"Good Morning Class!" Chimed Mrs Hanabusa happily. It was a bright, sunshiny morning at Ouran Academy.
"I would like to introduce our newest student! This is Daisuke Niwa!"
As the class responded with greetings -and as Daisuke waved and smiled sheepishly- the orange haired twins simply stared blankly. That's when Daisuke noticed them, his expression became slightly surprised for a moment, and then returned to his usually carefree grin.
Those are the same guys from last night! They're students!
"Daisuke," The teacher continued, "You can sit behind Haruhi Fujioka, I'm sorry we only have one empty seat. Haruhi, please raise your hand."
Haruhi's head shot up at the sound of her name, she hadn't been paying any attention. Daisuke made his way past the first couple of rows. "Are you Haruhi?" He asked timidly.
"Yes, I am!" She extended a hand and smiled, "Nice to meet you! Welcome to Ouran High!"
Daisuke's real smile erupted, as he took her hand and shook it.
"This food tastes even lamer than usual today." Hikaru complained. He sat next to his brother in the school dining hall, along with the rest of the members of the host club. The two of them sulking like there was a cloud of gloom over their heads.
"What's got you two down?" Haruhi asked as she opened her box lunch on the table.
Their heads turned slowly to face her, eye's flashing. "BECAUSE WE HAD TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT PROTECTING THAT LAME VASE!" The Hitachiin brothers exploded at the same moment, sending Haruhi's hair back in a gust of rage.
"And he still got away." Kaoru added, as he poked his food with a fork.
"Fear not my dears!" With a whirl of fabric, Tamaki rose dramatically, placing a hand delicately on his chest. "This themed crusader will not get the best of us! Next time we go in together!"
"Or not." Kyouya said, eyes still on the screen of his laptop.
"What?.." Tamaki deflated sadly.
"It seems that this 'Phantom Thief Dark' is not an amateur art thief."
"What does it say Kyo-chan?" Honey asked as his cute face turned quizzical.
"Well," Kyouya gently pushed his glasses, "It looks like he has been sighted stealing since back before the cultural reformation."
"What?" Haruhi interjected, "That was over a hundred years ago!
"That's impossible." Asserted Hikaru, the older twin. "It may have been dark last night, but it's clear that that guy is no older than Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai."
The group grew quiet for a moment in thought. Kyouya closed his laptop, "All reports say that's what he looks like, apparently he's always been that way."
Honey latched on to Takashi, "Is it a ghost Mori-san?" The tall, dark haired Takashi just slowly looked to Kyouya.
"We'll just have to find out for ourselves." Kyouya said as if in response, "Next time this thing comes to try again, He'll be in for a surprise."
Haruhi pushed the last few grains of rice around in her box, deep in thought. This is just great. It was this same art auction last year that got me tangled up with these guys. For a moment she remembered the day that she accidentally broke the main item of the art auction, a first century renaissance vase. Now we're finally ready to have a complete, unbroken art auction, and this guy is trying to steal the art!
At that moment Haruhi looked up to see Daisuke Niwa looking for a place to sit among the tables. Tamaki -rising from his deflation- caught the direction of her gaze.
"Hey, is that the new kid?" He asked.
"Yeah, actually. He's in the same class as Hikaru, Kaoru and I."
Without another word, Tamaki walked over to Daisuke to say hello. After a moment they returned together.
"Everyone," Tamaki started with his usual flair, "I would like you to meet my new friend, Daisuke Niwa, he's a second year who just transfered here yesterday!"
"Nice to meet you everyone" Daisuke offered with a smile.
After a little minimal rearranging, Daisuke found himself in between Tamaki and Honey, and across from Kaoru, Haruhi and Hikaru.
Daisuke noticed that Haruhi was sitting right in between the twins. Actually, He thought for a moment. He was in between those guys in class too.
"So what were you guys talking about before I came over?" Daisuke asked.
"The Phantom Thief Dark!" Honey exclaimed joyfully.
"Eh!" Daisuke froze stiff, hair standing straight up (more than usual that is).
"What's so great about that vase anyway?" Kaoru asked.
Daisuke ducked his head.
"And why is this great art thief trying to steal it?" Tamaki asked.
Daisuke sank in his chair.
"Is he a ghost Haru-chan?" Honey asked.
Daisuke sank deeper.
"What do you know about the Phantom Thief Daisuke?" Haruhi asked with a warm smile.
Daisuke looked up. He sat up straight in his chair, glad that no one seemed to notice his moment of despair, and thought for a moment. "Well, a little. All I know is.." He looked up hesitantly to see that he had Haruhi's full attention. She was looking right at him with a small smile and waiting eyes.
"That's he's kind of a jerk."
The group burst into laughter and fun.
Hey! Who're you calling a jerk! Came Dark's angry voice from inside.
Wow, this guy is really, really... uh, nice. Daisuke replied.
Well that's just great, why don't you just marry him!
Daisuke laughed along with everyone at Darks expense, and enjoyed the rest of his lunch, all the while feeling like he didn't know what he was feeling about the guy across the table named Haruhi.
Look for Chapter three when Dark returns, but complications arise when Haruhi begins to trigger Daisuke's transformations! How can he explain to his mother that Haruhi is a boy!
