A/n-At-Beginning-Because-I-Am-Super-Apologetic: Alright, so how are all of you doing? Yes, yes...I've been gone much too long. I suck. I suck. I suck. I suck. I suck. I suck. I suck. A lot. And I'm very sorry. About many things. Like how all of my chapters are cliff hangers and my lack of consistent updates. I've had writer's block for quite sometime, but the creative juices are finally flowing again. So, for any of you I might have left, please review and let me know what you think. Without further ado...Here you go!
~ XOXO EmiShae
Review of last chapter:
"HE TOLD ME HARUHI WAS HIS DAUGHTER AND THAT I SHOULD TEACH HER HOW TO BE A REAL LADY, AND THAT WE SHOULD WEAR DRESSES TOGETHER!" I blurted out. Silence consumed the room.
"..."
"Sure as hell didn't see that one comin'." Kimmie said after a few beats of deafening silence.
Man, today is a really nice day! One thing after another in your life just keeps going wrong! It's like a snowball effect. Maybe...Maybe the Host Club really will have to kill you! Sweeet...
Why me? Why is it always me...?
Chapter Four:
Host Club Free...?
"This is it Spence! The little bed and breakfast I told you so much about!' Kimmie said as she gestured towards the cute, yet modest, double story inn. It was beautiful. And peaceful. And best of all...Host Club free. I shivered at the thought. Just the name of their club dislodged memories from the day before.
*FLSHBACK START*
"...So, that's the situation" Haruhi said. He...I mean SHE, had just finished explaining why she was posing as a boy and working as a Host.
I was in a state of shock.
"Just to be completely clear; in short, you broke a vase, they thought you were a boy and made you their dog. Then, when they found out you could charm ladies...They made you a Host." Kimmie asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yes, that's pretty much it." Haruhi agreed. Kimmie's shoulders started to shake. Within a minute she was laughing aloud, clapping her hands together and stomping the ground with her foot.
The entire Host Club stared.
"Kimmie..." I trailed off in a disapproving tone.
She waved her arms at me, "I know, I know! I'm being rude by laughing, but...COME ON! I've never met anyone so unlucky!" She exclaimed as she calmed her laughter. "No..." She shook her head and stopped laughing completely, "No, I'm sorry Fujioka." She clapped Haruhi on the shoulder, "I respect you a lot more now. I mean, you're still so normal, considering you were unfortunate enough to get roped into a club with these...Less than brilliant people." Kimmie apologized to Haruhi.
Ah...She just insulted the Host Club. I felt my eyebrows furrow.
Tamaki looked utterly offended. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. I felt like I should diffuse the situation, and...I also think Kimmie was misunderstanding something.
"Kimmie!" I said in a scolding tone. Everyone looked towards me, "That's not true. Haruhi was obviously brought here for a reason...You shouldn't belittle something without knowing the whole story."
"Spence...Gimme a break. This strange club. I know it scares-" Kimmie started to say, but I cut her off. (I seemed to be doing that often...I felt a bit bad about it.)
"That doesn't matter at all Kimmie. Whether they scare me or not. To go to such lengths as to hide Haruhi's gender...This club must be very important to them. Something very...Precious that they don't want to lose." I explained gently. I closed my eyes for a moment as a thought washed over me and smiled, "Dad always told me that even if someones actions may be cruel, or even confusing, to me at that moment, there's always a reason for it. He said, 'Spencer, all of the people in this world, though they may be different in many ways, are similar in one; they're all fighting to protect something. And even if it seems insignificant to you, it could very well be the entire world to them.'" I quoted my father in a reminiscent voice.
No one said anything for a few moments. When I opened my eyes everyone was staring at me this time. I started to sweat.
"B-But...I'm sorry. I went off on a tangent, didn't I?" I asked as I rubbed the back of my neck with my right hand sheepishly. "I think, my point, is to say...Kimmie, look a bit closer at your surroundings?" My 'point' ended up becoming a question.
Kimmie was silent for a moment before she sighed and walked over to me, "This coming from the girl who gets lost in her own home because she doesn't pay attention to where she's going." Kimmie shook her head slightly. I opened my mouth to protest, but she continued before I could say anything, "However, if I couldn't see something that you could, then that means I must be blind, huh?" She chuckled as she flicked me on the forehead.
"Wha-? Why...!" I asked as I held my forehead in confusion.
"SPENCER! My lovely, darling other daughter! You're so heartfelt, so innocent! So pure!" I heard Tamaki cry as he launched himself towards me with tears in his eyes. My own eyes widened, as I stood there, rooted to the ground, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.
Oh...What...He's...SCARY! What do I do?
Move away brilliant one.
But that might hurt his feelings!
And...?
I didn't have to worry about hurting his feelings after all...Because at that moment Kimmie shoved him away.
"No one gave you permission to touch her." Kimmie deadpanned. Tamaki instantly went to a corner and started emitting a dark aura.
"Yes, well, now that you two know our club's biggest secret, I'll have to ask for your discretion concerning Haruhi's gender." Kyoya's voice cut through my worry for Tamaki. It was the first time he spoke since Tamaki spilled the beans.
"Of course!" I exclaimed as I turned towards Haruhi, "Don't worry at all; we wont tell anyone! Our lips are sealed!" I assured Haruhi as I took her hands in mine and smiled at her brightly. She looked at me for a moment before eliciting a small warm smile.
"I believe you."
"Never-the-less...We can't have you traveling too far away during summer break, just in case we need to check up on you to make sure you aren't talking about Haruhi's situation. So, please don't leave the country." Kyoya said with a pleasant smile as his glasses glinted in the light.
I swallowed and suppressed a shiver. Scary. He definitely scares me.
*FLASHBACK END*
I shook my head at the thought of the twins clinging to me afterwords and pleading with me to let them take me home. I also may have gone a bit overboard in my scolding Kimmie.
"Spencer!" I heard Kimmie shout. My head snapped up to see that she was already at the beautiful doors. "You spaced out again. Come on! I want to introduce you to someone." She called out to me as she slipped inside.
Oh! That's right. It was summer vacation. No time to be thinking about the scary Host Club. I ran to catch up with Kimmie, carrying the one bag I had managed to grab from the limo (still wasn't used to that) before Kimmie ushered me out of it. I felt bad about leaving my bags to her servants.
Isn't that what they're here for, though?
It doesn't feel right to me. It...Rubs me the wrong way, I guess.
I ran through the doors and almost ran into Kimmie and a lady she was talking to.
"Oh Kimmie! I'm so glad you could make it!" The woman said in a high falsetto-type voice. The lady had long light brown hair, with a golden tinit, was wearing a maid-like dress and was tall with...Broad shoulders?
...Eh?
Kimmie spotted me over the broad-shouldered lady's head.
"Spencer, this is who I wanted to introduce you to." She smiled, "Spence, this is my Uncle, Misuzu-chi. Uncle, this is my best friend Spencer Hastings." Kimmie said as Misuzu-chi turned around.
I stood there rooted to the ground in shock. The lady, er, man?-that I was looking at...Had mascara, purple eyeshadow and lipstick on.
Eh...? EH? MISUZU-CHI is a...He...She...? WHAT?!
Heh. Looks like gender-bending is actually a common thing, huh?
No...So...What?
Grow up. He's a tranny.
Tranny as in...MISUZU-CHI IS A TRANSVESTITE?!
...You're real thick, you know that, right?
Am not! I just...I just don't...I'm just shocked! Lighten up a bit!
"Oh! Spencer Hastings! I've heard so much about you!" He-she?- hugged me tightly. It surprised me, but I hugged Misuzu-chi back.
"You're even cuter than I imagined you would be! Oh, I can't wait to see your uniforms on both of you!" He (I'll just go with 'he') cried in excitement. Kimmie and I had agreed to help out during break since, for obvious reasons, whatever Kimmie had originally planned for us to do was canceled.
Yeah, because glasses dude is terrifying.
I agree.
I take that back. He's the coolest person ever, I'm sure.
You did that on purpose, huh?
No, duh.
...So mean...
It's in my nature.
"Why don't you two go upstairs and change now, huh?" Misuzu-Chi ushered us up the stairs and to the room Kimmie and I would be staying in before I could even process what was happening.
"Catch Spence!" Kimmie tossed my uniform to me unexpectedly. I caught it, then proceeded to change into it. After we were both done we stood in front of the mirror and stared. I furrowed my eyebrows. I was wearing a peach long sleeved dress that went to about four inches above my knees, and over that I wore a frilly, lace covered wrap around apron, with a matching do-rag. Kimmie was wearing the same thing, but the color of her uniform was a sky blue.
"I can't believe Uncle Misuzu...Made my uniform like..This." She said darkly.
"Oh, it's not so bad Kimmie; it's cute!" I tried to stay positive.
"...We look like Lolitas." She twitched.
"Kimmie..." I reached towards her, but she was already spinning around and was running down the stairs shouting.
"UNCLE MISUZU YOU MUST HAVE A FEW SCREWS LOOSE IF YOU THINK I AM WEARING THIS!" Kimmie roared as she raced to where we had been speaking to Misuzu-Chi. I followed her down the winding staircase tentatively. "WHERE ARE YOU?" She shouted as she dashed into another pat of the pension.
Well, I'm glad that the pension is opening today. That means there aren't any guests to hear all of the yelling.
"Pssst! Spencer over here!" My eyes widened at my name as I glanced around myself. I saw Misuzu-Chi waving at me half way hidden by a door to a different room. I walked over to him.
"Misuzu-Chi, Kimmie is-" He cut me off as he tugged me into the room and closed the door.
"Shh! Not so loud! Kimmie is angry right now! Oh that girl! But look at you! I knew you'd be adorable in that outfit!" Misuzu-Chi gushed. "We're going to have so much fun together! Kimmie, me, you, and a daughter of a close friend of mine and we also have such charming cute boys visiting!" He bubbled. Cute boys? I hadn't seen any boys so far. "The only thing that could make it better would be..." Misuzu-Chi suddenly deflated, as if all of his excitement disappeared. I frowned in worry. He noticed and laughed a bit, "Oh, but it's okay!" He turned away, but I caught ahold of his arm.
"Do you have something that is bothering you? Because I know we just met, but I'm a really good listener! Sometimes having someone to listen will lighten your burden!" I gushed as I felt my face turn red. I was much too bold nowadays.
Misuzu-Chi's eyes seemed to sparkle, "Oh you really are adorable, inside and out!" He hugged me tightly and then paused, "I was just going to say how I would have liked my daughter Mai to be here. She doesn't like coming to see me anymore because...Well I suppose she's just embarrassed by me." He chuckled nervously. "She's always telling me to leave her alone. I guess I'm just a bother to her always inviting her to work at my pension during the summer."
"I'm sure that's not true!" I blurted. Misuzu-Chi looked up, startled by my sudden outburst. I felt a blush creep up my neck. "When...When I was little, my Dad would always laugh really loud when he found something funny. Then I would laugh with him and then we'd be laughing together. One day one of my friends asked me if his laughter embarrassed me, because of how loud and booming it sounded. It really surprised me. I had never really thought about it. His laughter meant he was happy. Even if he was a bit loud sometimes, it never bothered me. I loved him for never being embarrassed by himself. He was okay with it and that made me okay with it." I smiled, "So, Misuzu-Chi, I'm sure that Mai-Chan isn't embarrassed about you at all. She's letting you be you. I'm sure that she has sensed that you're uncomfortable around her and always worrying. It seems to me as if she's being considerate." I took Misuzu-Chi's hands in mine, "If you communicate with her properly, anything can be solved. I can tell you love her very much and that is all you need to mend your relationship."
Misuzu-Chi was quiet for a moment, then he smiled softly, "Yes, I think you're right. I think I'll give Mai a call tonight. Thank you Spencer-Chan!" He beamed.
I was still blushing, "I didn't do anything to be thanked for..." A dark thought overcame me and I gasped, "I told you I would only listen, didn't I? And here I was talking away without letting you speak at all, sorry about that!" I bowed in apology.
"You really are cute, aren't you? No need for an apology at all!" He ruffled my hair. Then Misuzu-Chi jumped as if a sudden thought had struck him. "Oh my! I need to open the pension now! Spencer, could you finish setting up the the silverware on these tables?" I nodded enthusiastically. He smiled, "Oh, wonderful, I'll leave it to you then!" And with that the whirlwind that was Misuzu-Chi swept through the doorway of the room we had been speaking in. I looked at my surroundings. I was in a dining room.
Did you seriously just notice that?
I was speaking to Misuzu-Chi, so I was distracted.
Situational awareness Spencer...Although I suppose that's too much to ask for from a total Space Cadet like you.
S-Space Cadet? Even you are calling me that now? I'm very aware of my surroundings, thank you.
Really?
Yes...I'm the Queen of being alert!
"Are you always this insightful?"
I smiled, "Well, yes, U-SUC-" My eyes widened. I spun around on my heel, coming face-to-face with...Haruhi Fujioka. "H-Haruhi?!" I squeaked in surprise.
Ah, the cross dresser.
You shush!
Haruhi smiled, "Good afternoon Spencer."
"But, you...How..Why?" I stammered.
"My dad is friends with Misuzu-Chi." Haruhi clarified.
"Oh! So this is like your summer job?"
"Yes."
I looked over Haruhi a little better. She was wearing a pink flowy dress, with a cream wrap around apron, that was frilly, and a matching bandana. A sudden worry filled me.
"Haruhi, is it OK?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
Haruhi's brow furrowed, "Is what okay?"
"Is it okay for you to...You know be dressed as a girl right now?" I chewed on my bottom lip.
Understanding lit Haruhi's expression and she chuckled, "Oh, you mean that! Yes, it's fine. I'm no where near where any of those rich young misses would vacation."
I blew out a sigh of relief, "Oh, good. Because they're scary." My shoulders tensed as a thought struck me, "I mean! They seem like nice people and I don't judge a book by it's cover, because dad always said to give people more than one chance! But..." I hesitated and then lowered my voice, "Tax Collecter Guy scares me." Haruhi gave me a blank look. I slapped my forehead, "I mean Kyoya Ootori! I didn't mean...Please don't tell him I called him that! Because that would be bad! He'd get angry at me, then Kimmie would get angry at him and then the situation would get even scarier and-" I cut myself off, "I'm babbling again. I do this when I become nervous. I'll just...Be quiet now." I felt my shoulders slump.
Word vomit much?
I'm working on it.
Not very hard...
You...SHUSH.
Haruhi giggled at me, "You're cute when you do that."
I felt myself redden, "Everyone keeps calling me cute today." I smiled, "Not that I have anything against it!" I assured her.
"I was just setting the tables up for the pension to open, I suppose Misuzu forgot that I was here. Would you like to help me?" Haruhi offered.
"Yes! I would! I always enjoy being helpful!" I exclaimed as Haruhi handed me half of the silverware and napkins she had been holding. I happily set out on my task. Haruhi and I worked on in companionable silence. I was on my second table when Haruhi caught my attention.
"Miss Spencer-"
"Oh, you can just call me Spencer!" My eyes widened, "Unless you think that's much too forward of me!" My eyes widened further, "Come to think of it, I've been calling you Haruhi all this time, without asking you what you like to be called by! I'm terribly sorry!" I bowed in apology.
Still word vomiting~
Shushie U-SUCK Channel!
Haruhi waved her hand, "Oh no need to apologize! I'd be delighted if we called each other by our first names." She smiled warmly. I felt relieved instantly. "Spencer-" She smiled widely, "I just wanted to reassure you about the Host Club." I swallowed as she continued, "They're not really all that bad. They may be impulsive, and idiotic, but they're good people." She smiled, "I'm sure you'll come to like them."
Yep. And your new best friend will be Glasses Dude.
I ignored the U-SUCK channel and concentrated on Haruhi.
I fiddled with my uniform nervously, "It's not that I think they're bad people at all. They just scare me, really." I paused, "But, new people in general usually scare me." I laughed half-halfheartedly, "It's a habit of mine that I'm trying very hard to break." I admitted.
Haruhi thought this over for a moment and nodded, "Yes, I can see what you mean. That's admirable; working hard to overcome something. Instead of running away you face it head on." She smiled encouragingly. I blushed again.
"I wouldn't say that...I am currently avoiding and running away from the Host Club." I smiled sheepishly as I scratched my head.
"Is that so?" Twin voices chorused in unison.
My body registered the voices before my brain did and froze instantly. Two arms snaked themselves around my waist.
"Hello-" The twin on my right started.
"-toy." The twin on my left finished.
What was that you said earlier about the this place being Host Club free? If this isn't convincing enough evidence of you being cursed for life, then I don't know what is.
I couldn't help but agree.
REPLIES:
Raven T: I've never given up. Just had a hard time trying to write due to personal issues. But, I'm Baaaacccck~ Thank you for your kindness!
Broadway And Books: You've read my poorly written Newsies fanfics and you're still reading my work? THANK YOU! ^^ I know I'm two years late...But, here you are!
Fluffy Fish: ...I feel underlying threats in your nonchalant manner of speaking about dangerous weaponry. Should I be frightened by this? Yes! I'm also very interested at seeing how I'll do that! I obviously haven't quite figured that out yet! xD Thank you for your review!
SuperGirl501: When does Tama-Chan ever think before he speaks? Never that's when. Haha!
AnimeVamp1997: Yes you do seem very hyper. Or you did. ANYWAY! Thanks for the review!
Shan-Shan XP: I strive for difference! Hahaha! Yes! She is quite Tohru-like, ne? Thanks for the review!