Minutes To Midnight Chapter 6: Blooper Reel, an ouran high school host club fanfic

Chapter 1, Scene 1; the Twins grooming themselves in their bathroom.

"This is it, Kaoru. Today is the day I'm going to tell Haruhi that I love her."

His twin, the softer spoken Kaoru, just glared at him as he too straigghtened his own tie. "You're joking."

"Not this time, brother. I've been planning my speech and everything for the past two weeks."

"Two weeks?" chuckled the slightly younger twin. "It took you that long to spell-check?"

"...Pffff! Hahahahahaha!" Hikaru laughed hysterically. "...I'm sorry, sorry. Can we do that again? That was too funny."

"MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT"

The Blooper Reel

Take Two.

"This is it, Kaoru. Today is the day I'm going to tell Haruhi that I love her."

His twin, the softer spoken Kaoru, just glared at him as he too straigghtened his own tie. "You're joking."

"Not this time, brother. I've been planning my speech and everything for the past two weeks."

"Two weeks?" chuckled the slightly younger twin. "It took you that long to spell-check?"

"...No..." He stifled laughter, but his face was bloated with held breath. "I'm gonna surprise her with... God, I forgot my line."

Take Three.

"It took you that long to spell-check?"

The elder twin made a face. "...I'm gonna surprise her in the garden during recess; I'll tell her to meet me at that gazaebo in the hedgemaze. Then I'm gonna give her the biggest surprise of her life-"

"You're pregnant."

"BWA-hahahahahahaha!" Hikaru doubled over in laughter, while Kaoru rolled his eyes.

Chapter 1, Scene 3; after Tamaki invited Haruhi to the opera...

Take One.

Tamaki asked, "So, Haruhi, what do you say to Friday night at 8pm sharp?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, Senpai."

A deep gasp of surprise. "You mean it? Really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"OH, HAPPY DAY! COME HUG DADDY!" Squeeing with delight, Tamaki flew out his arms to embrace his "daughter." Hikaru reached for Kaoru to use as a distraction, but since Tamaki knew what was coming, he purposely followed Haruhi and hugged her instead.

"Cut!" cried out Snodin. "Tamaki, you're not actually supposed to hug her!"

"Awww," he moaned as Haruhi struggled in his embrace. "But she's my baby!"

Hikaru and Kaoru made cold stares at him.

Take Two.

"OH, HAPPY DAY! COME HUG DADDY!" Squeeing with delight, Tamaki flew out his arms to embrace his "daughter," when Hikaru reached for Kaoru but accidentally grabbed Kyoya instead.

Tamaki squeezed the Shadow King as though he were Haruhi, nuzzling his cheek, when Kyoya called out, "CUT! Cut, cut, cut! I'm not in this shot!"

The Twins laughed hysterically.

Take Three.

"OH, HAPPY DAY! COME HUG DADDY!" Squeeing with delight, Tamaki flew out his arms to embrace his "daughter," when Hikaru suddenly grabbed the person on his right and pushed them forward. It was Hunny! Tamaki embraced him as though he were Haruhi.

"CUT!" yelled the director. "Hunny, you're not even in this scene!"

"Sorry," smiled the guilty Lolita boy. "I just really wanted a hug!"

Chapter 1, Scene 4; Hikaru just offered Haruhi two keys, one of which is to a silver Bentley...

Take One.

"It's a gift. You don't have to drive it now, just... Ugh, would you at least accept the other key?"

She stared dully at the keys. "What did you say that one was for again?"

"My heart." As he said this, he planted his hand on his chest. "It symbolizes how I feel about you. I like you. A lot."

She looked up at him and smiled. "I like you too, Hikaru. You're a really good friend."

"God damnit, would you take a hint woman!?"

They both cracked up laughing.

Chapter 2, Scene 2, during the scary movie...

Take One.

"I'll go get us some more popcorn," chirped Kaoru, and made a quick exit. He would return, but not with popcorn. Instead, he snuck in a few various objects that, when played correctly, would sound like thunder clapping.

Hikaru made his own move on Haruhi by feigning a yawn and stretching his arm around her shoulderline. She gave him a suspicious glare, which told him to take the arm back.

Crumple-crumple-crumple, went the sound of paper and aluminum being shaken in a trash can behind their seats.

"What was that?" blinked Haruhi.

"Oh," said Hikaru with sly eyes. "That was probably just the wind." He then quickly snapped his fingers to the boy hiding behind his seat, signifying that crumpled paper and a trash can just weren't enough. Kaoru moved on to pots and pans.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

"GAH!" Haruhi jumped out of her seat, way sooner before she was meant to. She turned slightly to the guilty Hitachiin behind her, who shot her a confused look. "I'm sorry," she blushed in embarassment. "That really did startle me! Can we do that again?"

Chapter 2, Scene ; Haruhi and Kaoru talk in the hallway outside Music Room 3...

Take One.

"Hey," he frowned. "...I know what happened earlier. Hikaru told me... I'm sorry it didn't work out between you guys."

Haruhi sighed deeply as her back leaned against the pink wall. "It's my fault. I'm such a ditz."

"No you're not," he was quick to respond.

"I am. All I do is hurt guys' feelings. I never mean to, but it just seems like... like every guy I know gravitates towards me, and I honestly don't know what they see in a scrawny, flat-chested 'commoner' like me."

"You're not just a commoner."

"But I am flat-chested."

"Yes you are," he nodded matter-of-factly. She suddenly broke onti a loud chuckle. He followed after her.

"Cut," came a voice from behind the camera.

Same scene, as Hikaru enters...

"Feel better?" he said softly.

"Mm-hmm," she nodded. "Thanks, Kaoru. I really needed that." Perhaps it was a moment of weakness or instinct, but right after she said that the girl lifted her head to his face and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

Perhaps it was instinct, or a reflex, but before the boy knew it he was pulling the girl in for a soft yet long kiss on the lips. There seemed to be no resistance from her, but she could have just been taken by surprise. She always did have a hard time with showing real emotion. But whatever her excuse was, there they were, lips locked with her eyes wide open and his contently closed. He lit up with joy.

Hikaru's footsteps were heard from behind him, and Kaoru suddenly pulled back and asked, "Wait. I wasn't feeling that one. Can we do another take?"

His brother's eyes widened. "What!?"

"Sure," said the Director. Kaoru grinned widely.

Take Two.

"Feel better?" he said softly.

He could hear Hikaru coming up from behind him again. "Sorry, sorry," frowned Kaoru as he pulled back from Haruhi once more. "I just don't think that was good enough. One more take, please?"

"Fine."

Take Three.

"Feel better?" he said softly.

Perhaps it was instinct, or a reflex, but before the boy knew it he was pulling the girl in for a soft yet long kiss on the lips. But then to her surprise, he went even deeper with his tongue, causing Hikaru to run straight for them and scream, "I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TAKES, KAORU!" He was fuming, fangs gnashing. Kaoru had no choice but to pull back, smiling his Cheshire cat smile.

Chapter 3, Scene 4; during Hikaru's nightmare sequence...

Take One.

The part of "Other Hikaru" was actually played by Kaoru, who deepened his voice so as to sound more like his brother. The two of them prepared their tug-of-war moment with the Kaoru plushie, when Kaoru suddenly imitated Darth Vader, "Join us. Give in to the Dark Side, Hikaru."

"Never," copied Hikaru. "I'll never give in!"

"We have cookies."

Hikaru smiled pleasantly. "Oh. Well then, sign me right up."

"Okay boys, are we ready to do this scene?" asked the Director.

"Do we have to tear the doll up?" frowned Kaoru. "It's just too cute."

"We'll sew it back up and let you keep it afterwards."

"Sweet!"

"Can I get a copy?" requested the true Hikaru.

"Ugh," moaned the Director.

Chapter 3, Scene 5; The Twins get ready to play their last "Which One Is Hikaru?" game...

Take One.

The twins met in the center of the room. For a brief moment, there was a shot of daggers from their eyes, but luckily for their guests it went unnoticed. They then donned their hats and spun round and round till their onlookers were dizzy. Finally, they stopped on a dime, side by side, both sporting the biggest, fakest smiles of their lives. "It's time to play, 'The Which One Is Hikaru Game!'"

The girls clapped excitedly. Tamaki and Kyoya waited on baited breath.

"The rules are simple, princesses: guess which of us either Hikaru or Kaoru. Many have tried, none have succeeded/ all have failed."

"Aw, crap!" snapped Hikaru as he stomped his foot in frustration. "I messed up the line."

"That one's Hikaru!" called out one of the fangirls, followed by fits of laughter from the group.

Take Two.

During their whispered fight in mid-game...

"...I hate you right now."

"I'm not too crazy about you either."

"I hate your dress designs too, they're so tacky."

"Your whole wardrobe's tacky."

"Your face is tacky."

Hikaru broke character and laughed. "Pff! Hahahaha!"

"The laughing one is Hikaru!" called out a fangirl.

"GOD, damn it!" laughed Hikaru, causing his brother to laugh as well.

Take Three.

"You're stupid," started Hikaru.

"You're stupid!"

"I hate your face!"

Hikaru narrowed his eyes. "...I think that's my line."

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure."

"Well tough luck, it's mine now." Kaoru stuck his tongue out at him.

"MAKE OUT ALREADY!" screamed Renge in the back.

Take Whatever.

"Hold on," blinked a third guesser. "I'm confused. If Hikaru's not on the right, then he has to be on the left. Right?"

"You're close," said the Twin on the right slyly. "The one who isn't Hikaru is slightly shorter."

"And," added the golden-eyed devil beside him, "the one who isn't Karou isn't nearly as handsome."

The doppelgänger beside him made a face. "Er... W-well, the one who isn't Hikaru can't sleep alone because he gets night terrors."

"And the one who isn't Kaoru HAD to sleep alone, because... Line?"

"He kept wetting the bed," the Director reminded him.

"Oh, right! He kept wetting the... Aw man, we have to do it all over again, don't we?"

"How many takes was this now?" Hikaru wondered.

"Thirty-seven!" groaned the Director.

"Crap," frowned the twin on the left.

"I'm hungry," complianed the one on the right. "Can we break for five minutes?"

"Let's just get it over with," his twin insisted, as he wiggled his shoulders to loosen them.

"I'm tired."

"I'm tired too! And I'm taking back that line!"

"I called dibs."

"You can't call dibs on something that's scripted!"

"MAKE OUT ALREADY!" yelled Renge and Tamaki.

Chapter 4, Scene 3; during the Battle of the Ballads...

Take One.

Kaoru on keyboard: "Oh darling, please believe me,

I'll never do you no harm,

I'll never do you no harm."

His song was suddenly cut off by the banging of a drum set, as someone had snuck onto the scene to perform a drum solo. The camera panned out to Mori, who apparently got bored and decided to wail on the drums.

Chapter 4, Scene 5; Hikaru at Hunny's house...

Take One.

"Here," smiled Hunny.

Hikaru was pummeled by that damn pink bunny.

"I'm not allowed to take Usa-chan with me," Hunny explained. "I promised my dad and brother I'd keep him home. Would you mind looking after him for me? Please?"

Hikaru paused for a minute, before grabbing the bunny and running away with it.

"Hey!" cried out Hunny in protest.

Chapter 4, Scene 6; Hikaru's metamorphosis...

Take One.

Days went by, and things at the club got quieter and quieter. Both Hitachiin brothers made it a point to not pester Haruhi every other day, much to her delight. However, they barely spoke to or even looked at each other. They were becoming more and more accustomed to the personas given to them by Renge. Soon, the guests would be divided between "Team Kaoru" and "Team Hikaru." And funny enough, it was the girls that did the most bickering and carrying on than the twins themselves. Secretly, both boys enjoyed the special attention they were each being given. But mostly Hikaru. He couldn't remember the last time he felt like the center of attention. He liked it.

No. He loved it.

It was truly freeing, not having Kaoru looking over his shoulder or rubbing up against his side every waking moment. He missed it too, but not as much as he once thought. He loved his brother, despite the tension and distance between them; but in a strange way, this phase was actually doing him some good. He was finally feeling like his own person- no longer Hikaru and Kaoru, just Hikaru. And secretly, he was hoping that Kaoru was feeling the same way.

Then one day, Hikaru made a choice that would change everything. On that day, he showed up at the club... With bright purple hair.

"Wait, hold it!" called out the Director. "Hikaru, your hair is supposed to be dark brown!"

He made a face. "Well, today felt like a Purple Day."

"Change it and do it again."

"Aww."

Take Two.

No. He loved it.

Then one day, Hikaru made a choice that would change everything. On that day, he showed up at the club... With rainbow hair.

"Now you're just doing it to piss me off," groaned the Director.

"Everyone loves rainbows," argued the Hitachiin.

"CUT!"

Chapter 4, Scene 7; during Hikaru and Kaoru's talk...

Take One.

Hikaru explained in a calm voice, "Haven't you ever wanted to break away and do your own thing?"

"No."

"Come on, I know you, Kaoru. You may be my twin, but we're not completely alike. We each have our wants and needs. I'm just trying to think on my own for once. It's time. ...You understand what I'm trying to say, don't you?"

"All I'm hearing is, 'I want nothing to do with you anymore.'"

11:57pm- 12:57am.

"Wait, hold on," called out the Director. "What's wrong with the clock?"

"Nothing," said a male voice by her side. "It's Daylight Saving's Time."

"Ooh... Well, we should probably tell Kaoru that his clock jumped ahead... Kaoru? ….Kaoru?"

Cutting back to the Hitachiin Twins, Kaoru's eyes whitened and his mouth was gaped open, as though he were zombified. A little bit of drool trickled down his bottom lip. Hikaru waved a hand in his face to snap him out of it, to no avail.

"Oh boy," gasped the Director. "Somebody fix that clock, stat!"

On set of Scene 7, in which Kaoru was to fall down a flight of stairs, the Twins read through the scene with copies of the script in hand.

"It says here I fall head first," cringed Kaoru. "I don't want do get hurt."

"Maybe we can use a double," Hikaru suggested.

Kaoru glared intently at his lookalike.

"Don't even think about it," sneered the older twin.

After several talks with the Director, it was decided that a stunt double would fall in Kaoru's place. And so...

Scene 7; the fall...

Take One.

Hikaru could only watch helplessly, as his brother's body arched backward, his arms flaling in vain as he missed the banister. He stretched out his arm, but his twin was just out of reach. Kaoru's feet kicked high, with one shoe loosening. Gravity pulled at him, he flew downward.

In Hikaru's mind, everything was in slow motion: one loud "Bang" as Kaoru-s head hit a step, another loud crash as his shoulders buckled, his body now as loose as a plus toy's as it tumbled and rolled down the concrete stairs, until at last he hit the bottom.

Everything in Kaoru's mind went black as he heard the final, "BONG."

"Cut!" called the Director. "That was perfect!"

"Uuugghh..." groaned Kasanoda as he picked himself up off the floor. "Thank goodness that only took one take."

"Sorry, Bossa Nova," shrugged Kaoru from behind the camera. "You're the only other redhead we know."

"And it's not like your face was gonna get any prettier," commented Hikaru from the top step.

The rest of the shoot was cancelled that day, as the Hitachiin Twins were unavailable thanks to being chased off by the gangster teen.

Chapter 5, Scene 2; after Hikaru confesses his love to Haruhi... again...

Take One.

Yes, that's what struck her about him: Hikaru Hitachiin was, in that moment, vulnerable. Perhaps for the first time in his life. Surely, this was a good sign, a sign of maturity. This was not the Hikaru she was introduced to one year earlier, this was a new Hikaru. And she liked him.

No. She loved him.

But of course, she was too stubborn and fearful to say it out loud, so instead she surprised him with a snide remark: "I dunno, Hikaru. Kaoru's a really good kisser." It seemed the twins' wily ways were finally starting to rub off on her.

To that he have a her a smirk, as a spark of mischief returned to his cat-like eyes. "Come'ere, Lemmie show you how it's done."

Before she could catch her breath, his hands gently seized her ears, and pulled her in. Their lips touched softly for a moment, then he pulled her even closer, allowing their mouths to entwine and caress each other, the way lovers in the movies do. She wasn't sure how long the kiss lasted, but when she pulled back, she took a deep breath as though she had just surfaced from deep water. Her head was swimming.

"...Weren't the others supposed to take the picture by now?" asked Haruhi while her lips were still locked on Hikaru's.

She could hear Mori and Hunny snickering nearby.

"Guys, that's your cue!"

"Hikaru paid us extra to let the scene go on another ten minutes," confessed Hunny.

Haruhi shot an evil look at her kissing partner.

"Do you want another take?" he asked sheepishly.

She growled like a lioness, making him shiver in fear.

Chapter 5, At the very end...

"WAIT!" screams Tamaki, as he rips through the ending screen. "IT WAS HARUHI ALL THIS TIME? THAT'S WHO THE TWINS WERE FIGHTING OVER?" His eyes turn white as his face scrunches, fire emulating from his fang-covered mouth. "NO! THIS CAN'T BE! IT ISN'T EVEN CANON! SOMEBODY CALL BISCO HATORI! I WANT MY LAWYER! I'LL SUE FOR INFRINGEMENT! I'LL-" He is cut off by the reaffirmed fade to black.

"...Um... Should we do that one again?" asked a male voice beside the Director.

"Keep it," she replied. "It'll be good for a laugh."

CREDITS:

"Ouran High School Host Club" and its characters belong to:

Bisco Hatori

Story requested by / dedicated to:

Kc495

Songs:

"Everything I Do, I Do It For You," by Brian Adama

"All of Me," by John Legend

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" by Sir Elton John

"I Will Always Love You," by Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston

"Let's Get It On," by Marvin Gaye

"Oh Darling," by The Beatles

"Treasure," by Bruno Mars

"Thriller," by Michael Jackson

"Two Princes," by The Spin Doctors

All Rights Rserved.

A special thanks to all the readers and reviewers!