SS- Hey, people are actually getting into this! I can't believe it!
Kali- Well don't let it go to your head; you aren't special.
SS- :pouts: Bitch. Anywho, it's officially Spring Break!! That means I get some more time to work on the story, then go to the Happiest Place on Earth! Does anyone else think that Walt Disney should have been sainted?
Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club and all affiliated characters belong to Bisco Hatori-shishou, no matter how much I may wish otherwise. I do, however, own Nekozawa Susume and Nekozawa Alexandra. Any other random specific characters are my OCs.
WARNING: Um. . .not really anything drastic. Yet.
Rating: M
Title: Portrait of Takashi
"Dammit! Young boss, did you have to teach her to play poker so well?!"
"Seriously, she's cleaned us out of all of this weeks earnings!"
Haruhi laughed at these hardened yakuza underlings whining about her awesome ability at cards. "Just wait, next time I'll get you all good and drunk, and then I'll take you for the entire month's earnings!" It was early (and yes, she considered ten AM to be early) Sunday morning at the Kasonoda compound. She, Ritsu, and Tetsuya had been brought into a poker game as soon as she woke up, the men thinking that they'd have a distinct advantage over the woman's thought process after just waking up. It had taken all her willpower not to break down laughing and ruin everything right then and there.
While the men around her groaned, Haruhi gleefully swept up her winnings into a big pile, sitting out on the next hand to count it all. It looked like there was enough there to pay off that stupid debt, even though it didn't matter anymore. That whole debacle with Lady Éclair (and who is cruel or vapid enough to name their child after a pastry?) had cleared out her thousandth designation. Bye-bye stupid broken vase, bye-bye evil Kyoya holding things over my head, hello future college tuition!!
"Come on, Haruhi, we have to get to Umehito-sempai's place soon. Stop embarrassing the underlings and let's go!!"
"Alright, Tetsuya-kun, but only if I get to kiss one of these poor guys first!" Suddenly, the area around Haruhi was packed with men, each clamoring to be picked for a kiss. She turned in a circle, studying her choices while Ritsu and his boyfriend tried not to laugh to hard. It had actually become a sort of ritual for her to kiss one of the men before leaving the Kasonoda home. Haruhi's eyes lit up when she noticed someone that hadn't been kissed by her yet. He was an older guy, early fifties perhaps, with sleeves (SS- tattoos that cover the entire arm) and a shaved head. She sauntered over, and planted one right on his crown. "Goodbye guys!"
"Goodbye Haruhi-sama! Have a pleasant day!" Somehow, crazily, these men had become totally devoted not only to their boss and his lover, but to Haruhi as well. Insane, that a mere slip of a girl could have the entire Kasonoda gang wrapped around her little finger, isn't it?
The ride to the Nekozawa compound was uneventful for the most part. One of those damn chimps had escaped from the zoo again, making anyplace that Haruhi tried to walk a target for banana peels. Damn bastard chimps. How the hell do they keep breaking out? "Face it, Fujioka," Ritsu snickered as they walked up to Umehito's door, "you're cursed. They always go right for you, without fail."
"I've noticed that Bossa Nova. . ." The two men on either side of her laughed at the sour way she said his old nickname. She pouted at first, but joined in the laughter nonetheless.
It's one of the few things about her that the twins and Tamaki would consider cute, if they were to ever see it.
It was one of those overcast days, just enough clouds to chill the air and darken the sky, but not enough to actually threaten rain. Perfect, because that meant that Umehito wouldn't bother with his robes or wig, just Berezenoff.
The head maid invited them all in, and Haruhi was bowled over by a tiny blonde blur. "Haru-nee-chan's here! Haru-nee-chan's here!" Kirimi chanted. "Are you here for my birthday, Haru- nee-chan?" The little girl gazed up adoringly at her favorite 'big sister', making Haruhi smile back. Umehito came down, black shirt and pants to befit a dreary day, his little cat puppet on one hand and a large rectangular gift in the other.
"Of course she is. Berezenoff did such a clever job of hiding her present for you, even I couldn't find it!" the president of the Black Magic Club chuckled. Haruhi rolled her eyes at him and smirked; what he had actually said was that he forgot where he'd hidden the damned thing and just now remembered where it was. The muted sound of footsteps behind them made the female host look up. Two of the most gorgeous people she'd ever seen (excluding the Host Club— they were in their own "special" category now) were standing on the stairwell, affectionately observing the goings-on of their household.
"Welcome. You must be the friends that Umehito's always raving about." Alexandra Nekozawa, the Russian ambassador to Japan, had one of the most melodic voices that Haruhi had ever been honored to hear, one that was as light and clear as a flute with the faintest trace of an accent. Her golden hair was pulled up in an elegant quaff, and her eyes were bluer than the water of a lagoon; her face was so kind, so maternal.
It had been quite some time since anybody had ever looked at her that way.
"Ah, it's very nice to meet you, Madame, Nekozawa-sama," Haruhi bowed, grinning slightly. Following her lead, Ritsu and Tetsuya smiled and bowed deeply to prove their respect for their elders. Susume Nekozawa, smiled kindly in return. A respected and well-liked cellist, he had a firm grip, and a deep voice that resembled his instrument.
"And you as well, young lady. It's a delight to finally meet the person who helped our little girl conquer her fear. Please, no need to be so formal; we're all family here." Haruhi stared at the two gorgeous parents before her in shock for a moment, then smiled a content little smile after a beat.
Family. It was the one word that, when spoken by the right people, had the ability to turn her into a warm puddle of joy inside her heart. She knew that Tamaki considered the Host Club to be a family unit, but it really, truly, just wasn't. They were all close friends, and certainly they all cared deeply for one another, but one couldn't consider them a family, not in the traditional sense, or any other on that thought. But these people here. . .
This could be considered a family.
SS- Aww, ain't that sweet? I brought in the Nekozawa's, and they're okay, aren't they? Really nice folk, just like their kids.
Athene- We know that some people might disagree about the Host Club as a family unit, but we just can't see it like that. I mean, sure, it works in Tamaki's mind, but we know he isn't the sanest cat around. He reflects the Host Club into the stability and affection he needed whilst growing up.
Kali- And as a random fact about the authoress, she adores tattoos, so she'll add them into stories whenever she can.
SS- Yup. I wanna crescent moon with an arrow beside it one to celebrate my love for Sesshoumaru/Kagome pairings, and a katana with a rose for my wondrous Mori/Haru pairings. . .:gazes out dreamily into the distance:
Athene- She'll be okay after awhile. In the meantime, many thanks mucho gracias, merci beaucoup, and domo arigatou gozaimasu to Death By Squishy, sakura5584, knifebladenails, DarkFallMoonBeloved, and -Mira Slytherin- for their wonderful reviews.
SS- And remember chil'run: reviews make the authoress happy and willing to post more. Flames just get used to torch my school.