A/N: Thank you for the long wait everyone! Life have been on the rocks for me but no everything is picking up the pace once again! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter after the long wait!

Chapter 13

The autumn wind had taken the summer's temperature lower every day. Black luxurious limousines drive into Ouran Academy dropping rich teenagers at the foyer of the majestic private school. To them, it's a routine that they are accustomed to since birth. It is the same to a certain blonde haired second year boy who came out of his limo with style. His presence celebrated by girls squealing from the side. He politely greeted everyone before heading for his morning club meeting. As he was walking to the corridor at the south hall, he passed by the field.

From the corner of his eyes, he caught the sight of a certain platinum-haired girl who is always there every morning. She had her usual black shorts and Ouran track team t-shirt. Yuri was there running hurdles, jumping over them with eyes filled with determination. Tamaki stood still observing the kouhai did her routine. She always had her hair tied in a high ponytail, always looking so neat and composed. In some ways, she's like Kyoya, calm and collected but she never withheld her emotions; except the time where she kept her sadness inside. She could smile so warmly and genuinely; her eyes reflected her emotions and feelings. He could see why they are attracted to one another.

Tamaki waved at Yuri when she finished at the ending point, "Morning, Yuri!"

"Morning, senpai!" she greeted happily. Tamaki did wonder what happened during the talk between her and Kyoya but he did not want to pry into their problems. Things like this are better to leave it to the people concern to resolve it.

"See you at the club today!" he said.

"Wait for me!" replied Yuri. She excused herself from her coach and ran towards Tamaki with her bag.

"I'm coming with you for morning meeting!" said Yuri brimming. Tamaki cheered like a little boy and dragged Yuri to the Third Music Room.

When they reached the room, Tamaki burst in refreshingly with Yuri behind him dripping with sweat, "Morning everyone!"

The rest of the occupants just looked at Tamaki with absolute dullness. Haruhi was slightly better than the rest as she was quite a morning person. They all took a seat around the table and started off with updating Yuri with the activities when she was absent. Yuri listened diligently while jotting off a few things that she needed to do follow-up with. Then Tamaki proceeded with briefing everyone on the cosplay of the day: Men in Black.

"Erm… and I'm supposed to?" asked Yuri obviously confused when they say 'men'.

"You're cross-dressing!" said the twins rubbing their cheeks against her. Yuri sweat-dropped and pushed them away, "Can't you see I'm sweaty?"

Kaoru lifted her chin and turned her face facing him, "But my lovely maiden, you look as lovely as you are even if you smell like a rotten fish!"

"Kaoru! Yuri doesn't smell like rotten fish! You're so insensitive!" yelled Tamaki.

Yuri blushed and pushed Kaoru off pouting in her seat, "Let's go back to our discussion."

"You'll be cross-dressing as a man later, Yuri," said Kyoya smirking at the torture she is going to endure later. Yuri sighed when Kyoya continued briefing them. 15 minutes before classes commence, Yuri excused herself, "Excuse me, I need to go for a short shower before attending class."

"We'll help you!" offered the twins standing up. Tamaki broke into another yelling fit while Yuri quietly walked away. She was glad that there's shower in the Third Music Room though she did not understand the practical sense to it. She tied her hair up into a loose bun and stepped into the shower. The cold water ran down her body, refreshing her after rounds of practice. After shower, she put on a pair of blue skinny jeans with cream-coloured checkered shirt with grey tube inside. She let down her hair and walked out of the room while she was wiping the wet tips of her hair.

"Yuri! You're out! Let's walk to class together!" cheered the twins appearing in front of her comically with Haruhi reluctantly squashed in between.

"Alright, but let me tie my hair first," she said pulling up her hair.

"You should let it down more often. You look much prettier," said Hikaru taking a few strand of her hair. Yuri gently tugged her hair away, "It's gets in my way when I'm working on my stuff so it's much practical if I tie I up. I'm actually considering cutting it short for sometime but grandma always stopped me from it. She said that long hair makes me look much feminine."

Tamaki went into a panic attack once Yuri finished commenting, "No! I won't allow you to cut your beautiful hair! Look at Haruhi before she cut her hair!" Tamaki took out a blown up picture of Haruhi during her middle school.

"Wow Haruhi, I'll definitely hit on you if I'm a guy," said Yuri staring at the picture. Haruhi blushed and walked away, "If we don't move now, we'll be late for class."

"Oh!" Yuri hurriedly packed her bag and ran after Haruhi leaving Tamaki wailing about Yuri hitting on her own sister and being rebellious.

~break~

"Welcome to the Host Club!" chorused 7 men (or one secretly woman).There were more girls than usual as today was the first day the official first hostess will be hosting. They broke into squeals as they charge into the room. All the hosts were dressed in black pants, black tie, black coats and black stylish shades. Tamaki had his tie hung lose on his neck with two buttons unbuttoned from the top. Mori had his tie loose, shirt untucked and coat unbuttoned. While Hani and the twins have an extra vest inside, Kaoru had his tie pulled down, Hikaru's coat draped on his shoulders and Hani had an extra pink flower pinned on his coat. Haruhi, and Kyoya were neatly dressed from top to toe.

The hosts led the girls to their respective station and started their usual abnormal routine. It was at the midtime Kyoya went into the changing room to check on Yuri. He found the accounts all done and the girl in the changing room with the curtains drawn.

"Yuri, are you done?" asked Kyoya from the other side of the curtain.

"Uh… just a little bit more," she replied. He heard some shuffling and bouncing about.

"What are you doing in there, Yuri?" asked Tamaki suddenly appearing beside Kyoya.

"I'm… ugh…. Trying to…. Ah! Hnn…! Done!" moaned and groaned Yuri trying to answer her senpais.

"That was really disturbing to listen too," commented the twins popping in.

"The binder was really hard to put on… Wait! Why are you guys at the other side of the curtain? Who else is there?" asked Yuri with more shuffling from the inside.

"Takashi and I am here too!" chirped a childish voice.

"Me too," said Haruhi deadpanned.

"Great. Just give me another minute."

The hosts waited for another minute or so before Yuri coming out all dressed. She got her hair cut by the twins before the club hours started. Her long fringe was now cut short; side parting, slightly covering her right eyes. She had her hair tied in a low ponytail giving her a much relaxed aura. Just like the rest, she wore black pants and black coat with white shirt. However, her tie was replaced with a black ribbon tied on her unbuttoned collar.

Their reaction was quite hilarious to Yuri.

"STRIKE!" said the twins putting their thumbs up.

"My daughter is so adorable! Twirl for daddy, please!" begged Tamaki happily. Yuri chuckled at the hosts' expression. Suddenly, she realized that all the tightness and heat around her abdomen and chest was worth it; their happy faces were more than enough to Yuri. Her hair gently waved with her twirling movement. She looked at them and asked, "So I'm good to go?"

The hosts nodded enthusiastically and they pulled her along. They disappeared behind the mahogany door while Yuri was asked to wait at the back. She waited for a while before the door was opened and she heard Tamaki saying, "Ladies, welcome your very first hostess, Shirayuri Anderson, the Gentle Type!"

Yuri walked out the room shyly because of the eyes that were focused her. She raised one of her hand which was hidden at the back and waved a little, "Hi, everyone." The girls squealed loudly and commented. There was, "She's so cute!" and "Oh my gosh! She's so bishounen!" and "I wanna hug her!"

Yuri laughed nervously at the girls' reaction and Kyoya led her to her designated table. Yuri smiled brightly at two very cute girls who will be her guests in the next second.

"Hello, my ladies. How's your day today?" she asked taking a seat.

"Yuri-san, you look wonderful today!" said a girl with jet black hair. Yuri rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly before answering, "Ah… well thank you. That's really sweet of you, Fujiwara-san. Matsumi-san, are you okay?" Yuri looked over at the other brunette girl who was a bit more reserved.

"Yes, I'm just….nervous. This is my first time talking at such close distance with you, Yuri-san," she said shyly.

"Oh? You don't have to be. Just treat me like a friend and I won't eat you up, not in a million years," Yuri joked. The girls soon started with small talk. Sensing that Yuri will be good on her own, Kyoya walked back to his table, satisfied with the turnout of the event today.

~break~

Once again, Yuri found herself walking behind Kyoya with her notebook like a perfect assistant. She was meant to spend some time lazing around when the hosts whisk her away to visit Haruhi. Thinking about that got her angry with the bunch of idiots; the ones that took Haruhi away and the one that brought her here, Lobelia. The rest with Fujioka-san went on a disguise mission while Kyoya opted the more sophisticated way. Yuri stopped writing and stared at Kyoya's back as he talked to the headmistress.

His demeanor and speech was so mature and he could keep a good conversation with the headmistress convinced Yuri even more that Kyoya would be something really great in the future.

"Ohtori-san, you have a really good assistant there, very efficient and capable young lady. Very rare for a young lady with social standing that matches the level of Ouran to indulge in such job," commented the headmistress as if she was not behind them with a mocking tone. Yuri sensed her sarcasm as the older woman spoke.

"I'm afraid that Anderson-san here is just another commoner but she indeed is a very capable and useful assistant for the club," said Kyoya.

Yuri knew that she should not expect any more than that but she could not stop herself from feeling the stab. When they reached the projection room of the auditorium where the drama that Haruhi participated unwillingly in took place, Yuri had her mind focused on Haruhi, with very thick make-up, and a huge red lips, and very ugly looking dress. She had this terrible urge to rub her temple at the sight of a beautiful girl made ugly but nonetheless, she noticed the effort Haruhi invested in pulling through.

When she thought she could finally wait in peace for the show to end, the climax revealed its sickening conspiracy.

"Ah, and yet, the love I bare for you and the desire I have for revenge are not things which can so simply be forgotten."

"What?" Yuri accidentally said aloud.

"Right before his eyes, I'll steal your first kiss...All for the sake of revenge," Benibara claimed right in the middle of the stage.

"Yuri," called Kyoya. Their eyes met and Yuri knew immediately what to do. She took the seat of the control system of the P.A. and prepared for Kyoya's plan.

Kyoya spoke on his phone, "Yes, please forward the photo to me immediately." In less than five seconds, Yuri received the much needed image and broadcasted it on the screen situated behind Haruhi and the perverse manly girl. Let's just say that a lot didn't react to the image well, mainly Benibara and Ranka. Yuri held back a laugh as she watch the event unfolded comically.

~break~

Yuri sat quietly in the limosine while the rest chatted away excitedly. The scene where Haruhi fell into Tamaki's arms played back over and over again in her mind. Secretly she wondered, "Will there be anyone to catch me when I fall?"

She dismissed the thought when the conversation of the hosts diverged into the Host Club matters, "Yes, tomorrow's theme will be masquerade." Yuri was more than ecstatic about tomorrow's theme; she spent the whole day with the twins coming up with the perfect mask and matching costume for the hosts.

"Thanks to this…" said Hikaru drapping his arm around Yuri's shoulder.

"We got to spend the whole day with Yuri-chan," continued Kaoru imitating his brother's actions. Yuri huffed when she realized the twins' intention.

"Keep your hands away from my daughter you shady twins!" yelled Tamaki pulling Yuri away from the twins which resulted in a painful crash between the puller and the one being pulled.

"Ouch!" they both cried.

"Tamaki-senpai! What was that for?" reprimanded Yuri as she scrambled up from Tamaki and took a random vacant seat. She sat and rubbed her forehead profusely to ease the pain.

"Hahahaha! The boss is so clumsy!" laughed the twins as the held on to each other. Haruhi shoved Tamaki aside and took a look at Yuri's forehead, "Are you okay, Yuri?"

"Ah, yes. Just a little bum but I think Tamaki is the one who needs medical attention," said Yuri pointing at the pale sculpture that was once human. Kyoya who was at the window seat and ignoring the previous commotion poked Tamaki with his index finger, "He's alive. Let him be. He'll come around soon." Everyone just stared at Kyoya at his nonchalance at his supposedly best friend's fate.

"Isn't he always like this? What's the point worrying?" asked Kyoya deadpanned.

"True, oh well boss shall suffer the fate alone then" said Kaoru pulling Hikaru closer. Hikaru agreed and lean against Kaoru before closing his eyes.

"Tamaki-senpai is being ridiculous again," said Haruhi deadpanned. With that she ignored his presence and continued her chat with Hani. Yuri stared at the stoned figure on the floor for a while before turning to Mori, "So Mori-senpai, how's kendo club doing these days?" Very soon, Yuri was able to engaged Mori into a question-and-one-word-answer conversation.

~break~

The host club activity was at its usual. The host each has a mask adorn their face that fits each of their type well. Tamaki had his upper right face covered with a milky white mask and red floral swirls, a red feather perched out from the top; Kyoya's black mask covered his upper half with three diamonds decorating the edge of the right eyebrow. The twins had the masks that cover the left half and the other cover the right half of their face; when put together the mask completes each other. Theirs is orange and yellow in color with black and white butterflies drawing on the cheek area. Hani's is an eye mask that resembles that of Batman; pink with white bunnies all over. Mori's simple blue mask diagonally covered his left eye to his right cheek with a few swirls emerging from the top left to his nose area. Haruhi's black and gold mask was one that has a stick attached to it so she had to hold on to it all the time. Yuri's was an ocean-blue full face mask with a grinning face etched to it.

The hosts are all entertaining their guests when the door burst open. Girls went into whisper mode. At Kyoya's and Tamaki's table, one of the guests said dreamily, "Look Maya! Those are the boys from Ouran Public School I was talking about! They're the epitome of handsome man!" The intruders bellowed, "Shirayuri Anderson! Get your ass out here now!"

All the hosts stood up and Mori who was close to Yuri stood right in front of her to obscure the sight of Yuri from the very rude and fierce-looking intruder.

"Anderson! You better come out now before I go to the extreme!" yelled the young man again treating the rest of the presence in the room as if they were statues.

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed it! Please read and review and see you next chapter!