How I said Yes

And so after a fitful night's sleep, it was suddenly the next day.

The day I uphold my end of the bet.

Woopie.

Oh believe me, I tried to get out of it. Really, I did! But those damn twins are too cunning, even with the help of my lawyer Haruhi. Though in fairness, she got the twins to agree on a number of terms and conditions for my side of the bet.

Thanks to Haruhi, I was safe from anything the following:

Anything that may cause me, or others, physical harm. (The twins scoffed at this and complained that they wouldn't do anything that would physically harm me…on purpose.)

Anything that would get me into trouble with authorities. (I paled at the fact that she had to make that a rule. Then I remembered these are the Devil Twins, we're talking about.)

Anything involving people outside the Club. (What happens in the Host Club, stays in the Host Club apparently. Well, they try. Their customers are teenaged girls, so some things are bound to be gossiped about.)

Anything that would humiliate me publicly. (See the rule about it staying within the Club.)

And most importantly, anything involving sexual acts. (You'd think I was in middle school by how much I was blushing at that one. I squeaked that the twins wouldn't want to do anything of that nature with me, but she insisted in covering all the bases.)

I thank my lucky stars that Haruhi was there- God forbid those restrictions weren't made.

Sexual acts.

I shudder at the thought.

I got down from my car in front of the school and enter the premises when I see two figures before me.

"Hi-hikaru! Kaoru!" I blanched. Because of the rule that excludes non-Host Club members from witnessing and/or partaking in the bet fulfillment, I assumed that I wouldn't see the twins till later in the day during club hours.

I should have realized that they would want to begin my torment bright and early today.

"Oohayooo~ Noriko-senpai!" They chimed together. The mischievous grins on their faces revealed just how excited they were.

"What-!" I squeaked in a high-pitch. Embarrassed, I took a moment to clear my throat and begin again. "What are you doing here?"

"We go to school here, Noriko-sempai," they chimed.

I opened my mouth to remind them that a) I knew that b) I wasn't stupid and c) they never were in school this early to begin with but was promptly cut off-

"-and to commence your punishment." They grinned like the Cheshire cats they were. Damn those grins.

Only those twins would get up extra early to begin a punishment. I winced.

"Really? This early? Here?" I stage-whispered. Students walked past us to get to the school, some pausing to look at the strange trio we made. I gripped my bag strap uncomfortably, subconsciously willing the twins to move to the side so we were no longer in the middle of the pathway.

"Well…" One of them drawled out, he shared a knowing grin with his brother. "It's more of an all day thing."

"A day!?" I paled.

"If it helps, it's more like half a day." A twin, probably Kaoru, tried to reassure me. Yeah, it was Kauro. Hikaru wouldn't care if I were slightly panicked about the whole idea- he's the twin that would probably enjoy my misery more.

"We just want to tell you in advanced what it is so you can get use to the idea," he continued.

"But you have to be an idiot not to understand," Hikaru added. "It's fairly simple." He rolled his eyes.

Ugh. I was not prepared to deal with these devil twins this early in the day. Though I guess them telling me early means that I can prepare myself for whatever hellish task the twins thought up for me. Gathering my resolve, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. As I exhaled and opened my eyes, I freed my poor bag strap from my clutches and crossed my arms over my chest instead. The twins looked at me with impatience coupled with matching raised eyebrows.

"Okay, what is it?" I asked, because it couldn't be that bad right? I mean, what could they think of that would.

"You have to say yes to everything we ask."

…

what.

"What?"

Hikaru rolled his eyes, exasperated. "You're our slave for the day." He smirked.

Well, when you put it that way-

"No!" I exclaimed. I mean, how was this following the restrictions that Haruhi set up? Where the hell was my lawyer?

"Just half a day," Kaoru reminded me. He moved towards me and snuck his arm around my waist, urging me forward. While I noticed that people were hurrying to their classrooms, some girls looking at me with wide eyes at the arm placement, I was still trying to wrap my head around the twin's request- nay, command.

"A slave though?!" I exclaimed as I tried not to trip over my own to feet to get to class.

"We're still going to follow the restrictions," Hikaru purred as he flung his arm over my shoulders. We walked side-by-side interlinked into the school. I couldn't have run away if I wanted to.

Okay, if I said no what would happen?

I'd owe them another favor.

Not ideal. Given more time, I'm sure they'd come up with some thing worse than being their slave. Plus the fact that they might be able to weasel out of Haruhi's restrictions.

And, most likely than not, they'd pull some prank on me.

I realized with a sigh that I couldn't and wouldn't get out of this one.

Stupid past-Noriko and her stupid decisions.

Gah.

"Only for half a day you said?" I sighed defeated.

I can practically feel the twins smirk at each other over my head.

Cue evil glint.

"Hai, hai," They said, unlatching themselves from my body. "After school hours."

"And only with the Host Club, of course," Kaoru said as they stuffed their hands in their pockets.

I gave them a small nod.

Fine. At least if they make me do demeaning things or, heaven forbid, wear demeaning things only the Host Club will see my shame.

My eyes widen.

The Host Club will see.

Holy crap.

"Matte!" I exclaim digging my heels into the ground. Surprised by my strength, they untangled their limbs from my body and turned to face me with bored looks. "What," they asked with matching raised eyebrows.

"You said, the Host Club will see," I said with wide eyes.

"Yes, and?" Hikaru said slowly as if I were stupid. He probably thought I was.

"You're not going to like…make me…" I trailed off awkwardly. Trying to find the right words, I didn't want to give them any ideas either. "…do things to a specific host are you."

The twins looked at me with blank looks.

They turned to each other and matching looks of amusement grew on their faces.

"A specific host?" Hikaru "curiously" asked.

"Who? Pray tell, could be a host that would be extra torture for you to interact with?" Kaoru said as he stroked an invisible bear on his chin.

"Who?" Hikaru inclined his head to his twin.

"Who?" Kaoru echoed back.

This is ridiculous.

I watched them speak back and forth- discussing whom I could possibly be talking about.

"Tamaki-senpai?"

'Not her type- I think quieter.'

"Kyouya-senpai?" '

She's scared of him.'

"Haruhi?"

'Ah. Perhaps there's a little bit of a girl crush going on-'

"GAH." I exclaim. I realize that it was the Twin's ploy to simply annoy me to admitting to them who I was talking about- as if they didn't already know.

"Mori," I mumbled to myself. I looked around praying that no one heard.

"Nani?" They said together. "Speak up senpai!"

Annoying little-

"MORI." I said distinctly though still kept in mind to keep my voice down.

These twins are the death of me. But interestingly enough, I feel less shy around them because I was too busy being annoyed and flustered and generally stressed out by their mere presence.

They smirked at one another. "Mori-senpai?" "I never would have guessed, brother."

Cue inner I-give-up sigh. Let them do what they want and reign hell on me.

Sigh.

"But no, senpai," Hikaru said "we are not going ask you to do anything to Mori-senpai."

"We're not that cruel," Kaoru smiled convincingly.

My sigh turned into a sigh of relief.

Thank god.

Maybe these twins weren't as bad as I thought. I mean, sure we never really talked asaide from them annoying me. But now, from a position of power- they didn't seem to be planning to take that much advantage of it. They didn't even question why Mori; although I'm pretty sure they know why.

I gave them a thankful smile, "Ah. Thank god. Okay. That's-that's good to hear. Anyway, we should start heading to class- we might be late. " I gave them another grin as I passed in-between them to head into my building.

I was pleased by how the conversation turned out. Was I please that I was going to be a slave for half a day? No, but at least there were some semblance of respect for me. Perhaps I was wrong and they were actually though that I was more than a plaything-

"What would be the point of forcing you to interact with Mori-senpai anyway?" Hikaru continued nonchalantly. "I mean after all," cue signature devilish smirk. "Sexual favors are off the table."

I flushed.

-or not.

I know. I KNOW. More than a year. :( But this chapter really blocked my brain for a while. I knew what I wanted to do but it never seemed organic enough for me to explain the rules of the Slave thing. (Don't worry- slave in a non-kinky way.) I wanted to post the entire episode on here but it seemed to monstrous to take on. I feel like it's a really important episode cause I remember it being the first one to give Mori more screen time. So I guess trying to figure out how to do it is another mental block on my end.

On a good note! I experienced more of life while I was gone, I wasn't just a bump on a log, and so I think I can confidently bring deeper layers into this story as well. Ugh, I get tired just thinking of what I want to accomplish with this story- believe me, I have it mapped out to the end. I really hope I do it justice and get to entertain you all! Loads of thanks for all the reviews and favorites and general support! Please tell me if Nori darling is out of character, I'm scared that since I changed as a person- a bit, and for the better :) - I'd lose her voice. So pls pls pls review to tell me what you think and if you're all alive. :( I miss you all my wonderful readers and I hope I can update soon~

-Shnitzel