Writing through a three-day weekend and this is what I have to show for it. Oh well, I had a lot of information to put in here, and I think I covered everything I wanted. This is hopefully going to set the mood for when I get into the meatier parts.
Thank you to Momochan77, Princess Royalty, and queenglitch for your reviews! You make me smile!
Disclaimer: I own less of this chapter than most of my previous ones, but I still own Livia.
Ouran Academy
Exact Location: Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Front Courtyard
07:43
You know, you always hear about how to act brave when you're terrified. Public speaking, performing, interviews… no matter where you turn everything is about dealing with social or speaking anxiety.
Now, that's not to say that people with anxiety don't need those tips. It's great that they now have ways of working around it, but do you know what's harder? At least in my opinion? It's acting nervous when you really couldn't give a shit. And as I walked up to my new school this morning, that's exactly what I had to do.
I was in my new (unflattering) uniform, holding my school bag and carrying a blatant contempt for the living in my soul. It was pretty obvious as I made my way up the cement that I was the center of attention this morning. The other students that were outside were staring at me left and right, whispering to their friends in voices that were just a hair too loud to keep what they were saying a secret.
Of course, me, being me, I couldn't have cared less. But I had to act like I did.
An eye-shift here. A tightening grip there. Shallow breathing. Picking up my pace as if I was in a hurry to get inside.
But like I said earlier, it was a little difficult to act that way, even for me. After all, I've been trained for years to have complete faith in my abilities and intuition. To not show weakness in the face of my employer or my enemies. I am so ready for the day I can drop the act.
"Hey, slow down Trasic-senpai!" Haruhi jogged a little quicker in an attempt to catch up. "You need to relax. You'll be fine!"
Livia stopped to give her neighbor some time to reach her, green eyes darting around the courtyard where everyone was still watching her. Haruhi clearly noticed and offered another reassuring smile.
"Don't worry about them. I'm sure they're staring at me right now rather than you." At that, Haruhi tugged at the black skirt swishing around her legs. Livia couldn't help but be at least a little bit jealous that she couldn't have followed in Haruhi's footsteps uniform wise. The boy's uniform looked much more like Livia's speed, even if Haruhi was now wearing a long black skirt instead of the pants like she usually did. But Livia knew that if she even brought up wearing something other than the girl's uniform, she'd be shot down with a 'that would draw unwanted attention from the school, its students, and their families' before she could finish.
"Maybe," Livia said instead. "Or it's my green eyes?"
Haruhi hummed, "Actually, maybe. We don't have many people with green eyes here. But then again, Sen- I mean, Tamaki has purple eyes and he's extremely popular around here. Maybe they just like seeing new things?"
Livia opened her mouth. Hesitated. Then shook her head."You know, you haven't talked much about your boyfriend in the short time we've known each other, but when you do I can never tell if you're exasperated or enamored." She managed to pull a laugh from the girl beside her, but before Haruhi could answer a blond and blue blur suddenly shot across Livia's line of sight and latched onto Haruhi.
If it wasn't for the fact that she'd seen the boy coming from the school entrance and the fact he had blond hair and purple eyes, Livia would've blown her cover then and there by knocking him out. Despite all of this, the brunette couldn't help but be amused at Haruhi's demands that her new boyfriend release her immediately. Haruhi turned her pleading eyes to Livia, who merely giggled and waved goodbye before continuing to walk up to the school. She knew she'd catch Hell from the shorter girl later, probably during lunch hour, but she really did need to go check in at the school's office before classes began.
Livia had set one foot past the threshold when she felt a pair of eyes on the back of her head once again. Glancing over her shoulder, she caught a glimpse of surprised grey eyes watching as she stepped past the front doors. Livia did her best to hide a smile.
Okay, so according to Mr. Yoshio Ootori and the guy working the front desk in the school office, I'm in Class 2-A. Apparently class A is where they put the smart, super rich kids. Including Kyoya Ootori and his best friend, Tamaki Suoh. Lucky me.
Eh, I shouldn't complain. I've only had a handful of missions where my Charge was the same age as me, and I've learned to take advantage of the opportunity when it arises. This way, being in the same class, I can keep an almost constant eye on Kyoya. It'll also put me in the Host Club's sights, especially if Tamaki recognizes me as the girl who was walking with his girlfriend this morning.
It looks like Kyoya recognized me at least. Which... isn't what I had expected.
"Good morning, everyone. Could you take your seats, please? We have a lot to cover today." Livia made sure to shuffle her feet as her first teacher of the day did her best to corral the rest of the class into 'school mode'. She shyly raised her eyes to the rest of the class before ducking her head again, focusing on the first row's shoes. Standing beside the teacher's desk, it was clear that everyone's eyes were once again on her.
"Right, then. Today we're welcoming a new student to your class. Would you like to introduce yourself, Miss?"
Nodding meekly, Livia took a small step forward and bowed, hesitantly glancing around the room as she spoke, "Konnichiwa. My name is Livia Trasic. It's nice to meet you. Please take care of me while I reside at your school this year."
Chikamatsu-sensei smiled gently at the brunette before gesturing to the only open seat in the back of the room, next to the window. Livia returned the small smile and walked down the aisle to the seat. She kept her gaze down, but occasionally lifted it to look back at the people staring at her. Whenever she did, they'd look away and start whispering among themselves.
Livia wished she could kid herself and say they were just talking about her green eyes.
Sliding into the chair, she sighed and glanced out the window pane. It was cloudy outside and she briefly wondered when the weather would start taking a turn for the cold.
Eh... perhaps it wouldn't matter. She might not even be here after a week, depending on how things went. Missions typically ranged from a few days long to months at a time, and maybe if she was lucky enough...
"Trasic-san?"
"Hm?"
Pulling herself out of her daydreaming, Livia looked forward at the student sitting right in front of her. The girl was turned around in her chair, hands clasped onto the back of it as she stared at the agent. She had light-brown hair with similar colored eyes and looked friendly enough, but that didn't necessarily mean anything in this world of backhanded compliments and scandal. Still, she was smiling broadly when Livia graced her with attention.
"Hello?"
"Hi! Looks like we're desk neighbors! Oh, I just noticed your eyes are green! That's so cool and pretty! I was just wondering if you were another scholarship student like Haruhi Fujioka in Class 1-A? I saw the two of you walking into school together this morning."
"Oh." Livia fiddled with the pencil in her hands. "No. I'm not."
The other girl tilted her head, leaning forward a bit. "You're not? So... you're paying to come to school here? Why were you and Haruhi talking together? Was h- I mean, she, showing you around?"
"No. Well, yes to the first question, no to the last."
"Then why did you transfer into Ouran? And how do you know Haruhi?"
"Oh. My parents got into an argument with my last school, so they sent me here to keep me out of the way until everything's settled back home. I was moved in basically next door to the Fujioka's for the time being. She's very nice."
The girl hesitated for a few seconds before smiling brightly again. "I like you! You're so mysterious! It's a nice change from knowing everyone at school! And hey... looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so either..." With a giggle, the girl discreetly pointed across the room. Curious, Livia peeked over in the direction the other girl was pointing at. Immediately she found herself in an intense staring contest with a pair of surprisingly familiar grey eyes.
Snapping her eyes to face forward again, she willed a faint blush to dust across her cheeks. "No... that's not the reason."
The girl tilted her head again, then laughed, "More mystery! You're fun! My name's Anami Kuriko! Are you coming to the Host Club after classes today? I think a certain 'Cool Type' Host would very much like to talk to you..."
"I..." Livia tapered off, flicking another glance at the back of Ootori Kyoya's head. "Maybe. Will Haruhi be there?"
"I dunno, actually. Maybe she'll still host even though we know the truth? I wouldn't mind, I still like talking to her."
Livia nodded mutely, scribbling down some notes as Chikamatsu-sensei finally began the lesson.
Yeah... that's pretty much how classes went up until lunch time. Whenever the teachers would rotate classrooms, Kuriko would turn around and try to get information out of me. Not in a malicious way, but definitely persistent. I tried to disinterest her, but my clipped answers only had the opposite effect. Before I knew it she had gotten two other girls who sat near us asking me questions as well.
Even so, despite the intense grilling on my personality, I don't think Anami-san is the assassin. One, she's drawing way too much of my attention to herself. And two, she's been at Ouran since she was a toddler. Not exactly the right way to raise a stone-cold killer. And I know there are plenty of agents back at the base who would gladly shout themselves hoarse at me for lowering my guard and 'you can never be too careful' shit, but honestly? I gotta listen to my gut on this one.
Moving on, I'd personally much rather have people interested in me as the new girl rather than be hated. I can only imagine what my reception would've been if I had come in as another honor student...
Anyways, where was I?
Oh, right.
Lunch.
"Trasic-senpai!" Livia was given only a few seconds to register that Haurhi was now seated beside her and give the girl a smile before she was smacked on the shoulder.
"Ow! What was that for?"
The brunette scowled. "Don't act like you don't know. How dare you abandon me?"
"Your boyfriend. Your problem. That's my philosophy."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The American laughed. "I don't plan on getting a boyfriend while I'm here."
At that, Haruhi shrugged. "Don't be so sure. You've caught a few eyes. Even Kyoya-senpai was asking me a bunch of questions about you. Although I don't think he's actually capable of developing a crush."
"Capable of what?"
"Who?"
The two girls were suddenly sandwiched together by a pair of redheaded boys. Livia gritted her teeth as an arm was thrown over her shoulder. She had a thing about consensual touching. Namely, when that wasn't the case. She started squirming, trying to shake the offending appendage off when-
"Hikaru! Kaoru! Don't be rude to my new classmate!"
The arm was removed, only to suddenly be replaced with a crushing hug. Livia had to bite back a growl. Touching, touching, touching, you're touching me, stop touching me, stop it, stop it, stop it, TOUCHING...
Thankfully for her, Haruhi was quick to notice Livia's discomfort. She tugged at her boyfriend's jacket sleeve. "Tamaki, quit it. I don't think Trasic-senpai wants you touching her."
The blond released her quickly after that. Thankfully no one paid much attention to how Livia was now stabbing her chopsticks into the slices of meat on her plate, too absorbed in watching Tamaki wrap an arm around Haruhi's waist and kiss her temple. A soft 'awww' floated around the room as Haruhi's cheeks flushed a deep red color, to everyone's amusement.
No one even noticed when Kyoya joined the group at their table, sitting across from Livia and tapping their shoes together underneath the table. The girl looked up and found herself staring at those same grey eyes from earlier.
"It's a delight to see you again, Miss Trasic. I must admit that I wasn't expecting you to ever come back, but I'm glad that you have." The host club abruptly stopped what they were doing and turned to Kyoya in surprise.
Livia ignored the stares and offered a small smile, aiming for endearing. "The pleasure is all mine, Mister Ootori. Congratulations on being named your family's company's heir. The title is well deserved."
"Wait. You two know each other?"
Kyoya leaned back in his seat, his smile now more of a smirk. "Our families are in business together. Four years ago, Miss Trasic was in Japan for the first time and my second oldest brother tutored her in our language. We got to know each other quite well during that time."
Livia nodded along to his story, but tried not to roll her eyes at that last sentence. The truth of it was that she and Kyoya had only had the bare minimum contact the last time they had met. She had been more focused on keeping his older brother alive and Kyoya hadn't shown any interest in getting to know Livia outside of his father's gaze. At the very least he had respected her for the friendship she had with his sister, Fuyumi, but other than that they barely spoke to each other save for the occasional greeting or small talk at the dining table.
"So..." Livia tensed up again, the Hitachiin twins leaning against her sides once again. "Will 'Miss Trasic' be joining us at the host club this afternoon?"
"Yeah, you need more guests, Kyoya-senpai. Or else people are going to think you're undesirable."
The ravenet looked like he was biting back a retort, but reigned himself in quickly, giving the girl his most 'charming' smile. "That is entirely up to Miss Trasic, but if she'd like to request me I most certainly wouldn't say no."
Livia willed up another small blush, thinking back to the first time she'd walked in on Jensen while he was 'changing'. "I... I'd like to come see what all the fuss is about your club. But I don't think I'll be requesting anyone this time around."
"Hmmm..." The boy's grey eyes flashed curiously, but his smile never faltered once. "Very well. Your wish is our command."
Uuuuuuaaaagh! I don't wanna do thiiiiiis...
Ever since I turned down sitting with Kyoya at the host club for the afternoon Tamaki has been trying to change my mind. I barely know the guy and he's already acting like we're best friends! I'm starting to worry that the 'Honeymoon Phase' of his own starting relationship has him seeing romance everywhere. It doesn't help that Kyoya has already heavily implied that we were once close (fuckin' liar) and low-key flirted with me throughout lunch.
Now that I think about it, it's probably very possible that Tamaki thinks Kyoya and I are star-crossed lovers or some shit. Boy, won't he be in for a rude awakening when Kyoya finds out I'm not interested in those types of games.
Anyways, a few hours later and I was watching the host club's activities unfold before me from the side of the room. In a few words, I was unimpressed. It took me less than a half hour to become bored out of my mind. How could these girls find such entertainment in being fake-flirted with one after the other? It seems more like heartbreak material than anything. Jealousy must run rampant in this school.
Still, I was already there, so I made use of my time as best as I could. Kyoya spends a majority of his free time in the club's room, which made it a possible ambush location. I ended up looking around for half an hour to set up possible escape routes and deciding the best places for sensors and cameras. Y'know, the standard stuff.
I wasn't expecting to attract any attention...
"Excuse me, Trasic-san?"
Livia blinked herself out of her thoughts before turning towards the three girls that had gathered around her. She was pretty sure they had been sitting with Tamaki only a few seconds ago. It must be time for another client rotation. But why were they talking to her now?
"Yes?"
"Why aren't you sitting with a host?"
She shrugged, shifting in her seat a little. "I'm a little on the fence about this thing. I prefer to observe when it comes to new experiences."
One of the girls sat down. "That makes sense. How are you liking your classes so far? Is it very different from America?"
"Incredibly. They're alright, I guess. Not too hard."
The other two sat down as well, making the four of them a giant square. "So... not to pry or anything, but Kyoya seems to know you. Have you met before?"
"Yes. Honestly, I'm surprised he remembers me."
"Why is that?"
Livia held back the need to glare at the girls to scare them away. That wouldn't have been very becoming of an American heiress. "Why are you all so interested in me?"
At the question, all three girls ducked their heads, trying to hide their smiles. "Well..."
"You're interesting. We don't get to meet many new people our age."
"And you're so mysterious!"
"I've got it!" The four looked up, three of them startled by Tamaki's sudden appearance. But even Livia's eyebrows jumped up when the blond suddenly pointed at her face. "You will be our newest host, Livia-san! The Mysterious Type!"
For the first time in almost six years, Livia found herself at a loss for words. Tamaki turned around to face the rest of the room, which had quieted down during the blond's sudden outburst.
"Well, my dears? Would you like to have another beautiful Princess to host you?"
There was an almost immediate response.
"Oh, Tamaki! That would be brilliant!"
"You're so clever!"
"That sounds like fun!"
As one, about 90% of the girls in the room piped up in agreement, smiling and happily gossiping with each other. Tamaki's hands were at his hips, grinning around the room as his idea took hold of them all. Even some of the hosts looked interested in the sudden development.
Livia finally opened her mouth, ready to tell the blond off, when a thought struck. If she was a host... then she'd have a valid excuse to keep an eye on Kyoya. All the time. And she wouldn't have to be a guest or anything like that. Besides, all these girls already had their own hosts to entertain them.
Swallowing her harsh words, Livia let out a deep sigh and did her best to look like she was feeling somewhat uncomfortable. "Fine. If they really want to talk to me, I'll give it a try. But I think I want to wait until tomorrow to start. And please don't call me 'Princess' again."
Tamaki launched himself at the girl, pulling her off her feet and into another tight hug. "Oh, you won't regret this, I promise! You're gonna fit in so well here!"
Ending comment: It took all my self control right there to not just clock him across the face, Haruhi's opinion be damned. I had to try to remember that I don't exactly have a reputation to maintain while I'm here. This... might be more difficult than I first thought.
End log.
Eh. It's alright. Spoken logs make great time skips, I've realized.
I hope you liked it! If you did, please take a moment to favorite, follow, and leave a little review! I greatly appreciate feedback.
See you next chapter!
