The week passed by and the rumour mill began to turn once more, this time mentioning the supposed 'screeching match' between Merry and the Princess. People hadn't forgotten what had happened between the Princess and the commoner during that fateful afternoon that got Ayanokoji banned from Music Room 3, so the whispers were rather one sided in Merry's favour.
Friday afternoon approached, and despite Merry's booking of Music Room 3 still being in place, she'd gracefully told the Host Club (while an audience watched on) that she would be withdrawing her request since she'd seen how important the Club was to them and their clients.
A few of the students who were impressed with her playing sighed with disappointment, but she promised she would ask the Dean if it was possible for her to take on students willing to learn violin.
The whirlwind of interest that had surrounded Merry and Ayonokoji picked up again, this time Merry's actions towards the ever popular Host Club playing the main feature.
Saturday approached at a sluggish pace, and it would be a weekend filled with drama and revelations though Merry remained completely unaware.
Merry rubbed her dry eyes, trying to focus on the History text book in front of her as she did some revision in preparation for the upcoming exams. Despite it being only ten in the morning, she hadn't had much sleep the night before.
Slumber had eluded her, so she did what she always did whenever she couldn't sleep. She played her music. For once she was grateful that her bedroom resided in the right wing of the Victorian mansion. All of the house staff lived on grounds, in rather cosy accommodations on the opposite side of the large house. They'd hear nothing, so she wasn't risking waking anyone up, and Ran had informed her that she was a bit tied up in Kyoto for the next few days in meetings with her father and his board of directors, acting as her stand-in.
Merry could go at her own pace, and it was a wonderful feeling.
A knock at the door made her sigh and slide off her book-covered bed. She padded to the door and peeked out and up at Hideo. He wouldn't have interrupted her studies unless it had been something important. Ran would have bitten his head off from Kyoto otherwise. "Yes?"
"Forgive me, Young Miss, but you have a visitor."
She raised a brow. "Who?"
"A young man by the name of Haruhi Fujioka."
How unprecedented. "And he is alone?"
"For the time being, yes Ma'am. I have shown him to the parlour and offered refreshments though he refused."
Merry read between the lines. "Thank you, Hideo-san. I'll go see him now. Keep a watchful eye for me, yes?"
"Yes, Ma'am." He moved out of the doorway with a slight bow so she could slip into the hall and down to the parlour. Haruhi was gazing about with much more enthusiasm and awe than Kyoya had displayed.
"Good morning, Haruhi-san," Merry greeted, entering the room, the bottoms of her charcoal soft-cotton pants brushing the floor.
The scholarship student spun to her with wide eyes, like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have. "Good morning, Merry-chan," he greeted. "You have a lovely home."
"I think you mean I have a lovely parlour. You haven't seen the rest of my home, Haruhi-san," Merry smiled, gesturing for her schoolmate to sit. "Do you Host's make it a point to come to my home unannounced? When should I expect the others?"
"Others?" he asked.
"Ah, Kyoya-san dropped by unannounced last weekend. We had a rather stimulating conversation."
Haruhi's surprise at Kyoya visiting a non-Host member in his free time gave way to pink cheeks at Merry's emphasis. "Kyoya-sempai is a mature conversationalist."
"Of course. What did you think I meant, Haruhi-san?" Merry slouched into the sofa. "Are you going to tell me the reason for your visit?"
"A-ah, I came here to apologise." His brown eyes hardened with seriousness. "I'm sorry. For everything. I knew something bad was going to happen the day the twin's took your violin case but I sat back and did nothing until the damage had already been done. I'd noticed how precious the case was to you. Having someone take it without asking must have made you angry, and given you the wrong impression of the Club and Ouran too. So, I'm sorry."
Merry stared quietly, mind whirring. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke. "Where are the others right now?"
Haruhi felt a bead of sweat slide down his neck. Surely she couldn't have suspected…?
The girl's hazel eyes were unflinching and confident. She knew. Haruhi sighed, growling slightly at how he was always dragged into the boys ridiculous schemes.
"They're parked at the start of your driveway. I told them I was going to come here to apologise and they tagged along for some stupid reason. I'm sorry. They make everything more difficult than it should be."
To his shock, Merry started to laugh. It was a genuine, happy sound and Merry's eyes softened slightly.
"It's okay, Haruhi-san. My butler, Hideo-san, told me that you were not as alone as you appeared to be. Plus, the cameras surrounding my property seem to be picking up some interesting activity involving people resembling the remaining members of the Host Club."
Haruhi sweatdropped. "Right. Security cameras. How thoughtless of me."
Merry chuckled again. "Over the top, maybe, but necessary."
Haruhi blinked. "Has something happened before?"
Merry hummed nonchalantly, rising to walk towards the entryway where Hideo was standing at attention. "Hideo-san, please open the front gates. I'm expecting more guests."
"Of course, Young Miss." He disappeared.
"That's gotta be handy," Haruhi mused, not sure what to do now that the stupid plan was a bust. "Having a butler, I mean."
"Hideo-san is a man I'm more than happy to have working for my family."
Haruhi felt a little lost at the older girl's mysterious tone of voice, but decided it wasn't any of his business. He gazed around the book shelfs, recognising a few classical titles. Meandering over, he took a closer look.
"If you'd like, you may borrow some."
"O-oh, thank you, but I couldn't. The school has a library, so…"
"You mean the place filled with books that is used as a meeting place for useless gossip, the noise so loud that no one can even hear themselves think?" Merry deadpanned.
Haruhi laughed nervously. "Uh… yes?"
Merry waved her hand dismissively. "I wouldn't have offered if I didn't trust you to return them, Haruhi-san."
The Natural Host smiled brightly, hovering closely to the American classical literature. "Thank you, Merry-chan."
There was a polite rap at the front door that echoed into the parlour. Hideo answered, but his polite greeting was quickly overtaken by the sound of a relieved sob.
"Haru-chan! Daddy's here!"
A blonde blur sped into the parlour and latched itself onto an unimpressed Haruhi. "Get off me, sempai."
Tamaki shook his head rapidly, squeezing tighter. "No! Daddy was so worried about you!"
"Do you all distrust me so much?" Merry mused aloud as the rest of the Club trailed behind the King, expressions ranging from indifferent boredom to mild curiosity.
"Milord doesn't trust anyone when it comes to his precious Haru-chan," one of the twins snickered.
His brother slung an arm over his double. "He gets jealous easily. How cute!"
Tamaki slid off Haruhi and spun on the twins. "You take that back, you devils! I'm just trying to keep the sanctity of our precious family intact!"
"Sure," they both drawled.
"Mommy! Help me!"
"Not even out of school and I already have a wife and meddlesome children," Kyoya said dryly.
"Merry-chan! Usa-chan wants to know if you have any cake," Honey said cutely, perched on his cousin's shoulder and cuddling his stuffed bunny.
"I'm sure the chef, Jun-san, has something," she replied with a slight smile. Best not be rude to guests – no matter how unwanted or unexpected – else Ran catch wind of it and have her go over her lessons in etiquette. Again. She nodded at her butler standing in the parlour entryway who in return bowed before heading to the kitchen.
A finger poked her cheek and she glanced over at one of the twins. "Why are your eyes so red?"
"Have you been crying?" the other asked, popping up on her other side.
"Or have you been having trouble sleeping? Because if you have…"
"We can help you with that," they both purred, blowing softly into the shell of her ear.
To her horror, she giggled. The moment the Host's shocked faces registered she twitched slightly and shoved the twins away from her with a scowl. "Don't do that."
"Are you ticklish, Merry-chan?" Honey chirped, sucking on a lollipop he'd pulled from Kami-knew where.
"Somewhat," she replied, not even bothering to hide it. "My ears are sensitive. Helps with my music, also."
"Tama-chan plays the piano really well! Don't you, Tama-chan?" Honey smiled.
"That wouldn't surprise me," Merry said. "His hands are quite delicate. Nimble. Pianist hands."
The twins cackled. "Pfft! Pianist."
"Grow up," Haruhi snapped, slapping the backs of their heads.
"Ne, Merry-chan! Can you show us where the kitchen is? Can we have cake now?" Honey pleaded, but there was a slight gleam in his eye that reminded Merry that he was one of the smartest seniors for a reason.
Tamaki gasped happily. "Ooh, can you give us a tour of your beautiful home, Merry-chan?"
She inwardly sighed. They truly had no idea what 'subtle' meant. She supposed Haruhi's intentions were pure, but the rest of the club tagging along was little more than a bid to find out something about her. She was well and truly on the Host Club's radar and she didn't seem to be budging any time soon.
"She's not gonna give us a tour!" Haruhi snapped, pointing at Tamaki. "And she shouldn't feel obligated to feed us either! We weren't even invited here! In fact, we all should leave! Right now! Move it, buddy!"
"On the contrary," Merry intoned just as Haruhi started to manhandle his Club-mates, "I'd be more than happy to give you all a tour."
Kyoya's glasses flashed. "Wonderful."
Short, I know. Sorry about that!
Thoughts? ^.^