Hey!
As usual before I start this chapter, thanks goes to
LadyKatella, yuMeNami, babyhaileyrulesyouall, My Hopeless Romantic, OMG-its-a-pen, MistFairie93.
Thank you so so very much for reviewing.
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Disclaimer: Me + OHSHC = I don't own it. Steal my OC's and there will be consequences.
Written by: Ordinary Magic
Nothing but you,
How I wish it wasn't so.
-
It creeps in, like a spider
Can't be killed, although I try and try to
But don't you see I'm falling?
Don't wanna love you
But I do.
-Stop This Song by Paramore-
-
Chapter 4 Wonderful World
I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
-Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong-
The sun outside shone brightly and beautifully making Ouran look even more majestic than Small wisps of wind carried sakura petals around the school compound before they settled on the ground with the other scattered petals. This sight was so beautiful that an artist sat outside the school gates painting this perfect view, daydreaming that he's painting would one day be up in an art gallery. Just like the bright outside, the Ouran cafeteria was filled with happiness and joy as it buzzed with the chatter and laughter of its wealthy students. People talked and ate (some with their mouths full) clearly enjoying themselves. But all was not what it seemed for at the far corner of the cafeteria, much further away from the rest of the students, a grey cloud hung above a certain girl who sat at her usual table frowning
Fuyumi shook her head, "You're acting like you're just using her"
"Maybe I am," Kyoya replied, without blinking.
The memory kept playing in her head like a bad home video that just wouldn't go away. As the memory kept playing, she felt a slight ache in her chest. She wondered if she had some sort of heart disease. Akari sighed because he knew she was hurt and no amount of denial could change that. She also knew why she felt this way. It was too easy an answer. She had actually thought Kyoya was a good friend.
That was what she considered him. Sure, they fought. They fought 24/7, day and night, every single second of the day. It was like clockwork. He would be a smart ass, she would get annoyed and finally lose her temper all together. But despite all of this, there were moments, moments when he would actually be there for her in a way that no really had been.
As Akari sat there scowling deeply while picking at her food, she realized Kyoya's actions were very like him. She recalled how Kyoya had seemed perfectly normal and calm when he was talking to her. It seemed as if if didn't affect him at all and Akari was determined not to let it affect her. She wouldn't feel anything about it or him. She was prepared to let go and move on. It was for the better really. Only, its a lot easier said than done.
Finally, she picked up her chopsticks to start eating. Unfortunately before she could pop her food into her mouth, two trays of food and bento box plunked themselves onto her table. This of course caused her hand to stop midway and look up. Her scowl which had just vanished only seconds ago, came back deeper than ever when her three new friends had taken the liberty of seating themselves opposite her. Akari narrowed her eyes at them, mostly at the pair of identical twins who were grinning like Cheshire cats.
Ever since she had promised to keep Haruhi's secret, things had been relatively quiet. The twins would occasionally annoy her but it seemed to have lessened and she had not heard nor seen any of the other host club members. She was grateful for all this and was beginning to enjoy the peace. She should have known it wouldn't have lasted long.
"What are you doing?" Akari growled.
"You looked lonely, so we decided to keep you company," Hikaru replied taking a bite of his food.
"I am not lonely. So, do me a favor and get up and walk away so I can enjoy my food in peace," Akari snapped.
"I wouldn't exactly call that food," Kaoru said, looking pointedly at her bento box.
"Yeah, I thought you were rich," Hikaru said with a touch of arrogance.
Akari gripped her chopsticks tightly until her knuckles turned white. Breathe. Breathe was Akari's little mantra at preventing herself from shoving her food right into their faces.
Haruhi who was seated in between the twins nudged both of them in the ribs.
"Ouch!" Hikaru and Kaoru yelped.
Hikaru and Kaoru both sighed and looked away in shame, "Guess you're still angry about the whole tying and gagging thing."
"Wow, we have a pair of mind readers at this table," Akari answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"That's why we want to apologize," Hikaru and Kaoru continued, bowing their heads.
Akari nearly spat out her drink at their words and could only stare at them in confusion. She eyed them suspiciously as they looked at her with wide and innocent eyes. She rolled her eyes and noted that they had no ounce of sincerity in their voices. Had they maybe sounded sincere, she would have considered accepting their apology. Then , she looked at Haruhi and that's when she realized Haruhi was the only sane person in their group.
"Haruhi, you told them to apologize right?" Akari said looking directly at Haruhi.
"No! She didn't!" Hikaru and Kaoru said a strike of panic on their faces.
"Yes, I did," Haruhi deadpanned.
"Thought so," Akari picked up her chopsticks which thankfully did break under her grip just moments before and went back to eating her food.
"So, do you forgive us?" Kaoru asked hopefully.
"No," she answered simply.
"What? Why? We apologized!" Hikaru cried.
"Actually Haruhi told you to apologize. So it doesn't count," Akari stated still chewing away.
Haruhi observed the twins cries of protest and Akari who ignored them but she could see Akari near breaking point as her grip on the chopsticks unnecessarily tightened. Haruhi sighed, deciding to give her two cents on the matter before things got bad, "Akari, just forgive them. They can't help being insensitive bastards."
Akari inwardly laughed at Haruhi's blunt choice of words. She couldn't have put it better herself.
Meanwhile, the twins were nodding their heads, "Ya, we can't help being insensitive bastards."
"Fine, fine. I forgive you. Just so you'll stop talking,"" Akari said giving up. Persistent morons.
"YES!" Hikaru and Kaoru yelled pumping their fists.
Finally unable to contain her curiosity, Akari asked between mouthfuls, "What was in it for you guys if you apologized to me?"
Hikaru and Kaoru draped their arms around Haruhi, smirking, "A trip to Haruhi's house."
Placing her chopsticks back in her bento box she said, "You guys must have been desperate."
Akari got up, having finished her lunch, "See you guys in class." As she got up she gave the three a small smile.
"So she can smile!" Hikaru exclaimed grinning.
"Who would have thought?" Kaoru continued grinning along with Hikaru.
This earned them an eye roll from Akari and a nudge from Haruhi.
"Hmm...one ply or two ply?" Akari asked herself looking at the two different types of toilet paper neatly stacked and arranged in their respective shelves.
Akari shuddered, "Am I seriously asking that question?" Quickly, she took the two ply and placed it in the basket she was holding.
The supermarket was buzzing as people flitted past her with baskets filled with food stuff. Some were parents with little kids who kept pestering them to buy junk food and candy. The majority however were people who came here by themselves much like herself. She was used to doing the grocery shopping by herself as her mother was always busy with work or just too tired from work that Akari had taken it upon herself to be in charge of their monthly supplies.
Dressed in a plain black hoodie,, t-shirt and jeans, Akari looked like your average commoner and not the successor of an influential law firm. Still, with no one from the board of the company was here or anyone who was rich and influential. So, she didn't have anyone she had to put a show for, something she was quite happy about. Initially, she had pulled her hood up but upon the glances from the more traditional, elderly folk, she pulled it down revealing her her locks of auburn hair to avoid any unnecessary attention.
"A criminal is not something I want to look like," Akari mumbled to herself.
She walked on until she reached the vegetable section. As she began to pick some vegetables she could use later for dinner, she noticed a familiar crop of short brown hair. The said person happened to turn around at that very moment, showing Akari the face of one of her Ouran classmates.
Akari also wore a look of confusion. She never expected Haruhi to be wearing a pair of jeans and a dress-like top considering the fact that Haruhi dressed up like a boy in school. Both did not move for a while in their moment of confusion until Akari smiled, "Hi Haruhi."
Haruhi being her ever blunt self went for a different approach, "What are you doing here?"
Akari blinked, "Duh, grocery shopping. For a person who's always top in class that was a stupid question."
Haruhi frowned, even more confused, "Aren't you rich? Don't you have people to do this for you as the Host Club keeps reminding me that they do?"
Akari laughed slightly and scratched the back of her head. "Technically I am but I'm still living with my mum not my dad. My dad is the rich one and my mum is a working class citizen."
Haruhi blinked, "Oh." Her eyes were thoughtful as she looked at Akari, "Why aren't you living with your dad?"
Akari shrugged, "I'm too used to this way of life. I don't really like living in a mansion." She paused for a moment, "I suppose I soon will have to but you know, baby steps."
Akari suddenly felt a strange sensation on the back of her neck, like someone was watching her. Feeling slightly creeped out, she turned around only to find nothing but air. She scanned the area but found nothing. Suddenly, can of soup fell from a shelf and Akari jumped. This was when a figure swopped down out of nowhere, alarming Akari.
"Haruhi! Who is this?" questioned an extremely loud voice.
Akari took a cautious step backward. After her meeting with Tamaki on her first day of school, she became extremely careful and weary around people who said things in loud voices. Akari looked at the person who stood beside Haruhi and immediately realized that he was a cross-dresser. Though, Akari had to admit that he was a pretty one.
Haruhi sighed but had expected this. "Akari-san this is my father."
Akari just stood there with her mouth agape. However, she quickly recovered and smiled despite herself. "Its nice to meet you Fujioka-san."
Waving his hand and laughing, he replied, "Please, call me Ranka-san."
"Umm...okay, Ranka-san."
Akari watched Haruhi's father as he fussed over her and she just ignored him and couldn't help but feel that he reminded her of someone but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. but notice the striking resemblance between him and Tamaki. Akari found it a little eerie actually.
Akari snapped out of her reverie when she noticed Ranak-san eyeing her up and down. Akari shifted her leg and scratched the back of her head, feeling quite uncomfortable.
"Is something wrong?" she asked apprehensively.
His eyes were deep and thoughtful as he looked at AKari. "You know, you'll look very cute if you wore a dress instead," Ranka-san said giving her a wide smile.
"Dad! Don't bug her," Haruhi said.
Akari scratched her unitchy head again. "It's okay Haruhi. My mum says the same thing."
"Your hair is really nice but you should put a cute clip in it," Ranka–san said and handed Akari a small bow-shaped clip out of nowhere. "And you should wera clothes like my dear Haruhi's one!" he continued while hugging Haruhi tightly.
"Dad, you forced this on me," Haruhi deadpanned.
"YES! But you look so adorable!"
That was when Akari realized that he was just like Tamaki.
"Akari! I forgot to tell you I want to try a diffrent brand of toilet paper!" came another loud voice, interrupting Akari from her thoughts.
Akari turned and saw a woman who was only slightly taller than her running down the aisle. The woman who had also screamed about brand of toilet paper meaning she had no shame whatsoever. This woman was Akari's mother.
"Mum, please don't scream about toilet paper in public," Akari said when her mother stopped in front of her.
She only laughed at her Akri's sullen voice and ruffled her hair. "You're so cute when you're annoyed." With short auburn hair and hazel eyes, she was almost the spitting of Akari. However, unlike Akri, she smiled and laughed a lot more and her personality more closely resembled that of Ranka-san's.
Nanami stopped ruffling her daughter's hair and noticed Haruhi and Ranak-san standing behind Akari. She walked towards Ranka-san smiling brightly, "I don't believe we've met before. I'm Nanami, Akari's mother."
"I'm Ranka-san, Haruhi's father!" he exclaimed excitedly. "I love your shoes!"
"And I love your top!" Nanami said with a smile. Her gaze shifted to Haruhi, "And you must be Haruhi, Akari's classmate!"
Haruhi bowed, "It's nice to meet you."
Nanami laughed, "No need to be so formal. Oh and call me Nanami!"
Ranka-san smiled brightly, "Haruhi is always very formal."
Nanami smiled back, "So is Akari."
Both Ranka-san and Nanami started laughing while Akari took a step backward while Haruhi calmly continued choosing vegetables. She had a bad feeling that everyone she seemed to meet were loud and eccentric people.
Nanami looked at Haruhi again. "Your daughter's clothes are so cute. If only my daughter would wear something like that," Nanami said sighing dramatically.
"I practically had to force it on her but it was all worthwhile. She looks so cute." Ranka-san said looking fondly at Haruhi.
"I probably should try that tactic too," Nanami said looking at Akari with a glint in her eye.
Akari just looked away and pretended to be choosing vegetables, feeling anxious at the thought of her mother suddenly pouncing on her when she least expected it. She was going to have to keep alert now not only in school but at home too. She just sighed in defeat.
"Dad, I'm going to pay for the stuff," Haruhi stated walking towards the cashier.
"Wait! I'll come too!" Akari ran after Haruhi, not wanting to be left alone with her mum and her new found friend.
The four of them walked towards the exit. Ranka-san and Nanami laughing while Haruhi and Akari talked. It was a Saturday and Akari couldn't wait to go home and have a relaxing day in the apartment.
The warm fresh air hit their faces as they walked out of the air-conditioned place. The sun shone across the clear blue sky as birds flew by chirping happily reflecting Akari's current mood. She was pretty sure Ranka-san or her mum would invite the other for tea especially since they found out that they only live down the road from each other but Akari didn't mind because she actually quite liked Haruhi due to the fact that she brought some normalcy to her life.
Akari admired the beautiful morning.
No giggling girls.
No Hikaru.
No Kaoru.
No Kyoya.
Everything was so calm and relaxing. Akari felt calm and relaxed. She had almost forgot the feeling of these emotions. For the past week all she had been was tense, jumpy, annoyed, angry, and disappointed. It felt so good to be rid of those emotions and realize that it was a wonderful world.
"Eh? What are those limos doing here," Nanami asked breaking Akari's inner peace.
Akari, Haruhi and Ranka-san turned their heads towards the direction Nanami was pointing where they saw two black and sleek limos parked nearby standing out from the rest of the normal looking vehicles parked near it.
That's when Ranka-san said what neither Akari nor Haruhi wanted to hear, "It must be the boys!"
"Oh hell," Akari muttered.
Okay chapter 4 is done!
Want to tell me what you think? Then go ahead and review! :)