Nothing Is Set In Stone (OHSHC)
Ch. 2: It's Not Polite to Stare, Hani-Senpai
Author's note: Last I checked, I am not Asian. Therefore, I couldn't possibly have created "Ouran High School Host Club". I don't own it… stop mocking me! D:
"Are you sure I look alright, Haru-neechan?" I questioned as I eyed myself in the Fujioka's bathroom mirror.
-Sigh- I guess I'm the type of girl that's always way too self-conscious about my appearance; always trying to please others but never myself. But, in a way, that does please me. If I can make someone else happy on a day where they feel so crappy, well, then that's enough for me!
I stepped out of the bathroom and walked to the living room where Ranka-papa was enjoying the breakfast Haru-Haru 'professionally' prepared for us. I turned to Ranka-papa, showing him my choice outfit. I was wearing a pink, short-sleeved, one piece, mock kimono dress that reached past half my thigh, lined with white fabric. Underneath I wore a black laced tank, seeing as how the dress was for someone with a much larger bust than what I have. As for bottoms, I just slipped on some black leggings. Shoes? Well… I don't really have any "pretty shoes." It's all about sensibility, not fashion. Right? Instead of wearing my bright green galoshes or my Hello Kitty slippers, I chose my black, clunky 'construction shoes', as Ranka-papa calls them.
"Ah, Kuraki-chan! You look absolutely adorable! Simply— those shoes, Kuraki?" I could feel the dissatisfaction in his voice. Damn. I messed up. "Worry not, my dear! We'll all go shopping after classes! Right, Haruhi?"
Haruhi, wearing his—no, wait. Man, she really does looks like a boy!—her powder blue jacket over a white dress shirt and pitch black tie, black as night pantaloons, and really expensive looking dress shoes, entered the room, two bowls of rice with baked fish on top. "Otousan, you know I have responsibilities right after school. And, I was actually thinking of introducing Kuraki-chan to my… friends."
She kind of hesitated on the word "friends". Does she not have any friends? And she's just been lying to Ranka-papa all this time!?
With a look of grievance, I threw my arms around Haruhi, "I'll keep your secret Haruhi-neechan! You don't have to worry anymore! Kuraki-chan's here for you!"
"Ah… Thank you? You should probably eat Kuraki-chan. It's kind of almost time for me to go to school."
…
"Haruhi! This place is much bigger that what I imagined! Is that a crystal chandelier!? Wowzers!" I exclaimed with such excitement that I earned myself a few bemused stares. A few of them from Haru-chan herself. I didn't care. Something like this has never happened to someone in my family. I never thought I, of all people, would be fortunate enough to attend such a beautiful school. "How do you not constantly get lost in here?"
"It wasn't easy at first, but asking the right people certainly helps." She replied with a humble smile. I could tell she was lying, Haruhi rarely has to ask for help. If anything, people are always asking her for help. Hah, the thought of a richy rich asking a middle-class student for help. "Ah, there's the bell. You can sit in my class if you want Kuraki. I'm sure Sensei won't mind."
"Your class? Are you sure I'll fit in with the super smart kids?"
"If Hikaru and Kaoru have no problem, I think you'll be fine." Haruhi replied with an earnest smile. Why is she so convincing?
…
"Where's Haruhi?" My brother asked, sounding half angry, half worried. "It's not like her to be this late. She's usually the first one here."
"Maybe she's sick?" I offered, hoping to relieve Hikaru from his thoughts. "You know she wouldn't dare miss class on purpose."
"Ah! There she is!" He practically sprang out of his seat. "Eh? Is that…?"
"…Haruhi's friend?" I completed for my brother. We turned to each other before our lips twisted themselves into a familiar smirk. "Think she's used to seeing 'brotherly love'?"
Hikaru chuckled darkly, "Why don't we find out?"
"Ohayō, Hikaru, Kaoru." Haruhi greeted us as she normally does, immediately knowing which one was who. No matter how many times she does it, or how she does it, it always makes us feel something we're not used to feeling. Call it love, but my suspicions are leaning towards shock. But, I speak for myself.
"Ohayō, Haruhi!" We chimed back in perfect unison.
"I'd like to introduce you two to whom I consider my best friend, Ena Kuraki. Kuraki-chan, these are my classmates, Hitachiin Hikaru," Haruhi pointed directly at my brother. She never had to second guess her decisions. I admire that about her. "And this is Hitachiin Kaoru."
"Twins. You have twins as friends Haru-neechan! You are officially the coolest girl I've ever known, Haru-Haru!" Miss Ena cried out in nothing more than an excited whisper. She certainly was different than Haruhi, that's for sure. "Ah, excuse me! It is a pleasure to meet you both. Hikaru-san." She bowed to my brother. "And Kaoru-san." Now, she bowed to me.
"It's an honor to meet you as well… Kuraki-chan." Hikaru slowly lifted himself from his desk. I could see how uncomfortable Miss Ena became when her given name was used by my brother. And in such an endearing manner. I can already tell this girl is going to be a lot of fun.
"Ah-ha-ha. Please, Hitachiin-san, call me Ena-san." Kuraki laughed awkwardly as she began to hide behind Haruhi. Something tells me that this happens a lot.
"But you can't possibly call us both 'Hitachiin-san' without getting either of us confused, ne?" I chimed in without a second thought as to where my brother was going with this. "I mean, you're only really hurting yourself if you do." Now I removed myself from my seated position.
"And seeing how it would be rude for you to call us by our given names without us being able to return the favor, you must allow us to call you 'Kuraki-chan'."
"Alright you two, knock it off." Before we could have contact with Miss Ena, Haruhi had blocked our only path to her. So, they are close. Haruhi did call her what she considered her best friend. I see we failed to obtain that title. I wonder if Hikaru caught that, too. "Kuraki, how about this? They call you Ena-chan, and you may call them Hikaru-san and Kaoru-san? Can we agree to that?"
"Right, boss!" We harmonized with two big thumbs up. Haruhi was skeptical; it was clear as day on her face.
"So, Ena-chan, what year are you in?" I asked her with a different, less intimidating tone. Part of me wanted her to say that she was in our year. And, maybe, even in our class.
"Are you a first year like us?" Hikaru added. Nope, his tone stayed the same. Oh, so did the smirk.
Suddenly, Sensei entered the classroom and all the socializing students flurried to their assigned seats. Haruhi being one of the few that did not. Instead, she grabbed Miss Ena's hand and drug her to the front of the classroom and began, what I'm guessing, explaining Miss Ena's situation, and why she happens to be sitting in the class. We saw Sensei smile greatly at Haruhi; probably applauding her willing to show a new student around without being asked. Suddenly, Haruhi was dragging Miss Ena back towards us. Haruhi arrived to her seat, and told Miss Ena to sit in the free spot, three chairs down and two left of Hikaru. Damn, and we never knew what year Miss Ena is in.
…
"Haruhi? Where are you going?" I called out. As soon as Sensei dismissed us for lunch, and now for the end of the day, Haruhi immediately grabbed Kuraki and ran her out of the room. I am not liking this one bit.
"Hikaru," I heard my brother. "Hikaru, what are you thinking?"
Rubbing my chin, I answered, "I don't know. I think Haruhi doesn't want us interacting with Kuraki."
"I thought we agreed in calling her Ena-chan?"
I gave my brother a smug look. "When do we follow rules, Kaoru?" He remained silent. Of course he should. He knows when to challenge me and when not to. It's usually not, but eventually I'll toss him a bone here and there. "Hm. Or maybe Kuraki knows something about Haruhi that she doesn't want revealed?"
"Like a dark secret?" Kaoru slowly regained his smirk similar to mine. He's getting on board again. And that's the way it should be. "What if it's an embarrassing memory!?"
"If I know Haruhi like I do, she's probably already at the club. Come on, Kaoru!" I tugged at his sleeve and we both hurried to the third music room.
Even from the end of the hallway, we could see the sea of ladies waiting to squeeze in time to just have us compliment and woo them. –Ugh– There are times when I wish the Host Club just did not exist. I grow bored of seeing the same people, spewing the same cheesy lines, only to have the one girl who matters not notice me.
We smooth talked our way through the crowd of spazzing females and there she was. Haruhi was talking to Kyouya-senpai. Tamaki, Mori-senpai, and Hani-senpai were too occupied with Kuraki to even notice the real woman in the room. Suddenly, I felt Kaoru disappear from my side. I turned to see him skipping to the small crowd of Hosts and the outsider. He—he has a smile on his face. I was torn. Follow my identical, loving brother, or join the girl I have always dreamt about?
Ultimately, I chose my brother. Blood is thicker than water, after all.
"Tell me, hime-sama, why you are cursed with such beautiful looks?" There goes Boss again. Trying to woo every girl that enters here. He stepped closer to Kuraki's personal bubble, he even cupped her chin, bringing her closer. Wait, what? She recoiled, and quickly!
"Ah, Suou-senpai! P-please! I ask that you not invade my personal space!" She backed away further and further, but every step she took back, Tamaki took two forward.
"Not invade— Of course! You must already have a suitor! Yes, why else would you deny such a handsomely prince?" He ran his hand through his feathery, blond hair. Prick. "Worry not, my dearest! I shall make it my personal mission that no man ever attempts anything against your will!"
We saw the blush that dusted itself over Kuraki's cheeks. "A-actually, Suou-senpai." Boss relaxed from his striking pose. "I don't have a boyfriend. Never had one. I just think that personal space should be respected. Whether boy or girl. I also don't appreciate the false compliments and excessive sweet-talking. It's rather rude."
With the way Tamaki's face froze, anyone would have guessed he had turned into stone. Hah! Serves him right. Hm? Hani-senpai… he's just staring at Kuraki. And Mori-senpai too!
"Is something wrong Hani-senpai?" An angelic voice inquired right behind me. So, Haruhi saw this, too.
"Wrong?" Hani-senpai unlocked his vision from a confused and still oh-so-uncomfortable Kuraki and faced Haruhi. "Nothing's wrong Haru-chan! I was just thinking about something! Something really good!" He finished with a giggle. Damn his Lolita-ness! "Were you thinking the same thing, Takashi?"
Know what Mori-senpai's going to say?
"Ah." Yes, Mori-senpai's forevermore reply.
Seriously, does he ever say anything else? In the time I've known him, I think he's said a total of four sentences. More than half of those have been since we've met Haruhi. –Sigh– Haruhi, you've changed the club in more ways than one.
"Well, what was it that you were thinking about, Hani-senpai? Surely it had something to do with Miss Ena." Kyouya finally came in to the picture. I'm anxious to see her reaction to Kyouya-senpai.
"Eheh!" Damn Hani-senpai's Lolita-ness! "Oh, it was nothing to worry about Kyou-chan! Ah... Shouldn't we be opening up the Host Club by now?"
"Ah! Right! Okaasan! If you would!" Tamaki broke from his frozen state, but took on a heroic pose as he pointed to the main doors. "Our princesses are waiting for us!"
I wonder just what goes on in Boss' head. I imagine a circus, except everyone, including the animals, all have Tamaki's head. Oh, and the ringleader would be Kyouya-senpai. I see a couple of monkeys on a unicycle on a tight rope, once again both with Tamaki's head, one on top of the others shoulders, as they make their way across. Naturally, they fail and fall to their deaths. And Kyouya-senpai will bow and the crowd will cheer. Now, I kind of want to go to the circus.
"—karu!" Suddenly, my brother yelling my name shattered my thoughts. "Hikaru! God, have you gone deaf?"
"Eh? What is it, Kaoru?"
"I said we already have requests. Come on." My brother tugged at my sleeve.
I couldn't help but watch as Haruhi stole Kuraki for a fourth time. She led her to the kitchen of the music room. Yes, this school is extravagant enough that every activity room has a kitchen. We're just that rich. But that doesn't matter. What matters is Haruhi and Kuraki. I don't care what it takes, I am going to find out why Haruhi won't let us mess with Kuraki.
Author's note:
So? Are you guys liking it? Because I am! (^-^) I didn't think I knew where I was going with this, and I still don't! But it's getting to be too much fun to just stop! Oh! Forgot to mention before, the picture near le title is what Kuraki looks like. She is not an OC… well not entirely. That image is an image off a video game in which Ena Kuraki is in. I've never played the game, I just thought she was really cute for the Host members! I do NOT own the image above, just using it and her name! ;D
I also would love to thank Shadowtolight and antaurilover685 (did I spell those right?) for adding this story to their favorites! Thank you guys so much! Your favorites made me write this chapter!
Reviews would be lovely from all~! Let me know what my peeps are thinking! How are you guys liking the Hikaru/Kuraki friction? Does he not like her? Or are his feelings for Haruhi just not allowing anyone else in? And just what was Hani-senpai really thinking about? *obnoxious Renge laugh* You'll have to decide!
Who would you guys like to see interact more with Kuraki? What about Haruhi? So far, all hosts, excluding Mori, have had some sort of interaction with Miss Ena. Let's change that, shall we? ;D
Thank you for reading!
-BulletFan