Chapter One: Gold Ladybird
/the first time I met him was because of a bug. No, not my dad nor my friends nor a human being were the ones to introduce us. A bug/
--
"Haruhi, are you actually going to open this?" Two girls were sitting on a sunny grass slope, watching the clouds scud by above them.
"Open what Chikiro?" The one with brown hair answered absent mindedly. She frowned as a flying insect landed on her cheek, and she flicked it away with her hand.
"This!" The blond haired girl waved a red envelope. "It's a new one. And it's addressed to you." Chikiro noted Haruhi had that faraway look in her eyes again.
"I don't know…" Haruhi stared at the jar of insects balanced on top of her clipboard, resting on her lap. The blue butterflies they had to catch for biology class were sticking their three segmented antennas to the side of the glass jar. "I hope I can pass the examinations for Ouran Academy next year."
Chikiro spluttered and dropped the red envelope. "Was that what you were thinking?" She stood on her knees and faced Haruhi squarely. "Look at me Haruhi. You. Will. Pass. With brains like yours, you'll get in." Haruhi stared back at Chikiro with her depthless brown eyes.
"You're going to the local high," she stated.
"Most of us will…" Chikiro dropped back down on the blossom strewn grass again. Her gaze drifted towards the playing field far below her. Small children were beginning to leak out from the classrooms, yelling and screaming. A worn soccer ball shimmered in the air "Except you. We'll really miss you," she said softly. The other girl didn't answer. Chikiro's tone changed and she gave Haruhi a quick smile. "Hey, if you want to have a look around Ouran today, like you said you were, you better get going. Lunch period is going to begin soon and it only lasts for an hour."
"I better walk quick," Haruhi pushed herself up and brushed cherry blossom petals and dry grass stalks off her navy skirt. "I need to find out about some of the application processes. I don't want to bother my Dad too much. Can you keep the jar until I come back?" Haruhi started rechecking the contents of her bag next to her.
"Sure." Chikiro's eyes followed her quick and practical movements. "I'm so glad you're my partner for this experiment. We got all the right bugs." Chikiro picked up the heavy jar and shook it. "Except gold ladybirds, but they're so hard to find." She faced Haruhi sternly. "Do you now how special gold ladybirds are? If you spot one, chase after it immediately." Haruhi only smiled faintly as a response and continued to rummage in her bag. Chikiro picked up the red envelope again with her other hand. "Hey, open this, will you? I'm dying to know what's written in there and who it's from."
"Maybe," Haruhi swung her bag across her shoulder and headed towards the school gates. "I'm going to visit Ouran now. See you after lunch."
"Haruhi, do… do you really intend on going to Ouran?"
"I've always wanted to go to Ouran Academy. My mum went to Ouran." The girl replied simply, hands resting on the wire gates. Then with a swish of her skirt, she pushed them open and ran out. Her sharp footsteps on the hard bitumen road faded away.
"Your mum?" Chikiro suddenly felt pity for the motherless girl. She glanced at the envelope in her hand. "WAIT! Haruhi, you still haven't opened this!!" Haruhi was already gone. Chikiro gave up and shook her head exasperatedly. "You never open all the love letters you receive, do you?" She ran her fingers across the smooth seal. "Bet this one is from Arai."
"Hey Chikiro, check out this new magazine, it's the spring edition…" a gaggle of her friends crowded around her and tugged at her sleeve excitedly.
Chikiro's eyes sparkled with interest, but just before she joined them, she turned to gaze at the school's entrance. The small gate was still swinging slightly. "Fujioka, hope you'll do alright at Ouran."
--
Haruhi stood at the front of the Ouran school gates, feeling like a lost child. The gates shimmered of silver metal. They towered above her regally, making her squat shadow on the white pavements ridiculously small. Mid day sunshine bounced off round curves of metal. The girl looked up and whispered out aloud what the fanciful designs represented.
"Ouran Academy."
Haruhi calmed down her beating heart and touched the metal clasp. It was sun warmed beneath her fingers. Encouraged, she pushed and took one step forward. This was the school she had dreamed of.
The road was quiet except for the twittering of swallows in the bushes. Her shoes crunched on the loose polished stones that defined the driveway. Haruhi found herself tip toeing, reluctant to scratch the pure white path with her dirty school boots. Immaculate spring green lawns surrounded her like a golfing valley. Beautiful and elegant oak trees sheltered the area with high generous branches that brushed a clear blue sky with budding clouds. White lilies peered at her from the undergrowth. Jeweled dragonflies hovered over the royal purple blossoms of lavender. Birds of Paradise stood by the road with proud beaks. And the roses… they were everywhere. The pink roses were slowly budding, showing a delicious cream centre. Their light fragrance lulled the girl into a sense of peace. Who knew that behind the intimidating school gates, was a wonderful garden? Eyes wondering at the magic of the flowers, Haruhi suddenly caught a miniscule flash of gold.
"Where are the school buildings?" She murmured, shaking her head. The flower garden, their scent, the sunshine, the fresh breeze were shrouding her ability to think clearly. There was no time to be admiring the school grounds yet. It was the school's administration office she needed to get to before the lunch hour was up. Haruhi raised her head and viewed her whereabouts with logical and intelligent eyes.
Grass. Trees. Flowers. One road. No buildings. No map. No choice except to follow the road.
Haruhi was a girl who always broke no rules and did everything that was deemed to be right. Ever since her mother died, she took it upon herself to cook, clean and look after her grief stricken Daddy. She studied extremely hard and her one goal in life was to become a successful lawyer just like her mother. She took one road in life and one road only. Nothing could distract her and nothing else mattered.
Then Haruhi saw something flitter in front of her face. It was small. It was brilliantly gold like no gold could ever be. It danced in the sunshine.
"A gold lady bird…" Haruhi blinked. Chikiro's words came echoing back into her mind.
"Except gold ladybirds, but they're so hard to find."
Haruhi shifted the bag on her shoulder. The administering papers were all in there. She had been walking for twenty minutes already on this single road without getting anywhere. It was like she had wandered off the world of civilization and into some enchanted garden. There must be another way to get to the school buildings apart from this long windy path.
The gold ladybird still hovered in front of her. Haruhi eyed it, frowning. Wasn't it afraid of her? As if in response the bug landed resolutely on her nose. Spluttering, Haruhi shook her head furiously. The bug easily eluded her snatching fingers and began dancing in front of her eyes again. It teased at her.
Do you now how special gold ladybirds are? If you spot one, chase after it immediately.
Haruhi broke her first rule. She took out a spare glass jar from her bag and lunged after the infuriating creepy crawly. She ran through the long grass and bushes, brushing past a path of budding rose bushes. A trail of pink petals fluttered after her. Breathing slightly hard, with knees deep in bushes, Haruhi rechecked her bag to see that the contents were not messed up after her sprint. They were still in perfect condition. But the bug had disappeared.
The girl sighed and checked her watch. "Half an hour." Everything was green shrubs. At first Haruhi tried to think logically about which direction she would go. It didn't work because it was impossible to employ logic in her situation. There were no maps and no landmarks. Then she remembered what her Daddy used to tell her.
If you want to achieve something, all you have to do is believe in yourself.
It kept her law dream alive. Well, right now she needed to use that magic to get her to the administration office. The girl focused on that want, that need and that feeling of desire. Her feet started moving and Haruhi followed.
She reached a very neat courtyard. Haruhi's footsteps echoed in the large empty space. Surrounding the courtyard were at least five glittering buildings. Finally! Haruhi cheered to herself. But which building had the office she was looking for?
Fountain water trickled soothingly. A pair of boys sat alone under an arching tree. Doves pecked at their feet.
"Excuse me," Haruhi saw them from the corner of her eye. She took quick steps towards the tree. "Could you show me the administering office?"
They were wearing the middle school's crisp white uniform. Surely they could give her directions. Haruhi checked her watch again. She had a maximum of twenty minutes left.
"No." the two monotone voices synchronized an answer.
"Could you show me the administering office?" Haruhi repeated, seemingly unfazed by their direct rudeness. She stared at the back of their red heads as if to demand an answer from them.
No answer.
Haruhi frowned. She turned and searched the entire courtyard with her eyes. No map. No other people. "Could you show me the administering office? Please?" She spoke a little louder and a little sharper.
Something thumped onto the grass. Haruhi glanced at the gameboy that had been thrown carelessly away. It was a curious little machine. The words "Game Over" blinked black and white on the grey screen. Haruhi hastily turned to face the boy.
He had finally turned to look at her. Piercing gold eyes evaluated her. They were unfriendly.
"You new student?" The boy had straight cut red hair, an angular face and something predatory about his look. He shrugged off his white blazer and stood up, looking her up and down.
"No," Haruhi answered, wondering why he was looking at her like that. "But I'm hoping-"
"Then just go away," the boy interrupted. He was already reaching out for his fallen gameboy again. A flicker of a cruel smile touched his mouth. "You don't belong here," he seemed to taunt, his voice full of irony. Then his voice slinked back to a monotone, his slow lazy gestures suggesting that he was feeling bored out of his mind.
"You want to…" Haruhi glanced at the other boy who had begun to speak to her. His voice was so soft she had to strain to hear. His back was still to her.
She stepped closer. "I'm sorry but I couldn't hear you." She half expected a nasty comment from the other boy, but he with the cruel taunts treated her like she wasn't there and that he had never set eyes on her. His eyes were resting on his gameboy. The machine's glow accentuated the sharp angles on his face.
"You don't belong here."
Haruhi bit her lip and focused on the other boy.
"I said," his voice taking an edge, "You want to know where the administration office is?"
He turned to glare at her, as if to hide his softer, kinder nature. Haruhi blinked in surprise His face was identical to the other boy's! And perched on his nose was that notorious gold ladybird!
Haruhi whipped out her glass jar and carefully scooped the bug up. "Caught you!" She was unable to restrain herself from saying gleefully. She had caught one of the most difficult bugs with little mess or pain.
The boys didn't think so. The one with the ladybird toppled to the grass in surprise."Kaoru!" the boy who had been so preoccupied with his gameboy threw the machine away like trash and bound towards his brother. "Are you okay!" He frantically called. He suddenly turned on the girl. "What are you doing, slamming a glass jar at my brother!" he yelled. Angry red blotches appeared in his cheeks. "The administration office is third floor, first building to the right. Happy now?"
Haruhi started forward to apologize and help the poor boy on the ground. She hadn't meant to scare them or trick them to tell her where the office was. But the way the other boy seemed to touch the one called Kaoru made it seemed like she had committed murder or torture. Gold eyes flashed at her. Go away, don't you dare come into our world, they seemed to scream at her.
"Sorry!" Haruhi stumbled back at the force of his glare.
"Hikaru…" Kaoru lay on the ground with his eyes gently closed. "I'm not hurt." Haruhi sighed in relief and turned to leave them in peace like they wanted, but Kaoru's voice tugged her back. "Hey girl, don't tell them we're here skipping lessons."
Haruhi hesitated. She glanced back at the two twin boys lounging under the arch of a tree with doves pecking at their feet; the only inhabitants in the empty courtyard. Skipping lessons meant you were wasting half your life. She opened her mouth to gently admonish them.
"But-"
"Lunch is about to begin in 5 minutes. What's the point in dragging us back?" The boy called Hikaru sneered. He said the word "Us" in a funny way, like it represented the world. Haruhi wanted to ask why they were skipping lessons but the school bell rang. She glanced at her watch.
"Damn!" She gasped. "Ten minutes left!" She sketched a wave and broke into a run. Her footsteps filled the courtyard as if it were the only sound. Her figure slowly became smaller and smaller until it disappeared. Suddenly the two boys were the only ones left under the arching tree – again.
"Kaoru." Hikaru sounded annoyed. "You have another stupid ladybug on your nose."
The other boy raised his hand in a stop gesture. The ladybug remained sitting contently on the boy's nose without being violently swatted away.
Kaoru started singing. It was a soft, clear voice that echoed in the empty courtyard. The leaf shadows dappled like water waves on their faces. Four more minutes of solitude before the last lunch bell rang and people swarmed the place like ants.
"Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home
Your house is on fire;
Your children all roam"
"What the hell are you singing Kaoru?" Hikaru plopped back down on the grass and lay his head on his brother's shoulder.
"Nursey Ryhme Hikaru," Kaoru answered. "Did you forget them?"
"Except little Ann
Who sits in her pan
Weaving her laces as fast as she can."
Hikaru scowled. "Why?"
The ladybird arched its wings and fluttered off Kaoru's nose. The boy opened his glimmering gold eyes, the same colour as the ladybird. "Well Nan told us ladybirds are lucky. You should chant the song if a ladybird lands on you: if it then flies away again, your wish will come true."
The boys sat in silence. The ground beneath them started rumbling.
"I hope your wish comes true then," Hikaru finally said.
Doors opened. Students in white and blue informs appeared on the stairs. A basketball was thrown into the air. Chattering, gossiping voices filled the courtyard. Lunch at Ouran had began.
"I hope our wish comes true," Kaoru corrected. He picked up the gameboy from Hikaru's fingers. "I bet I can beat your record."
"As if you can," Hikaru murmured.
Kaoru focused on the game but his heart was elsewhere. I wished for us to be set free from our cocoon. I wished for someone to enter our world and stay.
--
Haruhi told Chikiro about the gold ladybird afterwards.
"Really? You saw one?" her friend did a little victory dance as Haruhi took out her jar and showed the bug she had caught. "Oh and how did the processing go?"
"It was fine," Haruhi waved Chikiro's concern aside. "I got all the papers done."
"So you really are going to apply for Ouran?" her friend persisted.
Haruhi nodded resolutely. "It's one step towards my law dream."
Chikiro dropped her eyes to the ladybird crawling inside the glass jar so that she wouldn't have to say anything insensitive. She tapped her chin thoughtfully and instead said. "You know, golden ladybirds are legendarily thought to bring an individual safely into a magical realm." She jumped about excitedly. "Hey, that means you'll fit into Ouran alright!"
Haruhi rolled her eyes. "Thanks Chikiro." She smiled, touched. "Thank you for caring. But as long as I get the education I need, I'm really happy regardless of what the people there are like."
Besides, Haruhi thought people do have funny belief about ladybirds. The only thing I know about ladybirds is that they are bugs. They eat crops. To farmers and therefore everybody else, they're a nuisance.
A/N: I've done two KaoHaru stories which I've decided to remain as oneshots, so I'm determined to make this multi-chaptered since I love KaoHaru so much and that I kind of know where I'm going with this. I've actually used the gold ladybird motif before, but I really like it related to the Hitachiins that I'm using it again – tho to a more prominent extent. This writing style is kinda different to how I normally I write. I shoved so many symbolisms and details in it that my brain hurts.
The title Accidentally in Love is pinched off a song from Shrek 2 – no relation to this story of course.
I hope you like this slow romance story from beginning of Haruhi's Ouran adventures to end. It pretty much follows the original story except for the KaoHaru bits, and I make up things that happen in between the events in the manga/anime.
Lu.e3