Disclaimers: I don't own Ouran High School Host Club or the members of the said Host Club. I do however own Akatsuki Eden and her dysfunctional family.

A/N: This is the key for the languages being spoken during my fan fiction.

Normal – Japanese

Italics – English

Bold – Russian

Bold and Italics – Gaelic

Underlined and Italics - Italian

Underlined – Spoken in sync with another person

Chapter 1

The overcrowded airport and the heat that blasted her left Akatsuki feeling tired and under nourished. Stopping by a vending machine, she quickly slipped a few coins into the slot and got a can of soda, making her way to the luggage return belt to grab her items. The different travellers wearily trudging through the terminal made Akatsuki feel like an old lady. Shuffling out of the airport, she hailed a taxi and spoke in hesitant Japanese to the driver.

"18C Kurosaki Street Apartment blocks." She muttered and felt the cab lurch forward. Digging in her pockets for the right change she sighed with relief when the car finally broke free from the congested traffic and into the relative calm of the back streets. Paying the driver, she grabbed all her bags and headed up the stairs and towards the apartment that would house her for the rest of her school life. Struggling with the door she gave up with a groan and kicked it.

"Um… are you alright there? You look like you could use some help." A voice said, the tones indicating concern.

"I just want to get into my apartment. I just arrived in Japan so I'm kind of tired right now." Akatsuki said and felt the key being lifted out of her limp grasp. Looking up into a slightly androgynous face, she smiled slightly as the door opened for the stranger with no trouble.

"Thank you for your help. My name's Akatsuki Akuma." She said, holding out her hand. When the girl just looked at it, she laughed awkwardly and smiled trying to look like she wasn't feeling too awkward about it.

"My name is Haruhi Fujioka, and it looks like I'm your new neighbour." The girl said, smiling brightly at her as she shuffled her feet awkwardly.

"Do you want to come inside? There won't be much in the way of food around at the moment but we could always talk about stuff." Akatsuki said, hesitantly offering an invitation with a half smile.

"Thank you, it would be an honour." Haruhi said, entering the apartment like someone walking out onto ice they thought was thinner than it looked. "Wow, you really have only just moved here haven't you?" She said, glancing around at the bare walls and Spartan furniture. The piles of boxes stacked against one wall were filled with clothing in various states of folding and her few possessions were intermingled among the fabric.

"Well it is my first time seeing it myself, so I'll try and find some tea." Akatsuki said heading towards the kitchen and grabbing a couple of boxes marked 'kitchen' on the way. Opening the boxes, she extracted the tea pot and a couple of brands of tea.

"So what country did you come from Akatsuki, your name sounds Japanese, yet your accent is very hard to place." Haruhi asked, watching from the door as Akatsuki filled the pot the steeped the tea, grabbing two from the box with one hand and bringing the tea pot through to the other room. Placing them on the table she hooked two chairs from the mess with her foot while pouring the tea into the cups. Sitting down she indicated for Haruhi to do the same.

"I'm originally from America, but I speak fluent Russian, Gaelic, Japanese, English and Italian so my accent is very broad." She said sipping the tea with relish as she stared at the grain of the wood on the table.

"That seems a bit excessive…" Haruhi muttered and when Akatsuki looked at her strangely, she smiled brightly and drank some more tea.

"I just like to know what people are talking about, and it's not like knowing a second language is anything special." Akatsuki grumbled, stirring the surface of her tea with the tip of her little finger.

"I know that, it's just that five languages seem to be an awful lot of work." Haruhi said, her hands held out in front of her. Sighing deeply, Akatsuki placed her cup of tea in the centre of table.

"When your father couldn't care less what you do apart from when the next pay check is coming in or when the next meal is on the table; and doesn't do anything to help, you need to be able to express yourself to others. My only friends in America were people I found over the internet and pen pals I contacted through the local welfare centre." Akatsuki explained, giving some information on her without completely telling the truth, knowing that the story her Grandmother had set up for her was water tight as long as she stuck to it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think it would bring all this up for you." Haruhi apologised, not wanting to ruin their relationship on the first day.

"It's alright." Akatsuki said with a sad smile that wasn't completely fake. There was still enough hurt in it that translated when she looked at the girl sitting across from her.

"Um… you don't have to answer this, I don't want to be rude; but where was your mum when this was happening?" Haruhi asked and Akatsuki breathed deeply trying to calm herself before answering.

"My mother… died giving birth to me. My dad didn't care about her at all; he only cared about what he could get out of her." She said, smiling distractedly as she stared into the distance, the memories twisting her face into a bitter mask.

"My mother died a couple of years ago, I've been taking care of dad; but I can't comprehend the things you must have gone through." Haruhi said, getting up and putting her now empty cup in the kitchen. Hesitating at the doorway, she saw Akatsuki still staring into space.

"I'll go home now Akatsuki-san. I don't want to intrude." Haruhi said, watching with amazement as she seemed to shake herself and focus on her face.

"Thanks, I'll see you around then." Akatsuki said, stretching and falling backwards onto the ground, the chair falling beside her.

"Um… are you alright? That looked sore." Haruhi said, a sweat drop appearing over her head when Akatsuki just waved at her from the floor.

"I'm comfortable, that's all that matters." She murmured and grinned when Haruhi just nervously shrugged and headed out the door.

"See you tomorrow Haruhi." She called and smiled when the door closed behind her. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, after all; it wasn't every day that she moved to a new country and made a new friend.

* * *

The sun shone brightly through the curtains and Akatsuki grumbled slightly, shifting the heavy mass of her waist length hair out of her face. Rolling off the mattress she had placed on the floor, she got to her feet and began her morning routine. Finishing in the bathroom, she got dressed, tying her hair up out of her face and pulling on her clothes. Her style was anything but girly, and the clothes she wore usually made her look like a boy, but today it was believable. Her baggy pants and hoody concealed her lithe frame, not that it was particularly feminine anyway. Grabbing her leather jacket, she scooped up her helmet and headed outside, grabbing the keys as she locked the door and glanced through the instructions to her new school. Kicking the motorbike into life she took off through the streets.

A/N: okay so this was another sort of establishing chapter… it's kinda weird but it's okay.