Ice has never been this warm before…
Wow… Some school exchange… I thought as I stare at the massive wrought iron gates that stood before me leading into Ouran high school. I've never been an exchange student and this is the first time I've ever been away from home for a long period of time with none of my family.
"Hello… uno you must be Amelia..Li?" a shy voice in halting English asks me, I jot out of my awe and found the person talking to me,
"Yes..?"
"Oh, I am Souga Kazukiyo the class representative of class 1-A, which you are part of… I am here to show you around?"
"Uh… sor- gomenasai, if its hard for you to speak in English please don't force yourself to…" Awkward moment… Then he smiles and says,
"Don't worry about it, I need to practice speaking English…" I nod half understanding,
"Oh ok, um where do I go now?"
"I will show you around and after that I will show you your host family."
"That sounds good." I pick up my suitcase to follow him but he stops me,
"No, don't worry about it. Your driver will take care of it." Driver…? I think he saw the look of confusion upon my face and explains,
"The host family has a driver who will arrange your transport to any where you wish to go. For now he'll take care of your luggage."
"But…" I look around myself and see neither car nor driver,
"He is just there." He points to a corner on the street and I see a limo with a driver standing next to the driver's door. My mouth hits the concrete sidewalk. It may have been either my mouth or my eyes budging out of my head that tips the class rep of my shock as he laughs at my reaction in a good-natured way and tells me,
"Haha, you will have to get used to this no?" I blink furiously to make sure it was nothing due to my imagination.
"OK…." I close my open mouth and shift my attention back to the class rep to stop myself from having another 'wow shock'. Pleasantly I ask,
"We are going to…?"
"Ah, right this way please." I take one last look at the driver and follow Souga into the school. Further in I can see more of the school and the grounds are massive over 10 times the size of my school.
"Um, Souga.. San?"
"Hai?"
"How big is the school?" He pauses for a moment and thinks the says,
"Uno… Even I do not know the answer to that question…"
"Ah…" I nod again following his lead through the vast grounds, I'm sure I'll get lost if I didn't have anyone to show me around…
"We are going through the central grounds now and this is the area most frequented by students and staff." Central grounds eh, talk about massive…
I follow Souga San into the school building and inside is even more decadent than the outside had even suggested. Chandeliers hung high above our heads casting a warm glow of light, the many sides of each crystal is reflected upon the cream walls. At first I didn't notice as the lights enchanted me but I soon noticed that my feet were heavily cushioned and when I looked down the floor was carpeted in a deep blood red colour.
"Wow." I breathe out.
"It can be a bit… too much for some one new, but you'll get used to it soon…"
"Huh…" Souga San points out a massive stairway splitting into two at the top,
"These are the main stairways and you have to take the one on the right to get onto the wing where all of your class rooms are."
"Wow. Those stairs are massive…" He smiles at me kindly and went up the flight of stairs with me following just behind him.
"Amazing, and you come to this everyday? I'd willing go to school everyday if my school was like this…"
"For the first overseas exchange student this school has ever had your reaction is something I have never seen before."
"Well isn't it? This is not something I see every day, let alone attend!" The railings were made of a dark wood varnished and polished to perfection, so much so that I could see myself in it.
"This is our homeroom as you can see." He gestures to a sign above the classroom, which identified it as class 1-A. He opens the doors and goes in before me to introduce me.
"Everyone, we have a new student please welcome her into our school. She is an exchange student and she will be staying with us for a few months. Please make her feel welcome." Souga San waves me in and I cautiously steps into the room, looking around I can see everyone's faces fill with curiosity.
"Uh… Konichiwa…" I trail of hopelessly looking at Souga San for some form of guidance; he simply smiles an encouraging smile. I took a deep breath in and continued, "Um.. Wa tashi wa Amelia desu…" another look at Souga San pleading with him to save me from saying anything else in my horrible crash course Japanese. Before he can say anything else someone in the class stands up and says to me,
"It's ok, you can use English if you wish. We understand most of what is said in English as we are required to learn it." Glad to be spared from that fate I breathe a sigh of relive and says,
"Thankyou… My Japanese is very bad; I have only been learning it for a few months. I – my name is Amelia Li, I am an exchange student from Australia and it's a pleasure to be here and I thankyou for having me for these few months." I take an awkward feeling bow and turn to seek some help from Souga San.
"Why don't you take a seat?" He asks me and gestures to a free desk, grateful to be saved from awkward moments galore I slide into the indicated seat. Souga San introduces me in more detail and talks about what we were going to do this term in a brief over view, and all in English too just for my benefit. Someone sits next to me and it's that student, who saved me from myself before.
"Hello, my name is Fujioka Haruhi how are you?"
"Huh, oh I'm fine." I smile at him,
"I'm actually expecting this to be a lot harder for me actually…" I admit to him.
"Haha, actually I'm much like you. I'm a scholarship student and yes it is very different, all the people here are very different from us normal folk." For a guy he's actually very sensitive…
"Thankyou, for helping me out there… I thought I was a gonner."
"It's ok." He smiles at me and points out two clearly sulking twin teens, "That's Karou and Hikaru they are both twins of the Hitachiin family."
"Why are they giving me dark looks?" He laughs,
"They're mad at me for moving next to you." I gave him a weird look, he is a guy right??
"Both of them are basically selfish creatures. So ignore them for now, they'll get over it." He says confidently,
"Oh ok…"
"Hey, would you like me to show you around campus?" He asks suddenly,
"Oh yeah sure… if Souga doesn't mind because he said that he'd show me around."
"Don't worry about it, I'll talk to him. Wait here." He gets up and went to talk to Souga, from what I can see it's turning out positive. Souga is nodding his head in agreement and Fujioka is smiling. He comes back and tells me,
"We can go now if you'd like, I've got the whole day off to show you around." He smiles happily and it makes me wonder for a moment if he really is truly a guy…
"That sounds good." I smile and get up from my seat when I stood up two people were beside me and gave me a shock when they said together,
"Where is lady going?"
"Huh?" I turn my head left then right, they are exactly the same - my mind reels for a moment to explain how the same person can be on my left and right at the same time when Fujioka says quite crossly I might add,
"You two are not needed, you can go back doing whatever you were doing."
"But were just observing lady and you, if you were gone then we wouldn't have anything to do." Says one twin.
"Precisely." Says the other twin in agreement the first twin takes my left hand and bows to me in greeting,
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance my lady. I am Hitachiin Karou, and this is my twin brother Hikaru." The other twin takes my right hand and bows to me, ok… This is getting really, really weird for my liking.
"Um… nice to meet you too." I try to discreetly pull my hands away but they just hold onto them and straighten their backs,
"We'll come with you Haruhi." Wah?..? No honorifics? Isn't that very rude? I remember my Japanese teacher pounding into my head the importance of honorifics, and now I'm hearing native speakers not even use it? I'm so confused I don't even notice that the two twins are leading me out of the classroom with Fujioka following behind fuming silently.
"For such a maiden it must have been hard to move to far away from what you're familiar." Huh? Are they talking to me?
"Sorry? What did you just say?" I'm pretty sure I've got question marks popping up around my head.
"You've confused her Karou!!" The twin to my left complains loudly to the twin on my right. At that moment I notice that they are still holding onto my hands.
"Um, excuse me…" The two bickering twins stop momentarily and look down at me, "Can I have my hands back?" I ask indicating my hands with my head for a moment no one says anything and an awkward silence starts to fill the void. The twins start to laugh and let me go; I take my hands back and shove them deep into my pockets.
"We're sorry for making you feel uncomfortable my lady." Hmmm… Yes… I look around for Fujioka and I find him just behind the twins.
"It's um ok…" I mumble to the twins and make a beeline straight for Fujioka, "Sorry, do you mind if I stick with you for the time being?" I ask him in an undertone. I think he sensed my discomfort and laughed light heartedly and says,
"Yes! Of course, stick with me all you like. I know the twins are a bit too much sometimes…" I relax and stay close to Fujioka.
"How is it like at first when you came into Ouran?" I ask after a while, someone wrapped my shoulders with their arm and leaned over and answers,
"Just like you." Freeze. Shock. Time delay then –
"Ahh!" I jump here at this moment. It was just one of the twins. "Um could you please not do that again? It kinda freaks me…" I say to the arm wrapped around my neck.
"Hikaru you shouldn't do that, it's rude." Hikaru laughs into my ear in response to his brother.
"Come on you two stop it!" Fujioka reprimands them and Hikaru much to my relief lets me go. I feel weird when someone I don't know touches me. Fujioka takes my arm and leads me away from the psychotic twins; oddly his touch is comforting though I do not know him well.
"Thankyou again… for helping me there…" I mumble my face going red.
"It's ok, the twins are harmless they are just playful." I look around what seems to be a courtyard and ask him,
"Fujioka San? Where are we?"
"Oh, we're in the inner-courtyard it's smaller than the central grounds but its still pleasant enough here. Do you know who are host family will be?" He asks me.
"Oh, no… I don't actually…" He sits on the edge of the fountain and beckons me to join him. Next to the fountain is pretty cooling as the mist from the fountain cools my body.
"I heard that someone from the host club is hosting you, I wonder who it is…"
"Huh? Host club? What's that?" I ask looking curiously at him,
"Well, even I at this point am not totally sure what we do but come over some day we're in the 3rd music room. Tamaki-sempai can give you the full spiel about what we do." He lets out a short sweet laugh and now I really doubt if he really is a guy…
"Hmm…" I let out a non-committal sound and asks him
"What is the host club like?" He turns part of his head to face me,
"The twins multiplied by 5, including the twins of course."
"So there are five people in the club?"
"No, there is six but I don't count myself in as I really still don't fully understand what it is that they do…" And with a thoughtful look on his face he floats off into his own head. Ah, he's part of the host club too? Now that's just so weird… I didn't see him fitting in with these people but for some reason or other he's there….
"Why did you join?"
"Oh, um due to unforeseen circumstances I um joined…" He rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"Haruuhii!! Tono is looking for you!" One of the twins bounded up to us and yanks Fujioka to his feet.
"Gahh!!" He sways on his feet for a moment before regaining his bearings, "Wait! We can't just leave Amelia San on her own!"
"Um you don't have to worry about me, daijubu."
"But you will get lost!" Fujioka insists, he takes my hands and pulls me up, "You're coming with us." Wha?? Before I can react he is pulling me along. We go past vast areas in the school I've never seen yet and up grand staircases, before long we were in front of two sets of door that were identified as the 3rd music room. In side there were tables and chairs of such elegance that it made me feel grubby, there were so many female students occupying the room it feels like an oestrogen fest, except that at each table there were at least on male being fawned on and talked to by more than 3 females at anyone time.
"Is this what the Host club does?" I ask in shock.
"Yes I believe so." A blond haired boy about my age came up in front of Fujioka and says,
"Haruuhii!! Daddy missed you! And you're late!" He proceeds to hug him, and I'm just standing here feeling a little more than weirded out. I mean 'daddy'?? Wtf? o.0?? Trying to keep the surprise off my face I strangle out of my voice box,
"So um, does anyone have a map I can use?" The twins turn their undivided attention onto me and I suddenly get a sinking feeling…
"So… Amelia Chan, what would you be doing today?" Evil eye glint… My eye twitches.
"Uno… nothing?" I back away from them but they advance on me, before they can do anything drastic the blond haired boy breaks the apart and greets me in a most unusual fashion,
"Oh My God. You must be the new exchange student!!! What are you doing here? With Haruhi I see." Vigorous nodding "I will see to it that you will be enjoying your time here! Mumm!!!!" Mum?? Who? An unaffected youth with black hair steps out and answers the blond haired boy,
"What is it now Tamaki?" The blond haired youth whose name seems to be Tamaki answers,
"This is Haruhi's friend can she stay?" What am I? A dog? My eye twitches further, any more of this crap and I'll end up having ulcers in my stomach. The boy with black hair answers,
"Haruhi's friend hmm… you must be the new exchange student." Deep breath, keep breathing… I plaster a false smile on my face.
"Yes, yes I am. Amelia Li." And where is the fastest way out of this world that is so far from my own that it's much like an alien world to me? I want out!! Give me normal people!!
"Yes, sure she can stay… Hmmm…" He turns away and jots down something on his clipboard. The twins continue to advance on me but Tamaki pulls me away from them and unfortunately the front door as well, I don't know which is worse. Being pulled away from my means of escape or being near the twins… I think I'll pick being pulled away from my only way out. And so my tedious day starts from twelve in the after noon till way past 3 I was stuck in music room three talking to the host club and their various customers. I found out that the Host Club was a means of entertainment for the young ladies at Ouran and only males were in the club as members.
I try to wrap my head around the fact that this was much like an escort service minus the sex? Ew. I'm going to erase that from my mind right this instant. Delete. This I think was just somewhere ladies could spend time (and money) with the various handsome club members? Was that what Tamaki was referring to when he asked if I could stay? Because I couldn't pay? Ouch my head hurts… I slap a horrible smile on my face and tell Tamaki, who has NEVER once left my side in the past three hours and say,
"Um, sorry for this but I'm feeling very tired. Thank you for your hospitality but I'm feeling quite unwell. Which way to the nurses office?" I feign an ill look, which isn't hard as I am already halfway sick with all the sweets I've been offered and consumed in the last three hours…
"Is Melia-chan sick?" Asks Honey Sempai who although is the oldest resembles a six year old in a candy store. He is currently residing on my lap.
"Ahha, yes I am… Gomen." Tamaki declares with much gusto,
"I will accompany you to the nurse's office, you will be meeting Souga San soon the meet your host family for the first time."
"Oh ok, thank you…"
"Melia-chan will come again ne?" Asks Honey Sempai his eyes wide and cute, I'm half-hearted to tell him no so instead I say,
"Maybe…" I lift him off my lap and place him in an empty spot next to me, I stand up and follow Tamaki albeit a little unsteady as I have been sitting for a while. The gentleman Tamaki is as all male students are taught in Ouran he holds onto me while I get my legs back into working order. Outside he walks at my pace and doesn't rush although he is still emitting a very cheerful and positive vibe.
"Is this Amelia Chan's first time over seas?" He asks me.
"Oh, no… just my first time being an exchange student that's all…" I take note of where we are and which way we are going just in case I get lost again… this reminds me of the times when I'd go into the city with my friends and concentrate on where we were and which way we took so much that I'd hardly hear what they were saying.
"My mother is from France, and I was new here once too." That one statement, that'll account for his blond hair and unusual eye colour, breaks my concentration.
"You were from France?"
"Yes, I moved here to be with my father." He says smiling.
"Oh… What is it like in France?"
"Its wonderful, you know that's where I grew up." He says happily.
"Wow…" We fall silent for a moment before he breaks in and says again,
"You'll need a uniform, do you have one already?" I blush and say,
"Oh, no… the uniform is far too expensive for me to buy if I were only studying here for a short while, the principal said that he'd allow me to go without the uniform since I'm just an exchange student…"
"I see… But no doubt your host family would buy you a set."
"Ah, but I don't – " He turns his face to me, the sunlight from the opposite window making a lovely halo around his face and interrupts me,
"That is for you and your host family to sort out." The light that frames his face startles me for a moment so I didn't answer.
"Oh sorry, the sun was… Oh um never mind, where is the nurse's office?"
"Just around this corner." We turn the corner and there is the nurse's office, my head is in a full headache now and I am actually feeling faint by now and I am so pleased to see the office that I nearly rush to get in. When we were outside the office I turn to Tamaki and say,
"Thank you for going with me, I'll no doubt see you around school thank you again for letting me stay and all…"
"It's ok, it's no problem." He smiles gently at me and knocks on the door for me,
"Hai?" Calls a voice from the other side of the door, I roll the door gently open and enter, I turn back to Tamaki and thank him again before closing the door. The inside of the nurse's office thank goodness was normal or something that resembled normalcy, it looked much like a doctor's office. That I can deal with, another extravagant show and I think I will really faint.
"And how may I help you today?" Asks the nurse,
"I uh, I'm just feeling sick."
"What did you eat just then?"
"For the past three hours the host club has been shovelling a tons of sweets and cakes down my throat."
"Just take a rest here, you are the new exchange student am I right?" I nod mutely back.
"I will call for Souga Kun, he is taking you around today?"
"Yes, I am supposed to see him soon anyway…" I take a seat and lean back while waiting for the nurse to call for Souga San. It seems that everyone knows me, or rather my 'special' circumstances… On the phone the nurse speaks in rapid Japanese so fast that I only catch a few words and try to piece them together in my head. Something about finding Souga San and getting him to the office or something… All of a sudden I am very tired my eyes are very heavy… I think I'll just rest for a while…
A/N: My first Ouran FanFic (and first fanfic in a lonnnggg time...) if there's any OC please tell me and suggestions that can help me will be very helpful!! . if anyone is interested I'll post up the next chapter...