Old Authors Note(From older account - Old chapter location account: Kougetsu_KitsuneHinote_Hakuma): Okay so... yay for my third fanfiction! :D This is my first Ouran fanfiction which will all be written in third person, most likely. There will be a few new characters, mainly Jinx(who you've all already met), and two twins who you'll see a bit later. Generally it will be from Jinx's point of view for now and for a few more chapters to come, but there'll be times when it goes to other characters' point of view. I won't tell anyone what the pairings are going to be except for Tama/haru later on(as if it isn't already obvious ;3 ). Anyways, a few notes here before we get started. Black-headed gulls really do live around Toukyou bay(and it IS Toukyou, not Tokyo, by the way. English screwed with the name, as usual D ), and there is even a train in japan named after them. Ouran Academy is located in Bunkyou, Toukyou and Jinx lives about a mile from Toukyou Bay itself. Also, I don't believe you'd ever actually find a house like Jinx's in Toukyou but just deal with it.
Disclaimer: I do not own OHSHC. I DO own Jinx so no stealing or I sick the the curse of the Hitachiin's annoyance down upon your head ;D
Jinx of the Sphinx
An Ouran High School Host Club Fanfiction
By: Kougetsu
Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home in a Rathole
I sighed to myself as I walked alone in the dimming twilight, my footsteps echoing off the pavement as the sun set behind the buildings of Toukyou, the ocean visible some ways away on the opposite side. Black-headed gulls sqwuaked above me, soaring on the faint breeze as they promptly reterned to their nests in the distance. I wasn't in a real rush to get home, but then again I never was. It took me several moments to realize I'd stopped walking and looked over the orange and crimson bathed landscape, the sky gold on the horizon before it melted into yellows, purples, and blues on the other side of the sky. It always made me feel better, looking at the sky, if only just a little. I loved looking at the silver moon and glittering stars on the black night sky more, but I knew I wouldn't get the chance to watch it. I sighed again, adjusting my bag as it dangled over my shoulder, then started my long, slow trek home.
The sky was nearly black when I came across an old, run down cottage. The walls were dirty white hardwood and a roof that had once been painted nicely and now sat rejected, growing moss, fungus, and sparse grass. An old Koi pond sat in a corner of the yard but was nearly dry and filled with water that looked more like sewage. Gangly shrubs and grasses fought for yard space in the unforgivingly dry soil. Vines snaked up one of the outer walls, the floorboards of the porch, covered by a sulking wood portico, as I stepped up to the door.
It wasn't so much as falling apart, it was just old and worn, in need of constant attention. Otherwise, it wouldve been falling apart.
Home sweet home in a rathole... I thought to myself, sighing once more. I shuffled inside, dropping my bag as I shut the old wood door, the hinges creaking. It was a little past seven o'clock, giving me a little time to myself. Father wouldn't be home till eight at night. I'd have to listen to the TV while I did dishes. Shuffling across the room, legs gliding over the old tatami mats, I grabbed the electronic remote and headed around the dark green couch and reluctantly towards the kitchen.
A noise of surprise escaped my lips as long claws batted my leg, an angry hiss echoing from the floor as the dark brown paw swept back under the old armchair and back to its owner.
"Shut up." I hissed back at the dark forest brown Maine Coon, stomping next to it just to scare it. It worked, a little. One thing about my father, he loved certain American things. Among them was couches, armchairs, and fluffy long-tailed cats from the state of Maine in the United Stated, halfway around the world.
I mumbled something incoherent about 'evil cats' and stopped at the kitchen sink, flicking on the television with the remote.
The TV clicked with a slight stutter and some Anime show about samurai and demons appeared on the screen before I turned to the sink, already scraping food leftovers into the garbage disposal and scrubbing dishes clean while I listened to animated swords clang together and fictional characters shoot remarks back and forth about beating each other to a pulp. After about three minutes I heard a meow below me and turned, scowling at the cute face the cat was putting on. I dried my hands off, grabbing a can of cat food off the counter and peeling the lid off before setting it down to an eager feline. I grabbed another one and a sthingy, pulling it open and digging in myself. I know. Cat food...for me, right? But we'll get to that later.
After noisily gulping down the shredded turkey, it meowed for me to give it mine, behaving cute and innocent, but I just rolled my eyes.
"You don't need it anyways." I growled. Surprisingly enough, it hissed back suddenly, making a ruckus of angry howls before stalking off with bristling fur. I simply rolled my eyes again.
'Damn demon cat from hell...' Isaid silently, setting my empty can on the floor, turning back to the dishes. Finding the office at Ouran Academy had been the easy part. After that I'd had to sit through an unofficial interview with the school Chairman, Mr. Suwo... Or was it Suoh? I couldn't remember, but I didn't care to. I wasn't the most talkative person, so I only answered the neccasary questions, keeping them short and to the point.
I'd taken my Entrance Exams afterwards, looking forward to it more than the interview. The Chairman had insisted I wait, but I insisted on taking it right away. I suppose he thought I was eager to join Ouran Academy, but just the opposite, I just wanted to get it over with, since I'd no doubt bomb it anyways. Strangely enough, I didn't think about Haruhi or the Host Club at all, but my mind was elsewhere and I was completely exhausted.
I jumped in my skin as I heard the familiar rumble of an old American clunker approach, sputtering up the street as my hand darted for the TV remote. Sadly, it fell in the dishwater with an audible plunk. I cursed under my breath, fumbling wildly for it before I felt the rough buttons, pulling it out and whipped it towards the television, pressing the power button. Nothing.
I looked at it in alarm, smacking the power button several more times to turn it off. Nothing. The car outside pulled up and the car hicupped several times before falling silent, only succeeding in adding to my panic. I cursed, abandoning the remote where it wouldn't be spotted and darting for the TV. The car door slammed shut outside as I vaulted over the couch, lunging for the power button as I heard footsteps in the dirt. The TV went off. Sadly, so did an avalanche of DVD's and old video tapes that had been stacked next to the television. I cursed again. With all this cursing, I was sure any afterlife I had would nothing but hell.
I fumbled with the movies, trying to reorganize them. Then the door opened.
I silently cursed, turning my head to the man at the door.
"Welcome home, Father." I managed to greet with a straight face, smiling as best I could. How I managed to stay so calm right now, I had no idea, since inwardly I was about ready to commit suicide. His eyes scanned around the room before settling on the scattered movies, eyes flicking to me dangerously.
"Why are my movies scattered everywhere?" The man demanded steadily, the furious glint in his eyes betraying the calm demeanor he presented. I inwardly shivered, more than a little terrified.
"Hana discovered a mouse and accidentally knocked them over while chasing it. It's my fault really. I should've done something sooner." I lied, hoping I still looked straight-faced and calm. I suppose I was, since he nodded in acceptance and lumbered into the kitchen, my eyes never leaving him.
"The dishes aren't done." He growled quietly.
"The Entrance Exams went late so I only got home a while I go." I said quickly, before adding more quietly, "It won't happen again, sir." He grunted.
"You finished your Entrance Exams?" He demanded quietly.
"Yes, sir." I swore I was going to have a heart attack any minute. No, scratch that - any second. He grunted and lumbered through the back hallway to one of the rooms further back, allowing me a sigh of relief. A grunt was about the closest he'd ever get to saying 'Good job', but at least it meant I was out of the danger zone. I was just glad he was in a good mood.
I shakily finished stacking the fallen videos and went to the kitchen where two apples sat on the counter for me. Well that was unusually generous of him...
I just accepted it, digging in like I was starving. I may as well have been.
After I finished my 'dinner', I washed the rest of the dishes, then prepared fathers meals for tomarrow before slipping off to my room. It was more of a closet really, about halfway down the hall, but it suited me... small, dark, and depressing. I'd had a bed once, but it had been old and filthy. I'd rather have slept in a cow pen. Instead, I had a big fluffy blanket and a soft, fuzzy charcoal colored pillow. I slipped on a thin black t-shirt and loose Pajama pants, which I wore to bed most nights. I snuggled into my blankets, sitting awake for several hours before finally getting relaxed enough to slip into slumber, my only safe haven from this otherwise hellish world.