Finding Madison

Chapter One:

A Teaser

A/N: Hello again. After much contemplation, I have decided to post this romantic comedy about a prideful American girl, Madison, and the notorious shadow king, Kyoya. I wrote several of the beginning chapters to this story approximately six years ago so please forgive me if the writing nature appears a bit naïve. I did my best to edit them without hindering the story line. Upon that note, I hope you all enjoy.

I walked aimlessly down the seemingly never ending corridors of the illustrious Ouran High School. With violin accompanying my right hand, I vigorously walked pass several engaged rooms. I had to admit I was getting slightly perturbed. I was simply trying to find a place to practice but my efforts were proven futile. It seemed that no one really left after school as I would have hoped so, and to top it off they inhibited ever music room, filling it to the brim with their trifling chatter and clanking of their wealthy and self-empowered tongues. Apparently the function of a music room was not just for harnessing one's musical adroitness, as I was so foolishly under the impression of, rather than to use it for one's benefits of socializing. How silly of me for actually associating the term "practice" to these adolescents of being from such a prominent bloodline.

"They have probably never had to lift a finger in their lives," I scoffed as I hastened my pace.

It has been a long day and all I desire is written within the sheeted music of Paganini's Caprice no. 24. I longed to hear its saccharine melody flood my ears and produce their whimsical vibrations against the drum of the ear. I longed to have the sporadic movement of my hands upon tempo to be the sole thought within my mind and not this impending frustration that threatens me now.

That's when my cerulean eyes happened to rest upon the promising door of the third music room. I fervently opened its door, but to my demise I found it occupied like its brethren. Perhaps a rather cozy broom closet would serve more than its name's intention. Surly those who are tainted with the crisp air of dollar bills and burdened with such deep pockets would rather donate to charity before stepping into such a place of work that houses their cleaning supplies, objects they are probably unaware of existing. It's highly plausible that they are all under the impression that cleaning is simply done by magical elves that only roam these halls during the sanctuary of night.

I stared bleakly at the six boys posed around their leader as they welcomed me in a shower of rose pedals. Their elusive aroma tickled the senses as it reminded me of the longing images of home, but now was not the time to dwell upon the past. Now was the time to seemingly find the needle in a haystack.

I simply permitted my shoulders their leeway as they sagged by my weighted sides before the exasperated sigh filled every inch of my lungs, condemning me to release it, and obediently I did. "Damn," The word stumbled from my insubordinate tongue, its profanity clashing against the merriment of the scene. It raged wild and abhorred throughout the room as it threatened to dismantle every tea set until a fine powder erupted from its presence, rupture the marble within the very walls to reduce it back to its state of grime, and taint the colors of the room in such an uproar of dingy shades of gray unless its presence was marked.

Averting my gaze and prompting my mind back onto its beaten path of practicing, I turned as quickly as I had came and left whatever cosplay I just inadvertently interrupted, leaving whoever they were with such a stretch of contemplation across the wrinkles of their foreheads that it would extend for miles. Somewhere, etched within its finer corners, must have been such appalled looks of flabbergasted expressions for surly I must have startled them as much as I had myself.

I normally do not take it upon myself to demand entrance towards the most outlandish of places only to blurt out profanities as soon as I am gained access. However, I am sure we have all had a similar instance upon our hands, or perhaps I am just performing another face saving technique. My mother had warned me of such trickery.

I continued my quest to the very depth of the campus, not taking too much interest as to why six guys and a girl posing as a feminine boy were arranging themselves into striking poses that could very well be used as the next picture upon a magazine prompting the grace of royalty. This was Japan after all.

The subdued ringing from within my articles of clothing distracted me from my mission as I released the cellular device from its prism fastened by my coat pocket. I decided on the boy's uniform considering that those yellow puffy dresses were modeled after the abysmal candies known to some as marshmallow peeps. Despite the seamstress' dissent upon my decision and her ability to fasten me into her personal voodoo doll rather quickly with the plethora of needles she expressible needed to carry, we bargained on the boy's uniform but with an accommodation of a blue plaid skirt that shared striking resemblance towards that of a Catholic school girl's uniform. The slight dispute did little to abolish my hatred of all things puffy and containing ruffles.

I sighed once at the caller ID upon the phone and then another for its color that could only be depicted as tickle-me-pink. Needless to say I was not the one who decided upon its hue. I contemplated on the thought of whether or not I should euthanize it by removing its battery and placing it out of its misery but the thought subsided as the ringing became even more pressing upon the drums within my ears.

"Hello?" I inquired to the other end of the line, denying existence as to who it could be on the screen.

"Outside, now." The demand shook the contents of my mind, lapsing upon the edges and spreading itself to be the only thought contained. The coolness and defiance within its tone took the liberty to repeat their meanings to me, even well after the call was terminated.

I sighed once more, no longer out of content for those breaths were only marked by the air of frustration. I banished all thoughts of practicing from my mind, giving up on the notion entirely appeared to be a wise decision no matter how much I detested it. I descended down the grand staircase towards the very boy whose mere name forced an exasperated sigh from my lips. It took no longer time than the hand of death to grace the presence of the dying for me to meet the very man I was trying to avoid.

A counterfeit smile that was merely an impression of what it once was followed by a sweet tone was all that was required of me now. "Riku," The name grazed the tip of my tongue and left scars on the roof of my mouth that were likely to never heal.

The corners of his lips reached out in their greeting, revealing the white of his teeth as he smiled. It was true, he was quite the actor. Yet, no amount of effort could diminish that certain flame of exasperation in those rich chocolate eyes of his.

"Where were you? I was so worried." The concern in his tone compressed all his worries into a single pale lined frown. I was horribly convinced that if he were to ever pursue acting, an Emmy was sure to await his decision.

"I'm sorry for any trouble I have put you through, but I simply couldn't miss such an ideal opportunity to explore my new school. Surly someone as compassionate and thoughtful as you could understand my reasoning," I replied with a minute smile of my own. Despite the frame of the lie that carried my words, the intent behind them was quite accurate. It really was not my first day at Ouran. I would be an official transfer student from America as of tomorrow, and never imagining that I would ever attain such an honor, I simply could not contain my exhilaration or my inquisitiveness. Thus, I decided to appease both by wondering the halls of such an illustrious establishment.

His back straightened by such knowledge, extending to his full six feet and three inches worth of height, dominating mine in its measly five feet and three inches of latitude. "Of course I understand." His hand entangled upon my own as he steered me towards our departure in the shape of his black town car. I deduced that this was his Monday one as its hue and logo became apparent. Despite being used to his forceful and rather rugged nature, my arm still tensed under his cool grip.

"Just promise me that you will be more careful in the future. I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

Any form of an innocent bystander, whether it be a mother or her child, would look upon the scene with the notion that we were high school sweet hearts, lingering in the grasp of love as only adolescents can. However, it is under my deepest sympathies to state that such a pedestrian would be rather incorrect. He was threatening me, clinging towards his dominance in any way that he could attain as his words stung what little pride I maintained.

I simply countered by allowing the very tips of my fingers to grace the strands of his auburn hair, taming them within a single touch. "I promise, my love."

The corners of his lips curled from their own delight as his weight shifted to favor me a kiss upon the forehead. His touch as well as his presence left me feeling numb and peculiarly hollow. Naturally the chorus of "awws" scattered throughout the street did little to improve this circumstance. He whispered in my ear a frozen demand to get in the car, each syllable being callously bitten off from the range. At least he benevolently opened the door for me. That's a plus right? . . . Right?

A/N: Thank you all for taking the time to read the first chapter. As you can tell, it's much shorter than my current stories but I hope it was just as entertaining. Please leave a review if you have the time. Feedback, both positive and negative, is always appreciated.