Disclaimer: Well unless Hatori Bisco went cookoo all of a sudden and gave me the copyrights to this, I don't own Ouran High School Host Club! :,(

Chapter 1: A new start, a new problem

A.N. I have to thank a good friend of mine for giving me this idea for a fanfic. Ouran-fangirl135 you rock!!

The midnight was dark. Pitch dark. But it wasn't because of the night; on the contrary, the full moon was on its brightest. There wasn't any room, no where to hide. She was trapped. No where to go, no where safe. She remembered how safe she thought she had been just a few minutes ago.

She had got up as soon as she heard the dog bark so loud. She saw the room peaceful as always, but her instinct was telling her that something was wrong. She got up and got her robe on. She was wearing pajamas, but she still wore that pink robe. She got out of her room and smelled something burnt. She feared the worst, so she went to her mother and told her of her fear. Both of them walked downstairs and saw their fears were realized. The fire was spreading fast through the living room and the downstairs floor. Both, mother and daughter ran quickly upstairs and grab their most valued possessions. They had feared for something like this for a long time, so they already had a suitcase with clothes and other things of value. But somehow there was something missing. She went into her room and grabbed her handbag, her suitcase and a plush bunny she had ever since she was a baby. They both went down and suddenly got trapped by the fire. Somehow, a miracle per say, had saved them both and they both had survived. The girl was frightened, angry, but above all she was strong. For she knew that from that day forward, her life would change completely.

- Sweetie we are here- said Evelyn Brookes said to her sleeping daughter.

Ashton Brooks slowly awakened from what seemed a long slumber. The same dream again. When was she ever going to forget that unfortunate event?

- You were having a nightmare. It was about the fire, wasn't it? - asked Evelyn with concern.

- Well, it's not easy to forget when your house is burned to the ground and you have to move away. Now tell me again, why do we have to move to Japan again?

- I told you a thousand times, until we can be sure that man is arrested or dead, we will have to live a little bit differently.

Ashton wasn't in favor of moving to a new home, let alone a new country. She lived in New York and her life was going great so far. She was an ace student, she had man friends, and most of all she had the most popular boy in school as her boyfriend. Yeah, life was sweet. Until the danger came.

- So where are we? - asked Ashton in a curious yet annoyed voice.

- Our new home.

Ashton saw an apartment building that was supposed to be her new home. It was nice place to live, but not what she was used to. But if it meant that she would live safely with her mother, it was worth the shot. She got out of the taxi and walked to the apartment room where she was going to stay. It was a small apartment, but otherwise cozy and cute. It would have to do. The entire day, they both installed themselves, until it was time to eat. Since they didn't have anything to eat, they both went to a supermarket nearby. A weeks worth of food and a couple of other useful items were what they bought. Ashton was looking at a newspaper and saw the picture of her house. Big headline said, "Brookes' mansion burned to the ground, no survivors". It was just so hard to accept this. Ashton decided it was enough emotions for one day. She walked to her mother, but accidentally bumped into someone.

- Excuse me, please- she said.

- No, it's ok. I wasn't looking either so I guess it's my fault as well- said the other person.

Ashton couldn't see if the person was a boy or a girl. She had really short brown hair, and was so thin, she was kind of flat chested. But once she saw her big brown eyes and got to see her a little better, she knew the person was a girl.

- I guess we both have parting in this- said Ashton, laughing at the scene she was in.

The brunette girl also giggles.

- I'm Ashton, by the way

- Haruhi. Nice to meet you. Or better yet bump into you.

- It's a pleasure to me too.

- So tell me, do you live around here?

- Yeah, I just moved here. I live in an apartment building a couple of blocks from here.

- Oh, so that makes us neighbors. I live in that building as well.

- Get out!! Really? What a coincidence! Well I guess we'll be seeing each other soon- said Ashton with joy. She was happy to make a new friend in a place totally unknown to her.

- Well I better get going; I have a lot of homework and chores to do.

- Yeah, same here. I have to unpack all my things.

- Take care, see you soon- said Haruhi leaving and waving her hand.

Later that day…

- So mom what are we going to eat?- Ashton was hungry after all the work she had done. But finally it was finished, they were ready to live in their new home.

- I made some ramen. Hope you like- Evelyn had a specialty for home cooking. She sometimes made great dishes when she wasn't working.

- Well if it tastes like the instantenean ones, sure! Besides I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!

- Then let's get started!

They both sat in a small table and started to eat their ramen. It tasted delicious, even though it was a very small dish for someone like Evelyn.

- I have good news, sweetie- said Evelyn with excitement- I got a job!

- Yeah, that's awesome! So what did you get?

- A maid in a big mansion- Evelyn said with excitement, but Ashton didn't share the same excitement. – What's wrong honey? Aren't you excited for me?

- Mom, don't get me wrong, but a maid? I mean you aren't a maid, you are a lawyer! And mighty good at that. I don't know why you're so excited about cleaning someone else's place, and let them treat you like a slave.

- Honey, I know things are different, but we have no choice. We need to keep a low profile so that nobody can suspect who we are. Otherwise, we could be in grave danger.

Ashton felt the anger through her face. She felt impotent and anguished for her situation. If only her mother wouldn't have taken that case, those men wouldn't be searching them and she would still be in New York.

- I don't have much of a choice do I?

Evelyn moved her head from side to side. – Look at it in a positive way, you can make new friends. You can start over and be who you want.

- But I don't want to! I want my life, my normal life! I want my friend, my boyfriend, I want my life back- Ashton felt the teardrops run down her cheek and the warmness she felt in her face.

- Aww sweetie, do this for me. For your mama that wants you safe and loves you so much.

- If I didn't know that, I wouldn't even be here- Ashton said chuckling- but oh well. Tell me, where are you going to work?

- The Haninozuka mansion. I hear that the mansion is quite big and the family is very strict. Although I hear there is a member of their family that isn't that strict. I'm going to start tomorrow.

- Well now that we got to the subject of changing, I want to tell you that I met a new friend. Her name is Haruhi and she is our neighbor.

- I'm glad that you are making new friends, sweetie. I know we will pull this through.

- Yeah, even Louis thinks so.

Ashton was referring to her pet dog, which she had brought from America. Louis was like her best friend, she couldn't leave her. The golden retriever was eating a of dog food, when he suddenly she started barking of joy and went to Ashton to lick her face.

Suddenly the door rang. – I'll get it- said Ashton. She went to the door and saw a very odd woman on the other side of the door. Well rather than a woman, the person seemed to be more of a man. Travesty maybe.

- Why, hello! I'm Ranka Fujioka. I'm your new neighbor. And this is my daughter Haruhi.

Haruhi showed herself behind her father and just waved her hand in a gesture of saying hello.

- Nice to meet you Mrs. Fujioka, I'm Evelyn… Shields. Evelyn Shields and this is my daughter Ashton- Ashton smiled from the door.

- What a lovely girl- Ranka said looking at Ashton, then turned around to Evelyn- You seem like very nice people.

- Oh but, please come in. We were only having dinner, care to join us?

- No thanks Evelyn. We just wanted to come and greet you, so welcome to the neighborhood. If there's ever anything that you need, feel free to come and ask us.

- Thanks Mrs. Fujioka. Or should I say Mr.- said Ashton in a sarcastic tone.

- Ashton, that's not the way to talk to her.

- No, no it's ok. She must know that I'm not a woman- said Ranka in a sad tone- well I must be off, I have to get some rest, I have been working all day. Welcome again.

- Thank you!- said Evelyn as they were leaving- such nice people.

- Why did you change your last name?

- I don't want them to know who I am. It could set us off, and I don't want any suspicion. So I suggest that here on out we are the Shields.

- Can I change my name as well?- said Ashton with curiosity.

- No, we already presented you as Ashton. Besides I don't know why you don't like your name. It's so lovely.

- Yeah, but it sounds like a boys name. Why couldn't you have called me Stella, or Georgina or even Michelle? But noo, you chose Ashton.

- Being unique has its ups and downs. I thought you were used to your name.

- Well my friends usually call me Ash, so I can confuse it with Ashley.

- We better get some rest. I have to work tomorrow and we need to start looking for a new school.

- Now there is something I can live without!- said Ashton laughing.

The next day

Early in the mourning, Evelyn presented herself to work as a maid in the Haninozuka Mansion. And DAMN was it huge!! Evelyn's mansion was small compared to this one. She first met the main maid, Kirina Matsuki, who technically was her boss.

- You shall clean the library today. Then you shall help the cook with the cooking and then clean the little masters' rooms.

- Anything else, Kirina-san?- Evelyn said in a tight smile. "Like me sticking my broom up your.."

- For today that is enough. Right now start with the library. Come on, chop, chop, we don't have all day!

Evelyn went to the Library, and she got a huge surprise. The library was HUGE!! It was going to take a lot to clean up that place. "This much better than being yelled by that she witch all day" she though.

She had taken all morning, but she finally got it over with. Once she was finishing, she saw a beautiful woman walk in, she had a cell phone in her hand and was wearing a suit that was very formal. "Reminds me of the old days. She must be Mrs., Haninozuka." thought Evelyn.

- Who are you? - said the woman.

- My name is Evelyn Shields, ma'm. I'm your new maid.

- Oh how nice- said the woman carelessly- tell me Evelyn, do you have a family?

- Yes ma'm, my Ashton is all the family I have left- Evelyn said proudly.

- You have a son, so I guess you understand my situation. I have two young boys. Mitsukuni, age 18 and Yasuchika, age 15. I know that Yasuchika is growing but it seems that he always wants to fight with Mitsukuni. I can't control him anymore.

- Well why does he want to fight his own brother?

- Yasuchika wants to be better than Mitsukuni, but always gets beaten by him. And if he is like me, he is very persistent.

- Oh, now I see. Why don't you tell Yasuchika to continue his own path to glory?

- You think I haven't. But everything goes in and out of him. He is insisting on beating his brother. And to make matters worse, Mitsukuni is kind of a lonely boy. I don't know why he never grew.

- Slow metabolism I guess. My Ashton kind of had that but grew a little over the years.

- Ashton must be very lucky.

- Yes. I'm always proud of my baby. But since we moved here, its been kind of hard to adapt. I don't have money for my baby to go to school.

- My two sons go to Ouran Academy. Well, why don't you put Ashton there?

- Its too expensive. I could never afford it.

- Nonsense, I'll help you. You have been such a good listener that you are starting to get on my good side. Consider Ashton enrolled in Ouran Private Academy.

- Oh, thank you soo much!! Ashton and I will be in debt to you forever!

- Don't worry. As long as your son gets a good education.

- Wait, Ashton isn't a…

But Evelyn was cut off by Mrs. Haninozuka. She was answering her phone and completely forgot of Evelyn's presence.

- Don't worry, I'll enroll him right away- Mrs. Haninozuka left Evelyn with the word in her mouth. She had confused Ashton for a boy. And also was enrolling her to Ouran. She was going to study a good career. But how was she going to do it if they believe Ashton is a boy? Then the idea sprung, making Evelyn make a sneaky grin. She had the perfect plan.

A.N. Here we are, chapter uno, I finally did it!! Everybody do the funky chicken dance!! Jajajajajajjajaj just kidding, we'll do the hustle! :P naaa!!

I want to thank a very good friend of mine for letting me do this!! Without her, I wouldn't have made this, so ouran- fangirl135 this is to you!!

Please review!! Tell me your thoughts on this!! I beg you!!And bee kind pleeeaaasee!! Other than that I have nothing else to say for the moment sooooo…..I'm audi!! Love yall!!

Xoxo

Usangie