Haruhi Fujioka could recall a time when Sundays were a relaxing day – a day when she didn't have school, chores, assignments (she finished them the day before), or worries. For her, Sundays were a day when she could kick back, watch some television, and just remain motionless for hours. She could have even taken a nap if she had felt like it.
Nowadays, however...
Ring, knock, ring, ring, ring, "HARUHI!"knock, knock, knock, ring, knock.
"Commoner doorbells are so intriguing," Kaoru commented in greeting as Haruhi swung the door open, revealing the two Hitachiin brothers.
"I thought your mother was sending over a limousine."
"Well...she did, but," Hikaru trailed off with a sly grin, indicating over his shoulder to where a black limousine was parked in front of the apartment complex. Haruhi could already see a crowd forming around the sleek vehicle.
Kaoru finished his twin's sentence, "We wanted to be the first to see you!"
"What's there to see? I'm not even dressed for the dance," Haruhi said, folding her arms in front of her chest. She was dressed in a baggy t-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts which seemed to drown her slender figure, but the twins thought she looked adorable bundled up in the over-sized attire.
Allowing her gaze to move from one twin to the next, Haruhi concluded that the boys standing in front of her were the reason her Sundays had become much more chaotic than they had ever been before. Actually, any day spent with the twins – which Haruhi could testify as being every day – was much more hectic than what she was used to, especially when the Host Club was added into the equation – and they usually were.
"Well, anyways," Kaoru said, "we should get going."
"After all, we still need to get your hair styled," Hikaru stated.
"And there's makeup that needs to be applied," Kaoru added.
"And, of course, the offer to let us dress you still stands," the twins chorused with devilish grins.
"However, yesterday's decision continues to remain the same," came the bland retort.
The twins snickered and swung their arms over her shoulders in an attempt to lead her to the waiting vehicle.
"One moment," Haruhi stated before sliding under the their long limbs and shuffling back towards her apartment. The door was still open and the lights were still on. Besides, she hadn't even had the time to put her shoes on.
"Haru–hi!" the twins called out as she disappeared through the door, "we'll be late if we have to wait a long time for you!"
"When has that ever been a concern for you two?" was shouted back.
The twins turned to face at each other, letting their grins widen at the typical comeback.
Less than a minute later, Haruhi was ready to go. She closed the door behind her, and the twins took their designated positions at her sides.
.x.o.x.o.x.
Haruhi emerged from the changing room nearly twenty minutes after her arrival at the Hitachiin Estate. Before the limousine had even fully stopped, she had been dragged out of the vehicle by another set of twins: two, young women dressed in maid uniforms. At least the brothers had been courteous enough to wave her away with a "goodbye, good luck," and – of course – their mischievous grins.
After she had been dressed in the pink gown that the twins had selected the previous day – one of their creations – the identical Hitachiin maids had practically shoved her into something that resembled a salon chair where a group of professionals started to direct the show. Her hair, nails, and makeup had all been completed at the same time, and the session ended less than five minutes after it had started.
"Haru-chan!" came a squeal, followed by a flash of bright light.
Two more flashes of light illuminated the already bright hallway as Haruhi gradually attempted to recover her eyesight from the first attack. When she could finally see once more, her gaze was locked onto the two "little devils" whom were holding identical cameras and looking mighty victorious.
"Isn't Haru-chan so cute looking?" Mrs. Hitachiin inquired of her sons who nodded and gave each other a thumbs up.
"The dress really suits her," Hikaru said to his twin.
"And the makeup is subtle," Kaoru added.
Choosing to disagree with Kaoru's comment, Haruhi interjected, "My face feels heavy."
"I'm glad we picked out those shoes rather than the stilettos," Hikaru contributed, ignoring her complaint.
"I don't think I can walk in these," the girl tottered a bit as she said this, choosing to lean on the wall for some extra support.
Mrs. Hitachiin ushered her boys to stand next to Haruhi so she could take a few more pictures, commenting, "Aren't you three just the cutest group ever?"
"You know it," the twins chorused as they posed behind Haruhi, providing her with hand-antlers.
"I'll have to send that one as a Christmas card to mother," the fashion designer joked as she watched the girl toss a curious glance over her shoulder.
After a few more photos were snapped by the doting mother, Hikaru and Kaoru chose to make a beeline for the limousine with an annoyed Haruhi in tow.
"I told you, it's difficult to walk in these," Haruhi stated as she was dragged in between the the brothers.
"Haven't you ever worn heels before?" Hikaru inquired as they finally made it outside.
"Of course," Haruhi stated in an 'obviously' tone of voice.
"Then what's the problem?" Kaoru asked as the limousine driver stepped out to open the door for the three.
"I didn't have to walk in them," Haruhi replied.
The twins shot her curious glances, "What do you mean?"
"For my birthday, my father bought a new outfit for me – high heels included. I had to try it on, but I didn't have to walk around in them," Haruhi stated before a thoughtful expression appeared on her face, "as a matter of fact, they're still in my closet."
"Your dad wouldn't happen to have some pictures from this event, would he?" Kaoru asked, sending his brother a look.
"Um..." Haruhi trailed off for a moment as she tried to recall the event, "I think he has a few. Why?"
"No reason!" the twins chorused a bit too innocently to be believable, but surprisingly, Haruhi let the conversation drop for the rest of the ride as the twins brought up another (random) topic.
.x.o.x.o.x.
By the time the trio had finally arrived at the school grounds, Haruhi had learned all about the trip the twins had taken to Paris for their mother's fashion show last year, how they had vacationed in Egypt for three months when they were thirteen, and how – for their sixth birthday – they had rented out an entire theme park for a day.
Haruhi had indulged the twins, or – rather – was forced to indulge the twins, in stories about her childhood and junior high experience. When they had asked her if she had any close friends growing up, she had merely replied that there were none that were close enough for her to stay in contact with after enrolling in Ouran. The twins appeared satisfied with the answer, and Haruhi decided against questioning their content moods.
The driver opened the limousine door, allowing the three to emerge from the vehicle. Kaoru let himself out first before turning around to offer a hand in assistance to Haruhi, but she had already exited the automobile and was patiently waiting at his side for the eldest Hitachiin twin.
Hikaru took Kaoru's extended hand, commenting with a starry-gaze, "Kaoru, such small gestures of your affection allow me know the depths of your love for me."
"Save it for your customers."
Kaoru, Haruhi, and Hikaru whipped their heads to the side in order to meet the gaze of Kyoya Ootori, the vice president of the Host Club. The dark-haired boy stood with a leather-bound notebook propped against his arm. He looked as cool as ever in his dark tuxedo and plum-colored tie – as is to be expected of the club's designated 'cool type.'
"Kyoya-senpai," chorused the twins with a grin.
"Ootori-san," Haruhi stated, acknowledging the Shadow King.
"Fujioka-san," the bespectacled boy stated, "I suppose the twins have yet to inform you of your role in tonight's event."
"As a matter of fact, they have not," Haruhi replied, tilting her head to gaze at the boy on her right: Hikaru.
The two shrugged their shoulders and responded, "Seems to have slipped our minds."
"It wouldn't be the first time that important information has succumbed to such a fate," the third son of the Ootori family commented, "however, I had prepared for such an occurrence and made the instructions as simple as possible for you. You are to head to the senior wing, classroom 4-C, in order to meet with Suzushima Tohru. From there, you will initiate the plan."
"What plan are you talking about, exactly?" Haruhi inquired.
"To make Suzu-chan and Kana-chan get back together!" Mitsukini Haninozuka exclaimed as he entered the scene, followed by a stoic Takashi Morinozuka.
"Thank you, Hunny-senpai," Kyoya added before jotting something down in his notebook.
"My friends, my friends! What purpose do you have for lurking in the chill night air?"
"My lord," the twins chorused in greeting as the entire club turned to face the Host Club King.
He ignored their greeting; instead, he decided to rush to Haruhi's side, snatching up her hand and placing a soft kiss against the warm skin.
"Haruhi-hime, you are indeed a sight to behold! Not even the greatest artist would be able to do such beauty justice. You shine brighter than the sun on a warm, summer day!"
"Are you implying that I'm blinding you?" Haruhi inquired; the flowery words were wasted on her.
"Not very smooth, my lord," Hikaru commented.
"He seems to be losing his touch, doesn't he, Hikaru?" Kaoru asked.
"Yeah," Hikaru said, nodding his head in agreement, "insulting poor Haruhi like that."
Kaoru shook his head with mock-disappointment.
The violet-eyed boy was practically in tears, having moved away to grow mushrooms against a nearby wall.
"Lest you have all forgotten," Kyoya interrupted as if he were breaking up a quarrel amongst children, "the party shall be starting in less than five minutes. Fujioka-san, please head to room 4-C to begin stage one of the plan."
Haruhi nodded her head and left the Host Club to their own devices. Perhaps, after her role in this 'plan' of theirs was over, she could enjoy the buffet without any disruptions.
.x.o.x.o.x.
Swinging her feet beneath her, Haruhi released a sigh. She had been waiting in the classroom for nearly an hour, and nothing had yet to happen. Perhaps Kyoya Ootori had sent her to the wrong room; he had said 4-C – she was sure of it – but Tohru Suzushima had yet to arrive.
The scholarship student was seated atop of one of the many desks in the classroom. She had chosen one nearest to the window in order to gaze out at the vast Ouran campus which was bathed in moonlight. Haruhi wondered if the Ootori boy had planned on having the dance party on a full moon, or if it was merely coincidence. If she had known him any better than the brief side comments that the twins had whispered to her, she wouldn't have bothered to guess at all, knowing full well that the Shadow King was extremely precise, and had indeed planned the event on such a wonderful night (in order to boost attendance and customer satisfaction, of course.)
Finally, there were audible footsteps coming from outside of the room, and Haruhi let her gaze move to the door. However, when the door opened, it was not Tohru Suzushima that had made his presence known.
"Hikaru," Haruhi said, "shouldn't you be downstairs with the other guests?"
Hikaru shrugged his shoulders, entirely used to the fact that the girl could tell him and his brother apart with her eyes closed if need be, "Thought you'd be bored. Kaoru and I had already known that this plan wasn't going to work."
Haruhi let her head tilt to the side, "What exactly is this plan anyways? I know it's to get Suzushima-kun and Kasugasaki-kun together, but how exactly is that going to happen, and why am I involved?"
Rubbing his head at her question, Hikaru explained, "Well, we – Kyoya, Kaoru, and I – wrote Suzushima a love note addressed from you, and he was supposedly going to reveal his true feelings for Kanako-chan to you as she walked in the room after receiving some words of – I wouldn't call it wisdom, but, if anything, my lord's pretty good at talking to girls. Well, anyways, my lord was supposed to talk to her, and she'd come and see Suzushima confessing his love for her to you and they'd fall for each other all over again."
"That plan seems extremely far-fetched. And you said Ootori-san planned this?"
"Well," Hikaru said with a grin, "Kyoya-senpai only has so much control over my lord, especially when my lord is intent on assisting 'the two birds of love in need of rekindling their dwindling flame of passion.'"
Haruhi smiled at the older twin's impression of the Host Club's king, "I suppose that scenario is much more believable than Ootori-san inventing the plan by himself."
Hikaru let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as he stepped closer to where the girl was sitting.
"Is the food good?" Haruhi inquired. Any other girl would have asked, "How's the dance going?" or "Are you enjoying yourself?" but Haruhi was more straightforward than any other girl Hikaru had ever encountered. In addition, she also seemed to possess a fondness for food.
"I wouldn't know – haven't had the chance to sample any," Hikaru replied, sitting on the desk next to her. He couldn't help but think how nice it was to be alone with the pretty chocolate-eyed girl who was dressed in a very flattering ensemble that both he and his brother had designed.
"I wonder if there is fatty tuna," Haruhi mused aloud, "or maybe freshly-picked strawberries. Oh, tiramisu would be lovely as well."
"Fatty tuna?" Hikaru repeated as if he hadn't heard her correctly.
"Mmhmm," Haruhi confirmed; her desires suddenly jumping to pinwheel steak.
"You are so deprived," Hikaru stated, shaking his head.
If the girl had not been listing off gourmet dishes in her head, she would have been slightly offended; however, what did manage to capture her (and Hikaru's) attention was the sound of heavy footsteps making their way towards the classroom.
Hikaru's eyes widened and Haruhi swore she heard him say something obscene. The older twin jumped off of the desk and ran behind the teacher's station, situated at the front of the room. He had barely squeezed himself under the wooden desk before the door to 4-C opened, and in stepped the boy from yesterday.
"Excuse me," Tohru Suzushima called out as he looked around the dark classroom. His eyes finally landed on the lone girl seated upon the corner desk. She had long, dark hair and wide, chocolate-colored orbs. Even in the dark, he could tell she was both very lovely and very familiar.
"You're that girl from before – the one at the Host Club," Tohru pointed out as Haruhi tilted her head to the side, "I didn't really think you were the type of girl who'd write this type of letter – let alone be interested in a guy like me." As he said this, he held up the letter that she had 'written' in his hand.
"I didn't think so either," Haruhi replied bluntly. Hikaru tried not to laugh at the mental image of the boy's reaction.
Tohru looked a bit taken aback, but smiled, "Even though I think you're very pretty," Haruhi didn't look fazed by his flattery, but under the teacher's desk, Hikaru was seething at the older boy's words, "I doubt it would work out between us."
Haruhi waited for him to continue.
"You see," he explained, deciding it was necessary to tell the girl who had written such a love-filled letter the true reason as to why he couldn't accept her feelings, "there's another girl. And even though I really do love her, she deserves better. I'm to study abroad soon; I want to see the world and, in the process, become a better man for her."
Haruhi nodded her head
"I know it sounds selfish, but," Tohru sighed, "I wish she'd wait for me. I wish she'd be there for me when I return."
Haruhi looked at the older boy, "That does sound selfish."
Tohru Suzushima felt an arrow pierce through his back at her blunt comment.
"She doesn't even know how you feel, and you expect her to wait for you even when you're gone? Although your intentions may be good, what you're really doing is causing her pain."
The boy let out a frustrated sigh, "I'm always messing things up. I don't deserve a girl like her."
Haruhi felt a bit sorry for the boy, "Don't you think she should be able to decide that for herself?"
"It's too late for that now," Tohru Suzushima stated in a frustrated tone, dropping his head.
"No," a feminine voice called from the doorway, "it's not."
"Kanako..."
"Tohru-kun," Kanako Kasugasaki said as she entered into the classroom.
"I'm sorry, Kanako –"
Kanako raised her index finger to her lips, hushing the tall boy.
"I thought you hated me. I thought you were trying to push me out of your life. You didn't even include me in your decision to study abroad even though I'm your bride."
"Kanako, let me explain –"
"Please wait a moment, Tohru-kun."
Tohru Suzushima nodded his head solemnly and allowed her to continue speaking.
"I had a talk with someone I can consider a very good friend," she said, "and I realized something. I realized that I was being selfish. I was ignoring you by filling my life with false affections from boys that weren't you. However," she inhaled slightly, "you were being selfish too. You should have told me how you felt. I don't want any other boy. I want you, Tohru-kun."
Tohru felt his heart beat wildly at her declaration, "Kanako."
Kanako rushed into his arms, embracing him for all she was worth.
Haruhi blinked at the two from her some-what dazed stupor before letting her features soften into a kind and understanding smile. Perhaps that idiot Host Club king wasn't so much of an idiot after all.
She strolled over to the teacher's station where Hikaru was crawling out from under the wooden desk. He was looking at her with wide eyes.
Hikaru couldn't help but feel his stop heart as he took in the image of the girl in front of him. Her smile was so genuine and serene, and she looked utterly breathtaking with the moonlight reflecting off of her skin.
Before the prankster could speak, Haruhi shushed him in the same manner she had seen Kanako use on the boy. She then directed Hikaru to follow her out the door.
Her companion nodded and trailed behind the girl until they were out of the room. Hikaru silently closed the door behind them with a grin on his face.
.x.o.x.o.x.
"Ladies, our beautiful night together has come to an end... I would like to dedicate our last waltz to this couple."
Kanako Kasugasaki and Tohru Suzushima gazed up at the violet-eyed boy standing before them on the terrace. The rest of the Host Club members, including the pretty girl that Tohru had encountered in the classroom, flanked his sides with wide smiles.
The rest of the girls in attendance stood behind the Host Club, cooing in delight and clapping their hands encouragingly as Tohru extended his hand towards the girl in front of him.
"Would you honor me with a dance?"
Kanako nodded her head in pure delight as she allowed herself to be swept into a graceful waltz with her betrothed.
.x.o.x.o.x.
"I didn't get to eat anything," Haruhi stated pointedly.
"But you were able to bring Kanako-chan and Suzushima together."
"I didn't get to eat anything, though" Haruhi repeated, as if her words had not been fully comprehended the first time.
"We'll have the cooks make you something when we get to the mansion," Kaoru amended.
Haruhi tried not to sulk, but such a thing was proving to be very difficult. Especially after she had wasted her entire night (more or less) alone in an empty classroom.
She looked at Hikaru who was gazing at the passing scenery with a blank expression.
"Hikaru?" she called softly.
The older twin gazed at the girl he had been thinking about ever since they had left the classroom with a thoughtful expression.
"Something the matter, Hikaru?" Kaoru inquired in a curious tone.
"Just thinking," Hikaru responded before draping an arm across Haruhi's shoulders in reassurance.
Kaoru shrugged his shoulders and rested his cheek against Haruhi's, suddenly feeling extremely exhausted from the night's events.
"Tomorrow's physical examinations at school," Kaoru informed the two with a yawn.
However, the girl positioned between the brothers had already drifted off to sleep. The two were quick to follow her example.
.x.o.x.o.x.
When the limousine finally arrived at the Hitachiin Estate, Mrs. Hitachiin was the first at the scene.
The driver opened the vehicle's door for the woman, and she smiled at the sight before her.
Snapping a quick picture of the sleeping trio, the fashion designer decided that she would get it framed first thing in the morning. After all, her office, the family room, her best friend, her mother, and the album she was starting up required some new pictures of the boys.
Oh wow, it's been a long time -- sorry, guys. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!