Ouran High School Host Club Fan Fiction ❯ A Slanted Line ❯ Chapter 2
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: vampyremiyu 
While Haruhi tries to take her mind off her troubles, the twins plot the next battle in their war.
Anime/Manga: Ouran High School Host Club Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 03.04.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.3K | Visits: 1.9K | Status: Completed
While Haruhi tries to take her mind off her troubles, the twins plot the next battle in their war.
Anime/Manga: Ouran High School Host Club Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 03.04.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.3K | Visits: 1.9K | Status: Completed
A SLANTED LINE
An Ouran High School Host Club fanfic
Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Once again, thanks go to Ezri-chan for helping me to rebuild this idea with one of her own. I hope everyone will enjoy! ^_^ This is a non-lemon chapter. Good things come to those who wait. =P A Standard Disclaimer appears at the end of the chapter.
CHAPTER 2
The library doors opened slowly, a lone student framed in the doorway. His height and appearance, were youthful, but it was a clever trick. As a senior, the library was a room he was only vaguely familiar with. He'd used the resources only a little since starting at the high school. He preferred other methods, like the internet, but he couldn't argue the volume of knowledge contained within. The library held many things of importance.
And it was important that he find what he was looking for.
Or rather, who.
He knew she'd hide in here. It was her place of solace, of refuge. Most of her free time was spent somewhere between the these shelves. But she wouldn't be studying now. No, she had left the dining hall in tears.
"What do you think Bun-Bun? Should we check in the back?"
The back of the library seemed eerie to the young man, but he continued on, clenching a stuffed bunny to his heart. The shadows seemed to grow longer. However, a peculiar sound caught his attention. Definitely worth checking into.
With a smile, Mitsukuni Haninozuka wondered in the direction of the noise.
Haruhi Fujioka was curled up in one of the shadowed corners, beneath a shaded window. Sorrow, turned to anger, then hopelessness set in and fresh tears began to fall. She knew she'd gotten herself in deep with the twins. But she never figured she'd fall in love -- it still seemed funny, but there was no other logical explanation for her emotions -- let alone earn their affection in return. Did they really care about her, she wondered. Or was it just another game to them?
How did she figure it out?
And if their emotions were genuine? If they really did care for her...how would she choose? Who would she choose?
Her heart broke all over again at the thought.
She'd fallen for both. For completely different reasons, but them they were two different people. And she didn't want to hurt them. Wasn't it enough that their world grew large enough to include her in it? Could she destroy one to make the happy? To make herself happy?
'This sucks. Why me?'
As the tears subsided, she silently berated herself. She lost control of her emotions in the lunchroom. With a couple of deep breaths, she tried to pull herself together. She had to go to class, not to mention attend a Host Club event later. No tears were allowed, she reprimanded.
'Just explain that you're under a lot of stress from exams,' she told herself. 'Mid-terms are pivotal for my grade and I need to do well to keep my scholarship. They'll understand.' And if she was lucky, she'd be able to go home straight after and make some sense of what was happening.
"Haru? Why are you sitting on the floor?"
She looked up, startled to see the smallest member of the Host Club standing next to her. He moved towards a table and pulled over two chairs. "Here, Bun-Bun and I got you a chair." With a smile he motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs. The other was all ready occupied by his stuffed friend.
"Hunni?" Slowly she made her way into the chair. "What are you doing here?"
"I followed you from the cafe," he replied honestly.
"Oh," she said, ducking her head in an attempt to hide her reddened face. "So...I guess you saw...."
"Actually, I only heard some of it." He sighed loudly. "Those two really need to learn to grow up, you know. Making a girl cry is bad manners." He held out his stuffed companion. "Even Bun-Bun thinks so!"
She managed a smile. The comment seemed very out of place coming from him. Hunni mostly acted as old as he looked! She dared a small glance at him and tried harder not to laugh when she saw his stuffed rabbit, Bun-Bun, in his lap. Yes, that comment was definitely funny.
But the look on his face said otherwise.
"Are you all right?" He extended an arm, holding out a white tissue. "Were they really being mean?"
She accepted the tissue with a shake of her head. "No. Not really." She dabbed at her eyes, sighing. "I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than that."
"Ah." He nodded, as if in agreement. "Then maybe you'll consider doing something special after school? Before the Host Club event?"
"Really?" Intrigued, she asked, "What would that be?"
"Mori has a tournament coming up, and a match to see who will go to Nationals. He's going, I'm sure of it! But the match is important and anything can happen. I'm going to cheer him on." He smiled at her. "You should come to."
Haruhi pondered the idea. She had never seen a kendo match before. It would be both informative, and a distraction. A distraction may not be what she needed most, but at the moment, she could think of nothing better.
Anything to keep her away from the Hitachiin brothers.
"I think...I'd like that."
"Great!" He hopped off his chair with a grin. "I'll come by your classroom after the bell."
She nodded, managing a smile. "Okay."
He waved to her as he began to move away. "Cheer up, Haru. Everything will be all right. It'll be fun!"
"I'm sure your right."
Haruhi watched as he hopped away, his joy seemingly infectious. Things would look up eventually, she thought. And the distraction sounded more and more pleasant.
But the knot forming in her stomach foretold of other problems.
She just had no idea what those problems would be.
"What do you think, Kaoru?"
"I don't honestly know, Hikaru."
The Hitachiin twins new something was wrong when she avoided them after classes were over. Bad enough that she had run from the cafeteria. Whatever had THAT been about? But one look from Kyoya told them they'd done something bad.
"Honestly, the two of you should know better than to argue with your mouths full." Kyoya shook his head. "And after she went to all the trouble.... Even her meal is ruined."
In truth, Hikaru and Kaoru had a tough time eating the rest of their home cooked meals after she left. While the taste had not changed, it wasn't the same. Not without her sitting between them. Perhaps they had taken their quarrel a little too far.
"Do you think she's mad, Kaoru?"
"Hard to tell, Hikaru. She didn't say a word."
The twins fell silent as the remainder of the class made it's way out into the halls. They had no place to be immediately, therefore they remained in their seats. Each stared at his desk, pondering the earlier situation.
No, she didn't tell them where she went. She didn't talk to them at all upon her return to the classroom. She didn't even make eye contact with them. Her eyes were focused on either her text or the teacher the whole time. It was strange, not having her steal glances at them, when they always stole so many at her.
"Why were we arguing anyway, Kaoru?"
He shrugged. "Because my lunch was better."
"Wha--?! It was not!"
"How do you know, Hikaru?" Kaoru's voice was amazingly solemn, an evil grin pulling at his lips. "You didn't eat it."
"Yeah, well...." The young man turned red in the face, clenching his fists on top of the desk. So quick to anger, and easily so. True enough it was his brother that had picked at his lunch. But despite what he wanted to shout at his brother, all he could say was, "You made her cry, Kaoru."
The other young man lost his devious smile, frowning uncertainly. "I guess...I did."
Hikaru's expression matched his brother's, the anger fading. "I made her cry, too. I think."
They both frowned harder.
"We should apologize to her," Kaoru said. "Before the big Host Club event."
"If she'll talk to us, that is," Hikaru replied. "Where do you think she went with Hunni-sempai so quickly after the bell?"
"I don't know. Maybe she's making him a cake?"
Hikaru sulked. "I wish she'd make me a cake."
"You don't like cake."
"And you loathe fish cakes! But you ate them at lunch."
"Haruhi made them," Kaoru answered haughtily. "Of course I ate them."
Hikaru snickered. "You'll be sick tonight."
"So will you, if you eat any cake."
A unified sigh filled the room. All this fighting was taking up so much energy. And all over a girl. A girl! Well, each reasoned, she wasn't just ANY girl. Haruhi was unlike any girl they'd ever met. Someone who managed to maintain their interest, and best of all, teach them a thing or two. Her presence was a constant in their lives, a steady presence in their newly expanding world.
They just never expected that expanding their world meant splitting it as well.
Love was an alien concept to the twins, but Haruhi brought it out in them. Such an amazing young woman! For the first time, they spoke from the heart, showering her with finery and gifts. They believed they were doing what was needed to gain her affection in return.
They had no idea they all ready had it.
The fighting was only one way -- the best way, they thought -- to prove who was better. Prove which one cared more. Prove that she meant something to them. Any other woman would not be worth arguing over. Only Haruhi held the special place in their enlightening hearts.
But did they really need to fight?
'Surely you don't expect me to choose between the two of you. It can't be done.'
She said so herself; she wouldn't be able to choose between them. But she had to choose! There was no other way to resolve the conflict, was there? She had to pick one of them over the other. Over ANY other!
"I think we should get to the Music Room. Kyoya will need help setting up."
"I think you're right."
As they stood, they looked at each other as if for the first time. While the image appeared the same, something was different. It was hard to explain, but definitely noticeable. Something they had not taken notice to before now.
"Were we really fighting, Kaoru? I mean, REALLY fighting?"
"Yes, I believe we were. I...I never thought I'd see it, Hikaru."
"Me, too." Hikaru sighed. "But I won't give up."
Kaoru sighed as well. "Neither will I."
They nodded to each other, as if a silent agreement had been made. But as they moved to the doorway, each was very much aware of his feelings. And slowly coming to realize the other's intentions.
And each forming a plan of attack.
Each intended to speak to Haruhi first. Each intended to come right out and admit how he felt right to her face, as if their affection wasn't all ready apparent! Each intended to have her for himself.
The competition for Haruhi's affection was not over.
It was merely on hold.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
DISCLAIMER:
Ouran High School Host Club is a brilliant piece of work by creator Bisco Hatori. Originally published in 2003 by HAKUSENSHA, Inc., Tokyo, Japan, this masterpiece is being translated and published by VIZ Media for fans in America and Canada. I do not own a single piece of the characters used in this story. They were kidnapped and used here without permission.
An Ouran High School Host Club fanfic
Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Once again, thanks go to Ezri-chan for helping me to rebuild this idea with one of her own. I hope everyone will enjoy! ^_^ This is a non-lemon chapter. Good things come to those who wait. =P A Standard Disclaimer appears at the end of the chapter.
CHAPTER 2
The library doors opened slowly, a lone student framed in the doorway. His height and appearance, were youthful, but it was a clever trick. As a senior, the library was a room he was only vaguely familiar with. He'd used the resources only a little since starting at the high school. He preferred other methods, like the internet, but he couldn't argue the volume of knowledge contained within. The library held many things of importance.
And it was important that he find what he was looking for.
Or rather, who.
He knew she'd hide in here. It was her place of solace, of refuge. Most of her free time was spent somewhere between the these shelves. But she wouldn't be studying now. No, she had left the dining hall in tears.
"What do you think Bun-Bun? Should we check in the back?"
The back of the library seemed eerie to the young man, but he continued on, clenching a stuffed bunny to his heart. The shadows seemed to grow longer. However, a peculiar sound caught his attention. Definitely worth checking into.
With a smile, Mitsukuni Haninozuka wondered in the direction of the noise.
Haruhi Fujioka was curled up in one of the shadowed corners, beneath a shaded window. Sorrow, turned to anger, then hopelessness set in and fresh tears began to fall. She knew she'd gotten herself in deep with the twins. But she never figured she'd fall in love -- it still seemed funny, but there was no other logical explanation for her emotions -- let alone earn their affection in return. Did they really care about her, she wondered. Or was it just another game to them?
How did she figure it out?
And if their emotions were genuine? If they really did care for her...how would she choose? Who would she choose?
Her heart broke all over again at the thought.
She'd fallen for both. For completely different reasons, but them they were two different people. And she didn't want to hurt them. Wasn't it enough that their world grew large enough to include her in it? Could she destroy one to make the happy? To make herself happy?
'This sucks. Why me?'
As the tears subsided, she silently berated herself. She lost control of her emotions in the lunchroom. With a couple of deep breaths, she tried to pull herself together. She had to go to class, not to mention attend a Host Club event later. No tears were allowed, she reprimanded.
'Just explain that you're under a lot of stress from exams,' she told herself. 'Mid-terms are pivotal for my grade and I need to do well to keep my scholarship. They'll understand.' And if she was lucky, she'd be able to go home straight after and make some sense of what was happening.
"Haru? Why are you sitting on the floor?"
She looked up, startled to see the smallest member of the Host Club standing next to her. He moved towards a table and pulled over two chairs. "Here, Bun-Bun and I got you a chair." With a smile he motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs. The other was all ready occupied by his stuffed friend.
"Hunni?" Slowly she made her way into the chair. "What are you doing here?"
"I followed you from the cafe," he replied honestly.
"Oh," she said, ducking her head in an attempt to hide her reddened face. "So...I guess you saw...."
"Actually, I only heard some of it." He sighed loudly. "Those two really need to learn to grow up, you know. Making a girl cry is bad manners." He held out his stuffed companion. "Even Bun-Bun thinks so!"
She managed a smile. The comment seemed very out of place coming from him. Hunni mostly acted as old as he looked! She dared a small glance at him and tried harder not to laugh when she saw his stuffed rabbit, Bun-Bun, in his lap. Yes, that comment was definitely funny.
But the look on his face said otherwise.
"Are you all right?" He extended an arm, holding out a white tissue. "Were they really being mean?"
She accepted the tissue with a shake of her head. "No. Not really." She dabbed at her eyes, sighing. "I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than that."
"Ah." He nodded, as if in agreement. "Then maybe you'll consider doing something special after school? Before the Host Club event?"
"Really?" Intrigued, she asked, "What would that be?"
"Mori has a tournament coming up, and a match to see who will go to Nationals. He's going, I'm sure of it! But the match is important and anything can happen. I'm going to cheer him on." He smiled at her. "You should come to."
Haruhi pondered the idea. She had never seen a kendo match before. It would be both informative, and a distraction. A distraction may not be what she needed most, but at the moment, she could think of nothing better.
Anything to keep her away from the Hitachiin brothers.
"I think...I'd like that."
"Great!" He hopped off his chair with a grin. "I'll come by your classroom after the bell."
She nodded, managing a smile. "Okay."
He waved to her as he began to move away. "Cheer up, Haru. Everything will be all right. It'll be fun!"
"I'm sure your right."
Haruhi watched as he hopped away, his joy seemingly infectious. Things would look up eventually, she thought. And the distraction sounded more and more pleasant.
But the knot forming in her stomach foretold of other problems.
She just had no idea what those problems would be.
"What do you think, Kaoru?"
"I don't honestly know, Hikaru."
The Hitachiin twins new something was wrong when she avoided them after classes were over. Bad enough that she had run from the cafeteria. Whatever had THAT been about? But one look from Kyoya told them they'd done something bad.
"Honestly, the two of you should know better than to argue with your mouths full." Kyoya shook his head. "And after she went to all the trouble.... Even her meal is ruined."
In truth, Hikaru and Kaoru had a tough time eating the rest of their home cooked meals after she left. While the taste had not changed, it wasn't the same. Not without her sitting between them. Perhaps they had taken their quarrel a little too far.
"Do you think she's mad, Kaoru?"
"Hard to tell, Hikaru. She didn't say a word."
The twins fell silent as the remainder of the class made it's way out into the halls. They had no place to be immediately, therefore they remained in their seats. Each stared at his desk, pondering the earlier situation.
No, she didn't tell them where she went. She didn't talk to them at all upon her return to the classroom. She didn't even make eye contact with them. Her eyes were focused on either her text or the teacher the whole time. It was strange, not having her steal glances at them, when they always stole so many at her.
"Why were we arguing anyway, Kaoru?"
He shrugged. "Because my lunch was better."
"Wha--?! It was not!"
"How do you know, Hikaru?" Kaoru's voice was amazingly solemn, an evil grin pulling at his lips. "You didn't eat it."
"Yeah, well...." The young man turned red in the face, clenching his fists on top of the desk. So quick to anger, and easily so. True enough it was his brother that had picked at his lunch. But despite what he wanted to shout at his brother, all he could say was, "You made her cry, Kaoru."
The other young man lost his devious smile, frowning uncertainly. "I guess...I did."
Hikaru's expression matched his brother's, the anger fading. "I made her cry, too. I think."
They both frowned harder.
"We should apologize to her," Kaoru said. "Before the big Host Club event."
"If she'll talk to us, that is," Hikaru replied. "Where do you think she went with Hunni-sempai so quickly after the bell?"
"I don't know. Maybe she's making him a cake?"
Hikaru sulked. "I wish she'd make me a cake."
"You don't like cake."
"And you loathe fish cakes! But you ate them at lunch."
"Haruhi made them," Kaoru answered haughtily. "Of course I ate them."
Hikaru snickered. "You'll be sick tonight."
"So will you, if you eat any cake."
A unified sigh filled the room. All this fighting was taking up so much energy. And all over a girl. A girl! Well, each reasoned, she wasn't just ANY girl. Haruhi was unlike any girl they'd ever met. Someone who managed to maintain their interest, and best of all, teach them a thing or two. Her presence was a constant in their lives, a steady presence in their newly expanding world.
They just never expected that expanding their world meant splitting it as well.
Love was an alien concept to the twins, but Haruhi brought it out in them. Such an amazing young woman! For the first time, they spoke from the heart, showering her with finery and gifts. They believed they were doing what was needed to gain her affection in return.
They had no idea they all ready had it.
The fighting was only one way -- the best way, they thought -- to prove who was better. Prove which one cared more. Prove that she meant something to them. Any other woman would not be worth arguing over. Only Haruhi held the special place in their enlightening hearts.
But did they really need to fight?
'Surely you don't expect me to choose between the two of you. It can't be done.'
She said so herself; she wouldn't be able to choose between them. But she had to choose! There was no other way to resolve the conflict, was there? She had to pick one of them over the other. Over ANY other!
"I think we should get to the Music Room. Kyoya will need help setting up."
"I think you're right."
As they stood, they looked at each other as if for the first time. While the image appeared the same, something was different. It was hard to explain, but definitely noticeable. Something they had not taken notice to before now.
"Were we really fighting, Kaoru? I mean, REALLY fighting?"
"Yes, I believe we were. I...I never thought I'd see it, Hikaru."
"Me, too." Hikaru sighed. "But I won't give up."
Kaoru sighed as well. "Neither will I."
They nodded to each other, as if a silent agreement had been made. But as they moved to the doorway, each was very much aware of his feelings. And slowly coming to realize the other's intentions.
And each forming a plan of attack.
Each intended to speak to Haruhi first. Each intended to come right out and admit how he felt right to her face, as if their affection wasn't all ready apparent! Each intended to have her for himself.
The competition for Haruhi's affection was not over.
It was merely on hold.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
DISCLAIMER:
Ouran High School Host Club is a brilliant piece of work by creator Bisco Hatori. Originally published in 2003 by HAKUSENSHA, Inc., Tokyo, Japan, this masterpiece is being translated and published by VIZ Media for fans in America and Canada. I do not own a single piece of the characters used in this story. They were kidnapped and used here without permission.