[IC] Welcome to the Host Club!

[Tokara]

((Pfft why do I feel this slightest hint of Hikaru ending up liking her instead...? Kaoru doesn't get enough love though so I want to continue with him x'D she must win Hikaru over eventually though friend-wise hmm))

Oh. Tamaki shrugged, feeling slightly guilty. There wasn't anything that he could do about that. "I'm afraid that the Host Club rules are that only Ouran Academy students may attend," he stated matter-of-factly. It was a rule to keep them safe from any unwanted characters. Although he doubted that of Ky's friends, he couldn't make exceptions for just her. In any case, Kyoya wouldn't allow it...

"Just practise a bit before Friday, and I'm sure that you'll be perfect! If you're truly as bad as you think you are, you can stand on my feet and I'll swing you around." Tamaki winked at her, picking up his tea and sipping it.

[FernStone]

(Aha maybe he will or something xP But will be like 'it's cool Kaoru you like her more' or some thing. But yes she must)

"It is fine, they wouldn't be interesting anyway," Ky responded with a shrug. She genuinely didn't care. She'd be able to see them that weekend anyway, if her parent's didn't stop her.

She then laughed slightly at the image of what Tamaki said. That didn't sound anything like dancing. "I can try and practise, but I'm afraid that may be what needs to happen. Though that doesn't sound very... elegant." She tilted her head. "Is dancing required at the ball?"

[Tokara]

Ah. It would be okay then. The spring ball only came once a year; she could see her friends anytime (he assumed). "I don't mind," Tamaki laughed. He was the sort of person who didn't think about what others might think about him. If he looked a little silly while dancing, would anybody really care? If anything, they would be amused, and he lived to make people happy.

"No, of course not." Tamaki put down his teacup. "if you so wish, you can just sit or chat with others. But it's far more fun to dance, in my opinion. And I'd love to dance with you, my lady."

((yeees sounds cool c:))

[FernStone]

Ky raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't comment on him not minding. Tamaki seemed so carefree. She didn't understand how he could be like that, but she guessed she liked that about him.

"I guess I can dance once or twice, if you would like that," Ky responded with an exaggerated sigh, though she smiled as she spoke. She was sure it wouldn't be too bad. "I will suffer the embarrassment." Not that it would be terrible. She didn't have too many friends within the school. "I'm sure once I mention this to my parents I will be pushed into dance lessons all weekend anyway."

(Yeahhhhhh!)

[Tokara]

Tamaki was running through things in his head - how he'd twirl her around, light as a feather, while the lights were dimmed and the orchestra played... He sighed happily to himself, listening to Ky idly. "They will?" She didn't seem completely happy about that, and Tamaki frowned a little. He had had to learn a lot of new things when he'd come over here from France, although he'd already had dancing down.

"Well, at least you'll be ready for my skills," he declared.

[FernStone]

"Yes, they will, they know that I'm not very good," Ky responded, not giving much of an explanation as she shrugged. She then smiled slightly. "I guess that is one good thing that would come of that, yes." Assuming he was good at dancing, of course.

[Tokara]

Tamaki couldn't help but feel slightly concerned at her words. The way she was talking about her parents... It was almost resentful. He had enough reason to be resentful of his own family, but everyone's struggles was large to them. He didn't frown, instead focusing on the positive. "I look forward to it," he said, raising his cup to her before drinking.

((skip soon?))

[FernStone]

"I guess that I do as well, then," Ky responded with a slight smile, mostly genuine about what she said. She'd certainly try to enjoy it.

(Yes I think we should. Wanna skip to the ball or a bit in between before the ball? I don't mind)

[Tokara]

((Laptop time yesss))

The week came and went, and the students of Ouran Academy were awash with chatter about the upcoming ball. Both girls and boys were allowed and encouraged to attend - partners certainly weren't frowned upon. The Host Club themselves were busy with arrangements during the seven days, and were pleased to see their work come to fruition. It wasn't manual labour, of course - but managing a project had its own stresses!

Tamaki reflected upon this as he got dressed, straightening his bright red tie that meant he was a Host (at least, for this event). He was wearing a suit of royal blue that brought out the colour of his eyes. Pleased with his appearance, he spared no time in heading to his limousine and setting off. Ouran Academy was decorated with wreaths of flowers, rose arches, an artificial stream, and there seemed to be more birds than usual at this time of night... He stepped into the lights that had been set up, sighing happily as he strolled into the ballroom. The Hosts would be the first to arrive - no Host would allow their guests to be there first!

As an hour ticked by, the entire Host Club arrived and so did their guests. They mingled amongst the students of Ouran Academy - but stood out, due to the red ties they all sported.

~~~

Mimori spent the week debating over whether or not to attend the Spring Ball that Friday. On one hand, she was pretty sure that some members of the Host Club didn't like her and she'd also managed to embarrass herself in front of them. On the other, she wanted to dance, and Kaoru had been kind. Eventually one side won her over, and on Friday night, she dressed herself in a dress of dark green. It was a colour of spring, and it suited her colouring.

She arrived at the ball shortly after opening time, breathing in the fresh scent of flowers and running water. That river certainly hadn't been there before. Taking in the sights with wide eyes, she finally came to the ballroom. Here goes. She pushed open the doors to a beautiful scene of colours, heads of boys and girls, and the music of a live orchestra.

"Wow," she breathed.

[FernStone]

(Aw yes, laptop is the best)

After having told her parents about the ball Ky had no choice but to attend. Her parents certainly weren't going to let her back out; they were delighted that she was going to something 'lady-like' of her own accord. However as the day grew nearer she had begun to look forward to it more. Even if she still wasn't sure she could dance very well she was going to try.

The unfortunate thing about balls, however, was the fact that she had to dress suitably. However the dress that she had chosen, with the help of Amaya, was simple enough for her tastes. It was a deep blue in colour without much detail and fell a bit above her ankles. Probably not as long as a ball dress should be but it would help her with not tripping over it while dancing.

She arrived a bit after the ball was due to start, having had to wait a while for Amaya to arrive at her home to pick her up (the two were going together, mostly because Ky hadn't wanted to go alone). She wasn't sure what to think as she entered the ballroom. It was certainly... busy.

"Oh I'm so excited, Ky, I wonder if I'll get to dance with one of the host club!" Amaya was practically shaking from excitement, gripping her friends hand quite hard as she dragged her in.

"I'm sure you will, Ammy, but can you please stop holding my hand before I hit you." Her words were slightly violent, but Ky would rather keep the feeling in her hand. She sighed slightly as Amaya let go and took a step away. Part of Ky hoped that either her or her friend would find someone to dance with soon. She'd probably be able to relax better then.

~~~

"I can't believe that we were actually forbidden from playing any pranks while at the ball," Hikaru pulled a face as him and Kaoru finished getting ready to go to the ball. The two of them were wearing the required red tie, and identical brown-red waistcoats rather than proper suits. However they both looked good. They did have a good sense of fashion, having inherited that from their mother.

"We'll just have to be more subtle about it, Hikaru," Kaoru smiled, rushing his twin out. They were running a bit behind and it would be best not to be late.

They did arrive before the guests, but were the last of the host members there. As guests began to arrive they mingled, sticking together as they always did. It was a rarity to see the twins apart by choice.

It was Hikaru who spotted Mimori first, and nudged Kaoru. "Did you not promise her a dance."

"I did, and don't be grumpy about it Hikaru, it is hardly like doing that will mean I will be out of your sight." Kaoru smiled slightly at his twin, who let out a small huff. A little bit later they both approached Mimori and both gave slightly waves.

"You look beautiful tonight, Mimori," Kaoru spoke with a smile. What he said was the truth, she did.

[Tokara]

Tamaki had been interacting with many different guests - of course, he had many of his own to see tonight. And there were many different girls, of many different personalities and traits. He held each and every one of them somewhere in his heart. He had a rather large capacity for love; much like a dog. He laughed and handed out one or two roses from the inner pocket of his blazer as the evening went on. However, he found himself holding back one rose and searching for a familiar face. Someone he hadn't seen yet, who'd been reluctant to dance...

Aha, there she was! The first dance was to begin soon, and Ky was with her friend. Not wanting to start any jealousy, he stole Mori away from Honey (who had just asked a guest of his own for the first dance - she looked near tears).

"Good evening, ladies. May I say that you both look beautiful?" Tamaki sang out, offering Ky his last rose. Mori gave a small noise of agreement, offering Amaya one as well. "We'd like to invite both of you to partake in the first dance tonight."

~~~

Mimori had wafted between a couple of people, greeting and chatting where she wanted to. The atmosphere in the ballroom was buzzing and alight with excitement. The music and lighting could only add to it. Despite herself, she couldn't help her blue eyes scanning the room for a flash of ginger. She didn't know if she wanted to see it or not. With one, came the other.

But then there was a voice behind her, and she turned to see them. Although they looked almost identical, she picked them apart after a moment - as Kaoru spoke. She blushed at his compliment, dipping her head. "Thank you," she said, pleased by it. "You both look very handsome tonight." The brown of their waistcoats certainly did something for their ginger hair; even with that red tie, they looked good. Although, perhaps, Kaoru looked just a little bit better. She was probably biased.

The orchestra's song slowed to a stop, and they announced that the first dance would commence shortly. Mimori looked back at Kaoru, excitement coming to her eyes as the blush faded.

[FernStone]

Ky was glad that Tamaki hadn't approached her alone, because the last thing she wanted was for Amaya to make a fuss. However her friend looked delighted at dancing the first dance with one of the host club members for the first dance and gladly accepted Mori's rose.

"Thank you," Ky smiled slightly, taking the rose offered to her by Tamaki. After a moment of thought she moved to put it in her hair, managing to get it to stay in the slightly braided style it was in. There was very little she could do with her hair considering its length but she liked it this way. "You look very... nice as well," she responded, taking a moment to think of what to say. She wasn't used to complimenting people. She did, of course, accept Tamaki's offer to dance.

"Starting with the worst dance, then," she said, tone slightly teasing.

~~~

"Thank you, we do try," the twins responded at the same time. They did like to look good, and had decided for this ball that it was best to dress identically just to help with confusing the guests. It wasn't like they had the exact same wardrobes but for these events it was always more fun to wear the same.

As the first dance was announced Kaoru turned slightly to look at Hikaru. Hikaru just nodded slightly, almost as if he was giving him permission. Though they hadn't said anything it was obviously that there had been some kind of communication between them.

Kaoru turned back to Mimori, offering her his hand. "Would you like to dance this dance with me?"

[Tokara]

Tamaki was pleased - perhaps more than with a usual guest - to see Ky all dressed up. She looked so pretty, with her hair all braided and different... Women had such magical ways with themselves sometimes. Beside him, Mori took Amaya's hand and started leading her to the floor, stoic and gentlemanly as ever. Tamaki bowed, offering her his hand.

"I'll have to see about that," he replied with a smile. "Maybe I'll be surprised?"

~~~

Mimori only had to wait for a moment, breath caught in her chest. Kaoru had said that he would dance with her, at least sometime that night. But now was the first dance, and perhaps he had a more special guest? After all, it wasn't just any dance. The eyes of the school would be on the Hosts, especially for the next few minutes. He didn't even know how she danced. She could be a complete and utter left-footed idiot for all he knew.

But then Kaoru offered her his hand. Mimori nodded, grinning despite herself. She couldn't help it. "Of course. Thank you for asking me," she replied, slipping her hand into his and coming a little closer. As she walked, she glanced at Hikaru, perhaps a slight message in her eyes.

Thank you.

A shiver ran down her spine at the feeling of Kaoru's hand around hers, the contact feeling like sparks. She'd watched him at the Host Club for a while; and now she was to be close to him. She couldn't help but wonder if he felt anything too - or if this was just another part of business.

[FernStone]

"I doubt you will be," Ky laughed, quite happily taking Tamaki's hand. She had to admit that he looked quite good all dressed up in a suit. More so than he did in the normal school uniform, which looked nice enough. "Although I did take a few lessons over the weekend, so hopefully I won't fall flat on my face when we are dancing.

That was what she hoped, as well.

~~~

"It's my pleasure," Kaoru smiled at her as he lead her over to the dance floor. She was glad that she seemed to be pleased about him asking her to dance. The only other person he might have chosen to dance the first dance with would have been Hikaru. His twin seemed to have been grabbed by another lady so it seemed that he was distracted for now.

"So do you dance often?" He asked, as the music was about to start.

[Tokara]

Tamaki walked Ky to the dance floor, taking a position closer to the middle of the group. That way, she was more shielded from the crowd by the other Hosts dancing around. He was mildly surprised to see Kaoru and Hikaru separated - and noticed the slight twitch at Kyoya's mouth as he lead his own partner onto the floor. Kyoya could be annoyed with that, seeing as it was taking away part of the twins' appeal. Oh, well. So long as they were happy, he was happy. Guests couldn't be happy with an unhappy Host.

"I'll make sure you won't fall," he replied warmly, settling one hand comfortably at her waist. His other hand, still interlinked with hers, rose to the side in a waltz position. They would start slowly for this first dance, regal and elegant. If Ky coped well with that, maybe he could take her for a faster dance later. But he wasn't going to force her into anything.

Tamaki started to move as the music began. "Just relax. Let me lead you," he advised her. "No-one's really watching."

~~~

When they came to the dance floor, Mimori's heart had started to pound in her chest. This was the first dance of the night. Everyone's eyes would be on the Hosts and their partners, especially considering how they were on the 'outside,' of the group. She told herself to breathe. Kaoru's voice broke her out of her thoughts, and she shook her head. "Well... I used to. Before my partner left the group. There wasn't another boy my age to dance with," she explained. "So I had to leave." That was life, really. People came and went.

In the moments before the dance began, she raised one hand to settle ever so lightly on his shoulder - almost like she was scared to touch him. She was just shy, really. Hopefully she'd become more fluid once the music began. Her other hand came to slip into his, rising to her side. The music began, and she felt the beat flow through her ears, into her skull and down her spine. Each vertebrae thrummed as she moved, the grip on his shoulder becoming more confident with each step. She let out a soft laugh, looking up and into Kaoru's eyes.

[FernStone]

"How very kind of you," Ky smiled, moving her free hand to rest on his shoulder. There was something about the closeness that she quite liked, but she couldn't really put her finger on what it exactly was. She was sure it was nothing much, really.

She forced herself to relax as the music started, moving along with Tamaki. "Well I certainly hope that no one is," she laughed slightly, trying to just go along with the music. It wasn't actually as difficult as she expected it to be with Tamaki leading. "How many dances will there be tonight?"

~~~

Kaoru moved his hand to Mimori's waist just before the music began, considering what she said. "It's a shame that your partner left, and you couldn't dance any more." He had always been lucky - if he liked something Hikaru probably did as well and they would do it together. He couldn't imagine having to stop something because of having no one to do it with.

He easily got into the rhythm of the dance and leading Mimori about the floor. He was glad when she seemed to get more confident with each step. It was nice to see her enjoying herself. Kaoru himself was quite good at dancing, having been taught from a young age and being quite artistic. He certainly wasn't amazing, but he was good. And he did enjoy it.

[Tokara]

Tamaki was slightly surprised by Ky's dancing. By what she'd said, he'd been expecting much worse. He'd started out leading quite strongly, but started to relax slightly as she became more comfortable. Ky wasn't entirely in the rhythm, and every now and then her feet were a little too close, but he rolled with it. As always, he went around his obstacles gracefully and elegantly, not allowing them to disrupt his path.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "There will probably be quite a few. Perhaps an hour's worth? The Hosts have quite a few guests to dance with, of course," he sighed happily. Excepting the twins; most of their guests preferred watching them dance. He really did love it, including all of the attention. Tamaki had quite a long list of girls to dance with that night, but he would have been quite happy to dance with her the whole time...

~~~

Mimori felt weightless in Kaoru's arms as they glided around the floor. Thinking back to her middle-school self, she couldn't really believe it. People had teased her for her European looks and ancestry. Not completely Caucasian, but not completely Japanese either. She'd believed that she was ugly and worthless for a long, long time. Never would her middle-school self have thought that she'd be here tonight, dancing with someone like Kaoru.

Kaoru was definitely a good dancer, to make her feel this way. Her old skills were coming back to her - it had only been a year and a half, so her muscles hadn't completely forgotten. Dancing with him was different to her old partner. Different, but better for some reason. Kaoru was making her feel something different from what her old partner had. This wasn't so professional or strict. This was... natural. Fluid. And Mimori felt warm inside, just wanting to be closer to him. A big, silly grin spread across her lips, dimples in her cheeks becoming visible. This was so good.

[FernStone]

"That is quite a long time... And will you be dancing for all of it?" Ky responded, tilting her head. That sounded like it would be quite a lot of physical work. Although it would be fine for her, since she was quite physically active in terms of sports, but it must be socially exhausting as well dancing will many people.

She found it slightly strange how happy he seemed to be about the fact he would have to dance with many different guests. Then again it seemed that he bloomed when he was the centre of the attention and enjoyed making girl's happy. It was part of why she had chosen to make appointments with him, she thought.

She was surprised at herself, however, for how much she was managing to avoid tripping. She was sure it was probably mostly Tamaki.

~~~

Kaoru could tell the Mimori had used to dance by the way she moved. She was so elegant and it was easy to dance with her. He had been worried it would be difficult - after all he often only danced with Hikaru, and Hikaru always took the lead role. However it all fit into place. He glanced down at her, noticing the large grin that had spread across her lips. He smiled back warmly, glad that she was enjoying herself. He was too.

He hoped that Hikaru was okay, though, dancing with one of the other guests. Hopefully he didn't feel too neglected not having the first dance with his twin. Kaoru tried to push away these thoughts, realising he should concentrate on the person he was dancing with over his brother.

[Tokara]

Tamaki lifted his shoulders up and down in a relaxed shrug. "I don't really mind, so long as they're happy," he smiled, raising his arm to twirl her before stepping in close again, his hand coming to her waist once more. "But I'll probably take a break halfway through." After all, he had to stay fresh for the final dance!

The dance lasted for a minute longer, before the orchestra slowed the music and cut it off. There was polite applause around the room, for both the orchestra and the dancers. Tamaki bowed to Ky, looking up at her with bright eyes. "I hope that you enjoyed dancing with me, my lady."

~~~

Mimori noticed once or twice, how Kaoru slipped away. It was the way in which his eyes sometimes looked over her head instead of at her. She knew that he was worrying about Hikaru; they usually stayed together all the time. And this was a partner dance, and Hikaru wasn't with him... Was that some annoyance radiating off some of the girls, that she was separating them for this dance? Kaoru and Hikaru were people - they didn't exist solely to fulfil the strange desires of some girls.

When the music came to a stop, she was looking back up at Kaoru again with a smile. That had been amazing, and her heart was pounding in her chest. "Thank you," she said, sliding her hand off his shoulder and taking back her other. "That was... It was amazing."

((I go on camp today, so if I post at all, it will be short :p))

[FernStone]

(Ah okay cool - I'm a bit busy at the moment anyway!)

"That's very honourable," Ky responded after being twirled around, face slightly blushed from how close they were and the dancing itself.

She felt, surprisingly, slightly disappointed when the music ended. She had begun to enjoy herself - especially considering the fact the she wasn't tripping over herself. "I did, thank you, Tamaki," she respond with a somewhat awkward curtsy. She shuffled off to the side afterwards, quite sure that he would have many other girls to dance with. Perhaps she should go get food, or find Amaya...

~~~

Kaoru smiled down at Mimori when the music finished, seeming to have quite genuinely enjoyed the dance with her. It had been nice to dance with someone who wasn't Hikaru for once. Not that he disliked dancing with his twin.

"It was an honour, Mimori," Kaoru responded, taking a step back so he could bow politely. "I am glad you thought so. You really are a good dancer!" As he spoke he moved slightly to the side so that he was off of the dance floor. It didn't take long for Hikaru to appear, going to rest his elbow on his brother's shoulder. He didn't seem like he had had as good a time.