Weeeeeelllllllllll… here's a new chapter. ENJOY!
Reviewer Thanks
DreamWriter101: Glad you think so. Thank you. ^-^
Prince-Shigure: And thus, here is the continuation ;)
KageNoNeko: Your theory is correct. …And thank you for pointing out the spelling-error (I knew I goofed up somewhere).
Disclaimer: Do I LOOK like I own the Host Club? …Didn't think so.
0o0o0o0o0
The rules of the competition were simple, as Renge pinned a poster of each rule to the wall, with six boxes near each number, and each host's name above each box- whoever broke one of the rules would be marked down and disqualified.
1) Each host got only 1 hour of the day to find a solution for Haruhi's phobia.
2) Their ideas had to be completely original. If a host were to steal someone's idea, or if two hosts were to use the same idea, it would be considered null and void, and they'd lose 15 minutes.
3) There was to be no interference or help from anyone- each host had to work alone, otherwise lose 30 minutes. If their method worked, whoever helped them would receive all the credit.
4) Swapping days with another host was not allowed. (Tamaki sat in the corner sulking at this 'injustice').
5) Haruhi couldn't turn down any of the hosts- no matter what!
(Haruhi immediately thought the last rule was just plain stupid).
The weather-advisory proved to be right, for the next day was just as over-cast and dreary as yesterday. Damn it. I was hoping for clear skies, then this whole 'competition' could be postponed. she thought. Then again, she realized, even if it wasn't stormy, the Host Club would have figured something out- probably set up the room to make the lights flicker and play a stereo that recorded the sound of thunder, or perhaps Kyouya would find a bio-dome that could be set on the most treacherous weather-conditions…
Knowing the hosts, the insane ideas were endless.
It was Tuesday, and though the morning had just arrived Haruhi was already counting down until the final hour of her first mind-numbing week of being 'cured' of her fear. Maybe I can get out of it by sitting close to the window, she thought as she entered her classroom, looking out the window at the slow drizzle of rain. If I get struck by lightening, it'll be for a good cause…
She felt a pair of arms drape over her shoulder, and she didn't even have to take a look to know that both of the Hitachin twins were standing on both sides of her, smiling their mischievous grins. "Morning, Haruhi," they said in unison, their voices having a cheerful- yet questionable- tone.
"What do you two want?" Haruhi asked, already feeling annoyed.
"We were just curious…" Hikaru said as they circled her.
"…Because you came to school on a rainy-day." Kaoru added.
"And we want to know why," They both finished together.
"Well, I wasn't going to miss school just because of a storm," Haruhi scoffed. "I have to show SOME back-bone, don't I?"
The truth was, Haruhi made it to school because her father, Ranka, offered to give her a lift and got her to Ouran early, before the rain began to fall. Though, she refused to tell anyone- i.e. the Host Club- figuring this would only escalate everyone's concern, believing her to be 'completely helpless' (Tamaki, she knew, would be at the top of that list).
"True, especially since it'll help get this competition over with," Hikaru said.
"…Which brings us to my method," Kaoru said, grinning.
Figures. Haruhi thought, giving a cynical look.
"You see, we have a study-hall together 3rd period. Hikaru will be in the hallway, keeping watch on Nekozawa's locker- we rigged it yesterday, you know. I figure, while he's checking our trap, you and I could get started on our shift."
Haruhi suppressed a sigh. "Alright…" she muttered. At least I won't be Nekozawa, she thought, trying to find something optimistic about this situation.
The bell rang and the students took their seats. Haruhi watched the clock, begging for time to go faster and have the day be over with.
0o0o0o0o0
Third period dragged in slowly, as Haruhi met Kaoru in the hall, seeing that Hikaru was knelt behind the end of the lockers, anxiously waiting for Nekozawa to come by. "What if he had already opened his locker?" Haruhi asked Kaoru as they walked off.
"We managed to snag a copy of his schedule." Kaoru replied, trying to hold back a grin. "He has gym class first period, and a study-hall second-period- which he uses to spend time at his 'Dark Magic' club. He has biology third period, which would probably be the only time he'd need to use his locker."
"What if he already has everything he needed for biology?"
Kaoru shrugged. "Then I guess we'd miss it. …It wouldn't be too bad, though. We'd be able to hear his screams from across the building, and we hid a camera in there so we could capture the look on his face!"
Haruhi rolled her eyes. I always forget- when it comes to the 'Little Devil Type', there's always a back-up plan. she reminded herself.
They came to an empty hallway then, and Kaoru sat on a seat near a window, motioning Haruhi to sit next to him. "So, what do you find so scary about thunder-storms? They're basically all rain, flashing, and loud noises."
Haruhi leaned back, looking out the window. The rain was pouring heavily now, the street-curbs flooding half-an-inch each minute. "Basically the lightening. It's the most dangerous part of the storm- it could start fires, or hit power-lines and cause black-outs… I heard a bolt of lightening split a tree in half in the country once."
"So, what, you're afraid of being struck by lightening?"
"Well, wouldn't anyone be? All you'd have to do is stand out in the open, and hiding under a tree would increase your chances, along with holding an umbrella."
"I know. I just think that, out of the rest of the storm, it's the least likely thing to happen. Now, the rain would be more dangerous, because it can cause flooding, obscure vision if heavy enough, cause pneumonia if you're out in it too long… Then there's the wind- it could blow out anything! Probably could blow a tree-branch clean off the trunk and make it smash through the window, if it were blowing hard enough."
Haruhi gave a nervous glance at a tree-branch outside the window. "Pardon my interruption, but exactly HOW does this help me get over my fear?"
"Hey, first step in getting rid of a fear is drawing out the specific parts that terrify you, and finding a way to get rid of them." Kaoru looked out the window, up at the clouds. "When we were kids, Hikaru and I always became inspired by storms- it reminded us of our favorite horror movies, and even gave us ideas on what kind of pranks to pull on people."
"How would storms inspire pranks?" …As soon as she asked it, Haruhi came to the conclusion that she didn't even want to know.
"Well, storms tend to be the main scenery for horror films, right? And horror films induce fear, and everyone has something they're afraid of… which makes it easy for Hikaru and I to use it against them."
Suddenly there was a scream echoing down the hall, and Haruhi and Kaoru happened to look over, just in time to see the hooded-form of Nekozawa race by. "Light! Light in my locker! I'm blind, I'M BLIND!" he screeched as he ran.
Hikaru came running up moments later, doubling over in laughter, all the while holding a video camera. "Oh, you should have been there!" he said, trying to catch his breath. "The camera got a perfect angle on his face and everything!"
"Let me see!" Kaoru exclaimed.
On the camcorder's screen was the paused, frightened expression of Nekozawa, his eyes in swirls from all the flashing lights. Both the twins hit the floor, bursting into guffaws and pounding their fists on the tiles. Haruhi merely rolled her eyes.
"Exactly, how would a prank help me get over my fear?" she asked Kaoru.
"Simple," Kaoru said, standing up and leading her away. "Rather than feel 'frightened' by lightening, become inspired. Say, next time there's a blackout during a storm, set up a joke to pull on someone in the dark- pretend someone's got you, or hide in the shadows and jump out at someone, maybe slip a rubber grub in the back of their shirts… The possibilities are endless!"
"Uh huh… I'm not so sure how that would work,"
Kaoru shrugged. "Just give it a try. Storms always serve some inspiration for a purpose," With that, he walked off.
Haruhi shook her head. Well, at least he didn't try to do anything stupid. she thought, walking to her locker to retrieve a textbook for her next class.
*KRAKA-BOOM!*
"WAUGH!" Haruhi cried out, jumping back as light flashed inside her locker. Calming down, she noticed a tape-recorder inside, wired to some sort of flashing toy- both obviously wired to go off as soon as the door was open.
"Just thought you could use a little 'inspiration'!" Kaoru called from down the hall, Hikaru at his side, both twins sharing in a laugh.
I spoke too soon… Haruhi thought bitterly, ripping the toy and tape-recorder out of her locker.
0o0o0o0o0
Tamaki had been watching the whole thing from down the hall, and caught up with the twins later, immediately grabbing Kaoru by the collar on contact. "You idiot! You're supposed to get rid of her fear, not provoke it!" he snapped, chibi-flames coming out of his mouth as he spoke. "Are you trying to scare her to death?"
"It's all part of my solution," Kaoru sneered. "I believe that if I can get Haruhi to see her fear as some sort of joke, she'll get over it."
"A JOKE? How could someone joke about something they're afraid of? How does that solve anyone's problems? Who uses a stupid method like that, anyway?"
"Watch it, sire, otherwise we'll report you for interference," Hikaru chided.
"You can't report me, you've basically assisted in your brother's method by setting up that prank on Nekozawa! I see how your brain works!"
"Uh, we set up the prank yesterday, BEFORE the competition started," Kaoru said, critically.
"Why don't you go work on your own method, rather than intruding on Kaoru's?" Hikaru sneered, and the twins walked off, leaving Tamaki seething with anger.
0o0o0o0o0
A/N: Alright, I know it was a short chapter, but I was lacking a bit of inspiration at the moment. (Hopefully I'll get some)
*Boom!*
(glowers at the Hitachins) Not THAT kind of inspiration, you morons!
Hitachins: (smirk) Sorry, couldn't resist!
T_T Why does that not surprise me?
…Please review. Unless you want to be the next victim of a Hitachin prank, DON'T FLAME!
