Kohaku fidgeted as Kyoya explained his 'interesting idea', she didn't find it interesting at all. In fact, she found it horrible, an absolutely terrible idea which would never work.
"Please pay attention, Nakamura – San. All you have to do is play something that the customer requests and talk with them, we aren't asking you to become a host, at least not right away," Kyoya smiled as he finished talking.
"Now if you'll step into the changing room, I believe there is a dress waiting for you."
Silently, Kohaku walked into the changing room and looked at the dress hanging up for her. The dress seemed overly fancy but Kohaku had come to terms with the fact that nothing was ever simple with this club. As she slipped the dress on, she noticed the matching flats that sat beside the door,.
'Well, at least they aren't heels.' She thought to herself, resigned to the fact that she would have to wear what outfit was prepared for her.
Examining herself in the mirror, she frowned at the dress, the navy blue flattered her skin tone and hair and the dress didn't look horrible on her. In fact, she couldn't find a reason to refuse to wear it, something that annoyed her greatly. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she stepped out of the changing room with her uniform placed in a bag.
"So do you like it?" One of the twins asked.
"Yeah, it's pretty. Did you pick it out..."Kohaku trailed off not knowing which twin was in front of her.
"Kaoru, I'm Kaoru," he grinned only to receive a sharp smack on the shoulder from Haruhi.
"Hikaru, don't confuse her. Jeez you two are terrible," she muttered.
"Right, anyway Kaoru picked it, said it would match your eyes, guess he was right."
Kohaku blushed lightly as Hikaru stared at her face before grinning and walking off to talk to his younger twin.
Kohaku went over to the piano and sat on the bench, for some strange reason people were requesting her. It wasn't supposed to be like that though; she was only supposed to play the piano for the guests. They had never said anything about HOSTING them but then again, Kyoya probably planned this. The boy really was evil.
Aiko Suzuki walked into the Host Club nervously, it was only her second visit after all, and she hadn't quite gotten used to the extravagance that the Host Club planned every day. Another reason for her nervousness was due to the fact that she had requested the newest addition to the Host Club, Kohaku Nakamura. Aiko couldn't explain the feelings that rushed through her as she listened to the girl play and while the other girls were busy talking to Haruhi, she barely paid attention and simply listened to the music weaving through the air.
Aiko had always had a passion for piano, unfortunately she was unable to play it as well as she would have liked despite the various tutors her parents had hired. It seemed that she was only doomed to be able to listen to the beautiful pieces and not be able to play them.
As she walked up to Kohaku, Aiko cleared her throat nervously and spoke to the younger girl;
"Hello Kohaku – Chan, I'm Suzuki Aiko, I'm in Class 3A and I hoped you'd be able to play for me."
Aiko really was nervous; she had no idea how to introduce herself without sounding stupid or too eager. This was something that she definitely wasn't used to.
"Hi Suzuki –Senpai, do you have anything in mind that you want me to play?" Kohaku asked, giving Aiko a small smile.
"Please just call me Aiko and no, not really. I don't mind what you play," Aiko sat down on the sofa placed by the piano.
Kohaku began to play, her fingers delicately gliding over the keys, smiling as each note sang perfectly. It was obviously a song she had played many times as she seemed to be more absorbed in the music than watching her hands.
Aiko closed her eyes and let the simple melody drift through her mind, a small smile on her face as she listened to the piece that Kohaku played. Before she knew it, the piece had finished and Kohaku herself was left with a serene smile.
"I'm jealous of you, Kohaku-Chan," Aiko said as she looked at the younger girl who blinked, startled at the statement.
"Eh? But why Aiko – Senpai?" Confusion was clear in Kohaku's voice as she looked at Aiko.
"You can play piano so beautifully and you look so blissful while playing, I wish I could do that."
"Then why don't you learn?" Kohaku asked.
"I've tried, my parents hired many tutors but I just don't seem to have any talent with it," Aiko looked down sadly before Kohaku stood up and grabbed the older girl's hand.
"Even if you aren't naturally talented at it, you should still try Aiko-Senpai, especially since you enjoy it so much."
Kohaku led the girl to the piano bench and indicated that she sit beside her. Kohaku placed Aiko's right hand on the piano and placed her own on top of it, causing Aiko to blush at the contact.
"If you just follow what my fingers do, we can play a piece together Senpai," Kohaku said with a smile.
Kohaku gently pressed her fingers on Aiko's causing the girl to slowly play gentle notes, as she helped Aiko play, she added her left hand and begun to play along. Aiko smiled as she 'played' the piano, she knew that she wasn't really playing but the feeling of the keys beneath her fingers was almost as beautiful as the noise the produced.
Soon enough, Aiko was able to play the repetitive sequence without Kohaku guiding her fingers and while Kohaku played the more complicated part, Aiko still felt proud of her small accomplishment.
"See Senpai, anyone can play piano. Just because you don't have natural talent, it just means you have to practice harder," Kohaku said as she finished playing.
"Yeah... you're right, Kohaku-Chan."
Aiko looked up the younger girl and smiled; "So how long have you been playing piano, Kohaku-Chan?"
"I only really started when I was ten because my mom couldn't afford private lessons, I had to be taught in school but I've been playing violin since I was able to hold one properly, my mom taught me violin using her own so we didn't need to buy one for me."
"Your mom plays?" Aiko asked curiously.
Kohaku's eyes darkened and she looked at the keys sadly; "Not anymore but she used to be amazing. I remember when I first heard her playing, I was really young but I was amazed at the sounds that she was able to make."
"I'm sorry Kohaku-Chan... is your mom...?" Aiko trailed off, not wanting to finish the question.
"Oh no, she's alive but there was an... accident when I was younger. Her hands were injured and she can't strain them too much anymore so she can't play."
Aiko stared at the younger girl for a moment before pulling her into a hug which startled Kohaku. Pulling back from the hug, Aiko smiled at Kohaku who returned it gently before speaking;
"Senpai, your hair colour is really pretty."
Aiko blinked before glancing at a strand of her brown hair, trying to see what was pretty about it. It was a colour that was nowhere near unique and was shared with many of the other girls in the school.
"Ah, thank you Kohaku-Chan but it's just a boring brown."
"Oh but when the sun hits it, it has this red tint. I'm jealous of it," Kohaku smiled at her Senpai causing a blush to spread over her cheeks.
Aiko stuttered, embarrassed at the compliment and could barely manage a smile when Kohaku placed her hand on Aiko's forehead and brought her face closer, frowning.
"Are you ok Senpai? Your face is red, you don't have a fever do you?"
Aiko shook her head and laughed nervously; "No no, I'm fine it's just a little warm in here."
Kohaku smiled and Aiko couldn't help but look at the girl in a different light, her smile seemed so genuine, Kohaku seemed so genuine. When she had spoke of her mother, it was with clear adoration, she wasn't trying to manipulate Aiko's emotions. There was absolutely nothing manipulative about this girl, something that was rare in Ouran.
"I can open the window if you like, Aiko – Senpai?" Kohaku asked.
Aiko shook her head and smiled; "I'll be fine, Kohaku-Chan but could you play another piece for me?"
Kohaku nodded and placed her hands on the keys; "Do you have anything in mind Senpai?"
"Something soft and gentle please." 'Like you,' she thought.
Kohaku bit her lip in thought before she began to play softly, losing herself in the music, unaware of Aiko who was now staring at Kohaku with a small smile on her face. Aiko watched Kohaku with admiring eyes, taking in the way her fingers glided over the keys, how her hair would fall out of place when she moved her head, how her eyes slid shut as she became fully absorbed in the music.
Aiko was definitely glad that she had designated Kohaku.
Kohaku finished playing the piece and looked over to Aiko who grinned at her, she was glad that her first 'customer' had been Aiko-Senpai, the girl was easy to talk to and they had a mutual interest, something that made this so much easier. It seemed that Host Club was almost finished as the majority of the guests were leaving so Kohaku stood up and smiled at Aiko.
"It was really nice to meet you Aiko –Senpai, I hope you had fun."
"I did Kohaku-Chan; I think I will request you another time, if that's okay?" She asked.
Kohaku grinned and nodded; "I'd like that, we can play on the piano again!"
Aiko grinned and turned to speak with Kyoya, most likely to request Kohaku again.
Haruhi walked up to Kohaku and smiled; "How was it?"
"Better than I expected although I can't help but think that Ootori-San planned this," Kohaku mused.
"It wouldn't surprise me Nakamura-Senpai, he seems to have everything planned out, even things that happen suddenly," Haruhi said dryly.
Kohaku smiled at the younger girl; "Call me Kohaku, Fujioka – San. After all, we're friends now, right?"
Haruhi nodded; "Alright but you can call me Haruhi, Kohaku-Senpai."
"Deal, so Haruhi-San I was actually wondering something," Kohaku trailed off, biting her lip nervously.
"What is it Senpai?"
"Yo' Tono, don't Haruhi and Nakamura – Senpai look friendly?" Kaoru asked, causing all of the hosts, minus Kyoya, to turn and watch the two girls.
"Oh! My daughters are finally bonding! What a glorious day! Mommy look! They are developing those sisterly bonds!" Tamaki stared at the two girls, tears of joy pouring from his eyes.
"Neh, Tono. What if it's more than sisterly bonds?" Hikaru suggested.
"More than sisterly bonds? What can be more than that? Don't be silly!" Tamaki brushed away the suggestion with ease.
"But think about it; Nakamura-Senpai hates being too close to men, not men and women, just men. She didn't seem to have a problem with talking with her guest earlier; didn't you think it was weird how close she got to the guest?"
Tamaki blinked as he slowly realized what Hikaru was insinuating before laughing nervously; "Now you're being stupid, Hikaru! They are sisters! That's all they are..." Tamaki trailed off as he heard Kohaku laugh and smile.
He turned his head in shock as he witnessed Kohaku pull the younger girl to her side and begin whispering in her ear, Haruhi was even blushing! But of course, this was Tamaki, so what really happened was very different from what he saw. In fact, Kohaku was only laughing at how Tamaki only noticed Haruhi was a girl when he saw her student ID but Tamaki didn't know this.
Tamaki pulled the Host Club into a close huddle to discuss what he had 'seen';
"What do we do? Mommy! Help!" Tamaki pleaded.
"Tamaki, you are overreacting," Kyoya said blandly, annoyed that he had been pulled into the huddle.
"I only have Haruhi's best interests at heart! I don't want my daughter to be snatched away by that girl!" Tamaki whispered.
"You are making assumptions based on very few facts Tamaki, don't be a prat."
Tamaki blinked before whimpering and retreating to his corner, a gloomy atmosphere surrounding him as he cried about 'a mean Mommy.'
It was a complete coincidence that the corner that Tamaki had chosen was close enough to overhear their discussion and it was also a coincidence that he managed to overhear their plans, plans that didn't involve the rest of the Host Club.
"So we'll go shopping after school on Friday?" Kohaku confirmed.
Haruhi nodded and smiled, Kohaku had asked the younger girl if she would go clothes shopping with her and Haruhi had agreed to come along. Not only would it give her a chance to get to know her Senpai better, but it would also give her a break from whatever schemes the Host Club came up with and god knows she needed it.
Feeling a familiar atmosphere, she turned to see a moping Tamaki who was quietly sniffling in his corner for some reason that Haruhi assumed was probably stupid. Ignoring the gloomy atmosphere, she began to pack up her belongings and waited for Kohaku to emerge from the small changing room.
"Where are you going Haruhi?" Hikaru asked, throwing an arm around the girl's shoulder.
"I'm going home with Kohaku-Senpai; I need to get home so I can cook dinner for my dad anyway."
"Tch, why are you going home with her? We can take you home in our limo," Hikaru frowned.
"Don't be stupid Hikaru, it doesn't take long to walk home and Kohaku-Senpai lives close to me anyway."
Haruhi shrugged off the older twin's arm and walked with Kohaku, pausing to say goodbye to the Host Club before leaving.
"This is bad! Kohaku is obviously in love with Haruhi and is trying to take her away from us!" Tamaki exclaimed.
"Yeah, she doesn't realise that Haruhi is only talking to her because she's the only other girl, Haruhi doesn't feel the same way," Hikaru said,
As Tamaki told the twins his plot to follow the girls on Friday, Kyoya let out an irritated sigh, he was best friends with an idiot.
A/N: Well, Tamaki and the twins obviously have an active imagination! And we have a new character! Her relevance in the plot is still unknown (sort of) but I wanted to show a different point of view that wasn't Kohaku or any of the Host Club. Yes! There is actually a plot, I just need to develop relationships and stuff before we delve into it.
So right now I am running on 4-5 hours sleep and 2 cups of coffee, yay! Last night I went to a 21st Party and oh god, it was so fun. There was belly dancing and a power cut in the restaurant we were eating at, so we ended up sitting in the dark for half an hour. –Random information-
Anyway, thank you very much for adding this to your story alert/favourites! And a big thank you to 2featherbraids and Itsgoose2u for reviewing again! ^~^