Chapter Text
Ducking behind a corner and kneeling on a slab of discarded velvet curtain, they hid from the students below. Ouran wasn’t really known for the drama club. They don’t put on plays or the like, but the club does like to act out plays with the costumes and dramatic flourishes, but they never did so in front of people, or so they thought. They loved watching the student’s performances, they were amazing, dramatic and breathtaking.
Shame they were only a ghost, or well, the student body thought they were a ghost. One time, at night, they were returning to the catwalk with a tray of the reheated A-lunch from that day, several snacks and a few drinks to replenish his stash. Some students who were held back during their club clean-up saw them going into the theatre room. They didn’t notice the students, but realized that they were spotted when the drama club were discussing the new “Drama Ghost” wandering around.
They remembered that when they left that day to get their food, they wore one of the costumes, specifically an old looking white nightgown from a Shakespeare play.
Initially panic flooded their brain, thinking that they were going to be tracked down and kicked out or worse, arrested. As the gossiping continued, they realized the students thought of them as a ghost or a deity for the drama club. The students started leaving offerings to them on one of the tables. Things like money, expensive snacks, jewelry, etc.
They didn't really care much for jewelry or the money. They left those on the table but did take the food. As well as shiny rocks and neat looking trinkets. After seeing what offerings were “accepted” more started appearing. They apparently believed that if the ghost accepted your offering, you'd have good luck for the day. It started with just the drama club, but the superstition spread to the rest of the student body.
They lived in the school for roughly a year at that point and the offerings had been going on for the past four months. Alas, it was a matter of time before they grew lax in their spatial awareness. Night fell once more, so they descended from their veritable nest in the catwalk and crept to the table. Pudding cups, a few shiny rocks, a stuffed tabby cat doll with a bowtie and top hat, some feathers, and a gift card? They flipped over the gift card and choked on air, it was for well over fifty thousand yen. They dropped it on the table like it burned their hands. Collecting the snacks, trinkets, and a kitty stuffed animal, they scurried back into their nest. The stuffed kitty toy rested on a bundle of bundle curtains that was claimed as his bed.
“I'll call you Fancy-Pants.”
They smiled at the toy before organizing their new snacks and trinkets. The pudding had to be eaten right away so it wouldn't go bad, the few fruits were stored on as clean a cloth as they could find, and the feathers and rocks joined the assortment of knickknacks.
Rocks, buttons, and cool pencils were stored in their own separate piles neatly separated by old pieces of cardboard and a new pile was started for their new feather.
They enjoyed the puddings and walked over to the pile of stage costumes they pilfered over the last few months. They changed into a long white dress looking nightgown and curled up next to Fancy-Pants.
Waking up, felt like nails on a chalkboard which put them immediately on edge. They crawled to a watch that'd been offered up and scrunched their face in confusion; the school hadn't even been opened yet. It was barely five in the morning.
Acting quickly, they threw dusty curtains over all their stuff and climbed metal support beams and ropes higher into the catwalk. Their caution was worth the effort because two students, one blonde and one black haired, climbed up the well hidden ladder and stood in the middle of their nest. They never saw those two in the drama club, but something was off.
??? - “I don't see anything, Kyoya. Where'd they go?”
Kyoya - “Patience Tamaki.”
Their breathing became ice in their throat. People knew they were here. The black haired boy, Kyoya, lifted the curtain covering their makeshift bed. The blonde, Tamaki, uncovered their offerings, sending a few buttons and their new feather to the stage below.
Tamaki - “Who collects rocks of all things?”
Kyoya - “Be nice Tamaki.”
They never thought they would’ve had to use it, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Taking a flexible strip of metal and fashioning into a hook, they attached it to a rope. Their grandpa taught them how to fashion a crude, but functional bow and arrows when they were really little. He didn’t like the thought of his only grandchild being unable to fend for themself if they ever got lost or abducted in the woods.
Their grandpa was a good and honorable man and while he might've been a bit strict, he loved them deeply and was their biggest supporter upon coming out. He took them camping and hunting all the time and probably would’ve continued if he was still around.
They slowly fished the bow up to him while the two boys' attention was fixated on each other. They didn’t want to hurt them, so instead of normal arrow tips, they tore off bits of fabric from their nightgown and wrapped it around the ends of their tipless arrows; wouldn’t pierce or kill, but would still hurt and probably bruise.
“Take a deep breath…Line your shot with your target…shoot to kill…Fire.”
Arrow after arrow rained down. Mainly aiming for their legs, butts, and arms each shot hit.
Tamaki - “What’s going on?! Ow!”
Kyoya - “How am I supposed to know?!”
Tamaki clung to Kyoya, screaming and crying.
Tamaki - “Nous avons mis le fantôme en colère! We have to leave!”
They stopped their arrow volley which was more like sticks since they didn’t want to rip up their entire nightgown. Tamaki hoisted Kyoya over his shoulder and almost flew down the ladder. They went too fast though and they fell the rest of the way down, hitting both of their heads on the ground with solid thunks.
“Shit!”
They wrapped more fabric in their hands and swung down on a rope. They landed on their feet and ran over to the downed students. They separated the two and pressed her head to Tamaki’s chest.
“You better not be fucking dead, I’m way too young for a manslaughter charge!”
Kyoya - “We’re not dead.”
They never climbed a rope faster in their life. They peered over the edge of the catwalk to look at them. Tamaki and Kyoya got to their feet, struggling and a bit off balance.
Tamaki - “So he’s not a ghost?”
Kyoya shook his head looking back up at them. They yanked their head back through the railing.
Kyoya - “You know, causing injury to the children of the Ootori and Suoh families could be considered a punishable offence.”
They bit the nail of his thumb and looked at her offerings. They wrapped a few shiny river rocks and a few fruits in a cloth and started lowering it down to them.
Tamaki - “Fruit and rocks?”
“If you don’t want them, give them back.”
Kyoya - “We’ll accept your apology. May we have your name?”
“No, the drama club will be here soon. You need to leave.”
Tamaki - “That’s okay, we’ll be back!”
Shivers ran down their spine. They’d be back? With cops? The principal? Both?! Both boys left the auditorium. They had a lot to do before the drama club arrived. Such things include fixing their nest, cleaning their mess of arrows, and swiping an outfit for the day. All of which would eat into their sleep time, but the less evidence of their presence, the better.
By the time they were back in their nest with a new outfit, the doors opened to let in the barrage of drama students. Classes didn’t start for another two hours, of which they would recite lines and check the offering table.
“Who on earth offered money?”
“Dunno, but it’s clear Ghostie didn’t want their money.”
Ghostie was a new one. They smiled as they dressed into a deep purple dress with a white bust. Something easy to slip in and out of and to lay down in. They laid on their stomach with Fancy-Pants at their side as they watched the students reciting lines from Bamboo Cutter.