Color My World (Ouran High School Host Club)

Chapter 12- A Case of Pedophilia

"Junk, junk, junk, pay, junk," I muttered sleepily, tossing a handful mail into the trash can. Nearly eight hours of almost falling sleep to the dull voices of my professors, due to the lack of rest I received last night as a result of cramming for an exam I most likely failed, didn't exactly improve my mood. All that kept me from collapsing on my lumpy mattress was my mountain of homework and chores.

Just as I was about to pull my math worksheet out of my backpack, a flash of shimmery gold caught my eyes. Curiosity piqued, I picked up the oak tag paper tucked between the crumpled pages of my science notebook, an eyebrow raised.

In swirly gold cursive, it proclaimed: "We cordially invite you, Ayame Nakamura, to spend spring break at the Otori Ranch. Please RSVP by the next week. Thank you, and we hope that you can come!"

Seriously? An Otori ranch? And I was invited? This had to be some ridiculous joke.

"Hi, Haruhi," I greeted, tapping her on the shoulder. "What's up?"

She turned around, startled, before smiling wearily. "Oh, good morning, senpai."

I pulled out the invitation from the pocket of my jeans and showed it to her "I found this in my backpack yesterday after school. Any idea of what this means?"

Haruhi glanced it for a second, before waving a dismissive hand. "Oh, that thing? Tamaki-senpai gave one to me yesterday. What, are you planning to go or something? I thought it looked alright."

"I don't really know whether I should go or not. It seems too innocent, like a death trap. Do you think that they're being serious about this?" I asked, heaving a sigh.

"I think they are. You know, they don't seem like the sort of people to send an invitation as a joke. It probably wouldn't look good for them to play pranks on us," she said absentmindedly, leafing through her science binder.

"I guess you're right. And it's not like we have expensive vacations to spare," I added, pocketing the invitation. "But I've never actually gone pony-riding or whatever the hell you do at a ranch before."

Haruhi shrugged. "Neither have I. I guess they'll have instructors or-"

"So you girls will be coming?" Kyoya quickened his pace until he was walking beside me, scribbling furiously on his clipboard. "My family will be absolutely delighted. However, you'll have to mail a letter of acceptance to my father clearly stating that you are overjoyed to have been given such a wonderful opportunity, and that you would love to come. Make sure to play nice. Very nice, Ayame."

I swatted him on the shoulder. "I thought that I was very nice at the dinner, even to that creepy brother of yours."

"I can't say that I disagree," he said curtly, his lips upturning in a little smirk. "But now, I'd just like to warn you, he'll be my only family member accompanying us on our vacation. The rest of my family are far too busy with my sister's wedding preparations."

My jaw went slack. "Seriously? Out of all of the people in your family, it's that headcase? I'd almost rather spend a day at the beach alone with your bastard father. Um, is it okay if I withdraw my acceptance now?"

He clucked his tongue. "Ah, I'm afraid that if you do that, we're going to have some serious issues. My father does not take kindly to having his invitations so bluntly refused." Kyoya gave me a simpering smile, his pen poised delicately above his clipboard.

I gulped, before sighing in defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll go to your stupid ranch."

As my classmate strutted away in obvious satisfaction, dress shoes clacking across the freshly-waxed floor, I widened my eyes fearfully and leaned towards Haruhi. "I told you that it was a death trap!"