Chapter 4

I looked myself over in the mirror, practicing my smile. Misa had picked out a cute orange tank top, a white skirt, and light orange flats for me. I kept primping, hearing Misa in the kitchen yelling things at the cooks like, "No, tortillas so do not count as a snack!"

I laughed to myself softly, hearing Misa threaten him with filing a complaint with our mom and dad and having him fired if he didn't heed her every order. Misa definitely liked to be in charge. I was glad that she was helping me out, but relieved that she had decided not to make an appearance. I could imagine exactly what would happen if the Hitachiins saw my supermodel sister:

*Doorbell rings, Misa opens it. *

Misa: Hi, you must be Takara's friends.

Hikaru and Kaoru: *drool* Who are you?

Misa: *laughs cutely* I'm Takara's sister, Misa.

Hikaru and Kaoru: *drool some more*

Haruhi: Uh, guys?

Hikaru: NOT NOW!

Kaoru: Can't you see we're talking to the beautiful goddess?

*I run down to meet them*

Me: Hey guys, glad you made it!

Hikaru and Kaoru: You never told us you had a totally hot older sister!

*Plan failed, and now I have two drooling idiots in my house*

Okay, so maybe that was an exaggeration, but it was pretty close to reality. My heart stopped as I heard the doorbell ring. Now came the moment of truth. I ran down stairs, giving myself one final primp before opening the door to find Hikaru, Kaoru and Haruhi with their book bags.

Hikaru and Kaoru gave me s slightly hormone-filled look, but then ignored it. Haruhi just smiled a bit as she asked, "So where should we put our stuff?"

I smiled back, noticing Kaoru watching my every move. He seemed to be judging me, trying to figure me out. We couldn't let him find out about Seiko. He had to keep thinking I was Takara, and that we had never met before.

"We'll be in the living room, so if you'll follow me," I let them inside before locking the door and leading them over to our large living room. Haruhi immediately pulled out her history textbook, ready to get started like I was.

Unfortunately, the twins had different plans. "Hi-def?" they asked, Hikaru grabbing the T.V. remote and turning it on. They began flipping though channels, deciding on a soccer match.

Haruhi and I twitched. "You two are rude," Haruhi shook her head, apologizing to me, "Sorry, they don't have very large attention spans." I could tell Haruhi had meant to just point it out as a fact, but I had to keep from bursting out loud in laughter at the looks on the twins' offended faces.

"It's okay," I told her, "We can study after the match. After all, it shouldn't be too long now. It's Brazil against Ukraine, right?" I checked the television screen, seeing that I was right. "Oh yeah, it'll be over soon."

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "You're into sports?"

I told him, hoping it would be something we had in common, "Well, mainly just soccer, but I guess basketball's pretty interesting."

"Us too." Yes, common interest found and secured!

Haruhi shrugged, "I don't get what's fun about watching a bunch of sweaty people chasing a ball."

"Eh, Haruhi fails to see the complexity and depth behind sports," Hikaru told me, watching as Haruhi took a seat on the sofa a few feet away from us. A maid brought out the snacks, and Hikaru and Kaoru helped themselves. Haruhi took a bite of a strawberry, but limited herself.

I laughed. "It's okay Haruhi, it's not like it's poisoned," I reassured her, offering her more.

She hesitantly took a little more, making Hikaru smile and tell me, "Haruhi's getting used to the fancier things in life."

As I predicted, the soccer match was over in a few minutes, Brazil securing the lead. I switched off the T.V., much to the twins' disliking. "Sorry, but you did come over to study," I told them, pulling out my history textbook and notes.

Hikaru and Kaoru groaned, opening up their school bags. Haruhi told them, "You know, I need to keep my position as first in class in order to stay at Ouran." That got them focused. I bit my lip, remembering what Misa had said about Haruhi. The twins were starting to focus after the idea of Haruhi leaving. I shook my head mentally. It's normal for good friends to be worried about each other.

"What was that?" Hikaru and Kaoru's ears perked up from a loud bang coming from upstairs. Haruhi jumped a little. I bit my lip.

"Excuse me for one minute," I apologized, running up the stairs. First stop, Misa's room. As I opened up the door, I saw Misa had set up a hidden camera somewhere in the living room and was stomping in frustration. My jaw dropped. "Misa?"

She stopped, looking at me. She rolled her eyes. "I had to keep an eye on you somehow. We still have a plan."

I shook the thought away. "Okay, whatever," I told her, and questioned, "So why are you stomping and getting everyone's attention?"

She sighed, palming her forehead. "Takara, you haven't done a single flirty thing since this started."

"It's studying, and there's Haruhi there. How am I supposed to flirt?"

"I don't know! Just do something!"

"Thanks Misa, you're such a big help."

Misa rolled her eyes. She told me, "Sorry, but it seems like you aren't that into this plan."

"I am, it just isn't serious yet."

"So when is it going to get serious?"

I froze in the doorway. Misa was looking at me calmly, her eyes blank. I sighed. "I don't know. But I want to take it slow."

Misa walked up to me, smiling. "I just want you to feel better, okay?"

I shared her smile. "Okay. Now help me think of an excuse about your stomping."

I walked back down stairs, meeting the Hitachiin and Haruhi's confused eyes. "Heh, sorry," I told them, "Looks like something fell."

Haruhi was packing up. "I really should be going," she told me, heading towards the front door. I let her out, and waved from the window.

I turned back to see Hikaru and Kaoru observing me. "I suppose you two want to leave?" I asked, letting sadness take over my face and voice.

"Yeah, we need to get going," Hikaru told me, heading out the front door. After he had walked a few feet, he realized his twin was still inside. "C'mon Kaoru!" he yelled over his shoulder.

"Be there in a second!" Kaoru yelled back, leaning out the doorway. He turned back to me, his expression becoming amused.

"What?" I asked, cocking my head to my side.

He leaned in dangerously close to my face, causing me to blush. He chuckled, "You look nice in my favorite color."

My hormones were buzzing. Settle down, I thought, He probably does this to every girl he meets. I decided to play along. I teased him, "So you're saying you think I'm pretty?"

Surprisingly, Kaoru didn't reply bluntly. He whispered, "You're a kind all your own, Takara. And I have to admit, that's interesting." He pulled his face back, my heart regaining normal beating. He smiled that signature smirk and yelled as he ran to his limo, "You're officially my new toy!"

I twitched. A toy? That's all he saw me as. I ran upstairs and flopped on my bed, face down. I should've figured. The plan was to get him to fall for me, not make him his toy. Besides, they already called Haruhi that. Was I to suffer the same fate? And why had only Kaoru told me I was his toy? Would Hikaru get Haruhi to himself and completely ignore me? Damn twins, I thought, screwing up my plan.

Misa walked in, jumping on my bed. "What did he say?" she asked, eager. She tried to find my face, but it was buried in a pillow.

"Im hrifs nrouw teosy," I mumbled, face still in a pillow.

"Eh?"

I sat up, irritated. "I'm just a stupid toy to him," I mumbled angrily, looking at the carpet.

Misa frowned. "History is repeating itself."

"Nah. This time it's only Kaoru."

"Only one, huh? I knew at least one of them likes Haruhi," Misa mumbled to herself, staring at the ground. Her feet swayed in thought. Her head popped up as she yelled, jumping, "That's it!"

"What?" I asked, watching as she danced around the room.

She stopped to face me, explaining, "You've got Kaoru's attention. Dump only him cold, and his brother will just share his pain! And since Hikaru obviously likes Haruhi, then Kaoru will get jealous…"

"And they'll fight a bit!" I finished jumping up. Normally, I would've rejected it right away, but I was a little desperate. I was definitely not going to be referred to as a toy.

Misa nodded. "Now get some dinner," she told me, already walking off to who knows where, "I have some plans to draw up."

I grinned. Okay, the plan was revised, but better than ever! History wouldn't repeat itself, because it was just Kaoru and I, and I would be the one to break his heart. All the while though, there was a teensy-weensy, tiny-whiny part of my heart that fluttered for just a second at the words just Kaoru and me. I shook my head. It was fluttering because now I had his undivided attention. Now was the time things got a little serious.

Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC. That honor is bestowed upon Bisco Hatori.

So, now Kaoru has proclaimed that Takara is his toy. And she's not too happy about it. But I have still left one question unanswered: How the heck does Nekezowa know Takara?!?! D: All will be revealed... whenever I feel like it. :P

Eh, this is more of a filler. Still, tell me what you think!