WOW. Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews! You guys are nothing but loving and dedicated. I'm sorry this has taken SO long- I was on vacation without internet or a laptop, for that matter. Rest assured, you'll be getting your updates rather regularly from now on. A shout out to Mishmodia, who just finished her own fic, Electricity in my Soul…she was really the person who made me decide to write this! I hope you all enjoy - McKenna (This Chapter, as well as chapters 1&2 were updated 4/7/14)
After the scare with physical examinations, and the nightmare that would be if Haruhi was ever found out, the Ouran High School host club was returning to a normalcy…one suited for them, that is. My life was fashioned regularly now, with a simple routine that actually made me rather happy during the day.
Mornings were spent with Mori and Honey at Kendo, classes went rather well thanks to them, too. My afternoons went to the host club, and evenings to homework, calling my mom, and chatting with dad. I had grown much closer to the man I once only thought of as a business man. He was warm, light-hearted, and hilarious. He loved to spend time with me, and would always call in "sick" in order for us to do things together. Sometimes, we even practiced Kendo together. We watched movies, went out to eat, and watched sports. It was…fun.
Taking up Natsuko's advice, I invited Honey over to try some cake I baked after school on a Friday evening. I busied myself with setting out plates and silverware, along with the platters of a couple different cakes that Natsuko made along with my own cake. After I was satisfied, I changed into a dark blue dress, checked my appearance, and distracted myself with homework and loud music until he showed up.
God, whoever invented calculus was a complete ass. Seriously, who needs to know this? I shook my head and tapped my foot along to the beat of the music coming from my headphones, concentrating hard on the worksheet in front of me. A hand was laid on my shoulder; I jumped and screamed, quickly pulling the headphones out of my ears. Trying to catch my breath, I glared at Natsuko as she laughed hysterically. "I've been c-calling you f-for ages now, Orie!" She declared, laying a hand on her stomach and trying to quell her laughing. I rolled my eyes, but smiled as well. "Your friends are here."
Friends. Friends? S. I darted down stairs to see Honey sitting at the table, kicking his legs absentmindedly, and Mori sitting next to him, looking down at the table. I sighed, placing a hand over my overactive heart. I'm so glad it's only Mori…
Taking in a deep breath, I tried to walk down the stairs as fluidly and gracefully as possible. Gotta impress. But who was I trying to impress?
My eyes glanced to Mori as both boys noticed my entrance, and I realized that I did want to impress Mori. I realized that I like him. I admired his patience with Honey, and his quietness that speaks so loudly. He was admirable. Not to mention cute. And handsome. And Orie get a hold of yourself and go talk to them.
"Hey Honey, Mori. I'm sorry, I wasn't prepared for you both, let me get another place setting." I greeted them, beginning to pass them to go to the kitchen. Mori grabbed my arm before I made it all the way, however, and pulled me back.
"There's no need, Takashi doesn't feel very well, so he isn't eating. He just wanted to come by and see you!" Honey voiced what Mori, I guess, must have been thinking. I looked at Mori steadily, but he refused to make eye contact with me. I could see the slight smile, though. It was there. Try not to convince yourself too hard there, Orie.
"Well, that's okay. Just tell me if you'd like anything, Mori. Honey, you go ahead and dig in. I baked the one in the center, and I need someone to try it out for me." I dropped him a wink and he smiled happily. "Can I get you a drink?"
"Tea, please! Takashi, will you have some tea?" Honey said, looking over at his companion. I shuffled my glance back to Mori, who was now standing up next to me, his chair pushed in. He nodded briefly, and returned my gaze. Stuttering, I blushed and began to walk away into the kitchen, Mori following behind me.
"I don't need any help, Takashi, its okay." I tried to reason with him. I smiled nervously as he shook his head, reaching above me to grab the tea pot from the top shelf. "Hm. Maybe I did need you, after all." I joked with him, gaining me one more sort of Mori-special smile. I was starting to adore that look.
"You called me Takashi." He commented. My eyes widened as my blush became furiously red on my rather pale cheeks.
"I'm sorry…" I said stupidly, at a loss for words.
"Don't apologize." He assured, ducking his head.
Together, we started the tea, and stood across from each other as we waited for it to steep. I leaned on the counter and tried to focus my eyes everywhere but his as he stood before me, hands delved into his pants pockets. I began humming the tune of the song I was listening to earlier, trying to clear up some of the awkward and tense silence as we waited. I forgot tea took this long.
I slowly brought my eyes to Mori, who had been staring at me for the past couple seconds. Clearing my throat, I attempted some sort of conversation. "So…u-uh…that K-kendo tournament coming up…" I stuttered out awkwardly, trying to smile to make up for it. I could feel my cheeks heating up as Mori looked at me with confusion etched across his distinct features.
"Yes?" He asked, tilting his head down to me more.
Swallowing my irrational behaviors, I tried to be more fluid. "Are you excited?"
"I suppose." He replied, seeming uninterested in the conversation. Turning away from him to hide my embarrassment, I began setting tea cups and the whole deal on a tray and steadied my frustrated breathing. "Orie," Sounded his deep voice, and I turned to literally smack right into him. Gasping, my hands flew to my nose, holding on to it as if it would help the throbbing pain. I smacked my palm on the counter top and hissed.
My hands were taken away from my face as Mori leaned down to examine it. His face was so close to mine, it was almost painful trying not to look at him as his eyes, filled with concern, searched my own. "I'm fine, Mori. It was an accident."
After a couple more seconds of awkward yet intimate closeness, he released my face and offered an apology, and taking the tea tray for me into the room where Honey was eating cake after cake. The rest of the night was filled of Honey and me making small talk, and me thinking over and over: I'll never, ever have people over. Ever. Again.
The next school day, Mori and I didn't speak to or look at each other for the majority of our time together. Honey chatted with me about each cake, to which I tuned out effortlessly, twirling my pen between my fingers and biting my lip. At lunch, Honey looked at me sadly.
"Orie-Chan?" He asked, tugging on the sleeves of my hideous dress. I raised an eyebrow, glancing over to the blonde haired boy.
"Yes?"
"What's wrong? You haven't been acting like yourself, and you and Takashi haven't spoken to each other at all…" Honey went on, and I waited for him to stop his rambling and figure out for himself. When he did, he turned to me with a grin plastered upon his face. He whispered harshly to me, "You like Takashi, don't you? Don't you?! That's so…cute! Takashi has never had a girl he's ever shown emotion for, but I'd bet he really likes you!"
"Honey, calm down." I said as I rubbed my sleepy eyes. "Yes, maybe I have a slight…crush…on him, but it doesn't matter. He probably thinks I'm a klutzy, stammering, blushing idiot."
Honey kept smiling at me, but shook his head gracefully. "Takashi thinks you're wonderful." He declared.
I snorted at this, and turned my body to fully face him. "Oh? And who told you this? Certainly not Mori." Honey hesitated before crossing his arms and closing his eyes. I was curious, though.
"I just know it, Orie-Chan. Takashi doesn't speak about many people, but he has spoken about you. He shows more concern for you, and he smiles a lot more around you. I think he finds you refreshingly different from all the other girls he knows."
When Host Club started, I put on the uniform Kyoya had supplied me with, and served the whole time, making sure each table had all the tea and cakes that they needed. It was another one of their themed days, and I had on a traditional kimono. As I noticed my feet were dragging, I quickly hurried into the kitchen area they had set up for food storage, and shook myself out of my funk.
This isn't like you, Orie. So what if Mori doesn't like you, or you literally have zero chances with him…doesn't matter! You have a life. So what if…if…Mori and Orie rhyme and it'd be cute as hell.
God dammit.
Loading up the cart, I smiled at my insanity, and pushed the cart out into the main room, serving and offering smiles when needed. I rolled my eyes at the twins' stunts, as well as Honey's (not so planned out as the twins) missing sandal and Mori's retrieval of it for him. I could almost barf at the…grossness of it all. Yet, it was hilarious, and I loved these boys.
All the girls filed out, Tamaki was obliviously seducing Haruhi and all was pretty normal in the world of the hosts, until…
"Looks like the Host Club has a brand new guest." The twins analyzed together as I left the cart where it was to stand near them, observing the events about to unfold.
"Holy sh-!" I shouted as the girl punched Tamaki away from her, making fall him back as she screamed at him. My eyes were wide and my mouth was dropped open in amazement and shock.
Incompetent…disgusting…commoner…narcissist…
And…who is this girl?
The girl ran up and threw her arms around Kyoya's waist, going on about how he was her "one and only prince." I couldn't help but snort; how could the Shadow King be a prince?
The story was that the girl, Renge, believed Kyoya to be her fiancée. After Kyoya explained that he had never met the girl before, it was deduced that she thought Kyoya was a video game character. I still was standing with my mouth agape, and eyes widened as all the others screamed and ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.
"According to my research, I understand you manage the club, is that true?" Renge asked Kyoya as we all sat down on the couches, watching intently.
"That's right! Kyo-Chan is our director!" Honey replied to her question, leaning over the couch back to gain her attention.
"You're the club's director? That's perfect! Oh, I've always wanted to wear a sandwich board to advertise a business!" She said, clasping her hands together and staring off into the distance space. I tilted my head and looked at Mori, who lightly shrugged. At least I wasn't the only horribly confused one.
"I've made up my mind! From now on I'm going to be the manager of this host club!"
I almost groaned.
The next day over tea, the Host Club discussed the pros and cons of a lady manager. Of course, Tamaki offered that it was good idea, so that Haruhi could have a girl friend. I rolled my eyes at this and hit the so called king on the back of the head.
"And what do you call me?" I asked, crossing my arms and glaring at him as the twins laughed loudly. Tamaki rubbed the back of his head and shrugged.
Renge came into the room suddenly, "Hey, guys. And Orie." She smiled brightly at me, but I just kept my glare at the back of Tamaki's head. "I've baked you all some cookies!" Tamaki sidled up to her, but Renge countered. "Not for you, you phony!"
Honey took one and began nibbling on it. "Ek, these cookies really are burned!"
Mori grabbed the cookie from him and I stood by them, amused. "Don't eat that, Mitsukuni, it's bad for you!" Renge must have overheard this, because she immediately began chasing us, me really only being including because I was holding Usa-Chan, Honey's stuffed rabbit, from falling.
"Renge!" I shouted as Honey screamed out loud, too. Eventually she stopped, and she studied all of us as Tamaki, Haruhi, and the twins were arguing over something. Mori and I caught our breaths as she began shouting about their "characters."
"All of you except Kyoya! All of your characters are lukewarm! Each of you needs to have some sort of dark side, you understand? Girls are vulnerable to handsome young men who are troubled! If you keep carrying on like this, it's only a matter of time before the girls get tired of you and stop coming all together. Are you trying to ruin my precious Kyoya's business? As your manager, it's my duty to change your character backgrounds! Let's start with…you!" She shouted, pointing at a quivering Honey. "If you're so cute inside and out, then you're no different than a baby. Therefore…from now on you are the baby faced thug!"
"And Mori-Senpai, you're his childhood friend flunkie! The twins," She went on, "will be basketball players who slave in their own world! Haruhi, you're an honors student who's constantly being bullied." She paused, and turned to Tamaki. "And as for you, Tamaki, you're the school idol who's admired for your good looks but actually has an inferiority complex you're hiding from the world: the lonely prince."
Oh Jesus, now she's done it.
"Oh, yes, and for you, Orie-Senpai…" She began, but I quickly cut her off.
"Oh, I'm not actually a host or hostess. No need."
"Wrong! If you're going to be hanging around the boys you need to have a character as well! Hm…who would you go well with? I know! You'll be Mori-Senpai's love, but can't be with him because of his loyalty to Honey-Senpai!"
I gave her a dead-panned expression and a lazy thumb up. Not too different from real life.
"So, remind me again why there's a whole Hollywood camera crew here?" I asked Mori as we waited for our cues. I bunched up the stupid script Renge wrote for this stupid movie she decided to make, and tossed it aside. Mori shrugged at my question, but his eyes danced with amusement at my frustration. "Oh, you think that's so funny." I grumbled, and he reached down to pat my head.
I smiled up to him, admiring how he looked with the fake Hollywood made rain dripped off his chin and hair. I looked like a drowned rat, no doubt, but he was…ugh.
Haruhi began running through the trees, leaning up against one to catch her breath as Honey swaggered up behind her. "You can't run away forever." He said, his voice surprisingly deep and posture incredibly…thug-like. Haruhi whirled around and fell to the ground, bunching herself up against the trunk of the tree. "I'm gonna show you what happens to anyone who crosses me." Honey said dangerously to Haruhi as Mori appeared right next to him.
"Don't do it, Mitsukuni. You should have realized by now that whenever you hurt others, you're really just hurting yourself." Mori told Honey as the rain still poured down, and I watched in amazement. That's the most I'd ever heard Mori speak to anyone, and god, his voice had me in a trance.
"I didn't ask you for any advice. You want me to put you over my knee again?"
My cue. I came running toward them, plopping myself down at Honey's feet in a begging stance. "Mitsukuni, please! Please, don't hurt anyone else!"
Honey didn't even turn to look at me; his bangs hid his face well. "Hey, Takashi, clean up the trash, will you?"
Mori glanced at me before his eyes flickered back to Honey. "Mitsukuni, don't make me do this. You know how I feel about her." He warned. That line, even if it was morbid and over written, made me go fuzzy in the brain. To hear Mori's deep voice resonate with such an idea: him caring for me romantically, was, without a doubt, mind-blowing.
"Takashi."
Mori sighed, and stood over me, hauling me to my feet by one slender wrist. He put his arm around my neck, as if to choke me, and muttered a sorry as he let my "unconscious" body fall to the ground in a tumbling heap. Oh, I'll feel that tomorrow.
"You know, just like Hoshiyo, it really pisses me off when people don't know their place." Honey said, lifting his head up as Mori shut his eyes with guilt. I hadn't the slightest idea that any of the boys were this good at acting.
I waited a few moments, but only heard a whimper as Honey flung himself to Haruhi, apologizing tremendously as he hugged her. I groaned and stretched my limbs as I was lifted off the ground by Mori. He offered me his jacket, as I was shivering from lying on the cold ground, and I took it thankfully. He ruffled my hair before apologizing.
"Don't apologize." I said simply, shrugging. "Had to, technically, almost kill me."
He looked at me strangely. "Please don't say that." He muttered, and then proceeded to get Honey off of Haruhi. I went with Haruhi to dry off my hair, when Renge called her and me over to meet someone. She explained that the two guys were to be from the mafia, and the whole club would come together to fight them. Haruhi and I looked at her, horrified, as did the two poor guys.
I waved my hands in front of Renge's face. "Whoa, whoa, wait. You can't just go around judging people like this, Renge."
"Wait, Renge!" Haruhi said as Renge pulled the two guys over to the set without even listening to us. The guy retaliated, pushing Renge off of him.
"Renge, watch out!" Haruhi and I shouted as we sprinted forward; things were falling all over the place and she and I pushed Renge out of the way. In the mess, Haruhi was pushed up against the wall, and she held a hand over her eyes, as I had the guy's uniform bunched up in my hand so I could pull him away from the scene, effectively getting myself hit in the head by a light or something.
Groaning, I sank to the ground, too, clutching my head in my hands. Tamaki came around the corner and began going at the two guys, which was stopped by Haruhi, who had actually just lost a contact. As the other club members came around, Renge was charmed by Tamaki's protectiveness over Haruhi. However…Kyoya smashed the lens of the camera with a rock, claiming he couldn't let the footage be released with that kind of violence.
As Renge yelled at Kyoya, Mori and Honey helped me off the ground, Mori supporting my weight as I fought to gain my sense of balance back. When I lifted my hand from my head, Honey gasped. "Orie-Chan has a cut!"
A few days later, with a Band-Aid on my forehead and many questions circulating about it, we found out that Kyoya had edited the film and sold it to costumers. We all turned to Kyoya, who stood behind us, as the girls in front of us fangirled.
"I may have broken the lens, but the actual footage wasn't damaged. Naturally, I did cut out that one violent scene. Sales have been pretty good so far; that Hollywood film crew did a pretty good job. Then again, I guess that's to be expected." He explained as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and smirked deviously. "And, besides, many of the male students of Ouran have been commenting on Orie-Senpai."
This caught Honey's attention briefly. "Orie-Chan's gonna host?"
I glanced at Mori, who didn't meet my gaze at all. Biting my bottom lip, I just laughed lightly. "Kyoya, you sure you don't want to 'make things more interesting'?" I asked. Kyoya only shrugged. I glanced back at Mori once more, who was now staring at me directly.
"Sorry, boys, but I'm not so in to entertaining." I replied to the idea, smiling at Mori warmly.