Title : Game Master
Author : Meiko Kairi
Chapter Title : Let The Game Begin

Main Pairing : Hikaru x Haruhi

Category : Romance / Humour
Rating : For Teen(s) – T; May contain language or scenes not suitable for very young readers!

Summary : AU. Haruhi, the commoner, thought that in her new school she could study well enough but instead, she found herself playing a dangerous bet with a Hitachiin.

Standard Disclaimer : Ouran High School Host Club Does Not Belong To Me.

- - -

Haruhi panted wildly. She was desperately catching her breath and stilled her body against the nearest wall. From here, she took her time to register back to her mind what happened.

"F-Fujioka Haruhi..." came another panting voice, "...right...?"

Haruhi was still busy stilling her breath and after recovering, she immediately glared at her "abductor" who was busy polishing his features.

"What are you thinking Hika—" she deliberately cut herself off as soon as the voice turned to her. She was now unsure of her words.

She thought that he looked like Hikaru but a part of her was saying he was not, because his voice is gentler, because his face is nicer.

"Fujioka Haruhi, right?" he repeated after feeling almost sure that she would not finish her statement.

"Y-Yes," she said. She hesitated if she should ask the question that was bothering her, but she did, anyway, "And I suppose you're not Hikaru?"

Kaoru's eyes widened in pure shock. Surely it was something he didn't expect. He came closer, his head a little on a side, "You know?"

Haruhi smiled sheepishly, swinging her hands to her back, "Not really. I just assumed because you weren't sure who I am,"

He casts his eyes down, shadowing the sadness that fell into it, "Oh, I thought – "

"Do you need something?" she said with a conserved smile.

Kaoru stared at her for a few seconds.

If he is with Hikaru he could have introduce himself as the son of the owner of the school and the one whose family is prestige and sponsoring her scholarship. But he is not. So today, he will act the way he really is, not the way he is when with Hikaru.

"Hitachiin Kaoru," he said while extending his hand and placing a nice smile – just how the way people do when they make friends. He had seen this work on "local" television shows and it obviously worked on a "local" student like Haruhi.

"Do you need something?" she repeated her unacknowledged inquiry.

He rolled his eyes to the garden where the "beautiful maidens" dawdle and seduce him but he just waved his hand as a sign that he acknowledged them. "Nothing," he said nonchalantly.

"You dragged me all the way here just for naught?" her voice sounded dangerous.

He placed his eyes on her, watching and observing her expressions, "I just want to meet you,"

'Damn this rich bastard...' she calmed her vex down, "Nice to meet you, Hitachiin Kaoru-san but I need to study so I would have to leave," and she did but a hand prevented her from doing it.

"Wait," he chuckled, "There's more to it," he immediately pulled Haruhi close to him and placed a hand over her shoulder. Haruhi made a mental note that he was too forward. He leaned closer and covered a side of his mouth to conserve his whisper. "Let this be our little secret..." he stated and caught a tinge spark of interest on Haruhi's eyes, "Hikaru's interested on you,"

The interest was gone in an instant and she detached herself from him, "I don't have time for jokes," she stated clear. Her voice held neither laughter nor anger. It held boredom.

She no longer have time for stuffs like those, she needed to study. And so she left. And he did not stop her.

- - -

Two identical and symmetrical palms slapped as soon as the commoner Fujioka had disappeared.

Cheshire smile came into their faces.

"Nice Kaoru," Hikaru praised his brother. His elbow was resting on his twin's shoulder.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Kaoru inquired upon remembering the reaction he got from Haruhi.

"Definitely," he said so confidently – as if he was sure of it.

Kaoru shrugged, "But her expression seemed not to care,"

Hikaru looked at Kaoru's eyes then let out a tiny and high-pitched snicker, "Of course! That's what she likes us to think, but deep inside, she was twisting in overwhelming joy! I've seen lot of shows that say that poor girls feel attracted to rich and handsome guys like us! And whenever the girl knows that someone is crushing on her, she'll become happy and fall in love with the guy. She's no different, I'll prove you that," he said nonstop and checked his brother's reaction again – he was now convinced.

Kaoru smiled the way Hikaru was doing it, "Right! She'll definitely fall,"

'She'll think about what Kaoru said to her, even coming to the point that she will think it everyday... She'll be paranoid to everything that I do. She'll be flattered and allow herself to be "coaxed" until she falls... Then I win.'

And the Hitachiin's eyes sparkled dangerously.

- - -

But, contrary to what the royal and almighty Hitachiin Hikaru is thinking, Haruhi's merely thinking about the solution of the mathematical problem she's encountering.

Besides, what Kaoru said could mean "anything". And she is not the type that would put some colour to it.

She doesn't need it and she doesn't care.

Haruhi sulked and covered her ears. There's too much noise inside the library. All are chatting about everything sophisticated (which was, by the way, toxic to Haruhi).

Haruhi looked around the grand and book-filled library.

It looked splendid on its gigantic pink drapes – preventing too much light to come in from the glass windows. The books were arranged on the big and high shelves and one needed to use mini-elevator to reach the high places. There were computers on each selected table so one could do research through net. Looking at all of these, Naruo's library has the complete ambiance of a "perfect" study room... but the noise... they're –

"Hi!" a cheerful and at the same time haughty voice came in which Haruhi recognized immediately.

"What is it Hitachiin-san?" she said, briefly looking at him then to her notes.

"What are you doing?" he said, pulling a chair to sit beside her. He studied what she was busy with and recognized it. "Is that our homework?"

"Yes," she said, not really appreciating his presence.

"Why are you doing this here?"

"It's none of your business,"

He looked like he ignored her but deep inside he was pissed. Somehow his pissed thought was transformed into words, "It's homework, meaning you have to do it at HOME," he pointed out, matter-of-factly.

She practically threw her pen down and her large glasses met his eyes, "You know, unlike rich people like you, I don't live in such an easy lifestyle. I do this here because I couldn't possibly study at home. I have chores to do," she said then set her eyes back to the homework. He was silenced for no one ever talked to him like that before – even ignored. But then he thought it was her way of building "walls". They were playing a game after all.

"What number are you working at?" he said, leaning closer to her and with his breath fanning her cheeks.

She hesitated. Hikaru sure doesn't look like a "studious" type but she decided to answer anyway, "The last and the toughest number,"

His eyes glistened, "Ah! That!" he exclaimed, "That's pretty easy," then he brought out his notebook and pen to illustrate the problem. And as he did he timely checks her expression grow from uncertain to certain. Her eyes were like saying: "Wow. Makes sense."

"I think I got it from here," she declared nicely and angled her notebook a little on his direction to show him how to finish it.

He gave a thumb up, a conceited grin across his face, "Good work,"

She threw back a smile, "Thank you,"

"Math is no problem for me, piece of cake," he declared, not noticing that he was already bragging.

She decided to change the topic. "I met your brother," she said and gave him an eye and he looked as if he was interested.

"When?"

"About an hour ago," she reckoned and checked the time on the large clock. As she saw the time she fumbled quietly and discreetly to pack her things, "Are you coming with me?"

He raised a brow, 'Asking me for a date, Fujioka?' he thought, "Where?"

"To the class of course,"

Or maybe not...

- - -

"Fujioka!" Ayaka, the vice-president, class secretary and the wanna-be muse of the class called after her. Their class, dismissed.

Haruhi swung her head to her. Her face held an inquiring look. "Yes?"

Ayaka crossed her arms with her feet tapping almost silently the marbled floor, "Me, The Almighty Akanishi Ayaka-chan is ordering you to buy a new gown,"

Haruhi ignored the bossy and demanding tone Ayaka used. She focused what was more "important". "New gown?"

Ayaka chuckled evilly, "Of course! School dance is roughly within two weeks. You better look beautiful as the class' muse. There would be an awarding for the school's Crowned Prince and Crowned Princess,"

One of her anonymous minion walked in, "Beautiful you say? Why are you telling this to her? Like she could win the title of the Crowned Princess,"

Another one came, "You're the one who should be in her place. If you were, we were surely gonna win it,"

Haruhi gave a blank stare, "You know what? You're kinda funny. You're so spoiled that you wanted everything. You're the class' vice and the class' secretary and yet you want to become the muse. Actually I don't care, if you want it so badly then take my place. I don't care," she stated and despite of the words she said, her tone was calm which what seethed Ayaka's anger more. Her "well-polished" etiquette was thinning and her animalistic thinking was engulfing her.

She attempted to slap Haruhi but someone grabbed her hand.

"Stop," was the simple but strong word. He dropped her hand furiously and revealed the red marks left on her porcelain-like skin. "What the hell are you doing, Akanishi?"

"H-Hikaru-sama!" Ayaka gasped, "Why are you on her side?"

"It was you who wanted Fujioka as the muse. What were you thinking, hunh?"

She couldn't look back at him and instead concentrated on rubbing her sore wrist, "I'm sorry..."

He smirked inwardly at his showoff and glanced at Haruhi to check if his anticipated scene was working out... but she was gone. And when he checked out the windows, she was already walking her way home.

'Damn it,'

- - -

"Hey," a trying-to-be-gentle voice called out to Haruhi who was walking her way home. She didn't bother to stop and look at the direction of the voice instead she walked faster.

A forehead vein showed, "Hey!" he said, louder than that of the first.

Haruhi fret a bit. She's getting closer to where she lives and she doesn't want anyone in the school to know where it is.

"HEY!!!"

Haruhi tentatively looked through the window of the car following her and shot a glare. "What?"

Hikaru scratched his cheek as he got out from the car. He immediately took her hand and tried to pull her in. "I'll take you home. Hop in,"

Haruhi was perplexed. Why would it concern him?

Something clicked.

Ah, yes. The game. It slipped off her mind because she never took it seriously. And duh? Did he really think that she would fall by that cheap scene?

"Thanks but no thanks," she gave a curt smile and jerked his hand. Somehow her jerking on his hand didn't make him lose his motivation – it even grew, as a matter of fact. Feeling a sense of panic, she began to run and scream. Seriously. She doesn't even care if she is going farther from where she lives. He ran after her and route around the streets and when Hikaru cornered her, he dragged her to the car.

She hates walking anyway. Her shoes make her feet ache because they're already small. But drag her? Force her in? They even made a small scene. Oh, how she was humiliated. Anyways, she could ride and stop at the nearest point where her house is located so he wouldn't know.

"So," he said. He sounded like he hasn't felt any guilt. He was grinning the whole time and he seemed to enjoy the chase. What was she anyway? A stay cat? A hound dog? A deer? An endangered specie? If this is his way of trying to get her, well IT IS NOT WORKING. "Where's 'this' house?"

Haruhi swallowed, her throat dry. A terrible panic came inside of her but she tried her best to keep her disposition unshaken. She looked out the window and suddenly, she knew what to do as she saw a far-off sign. "Y-You could drop me at the Kazuki-Mikuru Store. I have to do some groceries,"

He raised a brow of suspicion, "Where?"

She checked outside the window again and reckoned the distance to the K.M. Store. "From here, two more blocks then turn right. Just after a few meters, turn left and we'll soon spot it,"

Hikaru barely nodded and gave a look on the chauffer to follow what she said.

There came a silence afterwards and Hikaru was the one who made effort to break it.

"Why don't you wear uniform?"

Haruhi turned sheepish. She wanted not to answer but she had nothing to return the "favour" he gave her. She started slowly, "The uniform being sold inside the school is very expensive so I decided to buy the fabrics myself and take it to the tailor. I'm just waiting for the tailor to finish it,"

"Oh..." Hikaru frowned. He found her answer a little awkward to give a reply but an idea came, "Then I'll send some stocks to your house,"

"E-Eh?" Haruhi's voice screeched long, "N-No. That's – "

His haughty aura was back, "You don't need to worry. Money spent on those is like throwing a cent,"

'Damn filthy rich bastard...'

"More over, why wear those glasses?" he did not hide a disgusted look, "That's the reason why the class makes fun out of you,"

She turned away, a little shy of his blunt comment and becoming aware that the car seemed to be driving very slowly.

"It doesn't concern you,"

Hikaru lounged forward and tried to snatch the glasses from Haruhi. She struggled to prevent it from happening. She succeeded but a more "risky" thing happened as the car halted, inadvertently losing Hikaru's balance and pinned Haruhi to the carpeted car floor.

Their noses were almost touching but no one dared to move. They were too panic-stricken.

Hikaru was the one who was revolted. Imagine, Hikaru-sama is over Pathetic-chan! But he didn't move, he thought it was a good chance of winning her heart.

The door of the luxurious car was opened by the chauffer. Upon doing it, both of them flushed red and Haruhi quickly shoved Hikaru. His head made a good hard knock on the metal-plastic alloy of the seat-bracer. Haruhi went flying to the K.M. Store.

- - -

Since Haruhi did shop (though she really didn't plan it) she went home quite late. She sighed upon reaching the door of their apartment.

She opened it – to her horror, her unlucky day isn't going to end yet... because Hitachiin Hikaru is there with a pile of school uniforms. Her okama father entertaining him.

"Didn't I tell you that I'd bring you uniforms?"

- - -

Author's Note:
I'm sorry again for OOCness. I did try. but it's quite hard.
And wow. I got nice reviews. It made me feel pressured just to meet with your expectations. Keep 'em coming. ;)

R & R Corner

REVIEW : "I say this not meaning ANY offense, but what's wrong is your tenses.
Bear with me, I hope I'm wording this right, but you seem to be getting past tenses/reglar tenses(?) and POV's mixed up/confused/switched."...

REPLY : I did mention on the last chapter that constructive feedbacks are well welcomed. I'm sorry for the wrong tenses. English is not a language I always use but I believe it's not that overwhelming compared to others. I'll try to check 'em.

REVIEW : "I like it. Question though, will you have tamaki and the others and the host club in it as well?"

REPLY: Yup! I'll have them placed probably on chapter 3.

REVIEW : "i pick number one but isnt the school called ouran? i c u spelled the scholl name back wards, okie then i accept ur oocness and hoping for some fluff the next chapter and kaoru"

REPLY : I did spell it backwards. I can't think of any good name for the school. Naming it Ouran would make Tamaki, (the son of the... is it the chairman?) sad.

REVIEW : "THAT WAS AWESOME! you should con tinue you could make Hikaru actually dallin love with her and have him come over to her house and totally LEMON! not to sound perverted! i just think that it would be even mre aewsome! just a suggestion!"

REPLY : Lemon? Hmm... the idea seems very appealing (because I read lemons) but I think I'm gonna stick to "T".