Chapter 21

As Namiko worked on the garden, she felt sad. She wasn't upset that Ritsu had something important to do, but sad that he had to leave early. As she was working, she heard some people walking closer to the garden. She didn't pay any attention to a thing as people would sometimes walk by the area on any other day. She then heard a familiar voice. "Where's Casanova? And the others?"

Nameko looked over and saw all the host club members and Hanako. She forced herself to remove the sad emotion within her and she forced a smile upon your face. Of course she was happy to see Hanako, she was looking forward to introducing Ritsu to Hanako.

"Oh, Hi guys!" She looked over at Hanako. After wiping off her hands, she got up. She stopped as her ponytail holder broke and her knee length hair fell free. She sighed but walked forward. "Hi Hanako! I'm so glad you could make it. Host club members, gardening members, this is my friend Hanako. She is a commoner just like Haruhi and I. Please treat her nicely?"

"Oh of course we will!" Tamaki-senpai said.

Namiko went to hug Hanako and Haruhi but stopped as she realized how much dirt and mud was on her. "Oh! I'm sorry!" She ran over to a towel and wiped herself off. Walking back over, she then hugged her.

Namiko felt something against her cheek and looked over to see Hanako wiping dirt off her cheekbone. "You missed some, silly."

Namiko smiled. "Thank you Hanako. So, what would you like to do?"

"I would love to finally meet Kasanoda-san."

Namiko let in a sharp inhale. "Actually, Ritsu isn't here. He and his group left. He had something of importance to do at home."

"Oh. I see. Well, maybe we could help with the garden? What do you say Haruhi? Maybe we could just help get water and hand them things?"

"I don't know if you all will be allowed to due to the rules..."

Chizue stopped Namiko. "Actually, they can help you Namiko. Even Ayuka doesn't follow her own rules. She's had her friend come and help her despite the fact she told you that you could only help if you were inside the gardening club. So of course come on let them help would be a great way for us all get to know each other a little bit more."

Namiko smiled and nodded. "Alright then. Of course, by all means help us. We could sure use it today seeing as we are low on helpers." Namiko reached over some some equipment. "Here." Namiko said as she handed the host club members and Hanako some knee pads some aprons some gloves and a mat to go underneath their legs. "Wouldn't want to get your uniforms dirty"

"Thanks," said Hanako as she started getting to work along with the hots.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, no goofing off," Haruhi warned.

"What do you take us for?" Hikaru taunted.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get to meet Kasanoda," Hanako said as she worked along side Namiko.

"Me too, but I'm sure you will in time," Namiko said.

"Is he anything like these guys?" Hanako asked looking around at the different boys from the host club.

Namiko studied the different boys as well. "Hardy," she finally said with pride, "Ritsu's one of a kind!"

"Really?" Hanako said. She tried thinking harder about what this guy must look like to have Namiko so infatuated with him.

"Heads up!" Both Hikaru and Kaoru shouted as a small rake flew over the two girls' head suddenly, out of nowhere.

"I thought told you guys no goofing off!" Haruhi snapped.

"I'll get it," Hanako said as she walked over to the rake. Just as she put her hand down on the handle, a foot suddenly stepped on it, pinning her hand down.

"Owe!" Hanako screamed, before looking up and seeing Ayuka of all people standing in front of her. Though she had a smile on her face, Hanako felt a shiver go through her body.

Ayuka giggled before kneeling down towards her. "Well, who do we have here? A trespasser?" She asked, "I should probably call security."

"Hey, Ayuka, leave her alone!" Namiko yelled as she quickly came to her friend's aid.

"Oh, she's your friend?" Ayuka asked. She pushed down harder on poor Hanako's hand, making Hanako moan in pain again.

"Get off her!" Namiko snapped as she tried to push Ayuka off of Hanako.

"Oh my!" Ayuka cried out in surprise, as she stumbled back. As she did, she somehow, either on accident or on purpose, kick Hanako's chin, knocking Hanako to the gound.

"Hanako!" Namiko shouted in shock at the sight of her poor friend. Before she could move to her aid, Kyoya had managed to move over to Hanako and helped her up.

"Let's take a look," he said calmly, examining Hanako's face, getting a little close in the process. Namiko saw her face getting red. "Doesn't look too bad, I doubt it'll leave a scar," Kyoya concluded after a while, "we should probably get it washed up though."

"Right," Hanako said.

"Come on Hanako," Haruhi said, as she led the girl away, "are you coming Namiko?"

"I'll be right there," Namiko said. She looked mad at Ayuka first,."not cool lady! You hurt my friend! It's bad enough you're always picking on me, you don't have to drag her into it!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Ayuka said, "but it's at the same time, it's not my fault she stands out like a sore thumb looking like she does, a filthy commoner. You know, I'm curious, is she what you used to look like before you started mingling with the social betters. I must say, it improved your appearance greatly."

Hanako couldn't help but feel a little hurt by Ayuka's comments.

"Will get out of here already?! What are you even doing here, if not to cause trouble?!" Namiko ordered.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were so cruel in controlling who can and cannot walk around here," Ayuka said, looking like she was hurt by what Namiko said, "I guess I'll go, I can tell where I'm not wanted." She made a dramatic turn and ran off, almost looking like she was crying.

Namiko rolled her, "what a faker," she muttered before finally going after Haruhi and Hanako.

"Here, this might sting a little," Haruhi said as she helped dap Hanako's chin with a wet cloth. Hanako hissed as it came into contact with her skin. "Sorry," Haruhi said.

"It's okay," Hanako insisted, even though the look suggested othwrwise, "hey that guy that helped me...,"

"Kyoya-Senpai?" Haruhi said.

"That's his name?" Hanako asked, "is he...,"

"I wouldn't worry too much about him," Haruhi quickly said, "he may not look it, but he is actually very evil inside. And no offense but he wouldn't even date someone unless there was something for him to gain in it personally."

"Oh," Hanako said, dissapointment in her voice.

"Sorry, I figured I'd try saving you the trouble," Haruhi said softly.

"It's okay," Hanako said, "I should have known I wouldn't find a possible match with an Ouran guy, at least not on my first visit."

"You never know, there's actually some pretty decent guys at thus school who may not be too worried about what your social standing is and instead focus on what a pretty good person you are and highly attractive," Haruhi assured her.

"You think I'm attractive enough for an Ouran guy?" Hanako asked, laughing.

"Sure, of course," Haruhi said.

Just then Namiko ran up to them. "Hanako, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Hanako assured her.

"I'm so sorry about that! That bitch has been giving me a hard time ever since I first came here!" Namiko apologized.

"It's cool," Hanako said. She she looked at her watch. I should actually get going. I promised my parents I would be out too late."

"Well, let's go together!" Namiko suggested.

"Don't you need to work on your garden some more?" Hanako asked.

"Uh," Namiko pondered. She did want to make sure Ritsu could trust leaving her in charge of it when he was gone, but at the same time what about her friend?

"It's fine Namiko," Hanako finally said, "I'll talk to later on Skype okay?"

"But Hanako," Namiko sputtered.

Hanako reached over and hugged her, "it's fine. I'll see both of you later."

She slowly walked off on her own. Poor Namiko looked a little crest fallen.

Haruhi patted her shoulder, "don't worry about it too much okay?" She tried assuring her cousin.

"Right," Namiko said.

Hanako sighed as she came towards the way she came in.

"Excuse me Madam," a cool voice suddenly said behind her. Hanako twirled around to see Kyoya walking up to her.

"Oh, hello," Hanako said politely, still remembering what Haruhi had said about him.

Kyoya stopped right in front of her with a cool smile and leaned in close. "Hmm, it looks like I was tight, it won't leave much of a scar, which is good," he said, "but just the same," He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tube of something. "This is a new medical cream one of my family's pharmaceutical companies has been developing Not only does it he with scaring, but also with possible infection," he said. He gently placed it in Hanako's hand, in a rather affection manner. "Can't be too careful about infection now can we?"

"No, I guess not," Hanako said, trying to stay calm.

"Good, please feel free to try it for free and try to get back to me on much you like it and if it helped," Kyoya said.

"I'll try," Hanako promised. She tried to leave but noticed Kyoya was still holding her hand in a way. She looked at him confused, right as Kyoya pulled away.

"Have a good day," Kyoya said, nodding at her and walking off.

Hanako was confused about what just happen between her and this guy.

"Well, I sure as heck wasn't expecting Hanako's visit to Ouran being like that," Namiko said with a sigh as she and Haruhi return to the garden.

"Well, I'm sure we can make it up to her," Haruhi said.

"Let's hope so, Ritsu wasn't here to meet her!" Namiko said, actually sounding mad.

Haruhi giggled a little at Namiko's outburst. It was a little cute, the way she wasn't afraid to getting mad at Ritsu once and a while, like a real couple.

"He'll meet her, I'm sure," Haruhi assured her cousin.

"He better," Namiko said.

"Thank you gentlemen," Ritsu's father said as the so called guests finally left. He looked over at his son, "and thank you for coming."

"Sure Dad," Ritsu said.

"I hope I didn't interfere with your after school activities," Kasanoda said.

"Oh it's nothing really," said Ritsu, though he was sure Namiko might be mad at him for having to leave early.

He quickly excused himself and hurried to his room to call her.

"Ritsu?!" Namiko answered.

"Hi," Ritsu said sheepishly, "how did things go after I left?"

"Fine, though you left before my friend showed up!"

"Oh, sorry," Ritsu apologized.

"You should be!" Namiko said, "I really wanted you to meet. I wanted to let you know one of my friends."

"I'm sorry, I really am!" Ritsu apologized over and over again, "I'll make it up to you somehow!"

"I'm sorry, I guess I got a little excited too," Namiko apologized as well, "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure, good night," Ritsu said.

"Good night," Namiko said as she hung up. She held her phone close. She felt a little good that she could be mad at Ritsu, but not let it affect their relationship over all. Sort of like, they were really a couple.