Chapter Four: Shindou

Sai. That was the first thought that crossed Shindou's mind upon seeing the room that seemed to stretch out forever before him. The men inside were clad in long robes and one of them even had a tall purple hat upon his head. However, the guy with the hat didn't resemble Sai in the least. His hair was short, wavy, and BLONDE. Besides, he had dazzling blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light and a very princely atmosphere about him. However, he did have Sai's smile; that peaceful expression.

Touya quickly moved away from Shindou and bowed low, "Thank you and good afternoon. We're very sorry to barge in like this. Please forgive us!"

"Such manners!" Said the blond in the purple hat, beaming, "No need to apologize. We've been expecting you honored guests!"

"You have?" Touya sounded confused.

"Yes," came a calm voice. Shindou looked over and recognized the glasses guy who'd escorted them into the building. He had on red and grey robes, but that didn't really matter to Shindou.

"In fact," he continued with a nod to the blonde, "Tamaki here has been preparing for your arrival for weeks."

"Not to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you guys?" Shindou asked.

"If you're going to be rude," started a boy with orange hair, "why bother saying 'not to be rude'?" finished a copy of the first speaker.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, that's enough," stated the guy who had been addressed as Tamaki, "We are, the Ouran Host Club!"

"Host Club?" questioned Yashiro, speaking for the first time, "You mean like male prostitutes? Wouldn't the school board against that sort of thing?"

"The Host Club members don't sell their bodies. Instead, they sell their time and good looks to entertain and please the young women of this academy."

"Uh, ins't that the same thing?" Waya questioned loudly.

"Of course not!" Tamaki said dramatically, "Our Host Club is full of nothing but highly respectable young men."

A snicker came from the pair of twins along with a guy that Shindou thought looked as girly a Touya. Tamaki gave a displeasing look in their general direction, but they didn't really seem to mind.

"You said something about expecting us, right?" Yashiro said, breaking the silence.

"Oh yes about that," began the glasses geek, "It it true that the young Go protege Touya Akira is among your group?"

"Yes, that would be me," Touya said with a pleasant smile. Shindou scowled.

"Well, today we're having a Go-themed day in our Host Club and would be very pleased if your could spare some time to teach the young ladies how to play."

"Um," Touya sputtered, "Well you see, I'd love to and it would be an honor, however..."

Shindou, getting tired of Touya being the only subject of interest butted in, "What he means to say is that Go is a very complicated game that takes a lifetime to master and there is absolutely no way that we could teach it to some girls in a few hours. Besides, doesn't your school have a Go club that could teach them?"

"Yes, it is truth that our school has such a club, but they are very busy preparing for an upcoming tournament and don't have time at the moment to spare for such activities."

"And you think we do?" Shindou said aggravated.

"You do have time don't you?" Came the princely blonde's excited voice, "I mean such skilled commoners like you should be able to teach a few lovely girls how to play a simple board game in five minutes or less! It won't take any time at all!"

Shindou snapped. He was okay with spending the day touring an academy for the rich and arrogant. He was okay with being stuck in a room with mindless idiots who cosplayed as Sai. He was even okay with being insulted by Touya. However, Shindou was NOT okay with that brain-dead Tamaki suggesting that Go, his passion that had brought so much pain and joy into his life, was a simple board game that air-headed academy girls could learn in five minutes. Moreover, Tamaki had insulted them for being commoners and hadn't even realized it!

Shindou started toward Tamaki, who mistook his anger as a sign for a game of tag to begin and began to run. Tamaki laughed carelessly, enjoying himself while Shindou chased him. They went round and around the large room. Shindou was catching up to Tamaki. He was almost close enough to punch the bastard when... riiiiip. Tamaki's smile faded. He looked down at the expensive silk robe. On the other side of the room, Yashiro put his hands to his face. Shindou'd rage faded. How much did that thing cost? He didn't even want to know. If Shindou was right, he would spend the remaining years of his life as an indentured servant.