in this school any longer."

The three stopped and looked at her. "What?" they said quizzically.

"There was a mishap," she explained. "For some reason, I was sent to this school when I was supposed to go to Ouran High School. Look here." She handed Hojo the parchment. "It says Nanami Haruka, but I'm Fujioka Haruhi. There's a mistake."

"So you're saying that you'll be leaving us?" If Takamura had puppy ears and eyes, he sure would be using them by now.

"It's not as if I would've done well here. I have low grades in music in my previous schools."

"B-but you seem like the studious type! Surely you could study and get better…?"

"Yeah," Amori added, slinging an arm around her neck. "I'm sure with your smarts you'd be a fine addition to the Saotome Academy! Probably even better than that Haru-what's-his-face."

"Uh, no thanks." She non-gently peeled off the arm. "I'm aiming to be a lawyer."

"A lawyer?" Amori made a face at the term. "Ick, my dad's a lawyer and he's all old and grumpy and boring. You should be a singer."

"Or a composer," Takamura offered with a smile.

"No, I really want to be a lawyer," she said, smiling faintly. "It's been a childhood dream."

The two boys traded looks. What sort of kid wanted to be a lawyer…?

"Right, well, let's get some lunch, shall we?" Hojo said. "To put our minds off of things. And look, it's our turn.'

Haruhi's eyes went big after looking at the menu.

"Uh, Fujioka?"

"Th-they have fancy tuna?"

"Um, yeah."

She looked at the card in her hands.

"A-a-and it's free?"

"…Yeah."

"No payments involved?"

"What part of free don't you get? Hell, you even said it yourself."

Maybe this place wasn't half-bad after all.

AN: I'm making it so that all musically-talented people have a hard time differentiating Haruhi's gender, just like Tamaki. The rest of the host club knew that Haruhi was a girl before Tamaki.