A/N I don't own Ouran High School Host Club nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 3 - Host Club

"Welcome home, Sara-sama," Hitomi said with a wide smile, "How was your first day at school?"

Sara tiredly sat down on her lounging chaise and took the ribbon out of her long white hair, "Hellish… absolutely hellish," she replied, "The school is full of overdramatic brats."

"Surely it wasn't that bad," Hitomi smiled nervously, "Surely?"

"Well, I did meet this boy in my class…" Sara said as she sipped some tea which Hitomi had prepared for her, "He was so… kind and he listened to me…" Sara stared at her reflection in the tea, "I couldn't stop myself from crying and I ran into him. I spoke to him about my parents' deaths. I needed someone to talk to someone and he listened."

"Sounds like you have made a friend," Hitomi said, "I don't think I approve of you crying at school though. What did I tell you about that place?"

"But… Haruhi… he isn't anyone of consequence… he's a… commoner..." Sara said, "And he's… he's so different from everyone else. He isn't false and his eyes are so earnest and so…. Kind…"

Hitomi smiled gently, "Sounds as if you have made a friend but how did a commoner get into that school? The fees are astronomical."

"He's on a scholarship," Sara replied, "He's very clever."

"I can imagine," Hitomi said.

"There's a host club too… Haruhi is in it," Sara said absentmindedly, "I haven't been to it but… Haruhi works there as a host. He suits the role of the host."

"Well, I will run you a bath so that you can bathe before dinner," Hitomi asked and Sara nodded slowly, "All right, your bath will be ready in a few minutes so get ready."

"All right," Sara said, "Thank you."

Hitomi gave her a smile and nodded. As she walked out of the room, sat up from her chaise and stared into space. Before long, tears streamed down her face. Her sapphire eyes closed before they opened again. Wiping away her tears, Sara stood up and removed her uniform before wrapping a bathrobe around her small form.

"Your bath is ready, Sara-sama," Hitomi said as she called from Sara's ensuite. Sara looked up and shook her head to escape from her reverie.

"Coming, Hitomi," Sara said as she walked into the bathroom, "What bubble bath did you put in?"

"The lavender one," Hitomi replied, "It will relax you. After your bath, you should do your homework and then dinner should be ready. I will put some pyjamas on the bed for you for when you come out."

Sara nodded again and removed her bathrobe, "Thank you, Hitomi. That will be all."

"Very good," Hitomi replied, "I will see you after your bath."

Sara smiled as Hitomi left the room. She removed her underwear and stepped into the bath, letting the hot water and lavender scents engulf her senses.

The next day, Sara slowly walked to school. So slowly in fact that she was nearly late for school. As she walked into her classroom, she spotted Haruhi, Hikari, Kaoru and Renge sitting at their desks, chatting amongst themselves.

"I can't believe that you haven't tried instant coffee," Kaoru complained.

"Good morning," Sara said coolly as she approached her desk. Renge beamed at her with a sunny smile.

"Hey, Miss Sara, have you ever tried instant coffee," Renge asked and Sara nodded.

"Yes, I have… I have only had it once though," Sara replied, "It was… strangely satisfying…"

Renge grumbled, "Well… I'll have to try it now…" Renge said as Sara at her desk, "Miss Sara, please come to the Host Club tonight. You'll make more friends. Think of it as that."

Sara looked up at her and sighed deeply, "Why should I?"

"Please… it will be fun," Renge said and then she turned to the three hosts in the room, "Back me up, you three!"

"It is fun once you get used to it," Haruhi said, "It's a crazy madhouse and can be overwhelming. However, it is fun once you feel comfortable. You don't have to take my word for it but it isn't a bad set up. It will take your mind of everything that has gone on with you."

Sara gazed at Haruhi for a moment before sighing in frustration, "Fine but I will not be staying too long."

Renge threw her arms around Sara and hugged her tightly, "Oh, thank you! You don't know how happy that makes me! You'll have a good time, I promise! You won't regret it."

"I'm sure I won't," Sara said wearily. Hikaru smirked softly.

"So, we've caught yet another one," he said cheekily. Sara glared at him before lightly and politely pushing Renge away.

"This is only a onetime thing though," Sara said, "I can't afford to be going all the time."

"As long as you come sometimes, we don't mind," Renge said.

"Are you a host, Miss Renge," Sara asked.

"No, I'm the Host Club's manager," Renge said with pride, "I've totally turned the place around. Their character arcs needed work."

Sara raised an eyebrow, "Are you an otaku," Sara asked bluntly, "By the way you speak, it's obvious."

"Why, yes! I am an otaku," Renge said with a beaming smile, "Anyway, there's plenty of moe and lots of twincest!"

She pointed at the twins with glee and the two boys smiled slyly at each other. Sara's pale cheeks flushed red at the thought of the two twins and twincest, "Are you… in an incestuous relationship," Sara asked in a hushed voice and the twins burst out laughing, causing the princess to blink wordlessly and recoil in embarrassment.

"No, it's just an act," Hikaru said casually, "But…" he said as he approached her and touched her desk lightly, trailing his finger up to her chin and pushing her face up to look at him, "For you, it could be a reality."

Sara haughtily pulled her chin away from Hikaru's finger and glared at him slightly, "No, of course not."

"Oh save it, Hikaru," Haruhi said, "Don't tease the poor girl."

Hikari sat back in his seat wordlessly. Sara, who appeared rather shaken, leaned back in her chair. She placed her hands to her heated cheeks, "I don't think that it is a good idea to go this Host Club…"

"Don't let them put you off, Miss Sara," Haruhi said, "You can sit with me if you want when you come to the Host Club."

"Thank you, Haruhi," Sara said as she pulled out a notebook and pen. The teacher walked into the room and began the lesson.

After classes, Sara, Haruhi and Renge went to the library to do their homework whilst Kaoru and Hikaru went to the third music room. As they walked inside, they both saw Kyoya at his laptop.

"Hey, Kyoya-sempai, have you done that background check," Hikaru asked. Kyoya pushed his glasses up his nose and turned his head towards the pair.

"Yes," he said calmly, "I'm guessing that you haven't read the newspaper yet. Princess Sara's parents died a few weeks ago and she was even a suspect for a time. It was her uncle that sent her here after living in a villa in the mountains. There, she was homeschooled while her parents worked with their respective companies. She's half British English and half Japanese."

"We know that but we didn't know her parents had died," Kaoru replied, clearly shaken, "She didn't even say anything. Does it say how they died?"

"It says it was suicide," Kyoya answered, "Death by cyanide."

Hikaru and Kaoru looked up sharply each other, "That's awful," they both said. Kyoya closed his laptop.

"Is Princess Sara coming this afternoon," Kyoya asked.

"We think so. Renge will probably drag her along if she lets her have her way," Hikaru said flatly, "Which host she would pair her off with?"

"I would possibly Haruhi but Tamaki is also an option," Kyoya said, "Judging by her reaction to him yesterday, he's a suitable host for her."

"She's pretty friendly with Haruhi," Kaoru said, "I have seen her blush when she is around Haruhi. It's cute but imagine if she knew Haruhi was really a girl."

"Well, we can't let her find out," Kyoya asked, "We will pair her off with Tamaki."

"Did someone say my name," Tamaki asked dramatically. Kyoya looked up, "Who will be paired off with me?"

"Princess Sara Awayuki," Kyoya said, "Remember? She was the girl in the canteen that you gave the blue rose to."

Tamaki blinked at him before realising who he was talking about, "Oh? That beautiful girl is pairing off with me? I hope she's in a better mood than last time."

"Well, you had better keep hoping," Kyoya said with a sardonic smile, "She is grieving the loss of her parents at the moment and we're relying on you to lift her spirits."

Tamaki gasped, "The loss of her parents? How terrible…" he whispered, "Well, it's the duty of the Host Club to make every girl happy! I will take the challenge."

Suddenly, the door opened slowly. Haruhi and Sara stood in the doorway. Renge had to go home, leaving the two girls to go by themselves. Sara, with her hands held behind her and her face cast down to the floor, eventually looked up, her cheeks flushed a deep red.

"I see we have our newest guest, gentlemen," Tamaki said charmingly, "How is our princess this fine afternoon?"

He held out his hand to her and Sara shyly and hesitantly took it, "I'm well, thank you," Sara replied as Tamaki gently led her to a table and chaise. Haruhi made some coffee for the pair and placed the tray on the coffee table, "I'm quite nervous about coming here, Suou-sempai," Sara said softly.

"Please, call me Tamaki, Princess," Tamaki said charmingly. Sara cast her gaze the ground and her hands fisted up, bunching up the silk of her yellow uniform, "Would you like some coffee and cake to soothe your nerves?"

Sara looked up slowly to see him gesturing to the elegant tea set filled with coffee and a piece of chocolate cake on an elegant dish. She nodded and reached out to take the cake from the coffee table. "Let me," Tamaki plucked the silver fork from her grasp as she picked it up, sliced a piece off and jabbed the fork into that little piece and held it to her mouth. Sara blushed deeply and blinked not knowing what to do, "Open your mouth, dear princess," Tamaki said kindly. Sara slowly opened her mouth and Tamaki placed the little piece of cake in her mouth. Sara closed her mouth and chewed silently, "Is that nice, princess?"

"It's very rich," Sara said after she had swallowed, "But that's not a bad thing."

Sara placed the plate on the coffee table and picked up her teacup. She sipped it quietly before placing that back on the coffee table as well, "I've never been to a Host Club before, Tamaki-sempai."

"Well, you're in for a treat, Princess," Tamaki said, "We offer an excellent service here."

Sara looked up at him, "What kind of service? What exactly do you do here?"

"Our mission in life is to make every girl happy! We entertain and make time for people," Tamaki said excitedly. Sara sighed and picked her cake up again, taking another bite.

"Look, I want to say sorry for yesterday. It was uncalled for. You were very nice to me… I have just had a lot on my mind lately," Sara said.

"Care to divulge," Tamaki asked. Sara sighed.

"You'll find out eventually," Sara said, "My parents died a few days ago and I am not coping very well. I am sorry to be such a sad guest. Don't let me ruin your day," she stood up but Tamaki gently grabbed her wrist.

"Please don't go, Princess. If you wish to talk about, I'm here," Tamaki said earnestly. Sara blinked at him before sitting back down. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed, making the other hosts look up in their direction.

"I don't know what to do… I hate crying in front of people," Sara said through her tears. Tamaki gazed at her sadly, his violet eyes shining with compassion, "I haven't had any time to grieve. Mr Fujioka had an earful yesterday from me. He's so kind. You don't have to hear about this," she hastily dried her tears.

Suddenly, a young boy bounced in with a tall and stoic young man, interrupting them, "Hey everyone! Are there any guests tonight?"

"Yes, Honey-sempai," Kyoya said, "And she's with Tamaki."

The boy, Honey or Mitsukuni Haninozuka, looked up and around at Sara and Tamaki, "She looks like she has been crying, Kyo-chan."

"Yes, but Tamaki is handling it," Kyoya answered, "Why don't you and Mori-sempai wait for your guests and have some cake whilst you are waiting."

"Sure," Honey replied, "Come on, Takeshi! Let's have cake."

The taller boy, who was known as Takeshi Morinozuka and also known as Mori-sempai, grunted in response and followed his cousin to the table. Sara eyed them both, "Are they third year students? Ootari-sempai referred to them as "sempai"."

"Yes, that's right, princess," Tamaki replied, "Honey-sempai might appear young and childish but he's a prodigy."

"I see," Sara said, feeling a bit lost and confused. This was one crazy new world but as Sara smiled to herself, she knew that it wouldn't be as bad as she first thought.

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