NOTE:- Ummm...this is Aldabaran's friend called Glockenspiel...she went on holiday...to France or Rome or somewhere...I should know but I forgot...well anyway she entrusted me with this chapter- and since she isn't here I can just post spam and talk trash...no I jest...she sends you her regards...I think...I made that up...I'm sure she does...she probably doesnt want me writing here either but she'll live with it...I hope...she likes me...so if you want to send her a special message or something like that you might have to wait...a long...time...because after this holiday she's having another one...for like two weeks or something...lucky her...do you go on holiday lots? Even if she isnt here...still review and stuff okay? Otherwise she'll blame me, your reviews will still be read and cherished, just not by her...I would be glad to read any comments you may have, even if you just want to have a chat...i could pretend to be her...
Enjoy her chapter and review so she gets happy when she comes back. There aint nothing better than seeing a chunk of reviews after a new chapter. And if you dont then Kyoya will send his secret police after you...he's good at doing that...although...I wouldnt mind being captured by Kyoya...that sounds quite fun...Aldabaran probably wouldnt mind either...jokes...
This is a good chapter...trust me...I read it...
Toodles!
Finally after what seems like ages I have finally updated- I must be the worst updater ever -anyway- I felt I had to get something up as I'm going on holiday soon-for most of August. It will be unlikely for me to update but I will endeavour to write maybe a few short chapters while I'm away and update if I can!
I would like to thank everyone for their reviews so far- I never thought I would get so many- so thank you all for reading and I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Disclaimer: I still unfortunately do not own the Ouran group.
Chapter 7- Ribbons for Races.
(Previously)
Why doesn't that surprise me? Kyoya thought. It was just as well Tamaki rang me to say that Haruhi hadn't arrived yet. God knows what would have happened if I hadn't of shown up…he blinked. Was he concerned for this girl's welfare?
Kyoya informed Tamaki in a concise tone. "If what Renge-chan said was true the big race will incorporate skill, intelligence, strength and common sense. All these areas are covered."
Ouran Academy
Renge-chan beamed as another team of boys signed up for her big race. The list was quite long now, she mused as she scrolled down the various names. There were lots of the normal clubs, the smaller ones, and the less popular ones that not many had heard of before.
Obviously, the main team was still missing from Renge's perfect list. The one team that would bring the many girls flocking to watch the races, the many visitors to admire her work and make her an even more popular figure. This was going to be her greatest success, organising such a big sporting event, which would include most the academy's male population. Finally, her organising skills would be appreciated!
The school's cafeteria had been cleared of its usual array of tables, which had all been pushed to the sides of the large edifice, to allow room for the teams to gather in their groups.
Through the windows, the sun was already quite high in the clear azure sky and in the distance the large clock tower struck a quarter to ten in the morning. Classes had been cancelled for this event, seeing how it served to unite the school together and therefore declared beneficial to the students.
As the deadline to the end of the sign up drew nearer the rest of the teams shifted with anticipation as they waited for Renge-chan to announce the rules. Many looked at their watches; if the team wanted to compete they would have to hurry. If they did not make it in time, then they would not be allowed to compete- Renge had made it quite clear.
"They're finally here! Look!" one girl with curly ringlets squealed from beside the door of the cafeteria, eliciting an eruption of excited chattering from her friends as they all stood up quickly. They waited with bated breath as the double doors to the cafeteria were flung wide open.
Standing on the threshold were the figures of seven young men of varying heights. A storm of noise broke out from the waiting girls as they all craned their necks to see the Host Club entering the cafeteria.
"Oh my goodness- they've all dressed up- Tamaki-senpai looks so cool in his cape! Just like a knight or a superhero!" one of the girls sighed dreamily. "He's just like my prince charming!"
"No, look at Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai…" another girl simpered, clasping her hands together. "They look so…perfect!"
"I want the Host Club to win- I'll be rooting for them!" two girls agreed happily.
To the right of Renge-chan, the other teams all stood, in particular the Newspaper Club. Their Chairman, Akira Komatsuzawa had a grim look upon his face as he watched the animated girls around him and let his head fall into his hand. "Damn that Host Club making such an entrance like that! The Newspaper Club has no chance against their scheming ploys! I should have guessed that the manipulative Tamaki Suou would have tried something like this!" he swooned dramatically.
"Chairman!" his two loyal members, Chikage Ukyo and Tomochika Sakyo cried in alarm together, hurrying to support their fallen leader.
Akira got to his feet, wiping his brow, "Just remember to get some good photos- they'll make our sales go up a hundred fold if you get some of the Host Club," he muttered. "We've got to get something out of this!"
To the sound of hidden trumpets, the young blonde man standing at the head of the group strode forward confidently, a red cape flapping along behind him. He paused; cast to the adoring girls a charming smile before continuing to the front of the cafeteria where Renge was waiting with her list. His team trooped after him, mere shadows in his wake, with little enthusiasm, capes hanging limp.
"We, the Host Club- accept the challenge of the Main Race!" Tamaki declared for all to hear as the girls broke into applause. He bowed gratefully. "We will show the rest of the school what the Host Club are really made of!"
Taking a pen from Renge, Tamaki in a flourish signed the name 'Tamaki's Team' onto her sign-up sheet for participation.
Behind him, his team mates were already grumbling.
"Did we have to make such an entrance?" Haruhi Fujioka complained, tugging irritably at her blue cape. "It's embarrassing!"
Tamaki looked back at his team in horror as they all agreed with Haruhi. "Hush my darling- we're about to make history here as the first team to win this event! And the cape makes me look more dashing don't you think?" He spun on the spot, modelling it in front of her. "What do you think- am I your Prince Charming?"
Haruhi wisely refrained from commenting and Kaoru put a hand over his twins' mouth to stop him upsetting their lord.
"If there's one thing we cannot fault you in Tamaki it's your levels of confidence," Kyoya commented, completely unruffled.
Haruhi glanced at the shadow king standing just behind her, watching him carefully. Since rescuing her from the group of boys who might have done God knows what to her on the way to Tamaki's house he had barely spoken a few words to her, other than bidding her a good morning and asking after her father.
She eyed his deep purple cape, which seemed to hang off him with such elegance; Haruhi could not help but being envious. She blushed slightly as he caught her stare and she looked away at something much safer, the back of Honey-senpai's head.
Kyoya watched as the young woman before him blushed and averted her eyes from him. He wondered briefly what she had been thinking about, her look had been particularly difficult to decipher. This is not the time to be analysing Fujioka Haruhi's facial expressions! Kyoya admonished himself, shaking his head slightly. For some time now, she had played on his mind continuously.
His mind would constantly of its own accord, flick back to the scene near Tamaki's house when he had stopped those pathetic teenagers from harming her. They had clearly had no idea with whom they were dealing with. The terrified look on Haruhi's face kept appearing before his eyes and he sighed irritably. He didn't need this!
"These races are going to make me miss more classes," he heard Haruhi moaning to the twins as Renge-chan began to sort everything out.
Hikaru and Kaoru smirked. "Don't worry Haruhi. Since we're all in the same class…" they let the comment slide past Tamaki who had gone red in the face, "you can always come back to ours for a study…date?"
Steam billowed from Tamaki's ears as he watched Haruhi thoughtfully considering the twins' offer. "Haruhi! You can't possibly allow these rascals to corrupt you so! Daddy will teach you everything he knows, everything!"
Kyoya said dubiously, "And that would be the art of entertaining young women?"
Tamaki deflated, with the wounded reply of, "You hurt me deeply Kyoya! After all these years as friends and you cannot ever put in one good word for me?"
At that point another group approached the members of the Host Club, sceptical frowns in place as their white football uniforms gave them away as Ouran's Football Club.
"Just watch out Suou, we're going to win this one!" The leader of the Club called arrogantly across to Tamaki, who straightened up and dropped his gloomy look at the prospect of a challenge. "You Host Club don't stand a chance against us!"
"What makes you so sure? The Host Club never loses to anybody!" Tamaki assured the Football Team. "I as the leader will make sure that we prevail over every challenge and obstacle-" looking around for support from his team, Tamaki noticed they were all talking amongst themselves a little way away.
Thingy laughed. "Look's like your team's already deserted you Suou. Good luck with that and we'll wave as we overtake you and your little excuse for a club!"
Honey took this opportunity to intervene before Tamaki could start on another rant, indulging in self-pity. The small senior knew the younger boy's habits all too well. "Ne, come on Haru-chan- let's go see what the first event is!" he said whilst tugging on Mori's arm.
--
Assembling in their team lines one behind the other, the teams stood in front of the small stage Renge had managed to have constructed in the cafeteria.
Tamaki complacently took his place at the front of the Host Club line, completely oblivious to the jealous and envious looks of the other Club chairmen at the head of their own teams.
"Tamaki-senpai is taking this rather seriously isn't he?" Haruhi whispered to Kaoru who was standing behind her.
Kaoru nodded absentmindedly. "He's just excited that he gets to participate with his 'family' like this. We should just go along with it," he advised.
Haruhi nodded and smiled at Kaoru's attentive insight. He out of the members of the Host Club seemed to appreciate most off all Tamaki's intentions for the Club.
Renge briskly climbed up on, tapping her microphone and making everyone wince at the harsh crackle it emitted. "Everybody! I would like to welcome you to the opening of the Main Event to conclude Ouran's Sporting Week! I am going to explain the race now so listen up!" she called cheerfully, basking in the attention she instantly received.
She cleared her throat. "Now, it has taken me…and my assistants," she admitted grudgingly, "a long time to compose these series of tasks that await you. They aim to test your skills, intelligence, strength and of course common sense. Every person in the team will have to do their part for the Team to continue through the main race- so there will be smaller races in one big race understand?"
Honey-senpai nodded excitedly. "Like having lots of strawberries on one big cake- each strawberry is important!" he exclaimed brightly.
Renge-chan looked doubtful but did not bother to contradict the senior and continued. "Anyway, there are coloured ribbons in this hat, blue, red, green, yellow, orange, black, purple, pink and white," one girl stood up and showed the hall the big top hat, "and each ribbon allocates which sub-race the member of the team shall participate in. Everyone shall take a ribbon and be told what to do. So without further ado, please come and collect your ribbons!"
Muttering among themselves, the teams assembled and trooped up to withdraw the coloured ribbons from the big hat.
Haruhi dipped her hand in and quickly took the first ribbon that she felt. Removing it, she found herself to have a green ribbon. Green…what could that symbolise? Why am I even doing this…I only wanted to study!
Hikaru looked at his twin as they stood before the hat, "You go first Kaoru," he offered.
Kaoru shook his head, "No, after you Hikaru," he proffered.
"Together then," they agreed without having to say anything more. They stuck a hand each into the black hat and rummaged around for a bit, before taking out their ribbons.
"Hmm, orange?" Hikaru said, looking at his as he pulled it out.
"Oh, mine's orange too," Kaoru commented with slight surprise, pulling his own ribbon out. He tugged harder and felt something tug on the other end of it.
"Hey-" the twins said simultaneously.
Haruhi smiled the situation amusing as each twin pulled on one end of the same ribbon. "What are the chances that you two picked the same ribbon?" she asked wonderingly. "Does that mean you compete together?"
Hikaru and Kaoru smiled, each contented. "Who knows Haruhi- we've always acted as one!" they sounded very smug.
Tamaki studied his blue ribbon, showing it to the many girls that surrounded him and who had waited with bated breath as he had withdrawn it. Mori and Honey held up their yellow and red ribbons respectively. Kyoya was the last to draw and calmly emerged with a black ribbon in his hand.
"Now that everyone has taken a ribbon I will now read aloud what the colour corresponds to!" Renge-chan announced, producing a scroll and grandly unravelling it. "Ahem, now…first is the red ribbon!"
Honey-senpai shook his ribbon excitedly.
"This race is track race with a twist. Each contestant will be in an inflated plastic ball and will have to roll themselves along the ground to the finishing line!" Renge proclaimed.
Honey drooped. "An inflatable ball?" he asked, confusion flooding his face as he put a finger to his lips, pondering on what that could mean.
Haruhi smiled reassuringly. "It's like a…hamster ball!" she realised, "you'll be just like a hamster." This did not seem to comfort the senior any as he latched on to Mori's arm.
"The black ribbon is not a physical challenge, but instead a mental one- a general knowledge quiz, with some very difficult questions that I have thought up myself," Renge continued.
Haruhi glanced at the black ribbon held in Kyoya's hand and smiled at the soft smirk that crossed the Shadow King's face. There was no general knowledge quiz that Kyoya could not win at. Had Kyoya already known what the black ribbon would hold in store? Haruhi would not have put it past him.
"The yellow ribbon is a tournament for the game of rock, paper, scissors!" Renge said above the growing noise. "Which I have been assured is a highly competitive game!"
Mori looked at his yellow ribbon and blinked, while Haruhi rolled her eyes, "Competitive game my foot!" she muttered exasperatedly. "Why didn't I draw out the yellow one? Two sub-races that require no physical strength!"
Renge-chan looked further down her long list and called out, "then for the blue ribbon which is a high ropes challenge!"
Tamaki looked in horror at his blue ribbon. "A high ropes challenge?" he echoed. "What sort of terrible devilry is this? To be suspended from such a height…" Frantically, Tamaki spun around, looking for anyone in the Host Club who would exchange his misfortunate ribbon. He was met with stony expressions.
Clearly irritated by Tamaki's outburst, Renge-chan continued over his weeping, "Then there is the orange ribbon which requires the use of the school pool. It will be a water obstacle course," she informed the teams. "And lastly, the green ribbon is simply a hundred metre sprint on the running track." She sounded out of breath.
"The sub-races will begin tomorrow, at midday precisely and the main event the day after. Now, the winners of each sub-race will be given points. These points at the end will be accumulated and turned into time. After all the sub-races are completed it will be time for the main event which is…a challenging maze in which the whole team will have to compete through! The team with the most points will enter the maze first, and so on and so forth," Renge waved a hand airily. "So may the best time win!" she announced cheerfully.
An assistant immediately rushed up with a glass of water and a padded chair for Renge to gratefully slump into.
--
After the announcement of the ribbons, the teams began to discuss the various races and games they had been assigned to, ignoring the protests from some contestants, namely Tamaki who was still fuming about his high ropes course.
Only Kyoya Ootori seemed truly satisfied with what he been selected for, his arms casually folded across his chest, his cape long gone, his uniform still proper and pristine.
"It's alright for you though Kyoya-senpai!" Kaoru moaned.
"You'll be able to answer half those questions in your sleep! And the other half whilst doing something else!" Hikaru groaned.
Kyoya seemed unsympathetic. "It was simply chance, I believe that I was able to withdraw the black ribbon. Calculated properly I had a one in six chance of drawing the black ribbon but on the other hand…"
The twins quickly zoned out of their senpai's mathematical approach to the ribbon situation. "We get stuck with a swimming race." They both looked gloomy.
"But at least we can model our mother's latest male swimwear!" Hikaru reminded his twin and they both brightened at the idea, beginning to rifle through the new trends.
Haruhi shook her head. "You have it better than me - and anyway you two get to compete together seeing as you withdrew the same ribbon," she pointed out, the Hitachiins' mood lifting slightly. "Though I wonder if that's fair?" she pondered.
"If you feel sorry for anyone, feel sorry for Tama-chan!" Honey piped up. The Host Club looked around to find their leader kneeling on the floor close by, still wailing at the injustice of his race. The girls around him were delighting in comforting the blonde prince, each handing him a lacy handkerchief, only to have them handed back to be wrung out and taken back again.
"A bit of time on the high course will do him good, it'll be a chance for him to get off his high horse!" Hikaru chuckled, causing both Haruhi and Kaoru to laugh.
Even Kyoya could not prevent his lips from twitching. This is going to be very interesting to say the least. And I'm sure there are ways to spice up the action…
"But there are three events that we're not going to compete in," Haruhi pointed out, studying their ribbons.
"Does that mean we're at a disadvantage?" Hikaru asked, holding onto his half of the orange ribbon.
Kyoya pushed his glasses up his nose. "Not necessarily. We just need to win all of our events. That will give us six winning places when there are nine ribbons. We'll have the majority and be able to enter first."
Haruhi sighed, There's no way I'm going to win that race…I'm going to let the team down…
"But I am sure that there are counter measures that can be exploited..." Kyoya mused to himself, allowing Haruhi to overhear him.
I guess that's his way of saying 'Don't worry if you lose'. Haruhi thought to herself.
"Though, it'll still be a let down for the team," Kyoya said to the twins who paled at his expression.
Or not!
"But a maze? How are we going to get a maze in two days?" Kaoru asked.
"You'll find that there's very little that Renge-chan cannot accomplish when she puts her mind to it." Kyoya said. "I'm sure she will have few problems in arranging a maze to be constructed at Ouran. It might even become a permanent feature."
Haruhi shivered, "A maze? We'll all get lost in it." She said gloomily.
"We won't get lost Haruhi! There's special ways of getting round mazes. And anyway, we've got Kyoya-senpai. He'll figure something out!" Hikaru said cheerfully. "So we can't lose!"
Kyoya raised an eyebrow.
"So bring on the sub-races!" the twins cheered together, high-fiving.
So the races have been decided! I have lots of surprises in store for the Host Club so don't worry. There may even be a surprise entry from another club…that might upset things a bit!
Even though I'm going on holiday now for most of August I will update this…somehow! So I'd be happy to see lots of reviews when I get back! Please review!
Thanks for reading!
AldabaranFox
Glockenspiel: Y'all remember to review now...give her a nice surprise...
