The King's Tour

It had certainly been a strange day for Gabriel Silk. First, Dr. Bloor had held an assembly to introduce seven Japanese transfer students. "Three of these students are endowed. When I call your name, please step forward. It is up to you to tell us your endowments or talents." Gabriel rolled his eyes as the headmaster droned on. "Haruhi Fujioka."

A girl with short, brown hair stepped forward. "I control fire," she said, a bit shy.

"Tamaki Suoh." The tall, blond boy that stepped up was very flamboyant, and explained that he was an excellent pianist. Great. Gabriel knew that they would both have Lyell Bone as their teacher. Next was Kyoya Ootori, a hypnotist, and the Hitachiin twins, who were both clothing designers. Takashi Morinozuka asked that everyone call him Mori, and explained that he was an actor, martial artist, and swordsman. The smallest boy didn't wait to be introduced.

"I'm Hunny, and I'm super cute and super strong!" he exclaimed with the most adorable grin that been seen at Bloor's, while clinging to a pink stuffed bunny that he introduced as Usa-chan. "And before you ask, Mori and I are both seventeen." The room erupted into girly squeals, and Gabriel had to cover his ears.

After all the chaos, he was told to show Tamaki to all of his classes, including Mr. Bone's. They had both just escaped from the older blonde's crabby first teacher, when Gabriel told him all about the strange, newly awakened piano instructer. "I hope he's better than Mr. Paltry. I've never despised Music Theory, before his class...!"

"Yeah, my friend Charlie has Paltry for Winds. He says it's worse for endowed kids. Don't worry about that with Mr. Bone, though. He's Charlie's dad, and he's great!"

"Really?"

"Yep." As they climbed the stairs up to the piano room, Gabe's hand accidentally brushed against Tamaki's cape, triggering his endowment. First, he felt the obvious happiness that seemed to bubble out of the older boy. Soon afterward, there was a pang of sadness and loneliness that meant Tamaki missed someone, even though that person was in the same building. That made sense. Tamaki was the only one of his group that was in the Music department. He could also feel that the teen was a bit homesick. Again, that was understandable.

"Hey, can you read my mind, or something?" Gabriel looked up, startled.

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to...!" As he explained his talent for reading people's emotions through their clothes, Tamaki grinned.

"Wow, it's like you can really take a walk in my shoes, or in this case, my cape!" They both laughed, and Gabriel let Tamaki into the piano room. Mr. Bone smiled as he was introduced to his new student.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Tamaki. I've heard great things about you and your talents. You have quite the reputation, back at Ouran Academy, and it seems to have followed you all the way to Bloor's. I hope you've had a warm welcome."

"Of course I have, sir," Tamaki replied, smiling back at the teacher. Without much more delay, they began the lesson with Gabriel and Tamaki showing off what they'd each learned. Both Gabe and Lyell were impressed by the extent of the latter's talent. They were almost spellbound by the beautiful music as his hands flew over the keys. Tamaki was startled when he'd turned around after he'd finished, and saw them with their mouths gaping open. "Are you two alright...?! I haven't accidentally hypnotized you, like Kyoya, have I?"

"No, you haven't," Lyell said, quickly closing his mouth and regaining his composure. "That was magnificent! No wonder all those girls flocked to your "Host Club," back at Ouran..!"

Tamaki blushed lightly. "Oh, you heard about that...?" He hadn't known that anyone outside the club had advertised it here, especially to a teacher.

"Yes. Didn't I say that you were quite famous over their? News travels quickly, even overseas." The piano teacher chuckled at Tamaki's surprise, which seemed to break the spell over Gabriel.

"What's a Host Club?"

"Only a club where handsome boys with too much time on their hands entertain gorgeous girls who also have way too much time on their hands~" Tamaki cooed at the younger boy, who looked at his strangely. Neither of them payed attention to the teacher that was trying his best not to laugh at Gabe's uneasy look. "Hey, maybe you should join us, Gabriel. We need another nerdy type that isn't as scary as Kyoya, and I'm sure the girls would love to spend time with another musician!" Gabriel could hardly pay attention to what Tamaki was actually saying; he was too busy backing away from the advancing blonde. He'd never liked people getting in his face, especially when they seemed to be hitting on him. Tamaki wasn't, but it sort of felt like it. The younger boy looked to his teacher desperately for help.

"Okay, Tamaki, I think Gabriel's a bit spooked. You'd better get away from him..."

"Oh, am I too close for comfort? Sorry," Tamaki said, jumping back immediately.

Gabriel sighed with relief. "Don't worry about it. It's not like I told you beforehand that I get claustrophobic..." he trailed off, embarrassed. Luckily, they were saved by the bell, which signaled that it was time for the students to go out for their daily run in the garden. "I guess we'd better go." He quickly gathered his things and hurried out of the room, only stopping to wait at the bottom of the stairs after Tamaki had called out to him. His face was still a bit flushed when the older boy caught up with him.

"Hey, you didn't have to run off like that. What's up with you?"

"Nothing, I'm just... I'm into girls, alright?!"

"Oh, okay. I kinda figured, that's why I asked you to join the club. I'm into the fairer gender, as well, so you don't have to worry about me! I truly am sorry if things got awkward back there, though." Tamaki smiled, seemingly unfazed by Gabriel's jumpiness. Gabriel smiled back, and led Tamaki to the Music coatroom.

"Just hang your cape on one of the pegs, and put your stuff on the bench."

"Hey, Gabe! How's the new guy doing?" They both turned to look at the messy-haired boy who had called to them, as Tamaki did what he was told.

"Fine, as far as I can tell. Your dad was impressed by his playing!"

"Whoa, really? You must've been incredible, then. Tamaki Suoh, right?"

"Yes, and you must be the infamous Charlie Bone." Tamaki grinned as Charlie shook his hand heartily. "Gabriel's told me so much about you!"

"All good, I hope!" Charlie snickered.

"Of course I have, Charlie! You know I'm not a jerk, like Manfred! I'd never say anything bad about you...!"

"Yeah, I know, Gabe. I'm just giving you a hard time. Hey, have you met Billy and Fidelio, yet?" Just then, a small, white-haired boy walked in with a taller brunette boy. Charlie grinned and waved them over. "Tamaki Suoh, meet Billy Raven and Fidelio Gunn." Both boys smiled politely, and Billy looked up at the towering blonde.

"Nice to meet you, Tamaki. You know about the endowed, right?"

"Yes, I do. Three of my closest friends are endowed, and it seems I've made another~" With this, Tamaki smiled at Gabriel, then looked back down at Billy.

"Actually, three more. You already know about Gabe, Charlie can listen to and go into pictures, and I can talk to animals." The tiny albino beamed up at him, making Tamaki's heart melt. Gabriel chuckled, relieved that the older boy's attention was no longer focused solely on him.

"We'd better hurry and get out to the garden, or we'll be in major trouble," Fidelio said, and they all made their way out into the sunlight.