"Mama?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Why did Papa leave us? Does he not love us?"
"Of course not, darling. Papa... has to be away for a little while for work. He loves us very much."
"He'll come home soon though, right?"
"I hope so, darling."
He never came back.
The few times he would visit us, he would promise us with such certainty that we would remain together. Forever.
Father never fulfilled his promises that he made to his family. Naturally I did not understand why he abandoned us when I was younger and would constantly be questioning my mother about it. In my childhood, I would only see him periodically and his promises always left me in high hopes that we would have a complete family. It would have been the family that everyone desired to have. As a little girl confused about her situation, it made me cling to this hope of having this family. A father was someone that would protect his family with endless love. This view that I held towards my father gradually morphed into a darkened cruel one. Selfishness and manipulative is what I seen in my father.
Father wasn't the one who taught my brother and I how to ride a bike... Mother was.
Father wasn't the one who tucked us in at night... Mother was.
Father wasn't the one to pick us up when we fell down... Mother was.
Father wasn't the one that raised us... Mother did.
Optimism is what kept my brother's chin high about this entire situation as he clung onto the hope that I once held onto. As my view towards our father changed, I never understood why my brother remained hopeful. How could a father abandon his family to go somewhere far away?
His periodic visitations was something that we used to look towards eagerly, however his attention was directed towards my brother considering he was the eldest one. It made my younger self question everything surrounding my father as I was cast aside with numerous expensive gifts in my arms. Those gifts never filled the loneliness in my heart from the lack of attention and love from him. Mother always attempted to reassure me that my father loved me endlessly but that did not quell the lingering doubt in my heart.
Considering the lack of presence of a father figure in my childhood, my brother stepped forwards bravely to be everything that we lacked. It was adorable seeing how brave he was to attempting to be a father figure and brother at the same time, but I never questioned him. Every day he would drag me on an adventure or attempt to teach me about memorable lessons that he would have learnt the day before. My younger self looked up to him highly because of his determination to help me despite being a mere year older. Naturally my grandfather was there to fill in any holes that my father left, my brother dismissed his help saying that he could do it all by himself.
There was no denying the large void in our hearts that my father knowing left within us.
Devastation shortly fallen upon our family when we heard that our mother had fallen ill. It was absolutely heart breaking on my brother and I seeing our mother grow increasingly fragile and continuously exhausted. Seeing someone that was our foundation begin to crumble was horrifying to young children. Mother could not get up to see the beautiful flowers that she adored so much or have picnics that she always insisted we have every weekend. Dreariness filled our household as the smile that beautifully graced her face soon faded into her sickly state. It was those moments that my brother and I aimed to make her smile every day that we loved so much. Many people frequently said that we inherited her smile.
A tremor shook our household when my grandmother on my father's side contacted us. It was within her demands that I were to be separated from my mother and brother to be sent to a boarding school. It aimed to enhance womanly instincts and teach me the proper etiquette of high society of aristocracy. Naturally when I refused the offer to remain with my family, I was silenced immediately and forced into leaving. With tears welling in my eyes, I bid farewell to my sickly mother and lonely brother to head off towards this boarding school. Long years of residing within the school had molded me into a proper lady that many strive to be. There was absolutely no contact with the outside world in fear that it would tamper with my studies and training.
My heart shattered upon hearing that I was unable to return home to my brother and mother when my studies were completed. Nearly four long years of yearning to be reunited with them was snatched from me. My grandmother had made all arrangements that my brother was no longer with my mother and was residing in Japan for the previous two years. There was a sense of betrayal that I felt from her.
I was devastated.
My family was completely broken. My father left us, my mother grew very ill and now my brother left without a proper goodbye.
As I was taught in Rosetta's Elite Boarding School for Girls was to act like a proper lady about the situation. Always be poised and polite without showing any of your emotions. It was improper if a woman acted out against society's expectations. Bottling every emotion within me, I gradually became the person I was taught to be... The person my grandmother wanted me to be.
Meeting people always had the exact routine of appearing flawless and perfected mannerisms. A lady is meant to be effortlessly poised with an aura of grace surrounding her. Any person that met me would continuously praise my etiquette and mannerisms that I would respond with a politely false smile. Mindless chatter surrounded these people about nonsense and gossip that never failed to bore me. I remained true to my training in France of being a proper lady and entertained these people.
This time was different. It was not your average high aristocrat in high society. Emotions would be running dangerously high within me as this was something I was stressing about for months. My anxiety was gnawing me from within at the mere thought of this because it was the first time in five years that I was reuniting with my father.
Footsteps were feather light as I stepped into his large office. The atmosphere was suffocating the moment I stepped in with his piercing stare fixated upon me. It felt as though every movement I made was to his judgement despite my perfected calm composure. My nerves were sky rocketing within my chest as I focused on breathing evenly.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Father." My soft voice broke the suffocating silence as I gracefully dipped into a curtsy followed by a traditional Japanese bow. Both of these greetings were considered respectful in France and Japan that was trained deep within me. My main focus was remaining respectful despite him being my father. It would be considering highly atrocious to be improper in any fashion towards him.
The smile on his face was nearly blinding.
"Ah, my dear Madeline! Papa is so glad to have you move to Japan with your brother and I!" The exclamation of enthusiasm from Father was something that startled me internally. All I did was soak in his ever remaining extroverted self in stride as light wrinkles pulled at his face. He stood from his large wooden desk and opened his arms welcomingly.
"Come give Papa a grand hug!"
If I were younger then I would have gleefully did so without restraint. I am a proper lady now.
Silence. Emotionless as a statue I stood in the center of the office with eyes piercing towards him. My lack of movements and vocal action made him lower his arms slowly as a frown pulled on his face.
"Papa missed it when Madeline used to rush to me, all excited to see me! You've grown up!" He wailed dramatically that seemed to run high in our family. It was times like these that I was quite thankful I hadn't inherited that.
Was this the man that owned such a successful business and was the chairman of the school?
"Times have changed." My voice was curt and emotionless as I continued to stare at him unwavering. Underneath my composure I was studying his features for what it seemed like the first time. Every time that I laid my eyes upon my father, I am always left in surprise of how little genes I inherited from him. His dark hair that had very few streaks of grey and hazel eyes was a stark difference from my bright golden hair and violet eyes.
"My, you've grown into quite a young woman! You look exactly like your mother!"
Everything within me froze. How dare he talk so casually about Mother?
"Thank you, Father." The instinctive polite tone returned with half hearted words. My hands were clenched behind my back, away from his observant eyes. All I wanted to do was scold him and get angry about his decisions of abandoning us.
"I had always known you were going to grow into a fine woman! It's in your genes, you know!"
"Father, if my growth is all you had wanted to speak with me, I would much rather leave." I replied in a business tone. My eyes stared into his as if silently challenging him. I have been told frequently that my eyes intimidate others from the sheer intensity. It had given me a strange sort of pride knowing that people shy away from the power of my stare. When people keep my stare it unnerves me because it meant that they weren't your average person.
His eyes filled with sadness for a moment, "I truly did miss it when you were younger. However that it not what I wished to talk about."
Finally some maturity.
"Now I'm sure you are well aware of your residence while staying in Japan. Under your grandmother's orders you are to stay with your brother in the second estate. It is also easier to know your way around with him by your side." Father explained with a softened smile on his face. It was clear he was thinking about my brother and I when we were younger. The two of us were nearly inseparable. Our one year age difference made no effect on our close bond. Most people thought we were twins.
I wanted to ask where he was but I remained silent. I knew better than to voice out my thoughts about my brother. My posture remained poised as I stood in front of my father who sat at his desk. In the eyes of everyone I was a perfect lady who never strayed from her place.
"Would you care to see him? He's currently at his club activities." Father offered with another smile. His eyes watched my every movement to detect any subtle hints of my thoughts and emotions only to come empty handed.
A small, polite smile grew on my face, "That would be lovely."
"Do you want me to escort you?"
"No thank you. I'd rather your secretary escort me."
Anxiety swelled within me for several reasons. Reuniting with my father was one thing I had stressed over immensely during the past years. Dread would fill my stomach upon the mere thought of reuniting with my father. He caused our family great distress with clear knowledge of what he damaged in the process of his frequent visiting. Seeing my brother again after 3 years is another reason my anxiety had spiked. I had no contact with him during these years for unknown reasons. Not once had he answered my emails, letter, calls or texts. It caused me a series of negative emotions surging through me that plagued me constantly.
He was my best friend.
For the past 3 years I have yearned to see my brother again...why am I hesitating to finally accept the chance to see him. Why am I hesitating to open these doors that separates me from him?
Loneliness had plagued me for the numerous years I residing in that dreaded boarding school. It was during that time that I had closed myself from the world to be replaced by the image of a proper lady. Being reserved for this prolonged period of time had allowed me to forget what it was like to freely be myself. The last time I was fully accepted for who I am was my brother, mother, and grandparents. After being torn apart from my lovely family had resulted in shutting the world out forcefully behind steel walls.
Noiselessly I exhaled slowly to regain my composure. The secretary that had escorted me to the third music room had excused herself long ago to leave me in privacy. My father originally desired to have a grand introduction that I swiftly refused. A lady is supposed to be humble. I was perfectly fine doing this on my own.
Pushing down my anxiety underneath a cool mask, I delicately smoothed out my pressed navy skirt and adjusted my frilly white blouse. My golden hair was styled in an elegant low side bun with my fringe pulled into the twisting part. It gave me a prim and proper appearance of a lady in high aristocrat society. After reassuring myself that I looked flawless, I knocked on the grand doors three times that echoed deeply across the high ceiling hallways tauntingly. Slowly I pushed the double doors open and closed my eyes against the blinding lights.
"Welcome~"
The doors revealed seven teenage males standing in pure elegance and grace. Each one radiated their own respective superiority with their beauty as they gazed upon me. There was one with beautiful golden hair that I fixated my eyes upon immediately with recognition flowing through me. Everyone else residing in this room blurred into the background as I soaked in the appearance of the beautiful teenager. It had been years of imaging how he must have looked now after maturing and now he stands before me blowing away all expectations. His violet eyes widened slowly as he began breathing deeply upon looking at me.
"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance once more, Tamaki." My voice was smooth as I greeted him after tilting my head to the side in acknowledgement. I watched his eyes blink rapidly in disbelief as thick silence encased the atmosphere. My hands were clasped delicately in front of me as I awaited his response in concealed anxiousness. From my peripheral vision I noticed the people surrounding us glance between Tamaki and I in full curiously.
"Uh, Tono, whose this?" Identical twins asked Tamaki in perfect harmony with amber eyes flickered between Tamaki and I, "And why does she look like you?"
A small polite smile grew upon my lips at seeing the questioning stares from the remaining six teenage males at Tamaki's side. Each one were silently attempting to figure this situation out in their minds after the twins had spoken the question that everyone was wondering.
"Oh my, please forgive my rudeness. Allow to introduce myself," My voice was portrayed as polite surprise as I dipped into a low graceful curtsy with a pleasant polite smile on my face, "I am Madeline Sophie De Grantaine Suoh."
"What?!"
My pleasant expression remained intact at the chaos that erupted. Every male, with the exception of the two dark haired ones, bombarded the still astonished Tamaki. He remained oblivious to his friend's chaotic attitudes towards him. All he did was stare silently at me with no acknowledgement to his peers. Some of his friends were slightly hurt at him for not informing them that he had a sister. The small pang of hurt welled within me at the fact but was quickly pushed aside as I focused onto him. His vibrant violet eyes held my own matching eyes.
The petite male stepped forwards with a curious expression still on his face, "Please forgive me but does this mean you're Tamaki-senpai's sister?"
That caught everyone's attention and awaited eagerly for my reply.
"Indeed it does." I nodded.
My eyes glanced back towards Tamaki, "It's been quite a while, Rene."
The teenager wearing the spectacles had announced to the female students in the room that the club activities were finished for the evening with a calm and authoritative voice. Internally it startled me because I had not noticed those girls standing around us curiously due to my attention primarily focused on my brother standing before me. The whispers that came from those students were not paid any attention as they left the room.
"Would you like some tea, Suoh-san?" It was the natural politeness from the petite boy that offered me tea as I was led to the extravagant couches deeper into the room. Carefully I tucked my skirt underneath me as I graciously accepted the deep rose tea when he returned with the tray. Tense silence surrounded the atmosphere as I occasionally sipped at my tea whilst waiting for any reaction from Tamaki. He was pulled to sit across from me by the twins as he stared at me with wide violet eyes as if he was in a trance. It is understandable that he acted the way he did because we had not seen each other in years. It must have been quite startling.
"M-Madeline?..."
Finally Tamaki stuttered out with his voice breaking and tears welled up in his eyes as he stared longingly. I swallowed down any anxiousness that arose from the silence and his emotional state and nodded. My response only led to him flying over the coffee table and wrapping his arms around me tightly. He sobbed loudly against my neck and slowly brought us to our feet to hug me better. His familiar scent filled my nose that brought back many old memories.
My figure was absolutely frozen as Tamaki embraced me tightly. No one had been physically close to me in years and the feeling of arms encasing my figure was foreign. I could feel my collar getting soaked with tears as Tamaki sobbed in my neck yet I did not move a muscle.
"Rene, if you will, please let go of me." I said politely without any subtle hints of my thoughts.
Tamaki did as he was told but held me at arms length with a watery smile plastered on his face and the occasional sniffle. His French etiquette appeared as he kissed me on both cheeks in greeting of a loved one. The smallest ball of warmth grew within me at the familiar etiquette and his loving greeting to me.
"It's been so long... Look at how beautiful you've become! You're a spitting image of mother! It's all in the genes, of course, considering I inherited them as well! Both of us are simply beautiful people! I have so much to tell you! Did you know that Kyoto is not the Wonderland of Japan? It's absurd! Oh gracious me, I haven't seen you in forever!" Tamaki ranted on endlessly in excitement. An impossibly wide smile was plastered on his face. A warm sensation swelled in my chest at the mere presence of Tamaki. All my worries of him hating me and moving away in resentment of me washed away.
"Thank you, brother, for your kind words." I answered politely while gently removing his hands from my shoulders. My hands instinctively clasped upon my lap as I tilted my head up to stare up at him.
He blinked at me and replied softly with something unreadable in his eyes, "You've changed so much."
"Times have changed, Tamaki." The tone of my voice held finality and he blinked once more at me. I was aware he is referring to the times when we were closer. I cleared my throat before motioning towards his silent friends for a distraction, "Now why don't you introduce me to your lovely friends?"
"Ah! How could I neglect my own family? Madeline dear this is the infamous Host Club! It consists of the Vice President aka Mommy, Otori Kyoya, Second Year. These shady twins are our beloved sons, Hitachiin Hikaru and Kaoru, First Years. This is our beautiful daughter, Fujioka Haruhi, First Year. And last but not least, our wonderful neighbours and senpai: Haninodzuka Mitsukuni and Morinodzuka Takashi! Everyone this is my beautiful sister: Madeline Sophie De Grantaine Suoh!"
"Pleasure to meet you all." Formally I greeted the silent members of the club with a practiced Japanese bow before watching surprise flicker across their faces at not only the presence of mine but my formalities. There was silent awe gracing their faces as I noticed their eyes flicker between Tamaki and I.
Kyoya stepped forwards with grace and handed me a red rose, "The pleasure is ours, Princess."
I tilted my head in acknowledgement without showing my discomfort as being called princess.
"Now, I expect everyone to be nice to my sister, especially you two shady twins! You shall treat her as you would treat me!" Brightly Tamaki announced with a wide smile on his face as he threw his arm around my shoulders. I could not help but notice how large he has grown over these past few years as I shrugged his arm off.
"...Wait." Tamaki halted and turned towards me in confusion, "Not that I don't want you here but why are you here?"
I cleared my throat once again after gently taking a sip of my tea.
"I had complete my training in France, thus I have been told to take residence with you." My explanation was perfectly vague without seeming suspicious of our particular situation in front of his club members. The topic of our grandmother is a sensitive one for the both of us and I would rather not talk about it.
A smile beamed on Tamaki's face, "That's wonderful!"
"What time had you arrived in Japan, Miss Suoh?" Haruhi asked me in a conversational and polite tone with his large caramel eyes staring at me. He seemed strangely feminine with his physique and soft facial features.
"Two hours ago."
"Are you tired, Ma-chan?" My attention was brought to the small child, Haninodzuka. Underneath my cool composure, I was astonished by his nickname he had given me without asking nor knowing me enough. There was something about his youthful statue and pleasantness that made my heart soften.
"Thank you for asking, Haninodzuka-senpai, but I'm perfectly fine." Professionally I lied through a polite smile because they didn't need to know that I am beyond tired after such a long flight. A lady does not burden other with her troubles.
A large toothy smile appeared on his face as he leaned on the edge of the opposing couch, "You can call me Honey! Oh, and you can call my friend Mori!"
The twins, who sat on the opposing couch with Honey, leaned forwards with observant amber eyes and said in harmony, "You could pass as Tono's twin, Miss Suoh."
"Although you have such fine mannerisms and etiquette," The right twin started.
"Not to mention, nicer features compared to Tono." The left twin finished.
A polite smile was plastered on my face in acknowledgment.
"Hey! I have perfect mannerisms and etiquette!" Tamaki exclaimed loudly in outrage at these twins, "Although my sister's beauty is extraordinary- I have nice features too!"
Bickering and teasing continued onward between the three of them with the occasional input from Honey. The others would simply sigh or roll their eyes at the bickering as if they were used to such situations. I observed the interactions between all of them in interest and stored them into my mind for future reference. It has such a family interaction feeling just watching these teenagers. An uncomfortable feeling grew within me as I realized that they are as close as Tamaki and I once were. It is a bond that I no longer have with anyone and watching them made it more prominent than ever.
Perhaps it is time to leave than interrupt their bonding time.
"It was a wonderful pleasure meeting you people. Unfortunately I must take my leave now. I have matters to attend to at the Suoh 2nd Residence." Gracefully I stood to my feet and bowed thankfully to them followed by a curtsy. Curtsying was instinctual because it is my mother's culture that I had grown up in, so I must constantly remind myself to ignore those instincts.
"I'll take you home! I could show you around the mansion this evening!" Glee filled Tamaki's violet eyes as he bounded towards me with an offered arm towards me.
"That would be splendid." I turned to the Host Club members, "Until we meet again."
(Edit: May 2017)
Hello everyone!
I hope that this may be a story to your liking! It is primarily about Tamaki Suoh's younger sister appears and we follow her throughout the manga series. I try to stick as closely to the plot line as possible without it seeming that it is a script which would be boring to some people.
I will update this story whenever I feel like it and edit the first couple chapters whenever I decide! (For those who re-read!)
I did have other stories that I have since taken down from this account. I do have plenty of ideas for numerous anime, movies, and TV shows that I am hesitant to dive into. If any of you are interested in hearing my ideas for stories for Yuri on Ice!, Black Butler, Kuroko no Basket, and Attack on Titan then please DM me!
Enjoy this story!