Hey, back again! Yeah, I've not really got an idea of where chapters are going to end when I start them, so if they seem to end a bit abruptly, apologies. Let me know if they are, and I'll try and sort it a bit better!

Enjoy!

---

The twins, matching grins plastered over their faces, goose-stepped over to Cho, taking a place either side of her. Haruhi saw Cho tense immediately, and the rush of blood to her cheeks returned.

"So, you're a commoner like Haruhi!" Kaoru stated, looking Cho up and down, almost as though looking for some sort of sign.

"If we're not careful, the place will be taken over by commoners soon!" Hikaru added, copying Kaoru by looking Cho up and down.

"Behave!" Tamaki said, not quite shouting, but strangely, managing to express some authority in his voice.

He walked over to Cho, pulled the twins forward by their collars, and then banged their heads together as though they were two halves of a coconut shell. The twins complained, but Tamaki paid them no attention as he looked directly into Cho's eyes, which were a perfect colour match of his own bright blue eyes.

"I'm sorry, my darling. Please ignore these two fools, they have no manners. On behalf of the Host Club, I welcome you to Ouran Academy." Tamaki smiled, taking Cho's chin in his hand, tilting her face up to his own.

For the first time, everyone was shocked by the response it triggered. Cho slapped Tamaki's hand away and jumped back. Tamaki was stunned. What had just happened? Had he, the Host Club king, just been… rejected?

The other hosts watched as he retreated to the corner, crouched down and began what they assumed would be a long and painful period during which Tamaki would do nothing but wallow in self-pity. Then all eyes turned back to Cho. Her face could have been emitting heat it was so red. She stammered out an apology, hurriedly put the violin back in the open case at the side, snapped it shut and raced from the room.

There was an uncomfortable silence in the room. Haruhi couldn't help but realise how many of these silences she'd experienced lately.

Kyoya readjusted his glasses, before he scribbled something down in his book, and then snapped it shut. Tamaki flinched and whimpered, the sound too similar to that of the slap.

"Senpai?" Haruhi asked tentatively.

She wasn't really sure what response she was expecting from him. Had he really never been rejected before? Sure, she had to agree with him that he was 'dripping with good looks,' even if he wasn't exactly modest, and his sweet nature usually won over everybody, so what was the difference with Cho?

"Haruhi, did you find anything out about this girl?" Kyoya asked, continuing to ignore Tamaki's sudden bout of depression.

Haruhi didn't know what to say. For once, Kyoya was in the dark. It was almost ridiculous how much of an impact this girl had already had on the Host Club, and she hadn't even technically started there yet. Kyoya had lost his power without having any knowledge, and Tamaki had lost his confidence and in his mind, place in the Host Club as king.

"Just that her name is Choyo Kono, and she's here on a music scholarship." Haruhi shrugged.

They hadn't exactly given her a chance to become best friends, walking in before she had chance to get to talk to her properly, yet Kyoya still seemed as though he was disappointed that she hadn't extracted more information. That was just Kyoya. His brow creased.

"What's wrong Kyo-chan?" Honey asked. He didn't like the situation they were in. It wasn't right.

"Kono is too common a family name for me to know if Choyo is involved in the business or financial world. Though I'm guessing not if she's here on a scholarship…" He added, flipping his notebook back open and once again, writing something down.

Haruhi pulled a face. One of these days she was going to find out what he managed to write about in that bloody book. She wondered what he'd do if he 'accidentally' misplaced it somewhere…

"Senpai, don't take it personally. From talking to her, I don't think she's like the rest of the girls here. She didn't seem like the easily swayed, swooning, squealing type." Haruhi said. "I've got to go; I've got a ton of laundry to do,"

Tamaki looked up in time to see Haruhi disappear out of the door.

---

The next morning, Hikaru and Kaoru were sat on the windowsill in their class waiting for the first lesson of the day to begin. They were gazing out of the window, wondering where Haruhi was. It was unusual for her to be late.

"Where do you think she is?" Hikaru said under his breath, impatient as ever.

Kaoru just looked at his brother. He couldn't understand why he knew Hikaru so much better than he did himself. Hikaru didn't understand his own feelings for Haruhi, which Kaoru was secretly grateful for. Once it hit him, he wasn't sure how everything was going to change, but he knew that it would. Kaoru knew he was being selfish, wanting to keep Hikaru for himself. But that's how it had always been. Just the two of them. He'd found it difficult to adjust when Haruhi had joined the Host Club; he found it extremely difficult to see his brother wrestling with himself mentally and emotionally.

Haruhi walked in the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Kaoru glanced at his twin to see him brighten almost immediately. Thank God he was too dense to comprehend his feelings for her.

"You're late," Hikaru said, settling into his seat on Haruhi's left.

"Yeah, I guess. I fell back to sleep after my dad woke me up this morning," Haruhi yawned.

Kaoru sat on Haruhi's other side. He wished Hikaru hadn't made him switch seats with Haruhi. He'd much rather sit beside his brother.

Their teacher stood up and cleared his throat, to gain the class' attention.

"Class, could you please welcome honour student Choyo Kono." He said, clearly feigning interest.

Cho walked in, wearing a similar outfit to the one yesterday, drawing attention immediately as she wasn't wearing the light blue uniform of Ouran Academy. The teacher, ignoring the fact that she was obviously incredibly nervous, asked her to tell the class a little about herself.

Shuffling from foot to foot, Cho stepped forward, wringing her hands and forcing a smile onto her face.

"I've been accepted into Ouran Academy on a music scholarship – I play the violin." Cho hesitated. She hadn't expected to have to introduce herself, so she hadn't thought about what she could tell them. "Umm…"

Seeing she was struggling, Haruhi stood up and smiled.

"Welcome to Class 1A, Cho."

Recognising Haruhi's face, Cho's smile instantaneously became more authentic. But upon seeing two sets of perfect teeth bared either side of her, the smile disappeared and her face dropped. It was a fair reaction; the Hitachiins had been far from welcoming during their brief meeting yesterday.

Cho made her way to the only empty seat, next to Kaoru. She made sure not to make eye contact with him, watching her feet as she walked. Cho had just pulled her chair out to sit down, when a student entered the class and spoke quietly to the teacher.

"Miss Kono, before you sit down, the chairman has requested to speak with you." He muttered, his annoyance starting to show due to the interruptions from his lesson.

Cho blinked, pushed her chair back in and began to walk out of the room.

"Wonder if he'll spring for her uniform as well as her education?" Hikaru said coldly.

Kaoru looked over at his brother, who, eyes closed, was leaning casually on one arm, saw Haruhi's aggravated expression, and then turned his attention back to Cho. There was a slight waver as she walked away, but she didn't turn around or react to what Hikaru had said. He was starting to feel a bit guilty about the comment he'd made yesterday. He had nothing against commoners, but for some reason, there was always that inclination to make that distinction… to conform to the apartheid there should be, coming to a prestigious school such as Ouran.

Hikaru opened one eye and stole a glance over at Kaoru. That was not the expression he was hoping to see on his brother's face. Then, almost at once, regrettably looked towards Haruhi. Her face was creased, scowling at him. Another expression he didn't want to see, particularly aimed at himself.

He glanced away again quickly, working hard to keep the embarrassment at bay. He relaxed again as, from the corner of his eye, he saw Haruhi face back to the front of the class, as the teacher finally began his lesson.

But Kaoru was a different matter. He was looking back at him in the same manner, head facing directly forward, but glancing sideways. Hikaru tried to place the expression Kaoru had. Was it confusion, or disappointment? It was one he wasn't used to seeing from his twin, so it was hard to distinguish.

For once, Hikaru decided to attempt to pay attention in class, if only to block out the glares and indeterminable expressions being shot his way.

---

What do you think? Cho is now already having an affect on the relationships in the Club, and she has only walked into the classroom!

So yeah, reviews would be greatly appreciated! Please, even if it's only really brief! My ego needs a boost now and then so I know what I'm doing right, what you want improving, etc.!

Thanks!

~KW