Hello everyone! A couple of months ago, my little sister approached me with a plot bunny that sounded like fun. That plot bunny became this story. It was a heavily collaborated effort between the two of us, and she deserves lot's of credit. If anyone wants to point out that all of it seems like my style of writing, that's because my sister (whom I shall refer to as Murphy) wrote the story chapter by chapter and then would have me edit, and add plot devices and twist things in a rather amusing direction. So, please enjoy what Murphy and I have created.
Hello I'm Murphy as you all know or Kassi as some know me as. Death wanted me to put this on my account since she says I'm the real author and she's just the editor. We been talking about this for a long time so I finally gave up and let the story be on my account. I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: The Khaos's are entirely my own, but I possess nothing and no one else. :(
Chapter 1: Meet the Hosts
Kat wished her dad had never taken the deal.
Her father expected her to attempt to fit in with these Japanese rich kids.
"Potential business." He told her on the plane ride over, "These kids you're going to school with will be the best and brightest someday!"
Ever since she had moved to Japan, all her father had talked about was sushi, mangas and maid cafes. The day before school started, he had asked her about her scheme to assimilate into Japanese culture.
"Dad," She had replied, after groaning aloud, "I'm not going to become an otaku overnight you know. I'm pretty firmly American."Actually, she was equally European, since both of her older siblings lived in Europe and she had spent lot's of time there growing up.
Her older brother owned resorts across the globe, but he was living in a villa in Florence with his longtime girlfriend/ fiancé Christine, who was Italian.
Her sister in London owned several chains of clothing stores, everything from bridal-wear to urban punk. Coincidentally this is where Kat gets most of her clothing, she's an urban punk; preferring wearing dark tones with sporadic bursts of color.
Not the ridiculous frilly yellow concoction she's expected to wear to school. With dark red hair and snapping gold eyes, she would look ridiculous in the knee length, poufy, butter yellow dress with pink neck bow. When questioned by her father as to why, she retorted that she was boycotting for a less sexist uniform.
Therefore, she did not wear the uniform her first day.
The next morning at Ouran Academy, the teacher introduced her to the class.
"Settle down, everyone and meet your new classmate. This," The teacher gestured to the tall, languid form leaning against the door of the classroom, "is Kaida Khaos. He will be joining us for the rest of the school year." The teacher looked at Kat," Anything you would like to add, Mr. Khaos?" She asked.
The redhead meandered towards the front of the classroom, thumbs hooked in his pockets and walking with a confident swagger.
"'Lo, I'm 'Kat' Khaos," Kat gave them a casual salute, "I 'm 16 and from Gotham, U. S. of A." She had decided to wear dark dressy jeans, with a green printed tee, a gray military jumper, and ear strand and her signature bedhead hair. She wanted to look delightfully casual and enticingly American.
The girls immediately began twittering about this attractive and faintly dangerous looking stranger.
Not again! Kat inwardly groaned. As soon as she had come to Japan, the girl's in her building had starting making passes at her; even some of their mothers!
"Settle down!" The teacher yelled again, before turning towards Kat, "Please take a seat in the back of the room Mr. Khaos." Kat gratefully complied, but kept up the facade of aloofness.
After class, Kat was wandering around, bag slung over one shoulder, in an effort to find a music room that was actually used for music. She had seen two so far, but one was filled with orchestra students who looked at her like something you'd find under your shoe, and the other music room had been occupied by a couple engaged in, ahem, illicit activities.
Is a place to play the piano really so much to ask for God?Kat wondered. A few empty hallways later, Kat found a third music room.
It seems abandoned Kat thought, as she cautiously opened the door. As she was thinking this, rose petals drifted gently towards her, and she saw five attractive guys, and a girl, all dressed in matching blue pantsuits, the boy's uniform.
"Welcome to the Host Club, transfer student." A tall blonde said, with a radiant smile," I am Tamaki,"
Kat thought about leaving as he continued.
"This is where wealthy and unbelievably handsome young men such as ourselves, with nothing to do, entertain our school's princesses, (or in your case princes). So tell me, what type of man strikes your fancy? We have..." At this, Kat felt it necessary to interject.
"Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to make assumptions little prince?" Kat raised an eyebrow scornfully, "I am not gay, or looking to be entertained." The blonde immediately bristled when she addressed him as a prince and started sulking.
A raven-haired boy with glasses smoothly stepped in.
"Excuse me, my name is Kyoya Ootori. I must apologize for our president's behavior. "He said with a falsely bright smile "How may we be of assistance?"
Kat warily sized him up. She recognized his last name from a medical group that her father often did business with.
"Two things." She said, after a moment's consideration.
"Please continue." He urged.
"Firstly, I'm looking for an empty music room, or a classroom with a piano." Kat paused and shifted her weight,
"Secondly, why is that girl," Kat nodded towards a surprised Haruhi, whom she recognized from class earlier, "working in a host club? She lose a bet or somethin'?"
The older boy looked taken aback for a moment, but then scrutinized her closely.
The blonde looked thunder-struck, apparently he either hadn't noticed, or it had taken him much longer.
"Oh I see," Kat said, with a wicked looking grin after a pregnant pause, "It's a secret is it? Don't mind me, I won't tell a soul," She paused, and the grin grew wider, "Given the right, ah, persuasion, of course."
Strangely enough, this caused Ootori to chuckle, then outright laugh! His laugh, Kat noticed with a shiver, was rather like the smile that followed: predatory.
"You're sharper then I would've given you credit for." He said at last.
"Thanks, never mind though I'll wait for your offer. Mean while I'll go somewhere, ah, less crowded." Kat replied, voice dripping sarcasm and trademark mocking smile in place. With that, she gave a mock salute and swaggered out the door.
Looked like a bunch of nutcases to me.Kat thought to herself, having no real intention of ratting out the other girl. She walked back to music room number two, to see if the amorous couple had left yet. It was deserted, saying a quick prayer of thanks; she closed the door behind her and sat down at the grand piano. Kat trailed her fingers over the keys, she then began to warm up with, Ode to joy, at a quick clip before playing one of her favorites.
The quiet strains of If I die young echoed around the room, softly she sang along, no louder than a whisper. Suddenly, Kat heard the door open a crack; she slipped and accidentally slammed on the keys before swinging around, already thinking up excuses for being in here rather than her next class. She saw the short, blonde boy from the host club.
"Yes?" She asked expectantly.
"Sorry for disturbing you," He said sheepishly, "You left so quickly that we didn't have a chance to introduce ourselves." Perfectly reasonable explanation, except….
"We?" Kat asked, confused.
"Mitsukuni, the door." A deep voice said from the doorway.
"Oh right, sorry Takashi." The door swung open fully to reveal a tall young man, with dark hair and dark eyes.
Funny,Kat thought, Is it just me, or do they look related? Something about the face…
"I'm Mitsukuni," The little blonde said, pointing to himself, then gesturing to the taller boy, "and this is Takashi. But you can call me Hunny." Hunny smiled and rocked from side to side.
Dang it,Kat thought, He's adorable.
"I'm Mori." Mori said with a quiet smile. Kat instinctively knew this was the closest thing to a smile he ever got.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Kat said with a bow, she felt an uncommonly large amount of respect towards both of them, they were being very kind to someone they've just met.
"Would you like to come back to the club and eat cake with us?" Hunny asked, giving her a cute look.
Awwww…
"Alright," Kat said with a soft smile, "I was done practicing anyway."
"Yay!" Hunny cheered, taking her hand and leading her back to the club room, "The guests won't arrive for a while yet and you can meet Usa-chan!"
"Usa-chan?"
Hunny dragged Kat through the club doors with Mori close behind.
"Mori-senpai," Kyoya called, from his desk, "Would you come here for a moment?" Mori nodded and walked off. Hunny was enthusiastically dragging Kat in the other direction.
As he made his way to the tea tables, Hunny accidentally bounced into a pedestal with an expensive looking pot on top of it, knocking it off balance.
Kat threw herself at Hunny, shielding him from the porcelain shards that she felt piercing her skin as the pot came down on her head. As her vision went dark, she distantly heard Hunny sniffling and someone calling her name.
She came to with four faces peering anxiously at her,
"Kat!" Hunny threw himself at her and hugged her tight, sobbing, "I'm so sorry! You got hurt and it's all my fault!"
"It's fine, really." Kat smiled at him and patted him on the back.
"How do you feel?" Tamaki asked, concernedly.
Apparently, someone had wrapped up her arms and head while she was out. Kat sat up cautiously and winced.
"Maledizione!" Kat swore as she lay back down, "How long was I out?"
"About 15 minutes." An unconcerned voice said, "I had the school doctor come down to look at you."
Kat turned her head, Kyoya was typing at his laptop on the couch across from the one she was stretched out on.
"No concussion?" Kat asked warily, having had several and not wanting to go through that again.
"Aside from a few scrapes and small lacerations, you're perfectly fine. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a massive headache tomorrow morning, but the doctor gave you some pain medication that should alleviate most of the symptoms for the rest of the day." He then handed her a slip of paper. "Here."
"What's this?" It looked like a receipt.
"That is the cost of the vase you broke over your thick skull, the cost of removing your blood from the carpet and the sofa, and the pain medication the doctor gave you."
"…." 1,013,658.84 yen. Someone took the receipt from her hands.
Mori-senpai folded it up and put it in his pocket, "I've got it."
"You don't have to Mori-senpai," Kat protested, "I'm perfectly capable…" Mori held up and a hand.
"He's my responsibility," He said quietly nodding towards Hunny, "thank you."
Kat realized that he felt indebted to her for protecting Hunny. The girl, Haruhi, stepped close to Kat's ear.
"He won't be happy unless you let him pay." She whispered behind a cupped hand. Kat nodded.
"Fine but there has to be a way for me to do something in return. I'm serious," Kat said, noticing Mori's expression, "It would make me feel better."
"How would you like to work here at the host club?" Tamaki asked with a bright smile in place.
"Yay!" Hunny yelled, "You can stay here with us, just like Haru-chan!"
Kat's lips formed a wry smile, "Fine, but I think you'll need to explain what exactly I'm supposed to do, because back in Gotham, host's clubs weren't something that good boys and girls went to…" Unless you wanted someone killed, or information, or entertained…
"Go change into a uniform then." Kyoya said in a bored voice.
"No," Kat immediately protested, then continued when Kyoya raised an eyebrow,
"I don't want to look like a pansy too. I'll work here, but no one messes with the threads."
"Fine, "Kyoya said with a shrug, "If you want to look like a delinquent, that's your business. Why don't you sit with Haruhi to start out, her customers are the most welcoming."
Kat sat up and reached for her backpack. She rummaged around for a few moments and eventually pulled out a small bottle of clear liquid. She then began taking off the bandages on her arms.
"What are you doing?" Tamaki squawked, "You'll reopen the cuts on your arms!"
"No I won't." Kat was examining the dozens of cuts on her arms and neck. She unscrewed the bottle and pulled off the lid. There was a small brush attached to the cap. Kat carefully painted a thin layer of the clear stuff over each of her cuts.
Tamaki, Haruhi and Hunny watched on, fascinated.
When she had covered all of the cuts Kat replaced the cap and set the bottle on the table next to her. Tamaki picked up the bottle. The label said Liquid Bandage in English.
Kat was rummaging in her bag again. This time she pulled out two grey tubes and a dark green knit cap. She unscrewed the lid to one of the tubes and squeezed some minty green paste onto her palm.
She carefully dabbed a little of the green stuff over each of her cuts, then tossed the tube onto the table next to the liquid bandage bottle. Tamaki read the label on this one too; Redness Concealer.
She picked up the other tube and repeated the action, this time with skin tone colored paste, once again tossing the tube onto the table. This one said,Waterproof Blemish and Tattoo Concealer.
Then Kat put the cap on her head, strategically placing it so that it covered the bandages. When she was done, you couldn't tell that she had a mark on her anywhere. Kat just gathered up the stuff on the table and put it back into her book-bag.
"You carry makeup around in your bag?" Tamaki asked incredulously, "Are you sure you're straight?"
Kat stood up and sent him a withering glare, "I like being prepared."
"The guests will be arriving any minute." Kyoya reminded everyone, "Mori, would you go get the twins from lunch?"
Haruhi related her story to Kat and explained what hosts were expected to do, with Tamaki interjecting once and a while about The Intricacies of Being a Gentleman. As annoying as Tamaki was, Kat felt she would get along pretty well with him and that Haruhi and she might become friends. As she was watching Tamaki with amusement, the twins walked in with Mori.
"Look what the cat dragged in Kaoru." Hikaru said, pointing at Kat who hadn't noticed.
"He looks like a commoner, bet he's Tamaki's new project."
"You'd be surprised." Kyoya said without looking up from his clipboard as they walked past.
"Whadda' you mean?" They asked in unison.
"He has four immediate family members in the top 50 richest in the world. Khaos there," Kyoya said, pointing a pencil in Kat's direction, "has a trust fund in his name for about a quarter of a billion dollars, that he can only access when he turns 18."
"That means he's already independently wealthy despite being 16 and only the third child." Kyoya finished, with a trace of bitterness, recollecting himself, he added, "I'd keep your distance though; I have a feeling that Hunny and Mori are rather attached."
The twins sent a curious look towards Mori, who gave them a glare that set them shivering and hastily retreated to their table.
The customers had begun to trickle in and Haruhi was introducing Kat, but her mind kept wandering.
I'm sure that Hunny, Mori and Kyoya know I'm actually a girl,Kat thought,Haruhi's beginning to be suspicious too. Wonder why they haven't said anything?
"This is Kat Khaos," Haruhi said to the four girls sitting at the table, "He's new here and has considering joining the host club."
Kat immediately put on the gentleman's façade, "Please take good care of me." She said with a wink. The girls giggled.
"When did you start working here?" A pretty girl with dark hair and a kind smile asked.
"Today actually, I came in here looking for an empty music room and just struck up a conversation with Hunny and Haruhi and here we are." Kat said with an amused grin, elbowing Haruhi in the ribs,
"I admit I was a little apprehensive but," Kat paused and looked the dark haired girl in the eyes, "The idea of seeing you girls everydayis rather inciting." The other girl blushed and the rest of them had hearts in their eyes.
"Umm, may we request you tomorrow?" They asked shyly. Kat allowed her golden eyes to glow happily.
"I'd really enjoy that." She replied with a gentle smile. Inwardly, she smirked.
These girls have fallen; hook, line and sinker.
Kat and Haruhi started talking about their favorite mangas. The girls had asked Haruhi to read them and wanted to know what she thought. They were surprised to find out that the seeming bad-boy had read shojo mangas, but when she explained about her older sister's obsession, they seemed to accept it.
When it was time to switch customers, the dark haired girl (whose name was Aimee) was walking away when she tripped over the edge of the carpet. Kat jumped up and caught her gently, but wincing a little when the girl landed on her sore arms.