Among Rose Bushes in Rain

Haruhi's third week at Ouran Academy consisted of losing her schoolbag, finding it in one of the school's fountains, getting a cut from a razor hidden in one of her textbooks, going on two missions with her jerk weapons, and hosting the other three days.

Monday

On the start of Haruhi's fourth week at Ouran Academy she was met with her desk in second period covered in glue.

This proves it, but who hates me so much to do this?

Haruhi tried to lift her binder up again. And glue? Who has that on hand?

The twins didn't overlook the odd situation. Hikaru laughed out loud. Kaoru appeared to pity her.

Well one of them could have done this. She thought it over. No, both of them. He could be feeling regret.

The instructor entered the room then and began class.

Tuesday

"What is it Haruhi?"

She jumped at Kyoya's voice.

"Oh, nothing Sempai."

"Is that so?"

Should I tell him?

"I was just wondering... why it is that none of my teachers have requested I weild Hikaru and Kaoru for class practice." Not what I was thinking about, but I am curious and Kyoya seems to know things. Since she enrolled at Ouran Haruhi had observed the daily behaviors of her teammates. In her eyes, Tamaki was a figure head and Kyoya held the power. Hunny ate twice his size in sweets, Mori spoke seldomly, and the twins were close. Really close. Then again it could just be their host personas.

"You're in the EAT class." Once more, Kyoya's voice brought her out of her mind. "They must presume that their practice would only hold you back."

What kind of answer is th-

"You!"

The look in Kyoya's eyes gave Haruhi her answer.

"I do suggest you get situated. Our guests are arriving."

Wednesday

How had she ended up here, in the middle of one of the schools' many rose gardens?

Haruhi's answer materialized in front of her with weapon in tow.

The meister was Ayanokoji, Tamaki's regular. Her weapon was Misa Mura, the girl who'd approached Haruhi that one afternoon in the library.

"You're the one who wanted to fight me?"

Ayanokoji didn't respond. She made a quick hand motion and Misa transformed into a katana.

"My weapon partners aren't coming. We can't proceed with this. There's not even a teacher present!" Haruhi told the girl, who'd left her a note on her desk in her second period class. It read, Meet me in the Crimson Rose Garden for a duel after school.

Haruhi had informed the twins, but as usual they wanted nothing to do with her.

It wasn't long for Haruhi to realize that something was obviously wrong with Ayanokoji. Her whole body leant to the side that held her weapon. Her hair was less put together than it normally was in club. Her eyes appeared, well the only term that Haruhi could think of to describe them was demented. This wasn't the Ayanokoji Haruhi had met her first day as a host.

Ayanokoji smirked. She knew she'd win this fight.

Haruhi knew it, too. But we can't fight! I mean, she's not going to... still?

Ayanokoji had her weapon partner. Haruhi didn't have one of her weapon partners.

Haruhi tried again to talk some sense into Ayanokoji. The girl seemed to not hear a thing she said.

The two stood in one of the school's many courtyards surrounded by the tall rose bushes that were common on the academy's grounds. I can run if I have to. I only came to tell whoever left me that note that I couldn't fulfill their request.

"How does it feel?"

"What?"

"To be you? To be an intelligent, hated lie? You're not a boy. You're not rich. You're not even the meister of Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin. You're alone in this school. You have no one."

Haruhi wasn't expecting that. She was shocked. How did she know...?

"You're the one who did those things to me! Have you been following me?"

Ayanokoji's smirk turned into a manic grin. "We've been following you for a very long time Haruhi Fujioka."

Before Haruhi could question how Ayanokoji knew her full name, the girl dashed forward with her weapon high in the air.

Haruhi quickly dodged, but Ayanokoji was already in range of contact. The red head turned, made a slashing motion, and cut Haruhi in her mid section.

Her shirt ripped and a thin line of blood started to form.

"Are you crazy? You'll get expelled!" Haruhi shouted at her attacker. Ayanokoji ignored her.

I have to get away now!

Haruhi made for the way Ayanokoji had entered. She ran to the archway and turned left, just as a burst of thunder roared across the afternoon sky.

"Not now!"

"We're coming, Haruhi!"

Which way? Which way?

She had to get back to the academy. The grounds weren't safe, especially now that a storm was brewing.

Right turn. Left turn. Left. Left. Right.

Dead end.

Why would a school have a maze!

"Found you."

She was out of breath and cornered. No escape.

Krrru-Tchack!

"Ah," Haruhi whimpered.

"So, you're afraid of thunder. You should be." In the midst of Haruhi's terror she thought she heard Ayanokoji's voice shift completley to another person's. Then just as it changed, it returned to it's previous sound.

The rain began to fall when Ayanokoji made her second cut on Haruhi. Right across her hands. It was aimed for her face, but she'd covered it with her hands.

Ayanokoji didn't let up. With each slash she made, the bloodier Haruhi became.

Legs. Midriff. Arms. Face. Haruhi lost count. She wished she knew how to project her soul wavelength. She wished she had her weapon partners.

"You're a stupid, commoner! You never belonged here! No one wants you here! Just die!"

And Haruhi was positive that she would, then and there, but something possessed the other meister's body and held her from her final attack.

Ayanokoji seemed more furious than a second ago. "I want to kill her!"

Is she talking, to someone?

"Why?... Yes... I can do that."

Krrru-Tchack!

Ayanokoji dropped her katana and lunged at Haruhi. Haruhi's short, brown hair was in the girl's hands in no time.

"Please stop." Haruhi begged.

"You're in no position to speak." she snarled.

Another roll of thunder rolled across the sky as her head met the grass. She was punched in the face and met the ground once more.

As Haruhi lost consciousness, Ayanokoji and Misa smiled at their work.

Krrru-Tchack!

Ayanokoji had control again.

Maybe she couldn't control her parents and their divorce all those years ago, but she had dealt with the wolf in sheep's clothing. The commoner host known as Haruhi was a nuisance no longer. No one would want to be within five feet of that mess.

Ayanokoji had control again.

Next Chapter: Conversations: Part I
Please Review! Maybe we could get to 20? If so I'll post the next chapter this weekend!

UPDATED 8/20/2013