OKAY SO NOBODY PANIC! This is not a drill!
Hey guys ^^ I return from god know where but it's okay because I bring you lovely chapters again before I drop off the face of the earth. Cause I suck. Anyways, I do not own OHSHC but I do own Kaida Yuuki.
Please enjoy this chapter!
"Really? All the afternoon classes have been…cancelled?" Haruhi asked curiously as she set her bag down on her desk.
Yuuki looked at her friend for a moment before realization struck her. "Oh, sorry Haruhi I forgot to mention it to you." She told her apologetically as she slid off her desk. "For the next two days, Ouran is going to be hosting an exposition for the cultural clubs, so drama and choir clubs from other school have also been invited, apparently the school hosts this annually.
Haruhi stared at the longhaired girl for a few moments, genuinely surprised. "Is that so…"
"What?! You mean you've never tried it?!" a pair of voices cried out in sync.
Both girls' looked back to see the twins speaking to their 'manager' about the wonders of instant coffee.
"Now that you mention it…we just ran out of it." Kaoru said, almost as an after thought.
Hikaru placed a hand on Haruhi's shoulder while Kaoru placed a hand on Yuuki's shoulder. "Go buy us some more." They told them in unison.
Yuuki looked at them annoyed, "Why do we have to go get it..?" she asked testily.
The twins looked at both girls and immediately began sucking up to them in every way they could think of as they spoke.
"Because you two are the only commoners and no one else knows where to buy it." Hikaru said rubbing Haruhi's shoulders.
"We've even been serving it to our guests lately, and besides… it's part of Haruhi's job." Kaoru continued, doing the exact same thing to Yuuki.
Haruhi looked just as annoyed as Yuuki. "But the cultural exposition starts soon." She grumbled.
"Yeah but it's not mandatory so if you're not interested you don't have to go." Hikaru replied smugly, leading both girls to the entrance of the classroom.
"An with that being said," Kaoru started,
"Be careful out there!" Both twins finished together, waving to them as they pushed them out of the classroom, much to the annoyance of the two girls.
Exasperated, Haruhi leaned against the wall. "Damn them…I really hate rich people…" She muttered while Yuuki couldn't help but be somewhat amused.
"Oh…if only they knew." Yuuki laughed before turning to Haruhi, her expression feigning innocence. "Does that mean…you hate me too Haruhi?" She asked in mock shock.
The shorthaired girl sighed before she began speaking. "Yes, you too. You're all crazy." Haruhi said with a smile.
As Yuuki laughed, two girls walked out of the classroom to see them. "Thanks for helping them out Haruhi." One of them said happily, stopping in front of them.
"No problem, I just wish they'd get their own coffee." Haruhi complained lightly.
The other girl laughed, "Well I don't know if that will ever happen, but they seem to be having a good time. And it's all thanks to you."
At this Yuuki looked up, "What do you mean?"
The girls smiled a little at Yuuki, a bit friendlier to her since the beach incident. "We've been in the same class with the twins ever since middle school." She explained. "They didn't used to be this cheerful and friendly… They were always quiet and withdrawn, and didn't have many friends…"
"It's like they didn't want anyone to get too close." The other girl continued, "I don't think they liked school very much, they seemed so bored by it… I guess things changed when they host club started, they've started to come out of their shell, little by little."
"But they've really opened up since you've joined the host club. Now they talk and joke with everyone in class… That's why we wanted you to know how grateful we are to you." Both girls smiled happily as they spoke in turns. " Because of you, the twins are having fun, and enjoying each day to the fullest!"
With that, the girls smiled and waved as both Yuuki and Haruhi walked away to pick up the coffee.
Yuuki looked up at the sky as they walked to the market, taking their time. "Each day huh…?" She spoke aloud in wonder.
The shorthaired girl looked to her friend. "You've taken an interest in them..?" Her question seemed to be more of a statement though.
"Not really." The longhaired girl replied shortly, "I was just wondering what it would have been like to have met them in middle school."
"Maybe you did, but you never know." Haruhi responded gently. "I mean, you did go to school with me sure, but that was because it was your mothers wish right? To attend a public school rather than-"
"Perhaps." Yuuki spoke evasively, effectively cutting her friend off. "I may have met the twins before yes, but this topic and the topic of her are two different things."
Haruhi frowned. "Sorry…"
With that, they continued their market run for coffee and headed back, Haruhi carrying two bags full of instant coffee and Yuuki holding one bag full.
"Did we really need to buy so much…?" The longhaired girl asked, looking into the contents of the paper bag. "There has to be at least five different brands in this bag alone."
In response, Haruhi just laughed a little nervously, unable to really answer that question. She didn't even notice the banana peel in front of her, causing her to fall backwards.
Before Yuuki could even register that she was falling, a tall girl had already swooped in and caught her.
Both Haruhi and Yuuki stared in shock at the girl as she set the shorthaired girl down, making sure she was alright.
"It'd be a shame for any harm to come to that cute face of yours, young lady." The girl spoke elegantly.
Yuuki stared at the girl in surprise. "No one can tell Haruhi is a girl like this…how did she..?"
The girl chuckled a little as she flipped her bangs away.
"That uniform… you're from St. Lobelia Academy aren't you?" the longhaired girl asked, her expression relaxing into a more neutral one.
The girl smiled charmingly at them both. "Why, yes I am. You're both such lovely young maidens…How about we go for a nice stroll through your campus?" She spoke smoothly as she helped Haruhi up and led her through the gates and towards the school while Yuuki trailed behind, unamused.
As they walked, the longhaired girl realized they were heading into the school, all the way to…music room #3. Both girls looked genuinely confused as the Lobelia girl wrapped her arm around Haruhi's shoulder and strut through the door, flashing a gaudy pose with the confused shorthaired girl by her side.
"Maybe something like…I would never leave my lover alone..?" The girl asked.
Yuuki was confused as to whom she was speaking to until she actually turned to look and see the host club, standing in shock in knight wear, with two other Lobelia girls standing in front of them.
"If we fight, it'll be together! If we fail, we fail together!" The girl with Haruhi exclaimed, getting down on one knee in front of Haruhi. "Even if we were to die, I promise you that I will never leave your side, my love." With that, she kissed Haruhi on the hand, to the host clubs shock.
"Benibara! We thought you'd never show." The shorter of the other two Lobelia girls said as they both walked toward them.
"What are we going to do with you? So tell us where you found these lovely young ladies?" The Lobelia girl with longer hair spoke, folding her arms across her chest in an elegant manner.
"I just met them outside of the school. They may be dressed as boys but I knew the truth!" Benibara claimed as she dipped Haruhi and stroked her cheek. "Such pretty maidenly eyes…"
Yuuki, although wearing the boys uniform, was making no attempts to hide her gender, unlike Haruhi, which should have been obvious to all who were present.
"You're kidding right?" Yuuki asked, annoyed already by the situation they were all in. The longhaired girl made no attempt though to help Haruhi out of Benibara's arms, not wanting to take her place there.
Haruhi looked a bit uncomfortable as they touched her arms and legs in surprise, commenting on her soft and smooth skin.
"Uh…Thanks, I guess." She replied, unsure of how to actually respond.
Tamaki immediately rushed forward, protesting to the touching until Benibara punched him.
Yuuki watched boredly at the exchange, the Lobelia girls introducing themselves respectively as the Zuka club, with members Benio Amakusa aka. Benibara, Chizuru Maihara aka. Suzuran, and Hinako Tsuwabuki aka. Hinagiku.
After the initial shock of the introduction, the twins burst out laughing. "What a stupid name! Zuka club, oh my stomach hurts!" Hikaru laughed.
"The Zuka club! That's priceless!" Kaoru choked out between his laughs.
Yuuki rolled her eyes, "Guys, don't underestimate the Zuka club."
Both twins looked at her with tears of laughter in their eyes, "And why not?" Kaoru asked.
Yuuki shrugged a bit before shooting into a brief explanation of their long history of a club by maidens, for maidens, and their tendency for musical reviews performed by the top members.
As she was explaining, the host club removed their knight outfits and back into their normal uniforms.
"You sure do know a lot about this school, Miss Kaida." Kyouya commented as he straightened his tie.
Yuuki narrowed her eyes at him, "I nearly attended school there, so it's not much of a surprise that I would know about it." She responded coolly.
The Lobelia girls continued to explain their views of women, but no one was really listening, the host club as a whole just sat around the closest couch as they spoke, the Hikaru playing a video game on a DS, Kaoru going through the bag full of coffee that Yuuki was holding earlier, Morinozuka swinging a sword like a kendo stick, and Kyouya reading. Only Honey seemed to actually paying attention every so often.
"Whatever," Hikaru sighed as he tried to defeat a monster on his game. "We're so over it so why don't you girl just scram?"
"Hey I haven't seen this one before," Kaoru commented as he pulled out a jar of instant coffee from the bag. "Guess it's a new one."
Yuuki couldn't help but sigh for the umpteenth time, also not listening to the Lobelia girls until Benio spoke again, this time towards Haruhi.
"And to think they're dragging this sweet young maiden down with them…"
Haruhi only looked confused at this declaration before the Lobelia girl began ranting at the host club again.
"The host clubs leader may be a pretty little half-er! But he shouldn't be using his looks to create a fictitious romance! And attempting to fool the heart of a pure young maiden is demeaning!" Benio declared, "I promise you, we will bring you guys down, the Ouran Host Club will be abolished!"
"Excuse me," Haruhi cut in, holding a tray with some steaming cups on it. "I made some coffee, would you ladies like to have some?" She asked.
As the girls were temporarily placated, Yuuki shook her head, figuring Haruhi to be rather clueless to where this situation was heading.
Tamaki, having gotten over his initial culture shock of the Zuka club, angrily began to walk towards them, ranting unintelligibly towards them before tripping and burning his finger in a cup of coffee that Hinagiku was holding.
The entire room watched, exasperated as the host club president back away, holding his hand and shouting loudly.
"Geez senpai…you have to be more careful." Haruhi sighed as she bandaged his burnt finger.
Tamaki looked at his finger relaxed, "Thank Haruhi, do you always keep bandages with you?"
Haruhi laughed at this, "Nah, they were giving out freebies with the coffee. You always get free stuff at the supermarket." She explained.
Behind them, Benio watched for a moment before grabbing Haruhi by the arm and pulling her close. "Now that we know what's going on, we can't allow this maiden to stay here! We'll prepare her paperwork and have her transfer to Lobelia at once, and we'll welcome her into the Zuka club!" she declared, to the shock of the two Ouran girls and the rest of the host club.
The first to react was Yuuki, pulling Haruhi away by the back of her jacket and glaring at Benio. "Just wait a second, why are you deciding everything for her?" she snapped.
Haruhi immediately touched the longhaired girls arm, smiling a bit. "It's okay Yuuki."
The shorthaired girl turned to Benio, "There seems to be some misunderstanding here…I mean first of all, you called senpai a half-er."
"Cause he is a half-er," Honey cut in, "He's half French and half Japanese!" he explained cheerfully.
Haruhi blushed a little in embarrassment at this before trying to continue, "Well, anyway, I don't think it's fair for you to pick on the host club just because you don't think they have the same history as you do."
The twins cut in this time, both calm yet cheerful at their admission, "We barely have any history, we were just founded two years ago" Hikaru explained.
"Yeah the boss created it whenever he started high school here." Kaoru finished.
Yuuki was about to step in to stop Haruhi from talking, but…
Haruhi sighed, "Be as it may, saying their club activities are only held to satisfy their appetites is just wrong. I mean it's not like the host club is charging their guests or anything…"
The longhaired girl couldn't help but wince slightly for Haruhi once Kyouya cut in.
"Well I wouldn't call it a charge, we do have a point system. We offer priority service based on the winning bids of auctions held on our website." He explained as he typed on his computer, showing the latest winning bid, which just so happened to be on Haruhi's mechanical pencil.
"What?! I thought I had lost that pencil!" Haruhi looked at Kyouya, annoyed. "I had no idea you guys were collecting money!"
Yuuki couldn't help herself, "You really thought they were just working here as volunteers Haruhi..?"
Haruhi was very annoyed by this, brushing off Tamaki as usual when he tried to make it better.
"Oh you poor dear, I can't believe they've been deceiving you." Suzuran said as the Lobelia girls surrounded Haruhi once more.
"Why don't you just dump these losers and come with us?" Hinagiku asked before Benio stopped her.
"This maiden has had quite a day… We'll come back for your answer tomorrow." She said as she placed her hand on Haruhi's shoulder in reassurance before leaving with the other two Lobelia girls.
"Well then, adieu."
Once they left, the room was awkwardly quiet.
Yuuki sighed and looked back at the clock behind the host club. "Haruhi." She called to get her attention to the clock.
Haruhi turned abruptly, her face still angry as she looked, causing the host club to freeze and nervously stare at her angry expression.
"I'd better be going, I've got some thinking to do." She said shortly before leaving the room.
Once the door closed, Tamaki began to panic.
"Why did you guys have to tell her the truth?!" he asked Kyouya in a whining tone.
While the host club was speaking about Haruhi, Yuuki was looking out the window, deep in thought.
"It makes sense that the Lobelia girls are here since they're going to be performing here tomorrow but…" She shook her head, answering her own speculations. "No, it's only weird because I was so close to attending the school…but…"
She sighed and turned to look back at the host club, but her view was obscured by Mori, who had walked up to her while she was busy with her own thoughts.
Yuuki looked at him, making eye contact. "What? Got something to say Mori-senpai?" she asked testily.
He said nothing for a long moment before he opened his mouth to speak, but Tamaki quickly got in Yuuki's face before he could say anything.
"Yuuki! You're Haruhi's best friend so of course you don't want her to transfer away right?!" Tamaki asked quickly, not even letting her answer the question. "I knew you felt the same way we did, now we're going to need your cooperation!"
With that, she was dragged off for the rest of the day to help the host club with their secret plan…. Much to her chagrin.
The following day, the host club took advantage of Haruhi being out of the music room to prepare. "Why do I have to help?" Yuuki grumbled, handing the twins their dresses. "I told you guys already, Haruhi won't transfer."
"We don't know that so we're going to do everything we can think of to keep her here." Hikaru replied, slipping on the dress over some underclothes.
Kaoru grinned, "Why don't you put one on too Yuuki? I'm sure you'd look really cute."
Yuuki pinched the younger twins cheeks. "How about no, you fake lady-killer?" she snapped before handing them the makeup tools she had borrowed from Ranka earlier in the day.
Hikaru looked through the bag, before looking to Yuuki. "Help me with this." He ordered, handing her the eye shadow and mascara.
Yuuki stared at what he gave her, confused. "I don't know how to put on makeup…" she said slowly before seeing both twins just give her a blank look.
"Alright! Alright, I'll see what I can do! Geez." With that she opened the eye shadow, picking a lime green without meaning to, and covered a brush in the powder. "Close your eyes a little Hikaru."
He did as he was told, his eyes fluttering closed as she leaned in and gently began applying the eye shadow on his eyelids. "What kind of girl doesn't know how to use makeup..?" He grumbled.
"A lot of girls actually." Yuuki responded, too concentrated to actually snap at him. She leaned closer to try to make it even on both sides before taking out the mascara. "…Huh…I think I put too much, oh well…Open your eyes a little and down."
When the older twin opened his eyes, he was taken by surprise by how close her face was to his, he jerked a little from the proximity, but did nothing more than what he was told.
Yuuki gently applied the mascara; afraid she would poke him in the eye. "Why are your eyelashes so long?" She asked, leaning close. "Look up now."
Hikaru couldn't help the slight pink dusting his cheeks as he did so. "Your eyelashes are long too…" He muttered and looked away once she finally stepped back.
Yuuki looked over at her handiwork on Hikaru for a moment before turning to Kaoru, doing the same thing to him.
The younger twin glanced at his older twin, taking note of the confused expression on his face that slowly turned to annoyance when she turned her attention away from him.
"He's almost like a little kid that way…" He thought, traces of his amusement showing on his face.
When Yuuki finished both the twins, who insisted on applying the blush and lipstick themselves, she turned to look at the other hosts.
Both Honey and Tamaki had clumsily put on their own makeup, with mixed results. Mori was not in a dress, as they couldn't find one to accommodate his size, so he was dresses as a very gaudy prince looking character.
Yuuki shook her head at this before turning to go shut of the lights, like she was supposed to, when Kyouya stopped her.
"Do you really think, that the Zuka clubs appearance here was only a coincidence?" He asked her quietly.
Yuuki looked at him, he was already dressed and he had somehow managed to put his makeup on properly, it was oddly elegant on his face. "…No. But I don't know why." She responded after a moment
"Don't think you can pretend with me Miss Kaida. Surely you can't be so blind as to not know…" Kyouya chided.
The longhaired girl was silent for a moment before continuing on towards the life. "And surely you can't be so daft as to think you can threaten me like that and get away with it." She said darkly before finally cutting out the lights, allowing the host club to get into position swiftly.
It only took a few minutes for the doors to open, allowing the host club the do what they had planned: imitate the Zuka club and offer Haruhi an opportunity for more feminine bonding.
As Yuuki expected, Haruhi burst into laughter, seeing them dressed as they were.
"What were you thinking? What's gotten into you guys?" She asked once she was able to catch her breath.
Hikaru looked up at the ceiling, putting his hands behind his head, feeling a bit awkward. "We did this because we didn't want you to leave the host club, Haruhi." He responded.
Haruhi looked surprised for a moment before smiling and turning to the three Lobelia girls who had followed her in, but had chosen to remain quiet.
"I'm sorry, but your club isn't for me, and I think the idea of a girls school is great, and your views are very unique and interesting," Haruhi began, "But I came to this school with a goal and a plan for my future, so while I appreciate your offer, I already knew that I was never going to leave Ouran Academy." She smiled as she gave them her answer, to the awe of the host club.
Yuuki on the other hand, smiled and watched, crossing her arms over her chest. She had also already known that Haruhi would not transfer away.
With that, the Lobelia girls decided to withdraw.
"We're not going to give up on you maiden." Benio stated, "I swear this to you, someday we will come and rescue you from this place, and when we do we'll abolish the Ouran Host Club!"
After calming herself, she waved slightly as she and the other two Lobelia girls left, "Well, adieu."
With that, the Lobelia girls literally twirled down the hallway, out of the school.
Yuuki sighed, exhausted from the past two days, and shook her head, watching Haruhi and Tamaki bicker.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this…" She sighed before noticing Honey beside her, smiling.
"You had fun too though, huh Yuu-chan?" He asked cheerfully, the make up on his face, although caked on a clumsily applied, made him look like an adorably little girl.
The longhaired girl paused for a moment before swiping her bangs out of her face and smiling, her body language a bit more relaxed as she did so. "It was too funny to not have fun."
Kaoru glanced at his twin, and looked troubled by what he saw. His older twin, looking to Haruhi and watching her amused, but then turning to look at Yuuki speak to Honey, his expression more distinctly sour.
It was safe to say that Kaoru was very concerned for the mess his brother was putting himself in.
On the other hand, Honey smiled, seeing Yuuki relax a little, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Mori, his expression unreadable to all except him.
And Kyouya, whose smile seemed to be a bit more knowing than he let on.
Honey turned his gaze to Haruhi then back to Yuuki, who was now looking at him with a questioning expression. "What's is this foreboding feeling I'm getting?" he wondered.
Yuuki looked at Honey curiously before poking his nose, "Honey-senpai?"
In response, he smiled at her and took her hand, dragging her off to join Haruhi and Tamaki in their bickering conversation.
He only hoped that the feeling he had was wrong.
So, how was it? ^^ Reviews, comments, criticism, and the like always welcome!
(I'm warning you now because my sister was having issue with this. This is going to be a long story. But hopefully you guys can stick with me until the end.)
Till next time!
~Toka ^^