Author's Note: I apologize for the length in time between updates. I've been trying to work out some plot issues and figure out where the next few chapters are going (because honestly, I wasn't exactly sure where to go with the story after this trip was over). Not to mention I was busy with classes, Thanksgiving break (which I had a wonderful Thanksgiving even though it was filled with homework), the last week of classes (very busy!) and finals week. When finals were over, I went on Christmas break, which I've been on for the past few weeks. But during my break I've been working (two jobs XP), and enjoying being home, so writing was kind of the last thing on my mind (even though I'd planned to work on this story over break…oops). Enough of excuses though… I am sorry to make y'all wait so long! Honestly though, when I started this, I hadn't really decided on a 'time frame' for all the characters. In other words, I hadn't decided after which events in the manga this was based. So when I decided to stop slacking and actually work on the story, I went through all the manga that I own (the vol. Released in America) and wrote down the 'events' that took place in each one (I even looked online at some chapters for Host Club. Shh!). Now that I got the 'time frames' down and I know which events have transpired for the characters, I have a clearer idea of where I'm headed… sort of. I still have some plot 'issues' that I'm working on, but I don't foresee it hindering the writing of future chapters…yet. And…
Please, continue to read and leave feedback (review!). I enjoy hearing your thoughts on the story. Don't forget to vote on my poll! Depending on the outcome of the results will determine if I use crossover pairings in this fiction. If too many people are turned off by the idea, I don't want to anger a lot of my readers by having a crossover pairing. I'll leave the poll up for a while, so be sure to vote! You're opinion will be considered. And after this poll, I might have another one for this story. So vote! It's on my profile.
Again, I whole-heartedly apologize for not updating sooner! You know the saddest (and most likely most pathetic) part about me not finishing this chapter sooner? I had about a page and a half left before it was finished before Thanksgiving break (which is when things started getting hectic and I pushed the story aside). Yes, I am pathetic. I deserve to be scolded.
(Wow, sorry I talked so much this time. On with the story now! Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club or Fruits Basket, nor do I claim to. Any and all characters belong to Hatori Bisco and Natsuki Takaya respectively.
Chapter XI: The More the Merrier
"Ready for the weekend?"
Haruhi heaved her small suitcase onto her desk and slid into the chair with an indignant sigh. She glared at the bag in front of her and replied, "With the way my dad packed I'm ready for a week long vacation!"
Hikaru, who had asked her the question, blinked curiously at the bulging bag, so full the zipper looked like it was about to bust. "But its such a small bag, how could a weeks worth of stuff fit?" he wondered.
"Beats me, but my dad found a way. He put about seven outfits in there," Haruhi explained. She pushed the bag away from her towards the edge of the desk almost as an action of rejection and continued. "He insisted on packing girl's clothing, but I told him some people from school who didn't know I was a girl were accompanying me. But instead of repacking my bag he just crammed seven boyish outfits in with the girly ones."
Kaoru snickered, a broad grin spreading across his face. "Well, you're well prepared to say the least," he said.
Haruhi turned her glare to him with a grunt. He held up his hands and laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry!" he apologized, still chuckling to himself.
"I'm glad someone finds this amusing," Haruhi mumbled. "That thing is heavy to be so small. And I have to lug it around all day until we leave."
"Good morning," Yuki said as he entered the classroom and approached the three. Tohru and Kyo entered behind him. He glanced down at the suitcase. "That looks heavy."
Haruhi sighed. "It is," she replied. Smiling up at him she asked, "Are you ready?"
Yuki nodded. Tohru paused by her desk just behind Haruhi and greeted them with a 'good morning' of her own. "Honda-san helped me pack my bag so it was lightweight and manageable," Yuki explained. "Oh! And I might mention something…"
Haruhi noticed his somewhat apologetic, guilty expression as he glanced back towards Kyo, who had resigned to sit at his desk until class started as he usually did. "Last night, Honda-san persuaded Kyo to accompany us this weekend," he explained wearily.
"I'm sorry!" Tohru exclaimed. Haruhi and the Hitachiins glanced back at her to find a distraught expression on her face. "I-I just want everyone to have fun." She slumped her head in defeat, apparently having no reasonable excuse to explain herself, and mumbled, "I'm sorry."
Haruhi sweat dropped. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure it will be fine," she assured. "After all, Kyoya-sempai said he didn't care how many went as long as he didn't have to pay for anymore, and Tamaki-sempai seemed open to having more people come with us."
"The only problem is, there really isn't any room in that house for more people," Yuki sighed, crossing his arms and shutting his eyes exasperatedly. Then he muttered, turning his head back toward Kyo almost as if he wanted him to hear, "Though if its too crowded I suppose we could make him sleep on the roof since he likes it so much anyway."
"I heard that!" Kyo barked, standing up and whirling around to face them. Yuki turned his head away from his cousin with a snort.
"Kyo-kun, I'm sorry," Tohru apologized as he stalked over to the group. "There really isn't enough room for thirteen people. You can have my bed and I'll sleep in the floor if I have to as an apology!"
"What are you saying? I never asked for your bed, I'm only going because you wanted me to," Kyo replied a bit annoyed. "I don't care where I sleep, ok?"
"I'm sorry," Tohru apologized again, bowing to emphasize her regret.
"Then you can sleep on the roof," Yuki retorted.
"Are you crazy? I could get sick that way. What if it rains?" Kyo demanded through clenched teeth.
Yuki shrugged nonchalantly, glancing away from Kyo. "You said you didn't care, you'll have to wear a rain coat," he replied.
"Shut up you d--- rat!" Kyo shouted.
"I really don't think anyone will have to sleep on the roof!" Haruhi insisted with a sweat drop.
"Yeah, if worse comes to worse, we can just use Haruhi's extra clothes as a makeshift bed," Hikaru teased, grinning mischievously. He snickered when Haruhi gave him an annoyed side-ways glance.
"We could always share beds," Kaoru suggested. It was a serious suggestion, but he looked indifferent. "Hikaru and I do it all the time."
Yuki looked a little disturbed by the comment. "That would give us at least one extra bed if the two of you shared," he said. "If you're willing to do that, that would solve part of the problem. Good idea, er, um, K—no, um."
"Still can't tell us apart?" the twins asked in harmony, sly grins twisting their mouths upward.
"That one's Kaoru, Yuki-kun," Haruhi informed him. She wasn't in the mood for the twins' games at the moment, even if they were directed at someone else besides her for a change, and decided to make it easy for Yuki by telling him whom he was talking to.
"Ah, Haruhi!" Hikaru and Kaoru complained, speaking in unison again. She ignored them.
"Thank you, Fujioka-san," Yuki said, trying to hide his slight smile.
"Can't you people be seated and ready for me when I come in the room at least once?" the teacher complained as he entered the room. Yuki and Kyo reluctantly retired to their side-by-side desks as everyone else took their respective seats. The two cousins glared at each other across the aisle before huffing and quickly turning their heads away from the other.
Haruhi shook her head. Never had she seen two people that didn't get along so well before. There had to be a reason they hated each other so, though she couldn't begin to guess as to what it was. She recalled what Ayame had said when she met him the other weekend: "Kyo has hated Yuki ever since they were little boys. Because of his being cursed by the cat, Kyo has always been shunned by the other members of the zodiac. He's always blamed Yuki for that." Was that the whole cause for their hatred or did it go deeper?
Sighing she accepted the fact that she'd probably never find out considering she didn't know either of them well enough to ask about such personal issues. Hefting her over-stuffed suitcase off of her desk, she pulled out her notebook and began taking notes on the lecture.
The morning passed slowly, it seemed. Whether it was because of the twins constant teasing her, due to the good mood they were in because of the weekend trip, or the fact that Haruhi was excited about going herself, she couldn't determine; but whatever the reason, it felt like a whole school day had passed when lunch rolled around.
"Eating in the classroom today?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked as they stood to head to the cafeteria.
"Yes, sempai is bound to be excited about this weekend," Haruhi explained. "As a result he'll be hyper, and I'll have to deal with that enough this afternoon in the club."
"Suit yourself," the twins chimed, shrugging at the same time as they turned and left. For whatever reason they left her alone and didn't insist she go with them today, Haruhi was grateful.
"Yuki-kun, I wanted to ask you something," Haruhi said as he came over to join him and Tohru with her lunch. She watched Kyo disappear into the hallway as he usually did at lunchtime. Where he went to eat was a mystery, but when he returned his lunch box was always empty.
"Ah, about what?" Yuki asked, pulling the chair from another desk up to Tohru's and sitting down.
Haruhi turned her chair around so she was across from Tohru, and set her lunch on the desk. "About yesterday, in the cafeteria," she began, unwrapping her lunch carefully.
"Yes?" Yuki encouraged, looking confused. Apparently he didn't know where she was going or what she meant to ask.
"Hiro-kun and Kisa-chan," Haruhi said. Yuki glanced away without a word. Haruhi knew then that he understood what she wanted to know. "When sempai was going to hug her, you panicked. May I ask why?"
"You may ask," Yuki said, his voice trailing off as he became absorbed with his curry. Tohru was focused on eating her own lunch, seemingly uninterested in the conversation. But Haruhi saw the anxiety in her eyes despite her efforts to hide any emotions or concerns on the matter. Haruhi thought due to their reactions about her question, her assumption about Kisa being cursed had to be right.
"Will you give me an answer?" Haruhi rephrased when Yuki didn't continue.
Yuki sighed. "I really shouldn't."
"Would you let me know if I guessed right?"
Yuki smirked, despite himself. "Do you really want to know that badly?" he wondered. Haruhi thought about it for a minute. Shrugging, she nodded. "If you guess correctly, I won't lie to you."
"Kisa is cursed by one of the zodiac animals," Haruhi guessed, making it a statement rather than a question for she knew she was right.
Yuki sighed, glancing over at Tohru. She gave him a sympathetic smile, which seemed to convey she would support him whatever he decided. "You're too observant," he relented.
"Not really. It was a matter of putting two and two together, and I got four," Haruhi replied. She smiled when he looked at her and he returned it with one of his own.
"It was alarming to have Suoh-san almost hug Kisa," Tohru said, speaking for the first time since the conversation began. "I'm glad Hiro-kun reacted so quickly, otherwise a lot of people could have seen."
"Not to mention Hiro would have most likely told Akito and Hatori when he got home," Yuki said soberly. He looked at Haruhi. "There would have been no way to save you from having your memories suppressed then."
"How does Hiro-kun know about the curse?" Haruhi asked.
"All the Sohma's living in the main estate know about the curse, whether they're cursed themselves or not," Yuki explained. Haruhi observed he had a cautious tone, but dismissed it.
"Tohru, Yuki!"
The three first years turned toward the door at the sound of the voice. The owner of the voice, a blonde middle schooler, popped around the corner energetically.
"Momiji-kun!" Tohru gasped.
"Tohru!" Momiji exclaimed. He paused when he saw their lunch boxes. "You're eating lunch! That's great, it's kind of like a picnic when you eat it in the classroom! Maybe we can have a real picnic this weekend!"
"Eh? This weekend?" Yuki wondered, tilting his head confused.
"Ja, that's right!" Momiji said. He bobbed over to stand by the desk the three where sitting around. "You, Tohru, Kisa, and Hiro are all going to the summer home this weekend, right?"
Yuki's brow furrowed with confusion. "Yes, we're going with the Host Club, but how did you---"
"Hiro confirmed it! I heard from one of the servants that you'd called and made arrangements for a group of people to go there this weekend!" Momiji explained. "So I decided to meet you guys there!"
"That's wonderful! It'll be fun to have you along, Momiji-kun," Tohru said with a smile. Then she realized something. "But—there isn't much room for more."
"But that's ok, Haru and I can sleep in the floor!" Momiji suggested.
"Haru is coming too?" Yuki said. He sighed indignantly. "This is going to be a hectic weekend."
"Don't say that, Yuki, it'll be fun!" Momiji exclaimed, winking his left eye.
"Even so, that doesn't explain why you're here now," Yuki said.
"Well, I wanted to surprised you this weekend and be there when you arrived," Momiji explained, just as bubbly as Hani was. "But Haru said it would be a good idea to tell you ahead of time, so we came to tell you during lunch. Oh, hey, that reminds me!" His expression grew serious for a moment, but in a matter of seconds he was smiling again as he added, "On the way over here, Haru literally ran into one of the high school students. He got mad Haru had bumped him, and started yelling at Haru. Haru got mad because the high school boy was calling him names and Haru went black. They got in a fight. Another high school student tried to intervene on Haru's behalf because he'd seen it was an accident, but since Haru is black now, he started a fight with him, too."
Yuki, Haruhi, and Tohru gaped at Momiji's carefree expression as the context of what he was saying set in.
"What!?" the three of them exclaimed.
"What does 'black' mean?" Haruhi asked as she recalled the middle schooler named Haru whom she'd met several days ago at the Host Club. She stood and followed Yuki and Tohru as they dashed from the room, Momiji following merrily behind them.
"Its what we call Haru's temper. When he gets really mad he looses control and goes black," Yuki explained, running down the hallway. "Momiji, is this the right way?" he wondered.
"Ja!" Momiji chirped.
"Well, is that a bad thing?" Haruhi wondered.
"It can be a very bad thing," Yuki replied.
They rounded the corner and found the fight. Sohma Hatsuharu looked exactly how Haruhi remembered him save for the menacing expression on his face and bad attitude, which had changed even the manner in which he carried himself. Behind him on the floor was an unconscious student, bruised and bloodied from a beating that Haru had assumedly dealt. What really caught Haruhi's attention was the redheaded student pinned to the wall by Haru where the two-tone haired Sohma held him by the collar.
"Kasanoda-kun!" Haruhi gasped, recognizing him the moment she saw him.
"Haruhi---" the redhead said, his expression growing surprised when he heard her voice and saw her. He blushed slightly; Haruhi wondered if it was out of embarrassment over the fact that a middle schooler had him pinned to the wall. Haruhi thought nothing of it though, because for all she knew, Kasanoda was trying to avoid the fight either because he had enough dignity not to beat up someone younger than him or he knew the that suspension and possibly expulsion could occur due to a fight started in school.
Haru even paused his assault at the sound of Haruhi's voice and turned to see who was approaching. He smirked deviously when he saw Yuki. "Yuki! What are you doing here? Come to watch me kill this b------?"
Haruhi was taken aback by the change of tone in Haru's voice. He sounded nothing like he had the other day and in this state was the exact opposite of Mori.
"Haru, stop it!" Yuki demanded firmly. "You could be suspended for starting a fight at school."
"I didn't start it, that worthless pile of crap did!" Haru shouted, jabbing a finger towards the unconscious student. "I merely finished it."
Kasanoda focused his attention on Haru again. Taking advantage of the distraction, he gripped Haru's wrist and shoved his hand off of his collar. Shoving Haru to the ground he instinctively added his signature growl as somewhat of a warning.
"I didn't start anything with you, punk! I was offering my help!" Kasanoda spat, wiping a bit of blood from his busted lip as he glared furiously down at his under-classman.
"I didn't ask for your help," Haru snorted, slowly rising to his feet. "You should no better than to interfere with a man's fight. Especially since you're too weak to defend yourself."
"Who's weak? I'm not trying to fight because I know I could get in trouble if I did," Kasanoda replied with annoyance. He pointed to the unconscious student who had started to grown slightly where he lye. "You should back off, because you're in enough trouble as it is."
"Just shut up!" Haru yelled, throwing a left hook at Kasanoda's head.
Even as Kasanoda moved to block the blow, Yuki reacted. Rushing forward he gripped Haru by his left shoulder firmly, yanking him backwards so his arm didn't reach Kasanoda. Haru glanced back over his shoulder with a look of annoyed confusion. Enraged when he saw Yuki he growled with frustration.
"Don't interfere!" Haru exclaimed. Spinning around he threw a right punch at Yuki. Yuki stepped to the left, easily dodging the punch. Twisting his right hand into a tight fist, he thrust a punch into Haru's upper stomach.
Haruhi could hear Haru gasp as the blow knocked the air out of his lungs. Clutching Yuki's shoulder with his right hand and cradling his stomach with his other arm, Haru grimaced before collapsing to the floor, holding his abdomen.
Yuki sighed slightly as he watched his cousin crumple. Turning apologetically to Kasanoda he bowed slightly, saying, "I'm sorry about my cousin's actions and for the trouble he caused you."
Sitting up onto his knees, Haru's expression was completely composed. He rubbed his stomach gently, looking dull as Haruhi remembered him. Glancing up at Yuki, he took hold of his cousin's jacket hem. "My stomach hurts," he stated flatly.
Yuki heaved such an exasperated sigh that his shoulders slumped.
"A-ah, Hatsuharu-san isn't black anymore? What a relief!" Tohru breathed with a sweat drop.
"Around here, sensei, this is where they were fighting!" a female voice said from down the hallway. Hurried footsteps thundered along behind the voice.
"You should return to your classroom before those teachers arrive, or you'll get in trouble," Kasanoda instructed, turning to Haruhi. "I'll stay and explain what happened. Maybe if I tell them he was provoked," he added, glancing down at Haru, "then he won't get in as much trouble."
Haruhi stepped over to him. "You're bleeding," she said, gesturing to her lip at the location where his was busted.
"Its nothing!" Kasanoda barked, a deep red blush coloring his cheeks. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and glanced away, shutting his eyes. "He caught me by surprised with that first punch, that's all. I'm fine."
"You should take care of that before it swells," Haruhi instructed. She pulled her handkerchief out of her pocket and placed it in his hand, raising it to his lip.
Swiping the handkerchief from her and turning halfway around, his blush deepened. "Uh, I'll be fine," he mumbled, gazing at the delicate cloth in his hand as if it were something highly valuable. "Hurry up and leave before you get in trouble!"
"I'll stay and be a witness, too!" Momiji exclaimed. He waved to Tohru as she followed after Haruhi and Yuki. "See you later!"
Once back in the classroom and seated before her lunch again Haruhi sighed. "Wow," she said. "I didn't realize your cousin was so… energetic?"
"More like troublesome," Yuki muttered.
"Does he get like that often?" Haruhi wondered.
"It depends on when he gets mad," Yuki replied. "Some days there is more to make him mad then others. It's a simple matter of what rubs him the wrong way." He sighed again out of frustration. "It makes me worry about this weekend. I don't know how he'll get along with the other hosts, and taking into consideration the troublesome nature of the Hitachiin-san and Kaoru-san, I can see them egging him on until he snaps!"
Haruhi sweat dropped. It was true, the twins liked to irritate. She'd seen it more than once with Tamaki; they'd continue to flirt with her until he was hopping mad. Why would things be different with Haru? They did like to tease, but the majority of the time they didn't know what was too far. Perhaps this weekend wouldn't be as enjoyable as she had first thought. A slight feeling of dread crept into the back of her mind, but she decided to look positively on the matter and pushed it aside.
"Perhaps Hikaru and Kaoru won't push him too far, eh?" Haruhi suggested optimistically. Fat chance, she thought, feeling less then hopeful in the words she spoke.
"Well, maybe Uo-chan and Hana-chan will keep Hikaru-san and Kaoru-san preoccupied," Tohru said, trying for optimism. "Uo-chan and Hana-chan are very energetic. I'm sure they'll enjoy er, talking to the twins?"
"Why was that a question?" Haruhi wondered.
Tohru sweat dropped and chuckled uneasily. "Oh, that reminds me, I told them to meet us by the front gate after school, if that's ok," she said, quickly changing the subject.
Yuki sighed. "Oh well, it'll be too cramped in that house for it to be relaxing anyway," he said admitting defeat. He smiled apologetically at Haruhi. "Sorry to ruin your weekend with all my eccentric relatives. I know you were looking forward to it."
"Don't worry about it," Haruhi said, waving it off with her hand. "After being part of the Host Club, I'm used to hectic weeks. Besides, how bad could your relatives be?"
Yuki looked so distraught at the thought Haruhi felt guilty for asking. He heaved yet another heavy sigh, raising a hand to cover his eyes as he leaned on the desk.
Tohru gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "They're not that bad, Yuki-kun!" she assured. "We'll have fun this weekend, I'm sure of it!"
Yuki smiled at Tohru as he lifted his head from his hands. "Yes, you're right, Honda-san," he said. Straitening he looked a little more positive. "Sorry to be so depressed. I invited you along for fun. I won't let this ruin our weekend."
Haruhi wasn't exactly sure why Yuki's cousins caused him such stress, but knew he most likely had a valid reason for begrudging their company, for whatever reason it was.
The three of them barely finished their lunch when the class began to file through the door returning from lunch.