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Haruhi`s face was flushed from embarrassment at the stunt the Hitachiin twins pulled, refusing to look at them as she started scratching the itch the choker was causing. The gingered haired boys drank in the pleasure they gained from her expression before making their announcement, rocking on the balls of their heels.
"Now we are going to play hide and seek!" they cheered. The girl gave them a quick glance before turning her head, nearly blinded by their enthusiasm.
"I rather not," she mumbled with a hint of contempt at the edge of her voice.
The boys ignored her as they began to explain the rules, making them up as they went along. Their auburn eyes glowing brighter with the playful mischief that earned them the hoard of their admirers that flocked toward the host club afterschool. Haruhi will have a five minute head start to hide and the first one to find her will give her the next command of the day. And she was not allowed to complain while following it. No matter how stupid or perverted it was. It would be the ultimate command of the day.
The twins were like small children absorbed in their own little world, talking quickly over the brunette`s yells of protest. Once finished, they nodded in agreement before turning to their victim. The boys shared a glance with each other and started circling around the girl menacingly. She tried to step away from them but they were circling in tighter and tighter circles.
"You better start running now, Haruhi," Hikaru warned in a low husky, the edges of his mouth stretching wider.
"Why does it have to be now?"
"Ready or not," Kaoru chimed darkly, wearing a similar evil grin.
Without a third warning the brunette pushed past them and raced out of the room working her legs harder than she ever had before. The twins laughter echoed behind her but she didn`t care. She turned sharp corners, avoiding knocking down any furniture, and rushed up a second flight of stairs that she never noticed before, after a few moments she was left panting out of breath. A few drops of sweat coated her forehead. She never thought she would regret not taking gym seriously if she knew she would be in a situation like this one.
She jumped out of her skin when she her distant footsteps. In response, she threw herself at the nearest door and closing it as quietly as possible behind her. The brunette peeked out of the keyhole to watch for the source of the noise. Only to see an elderly tall butler with a large nose, pass by. Holding his chin up high with dignity, while giving the door an unpleasant glance.
In the other side of the mansion the twins had separated and were checking every room that wasn`t locked, looking in the every closets, checking under the bed, or behind the curtains. All they could find was evidence that the servants were getting lazy with the cleaning. But only their mother fussed over little details like that, the few times she was actually home, that is. Kaoru was sneaking up on a suspicious shadow lurking in the corner of the hall, arms raised, ready to pounce on his prey. Only to sign in disappointment when he saw the face of the snobby butler who worked as the doorman. He thought his brother send the sixty year old man home, already.
"The guest your mother spoke of has arrived, young master," the older man announced, looking at the teenager under his nose.
He was one of the few people who didn`t treat the twins like royalty. The only likable trait in their eyes, but similar to everyone else, he couldn`t address them by name. For the old miserable man was one in a million who couldn`t tell the brothers apart. They were the same brat with the same face but with different name, nothing more.
"I wasn`t told anything," Kaoru gazed back with lazy bored eyes. The old man was wasting his time. The butler glared back in annoyance at the boy`s arrogance.
"The one your mother was considering for an arranged marriage," the man informed bluntly.
The younger ginger haired boy stared at the wrinkled old man blankly. Remembering the conversation they had with the mother. The memory was fuzzy, like looking through a foggy window. A big brand fashion industry in France wanted to merge with the Hitachiin company. This industry wanted to stay in close contact with them, and this was their idea of close, having Hikaru tie the knot with some half French half Japanese girl. The daughter and spokes model of the company leader. Their mother showed them a picture of the girl, she looked like she could have been related to Tamaki-sempai, they thought with disgust.
Hikaru stated nonchalantly, he would never consider being with a foreigner, even one of similar heritage. Their own mother has the tendency of confusing them, what were the chances this stupid air head foreigner wouldn`t do the same thing? At first, they minded when mother would brush off the mistake of confusing her own children with each other. But later on they let her call them whatever she wanted. Knowing that no matter how many times they told her who was who she would never recognize them. They already accepted the fact no one would be able to tell them apart. Until, Haruhi came along. The younger Hitachiin brother turned his back to the old man, his back from the reality.
"We are playing a game," Kaoru mumbled under his breath his bangs brushing over his eyes, crossing his arms, "its` not over yet."
"Well, the lady is waiting."
"She can wait some more," he shrugged, shuffling his feet.
"I must advise against that, young master."
" Tell her to join if she wants to meet me that badly," Kaoru answered. Pretend to be Hikaru, get her out of here and packing before his brother found out. It had to be quick and he was suddenly nervous, what if she found the real Hikaru first?
"That is not proper for a young gentleman," the butler insisted.
"Who said I was a gentleman? Send the message, anyway," the boy ordered sharply, spinning on his heel to storm off.
"Before anything else, I am looking for my friend." The butler squinted at the boy and thought for a moment or two, remembering the commoner girl from before.
"You mean the one strutting around the manner in that ridiculous costume?" the man asked abruptly, he was wondering where she came from. He should have guessed from the look of panic on her face that it was something of the twin`s doing. He stiffed his back straighter when the young man shot him a glare.
"That's my maid you`re talking about."
In the entrance room…
A beautiful girl with sparkling hazel eyes and long silky blond hair was standing in the hallway in anticipation. She was wearing a popular designer dress made by the Hitachiin company, thinking it would make a good impression. It wasn`t her favorite because it just wasn`t tight enough for her taste, not enough to give a generous view of her busty chest.
She was fidgeting in place for a while looking all around the room, waiting for someone to introduce her to (in her mind) her future fiancé. The whole plane ride, all the girl could do was daydream while looking at a picture of Hitachiin Kaoru. His perfect pale skin, golden-honey toned eyes, that messy auburn hair, and that oh-so-slender figure. Little aware of the fact, that their mother had send the picture of the wrong child. She was playing with her hair before jumping in excitement when a figure appeared at the top of the stair case. But frowned when she saw it was only the butler from before.
"Lady Mary, Master Hikaru has invited you to play a game," he announce in disdain, and having to explain the silly situation.
"Oh please, just call me Mary," she said in a light sing song voice," but isn`t a bit rude to not tend to a guest?"
"He requests you to follow his suggestion if you wish to meet him in person. He is in that certain mood… you must seek him for yourself."
"Why won`t he see me?" she asked innocently, tilting her head cutely to the side.
"He announced that he is looking for his new maid, a slacker apparently. If you can find him before he can get to her then he will agree to marry you," the man continued, looking sick from speaking his words. Mary narrowed her eyes, a challenge has come arrived? The boys were rumored to be notoriously eccentric but she didn`t come here for nothing. No matter, the girl thought with a haughty flip her hair. Narrowing her eyes more sharply, no one was able to resist the French Japanese beauty. She had tamed a fair number of wild teenage boys, before.
"When do I start," the girl asked in charming indifference. But unable to resist the urge to ball her small hands into pretty little fists.
"As soon as now." The girl dashed up the stair past the butler in cheetah like grace.
"He has a brother," the man called weakly behind her, confused how she managed to dash up the stairs at such speed.
"Maybe I should have taken the day off," he mumbled under his breath, pressing his fingers to his temples.
Where Haruhi is hiding…
It took a few seconds to figure out she was in Hikaru and Kaoru`s room. All the shelves were stock with different objects and souvenirs from around the world. Several electronics were scattered about the floor. A single king size bed stood in the corner of the room. Among the rare objects an elaborately decorated elephant head had especially captivated the brunette`s interest. It was laid at rest on the night stand next to the bed. It was definitely worth more than her, there was no question.
Just as she lean in to get a better look at the intricate design a burst of colorful paper came out of the trunk. With a loud popping sound similar to a bomb exploding. Earning a yell that tore out of the girl`s throat. She stumbled backwards and felt her body make contact with a wall of flesh. Before she could say anything a hand covered her mouth.
"It`s me," a urgent voice whispered," I need you to be quite for a second, okay?" She couldn`t move since the boy`s arm was wrapped around her waist. She only nodded in understanding. He let go of her mouth and the girl turned around to have her gazed lock with a pair of solemn auburn eyes.
"You caught me," she stated in nervous quietness, sensing the change of his previous mood.
"…"
"I guess its game over," she whispered, uncertain how she should handle the boy`s sad gaze.
You will never have any idea, he thought, looking at her more darkly, now.
" What`s wrong?" she asked firmly now, pushing at his chest, trying to create more distance between them. Only to be pulled in closer, feeling the warm tingle of her skin against his, the tightening grip his lanky body was enforcing.
"Hikaru?"
"I`m sorry, Haruhi," the boy whispered.
"Huh?" She felt her back press against the mattress. The bed springs underneath bended from the excess weight, as he shoved the girl into the bed with full force, pinning her arms down and climbing on top of her.
"What are you doing!" the girl yelled, forced to stare at the boy straight in the face, he didn`t reply.
" Get off!" she cried, struggling against his grip, he only watched with a satisfied smirk.
"Beg." She blinked, unsure if she heard him right.
"No," she hissed her voice dripping in venom, struggling harder. She never felt so weak and pathetic since their trip to the beach. Everyone had to take care of her when those low-lives tried to drown her. She let her guard down once, not a second time. The twins` perverted, wicked sense of humor was known to go from talk to physical action. But this was going too far, even for them.
"You're very forward for a servant," he noted smirking at her.
She didn`t notice the sound of the door creaking open until she heard someone`s voice squeak out.
"Am I interrupting?"
They both turn to look at the intruder who casted a shadow from the doorway. In the hall stood a beautiful girl wearing a sheepish smile as her eyes were tearing at the sides. Her heart shaped face was scrunch up into little wrinkles.
"No!" Haruhi yelled, willing the stranger to rescue her.
"Yes," the boy glared at the intruder.
"It`s not-"
"It`s exactly what it looks like," the boy smirked again, interrupting Haruhi`s explanation. The girl looked from Hikaru from Haruhi, back and forth. Shaking her head like all she was seeing was one big mistake.
"Do you know who I am," the girl asked gesturing to herself, trembling slightly with a weak smile.
The boy scoffed. "Do you mean you don`t know who I am?"
Her face shattered into shock. "Is she a friend?"
"Does she look like one?" he asked, his voice dripping in cruel sarcasm. Haruhi`s limbs began to tremble with fear and humiliation.
"W-w-well…" she stuttered, covering her mouth. This never happened to me before, the blond thought, fighting back tears. How can he prefer a boyish looking maid over her?
"But-"
"If you don`t mind. Leave."
"B-b-but-"
"By the way, wearing knock-offs of Hitachiin originals is insulting," he criticized sharply.
She stopped shaking staring the boy down. She slowly flashed him a small smile, before suddenly rushing over to him, stumbling over remote controls in the process, beating at his back and shoulders with her fists. Screaming and rumbling as she was doing so. While Hikaru stared at the brunette under him wearing the same stoic expression as Haruhi wore at the host club when he and Kaoru pulled there "brotherly love" act for the clients. Waiting for the prima donna`s pathetic tantrum to be over with.
" I came all the to Japan just so I can meet you," she shrieked hitting harder with each word, while the brunette watched in a daze. Was this really happening? This person was not a potential savior but only a rabid fan. The brunette was also acutely aware that the older boy hadn`t shifted position the whole time. She was still lying under the ginger haired boy before realizing that he was blocking the guest from hitting her as well.
After a few seconds, the girl decided to put her energy into crying and ran out the door. After a few seconds, Hikaru slowly climbed off of Haruhi and flipped himself on his back, folding his arms behind his head. His face plastered the definition of exhaustion and irritation. He was clearly unamused with the predicament despite the fact that it happened more times than he cared to remember. Expect with less physical violence. Haruhi sat up and gave him a wordless glance, devoid of any meaning.
"It`s happened before," he explained," they usually need a good scare but this one needed more of…some shock therapy."
His thoughts were running all over the place, he had to do it, he was the older brother, and yet Kaoru had tried to protect him. He overheard Kaoru and the butler talking from the other end of the hallway and did nothing. He always had his brother nearby no matter what. Yet, it was his younger brother who tried to carry his burdens.
This wasn`t the first time their mother pitched the idea of marrying him or Kaoru off. It was expected of those born in the higher class of society. But it felt more personal this time and he had been holding the reason in his arms, only a few moments before. He didn`t really know how he felt towards the brunette, but he wanted her around more. Here and now. Haruhi was his toy that he can only share with Kaoru. They felt her subconsciously drifting closer and closer to Tamaki-sempai. No one else was getting in the way of being with the only person who can see them for who they are. Both the good and the bad sides…
"You really weren`t going to do anything before, were you," the brunette mused, the boy glance back at her.
"She was going to ruin the day," he grumbled in a childlike manner," it was suppose to be just the three of us." Haruhi recognized that hint of selfishness returning in his tone. But something told her there was something more, but decided not to ask. Hikaru was the stubborn one, there was no point into making him do something he doesn`t want to. He will do it when he is ready… which could mean never.
"Hey, Hikaru?"
"What ?"
"Where is Kaoru?"
" I don`t know," he sat up sharply, suddenly alert, " but that foreigner better not lay a finger on him." He stood up from the bed following the direction of the foreign heiress. Before passing the doorway he looked over his shoulder, lingering there for a moment.
" Don`t try hide again," he ordered, " don`t forget that I make the next command."
The young beauty was slowing to a stop when she made it to the stair case. He should have got down and his knees and beg me to be his, she mentally screamed pouting her lips.
"To think I wore this cheap trash, too," she snarled.
"I don`t appreciate guests insulting my mother`s life work," a voice called out.
She spun around and glared at the ginger haired boy, his eyes glowing cat like from the shadowed cornered where he leaned against the wall. Did he honestly change his clothes before coming after her? The girl brushed away her tears regaining her confidence. The blond brought her fingers to her lips to hide her coy smile, proving to herself that the earlier comments didn`t hinder her pride. If he was coming back, she will welcome him with open arms. They always come around after witnessing a few crocodile tears.
"Are you going to apologies?" she asked.
" Yes, for whoever does your hair," he mocked lightly, "do yourself a favor and get a better dye job," pointing out the black roots that faded into her blond locks with a scoff. Her eyes widen in surprise, no one ever had the gall to even suggest she owned a single flaw.
" It was demanded by my fans," she said with noticeable hatred at the edge of her voice.
"Please, keep talking. I always yawn when I am interested," he replied, lifting his hand to his face to cover his deep exhale.
She has been made fun of more than enough, today. If she was leaving she will go with grace. The girl walked up to him with a light skip in her step, swaying her hips. In a sudden single motion she swung her hand making contact with his cheek, leaving a stinging red hand mark on his flesh.
"You hit like a girl."
"Go to hell, Hitachiin Hikaru," she hissed.
"My name is Kaoru." She blinked.
"Nice try," she scowled, grabbing her suitcases next to the door and strutting off and he waved as she left. He went to the window to make sure the blond wasn`t coming back, sticking out his tongue for good measure when she glanced over her shoulder with regret. Huffing her over sized chest with a blush when she saw him watching.
"Who was that?" a voice called from the staircase. Kaoru turned and stared in confusion. Haruhi gave him a sheepish wave and he noticed her uniform was very wrinkled up. Next to her stood Hikaru tied up in velvet rope, his eyes shooting a death glare toward the door. The butler was holding him by the shoulders to keep the older boy balanced as he struggled against the binds.
" The young master must learn to control his temper," the older man stated, showing no emotion.
"Everything is fine, now," the younger boy said, giving his brother a reassuring glance.
"But what was that about?"Haruhi asked quietly, unsure if she should get any more involved in the twin`s personal lives.
" Who cares? What`s her face won`t be coming back."
"I believed the Lady`s full name was Mary Sue," the butler answered in slight disgust. There was something about the name that left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
"And to think mother said that foreign poser was half Japanese." Her name certainly wasn`t.
"The day isn`t ruined yet, Haruhi untie me," Hikaru demanded, trying to wiggle out of the old man`s grip.
" Is that a command?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
"What else could it be?"
"Then I will do so without complaint," she smiled, this whole goose chase had killed almost an hour in a single flash. It took the twins a few seconds to figure out why she worded her sentence that way, until it hit them. They wasted their ultimate command of the day, they thought with a groan. It wasn`t over, they will do something to fix the mood. After Haruhi untied the butler`s master knots Hikaru rushed over to Kaoru to inspect the damage, holding his brothers cheeks between his palms. Slowly looking him in the eyes.
"I`m sorry."
"Why?"
"I couldn`t protect you," the older boy whispered.
"Its fine, Hikaru. It doesn`t really matter," the younger boy blushed.
"Yes it does," he insisted with sudden urgently.
"Hikaru…"
"I am the only one here allowed to touch, don`t you forget that."
"You`re not honestly doing this now, are you?" Haruhi asked, her face turning stoic when she notice a pair of older maids hiding in the corner. Blushing and giggling like a pair of school girls. Turned out the "brotherly love" act had admirers of all ages. But when did it come to all of this so suddenly?
"Then why don`t you take my place, Haruhi?" the older boy challenged playfully.
"No, thanks," she answered quickly, regretting she interrupted at all.
"His wounds are in need of a woman`s touch," he pleaded, holding his brother closer to him as if to protect him from any outside danger.
"Nothing is that serious," she replied bluntly.
" Maid-chan! Do you deny your master in his time of sorrow," Kaoru whined lightly with a blush.
"Fine," she answered, "how can I humbly serve you." Earning a devious smile from the boys, she was finally playing along.
"A kiss will be fine," Kaoru suggested timidly, bringing his fingers to his lips.
"That`s not in my line of service," she replied quickly.
"Not even a peck?" Hikaru asked in a low dark voice, the brunette`s muscles stiffen at his tone. The older boy watched her for a moment before giving a shrug.
"Guess I have to do it myself," he said, slowly leaning to the younger boy`s face. The high pitched giggling increased, and the girl was suddenly afraid that they weren`t pretending this time. That would be crossing the line!
"Stop!" she yelled, rushing down the stairs, arms outstretched to stop the forbidden, "I`ll do it on the cheek!" The boys glanced at her from the corner of their eyes, they seemed to consider her plead for a moment.
"Okay!" they cheered together. When Haruhi`s shoulders slowly began to slump at the sudden realization that it was all a trick. Kaoru gave her a slight timid yet playful smile, his eyes glowing brighter than before.
"On the cheek, right?" he asked, pointing to the swelling red welt. She grimaced at the sight of it.
"Don`t try anything," she warned him, she stood on her tippy toes closing her eyes slowly. Suddenly feeling a warm moist texture slid against her ear, her eyes shot open again.
"Hikaru!" she yelled, protecting her ear from a second assault. The brunette was ready to curse when she felt something soft smash against her lips. Kaoru used the opportunity to grab the back of her head and enter her open mouth, using his own tongue to muffle her screams, before she pushed him away. The girl covered her mouth with both hands before backing away, lowering herself to a kneeling position. The brunette wasn`t specific to who was receiving the warning, how should the girl expect for the twins to don`t get confused? The ginger haired boys gazed down at her in disappoint.
"You`re no fun Maid-chan," Kaoru stated, his brother turned to him looking displeased.
"I thought I was the greedy one, Kaoru."
Author note: Comment if you hate Mary Sue(s)! XD Did I ruin the mood with the OC? With the right amount of support I can continue if you guys want. Consider this a OVA, if you wanted more serious stuff. I just wanted to make a crack at Mary Sues, mostly. Hehe. What is your opinion on this chapter?