A/N Thanks for tuning in to my first fanfic (on this site, I've written for other fanfiction websites)! Also, as mention in the summary, this is a collaborative effort with Amber Tonks!
"Where the hell are they?" an agitated Tamaki Suoh paced around Music Room 3 of Ouran Academy. He gripped his temples in exasperation.
"Senpai," the apathetic Haruhi Fujioka spoke up from across the room. "Ever thought they might be sick? Neither of them was in class today."
The Host Club King glanced up from the floor, "I suppose that could be right... I propose we-"
Master Tamaki was cut off by the door slowly swinging open. A solemn Hikaru stood in the doorway, which was suddenly miles taller than natural.
"Hika-chan! We were so worried!" Mitsukuni Haninozuka called out from Takashi's shoulders. "Where were you?"
The redheaded devil stayed silent.
"Hikaru," Haruhi cocked her head to the side like a confused dog. "Where's Kaoru?"
"Sick," was his monotonous response. The female host narrowed her eyes at the sulking twin.
"Don't do this again," she muttered; her face a mere few inches from his. "Now, you obviously aren't sick, so what gives?"
"Haruhi," Kyoya began with his always calm tone while scribbling into his notebook, "Do we have to worry about this now? The Host Club is about to open. We can't have a squabble like this; it would be bad for business. I'm sure you understand."
The scholarship student nodded and stared down at her feet, "Yeah, Senpai." She turned to Hikaru, "This conversation isn't over."
"What is with you, Hikaru?" Haruhi inquired after all the customers had walked out the door.
The older Hitachiin twin raised his eyebrows, "I told you, Kaoru's sick-"
"Then I propose a field trip!" the always-ignorant Tamaki swooped in.
Hikaru groaned, "I really don't think-"
"So it's settled!" Tamaki shouted, the dumbest grin spreading across his face. "Mother!"
"Tamaki..." Kyoya muttered. "Please don't drag me into this."
The king smiled, and grabbed the club's financer by the arm towards the parking lot, as the other four reluctantly followed.
"But Boss..." Hikaru complained under his breath.
Haruhi whipped her head around, "Did you say something, Hikaru?"
The Host Club poured out of a Mercedes Benz limousine as the Suoh family driver pulled up in front of the Hitachiin estate.
"Wow," Haruhi gasped. The place was larger than her entire apartment complex altogether. She knew she needn't be surprised, but she felt as though she were in a whole other world.
"Well, don't just stand there!" Hikaru snapped. "Get a move on!"
"Hikaru!" Tamaki scolded, "You should not talk to your sister that way!"
"She's not my sister!"
The overly emotional billionaire stepped back unknowingly into Haruhi as a wounded visage spread across his fair-skinned face.
"Come on, Senpai," the doted upon female pushed a then-depressed Tamaki forward.
The front double doors swung open, an extensive family staff standing in a line in front of the grand staircase, "Welcome home, Master Hikaru!" they all smiled in unison.
The irritable host walked past all of them and up the stairs without uttering a single word, while the rest of the club silently trailed behind. Upon reaching the tall double doors to Kaoru's bedroom, Hikaru wasted no time throwing the doors open.
"Hey, guys," Kaoru smiled, his raspy voice even more hoarse than usual. "What are you doing here?"
Everyone begrudgingly pointed at Tamaki, who grinned as though he had no idea of the dagger eyes his classmates were shooting at him.
"Oh," the pale twin gave a meek laugh, only to spiral into a violent coughing fit. His twin bit his lip, an unreadable expression clouding his identical face.
Tamaki wasted no time trying to be "the father" as usual. "Mother! Why don't you go fetch Kaoru some tea or something?" he cocked his head like an ignorant dog.
Kyoya narrowed his eyes. "Seriously, Tamaki?" he groaned.
The notably dumb second year only stood there, staring at Kyoya until he finally relented.
"Fine," he sighed before swiftly walking out the door.
The Host Club Vice President returned a few short minutes later, carrying a perfectly balanced tray topped with a traditional tea set. "Here," he muttered, setting it in front of Kaoru.
"Thanks, Senpai," the younger Hitachiin smiled weakly, taking the tray out of Kyoya's outstretched hands.
Before the older Host could pull his hands back, Kaoru began coughing uncontrollably onto Kyoya's right arm.
"Sorry, Senpai," he weezed as his soft voice grew fainter with each passing second. Even Tamaki could see something was terribly awry.
Even though Kyoya was evidently horribly disgusted by the germs, it was of mass importance he keep his cool, "No problem."
Haruhi spoke up for the first time since entering the mansion, "Hey Senpai? Can I leave now? I have to get dinner started before Dad gets home from the bar..."
"Fine!" Tamaki snapped, "Go ahead! I don't care!"
"Bye then," she called over her shoulder on her way out the door. Haruhi's lack of compassion for anything seemed to make it even harder to let her go. Tamaki watched her every movement as she walked out the door much like an audience would follow a performance from start to finish.
"We should be going to," Mori said as Hunny yawned from his shoulders.
"Bye everyone!" Hunny said waving as he was carried from the room.
Tamaki remained in the room after his peers had left, looking around at his surroundings like a curious toddler. With him, everything was interesting, and held something worth discovering.
"Boss? Could you make like everyone else and leave?" Hikaru shouted, the annoyance extremely apparent in his tone. His eyes shone like poised daggers, prepared to fly across the room.
The King took on his typical wounded, dejected expression before darting from the room in typical Tamaki Suoh fashion.
A/N Thanks for reading so far! I know it's starting off slow, but even Chapter Two has more suspense and drama and stuff. I do appreciate reviews but none are necessary. I'm (uh, we're) glad you're reading! We really do appreciate it :)