"No."

My mother pursed her lips together, holding the picture of the school uniform. The yellow, frilly, satin monster of a uniform. What kind of school was Ouran, anyways?

"If it's the money you're worried about, we have some saved up-we can even get you the matching shoes-

"Hell no." I gathered my stuff. "I'm going to be late for my first day."

"Honey-

Oh boy. Now with the 'honey' routine.

"-surely you'll want to where something other than...that." Mom said, gesturing to my outfit.

"What? This is my favorite shirt-' I defended, pulling at the black and red striped t-shirt hugging my pixie-like form.

'-and my favorite jeans. I even have new sneakers, and mom, you KNOW I love my old sneakers."

My mother sighed in resignation as I picked up my coal colored backpack, swinging it over my shoulders.

"Oh, by the way, Reika-you'll love this. Ouran has its own stables-you can ride your horse to school!" There was an unmistake-able scoff in her tone. I ignored it, smiling.

"...Why did you wait until now to tell me this?"

-X-

A few minutes later, I was leading a fully tacked up Toby to the mouting block outside our small barn. It was nothing fancy-we weren't exactly rich, so the barn consisted of a two stall barn connected to a pasture.

"Alright, painted monster, you ready for this?" I asked affectionately, smoothing over Toby's brown forelock. His blue eyes regarded me softly, and I moved on to pat his shoulder, which addorned one of the large brown patches that decorated his brown and white form. I loved his coloring. A tall black figure neighed his goodbyes to his pasture mate.

"Sorry, Takuto-maybe I'll bring you next time. I won't neglect you-your mom made me promise!" I called. A small smile played across my lips as the large form went back to his grazing, and I glanced at the wallpaper my cheaply made phone had. Two grinning faces spanned the cover, one my own, the other identical to my own. My heart twinged with familliar worry. I'd have to visit her after school.

"Wish me luck, Saya." I whispered, slipping the phone into my pocket and mounting up.

-X-

Getting to the campus was pretty easy. Getting in wasn't that hard, either-once I flashed my student ID to the guys in suits outside the golden gates. Did I mention this school was ridiculously fancy? It didn't even look like a school. The main building was a huge mansion-with a fountain in front of it. A FOUNTAIN.

Anyways, as I was saying, getting in wasn't that hard. Dealing with every single rich kids' eyes on me, however, was another thing as Toby carried me down towards the school. It wasn't like we were the only horse and rider in the crowd, either-several other people were riding horses too. However, Toby wasn't exactly a purebreed, and he was the only paint. He noticed their stares, and snorted, arching his neck and rounding himself underneath me proudly.

"Well, I'm glad you feel at home, buddy. That makes one of us." I said. It was true, too. I had never felt so out of place. Ridiculously, girls were actually wearing that atrocious yellow umbrella, and the guys were dressed in purple tuxedo-like uniforms. Honestly, I couldn't believe that people actually wore that sort of thing in this day and age. I loosened the reins, hoping Toby would stretch out his head and walk normal, as we were garnering enough attention. But of course, despite the floppy reins, Toby kept his body posture, proudly striding out as if he were carrying someone of high caliber.

"Thanks, bud. I'm flattered, honestly. But hey-

I leaned over closer to one of his ears.

"Think we can bolt for the exit and just plead that we came to the wrong school?"

"Madam, may I take your horse to the stables for you?"

I jumped, and Toby's head went up, wide eyed. Mirroring me like the good horse he was.

"Umm...no, thanks. I can do it myself. Where are the stables?"

The tuxedo decked man pointed to a path that led around the mansion like school.

"Right behind the school. Take that path."

I nodded, and Toby and I headed towards that path.

"Hey, commoner-ride sidesaddle as a lady should. It's unsightly, having a beast between a lady's legs. Then again, you can't really be considered a lady, can you?"

My head snapped around, eyes narrowed and finding a plump teenager to the left of me, a smirk crawling across her pudgy face, atrocious brown curls bouncing.

"Hey, princess. Don't fuck with me." I snapped, letting a contradicting too sweet grin cross my face.

The girl's eyes widened as a chorus of gasps surrounded me. Several of the guys averted their eyes uncomfortably. However, a snort behind me caught my attention. Two red haired boys were doubled over in silent laughter.

"Oh, Kaoru, that was classic!" one of them managed. The other didn't reply. When they looked up, I could see matching faces. Twins. A twinge faltered my train of thought, and with a cluck and a change of weight, Toby sprang into a canter down the brick pathway.

-x-

Toby had settled into the barn with an air of royalty, sniffing the hay I tossed him, before munching it up. His blue eyes settled on me, as if saying 'this is the kind of treatment I deserve, every day'. I chuckled, before digging in my pocket and giving him a horse treat. I rubbed his forehead.

"I'll come back during lunch to check up on you, bud. But I gotta go."

-X-

I managed to find my way to my first class with time to spare. The hallways were extravagently decorated, with chandeliers and red carpeting. It was a bit overhaul for a high school, I noted. Thankfully, the classroom seemed normal. However, as soon as I walked in, every stare was turned towards me. I noted, as well, that I was the only one not wearing one of the silly uniforms. Considering the uniforms weren't required-just a suggestion, it surprised me how many teens wore them.

The girls whispered among themselves-though they were clumped in different groups, the whispers seemed the same. "Is that the new scholarship student?" "Her outfit is horrendous." "Did you see the horrible creature she rode in on?' "Does she even have a car?" "Poor people can't afford them."

I glared, feeling irritated already. More than ever, I wished Saya was here, by my side like she should be. She'd know exactly what to say to solve the problem. But as she wasn't...I stalked to a desk in one of the back corner of the room. I took off my backpack, grabbing my notebook and a mechanical pencil, starting a sketch of a rose.

"Hey-my name's Haruhi Fujioka. You're the other scholarship student, right?" I looked up at the soft voice. A small boyish looking girl stood before me. Her hair had been cropped short. I liked it.

"Yea-hi. I'm Reika Fumiko. So you're a scholarship student too?" I asked, instantly liking her-for more reasons than one. She was the only girl who was wearing a boy's uniform-and that was something I had to respect. She also seemed halfway normal, unlike the rest of the rich snobs in the school.

"Yea. Would you-" I began, but I was rudely interrupted.

"Haruhi, don't randomly-

"Just disappear-

"Like that." a chorus finished. The two twins from earlier had magically appeared on either side of Haruhi. One of them mussed with her hair, while the other grabbed her wrist. I looked at them blandly.

"Are you two in love with her or something?" came my irritated question. They had rudely walked in on a conversation.

"Haruhi's a GUY!" they both chorused, ultimately too defensive.

"No...she's not...it's rather obvious she's a girl." I said, raising an eyebrow. And it was obvious-her feminely shaped face and her large eyes gave it away right away. But my reply had gone unheard, apparently. Hillariously, one of the twins cupped the other's chin.

"Kaoru's the only one I want." the twin with the slightly harsher tone of voice said.

"Oh, Hikaru...

A chorus of squeals came from the girls in the classroom, who had turned to watch. I covered my mouth, barely hiding a snort. Quite obviously, they were used to putting on a show.

"Hikaru, not in front of everyone, you're embarassing me."

I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in anymore. They dropped the act and stared at me.

"Pffft...Haruhi, these guys are your friends? Hahahahahahaha-

I laughed loudly, seemingly unable to stop. Finally catching my breath, I sat up, turning to my drawing again, pointedly ignoring them. It was a good way to get people to leave me alone-it usually worked.

"Hikaru, I think-

"There's something wrong-" the other twin continued.

"With her." they finished together. They, irritatingly enough, started poking at the back of my head.

"Come on, guys," I heard Haruhi futilely try to draw their attention away.

Poke.

Poke.

"Hey, Haruhi, think there's anything in here?" One of the twins asked, poking my head again. The pencil in my hand snapped in half. I turned towards said twin, whose hand was still up in the air, tauntingly threatening another poke.

"Fuck. Off."

Unfortunately, it didn't have the effect I had hoped for.

"Oooo, Kaoru! She swore at us!"

"She swore in the grounds today too. No guy will want to date her if she keeps that up." The other twin, to my left, said. They both exchanged a glance, and said the next sentence together.

"Not that she's much of a lady anyways."

"I mean, come on, look at this haircut. You can only see half her face with her bangs in the way." one of them grabbed at a strand of my dark, shoulder-length hair. I twitched at the insult to my preferred haircut. Besides, both me and Saya agreed that it suited me.

"And really-that outfit, not feminine at all. " the other said, tugging at my shirt.

"It's made of cheap material too. Cotton?" the one that had my hair in his hand stopped to scruitinize my clothing, a sneer clear in his voice.

"And I suppose your clothes are made up of spun gold!" I snapped, pushing them both away roughly.

"Well, actually-" they began together. I snarled.

"I don't care. Input from Jackass #1 and Jackass #2 is not needed."

That got them. Their mirroring expressions of lazy scoffing turned to scowls.

"It's Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin!" They growled together. I raised an eyebrow, cooled off somewhat.

"Really? So you're both Hikaru and Kaoru?" Geez, these guys were annoying. Apparently, they hadn't gotten over the 'we're a pair of clones and you can't tell us apart' stage every twin set goes through when they're six. I eyed Haruhi, who was shuffling uncomfortably.

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I slipped it out, seeing that I had a text from Saya. A movement caught my eye, and I moved the cell phone under the desk just as Jackass #1 grabbed for it.

"Oi, go with your girlfriend." I snapped, causing said twin to blush brightly. The other raised his eyebrow. Ha. So there IS a subtle difference between the two.

"I'm not his girlfriend!" Haruhi snapped this time. Oops.

"Sorry, Haruhi. I didn't mean to get you angry." I apologized, causing one twin to scowl deeper.

"Apologize to me too!" he snapped.

"Absolutely not. You and your look alike started it."

They both looked ready to punch me.

-X-

"Saya, come on," mom motioned to me. I bit my lip, tears filling my eyes. Even mom couldn't tell us apart?

"No, mom, I'm Reika." I corrected, holding Saya's hand tightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Saya, let's go." mom said, instead taking Saya's other hand.

Saya let go of my hand and patted my head. "s'okay, Rei. I'll bring you back something, I promise!"

With that, once again, mom took Saya and left me in the apartment with dad. On our sixth birthday, no less.

-X-

I almost regretted the look alike comment. Almost. But seriously, they were the ones stupid enough to keep their appearances matching. If being told apart was so important to them, they should have tried harder.

I looked at the text message.

I am BORED outta my mind, Rei! You're going to visit after school, right? By the way, how's that going? I am SO proud of you for making it into Ouran. You rock em dead, girl!-Saya

I smiled. Typical Saya.

"Who are you texting?" One of the twins asked politely. I glanced over, and saw Haruhi talking to the other twin in a hushed voice. He was looking away from her with his arms crossed. So she had had something to do with this twin's attitude change.

"My sister. Which one are you?" I asked.

"Kaoru." I made a mental note-the nicer one was Kaoru.

"Well Kaoru, I give you your merits. Seems at least one of you Hitachiins is smart."

A small smile played across his lips.

Finally, the teacher came in. Haruhi and the twins retreated to the back of the class, and class began. Rebelliously, I texted under my desk.

Saya, you wouldn't believe these kids. Everyone in here is wearing tuxedos and prom dresses! And not just tuxedos and prom dresses-no, PERIWINKLE tuxedos and YELLOW prom dresses. YELlOW. And yea, I'm coming over after school.-Rei

Yellow prom dresses? I'm not against wearing dresses to school-but what kind? Although seeing guys in periwinkle tuxes sounds hillarious, too. And keep your voice down when you come today-the old lady in the bed next to me complained last time. -Saya

They're not even wearing halfway decent dresses. They're all puffy and froofy and looking- like a cross between a marshmallow and an umbrella. I'm not even a dress person, either, as you know...I wouldn't like the idea either way. No comment on the crazy old broad. -Rei

I suppose you're wearing your regular clothes then, instead of the school uniform? Your punk rock style is adorable on you-I hope you didn't scare the poor kids with your skull and chain attire.-Saya

I'm so beyond scaring them-terrified is a better word for them. I rode here on Toby. -Rei

ROFL! I wouldn't expect any less from you, my dear sister. -Saya

Thanks. How are you feeling today?-Rei

I'm doing better than before. Doc says if this keeps up, I'll be able to come home soon.-Saya

How soon?-Rei

Soon enough. In a week or so, if everything looks good. I still can't believe I'm wearing your hair.-Saya

Technically it's our hair. We have the same hair, whether we like it or not.-Rei

True. And the same eyes, the same face, the same height, ect. -Saya

Yep. Except now you're bald. Baldy. -Rei

And your hair is cropped short-Saya

Yea, still not used to it.-Rei

But the hair trim I gave you afterwards looks awesome.-Saya

And you whined the entire time you did it about how 'emo' it was.-Rei

Only because you didn't agree to the curls.-Saya

Damn right I didn't.-Rei

:) -Saya

We texted back and forth all through the first day. There was something wrong with the teachers at this school, seriously. Half the students were texting in plain sight and no one was doing anything about it. The classwork was a breeze too-I finished most of my schoolwork in class. Half the teachers just didn't care-they gave you the page numbers and questions and left you to it.

Unfortunately, there was one rather annoying problem. Well, two annoying problems and one not so annoying problem. Haruhi and the Hitachiins were in almost every class I had, except choir. Haruhi was fun to hang around, and stuck with me most of the time-and as a result, so did the twins. Kaoru didn't seem quite so hostile, however, Hikaru blatantly kept his distance, glaring at me every chance he got. I guess it was better this way-easier to tell them apart, anyways.

"Fumiko-chan, you understood everything in our last class, didn't you?" Haruhi asked. The twins walked stiffly behind her, at one point Kaoru pointedly put himself between me and her. Possessive much? I ignored them, folding my arms behind my head lazily as I walked.

"Yea, it was all pretty easy. You?"

"Haruhi doesn't need help from the likes of you." Hikaru snapped. I rolled my eyes.

"I had a little trouble with question fourteen-the equation was tricky." Haruhi replied, coldly ignoring Hikaru. Hikaru's eyes widened, and then he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away, scowling.

"Really? I can help you with that after school if you want-" I offered peering around the silent Kaoru and momentarily forgetting my promise to Saya.

"No-I uh..have other plans."

I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"What plans?"

"Haruhi has plans with us." The twins said simultaneously, each wrapping an arm around her posessively. I yawned.

"You two are ridiculous, really." I said lazily.

"But that's alright, I forgot I had plans with my sister already." I said. Haruhi looked up at me, her dark eyes innocently wide, reminding me of a deer.

"You have a sister?" she asked.

"Yea! She's awesome-

"Is she as ugly as you?" Hikaru, of course. Heated anger flashed dangerously through me. My sister's sickness had set both me and Mom on edge, especially since she was diagnosed right after Dad died. My eyes narrowed.

"Shut the hell up, you bastard." I snarled coldly. Hikaru laughed, and rather unwisely, chose to continue the teasing.

"I bet she is, isn't she? I-

"Shut up!" Haruhi brought a fist down on Hikaru's head. Good thing too-if she hadn't knocked him one I would have.

"You don't go around insulting peoples' families! What would you do if someone had insulted Kaoru, Hikaru?" Haruhi snapped, fire in her eyes, looking at Hikaru pointedly. After rubbing his head, the twin responded.

"Kill the person who insulted him, of course."

I had had enough of this. I picked up my pace, distancing myself from the trio.

"See you later, Haruhi, I have stuff to do." I called over my shoulder.

"Uh-hey-don't you need help finding your next class?"

"I can manage it on my own this time I think. Thanks for your help!" I replied, heading off to the final class for the day. After a few fumbles and stepping into the wrong classrooms, I did manage to find the correct one. Irritatingly enough, Haruhi and the twins were in the classroom before I was. I chose a seat and took out my cell phone again.

Hey, Saya, I should be over there in about an hour and a half.-Rei

I sat back, taking out my notebook again, shading in the details of the background of the rose. When I was finished, Saya still hadn't texted me back.

She must be sleeping. I thought, pushing back the hint of worry knawing away at my stomach. Or trying to. However, it was no use-from the time class started to the time it ended, I was unable to concentrate, instead constantly looking down at my phone, checking for a text message from Saya. There were none. And of course, the teacher gave us homework to research on. Or rather, find a book about a chosen topic in the school's library. Frustrated, I stuffed my books into my backpack, leaving out the school's map. I shot Saya another text, heading out the classroom door without so much as a glance back. Worry plagued my thoughts, making me even more irritated.

I fumbled around the school for about twenty minutes, before randomly opening a door.

"Welcome, princess!"

And slammed it in the cosplayer's face. ...Weirdo... I turned to go down the hallway, peering at the map again. Oh-I had been going in the wrong direction. I was faintly aware of the door behind me opening. Something snagged my waist.

"Oh, Princess, don't be shy-

My hand shot up, curled in a fist, making contact with the idiot's chin while my other hand grabbed his wrist and pried it off of my waist, twisting it at an awkward angle. I peered down at blondie's face.

"You're some sort of wacko, aren't you?" I said pointedly, staring at the weird get-up he was wearing. A robe of some sorts-looked straight out of the Sahara desert.

"Madam, I'll have to ask you to let go of Tamaki, please." I looked up, and saw more weird wackos dressed in desert clothes.

"The hell...?" I dropped Tamaki's wrist, looking up at them, feeling confusion swirl throughout me.

"Rei-Chan?" a familliar voice called out tentively.

"Haruhi?" I looked intently, seeing a short figure walk towards me. This was what she had to do after school?

"Oh. It's her." And of course, the twins' faces appeared behind her, underneath layers of satin. I blinked, too shocked to see them cosplaying to find it funny at the moment. I turned to Haruhi.

"Haruhi-this weirdo just randomly attacked me." I said blandly, staring as said weirdo whimpered and retreated to a corner and started planting...mushrooms?

"Weirdo?" came Tamaki's broken whisper.

"You're the new scholarship student-Fumiko Reika, correct?" A dark haired teen asked, pushing his glasses up higher on his nose and writing something on a notepad.

"Yes...

"So you're just like Haru-chan?"

Big, light brown eyes peered up at me under a mop of blonde hair. In his arms, a soft stuffed bunny sat comfortably. I paused, all irritation seeped away.

"CUTE!" I squealed, grabbing the kid in a hug. Haruhi smiled awkwardly, while out of the corner of my eye, the twin hufeed. "Go figure." they said in unison. After the massive hug, I set the small boy down. I raised an eyebrow, taking in the group's outfits once again.

"So...what are you all supposed to be?"

Blondie got up from his corner, and stood in front of the group, giving a sweeping bow.

"Milady, we are Ouran's Host Club."

I felt my eye twitch in disbelief. "Host...club?"

Only a school full of rich kids would have a club so...blatant.

I rolled my eyes. "Later." I waved, turning on my heel, and walking away away. That is, until a small pair of arms wrapped around my arm. I looked down to see the kid giving me puppy eyes.

"Will Rei-Chan stay for some cake? Rei-Chan is so cool!" he said, sucking on one of his fingers cutely. I bent down to his level.

"If I stay for just a bit, will you help me find the library?" I asked, playing along. He grinned widely.

"It's a deal! I'm Honey Mitsukuni, by the way!" He said brightly, grabbing my hand and dragging me in to god knows where.

A/N: First ouran fanfic-hope you liked the first chapter.