Well, here finally is. I apologize for not updating as much as I want to. But Spring Break is almost here so hopefully I'll be able to get another update in soon! Also, I thank you all for the amazing reviews and support you've been giving me. You don't know how excited I get when I read them. So, I've added a tad bit of HikaHaru and if you squint, TamaHaru. Yup, the plot is developing people!
Special thanks to my Beta .tofu-melon! You rock!
Chapter 4- Pity
Nothing could've prepared Haruhi for the day at school she had just completed. She was a girl that had taken many (unnecessary) classes in her lifetime, ranging from archery to etiquette to speaking in English. But none of them had helped when it came down to the last amount of energy she had had in her body earlier. Now, she lay across her bed, taking deep breaths and being thankful that the day was finally over.
She wondered briefly if the host club was worth all of this stress. "It is if I don't want to do the twins homework for the rest of my life..." she reminded herself. Sighing, she sat up and ran both of her hands through her short locks. It wasn't the host club that she was worried about. No, she was actually starting to like the various personalities that the club came with.
It was just that...a foreboding sense of dread was creeping up on her. She tried to ignore it, but something just did not seem right. Even though they had gotten through so many different difficulties in one single day...she was afraid that the grand opening wouldn't be what everyone expected it to be.
It had all started when she had first gotten to school. She knew Tamaki was strange- but she didn't know he was stupid too.
"Har-u-hiiiii!"
Haruhi cringed, her muscles tensing in dread of the impact that was sure to follow the blonde's outburst. As his arms wrapped around her, she felt the air in her lungs puff out.
"Isn't it amazing Haruhi? I must have a secret admirer!" Tamaki yelled, releasing her to jump back and pose in a model-like fashion. "Aren't I dashing in this uniform?"
Haruhi sweat dropped. "Er...Senpai..."
"What is it Haruhi?" he asked, suddenly in her face again. "Do you know who sent me and everyone else these marvelous uniforms? The girl must be heart-achingly in love with me already...and the host club isn't even in session yet! Please, if you know, tell me so that I may grace the beautiful creature with my gratitude!"
Haruhi was almost fearful of what he meant by that. If he didn't know she had sent the clothes to him, then she figured it in her best interest not to tell him. Let him go frolic along looking for his 'secret admirer'...as long as she wasn't involved, it would be fine. She didn't want him to crush her poor little body in his excitement.
"No, I...um...it suits you," she said, trying on a smile to please him and get the attention off of her. "You wear the uniform well."
"Ah! Thank you Haruhi! You know, I really-"
"Tamaki. You're doing it again."
Haruhi's eyes traveled to the raven-haired boy. Her mouth dropped slightly open. Kyouya looked, well...like he always did. He wore plain black pants and a white button-up. Kyouya made it a point not to wear jeans and gym shoes to school even though he could not afford the uniform. But...now he had the uniform. Haruhi stared in amazement. Why wouldn't he wear it?
"Kyouya-senpai...you didn't get a uniform?" she asked slowly.
"Ah. I did," he answered, his eyes boring into her with a white-hot intensity she had never had directed her way before. "I just chose not to wear it."
"Eh? Why not? You'd look so good in the uniform Kyouya!" Tamaki wailed. "And when we go see the Superintendent about the club, we all want to look our best so-"
"This is looking my best." Kyouya said, tired of Tamaki's constant babbling. In order to end the conversation, he walked briskly past Haruhi and Tamaki, not even looking over his shoulder at them or saying a farewell.
Haruhi could see that Tamaki was generally confused. Well, she couldn't blame him. So was she. She thought that Kyouya would've loved having a uniform free of charge. Why he would reject it, she couldn't figure out for the life of her.
"Well..." Tamaki said blankly, rubbing the back of his neck, "I suppose we should get to class now, ne Haruhi?" he said, smiling down at her.
She smiled back and nodded. "Yeah, you're right Tamaki-senpai."
She did not notice as she walked away, the look of recognition on Tamaki's face. Her back turned to him, she could not see the widening of his eyes. He looked down, feeling his face flushing hot. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he chuckled lowly before shaking his head from side to side. "Kawaii..." he whispered. "Very...kawaii..."
---
Shocked. That, Haruhi realized, was the only way to describe the emotion she felt when she took her seat next to the Hitachiin twins. They, like Kyouya, were not wearing the uniforms that she had delivered to them! What was this? Some weird prank? She could not fathom what was going through their heads. They were actually dressed worse than they had ever been before. Their hair was unruly and thick with some unknown substance, their clothes were ripped and tattered unlike any she had ever had the displeasure of seeing before.
They didn't look at her for the entire period, nor did they talk to her. It was as if she didn't exist in their eyes anymore.
'Fine.' She thought. 'It's not like their my best friends anyways.'
When the bell rang for lunch, Haruhi gathered her things, ready to walk out of the room without even looking at them. She was planning on giving them the cold shoulder juts as much as they did to her.
"Hey."
She stopped walking and turned around slowly. Her eyes met the liquid-hot eyes of Hikaru. She swallowed; his glare was almost as bad as Kyouya's.
"You sent those uniforms, right?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice thick despite her battle to control her emotions. She wanted to lash out at them. What right did they have to get angry with her, when she had only wanted to show an act of kindness to them?
She felt as if she needed to say something more to them when they remained silent, their stares deadly. "I thought it would help you out if I-"
"How the hell would that help us out?! We told you we're not interested in your pity!" Hikaru shouted.
The teacher looked back over his shoulder. He had been erasing the lesson off of the board, but now they were becoming unruly. "Please, Hitachiin-kun, refrain from vulgar language. It's your lunch time, isn't it?"
Hikaru's shoulder's shook, his eyes never leaving Haruhi. His brother touched his shoulder. "Let's go Hikaru."
They walked out of the door, Hikaru practically seething. Haruhi took a deep breath. She wondered if she was missing something. But no matter how hard she tried she could not see things their way. It was if a huge wall was right in between them that they were always trying to climb over but always falling back down. It was as if they had taken two steps forward yesterday, and now today, they had taken two steps back.
She tried to calm her nerves. The more practical side knew that somehow, she had really hurt their feelings. She didn't know why, but something in her told her that she owed them an apology. Of course, the less practical side was winning the battle.
Nothing could make her open her mouth and give them an apology when she did not even understand what she had done to make them so angry. Especially that Hikaru. He was the outspoken, infuriating one. He was the one that was really starting to get on her nerves. Why couldn't he just wear the stupid uniform and be happy?
Once she entered the lunchroom, Haruhi got her lunch and sat in the same seat she had sat in the day before. Her eyes scanned the boys. Hikaru and Kaoru were looking bored- which was at least better than being angry at her, she thought. Kyouya was having a conversation with Tamaki. Just as she was about to ask where they were, the cousins came up behind her.
"Hi-ya Haru-chan!" Honey said, waving from a top of Takashi's shoulders.
"Hello Honey-senpai," Haruhi greeted. "Eh?" she blinked when a folded sheet of paper fell into her lap. Looking up, she met Takashi's eyes. He smiled slightly before taking his seat. Something told her that she was not supposed to open the letter in front of everyone else, so she returned the smile and sneakily stuffed the paper into the small bag she toted around.
"I know who sent these uniforms!" Tamaki suddenly announced.
Haruhi bit her lip. 'Oh no...please don't smother me!' she thought desperately.
"It was the soccer team!"
Silence. Tamaki's smile faltered. "Um...you guys?"
"How idiotic will you become before your brain completely disintegrates?" Kyouya asked so nonchalantly Haruhi winced. Before she could even blink again, Tamaki was off in a far corner of the cafeteria. Amazingly, the corner seemed to have become dark and gloomy, much like his mood.
"That's becoming a habit for Tama-chan," Honey pointed out.
"Ah," Takashi agreed.
Haruhi shifted in her chair. She looked at the twins, and of course, they did not look back at her. Once again she seemed not to exist. She turned to Kyouya, opened her mouth to say something, then held her tongue. After the way the twins had snapped at her, she was afraid to say anything about the uniforms. The last thing she wanted was to be snapped at again.
"It's actually bothering me," Kyouya said suddenly, uncharacteristically coming out of the blue with his words. His gray eyes roamed over to the small blond and his cousin. "If you don't mind me asking, why would you wear that uniform?"
Haruhi's heart leaped. The twins' gazes sauntered over to the cousins just as hers did.
"Because it was a gift from a friend," Honey replied easily. His cute voice betrayed the hurt look in his eyes. "And we couldn't afford our own."
"So you'd rather take pity than work to get your uniform for yourself?" Kyouya said, a hint of a challenge edging his monotonous voice.
"You know that's not how it is." Takashi's stern voice said.
"That is how it is!" Hikaru said, almost in a shouting voice. "You think letting this girl," his eyes moved widely over to Haruhi's direction, his glare met her and burned her, "give you pity and buy you stuff is going to change anything? In her eyes you're nothing but poor."
"What're you talking about? I was trying to help you- I did it for the sake of the club!" Haruhi yelled, her face flushing in her anger.
Tamaki's head slowly turned and looked at them all.
Nonetheless, Haruhi continued. "I sent you guys the uniform because I wanted to do something nice for you. I wanted to do something to be nice to the people who I'd like to be my friends, no strings attached. But if you honestly think I'm the type of person to 'pity the common-folk' then you've got me completely and utterly wrong."
"All you do is walk around here, with your head held high and your fancy clothes on and-"
"Enough."
Hikaru fell silent, Haruhi sat back down in her seat, unconsciously wondering when she had stood up. Tamaki stood towering above her, his violet eyes shimmering.
"We cannot discuss this issue here, in the public eye. We'll assemble in the music room immediately after school is over. Until then, I believe it's best we all..." he looked away and winced as if it hurt him to say his next words. "We all distance ourselves from each other..."
"Gladly," Hikaru said, standing up and walking away from the table.
They all stared at the younger twin. Kaoru cleared his throat, stood up and said quietly, "You really...hurt us, Haruhi. I understand where you're coming from...but please, for Hikaru's sake, try to understand where we're coming from too." With that, he followed after his brother.
---
Dear Haru-chan,
There is a such thing called 'pride.' It is a very easy thing to hurt. We know you meant well by sending everyone the uniforms, but sometimes, it is hard for people to understand other's motivations, you know? I'm not trying to scorn you or anything but when the time comes, maybe you'll think about things in a wider view, that's all. Please try to see the big picture for now on. Please consult us if you think you're taking a risky move.
-Honey and Mori
Haruhi sighed and put the paper back into her purse. She was still trying to calm down from the day's events earlier. Now, here she was standing in front of the music room. Her hand shakily opened the door. She stood there momentarily, wondering if it was safe for her to go in without the twins or Kyouya jumping out to kill her.
Luckily, they were sitting in chairs. The empty room seemed to echo their silence. Honey and Mori smiled gently at her when they saw her, but it did not ease the tension she felt in her stomach.
"Please take a seat Haruhi." Tamaki said, his voice even and clear. It gave Haruhi the chills to hear the happy-go-lucky teen so serious. She followed his orders with no objection and chose a seat next to Honey.
Tamaki's eyes swept over them all. Haruhi tried not to see how sad and disappointed they looked. She looked down, wondering what was making her feel this way; shamed and childish.
"I thought we all could've gotten along," Tamaki said. "I thought that even though our worlds are so far apart...we could slowly close the gap. But how can that gap close if no one is trying to push the two walls together?"
"Well, what Haruhi did was reckless and-"
"I was trying to close the gap, like Tamaki-senpai's saying!" Haruhi glared at Hikaru.
"Stop it." Tamaki glared at them both. "You're both wrong. You're working against each other. Haruhi...you were inconsiderate. You automatically assumed that everyone would want the free uniforms instead of just asking if that would be necessary. But, the twins and Kyouya's reaction was all wrong. If you didn't want the uniforms then you did not have to act cold and malicious towards Haruhi. You knew she was trying to help, but you didn't care. Your feelings were hurt and you were blinded by rage."
Kyouya looked away. For once, it seemed that he had no smart comeback. The twins were also silent.
The clock ticked, and that's all Haruhi could hear. She wanted to jump out of her chair and scream 'can't we all just get along?!' but the silence was so thick that she dared not to.
"I think...I think we should all just apologize to each other." Honey suggested.
Silence. Silence so deep that even the ticking of the clock was starting to be drowned out by it.
"Their all too stubborn." Takashi said.
"You're right," Tamaki replied, a bitter unfitting smile plastered on his face. "This isn't worth it, is it? The host club...it'll end before it even begins."
The Suoh walked to his briefcase, opened it and took out some papers. "These were some drafts for the fliers." He took out some more. "This is the threat someone sent me today, saying that commoners like myself should not and never will start a host club." He put them back and started to get some more out when Kyouya stood up and hurriedly walked over to him.
"What?" he asked himself more than anyone else, his glasses glinting. He stared Tamaki in his eyes. "And you have no idea who sent this?"
"N-no..." Tamaki said, obviously intimidated.
Kyouya's eyes narrowed. He turned to face the others. "We can't let this intimidate us. Tomorrow, we'll start on the petition. I'll work on the fliers and make copies. Any objections?"
No one answered, but Kyouya knew that no one had any objections at all. He turned to Haruhi to say, "If you still wish to be in this club, we'll have to communicate. For now on, let's not make any rash decisions alone."
"I understand." Haruhi replied.
"Then, I'll be taking my leave now," he nodded to Tamaki and left the room without another word.
"What...just happened?" Tamaki blinked in confusion.
"Well, I think Kyou-chan just apologized to Haru-chan," Honey giggled. "Tomorrow's going to be big! We'd better get ready." Honey said, hopping out of his chair and waving goodbye, along with his cousin.
Tamaki turned to Haruhi and the twins. Haruhi was shocked still. Her senses seemed to be numbed and slowed. This was all moving to quickly for her. First, Kyouya was angry with her. Then there was a threatening letter to the soon-to-be host club, then Kyouya wasn't angry...now he was...determined?
She blinked and groaned, laying her head in her hands. Why was she stuck with such strange people, she wondered. Plus, weren't the twins still angry with her too? She looked over to them, but they weren't in their seats. "Huh?" her eyes glanced over the entire room until they fell on the twins, who were busy going through papers with Tamaki. Well, at least they were seeming to be enjoying themselves again. Torturing Tamaki seemed to be the cure to whatever ailment they had.
Smiling a bit, she decided she should leave the three of the alone. Maybe the twins weren't going to be able to get along with her, but she figured that they had a pretty good chance of getting along with Tamaki.
Thinking that, she whipped out her cell phone to call her chauffer. When that task was complete, she shouldered her bag and called out to the three people that were now laughing. "Hey, I'm going home you guys. See ya tomorrow."
"Ah! Wait Haruhi," Tamaki said, running up to her. She stiffened. "The twins live a long way from here and they have to take the bus," he whispered. "It would be a good idea to give them a ride. It'll ease the tension between you."
Haruhi sighed, "I guess that is a good idea..." But gosh. She didn't want them thinking she was pitying them again! All she wanted to do was go home without another fight.
"Great!" Tamaki smiled and walked towards the door. He stopped in his tracks, slowly turning around to look at Haruhi with a reddened face that she did not notice. "And...thanks for the uniform."
"You're welcome," she replied easily, failing to see how flustered the blond had become. He covered his face with his hand and quickly scurried out of the room, almost falling over himself in doing so.
Haruhi shrugged and turned to the twins. Gathering her courage, she maneuvered over to them. They were packing their bags and when they looked up at her they held no malice whatsoever in their eyes or faces.
"It's later than normal," she began, looking from the floor to them and to the floor again. She couldn't understand why she was so nervous! "If you want...my driver could give you guys a ride home."
She looked up at them quickly, preparing to explain herself thoroughly to avoid their anger. But she found that she didn't have to. They were smiling- in her direction- hell, they were smiling at her. Her heart raced as she stared into golden eyes. She couldn't remember Hikaru or Kaoru ever genuinely smiling at her.
"Is this your way of apologizing?" they asked, their sincere smiles turning into sly smirks.
"You could say that..." she replied dryly.
"Awww, little Haruhi wants to make up with us," Hikaru said, ruffling her hair. She smacked his hand away and shook her head.
"Don't get too cocky. This is only so that we can get on with our lives." That said, she turned and started to walk out of the room. They grinned and followed behind her.
Once they were comfortably inside of her limo the twins literally stretched out.
"I could get used to this," Hikaru said, feeling the smooth leather under his hands.
"You said it," his brother agreed.
Haruhi sighed for the umpteenth time that day. She hoped they weren't getting too cozy. Now they would think she would do this for them everyday. Her eyes wandered over to Hikaru. 'Well...maybe I wouldn't mind...when they act calm like this it's not so bad.'
Suddenly, Hikaru was looking at her. Realizing she had been staring, she blushed slightly and looked away.
"It's rude to stare," Hikaru said, his smirk evident in his voice.
"I wasn't."
"Were too," Hikaru said, sliding next to her. "You couldn't take your eyes off of me."
She whipped her head around and moved so close to him that their noses were practically touching. "I wasn't staring Hikaru. I was just looking."
He blinked, feeling her presence surround his so closely that he was taken aback. His body flushed hotly and he looked away, surprised by his own reaction. He had never been so close to girls before. He could remember that he had never had any reason to be.
It didn't help at all when she reached her hand up and touched his hair, her face holding a serious and determined look. When her hand came back down, she was holding a small speck of white fluff. "You had this in your hair..."
"Ah...lint," Kaoru said from behind him, causing Hikaru to jump slightly. His blush deepened, embarrassed because he knew Kaoru was thinking he was acting strangely.
"Say, Haruhi, do you think this petition thing will work?" Kaoru asked.
"Hmm...it should. I've heard of school administrations allowing clubs to be created based off of petitions before. I don't see why Ouran would be any different."
"And...if we wear the uniform, you think it'll help out?"
Haruhi stared at Kaoru momentarily before nodding slowly. "I think so."
He seemed to want to ask something else, but just then the vehicle came to a stop. Haruhi looked out of the window, along with the twins. They each pointed at a small building with many doors, "We live in an apartment."
"Ah...I see..." Haruhi said, though she really did not see at all. She wondered why there were so many different doors and if they actually lived in each of them. If that was the case, then they weren't really commoners were they? Her mind buzzed in confusion, a feeling she hated.
"Well, see ya tomorrow," the twins said, already out of the vehicle. "And...we just wanted to thank you..." "For the uniforms."
They both seemed embarrassed, their eyes not even coming up to meet her. She smiled. "You're welcome. And...I'm sorry for not considering your feelings first."
"Friends?" she asked, extending her hand out.
They both hesitated, then Kaoru nodded and shook her hand. "Friends." He grinned and waved his goodbye to her. He jogged away, leaving his brother behind.
Hikaru looked to be on the verge of crying, his hand extended out in Kaoru's genuine direction and his mouth opened to call his brother back. He turned to Haruhi then, and stared at her as if she were an alien.
"So...are you still angry with me?" Haruhi asked, tilting her head to the side like a small animal trying to hear something.
He rubbed the back of his neck and Haruhi sighed. "It's alright if you are. I did do something pretty stupid..."
Hikaru blinked, his eyes fastened on the girl. He couldn't help himself. A small smile turned into a grin before he burst out in laughter.
Haruhi's face burned, wondering why the boy was suddenly laughing at her. "What? I was being serious!"
"I- I know...and your serious look is just so...hilarious!" he said in between chuckles, then reached down and ruffled her hair, feeling the softness of it and a peachy smell exuded from it. He smiled and nodded, "I'll let bygones by bygones. Friends, as the cute little Haruhi says." he winked and chuckled again. "You're really unlike all those other girls..."
"I am?" Haruhi blinked in confusion, touching her her head where Hikaru's hand had once been.
He didn't answer, instead he grinned and nodded. "See you tomorrow. We'll show those haters they can't disband the host club, ne?"
"Ah...right..." Haruhi nodded too.
---
Haruhi sighed and shifted in her bed. Really, she was all tuckered out. She'd never gotten into so many heated discussions or into so much action before. Now everything was changing, and she wasn't sure if it were for the better or not. She touched the top of her head.
'But...I think I've got a pretty good idea on who's Hikaru and who's Kaoru now.'
Turning to her computer, she logged onto her e-mail account. Dazedly, she stared at the subject line of a particular email. It read: DISBAND THE HOST CLUB.
Her heart skipped a beat as she clicked on the mail. Quickly, she read it.
Dear Fujioka-san,
I believe it is in your best interest to tell your friends that this club cannot be formed. Not only is it a club that no one in Ouran wishes for, but it is a disgrace to the name of Ouran itself. There are people in this school that are starting to look down on your name. They are starting to say that you are a disgrace to the Fujiokas for how you are behaving; arguing in the cafeteria and such.
I am only looking out for your best interest. Our families are connected, no?
I look forward to the decision I know you'll make.
-Ayanokoji
Haruhi's eyes narrowed at the screen, as if she could see through it and burn Ayanokoji with her menacing gaze. She had felt this feeling before, the other day when Ayanokoji had challenged her in the hallway. Now, though, the feeling was even more intense. She understood what had motivated Kyouya to act the way he had earlier in the music room.
The fire in her heart fueled her. Even though she had been previously tired, she practically sprang out of her bed. She moved swiftly to her bag, sifting through the papers that Kyouya had given her. 'All of their contact information...'
Inhaling, she grabbed her phone and dialed Kyouya's number, who dialed Tamaki's number, who dialed Honey's number, who dialed Mori's number, who dialed the twins' number.
"Alright you guys. Tomorrow we're going to do something big," she told them, her voice stern. "We're going to rock the very foundation of that school to the core."
"Hai!" they agreed.
Haruhi smirked. She couldn't wait to see Ayanokoji and anyone else that dared to pick on the host club faces. She would make sure that everyone knew that her club meant business. She would show them just how confident she was becoming in her new friends.
Nothing was going to stand in her way.
I hope you enjoyed this. Please tell me what you think, any suggestions, and your nice critiscms. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you all next time!