An American Rabbit in Japan

Dear Haruhi,

I know it's my turn to play Hostess to you this summer, and I always enjoy it each year; you're a wonderful house guest :)

But this year, I have an idea for something a little different. For my foreign studies, I need to spend a few weeks abroad in the country whose language I'm studying, and so do you, if I remember correctly ;) So maybe instead of us just visiting each other like usual, we could switch places. I'll live in your house, you'll live in mine, my family and friends will become yours, and vice versa. I mean, we've both been to the other's country, but never lived there in the same lifestyle as a citizen there would. Being a guest is one thing, and actually living there is another. Just think how exciting it could be!

Sorry, I'm getting a little over excited myself X)

And sorry if I seem a little pushy, or overbearing :P I just really need to get out of this house, out of this country even, since the accident.

Either way, I can't wait to see you again! Tell your dad I said hi, and give him a hug for me :)

Your friend,

Bunny (:3

Dear Bunny,

That sounds like an awesome idea! Yeah, I should go over to America, my foreign studies requires it, too. Not to mention, it would also look good on our college applications. Dad would love to have you over again—he loves the shopping trips, because you'll actually wear those girly clothes.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't like to. You know that.

As for the whole family and friends thing… I guess it's time for you to meet the Host Club. They'll probably try to kidnap you a few times from Dad, so you might wanna watch out for them.

Especially for Tamaki-senpai. Beware the puppy dog eyes, Bunny. They'll suck you into the deep abyss, and before you know it, you find yourself saying yes to whatever he wants. He seems like an idiot, but I think it's just a façade to lower your defenses so he can get what he wants.

Just call when you can, and we'll get all of the travel stuff straight.

See you soon!

Haruhi

***

Riiing. Riiing. Riiiiiing.

A blond-haired girl came running from the other side of her house, barely reaching the phone before the answering machine.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bunny!" The girl's face lit up.

"Haruhi! It's so good to hear your voice again!" On the other end of the phone, Haruhi couldn't help but to smile at her American friend's enthusiasm.

"It's good to hear yours too, Bunny. I'm calling about us trading places. When do you want to do it? I'm sorry, hold on - shut up you guys!"

Bunny jumped at Haruhi's outburst and increase in volume, holding the phone slightly away from her.

On the other end of the phone, Haruhi fussed at Hikaru and Kaoru.

"Do what, Haruhi?" asked Hikaru.

"She can't tell, it's a secret," said Kaoru.

"Oh, c'mon, Haruhi."

"You can tell us anything, y'know." They got on either side of her, arms around her waist. "It can be our secret," they whispered in her ears.

But their feeble attempt in seducing her was nothing more than that.

"Would you two cut it out? This is a very expensive long-distance call." But they wouldn't care about that – damn rich kids.

"You two!" barked Tamaki. "Get away from my little girl!"

"Hmm…"

"No!" They stuck out their tongues.

Tamaki went to charge at them, but Mori grabbed his shirt collar from behind, keeping him still. He and Haruhi sighed in exasperation.

"Bunny, I'm sorry – Hey, Bunny, are you still there?"

Back in America, Bunny had heard every word and sound over the phone. She stared at the phone in her hand, not knowing if she should laugh or be slightly afraid. She shook her head to clear it.

"Yeah, I'm still here," she said with a laugh. Is the Host Club really that crazy? "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was asking when you wanted to switch. Sorry, I got distracted," said Haruhi, scratching the back of her head.

"Haha, it's okay. Hmm…." Bunny's phone wasn't cordless, so she had to crane her neck to see the calendar in the next room.

"Sometime this month, right?"

"Yeah, definitely." She leaned over farther in her chair, trying to make out the tiny letters and numbers in the tiny boxes. "Umm… How about- "

CRASH.

Limited in distance by her phone, the cord made her fall out of her swivel office chair as she leaned too far.

"Um, Bunny? … Are you okay?"

Bunny picked herself up off of the floor, rubbing her knee, which she had the misfortune to land on.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. How's next week?"

Haruhi pulled a pocket calendar out of her purse.

"Yeah, it's good for me." She looked over her shoulder and saw that Mori had let go of Tamaki, who was now yelling at the Hitachiin twins, who had removed themselves from Haruhi.

Haruhi sighed.

"Bunny, I gotta go. These guys are about to drive me crazy. So, I'll see you next week? Okay, see you then! Bye!"

Haruhi hung up the pay phone, and slowly turned around, facing the boys. She didn't say a word, just waited for them to see her extremely displeased face. Tamaki and the twins didn't seem to notice; the twins were too busy antagonizing Tamaki, and he was too busy getting ticked off. Kyoya cleared his throat to get their attention, and when he had it, pointed to Haruhi. Honey hid behind Mori.

"Guys, you need to learn how to behave," she said, releasing her anger with a sigh.

"But we do behave," said Tamaki. "Like perfect gentlemen," he purred.

"Yeah, right," Haruhi muttered under her breath. "But seriously you guys; I have a friend coming to visit soon, and I don't want you to freak her out."

"Ooh, the one you're gonna switch places with, Haru-chan?" Honey asked excitedly.

"More like 'the one I'm losing my little girl to'," said Tamaki quite dramatically, placing his hand on his forehead in sorrow.

"Senpai, you're not losing me to her. We're switching places for a little while, like Honey-senpai said. And for the last time, I'M NOT YOUR DAUGHTER!" Tamaki sunk into his sulking corner. Then suddenly, an idea popped into his head.

"I know! When you leave, she'll be my daughter!" His eyes sparkled with joy as he spoke. "I will be her surrogate father, to protect her from these two deviants," he spat out, glaring at Hikaru and Kaoru. They snickered.

"I think it sounds like we'll have a new toy to play with, Hikaru."

"I agree, Kaoru. I think we should play the "Which one is Hikaru?" game again. It'll be real fun, playing with someone new." They grinned like Cheshire cats.

"No!" interrupted Haruhi. "She's not used to speaking Japanese every day, so you guys are going to be nice to her."

"Don't worry, Haruhi," said Kyoya. "We will show her the utmost respect and hospitality while you're gone. We'll behave like gentlemen, won't we, Tamaki?" He smirked at Tamaki, who beamed.

"That's right!" They all expected him to talk more, but going by the gleam in his eyes, he was lost to the world.

Haruhi sighed.

"Honey-senpai? Mori-senpai?"

"Yes, Haru-chan?"

"Hm?"

"Could you two look after Bunny? Make sure she doesn't get lost or anything?"

"Hm."

"Leave it to us, Haru-chan!" Honey said cheerfully. "She and Usa-chan have the same name, so I'm sure we'll get along great! But my English isn't all that great…" he said, sounding downcast. Haruhi looked over at Kyoya.

"Kyoya-senpai, would you mind…?"

"Of course not," he said, smiling and pushing his glasses up. "It would be a pleasure to help your friend translate if she needs any help. You know that I speak perfect English."

Haruhi smiled, finally feeling semi-okay with leaving her friend with the Host Club, if need be.

"So…. What does she look like?" Hikaru asked, a cheesy grin on his face.

"Hikaru, you're unbelievable!" Haruhi sighed, again.

"What?" asked Kaoru. "It was a valid question."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind knowing, myself," admitted Kyoya.

Tamaki, Honey, and Mori nodded.

"You guys are hopeless," said Haruhi, exasperated.