Ouran High

One-shot 3

Coffee

A/N: I'd like to make a note, because there appears to be some confusion. This is not a series of oneshots, nor is it a chapter story. They are completely unrelated oneshots that I choose to place under one title rather than separately. The only thing they have in common is that they are all Ouran Koko Hostu Kurabu crossed over with something else. Aside from that, the similarities are fleeting and coincidental. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not make any profit off of this story, and I do not presume to own any of the characters herein. I merely borrow them from the mangaka for my own means. I.E.: Ouran High School Host Club and YuYu Hakusho and their characters are not mine, but belong to Hatori Bisco-sama and Togashi Yoshihiro.

xXx

She wasn't really remarkable. Her hair was plain brown and her eyes the same drab color. She wore an over-sized tan sweater and black slacks to classes every day. She wore glasses most of the time, but sometimes she came to school without them.

She had a boyfriend, or at least that was what everyone assumed, since they were almost always together. He was some rich blond half-foreigner, but his name always seemed to escape Kurama.

Really, the only reason Kurama noticed her at all was because she was so unremarkable that she stuck out among her colorful classmates. Well, that and she once dropped her book on his foot.

At the time, he'd expected her to be one of his mousy admirers, but she just leaned over, scooped the book up, straightened and looked at him for a moment. "Gomen," she'd said then, bowing. And he'd watched her walk off as if he were no more important than he considered his admirers to be.

After that, he began to pay a little more attention to her. He noticed that she and her blond 'boyfriend' never did couple things together. They were obviously close, but they never went home together, or held hands, or snuck into shadowy corners to kiss. Neither wore any sort of ring, though she had a bracelet on her wrist that matched one he wore.

He started to doubt that they were even a couple as rumor claimed. Eventually, curiosity got the better of him and he sought her out. She was walking down the hall after her last class of the week, unaccompanied by her usual shadow. Just as he reached her, she stumbled, having been focusing on keeping hold of her armful of books.

He reached out and snagged hold of her bicep, his free hand plucking two books from the air as they fell from her grasp. She managed to hold onto the other three. Barely.

The girl let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes for a moment before pulling away from him and turning around. "Oh. It's you. Hello," she said with a slight smile. "Thank you for your help."

'It's you'? Well, that was a decidedly lackluster response. But still. He smiled back at her and held out the rescued books. "Yes. Me. You're welcome."

She gratefully took the proffered books and tucked them under her arm. "Well have a nice day." She offered another smile before she turned. Or started to.

"Ah, wait," he said, stepping up beside her as she took a step. She paused and looked up at him. He took it as leave to continue. "I couldn't help but wonder... you and that blond... ah, what was his-?"

"Tamaki," she said, sighing. "His name is Tamaki. He is my best friend since high school, and yes, we dated once, no we are not doing so anymore. Was that it?"

He blinked a few times, taken aback at her terse explanation. "Well... Yes, actually. I apologize if I- Well... I apologize." He gave her a sheepish smile.

She sighed and shifted her books to balance them in the grasp of one arm. Then she held out the other hand for him to shake. "I'm Haruhi. You're Minamino, right? Or do I have you pegged wrong?"

Kurama took her hand and shook it. "No, that's me. You've heard of me, then?"

"It's kind of hard not to, when one sits behind your fangirls in Greek History," she replied frankly.

He grinned at that. "I would suppose so," he agreed cheerfully, releasing her hand and sticking his own back in his pocket. "Where are you off to? Would you happen to have time to grab a cup of coffee?"

She lifted a brow at that, then shrugged. "In fact, this is the first bit of free time I've had in a week or so. Tamaki-sempai's off doing things for his company, so he couldn't be here today."

Kurama tilted his head. "Company?"

But Haruhi was already digging through her shoulder bag, doing an amazing job of keeping hold of her books in her free hand. Finally, she pulled out a pamphlet and held it out. "Here. Yuzuru-san gave this to me last week-end. He, Tosan and Tamaki-sempai ambushed me and forced me to be their poster girl for the day." She made a face.

Kurama chuckled, taking the pamphlet and looking through it. "Oh, Suoh. I see. I have heard of them. They have business dealings regularly with my step-father's company."

"Oh, is that so?" Haruhi smiled and took the booklet back, sticking it in her bag again. "Well, what about that coffee?"

xXx

Haruhi really liked having coffee with Shuichi. He was brilliant, and funny, and sweet, and he could take a joke (Kyoya, often times, could not and set out to get revenge, whereas the rest of the club... yeah, they didn't even count). But most of all, he didn't immediately assume she was some pauper-type person just because she wasn't rich like him (and he was pretty loaded).

Too bad she was almost positive he was gay. Why else would he spend most of his time hanging out with that short guy and spend as little time talking to girls as he possibly could? Seriously, hoards of them threw themselves at him every day, and he didn't even bat an eyelash. In fact, nine times out of ten, it tended to annoy him (or rather, that's what she assumed, given his various expressions when he was accosted).

Haruhi herself didn't much care about his looks. Sure, she was attracted to him, but that had more to do with his personality than his physical appeal. Not that he wasn't physically appealing...

"Haruhi-kun?"

Haruhi started and looked up, eyes widening. "Oh! Renge-chan. Hi!" she greeted in surprise.

Renge grinned and sat down beside her. "They told me you were in this class, so I signed up."

"I thought you were going to the Ouran College," Haruhi replied, confused.

Renge waved her hand dismissively. "I got bored, so I decided to go to this one! After all, you and Tamaki-kun are going here, right?"

"I guess so," Haruhi muttered, sighing. Even after the whole school found out that Haruhi was actually a girl, Renge never stoped liking her that way. Sure, she'd been shocked at first, and had flown all the way to America to confront Haruhi (with two of her usual fangirl companions) about it all. However, when it became obvious that Renge was still attracted to her, Haruhi began to suspect.

She'd asked Renge, who had claimed that 'true love conquers all' and 'I'd be a hypocrite if I say I like yaoi and yuri fanfiction, but then turned around and say I don't like girls'. That last bit was beyond Haruhi, but she wasn't about to refute Renge's claims. Instead, she told the other girl that she was in no manner, shape or form interested. Renge had yet to give up, though.

"So are you doing anything tonight?" Renge asked, beaming at her.

"Actually-" Haruhi began, but the other girl was already talking over her.

"Great! I was thinking we should catch up, like friends, you know? Girl friends." She winked. "You can come over to my flat and I'll make you some tea and we can do..." She shrugged, making a vague gesture toward the door. "Girl stuff. You know."

Haruhi tried to smile, but it came out as more of a grimace. "Renge, I really don't-"

"You agree? That's wonderful! I'll pick you up at eight, huh?"

"Agreeing to random dates, Haruhi? I'm hurt that you forgot all about me," a familiar voice purred in her ear.

Haruhi yelped and spun around, one hand reaching up to clasp the side of her neck. "Shuichi-sempai! Don't do that!" she scolded.

He flashed perfect teeth at her and sat down in his usual seat. "Oh, I apologize. I tend to get carried away, since this is the only class I get you alone in, and now I find you making a date with a girl. I didn't know you were into that sort of thing..."

Renge coughed. "And you are, Monsieur?" she asked, eyes narrowed.

Shuichi gave her a mild smile. "Minamino Shuichi. And you, Mademoiselle?"

She straightened her spine and lifted her chin. "Hoshakuji Renge. It's a pleasure," she responded, though she clearly just wanted him to leave so she could get on with what she'd been doing.

Mainly, tricking Haruhi into going out on a date with her.

"Oui, Mademoiselle." He did not return the sentiment, only smiled politely in her direction.

Haruhi looked back and forth between the two, brow furrowing at the raw animosity in the air. Even though they were smiling pleasantly, she got the feeling that they were two very territorial cats fighting over something.

Suddenly, Shuichi's eyes widened and he paled, looking at Haruhi as if he'd been betrayed. Haruhi blinked in confusion at him, and Renge arched a brow. "Monsieur? Are you quite alright?"

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes, Miss Renge. I am fine."

Renge huffed and turned toward Haruhi, who momentarily panicked. Oh wonderful Mother in Heaven, how am she going to get out of this one? She turned a look on Shuichi as Renge started trying to arrange the details again, going on about what kinds of tea Haruhi would like.

He quirked a brow and then sighed. 'Fine, but you asked for it,' he mouthed, looking amused. And in front of everyone in the class, he stood and dragged her from her seat. Then he kissed her.

Renge's mouth dropped open.

xXx

Later, Haruhi and Shuichi sat in their usual cafe, enjoying an awkward silence that was stretched thin between them. Haruhi wasn't sure what to think. She was still mostly sure that Shuichi was gay, not to mention psychic (every time she thought he was gay, he'd give her that look a split second later). Shuichi looked amused by something or other, just content to watch her and let her stew.

He did this a lot.

"So?" he finally murmured. One corner of his lips lifted as he eyed her, clearly displaying his amusement.

She shifted and sighed. "Well, it shut her up about her date plans," she relented, shrugging. "I didn't expect you to kiss me, though."

A sour look settled on his face. "And why is that."

It sounded more like a statement than an actual question, to be frank. But still, even if she thought he was psychic, she had to answer him. "Well... I thought you were gay, for one."

"I am not," he replied instantly, as if he'd been waiting for her to say it. "I may have experimented in my lifetime, but I've found that the female form satisfies me far more."

Haruhi grimaced at the implication. Yes, she'd learned to spot them (most of the time). You sort of had to, with the twins around. "Right," she muttered, avoiding his gaze. "I guess so. It was probably rude of me to assume."

"Undoubtedly, but I will forgive you... on one condition." He reached across the table and nudged her chin so she'd look at him again. "Go out with me."

"I'm not particularly feminine," she deadpanned, unruffled.

The redhead grinned, green eyes dancing with a sort of... not feline, more... fox-like glee (oh good goddess, she was turning into a fanciful person). "You're plenty feminine."

Haruhi rolled her eyes. "A little, yes, but that's because I'm female."

He chuckled. "Say yes."

She met his gaze and looked away. Okay, so maybe she was a little effected by this. Shuichi, the most sought after guy in school, had just all but demanded that she date him. … okay, no, she wasn't effected at all.

"No."

Shuichi quirked a brow, but grinned. "And if I can convince you?"

Haruhi looked into his pretty green eyes. "I'm not interested, Shuichi-sempai. And don't think you can sway me with your looks or your charms, because I've been down that road. I don't want it again."

His face smoothed from amusement to seriousness, and perhaps a tinge of curiosity. "Suoh?" She nodded. "Hm. Why did you two break up?"

"He was too busy, and I lost interest when I realized that his company meant more to him than his girlfriend," she replied frankly. "Now drop it, Shuichi-sempai. I mean it."

Shuichi tilted his head slightly, then leaned forward to stare at her unblinking. She didn't fold under his scrutiny, so he eventually murmured, "Kurama."

She blinked. "Huh?" What did a mountain have to do with this?

"Call me Kurama. Please," he clarified, sitting back.

Her brow furrowed, but she nodded carefully. "Okay..."

"And say 'yes'," he added with a smirk.

xXx

Rather open-ended if I do say so myself. Dunno if I'll ever add onto this. But enjoy.