Tamaki invents another game! And whoever wins can ask something from the losers! Now is the first day of the rehearsals and the hosts get a piece of Akira, especially Honey!

I don't own Ouran High School Host Club. I'm just a fan.I only own my OCs

Please review! Thanks for reading! :D

The hosts walked toward the two grand doors that opened for them the first time yesterday. Unlike the day before, only the echoing tapping of their feet on floor can be heard. No particular redhead came with them as they cancelled their activities for the day.

First day of rehearsal, eh? Everyone brought the scripts that were given to them. Akira said it is okay if they would be reading them since it is the first day of rehearsal. From being hosts they are now to be actors.

Now the play is not just what they were doing. They had another game—another of Tamaki's invention. The purpose of the Host Club is to bring happiness to girls. But if this game is Tamaki's way to relieve his scarred ego when his charms did not work on Akira, or he really wanted to discover her true colors—and maybe, just maybe, "bring her happiness", no one knows. Haruhi wants to think that it was the latter.

The air in the Theatre Club's rooms was different from yesterday. It seemed more energetic and livelier, with the members going about here and there.

A certain little redhead spotted and approached them.

"Oh, you're here!"

"We're sorry we're a little late again," Kyouya formally apologized.

"No, it's okay, Ootori-senpai!" Murasaki said. "Akira-senpai is there in the dance studio."

There is a sweet smile plastered in her Murasaki's face that even Haruhi thought that she was indeed very cute. Probably, she would fall for this girl if she was a real guy. One can compare her to a sugar plum princess. As she walked before them with her little steps, vibrant auras that can make flowers bloom seem to surround her.

Murasaki halted in front of a door marked "The Dance Rehearsal Room I" and turned the knob. Piano music was playing as they went inside the room surrounded by mirrors.

As they came in, the hosts were aghast. They were astounded not by the splendid dance room. Instead, what made them immobilized there was her.

She was dancing with a grace greater than that of Murasaki's, and can be compared to that of a great ballerina who they can name. As her partner swayed her with the tune of the playing of the piano, the hosts watched in awe. The other people inside the room were watching silently too.

For the hosts she was a new lady, a maiden that they didn't know. Perhaps the mirrors must be fooling their eyes? But no, it was her. Yet it wasn't her. She seemed to be indulged in the dance, to give her all to every tip and step of her feet. They blended well, she and her partner, but she can do all alone.

Then as the dance slowed and the movements become more subtle, he let go of her hand and she twirled—once, twice, thrice. After that she halted as she saw that the hosts were there. She signaled for the music to stop and approached them, but her spectators did not miss to clap for her.

"Miyazaki-san, you did not tell you're a very good dancer," praised Tamaki. No one knows if he is already starting to work for the game, but little devilish minds can't help but think that he is.

"Uh, thank you," Akira answered rather shyly. "Are you ready for the rehearsal? Can we start immediately?"

"Of course, we are, Miyazaki-san."

"Good," she nodded. She turned to her members and said, "Minna-san, you can practice the dance now! Suichi-kun, I'm trusting them to you now, okay?"

"Hai!"

"Oh, and Suoh-san!"

"Yes, what is it, Miyazaki-san?"

"You are to practice with them too while the others will practice for their lines," she said as she removed her white ballet shoes and put on her school shoes.

Tamaki was a bit shocked as she said it. Why? Why should he be left out?

"Uh, o-okay." He managed not to ask, for asking would sound as if he objects.

"If you read the script thoroughly, you and Sakurako-kun will be doing the first dance. The one Suichi-kun and I danced will be the one you two will perform. I think it best for you to start with it as early as possible."

"I understand, Miyazaki-san," Tamaki answered as his lips formed one of his most charming smiles.

"I'm glad you do. Shall we go now?" Charming Smile Strategy: Fail.

Before they got out of the Dance Room, she shouted another encouragement to her members, "Do your best everyone! I'll see your development after, okay?"

"Hai!"

"Do your best too, Aki," a light brown-haired guy called after her. It was Yukito who was sitting in front of the piano.

"Hai. Thank you," she said with a small smile.

The hosts followed her silently to their practice room, a quite small theater. While they were walking, whispers of admiration can be heard from the girls that they pass by.

"Okay, here we are. Please settle yourselves. We're going to start with Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai's scene, Act One Scene Two."

Just as she said it, the door opened and came in Namiko and Masao.

"Sorry, we're late. Have you started already?" Namiko apologized.

"No, we still haven't. You're just in time; we're just about to get started."

Namiko took a seat next to Akira behind a table in front of the stage.

"By the way, where are the others?"

Her vice president just shrugged. Just as she sat down, Akira pulled out a hair stick and did her hair with it. Masao, who was sitting near the hosts inhaled sharply and gulped.

The twins who were behind him noticed this and asked him.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"N-n-nothing," Masao said in a near whisper. "I-it's just that…"

"That…what?" Hikaru asked.

"That when President Miyazaki-san does her hair like that…she…she turns into the 'Serious Mode'."

"Serious mode?" Kaoru asked.

"Yeah."

"But she's already a serious person. How can she get more serious?" the twins asked in unison.

"She gets more serious and damn strict. The other members become afraid of her when she does her hair up like that. You'll see what I mean eventually."

"Masao-kun, Hikaru-kun, Kaoru-kun…?"

"H-h-h-hai?" It was Masao who answered. He became tensed now, the twins observed. He was beginning to sweat even though the room was air-conditioned.

"What are you whispering about there? Can you please stop that?" Akira reprimanded. She turned to them with her eyebrow jerked upward. Masao tensed more as she does it. The twins were stunned too as she looked at them. Her gaze was as sharp as knives. "It's distracting, really. We're in a practice, you know. If you want to know each other, you can do it later. But if you can't hold your little chitchat, you are free to go outside and continue it there. Am I making myself clear?"

"H-hai. Gomen, Miyazaki-san."

Akira turned to the stage again. Masao, on the other hand, sweats like a waterfall.

"Okay then. Honey-senpai, Mori-senpai, can you go up the stage now? Let's begin with the scene when Count Amaury was hit by a bullet and Alexandre is by his side."

Honey and Mori complied. It took a little awkward moment for Mori and Honey to get over the part where Count Amaury gets hit and falls to the ground.

"O, dear father! What happened to you?..."

Honey's line was still unfinished when the door opened again. Three girls came in.

"Ano," said one of them, "We're sorry, we're late."

Akira turned her head to them. Her look was not just sharp—it was rather petrifying. The girls froze where they stood, sweat dropping because of fear.

"You're late. I hope next time you'll arrive early. I can't tolerate latecomers, you know? What will happen to the play if the actors and actresses are late? It will do no good, you know."

"W-w-we understand. Gomen. We're very sorry," said one girl.

"Okay then. Take you seats."

The girls scurried to their seats. They chose the ones that are far enough from Akira. As Honey and Mori goes on with their lines, they can't help but whisper to each other.

"My, my, my…Honey-senpai sure is so kawaii" said one in her softest whisper.

"Hmm...I like Mori-senpai more. He's so cool!" replied another.

"This scene is so beautiful! They fit in their characters well! I love both of them!"

They giggled and chattered in the softest of whispers.

"Cut!"

Honey who was delivering his line halted in his speech.

"You three, can you keep quiet?" And so, she was hearing them. It can be blamed that the place was barely filled that their voices can be heard even they speak in the lowest volumes. Or maybe, Akira's hearing was really sharp. She looked at them again with her scary look. The girls froze like ice and sank down their seats.

What a frightening woman, Haruhi thought.

The twins were scared now too. And Masao was tensing again.

"Scary!" the twins murmured.

"You see what I told you?" Masao said.

To their fright, Akira did not miss hearing them. She shot a look at them. The twins were frightened like when Honey discovered his dirtied Usa-chan. Masao, on the other hand, was completely turned to stone. This made the twins even more terrified.

This woman is scary!

Yeah, she can turn a person to stone.

Even Renge-kun is no match to her.

I agree. This girl is the real Medusa!

The brothers clung to each other, their teeth chattering in fear. Honey looked scared too, but he was lucky enough that Akira was not facing him.

"My, my…calm down, Akira," said Namiko. "Don't get angry easily at them. It's just the first rehearsal. I'm sure they won't do it again, right guys?"

To this, the scared guys nodded like children. Thank you, Namiko-san! You're our savior!

Akira complied with the angel sent from above. "I'm not angry. It's just a little irritating, that's all."

The president relaxed on her seat again. Haruhi was thinking that she really has a bad temper. She can even match to Honey and Kyouya, who was just reading a book, paying little attention to what was happening around him. And she was thinking how dangerous it is to anger her…and if her blood type is AB too.

They continued with Honey and Mori's scene. Mori was lying down while grasping the area above the heart as if he was wounded, while Honey was bent down to him with a heartbreaking look.

"Father! You can't die! You said you'll be my mentor until the times comes that I become the grown man you said you want me to become! How can I do that if you are to leave my side? How can I become a gentleman without you to teach me? What will I become then?"

"Alexandre, my beloved son. You can be a man if you wholeheartedly desire to, even I part from you. This is fate, my son. And no one, even the mightiest idol, can stop it"—Mori let out a grunt of pain—"I think my time has come. And all I wish of you is to love your mother and your siblings. Remember all that I have thought you in your childhood. You are a man now, even though you are still not. Take care of yourself. Good bye, my son. We shall meet again, but I wish we don't for a very lengthy time. I love you."

After his line, Count Amaury's soul left in peace and his body slumped lifelessly.

"O, FATHER!" Alexandre wailed and hugged his father's corpse. His voice echoed with strength throughout the closed walls of the studio.

"CUT!" But another voice was louder and showed more power. "Cut, cut, cut!"

All eyes turned to the director, who looked more upset.

"It's not good enough!"

"Huh?" Honey said, "But why, Aki-chan? Did I say the lines wrong?"

Akira stood up from her seat. She was bending down with her hands on the table to support her. "Said the lines wrong? Said the lines wrong? Honey-senpai, there is a lack of emotions in your lines! You should put more heart into it! Express all that you can!"

"Huh? M-more emotions?" Honey replied puzzled. He looked at Mori to search for answers, but could not find one in his cousin's 'I-have-no-idea-what-she's-talking-about' face.

Akira sighed. This is harder than what she expected. But she can do this.

"Honey-senpai, you need to put more emotions," she repeated. "By with that, I mean that you should just shed some tears."

She hoped she said it right. Good thing, Honey seemed to understand what she said.

"You mean I should cry?"

"Yes, Honey-senpai. Can you do it?"

Honey took a moment before he answered. Before he talked, what his reply was painted all over his face.

"Ano, I-I'm really not sure," he finally said. "I-it's my first time to act in a play like this, I told you."

Akira stared at him for a moment. She put her hand on her temple and rubbed it. Her eyebrows furrowed and she let out a big sigh.

"B-b-but I can try!" exclaimed Honey. "I can try, Aki-chan. J-just don't be sad."

The last words he uttered were muttered. But he knew she heard it. Honey did not want the play not to work out well because of his fault. And besides, that would eliminate him from their game.

Mori put a hand on Honey's shoulder. Honey looked up at him and back to Akira with a sad look. Her head was bowed that no one could see her eyes.

"Well, you should try, Honey-senpai."

Her tone was like that of an evil character. The air around them became cold and frightening again.

"Now, can you repeat the last line, Honey-senpai?"

Scaryyyy…"O-okay."

Honey and Mori went back to their previous position. Akira instructed them to repeat a few lines and they obeyed. However,

"CUT! Honey-senpai, please…"

"G-g-gomen, Aki-chan," Honey said with watery eyes.

My, my, I thought they're used to the 'teary-eyed' act of theirs. And now, he's having a hard time to act like crying? Haruhi thought as she watched Honey being scolded by Akira. She's the only one that can scold Honey-senpai like that.

"Honey-senpai, I'm sorry for saying this, but I think you are still not doing your best," Akira said. "I think you can do more than that."

"Gomen, Aki-chan! I'm sorry!"

He seemed in the verge of crying, but no tears fell from his eyes.

"Being watery-eyed isn't enough, Honey-senpai. You should cry like your heart is going to tear. This is the theater, not just a lousy drama on television!"

Akira let out another sigh. This is a big, big challenge for her. Well, she anticipated this would happen, since she knew that the hosts were not really actors.

"I think we can use some strategies." Namiko came to her aid. Ah, there's someone who's a lot nicer.

"Hmmm…maybe you're right, Namiko. I agree with you."

"Okay then. Let's try the first and most common strategy."

"What strategies are you talking about, Nami-chan?"

"Honey-senpai, strategies to make you cry. You can use techniques to help yourself cry on stage."

"Eh? Really? Does that work?"

"Well, why don't we give it a try?" challenged Namiko. Akira sat back on her chair and crossed her arms. "You can think of the saddest things in your life so you can cry."

"Think of the saddest things in my life?"

"Yeah. That way, you will remember your sadness and bring it out here by crying."

Honey nodded to what she said. The saddest thing that happened in my life? Like when Grandma died?

"Okay, Honey-senpai. I think you understood what I mean. You can start with the line when you feel like you're crying," Namiko said. Her voice was like a mother's, soothing and melodious. It had no sternness mixed, unlike Akira's.

Honey tried his best to internalize. Think about Grandma, think about Grandma, think about Grandma. Eventually, tears welled up his eyes.

The audience watched eagerly as they knew it is near. A tear then fell from his right eye.

Namiko signaled him with their lines.

"…Good bye, my son. We shall meet again, but I wish we don't for a very lengthy time. I love you."

"FATHER!"

The hosts and the other theater club members cheered because he made it. Yey! Honey-senpai, you made it!

"Wait a minute there." Their high spirits faded again, and they wondered what could be wrong this time.

"Still not enough, Honey-senpai. I'm sorry," Akira said as she frowned to her. What a stone-hearted woman.

Honey just stared at her. Still not enough?

"I-I-I mean, can you cry a little bit harder? It's more beautiful than that," Akira explained. She saw the sadness in Honey's face.

"Well then. I guess we should push harder," Namiko came again to the rescue. "What if we reward you, Honey-senpai?"

At that Honey's face lightened up. "A reward? Really?"

"Yep. If you can deliver it the way Akira wants, we'll give you a reward!"

"Yey! What do I get?"

"Well, what do you want, Honey-senpai?"

Honey did not take a second to think about what he wanted. "Cake! I want cake!"

"Okay. So it's a deal? Let's get this done so we can have some cake," Namiko said with a smile at Honey.

"Ano. We brought already brought some cake here," said one of the three girls who arrived late a while ago. She put a box with cute designs and a label "Premiere-Quality Cake".

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes," another girl said, "We were planning to give this to Honey-senpai after the practice."

"It's also the cause why we arrived late earlier," explained the other. "We need to fetch it before going here. We're sorry."

"Well, I think it's good. You can have cake just right after, Honey-senpai. I'll even treat you afterwards," Namiko said. She turned again to the girls and said, "It's okay. I think it's even an advantage. Thank you for bringing the cake, girls."

The girls giggled as they are about put the cake out for Honey.

"Actually, it's not okay," interrupted a voice again."

"Huh? But why?"

"It'll only distract him."

"No, Aki-chan! I promise I'll focus on my acting!"

"No, Honey-senpai. I'm sorry. And besides, eating should be prohibited here. It's a theater, not a cinema."

"But, Aki-chan…" Honey said, his eyes sparkling with tears that well up his eyes.

"When I say 'no', Honey-senpai, it's already a 'no'."

"But Akira, it's just a reward. It can help, you know."

"I don't like that idea, actually." Her tone was now as cold as the iceberg that sunk Titanic. And she was staring at Honey with two cold eyes. "You should learn to work without expecting for rewards, Honey-senpai."

"B-b-but," Honey stuttered. He almost looked like crying, but it seem that the tears keep themselves from falling. Suddenly he fell on his knees. "Aki-chan, I promise to do my best! Just let me have some cake, please!"

"Uhm, Akira-senpai," one of the girls said, "It's just a cake. And it will go to waste if you do not permit Honey-senpai to eat it. I-I-It would be so…unkind."

At this, Akira stood up and turned to glare at her. She was clearly enraged, to the shock of the others. Even Kyouya who did not seem to care earlier lifted his eyes from what he was reading.

"WHEN I SAY 'NO', IT'S A 'NO'!"

The girls were shaking in fear. They have never seen Akira get angry like this. For a moment too, the twins thought her eyes glinted red.

"A-Aki-chan! Don't be angry to them please! I-I'll do it without the cake!" Honey pleaded.

"Then, we must make sure, Honey-senpai," Akira replied in a lower voice. "I will ban eating cakes and all kinds of sweets in the Theater Club while we are working on this play!"

The others gasped at this. How can she be this cruel?

"Akira, you don't have to do that!" Namiko exclaimed, a worried look on her face.

"You can do nothing about it, Namiko. As long as Honey-senpai does not learn how to cry on stage the way I wanted him to, I want cakes and sweet banned in the Theater Club. No one, I repeat, no one can eat those in my territory. And no one can bring those, even as gifts to Honey-senpai or to the other hosts."

Everyone was thinking the same thing: Akira is a heartless lady—a very cruel, heartless lady. Honey's face was already unbearable to look at, that his fangirls are sniffing in their handkerchiefs, along with the muffled "Akira-senpai, you don't have to do that!"

"That is my word, and I won't take it back," she icily said with a cold look at Honey.

He was already sniffing, his lips were quivering and he was trembling.

"Waaaah! I'm sorry, Aki-chan! I promise!"

A little smirk was formed on Akira's lips. She tried to hide but it was still obvious.

Honey cried like a child. Mori was trying to hold him down while telling him to calm down and stop crying.

"Mitsukuni, stop crying. You're already eighteen."

"Waaaaaah! Takashi, Aki-chan got mad at me. Now all cakes are banned in the Theater Club!"

Tears were flowing down his cheeks nonstop. And he looked much like a crybaby.

Haruhi thought of going to him to calm him down too. The twins appealed to Akira, while the girls remained sobbing. Kyouya just sat there thinking that another drama was revealing itself in front of him. What have I put myself into?

"Honey-senpai, there, there. Please stop crying."

"Akira-san, you don't have to be cruel like that!"

"Yeah, I agree with Hikaru. You're so…so cruel!"

Honey continued to cry like a lost child in the mall. Suddenly, a clapping pair of hands was heard.

"Huh?" All looked at Namiko.

"BRAVO!" Namiko exclaimed with a happy smile.

The others were confused by Namiko's sudden change. Honey calmed down also in confusion.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Hikaru asked.

Namiko giggled. "Well, Hikaru-kun, I said 'bravo!' because Honey-senpai already did it."

"Did it?" Haruhi asked. "Y-You mean…?"

"You're right, Haruhi-kun," Akira affirmed. "I did that to make Honey-senpai cry. Now that's what I'm talking about."

"Eh?" Honey said.

Akira turned to him. "Honey-senpai, well done. Now that's how I want you to cry."

"Y-you mean…you said all those cruel things to me so that I can cry?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I was forced to do that," Akira apologized. "But you did really great, Honey-senpai. I hope you'll do the same in the future. For that, I take back what I said. You can eat all the cakes that the girls can give you."

Akira's statement made Honey smiled brightly. Akira, too, was smiling at him. He thanked her and promised he act like what she wanted him to.

"Now, can we have another good round? Then we can proceed to the next scene. Haruhi-kun, please take you seat again."

"Hai!"

Honey and Mori acted out the scene again. Namiko said to Honey that he can think of the happening a while ago, so he can give all to his crying. The girls gave the cake to Honey after the successful scene. Akira was smiling all the way, happy that everything went smoothly. Namiko too was smiling, happy to see her friend like that.

Now, the hosts, seeing her like that, were certain that she has a bit of a good side. But it won't be erased in their minds that she can be as heartless as any woman can, to make Honey cry like that.

Looks like their game is getting interesting.

My, my, my. This part is the hardest to write. I feel like I'm so cruel for writing this!

Everything's speeding up in school, and I'm a kind of busy pacing to catch up.

Please, don't forget to review! It will be very much appreciated. :D