Chapter One, Strawberry Sauce Havoc

You don't know what sticky is, until you've spilt a bowl of strawberry sauce on yourself and someone else. That's when you learn what the definition of sticky is. And believe me, it is gross and disgusting. Not to mention mortifying. Especially when I saw who I had showered with my hard work. Mitsukuni "Honey" Haninozuka happened to be my victim. Could I possibly feel any worse?

I was tired. I hadn't slept particularly well last night. I grabbed the small dish, carrying it from the fancy kitchen to the angel food cake it was about to top. I wasn't thinking as I left the kitchen, my thoughts on the condition of my family. Only last night had he shared the news that he was moving. He boarded his plane this morning. I was glad to see that Yasuo said goodbye to him this morning. Seiya asked him to stay. He was young and he certainly didn't want our father to go away. Perhaps even when he had been home, he hadn't been too focused but he had still been there. Mom was out. All the time, working as hard as she could. It was tough to find time to talk to her, and she tried her best. She really did.

I stumbled over my own foot as I was turning towards the table I had been designated to serve. As a student enrolled in the fine cooking arts, I was assigned both a partner and table to serve each day. My partner would be the same for several weeks before changing but I would always have a different customer. We alternated customers daily. It was the "customer's" job to make the table and arrange it appropriately as well as to receive and critique the food. Customer's and cooks traded weekly. It was necessary to know table etiquette and as well as how to identify incorrect spicing or any other inconsistencies.

Just my luck, that as my final show, I had to simply pour the strawberry sauce over my angel food cake. It was really simple. Except that I was tired. And the fact that my customer was Honey didn't make it any easier. I felt horrible, as I made a split second decision between abandoning the bowl or taking it with me as I fell to the floor. The glass dish wouldn't have survived. But, of course as our teacher had taught us, we were to walk quickly with anything brought from the kitchen. Just not too quickly. The momentum sent the contents of the bowl into the air, while I regained my balance and caught the dish. It did nothing to stop the silence that surrounded the room.

Only my forearms and some of my apron had received any damage. Honey on the other hand… well he was completely drenched. He turned to look at me, his one large brown eye catching and holding mine. I felt my face flush crimson. I bowed deeply to him, "You have my deepest apologies Haninozuka-sama," I murmured. I knew that everyone was watching us.

I looked down helplessly at my ruined apron as the teacher strode over. Her atmosphere, let's just say intimidating was the wrong word to use. Her hazel eyes burned with fury as she pointed to me and then the hallway. She turned to Honey, saying something to him that I was not included in. I made my way grudgingly to the hallway, setting the un-shattered glass bowl on the teacher's desk. I didn't need to get any more bad luck today by breaking that dish.

I was almost out the door before I heard him speak. "I don't think that's very fair, Ruka-sensei. It was an accident."

I smiled softly, sadly, as I waited in the hall. It was sweet of him, and very honest for him to say that even though I had just dumped a dish of stickiness on his head. I sighed and hung my head. The legendary Honey, whose bodyguard was Mori, showed up as my customer and I dumped strawberry sauce on him. What a great way to meet someone. I had heard of them. Everyone had, really. They had been hosts in the Ouran High School Host Club and every so often they returned to host with their friends. Half the girls I knew were in love with them. Most university first years had heard of them, and some had even been guests to the two popular boys.

I reserved my judgment based on how people acted towards me and treated others. A brief moment later and the door I had just closed opened to permit the rather dejected looking young student in the hallway. His uniform was ruined beyond repair that was for sure. I winced. I wished that I could have offered to replace it, but I didn't have the money. "Why are you out here?" I asked, finally finding my voice somewhere within the senseless babbles of my thoughts.

"Ruka-sensei didn't like my observation," he said simply, looking up at me with his big brown eyes.

I noticed something with surprise. I was taller than Honey-sama. As much as everyone talked about him, I had never really been in this close proximity to him. I was only a little taller, as in a few centimeters, nothing really impressive, but still. It was enough for me. I was quite accustomed to being the shortest. Elementary had been nice. The only time that boys had ever been shorter than me. I had mostly stopped growing by the time I was twelve. I accomplished a few more centimeters between that time and my sixteenth year.

"You shouldn't have pointed it out," I said softly, looking at my feet. "You should be getting changed before the stain sets."

"It's just strawberry sauce," he said, shrugging comfortably. He almost sounded completely undisturbed by it.

"Honey-sama I'm so sorry," I started only to stop when the door opened and the teacher looked at us crossly.

"I sent you out here for time to think about what you had done!" she snapped. "Not to converse. Scat –both of you. I don't have time to teach nuisances."

I winced. Great. I looked like a troublemaker now. It was two months in and the woman didn't even care to pay attention to my personality. I supposed it was a rather childish thought. I cast it aside and started to make my way down the hallway before stopping to look back at the boyish nineteen year old. I felt really bad about the whole strawberry accident… Was there nothing I could offer or do for him? I had no idea. All I had was a guilty feeling as I looked at him.

His blonde hair was plastered to his face, red sauce stuck to his cheeks. His blue blazer was visibly damp and I could see pink stains on the white shirt he wore underneath it. There had to be something I could do. "Do you want to go the nurse's, maybe?" I offered shyly. "You could probably get something to wash the sauce from your face, at the very least."

He looked at me and grinned, ambling towards me happily. "That sounds good, actually. It feels like my face may get stuck like this, otherwise."

A small laugh escaped me. He grinned up at me. I understood why so many of the girls were transfixed with him in that moment. He was absolutely with that pure smile. It was completely genuine. I have to admit that it was most certainly pleasant to see someone as honest as he was. But I supposed that I couldn't make that assumption when I had first met him. Yet he had stood up for me in all fairness, and that had to say something about him. I hoped, anyways.

I walked him to the nurse's office and he told me to wait for him. I didn't mind, as I had nothing better to do. I would be content to wait as I had nothing to do until after lunch. I sat down on the bench outside the office, wondering if I would be allowed back inside the kitchen tomorrow. The last student to have an accident in Ruka-sensei's class had been a designated customer for three months before she let him back into the kitchen. I hoped she would be more considerate, but I knew that even if I was stuck as a customer I would deal with it. It served me right for dousing poor Honey in strawberry sauce. I felt my face warm at this.

I had a peculiar sensation that I would not be able to live down the embarrassment of having done this. The other girls might never forgive me. Ahh, poor Honey. I glanced at the door when I heard someone exit from it. But it wasn't the boyish nineteen year old I was waiting for. Akane-san walked out, stretching comfortably, her green eyes meeting mine. I quickly averted my gaze. It wasn't my business what she did. Not anymore, anyways. I was glad that high school was over and done with now. It was like the end of a terrible reign for me.

"Taken to tormenting your fellow students openly, Etsu?" she purred. "I didn't think that it was like you."

I blushed and kept my eyes on my feet. "No. It was an accident."

She scoffed, "You're like a bull in a china store, dah-ling," she said. "I feel so terrible for those lads you like."

I blushed a scarlet hue, "An accident," I muttered, feeling her sharp gaze on me.

"What happened to the last one?" she paused, letting me remember. I hated it. "Ah yes, I believe you set him on fire."

"Accident," I insisted.

I glanced up at her, her snobbish face grinning cruelly. She knew it all. "Now you drench the one you like in strawberry sauce? What were you planning to do, really, dahling? Eat him?"

"I'm not a cannibal," I said, turning to leave. Her point was clear. She had to prove that this was her territory, and that I was just a little annoyance to her. I responded with such a reply as I didn't want to hear the connotation that she had for me. I sighed and made my way down the halls. I was accustomed to such treatment from her. Nothing new in that regard.

Akane-san and I had been childhood friends once. A long time ago. But when puberty came along, she pursued those hormone crazed boys with ardor. Needless to say, I waited for mine to come to me. I wasn't much of a one in regards to chasing. The few that asked me out on dates were short lived. I hid my embarrassment behind my hand as I went to my locker.

We had been at a restaurant, me and my date. It had been a romantic, candlelit dinner. I had simply been reaching for the water pitcher, but my hand brushed against the candle. And it rolled down the white tablecloth, towards my date. He caught it and righted it, while I threw water on the burning cloth. However, the flames had reached his sleeves and were making their way. I threw the rest of the contents of the pitcher at him. It stopped the fire, but he didn't appreciate it. When I asked him if he would prefer to be on fire to being wet, he had told me that he would have preferred to have never been on this date with me. That was my last date. The incident had happened over a year ago, but Akane-san liked to make sure I remembered it.

If she disappeared from this school, I for one would be most grateful. She attracted guys like flies to honey. As long as I stayed away from her, I was fine. High school had featured some unpleasant times, when I had found myself at her mercy. I had walked by her and her group. Naturally, I became a target. It was still similar to all that now, but at a lesser extent. Only if I was in her vicinity would she threaten and mock me.

I stopped at an alcove in the hallway; two closed classrooms were located there. I sighed, and ran my hand through my hair. It wasn't good for my hair, but I didn't particularly care. I was tired. Akane-san was exhausting. "Shiori-san?" I heard his light, warm voice calling for me.

I looked down the hallway, spotting Honey-san as he walked towards me. I waited timidly for him. There was no sign of Akane-san now, for which I was grateful. I hoped that she hadn't said anything to Honey, but it wouldn't have surprised me if she did. I smiled at him as he stopped before me, looking up at me with his big hazel eyes. His fair hair tumbled around his face, but did not impede his vision in the slightest.

"Shiori-san, do you mind if I call you Etsuna instead?" he asked. "Your last name is a tongue twister in itself."

"N-not at all Haninozuka-sama," I offered politely.

"You can call me Honey. I like it and it's easier to say."

It certainly was easier to pronounce, and shorter. "Thank you, Honey-sama."

"Etsuna-san, are you hungry?" he asked wistfully.

A smile twitched at my lips, "Uh, a little, I suppose." I looked at him, smiling kindly. It was relaxing to be near him. There were no awkward moments with him, though I suffered many from other boys. "Are you?"

"I'm always hungry," he said cheerfully. "Especially for cake. Do you like cake?"

"Usually," I replied honestly.

His eyes widened, "There are times when you don't like cake, Etsuna-san?" he asked.

"At this particular moment, I'm not feeling too fond towards it," I explained calmly. I looked at him and then averted my gaze again. I had been attempting to finish making strawberry shortcake when this accident occurred. I was still suffering from chagrin.

"That's too bad," he said, smiling up at me despite his words. "Do you want to join me for lunch?"

I paused and shook my head. "I'm supposed to meet with Riku," I said apologetically. I was sorry I couldn't join him for lunch, but grateful as well. Honey and his cousin were usually surrounded by girls all vying for their attention. It was not a place that I wanted to be.

"You could both join us," he offered valiantly, keeping his eyes on me as we stopped outside the cafeteria.

I shook my head, "No thank you Honey-sama."

He widened his eyes, cuteness flaring before me. He was adorable, and he looked so saddened by my denial of his request. Guilt flashed through me, as noticed the strawberry stains on his jacket. It was my fault that his uniform was ruined. He would spend the rest of the day very uncomfortable, but he didn't seem to care. I did, knowing that I had caused it. His big brown eyes met mine, staring with an intense plea. He was so cute. He was without a doubt, the most endearing male I had ever seen.

"I'm sorry Honey-sama, but I can't," I whimpered. I bowed to him, breaking our eye contact. "And I'm sorry about the stains," I added with another bow. "I have to go."

I left without looking back my childlike peer. I hurried away towards the library. I would meet Riku there. She was my best friend and we spent our lunch hours studying. We had been close friends for as long as I could remember, but we had attended different schools. Riku Souen went to Ouran while I went to Raiden. We spent our time away from the gossiping crowds and busy lunchroom. I needed to get in all the extra studying that I could; as I didn't have nearly enough and she liked to read. It was a good combination on both our parts.

Honey watched as the platinum haired girl made her way down the corridor before turning towards the staircase not far away. She didn't look back. He wondered at that. Most girls never denied his pleading, except for Haru-chan and when they had their own concept of denying him for his own benefit. Like when he had a toothache. He hoped that he saw her again. She was very polite and seemed quite nice. He hadn't really noticed her before in his cooking class. She was quiet and shy, but that was already clear just from their encounter.

The bell went and he entered the cafeteria to be first in the line. He took a tray, and looked up at the cafeteria ladies as they came out. They served him what he always ordered. He smiled at them, happy that they remembered his order. Takashi came in next, the slight widening of his almond eyes the only indication of his startle at having noticed Honey's appearance. The boyish adolescent waved happily, munching on his lunch.

Takashi joined him, his single glance portraying his wonderment at why Honey had arrived early. His gaze also picked up the damp looking Honey, and his eyebrow rose in a silent question. "Etsuna-san accidently spilt strawberry sauce on me," he said unabashedly. "The teacher kicked her out, and I told Ruka-sensei I thought it unfair, which it was, so she sent me from the room too."

"Ah," he said, beginning to eat his own lunch.

"Takashi, she was really nice. Do you have her in any of your classes?"

"History," he stated.

"You should get to know her too. I think she'd be a good friend."

"I will say hi."

Honey paused to swallow, savoring his piece of cake. He had already eaten his wrap. Takashi had put him on a strict diet since he started university. He missed his daily doses of cake, but he was grateful to be allowed some at school. His cooking class was an added extra. "Takashi, do you think we could get her to come to the Host Club? I'm sure Tama-chan and the others would be happy to meet her and Kyo-chan would get another customer."

"Mitsukuni," he said warningly.

Honey sighed, "You're right, Takashi. We should get to know her a little better and then ask her."

He nodded, satisfied with his cousin's agreement. He looked forward to seeing Etsuna-san in the Host Club. He knew that she would do well in the Host Club. It was hard to be shy around the hosts. Haru-chan and Takashi would be helpful with that. Besides, after a few experiences with Tama-chan and the twins it would be hard for her to remain shy. He was intrigued. She might be the kind of person to relax once she knew others. He just wanted to help her with her shyness. She was maybe comfortable with it, but Honey felt that there was more to it than that. He wasn't sure though, and he wouldn't be for awhile yet. He looked forward to seeing her again.

My apologies if Mori is out of character at all, but I didn't have much to go with. He's going to be a challenge to write.

But I embrace it with ardor.

Thank you for reading!