Chapter One


Roses.

Hundreds of them decorated this infamous little room which boasted views of blue sky and sunlight of the afternoon. Though just in case that wasn't enough, the petal coloured stone of the clock tower pointed out to Yayoi that it was fourteen past three, the watchful clock face had even followed her here, as if the school itself were asking why she was out a quarter of an hour early.

"Welcome."

Blinking lightly from the beams of the sun, she found herself intruding upon preparations. A group of fine young men, each dressed in the blue suits and orange crests that boasted them as members of Ouran High. These were, indeed, some of the top students from various subjects, years and of some of the most prestigious families in the world.

Family... Yayoi realised a rose from a tall arrangement to her left had bent at the stalk, looking like it would fall from the neat cluster. Her hand reached to pluck it from the selection.

"Wooow! She's gorgeous! She's gorgeous!" All of a sudden something pink and soft pressed against Yayoi's cheek, she flinched and took a step back, the door clicking as it shut behind her. "Bun Bun likes you!!!" A giggle. The sweet faced Mitsukuni smiled happily up at her. "Would you like to join our tea party!? We have tea! And caaaake! And tarts! And Roses!"

The hopping of the younger looking student was suddenly halted as he was lifted into the arms of a dark, spiked haired boy, Morinozuka. Honey seemed to get the message and hugged his stuffed rabbit, head tilting to rest on the raven head of Mori.

"You're the Host Club, right?" Yayoi's voice was soft and shy.

The King of the Hosts stepped upfront now, taking the hand in which Yayoi grasped the rose.

"Princess, you have indeed reached your destination! For we are those handsome, intelligent and charming princes you have been hearing of!" His hand slipped from hers in order to spread his arms and spin round. "And I am King of those princes!" He stopped in front of the group, whose eyes were all resting on her, Tamaki posed for dramatic effect.

"So, my angel..." Taking her hand, he led her two steps forward. "Which type do you prefer? The wild ty-"

Tamaki stopped. Haruhi had moved forward, a look of concern on her face. Honey wiggled down from Mori's arms and came to Yayoi also.

The host King turned his head to look at the girl's face. Her eyes were downcast to the single rose in her hand, blue sparkling from tears.

"Ah! No I'm-! S-Sorry! Go ahead!" She bowed extremely low, hair falling forward. "Y-You were saying?" Panicked that she had started crying, Yayoi stood back up and made a hurried move for the door. "I'm sorry, I have something I must-"

A hand caught her arm and pulled her back into a hug, a hand catching her chin and turning her to low round.

"Shinome-san... Please don't cry... if I've offended-" Tamaki Suou's lavender eyes were welling up with tears also.

"No! Not at all!" Yayoi suddenly realised she was in his embrace and blushed. "Hey! What are you doing!? I didn't ask to be your customer!!!" She pushed him away, suddenly offended at the thought and blushing at the same time. Her heart beat fast all the while, as she told herself she didn’t fall for men so easily. She rubbed away the tears before folding her arms.

"Shinome Yayoi?" Kyouya Ohtori gently pushed his glasses a fraction up his nose. He held a black file book in his hand, balanced there in an almost artistic way. "You're a transfer student from New York?" The book closed just as the twins had moved behind either shoulder. Kyouya stepped in to prevent ruin from the situation, a charming smile for Yayoi as he took the rose from her fingers.

The other hosts realised there must be a motive for Kyouya's hospitality other than a new customer, a dark look from each of them, other than the Hitachin twins who were bored of the situation and leaned on one another in a strangely balanced and casual way.

"Yes. I'm half American." Yayoi nodded.

"Are you a cosplay fan?" One of the twins raised an eyebrow. "I hear the Americans love anime conventions..."

"Yeah... plus your hair colours are pretty weird." The other closed his eyes sighing.

"Like you're one to talk, you had pink and blue hair before." Haruhi gave them a dull, unimpressed look.

"Yeah, but white fading to blue?" Glares from all directions. "That's a... different...  look." One twin folded their arms sulkily, his brother went to sit on the sofa, so he followed.

Yayoi was bright red now, a mixture of embarrassment and from trying not to cry.

"I think it's beautiful." Something soft touched her lips, like silk. Her face flushed even more. A kiss!? No... not a kiss... a rose. White petals fading to blue, crenulated tips. Yayoi found herself looking at Kyouya straight in the eyes, how cruel to make a girl feel so helpless and so loved at the same time. This Host Club was a place of magic, where one could fall in love, yet she doubted it could be returned to most of the girls who visited this sun bathed music room.

The raven haired, glasses wearing host lifted the rose and ran his fingers through her hair, parting it and placing the rose there to adorn her. He took her hand. "May I accompany you this afternoon?"

The other hosts were all stood still, the twin's heads turned. Kyouya... a customer?

Yayoi looked down, biting her lip which tingled from the sensation of the rose brushing against it.

"Please."

Why do I feel so susceptible to them? Yayoi thought as she took hold of his hand. I'm just as bad... I only came here for one reason. I'll find out what I need and leave. I can't fall in love... with someone like... them.