"Haruhi, slow down, it's not like they're gonna get mad if we're a few minutes late."
Raven was running after Haruhi through the halls on their way to Music Room 3 for their mandatory club activities. It had been maybe three weeks since this whole fiasco started. Raven had gotten a little bit used to having girls fawning over her, despite how odd it was. She had attracted quite a few regulars now, which was good because every request added to Haruhi's debt count.
"Just come on!" Haruhi urged, "I don't want them to have any excuse to add more to my debt!"
Raven sighed and picked up the pace realizing her friend had a point.
Finally reaching the door, they burst through to the regular rose petals wafting out. Raven batted them out of her face in annoyance then took pause at what she was seeing.
The entire room had been overran with palm trees and other tropical growth. There were actual animals scattered about, parrots, toucans, chameleons, the works.
"What happened?" asked Haruhi.
"Welcome!"
The boys were all decked out in tropical attire, Takashi and the twins had head wraps about their heads and were shirtless like most of the group. Mitsukuni had a lei about his neck, Kyoya looked a little funny with his glasses still on and in a long skirt like attire about his hips, and Tamaki was the only one with his chest covered though it was in some sort of fancy robe fit for a prince, and he had a fan made up of peacock feathers.
"There you two are, you're so late," the boys said in unison.
Raven glared around her, "Seriously?" she asked, then when she didn't get a response she looked directly at the boys, gesturing at the madness around them, "Seriously?!"
"What?" Tamaki asked.
"I may be wrong, but I'm fairly certain it's still early spring," said Haruhi bluntly.
"Gentlemen don't bundle up in thick clothes," said Tamaki, getting to his feet, "And our heating system is the best! We've created Nirvana in here, a tropical paradise of everlasting summer!"
"Do you not like how we run the club, Haruhi? Careful what you say. You do owe us eight million yen after all," said Kyoya with a smile.
"You don't have to keep rubbing that in, four eyes," Raven growled at him.
The girls were starting to come in, and Haruhi and Raven were mercifully spared dressing up in the Balinese outfits and mainly stuck to serving the tea around the tables as the other Hosts entertained their guests.
"You're not going to dress up like the others, Raven?" one of the girls at Takashi and Mitsukuni's table asked her as she set down her cup of tea.
"Tch," Raven rolled her eyes, "Like I'd want to look like an idiot. Besides, my favorite season is winter. I can't stand the heat."
She had learned that the girls actually really fell for her when she just acted herself, for whatever stupid reason, so she just acted that way. It made this whole Hosting thing easier, since she didn't have to act much outside of being a boy.
"Aw, but Raven, I think you'd look cool in something like Hikaru and Karou's outfits," said another girl.
"Rave-chan, we can find you something if you like!" said Mitsukuni cheerfully.
"No way," snapped Raven.
Besides, she couldn't exactly get away with running around shirtless in here.
She moved on toward Tamaki's table, but it appeared Haruhi was already servicing it. It did not spare Raven, however, from seeing Tamaki's act with the girls.
"Though the sun may glance off my ivory skin exposed by my Balinese King attire, I am nothing but a slave before my princess' beauty," he said seductively as he caressed a girl's chin in his hand and leaned down near her, "I kneel before you and swear my loyalty."
The girls lost it, as usual, and Raven scoffed. How could they fall for something so obviously faked?
"Oh, I almost forgot," said Tamaki, standing up, "The Host Club will be sponsoring a party next week, and all you girls are invited."
"We're throwing a party?" asked Haruhi.
The twins sitting on the far table caught Raven's attention before Tamaki could reply, for one of their guests was asking about the same thing.
"What kind of party is it going to be?" the girl asked, "Is it going to be formal?"
"Yes, in fact, we've rented the school's largest hall for the occasion," said Hikaru.
"It's perfect for dancing," said Karou.
"But," Hikaru leaned in close to his brother, tucking a knuckle gently beneath his chin, turning his head up toward him, "I really wanted to spend some alone time with you, Karou…"
"Don't be upset, Hikaru," said Karou softly, staring up at his twin, "I know exactly how you feel…"
Their guests freaked out, per usual, and Raven turned her head away with a grunt of disgust. Seriously, how did girls fall for this shit?!
Back at Mitsukuni and Takashi's table, the girls fawned over the smaller boy.
"Honey, you look so cute!" they cooed.
"Hi ladies, I love these flowers! We had them flown in- ah! Takashi!" he turned to face his friend, a lei in his hand as he rushed over and climbed up Takashi's tall frame and tossed it over his head, "There! We match!"
The girls screamed in glee.
"The girls seemed even more worked up than normal," said Haruhi.
"Well, showing some skin does seem to go well with the ladies," said Kyoya.
"So let me guess, you came up with this whole thing, huh?" Raven asked.
"All of the decisions are made by Tamaki, as he is the King," said Kyoya, then smirked and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, "Though, I suppose there is no harm in admitting slipping a Bali brochure on his desk."
Raven and Haruhi exchanged a knowing look as they both decided Kyoya was indeed the Shadow King of this Club.
Soon enough, it was time for Raven to sit with her first clients of the day. She sat at the table after turning the chair around so she could lean on the backrest with her arms crossed over them, her legs straddled, music turned on, but headphones around her neck so she could hear both her sweet rhythms and the girls. They came to her table with big smiles. They seemed to appreciate the way she was sitting. Raven had discovered it was the little things that made them freak out over her.
"Hey Raven, how are you today?" asked the first one. She had three this time. The girls had to pay extra if they ever wanted alone time with any of the hosts.
Raven shrugged, "Wish that they weren't doing this nonsense. It's way too hot in here."
"You could dress up like one of the other boys, that might cool you off," suggested one coyly.
"Don't think so," scoffed Raven, "I don't want to look like an idiot."
They all giggled a bit and Raven scowled a little. She didn't get it. What about her acting the way she did, callous and crotchety, did they like? Girls were weird.
"Are you looking forward to the dance, Raven?" asked another of the girls.
"Oh yeah, they're probably going to want me to go to that thing…" Raven muttered, still scowling, this time just glaring at the table, "I've never been to something like that before. Back in America, the dances all consisted of…" she trailed off shuddering a little, remembering the middle school dances in which all the teens did was grind. It was disgusting to her. Honestly, it shouldn't even be considered dancing. Dancing took talent, not something that should be behind a closed door anyway. Just pelvic thrusts, and that was it. Nasty.
"It wasn't real dancing," she clarified, sparing the girls the details, "It… it might be nice going to a real school dance for once, I guess. At least I won't want to throw up."
The girls laughed, then one spoke up.
"Would… would you dance with anyone, Raven?"
Raven looked at each of their hopeful faces with surprise. She felt her cheeks redden a bit, "Well, uh… I mean," she looked away, "I meant it be nice to watch. I… I don't dance."
"Aw, but come on, Raven, I bet a lot of girls would want to dance with you," said another of the girls.
Raven snorted, "Why?"
"Well…"
All the girls at the table blushed. Raven looked at each of them in turn. She really was curious why the girls fell for her so much with how rude she acted.
"You're cute," said one.
"And… you have this really adorable shy attitude, but you're actually kind of sweet," said another.
"Cute and sweet?!" cried Raven, her face reddening, "N-no I'm not!"
"Well, if we come to ask you to dance, will you dance with us?" asked the third girl.
"I- I dunno…" Raven looked away again with a weak shrug, "I mean…"
However, she was saved answering as another girl approached her.
"Raven, can you even dance?"
Twin alert.
Raven looked back to see them standing behind her, smirking.
"That won't do, Raven, you have to learn how to dance," said Karou.
"Let us teach you," Hikaru winked.
"How about no," said Raven, looking away from them, closing her eyes and crossing her arms.
"Come on," Hikaru also crossed his arms. And rested them on her head. "It'll be fun!"
Raven opened one eye to glare up at him, "You have three seconds to get out of my bubble before I annihilate you."
"You should learn to dance, Raven," said one of the girls with a smile, "But I don't see how you two could teach him how to dance, or do you know the steps for the girls as well as leading?"
"Karou and I dance together a lot," said Hikaru, finally getting off of Raven and looking over at his brother, leaning in close to him, smiling, "It's how we practiced."
"I love it when you dance with me, Hikaru," sighed Karou.
The nearby girls squealed.
"Why do I even have to go to this stupid party anyway?" demanded Raven.
"Because it's a club activity," said Kyoya, arriving at the table next, "And you are a part of this club, aren't you?"
"Not exactly willingly," Raven muttered under her breath in English.
"Wait, so will you boys practice dancing here… in the music room?" asked one of the girls, eyes wide.
"Why not?" asked Hikaru, leaning down on Raven's right side, smirking at her.
Hikaru mirrored him on her left, "I usually like leading, but I'll let you do it this time, Raven."
"Not on your lives!" snapped Raven, "Besides, Haruhi can't dance either!"
"No problem there," Kyoya looked across the room, "I'm sure miss Kanako Kasugazaki will be able to teach Haruhi as she seems to have become smitten of him this week."
The twins looked over and Raven followed their gaze.
Sitting with Haruhi alone was a girl with chin length brown hair parted down the middle with large brown eyes. She was smiling and talking with Haruhi, and Haruhi seemed to be a little bashful. Tamaki was staring at them from the corner with a pout on his face.
"Is she a regular?" asked Raven.
"Indeed," said Kyoya, smirking slightly, "It will be interesting to see Tamaki's reaction to this.
Later, when the girls left the room, leaving only the Hosts, they gathered around a table to figure out plans for the upcoming party. However, Raven sat back on one of the nearby couches with her headphones on and eyes closed. Tamaki was in the corner slurping down endless amounts of Ramen.
Raven was very focused on her music. She was listening to Avalanche City again, this time a song called The Streets. She always admired the drums in this one. She felt like her very soul was pounding with them, and she bobbed her head slightly to the powerful beat, letting it flood her skull and very being. Music had always soothed her, and made her feel emotions that were completely indescribable. She liked to think that though a picture may be worth a thousand words, a song, even without lyrics, were worth a million, if not more. It was like a lifting sensation in her center, like she was flying. Absolutely stunning.
Something poked her cheek.
Raven had a bad habit of lashing out at anything that startled her. It came from growing up with two prankster brothers. So when this happened, her fist lashed out and to her shock she saw she just about nearly punched Mitsukuni in the face.
But he had dodged it like a damned ninja. Raven blinked a few times, both startled by her own actions and the kid's, (who was actually a third year which made NO sense to her).
Finally she took off her headphones and peered at the boy, "Sorry Mitsukuni, I tend to hit things that startle me, you okay?" she asked gruffly.
"Sure!" laughed Mitsukuni, "That was a really fast punch, Rave-chan! I barely managed to dodge it! It was almost like sparring with Takashi!"
"Wait you what with Takashi?" Raven asked.
But Mitsukuni was too excited about other things to answer her, "Come on, Rave-chan! Help us make some plans for the party! You're good with music right?"
"Well… I like music, there's a difference between that and being good with- whoa!" she yelped and Mitsukuni grabbed her hand and pulled her to the table with surprising strength and a happy laugh.
"Come on boss," Hikaru called to Tamaki.
"Yeah, stop eating that commoner's Ramen and come help us," said Karou.
"You're not still upset about Kanako choosing Haruhi as her new favorite, are you?" Hikaru asked with a sigh.
"He shouldn't be surprised, she's had the illness for some time now," said Kyoya, adjusting his glasses.
"Illness?" Haruhi asked.
"The Host-Hopping disease," said Karou.
"A.K.A the never the same boy twice disease," clarified Hikaru.
"That's right because before Haru-chan, Kanako was with Tama-chan!" said Mitsukuni with a big smile.
"Seriously? You're getting jealous over this? When you entertain seventy percent of the girls that come here?" Raven snapped over at the blond.
He continued to slurp his Ramen.
"For the love of God…" sighed Raven, shaking her head.
"Oh I get it, so he's upset I took her from him," said Haruhi, leaning her elbows on the table.
Tamaki was suddenly at the table. Raven had to do a double take. How could this guy move so fast?
"OH SHUT UP!" he screamed, "I COULDN'T CARE LESS!"
He backed up a few paces and pointed dramatically at Haruhi, "I'm losing my patience! Haruhi! Raven! It's time you two started dressing like girls!"
"Huh?" Haruhi said, perking a brow.
"Not on your life," said Raven, folding her arms.
"I don't understand how the two of you can be so popular with the ladies when you yourselves are ladies!" shouted Tamaki.
"Yeah, they even opted out of gym class," said Karou.
"And Raven really likes running," said Hikaru, "So it wasn't so easy for her."
"How do you even know that?" Raven demanded.
They continued on like she wasn't speaking.
"And the attendance numbers are all switched up no one even notices," said Karou.
"I've had enough!" Tamaki pulled a trunk into view, from where, Raven had no idea, and popped it open, pulling out two pictures that were in large fanciful frames, "Daddy wants you to go back to the way you were before!"
Raven stared.
The first picture was of Haruhi from middle school, Raven had seen it in her home, but the second picture was Raven's passport photo.
Pack when her hair was shoulder length and blond.
Raven remembered that day. Her sister had insisted that she 'fix her up' before the photo. As a result, this photo, though Raven wasn't smiling, was the girliest photo of Raven in existence.
Rage burned the inside of Raven's throat.
"Don't go blowing up pictures of us without permission!" shouted Haruhi.
But then Raven rushed up to Tamaki and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, "Where the hell did you get that?! Give it to me right now before I flay you alive!"
Tamaki wailed, "Raven, why are you so mean to me? I just want you to express your feminine side!"
"I DON'T HAVE ONE! GIVE THAT TO ME!" she managed to snatch the picture of herself while half strangling Tamaki with his collar, then rushed away.
"Come on, Raven, I think you looked pretty good," said Karou with a smirk, "I still think it be even better in a dress."
"I will destroy you," threatened Raven, glaring over at him as she tried to get the photo from the frame to burn it.
"I dunno, Karou," said Hikaru, looking over at Raven while holding his chin thoughtfully, "I like her hair better with the wild color and short like that. That picture just doesn't look like Raven to me."
"I suppose," said Karou with a shrug and a grin, "Still think we should get her in a dress though."
Raven almost hissed at them like a cat, but she finally got the picture out and ran over and tossed it in the fire place.
Meanwhile Tamaki had placed the picture of Haruhi up on the wall.
"I still don't understand it," said Hikaru, looking at the picture, then to Haruhi, then to Raven, "How did this become that?"
Raven guessed he was referring to how they appeared when first arriving in the Host Club.
"The day before the first day of school a kid in my neighborhood got some gum stuck in my hair," said Haruhi, "It's a real pain to get gum out of long hair, so I cut it all off, I don't care if I look like a dude."
"Ladies shouldn't say dude!" cried Tamaki, then looked over at the others, "Mama! Haruhi's using those dirty words again!"
"Wait, who's 'mama'?" asked Karou.
"Based on club standing, I assume it's me," said Kyoya.
"Tamaki, stop freaking out," snapped Raven.
"Raven!" Tamaki looked at her, "Surely there's something in you that's even a little girly? What about when Honey-Senpai gave you that cake!"
"Boys like cake too, dumbass," said Raven.
"Well, are you into other girls?" asked Tamaki, "Are you not attracted to boys?"
"Wha- what?!" Raven stammered, her face going red, "I- no, I mean… no I don't like other girls like that! I hate everything that's girly, so why would I want to be in a relationship with one?"
"Does that mean you're into Haruhi, then, since she's not very girly?" asked Karou with a smirk.
"No!" shouted Raven, "I- I like boys! Just boys! So shut up!"
"Oh, so just boys, huh?" Hikaru said with a grin.
There was a twin on either side of her again. She looked at them nervously this time.
"Then you must have a type," said Karou, leaning in close.
"Or maybe more than one?" asked Hikaru, resting his elbow on her shoulder.
Raven felt her cheeks burning as she shoved them both away, "No! No types! Just- back off! Aren't we supposed to be talking about this party?"
"Oh that's right, you and Haru-chan don't know how to dance!" said Mitsukuni.
"What?" gasped Tamaki, "You don't? Every gentleman must know how to dance!"
"But… the party isn't part of my quota is it?" asked Haruhi, "I'm not interested in events like that, so if I could be excused?"
"Absolutely not!" said Tamaki, "If you want to live the life of a Host that bad, you'll both learn the waltz in a week, or I'll tell the whole school you're both girls, and drop Haruhi back down to errand boy. You'll demonstrate your skills at the dance," he grinned victoriously.
"Oh Raaaaaaven," the twins said in unison.
Raven sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose, then in English, said, "FML…"
The next day, Haruhi and Raven didn't take any guests so they could learn to dance. In Raven's opinion, Haruhi got off lightly, she got to learn how to dance with that Kanako girl. Raven on the other hand…
"Are you two seriously playing rock paper scissors?" Raven asked dryly as the twins decided who was going to dance with her first.
"How else would we decide?" asked Hikaru.
Though they weren't taking guests, there were still girls in the room, as all the other Hosts, save Hikaru and Karou, were still open for business. But most of the girls who usually sat with the twins or Raven were sitting in nearby couches to watch the dance lessons. Raven felt her cheeks already burning.
Karou ended up winning first, leaving Hikaru to sigh in defeat and go sit with the girls.
"Alright, Raven," said Karou, approaching her, "I'll dance as the girl, so you can learn to lead."
Raven sighed heavily, "Let's just get this over with."
Karou grabbed her wrists gently, and placed one of her hands on his hip and kept the other in his, "Like this, alright?"
The girls were squealing. Raven's cheeks were red.
"Erm… yeah okay."
That earned more shrieks from the girls.
Karou showed her the first few steps. Gave her a few pointers. But Raven had a thing with music, a connection, so as the music played, she learned very quickly how to move her body to the beat of it. By the time it was Hikaru's turn, she was already doing well enough to not have to look at her feet.
"Why don't you tell me about yourself, Raven?" asked Hikaru with a smirk as they danced.
"Not on your life."
"Aw, why not?" Hikaru laughed, "All I know so far about you is that you like music, running, and you're really socially awkward."
"Socially- what?" spluttered Raven.
"See what I mean?" Hikaru grinned.
Raven looked away from him as they danced. It was a little awkward with how he was a few inches taller than her, but it still worked decently.
"That's all you need to know," she said firmly.
"I'd like to know more."
"Well too bad."
"What if I said please?" Hikaru leaned down close to her, his breath on her ear.
Raven grunted in irritation, ducking away from him, "That may work on all the other girls, but I'm not like them," she said in a stern but softer tone so the actual other girls didn't hear it.
"Hm, I guess that's what makes you so interesting," said Hikaru with a devilish smirk as he stopped dancing and backed away, letting Karou have his turn.
As she and Karou began to dance again, Karou chuckled softly.
"What?" Raven demanded.
"Hikaru couldn't make any headway with you. I made a bet with him that he couldn't," said Karou with a smirk of his own, "You're too stubborn. Not like the other girls."
"You two are making bets on me?" snapped Raven, insulted.
"Sure," said Karou shamelessly, "After all, your type is the most fun to mess with."
"Don't you have better things to do, like mess with your girls that come to visit you every day?" said Raven heatedly.
"But you're far more interesting," said Karou, with a small smile, not so much a smirk like Hikaru would wear.
So now both of the twins have dubbed her 'interesting'. She also had more proof that Karou was the more cunning one while Hikaru tended to dive in headfirst into things with his mischievous attitude. Karou also seemed a little more… polite. Raven found herself a little proud that she was able to get all these differences figured out for herself between them.
Across the room, there was a yelp and a small crash. Karou and Raven stopped dancing and looked over to see that Haruhi had tripped and she was over Kanako, her face red.
"Miss Kasugazaki, I'm so sorry!" Haruhi gasped.
"Oh it's all right," Kanako laced her arms around Haruhi's neck and pulled her forward a little with a sly grin, "I don't mind, really."
"Well, she's not one for subtly, is she?" Raven asked dryly as Haruhi helped the girl up with her face beat red.
"Suppose not," agreed Karou with a small laugh and began to dance again, "You've gotten the hang of this quite quickly, Raven, I'm impressed."
"I, uh," Raven didn't meet his eyes, "I just find it easy to move to music."
Karou swapped out of Hikaru one more time. Raven found herself nervous as the more mischievous twin smirked wickedly at her upon his approach. She felt like she was more at ease with Karou. Hikaru, for some reason, made her feel like she was going to trip over herself. It was like he was always up to something.
"Just for fun," he said as he took her hands before she could place one on his hip and the other in his, "I want to lead this time."
"Huh-?" Raven gasped softly as he placed her hand on his shoulder and held her other firmly in his own.
This his free hand went to her hip, and Raven felt her cheeks warm slightly in embarrassment.
"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded as the watching girls all collectively gasped.
"Just for fun," Hikaru repeated with a wink.
Raven let out a small breath as he began to lead, swinging her along the floor of the music room with ease. Raven found it a lot simpler to let him do the leading. It was far more easy to just follow his steps along with the beat of the music. He was grinning at her, the smirk fading a little, as if this wasn't just something he was doing to simply annoy her. It was like he was actually enjoying this for other reasons.
The song ended, and Hikaru bowed and kissed her knuckles, making the girls lose it to what seemed like a new level. Raven's face turned bright red as she yanked her hand away from him.
"What was that?!" she yelped, "D-don't kiss me!"
"I was just demonstrating how to be a proper gentleman for you, Raven," said Hikaru with his smirk returning, "You need some lessons in that, obviously."
"Shut up!" Raven shouted at him, "I don't need your kind of help!"
Karou came to his twin's side with a sigh, "Easy, now, Hikaru, don't go upsetting him so much. He's much more sweet when he's calm."
Raven could no longer tell if the twins were doing all this to make their audience of girls go crazy or irritate her even more.
She huffed and stormed off toward where Haruhi was now sitting, done with the dancing lessons for the day.
Haruhi was with Kanako, and the latter was looking over the china set with fond eyes.
"This is a new china set, isn't it?" she asked with a smile, "It's Ginori, isn't it? What a lovely color."
"I'm glad you like it," said Kyoya, "We only just started using it yesterday."
Raven sighed as she realized she probably wasn't going to be able to speak privately with her friend about her ire toward the twins, and turned to go find a corner to listen to her music it. However, she bumped right into someone and nearly fell over. Catching her balance, she saw it was a boy, one she didn't recognize, holding a box in his arms.
"I'm so sorry," he said, "Are you alright?"
Raven looked up at him, the boy had shorter dark brown hair and a rather handsome face, but wasn't in the regular boys' uniform. Raven adjusted her headphones around her neck.
"I'm fine," she said flatly, then realizing she should probably be at least a little polite, added, "I uh.. wasn't looking where I was going. So… that was probably my fault."
"Ah, Toru," Kyoya came to Raven's side, "I see you've met one of our newest Hosts. Raven, this is Toru Suzushima, he is the gentleman who provides the Host Club with our tea sets. Toru, this is Raven Townsend. He is a foreign exchange student from America."
"It's very nice to meet you," said Toru, bowing his head to her.
"Yeah, uh, you too," said Raven with a shrug.
"I must compliment you, Toru," said Kyoya, "All the items you've selected have been very popular with the ladies."
Haruhi had approached now, holding out her hands, "I can take that box from you, if you'd like," she said, then smiled at him, "So do you sell tableware?"
"Oh, no, I'm a student here," said Toru with a small smile.
"Silly Haruhi," laughed Kanako, making Raven look over her shoulder at the girl still sitting at the table, "It's okay, he doesn't exactly look like the heir to a first class family."
"Oh, really?" Haruhi looked back at Toru.
Kyoya picked it up from here, "Yes, in fact his family is the number one in the tableware industry for Japan."
"Oh wow," said Haruhi.
"Aren't you leaving to study abroad in England next month?" Kyoya asked Toru.
"Yes, I am," said Toru.
Raven noticed that Kanako looked away at that point, her back to them. She frowned a little and glanced at Toru, "England, then? So I assume you've learned English quite well."
"Oh, that's right, you're Raven Townsend, the boy from America," said Toru, then in English, he said, quite fluently, "It's very nice to meet you. And yes, I've studied the language extensively."
"I can tell," Raven replied in English as well.
"Well," Toru was back to Japanese now, "I better get going."
Kyoya nodded at him and the boy turned and left the room. Haruhi frowned but went back to the table with Kanako. Raven shrugged and went on to finding that corner to hide in.
For about an hour she had peace with her music. As she closed her eyes and let the rhythm flow through her skull she found her mind wondering about several things at once. Like the differences in the twins, the upcoming dance, and the way Kanako acted around that Toru guy. She wondered what it was that made those twins take a liking to her in particular. Why she felt more comfortable around Karou, and about how Hikaru made her heart rate pick up pace. It was the strangest thing.
Looking up she saw the girls leaving the music room for the day. She pulled off her headphones, but left her music playing, loped around her neck as usual.
"Are we done?" she asked bluntly.
"Raven, with how you're acting, I'd say you don't enjoy being a part of the Host Club!" cried Tamaki, seeming back to his old self.
"I don't," said Raven.
And then he was in a corner again.
"Seriously, why does he do that?" Raven asked Kyoya.
"Seems to be his method of coping with displeasing comments," said Kyoya with a smirk.
"I wonder why miss Kasugazaki seemed so strange around that Toru guy," said Haruhi with a frown.
"That's because Kanako and Toru are engaged!" said Mitsukuni cheerfully, bouncing by playfully with his stuffed bunny.
"What?" yelped Haruhi and Raven at the same time.
"It's true, actually," said Kyoya, holding up a folder, "As you know, I conduct general searches on all our customers, and they've been engaged since they were children."
"Arranged marriages, really?" Raven asked, "I thought that was for Disney movies."
"It's very typical in Japan for families of high renown to plan out marriages into equally renowned families to up their social standing with society," said Kyoya.
"So why did she act like she didn't know him at all?" asked Raven, crossing her arms.
"It could be that she's nervous," chimed Mitsukuni, bouncing up to her side, "Maybe she really likes Toru, and is just too shy to admit it!"
"That's it!" cried Tamaki, "Everyone, it is the job of the Ouran Host Club to make every girl happy! So we will ensure that Kanako and Toru get together!"
"How is it we know that's what she wants?" asked Raven.
"It would be a good explanation for why she's been changing Hosts so much," said Kyoya, "It might be an attempt to capture Toru's attention.
So as the week went by, Raven and Haruhi perfected their dancing skills with the twins and Kanako, and the time of the party came. The boys gave Haruhi a brown suit to wear, and Raven a navy blue one that matched her hair. She was waiting for Haruhi to finish changing in the music room, leaning on the wall and her headphones were loped around her neck as she scrolled through her media player.
Hearing footsteps she looked up and saw Hikaru approaching her. She wondered vaguely where Karou was, but before she could speak, he asked her a question instead.
"Hey, Raven, what are you doing?"
Raven looked back at her media player, "Playing a game."
"Huh? That thing had games too?" Hikaru asked in surprise.
"No, idiot," sighed Raven.
"Then what game are you playing?" Hikaru asked, smirking at her and leaning on the wall beside her, his shoulder less than an inch from hers.
Raven glanced at him. For some reason, this time, she wasn't quite as flustered by him as she usually was. She looked back at her media player's screen, wondering if she should share this with him. But in the end, she decided it couldn't hurt.
"I call it 'send me a song'."
"What does that mean?" Hikaru frowned at her.
"It originally started when I misheard some lyrics from one of my favorite songs. The first time I heard it, I thought the singer was saying 'send me a song' when he was really saying 'send me a sign.' They sound very similar in English," she explained, "And I thought it was kind of funny, that maybe instead of waiting for a sign from the big guy upstairs like maybe a penny on the ground or something, I could rely on him using what I love most to get me through unpleasant situations, and send me a song instead."
"So how do you play?" asked Hikaru.
"I put all the songs on my media player on shuffle, and hit play. Every time, the song that plays fits the situation for some reason. It helps me get through it," said Raven with a shrug.
"And you think this dance is a difficult situation to get through?" laughed Hikaru.
"I don't do social, okay?" Raven snapped at him, then hit play on her media player.
Music pumped through the speakers and Raven actually laughed at the irony of the song that had been sent to her.
"What? What is it?" asked Hikaru.
Raven glanced at him again, "The band is called, 'Hey Monday', and the song is called, 'I Don't Wanna Dance'. Very appropriate, I do believe."
"Oh come on, even after all the lessons we gave you?" Hikaru smirked wickedly, "Didn't you enjoy them?"
"No," said Raven flatly, then frowned at him, "Where the heck is Karou anyway?"
Hikaru blinked at her, a look of sudden surprise crossing his face.
"What?" Raven asked, furrowing her brow at him.
"I never said I was Hikaru," he said in a slightly small voice.
"So?" Raven perked one brow.
"Hey," Haruhi was done. She stepped out of the curtained area in her brown suit and held out her arms, "What do you think?"
"You look like a dashing gentleman, now let's get this over with," sighed Raven, shrugging off the wall and heading for the door, glancing back to see Hikaru was still standing there in what seemed like shock.
"Are you coming or what?" she snapped at him.
Hikaru blinked and started after them, "Yeah, Karou was helping the others finish setting up, he sent me to check on you guys."
He seemed recovered enough, but Raven was still trying to figure out why he acted so weird earlier.
In the main hall, the Hosts positioned themselves on the stairs and faced out to the large room which was shrouded in darkness. Raven stood toward the middle, with Haruhi on her right and Kyoya on her left. Then, on the balcony above them where Tamaki stood, a light shot down.
"On behalf of the Ouran Host Club, I would like to bid you all welcome."
Then, the chandeliers in the room lit one by one, and music from the live orchestra started playing. Below in the room were countless girls in dresses of every color and shape. Raven felt the color leave her face. So many!
"The Host Club is, as always, here for your entertainment, ladies," said Kyoya with a smile, "So we invite you to dance to your heart's content with your favorite Host. Your dancing skills will be measured, and whoever proves to be the best will be announced tonight's queen and will receive a passionate kiss on the cheek from our King."
"Good luck, my darlings," Tamaki said with a wink.
The girls below all swooned and Raven rolled her eyes, still amazed by how no one saw through that boy's façade.
"You could be more enthusiastic, guys," the twins said in unison, looking at Haruhi and Raven.
"Well excuse me, sorry, but this is a little bit more elaborate than what I'm used to," said Haruhi, "The closest thing to a party I've ever been to are the festivals in my neighborhood park."
"And the parties back in America gave me PTSD," said Raven, crossing her arms.
"Well, you two could at least get something to eat," said Kyoya, "We've got quite a spread."
"You mean like… fancy tuna?" asked Haruhi in a breath.
Raven was certain why that seemed to trigger a nuclear reaction, but all the boys flipped out at her words, the twins hugging her, Tamaki flipped off the balcony and landing next to her shouting, "Het some fancy tuna right now!"
Raven rubbed her brow. Was it because of how Haruhi said it? Maybe that was another word for sushi and they thought it was that cute? So confusing.
Once Haruhi was freed, the Hosts descended down into the room with the girls. Raven found herself getting nervous. She remembered how to dance, right? It was like walking backward when she lead, she remembered that. Ah hell.
"Hello, Raven," a girl spoke up to her and Raven looked over to see it was one of her regulars. Her name was Kisuna, "Could I have the next dance?"
"You'll be my first," said Raven, "But sure… I guess."
The girl grinned and held out her hand. Raven took a deep breath then took it, placing her other hand on the girl's hip, then began to gently lead her across the room. She had to admit, her lessons with the twins helped immensely. Kisuna was blushing a little as Raven guided them across the dance floor.
"So, Raven, why do you still have your headphones?" she asked.
Raven indeed still had her media player on her, but since there was already music playing, it was on pause. She glanced down at them then back up at Kisuna, "I feel weird without them," she said with a small shrug.
"It's really sweet how much you love music. It's nice to see a guy passionate about something," said Kisuna.
"I… I wouldn't call it passionate," Raven stammered slightly, getting frustrated that the girls kept putting her in this light of adorableness that she didn't have, "Music has just gotten me through a lot of stuff."
"Oh really?" Kisuna's eyes got big, "Have you had a tough childhood, Raven?"
"No, nothing like that… I mean, not exactly," Raven looked away, "Let's just… talk about something else."
Kisuna smiled lightly at her, "Okay," she said, and Raven was a little surprised with how easily she changed subjects and didn't push for more details, "Are you excited for the warmer months to come?"
"Not really," admitted Raven, "I like winter, it's my favorite season."
"Really? Why?" asked Kisuna.
"The heat and I don't really agree with each other," said Raven, "As soon as it gets over seventy degrees I'm dying. And I really like the rain and snow."
"Then you must like spring at least, for all the rain," said Kisuna with a smile.
Raven had to admit, this girl was nice. She didn't get on Raven's nerves as much as the others.
"Yeah, I guess," said Raven, with another half shrug.
The song came to a close and Kisuna beamed at Raven as she stepped away, "Thanks for the dance, Raven," she said.
"Uh," Raven blushed a little, "No… no problem."
Kisuna laughed and pranced off.
Raven looked around as the next song started up. She saw Haruhi was leading Kanako out onto the dance floor. When she saw Takashi suddenly rush in and whisk Haruhi away so fast it was next to impossible to see, she guessed that the real show was about to begin.
"What?" Kanako blinked after Haruhi with wide eyes, "Kidnapped?"
"Raven," Kyoya's voice was in her ear and Raven sighed, looking up at him.
"I'm guessing it's game time," she said.
"You'd guess correctly. Come on."
Kyoya led her off to a back room where the twins were waiting with eager anticipation outside a curtained off area. Mitsukuni and Takashi were here too.
"Wait, who's entertaining the girls?" Raven asked.
But her question was forgotten quite swiftly when the curtains pulled back and Haruhi stood there.
In a wig. And in a dress.
"Oh my God, you can be a girl," Raven said bluntly.
Haruhi was indeed pretty. She was in a long sleeveless pink dress and wore a wig that looked a lot like her picture from before she cut off all her hair.
The twins sat her down in a chair next to a grand set up of makeup and began messing with her face. Raven crossed her arms and glanced at Kyoya, "You really think this is going to work?"
"It's Tamaki's strategy, so in all honesty, I'm not sure," said Kyoya with a smile, then looked at Haruhi, "Remember, Toru is waiting for you in the classroom across the hall."
"You gotta get him to talk about his feelings!" said Mitsukuni cheerfully.
"Well, can't say I envy you, Haruhi," said Raven with a wicked grin.
"Well, after all the threats you've passed toward the boss, we figured it would be in the best interest of our health to rely on Haruhi for dressing up as a girl," said Karou, looking back at Raven with a grin.
"Very smart move, on your part," said Raven.
"What, just because I'm not prone to physical violence I get stuck with this?" Haruhi whined.
"Maybe you should be more aggressive," Raven suggested.
"I don't think I have it in me," Haruhi sighed.
"Gentlemen, there you are!" Tamaki's voice came from the door, "Where have you been, our guests-"
He cut off as Haruhi stood from her chair and looked back at him, makeup finished.
From the look on Tamaki's face, one would think he just saw the Mona Lisa nude. Well, assuming she had a rocking body.
"You look so cute, Haru-chan!" said Mitsukuni as Haruhi stumbled by in heels she clearly wasn't used to walking in.
"So, boss, what do you think?" the twins asked in unison to Tamaki, who appeared at a lack for words.
"My face feels heavy and these shoes hurt my feet," Haruhi grumbled.
As Haruhi headed down the darkened hall, the twins called after her, "Good luck, Haruhi!"
"I can't believe… she's so pretty!" squeaked Tamaki.
Raven suppressed a grin. It was started to get quite obvious how much Tamaki had genuine feelings for Haruhi. His compliments to her were so much more real than the ones he passed to the other girls. It was nice to see he actually had some depth to him.
"Come on, then," Kyoya said, "We need to get back to the dance to entertain the ladies."
They retreated back to the hall, where all the girls were more than ecstatic for their return. Tamaki found Kanako and left with her, Raven had been dancing with another girl and was too far away to hear their conversation before they left.
The idea was to have Haruhi posing as a girl that had a crush on Toru, and see if he turned her down or not based on his feelings for Kanako. And have Kanako walk in on their conversation so she could hear him confess his heart belonged to her.
Of course, knowing the crazy bunch that the Host Club was, Raven didn't expect anything to go exactly according to plan.
Of course that was when Tamaki returned with a grand entrance and gathered their attention, directing them to the balcony outside the large glass doors to the right of the room.
Raven was pleased to have an excuse to stop dancing, though she discovered (especially after her dancing lessons with Hikaru) that she was far better at leading than following in the waltz.
She wasn't sure where the spotlights came from or how the boys got them there, but down in the courtyard below, they were shining on Kanako and Toru, who appeared startled and Toru had his hand on Kanako's shoulder. Haruhi was back, and in her suit again with her short hair. Raven went to her side instantly.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
"I guess we'll see," said Haruhi with a shrug.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" cried Tamaki, "I would like to pronounce to you tonight's king and queen," he beamed down at them, "The final dance of this evening belongs to this couple."
Toru and Kanako stared at one another for a moment, then Toru held out his hand, "How about it?" he asked with a small smile, "Kanako, will you honor me with this dance?"
"I- I…" Kanako stared at him with wonder then smiled and took his hand, "Yes, of course."
Raven knew this entire thing was beyond cheesy. She felt like she was watching a freaking chick flick, which she didn't much care for, (except for the occasional partly comedic ones). But, she had to admit, it was a little sweet. The girl in her, though it was hardly there, did a little, 'Aww…' inside, and she smiled lightly while folding her arms.
"Is that a smile I see?"
She jumped when the unison voices came in her ear and turned to see the twins both munching on bananas.
"Yeah, so, what of it?" now Raven was scowling.
"So you can like romance!" Karou said, "I'm surprise. I suppose I owe you some money, Hikaru."
Hikaru smirked victoriously.
"Why do you guys keep taking bets on me?!" Raven demanded, "And what's with the bananas?"
They finished the said bananas as she asked and held their peels while they looked back at her, "What bananas?" they said in unison.
"I hate you both," Raven growled, then looked at Haruhi who appeared to be giggling, "What are you laughing at?! You're supposed to stick up for me! These twins won't leave me alone!"
"Better you than me," said Haruhi with a shrug.
Raven scoffed angrily and looked back down where the dance was coming to a close and Toru held Kanako in his arms.
Even from the balcony, Raven heard his words to her.
"I love you, Kanako," he said, "I've always loved you. And I want you to be my wife."
Oh boy the sap meter just went up drastically. Raven sighed and rubbed her brow.
"Yes, of course, I love you too, Toru," said Kanako breathily.
Raven held in a groan as the girls around her all squealed.
"As promised, the queen of the evening gets a kiss on the cheek from our King!" said Hikaru.
"However Haruhi will be filling in for Tamaki!" said Karou.
"Wait what?!" Tamaki yelped, "When did this happen?"
"Just now," the twins said in unison.
"Oh!" Kanako gasped, "But I don't…"
Haruhi was red in the face, "I'm not kissing a girl!" she snapped over at the twins.
"If you do, we'll cut your quota in half," said Kyoya.
"Well it is just a peck on the cheek…" Haruhi grumbled.
"Better you than me," Raven said with a smirk.
"You should do it," said Toru to Kanako, "It will be like your retirement from Host hopping."
"Go get her, tiger," Raven said to Haruhi with a grin.
Haruhi stuck her tongue out at Raven briefly before descending the stares. Raven glanced over at the twins and noticed the banana peels were gone.
"What happened to the banana peels?" Raven asked them.
They grinned identical evil grins, "What banana peels?"
"Hey!" Mitsukuni piped up, "You don't think this is Haru-chan's first kiss, do you?"
"What?!" cried Tamaki.
"What's the big deal if it is?" asked Raven, "It's a kiss on the cheek, I don't even know if that counts as a first kiss."
"No!" Tamaki didn't seem to hear her or care as he rushed down the stairs after Haruhi, "Haruhi!"
Raven noticed the flash of yellow a split second before Tamaki tripped. One of the banana peels was on the stairs. Tamaki wailed as he tried to catch himself at the bottom of the steps, only to accidently push Haruhi forward.
And right into a full on lips upon lips kiss with Kanako.
"Okay, now it's her first kiss," said Raven.
"There were gasps as Haruhi backed up and laughed nervously, "I'm so sorry about that miss Kasugazaki," she said.
"I-it's alright," said Kanako with a slight blush as Tamaki practically fell into a puddle of his own tears behind them.
"Well, tonight was certainly interesting, to say the least," said Raven with a small sigh as she folded her arms again.
Haruhi and Raven headed home late that night, the sun already down and their footsteps echoing along the deserted streets of Haruhi's neighborhood.
"Well the dance wasn't so bad," mused Haruhi.
"Are you kidding? This Host Club shit is turning out to be way more trouble than I expected. Since when do we have to undergo such crazy secret missions? Tamaki is officially insane in my book."
"Yeah, but he has a good heart," said Haruhi with a shrug, "I mean, if it wasn't for us, it's possible Toru would have gone to study abroad and never realized that Kanako felt the same way about him this entire time."
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around how they were both crazy about each other but somehow drifted apart, I mean were they both just insanely shy? And this is the first incident of arranged marriage I've ever heard of where the two people are actually in love with each other. Haruhi, I didn't see this kind of stuff back in America, does this crap happen often here?"
"Not that I've heard of, but I'm not a high class citizen," said Haruhi.
"Ah hell, and this high class crap in getting old too. It shouldn't be about how much money you have, what your family does or what you look like, people should get to know and get to like people for who they really are and what they do, not their families."
"I agree with you completely, Raven," said Haruhi with a smile, then looked forward again, "So did something happen between you and Hikaru?"
"Huh? What do you mean? Other than him being his normal ass of a self," said Raven.
Haruhi shrugged, "I don't think it's anything bad. I just caught him staring at you a lot tonight."
Raven didn't know how to respond to that, so she didn't, just looking forward at the street again with a furrowed brow.
He was staring at her? Why? It didn't make sense to her. From her interactions with him, he and his twin just wanted to tease her endlessly for their entertainment, it didn't really come across like they actually liked her as a person, or cared about her.
So then why was he staring at her tonight?
Raven told herself it was probably to see how she was dancing after their lessons. That seemed the most logical answer.
But even as they reached the apartment and she got into bed that night, it was still in the back of her mind, and she couldn't figure out why.
AUTHOR'S NOTE::: For returning readers, I added an important note in chapter one regarding the 'What was Raven's favorite song this chapter?' thing. Again, the song and its lyrics don't always fit the events of the chapter to a T, but I will make a notice when it actually does!
WHAT WAS RAVEN'S FAVORITE SONG THIS CHAPTER? ::: I DON'T WANNA DANCE by HEY, MONDAY. Link: watch?v=PZJNJCSzQcI Lyric video? YES! Enjoy!
