Love is But a Dirty Trick

chapter two

"Hey Haruhi!"

She turned at the sound of her name, coming face to face with the Hitachiin twins. Their smiles, though genuine, seemed catlike (as was normal for the two), and she momentarily found herself feeling just a bit nervous under their shared gaze.

"Do you need a ride home?"

Hikaru, who had called her name in the first place, drew out slowly, a small tinge of color coming to his cheeks.

"We're not going to force you, but-"

"-but it's an awful long distance to ride on a commoner's bus."

Kaoru finished for his brother, slinging an arm around him affectionately.

Haruhi sighed softly. Even if she refused, she knew she'd end up in their limo in the end, so why fight the inevitable? She needed to talk to the twins anyway, and the ride home would surely provide more time to ask questions than the busy classes that would come the following day. She smiled sweetly, shrugging her shoulders so that her schoolbag didn't slide off her arm.

"Sure, I'll ride with you."

When they were all situated -the twins sitting side-by-side across from her- she tried to decide which questions were the most important to ask. She then remembered the way the teens had said Ima's last name, almost as if it had answered some pressing question that they hadn't been able to figure out.

"So why is this Ima girl so important?"

She finally asked, only realizing when the boys gave her a strange look that she had interrupted some small conversation they'd been having amongst themselves. Pushing aside the nagging feeling that she probably looked like an idiot, she tried to keep a serious face.

"Well.."

Hikaru began, amusement obvious in his golden eyes.

"The Watanabe family is well known for foreign trade."

Kaoru picked up where he left off.

"Maybe not as well known as most of the kids at Ouran, but they're quite wealthy."

Hikaru continued.

"They also make a lot in stock-"

"-and real estate-"

At this, they looked at each other in confusion, shrugging their shoulders and speaking in unison.

"But there's no reason why the Tono's grandma would want him to date her, and she's definitely not his type."

They both laughed at some secret joke, and Haruhi wasn't quite sure she wanted to know what it was. She mulled over the information they'd just given her, realizing with disdain that it hadn't answered any of her questions. In actuality, it had created many more. She tapped her chin idly.

"So why do you think Sempai asked her out?"

She pressed.

They were silent for a moment, almost as if calculating their answer. Hikaru eventually spoke.

"It's most likely to make his grandmother happy. She did introduce them after all."

"-She's not much of matchmaker though."

Kaoru added, and they both snickered.

"But why would Tamaki's-sempai's grandmother even introduce them? The Suoh family obviously has nothing to gain from it."

They were quiet again, but this time it was Kaoru who spoke first.

"No idea.. Maybe she knows something about him that we don't?"

There was an implication in the way that he said it, and Haruhi had a feeling that they knew something she didn't.. Still, something about Tamaki-sempai that only his grandmother knew? Was that even possible? Of course, there was everything with his mother, but she had been the only one who didn't know, and surely there was no problem that getting a girlfriend would solve. There must have been something about Ima that they weren't considering.. Maybe her father had some huge business connection that the twins had overlooked?

The limo pulled to a stop, and Haruhi realized that they'd already reached her house. She stepped out of the vehicle and turned to shut the door, but hesitated, remembering one last thing that hadn't been mentioned.

"If the Watanabe family isn't that important, why did you guys say her name like that when Sempai introduced her?"

They laughed in harmony.

"The Watanabe's may not be infamous in the business world, but they're notorious in the Blue Blood world for being so plain looking."

No wonder she was starting to judge people's appearances! Hikaru and Kaoru were experts at being shallow!

"They say that even if you dress a Watanabe in the finest of clothes, they'd still blend into the wallpaper!"

Haruhi slammed the door, cutting off their cackles.

Renge Hoshakuji wasn't one for superstitions. She wasn't afraid of black cats, and if a mirror was broken, it was just a matter of how many minutes it would take to get it replaced (not that Renge had broken many mirrors in her time). If she saw a spider, regardless of the time of day, she would holler until one of the maids took care of it, and she had truthfully never seen a ladder in person before. She never cared much for petty things like that. Actually, she didn't have much time for anything that wasn't moe.

Regardless of all of this, her dreams the night before almost seemed to be warning her of some travesty that was yet to come, and for the first time in her life, Renge Hoshakuji felt that maybe she should watch her step that day.

She threw off her blankets with so much fervor the brand new copy of 'Moe Moe Ouran Diaries 26' -that she had fallen asleep rereading the night before- almost went flying from the bed as well. She paused to place it gently on the night stand, then flitted gracefully toward her wardrobe in search of a clean school uniform. That dream.. She shuddered at the thought. She had been running through halls of Ouran, trying desperately to find her beloved Host Club members. Suddenly, a terrible she-demon had sprung from nowhere, exclaiming that she was taking over the club!

She'd woken in a cold sweat, fearing momentarily that something horrible had happened to the Host Club, but reassured herself. No girl would dare challenge her position as Club Manager, and well, if they did.. She'd scratch their eyes out.

Her day was considerably uneventful.

There wasn't too much homework, and only a handful of tests. No interesting rumors had been started, and the majority of the girls were fawning over the new Ouran Doujinshi. (which had, unsurprisingly, sold out before second period)

It wasn't until school was out, and the Host Club was in full swing that Renge even remembered the anxiety her dream had caused. She had, of course, stopped in to make sure than everything was running smoothly, and while things seemed to be normal, something just wasn't right.

Her gaze swept the room, inspecting each of the hosts at their respective tables. Hunny and Mori ate cake with their guests, the former going on about the different flavors as the latter nodded in agreement. The Hitachiin brothers were, well.. being the Hitachiin brothers. Kaoru cupped his cheeks dramatically, as Hikaru whispered something in his ear. Or was it Kaoru whispering, and Hikaru cupping his cheeks? She couldn't tell. Kyouya was typing away at his computer, seemingly a bit more tense than usual, but nothing too shocking. Haruhi was waving off his current group of girls, rising from his seat to retrieve more teacups for his incoming guests.

Her caramel eyes were then turned to Tamaki, who held a teacup delicately between long fingers, back straight and arm resting on the couch behind a seemingly shy, blushing girl. Nothing out of the ordin- Wait, hadn't that girl been in the last group? And the group before? She giggled at whatever nonsense the Host King had just spoken, sending the other girls a strangely possessive smirk.

"Haruhi!"

The otaku squeaked, grasping the teen by the shoulder as he passed, a clean tray of teacups in hand.

Before he could even speak, the tawny haired girl continued.

"Who is that girl over there? The one with the terrible red face?"

Haruhi wanted to groan. How did she find herself surrounded with frivolous people? The poor girl's blush didn't look that bad. Honestly, if it didn't seem almost permanent, she wasn't sure she would have even noticed it.

"Oh, that's Ima Watanabe. She's Sempai's girlfriend."

It was no use lying, with Renge's strange ability to figure out pretty much everything. It was a surprise she hadn't discovered Haruhi's own secret yet.

"His.. what?"

The other girl hissed.

It was like her nightmare had come to life!

"Tamaki-sempai's girlfriend. He asked her out yesterday."

Renge's eyes bulged.

"What?! This can't be happening! This ruins everything! HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO US?! TO THE CLUB?!"

People were starting to stare, and Haruhi could swear Kyouya had paused in his typing as the otaku ranted. The androgynous girl did groan now, placing the tray on the table gently and waving over her next group of girls.

"You might want to quiet down. I don't think any of the girls know."

Shockingly, Renge did quiet down. In fact, she was silent for the remaining club time. While Haruhi could see her eyeing Tamaki and his girlfriend scornfully from across the room (it was unsettling to be in the same vicinity as the fangirl for this long, but she tried to ignore the feeling), she didn't attempt to cause trouble once.

'What is she planning?'

Haruhi found herself thinking.

When it came to Renge, she had no idea.

Not until the end of the club did things start picking up. She wondered briefly if she should start leaving early. If everyone decided that they wanted to keep acting out at the close of each meeting, it seemed like a good idea. She would just have to speak to Kyouya about it.. Where was he anyway? She glanced around the room in search of the shadow king, but it seemed he had slipped out without anyone noticing. What in the world was going on with him?

She turned her attention back to the scene before her: Mori had a thrashing Renge by the shoulders, while Tamaki held a sneering Ima. Of course, Haruhi knew she should have kept a closer eye on the overzealous otaku.

Renge had approached the sofa in three long, angry strides. Tamaki was at the door seeing off his guests, waving dramatically at the swooning girls. Ima sat silently, glowering over her teacup at the receding females.

"So I hear you're Tamaki's new girlfriend."

At this, the brunette's head snapped back, toward Renge and the dirty look she was sending in her direction. The venom in her words wasn't completely lost on the seated girl.

"Yes, I am. May I ask who you are?"

Renge's mouth twitched into a crooked smirk.

"I'm Renge Hoshakuji, the Host Club's manager."

Her eyes glowed defiantly.

"Really?"

Ima drew out slowly, resting her teacup on the table and smiling so crudely that she seemed completely unlike her previous blushing, giggling self.

"Well, since I am Tamaki's girlfriend, and he is the Host Club's President, I suppose it's my place to relieve you of your managing duties."

Her smile was short lived, and in a flurry of movement, Renge found herself screaming curses through a placid Mori's steel grip, while Ima crooned from Tamaki's, which was not-so-steel. Not that it needed to be, since Ima was making to effort to escape it.

"YOU BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!"

The otaku screeched, attempting to claw herself from Mori.

"Renge, calm down. No one's taking your place."

Haruhi spoke finally. She rested her hands on her hips, sending the slowly-calming girl her best disapproving look.

Any of the mirth that Ima had previously displayed was wiped away by Haruhi's words. Somewhere behind her, the short haired brunette could hear the twin's muffled laughter.

"Tamaki, bring me home."

Ima's voice was curt and angry, completely lacking the smugness it had held only moments before.

"As you wish, princess."

The King sent them an apologetic half-smile. He then allowed himself to be pulled from the room without another word. The door closed with a soft click, and in the silence they could hear the footsteps as they walked through the hall.

Mori's grip relaxed, and Renge slowly pulled away, head low and posture sagging.

"How could he.. date such a.. terrible person..?"

Her sullen voice sounded strange in Haruhi's ears.

"Who knows."

Hikaru's tone held no hint of a joke.

"Yeah,"

Kaoru continued, resting his elbow on his elder brother's shoulder.

"Tono's weird sometimes."

From outside, Haruhi barely registered the sound of a limo driving away.

tbc.

--

First of all, nothing belongs to me.

I was going to mention that Renge is kind of ooc, but now I don't really think she is. I know she doesn't cuss and all, but she's never been faced with another girl trying to steal the Host Club away. I can imagine there would probably be a bit of a cat fight.

I am sorry though, for the confusing switching back and forth of Haruhi's gender. Since Renge thinks she's a boy, and their point of view switched back and forth, it just sort of ended up that way.

Finally, I'd like to address Ima's character. Originally, I was going to make Eclair return instead of creating an oc, but since she knows that Haruhi's a girl, and I'd like to believe that she learned her lesson, that was completely out of the question. Ima's sort of.. an Anti-Marysue. Sure, she's pretty, but sort of plain. She comes into the Host Club with the intention of winning Tamaki's heart, but she's petty and spoiled, and everyone just ends up hating her. Poor girl.

Well, as always, reviews would be greatly appreciated!