AN: Yay. another chapter out! hope you all like and thank you to all the peoples who reviewed. you all rock.
Her mistake wasn't immediately recognized as she stepped within the large room. Only after she had closed the door and a soft wind blew her hair from her face did she realize the problem.
She wasn't, in fact, alone.
Four boys sat on a couch near the middle of the room. The one with dark hair and glasses perched on his nose glanced at her before returning to his work.
"I'm sorry, we're not open yet. Come back in ten minutes." He didn't seem like he really cared whether or not she stayed; just more bothered by the fact that she was there in the first place.
"Don't be rude, Kyouya." Spoke a blonde boy, scolding the other. He gave her a dazzling smile and walked over to her. "Welcome to the host club, my dear. Pardon me for asking but, is this your first time with us?"
"What? Oh, um, I just umm…I think I have the wrong room." Haruhi stuttered, backing away from the close proximity the blonde had created.
"Don't be shy, my princess. Tell me about yourself." He pulled her close and gazed down at her. Haruhi didn't answer him as she tried to push him off of her. Her attempts however were stopped as the boy from earlier spoke up.
"Allow me to answer that. Her name is Fujioka Haruhi. She's the new transfer student, class 1-A." He pushed his glasses further up his nose and continued on with his information. "Father's name, Fujioka Ranka, currently residing in The U.S. She flew in yesterday and is currently staying with the Hit-"
"You're the new transfer student my father was telling me about. I see now, he had told me you were beautiful, but now I see he had clearly understated that fact." He cut in, pulling the girl (to her relief) at arms length. He stared into her brown eyes, his violet ones clashing with hers. "Come in, Princess, and spread your radiating warmth. This room which had seemed so dark before is now bright with your beauty."
"No, thank you. I'm fine." Haruhi stated, turning to walk out of the room.
Ignoring her, the boy continued, blocking her path to the door. "Your radiance is no less than that of a Goddess. When I look at you, I see a beautiful mermaid." He took hold of her hands.
"A goddess or a mermaid, which is it? I can't possibly to both." Haruhi asked, getting frustrated with the teen.
"To me, Princess, no other rivals your beauty." He answered. She couldn't help but notice how he hadn't actually answered her question. Rolling her eyes she steadied her gaze on him.
"Tamaki-sempai, please release my hands." Haruhi stated. She assumed by his release of her that she had guessed right. She had heard a few girls in their class talking about a 'Tamaki-sempai' and his famous host club. And this, she realized rather regretfully, was him.
"It was nice meeting you, but I'll be going now." Leaving the slightly dejected boy behind she pulled open the door and walked out, only to smack into the chest of the elder Hitachiin. Kaoru popped up behind him as she regained her footing. Their golden eyes looked down and lit up seeing the girl.
"Haruhi! We've been looking everywhere for you!" They exclaimed, taking her into a hug. Their reunion was short lived as Tamaki came up to the two little devils.
"Hikaru! Kaoru! You two are late again. We had to start without you and now you're smothering our new guest. Where are your manners?" He scolded, pulled the indifferent girl out of their grasps.
"I am sorry my princess. I assure you the twins mean no harm. Now, care to join me for some tea?" He gave her a charming smile and guided her into the room, gazing down at her.
"I'm sorry but, can you not touch me?" She asked, looking him straight in the eye. The boy seemed to go into a state of shock as he sulked into the corner. "Umm…" Haruhi reached out a hand, unsure of whether or not to try and comfort him.
"Don't worry about Tono." Hikaru stated, sliding over to her side.
"Yeah, he's just not use to girls rejecting him." Kaoru explained. Both stood by her sides as she watched the boy who seemed to be mumbling to himself about how he was worthless.
The three didn't notice as Kyouya watched from the sidelines, writing things down on his clip board. It seemed as though he was the only one to notice that the new girl didn't mind nearly as much when the twins touched her as when others did. But then again, he was the shadow king.
"I'm sorry, umm…I guess I could be a mermaid." She said in attempts to cheer him up. The twins gave her a confused look as Tamaki shot off the ground in what appeared to be an 'explosion of happiness.'
"Does this mean you'll stay Haruhi-hime?" He asked hopefully. The room began to fill up with other girls but it seemed as though the blonde didn't notice.
"Etto, I suppose I could for a moment. But I do believe your guests are waiting." She said. She had no intention of stay, of course, but she did really want the boy to leave her alone. Murmuring something about the sorrow of parting Tamaki slipped off to his designators, apologizing for the wait.
Sighing in relief Haruhi spun on her heels and once again turned to leave the room. Only to be spotted by two identical boys who had been watching the exchange.
"Where are you going?" Hikaru asked, leaning around her body to look into her face.
"I'm leaving. I have homework to do." She stated, trying to get to the door that seemed miles away.
"You can't leave now Haruhi." Kaoru argued, giving her his best puppy dog face.
"Yeah, we wanted to show you our club." Hikaru mimicked his brother. They were met with no answer as she continued her way to the door. Switching tactics they called over their shoulders.
"And the car won't be back until the club is over. It'd be such a pain if you got lost." They both shrugged and pretended to not really care what she did. Haruhi froze with her hand hovering above the handle.
Honestly, being lost did seem like a more desirable and not to mention peaceful alternative to staying inside a room with two scheming brothers, an over eccentric blonde, and about fifteen girls who all seemed to be glaring at her. But, if she really did get lost, then when would she find the time to do her homework?
"Fine. I'll stay." Both jumped on her, nuzzling their heads with hers.
The fact that Haruhi had tried and failed to exit this room many times that day should have been a clear sign to her that she was not going to be leaving anytime soon. But, instead of thinking of that, she sat at the bar, attempting to do her homework. Which, with three annoying boys constantly demanding her attention was excruciatingly hard.
Her brown eyes focused down on her paper. She had been stuck on this one problem for the last ten minutes and it was starting to get to her. Her thought process was interrupted by another pair of very big and very innocent brown orbs gazing over the edge of the counter.
"Haru-chan. Want some cake?" Asked the boy. Haruhi had learned, from the twins, that this was Mitsukuni Haninozuka, better known as Hunny, and two years her senior.
"No thank you. I don't really like sweets all that much." The bubbly smile fell from his face and tears filled his child like eyes.
"You don't want…cake?" His lower lip quivered, showing off his loli-shita skills. Not wanting to cause a scene Haruhi bent down to his level and placed a hand on his head.
"Not now. But maybe later. Ok, Hunny-sempai?" Her smile seemed to spark a warmth within the boy as a large smile spread across his boyish face.
"Ok, Haru-chan! You can hold Usa-chan if you want, just don't get him dirty." A pink bunny was placed in her arms before he ran back to his table and guests. "Takashi! I want cake!"
Takashi Morinozuka, better known as Mori, from what she could see, was a very tall and quiet guy who was like the personal body guard for the child. She hadn't heard him say one word all day but he seemed nice enough. Although she still didn't understand why he was referred to as the 'wild type'. He seemed pretty laid back to her.
"It is pretty cute." Haruhi said to herself, looking down at the bunny.
"You think it's cute? Here, take mine! Aren't they all so cute Haruhi?" Tamaki yelled, throwing random stuffed animals on her that he had pulled out of a trunk labeled 'Tamaki's fun box'. She took one look at all the plushies before turning back to her work, a firm grip on the bunny.
"They're creepy." She spoke evenly, earning a gasp from the 'king' before he rushed to her side.
"How could they possibly be creepy? I've had them since I was little." Tamaki said, defending his stuffed friends. She swept over the toys again. Ok, so they weren't necessarily creepy, but if she didn't say they were then he'd force her to keep them. Probably all of them.
"That's why they're creepy." She pointed out, lifting a book to her face. Tamaki kept rambling about something while Haruhi just tuned him out. But, a voice from behind brought her back.
"Tamaki, if you would please head back to your table. Your guests are waiting." Kyouya gestured to the girls staring intently in their direction. Tamaki nodded and sauntered back, whispering apologizes and sweet nothings to the 'princesses'.
"Fujioka-san, I'm letting you stay free of charge because of the Hitachiins, but it would make it a lot easier on me if you wouldn't distract the hosts anymore." He smiled at her, but it was more of an evil I-can-totally-blackmail-you-later smile.
"I'm simply trying to do my work. It's they who are distracting." She pointed out, returning, once again, to her work. She heard a soft chuckle behind her before a warm breath ran down her neck.
"If you use X in place of Q, the answer can be substituted for Y." Her eyes widened in understanding as she scribbled down the answer. The dark haired boy hovered behind her until she finished the problem, checking her work.
"Thank you, Kyouya-sempai." She gave him a smile that made her glow.
"No problem…Haruhi." With that he walked off, scrolling into that notebook of his.
Half an hour later, Haruhi had finished all her homework and was simply watching the club work. Mori and Hunny seemed to be a team. His bright and cheery attitude balanced out the taller's more conservative personality. But none the less, it worked, and rather well.
Tamaki, as proclaimed, was in fact the king of the host club. His mannerisms and charm did reflect that of a prince. Although, it seemed as though his princesses didn't mind sharing him, making him somewhat of a playboy prince. Maybe she would call him that from now on. No, he'd probably think it was some kind of pet name and pronounce her his playboy queen. That would be an awkward moment she'd rather skip.
Kyouya, from what she had noticed, didn't get very many guests. He was handsome and suave and many girls had tried to approach him, but he was always busy with something. It appeared that he'd politely dismiss them telling them that he'd be happy to host them next time. Then, he'd turn back to his notebook or computer and continue with what he was doing.
Then there were the twins. They were definitely a team and creepily so. It seemed as though their guests got off on seeing some rather twisted display or twincest. Haruhi, who had been friends with a few people of 'different ideas and interests' wasn't bothered by it. What bothered her is that the other girls were so enthralled by it. Two of them had already fainted in the last half hour from serious nosebleeds.
Another thing that she noticed was that Kaoru and Hikaru kept switching who was who, and no one seemed to notice. Hikaru would call Kaoru Hikaru and the girls just went with it. Was it some kind of game, or did they serious not notice?
The bell chimed behind her, signaling the hour. Her eyes watched as the girls gradually stood and left the room, biding goodbyes to their favorite hosts. And then, suddenly, she the only girl in the room with five boys.
"Haru-chan! Haru-chan! Did you have fun with Usa-chan? Do you want that cake now?" Hunny jumped onto her arm, pulling her down to his level. His smile fell as he turned to look at his table. "Although, I did eat all the cakes…We could always get more! Right, Takashi?"
Mori gave a nod and grunted a rather deep 'yeah'.
"Ano…I don't think I ca-" She started, feeling a little bad for the admittedly cute boy.
"Yes. Haruhi. Stay with us. We shall bond and watch the stars take the place of the sun. It shall be reborn in the form of the moon, much like our love." Tamaki drawled, taking a prince like pose in front of her.
"That didn't even make sense, Tamaki-sempai." Haruhi sighed, not really in the mood for his idiocy.
"And we really should get going. Mom wants us home in time for dinner." Hikaru said, shoving Tamaki out of the way and standing beside Haruhi.
"Yeah, Haruhi. What do you say?" Kaoru walked past the fallen blonde and joined the two.
"Wanna spend the night?" Hikaru asked for his brother. Haruhi, being of a clean mind, simply nodded, knowing she was going to sleep there anyways.
"H-h-haruhi! Don't leave with those devils. They'll only pollute your innocent and pure mind." Tamaki wailed, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. "They'll end up doing $ and $#$# with their $&. Then every time they $#&& they'll $ and you'll just be # with your $($.I can't let them do that to you!" No one spoke as he stared intently as her.
Her eyes slid to the side as she tried hard to ignore her impulses to strangle the blonde. "You're the only one polluting my mind, Sempai." He seemed frozen from the shock as she slid away from him. "Can we go now?" She asked the twins who were trying to hold in the laughter. Collecting themselves they each grabbed an arm and walked to the door.
"Yeah, Haruhi. This should be fun." Hikaru quipped, further scorning the still frozen boy behind them.
Walking out of the doors, they almost made it to the driveway when Kaoru stopped. "Hey, I forgot something in the club room. I'll be right back." He turned and ran in the direction of the music room.
"Wait. Kaoru, I'll go with you." Hikaru yelled already chasing after his brother.
"No, it's ok. I'll be right back. Just stay with Haruhi." He yelled over his shoulder, already disappearing.
Sighing, Hikaru walked back to the girl as they continued their walk to the place they would be picked up.
"You and Kaoru do everything together don't you?" She asked, eyeing the boy beside her.
"Yeah, pretty much. Always have." He answered, a faint smile on his face. A comfortable silence fell over the two as they stood there. Giving into her curiosity, Haruhi turned back to the boy.
"Hikaru." He looked over, giving her his attention. "What's a $#$#?" She asked in all seriousness. The once serene face of the Hitachiin turned bright red. "And what did he mean by $ and you'll just be #? What does $($ even mean? And then, he also mentioned a $#&&. I've never used that word in context like that before. Which brings me back to the $(-"
Hikaru's hand slapped down over her mouth. His face was beat red and he couldn't take anymore. It was one thing when Tamaki said it and was making a fool out of himself. But when a cute girl like Haruhi said it so innocently, it seemed really embarrassing. Not to mention inappropriate.
She tried to back away from his hand, but he grabbed her around the waist as an anchor. Not wanting anyone to hear them he bent down lower.
"Please. Don't say that. Didn't your…mom or dad ever talk to you about stuff like that?" He asked, trying really hard not to have to answer her questions. She shook her head and reached up to her mouth, lightly pulling his hand off of it and holding it there.
"No. My mom was busy most of the time and my dad just told me that if I kiss a boy I'll get pregnant and no one but my parents would love me." He gave her a weird look as she gazed up at him, sounding as though she was stating a fact. "He never mentioned a #$&."
His hand went to her mouth again to stop her. "Listen, I can't really explain, but those are…umm…bad words. Just, just stop ok?" Haruhi nodded reluctantly behind his hand.
"Hikaru I'm back. What'd I miss?" Kaoru asked, popping around the corner. Hikaru spun, releasing Haruhi and looked at his brother with relief in his eyes.
"Nothing really. Just talking." He answered as nonchalantly as possible.
The car arrived shortly after that and all three climbed in. Haruhi and Kaoru talked while Hikaru sat and watched, occasionally adding to the conversation.
His mind, however, was focused on the girl sitting across from him. He didn't know why, but for some reason, she wasn't like everyone else.
Haruhi lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling of her new bedroom. It was white, like most everything else in the room. Mirrors lined the farthest wall and empty clothes racks filled the deserted closet.
After dinner she had gotten a call from her father. He told her and he still hadn't been able to find a well paying job and that it may be a while. What else could she do than say ok?
She couldn't sleep. Rolling off the queen sized bed, Haruhi padded her way across the extensive room and into the hallway.
The soft clicking of the door barely made a noise as she ghosted down the dark hall. She still had no idea where she was going, but she wanted to go somewhere.
Sliding open a door she found herself on a terrace overlooking the front of the garden. Walking down it a little ways she stopped seeing some already leaning against the railing.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was out here." She turned to leave but was stopped by a voice she recognized.
"No, it's ok. You can stay." bright golden eyes met her brown ones and she nodded.
"So, your brothers not here?" She asked, hopping up onto the rail so she was facing him.
"No. Hikaru's asleep." He said, staring up at the dark sky.
She looked at him for a minute, studying his face. Shrugging she turned her gaze out to the garden. "Hikaru's weird."
"How so?" Asked the boy. He seemed a bit offended but also interested.
"I don't know. Just is." She answered still not looking at him.
"So Hikaru's weird and I'm not?" He almost sounded mad, almost.
"No. Hikaru and Kaoru are both weird." She reasoned.
"So we're both weird. That still doesn't answer how we're weird." He huffed, looking at her averted eyes.
Her eyes snapped to him, locking with his own. "They're weird because they pretend to be each other."
"You can't prove that we do that." He seemed skeptical. He and his brother had been doing that since they were little. They were pro at it.
"No. I guess I can't." She jumped down from the railing and landed softly on the ground. Walking to the door she turned around before walking through. "Goodnight, Hikaru."
Hikaru's eyes widened as she disappeared. How did she who he was? How did she know that he wasn't Kaoru? No one could ever tell. How did she? His shocked expression gave way to a smirk as he walked to another door leading to his room. Yeah, she was definitely different.
AN: yup that's the host club. I tried really hard to keep them all in character. Hope it was convincing. and also, the bleeped words didn't come out with all the symbols for some reason so they don't spell anything. Next chapter- Haruhis torment in the host club continues and she makes some new friends.
