Thank you AnimeBestie, JadeCrispy, AFandomAuthor, and GlassyTheRosePen for the reviews! :D

AnimeBestie: You're twin friends are lucky to have you as a friend. ^-^ Thanks for your fun review as usual! And you remembered their names! Lol.

Here's a longer chapter than usual. Hope you like it!

Ryuu didn't want to go to the Host Club, and Emi decided to follow his wishes for the day. When they arrived home, Ryuu immediately slumped down at the kitchen counter. "It's over. I'm doomed. They're all devils disguised as handsome guys."

"You think they're handsome too?" Emi asked.

"That's not the point," he said. He didn't even have the will to try and combat Emi's fujoshi ways. She was clearly trying to ship him with someone.

"At least we survived a week and a half before you got found out," she said. "I didn't even think we'd survive a day."

"What happened?" Akimi entered the kitchen. Ryuu moaned and buried his head in his arms.

"The Host Club found out that Ryuu's a boy," Emi replied.

"How?" Akimi asked, taking a seat. Emi quickly retailed the events. Ryuu was silent the entire time.

"I'm doooooomed," he said once she'd finished. Emi could picture bits of his soul escaping through his mouth. "I'm so dooooooooomed."

"But not everyone in the Host Club knows, right?" Akimi said.

"They'll probably tell each other," Ryuu said. "And if not, then that Kyoya guy probably already knows."

"What makes you think that?" Emi asked.

"He's the all-knowing type," he replied. "Like an omniscient narrator who sees everything and knows everything."

"Akimi-nee-chan, he's going crazy." Emi pointed at her brother.

Akimi laughed. "Don't worry too much. The Host Club doesn't seem like a bad bunch of people. Besides, if you properly told them your reason for crossdressing, then they'll probably understand and sympathize with you."

"Yeah, one of them sympathized with me too much," Ryuu said, thinking of Tamaki.

"I know!" Emi punched his shoulder while grinning. "Ryo-chan and Tamaki-senpai would look really good together!"

"Nooooo please like just stop Emi please. I don't have the energy to deal with you right now. Can't you see I'm miserable and dying?"

"Cheer up." Akimi patted his arm. "Go drink some strawberry milk, and I'll tell Bertrand-san not to cook any carrots tonight." She got up and began heading towards the door.

"Yes!" Ryuu shot up in his seat. "Strawberry milk time! Wooooo!" He hopped off the stool to the fridge, where he grabbed a small bottle of strawberry milk.

"Strawberry milk is like magic huh," Emi said.

"Strawberry milk is love! Strawberry milk is life!" Ryuu declared.

"Okay okay."

"Why didn't you come to the Host Club yesterday?" the Hitachiin twins asked the moment Ryuu and Emi arrived at the classroom the next day.

"We didn't want to," the Mazawa twins replied in unison.

"Why not?" Haruhi asked, curious now.

"Ryo gets tired of it sometimes," Emi said. "And since she accompanies me all the time, I feel like I should accompany her home sometimes too."

"Mm-hm." The Hitachiin twins nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced. "Well, make sure you two come today."
"Or just Emi would be fine," Kaoru said.

"Yes, since Emi's our toy now," Hikaru said.

Ryuu glared at them, stepping between Emi and the twins. "Emi is not a toy! She is a human being and my sister! So if you bas-"

"Okay, okay." Emi pulled him back towards her. "We'll come," she said to Haruhi.

"That's great!" Haruhi smiled.

Ryuu eyed Haruhi suspiciously. So Haruhi Fujioka is a natural manipulator. The twins are evil dogs. Tamaki is a crazy… prince. Kyoya is an omniscient creep. Honey is a cake monster. And Mori is… a stone mask. Or a robot under the cake monster's control.

"I don't know what you're thinking right now," Emi said quietly, as they sat down. "But I am positive that it's an extremely rude thought that you should banish immediately."

Ugh. It seems these brilliant nicknames will have to stay in my head, Ryuu thought, feeling rather disappointed. Or maybe I could share them with Kyoya, the omniscient creep, cause he'll already know about them.

The Host Club was fairly normal that day. The only difference was that, once club had ended, Tamaki dashed to the Mazawa twins and asked for them to stay for a short while.

Once all the girls had left, Emi and Ryuu sat on the couch, twitching and fidgety while waiting for whatever verdict the Host Club had to pass.

"So," Kyoya pushed his glasses up. "Ryuu Mazawa, you are a boy enrolled here in Ouran as a girl named Ryo Mazawa. Correct?"

Ryuu nodded. He couldn't quite trust his voice right now.

"Please don't report him," Emi said. "Tamaki-senpai and the others have already heard Ryuu's story. He has a good reason, so-"

"Oh, we're not going to report you." Kyoya smiled.

"Really?" Emi let out a sigh of relief. Ryuu couldn't share her feelings, though. He was sure there was some sort of catch, a condition behind it all.

"We'd just like to know if you're interested in hosting," Tamaki said with a friendly smile.

"Well before that," the twins interjected. "We have to see how good looking you are."

Hikaru pulled the wig off effortlessly. "So strip!"

"HUH?!" Ryuu said. He dropped his falsetto, returning to his normal voice, which was clearly a guy's. The twins picked Ryuu up and hauled him into the backroom.

"Wait! No! Stop!" Ryuu's shouts could be heard clearly. "Jesus, I can take off my clothes myself! So stop it!"

Oh my God! Emi thought. Ryuu and the Hitachiin twins! Of course they would go along very well too! Hikaru-kun being rough with Ryuu... Trying to rip Ryuu's dress - clothes - off.

Ah, as I suspected, it's weird to imagine things when Ryuu's involved. It's disturbing.

"So, Ryo-chan is a boy?" Haruhi finally spoke up. She glanced at Emi. "But you're a girl, right?"

"Ah, ye-yeah, I'm a girl!" Emi held her hands up, as if they could somehow help her case.

Haruhi smiled. "No wonder Emi-chan always seemed cuter than Ryo-chan."

Ohemgee! A light blush crept up Emi's cheeks. "Th-Thanks, Fujioka-kun." Haruhi just smiled innocently, completely unaware of her words' effect.

"We're done!" The twins beamed as they left the backroom. Emi stood and tried to prepare herself for whatever was to come out.

"What the hell," Ryuu grumbled as he stepped out. He was in an Ouran High School male uniform, and his black, unruly hair had been trimmed a bit.

"Wow," Tamaki said. "You really don't look like the Lost Princess."

"I agree," Haruhi replied.

"Then what should I call you?" Tamaki muttered to himself. "The Lost Prince? But no, that doesn't seem right either. The… the Lost Noble? Lost Lord? Lost-"

"Who cares?!" Ryuu screamed at Tamaki. "Just call me Ryuu when I'm a guy and Ryo when I'm a girl! It's that simple!"

Tamaki stared at Ryuu with his puppy eyes. "But-But-"

Ryuu groaned and face-palmed.

"What do you think, Tamaki?" Kyoya asked, busy writing in that black notebook of his. "Do you think he'd make a good host?"

"Just based on appearances, he'd do fine," the twins said.

"Yes, it's the personality that's troublesome," Kyoya replied. "Tell me, Emi-san, what sort of host can you imagine your brother being?"

"Sort of host?" Emi repeated.

"Just like how Tamaki is the Prince type, and Haruhi is the Natural type. In order to be a host, Ryuu-san will need a type," he explained.

"A type, huh…" Various ideas bounced in her head, mainly involving manga and anime. Then an idea struck her. "I know!"

"What?" Everyone leaned closer, including Ryuu, curious to hear what it could be.

"The tsundere type!" Emi said, smacking a fist into her open palm.

"Not again!" Ryuu said.

"Tsundere?" Haruhi questioned out loud.

Kyoya went to his computer, while the twins exchanged confused looks. As expected of a group of non-otakus. They clearly do not understand the concept of a tsundere, Emi thought. She was already used to the disappointment.

"Ho ho ho!"

Suddenly the room shook as a rotating platform came out of the ground.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Ryuu asked no one in particular. No one could have possibly answered his question anyway.

"Oho ho ho!" the same strange cackling continued. Finally the platform stopped. The lights shut off, while a single spotlight remained, illuminating the platform. A young girl was seated there, holding a cup of tea. She set it down as she stood up with a dramatic toss of her dark-blond hair.

"Yes! A tsundere! If there is one type missing from the Ouran High School Host Club, it is the classic, ever-popular tsundere!" the girl declared.

"Who's that?" Ryuu whispered.

"Renge Houshakuji," Kyoya answered. "She's in your class. Didn't you know?"

"Obviously I didn't," Ryuu bit back.

"Could you explain to us what a tsundere is?" Tamaki asked politely.

"Of course, you plebeians." Renge sat back down. "A tsundere is best described as one who acts cold and hostile, or tsun-tsun, on the outside. But deep inside, that person is actually a big sweetheart! And sometimes that big sweetheart comes out, revealing a tsundere's dere-dere side. Kind, gentle, and loving. Oh, it's always so amazing seeing the dere-dere side! And hearing the classic, 'It-It's not like I like you or anything, stu-stupid!' line."

"Yeeeeees!" a voice said.

Emi was gazing at Renge as if she'd finally found her soulmate. "Yes! An otaku!" She pumped her fists in the air. "And you understand the charm of a tsundere?"

"Of course!" Renge said. "Is there any otaku in this world who doesn't?"

"Do you read manga? How about anime? What genres? Please tell me that you love BL. Oh my God do you know how hard it is to find another fujoshi in this world? Do you play any otome games?"

Renge hopped off her platform, and the two clasped hands. They went off to a corner of the room, chattering nonstop about some manga.

"Um, what?" Haruhi said.

"That's what I'd like to say," Ryuu said with a sigh. He shook his head. "Anyway, I don't want to be a host."

"Why not?" the twins asked. "It's not like you're really a lesbian."

"Or are you actually interested in men?" Tamaki's eyes were wide.

"I'm not!" Ryuu yelled. "Definitely not interested in men! You guys clearly know that I'm uncomfortable around women! So why should I go out of my way to spend time and flirt with them?"

"It will be an excellent way to get over your fear," Kyoya replied.

"No it won't. I've been fawned over before, and that's why I'm scared of women."

"Don't worry," Tamaki said. "We'll protect you, our Lost Friend!"

"Stop it with the lame nicknames!" Ryuu said.

"In all seriousness," Kyoya said. "Our guests are aware that they can not suddenly jump on their hosts. It's poor etiquette and frowned upon amongst our guests. You can host without being worried that you will be randomly touched. Don't you think this is an excellent way of getting over your fear? It will certainly work faster than crossdressing as a girl."

"What makes you think that?" Ryuu crossed his arms. He was paying attention now, though. Kyoya raised a few good points. "Becoming friends with girls is a fine way too."

"Yes, but they are looking at you as a fellow female, not as someone from the opposite sex. Unless you plan on crossdressing for the rest of your life, don't you think you should get used to being looked at as a male?"

I should revise his nickname from omniscient creep to omniscient, persuasive, and creepy smarty-pants, Ryuu thought. He was starting to consider it now. Hosting a few girls wouldn't be bad. He certainly wouldn't mind the attention. Flirting with them... That was a bit different, though. He'd never actively, consciously flirted with a girl before.

"No."

Ryuu's attention snapped to Emi, who had returned to their circle of discussion. Renge and her strange platform had disappeared.

"No?" Kyoya raised an eyebrow.

"Ryuu is not hosting." She crossed her arms across her chest and planted her feet shoulder-width apart. She was getting into her stubborn pose, ready to fight with tooth and claw.

"What do you mean?" Ryuu asked. "Didn't you hear what he just said? It really might help me."

"Yes, but it could also backfire. What if people find out you are Ryo? Or are you going to start coming to school as Ryuu now?"

"No, I'll come to school as Ryo, and host as Ryuu."

"And just how would you explain your appearance's similarities? How would you explain why whenever Ryo is around, Ryuu isn't and vice versa? What if girls still stalk you and touch you outside of the Music Room? What if things happen all over again?"

"They won't," Ryuu said tightly. He was gritting his teeth now. "I won't let that happen."

"But you don't have any control over other people's actions," Emi replied.

"But this really could help Emi! Don't you want me to get over my fear of women too?"

"Of course I do! Just not this way!"

"Well you didn't support the crossdressing idea, so why are you supporting it now?"

"Because I think it's better than this one! You're jumping on the fastest train, and disregarding whether or not it's reliable and safe!"

"Trains?" He gave her a look of disbelief.

"It's a metaphor." She glowered.

Kyoya cleared his throat, and they were reminded that they were not alone.

"I'm sorry Ootori-senpai, but Ryuu will be declining this offer," Emi said.

"No I'm not!" he said. "I accept! I'll be a host!"

Emi frowned. Her eyebrows bunched together. Her eyes narrowed. "Ryuu! Come on!" She turned towards him in protest.

"Don't come on me! This is my choice! It has nothing to do with you!"

"How can you say that? You're not even going to ask Akimi-nee-chan's advice?"

"Nee-chan?" The twins perked up. "You two have an older sister?" They smirked.

"She's not our real sister," the Mazawa twins said together without even looking at the Hitachiins.

"Anyway, she also has nothing to do with this! It's my choice," he said.

"Yes, but it will affect other people too. What if someone else finds out that you're crossdressing? It'll ruin our family's reputation! And cause tons of trouble!"

"Emi-san," Kyoya said. "If Ryuu-san joins us, the Host Club will do everything in its power to protect his secret."

She watched him warily. "Why would you do that?"

"It wouldn't be good for our reputation if word got out that one of our hosts was crossdressing as a girl." Kyoya smiled.

"You should just let him join, Emi-chan," Hikaru said.

"If he messes up, he'll just dig his own grave," Kaoru said.

"I don't want him to dig his own grave!" Emi said.

"So you're just worried about him, right?" Haruhi asked.

"Of course!"

The Host Club turned to Ryuu. "What?" he said, upon noticing their expectant gazes.

"Please discuss this with your family, Ryuu-san," Kyoya said. He pushed his glasses up while smiling. "It'd be best if you do this with your family's full support." He glanced at Emi and gave her a nod.

Ryuu sighed. "Okay. I get it. Emi was just worried about me. Blah blah, mushy gushy-"

"Let's just go home," Emi said, feeling very tired.

"Okay."

They did discuss it with Akimi and Bertrand. Akimi didn't think it was a bad idea, but she did want them to be careful. Bertrand believed that they should discuss it with their parents.

"As if mom or dad would care," Ryuu said. "They didn't even bat an eyelash when I told them I wanted to go to Ouran as a girl."

"But you'll be hosting!" Bertrand said.

"What's the big difference?"

"You'll be shamelessly flirting with women!" Bertrand said.

"Shamelessly- How is that- Why does that mean we should discuss this with mom and dad?"

"I don't think he should do it," Emi said.

"Come on Emi," Ryuu pleaded.

"It's risky!"

"I'm just-" Ryuu sighed, ruffling his hair in frustration. "Give me a chance, Emi. Please. You heard what Kyoya said right? It could really help."

Emi bit her lip. "I know, but-"

"So just help me. Put some trust in me," he said.

"Ryuu."

"Please." He put on his puppy-eyes, knowing that Emi couldn't resist. She looked away.

"If you screw up, it's your fault you know," she mumbled. "I'm not going to help you."

"Thanks Emi!" He squeezed her into a hug.

"Wait, we still need your parents' approval!" Bertrand held the phone out to Ryuu.

"Who should I call?" Ryuu asked, as he took the phone.

"They're both already on the line," Bertrand said.

"Huh?" Ryuu whipped the phone to his ear. "Hello? Mom? Dad?"

"Ryuu dear!" His mom's voice was loud as always. "I heard you want to do some hosting thing at school?"

"Yeah, like, to help me get over my fear of women," he said.

"And what's wrong with your current plan?" his dad asked.

"It-It's not as effective," Ryuu said.

"Can you see this plan through all the way then?" his dad said.

Ryuu swallowed. "Yes."

"Good. You have my approval then. I'll come see you two as soon as I have time."

"Okay," Ryuu said.

"Well then you have my approval too, Ryuu dear! Just make sure you and Emi have some fun in high school. Watch out for that dear girl, will you?"

"Okay."

"I love you Ryuu! I'll be back for summer break, okay?"

"That long from now?" Ryuu said.

"It'll fly by real quickly," she said.

"Do you want to talk to them, Emi?" Ryuu held the phone out towards her. She shook her head. She was messaging her parents almost everyday. "Okay then, bye Mom and Dad."

"Bye darling!"

"Bye."

Ryuu ended the call and looked up at Bertrand. "They approved."

No one was really surprised.

"Then, from now on, you are Ryuu Mazawa, Ryo and Emi's cousin," Kyoya said. "We'll just pretend that you're visiting your cousins, and so you won't be an Ouran student. So, you may wear whatever you'd like."

The twins wheeled out a long rack of clothes. Then they grinned. "Dressing up time!"

"What?" Ryuu's jaw went slack. "I'll just go with-"

"No. We can't trust your fashion." The twins shook their head. "Now come with us!" They grabbed Ryuu and disappeared into the backroom.

"Serves him right," Emi grumbled.

Haruhi smiled. "Don't worry, Emi-chan. He'll be fine."

Emi just frowned. She pulled her cellphone out from her schoolbag and then left the clubroom. She stood outside Music Room 3 and placed a call.

"Hello? Emi?" a familiar voice said.

"Chiharu!" Emi smiled. "How are you?"

"That's what I should be asking you," Chiharu said. "You don't call often. Did something happen?"

"Yeah, that stupid twin of mine made a stupid decision," Emi said.

"Haha!" Chiharu's hearty laugh never failed to make Emi feel warm inside. "What did he do? Did he proposal to someone? Break a window? Beat someone up?"

"Nothing like that. Fortunately, I think."

"Then what? I wanna hear this!"

Emi glanced around to make sure the hallway was empty. Then she said quietly, "He's joining the Host Club I've been telling you about."

There was a brief silence before Chiharu burst into laughter. "Ahaha! Seriously? Even though he was hating on it so much! Ahaha, that's so like Ryuu!"

Emi smiled.

"Hey." The door beside her opened, and Kaoru poked his head out. "Ryuu's ready. Do you want to see him?"

"Ooh, is that a guy's voice I hear?" Chiharu asked. "Which host is it?"

"It's Kaoru Hitachiin," Emi replied. She nodded at Kaoru and followed him back in. "I have to go."

"Okay. Thanks for calling, Emi. I miss your voice."

"Thank you, Chiharu," Emi said. "You cheered me up."

"Eh? Really?" She chuckled. "I didn't do anything though. Oh well. Call me again later, okay? Or message me. Oh! Will you please send me a picture of the Host Club? I want to see how hot they are."

Emi giggled. "Okay. Sure. Bye."

"Bye!"

"Who was that?" Kaoru asked.

"Chiharu?" Ryuu said. There wasn't anyone else Emi would have called, especially when she wasn't in a good mood.

Emi nodded while taking in Ryuu's appearance. He was wearing khaki jeans, blue Converses, and a navy-blue hoodie. He ran a hand through his hair, making it messy again.

"If your hair was any longer, you'd look like Haru from Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun," Emi said. "But younger-looking…"

"What?" everyone said. Emi sighed. This was why she didn't like being with non-otakus.

"Who's Chiharu?" Kaoru asked.

"It's none of your business," Ryuu said, shooting a glare at Kaoru.

"She's my friend," Emi said, sending a similar expression to Ryuu.

Tamaki jumped in front. "Now then, Ryuu, we shall begin your hosting training!"

"Uh, what?"

"When you're having any problems, it's good to go for a lower perspective," Tamaki said, giving an example by staring up at Ryuu from below.

"Okay, I got it already," he said. "Can I just try this?"

"Well, I have taught you all my tricks!" Tamaki said, as he struck a dramatic pose. "There is no way you can fail now!"

"Hang on, hang on." Emi stepped forward. "If you're going to go with the Tsundere type-"

"Who said I was?" Ryuu said.

"It's already been decided," Kyoya said.

"When? Why?!"

Emi grabbed Ryuu by the shoulder, while staring in his eyes. "Listen to me. If you don't pull off a good tsundere, you will shame every tsundere out there in the world!"

"I get it. You don't have to be so dramatic," Ryuu said. He was starting to think that Emi was more similar to Tamaki than Ryuu could ever be.

"Then show me your tsundere act!" Emi sat down on the couch opposite her brother and folded her arms. "Come on! Flirt with me!"

"Eeeeeh?!" Ryuu squeaked. "There's no way I can flirt with my own sister!"

"We could use Haruhi instead then," the twins said.

"Why me?" Haruhi asked.

Probably because he's a girl!Ryuu thought. His eyes narrowed but no one said such a thing. That's right. Joining the Host Club means I can find out if Haruhi is a girl or not!

The twins pushed Haruhi down on the couch beside Emi.

"Go ahead then." They smirked at Ryuu. "Show us what you've got. If you want to be a Host, you have to make at least one of them blush."

Huh? Huh?! But why? And Emi doesn't blush easily! And that Haruhi is a guy! Or possibly a girl, but still! A girl who can flirt with girls like that probably doesn't blush easily!

Everyone stood, waiting for him. Fine. I gotta do this. To get over my stupid fear!

Ryuu leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. He was well aware of what tsunderes were like. "What are your names?" he asked with a frown.

"I'm Emi Mazawa." Emi smiled.

"Haruhi Fujioka." Haruhi didn't look very comfortable with this. Ryuu could understand. Everyone's gazes were locked on the three of them.

"What are you doing here?" Ryuu asked.

Emi's smile froze. "I'm here cause I want to meet the new host."

"Me too." Haruhi said with zero emotion.

"Um." Ryuu glanced around the room, trying to think of something to do. Then he spotted the teapot on a cart to the side and stood. "Do you two want some tea?"

"Sure." Emi smiled. Haruhi nodded.

Seriously, maybe this was the wrong thing to do, Ryuu thought, as he poured the two of them some tea. He handed the steaming cups over.

"Ah!" Emi almost dropped the cup from the heat.

"Aw crap! Sorry Emi!" Ryuu said. "Are you okay?"

Emi smiled at him. "I'm fine. Thanks for worrying about me."

He frowned and quickly looked away. "I wasn't worrying about you! Stupid!"

She chuckled.

"So that's…" the twins said. "A tsundere?"

"So, uh, Ryuu-kun," Haruhi said. "What do you like to do?"

"Like in my free time?" Ryuu asked, sitting back down. Haruhi nodded. "I like playing video games and watching anime. What about you?"

"Me? I like to cook," Haruhi replied.

So freaking girly! Ryuu thought. "Wh-What kind of foods do you like to cook?"

"Anything's fine. I like cooking my mom's recipes the most though." A soft smile appeared on Haruhi's face.

"Ah, my daughter is so adorable!" Tamaki said, crushing Haruhi in a sudden hug.

"Se-Senpai!" She looked like she was suffocating.

Daughter? Ryuu glanced at Emi to see if she'd picked up on that word, but Emi was just watching in mild concern and excitement - mainly excitement.

Tamaki-senpai and Fujioka-kun! Of course! Why didn't I see this pairing earlier? They would be so cute together! Emi wanted to squeal in delight. Oh my, this means the love triangle is expanding! Into a… love arrow?

While Haruhi was being wrestled out of Tamaki's death grip, Kyoya said, "That was enough. Please remember to be courteous to our guests. Now, let's open the doors and introduce you."

Please tell me what you think! Thanks for reading! :)