Well... THIS took forever to update LOL Just give me a heads up if you believe Kurumi is a Mary- Sue. I want to try and steer clear of that while giving Ouran a more of a.. human feel in comparision to what is shown.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran.
Chapter 2
Broken Routine
The paper fell from her hand carelessly as her fingers shook in terror before she gripped it up to her shoulder blades. She stared at the crumpled paper, the imprint of a red '90' over the mathematic equations. The dark haired girl's eyes shook before she clenched them closed; she bent down and picked up the paper sharply before shoving it violently into her bag. She immediately grabbed the handle and slammed her desk down before dashing out of the room.
Knocking pass Haruhi, Kurumi already felt her eyes stinging with the realization of her marks slipping. She stumbled from the hit and staggered slightly before turning and staring at the host in absolute rage tainted with tears.
"Damn it, Fujioka-san!!" she shouted, returning to her running, "It's all your fault!!"
The host blinked slightly before watching Kurumi run out of the room in such a haste. Kaoru paused before waving over to Haruhi and shouting for her to come and join them but the brunette only looked at them before smiling meekly and following after the girl.
"Eh, Jun-san!" Haruhi called out, running to keep up with the girl who refused to stop.
Turning the corner, the gripped the handle to the girl's bathroom before Haruhi's hand caught hers. Kurumi jerked away from Haruhi's grip before glaring at the host with disgust.
"What?!" she yelled angrily, tears already threatening to burst, "Ready to boast about your first place in exams AGAIN? Che, I bet it was by a single point wasn't it! Or.. Or maybe you even got a full percent-,"
Haruhi frowned before tilting her heads lightly.
"Is… that why you are so upset?" she inquired, staring at the girl with a blank expression.
Kurumi pouted like a spoiled child, her pale cheeks red and her lips squished together to form a child like expression. She gripped her hands into fists before grabbing onto the brunette's sleeves which caused the host to stagger slightly from the force of her fingers.
"Fujioka-san! Why… Why do you outshine me in the only thing I was good at!?" Kurumi finally broke, her shoulders shaking and her head lowered out of Haruhi's gaze, "Why… Why!?"
Haruhi frowned before putting her hands on the girl's shoulders with a firm grip.
"You sound selfish, Jun-san," she stated, no malice hidden in her tone.
Kurumi jerked her tear stained face to look at the host with shock. She opened her lips to speak yet no sound escaped before she inhaled sharply pouted again.
"Jun-san," Haruhi began while smiling, "Is talented and driven. I've never seen anyone work as hard, pay as much attention and take all tasks with such a passion. I.. I barely ever spoke to you but, I know Jun-san isn't a selfish person."
Kurumi stared at Haruhi in utter shock. Her fingers trembled before she flung herself into the host's arms while grabbing onto his shirt and sobbing. Crying not only for her marks, yet letting out more buried emotions concerning the host which troubled her. Fujioka's smiles, Fujioka's small laughs and quiet demenour, Fujioka's uncaring façade but showing how much she cared for her friends; all this ran through Kurumi's smiles. Her hate for Fujioka Haruhi, which seemed to be as long lasting as the moment the boy had entered the school in his tattered brown top and lame glasses- it wasn't long until she actually acknowledged Fujioka's looks when he cleaned up and became a host. Yet, the hate still lingered when he continued to steal the top marks of the glass leaving her in second place and at the mercy of her parent's anger.
"I…I want to be more like, Fujioka-san," Kurumi managed through her sniffs and tears.
Haruhi chuckled slightly.
"Jun-san is Jun-san," she replied, "And will always be so. Which I think is the best."
Kurumi pushed herself away after taking in the peppermint scent surrounding the host. She wrapped her arms around herself before using one hand to try and straighten out her hair while sniffing. Kneeling down she picked up her bag and pulled out a handkerchief, pink and gold engraved, before trying to wipe her tears and hide the redness of her face.
"I… I thank you, F-Fujioka-san," she managed, not being able to look at Haruhi without the redness of her cheeks growing stronger, "P..Please don't tell anyone about this."
Haruhi nodded before stepping backwards slightly as Kurumi turned her back to the host. She gripped her handkerchief to her chest while trying to breathe in slowly- her heart was already racing as she tried to keep calm. Haruhi's scent was all over her uniform… and she loved it. The waited until the host's footsteps faded away and turn the corner before looking at herself in the mirror.
Disheveled and red- how did Haruhi Fujioka manage to stand looking at her in this state? She thought nothing more of it before fixing her hair and washing her face while practicing her smile- she needed to meet her sister in the Third Year Break Room before leaving for her duties.
------
"So you're keeping relations with that girl from the Host Club?" Ayanokoji inquired, looking over the girl through her lashes.
The brown haired girl sipped at her tea in the school's library. Etiquette blatant in her movements as she placed it down without a sound, stopping a clatter with her fingers as her demanding eyes searched the girl's own downcast stare, Kurumi began to fiddle with her fingers slightly and glance around the room- unable to meet the older girl's stare. The dark haired girl seemed to be a lot smaller, more petite in comparison to Ayanokoji- who seemed to be far more Japanese in comparison. Kurumi's appearance clashed against hers with narrower eyes which still seemed to possess a more serene atmosphere against her tradition black hair, still held back by a low yellow bow.
"I-I guess," Kurumi stuttered as if anticipating disapproval, "…she's nice. I rather like Renge…"
"Kurumi!" Ayanokoji cried, her face turning into one of disgust.
The brown girl cried slamming her hands on the desk her eyes enflamed through the mane of dark brown hair as her fingers gripped at the wood angrily. She exhaled loudly, making her distaste more obvious to Kurumi before shaking her head.
"You know as well as I that they disrespected me!" she glared, "The Host Club… Especially that Fujioka!"
Kurumi jumped at mention of Haruhi's name. The memories of the host holding her close with a calming smile as she cried about her less than perfect score and the reassuring caresses he gave while patting her head; Kurumi felt her face begin to burn in memory of the brunette's host calm and sweet nature. It was unlike any other of the hosts she recalls ever seeing- so brilliant, serene and perfect. Kurumi looked up at the girl, forgetting her place, as she realized the insult to Haruhi's name from Ayanokoji's lips.
"Ayano-," she began, receiving a glare from the girl once more.
Kurumi flinched back.
"Don't interrupt me, Step-sister!" Ayanokoji glared, putting her head in her head, "Don't you dare use that tone and name with me! Do you, too, forget your place in this world? Would you like me to remind you of your filthy mother?"
Kurumi flinched at the word while gripping at her own yellow skirt in a gesture of personal harm against the words the elder girl used. Ayanokoji brushed back her hair with a huff as she brought her hands to her tea again. Her eyes seemed regretting at her words as the bitterness just overtook all her other emotions- she groaned before clutching her eyes closed and placing her tea down. Looking off to the side, a signal that Ayanokoji could no longer stand the sight of Kurumi at the moment, she closed her eyes while crossing her legs.
"You may go. I'll see you home, Kurumi," she ended carefully.
The black haired girl stood slowly with a nod and bowed respectfully to her older sister before leaving the table. She gripped her hands into fists as she left, hiding them in the large parts of her skirt as her left hand kept a grip on her bag's handle. Closing the doors slowly, she bit her lip as if holding back a cry, and looked right and left before putting her right palm against her forehead and wiping away any tears that may have threatened to show.
She refused to allow Ayanokoji to let her down- yet the mere remembrance that she was an illegitimate child of the politician, Ayanokoji's father, left a stab in her mind every time. She understood why Ayanokoji would feel so much bitterness, so much hatred, so much jealous- and for this reason, she couldn't hate her step-sister as she knew full well her step-sister never truly hated her. Unfortunate circumstances brought them to friction and Kurumi was not ready to push her luck against them- she would always be the daughter of a Chinese courtesan, and she would have to grow to accept it, no matter how much her father tried to hide it from the press.
Gossip never sleeps.
"Kurumi-chan!!" A loud shriek caught her attention causing Kurumi to jump.
A girl called from the stairs. Kurumi's face fell into one of apprehension then a smile trickled to her lips at the sight of the brown haired French girl running down the stairs became obvious. Renge pulled her into a hug, Kurumi blushed slightly at the action even though it should have become far more of a daily routine to her- the idea of displaying so much affection for one another in public still brought her to anxiety.
"You, are just in time! I was going to the Host Club!" Renge proclaimed, holding the girl's hand.
Kurumi groaned. This wasn't going to go too well. She stepped back slightly before laughing and waving her hands around in a defeated manner.
"Oh Renge, as delighting as that sounds," she looked off to the side to see the front stairs eyeing her in her face, "And my! Does it sound delightful! But-,"
"Homework? Your cat, which doesn't exist, needs to be fed? House on Fire?" Renge began, a bland expression while folding her arms, "Your mother had a heart attack? Dead uncle? Your sister drank bad tea?"
Kurumi laughed slightly before using the time to step backwards and close to the stairs.
"Possibly," Kurumi licked her lips, "All of the above!"
She cried, turning and making a dash for the door, while stumbling over herself slightly. Kurumi, not once in her life, has ever set foot in the Host Club- she planned on keeping it that way. She was never one for roses and pearls, diamonds or praises- she was far too plain, critical and overachieving to fall for silly lines and pretty outfits. Admittedly, she had a weakness for a pretty face yet never allowed such a thing to blind her judgment.
The Host Club was, literally, everything she stood again.
Yet, she paused in her running at the end of the stairs and looked back at the girl with her folded arms, it seemed rather rude to just run off and leave her 'friend' in the dust. Renge appeared in her sight and pointed a finger at the girl in an extroverted and entertaining manner which caused Kurumi's face to change into one of exaggerated shock.
"Kurumi! You will go to the Host Club!" Renge commanded, "Or else..!"
Kurumi smirked, what could Renge threaten?
"Or else WHAT?" Kurumi challenged.
The French girl held up a small paper, a large 90 scrawled over the math work. Kurumi's face fell before she collapsed to her knees in defeat.
----
"Ooohohohohooho! Isn't this fun, Kurumi-chan?" Renge cried, clapping her hands at her acquaintance's disheartening expression.
Kurumi winced as she stared at her selection. They all seemed preoccupied with sparkling, well dressed sweet talkers who meant none of the sweet nothings they whispered into the giggle's girls' ears. Twisting her face in disgust, she looked off to the side with a loud moan of distaste as she heard more squeals in the opposite direction.
"Kyaa! Fujioka-kun!! So cute!!"
"So gentlemanly!"
"Ahh! Haruhi-kun! I want your pictures!"
Then there was the awkward laughter Haruhi managed to muster in a strained tone. These girls were literally crazy! Kurumi gripped her fingers around her case's handle as she watched in rage at the girl's smothering over the brunette. The case shook with a fury as she tried to calm herself down from throwing it towards them and thrashing them for treating Fujioka-san like an object to be put upon a pedestal.
"I happen to be free, Jun Kurumi," a dark smooth voice came into her hearing as she winced from the flash of light catching onto glasses, "That is- if you will have me?"
Kurumi glared.
"Otohori Kyouya," she gripped her bag's handle even tighter behind her back before smiling charmingly, "I'm not surprised to see you here at all…"
Kyouya shrugged his shoulders while leading her towards a table and pulling out her chair.
"I am far more disappointed to see you here," Kyouya replied, his eyes closed, "In fact, I'm upset even… seeing you, Jun Kurumi…"
Kurumi flinched before replacing it with a small giggle with a highly false ring. It matched her already rather childish tone before she took the cup of tea into her hand.
"Rose tea, Otohori Kyoya?" she began, taking a sip and continuing using his entire name, "I thought you had better taste than that…"
Kyouya laughed along with her.
"Indeed," he rocked forward and placed his head to be supported by his knuckled, "This is reserved for customers who usually leave rather quickly."
Kurumi didn't respond to the hint, though it was noted in the back of her mind, and she laughed again. Putting the tea cup back down onto the china plate, she stared the teenaged boy into his eyes.
"Because of you, Otohori Kyouya, everyone in the school knows about my mother and father," she paused before glaring at him, "as in- the fact I'm not their child."
Kyoya's glasses glazed over before lowering his head.
"You are still on about that," he mumbled taking a sip of his tea, "That's old rumors- they should have died by-," he replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"You were sloppy, Otohori Kyouya! Your name in itself makes me angry because of it! So much I have to say the entire thing to get it out of my system!!" Kurumi fired back, slamming her fists onto the table, "I don't care if its gone and blown over and no one remembers any more! Those days… that first day it got out- I can never get that day back…"
Kyouya didn't respond and merely looked away from Kurumi who was already growling at him from the other side of the table. She paused as she noticed a brunette pass by with a tray of cakes, she paused before already getting red immediately at Haruhi turned to her and smiled as they caught each other's gaze. Kurumi lost words before covering her face and closing her eyes- Kyouya wasted no time taking notice of it before narrowing his faze suspiciously towards the girl.
"Jun Kurumi-," he began, raising an eyebrow.
Kurumi shook her head before looking at Kyouya with a smile, the redness slightly visible in her face.
"Othori…. Is Fujioka a host for long?" she looked away, "As in.. Is he distracted from his studies?"
Kyouya smirked before rocking back in his chair and looking at her.
"Oh, your act really has improved, Jun Kurumi," he challenged, cocking an eyebrow once more.
The black haired girl made a disgusted face at his comment. Looking away with her eyes closed, she couldn't face his eyes, and her tone was showing a superior acknowledgment to him as it was obvious she was used to his terminology to her attitude.
"I was-was being civil," she countered slightly stuttering, "I-I was just making c-conversation!"
She stated with a frown on her face while sipping her tea. The boy smiled and kept his hand on his laptop.
"Really now, Jun? You aren't here to figure out Haruhi's secret to studies to top the class? After all… you were in first place before Haruhi took his make up exam," Kyouya harped.
Kurumi gritted her teeth to his cockiness and growled. She tossed the cup to the side before slamming both her fists into the wooden table to tower over the sitting boy. Her shoulders were heaving as her breathing became heavy pants. The crash of the china breaking had alerted the entire club, clients and hosts alike, all looked at her in wonder before she clenched her eyes closed and grunted.
"Shut up! Damn you! That position was rightfully mine!!" she brought her hands to her face, "You have no right to lecture me!! All of you are already disgusting!!"
Pointing her finger towards the blonde host, who seemed to jump at her sudden action and wince at her tone.
"Philandering, womanizing and immoral hosts who prostitute their beautiful words and their saccharine lies to these pathetic and brainless girls!" she stared at the blonde with her narrowed black eyes, "All of you are just catching kicks off of your money and position, just lazing about like some- some ridiculous shoujou manga stars!! It's absolutely preposterous and infuriating! Why not do better things with your than wasting your money on cakes and fake companionship!"
She was already breathing heavy in the silent room before covering her lips and realizing how she had immediately lost her temper. Each time she insulted the hosts, the noticed the blonde take it the entire thing as a personal offense and wind up in the corner of the room sulking. She gritted her teeth before grabbing her bag and immediately dashing out the door.
Already knowing she wouldn't be welcome back into the Host Club.
Already perceptive of the fact that Renge would be mad at her.
Already conscious she was following in her step-sister's footsteps of bashing the club.
Yet, the only thing that brought the tears to her eyes was the fact that she had put Fujioka Haruhi into the entire mix of them all and included the host as a victim of her verbal assault.
