I DO NOT OWN OURAN HIGHSCHOOL HOST CLUB!

Chapter 7

3rd P.O.V

Kurenai took a deep breath before walking into the club room. She found all the hosts, except Haruhi, were dressed as the Renaissance Royal Court. Tamaki was a king, Kyoya was a queen, Honey was a prince, Mori was a knight, and the twins were jesters. Tamaki walked up to Kurenai with a costume in hand.

"Kurenai, be the Court Mage," he said. Kurenai looked at it. It was a long, flowy, dark blue robe with a hood, light brown pants, and a pair of dark brown boots.

"I'm not wearing that," Kurenai deadpanned.

"Yes, you are!" Tamaki said as he shoved it into her hands then walked away quickly. She sighed as she walked into the changing room. Everything was too big for her. She walked out and looked like she once fit them but had shrunk.

"Really?" she growled.

"It...looks...great..." Kaoru said, busting out laughing. Kurenai sighed. She looked to Tamaki.

"I'm gonna need some fabric, thread, a needle, and a leather cord," she said. When he gave her a confused look she gave him a death glare.

"M-Mori! Run to the art room!" he said. Mori took off. Kurenai waited for him to get back, the whole time the twins laughed.

"You look like a dwarf in those clothes!" Hikaru said as they rolled on the floor. Kurenai felt a vein pop and was about to kill them when Mori came back with everything she asked for.

"Thank you, Mori-senpai," she said as she took some scissors he also grabbed and cut the blue fabric into a sash. She folded the long sleeves onto themselves and wrapped them around in a criss-cross pattern. She reached the middle of her arm and began sewing the fabric into the costume so it fit. She then made a belt with the leather cord and made the robe into a long tailcoat. When she finished, she looked to the others who were looking at how she modified the costume. "There you go. One Court Mage!" she smiled at her handiwork.

"Just in time too," Kyoya said as he positioned the club members for when the first set of clients came in. He put Tamaki in a chair, Honey next to him, and Mori behind Honey. He put the twins behind Tamaki as well. Kurenai was placed on the very right side. Haruhi was on the left.

"Welcome ladies!" they said as the clients walked in. Kurenai noticed Akemi in the small crowd. The Hosts moved to their tables. Kurenai sat down and was surprised to find Akemi Yamazaki walking towards her.

"M-Miss Yamazaki?" she asked with an unsure tone.

"Please, call me Akemi," Akemi laughed. "Why do you look like you've just seen a ghost?" she asked. Kurenai swallowed the lump that formed in her throat.

"I just didn't expect to have you two days in a row," she said as she sweatdropped.

"I wanted to talk with you more," Akemi smiled. Kurenai gave her a thankful nod.

"Well, we have more time this session," she said as Akemi sipped her coffee. "I know it's kind of a random question so forgive me...What year are you?" she asked.

"You're excused," Akemi giggled and smiled. "I'm a second year, by the way," she answered.

"Oh, really? I expected you to be a third year at least. You're so mature," Kurenai said. Akemi giggled.

"Thank you, Kurenai," she said. "How about you?" she asked.

"I'm only a first year. Most people think I'm in grade school...I don't blame them, though," Kurenai said. She wasn't lying. People had asked her if she was in the wrong building before. They knew they were wrong when they saw the uniform, though.

"Must be terrible having to correct people about that," Akemi said. Kurenai shook her head.

"It's not that bad," She said. Akemi seemed different than all the other girls who came to the Host Club. "If you don't mind me asking...Why do you come to the club? You don't seem to be that into the...acts...the club members perform. You seem like the kind of girl who's more into meeting them. Excuse me if that came off as rude," Kurenai noted.

"Well...I come here often with some of my friends. If I ever come alone then I do more talking then squealing over the fact that one of the club members are kissing my hand. To be honest, I get kind of lonely...I figured the host club would help me, 'break out of my shell', as my friends say..." Akemi sighed. Kurenai found that interesting. "You're the first to notice that, in fact. All the other hosts just treated me like a princess. Yeah, sure it's not bad but I don't find it to be the best approach. I like it in a more...subtle way," the brunette in front of her said.

"I didn't think it was all that impressive when I stumbled across this place, either. I just thought it would be nice to meet some new people since I was new. Tamaki thought that joining his club would be the best way to do that. Everyone I've met so far has just been waiting for me to kiss them or do whatever the hell Tamaki and the others do," Kurenai said.

"I wouldn't mind it so much if there was a sane person to talk to," Akemi said as she giggled. Kurenai laughed with her.

"That's where you come in. You've been the calmest person I've met here so far...Other than maybe Haruhi," she said as she glanced to said host from across the room.

"It has been a pleasure getting to talk to you," Akemi smiled. Kurenai felt her face flush a bit. Akemi noticed the slight pink hue in the girl's face. "O-Oh! Did I say something awkward?" she asked with a worried expression and tone. Kurenai shook her head and the sprinkle of pink faded from her cheeks.

"No! No. I just...I..." she struggled to come up with an excuse. Akemi covered her mouth as she giggled. The pink returned to Kurenai's face. "Uh..." She smiled awkwardly.

"I never asked what the theme was this time," Akemi said, changing the subject, much to Kurenai's pleasure.

"Oh! Um...I think it's supposed to be Renaissance...Royal Court maybe? Tamaki never really said what it was exactly...He just kind of shoved the costume into my hands and had me change. I did have to make some alterations to it, though," she said as she looked at her costume.

"Why?" Akemi asked. Kurenai sighed.

"It was too big for me..." She said as she sighed. Akemi paused then laughed.

"You're lucky! I have trouble fitting into my clothes sometimes," she admitted. "My mother made me throw out one of my favorite dresses the other day...All because my chest wouldn't fit in..." She said, forgetting where she was. Fortunately, the only other person who heard was Kurenai. Unfortunately, the only other person who heard was Kurenai. The short first year blushed. This time she became even redder. "Oh!" Akemi covered her mouth. A few seconds later, the two laughed together.

"My sister has the same problem...She used to go through her old clothes and find a shirt that didn't fit anymore then make me put them on," Kurenai said as she sweatdropped.

"Sounds embarrassing," Akemi said, holding back laughter.

"She thought it was amazing but I wasn't so amused," Kurenai said, breaking Akemi. She burst out laughing. Kurenai soon joined in.

"What are you supposed to be anyway?" Akemi asked.

"Tamaki's the king, Kyoya's the queen, Mori's the knight, Honey's the prince, Hikaru and Kaoru are jester's, Haruhi was supposed to be the princess I think...and I got stuck with the Royal Mage," Kurenai sighed. Akemi smiled.

"For what it is worth...I think the outfit looks good on you," she said, making Kurenai blush. "Hey...um...would you like to have my phone number?" Akemi asked. Kurenai gave her a confused look. "So you can text me on the weekends and stuff!" she said as she took a pen out of her bag then grabbed some paper.

"Are you sure you want to give it to me?" Kurenai asked. Akemi finished writing and looked at her.

"If you're wondering why I want to give my number to a commoner...It's because I get bored sometimes and it would be nice to have someone to talk to," she said. Kurenai blushed slightly as she took the paper and pocketed it.

"Thank you, Akemi," she said. Akemi stood up.

"I think our session is done for the day. It was nice getting to talk to you again, Kurenai," she said as she bowed then walked out of the club room. The twins walked over.

"Nice going, Kurenai!" Hikaru patted her back as she growled.

"Keep touching me and you'll lose an arm," she said.

"Aw, C'mon! Don't be mean," Kaoru laughed as he put a hand on her head, messing up her hair. She stood up and began chasing them around the room.

"You can't catch us!" The twins yelled in unison. Kurenai grinned slyly as she managed to grab the back of Hikaru's shirt and push him to the ground. Little did she know, it was part of their game.

"Gotcha!" She said as she began breathing heavily. They managed to give her quite the chase. Hikaru grinned.

"You might want to rethink that," Kaoru said, snapping Kurenai out of her hunter-like trance.

"Huh?" she said as she looked at the position they were in. She had him pinned to the ground much like Tamaki had her pinned to the couch. Her hands were on the ground next to his head, keeping him from getting up and she looked like she was practically climbing on top of him. "Ah!" she turned scarlet red as she scrambled to her feet. She crossed her arms and turned her head away from the twins. "That was your fault, baka! Don't make me chase you!" She said as she stormed off. Kaoru helped his brother up and gave him a high-five. Haruhi sweatdropped. She had just witnessed what happened and she felt bad for the girl. She knew how bad the twins could get.

"Twins, two..." Hikaru said.

"Kurenai, zero!" Kaoru continued.