For once I don't have much to say…

So on with the fic!

Sakura Seraphim

Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club, Love Egoist and all associated stuffs belong to the one and only Bisco Hatori.

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What a wicked game to play,

to make me feel this way

What a wicked thing to do,

to make me dream of you.

No, I wanna fall in love,

with you.

Wicked Game – H.I.M.

"If you truly want to gain Miss Fujioka's heart, meet us in the north building, at the end of the third floor hallway, in the fifth chemistry room…"

Mori stepped reluctantly over the threshold of the room, squinting warily into the deep shadows that clung to the corners and draped the furniture, turning it into an assortment of indistinguishable shapes in the gloom. The door swung shut behind him, and he snapped his head around just in time to see the last sliver of daylight engulfed by the shadows and hear the soft click swallowed by the velvet silence.

Maybe I have the wrong room? he thought, peering into the shadows. Indeed, as his eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light, he realized that this room bore just about as much resemblance to a chemistry room as the Host Club's lounge did to a music room.

Dark, heavy velvet curtains hung over every window, blocking the winter sunlight and muffling the lunchtime sounds of the other students until they seemed to be worlds away. The only light was provided by old-fashioned looking lanterns mounted on the walls; a flickering, eerie candlelight that made the shadows dance and lurch, throwing the surroundings into alternating stark relief and deep shadow. The surroundings were unnervingly familiar to those of the Host Club, although slightly warped. The velvet couches were there, as were the polished tables and the bouquets of roses on every surface. However these roses looked sinister rather than lovely, with their petals the colour of blood, as though to prick your finger on a thorn would be to poison yourself.

Mori gazed mistrustfully at the roses and approached one of the tables. The twins were sitting demurely on one of the couches, a large book open between them. Mori briefly examined the upside down page, written in strange characters that he had never seen before, before the book was closed with a soft thud and the twins looked up at him.

Barako smiled graciously at him. "Welcome Morinozuka-senpai. Please take a seat."

Uneasily, Mori lowered himself onto the opposite couch, his dark eyes following Nadeshiko as she carried the book to a table in the corner. Craning his neck to see, he saw that the table was scattered with other heavy looking tomes, as well as miscellaneous strange items such as scattered flower petals, a silver knife and assorted sizes of glass bottles containing multi-coloured powders and liquids.

When he looked back to the couch, Nadeshiko had joined her sister and both were sitting in identical positions; ankles together, hands clasped sedately in their laps, eyes regarding him studiously. Today they had each woven their monochrome hair into a thick pleat that hung over one shoulder like a sleeping snake.

Mori shifted uncomfortably under their penetrating stare, wondering why exactly he had come here. Did he really think that these strange girls could make Haruhi love him? Could he trust them…?

"You don't trust us Morinozuka-senpai." the girls said in unison, eyes never leaving him.

Mori looked sharply up at them, meeting their gaze calmly despite the nagging feeling that they had just read his mind. "No." he said simply.

"And still you came?" the girls tilted their heads inwards inquisitively, each mirroring the other's position exactly.

Mori said nothing.

"Ah but such is love." said Barako with a sigh and a small smile. "You watch her everyday, wishing, wanting, needing to be with her, and yet knowing that you never will."

"And yet," Nadeshiko chimed in. "There is always that hope. That small, frail and yet inextinguishable spark of hope that maybe someday, somehow…"

The twins chorused together. "…she could love someone like you."

Mori found he could not look at them, couldn't meet their eyes for fear that that was how they were reading his mind. That they were looking down through his eyes into his soul and calmly extracting all the thoughts he barely even dared admit to himself.

There was a silence from the opposite couch before Nadeshiko said, softly, "Do you want to be with her?"

Mori stared unseeing at his feet. "Always."

Barako spoke in the same sweet voice as her sister. "What would you do for her?"

Mori's hands clenched into fists on his knees. "Anything."

"Do you love her?"

Mori was silent for a moment, head bowed and eyes closed. Eventually his shoulders slumped with a sigh and his hands unclenched. "Yes."

The twins smiled identical cat-like smiles. "Then we will help."

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"Meet us in the north building, at the end of the third floor hallway, in the fifth chemistry room, if you truly want Morinozuka-senpai to notice you."

Haruhi frowned and held the small glass bottle up to the light, watching as the dim light in the chemistry room made the sides glint and the pale pink liquid inside glow mysteriously.

"And you're sure this will work?" she said uncertainly.

"Of course." said Nadeshiko smoothly as she appeared at Haruhi's right elbow. "You must trust us Miss Fujioka."

Barako appeared at her left elbow. "This love potion never fails. A few drops and Morinozuka-senpai will have eyes only for you."

Haruhi looked from one twin to another, and then at the small bottle that lay glinting in her palm. This was ridiculous. What was she even doing here? She didn't believe in this fairy-tale magic stuff…

Barako tilted her head to the side with a slight frown, her dark eyes clouding. "You don't believe us Miss Haruhi?"

Haruhi started suddenly and turned to stare at the dark-haired girl's face. It was impassive, giving no indication that she might have just read Haruhi's thoughts. She looked back to the bottle she was holding.

"Of course not…" she whispered, but even as the words left her lips, she saw herself slipping a few drops into Mori's tea.

Nadeshiko smiled behind Haruhi's back at her sister. "You don't think it will work?"

Haruhi shook her head, eyes trained on the bottle, seemingly mesmerized by it. "It can't work…"

Barako smiled. "Very well then." Moving with a swiftness that wouldn't be expected from her delicate appearance, one of her pale hands shot out and in one movement knocked the bottle from Haruhi's hand and sent it flying away through the air.

Haruhi let out a cry and before she had even realized what she was doing, she had leapt away from the twins and after the bottle, desperate to catch it before it could hit the ground and shatter. She fell to the ground with a thud and skidded a little along the carpet, the tiny bottle cradled safely in her hands. She straightened up until she was kneeling on the carpet, staring in wonder at the bottle.

It was ridiculous. She knew it was ridiculous. This was fairy-tale stuff, it couldn't possibly be real. But when the bottle had flown out of her hands, she had felt in an instant as if any hope, any whispered wish or secret dream about her and Mori had flown away with it, to shatter into irreparable pieces on the floor. She clutched the bottle to her chest, being careful not to crush it.

The twins had walked around her and were now crouched on the carpet in front of her, hands on their knees, watching her with knowing smiles.

"Despite what your common sense tells you, despite the voices of reason and logic, there's part of you that can't stand to let go of the chance, however small, of being granted your heart's desire." said Barako, her dark eyes resting on Haruhi with an infuriating look of smugness and amusement.

Nadeshiko tapped her twin lightly on the shoulder, clucking her tongue in disapproval. "Now sister, don't mock the poor girl. It's a noble thing to throw away ones doubts and narrow-minded beliefs for the sake of love."

She turned back to Haruhi, head tilted inquisitively to the side. "Well Miss Fujioka? Are you willing to trust us?"

"Yes." Haruhi whispered, clutching the bottle tighter to her chest.

Barako mimicked her sister's questioning posture. "Are you willing to risk everything for the chance to win his love?"

"Yes."

"Even if it means that you are left with nothing. That things will return to the way they are now and you are left with nothing but a handful of memories and thoughts of what could have been?"

Haruhi bit her lip and cast her eyes to the side. What she was doing was so strongly in conflict with her character, with the ideals and beliefs that she had held so tightly to all her life that the whole situation seemed surreal. Her mind seemed detached, thoughts floating in and out of consciousness, whirling and merging with each other in a confusing patchwork. Every time her common sense managed to rally together a hasty barricade of logic and reasonable thinking, a visual memory of dark gray eyes shattered it instantly. Every sensible train of thought was derailed by the feel of strong hands lifting her, of a soft, deep voice telling her to be careful, of dark, concern filled eyes pulling her in so she felt like she was drowning…

Resolutely she looked back up at the twins, her face set stubbornly.

"Yes."

The twins smiled at her with triumphant satisfaction, as one might smile at a puppy that had just done an amusing trick. They rose gracefully to their feet and each stretched out a hand to help Haruhi up.

Haruhi paused in the act of dusting off her jacket and looked curiously at the twins, at these strange, all-knowing girls who seemed so eager to help her.

"If you don't mind my asking," she began warily. "Why are you doing this? Why would you want to help me."

For a moment the twins stared at her with look of identical surprise, dark eyes widening and perfect china-doll lips parting slightly. Then they glanced at each other and smiled, as if at some unheard joke that existed only between them.

Nadeshiko sighed and placed one perfect lily-white hand to her cheek. "When a fair maiden, poor but pure of heart, longs for her prince charming…"

"…watches him from afar by day and dreams of him at night…" Barako continued, hands clasped to her chest.

"…but cannot, dare not speak to him for fear of rejection…"

"…what can we, with the power to help, do…"

"…but do our best to grant her heart's desire?"

Haruhi sighed and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. In other words, she thought bitterly. They have a fairytale romance fetish and seem to think that they're my fairy godmothers. What next? I have to use the potion by midnight or it'll turn into a pumpkin…?

As if hearing her sarcastic thought, Barako straightened up and pointed dramatically at Haruhi. "But be warned Miss Haruhi, there is a time limit!"

"That's right." added Nadeshiko. "Love is a gamble after all. The potion lasts for a week, exactly a week. That's seven days."

"For that week Morinozuka-senpai will believe he is in love with you and will act accordingly."

"If by the end of the week he has truly fallen in love with you, he will remain so once the potion wears off."

"If not, things will return to the way they were. And Morinozuka-senpai will have no recollection of his feelings for you over the last week..

The twins crossed their arms and chorused in unison. "Do you understand.?"

Mouth dry, heart pounding in her head, Haruhi looked up to meet their eyes.

"Yes."

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"But Haruhiiiiiii! Why not?"

Pouting pitifully Tamaki thrust a crumpled flyer into Haruhi's face. Leaning backwards, Haruhi could just make out the words 'Father Daughter Picnic! All Welcome!' emblazoned in scarlet letters above a picture of a painfully cheerful man laughing and sharing ice cream with a manically grinning daughter at a picnic table.

The flyer was pulled from her face and its view replaced by the face of a clearly distraught Tamaki, eyes nearly spilling over with tears.

"It's a traditional commoner's festival to celebrate the special relationship between a loving father and his precious daughter! There will be games! And ice cream!! And lots of family fun!!!"

Haruhi stared blankly at Tamaki who had grabbed her shoulders and was shaking her back and forward in an attempt to impress upon her the phenomenal importance of this event.

"I said no."

"But look at the picture Haruhi! Look at the commoner father and daughter laughing and deepening their bond over ice cream! Doesn't it look like fun?!"

Haruhi wriggled out of his desperate grasp and turned her back on him. "Not really."

The twins, always swift to spot a chance to antagonize Tamaki, took advantage of Haruhi's freedom to trap her between them in an embrace. Haruhi sighed wearily and began trying to negotiate her way out through the tangle of limbs that held her tightly. Over her head Hikaru and Kaoru shot Tamaki identical mocking grins. "Milord, Haruhi just doesn't want to be separated from her beloved brothers." Hikaru drawled. "She'd rather have 'family fun' with us, right Haruhi?"

"Not really," Haruhi muttered as she attempted to maneuver through a promising gap between Hikaru's hip and Kaoru's elbow.

Ignoring her completely, Kaoru continued with a teasing smile. "Haruhi's coming home to play with us."

Tamaki looked wordlessly from one grinning twin to the other, mouth opening and shutting soundlessly before he eventually scuttled over to a nearby table where Kyouya was sorting through a pile of paper. Tugging frantically at Kyouya's sleeve, Tamaki gestured wildly in the general direction of his beloved, captive daughter.

"Mom! Talk to your children!"

Pulling his arm irritatedly out of Tamaki's clutching fingers Kyouya returned to his files, one hand tapping industriously on a calculator. "I don't have any children, now go away."

"But Hikaru and Kaoru are harassing their little sister! They're corrupting and misleading her! They're..."

"Tamaki…" Kyouya turned, his face calm but eyes blazing furiously. Tamaki recoiled instantly, his kicked-puppy face instantly melting into a look of terror. "I'll only ask one last time, leave me alone!"

Kyouya turned back to his calculations, cool and composed as ever while Tamaki crouched dejectedly in a corner with his head in his arms, sobbing and occasionally muttering phrases such as 'mean mom' and 'family fun'.

Hikaru and Kaoru, satisfied in having chased Tamaki to his mushroom corner released the by now furiously struggling Haruhi and retired to one of the couches to play one of their portable video games.

Muttering darkly, Haruhi straightened her jacket, stalked across the room and pointedly took the couch furthest away from the other hosts, pausing only to snatch up her bag from a table. She pulled out a textbook and began reading.

Mori watched these events from his usual position on the sidelines, silently and without interference other than that which was required for Haruhi's safety. Although Haruhi may have disagreed, he didn't consider a close encounter with the twins as danger, and so he remained at his post by Hunny's side.

Although he had watched the entire argument, the words and actions of the other hosts had washed over him unheeded. He was thoroughly absorbed in watching Haruhi. Everything, from the firm set of her lips in a frown as she argued with Tamaki to the gentle arch of her subtly feminine figure as she attempted to escape from the twins. Even now he watched her as she read her textbook, her soft hair falling into her eyes, which were deep and dark and filled with a quiet contemplation.

"Takashi?"

"Mmm?" Her eyes really were beautiful. Like shining limpid pools that always seemed to be fixed on some far away point; deep into memory, or far into the future, or straight into your eyes when she spoke to you, as if she could see your soul…

"Takashi?"

"Mmm?" He loved her hair too. Her boyish cut was beginning to grow out a little; not enough to give her away as a girl, but enough to curl around the contours of her face and flick out around the nape of her neck, creating a delicate feminine look if you knew how to look at it. He wished he could touch it, twist his fingers through those soft strands and feel it slide like silk on his skin..

"Takashi, look at me."

Mori rose from his admiring stupor with a start and looked with bewilderment at his cousin, sitting across from him. "Mitsukuni…"

Hunny, who when last Mori looked had been sitting, contentedly eating his way through a stack of cakes, now had a beard of cream smeared across his mouth and chin. He'd clearly been amassing this collection while Mori had been distracted by watching Haruhi just to see when or if he'd notice. Hunny was watching Mori with obvious amusement from behind his cloud of cream. There was also a small strawberry perched humorously on his nose.

Mori blinked in amazement at his cousin before blushing slightly and averting his eyes. He scooped a tea towel up from where it lay discarded on the table and moved closer to his cousin to clean his face. "Gomen nasai Mitsukuni, I was…"

"You were world's away watching Haru-chan, weren't you?" said Hunny with a grin as Mori wiped the last blot of cream from under his nose.

Mori looked startled for a minute at Hunny, at the small child like boy who knew him so well, and who was watching him with a gaze that was far from childlike. He cast his eyes aside and his blush deepened. "I.."

Hunny laughed delightedly and grinned at Mori, his eyes dancing with teasing affection. "You think too little of yourself Takashi. Go and sit with her a while."

Mori's eyes flew back to his cousin, startled. 'But, I…"

"That's an order Takashi!" said Hunny, giggling. "I'm busy anyway. These cakes won't eat themselves!"

Hunny happily immersed himself amongst his cakes again as Mori stood up with a small smile. He walked over to a counter top nearby where a tea tray was still set up from that afternoon's host club. Despite his misgivings, Hunny's insistence that he should sit with Haruhi had given him an idea.

Gently setting a tea pot and two cups on a tray along with sugar and spoons, he glanced tentatively over his shoulder t make sure he wasn't being observed. All the other host club members appeared to be occupied; Tamaki was cultivating mushrooms in the corner, Kyouya was muttering over this months costume budget, the twins were immersed in their game, Hunny was happily munching his way through a chocolate layer cake and Haruhi was still engrossed in her book. His eyes lingered on Haruhi for a moment before he turned back to the tray.

Reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out a small glass vial containing a small amount of pale pink liquid, which glistened invitingly against the sides. Staring expressionless at the small bottle, he cast his mind back…

"You're sure this won't hurt her?"

"Of course not Morinozuka-senpai. We have no wish to harm Miss Fujioka."

"But remember, you will have only a week to make her truly fall in love with you, exactly one week. Do you understand?"

"…Yes."

…to his conversation in the chemistry room. He'd meant what he'd said. He'd do anything.

As if to convince him of this, he stole another glance back over his shoulder at Haruhi. One look at her sitting, smiling slightly in her contented thoughtful way as her eyes shone as they flickered across the page convinced him all over again. Resolutely, he unstoppered the bottle and let a few drops fall into the cup farthest from him. He picked up the tray and turned to face Haruhi's table.

As he started across the carpet towards her, he caught Hunny's eye and the small boy gave him a grin and an encouraging nod in Haruhi's direction. Taking a deep, steadying breath as he approached Haruhi's table, Mori stepped between the couch and the table and sat opposite Haruhi.

She looked up, startled as he sat down and stared at him in bewilderment for a moment before she smiled. The smile was so warm and sweet that Mori couldn't help giving her a small smile in return.

"For…me, Mori-senpai?" she asked tentatively, gesturing to the cups.

"Of course." he replied. He reached over to hand her the cup, being sure to hand her the one with the potion in it. She smiled shyly at him over the rim as she raised it to her lips.

Mori was just about to reach for his own cup when he heard a faint clink as Haruhi set down her own cup on the tray. He glanced, surprised at her, overcome with dread as he half expected her to be glaring at him furiously and accuse him of trying to poison her. Instead she was still smiling and rising to her feet. In response to his questioning gaze, she gestured towards the counter.

"You forgot milk." she said simply before walking away. Mori blinked at her retreating back as she reached for a milk jug. It's true that he took milk in his tea but he didn't expect Haruhi to know that. He cast his eyes to the side and allowed himself a small smile as he basked in the simple happiness he felt because Haruhi had remembered even a small thing about him.

When Haruhi set the jug on the table and sat down again, he thanked her briefly and added milk to his own tea. He held his breath as he watched her raise the cup to her lips, but this time she took a deep drink of the hot sweet liquid and smiled, delicate china cup clutched between her fingers.

Heart racing, he took a drink of his own tea. They sat in silence while they each finished their tea, neither looking directly at the other, but catching each other's faint smiles when they risked a glance.

When both had finished and set their cups down again on the table, Mori took a deep breath. "Haruhi…?"

Haruhi looked up at him, watching him intently. For some reason she looked almost as apprehensive as he felt. "Y-Yes Mori-senpai?"

Mori cast his eyes to the side, cursing himself as he felt his cheeks grow warm with a slight blush. His hands clenched and unclenched restlessly on his knees as he struggled to find the right words. He hadn't thought this far ahead. He took another deep breath, he should just get it over with, come right out and say it.

He looked up and managed to meet Haruhi's eyes. Before he looked to far into those eyes and lost his nerves, he said, "Would, would you like to go with me somewhere this weekend? Just us?"

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Haruhi sat, pretending to read her textbook. Occasionally she would turn a page for the look of the thing. However, her mind wasn't on the proper conjugation of various irregular verbs; it was focused on a tall, dark-haired boy sitting a few feet away.

She could feel the gentle weight of the small potion bottle nestled in her trouser pocket, she had thought about little else all day. She had hung hopefully around Mori and Hunny's table all day, always bringing more cakes or clearing plates, waiting for an opportunity to slip some into his cup. She sighed, besides even if she'd managed to slip him the potion…

Now remember Miss Haruhi, you must be the first girl he looks at after he drinks it. Otherwise he will be infatuated with someone else."

…he was constantly surrounded by a group of giggling, flirting girls. There was no way he'd look at her first…

She jumped with surprise at a dull thud and a rattle of crockery as a tea tray was set on the table. Her eyes flew upwards, half expecting to see Tamaki, come to have a second try at persuading her to spend her weekend having family fun at his stupid 'commoner' picnic.

When her eyes were captured in a dark, intense gaze she thought her heart would stop. She stared in amazement as Mori sat down opposite her, and it was all she could do not to let her mouth drop open. She remembered herself in time as he looked up and managed what she hoped was a warm and welcoming smile. He smiled back. Her heart leapt.

Uncertainly, she gestured towards the tea. "For…me, Mori-senpai?"

He nodded. "Of course."

He reached over and handed he a cup. For the briefest moment, his fingers brushed hers and she felt her heart jump as though his touch had sent an electric shock up her arm. Giddy and smiling, she managed to raise her cup to her lips.

She was vaguely aware that whatever common sense she had left in the warm pink fog that was her mind was desperately trying to bring something to her attention. The idea hit her like a slap to the face as she frantically scanned the tray that Mori had brought.

She set her cup down quickly. Mori must have been startled by her hasty behavior as he looked up at her in surprise. She smiled sheepishly and gestured vaguely to the other side of the room. "You forgot milk." she stammered before whirling around and walking away so that he didn't see her blush.

When she reached the counter she reached for a milk jug and pulled it over until it was in front of her, shielded from view by her body. It was too good an opportunity to miss. She watched Mori enough during to club hours to know that he always took milk in his tea.

She looked cautiously round over her shoulder to make sure that Mori wasn't watching her. He was looking off to the side with his chin in his hand, smiling to himself about something. She found her gaze lingering on that smile; so rare, which made it all the more beautiful.

Hastily she turned back to the milk jug and pulled the small glass bottle out of her pocket. Her hand hesitated over the rim…

"Just a few drops will do Miss Fujioka, no more."

"Alright."

"This potion will begin to take effect as soon as it has been drunk"

"I understand."

..but only for a second, she allowed a small amount of the potion to fall into the milk, reasoning that the dosage Mori would receive would be equivalent to a few drops. The pale pink colour was instantly swallowed by creamy white.

Heart pounding, she returned to the table. She set the jug on the table and resumed her place opposite Mori, lifting her cup again as she watched him add milk to his tea and stir it.

Smiling, she took a drink of her own tea. It was hot and sweet and warmed her throat and stomach pleasantly. When she dared raise her eyes, she saw that Mori was also drinking his tea. He looked up and caught her eyes briefly before she cast her gaze down into her tea and continued to drink.

After they had both finished their tea and set their cups on the table, she sat looking at her knees, not quite daring to look at him. Not as much for fear of what she might see in those dark eyes, as fear of what she would not. Her thoughts were interrupted by the slow, calm lull of Mori's voice.

"Haruhi…?"

She looked up at him, eyes wide in surprise. Mori was looking at her shyly, hands fidgeting restlessly on his knees. She watched him carefully as she managed to stammer, "Y-Yes, Mori-senpai?"

She watched in amazement as Mori's shoulders heaved with a deep breath and he met her eyes, cheeks blushing. "Would, would you like to go with me somewhere this weekend? Just us?"

Haruhi couldn't help staring at him in sheer, uncomprehending wonder. Although Mori's hurriedly spoken words had struck right through her head, all that she could think in the conscious portion of her mind was: it worked it worked oh my God it really worked.

When she finally began to reclaim control of her senses, she realized that she had been staring at Mori, who was looking at her with a kind of tortured anticipation. Her heart singing for joy, she let out a small laugh of delight and smiled at him happily.

"I'd love to."

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The minute the words were out of Mori's mouth he regretted them. The startled look on Haruhi's face as she stared at him open-mouthed caused his heart to sink and his face to drain with the world-shattering realization of what he had just done.

You just asked out Haruhi on the insistence of some creepy pair of twins and it didn't work it didn't work……

He opened his mouth to stammer an apology before he got up and disappeared off of the face of the planet forever before Haruhi did something that shocked him.

She laughed. She let out a laugh of pure, unadulterated delight and fixed him with a smile so bright that he felt his heart float just looking at it.

"I'd love to."

Oh my God it really worked…"

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Oh dear God! Look! It's the world longest chapter! (faints) I think I have repetitive strain in my fingers from typing.

I know this is a complicated plot, I'm barely following it myself, so please direct any questions to me in review form and I'll do my best to help :P

Now I'm away on holiday this next week (hurray!) so I will not be able to update but I shall need the time to try and figure out what to write next :)

As always, please review!

Sakura Seraphim