forgive me! this chap is about 4 months later than it should have been and 6 months after the last chap! damn time goes by fast! anyway full explaination in the author's note at the end but i hope this chap will shed a little light as to why i titled this story as i did :) i don't own Ouran High School Host Club or else Tsukiko would be a character in the manga/anime and i wouldn't be putting my writing up on here lol enjoy :D
"HARUHI!"
Tsukiko sprinted over to the girl, jumping and wrapping her arms around Haruhi. The momentum of her weight made the two spin around, dizzying one while the other giggled like mad.
"You know," Hikaru started, crossing his arms.
"She's just like," his twin added, imitating the gesture.
"A female Honey-senpai!"
"Uh, hi, Tsukiko," Haruhi said, while still spinning around thanks to the shorter girl. "Can you stop spinning me please?"
"Oh, right, sure," she giggled sheepishly and let go of the boyish brunette.
"What are you guys doing here?" Haruhi asked, looking at the group of hosts and picking up the bags of groceries she had dropped when she was attacked be Tsukiko. Good thing she didn't pick up eggs today.
"I'm glad you asked, my beautiful daughter," Tamaki exclaimed, cue the sweat drops. "We are examining just what commoners do for fun on their days off!"
"People watch?" the brunette asked, turning to the shorter girl beside her.
"That's right," Tsukiko sang out with a grin.
"We're going to something called a thrift store!" Honey cheered, holding Usa-chan.
"I just hope there's one open…" the petite brunette muttered looking out to the market.
"What do you mean?" the twins inquired.
"Well, today's Sunday and many thrifts stores are run by Christian associations and Sunday is the Sabbath so they are usually closed," she explained matter of factly, then turned back to the group with a smile. "But, I'm sure there must be at least one open somewhere."
"All right, troops!" Tamaki called standing on the wagon as the twins and cousins saluted him. "Our mission, should we choose to accept, and we shall, is to find an open thrift store in this market place. Now, I'm not saying this will be easy by any means, however, whoever finds the store first shall pick out the next theme for the Host Club tomorrow! Do you accept?"
"Aye!" three of the four exclaimed.
"On your mark! Get set! Go!" Tamaki shouted and everyone was off, leaving the three rational, or semi-rational, of the group staring.
Tsukiko gave a smirk and watched the hosts playfully. "I knew this was going to be fun," she chuckled to herself and skipped along behind the boys.
"Tama-chan! I found one!" Honey exclaimed an hour later, jumping with excitement until he saw the hours it was open. "It's only open for another hour though," he pouted.
Tamaki patted the boy's head. "Well done, Honey-senpai!" he exclaimed, turning to the group behind him. "Now we must enter this store carefully, any sudden movements and anything can happen-"
Before the boy could continue, Mori just walked into the store without a word spoken. Tsukiko giggled at Tamaki's shock, but she instantly knew something was amiss. "Hey, where did the wagon go?" she asked and everyone looked her, each other, where the wagon should have been, to the door where Mori entered, then back at each other.
"Takashi has his ways!" Honey beamed.
"I guess there's a lot more to Mori-senpai than we thought…" Kaoru commented to his brother.
"That or he recently took up learning magic…" Hikaru replied.
"Mori-senpai knew magic a long time ago," Tsukiko retorted and the only slightly shorter Honey beamed and nodded next to her.
"It's true!"
Everyone dismissed the awkward realization and entered after the tall high schooler.
Tamaki loved the quaint little store. He squealed with a delighted horror sound as the twins attempted to get Haruhi to try on the floral sundresses left over from summer and other cute outfits, chasing her around the store.
Tamaki chased them around shouting things about shady twins and his daughter's pure innocence.
In addition to tormenting Haruhi, the twins even found some things from their mother's older lines, amazed at how cheaply they were being sold.
"It's a crime!" they would exclaim, causing the shorter female companions to chuckle.
Honey found the stuffed animal section easily and was mesmerized by their cuteness and had Usa-chan bond with them.
Mori took an interest in the paintings on sale, while keeping the corner of his eyes on his childlike cousin.
That left Kyouya and Tsukiko at the shelves of books. Tsukiko sat on top of the smaller shelf case. "Who would have thought they'd love this place?" she asked with a smirk.
Kyouya gave a chuckle. "Tamaki is obsessed with the lifestyles of commoners for some reason," he replied, finding a book about German. "Though it's not a bad idea, reminds me of when Haruhi brought in instant coffee."
Tsukiko began cracking up. "Tamaki drank instant coffee?"
"We all did, it was not to my taste, however if I had been a commoner, I would be inclined to drink it."
She laughed harder. "You're so analytical," she giggled and he poked her forehead in response. She pouted. "Hey!"
"I need to get some sort of revenge from this morning," he smirked at her pouting face.
"You're so mean to me!" Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm letting you stay under my roof, how am I mean?" he retorted, paying for the book.
"Actually, your father is letting me stay under his roof. And you're mean 'cause you won't let me have my fun," she explained matter of factly.
"I let you have your fun," he countered, thanking the clerk. "I just like to have my fun as well."
"You have not changed a bit since we were kids, Kyouya-kun," she shook her head and looked back to the group who had not stopped their antics. "They are obsessed with making Haruhi girlier…"
"Well, she does have the entire school convinced she is a boy," Kyouya replied, leaning against the wall by the main entrance.
"Poor, Haruhi," she said, then stopped her eyes widened. "Those two aren't going to put me in bunny suits or some weird sexy Halloween costume, are they?" She paled slightly.
Kyouya couldn't help but laugh. "You're the one who agreed to them dressing you up."
"But you'll beat them up if they go too far, right?" she asked with bug eyes.
"You're the one with the black belt," he returned. "You can take care of yourself."
"I don't know whether to feel insulted or complimented." Kyouya laughed at her confusion.
"As much fun as that was," Haruhi began after the group had waisted an hour in the thrift store. "I need to get home and finish my chores. Jaa nee!"
"Jaa nee!" the group waved back as she was out of sight.
"So, what now?" Tsukiko asked, glancing up at her companions.
"Greasy commoner fast food lunch," Kyouya suggested, whipping out his cell phone. "Or call Shin and go to a five star restaurant."
They all looked at each other and agreed. "Restaurant."
The group piled into the limo and headed for the nearest five star restaurant to have lunch and discuss the next day's club activities. Tsukiko, not having much interest in the subject, stole the book Kyouya had purchased at the thrift store, for some light reading. To her excitement, the book wasn't just about Germany, but it was in German as well. The perfect way to exorcise her mind.
She kept the book with her throughout lunch, and even when they finally arrived home around three-ish. She kept to her room and busied herself doing God knows what as Kyouya had been summoned to his father's office after supper. He was ordered to summon the Ootori's guest to his father's study shortly after.
It was around eight o'clock when he knocked on the girl's door. "Tsukiko! Can I speak with you for a moment?" he called.
"Depends on how much you want to see me in a towel!" she called back. Shocked the Ootori took a step back. Why must she be so twisted like that?
"Tsukiko…" he shook his head as he groaned, hearing the doorknob turn he turned around as well.
"Apparently, you really want to," she said factually, stepping out. Kyouya turned slightly to see she was dressed in her fuzzy green pants and grey T-shirt, and her wet hair had been wrapped in a towel. He let out a sigh of relief. "You really did want to see me in a towel! You perv!"
Kyouya sighed. "Why would I?" he countered finally taking a stand. "There wouldn't be much to see."
This time she blushed and pouted. "You're so mean, Kyouya-kun!"
"Could I possibly have my book back?" he said, without a word about his earlier statement.
This broke her blush of horror. "Oh, this thing?" she replied holding the book up.
"Where did you pull that out from?" Kyouya raised a brow.
"Do you really want to know?" she retorted, cocking a hip.
"Do I?"
The girl shook her head and Kyouya sighed.
"Father would like to have a word with you," he said, ignoring the unanswered question he asked.
"You're father? What does he want?" she wondered aloud making his eyebrows raise slightly. She sighed. "I'll see him in a moment, let me brush my hair and make myself look halfway presentable." She stepped back inside her room and closed the door.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," Yoshio called as the petite brunette entered the man's study. "Mizushima-san, please have a seat."
"You must excuse me for my attire, when you called for me I was in the middle of retiring for the night," she apologized with a bow and took her seat in one of the plush lounge chairs.
"Of course, you must forgive me for calling you so late in the evening," he replied.
"May I ask the reason for my summoning?" she asked, sitting up straight, crossing one ankle behind the other and folding her hands neatly across her knees.
This is how a lady should sit in such a high class society, any way else would be ludicrously inappropriate, a familiar voice echoed in her head as she fixed her sitting position. You would do well to remember this if you are to blend in with such people.
"First and foremost, I would like to apologize for not speaking with you as much as I would have liked to the day you arrived. I'm sure you can understand how both of our schedules made that difficult for us," he said, resting his elbows on his desk with his hands folded ready to rest his chin on.
"But of course, a busy man such as yourself already has a full schedule and as for myself, I have just started at a new school my adjustment to this new world has also taken up much of my schedule, it couldn't be helped." She knew where her politeness and formality would do her well in situations.
Yoshio shifted in his seat and rested his chin on his folded hands. "Quite right, now onto to the reason I have called you down here," he began. Neither of them found it odd that he was addressing her as an adult and not the high school girl she was, nor did they find it odd that she addressed him in the same manner. It seemed perfectly normal to both of them.
"Hai?" She sat a little straighter.
"This upcoming Saturday the Watanabe family will be holding a gala, inviting many of Japan's finest and wealthiest company owners to discuss mergers and such. The guests were invited to bring along their children as guests, Kyouya will be escorting you that evening," Yoshio explained.
She silently sucked in a breath, slightly off guard, she quickly composed herself showing very little sign of her reaction. "I understand why you wish your son to attend the gala, but I? Surely you can't be insinuating what I believe you are."
"Mizushima-san, you are a bright young girl. So bright that you're intelligence would have been wasted where you were before, despite you not having come from a wealthy family you would make an appropriate suitor for any of the young gentleman who shall be attending, as well."
The stare down began between the two of them. Who would've thought a petite girl would be enough to stand against the infamous Ootori Yoshio?
"Sir, I am but a child, not nearly ready for marriage. You can't possibly think that sending me to this party will not only find me but your son a future spouse? You can't be serious." She did her best to hide her appalled reaction. If she went too far her invitation to remain at the Ootori estate would be terminated.
"Certainly you understand how your intelligence will lead you very far in this type of society, if you were to find a suitable suitor that was of this high class society you will be able to become very powerful, I am doing you a favor."
"I still feel that I am too young to be looking for a fiancé. And that if your son is escorting me, how will anyone approach us if they feel we are together?" Tsukiko held her gaze as the man before her chuckled.
"Oh, Mizushima-san," the man chuckled lowly as he leaned back into his seat, his folded hands remained folded but now they rested on the desk, no longer propped up by his elbows. "Simply escorting someone means nothing until a formal engagement is announced, in fact I had been escorting another young woman when I met my late wife. With the two of you I can kill two birds with one stone."
The tiny brunette's eyes became solemn as she glared at Yoshio. "Akina was a very kind woman, you would do well not to blacken her name for the sake of something so trivial."
Taken aback, Yoshio cleared his throat. "Mizushima-san, I assure you, I loved Akina very much and never intended on blackening her name, however I do see your point. My words should have been chosen more carefully. However, you cannot deny that this event will not be beneficial to you, if not now, then in the future."
"I know perfectly well what you are saying, Ootori-san," Tsukiko replied, her voice entirely calm. "It does not mean I must agree or be fond of it."
"How soon you seem to forget, Mizushima-san," the man before her said as he propped his elbows back up onto the desk, bringing his face down to his folded hands, but did not rest his chin on them. He hid his smirk behind his hands as she stared intently at her. "There are several strings attached to your stay here, one of them is attending formal gatherings upon my request or an invitation of some sort. You agreed to the conditions, so you will attend the gala on Saturday."
Tsukiko had to close her eyes to keep her from rolling them as she let out a sigh. "Yes, I understand the terms I agreed to, and I never said I was declining the invitation or refusing to fulfill the conditions of my stay, I was merely stating my opinion on some topics. 'Twas nothing more than simple words of feelings, I would be honored to have your son escort me to the gala. I earnestly look forward to attending." She gave a soft smile and grinned as she said the last few words, just as just about any other girl would.
Yoshio smirked again. "You're a very good liar," he chuckled slightly, then gave a quick shake of his head. "My daughter Fuyumi will arrive in two days time to help you pick out a dress. She is well acquainted with the Watanabe family's galas."
"Sounds lovely, Ootori-san," Tsukiko gave a small fake smile similar to what Kyouya usually gives. "May I be so blunt as to ask if that was all you had called me down for?"
Yoshio nodded as the girl stood up and headed for the door. "Hai, that will be all, Kiko."
"Tsu…" Tsukiko stopped in her tracks as she reached for the door.
"Pardon?" The Ootori man blinked.
"My name is Tsukiko, not Kiko," she said, finally grasping the doorknob and turning it. "Goodnight, Ootori-san."
"Quite right. Oyasumi, Tsukiko-san."
With that the girl left.
The next day, after club activities had ceased, Kyouya had noticed the lack of a nosy Tsukiko wandering the club. Now that he thought about it that idiot blonde he called his best friend was also missing. Seeing as the others had occupied themselves with eating cake or choosing outfits or simply trying to ignore the oddness of the club, Kyouya made his way into the changing area, where he had managed to stash away his school bag.
Opening the door he found a lump under the orangish blanket that lay on top of the pink couch. Upon closer examination the so-called "lump" was breathing and had brown hair.
"She reminds me of a kitten," a familiar voice chuckled in a seat behind the couch.
"How you can see the similarities she shares with a kitten, I will never know, Tamaki," Kyouya shook his head as he leaned on the arm of the couch.
"Well, she has the innocence of one, don't you think?" The blond countered.
"That would certainly explain why she continues to call me a pervert." The raven haired boy rolled his eyes.
"I don't believe I've met anyone who could strike such a chord with you, Mommy." The blonde's face was graced with amusement as his friend his head.
"I honestly have no idea as to the nonsense you're babbling about," Kyouya sighed, crossing his arms.
"Sure you do, you make it so obvious, even when she's asleep-"
"Tamaki-senpai, please keep it down," Tsukiko's groan sounded as she pulled the blanket over her head. "And make sure Kyouya doesn't do anything that could damage my virtue."
"And it's comments like that, where I cannot see how you see her similar to a kitten…" Kyouya mumbled with another shake of his head.
"Looks like Sleeping Beauty is awake," Kaoru commented as he and his twin walked in.
"Yeah, for a while I was worried that she had forgotten about our deal," said twin added.
"Oh right, the modeling, I almost forgot," Tsukiko said with a yawm and a stretch of her arms as she sat up. "Can we only do a little of the modeling today? Haruhi and I need to finish our project and we're almost there."
"So only…" Hikaru began.
"Three outfits?" his twin finished.
"Three outfits." The brunette confirmed.
"Deal!" The twin gave thumbs ups. "We predicted that you only wish to do a little of the modeling today, and we only picked out three outfits."
"So you guys can not only read each other's minds but other minds as well? Cool." Tsukiko stood up, combing her fingers through her hair.
"This way milady," the twins gestured to the changing area closed off by a curtain.
Within a few minutes she came out wearing a dark blue fit and flare knee length dress, with a crop black cardigan with ruched sleeves, a thin scarlet red belt with a matching clutch purse, and three inch heeled black mid-calf boots. "Mori-senpai, why do you always seem to pull out random objects out of no where?" she asked noticing the tall young man holding a camera.
"Takashi is full of surprises!" Honey beamed holding Usa-chan and jumping up and down. "You look so pretty!"
"Thanks, Honey-senpai," she smiled then looked over at Haruhi. "Hey! I think I'm taller than you now!"
"Wait a minute," the twins said together, each turning a girl around so they were standing back to back.
"Sorry, Tsukiko, but it looks like Haruhi still has some height on you," Hikaru sighed, patting the disappointed girl's head.
"I blame the shoes," Kaoru added.
The girl sighed. "I knew it was too good to be true," she pouted.
"Sorry, Tsukiko," Haruhi smiled apologetically.
"Enough of that," the twins declared, pointing fingers at Tsukiko elaborately. "Pose for the camera!"
Tsukiko scowled. "I can't simply do it on the spot, heck I don't even know what poses to do," she sighed, and cocked a hip. "I'm a horrible model."
"No you're not," Kaoru said at the same time his twin said, "Yes, yes you are."
"Try just smiling, no princess is complete without a smile, even if it's just a small one," Tamaki suggested, as Kyouya grabbed the girl's hand.
"You need to lighten up," he said with his host smile, bringing her arm up and twirling her around.
"Kyouya-kun!" she exclaimed, feeling blood rush to her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, he's not available at the moment," he mocked, motioning Mori to take photos of the spinning girl.
Spinning and giggling like a mad woman, Tsukiko was able to pose for the photos. And even able to pose without having Kyouya spin her around like a top. After maybe twenty photos or so, she went back behind the curtain to change into the next outfit.
This time she came out in a red and black striped dolman top with lace running across the backs of her shoulders, black jeans, two inch heeled black ankle boots, and a black headband with a red flower attached to one side, the same red as the shirt. "Casual look?" she offered, coming out.
"Yes, now pose!" the twins demanded and the girl obediently gave different posses.
"Say, Hikaru, Kaoru, I thought your mom designed, well…" Haruhi began trying to find the right word. "More extravagant outfits."
"She does," Hikaru replied.
"But now she's into designing for the commoner people, and thought that if she toned down some of her designs, they might be more affordable," Kaoru finished.
"Well, so far they are actually pretty cute," Tsukiko commented while posing.
"She's certainly enjoying herself," Tamaki commented to Kyouya.
"So she is," he replied, arms crossed.
"Funny how you knew exactly how to get her in the mood for modeling." Tamaki had that look in his eyes, the look that Kyouya knew something entirely absurd was running through the boy's head.
"You're trying to insinuate something that is completely preposterous, and untrue," Kyouya rolled his eyes at his friend.
"Okay, Tsukiko, put on the next outfit," Kaoru said. "We have plenty of pictures."
"Okay," she agreed, disappearing behind the curtain.
This time she came out wearing a hot pink sequined dress, silver clutch purse, and silver lace, mesh, peep-toe heels with a five inch heel. She also had several pink and silver bracelets and necklace with a silver chain and a pink gem attached. Everyone seemed stunned by her appearance.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Tamaki exclaimed, ready to pulverize the twins. "How dare you make my Imouto-chan look ready to go to a club!" he shouted, shaking each twin with a hand.
"We're just doing our mom a favor!" the two retorted.
"You shouldn't make her dress in such attire!" There was no way to calm the boy down.
"I think she looks pretty!" Honey exclaimed, making Usa-chan nod in agreement.
"She can pull it off better than I could," Haruhi added with a smile. "You look great."
"Definitely suits you," Kyouya remarked, having made his way to stand next to Haruhi.
"Thanks," Tsukiko beamed, with a hand on her hip.
"Smile," Mori said, emotionlessly behind his camera.
Tsukiko just laughed and posed, grabbing Haruhi to dance with her for some pictures.
"One last…paragraph…done!" Tsukiko exclaimed, pressing a piece of paper to the poster board, making sure there were no air bubbles with the glue. "Haruhi! The poster's finished!"
"Great!" said brunette called back, coming in from the kitchenette. "No we just need to-shoot!"
"What?" Tsukiko poked her head up at her friend, glue and paper stuck to her face and hands.
"I meant to type up our paper in the library during lunch but-"
"You forgot because you were too hungry," she smiled, standing up. "I thought you already wrote it down."
"I did, but I thought I should type it so it would look more professional, sorry Tsukiko," Haruhi sighed, scratching her head.
"Why are you apologizing? We still have two more days to work on this project, I'm pretty sure that Hikaru and Kaoru haven't even started yet." She walked into the bathroom to wash up. "If you want, I can take the essay and type it tonight, or tomorrow while you're at the host club."
"It's fine, Tsukiko, I can find time to do it-" Haruhi never finished as the short brunette came back into the kitchen where the girl was sautéing shrimp.
"I insist, Haruhi, I can work on it either tonight or tomorrow while you're doing your host thing and then we can use the extra time tomorrow to go over the dance." She handed the cooking girl spices from the counter.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to think I'm letting you do all the work."
"Well, you actually wrote the paper, I'm just typing it up." Tsukiko went to set out three place settings on the table.
"True," Haruhi agreed just as the front door opened.
"Haruhi! Do I smell you cooking shrimp!" Ranka's voice exclaimed as he walked in. He then gasped in delight. "Tsukiko-chan! It's so good to see you again!"
"Kon ban wa, Ranka-san," she greeted with a smile and a bow. "It's great to see you again."
"Hau! Kawaii!" he shrieked, racing to hug the girl. "I'm so glad that Haruhi found a girlfriend like you!"
"Arigato gozaimasu, Ranka-san," Tsukiko said, her voice muffled by Ranka's shirt, hoping to possibly end the embrace. No such luck.
"Hau! She's so sweet!" he cried holding her tighter.
"Okay, Dad, you can stop suffocating her, dinner's ready!" Haruhi called over her father's shouts of glee, slightly annoyed.
"Great, I'm starving!" Tsukiko smiled, finally breaking free from the embrace and facing over to the table.
Evening was flying by, quickly becoming night as Kyouya found he needed to find a textbook he seemed to have misplaced.
It wasn't really a textbook, it was a book he had borrowed from a teacher to use for one of his essays for his German class. The question was, where did it go?
The young Ootori wandered the halls of his family's mansion, looking in room that he had been in recently to see if it had been misplaced there. No such luck,
"Perhaps Honoka-san put it in the library," he mumbled to himself, stopping short. Did he just mumble? Ootori's don't mumble.
He needed sleep, that had to be it. The day before he only managed to receive five hours of sleep which had so rudely been interrupted by the short freshman who had taken up residence in his household.
Oops. His father's household.
Once he found the book, he could go back to his room and finish the remainder of his homework and the finance records he obtained from the day's club activities. After that was complete, he would take a well needed shower and get ready to sle-
Walking into the library he heard deep breaths coming from one of the plush chairs. Cautiously walking over to the seat, he looked over to have his suspicions confirmed and the book he had been looking for on the table next to the sleeping girl.
Looks like he wasn't the only one who was having trouble sleeping, this was the second time that day he found Tsukiko asleep on a couch or chair. This time she had fallen asleep reading a book. He grabbed the book he had been searching for and shook the girl's shoulder. "Your back will hurt if you keep sleeping there," he teased, as she groaned, swatting his hand away.
"I don't care…" she mumbled, curling herself into an even tinier ball.
"You will when you find that your neck is stiff, but fine have it your way," Kyouya gave up, walking away and heading for his room.
On his way there he passed by Honoka. "Tsukiko fell asleep in the library, be sure to see that she doesn't sleep there all night," he ordered calmly and the frightened maid nodded and bowed.
"H-hai, Young Lord!" she said, hurrying to the library to fetch the sleeping girl.
Well, it certainly wouldn't be boring with her around, that was for sure.
well? worth the wait? okay so i had most of this chap ready to go about october/november but then my computer crashed thanks to superstorm sandy and erased it! needless to say i was pretty pissed! so it took me this long to get the chap in order cuz i tried to make it better but unfortunately i did not do so well with Tsukiko and Yoshio's conversation the second time around sorry about that guys but you got the general idea right? no? that's okay too lol anyway Dangerous Souls should be updated either this weekend or sometime before easter (hopefully...) well please review any questions comments or concerns feel free to review or pm me with this and any of my other fics believe me i don't mind at all but dont pester me with questions as to EXACTLY when a certain fic will be updated i will give you a general idea of where i am with the next chapter and go from there stay safe everyone idk about you guys but over here the weather is VERY bipolar lol
Plz review!
Jaa nee! :D