Fall in Love All Over Again
Chapter 10: A Hitachiin Battle
Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club, but I do own the fan-made characters.
Note: This story will contain new characters with a new plot. The same corky humor will remain. Watch as the next generation of the Ouran Hosts find themselves by finding each other.
The days passed, and days turned into weeks, which formed a month. With the last week before summer break came final exams, and with much preparation the host club passed their exams with flying colors. Now that all was well, they could finally have a break, sleep in, and enjoy the warmth of the summer sun on their silky perfect skin. That was the case, until Grandpa Ranka had the idea of promising his long time friend Misuzu that his grandchildren could work at his pension for the next couple of weeks. So despite the Suou siblings disapproval, Tamaki thought it'd be a great way for them to spend time together as brother and sister.
The agreement was this: The siblings could share a free room, and only make profit on any tips that were left for them. All in all this was to be a good growing up experience for the both of them. Tamotsu was completely gung-ho about it, but Haruki wasn't quite sure.
"Have a nice day ladies," chimed the chipper blond Tamotsu who was blooming in more ways than one. He started to gather the dirty dishes that were left behind, and receive his small tip for a serving job well done. They had a system, Haruki would help clean the kitchen one day while Tamotsu served the guests, and then they'd switch the following day. With Tamotsu's radiance however, he attracted quite a few females to the pension.
While Haruki washed dishes she tried to look for the positives in this. At least it was quiet here. The last few weeks at the host club were chaotic with summer fever and everyone was ready to be on vacation, discussing their plans to go to Rome, France, Germany and other far away places. She did have to wonder though, what was Kichiro doing with himself right now. He seemed rather distant the last week of school, but he was really focused on exams so she assumed that was it. She had hoped that he would now give himself a break from studies and relax a little.
Haruki went out into the dining area to wipe off a few tables, when the bell above the door clanged, signaling someone had come in. Her eyes curiously turned to the door and she was a bit stunned.
"Hey Haruki," greeted the very person she was thinking about. Kichiro stood there with an off white tank top that had a hood connected to it, orange capris, and white tennis shoes; his glasses were absent, his hair shinier than usual in the elegant light, with his shoulders rolled back casually, and his hands in his pockets.
"Kichiro, how did you know I was here?" she asked, wondering if she was seeing things.
"Emiko told me. You know how connected she is with your brother." he said coming closer to her and watching her clean another table.
"Well, I can't exactly talk right now. I am on the job," she muttered.
"That's fine, I just came here to get away." he replied.
"Away? From home you mean?" she asked, ringing out the rag in her small bucket, and wiping another table.
"You could say that." he murmured.
That's when he heard it, "Chiro-kun!" called Minoru's voice as he came into the pension, Mitsuru following behind, "there you are. Should have known you'd be here."
Kichiro started to sweat, "how did you two find me here?"
"Emiko," they both replied at the same time.
Haruki smiled and started for the kitchen. Misuzu heard the commotion and went to see all three Hitachiins standing together. The twins harassing their apathetic cousin. His eyes immediately lit up with excitement, "You must be the Hitachiins!" he beamed.
"Uh, yeah." answered Mitsuru, "how did you know?"
"I knew Hikaru and Kaoru when they were teenagers, you hold a striking resemblance. Are you all Hikaru's sons or Kaoru's sons?" he wondered.
"Mitsuru and I are Hikaru's kids. Chiro-kun here is Kaoru's son." Minoru explained pinching Kichiro's cheek.
"Well, welcome to my pension. I'd say stay the night, but there's only one guest room open and it only has one twin sized bed in it." Misuzu explained.
A light bulb went off in Minoru's head, "That works just fine," he said pulling Kichiro into him, "Chiro-kun and I will take that room."
Mitsuru seemed distracted, which Minoru caught onto. He was busy watching Haruki come out and wash another table. When he looked back at Kichiro and Minoru he faked a smirk and said, "The only one's that will be preoccupying that room will be Kichiro and me Minoru, sorry."
Both Kichiro and Minoru stared at him for a time before Misuzu cut in, "This is exciting! How about you have a refreshing battle like your father's did so long ago? It was somewhat different, but if you show how refreshing you can be, and bring in customers for the pension, I'll give you points. Whoever reaches 100 points can have the free room for three nights with all accommodations included."
"It's a deal." the twins said in unison and started right away.
Kichiro stood there, watching the two of them go to work by greeting customers and what not. It was sort of disturbing, "Are you going to participate?" asked Misuzu.
Kichiro looked to him and smiled, "Yes, but what they don't know won't hurt them now will it?" he winked. That said he headed outside to think over what work could be done to earn some points.
"Ah, he's quite the cutie." murmured Misuzu, "5 refresher points."
"What did you start?" Haruki asked Misuzu.
"Just something a little interesting. The Hitachiin boys will be helping out around here for a while, so just let them be. They're competing for a room here." Misuzu answered.
"Sounds kind of silly to me." said Haruki.
"Just let the boys have their fun," he said putting his hand on her shoulder and leading her back to the kitchen, "come on, you can help me prepare the evening meal."
The next morning when the customers woke to receive breakfast, Haruki and the twins were surving while Tamotsu and Misuzu were making the meals. The whole day before hand the twins had each racked up quite a few points. Kichiro on the other hand, wasn't seen much the rest of the day. He seemed to be off doing his own thing. Misuzu figured maybe he had given up, when in fact, he was doing quite the opposite.
"Good morning," announced Kichiro on the small performance stage of the pension. All the girls in the audience seemed immediately locked onto him. Even Haruki had to stop and see what he was up to, that's when she noticed he had a guitar with him, "I thought that maybe to start all of your days off right I would play for you this morning. So… here it goes," he started to strum a small acoustic tune that was gentle and quite captivating. As if it wasn't predictable enough, while he sat on that stool and played so well and naturally, he also started to sing, "See the pyramids around the Nile, watch the sunrise from the tropic isle, just remember darling all the while, you belong to me…"
Haruki's eyes shimmered, she was so surprised she almost dropped the notepad she was taking orders on. Mitsuru's eyes immediately darted to hers, and Minoru's to Mitsuru's. This was definitely something they had not predicted. They never knew that their cousin had picked up the guitar about six years ago, and had been playing frequently ever since.
"And I'll be so alone without you," continued Kichiro, "maybe you'll be lonesome too. Fly the ocean in a silver plane. See the jungle when it's wet with rain. Just remember 'til you're home again, you belong to me." he hit the last note on his guitar and smiled, "thank you." when he got off the stage he went over to a table he had occupied before to put his guitar back in its case.
The song is You Belong To Me by: Jason Wade, just giving credit to the actual artist. =D
"100 refresher points!" screamed Misuzu, bursting out of the kitchen, "that was fantastic Kichiro."
"Looks like he pulled a fast one on us." Minoru murmured, turning to look at Mitsuru who was staring thoughtfully at Kichiro. Something had been different about his brother for weeks now, and he couldn't figure out what it was. When Minoru challenged Mitsuru, he'd either just wave it off or refuse to argue about it. Something had changed with him since the time they went to the lake house, but he couldn't fit together what it was.
"Yeah," Mitsuru finally agreed with a warm smile, "yeah he did." he nodded and walked out the door to be alone for a while.
Minoru watched his brother disappear out the door and frowned, he seemed to be taking Kichiro's win a bit harder than he expected. Looking back to his cousin, he watched as both him and Haruki interacted with one another. Another piece of the puzzle was starting to fit into the equation Minoru was mentally putting together, and slowly another idea came to his head.
As the day drew on Minoru caught Haruki alone in the kitchen washing some of the dishes. Tamotsu had complained to her that his skin was getting dry from all the soap and water, so instead of telling him to just wear rubber gloves and suck it up, she took over kitchen duty.
"Hey Haruki," Minoru said, walking into the kitchen and leaning his back against the counter.
"Oh hey Minoru, what's up?" she asked.
"There's a message I was supposed to pass onto you… from Chiro-kun." he smiled at her, and she paused to look back at him.
"What is it?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.
"He's a little too shy to ask you Haruki, but he was curious if you'd go out on a date with him tomorrow." Minoru stated tilting his head.
Haruki thought it over, "I'll ask Misuzu for the day off." she nodded.
Minoru's face brightened, "I'll let him know." casually Minoru walked out of the kitchen and headed up stairs to the room Kichiro had rightfully won with his own efforts. Knocking twice, he swung open the door and closed it behind him, "Chiro-kun!" he smirked.
Kichiro lifted his eyes from his book he had brought along with him while laying down on the bed, "For the last time Minoru, you are not staying the night with me."
"No, no, it's not that." Minoru shook his head and sat down on the bed, "Haruki wanted me to ask you something, she's too shy to ask you herself."
Kichiro flipped a page in his book and continued reading, only half listening to the yammering of his cousin, "what's that?"
"She wanted to know if you'd go on a date with her tomorrow to tour some of the little shops in Karuizawa." said Minoru.
Kichiro's eyes slowly pulled themselves way from the page as he tried to put together what his cousin just said, "A date?" he muttered.
"Yes, she really wants to go with you. She's willing to take the day off and everything. All you have to do is show up around 1 o'clock." Minoru informed.
Kichiro looked back down at the page he was on and stared at it for a time, "tell her I'll be there." he mumbled, flipping the page.
"Alright, I'll let her know." grinned Minoru, as he got up and left the room, again closing the door behind him. A devilish smirk appeared on his face as he made his way down the steps. Peeking into the kitchen he caught Haruki alone once more, "1 o'clock he said."
"Okay, I asked Misuzu, and I'll be there." answered Haruki.
"Great," smiled Minoru, before he walked out of the pension to go search for his brother.
Author's Notes: Again, I must give credit to Jason Wade for the song Kichiro sang, it's called You Belong To Me. Search it on youtube if you want to hear it. So Haruki and Kichiro's first date. What's Minoru up to? And why is Mitsuru acting so different. Find out in the next chapter. I will try to update again tomorrow, but no promises it being Christmas Eve and all, but I definitely will try. Christmas day I probably will be too busy to write, but be patient with me, I'll update again soon. Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! =D