Author's Note: This is my first Ouran Highschool Host Club fic! It takes place somewhere during the series. Please enjoy, and don't forget to review!

Summary: "Listen, I don't need an assistant. I'm perfectly fine on my own. But my father insists, so we're stuck with each other. Just do what I say and stay out of my way and we'll get along famously." KyoyaXOC

The Assistant

Chapter 1

"Noa! They have a job open for an assistant to a wealthy family's heir! Wouldn't that be the perfect job for you?"

That was my mother, straining to sound enthusiastic.

"Um, yeah," I replied quietly. It was a white lie. I was not happy about it. My father had decided a job would teach my discipline and responsibility, and my mother, as always, just had to go with whatever he said like a good little soldier. That is exactly what my mom told me when I was little: "Be a good little soldier for [insert my dad's latest whim here]." I pretended to be excited, adding, "I'm sure I'd be great at that."

"You would!" My mom smiled, brushing a stray strand of dark hair out of her eyes. "Although, I think I'd be a bit of a waste of your talents."

"Talents?" I echoed. I had talents?

"Of course." That pale and thin yet comforting smile continued to caress her lips. "You have an uncanny ability to read people. Also, you shine brightly when it comes to leadership. And, you are very easy to get along with. None of these qualities can be overlooked."

What? I cried in my own mind, Since when has my mom thought I was actually talented? But, instead of saying this, I simply recited a, "Thank you."

My mom nodded. She stood up and placed the job ad in my hand, stressing, "Look it over. It sure sounds exciting." She walked out of the room, leaving me alone in our little parlor.

"Uh, okay." But she was already too far away to hear my muffled reply. I sighed and decided to give job description a look-over. There was no harm in just reading, right?

The first thing I saw when I locked my eyes on the ad was the distinct name OURAN ACADEMY. Huh, I hadn't ever heard of that high school… I mean, I knew there was some kind of prestigious high school just a few miles from my family's manor, but it sounded so much different than I had imagined it to. Ouran? It sounded like a freaking fruit you would throw in a chop salad. Oh well, first impressions weren't everything, right?

I read over the description carefully. It said: "Needed: An assistant for the third son of the Ootori family. Must be well organized, a good listener, and easily take orders. Further information will be provided if interested." This is what my mom classified as exciting?Well, whatever. It was still a job, and that was exactly what I needed.

"All right," I decided aloud, "I'll give them a call." I picked up the phone and dialed the number on the ad. Moderately quickly, I set up an interview with the Mr. Ootori. Apparently, I was the only person who had applied so far… That's weird, I silently noted. But it didn't seem peculiar enough to investigate. I shrugged off a skeptical feeling as I told the secretary on the phone, "Yes, my name is Konusho Noa."

The secretary confirmed the name before listing the date I'd meet Mr. Ootori for the interview. Except, it seemed strange to me that she told me the date for the very next day.

"Is there any reason why it's scheduled so soon?" I asked. I didn't want to seem rude or anything, but it felt slightly suspicious.

"Is there a problem with that?" she asked right back.

"Uh… no, but it just seems a bit odd," I admitted.

I could almost feel the lady on the other side of the line shrug as she mumbled, "I don't know what to tell you. Mr. Ootori just said that he needed an assistant for his son right away."

"Well, all right then," I told her, "I'll be there."

"Very good," the woman approved before hanging up.

Hmm, I thought as I set the phone back down on the receiver, It's still weird.

-transition-

I put on one of my best dresses and looked myself back at the mirror on the day of the interview. Stop staring at me like that! I snapped at my pouting face in the mirror.

It almost seemed to reply, But you hate this outfit, and you know it.

"Shut up!" I yelled at the reflection.

"Who are you talking to?" my mom inquired, walking into my room unannounced.

"Nobody," I snapped. It wasn't necessarily a lie.

My mom looked at me funny then let it go. She commented, "You look nice today." Snapping her fingers, she stated, "Oh! You must have an interview for that job today!"

I could feel the color drain from my face. Did I have to have some kind of important reason for looking nice…? But instead of saying this, I confirmed, "Yes, I do."

"Good luck, then," she returned with that cheery smile.

I whinnied like a horse and mumbled, "'Kay, got it." With that, I left my room, tying my charcoal black hair into a tight ponytail. I didn't like ponytails, but ponytails look official, all right?

I hitched a ride into town and found myself a taxi to take to the Ootori mansion. On the way there, all I could think about was how uncomfortable I felt. Was being able to survive living in a fancy dress and heels considered one of those special talents my mom was talking about? I mulled over perhaps scribbling that on my resume for the job interview…

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Ootori mansion. I wasn't really surprised at its size, because I lived in a mansion as well, except we didn't call it that. We called it a manor because we weren't high class. We were middle class with some nice things here or there but nothing really notable. But let's just say, when the butler took my coat, I wasn't fazed. And when I was led down a long, marble hallway that echoed eerily, I still wasn't fazed.

But when I was left in Mr. Ootori's office, I was slightly fazed by the strong, fierce-looking man sitting in an office chair. Okay, I admit, I was terrified. Sue me. You would be, too!

"Miss Konusho," Mr. Ootori greeted professionally.

"You can just call me Noa! If- if you'd like… Sir!" Yep, I was quaking in my boots. (Or, to be fair, high heels.)

Mr. Ootori's eyes deceived no emotion. But probably because a glare lied over his glasses as he stated, "I will call you Miss Konusho. Now, please sit." Though he said "please", it didn't sound nearly as friendly as it would seem.

Rapidly, I took a seat across from his polished office desk.

"Now-" The man pushed his glasses up his nose a little so I could finally see his dull black eyes. "-Tell me. Why are you interested in this job?"

I didn't know how candid I could be, so I gulped down my anxiety and whispered, "Can I be honest?"

He looked somewhat intrigued by this and nodded.

"Well," I started, "My dad thought I'd be nice to pull my life from under my feet and make me trip into a world of careers, to be quite frankly."

"Explain." One word, and yet it was enough to urge me to continue.

"So, you see, I come from the Konusho family and- as you're probably well aware- we own a relatively small empire that produces and manages commercials and other advertising investments." I cleared my throat. "This makes us middle class, not bad off, but obviously not high enough to be considered… um… comfortable." I waited for Mr. Ootori to try and stop me, but he was leaned forward, for some reason, taking interest in my story. "My dad is a wonderful but fickle man, and he explained to me that I should probably know what it's like to be in the working world. You know, learn a thing or two. I've been homeschooled my whole life, so I don't know much about life outside. But while I'm new to this, I have a collection of talents-" I listed off what my mother had said the day before to the exact detail except I put "I" in substitution of every "you": "-I have an uncanny ability to read people. Also, I shine brightly when it comes to leadership. And, I am very easy to get along with." I ended with the big finish. "So, to please my father and take my first step into the world, I'd like to start here, being your son's assistant."

Mr. Ootori was silent for a minute, contemplating and absorbing everything I said. I waited silently and patiently for what he would tell me. Had I been too frank, too straightforward?

Finally, the man spoke.

"You know, you are the only person I've ever met who has told me nothing but the absolute truth-" I winced but waited for him to finish. "-You have gotten the job."

I blinked a few times. Finally, all I could say was, "What?"

"You have gotten the job," Mr. Ootori repeated. He leaned back in his chair and clarified, "You'll be the right hand of my son during his school year. You start when the new term begins. I'll have you transferred to Ouran Academy right away so you'll be set for the new school year."

I blinked again. "What?" I felt like a complete idiot.

Apparently, repeating things had lost its appeal, because Mr. Ootori stood up and stated, "Don't make me regret this decision." It was more of command than a suggestion really…

"Yes, Sir! I won't fail you!" I promised and gave him an awkward salute, probably the stupidest thing I've ever done.

"Very well," he told me, "You are dismissed."

I stood up and nodded, walking out the door. As soon as I did, I heaved a huge sigh of relief, leaning against the wall as I took a second to recover from my shock.

But I really shouldn't have.

Suddenly, the wall (or at least I thought it was a wall) gave out from behind me. I fell onto the floor, my backside hitting the marble.

"Oww…" I mumbled, rubbing my back, "What the hell?"

"Little girls shouldn't talk like that."

I gulped and slowly turned my head, spotting a tall, slender boy about my age. Apparently, I had been leaning on his bedroom door… I stuttered, "I- I'm so sorry, sir!"

"Do you even know who you're talking to?" the boy asked, a skeptical eyebrow rising.

No, but I have a pretty good idea… "You're Mr. Ootori's third son, aren't you?" A smirk growing on his face proved my suspicion. Of all the luck… Honestly! I sighed and informed, "I'm your new assistant."

The smirk faded into nothingness. In fact, it was replaced with a scowl. I quickly scrambled up, slightly afraid of this boy. He hissed, locking his dull black eyes on my grey ones, "Listen, I don't need an assistant. I'm perfectly fine on my own. But my father insists, so we're stuck with each other. Just do what I say and stay out of my way and we'll get along famously."

Surprisingly, I found my voice rather quick and told him, "Agreed."

"Perfect." A small smile enlightened his face, scaring me half to death. It was almost worse than his glare… "You may go now."

I nodded, now shaking a bit. Slowly, I retraced my steps back to the entrance and departed from the Ootori mansion. While leaving there, I was only sure of one thing.

The next school year was going to be hell.

Author's Note: Please review!