XXx Honey xXX
It's no real secret that absolutely hate mornings. Everyone knows that, so servants don't usually line up for the life threatening job of waking me up for school.
Akimi is the only person in the whole estate who seems unfazed by my early morning crankiness. I guess that's one of many reasons why she became Oka-san's favorite. She never complains, she just does.
The same holds true for this morning.
I was having a nice dream about a life-sized bunny shaped cake when my blackout curtains are jerked back, allowing the early morning sun to shatter my dream world.
Irritation is quick to take me over.
"C'mon, wake up!" Akimi commands as she yanks back the covers on my bed.
I groan as I'm suddenly freezing in the early spring air, and my eyes open into slits.
"I'm. Still. Sleepy," I snarl at Akimi as she lays out a clean uniform on a nearby chair.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she sighs dramatically. "It must be so hard to wake up at 7:15 am. Why not complain to someone who hasn't been awake since five. I'm sure they'd be all too happy to hear about how hard your life is."
Her voice is thick with sarcasm that no other servant would dare talk to me with. Although most aristocracy would fire a maid for talking to them like that, I secretly rely on her to act this way to keep me grounded. Akimi treats me like I'm a normal person. But even with that justification I'm in no mood to listen to her rant right now, so with great effort, I manage to lug myself out of bed so she can begin to make it.
In half an hour, I'm showered and dressed but still in a sour mood.
Usa-chan is tucked tightly under my chin as I stalk down the halls, a cloud of gloom hanging over my head. My breakfast cake better be amazing.
"Mitsukuni?"
It's odd on so many levels. As soon as I identify the voice as hers, it's like someone flipped a switch on my moods.
"Morning Aya-chan!" I say with a smile as I turn to see her at the end of the hall that I just came from.
She jogs down the hall while quickly slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Morning," she mumbles, as she pulls a few hair pins from her mouth and uses them to pull her hair back.
Like this, all her piercings are visible, but it doesn't look as gaudy as I first thought. They very between black and iridescence that glints faintly in the light off the hall.
"Did you sleep well?" I ask as she pulls a rubber band on her wrist and proceeds to pull the rest of her hair into a messy ponytail.
"I guess you can say that," she sighs. "But I'm still adjusting to the time difference. I'm still disoriented at times. And right now it's too early for this."
She rubs her eyes, smudging her eyeliner a bit. I can't help the smile that breaks out across my face. She's adorable when she does that.
I stiffen as soon as that thought passes through my mind. That came out of nowhere. Sure I called her cute when I saw her, but that was just an image label. And here…I'm talking about the way she acts.
I guess, it was sometime during the club. She seemed, different somehow. She still isn't completely open with any of us even though she offered to help Haru-chan, but I think she had a certain charm to her. Which is really weird, considering I know next to nothing about her. She's only been living here with us for hardly two days, what do I even know about her?
But that's the thing. I want to know. I've never taken this kind of interest in any girl who visits me in the club before.
Then something flashes in the back of my mind.
"Oh, Aya-chan," I say excitedly, breaking the silence between us.
"Yeah?" she half-yawns through her hand as she looks over to me.
"I got a text from Tama-chan last night," I say happily. "He said that he really enjoyed having you at the club. And so did everyone else, so they were wondering if you'd like to stick around with us."
XXx Aya xXX
"What was so exciting about having me there?" I ask with genuine confusion.
"I'm honestly not sure," Mitsukuni confesses. "But something just seemed different with you there. More lively, I guess you could say."
"Seems pretty lively without me," I reply with a slight hint of amusement in my voice. "You sure this isn't some elaborate plot to mess with me for finding out about Haruhi?"
"They're serious," he insists.
I look down at him to see him looking up at me. His eyes are shining brightly, but for some reason, he doesn't seem so child-like.
"And what does sticking around entail?" I ask as we reach the foot of the staircase.
"Well, I'm not really sure," Mitsukuni says. "But if I had to guess I'd say dressing up would be a big part of it. If anyone requests to talk to you, you'd have to accommodate to them."
"Does this include boys?" I ask uneasily.
"Only if any show up," he replies with a shrug. "And, Kyo-chan promises to have a steady supply of chocolate fudge cake."
"Shit, looks like I've been found out huh?" I ask, allowing myself a quick laugh.
All I can eat cake, and all I've got to do is cosplay a few times a week and chat with some girls. Not bad. Not bad at all…
Though the part about maybe having to host any boy that happens to walk in has me a bit uneasy. But who would request me anyways? I doubt I fit any requirements for the boys at this school.
"Ok," I finally sigh. "I'll stick around."
As soon as the words leave my mouth, Mitsukuni seems to radiate happiness like a tiny sun.
"That's great!" he says. "Tama-chan will be so happy you said yes."
Something tells me that I may not have really had a choice. But despite myself I feel an almost smile begin to play over my lips, but I shake my head and try to distract myself by fixing the hem of my sweater as we continue walking down the stairs and to the dining room.
"You should stop by our station today Aya-chan," Mitsukuni continues. "You can stay and have a piece of cake with me and Takashi."
Something tells me that it would only be the two of us scarfing down the cake, but we're interrupted before I can point this out to him.
"Don't tell me you're dragging her into that vulgar excuse of a club."
Yasuchika is sitting stiffly at the table, finishing off his food. I see Mitsukuni's eyes narrow slightly out of the corner of my own eyes.
"Not everyone can be subdued by cake and sweets as easily as you Mitsukuni," Yasuchika states as he picks up his bag and walks over to us.
I can feel my own eyes narrow as I face him.
Ok, I can understand that they don't seem to get along, but why does Yasuchika think it's necessary to intentionally provoke Mitsukuni like this. That's just childish. But either way I brush his comment aside.
"And a very good morning to you too Yasuchika," I drawl.
Either he doesn't notice or he doesn't care, but Yasuchika just keeps on talking as if I hadn't spoken.
"Why don't you join a more reputable club?" he asks as he looks down at me. "You have martial arts abilities, put them to good use and join the karate or judo club."
"I had fun yesterday," say as I feel my scowl deepen. "Is there a problem with that? And since when is it your job to tell me what to do?"
He looks a little startled, but it only lasted for a second. I blinked and it was gone, his face returning to his usual irritatingly stuck-up look.
"Whatever," he mutters as he stalks off, leaving us standing in the middle if the dining room.
"Well, that's a first."
I stop my fuming and looked over to Mitsukuni.
"What?" I asked stupidly as his's eyes follow Yasuchika's retreating form.
"No one's ever really talked back to Chika-chan like that," he said quietly. "Well except maybe for Satoshi."
"You can still call him 'Chika-chan' after the way he treats you?" I asked in amazement.
I have no idea where the question came from, but it was out of my mouth before I mentally smack myself.
"Uh, s-sorry," I mumble, averting my gaze to the floor.
Mitsukuni didn't seem fazed though. I fact, he laughs softly.
"It's ok," he says. "No matter what, Chika-chan is my brother. So I should try to get along with him, even if he really does hate me."
I look up to see him cradling his Usa-chan in his arms. He looks so sad as he speaks, I can feel a strange tugging sensation in my chest.
It scares me half to death and I try to snuff it out.
"Well, you're the first person I've met to think like that," I say quietly, trying to make up for my slip up earlier. "It's sweet that you still try to get along with him."
He smiles, and I feel that tugging feeling again. My stomach churns at the return of it.
"Even if he is an asshole," I quickly add, looking away.
But to my surprise, he laughs.
"He may act like it, but trust me; he can be a real nice guy if he wants to be."
"I'll believe it when I see it," I sigh, not really meaning it.
"Alright!" he says with a cheery smile. "Now let's get some cake!"
I nod as Akimi walks in, carrying two plates of cake. One strawberry and one triple chocolate fudge. Wow, impressive. She works fast. Or maybe she had a tip off.
"Thanks Kimi-chan!" Mitsukuni says as he grabs his slice.
As soon as I grab mine he looks over to me and nods towards the door.
"C'mon, Aya-chan, Takashi's waiting for us."
XXx Honey xXX
A few hours later, I'm sitting next to Aya in English.
Sensei lectures us on something I can't concentrate on. It's weird, I'm doing my best to pay attention, but I somehow keep missing the notes.
I steal a glance over to my right at Aya.
She seems to be concentrating just fine for her second day of school, and even finds time to doodle on the margins of her notebook. She'll jot something down every few seconds before returning to the small drawings she has scattered all over her notebook page.
I try to return to paying attention to the lecture, but out of the corner of my eye I can see her left hand ball up in a tight fist, and her knuckles turn white. Her shoulders tense, and shake ever so slightly. I see her eyes darken, taking on a hallow look.
Her eyebrows knit together before she pulls the pins out of her hair, letting her bangs fall forward cast a shadow over her face, hiding the rest of her expression from me.
I want to say something, but I don't think she wants to be caught looking like this by the rest of the class. So I tear a corner off of my notebook and scribble a quick note on it.
XXx Aya xXX
Sensei is lecturing on a Midsummer Night's Dream.
I've seen the play five different times and read the dumbed down version back in third grade. I'll ace this unit no problem.
I begin getting bored about ten minutes into the lecture and eventually decide to sneak in my ear buds to help ease the boredom.
Most of the period passes smoothly. Sensei doesn't call on me, and all we really have to do is annotate the story as he reads it aloud.
I hum quietly as I float through my playlist. Then my hands stiffen as a beautifully sad melody starts up. I hardly get thirty seconds in before I squeeze the pause button that resides on the cord of my right ear bud. The song wanted me to feel sad. And it worked.
I gnaw on my lower lip, trying to control my ragged breathing. Just as it's steadying, a note lands at the corner of my desk.
I glance to my left, but Mitsukuni is paying attention to the lecture and scribbling down notes diligently.
I pick up the paper and unfold it.
Are you ok? Is scrawled at the top of the page.
I freeze for a moment.
I consider ignoring it, but something tells me he won't let it slide. It'd be better to end this right here between just the two of us than later in case he brings it up in front of other people.
Fine. I write back. I just can't stand Demetrius. I mean if he really loves Hermia then shouldn't he just be happy that she's happy with Lysander and just let her go?
And then there's just Helena, what makes her think Demetrius will love her if she says "hey the girl you're in love with is eloping with Lysander tonight"? It just drives me nuts.
I know without the love triangles there wouldn't be a story, but it just makes me mad that everyone feels the need to put themselves before anything or anyone.
I fold the note back up into a tiny square, and the next time the sensei calls on someone I flick it onto the corner of Mitsukuni's desk. It lands right next to his hand, and once I'm sure he's seen it, I un-pause my music, hit skip and go back to exhausting my emotions through a safer outlet.
XXx Honey xXX
She lied to me.
I crumple the note into a tiny ball before tossing it across the room and into a recycling bin.
Even though her irritation with the play's characters seems to be real, something tells me that's not the reason she froze up like that.
I don't know what bothers me more. The fact that I know she's prone to suddenly freezing up, or the fact that she lied to me about what made it happen. I wanting her to talk to me about it, but I already know that that's a lost cause. I've only known her two days? Why would I expect her to tell me something like this when it looks like some sort of emotional trauma?
I do like her, and I want her to trust me. But she definitely doesn't look like the type to just open up just because you ask.
I'm not sure how to explain it. There's something about her that really interests me. She's prickly, but at the same time, she's like glass. She's got a tough exterior, but if you look close enough, you can see her surface is fogged up and cracked in some places. She she's suffering silently.
That's the part I hate the most. She's hardly smiled since she arrived. But when she did on the first day of school, I could tell it wasn't genuine.
"Mitsukuni."
I lift my head up from my notebook. Takashi is standing in front of me, holding out my bag. The rest of the class is already filling out. Is it really lunch already?
"You ok?" Aya-chan asks, feeding my line right back to me.
"Yah," I say, as I pack up my stuff. "Just a little sleepy."
She nods, but I can tell that just like when I asked, she doesn't buy the answer.
"You ready for lunch?" she asks, thankfully moving onto another topic. "They're serving four layer red velvet cake on the dessert bar today."
A smile spreads across my face, but as expected, hers remains neutral. Somehow I'm going to find a way to make her smile.
"Sounds great!" I reply as I jump to my feet. "Let's go before the line gets too long."
XXx Aya xXX
After the incident in English this morning, the rest of the day was relatively calm.
I got more involved in dance, and actually joined in on the routine from what I studied yesterday. It was fun. Our sensei seems to be rather fond of contemporary.
It's a nice class, with only fifteen students including me. And from what I can tell, almost all of them come from families that are big in many fields of the entertainment business. None of them have tried talking to me yet, so we keep at a respectable distance. And I'm a little concerned that they might have inherited giant egos and diva tantrums from their parents.
Though our instructor is the complete opposite of what I imagined her to be.
Nakoto-sensei is real young, I'd say twenty five at the most. Its only her first year teaching here, but I've heard Ouran has already beaten some other school's dance departments.
But Nakoto-sensei is five feet and three inches of brashness, assertiveness, and sometimes just plain rudeness. And she is without a doubt my favorite sensei.
She's interesting, and it's her goal to test our limits as dancers.
Everything else is just kind of mellow compared to her class.
They had us start pottery in art.
I'm not the best at it, but I think my piece came out alright for a first attempt. Sure it's a little lopsided, but once I paint, glaze, and decorate it, it should be acceptable and at least worthy of a passing grade.
But then again, it still does pale in comparison to some of the other pieces the rest of the kids in my class make. Oh, well practice makes perfect, and plus, most of them have been doing this since before they could walk.
The girl sitting next to me gave me some helpful pointers. I think she's in my year, and my dance period too. She's nice enough.
By the end of the day I'm practically sleeping in math. While the sensei drones on, I can feel my eyelids drooping. I keep having to shake myself awake periodically.
After fifteen minutes, I can't take it anymore, and I sneak my phone out again. With as much practice as I have, sensei never even saw my hands move.
This time steering clear of any ballads, I pass the rest of the period quietly drifting down my playlist.
The bell finally rang after what felt like an eternity. I scold myself for completely blowing off the lesson as I quickly scribble down the homework assignment.
I'll just have to figure the lesson out later, just like I…..uh, always do.
Once I shove all my school stuff away I take the directions Mitsukuni wrote out for me at lunch out of my bag. After studying them for a minute, I've got a pretty good idea of where I'm going, and in ten minutes I'm standing in front of the large ornamental door.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I made it in one piece. But then again, what's gonna be on the other side of the door this time?
I suck in a deep breath, hoping that whatever cosplay theme that Tamaki has chosen for today won't be too ridicules. No matter what I may look like to them, I do have some limits.
This time when I push the door open I'm not assaulted with rose petals, but am left in awe of the fact that I just walked into an indoor jungle.
Butterflies float lazily around in the air, occasionally unfortunate enough to become a snack to some chameleon or iguana, or whatever the hell they are. As I step inside the temperature immediately rises about twenty degrees, and sweat starts to build up on my forehead. I shed my jacket and curse the fact that the uniform has no short sleeved option.
It's a bit annoying, but at least I'm not having to trudge through sand like yesterday. They kept the tile floor oddly enough this time. Maybe they didn't plan on walking though sand being such an exercise when they planned the theme.
"Ah there you are senpai!"
Hikaru and Kaoru appear literally out of nowhere and scoop me up in their arms. Before I can protest they begin dragging me in the direction of the dressing room, and I can already tell this may be a new ritual I might have to get used to.
Today they're both shirtless, and dressed in some weird billowy skirt/pants I don't know the technical name for. I don't know, it's hard to explain things like this when you're being dragged through a jungle.
"So do I even want to ask you guys about today's theme?" I ask as they navigate through the dense foliage and I attempt to look at anything but their upper bodies.
"Well, it seems that the Boss has taken a sudden interest in Bali," they say in unison with one of their signature smirks.
I roll my eyes and accept that that's the best answer I'm going to get from them, and let them carry me to through the very out of place doorway to the dressing room.
"Your costume is on the table," Hikaru says, gesturing vaguely to a table covered in tons of brightly patterned fabric.
"We have to go greet the guests," Kaoru continues without bothering to point out exactly which one is mine.
"So you'll have to do everything yourself!" they finished together.
"Alright," I say, giving them a mock salute.
They take off quickly, and I walk into the only place in the club room that hasn't been invaded with jungle foliage.
After about ten minutes of looking around I finally found a neatly folded pile of fabrics with a sticky note on it that vaguely explains how to put the garment on. As soon as I confirm it's mine, I step into the changing room.
Twenty minutes later, I'm decked out in layers of vibrant pinks, purples, and yellows covered in decorative filigree. There's a matching decorative sleeveless top that's accented with the same gold filigree as the skirt and a gold belt embedded with beautiful blue gems.
I quickly comb through my bangs and braid my hair, taking some extra time to weave in some various flowers that are laying around the room. I accent my eyes with some yellow and pink shadow and swipe on some peachy blush and some of the spice pink lip stick I find sitting on the table.
There are no shoes lying around, so I head out barefoot.
When I finally find everyone, the club is in full swing. Everyone is crowded around their favorite host, the (what I assume is) normal squealing filling the room.
I make my way over to Haruhi, who is the only one not in costume. She looks up at me just as Tamaki makes an announcement.
"Next week the Ouran Host Club will be sponsoring a party."
"We're throwing a party?" she asks.
She gets no answer.
I pick up a glass of some pink fruity drink from the tray she's carrying, and nod in thanks before taking a small sip. She tucks the empty tray under her arm and we eavesdrop in the other host's conversations.
"What kind of party is it?" one of the twins' guests asks. "Is it going to be formal?"
"Yes," Hikaru responds. "In fact we're renting the school's largest hall."
"It's the perfect place for dancing," Kaoru adds.
I glance away from them as they begin their brotherly love act.
"Do they do anything other than throw parties?" I whisper to her.
She looks down at me and shakes her head.
"Not that I've seen," she replies with a sigh.
"Well, I better go figure out what I'm actually supposed to be doing here," I say with a heavy sigh and another sip of the fruit drink. "Sorry to steal you from your guests."
"Alright senpai. See you later," she says calmly, before heading back to her table.
I wander around for a few minutes, not really in the mood for putting up with Tamaki. And I suppose that Kyoya would give me a better explanation of what I need to do anyways.
"Aya-chan!"
I look up to see Mitsukuni running over to me. He's dressed in a yellow and royal purple outfit, with multiple leis of vibrant red camellia blossoms.
"Come have some cake with me," he says cheerily. "We've got some coconut and mango cake to go with the theme today."
"Alright," I reply carefully.
"Great!" he says before he turns to lead me back to where his station is. "Oh! Wait a second!"
He takes one of his many leis and puts it over my head. I feel my face flush as he arranges it neatly and pulls my braid through the loop.
"Ok, now we can go."
XXx Honey xXX
"By any chance do the two of you have formal dancing experience?"
Aya glances up at Hika-chan from her seat on one of the plush couches. Until about a second ago she was silently playing with her bunny Usako, and generally just ignoring the conversation Tama-chan was making such a big deal out of.
"Uh, no…" Haru-chan croaks. "But the party doesn't have anything to do with my quota does it? I'm not interested in going to events, so if I could be excused…"
"Definitely NOT," Tama-chan commands. "A refined gentleman must know how to dance."
"So how about you Aya-senpai?" Kao-chan asks suddenly.
She glances over to him with a puzzled look on her face.
"Yes," she says carefully. "But why does it matter? I'm not host ."
"You must come to support your sister!" Tama-chan begs. "If you come Daddy promises to reduce her debt by ten percent."
She glances over at Haru-chan, who looks like she's trying not to beg her to come. After a minute of tense silence she finally exhales heavily.
"Alright…I'll go."
Tama-chan spends a second jumping for joy before rounding on Haru-chan.
"Haruhi!" he exclaims. "I order you to master dancing the waltz in one week! And you will demonstrate it for us at the party. Or I'll tell the entire school that you're a girl, and knock you back down to errand boy!"
Aya seems surprised that Tama-chan has actually threatened Haru-chan, but shoots Haru-chan a look once Tama-chan's back is turned. She mouths the words 'I'll help you,' before sliding back into her comfortable position and begins stroking Usako's ears again.
I feel butterflies surge through my stomach as I think of the upcoming party. If all goes well, maybe I'll ask her to dance.
XXx Author's Notes xXX
See yah all next time!
Lotsa love, Krystal