HOME | DD

Description
Part 2: Let the Retraining Begin!
In Which There Is A Large Amount of Flashbacks and Exposition

The club opened as usual, but Hinata insisted that Haruhi not take customers today, still feeling like it was wrong. Their excuse was that Haruhi had come down with a light illness and didn't want to infect an of 'his' clients. That was fine, everyone was more interested in the return of the previous king of the Host Club. Apparently Hinata Sakamoto had been a sort of legend during his time at Ouran. He was a bit more exclusive in his clientèle, taking only third years who had seen their eighteenth birthday, Kyoya explained that it was to avoid lawsuit, not that any of the girls would sue. And this meant the number of girls was greatly decreased, which was comforting to Kimiko, who Haruhi actually realized she had seen before. They lived in the same apartment building, and Kimiko's sister, Setsuna had gone to school with Haruhi, what happened to her Kimiko wouldn't say.
"You know," Haruhi said as she and Kimiko were making more tea and instant coffee, "I always thought Tamaki founded the Host Club."
"Well, I guess you could say he and Hinata are the co-founders," she replied, carefully measuring out the tea leaves, like any money-conscious person would. "In his second year, Hinata decided to create the Host Club because he saw that the girls of Ouran Academy were lonely. The first person he recruited was Tamaki, who was in his final year of middle school. Honey and Mori came soon after."
"What about Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi asked as she dried off the cups she'd been washing.
"Kyoya joined after I started attending," Kimiko said with a small smile, "I had thought he was hopeless, what with his usually cold demeanor, but Hinata was adamant; Kyoya would become a Host."
"How did you find the Host Club? If you don't mind me asking," she amended quickly.
"Well, I was kicked out of Lobelia Girl's Academy in my first year," the older girl explained thoughtfully, "And so I came here, I pulled some strings and did well enough on the tests to gain entry. I made some friends whom, during my second year, decided I was depressed and the reason was that I didn't have a man in my life, so..."

"Come on, Kimiko!" Narue insisted, pulling her up the stairs with the help of Asako.
"Trust me, you'll feel better," Chisaki added from behind.
Kimiko shook her head, trying to pull away, failing. "I just don't think this is a good idea." Her friends told her all about the Host Club, they'd been going for a while now.
"It is!" Asako cried, tugging harder, "I'm sure that once you get some male companionship you'll be able to focus better, a little romance is just what you need!"
"But it's all false!" she protested as they neared the door, "These boys see dozens of girls every week and they always sing the same song."
"Just give it a try, please," Narue pulled out the wounded kitten eyes, no one could resist that.
She sighed, "Oh, alright, I'll go this once." Her friends cheered, opening the door to Music Room 3. A boy from the middle school with blonde hair and violet eyes greeted the girls by name, but caught on Kimiko.
"What's this? A new guest? How lovely!" He took her hand in his and kissed the back. "It's my pleasure to welcome you to the Host Club, I am Tamaki Suou."
Kimiko blushed a light pink. "It's nice to meet you."
Tamaki noticed her unease. "Please, Miss, don't be uncomfortable, everyone is frightened during their first time at the Club, but come this way, I'm sure Hinata can cater to you better than I." He led her over to a tall dark haired man lounging on a couch a part from the others.
"Tamaki," he said a bit haughtily, his blue eyes looking out from under his falling bangs, "I believe I said that I wouldn't be taking guests today."
"I know, sensei, but I thought since the young lady is new that her first Host experience should be with the best," Tamaki replied smartly. "Hinata, this is... Oh dear, I don't believe I asked your name, how awful of me." Now he blushed, he'd made a huge mistake, right in front of his sensei!
"It's alright, Tamaki," Hinata said kindly, "Just see it doesn't happen again. Go back to your guests." He stood, extending his hand. "What is your name, beautiful?"
She blushed a deeper color, placed her hand in his and whispered, "Kobayashi Kimiko."
"Well, Kimiko, welcome to the Ouran Host Club."

"... I went again the next day, and the next, soon enough I was a near addict," she said with a slight sigh, "I feel I conducted myself better than some of the others who never saw past the sweet little remarks and the butterfly kisses. I tried to see past the act, see the people they were and I did, I watched Hinata denying himself the one thing he wanted everyday because of his purpose: 'Make every girl happy.' He made his own personal prison without even realizing it." Kimiko paused for air. "I'll never forget..."

"Kimiko, I didn't see you today," Hinata said from a few feet to her right.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I've been meaning to inform you for a while now that I won't be coming to the Host Club any longer."
"Then you've found someone?" She didn't hear the telltale emotional change in his voice.
"Yes, I have, I need to put some distance between us- me and the club, I mean." Her lower lip began to tremble as she tried to hold the tears at bay, her face growing hot.
"Well, if that will make you happy," he said, faltering.
"No," she said around the lump in her throat, "It won't make me happy, nothing can." Kimiko's shoulders began to shake as her slim frame was racked with sobs.
He rushed forward, pulling her close. "Please," he whispered unsteadily, "Tell me what I can do."
"I can't ask you to do something you never will," she choked out, holding onto him tightly.
"I would do anything to make you happy."
She shook her head. "That's just another promise you force yourself to make. You can reward the lesser fantasies of lesser girls, but I could never-"
He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a slight shake. "Yes! I've made meaningless dreams come true to make shallow girls feel elated for a short time, but I... I would make any and all of your dreams come true, Kimiko- But I can't." He let go of her and stepped back. "You found someone else." He turned to walk away and she caught his hand.
"No, I found you, Hinata Sakamoto," she whispered.

"And I'm not the only one who fell for the Host King," she said with a smile as she nudged Haruhi's arm with her elbow.
"What? No! You've known me since we were kids, you know I'm not like that," Haruhi stuttered.
"If you mean that your trust and affection are not quickly placed, then yes, I know that, but I think that even if he act superficial and overly dramatic Tamaki may show himself worthy of both," Kimiko replied knowingly, picking up a tray laden with tea to carry out to one of the tables. The guest gasped and there was even a little cheering at the sight of her. So Kimiko is just as legendary as Hinata, Haruhi thought, looking on from the side of the room as her old friend took a seat next to her fiancé.
"The idea of finding love in the Host Club is a popular idea among the ladies," Kyoya explained, showing up beside her out of the blue. "They like to think they could fall in love with us and visa versa, but I think Miss Kobayashi and sensei was a very usual case and unlikely to repeated."
Haruhi looked over at him, thinking the tone of his voice odd. "You seem in better spirits than normal, senpai," she noted.
"Really? I suppose sensei just carries an aura about him that puts everyone in a better mood, I wasn't always the black-hearted villain, Haruhi," he replied, flashing a smile and waling off, preventing further conversation.
"So, Haruhi," Kaoru began as the twins sidled up to her.
"How are you liking having Sakamoto around?" Hikaru finished.
"I don't know, his only been here less than a day," she muttered in reply, now downcast.
"What about Kimiko," Hikaru prodded.
"Yeah, you seem to know each other pretty well," Kaoru added.
"Her sister was my best friend growing up, but I haven't seen either of them since middle school," she answered, trying to make herself busy, hoping they would get the hint.
"Really?" Hikaru asked, "Does her sister go to this school?"
" I don't know, one day she just disappeared, I never saw her again."
"What's her name, maybe she is, but she's low on the radar?" Kaoru.
"Setsuna."
"That's a pretty name." Hikaru.
"But I don't think there's anyone in our year named Setsuna Kobayashi." Kaoru.
Luckily, a group of girls called over the twins, ending their contact for now. Haruhi looked over at Hinata to see him frowning in the direction of the Hitachiin brothers. Obviously he was not pleased with their behavior, but she was sure it could not be totally eradicated. However, it might be capable of being tempered.

Description
Part 2: Let the Retraining Begin!
In Which There Is A Large Amount of Flashbacks and Exposition

The club opened as usual, but Hinata insisted that Haruhi not take customers today, still feeling like it was wrong. Their excuse was that Haruhi had come down with a light illness and didn't want to infect an of 'his' clients. That was fine, everyone was more interested in the return of the previous king of the Host Club. Apparently Hinata Sakamoto had been a sort of legend during his time at Ouran. He was a bit more exclusive in his clientèle, taking only third years who had seen their eighteenth birthday, Kyoya explained that it was to avoid lawsuit, not that any of the girls would sue. And this meant the number of girls was greatly decreased, which was comforting to Kimiko, who Haruhi actually realized she had seen before. They lived in the same apartment building, and Kimiko's sister, Setsuna had gone to school with Haruhi, what happened to her Kimiko wouldn't say.
"You know," Haruhi said as she and Kimiko were making more tea and instant coffee, "I always thought Tamaki founded the Host Club."
"Well, I guess you could say he and Hinata are the co-founders," she replied, carefully measuring out the tea leaves, like any money-conscious person would. "In his second year, Hinata decided to create the Host Club because he saw that the girls of Ouran Academy were lonely. The first person he recruited was Tamaki, who was in his final year of middle school. Honey and Mori came soon after."
"What about Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi asked as she dried off the cups she'd been washing.
"Kyoya joined after I started attending," Kimiko said with a small smile, "I had thought he was hopeless, what with his usually cold demeanor, but Hinata was adamant; Kyoya would become a Host."
"How did you find the Host Club? If you don't mind me asking," she amended quickly.
"Well, I was kicked out of Lobelia Girl's Academy in my first year," the older girl explained thoughtfully, "And so I came here, I pulled some strings and did well enough on the tests to gain entry. I made some friends whom, during my second year, decided I was depressed and the reason was that I didn't have a man in my life, so..."

"Come on, Kimiko!" Narue insisted, pulling her up the stairs with the help of Asako.
"Trust me, you'll feel better," Chisaki added from behind.
Kimiko shook her head, trying to pull away, failing. "I just don't think this is a good idea." Her friends told her all about the Host Club, they'd been going for a while now.
"It is!" Asako cried, tugging harder, "I'm sure that once you get some male companionship you'll be able to focus better, a little romance is just what you need!"
"But it's all false!" she protested as they neared the door, "These boys see dozens of girls every week and they always sing the same song."
"Just give it a try, please," Narue pulled out the wounded kitten eyes, no one could resist that.
She sighed, "Oh, alright, I'll go this once." Her friends cheered, opening the door to Music Room 3. A boy from the middle school with blonde hair and violet eyes greeted the girls by name, but caught on Kimiko.
"What's this? A new guest? How lovely!" He took her hand in his and kissed the back. "It's my pleasure to welcome you to the Host Club, I am Tamaki Suou."
Kimiko blushed a light pink. "It's nice to meet you."
Tamaki noticed her unease. "Please, Miss, don't be uncomfortable, everyone is frightened during their first time at the Club, but come this way, I'm sure Hinata can cater to you better than I." He led her over to a tall dark haired man lounging on a couch a part from the others.
"Tamaki," he said a bit haughtily, his blue eyes looking out from under his falling bangs, "I believe I said that I wouldn't be taking guests today."
"I know, sensei, but I thought since the young lady is new that her first Host experience should be with the best," Tamaki replied smartly. "Hinata, this is... Oh dear, I don't believe I asked your name, how awful of me." Now he blushed, he'd made a huge mistake, right in front of his sensei!
"It's alright, Tamaki," Hinata said kindly, "Just see it doesn't happen again. Go back to your guests." He stood, extending his hand. "What is your name, beautiful?"
She blushed a deeper color, placed her hand in his and whispered, "Kobayashi Kimiko."
"Well, Kimiko, welcome to the Ouran Host Club."

"... I went again the next day, and the next, soon enough I was a near addict," she said with a slight sigh, "I feel I conducted myself better than some of the others who never saw past the sweet little remarks and the butterfly kisses. I tried to see past the act, see the people they were and I did, I watched Hinata denying himself the one thing he wanted everyday because of his purpose: 'Make every girl happy.' He made his own personal prison without even realizing it." Kimiko paused for air. "I'll never forget..."

"Kimiko, I didn't see you today," Hinata said from a few feet to her right.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I've been meaning to inform you for a while now that I won't be coming to the Host Club any longer."
"Then you've found someone?" She didn't hear the telltale emotional change in his voice.
"Yes, I have, I need to put some distance between us- me and the club, I mean." Her lower lip began to tremble as she tried to hold the tears at bay, her face growing hot.
"Well, if that will make you happy," he said, faltering.
"No," she said around the lump in her throat, "It won't make me happy, nothing can." Kimiko's shoulders began to shake as her slim frame was racked with sobs.
He rushed forward, pulling her close. "Please," he whispered unsteadily, "Tell me what I can do."
"I can't ask you to do something you never will," she choked out, holding onto him tightly.
"I would do anything to make you happy."
She shook her head. "That's just another promise you force yourself to make. You can reward the lesser fantasies of lesser girls, but I could never-"
He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a slight shake. "Yes! I've made meaningless dreams come true to make shallow girls feel elated for a short time, but I... I would make any and all of your dreams come true, Kimiko- But I can't." He let go of her and stepped back. "You found someone else." He turned to walk away and she caught his hand.
"No, I found you, Hinata Sakamoto," she whispered.

"And I'm not the only one who fell for the Host King," she said with a smile as she nudged Haruhi's arm with her elbow.
"What? No! You've known me since we were kids, you know I'm not like that," Haruhi stuttered.
"If you mean that your trust and affection are not quickly placed, then yes, I know that, but I think that even if he act superficial and overly dramatic Tamaki may show himself worthy of both," Kimiko replied knowingly, picking up a tray laden with tea to carry out to one of the tables. The guest gasped and there was even a little cheering at the sight of her. So Kimiko is just as legendary as Hinata, Haruhi thought, looking on from the side of the room as her old friend took a seat next to her fiancé.
"The idea of finding love in the Host Club is a popular idea among the ladies," Kyoya explained, showing up beside her out of the blue. "They like to think they could fall in love with us and visa versa, but I think Miss Kobayashi and sensei was a very usual case and unlikely to repeated."
Haruhi looked over at him, thinking the tone of his voice odd. "You seem in better spirits than normal, senpai," she noted.
"Really? I suppose sensei just carries an aura about him that puts everyone in a better mood, I wasn't always the black-hearted villain, Haruhi," he replied, flashing a smile and waling off, preventing further conversation.
"So, Haruhi," Kaoru began as the twins sidled up to her.
"How are you liking having Sakamoto around?" Hikaru finished.
"I don't know, his only been here less than a day," she muttered in reply, now downcast.
"What about Kimiko," Hikaru prodded.
"Yeah, you seem to know each other pretty well," Kaoru added.
"Her sister was my best friend growing up, but I haven't seen either of them since middle school," she answered, trying to make herself busy, hoping they would get the hint.
"Really?" Hikaru asked, "Does her sister go to this school?"
" I don't know, one day she just disappeared, I never saw her again."
"What's her name, maybe she is, but she's low on the radar?" Kaoru.
"Setsuna."
"That's a pretty name." Hikaru.
"But I don't think there's anyone in our year named Setsuna Kobayashi." Kaoru.
Luckily, a group of girls called over the twins, ending their contact for now. Haruhi looked over at Hinata to see him frowning in the direction of the Hitachiin brothers. Obviously he was not pleased with their behavior, but she was sure it could not be totally eradicated. However, it might be capable of being tempered.