Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran or any of its characters.

My Fairytale Ending

Chapter 1

All I wanted was a fairytale ending to my horrible life, but I realized that I could never have that. Fairytales aren't real. My life would not get better. It would all come crashing down, making me even more miserable than I already was.

It all started when my parents died in a fire. I was about 3 or 4 at the time, so I didn't really know what was going on. All I knew was that I was being sent to live with my horrid grandfather and his nasty nephews, and I was not looking forward to it at all.

By the time I was 17, I had been worked to the bone. I barely got any food or water (I took scraps from the kitchen when no one was looking), and I hadn't bathed in weeks. My once perfectly tan skin was now ghostly white from being inside most of the time. My chestnut brown hair was now a sort of chocolate color from all the dirt I had been cleaning. My only clothes were some old, torn, and dirty clothes that had once belonged to Hunny-san (one of my grandfather's nephew).

I couldn't stand this house or these people anymore. I had to get out of here. Thankfully, my eighteenth birthday was just a few weeks away. Until my freedom, I would have to continue to do everything Tamaki-sama (my grandfather) said, otherwise he would not let me go. I knew that, and I was hoping he wouldn't keep me here forever.

It was just a couple more days until my eighteenth birthday when it came. A letter from our "dear prince charming". Every girl in town loved him (I hear them talking the few times I go out to the market) and I couldn't see why. From what I heard, he sounded liked a cocky, stuck - up prick. I read the letter out of curiosity, then handed it over to my grandfather. While he read, I thought about what the letter said:

"The prince is having a ball

to celebrate his turning

18.

Everyone is welcome. All eligible young

maidens should attend, for

young Prince Hikaru-san will

be choosing a bride.

The ball will begin at 8 o'clock sharp in two days."

'Two days. . . . That's when my birthday is.' I was snapped out of my thoughts by my grandfather talking.

"Kaoru-kun, because of this ball, I need you to take our clothes to the cleaners."

"Yes, sir," I replied, going to gather up the clothes.

"Also, the basement needs cleaning. And change the light bulb while you're at it. I almost broke my neck going down there the other day." With that, my grandfather walked away to give the letter to Hunny-san and Kyouya-san (his other nephew).

After going to the cleaners and the market, I walked past a dress shop. Glancing in, I saw the most beautiful dress. It was black and had a red hem and sash. I had to have it (and yes, I do know I am a boy, but I couldn't resist it. It was just so pretty. Plus, if I wanted to get into that ball without my grandfather spotting me, I would need a disguise.), but I knew I couldn't afford it. I would have to make it with whatever fabric I could find. If I had time, that is.

Hurrying home, I tripped and all the food went everywhere. I gasped and quickly started gathering up everything, when, out of nowhere, a hand landed on mine. I looked up, and saw none other than "prince charming" Hikaru-san.

"Um . . . Y-Your majesty! What are you doing?" I stupidly stuttered out.

He smiled at me and said in a warm voice, "Why, I'm helping you pick up your stuff, of course." He bent down and continued picking up the food and putting it in the bag.

Bending down, I picked up some food also, and said, "Thank you, but you really don't need to help me. I can do this on my own."

"Nonsense. A pretty young lady such as yourself shouldn't be doing this on her own."

I froze. What did he just say? Did he just call me a lady? He did! "Lady?! I'll have you know that I am a man." I stood up and glared at him.

"Really? You look so much like a woman." The prince eyed me up and down, nodding as he did so. "If you're a man, why are you wearing woman's clothing?"

I blushed. "There my grandfather's nephew's old clothes. He used to dress girly," Again, I bent down and finished picking up all the food.

"Oh. I guess that would it explain it. Here." I looked up as he handed me a letter, an invitation I supposed, and smiled. I grabbed it and looked at him as I opened it. Once it was opened, I read the letter I had received earlier today.

"You really want me to go to your ball? I'm not really "ball" material."

"Of course I want you to go. I'll have someone to talk to. Those things are always so boring." He grabbed the bag out of my hands and smiled again. I had to admit, he had a cute smile. "Where do you live? I'll walk you home."

I panicked. "Oh, you don't need to do that. I can walk home on my own. Besides, as a prince, you shouldn't be helping out a commoner like me." I couldn't let him take me home. I couldn't let him meet my grandfather.

There was an eerie silence as I noticed that Prince Hikaru-san didn't reply. I looked over and noticed he looked sad. I was shocked, to say least.

"Um . . . I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?" I cautiously put my hand on his shoulder as he shook his head.

"It's just, for all my life, I've had people everywhere calling me 'Prince Hikaru'. I wish that I could have a friend that would just call me Hikaru." The prince looked at me and smiled. "Would you be that friend?"

I looked at the prince, bewildered. No one has ever wanted to be my friend, and now a prince wants to? I couldn't believe it.

"Um . . . sure. By the way, my name's Kaoru." I shook the hand that he extended and smiled back at him. My first friend is a prince. Who would've guessed?

"Kaoru-kun, hmm? That's a nice name," Hikaru-kun said, then added, "Hikaru-kun and Kaoru-kun. It has a nice ring to it. Like it was meant to be. Don't you think?"

I smiled. "Yeah. It does." It was the truth, too.

Maybe Hikaru-kun wasn't as bad as I thought. Perhaps this friendship would be fun.