punkish furball – Greetings, one and all! XD
Words to Ponder:
Hello, everyone! Pardon my delayed update, but I ran into a bit of difficulty writing this next chapter. For those of you who can remember the original version of this story, I modified one of the ideas I used in that version for this one. Kudos to anyone who can pick it out!
I also got a new laptop as a Christmas/early graduation present so I transferred all my files myself and some of them got lost between the two computers. :/ As of now, I'm totally backed up and loving my new laptop! XD
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Chapter 10: Guess Who's Knocking at My Door?
"Check it out, Haruhi!" Kagome exclaimed as she proudly held out her latest math exam to her brunette friend. Haruhi quickly took the test paper and began flipping through its pages to look at Kagome's handiwork.
"Wow, an 82%," she praised as she gave the test back to Kagome, "Very good, Kagome."
"Thanks!" Kagome replied as she slipped the test paper in her bag. The grade was hardly a B, but it was much better than the mark she earned on her first math test. It took a lot of hard work on her part to improve her performance in the subject, but Haruhi's weekly tutoring sessions made all the difference. In return for Haruhi's assistance, Kagome was glad she able to repay her friend's help with some instruction of her own. Haruhi was decent in their history classes, but lacked the natural affinity Kagome had for it. Kagome happily helped Haruhi catch up on the information she lacked as little as that might be, further securing her spot as top student in their class.
"Sensei's even giving me a chance to take a makeup test of our first exam," Kagome told her, "Hopefully I can get a better score this go round."
"I'm sure you will," Haruhi encouraged, "When are you going to take it?"
"Next Friday just before we leave for the holiday," Kagome answered.
"Holiday?" Haruhi questioned, "What holiday?"
"Don't tell me you forgot about Golden Week?" Kagome asked her incredulously, "You spend far too much time on your studies, Haruhi."
"I guess so," Haruhi commented with a shrug, "I didn't realize it was this late in the spring semester. Do you have any plans for the break?"
"I've been thinking of going home to the shrine," Kagome said, "I've visited a few times since I moved to the Morinozuka Manor but not overnight."
"That should be fun," Haruhi replied, "Are Mori-senpai and Satoshi-san going to join you?"
Kagome pursed her lips together. "I didn't tell them I'd be going home yet. I'm sure that they have their own holiday plans." She let a few giggles slip away. "They're probably glad to get me out of their hair for a few days!"
"If you say so. Well, since you have about a week until your retest, how would you like to have some extra study sessions?" Haruhi suggested, "I tutored you on all the first exam material already but a refresher wouldn't hurt."
"Sure," Kagome replied with a grateful smile, "I need all the help I can get. We can do it before club hours next week. Greek Myth's been cancelled before the break."
"Perfect."
Unbeknownst to the two girls, Hikaru and Kaoru curiously watched them talk amongst themselves. They decided not to approach them directly; they knew that Kagome and Haruhi—primarily Kagome—wouldn't tell them what they were up to if the asked. Hikaru could already hear Kagome mockingly call him the "ass twin" and declaring their acts weren't anyone else's business.
"It seems like those two are plotting, would you say so, brother?" Kaoru asked Hikaru.
"Yes," Hikaru replied, "It's totally unforgivable. Toys are not meant to plot."
"So it seems—" Kaoru began.
"—we'll have to foil them—" Hikaru continued.
"—with one of their own," the two twins finished, wearing devious grins.
-O0o0O-
"Thank you for giving me a retest, sensei," Kagome said gratefully as she turned in in her exam.
"Think nothing of it," he remarked as he took the test, "After the improvement you displayed on your most recent exam, I know the score on your first test was merely an anomaly. You probably hadn't adjusted to Ouran's surroundings and were still feeling a little apprehensive about being in a new school."
"Right," Kagome replied shakily, seemingly agreeing with her teacher's reasoning, "Well, I'll see you after the break!" She quickly shuffled out of the classroom with her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the east exit of the school where a car was waiting for her.
'I'm finally done,' Kagome thought happily, 'I can't wait to get out of this mad house!'
"Look at what we have here." Kagome heard familiar voices chorus behind her. She turned to see Hikaru and Kaoru leering at her with devilish grins on their faces.
'Not those two,' Kagome thought as they closed in her like predators approaching their prey.
"A little cricket seems to be out far too late," Hikaru stated.
"Late?" Kagome repeated in confusion, "It's only five o' clock."
"What do you think our cricket's been up to?" Kaoru asked, ignoring Kagome's factual statement.
"Definitely something suspicious," Hikaru answered with a brief nod.
"It's called a makeup exam," Kagome wryly reminded the duo, "I told you about it a few days ago."
Hikaru curiously cocked his head to the side. "So it seems the cricket has no hidden agenda."
"In that case, she should have no problem—" Kaoru began.
"—inviting us over during the holiday," Hikaru finished.
"So what do you say?" they asked simultaneously.
Kagome stuck out her tongue. "Invitation denied."
"Why?" Hikaru and Kaoru whined.
"A holiday is supposed to be a break," Kagome briefly enlightened, "I can't enjoy it properly if I have to babysit the host club."
"Don't be that way!" Kaoru retorted.
"A holiday with us would be most enjoyable," Hikaru urged.
"Hentai chop!"
Kagome blinked owlishly when she saw the twins crouching on the ground, holding the lumps on their heads that were quickly growing in size. Satoshi stood behind them resting his wooden sword on his shoulder and a disapproving look on his face. Chika was casually standing next to him.
"You two brought that on yourselves," he explained flatly, "Otherwise, I would have just used a normal attack."
"They were just being idiotic," Chika commented, "You didn't have to hit them so hard."
"Chika chop!" Satoshi shouted as he turned his sword on Chika, hitting him in the back of the head.
"What did I do?" he cried, clutching his new injury.
"A protector of my nee-chan's virtue must never take any threat lightly. It was my duty as a Morinozuka to punish you," Satoshi stated matter-of-factly.
"I didn't remember signing up for something that," Chika grumbled, careful not to let Satoshi hear him.
"Satoshi-san and Yasochika-san," Kagome interjected to prevent any more strikes with Satoshi's sword, "You came to pick me up, right?"
"Yes, Nee-chan," Satoshi answered dutifully, "Taka and Mitsukuni are indisposed until late this evening, and they couldn't come see you off. We already put your bag in the car so we don't have to stop by the estate."
"How thoughtful of you, Satoshi-san!" Kagome remarked, playfully patting his head, "Thank you, little brother."
"No problem, Nee-chan!" Satoshi replied, happily basking in Kagome's affections, "Let's get going before it gets too dark."
Hikaru and Kaoru straightened up and watched the trio of relatives walk away, quietly talking to each other with Kagome and Satoshi engaging in most of the conversation.
"That went as to be expected," Kaoru mentioned with a defeated sigh.
"Perhaps," Hikaru responded, "but we did learn an interesting piece of information."
"It seems like Kagome's packed to go somewhere during our break," Kaoru stated.
"And alone from the looks of things," Hikaru added, "I think it's time we recruit additional forces for this mission."
"Agreed," Kaoru said as he pulled out his cellphone, "Kyoya-senpai isn't the only one who can manipulate our king."
"Do you think we should feel bad about this?" Hikaru asked, seemingly innocent.
"Not a chance!"
-O0o0O-
"Thanks for bringing my bag up," Kagome told Satoshi as he set her bag next to the door.
"Of course, Nee-chan!" he replied with a large grin, "Do you need anything else?"
"Nope," Kagome responded, "Everything I need is right here."
"It seems empty," Chika commented as he looked around the Higurashi home, "Where's your family?"
"They went on camping trip for the start of Golden Week," Kagome answered.
"They went without you?" Satoshi asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Kagome began to explain, "I would have made it back in time to join them, but I had that makeup exam today. They wanted to wait for me, but Sota was really looking forward to it. I didn't want them to miss their trip on my account."
"Will you be alone long?" Chika asked.
"It's only three days," Kagome assured them, "I can handle myself until then, so don't worry about me, okay?"
"If you insist," Satoshi said with a shrug of his shoulders, "We'll call you when we get back to the manor."
"I'll still be here," Kagome replied, "I'll see you both at the end of Golden Week."
"Enjoy your break, Higurashi-san," Chika told Kagome as he and Satoshi walked away.
"I will," Kagome replied, waving as they walked away, "Bye, Yasochika-san and Satoshi-san."
After the two boys disappeared down the shrine steps, Kagome closed the door and went upstairs to her room, grabbing her bag before she left the living area. Once inside, she opened her bag and fished out the warded jewelry box she kept the Shikon Jewel in. She gingerly placed it on her dresser, inspecting the spells on it.
'One of the wards has been disturbed,' Kagome thought as she made her assessment, 'No real harm done. One of the maids must have knocked it over or something. But I still need to fix it.'
After mending the broken ward, Kagome flopped backwards onto her bed. It didn't take long for Buyō, her faithful cat, to hop onto her stomach, kneading his favorite resting spot like he always did.
"Hey there, boy," Kagome greeted him with a smile, "You're always here to greet me when I come here, aren't you?" She reached out and gently rubbed his ears. "Too bad that's only because you miss your favorite pillow."
Kagome giggled when Buyō butted his head against her abdomen.
"Alright, I get it. Cushions aren't meant to talk," Kagome said when Buyō closed his eyes and nuzzled against her stomach. She followed his lead and settled down for a nap.
"I suppose I can use a catnap too."
-O0o0O-
Haruhi sighed as she inattentively looked out of the window and away from her textbooks. She originally planned to use her week off from school to stay home and study. She had no other obligations this week and still had to remain home to take care of the household chores while her father was a work. Studying seemed like an easy and efficient way to fully utilize her free time. But, after an only hour of reading over her notes, Haruhi succumbed to boredom.
'Maybe I should take a break,' Haruhi thought as she stood up from the kitchen table and started to stretch her stiff muscles, 'I wonder what everyone else is doing during the break.'
Haruhi dryly chuckled at her train of thought. "I must really be bored if I'm thinking about those guys."
Before she could sit back down at the table, Haruhi heard the doorbell ring.
'I wonder who that could be,' she mused, turning around and walking to the door, 'Maybe Tou-san forgot his keys again.'
Just before she opened the door, Haruhi paused and listened to the sound of voices outside. It didn't take long for her to realize who came to see her.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" she heard Hikaru ask in annoyance.
"Of course it is!" Honey firmly asserted, "Takashi said this was where Go-chan and Haru-chan were dropped off before."
"And this is the address on file in the school's directory," Kyoya added helpfully.
"To think that commoners can fit so many living spaces in one building! Who could have ever thought of such a thing?" Tamaki exclaimed. Without seeing him in person, Haruhi knew the older teen was looking around her apartment complex with childish excitement.
"Indeed," Kyoya commented, "How resourceful."
"And I don't see one plastic pool," Hikaru mentioned; the smugness in his voice was nearly tangible.
"I knew those two didn't know what they were talking about," Kaoru commented.
Haruhi cringed and pressed against the door to hide herself. 'Why did it have to be them? Maybe if I don't open the door, they'll go away and leave me alone.'
"Haru-chan's not answering," Honey said sadly after a few minutes of waiting, "Do you think she isn't home?"
"Maybe," Mori said flatly.
"Why wouldn't she be?" Kaoru asked, "Where would she go?"
"It's not like she has any friends outside of the host club," Hikaru stated.
'Those jerks!' Haruhi thought, feeling increasingly irritated, 'I do have friends other than you weirdoes!'
"Maybe she went on a trip with her father?" Honey suggested.
"Not so," Kyoya explained, "Fujioka-san is scheduled for his normal hours at his place of employment, so there isn't an opportunity for the two of them to leave together. Even if Haruhi went off without him, she has no passport to leave the country."
"She doesn't have a passport?" Kaoru questioned.
"Well that seems odd," Tamaki mused aloud, "She can't leave the country without one."
Honey agreed. "Go-chan doesn't have a passport either."
Haruhi's eyebrow twitched. 'Normal people don't have to leave the country to have a vacation. Those damn rich bastards.'
"Whether she is here or not, it will be very unfortunate if Haruhi doesn't answer the door before we leave," Kyoya began matter-of-factly, "Since it seems that we're unable to get ahold of her, I'll have to add our travel expenses to her outstanding debt." He sighed deeply, a dramatic expression he definitely learned from Tamaki. "It's a bit of a shame considering the she and Kagome made so much progress repaying the existing balance."
'Damn him! That's my only weakness!' Haruhi thought. She could easily pick up the underlying threat in Kyoya's words and had no choice but to surrender. She knew the Ootori would make good on his words if the host club left without her. After standing up straight and taking a deep breath, Haruhi slowly opened the door.
"Haruhi!" Tamaki cried happily, "So you're home after all."
"Indeed she is," Kyoya cheekily added causing Haruhi to grimace.
"You look so cute!" Honey exclaimed with Tamaki and the twins readily agreeing. Even Mori nodded in approval with the statement. Despite the light dust of pink on her cheeks, Haruhi rolled her eyes. She was only wearing a pair of black tights and an oversized purple sweater, an outfit she threw on after changing out of her pajamas.
"What are you guys doing here?" she asked them pointedly, standing in the doorway to prevent the host club from entering her apartment.
Tamaki beamed and took a few moments to prepare his self for his oncoming speech. "We came to pick you up. You're the last member we need for our host club's field trip as part of our latest holiday mission! You are now recruited to be part of Operation Visit Kagome during Golden Week to alleviate her loneliness plan!"
"You do know she went to visit her family shrine, right?" Haruhi said dryly, "I doubt she's lonely there."
"Tsk tsk tsk," the twins admonished her in unison, playfully wagging their pointer fingers and shaking their heads in tandem, "You don't have all the facts, Haruhi."
"As we speak," Kaoru began, speaking alone, "Kagome is at her shrine—"
"—all alone while her family is away," Hikaru finished.
"She is?" Haruhi questioned curiously.
"Now do you see the nobility of our task?" Tamaki proclaimed, "Kagome is a host in need and, as dictated by our creed, we are obligated to respond to her predicament the fullest of our ability!"
"If we are all present for this excursion," Kyoya began, "I can document it as a sanctioned club activity; therefore, any and all expenses we incur will be deducted from existing allocated funds in our club account."
"Really?" Haruhi responded, feeling a little better about this trip knowing that it wouldn't be on her expense if she chose to go through with it.
"Please, Haru-chan!" Honey begged, his large, light brown eyes welling with tears, "Can you imagine how Go-chan must feel being all alone?"
Haruhi sighed as any protests and reservations she had about going on this trip dissipated. "I'll go get my keys."
"Wonderful!" Tamaki called out to her as she walked to her bedroom, "I knew you'd come around and join us!"
"Don't push it, senpai," Haruhi said over her shoulder.
'So much for studying,' she thought sullenly but couldn't help the small grin growing on her face. So much for being bored.
-O0o0O-
'I'm so bored,' Kagome thought, lying across her bed. Even Buyō grew tired of lounging with her and retreated from her room.
'I probably should have stayed at the manor until everyone got back home.'
However, Kagome was sure she'd be just as bored at the manor only with considerably more space to laze about in her current funk. Before Golden Week began, Akira was called away on immediate and urgent business. In an effort to spend part of the holidays with his family, Akira proposed the idea that Fumiko and his children accompany him. However, his assignment was out of the country and, unlike the Morinozuka family, Kagome didn't have a passport and there wasn't enough time to procure one before Akira had to leave.
Even though she couldn't attend the trip, Kagome urged everyone else to go without her. It took a lot of convincing when it came to Akira, especially after the "bloomers" incident, but he reluctantly went through with the business trip. Though hesitant about accompanying him without the children, Fumiko decided to travel with her husband. Kagome wasn't sure if Takashi or Satoshi decided to attend as well but was willing to bet that the entire Morinozuka mansion was empty by now excluding the grounds keeping staff.
'I can't believe I'm having such a dull holiday,' Kagome thought. She immediately sat up when she heard knocking on the front door.
'Great timing,' she thought as she stood to her feet, 'I wonder who it could be.'
Before going downstairs, Kagome walked to her window, opened it, and peered outside.
"What the hell…?" she said to herself, looking at her visitors in incredulity.
Tamaki, Kyoya, Hikaru, Kaoru, Mori, Honey, and Haruhi were all stationed outside of her front door, waiting to be let in. Before Kagome could disappear out of sight, Honey turned and spotted her.
"Hey look!" he cried enthusiastically, "It's Go-chan!"
Everyone else turned to her window and saw her as well.
"Hey, Kagome!" Hikaru shouted, "Come down, and let us in already!"
"It looks like she's saying something," Haruhi commented when she saw Kagome's lips move.
"What…?" Tamaki murmured, trying to figure out what Kagome was trying to say.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" she finally shouted loud enough for everyone to hear her.
"Let us in—!"
"—and we'll tell you!"
"Come down, cricket! We came just to see you!"
Kagome groaned and disappeared from the window before reappearing at the front door, opening it for everyone to enter.
"Well, you certainly kept us waiting," Hikaru stated as he walked in.
"Are you still in your pajamas?" Kaoru commented, "It's nearly noon."
Kagome huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "It's called lounging. I'm entitled to do it as long as I please during my break."
"You shouldn't waste your time like that, dear cricket," Tamaki admonished her, "It's a good thing we came when we did."
"Hey!" Kagome exclaimed and pointed to the offending host club, "Shoes off before you come in, please."
The host club complied with her request before they continued walking to the Higurashi home's living room and took a seat on the couch.
"These seats are so comfortable!" Hikaru and Kaoru stated, bouncing happily on the couch cushions. Haruhi rolled their eyes at their childish behavior.
"Well, what do you guys want?" Kagome asked them, standing akimbo, "I doubt it was to admire my family's seat cushions."
"We came to keep you company!" Tamaki answered proudly, "When your devoted younger brother and cousin told us that you'd be all alone during Golden Week, we simply had to come to your aid!"
"But it's only for two more days," Kagome stated with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Even so, at least entertaining us is better than lying about without doing anything productive," Kyoya remarked.
"Well, now that you are here," Kagome began, "what's the rest of your plan?" She sighed when she was met with an awkward silence. It was clear that they didn't do much planning beyond reaching her shrine and getting her to open the door to let them in.
"You really don't have a plan," Kagome said dryly, "I can't believe you're all such dopes."
"Well, it's usually the duty of the host to come up with things like that," Hikaru countered.
"We could play soccer like we did last time Takashi and I were here," Honey suggested, "We have more people to play now!"
"I guess we could," Kagome agreed.
"We do have an even number of players," Haruhi added, "It could be fun."
"That's nice, but maybe we could do something else," Kaoru suggested.
"What do commoners do for fun?" Hikaru asked.
"You two shouldn't be so picky," Haruhi scolded them, "We're guests in Kagome's home, so you shouldn't make such unreasonable demands."
"Don't worry about it, Haruhi," Kagome reassured her, "Let me think."
'What do I do for fun?' Kagome mused, 'I guess we could see a movie?' She immediately dismissed that idea. 'I don't even want to imagine what would happen if I brought these guys to a movie theater. But maybe…'
"How about we rent some movies to watch after we play a few games of soccer?" Kagome suggested.
"Rent movies?" Tamaki, Honey, Hikaru, and Kaoru questioned in unison.
"Yeah," Kagome began to elaborate, "We'll pick out some DVDs from the video store, make some popcorn, and maybe order a pizza or two for dinner. It' be the host club's first movie night!"
"Sounds like fun!" Tamaki exclaimed with everyone else readily agreeing.
"Great," Kagome said over her shoulder before jogging upstairs to her room, "I'll just go change then we'll pick teams!"
-O0o0O-
"Are you sure this is all, miss?" the video store's cashier asked after he scanned all of the DVDs Kagome brought to the checkout counter. It was easy to detect the humor in his voice as he bagged the last DVD.
"Yes, that's all," Kagome answered sheepishly, "I'm sorry again about the commotion my friends caused."
The clerk grinned at her. "It's alright, miss. No harm done."
His reassurance didn't stop Kagome from feeling embarrassed about this whole ordeal. After the host club completed an intense soccer game where the team of Mori, Honey, Kagome, and Haruhi defeated Tamaki, Kyoya, Hikaru, and Kaoru with a final score of twenty-one to eighteen, Kagome led a dirtied and grass stained host club to the nearby video rental store. During the trip, Kagome and Haruhi had to herd in the remaining hosts when they strayed into every store that caught their interest along the way. It took nearly three times as long for them to reach the store as it would if Kagome went by herself.
Their combined behavior only got worse when they made it to their destination. Tamaki, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Honey rushed up and down each aisle, picking out as many titles as they could. Kyoya shadowed Tamaki and casually browsed whatever row he was on, absently nodding when the host king showed him a title he liked. Mori took up his usual position at Honey's side, picking the smaller boy up so he could access the shelves out of his reach. When Kagome finally got them to bring their selections to the counter, they arranged several stacks on its surface. All together they picked five action flicks, two crime dramas, three psychological thrillers, eight comedies—three of which were romantic comedies, four horror movies, ten Disney animated films, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, two documentaries, six plays and musicals, and the entire Harry Potter film series minus Order of the Phoenix which happened to be checked out.
'Do they seriously think that we can watch fifty movies in one night?' Kagome thought, 'That's barely enough time to finish Lord of the Rings!'
"So how do you plan on paying for this?" the cashier asked.
Before Kagome could retrieve the money out of her wallet, Kyoya handed the cashier a gold credit card.
"This should cover it," he started.
"Oh wait!" Kagome interjected and handed the cashier another card, "Here's my membership card."
The cashier nodded before he swiped the two cards and handed them back to Kagome and Kyoya once the transaction was complete. He handed Kyoya receipt, and the group to walk back to the shrine. Mori and Kagome carried the bags of DVDs out of the store.
"That was cheaper than I previously calculated," Kyoya commented as he looked at the receipt.
"That's because I used my membership card," Kagome explained, "For every fully paid rental I buy, I get one free. Although, I doubt they had to ring up so many at once before. It's a good thing I don't have any late fees with that membership too!"
"So now we need popcorn and pizza," Tamaki surmised, "Does that mean we get to go to a commoners' grocery store?"
"Not a chance," Kagome replied, grateful that she did not have to bring the host club to another stop outside the shrine, "I checked the kitchen before we left, and there was enough popcorn for all of us to share. After we get settled back at the shrine, I'll call and order pizza then it'll be delivered."
"Too bad," Hikaru commented, crossing his arms behind his head, "I was looking forward to see what you and Haruhi like so much about going to a grocery store."
"At least we still get to try commoners' food!" Tamaki exclaimed, "I've never had pizza!"
"Are you serious?" Haruhi asked incredulously.
Tamaki nodded. "The servants pick up all the commoners' food I've tried so far, mostly ramen noodles!"
"The only time we really get to eat like that is at the host club," Kaoru added, "And that's only because you and Kagome are there."
Haruhi and Kagome rolled their eyes. 'These damn rich people.'
It was dusk by the time the group reached the shrine grounds. Once inside the main house, Kagome and Mori deposited the DVDs on the coffee table in the living room.
"Before we start our movie night, how would you guys like to wash up?" Kagome suggested.
"That would be nice," Haruhi stated.
"A change of clothes would be nice too," Hikaru added, pulling at his stained, designer shirt in distaste.
"Okay. I'll be right back," Kagome announced before leaving the living room. She returned with a stack of neatly fold navy blue hakamas and white kosodes.
"I'm afraid that this is all I have for you guys to change into," Kagome explained, "but you guys should be used to cosplay, right?'
"How cool!" Tamaki exclaimed as Kagome handed out each outfit.
"You're pretty tall so they might be a little short on you," Kagome commented when she handed the clothes to Mori.
"It's fine," he replied.
"These should fit you pretty good," Kagome told Honey, "They belong to Sota. He won't mind if you borrow them."
"Who do these other outfits belong to?" Hikaru asked.
"Oh," Kagome said, faltering slightly, "We just accumulated them over time. Sometimes people who volunteer at the shrine use these." She turned to Haruhi, who didn't receive a stack of clothes from her.
"You can borrow some of my clothes, Haruhi, if that's alright with you."
"Thanks," Haruhi replied, sensing Kagome's sudden, acute unease.
"There's a bathroom down this hallway and another one upstairs," Kagome said before making her way to her bedroom, "You guys work that out, and I'll start making the popcorn."
After Kagome returned with a pair of lounging pants and a T-shirt for Haruhi, she went to the kitchen to start making the popcorn with extra butter while the host club took turns using the bathrooms. Once everyone was finished washing up excluding Kagome, the group decided to order two large pizzas, one cheese and the other pepperoni. After calling and placing the order, Kagome took her turn to shower and change upstairs.
"I left some coupons on the counter," Kagome called out over her shoulder, "Use them if I'm not done by the time the delivery guy shows up."
"Coupons?" Honey asked and he along with the rest of the boys turned to Haruhi for answers.
Haruhi took a deep calming breath before she answered, "Coupons are vouchers that businesses distribute to their customers that they can redeem for better deals on their merchandise."
"So many commoner innovations in one day!" Tamaki cried, "Today's mission was a success!"
"I suppose so," Haruhi remarked, "Today was actually fun."
"I would have liked to meet Kagome's mother and her grandfather," Kaoru stated, "We've only met her younger brother so far."
"They're so nice!" Honey exclaimed, "Soijiro-san tells all kinds of stories, and Nodoka-san is so pretty! She and Go-chan look so much alike!"
Just before Tamaki could add his opinion on the remainder of Kagome's family, Kyoya discretely jabbed him in the arm. One warning look from the Shadow King reminded Tamaki that they were keeping their visit to Kagome's home a secret. He pouted but kept silent.
"So which one of these are we watching first?" Hikaru asked as he picked up one of the DVDs.
"I vote for Audition," Kaoru stated, grinning as he held up the DVD case.
"No!" Honey protested, "No horror movies!"
"I've heard good things about Battle Royale," Kyoya said, "but it is a bit on the gory side."
Once again, Honey shook his head. "I want to watch this one!"
"The Lion King?" Hikaru read incredulously, "You wanna watch a Disney movie?"
"But they're the best!" Tamaki protested and held up the one he liked, "We should watch this one though, Aladdin!"
It wasn't long before the host king burst into song. "I can show you the world! Shining, shimmering, splendid! Tell me, princess, now when did you last let your heart decided~?"
"Do you have a suggestion, Mori-senpai?" Haruhi asked the silent senior, ignoring Tamaki's singing.
"This one," Mori said, holding up the DVD.
"Seven Samurai," Haruhi read the movie title, "This one looks pretty old."
"It's a classic," Mori retorted, wearing what Haruhi suspected was his version of a pout because she insulted his choice.
"How about we start watching Harry Potter?" Haruhi suggested, "I remember reading one of the books in junior high."
"But we don't have the fifth movie," Hikaru interjected, "If we're going to watch a series, it should be Lord of the Rings!"
"If you already had a suggestion, why did you ask us what we wanted to watch if you weren't going to listen?" Haruhi asked heatedly.
"I thought you would have decent choices," Hikaru countered, "Clearly I overestimated you."
"No scary movies!" Honey cried.
"But we have got to watch Noroi!" Kaoru insisted.
"Why watch a fake documentary when we could watch a real one?" Kyoya countered.
"Campaign? Of course you'd be the one that picked a documentary," Kaoru accused Kyoya, "No one wants to watch that!"
"Let me share this whole new world with you!" Tamaki bellowed in the background.
"Will one of you answer the door?" Kagome shouted over everyone's voices. The host club looked to the top of the stairs to see her standing there dripping wet wearing only a towel wrapped around her body. The entire room fell into an unsettling silence. Now that it was quiet, the group could hear the persistent knocking at the door.
"He's been there for nearly five minutes," Kagome grumbled before retreating to her room in huff.
"I'll just get the door," Kyoya stated before going to the kitchen to retrieve the coupons Kagome mentioned before. He made sure to no one got a clear look at his face.
"I'm coming with you!" Tamaki remarked, rushing after Kyoya with his hand pressed to his nose.
'My daughter shouldn't act so rash!' Tamaki lamented, tightening his grip on his nostrils, 'Tou-san can't take it!'
"Mori-senpai?" Haruhi questioned when the senior remained frozen in his spot. His back was stiff and straight with his eyes wide and his jaw slacked, looking in the direction of the stairway.
"What's wrong with Takashi?" Honey whispered to Hikaru and Kaoru.
Kaoru gulped before answering. "I'm guessing that Kagome sent him into shock with her bold behavior."
"He's not the only one," Hikaru uttered. At the sound of his suggestive words, Mori whipped his head around to glare at the two twins, his face eerily stony. Hikaru and Kaoru jumped away from him, eyeing him warily.
"We'll just leave you guys alone!" they cried in unison before rushing over to Tamaki and Kyoya by the front door.
Haruhi shook her head at the twins' behavior before turning her attention to an irate Mori.
"Take it easy, senpai," Haruhi told him, placing a comforting hand on his upper arm, "There's no need to overreact."
"Yeah," Mori replied as his posture relaxed.
Honey sighed happily and latched onto Haruhi's arm. "You and Takashi are so cute together!"
"What are you saying, Honey-senpai?" Haruhi sputtered in embarrassment before quickly shifting her attention to the front door where Tamaki, Kyoya, Hikaru, and Kaoru both stood.
"Why don't we go and see what the others are doing?" Haruhi suggested before she lead Mori and Honey to the doorway.
"Commoners' food!" Tamaki cried excitedly before opening the door.
The delivery boy was a boy of average height and build with dark brown hair and matching colored eyes, a moderately attractive young man but still very ordinary. A look of confusion was etched on his face when he saw the host club in the doorway.
"Hello," he greeted them slowly, "Is Higurashi-chan in?"
"Higurashi-chan?" Haruhi asked, "Do you mean Kagome?"
"Yes," he answered before he began to explain, "Higurashi-chan and I were classmates in mid—"
"I'm coming!" Kagome shouted as she ran downstairs in a pair of sleeping pants and a matching tank top. When she saw who was at the door, she came to an immediate stop at the base of the stairs.
"Higurashi-chan!" he exclaimed happily when he saw her, "It's so good to see you!"
"Hojo-kun?" she addressed him, "What are you doing here?"
Then it happened. Everyone noticed the way the boy's eyes lit up as he as he longingly looked at Kagome and the telling red hue that quickly colored his cheeks. It was clear to the host club that Hojo and Kagome had a lot of explaining to do about their relationship due to the range of different emotions the host club members experienced at that moment.
Kagome: surprise. Honey: curiosity. Hikaru and Kaoru: wary annoyance. Mori: brotherly protectiveness. Tamaki and Kyoya: jealousy. Haruhi: indifference.
-O0o0O-
punkish furball – Oh, Haruhi, you're such a daikon radish. -_-
I actually think I'd like to watch movies with the host club, but I'd definitely side with Honey and Tamaki and gladly join them in song! "Deception! Disgrace~! Evil as plain as the scar on his face!"
The next update will be submitted much sooner than this one. I'm really excited about it! Until then, L83R! X3
(revised 01.19.2013)