I woke up the next morning with a lightness in my heart and a slight spring in my step. In all honesty, I didn't want to get out of bed, but I knew what was waiting for me. Did I want to deal with the host club after school? Hell no. But was I going to? Yeah…I could handle it. I'm just being whiny. Still being half asleep will do that. Quick as a bunny, I got myself ready for school and grabbed my backpack off the kitchen table. If you're lucky, Rei, I bet you could sneak a little something, something before class.

Knock, knock.

"Door's open, Roy!" I called out, finishing my granola bar.

"Good morning, Rei!" Roy bounced in, happy as a clam. No more than usual anyway.

"Good morning," I chimed, catching his infectious energy.

"You seem to be in high spirits," he noticed, almost caught by surprise, "What's the occasion?"

"That thing you kept telling me to do?" I pointed out, "I kept doing it."

"That's good to hear!" Roy beamed, "Ready to go?"

"Yep," I nodded, "Let's go."

Roy and I got into the elevator and headed out through the lobby. We were only running a little late, but we're late enough where I couldn't get my morning coffee. That sucked, but not enough to get me down. I'm sure I could find a coffee cart near Ouran to get something. If not, there's a convenience store across the street. That's where Red Bull lives.

"Have a great day at school, Rei!" Roy called out the window, waving frantically. But even though he was busy being a dumbass (which, also no different from usual), my eyes were distracted by a shining black beauty revving her engine at me.

"Hi there, gorgeous," I swooned, walking over to greet her.

"Uh…" Ritsu wondered, "Was that for me or…?"

"Shhh…" I put my finger to his lips, admiring every curve on that beautiful body, "Kasanoda, you're ruining the moment."

"Thought it was the bike," he laughed a bit, "Hi, Rei."

"Hello…" I gave her handlebars a little kiss, "Until later, beautiful."

"Easy there," Ritsu teased, "She's sensitive. She's got a touchy trigger."

"I bet she does," I could only imagine.

"Hey," he turned my attention away from his bike, "Good morning, Reila."

"Morning," I bit the inside of my cheek, "Sorry. I got a little carried away, didn't I?"

"A little?"

"Alright," I gave him a smack to the shoulder, "I got a lot carried away. Sue me. Your bike is fucking beautiful. She reminds me of home."

"I bet she does," Ritsu let it go, "By the way…"

"What?" I asked, watching him get a bit flustered. Aww…

"I, uh…" he reached into his side bag, pulling out a hard, plastic travel cup, "I brought you a present."

"Oh, Ritsu," I melted, laying my head on his shoulder, gladly accepting it, "Bless you. I ran late this morning, so I couldn't stop at the café on my way out."

"I figured you'd want some," Ritsu shrugged, "There's a place on the way here that I like to stop at once in a while. Excellent mochi, if you're ever in the market for some."

"I've never had mochi," I admitted, enjoying the long, warm sip traveling to my belly, "But if their mochi is as good as their coffee, I'm willing to give it a shot."

"That good?" he gave me a look, "It's coffee, Rei. It's not like I gave you the secret to life."

"You shut your whore mouth," I scoffed, "Coffee is the answer to life. Anyone else who says otherwise is a lying prick and deserves a kick in the balls. It's the magical elixir of life. It's how the world turns. It's how mornings begin. If this had any espresso in it, I might have kissed you."

"I mean…" Ritsu blushed, "I wouldn't have minded that last part, with or without espresso."

"Well," I figured, "You did go through all the trouble."

"And I had to buy the damn cup," he groaned, "All because I didn't need that splashing all over the bike. Or me, for that matter!"

I took a good look around and grabbed Ritsu by his tie, pulling him somewhere more private. I stood on my toes (silently cursing my shortness), and gave him a little kiss, "Thank you, Ritsu. Really. This is greatly appreciated."

"You're welcome," Ritsu held back a smile, "We should be getting to homeroom before the teacher realizes we're late."

"Shit," I checked my phone, "We got time. Not much, but some. Shall we?"

"Absolutely," he wanted to take my hand so bad. I could see it all over his face. But he didn't. As much as he wanted to, he left it alone. I guess we're not ready for public displays of affection quite yet. We did just kiss in the bushes, though. I'll take it, "Hey, Rei, you don't have any morning obligations to the host club, do you?"

"Not that I…" As we walked through the front doors, the hallway had a new poster in it. Weirdly enough, with my face on it. I don't remember a.) taking that picture, b.) giving my consent for that picture to be used, or c.) allowing for that picture to be the fucking focal point of the host club!

"Rei…?" Ritsu looked down at me, noticing the crowd of girls circling that poster, "Are you ok?"

"I need to find Kyoya," I growled, my blood boiling, "And I need to find him as soon as humanly possible. He and I need to have a word alone."

"Why do I have the feeling he should be contacting his estate lawyer?" he worried.

"He won't have that kind of time," I glared, "His moments are precious at this point. He should be spending them wisely."

"It'll be alright," Ritsu did his best to settle me, grabbing our homeroom door for me, "Instead of killing him, maybe you could just ask him to take the poster down."

"Or," I proposed a better idea, "I could take a Louisville Slugger to that thick fucking skull of his!"

"Good morning, Rei," a pair of morons with a goddamn death wish snuck up behind me.

"I wouldn't get too close," Ritsu suggested, "She's kind of rabid."

"I told you guys that poster was a bad idea," Haruhi added, "Why do none of you ever listen?"

"I just want to talk to Kyoya," I tried my damnedest to get back to a level head. Happy place, Rei. You're on the roof of your building. Here, home, either one. It doesn't matter. Both have beautiful memories attached to them, "He is the one that does the advertising for the host club, isn't he?"

"Yeah," the twins nodded.

"I just want to talk," I felt my tattoo on my thumb start to itch. Along with my sudden urge to live up to my reputation and what it stood for, "Are there baseball bats in the gym?"

"No," Ritsu stopped me, "Rei, you don't need to beat the shit out of him."

"Then, why do I want to?"

"Because you're a powder keg," he pointed out, sitting me down, "I'm sure if you ask him to take it down, he will. No beating the shit out of him necessary. Besides, I'm sure you'll find a better way to get back at him for it. You'll have plenty of time to plot your vengeance. What did I tell you about dealing with the host club?"

"Be a shit host and they'll kick me out?"

"Exactly."

"That's the problem!" I snapped, "I was a shit host, but they all flocked to me! That plan backfired fucking horribly! Now, I'm their little fucking money maker and I'm boned!"

"Hey, Rei?" Haruhi stepped in, "Do you think I could give you a word of advice?"

"Go ahead," I kicked my feet up, "I'm pretty much desperate at this point."

"When you're dealing with the host club," she assured, "Everything's a passing fancy. Everything comes and goes like the tide. Give it a couple days and it'll die down. Promise."

"If it doesn't?"

"Then, I'll kick the shit out of Kyoya-senpai," Ritsu promised, "You shouldn't have to do it."

"And take all the fun out of it for me?" I pouted, "Thank you, Ritsu. You truly are the white knight in these troubling times."

"I do what I can," he shrugged me off.

I know he had pure intentions. Ritsu wouldn't do it, so I didn't have to. He'd be defending my honor. Chivalry really isn't dead, is it? For the rest of homeroom, I put my head down and took a nap with Ritsu shooing off any girls trying to strike up a conversation with the host club's newest and shiniest toy. Maybe when I go back home and need someone as a bodyguard, Ritsu won't be half bad. I wonder how he'd feel about that.

As quickly as it started, the day had begun winding down. I had come down from the mess from this morning enough to function. However, the fact that my last class of the day happened to be kendo and I happen to have it with another member (and an established one at that) of the host club? I was itching for a fight.

"Good luck, Rei," Mori bowed to me.

"Thanks, Mori," I was ready to beat the shit out of anyone in front of me. Even if it meant a friend. Hell, I had seen Ritsu in the hallway and damn near gave him my fist to his jaw. But once I had my staff in my hand, Her Royal Highness made an appearance. My bandage had fallen off earlier in the day, so that little Q on my hand stood out loud and proud.

Immediately, I made a sweep for the legs and got Mori on the floor where my staff could play the opening drums from Africa with no problem. This hit was for the poster. That hit was for the black mail. This hit was for making me join the host club in the first place. That hit was for making me your fucking Barbie doll the other day. After the last one, Mori tapped out. I was done.

"Ow…" he twitched, not wanting to get up quite yet, "Are you alright, Rei?"

"What do you mean?" I wondered, catching my breath.

"You came on stronger than normal."

"I didn't fight any different," I thought, "It didn't feel like it anyway."

"You're angry." Mori didn't talk often. I knew that much. I had been around the host club enough to know he was a man of few words. I've been in enough kendo classes with him to know that. But that didn't mean the son of a bitch wasn't observant. Maybe he'll get me.

"Yeah, Mori," I sighed out, taking a seat next to him on the mat, "I am. I'm more pissed off today than what I have been since I got to Japan. Hosting has fried my last nerve. I know it's only two days a week, but goddamn, man. I hate nothing more than having a bunch of people suddenly taking an interest in me. The interesting shit about me I can't talk about because they're better off not knowing. Even if I did talk about it, they'd be afraid of me. I don't need that kind of headache in my life."

"But you're strong, Rei," Mori had caught his breath, "It's tiring, but isn't everything? You don't see what their lives are like outside the host club. Maybe this is the only good thing they have going for them. They know someone cares."

"But why is that my responsibility?" I asked, "Can't they find it somewhere else?"

"Why would they do that when they can find it there?" As much as I hated it, Mori had a point. Those boys do a selfless act for the sake of making a girl happy. And now, I'd be part of that time-honored tradition.

"Alright," I groaned, "I guess I'll do it. And I'm not going to kill Kyoya when we get to the music room."

"What?"

I got up from the floor and changed out of my pads. Because nothing said I'm about to go shamelessly flirt with some ladies quite like showing up in my kendo pads. While Mori went off to get Honey, I headed straight for the club room. Little did I know, the line outside would reach the fucking stairwell. I knew the host club was popular, but love of God, tell me this wasn't all for me. I kept my head down and snuck in the side door.

"There you are, Rei," Tamaki greeted me, "It's quite the turnout today, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "About that…Has Kyoya come in yet?"

"Yes, I have," Kyoya piped up from his desk, "Hello, Rei."

"Can I have a word with you?" I requested, "Privately?"

"I suppose so," he agreed, "Should I bring any protection with me?"

"I'm a classy bitch," I gasped, "I don't do that on the first date."

"Not that kind of protection," Kyoya assured, "Physical protection."

"Not at all," I promised, "I just want to talk."

"Alright then," the two of us walked back to the changing rooms for a little peace and quiet before the hecticness of the host club kicked up, "What can I do for you?"

"WHAT THE FUCK, MAN?!" I screeched, "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"What do you mean?" Kyoya played innocent, not in the least intimidated, "I didn't do anything."

"BULLSHIT!" my tirade continued, "If you didn't do anything, care to explain why the line for the host club is a FUCKING MILE LONG?!"

"All I did was a little advertising," he shrugged, "Nothing major."

"A LITTLE?!" I snarled, "I'd say you did more than a little!"

"It was one poster, Rei," Kyoya pointed out, "That's it."

"Do you not realize the kind of damage one little poster did?" I settled down, "All it took was a little advertising."

"But you can handle it," he gave me a pep talk, "You're our most promising newcomer since Haruhi. You're a natural host, Rei."

"I don't even want to be a host!"

"But think about what you've done for Kasanoda," Kyoya pointed out, "Have you noticed that people seem to be more accepting of him these days? Not to mention, how much more approachable he's been since you happened?"

"Well…" I thought it over, "Now that you mention it…"

"Do you know why that is?" he asked, "Because he's quickly become friends with the host club's rising star. If he can be friends with someone like Kasanoda, why can't someone else? There must be something good in him if Rei's friends with him. It's amazing how a hivemind works."

"You're right," I agreed, "That's not something I'll say to you often, but dammit, you're right. Even when it's just the two of us, Ritsu seems a lot less of a dick these days."

"Ever wonder why that might be?"

"Because he pulled the stick out of his ass?" I figured.

"Sure," Kyoya had a little smirk on his face, "Let's go with that. Now, if you could please…We need to open the doors."

"Yay," I rolled my eyes. You're doing this for a good cause, Rei. Kasanoda doesn't want to be feared. This is the best first step we can take. I kicked my feet up in my section and shut my eyes for a second. At least I could catch a little bit of a nap before the host club floods.

"Rei…" I felt a nudge on my feet, "Rei…You have guests."

"Shit…" I thought I'd be able to sleep a little longer, but so much for that idea, "Thanks, Haruhi."

"No problem," she ran off to take care of her own guests. One girl sat down in front of me looking like she just got dumped. Poor thing. I mean, it sucks to be her, but she probably needs a little confirmation that love still exists. If that's the case, then she needs a fairy tale to come true. She needs a princely type.

"Hello, princess," I greeted her, just as I was trained to, "You seem so down. Are you alright?"

"I had a bad day," the girl sniveled, "My boyfriend…He's cheating on me with who I thought was my best friend. And I feel so lost."

Mori's words from kendo came back full circle. You don't see what their lives are like outside the host club. They just need to know someone cares. I could see her eyes swelling with tears again. God only knows how many times she's done that today. And quite frankly, I don't want to have to deal with a girl crying on me. I got better shit to do. But her prince wouldn't think like that.

"He didn't deserve you," I took her hand. She blinked the tears out of her eyes, "If he was so blind to miss out on what he had and wanted to stray, that's his fault, not yours. So, why would you waste such precious tears over someone that didn't value you? You, my princess, deserve the world and someone who loves you."

"But I thought he did…"

"I know," I comforted her, "If he can't take the time to see how wonderful you are, then why waste yours on him? Your friend, too. I'm sure you'll find someone new. Life may be short, but it's still early in yours."

"Thank you, Rei," she reached up for her eyes, but I thought I'd lay it on even thicker.

"No need to thank me, my dear," I ran my thumb over the top of her cheekbones, "Now, are you going to be ok?"

"I think so," she smiled.

"There you are," I smiled back, "It's good to see you again."

"Hey, Rei…" the girl wondered, "Are you seeing anyone…?"

Uh…Maybe I laid it on too thick. Because this smells like it's backfiring. I got up from my spot on the couch, "Would you look at the time? I have another appointment coming in. You can see Kyoya on your way out."

"But…"

"Lovely seeing you!" I nudged her out of my section.

"But Rei…"

"Besides," I cut her off, "I need to make a quick consultation. Excuse me."

"Ok…" That was close.

"Hey, Tamaki," I slipped over to his section.

"Hi, Rei," Tamaki cranked his neck back, "How's it going?"

"I need to talk to you," I shot a quick glance at his section. He had two girls sitting with him, "Is this a bad time?"

"Not at all," he allowed, "Could you excuse us, ladies?"

"Sure," they both got up and left us alone.

"So," Tamaki wondered, "What's up?"

"I just had a girl ask me if I was seeing anyone," I began.

"Then, it's going wonderfully," he applauded, "Good for you, Rei!"

"I don't know if I'd call that wonderful," I bit my lip, "I don't want a girlfriend, Tamaki! That's not exactly my cup of tea."

"It's a danger of hosting," Tamaki explained, "Sometimes, they take the harmless flirting we do here and mistake it for love. I've turned down at least half a dozen girls in one day before. What did you do?"

"There was a girl that just got dumped…"

"That's the problem," he figured, "She's looking for rebound. And that's why she started asking about your dating life. What'd you tell her?"

"Nothing," I reported, "I kind of blew her off. I told her I had another appointment and I'm thinking that shattered the illusion for her."

"What kind of routine did you give her?"

"The sweet, loving prince bit," I smirked, "Sorry for coming for your brand like that."

"Apology accepted," Tamaki allowed, "It's nice to know we have someone so versatile."

"Rei," Kyoya called for me, "You have more clients."

"I know," I groaned, "I'm seeking guidance."

"And you're booked solid for the next two months."

"Goddammit…" I held my face in my hands, "Seriously?"

"You are a promising new host," Kyoya pointed out.

"I couldn't be prouder!" Tamaki sang, "For never hosting before and the other obvious reason, you really are quite the natural, Rei."

"Thanks," I wasn't sure how to take that. Because these guys are glorified prostitutes without the sex.

"It's alright," Tamaki threw an arm around me, "It's only two days a week. I know you can do it."

"It's not that I doubt that," I could feel my body going limp, "It's exhausting."

"Haruhi!" he called out, "Can we get some coffee please?"

"Coffee?" I perked up, "You guys have coffee?"

"Of course we do," Haruhi came back with a hot cup of coffee for me.

"Bless you," I swooned, staring into the beautiful dark nectar of the gods.

"You need to keep your energy up, Rei," Tamaki insisted, "You can do it, though. Can't you?"

"Yeah," I nodded, downing my coffee. One little cup wasn't going to do it, though, "Haruhi, I hate to trouble you, but…"

"Already on it," she smiled, "Do you want me just bring a pot to your section?"

"If you would, please."

"Go on," Tamaki nudged me away, "You have clients to take care of, Rei. Go make me proud."

"I will."

Although, even all the coffee in the world couldn't keep me motivated. By the time last call rolled around, I could already feel that hangover setting in and all of the regrets. I wanted it to be closing time already and someone was going to have to carry my drunk ass home or throw me in a cab. Because I was done. I could do it. It's one more client and my last one for the day.

"You look like you could use a bowl of ramen and a hug…" Never in my life have I ever been so relieved to hear that voice.

"Thank God, Kasanoda," I sighed out, "I'm so glad it's you and not someone else. I don't think I could handle someone else. What are you doing, coming to the host club like a civilian?"

"I figured you could use a break," Ritsu took a seat next to me. And since all the others were so distracted, I took full advantage of the situation. My head found its way to Ritsu's shoulder, "You look like shit, man…"

"Fuck you," I rubbed my eyes, "I've had to deal with whiny bitches, clingy bitches, overly excited bitches, and I got four phone numbers today. I'm fucking beat. This hosting thing sucks ass."

"If you think this is bad," Hikaru snuck up on my left.

"Just wait until the overnight trip at the end of the week," Kaoru snuck up on my right.

"Excuse me?" I wondered, "What overnight trip?"

"She doesn't know…" the twins awed.

"The whole school's going on a field trip to Osaka at the end of the week!" Honey chimed in.

"That means," Kyoya added, "The host club is going to be working on location, since class trips do bring in quite a crowd for us. And you, Rei, will be made available for that. You did agree to Mondays and Fridays anyway."

Why couldn't I have just joined a gang? I could've rose through those ranks lickety-split. But no. Get yourself tangled up in the fucking host club, Rei. Capital idea.

A/N: Poor Rei. She started out with such a good day. Then, an awesome day. Then, she made the mistake of walking into school. You have to admit, though. Kyoya is a marketing genius. And there are some thirsty ladies that attend Ouran Academy. But! There's an overnight trip coming up. To Osaka! Osaka's neat. I've been doing my research for the Osaka trip. But friends, speaking of overnight trips, I'm spending the weekend in Michigan this weekend and I'm leaving Thursday, so I have your Friday chapter to do. I'll be back Sunday night, so Monday, you'll still get your update, but aside from that…I don't know. I'll see you next chapter! xx