So…I noticed a couple errors last chapter. (Sorry about them)
Where Shigure says "You're going back to Ouran tomorrow" it should say "Monday"
I decided to use the American Weekend so they're off Saturday and Sunday rather than just Sunday. Yeah. ^^ Enjoy my lovely readers and thank you for all the understanding reviews last chapter! You're all the best~ Also the song Haruhi plays you can find on YouTube by typing You Raise Me Up Violin Cover - Josh Groban - Daniel Jang in.
Oh! Before I get Reviews about it: I made Haruhi a bit more Kick Ass, so there is OOC COMING YOUR WAY! There. I warned you.
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Haruhi stared at her phone. She was getting ready to invite the Hosts over to meet her family. She had put it off until after breakfast, but she had to call them now. "Who to start with?" she flipped through the Hosts' numbers and contemplated.
She might as well get it over with. She finally settled on Kyouya's number. He would be calmest and easiest to tell. She hit the 'select' button and waited as the phone started ringing. It was picked up on the third ring.
"Haruhi?"
"Hey Kyouya." It was still weird to call him anything without an honorific, but he and the hosts had managed to get her to call them by their names.
"Are you alright?"
Haruhi smiled a bit "I will be. I'm calling to invite you and the others to come meet my brother, Kyo, Tohru, and Yuki. Would you like to come over?"
"What time?" Kyouya was very interested in meeting her family. He still remembered in vivid haunting detail watching Haruhi get yanked around by her hair and being left to muffle her tears. If this part of her family was as abusive as that man Kyouya was getting her out of there.
Period.
Haruhi smiled again. "Any time is fine. Would you mind letting the other Hosts know about this? You were the first person I called."
Kyouya nodded even though she couldn't see it. "I'll let them know."
"Thank you. I'll see you soon."
"Goodbye."
They both hung up at the same time. Haruhi took a deep breath. "Here comes the crazy. I'm not saying anything about being a Host. I don't feel like dealing with it yet." Her family was already crazy enough then there was the Hosts, who were just as insane…If her family found out about her being disguised as a male Host….she shuddered.
Haruhi walked into the living room. "They're on their way." She informed everyone. "Remember what I said Kyo? Yuki? Shigure-nii?"
The three males nodded and chorused "Don't make fun of the bunny. If we do were on our own. Be polite since all of them are from important families. Don't trust the Twin Brotherly Love act. And lastly Be Prepared for the Crazy."
Haruhi smiled "Good. You were listening. Tohru. I trust you to behave, but I'm warning you now. They're a little crazy."
Tohru smiled "Everything will be fine! They're your friends so I think it will be okay!"
Haruhi nodded and waved a hand "You can do what you want until they get here."
Kyo approached her "Did you keep up with your training since I've been gone?"
Haruhi grinned "I did, but I haven't spared since you left. Mori and Honey are so advanced I didn't bother to ask, and Dad can't spar to save his life even though I've seen him to some damage with his heels a few times. Neither can the others and I'm pretty sure they'd panic if I asked them to spar with me."
Kyo scoffed "You're not a weakling. You've been sparring with me since we both started learning to fight. Even the Rat spars with you."
Haruhi grinned at the complement. She had started learning to fight with Kyo for two reasons. The first was he was her Best Friend and she didn't want him to leave her behind. The second was for protection. She wasn't as good as Honey or Mori, but she was as good as Kyo, and sometimes she even beat Yuki, but that was usually due to outsmarting him. "You want to Spar?"
Kyo smirked "Outside?"
In answer Haruhi turned and headed outside to the back of the house. She kept going until she deemed herself far enough from the house. When she turned back she noticed Tohru was trailing behind Kyo who was carrying an unfolding chair. "Did you want to watch Tohru?"
Tohru smiled a little nervously "Do you mind?"
Haruhi shook her head "No. Just make sure you stay in your chair, I don't want you to get hurt."
Tohru smiled "Okay!"
Kyo set the chair down close enough to watch them but far enough she wouldn't get caught in the crossfire. Tohru thanked him and sat down to watch.
Haruhi watched Kyo approach "Warm up first?" he nodded and they both stretched for a few minutes. Once that was out of the way they stood across from each other and bowed. As soon as they straightened Kyo lunged forward.
He was pleased his honorary sister was able to block him.
Haruhi had grabbed Kyo's wrist and used his own momentum to pull him off balance. She tried to flip him over, but Kyo managed to kick out at her feet and make her jump backwards to dodge him.
She smiled. She didn't like fighting exactly, but she enjoyed sparring where each participating person just wanted to test themselves and weren't really trying to hurt anyone. Kyo was her favorite sparring partner since they both knew each other so well they could read each other's moves and they had to get creative to land a hit. Yuki was another favorite since he also made her think three to five steps ahead if she wanted to win.
They watched each other for a second before they both moved. Tohru was amazed watching them. They both moved so quickly Tohru had to focus a bit to understand what was happening. They were both wearing a smile on their face and Tohru was glad to see it. Kyo rarely smiled and Haruhi hadn't been really smiling much since she arrived.
Kyo aimed a punch for her face, but Haruhi was already dropping into a leg sweep. Kyo jumped over her leg, and had to do some creative twisting to dodge the follow up move where Haruhi had pushed herself into a diagonal handstand as she tried to kick Kyo in the chin. Kyo managed to grab ahold of her ankle and threw her forward using her momentum against her. Haruhi landed in a roll and came to her feet quickly before whipping around to block Kyo's follow up charge. Their smiles stayed on their faces the entire time as they punched, kicked, twisted and dodged each other.
Tohru was getting more and more amazed as she watched them twist and bend around each other almost as if they were dancing. It was amazing.
Soon enough through Tohru could hear someone approaching from behind.
Yuki had wondered off to play the piano. He had learned to play while Haruhi had learned the Violin. It was probably the only memories he had of Ayame that he looked at without any bad feelings. When Shigure had decided to teach his little sister the art of his instrument, Ayame decided his little brother should learn his. That was where he had met Haruhi for the first time. They had gotten along well and had played their instruments together.
Haruhi had even taught the Cat how to play the Guitar, and even he would admit the cat was good at it. They had excelled with their instruments and played together, but only when Haruhi was there otherwise they would try to outdo each other and ruin the music.
He had missed playing the piano, but it felt weird to play without Haruhi there to play the Violin so he rarely touched it except long enough to do exercises that would allow him to play just as well as he always had. He knew the Cat did the same. Now that Haruhi was here he felt he could play and that's what he wanted to do. So when Haruhi dismissed them and headed outside to spar with the cat he headed for the piano and just played to play, starting one melody before morphing it into another never settling on one song.
He kept this up for a while before he heard Shigure herding someone inside "She's right out back with Kyo and Tohru. Yuki's the one on the piano and he can take you to see her. Come on, come on." He slowed his playing to a stop and turned around to face the newcomers.
He cocked his head to the side "Hello. My name is Yuki. I'll take you to Haruhi." He stood to take them outside. The boys introduced themselves before they followed him outside.
He could hear all six men take sharp surprised breaths as they spotted Haruhi who was in the middle of a backbend that continued into a flip as she tried to kick Kyo in the face. Kyo bent back to dodge her and by the time he straightened Haruhi was on her feet and rushing forward to punch Kyo in the face. Kyo blocked it with one hand and punched out with the other. Haruhi caught his punch with her free hand and they ended up in stalemate for a moment before Haruhi smiled wider. She let go of Kyo's fist and quickly twisted her way out of his hold dropping and rolling between his legs and coming to her feet behind him. Yuki had a nice view of Kyo's shocked face before he was twisting to catch Haruhi's next attack.
By this time they had reached Tohru who turned around and greeted them. "Hello. You must be Haruhi's friends. My name is Tohru."
When Tohru spoke up Kyo and Haruhi stopped mid attack and silently agreed to finish up later. Haruhi turned and smiled at the shocked looks she was receiving. Kyo scoffed "Did you think Haruhi was weak? She's not a breakable glass figurine you know."
Honey was the first to react. He lunged forward to hug her, which Haruhi easily dodged, crying out "Haru-chan! Why didn't you tell us you could fight!?"
"You never asked. Back with those guys on the beach you just assumed I couldn't protect myself after they caught me off guard and threw me off the cliff." Haruhi's eyes widened when she realized what she had let slip.
She could feel the aura of death coming off Yuki and Kyo as they both chorused "Someone…threw you off a cliff?"
Haruhi could feel the aura growing as she slowly turned to look at her honorary brothers "Um…Yes, but everything is fine. I got myself out of the ocean and they were dealt with." She was glad she hadn't passed out on contact with the water, because Tamaki had dived after her and it would have been hard to explain how she turned into a fox.
She could see Kyouya's glasses flash at the reminder of the beach incident "I can guarantee they were dealt with."
Kyo and Yuki turned to pin him with a look. They stared at him for a moment before nodding once and chorusing "Let's go." They all headed inside after Kyo took the folding chair from Tohru.
The hosts were watching Haruhi curiously "So you can fight?" the twins asked.
Haruhi nodded "I started learning when I was young. Kyo taught me what he learned and I spared with him. As time went on I got better and better until I was just as good as Kyo. I'm not as strong as Yuki, but I spar him too. I beat him sometimes when I manage to outsmart him."
Honey turned to stare at her with serious eyes "I would have sparred with you too Haru-chan."
Haruhi smiled "I know, but I didn't want to bother you. You're so far ahead of me I didn't see a point in sparring you or Mori." "Plus if you get to close I'd turn into a fox mid-fight…"
Honey smiled "I can teach you some though."
Haruhi smiled "Sounds like a plan. I wouldn't mind learning something from the Haninozuka Family." She enjoyed watching Kyo's and Yuki's eyes widen comically as they realized exactly who Honey was. As people who appreciated and used martial arts meeting someone from the Haninozuka family was huge. "Takashi will help too! Right Takashi?"
"Ah" the tall boy nodded once and Haruhi smiled. She may not be as fanatical as Kyo and Yuki, but she appreciated and admired Martial Arts enough to be very proud and happy about the offer of help from these two.
"Thank you Mori. I'd love to learn from you two." They entered the house and gathered in the living room area after Kyo put the chair away. Haruhi reintroduced everyone again after they had settled.
There was an awkward moment of silence before Tamaki broke it. "So your settling in alright Haruhi?"
She nodded once "Yes. I missed these guys." She smiled at Shigure, Yuki, Kyo and even Tohru despite just meeting her.
Unknown to her Kyouya relaxed a bit when he saw the real smile on her face. He doubted she'd smile like that if she was being hurt by these people. He knew her well enough to know that smile was reserved for people she was close to. "So Haruhi…You fight well…do you have any other hidden talents?" he allowed his glasses to flash in the light as he asked the question.
She paused a moment before answering "…I can play the violin."
Tamaki basically lit up from within. "You can play the violin?" he was so excited he slipped into French as he babbled about how they had to play together.
The twins slid up on either side of her and were about to fling an arm around either side of her, but Haruhi had already moved. She had really only been dodging the twins, but when they chorused 'Will you play us a song?' she grabbed the excuse and said "That was why I was getting up. I need my brother's violin since mine is with my Uncle Ayame getting new strings." She was rewarded with excited and expectant looks from everyone in the room, some because they loved to hear her play and some because they wanted to hear her play for the first time.
She came back with the violin and put it in a 'ready' position. She paused a moment, wondering what to play, and then smiled softly at the people around her. She knew what to play. She'd play this song for them. She closed her eyes and started playing the opening notes of Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up.
Around her the Sohmas closed their eyes and swayed in time with Haruhi's music. The Hosts on the other hand were floored and amazed as they watched Haruhi lose herself to the music much like Tamaki lost himself in the piano. Each of them noted how happy it made her and instantly decided they were going to work time for her to play the violin in their Hosting Time.
Kyouya was mesmerized. Haruhi was so happy…and you could tell in the music. For the second time in his life…Kyouya felt tears gather in his eye because of music. She was beautiful.
Haruhi finished her song and pulled the violin away from her 'ready' position before opening her eyes to see relaxed happy family members and wide eyed shocked Hosts. She smiled again. The Hosts snapped out of it after Shigure spoke up "Beautiful as always kit-chan."
Haruhi was complimented by all of them after that and thanked everyone. Tamaki told her after the flood of compliments "We have to play together sometime." And she smiled with a nod. So far the meeting was going well, and she hadn't had to deal with the Crazy, but she knew it would change soon and she braced for it.
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I've been asked about how I plan to incorporate the Fox Spirit into the Zodiac. Here's my answer: She will be explained but she's not in the Zodiac. She DOES have a reason though. I didn't just drop a new Spirit in there for Haruhi. All will be explained! ^^ I figured this was a nice introduction and I could leave the crazy for next chapter. Happy Late (American) Thanksgiving Everyone! I am Thankful for all of you!