Trade Mistakes

Chapter One: Starting Today, You are a Host!

"There are four libraries in this school. But why is it so noisy everywhere? You'd think one of them would be quiet." Of course, Haruhi was speaking to none other than herself, her unusual voice lacking of femininity echoing through the ivory corridors. Her temper, or lack thereof, was aimed at the mass of students she clearly didn't fit well amongst; their rich and careless attitudes showing as they flocked to gossip in all the wrong places. "I'm beginning to think that rich kids only come to school to have a good time. If they don't feel like studying, they should just head home!"

A sigh escaped her throat then, finally easing her stepping before a tall, clear glass window. A soft glow reflected off the cherry blossoms surrounding the school grounds, lighting up the whiteness of everything with a gentle tint of pink, leaving Haruhi in a warm place, finally. "How are things in Heaven, Mom? I can't believe it's been ten years already." Speaking softly, her big medium-brown hues searched the skies, staring as a single, small bird fluttered across the horizons. "I promise, I'll make the best of things. Starting off with finding a nice place to study." Enthusiastically, Haruhi was off again roaming the top floor of the south campus, intuition leading her to the end of northernmost hall.

Music Room #3

"An abandoned music room, eh? I guess this is the only place I'll be able to study in peace and quiet."

"Welcome~"

When Haruhi opened those lengthy doors, she expected nothing more than to be surrounded by some dusty and unused instruments, left to rot while the high-schooler's found better things to do. But what she found was much, much more appealing. Well, to normal girls, anyway. The Ouran Host Club!

- The elite private school of Ouran Academy was first about pedigree, second about money. Only those with excellent social standing and those from filthy rich families are lucky enough to spend their time here. The Ouran Host Club is where the school's handsomest boys with too much time on their hands entertain young ladies who also have way too much time on their hands. Just think of it as Ouran Academy's luxuriant and elegant playground for the super rich and beautiful.

"Oh, wow. It's just a boy." A pair of orange haired twins standing within the group of boys stated in unpleased unison, staring wide-eyed like the rest.

"Hikaru, Kaoru. I believe this young man is in the same class with you, isn't he?" Only slightly taller than the twins, another male spoke. He stood almost adjacent to them, having the darkest black hair Haruhi had ever seen, and glasses to match his mysterious look.

"Well, yeah. But he's shy! He's not very sociable, so we don't know much about him." Again, the identical brothers spoke in perfect harmony, a shrug rolling off their shoulders in disinterest.

"That wasn't very polite, boys. Welcome to our club anyways, Mr. Honor Student. It seems as though the tone of our school doesn't fit well for commoners. So, if you don't have a lot of audacious nerve you can't get a scholarship here." Smug, yet said with a sweet smile, the tone in which the first male spoke again was confusing.

Whilst all their chatter had been going on, Haruhi was much too busy trying, and more or less fighting to escape. Her fingers curled around the door knob desperately, yanking and twisting it as if in a room where she'd meet her demise. It was the sound of her name that finally caught her attention, she'd barely noticed as the other boys spoke of her existence.

"What? You must Haruhi Fujioka! You're the exceptional, rare honor student we've all heard about, yes! So to speak, you are a hero to other poor people! You've shown that even a commoner can even excel at an elite academy!" At last, the centered attention moved onto a handsome, princely blonde in the middle. Haruhi froze at this sight, half shock that he'd known her name and the other half amazement to hear the less fortunate were so belittled by people here.

She turned slowly, a fear struck look crawling across her pale skinned face. "H-How do you know my name..?" Asking through a slight stutter, her back pressed to the door. Not only was it strange they'd called her a boy several times now, finding a host club in a high school was something far beyond what she ever expected out of this highly spoken of academy.

"Why, you're infamous here. It's not every day a commoner gains entrance into our academy."

"I think you're all taking this poor thing a bit too far."

"It must be so hard on you to constantly be looked down upon by others. But, that doesn't matter now. Long live the poor! We welcome you to our world of beauty!"

"...I'm out of here."

The back and forth was starting tire her, especially since she'd only wandered into the said club looking for a quiet place to study. Haruhi turned, her short, messy brown hair falling over her eyes in frustration.

"Hey! Haru-chan! Come back here, are you really a hero? Like a super-hero or something? That's so cool! I want to hear the story about when you saved the queen!" After a moment's notice, a tug to the ends of her shirt, one she'd borrowed from her father, pulled her back into the room and downward, causing her face to meet another only inches away from her own.

"Ah! Who are you? Who gave you permission to call me Haru-chan! I'm not a hero, I'm an honor student."

The shorter blonde backed away, shuddering in fear only to be comforted by a sixth male, tall and dark haired. Usually, she would have apologized for shouting, especially to such an adorable little boy, baby faced with big brown eyes. But another thing was plaguing her mind more than apologies: Where were they all coming from?

"Who'd have thought the rumored student to be so openly gay?"

"Openly.. what?" Haruhi paused, blinking in confusion. They had no idea.

The tallest blonde had taken control of the conversation once again, stopping the show with his awkward yet blunt question. "Tell me, Fujioka, what kind of guys are you into? Do you like the strong, silent type? The boy Lolita? How about the wild, and mischievous type? Or, the cool type?"

"I-I.. I, it's not like that! I was just looking for somewhere quiet! A place to study!" backing away now, embarrassed by the thought of being into any of those types of boys; she gulped, shivering as all eyes were now on her.

"Or maybe, you'd like to try a guy like me." A hand cupped her jaw-line softly, thumb caressing her cheek with ease. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned in closer, a taunting smile forcing the blood to rush to her cheeks. Why must she be teased like so, especially if she was thought out to be gay? The male only continued to bear down his gaze, bright, half-lidded purple eyes enjoying the seconds passing by in the slight embrace.

"No! I was just- I- You misunderstood! I just-" Ripping from his hold, Haruhi flung backwards, attempting a run for the door only to crash land into a podium, holding an obviously expensive blue vase.

It was impossible to do anything but stare as it smashed and shattered against the marble floor, separating into a million irreplaceable pieces.

"Awwwwwww." The twins said in sync, leaning over her shoulder in disappointment.

"That renaissance rune was supposed to be featured in the upcoming school auction." One of them, off to the left spoke alone.

"Well, now you've done it commoner. What will we do..? The bidding on that vase was going to start at eight million yen!" The other twin continued where the last had left off, pushing Haruhi to the edge of pure horror.

"WHAT? EIGHT.. MILLI- How many thousand yen is that? How many thousands are in a million?"

The group stared in awe, but only for a moment. Silence had overlapped all the previous commotion. A broken piece of décor was no big deal, they could all afford to get another. But since it was part of the school auction, it had to be important. Haruhi had no doubt she'd find a way to pay it back, but before she could even offer, it'd long since been decided she'd pay it back in full.

"I'll pay you bac-"

"Can you? With what money? You can't even afford a school uniform."

"What's with that lame, grubby thing you've got on anyway...?"

"Well, what do you think we should do, Tamaki?"

All sights adverted once again, bolting to stare as the one who'd caused her to knock over the vase sat down in a kingly manner, crossing his legs with a swift motion. Said Tamaki, the one referred to only as the taller blonde lifted a single finger, pointing with a grin to guilty Haruhi.

"There's a famous proverb you may have heard before, Fujioka. When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

What did he mean by that? Did she even want to know? A constant fear had grown inside her since entering the room, but now.. The look in his eyes was truly something to be afraid of.

"Since you have no money, pay with your body. From now on, you're the Host Club's dog."