I Bet I Could - Kaoru x OC - An Ouran High School Host Club Fanfiction

Chapter 10 - Safe

Hikaru's POV - Monday - Host Club - Before School

Kaoru purposefully tripped backwards over a table.

"Kaoru!" I ran over to him and cupped his cheek, "Kaoru, are you okay?"

"Hikaru..." He groaned.

Our clients watched intently.

He grabbed his right ankle and I hoped he was acting. I pushed his hair back and moved my hand down his face. I grabbed his chin and leaned closer to him, "Kaoru you need to be more careful."

Our clients sighed heavily.

Kaoru and I pulled apart. He stood up, his ankle seemed to be fine. He pulled out his phone to check the time. He had been doing that all morning, like he just wanted to get out of here.

"Kaoru!" I yelled in a whisper.

He looked at me, and I tilted my head to the girls. He smiled sheepishly and we looked at each other for a second. Then we both nodded and pulled out our hats.

"Let's all play the 'Which one is Hikaru game!'"

The two girls clapped lightly. All of them studied us for a few seconds.

"It's so difficult." One of them laughed.

"Oh! Oh! I think I got it!" Another one pointed at Kaoru, "You're Hikaru."

Kaoru and I shrugged, "Sorry that's incorrect."

"Then you're Hikaru." The other girl pointed at me with a smile.

"We have a winner!"

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Kaoru's POV - Class

'Was class always this slow before?' I wondered as I stared at the clock. Tick. Tick. Tick.

I sighed. I felt the same way in the Host Club this morning, I just wanted it to be over. I still don't know why.

I looked over at Ariana's desk. She was leaning on her hand and silently tapping her pencil.

'I wonder what she's thinking about right now. She's so cute and mysterious when she dazes off in the middle of class.'

I catch my mind wandering deeper and deeper into thoughts of Ariana until I could only think of her and what she was going to do next.

'I should ask her to be my g-

No that's super stupid... I don't love her... Yes, I did admit to liking her but I definitely don't love her.'

I felt something hit the side of my head. I looked down at the floor; it was a piece of paper. I glared at Hikaru. He motioned for me to open the paper. I bent down and grabbed it off the floor.

'Stop getting distracted. Love, Hikaru'

I looked back over at him confused.

He tilted his head towards Ariana.
I shook my head.
He nodded.
I rolled my eyes and looked back over at the clock. Class was gonna take forever.

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Hikaru's POV - Class

Kaoru had been super distracted ever since yesterday. I looked over at him. He was staring at Ariana, 'Of course.' I scoffed silently.

But then I remembered what he told me yesterday. He liked her. And she probably liked him. I sighed.

I looked down at my desk, and cleared my throat, noticing the lone piece of paper on my desk. I grabbed my pencil and wrote something down, not letting the words come to me before hand.

'Stop getting distracted. Love, Hikaru' I crumbled up the paper until it was a tiny ball.

I pulled my arm back and projected the ball of paper forwards, right towards Kaoru's head.

It hit his head and bounced onto the ground.

He looked down at the floor, seeing the paper. He glared at me. I motioned for him to open the paper. He bent down and grabbed it off the floor.

He read it before looking back at me confused.

I tilted my head towards Ariana.
He shook his head.
I nodded.
He rolled his eyes and looked back over at the clock.

Was he really gonna pull the whole, 'I don't know what you're talking about.' card? I looked back over at him. He was staring at Ariana once again.

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Kyoya's POV - Lunch

I was walking to library to research some of the students that go to our school. I hadn't seen Kaoru since this morning in the Host Club. This girl must really mean something to him if he's running off with her.

I was walking past the courtyard when I saw them sitting there. They were sitting across from each other talking. I stared for a second.

Kaoru chuckled at something while Ariana looked down embarrassed. I walked away. I needed to get to the library before lunch was over. I couldn't waste my time observing two lovesick teenagers.

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Kyoya's POV - Library - Lunch

'Smith Industries...'

A company that racked in nearly half a million dollars a month. My family used some of their high tech computers but I still didn't know much about the family behind it.

I started off by researching Ariana.
*Smith, Ariana
Born and raised in Japan
Oldest of 2
15
Ouran Academy - 1st year Highschool student
Straight
A shy and simple girl
She was talkitive when she was young but then stopped making friends after her sister started talking bad about her.
Parents: Are from America
Mom: is part Japanese

Brother is non-existent
(Because she got no brother)*

I raise an eyebrow at this last entry.

'Why would someone enter such an informal entry into this formal computer system of data?'

I was bewildered. I decided to to some research on her younger sister.

*Smith, Hoshi*

Her sister had a Japanese name, perhaps there was jealousy in that aspect of their relationship.

*Born and raised in Japan
Youngest of 2
14
Ouran Academy - 3rd year Middle School student
Straight
Extroverted, Extravagant and a Drama Queen*

The information about their parents was the same, obviously.

"I wonder what the reason Arianna was bul-"

"Huh? What about Arianna, Kyo-chan?"

I looked up from the computer I was stationed at and saw Honey staring at me from the other side of the desk.

"Nothing Honey, nothing for you to worry about."

"It must've been really important if you were saying it out loud like that." Honey says taking a bite from his cake.

'Wait where did he get that?'

But before I could ask Honey where he magically got his cake from, Tamaki burst through the doors, making an enormously loud rukus.

"Why!? It's horrible!" He yelled dramatically.

I had no idea what he was on about but he would be hung up on it all day if he wasn't asked about it, so I asked the brave question:

"What's so horrible?"

"Yeah Tama-Chan what's up?" Honey asked taking another bite of cake

"They kissed!" He croaked.

"Would you just tell us already? Some of us have things to do." I quoitioned.

"Well if you insist..." He said sitting down on the nearby seat, "Arianna and Kaoru kissed. It happened at Arianna's house during a school project work session!" He claimed, pointing his finger out at the imaginary audience, "This means that operation "Hook-Up" was a success!"

'You moron that doesn't mean they're dating in any way.'

"So Ari-Chan and Kao-Chan are together?" Honey asked, his eyes glittering.

"They might as well be!" Tamaki cried, being dramatic and actually crying, "Oh children they grow up so fast!"

'I hate how dumb he can be sometimes...'

"This doesn't mean they're dat-"

"And then Hikaru told me that they have a date this Friday!" Tamaki held his fists to his chin excitedly. Then he went into a thought like state.

"What's wrong Tama-Chan?"

"Hikaru didn't seem too happy about it." Tamaki frowned.

"And?" I inquired.

Tamaki grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me back and forth, "Aren't you excited about the date!!??"

"No..."

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Ariana's POV - Courtyard - Lunch

I was sitting in the courtyard with Kaoru talking and laughing. Hikaru was here too for a little bit but then Haruhi came and dragged him away to work on their project.

"Where do you wanna go on Friday?" Kaoru asked me.

"Huh?...oh...um...I suppose we can...go... wherever you want..."

"Well I wanna go wherever you want to go." He smiled playfully.

"Um...we...uh...how about..." My mind was blank yet it was racing with ideas. The real question was: did I wanna eat, relax, or spend virtually no time with each other? "How about a walk in the park?"

"Sounds relaxing." He laughed slightly, "When we get there I can hold your hand, and kiss you."

My face started to get warm. I looked down embarrassed, yet I couldn't help but smile a bit. Kaoru laughed a bit.

"Do you mean it?" I asked.

I really didn't know what I was saying, it seemed like he meant it; he did kiss me before.

I looked up at him, curious.

He blushed as he awkwardly scratched his head, "Uhh... Of course if you don't want me to then I won't," he stumbled over his words a little bit.

I looked back down, "I...don't mind..."

I looked back up and our eyes locked. I sort of wanted to kiss him now...but...if we got caught we could be in serious trouble.

I looked away again. 'Why is this so complicated?'

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Kaoru's POV - Courtyard - Lunch

I sat in the courtyard with Arianna talking and laughing. Hikaru was here too for a little bit but then Haruhi came and dragged him away to work on their project so I said goodbye to him and they left.

"Where do you wanna go on Friday?" I asked, trying to plan ahead.

"Huh?...oh...um...I suppose we can...go... wherever you want..."

"Well I wanna go wherever you want to go." I smiled.

"Um...we...uh...how about..." There was a long pause as Ariana thought of an idea, "How about a walk in the park?"

"Sounds relaxing." I laughed a little bit, "When we get there I can hold your hand, and kiss you."

Arianna looked down, embarrassed, but smiling a bit. I laughed at that.

"Do you mean it?" She asked suddenly.

Huh? What did she mean by that?

She looked up at me. She seemed curious and maybe a bit worried.

I suddenly felt my face grow warm as I awkwardly scratched my head, "Uhh... Of course if you don't want me to then I won't," I stumbled over my words as I spoke.

'Maybe she just really took that the wrong way and was really confused or something!?'

She looked down again, "I...don't mind..."

I looked at her, I wish showing affection and dating on school grounds was allowed. I wanted to hold her hand and hug her tightly and kiss her. She looked back up and our eyes locked.

She looked away again.

I leaned over towards Ariana and turned her face towards me. I leaned in a bit more and stopped a couple inches from her face, "Can...may I kiss you...?"

"Uh...I...uh- sure..."

I shut my eyes softly and closed the gap between us. My lips touched her's. Her lips were soft and warm. I had one hand on her cheek while my other hand held me up. Ariana grabbed my face lightly, her hands were cold but I didn't mind.

We pulled apart and looked at each other. One of my hands were still on her face and the other one propping me up. Her hands still rested on my cheeks. I swiped her hair behind her ear and put both my hands on her cheeks. I leaned in again and kissed her.

Ariana leaned back a tiny bit in surprise and I fell forward. I quickly put my hands out in front of me so I wouldn't fall on top of Ariana. I shut my eyes before my hands hit the ground.

I felt the grass on my hands and I opened my eyes. I looked down at Ariana, she was tensed up. Her hands were up by her face, almost covering it. She opened her eyes and looked at me.

So here I was, on top of Ariana Smith. I guess this is my life now. I leaned in to kiss her again. She grabbed my cheeks again. I smiled against the kiss. We pulled apart and I laughed. Ariana smiled.

I got off of her and we stood up. The bell rang. I grabbed her and hugged her tightly. Her hands and head were against my chest.

"Kaoru...?"

"I..." 'I can't tell her I love her...should I tell her that I really like her? Is it too soon for that?'

She looked up at me, "We should go to class."

I kissed her forehead and put my head against hers; closing my eyes. "I don't want to..." I wanted to stay here with her. Just the two of us.

"Well we have to..."

I pulled away from her reluctantly and sighed, "Okay then."

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Haruhi's POV - Host Club - After School

"What's your favorite animal Haruhi?"

"Oh...well I guess birds are really cute." I smiled.

I looked over at the client, letting their features sink into my brain.

They had short blonde hair and glasses.

"You have... Interesting hair," I chose my words carefully, not trying to offend the girl in anyway.

"Ummm... Thank you" She wrapped a strand of hair around her finger, "Yours is interesting too."
I looked at her strangely as she laughed. "Oh. I mean that it looks like a girl's almost... But that's impossible 'cause you're obviously a guy... A handsome guy." She blushed at the last thing she said. "Ummm so... I hear Tamaki talking about a girl Arianna and Kaoru Kissing... Is that true? Did they really kiss? Did Kaoru kiss someone?" She looked like she was about to throw up. The feeling was mutual. I honestly didn't know if I should tell the truth to this random girl.

I looked over at Kaoru and Hikaru, they were playing the Which One Was Hikaru Game. Kaoru was on the left and Hikaru was on the right.

I turned back to the girl, telling her would be a bad idea, "No, they didn't kiss, Tamaki's just being an idiot again," I said with a laugh.

"Oh, yes, thank you, that sounds like him," she replied scratching the back of her head.

"Do you like Kaoru?" I asked her.

The girl looked at me and shook her head, "No. I just think it's wrong for the hosts to date exclusively. You know since they're hosts and all."

"I guess that makes sense..." I thought about it for a little bit and nodded to myself, "What's your favorite animal?"

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Haruhi's POV - Host Club - After Hours

It was after club hours, When everyone, except the hosts themselves, have left.

Kaoru was lying on the couch on his phone. He laughed at something.

I walked over to him, "What're you laughing at?"

"Oh..." He put his phone away, "nothing." I looked at him unconvinced. He stared at me and sighed, "...it was just something Ariana said." He blushed.

I nodded. I heard the club doors open and saw Ariana walk in. I went over to her.

"Hey Ari-Chan, what brings you here?" I asked her curiously.

"Oh...well Kaoru and I need to interview Honey-senpai...is he available?"

"Um..." I looked at Honey-senpai. He was eating cake, of course. I turned back to Ariana, "I think so."

"Thank you." She bowed slightly.

"Hey Ariana." Kaoru walked up behind me.

"Hi." She smiled.

"Should we interview Honey-senpai now?"

Ariana nodded and they went over to Honey-senpai.

I watched as they interviewed him. Ariana was writing and Kaoru was asking the questions. The three of them laughed and goofed off every now and then but for the most part it was pretty professional. That is until they were finishing up the interview. Kaoru grabbed Ariana's hand underneath the table they were at. Maybe lying to that girl was a bad idea. Then again nothing good would happen if anyone found out that the kiss between Kaoru and Ariana wasn't just something Tamaki made up.

I sighed but then I smiled because Kaoru truly, keyword truly, cared about someone other than his brother and I.

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Ariana's POV - Interviewing Honey-senpai - The Host Club

Kaoru and I walked over to a table where Honey was eating a chocolate cake.

"Hey Honey-senpai!" I greeted him warmly.

He smiled, "Hello Ari-Chan!."

"Do you mind if we interview you for our project?" Kaoru asked.

"Not at all!" Honey replied.

"Great!" I cheered

Kaoru was in charge of asking questions while I write down Honey's answers.

"Did you know that you inspire people?"

"Uh...no. But I know that I'm trusted in giving advice." Honey smiled.

Kaoru smiled back, "So I take it you don't purposely inspire people to just be themselves."

Honey shook his head, "No. I don't mind that I do. If I do then that's great, no one should hide who they really are."

I wrote down his answers to a few more questions before Honey stopped the interview for a second while he asked us a question.

"Are you two dating?"

Kaoru and I looked at each other. I wish, yet...I wasn't ready to be official, not yet. Not when he could just walk out of my life. I would rather he walk out of it than having to tell me he's walking out of it. I looked back at the paper I was writing on, "...no...no we're not..." I didn't need to be official right now. I just needed to know that Kaoru could be there for me.

"Oh...I'm sorry..." Honey frowned.

"It's okay." I smiled.

"Let's get back to the interview..." Kaoru said, "Why do you think people are inspired by you?"

"Oh...well...I guess it's because I don't care about my age. I'm just me." Honey smiled happily, "Though, it was really Takashi and Tama-Chan who helped me realize I could be whoever I wanted."

The interview continued on as normal. There were no more questions about Kaoru and I from Honey-senpai. I'll admit we got side tracked every now and then but only for a little bit.

We were finishing up the interview. We had finished asking questions and writing. We were just thanking Honey-senpai for letting us interview him.

"Thank you so much Honey-senpai!" I smiled.

Honey smiled back, "Don't worry about it. I hope you guys pass." He got up and went over to Mori-senpai on the couch.

Kaoru grabbed my hand underneath the table. Our fingers were intertwined and our hands fit together perfectly.

"Ariana...?" Kaoru asked.

I looked at him, "Yea?"

"...do you wanna go to the courtyard? Just you and me..."

I smiled, "Yea, sure..."

Kaoru smiled back before dragging me out the door and to the courtyard.

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Ariana's POV - The courtyard

Kaoru dragged me into the courtyard. We could only stay for a little while but just spending time with him was great.

I also had all of tomorrow with him while we interviewed Hankyo. I smiled, I really like him...yet...I know a part of me is holding back from getting too attached to him.

Kaoru took me behind a tree. He pulled me into his arms and embraced me tightly. My head and hands rested on his chest. He was warm and comforting. I felt safe and happy. But then I remembered a few months ago.

'I was sitting on the grass of the courtyard. I loved it in here, it reminded me of home, the place where I didn't have to worry about people.

"Hey Ariana."

I looked up, it was Julian. He was so cute and kind. He was very smart but he never took care of his grades. And he was part of a Yakuza family.

"Hey Julian."

He sat next to me, "Do you always come out here during lunch?"

"Yea...it just reminds me of home." I smiled.

He nodded. And we sat in a comfortable silence. He grabbed my hand. His hand was warm and soft. '

I wrapped my arms around Kaoru as I started to cry. I couldn't cry, I didn't want to cry, not in front of Kaoru, I couldn't ask for him to comfort me.

"Ariana...what's wrong?" He pushed away slightly to look down at me.

"It-it's nothing..." 'It's Julian' I thought. I buried my face in Kaoru's chest. I don't want to be hung up over it anymore but I just can't get over the fact that he told me he loved me! That he said he would love me forever...only to break up with me when things got rough. I choked back more tears. I couldn't cry... please not now.

"Ariana... don't lie to me... please..." Kaoru hugged me and started petting my hair.

"I..." I looked up at Kaoru. "I wish I didn't even have to explain why I'm crying...and...and not because I'm embarrassed." I sniffed, "But just because I wish he didn't make me cry..." I wrapped my arms around Kaoru's neck and pulled him in closer to me. He kissed my forehead and pushed me away lightly.

The two of us stood next to each other under the tree, "Just tell me...I'll listen, okay?"

I nodded, "o-okay..."