A/N: Hello! This story is really fun to update :D School! School is fast approaching (actually becoming quite depressed about it,) but here it is anyway! By the way, I would really appreciate some reviews! Just so I know if this is any good or not. Without the opinion of an impartial source, I be feelin' all insecure over here :( Anything. Even if it's negative, I would be happy to recieve it! So, this is the fourth installment of 'Everything!' Please enjoy!
Chapter 4: Prostitution
"Terrible."
"I would have assumed at this point, you would be more adaptable."
"Nobody is adaptable to this - th-this mess."
"Surely, you exaggerate."
She tugged at the puffy, marshmallow-like sleeves. She yanked at the white collar and the stringy red tie. "At least when my father picks out my outfits, he asks a fashion consultant to do it, so I don't look like an idiot."
Kyoya scribbled on his clipboard for a few more moments then clutched it to his chest, lying down on his bed. "It's a uniform. A school uniform, no less. First and foremost, your clothes are not relevant to your studies or focus in class, nor should they hinder such. I believe that is a school uniform's main selling-point and function."
Setsuko frowned. "I didn't ask for a lecture, glasses-freak," she said. For the first time since Kyoya met her, she seemed genuinely irritated. He did not know her to have a short temper or low tolerance so for her to be peeved by simply a dress could only draw one conclusion.
Women are impossible...
It was official. Setsuko had been registered in Ouran High and was scheduled to make her 'glamorous' debut on the first day of the new year. She would be a freshman, two years behind Kyoya and, thankfully, separated by one year from the Hitachiin twins (those two boys spelled trouble in it's every demonic form).
She'd been eager to attend since the day she got enrolled and had been given the opportunity to wander the premises. At first, she took this as a golden chance to slip away from the supervision of Kyoya and his father, to no avail. While Chairman Suoh and Yoshio were talking, she ducked out of the office and made a break down the hallway with her frilly skirts bunched up in her arms.
Of course, Kyoya knew the school corridors like the back of his hand. He was already heading her off at the top of the staircase. After he caught her, holding her elbow with unexpected force, he gave her a thorough (albeit boring) tour of the school. However, he did skip the 3rd Music Room.
Some things were better left as a surprise.
On the car ride home from the school, she was sleepy and dopey and demanding to have strawberry ice-cream (a request which Yoshio surprisingly complied to) and all the while Kyoya couldn't help but think, I have never met a high school freshman who is as much of a handful as she is. What teenager gets sleepy at noon?
As of now, they were lounging in Kyoya's bedroom, which they did quite often, as Setsuko often complained that her room was 'too quiet'. Then, of course, she would complain that Kyoya was 'too boring'.
She scowled into the mirror and continued to pick at the outfit, tweaking the dress in every possible way. Several times she turned around and rubbed her butt, looking in the mirror. "You can't even tell I have one," she griped. "You can't even tell I have curves, for that matter," she ran her hands up and down the sides of her body, every so often cupping her chest.
Kyoya yawned. "How unfortunate."
"Couldn't you be a bit more sympathetic?"
He stilled. "It's really a shame. I'm devastated."
Setsuko rolled her eyes and grumbled about him being a 'boring glasses freak'.
Her phone, which was a thin, metallic pink looking thing, vibrated and an annoying jingle sounded through the room. Setsuko answered, "Hello?"
There was a quiet buzzing that Kyoya could here from the speak. He swore he saw her blanch and gulp. She hung up the phone and kept her hands tightly clamped around it, breathing slightly uneven.
"Who was that?" He asked.
"Hmm..." Setsuko stalled. "Oh, it was just some guy that I hooked up with and never called back... It surprised me that he got this number. Guess some guys can't have one night stands, huh?"
He eyed her skeptically over the top of his thin-rimmed glasses. The reluctance in her tone is most suspicious. Although, that does sound quite likely for an imprudent girl like that to have a boy issue...
He finally decided not to dig any deeper than necessary and ignored her strange behavior. The phone rang 3 more times. Eventually, she shut it off.
The limo pulled up in front of the gates. The large, golden gates that contained a pseudo paradise. Setsuko always relished the days at her old school in New York where driving a limo to school was impressive and conceited. Everybody was much more down to earth. Although, she always considered such thinking to be hypocritical on the count of, she herself was undeniably self-indulgent in every way. When it came to money, anyways.
She climbed out of the vehicle and thanked the driver briefly, blowing a kiss. Kyoya-kun isn't as smart as he lets on. Assigning such a young, cute driver for my limo? How wonderful~!
Setsuko stood, toes together, before the mansion of a school. It was an astounding school. Outstanding test scores from each grade, extensive extra-curricular activities and not to mention a second home to Japan's social elite.
But all she could think was a sneaky, devilish thought.
I wonder just how much hell can I raise...
She strolled into the school and immediately initiated her wide-eyed innocence act. She unfolded her class schedule and saw that she was headed for class 1-C.
Setsuko could hear the chattering from behind the door. She stood outside her classroom in that humongous empty hallway, that was so immaculate that it was intimidating. The floors were unnaturally sparkly and the curtains had not a wrinkle and the sun was coming in at just the right angle to shine in the corner of her right eye. She was exceedingly aware of such things, and that, in itself, made her nervous.
It wasn't like her to be nervous - primarily because she didn't care for many things. But in this case, she was under heavy surveillance. Not just by the Ootori's. By every one of those snooty rich kids who came from an equally wealthy lineage. One false move, and she would be condemned to being shunned by everybody.
Heh, this isn't like me, she shut her eyes. Since when am I an insecure little snot? There's only one thing I need to be worried about : if there's any decent fun around this place. She smiled to herself and pushed open the door to her classroom.
Inside was crawling with her peers - rowdy boys who talked a great deal about getting girlfriends, and bustling girls chattering about all of the attractive boys who attended the school. All inexperienced chumps, in her opinion.
"G-good morning!"
The room fell silent as they beheld Abukara Setsuko, the party Princess of the year. She gave a timid smile (all a component of her innocent act that had been so well practiced for years).
"Eh? A-Abukara Setsuko!" One of the boys gaped.
"Yes! That is my name. I would really like to be really good friends with all of you this year! Please take good care of me!"
Everybody stood absolutely still - shellshocked.
She gave a friendly grin and moseyed over to a clean desk, front and center, while fluffing her blonde wavy locks and singing a hushed tune to herself.
...
"N-no way... she's an angel...?"
Classes all morning had been mostly getting to know each other and teachers trying to make a good first impression. All besides one very severe woman with plum lipstick who appeared to be pushing 50, and insisted on distributing Biology textbooks within the first five minutes. Somehow, Setsuko couldn't be bothered to remember her name.
Her classmates had been staring all day. The girls were practically fighting just to be sitting next to her; the boys were drooling and tripping over themselves to squeeze in their self introductions.
Success. Now, let's see which ones are the wolves... Setsuko's sharp eyes swept the room over and over, trying to weed out the good boys and girls from the bad ones. The bad ones would be her next targets. The raunchy, down-right dirty, fun loving people. The question was if there were any at all.
They all look like the same persnickety prudes that I meet at Daddy's parties. How boring.
She sighed longingly and began to pack up her books when the lunch bell rang. She glared at her biology book.
"Setsuko-san."
The smooth voice was blithe as usual. However, it sounded absolutely dreadful to Setsuko. Shit. I thought I would ditch him today.
"Kyoya-san. What are you doing here?" She always remained faithful to her cheerful act. "Don't you have friends to eat lunch with?"
"Of course, the young lady comes first," the sly fox extended his hand.
The other girls in the classroom fainted and/or had terribly violent nose bleeds.
Setsuko was pleasantly surprised at his attitude. Playing a princely character really did suit his dazzling appearance. His smile was lovely, to say the least, his hair was always so perfectly groomed, and his gray eyes gave him a certain mystique.
Imagining Kyoya as a prince made her face slightly hot. He is remarkable. No denying that he's gorgeous... "Oh my. You're as charming as ever, Kyoya-san," she said. She gingerly grabbed the tips of his fingers and allowed him to chivalrously, lead her out of the room, leaving behind a tornado of envy from her classmates.
They walked down the hall together, with hands still touching. "So," she whispered. "you really know how to be sure I'm alienated from the rest of the class. Now, Kyoya-kun. Do you think those girls will talk to me after I walk down the hall while fondling Ouran High's most handsome boy?"
"It seems I've done you a bit of a favor, in that case. You don't like those girls."
"How true," Setsuko said coyly. "But at the same time, you've done yourself a solid, haven't you?"
Kyoya seemed amused. "I can assure you, I don't know what you mean."
She held his fingertips tighter. "But you do. Making such a shameless public display; swatting the boys away like flies, is that right?"
"Hmm. It seems you're becoming quick. Perhaps I've rubbed off on you."
Setsuko chuckled. "Not too much, I hope. I would have to kill myself the day I become as boring as you," she stuck out her tongue and swung his arm playfully. "But don't you think you're acting like a bit of a jealous boyfriend? Always keeping the boys off of me. I should have known a slick guy like you would have that kind of hidden motive."
"What a shameless assumption."
"Now, when have I ever had shame?"
They broke apart when they arrived at a grand hall where Setsuko could see all of the students eating extravagant lunches on silver platters. Kyoya invited her in. She politely refused.
"Not today. It's my first day. Would you mind if I take a stroll around the grounds instead?"
He gave her a stern stare. "I promise not to be any trouble, Kyoya-kun. It's the school grounds. It would be utterly foolish of me to attempt anything on the premises. You must know that much about me at this point - I'm a little more crafty than that."
The Ootori boy seemed hesitant but finally agreed (under the condition that, if she is caught being mischievous, he will shave her head bald.)
With that word of caution, Setsuko wandered off in another direction, and out of the building.
School was a waste of perfect weather, in her opinion. She floated along the school grounds, soaking up the rays of sunlight and the rich scent of ripe green grass all around her, as far as her eye could see. She came across a polished granite fountain with a sculpture of a woman, although she wasn't quite all woman. She was a mermaid surrounding by other sea creatures and flowers. Setsuko couldn't find the words to describe how enchanting she found the statue, but took note of how each scale on her fin was impeccably carved.
She laid on the ledge of the fountain, being sprayed by a few water droplets, escaping the downward stream from the mermaid's hands. The temperature was just right - just warm enough to comfortably... slip... into sleep.
"A girl?"
When she heard a distant voice, Setsuko cracked open her eyelids (still half-asleep) and everything was a haze. What is it? She was met with a pair of chestnut eyes. A girl? She looks like a princess... she's so cute... and so close... I want to kiss her.
She wrapped a hand around the back of the princess's head and pulled her in until their lips touched.
"E-EH!"
The princess yelled.
Setsuko woke up with a start, shooting upward. She saw the princess that she had kissed in her dreams plopped down in the grass with hands clasped over her mouth and eyes as big as ever. She seemed to be clad in the boy's uniform. "Oh? Princess?"
"P-princess? I think you may be confusing me with somebody else. This is a misunderstanding."
"Hmm? How upsetting. I've always wanted to meet a princess," Setsuko eyed this girl up and down. She is really pretty. Too bad she's flat as a pancake. She bit her lip, beginning to make plans for their first date in her head.
"Sorry to disappoint," a dazed and confounded brunette stood wearily and turned on her heel to walk away.
Setsuko rubbed her eyes. "Did you like it?"
"Did I like what?"
"Our kiss," Setsuko winked. "Was it good for you too?"
The princess seemed to be a bit puzzled while staring at the blonde who had just kissed her. "You keep calling me a princess. You know I'm a girl?"
Setsuko straightened her ruffly dress. "Of course. No boy has lips as soft as those," she replied gently. "Maybe Kyoya-kun, but I haven't gotten that far yet."
"Kyoya-kun? You know Kyoya-senpai?"
He adjusted the waistband on his costume. The theme for today was Ancient Greece. Kyoya was fully suited in a white tunic with a gold crest that exposed most of his chest and a golden head wreath. Unfortunately, host club was to be held inside the 3rd Music Room. It was disappointing to Kyoya because that day was a notably wonderful day. Confined in his classroom, he daydreamt about being under the cherry blossom trees all day. He dismissed those mollifying thoughts, reminding himself that the season had just begun; there would be more than one chance to indulge in his that pleasure.
Host Club was just about to start. He clutched his clipboard and pen and idly began to totalize the costs for today's theme and figure it into the budget. It was an extreme penny-saver to have Hitachiin-san (the twins' mother) create the costumes. Otherwise, they would be in the red ever single month.
Tamaki was gushing. As usual. About Haruhi. As usual.
He was fawning over her dressed as a Greek Goddess in light, creamy robes. Hikaru, too, was blushing.
Things had gotten much less tense since Tamaki acknowledged his romantic feelings for Haruhi. However, nobody spoke so openly about it; Hikaru was just beginning to adjust. But Kaoru would always be by his side to help him. That was comforting enough.
"Haruhiii~! Why are you so cold to me?"
"Senpai is irritating me. Besides, you're talking way too loud."
"I can't help it! My Haruhi is so beautiful today! You really suit the part of 'goddess'," Tamaki said softly, placing his fingers under her chin, leaving Haruhi a bit flustered.
She shoved him back with her palms against his chest. "Ah, don't say something like that Senpai. You should save it for the girls." Haruhi was still in heavy-duty denial of her feelings for the Idiot Prince (then again, who would want to admit being in love with a guy like that?) Fujioka Haruhi had a great amount of pride that could not easily be pushed aside; especially to confess to a host under regular circumstances.
Another thing that Kyoya had noted was that Tamaki never addressed Haruhi as his 'little girl' anymore. Instead, he would say, 'my Haruhi'. He often wondered whether or not Haruhi herself had noticed just how much feeling Tamaki put on the line by saying that. Unashamed, devoted and romantic feelings.
The plight of the smitten teenager is grim indeed, he found himself smiling at the sight of the blonde frenchie blindly trailing his love at the ankles. So, the french are a people of romance.
"Everybody! Positions!" Tamaki called out. He was dress as, of course, a Greek emperor. The seven hosts collected around the couch in their most inviting poses.
Only about 30 seconds later, the horde of girls flocked in the room.
They all spoke at the same time. "Welcome, ladies."
"Kyaa! It's wonderful!" The girls could hardly contain their feelings running wild!
"The fairness of you young ladies on this fine day is overwhelming, even for an emperor, who knows the beauty of all Greece - you're the cream of the crop," Tamaki kissed a hand of a sophomore girl and left all the 'Prince' fans gasping for air.
"Is such a line even acceptable...?" Haruhi droned.
Hikaru and Kaoru snuck up behind her. "If it's his highness then anything is possible," they said in unison.
"Mmhmm! Tama-chan is amazing!" Hunny, who visited the Host club a few times a week with Mori, nodded fervidly. "That's why Haru-chan lov-"
"Mitsukuni-kun," Mori dropped a hand on his shoulder. "That is taboo."
Haruhi emitted an overpowering aura of danger. "This is ridiculous. We should really get back to work. I have to brew up the commoner's coffee."
"Ha? Scary, Haru-chan! Don't look at me like that!"
Kyoya stood near the refreshments table and watched Haruhi stir up some commoners coffee, all the while, staring up at the clock. She looked uncharacteristically anxious.
"Do you have an appointment, Haruhi?"
She shook her head and lifted the tray of coffee cups. "No, Kyoya-senpai. I'm waiting for a girl."
He raised his eyebrow and scrawled on his clipboard, flipping over to another page. "Is that so? A friend of yours?"
"Hmm... I wonder if that's how to put it," Haruhi mused, delivering steaming cups of coffee to customers who were intrigued and jealous to learn that Haruhi was waiting on a girl. "Maybe you would call her a lover?"
3. 2. 1.
"HARUHI!" Tamaki exploded and sprinted to her side! "Haruhi, Haruhi, Haruhi-"
"What is it already, Senpai?" She was being held and shaken by the shoulders by a very distraught Tamaki. The rest of the Host club gathered around as well.
Hunny bounced, letting his arms flail. "Ne, Haru-chan has a girlfriend? Is she pretty?"
"O-oy, Hunny-senpai, that isn't the point, is it?" A nervous Hikaru stammered.
"She's not a girlfriend," the brunette said simply. "She just kissed me."
"K-KISS!" The French-man dramatically exclaimed. "A kiss is not just anything! It's special! Your kisses should all be with me!"
"Eh? Since when is that a rule?"
"So," Kaoru spoke above the clamor. "Is this an unrequited love?"
Haruhi brushed Tamaki off of her shoulder. "I don't know if it's anything like that. I leaned over her while she was sleeping and she kissed me. And she said she knew you, Kyoya-senpai," she explained.
"Kyoya-kun? You know Kyoya-senpai?"
"Unfortunately."
Haruhi scratched the back of her neck. "That's odd. I don't remember him mentioning you..."
The blonde girl seemed stunned for only a second, then slowly, a crooked expression began to grow on her face. "So you know Kyoya-kun? Don't tell me. You're his girlfriend? Are cross-dressers his fetish?"
Haruhi shook her head and settling on the ledge of the fountain next to the girl. "Ano, he's my friend. Aren't you his girlfriend? You seem like the type that Kyoya-senpai would go after."
"Nope. Impossible! He's quite possibly asexual."
"I see."
Immediately, the blonde began to jabber out questions that seemed to fly through one of Haruhi's ears and out the other. "Is he a nerd? Is he popular? Does he have a girlfriend? What does he act like? What does he do after-school? Anything juicy? Anything embarrassing?" Her voice was soft but she did spoke in such a rapid fire manner. Moreover, her questions bore ill-intentions; it was as though her words didn't match up with her teeny body.
Furthermore, Haruhi felt as though she recognized this young lady, but any names escaped her.
"Ano...? W-wait, did you say you don't know what Kyoya does after school?"
"He doesn't talk about himself. Why, Princess?"
To be called 'princess' wasn't such an unfamiliar thing to Haruhi. After all, she did know the Host club. They must have all called her princess at some point. "Come to the 3rd Music Room after school. Kyoya-senpai will show you something unexpected!"
Kyoya gritted his teeth. A small part of him knew from the beginning that everything would swing back around to the she-devil.
"Is that so..." Kyoya said.
"Should I not have done so?"
He exhaled. "Thank you. You saved me the trouble of inviting her myself. It seems I'd forgotten."
I leave her alone for an hour and she causes an uproar. No good. He grimaced. It had been only 10 minutes since Host club started. She would be arriving... Hopefully, she decides to play the good girl for the hosts.
Regular Host club activities continued for a few more minutes (with Kyoya on private guard) when the doors cracked open.
"Hmm...?" A mellow voice sounded from the door. "It smells good in here..."
"Of course! A newcomer, are you? Welcome," Tamaki blew a kiss and gave her a smoldering look.
Haruhi perked up. "It's you!"
Tamaki froze.
"Princess!" Setsuko waved. The boys were taken aback. They were shocked at how beautiful this girl was - lustrous yellow hair, electric blue eyes and a voluptuous figure, despite her short stature. The complete opposite of of the portrait they painted in their minds.
The customer's began scrambling about, whispering about this girl. Some recognized her as the infamous Abukara. Others were upset that such a good looking girl kissed Haruhi (and called 'him' princess, for that matter!) and knew Kyoya.
"So, this is the girl you were talking about...!" Hikaru and Kaoru snickered.
"Eh! You've been talking about me," Setsuko cooed gleefully. "I'm so happy~!"
Kyoya folded his arms over his clipboard. "Setsuko-san. I'm glad you showed up. I can chop your hair off without going through the ordeal of finding you."
"Chop my hair off? I haven't caused any trouble, Kyoya-kun"
He smiled. "Oh, but you have."
Hunny tilted his head to the side and asked the question that everybody had been dying to hear the answer to. "You're so familiar with Kyo-chan. Ne, Setsu-chan, how do you know him...?"
Setsuko put on a most solemn face and walked over to Kyoya. She pressed their bodies together so tightly that he could feel her taut stomach and cushiony chest. She placed a hand behind his head, lifted up one leg to rest on his hip and reached around to grab his butt. "It's true... we're lovers."
The room fell silent...
She burst out laughing and ripped away from the miffed (and slightly aroused) Ootori. "Fooled you! I bet you thought I would say something like that!"
"Who is this girl...? How indecent!" Tamaki was flustered. "Setsuko-san! What is your true relationship with our Kyoya!"
"Family friends," she responded sweetly.
The twins simpered. Hikaru goaded, "That must be it."
"I think you're right, Hikaru," Kaoru chorused.
"There's no way he could-"
"Land a girl-"
"Like that. It's so pitiful!" The two rogue twins sniggered. Setsuko laughed as well. Kyoya had a lousy feeling that this was about to begin the most atrocious of friendships.
He heard Haruhi beside him drop her fist into her open palm as if just making a discovery. "I see, family friends. That makes sense. The more I thought about it, the less probable it seemed that Kyoya-senpai would have a girlfriend that is so outgoing. Right?" She stared up at him.
Observant, as expected of the honor roll student. "Precisely."
The blonde girl twirled her hair around her finger. "Actually, I'm sorry for making such a huge scene. I'm only here to see what Kyoya-kun does after school. And also, of course, for Princess-kun."
"Ne," Kaoru put his hands on his hips. "This is really confusing. Kyoya-senpai, what is going on?"
"Everyone, I apologize for not giving introductions sooner. This is a friend of the family, Abukara Setsuko," most people remembered the name and matched it to the face of the fashion icon. "She has been staying with the Ootori's due to family circumstances. And this, Setsuko-san, is the Host Club."
She seemed extremely excited. "And what is that exactly?"
At this point, the Prince of the Club threw himself into her view. "Let me explain!
He cleared his throat and made a grand hand gesture. "Those with the wherewithal- first, in social standing, second, in money- spend their time here at the private Ouran Academy. As such, Ouran Host club is where handsome boys with too much time on their hands entertain and charm girls, who also have too much time on their hands. It's the school's own personal, elegant playground for the super rich!"
Setsuko seemed to be breathtaken and gazing deeply into Tamaki's violet eyes. "Very... handsome," she murmured dreamily.
He was delighted. He motioned to the rest of the boys. "You can choose from any type! We have the Hitachiin twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, the devil type with a forbidden romance! Morinozuka Takashi, the silent, wild type! Haninozuka 'Hunny' Mitsukuni as the loli-shota type! Fujioka Haruhi as the natural type! Or," Tamaki sauntered over to her and planted a kiss on her hand. "you can have me - Suoh Tamaki - the prince type."
She swooned just a tiny bit then seized a hold of herself. "Wait. Type?"
"Indeed, Princess."
"So, basically..."
"Yes?"
"You're like prostitutes!"
His face screwed up. "Wh-wh-wh-"
"Like high end prostitutes without the sex. That sounds wonderful~!"
Tamaki could only squeak, completely destroyed. The twins had run to get a cup of water to splash on him. "Hang in there, your highness!"
Kyoya's molars were beginning to hurt from grinding them so hard. He busied himself with more expenses on his clipboard when he felt Setsuko tug on his tunic. "Ne, Kyoya-kun?"
"Yes?"
"What is your 'type'? Tamaki-kun never mentioned you."
He sighed. "The cool type," he uttered ruefully.
Setsuko giggled. "Cool? How lame. I thought you would have been the sexy type," she stroked his bare arm, admiring his muscles.
"Any reason for the flattery? You need a favor, I presume?"
"Nope," she piped. She then lowered her voice to a whisper. "I just like it here... and I especially like Haruhi-kun. I was wondering if you had anything on that clipboard concerning-"
He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "She's straight."
Setsuko pouted. "How boring!"
How bothersome...
