Chapter Four

Haruhi showed Pumpkin around the school for the rest of the day, taking up the excuse of being a tour guide for some of the new students. Upon three 'o clock in the afternoon when the bell rang for the end of class, she and Pumpkin had arrived in front of Pumpkin's classroom.

"Why is it you're scared of Kyouya-senpai?"

Shuddering, Pumpkin responded, "I'm not sure, but I think he knows something about me. It's scary, you know? Like he can see through me to my soul."

"Yeah, you have to be careful. He'll do what he can to get your soul sold to him. He's like- like a demon lord."

"That sounds about right, but- honestly I don't know him that well. I can't make assumptions of him right off the bat. There could be something about him deep down we don't know about."

"Doubtful…Well anyway- here we are, back at the beginning."

"Thank you so much. I just need to get my bag and I'll be out."

"Actually, I have club activities to get to. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, alright. See you!" Waving at her, Pumpkin walked over to her desk and found her bag missing, a piece of paper on the flat surface. Picking the paper up, it read:

'Your school bag is at the Third Music Room. Come after school and before three-fifteen.'

Was it because of her painted bag? It was, wasn't it. Crumpling the piece of paper up, she stuffed it into her pocket and began wandering the halls for the music room. What was so special about that room anyway? She'd already heard it enough times to make her sick. She had to ask Haruhi about it tomorrow.

Before she knew it, she found she was in front of the Third Music Room. She was surprised she found it on her first try, considering she only asked for directions twice. Breathing in successfully, she turned the door handle and found it opened with a little tug, but once it opened, a bright light appeared from within and rose petals flew out unto the hallway around her. Wincing, she pushed the door open the rest of the way and peered inside.

"Irashimase!" Welcome! Seven voices chorused at the same time as she looked around. "Uh… he- hello?"

"Come in!" They said at once.

Blinking, she looked from one person to the next. She recognized Tamaki, Haruhi, Kyouya, Hani and Takashi- was it coincidence she met them earlier? But then there were two identical looking faces she failed to place a name with. They seemed to have a snarky grin plastered to their mirroring faces as they chewed slowly on bananas.

"Uhm… I came for my bag?"

"Yes, of course you did! Hikaru, Kaoru! Bring this young lady her school bag!" Tamaki stood suddenly, snapping his fingers and pointing dramatically in the direction of where her bag was.

"Hai!" Yes! They said at the same time, saluting their upper classman and walking in sync in the direction he had declared.

"Kabo-chan! You came! Would you like to eat cake with us?" Hani, the senior, jumped unto Pumpkin and gave his wide-eyed stare, looking as cute as he could.

"Well- I'd like to, but-,"

"What's the matter, Sagano-san? Feeling somewhat- intimidated?" Kyouya pushed the rim of his glasses up higher on his nose, smirking at her.

"N- No! Not at all. I just don't- want to is all."

"Hey Kaoru! Think fast!" One of the red headed twins tossed Pumpkin's bag through the air over hers and Kyouyas heads, to the other twin that stood behind the dark haired teen. Out of instinct, Kyouya tried to grab the bag from the air, but it bounced off his hand and hit his head, knocking his glasses to the floor. Growling softly, he turned to the twins and frowned. "Pull another stunt like that and you won't live to do another." His warning tone sent a shiver down Pumpkin's spine.

"I'll get it." She walked over to the bag and stepped on a peel- one of the twins' banana peels as a matter of fact- sliding her feet right out from under her, causing her to land with a loud crunch on her bottom.

Hearing the sound, every pair of eyes froze on her. Could that possibly be- the sound of glass coming from underneath her?

Glaring down at her, Kyouya twitched, "I believe you've just crushed my glasses."

"Eh…" leaning forward, she reached behind her and for the first time was glad she wearing petticoats. "I don't think they're too bad- they look manageable." She held up the wrinkled rim, not a single piece of glass remaining.

"Ahhh… you broke Kyouya's glasses." One of the twins said, leaning over her.

She had a feeling this was not a good sign.

"Those were chrome rims…" The other said.

She was sure this wasn't a good sign.

"That wasn't glass, either-,"

"It was crystal." They said at the same time.

Feeling very small, Pumpkin didn't- or rather, couldn't- move from her spot as she dangled the thin frame of the glasses in her hand.

"Not to mention there were diamonds in the bending points- perfect for catching light and reflecting them in your eyes…" shrugging at each other, they finished, "how much is that? About a million yen?"

She felt like a stone. That was almost ten thousand dollars. Who paid ten thousand dollars for a pair of glasses? For some reason the line 'damn rich bastards' came to mind.

But someone else beat her to the punch, "Damn rich bastards." Haruhi muttered as she looked away.

Suddenly recovering, Kyouya straightened his posture and crossed his arms even though a strange of aura of dark flames seemed to radiate from where he stood. "Now, Sagano-san. The question is, how do you intend on paying for those?"

"Isn't it obvious? She's rich like all of us are- so you will become a costumer until the debt is paid!" Tamaki held his thumb in forefinger up, an obvious 'its-all-going-according-to-plan' pose.

"Actually, Tamaki, she doesn't have a penny."

"Huh?"

"Eh-!" Already Pumpkin felt herself falling down a hole.

"Her family may be rich, but- she doesn't get anything until she has it inherited to her. So in retrospect, she's just as poor as a commoner. Perhaps even poorer than Haruhi-kun." Make that a never-ending hole.

Everyone in the room gasped when they heard this. "EH?!"

"Welcome to debt-hood." Haruhi said as she walked past.

"Wait just a second! How dare you degrade me to a level lower than that of a commoner! I'm just as high on the social status as you are- you don't look like God to me!" Then she realized that he had said Haruhi-kun. Did that mean they didn't know Haruhi was a girl?

Half grinning and half smirking, Kyouya leaned in once more and whispered, "Well, it doesn't appear as though He's here, does it?"

Throwing her arm up, she backed away from him until she felt the comfort of the door behind her. She couldn't believe someone could just say that!

"But- you still haven't answered my question, Sagano-san. What about the glasses?"

Swallowing, she looked down at the floor and sighed in defeat. "I have no choice, do I?"

"Then it's official! Pumpkin-san, you will become a hostess until the debt is paid, in full. You will host male students until stated otherwise. Understand?" Tamaki was suddenly serious.

"HUH?! Why? This isn't a prison!"

The twins appeared as mirrors on either side of Tamaki and whispered something ushered in his ear. The only words she could make out were 'Haruhi' and 'male'.

She watched as a deep red blush appeared on the king's face. "Uh- Kyouya- perhaps it isn't the best idea-,"

"It's already been taken care of. Sagano-san knows already. As for Haruhi-," he turned and looked at his lower classman, "your debt has just been doubled." His anger still radiated throughout the room even after he walked away.

Suddenly, Haruhi also had her reasons for hating Pumpkin. Glaring in her direction with hatred, she walked over to a tray and poured water for tea.

"Uwahhh! Kabo-chan is gunna be a host, too?" Hani bounced over to where Pumpkin still sat in a daze.

"Huh?"

"A hostess, Mitsukuni. The first." The giant at the boy's side replied.

Eyes widening (if that were possible), Hani ran over and grabbed Pumpkin around the neck. "Yay! Kabo-chan's gunna spend time with us every day and eat cake! I'm so happy!"

"…Unh." Pumpkin simply replied as her head rolled about from the boy's relentless shaking. She wondered how her father would take the news.

ok... sorry for not updating sooner, but I got lazy. I didnt originally plan for Pumpkin to get into debt, but- the characters had other plans. blame them.

Pumpkin- thats right! and if you dont comment, my gummy bear army will put you all in their clutches of stickiness!

Haruhi- -sweatdrop- please, do comment. kodo-sensei would appreciate it.

Kyouya- and if you dont comment, I will higher Haruhi's- and Pumpkin's- debt -grins evilly-

Pumpkin and Haruhi- COMMENT! NOW! PLEASE! WE BEG OF YOU!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own OHSHC- because if I did, we wouldve seen more of Hani's dark side- and the consequences pertaining to.