Fanfiction by Ann Callihan

I do not own the characters of Ouran High School Host Club.

Only Marissa do I own.

"Opinions are meant to be argued." –Ann Callihan

Rest of the Pack

"And here, is music room three." The thin third year smiled as he gestured towards the large doors. Kyoya always smiled, politely held the door open, answered each of my questions with no ridicule, and even offered himself and his time as a tutor if I needed. Only as his lips moved and his gestures changed, one aspect remained the same on the boy. Smoothness, not once did he falter or stutter. As a product of a society where speech was forbidden for so many years, my mind, rather than being hardwired for a simple language, has been altered in a sort of de-evolution. As many of my civilization, I could read what others dismiss.

"Princess Marissa," My eyes shifted back towards his own, apparently I had zoned out, "Do you believe you shall attend university here, in Japan, or overseas?" His sudden question caught me off guard. My legs stiffened shifting my body weight to the core, causing my height to fully extend. Black glistened, as if closing off his true self from the entire world, not even I could read his eyes.

"I have yet to decide." I answered truthfully turning my body away from his. A shuffle of garment told me he turned as well. Moment of silence passed us, filling the tiled hall. Not even clamor of a nearby class broke the barrier between us; this side of the school had been used less and less during the days. A deep itch repeatedly intensified at my back, just between my shoulder blades. Glancing back I noticed the male starring me down, his eyes still clouded over, glasses sitting comfortably down his nose. "Why does it matter? I am only a first year." To snap him from his analyzing of me I sent back a sharper than intended question.

A light chuckle escaped his lips as he moved on with his tour. I thought this tour was just going to be my classes, not the school as a whole. As we walked side by side my composure couldn't but help notice his smoothness… Not even the most relaxed person could create such a language with their body. No, he had been trained, trained to remain calm and to be the one trodden upon. Only once I reached his eyes did I realize I had been starring, and he had noticed my intense gaze.

With another small chuckle Kyoya haltered, turning to face me. He bent down my height, and smiled, now eye level with me. "Is there something you want?" His question cut through me harshly. This was a different level of language, not even smooth, but rather devious. A smirk gleamed from eyes, despite the face's attempts to be sincere.

"You could quit the painted face." A sneer escaped my normally well-filtered lips. I pulled my back up more, forcing my height up in vain. Though I could gain another inch the boy stood fully before me, aggravating my shortened limbs to a great deal. Not even when approached offensively did he differ from his soft, smooth smile. Another pit grew in my stomach as I realized I may have emotionally harmed the boy. No matter how much he bothered me that didn't matter. I still was a… Princess, after all. "Ahh, I apologize, Ootori-senpai. Getting used to-"

"You are an interesting one." Kyoya slipped the words between mine right as a chiming bell rung five times in a mellow sort of tone. My eyes cast towards the location of the sound, merely to find none. Oblivious to my dismay the lean male turned towards me, holding the black clipboard every so closely to his torso, in explanation. "The five bells mean that lunch break has started. You have an hour long lunch to do as you please." He turned, ready to leave me behind as the top student worked his way down the hallways.

I stood contemplating my choices, knowing that Ritsu would be looking for me, but also wishing for a moment of solitude in this new havoc. Before I could think much more on the subject the same voice that had been entrancing my ears all morning spoke up from down the lone hall. "And Princess Marissa, you may wish to step carefully around this school with words. Though Japanese is not your first language, you can understand every bit of us." Ootori-senpai left my sight with this last warning, word of advice? Frankly I was unsure with the reason of his final statement at the moment.

Despite my conflicted emotions towards the male, and my unsure thoughts of his words, I took unnaturally attentive heed to the gifted comment. Quickly I found myself alone in the hall, nothing I was quiet bothered with. In a small act of rebellion towards the system I walked outdoors, slightly recalling the memory of a garden on campus. Letting my feet guide my way I spaced out slightly, forgetting my location and returning to a place I knew only as home.

"Mari, you must remember that audible communication is just as important as your body's way of communication." My father consoled me gently, trying to pull a few words from my tightly sealed lips. He squatted down, meeting his worn brown eyes to mine, lifting his right hand slightly, and turning the appendage palm-face to me. In reaction I met his open hand with my own one, allowing our skin to brush against each other in sign of trust. Despite the best of myself I could hardly help to frown. Speech, as Grandfather had explained, could be interpreted, twisted, and darkened in so many ways. The body, however, could only speak the truth. Nothing short of a specialist could ever deceive the real sensors of language. As much as my father bothered me I remained silent shaking my head at his protests.

So he must be a specialist to be able to hide his intentions so well. My lips parted as a wounded sound of pride escaped in the form of a scoff. Perhaps agreeing to this had been a mistake. Enough people back home could teach me how to defend myself. Why this one, this city, this school? As I rounded a nearby corner, rarely ever paying much attention to what was ahead of me, I heard a quick gasp before feeling another body smash into mine. While the impact had done little damage to me, my dress could speak otherwise.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming." The boy before me spoke calmly, but with sincerity. His height must barely exceed my own, or perhaps meet my shorten stature, so tiny for a young man. Holding out a helping hand, despite myself I had fallen to the floor, his brown eyes sparkled quiet femininely. But at least they were open. I took his grip graciously, remembering my role as a foreigner and- as annoying as it was- princess. A tray filled with homemade food was spawn across the side walk, soy sauce staining the white tilted cement. The yellow on my skirt had darkened into a muddy color one could expect to find from an aged banana. Turning my attention fully to the boy across me I bowed, giving my own form of apology.

Strangely he reacted surprised, and hesitated to speak again, his thin limbs grabbing hold to fold across his lower chest. "You're dress is ruined." Once he had gotten over the absurdness of the situation the brunette pointed out the obvious calmly.

"So it is." I glanced down once again to quickly survey the damage. Perhaps this would allow me to wear something different for the day. "Doesn't matter much, I'm not one to fancy, well, fancy." I cracked a smile holding my hand out for the male to accept. Rather than having me explain my motives the male accepted my hand, holding it someone what shyly despite the strict calmness about him.

I curtsied, slightly, pulling my dress up with my free hand in a flamingo sort of mannerism. The boy bowed his head deeply catching on the idea of a greeting. I smiled, finding a glimmer of hope with his ability to play along so well. "I apologize," I pulled my hand from his returning it to my side. "for often I forget my words, and only actions can explain my thoughts." I sighed lightly feeling an unusual amount of confidence in this person who had just dumped his lunch all over me.

"You are the Princess, aren't you. Only you would use a language as rare as such." He spoke the question as a statement, no doubt in his words. My eyes lifted, head twisting to the side slightly pulling my chin at an acute angle to my neck. This boy was smart, he knew much about the world and showed his intelligence in only one sentence.

"Yes I am. But to be honest, I feel more like a fish out of water here."

"Yeah, I can relate."

Then, suddenly, we both began to chuckle together. Though we just had met, and neither of us knew the other's name, we instantly clicked, quite easily may I add. We spent the good half hour just chatting. I found his name to be Haruhi, a poor student who applied as a scholarship to Ouran. Much of this boy's life was average, of course until he was coaxed- as he put it- into joining the club known as the "Host Club." We just began to walk down the corridor back into the building, for he wished to find some replacement of clothes for me to change into, when a child-like voice called out, almost in whining, to Haruhi.

"Haruhi-kun! Mori and I were looking everywhere for you! Lunch is almost over too!" echoing from behind us I turned my head slightly, expecting to see a pair of elementary fans of Haruhi's or some sort. (He had explained how some of the club members had many young fans, male and female alike.) Instead I saw a tiny, giggling, blond, sitting profoundly upon the shoulders of a very tall calm blackette. I couldn't but help stare at the spectacle. Both wore high school jackets embellished with the senior emblem, opposed to the blank first and second year jackets. Upon further inspection I noticed the smaller one to be holding a bunny looking toy animal in his arms; as if ridding the shoulders of his peer wasn't frivolous enough.

"Haruhi-kun, who's the pretty girl?" A sharp gasp latter and he continued without giving the poor boy beside me a chance to answer his senior. "And why is her dress ruined!" He proclaimed just as he jumped up from his friend's shoulders- who has yet to acknowledge much around him- and flipped in the air landing directly in front of me, forcing my feet to stubble back in fear of any possible miscalculations. How could such a balmy boy be so trained in the martial arts?

"Mitsukuni, it is rude to frighten a young girl." Finally the tall boy who had been used as a launch pad spoke up in attempt to chastise his fellow senior. I furrowed my brow at the two, once again seeing only opposites working as one. As this Mitsukuni turned to face his friend I turned my hopes to Haruhi to save me from the confusion. Despite my despair and our new company Haruhi remained undaunted. He had explained how he was accustomed to the chaos.

Regaining my voice, mostly from witnessing Haruhi's calm response, I addressed the blabbing blond. "I am Marissa Callieen, a new student here." My voice cut the small one off, almost entrancing the boy. He looked up at me, surprisingly, and giggled taking hold of my hands. As I watched him his brown eyes seemed to glow, allowing me full access to his motives. As annoying his behavior was Mitsukuni was rather adorable up close. A small smile twitched my lips up allowing the boy to speak.

"Well, Princess," The bubbly boy had known I was a princess just by my name? "A girl like you should never be seen in such a messy state. Come on, let's get you cleaned up!" Before I knew what was happening the tall black-haired man who had been behind Mitsukuni only moments before lifted me into the air, careful to keep my skirt closed, and carried me bridal style down after the blond. I glanced over to see the silent Haruhi following close behind. Perhaps he thought it a favor to stick close by.

While contemplating my next move the boy holding me spoke softly, but strongly, to me. "My name is Takashi Morinozuka, everyone calls me Mori-senpai though." My eyes surveyed his expression, not once did he look down at me or even change his line of sight. Assertive, maybe this Mori had a tunnel vision, but overall he was kind. How he held me told enough of that. Could this be the same Mori Ritsu had spoken of?

Before I could call my question in to place we reached a familiar looking set of double doors, and entered the grand music room. "There's got to be an extra dress stored around here, isn't there one Mori?" The small senior began to circle the room, searching for some sort of compensation for my ruined, and extremely expensive, dress. Although we had reached the room safely the one called Mori-senpai held his grip on me quiet strongly. While I was not on the heavy side, quite the opposite actually, the senior had been holding me for quiet a trek, hadn't his arms had enough?

"Mori-senpai?" I shielded my eyes with my long bangs by tilting my head downwards as I called out to him. "You can put me down now." This sudden fluster was rare for me; then again I had never been carried by another man besides family in years. Especially not a man as attractive as this one, I had plenty of reason to be blushing. His stare glanced down sending light shivers down my spine. The man nodded his head before gently placing me on my own feet. As I stood with my own strength his great hands firmly held onto my shoulders holding me into place. Mori-senpai narrowed his eyes as if studying me, and unconsciously moved closer to me.

As black as his eyes were, everything became easier for me to understand. His gaze dropped along with strong hands at the sound of Mitsukuni's triumphant squeal. He and Haruhi appeared holding the small dress, small enough to fit me. How could they have this? And in the same size as mine? My eyes caught the brunette's, his gaze remaining calm and amused. He even seemed slightly happier than before. The dress…?

"Oh, thank you, Mitsukuni-senpai." I bowed, again in my own language, before reaching to accept the dress. As my hands met with the slick material the blond popped up directly in front of me, a serious (or I assume it was an attempt to be serious) expression plastered to his rounded face.

"Mitsukuni-senpai is my father! I am Honey-senpai! Remember that Marissa-chan!" With a giddy giggle the boy hugged his stuffed bunny before skipping away beside Mori-senpai. I merely stuttered an acknowledgement before Haruhi pulled me away from the two seniors. With a light smile the male presented me with a room to change, a small curtained off area with a long mirror and seating stool in the back. From the main room no one would know this to be here. I thanked him graciously before sliding the pale yellow curtain closed. I turned sighing in my new peace of mind.

As I turned towards the mirror I attempted to unzip my dress, quiet in vain. How had I even gotten the thing on this morning? Shaking my head at my own stupidity a voice smashed my thoughts, bringing out a sense of pounding fear.

"Oye, who are you?" I turned, unsure what to expect, to see two identical young men, standing beside each other with crossed arms. I had thought this room to be empty, but the door behind them told me of another entrance to this hidden changing space. "Oh, look, her dress is ruined, Hikaru." One of the redheads addressed the other, lifting his hand pointing to the soiled cloth. "Yes, Kaoru, but why is she in our club dressing room? Only Hikaru ever comes here." Then, the first to speak nudged his brother harshly against his shoulder as sent a harsh stare to his twin.

"Ah, he sent me back here to change after he ruined my dress…" I interrupted the quarreling two and lifted a hand to my lips curiously. Their bodies even spoke in unison, though of course the differences in attitude where obvious, telling the two apart could be challenge without a little study before hand. The one on the left- Hikaru I believe- nodded his head understandingly while the other tilted his head demanding a further explanation. Rather than bother with the formalities, and also just wishing to be rid of this room and the activity, I turned my back, shifting my long hair away from my back. "Could one of you unzip the dress? I can't seem to from behind."

While I blushed madly at Mori-senpai carrying me, having a man undress me had no effect to the pigment of my cheeks. Most likely because I had no care for such silly things, and, because then, I had more innocence than even the blond outside. After a moment of silence one of the two stepped forward and obliged, pulling down my zipper to my waist. "Much thanks." I turned as the two began to walk out of the room, both blushing as red as their hair.

Once my old dress had been folded up neatly into my now budging bag, the poufy thing took up so much room; I stepped out in my new clothes, to be greeted by a full room of males. I stepped back abruptly at the sight; my breath had even been knocked from me. Now, six males stood before me, a new blond added to the batch. They all stood, almost as if been pre-placed, dramatically welcoming me to the room. Their smiles filled my eyes as I gasped trying to regain my grounds.

"Oh we've startled her! Tamaki, I told you she was shy!" Honey-senpai spoke first, rushing from his place to my side. Surprisingly strong the male held onto my wrist, helping my balance as he led me to the conveniently placed couch angled across from the clump of boys. As I sat down the boy climbed up beside me, pushing his doll towards me. "Usachan will protect you, Marissa!" Despite all of his cuteness I couldn't help but feel sincerity to his tone. I clutched the bunny taking in its sweet scent of cakes and strawberries.

Acting as a shadow, Mori-senpai followed behind Honey, standing behind the two of us on the couch while the others stirred. Although he said nothing, the male placed his hand on the couch behind me, his knuckles brushing against my shoulder occasionally. I glanced up, and caught a glance of the mute male. His expression remained hard, but the eyes smiled brightly down at me. I grinned shyly back, feeling safe beside his looming height.

Next the two red haired twins somehow appeared at my other side on the couch, cramming four bodies together on the soft sofa. They spoke in unison ridiculing the blond standing before us. "See Milord, things like these are why you are still single." Both lifted their hands as they laughed sending the mischievous sound through the room. Then one, only one, glanced down and smirked at me, his green eyes glistening in amusement as he winked light-heartily. The other took no apparent notice of this act as he turned and flashed me a wide smile.

Now only Haruhi and the other blond stood across from us. Unmoved by the situation the brunette turned after waving a goodbye and began to walk away only to be stopped by the other. "Wait, Haruhi, where are you going? Isn't it rude to leave so suddenly?" The male almost seemed to be pleading for his companion to stay. A small giggle escaped my lips as I patted the stuffed animal in my arms. Honey shifted beside me, his arm linked through my own.

"The bell is about to ring, and my class is across campus. I need to go now." Haruhi spoke nonchalantly as he tried to pull away from the grasp of the elder.

"But- but you would leave without introducing your new friend to your father? Daddy's so disappointed!" The blond began a melodramatic display as he held onto the younger's leg forbidding him to move in any way. "Am I an embarrassment to you now?" The junior wailed out as the group around me shuffled accordingly at the humorous scene before them. Another laugh escaped my lips, causing a few to glance down at me. Watching these to was like watching a bad drama. Though I would never have thought that Haruhi went that way, nothing of his body language even hinted those emotions. The scene went on before me as the large doors opened, showing two new bodies. Ritsu and Kyoya had entered, joining the facade.

Tamaki, as I believed he was called, held tightly to the smaller boy's waist now, burying his head into his captive's chest. Haruhi let out an agitated sigh, his body relaxing only to stiffen again as he tried to talk his way out of the hold. Light pink flushed, so well hidden, against the white cheeks half covered by blond locks. As the blond hairs swayed with his shaking head the brunette ones above swished for freedom. Both bickered back, lazily one, and overly exuberant the other.

"Tamaki, really, can I just go to class now?"

"No! You're always late to the club meetings and now you disregard me as your father!"

"But you're not-"

"What has the world come to if a father is disregarded by his own child?"

Ritsu made his way around the two and stood beside the couch, looking down at me curiously. Kyoya departed from the redhead, joining the bickering scene before us. Plucking his peer by the ear the tall man pulled the blond away from Haruhi. "Tamika, do you forget your guest?"

At this the male turned, suddenly rejuvenated, and swept his way before me. With such quick blurs my hand became entrapped in his own, the blond kneeling down before my feet as a prince would do in medieval based novels. "Forgive me, Princess, I let myself forget of your company." His voice creamed from a glossy pair of lips, speaking with the utmost formality. A light phase of pink crawled to my cheeks, as the sudden attention caught me off hand. "I wish to welcome you to our club, and to our school, Ouran." He stood, lifting me with him, smiling both with eyes and curved lips, filling an enchantment about my mind.

"Ah, umm, t-thank you. But shouldn't I be headed to class?" A sudden jostle over took me once again; this time the entire cast of club members rushed about in their own ways, fussing over me. All the whirl and I couldn't keep track of my bearings. Voices clamored simultaneously, different pitches and different tones. My body jostled about as the boys surrounding me rushed me from the music room, trotting along so easily while I only barely regained my balance.

This was the Host club? From the corner of my eye I could see the brilliant red of Ritsu's mane. He followed, though kept a reasonable distance, until one by one, each of the members broke away to reach their own classes. Soon enough only us two remained. No words passed between us, just a few glances and smirks. We stopped, before our classes, and clasped our hands together. With his left in my right and his right over my right and his left over my left, we shook once before parting. Our blessing of parting, as I had explained the first day. Perhaps I could give this place a chance.