Dislcaimer: We do not own anything.

Japanese Vacation

Chapter 10:

Nekozawa

Sooner then expected the end of class bell rang and Haruhi could only sigh in relief and lay her head down on her desk. "I really don't want to go to Host Club today…" She yawned a bit and crossed her arms under her head not wanting to move.

--

Hikaru and Kaoru stood up and looked over to Haruhi, they knew what mood she was in and they knew it was going to be impossible to get her to come along with them to the music room so they simply waved to her and then to Harry and Hermione. "Guess we'll see you guys around then, hope your lip and nose feel better Harry." They smiled and were soon walking out of the classroom.

Harry nodded, making a beeline for his bag, downing his now lukewarm soup. He made a mental note to hit the twins when they met up again. They could have waited until after school to get him, but no, they had to interrupt his lunch.

"Harry, I found a room we can practice in."

Harry nodded. "Show me where, and then I'll go get my books."

Five minutes later found Hermione in a fairly dark room, spreading out her books and beginning to study. Harry would catch up.

--

"You look tired," Draco said softly, his head tilting to the side.

Haruhi looked up at Draco with one eye and nodded a bit. "Like I said, I don't want to go to Host Club today. It's too much of a hassle and I ended up not sleeping very well last night." She yawned again and nuzzled back into her arms. The teacher had long sense left the room to go to her(1) office.

Draco winced. He figured that was his fault. His eyes were drawn to his bag. He hadn't slept well either, and Snape had given him a pepper-up for after school. He, however, didn't need to play host. After a moment of silent debate, he quietly pulled it out and placed it on her desk, after making sure that no one was in the room.

Haruhi looked at the potion not knowing what it was then blinked up at Draco.

"It's a . . ." Draco paused trying to remember the muggle word. "Energy drink? It works for," he tilted his head from side to side a few times, eyes thoughtful. "five or six hours. At the end of it though, you'll want to be near a bed, unless you have another one to take, as you'll pass out within minutes."(2)

Haruhi smiled. "Oh you don't have to give me that, after all it's not your fault I was up all night, I couldn't understand the math work. I'll be fine. I promise." She yawned again, her body betraying her as she spoke.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "You do not lie well, Fujioka-chan," he said with mild amusement, unaware of the suffix he had added.

Haruhi sat up and scratched the back of her head with a blush. "I guess you right." She took the potion and quickly drank it down, coughing a bit at its taste. "Maybe you should have warned my about the taste," She smiled at Draco and handed him the container. Suddenly she noticed that she was not longer tired, the 'energy drink' had worked so instantly it surprised her. "Thank you, Dra-…Malfoy-kun." She blushed as she almost slipped up saying Draco's first name.

Draco winced. "Sorry. I guess I forgot." He took the vial back with a smile back.

"Oh it's ok. It is better then falling asleep while talking to a girl. I don't want to seem rude." She began to finally pack her things away in her bag. "I owe you for this Malfoy-kun."

"A word of advice," Draco said, then waited for her attention, eyes very serious. "Never say that to a Slytherin." He didn't know why he was telling her this. It wasn't like him to give warnings.

Haruhi looked back at Draco confused. "A what? What's a Slytherin?"

Draco silently cursed his slip. "Hogwarts has four houses the students are divided up into." He said, desperately trying to think of how to explain this non-magically. "The house names are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Each house stands for something else, characteristics that make up that house." There, that was good. "We get sorted when we start school, and we're with our house until we graduate."

Haruhi nodded. "So then why should I not say "I owe you" to a Slytherin?" For some reason she was still very confused.

Draco sighed. Bloody hell.

"A Slytherin will always collect," he told her, his eyes telling her that it wouldn't always be a good thing. "Then again," he added as something hit him. "With Ohtori-san with you, you might not need to worry about it."

Haruhi made a small 'o' shape with her mouth as she realized it. So Slytherin's aren't the best type of people? But Draco-kun….wait….ack! Malfoy-kun, Malfoy-kun isn't so bad really. She mentally hit herself. Even in her mind she slipped up. She smiled at Draco then nodded. "I see, well I suppose I'll just have to watch my back then." She jokingly winked at Draco before picking up her bag. "Well now that I'm awake I guess I should get to the music room before Tamaki has Kyouya send a search party out looking for me, and I don't mean just the other hosts."

Draco nodded, chuckling. "Yes, that . . . would be bad." Though he really wasn't sure what she meant about the search party bit.

Haruhi couldn't help but laugh a bit. "You know that's the first time I've ever heard you laugh since you all came to Ouran." She continued to smile as she stood.

Draco breathed in sharply. "So it is." Of course, she didn't know that he didn't usually laugh anyway.

Haruhi smiled at him, "It's nice, your laugh that is." She walked over to the door and turned back. "Well I'll see you tomorrow in class." She waved carefully and then began to walk to the music room.

Draco watched Haruhi leave before shaking himself and finished packing away his books. He needed to get back to the house to sleep now. But, thankfully, he didn't have any other engagements to attend.

--

Of course what Hermione didn't know was that the room she had found was not just any room, but the Black Magic Clubs room. There in a corner Nekozawa sat on one of the desks very confused as to what the girl was doing. Weren't most girls supposed to be afraid of the dark? He tilted his head his wigless blond hair falling into his eyes. Soon a few candles began to flicker to life lighting the room a bit more in his corner.

"What are you doing?"

Hermione's head jerked up, with a small gasp. "Oh, sorry, I hadn't realized that anyone was in here." She glanced down at her books and pulled them closer, glad that the other teen was far enough away that he couldn't read the titles..

Nekozawa smiled. "It's alright, I was just surprised to find someone in here who wasn't in the club."

Belzenev waved as he smiled down at Hermione and slid off the desk, moving across the room to kneel in front of her. His eyes caught one of the books titles but only slightly. Charms? Hm…that's odd.

Hermione smiled back, amused by the puppet. "I saw it the other day and though it was unused. I figured it would be a quiet place for me and my friend to study." She winced. "But it seems as if it's already in use." She sent him an apologetic glance.

Nekozawa rose and eyebrow. "How can you study in the dark?" He contemplated asking her about the Charms book but then though it could wait.

"Practice," Hermione answered without thinking. After all the times they had snuck into the library after hours, none of them really needed light to read the books. Their eyes were used to it. Harry's more so than the rest of them, because he had to do that at his relatives' too.

Nekozawa nodded, he knew how hard it was to train your eyes to read in the dark, he had done it at a young age. "Well if you need to, feel free to use this room. The Black Magic Club isn't going on today." He pointed at one of her books and smiled. "And by the way, I don't mind that you study that in here." His eyes held a knowing look to them. "I had a feeling about you and the others when I first met you, then seeing your book there with the word Charm's on the cover only helped to prove it."

Hermione blinked. "Black magic club?" she asked. "Wait, what?" Hermione was not used to feeling confused, but in just a few short sentences, this boy had been able to do what most professors couldn't. What did he mean he had a 'feeling' about them? And, her eyes widened, glancing toward her charms book.

Nekozawa nodded. "Well, it may be the Black Magic club, but it's not like we're evil." He laughed a bit noticing her confusion, "I'm sorry Granger-chan, I did not mean to startle you with my words." He scratched the back of his head a bit.

Hermione gave a half smile back. "It's alright, just . . ." how was she supposed to say it? Well, "Bad experiences with black magic and the like." It was the truth, more or less.

Nekozawa tilted his head. "Oh? Well you don't have to worry here, no one will hurt you." He stood and began to go around the room lighting the candles so that there was at least a dim glow around the room, his black cloak rustled as he walked.

--

Haruhi continued to walk until she came to the music room and opened the door.

"Haruhi-chan!! Papa was so worried about you!" Tamaki flung his arms around Haruhi as soon as she entered the room.

"What did Malfoy-baka have to say to you? Or did he just leave you there?" Hikaru looked up at Haruhi. His eyes made it clear just how much he disliked the blond transfer.

"He stayed and gave me an energy drink so that I wouldn't be tire."

"Well why were you tired?"

"Because I didn't sleep." Haruhi was already annoyed with the twins questions.

"Aw, Haru-chan didn't get any sleep? It was because of Malfoy-chan huh? He upset you and you couldn't sleep." Hunni came over and offered her his bun-bun doll. "Hey Bun-bun will help you feel better." He smiled his usual sweet song.

"Oh Haruhi-chan!" Tamaki tightened his grip a bit as he heard the others. "That boy is so mean to you. You must have cried all night."

Haruhi twitched. "I'm fine! I stayed up all night because of the homework in Trig. Draco-kun had nothing to do with it." Her eyes grew wide as she realized her mistake.

"Draco-kun?"

"It was a mistake. Now let go Tamaki-sempai!" She pushed out of Tamaki's grasp and went to help Mori set up a few more tables.

--

Hermione nodded, watching him move around the room, suddenly, something clicked. "You're the guy that I met the other day. Um . . ." Hermione closed her eyes, snapping her fingers as she searched for the name.

"Yes, Nekozawa Umehito." He smiled back at her. "I was wearing my hood up, and my wig so you must have not recognized me. Not to mention you were in such a hurry to find your friend. Was he alright? I didn't mean to scare him."

Hermione nodded. "He was fine. Just a little panicked. He usually calms down as soon as he's away from them." Mentally, she was glad that Nekozawa didn't have his hood up. Harry would not like having to run again.

Nekozawa nodded. "That's good. Well if you need anything I'm here. I can't exactly leave quite yet."

Hermione nodded silently, her curiosity beginning to eat at her. After a moment, she couldn't hold it back. "If you don't mind me asking . . . What's with," she motioned to the black cloak, "and the hood earlier?"

Nekozawa's eyes were wide for a moment then he realized what she ment. "Oh! You see I'm sensitive to the light, it seems to drain my energy away after a while so I have to wear this cloak, my black wig, and the hood when I'm out in the halls." He smiled. "It's very odd I know."

Hermione gasped. "You have Porphyria? (3)"

"Something like that yes, luckily when I was growing up I didn't like to be in the light anyways. I've always loved the dark. Of course the only problem with that is my little sister, Kirimi. She hates the dark." Nekozawa laughed a bit then sat on one of the desks again.

Hermione made a sympathetic noise at the back of her throat. She didn't know what else to say to that. All she knew was that it would be horrible.

"Hey, Mione," Harry said, coming in. "I found that Po-" he cut himself of upon seeing someone else in the room. "-tencial book you had been looking for."

Nekozawa looked up at Harry and smiled tilting his head to one side. "Oh hello, you must be Potter-chan."

"Erm . . . Yeah, that's me," he smiled, turning a confused look to Hermione.

"Oh, that's right, you haven't met. Harry this is, Nekozawa Umehito. Nekozawa-san, this is Potter Harry."

"Oh!" Harry said, eyes wide. "Erm . . . sorry 'bout running." He said, embarrassed.

Nekozawa simply smiled and nodded. "Oh it's ok, Granger-chan explained it to me." His nimble light cream colored hands toyed with the hem of his long cloak. "I seem to scare many things with this outfit though."

Harry finally closed the door behind him and continued to the table Hermione sat at, handing her the Potions book.

"I don't see why," Hermione said, voice very prime, reminding Harry of McGonagall. "People shouldn't look at what they see, and if you've been at this school awhile, they should have gotten over themselves and gotten to know you. Even Harry knows better than to judge on appearances."

"Oi!" Harry protested the 'even Harry' bit, looking very much insulted.

Nekozawa laughed at Harry's reaction to Hermione's words. "Yes well one would only hope they would. Unfortunately it doesn't help that I'm the president of the Black Magic Club."

Harry glanced back at Nekozawa. "Black Magic?" he glanced back at Hermione.

"They're not evil, Harry, we've already established that before you came in."

Harry nodded. "Right, course you did." He shrugged back at Nekozawa. "Sorry, erm."

"I already told him we've had some bad experiences with it."

Harry blinked back at Hermione. ". . .Right, then."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I suppose that wouldn't help most people, what with the instinctive transition from 'Black' to 'Dark' and then to 'Evil'"

Nekozawa nodded. "Yes I suppose you are right." He opened the blinds a mall amount and soon saw a limo pull up that he recognized. "Well I must be off." He got up and walked to a near by table and picked up his black wig, situating it on his head. He almost put up his hood but then stopped and smiled at Harry. "Good bye, oh and please do feel free to use this room when ever you need to."

He walked out of the room and waited till the door was closed to place his hood up over his head, walking out into the light and then into the long black vehicle.

Harry buried his head in his hands as soon as the door closed, going completely red. He'd seen Nekozawa about to put up his hood, but had stopped. He couldn't ever being so embarrassed before, and what really sucked was that he could do nothing to stop it.

Hermione gently laid a hand on his shoulder, unable to keep a small smile from her lips. "We really do have to study, Harry," she said softly, her amusement showing through. "Snape isn't going to go easy on us."

Harry raised his head long enough to glare at her before turning to his books. It was all her fault he was stuck pretending to be afraid of cloaks and hoods.

--

Haruhi listened to the girls as they talked and laughed though for some reason her mind continued to wonder. Draco's laugh seemed to replay it's self in her mind and soon she had to shake her head to get it to stop, a blush dusting her cheeks.

"Fujioka-kun? Are you alright?" One of the girls asked setting her tea cup down. Haruhi looked up at the red haired girl and smield.

"Oh I'm just fine Mizuki-hime." The girl simply looked at her.

"Oh are you thinking about Malfoy-san?" The brunette next to her laughed. "He is very handsome." The girl was in Haruhi's class and just happen to sit behind Draco. "Do you like him Fujioka-kun? You two where passing notes today and you seemed to-." She was cut off by a soft hand on her shoulder. When the girl looked up there was Tamaki with a rose extended out to her.

"Please hime, Fujioka-kun has had such a trying few days. Malfoy-san has simply become a very good friend, ne Fujioka-kun?" He looked at Haruhi with that fake smile and all she could do was nod. After that the girls stopped talking about Draco, not that Haruhi's mind would let her stop thinking about him and hearing his laughter.

--

When Draco finally reached the house, he immediately went to his room, carefully closing and locking the door behind him (habits were hard to break). Silently, he made his way to his wardrobe and quickly changed, he was not planning on getting up until the next day, so he figured it was safe.

His mind, however, was somewhere else. Why had he told Haruhi that? He never warned anyone about it. Of course, most people knew better than to say something like that. Better yet, most people knew better than to say that to a Malfoy. Yet, here she had said it to him without even thinking. Sure, she hadn't know the implications, but . . . but she hadn't seemed too concerned about it even after he had explained it to her.

Did she . . . trust him? It was mind boggling. Nobody trusted a Slytherin.

--

After a while Haruhi was finished with her clients and decided to go home. As she walked home her mind was still only on the one thing, well more person then thing, Draco. After a bit she sighed, It's so odd that I would be thinking about him so much, is this what it's like to like someone? Her thoughts continued to jostle around until she reached her home. When she got inside she noticed that her father was still not home so she decided to retreat to her room and lay in her bed, not that she was tired.

(1)We are unsure of the teacher's actual gender. If you know it, it would help us significantly.

(2)This description most likely is not accurate, but it fits with the story, so that's what we're saying.

(3)Again, not completely sure that this is the correct terminology. Basically, people who had this waaaay back when where the vampires we have all those stories about. Or, at least, they paved the way to the legends. And it's basically what Nekozawa has.

Allanasha Ke Kiri: Alright, as promised, by the time you read this, the Poll will be closed. Though, I must say that we were hoping for a larger voting pool. Not that many voted, really. Sorta sad, if you ask me, but, I suppose if you don't really care who the pairings are then it doesn't really matter. (shrug) It doesn't really matter to us either way . . . Okay, well, there was one or two that we were iffy about, but, eh. Anyway. And, just a question for everyone . . . Who reads Aku's author's notes? She has several important things to say . . . usually. Like, the last few chapters she's offered a kind of challenge thing, but no one's responded to it. If you do read her A.N's, please tell us, it would make her very happy to know that she isn't ignored by our readers.

Aku-Hitokiri-Kitsune: ……..I have nothing to say since no one reads mine… yeah you know about the video…. Review please.

Poll Results:

Nekozawa/Hermione: 10

Kyouya/Hermione: 7

Kyouya/Tamaki: 5

Fred/George/Kyouya: 5

Fred/George/Tamaki: 3

Tamaki/Hermione: 3

Fred/Kyouya: 2

Fred/Tamaki: 2

George/Kyouya: 2

George/Tamaki: 2

None: 1

Well, it looks like Nekozawa/Hermione won by a landslide, so that's one of our pairings. It also looks like Kyouya/Tamaki tied with Fred/George/Kyouya, which means that we'll be deciding which one we'd prefer doing. We should know by next chapter. ;)