Hello all! This is my third KHR fanfic. This is going to be 1886 fanfic. Totally pairing everyone else with Hibari, hurhurdurhur.
This is kind of the pilot chapter, so please R&R and tell me what you think of it so far! If It gets enough good reviews I'll probably continue on with this story! :)
The character's ages in this story are upped as well, btw.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Haru! These suitcases aren't going to pack themselves!"
"Yes, yes. I know!"
She examined her room; double checking to make sure she didn't leave anything important behind. She quickly peered through her empty bookshelf before opening each drawer of her dresser once more. Haru placed her hands on either side of her waist; everything in her room was completely empty. It took a while for her to take that fact in. Seeing an empty house unnerved her some reason; she was so used to the endless clutter that filled her home. Maybe it was the fact she and her mother had never moved before; they had lived here all their life.
That was going to change today.
After 20 years; the two were going to leave the Miura household, or so they called it, to live at the Vongola Hotel. Haru sighed as she stared at her reflection across her dresser mirror; she was supposed to be excited, wasn't she? She wasn't.
She wanted to stay here, but she knew it wasn't possible. Her father passed away several years ago which not only caused prolonged distress throughout the household, but many financial burdens. Her father was the breadwinner of the household and her mother didn't have such a good paying job. Eventually, it slowly led them unable to pay the mortgage for their house. It was only wise of them to move and live in a smaller and cheaper place.
Haru examined her reflection and quickly redid her ponytail, making sure to press each and every single brunette tress neatly together. Her hair never liked staying in one place.
"I'm coming, Mom!"
She ran down the stairs; she wasn't going to let her impatient mom wait anymore. She felt her heart pound slightly; the kitchen was entirely empty as well. The only removable items left were the dining room table, chairs, and fridge. Haru saw both of her suitcases, still opened and filled to the brim of messily folded clothes.
"Did you get everything?" Her mom stood at the opposite end of the small kitchen.
Haru nodded, her attention divided on the vacant room.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…" The brunette sighed. Moving out was so distressing; she felt sorry for anyone who had to move from place to place many times. Doing something like that as many times as they could while undermining the stress of it was commendable in her books.
"Then we're out!" Her mother replied, grabbing her two larger suitcases, "We have a cab outside; the rest of our belongings are inside the car."
Haru gave her mom a small smile; her cheerful and talkative demeanor just wasn't there. She was surprised at how optimistic and happy her mom had been for the past few days about moving. She didn't know her mother would respond to change so well.
Haru zipped up her wheeled suitcases and dragged them behind her as she reluctantly followed her mother out of the house. She peeked once more inside, before slowly closing the front door.
"Don't worry Haru, this isn't the last time we'll be seeing the house. We're going to sell most of the furniture at a yard sale soon." She bit the bottom of her lip in embarrassment; her mother could easily read her mind.
"I knew that…" Haru muttered, slightly ruffled by her teasing.
"It won't be that bad."
"I know. Ughh…I feel so lame for feeling bad about this when they're people out there who suffer much more." Haru replied, slumping her shoulders down, "Hahi…maybe it's just that I'm too nostalgic for my liking."
She was right; she was a very nostalgic person. She often thought about the past, a bit too much for her own good. It didn't help that her family was in a much better place when her father was alive and well. She was closest to both her parents and all of their most memorable moments were in the Miura house, nowhere else.
"Ah, today is your moving day I see!"
Haru turned around to the source of the voice; it was their next door neighbor, an elderly woman who lived there before Haru was born. The woman placed a pot of flowers down on the floor of her porch before walking down the steps of it.
"Obaa-chan!" Haru exclaimed, dropping her suitcases and giving the elder a tight hug. The woman eagerly returned it. She wasn't expecting her to be here
"How come you didn't tell me?" She said as she kept her hug with Haru.
"Oh hahaha! I thought we did!" Haru's mother laughed, "We're sorry if we didn't. We nearly lost track of our whole schedule; so many things happening at once."
"It's okay." Obaa-chan replied, letting go of Haru, "…So, Vongola Hotel."
Haru nodded, a large smile evident on her face. She was really going to miss conversing with Obaa-chan every day before she left for work; she was like a second grandmother.
"Vongola hotel!" Haru exclaimed; trying to keep her spirits up, "Its not far off; just a mile or so away from here. We can always visit."
"Good, good." Obaa-san placed an affectionate hand on the side of her arm, "Have you been there before? I've heard many good things about that place."
"We've learned a lot about the hotel from online and word of mouth; very reasonable prices for such a nice place." Haru's mother replied, "It's run by one of the most reputable business man in Namimori too."
After their conversation which went by several minutes too long; Haru and her mother went into the cab after their final farewells with Obaa-chan.
Haru and her mother slipped into the back seats of the cabs and drove off, opening their windows to wave at Obaa-chan. Once the cab began moving, Haru sat back in her car seat and smiled to herself; she felt slightly better than before. Moving out probably wouldn't be as bad as she made it out to be; they would get to live in a nice hotel...cheaper than their old house. She would also still get to keep her old job since it wasn't too far off from where she used to live.
"The hotel has job postings." Her mom spoke up.
Haru snapped out of her reverie, looking away from the car window and facing her mom.
"Really?" Haru's eyes widened, her mouth wide agape, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
She already did have a job, but she wanted another one. Her other job as a cashier had very limited hours and barely paid above minimum wage; it could only help so much.
"I only found out this morning!" Her mom countered.
Haru pursed her lips in annoyance.
"How much does it pay?" She asked after a large pause.
"Typical Haru." Her mother teased. Because of their poor standing, she and Haru, especially Haru, were eager to find any excusable job to obtain money. The brunette had an excuse, she was saving up for college; she wanted to rack up as many dollars as she could. Haru slightly grimaced, her mother always had to find a reason to tease and embarrass her, "You're not going to ask what the job is?"
"What is the job?" Haru asked, feigning curiosity about that.
Her mother laughed, obviously aware of her daughter's ulterior motives.
"The chairman's personal assistant." Her mom replied; she pressed her brows together, "No…It's actually his son's personal assistant."
Haru let out an incredulous huff, "…How am I supposed to land a job like that? Don't you need connections and stuff like that?"
Her mom shrugged, "Hm…maybe, you can always apply, you never know what might happen. Plus you have a lot of experience working with people in the past. Who knows, the job might be for you."
"…I guess so." Haru replied; she didn't want to take those words to heart. Finding and landing jobs was hard enough.
She leaned against the car window as they drove closer to their destination.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was breathtaking, much more so than in pictures. Haru could barely move as she exited the cab, her eyes completely glued onto the large building in front of her. It was a cream colored limestone building with concrete tiles for its ceiling. The building was long as it was large with dozens and dozens of windows neatly lined across it. A line of arched windows surrounded the outside of it with artificial palm trees decorating them.
She felt herself walking closer and closer to the hotel.
In front of the building, laid a long acre of perfectly green grass with two limestone walkways on either side of it, leading to the main entrance. Long vertical fountains sat beside the walkways, spouting out neat streams of water. More artificial palm trees were spread across the spacious area.
It was incredibly beautiful; she was already imagining what it would look like on the inside.
"Help me with the bags will you?"
Haru snapped out of it and turned around to face her mom, who struggled with the heavy luggage. The brunette immediately skipped over and helped her mom out, pulling the heavy bag out.
"Haru, Haru! It's falling!"
"Hahi!" Haru shrieked, catching the bag before it could land aggressively on the ground. She really was taken aback by the hotel; so taken aback that her attention was faltering. With much rigor, she and her mom gently laid the giant bag onto the ground.
After pulling the rest of the bags out and the suitcases out of the cab, the two knelt down, both catching their breaths. They watched the cab drive off the driveway and away to the main road.
"How are we going to move all of these bags to our room?" Haru's mom sighed, as she crouched down further.
Haru looked around before staring at the Hotel's entrance. Above the entrance she saw large Romaji letters reading, Vongola Hotel. Below the larger letters, she saw smaller ones in a fancier font, reading Vongola Famiglia Hotel.
"I can go in and ask for help." Haru replied, she motioned her hands as if she were pushing a grocery cart, "They probably have one of those cart-carrying thingies."
"Good idea. I'll keep watch."
"Okay. See you soon!" Haru exclaimed before running towards the entrance. She had to see the inside for herself.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She was getting closer and closer. The brunette could feel a smile forming on her face; she was actually excited about seeing the inside of the place in person. Her lingering thoughts about moving out of the house she lived in all her life were gone by now.
Haru closely examined the areas around the walkway she was taking. She gasped in awe at the many areas from the spurting mist fountains to the neatly trimmed shrubs. The hotel was really kept in tip top shape; it really surprised Haru that she and her mom were able to find a room here for a decent price.
She stopped once she reached a revolving door entrance, watching people enter in and out, mulling about on their usual business. She paused as she felt the rimmed brass edges of the entrance windows, admiring its exceptional quality. Haru must have looked really silly doing all of this, but she couldn't care less; the Vongola Hotel was an attractive sight.
"Oh, right…" Haru snapped out of it; they had to take their luggage in. Her mom was probably waiting impatiently back there.
The brunette pushed through the revolving doors.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh my…" Her voice was barely above whisper.
It had to be the most spacious hotel lobby room she had ever walked into. Peach colored marbled floors covered the entire room with cylinder shaped brass columns that connected the floor to the high ceiling. Haru could almost see her reflection; that was how clean the floor was.
She looked up and saw orb shaped light fixtures that hung above the lobby illuminating the expansive room. Several areas of the lobby had couches, chairs, and tables where people could relax. TV sets that were turned on hung against the wall above the couches and tables. On a corner opposite her, there was a giant, glass helix shaped stairway that led upstairs.
Different desks and departments were arranged in different sections of the lobby. Haru thoroughly examined each, trying to see where she could find any sort of help appropriate for her needs. The brunette slightly pushed through some people so she could get a better look at each department. It wasn't very crowded, but there were a decent amount of people inside the hotel, making it harder to find what she was looking for.
She tried looking at the departments to see which one would look like they would accommodate to her needs, but it was no use. She assumed herself to not be very smart, so she linked her inability to find the correct department to that.
"Aghh…" The brunette sighed; this was becoming too confusing for her own good.
She, instead, walked to the closest desk.
"Good morning." A woman behind the desk counter politely greeted the brunette, acknowledging Haru. She was middle aged with square glasses framing her tired appearance. Haru tilted her head downwards and saw the words 'Human resources' written on a label on the desk itself.
"Uh…" Haru began, facing the woman, "Do you have giant carts? I- I have a lot of bags and suitcases-"
Haru's eyes widened when she saw a stack of papers that were held up. The paper read 'Personal Assistant for Hotel's Chairman needed!'
"Is that a job application?" Haru asked, pointing to the job posting papers.
"Yes. Are you looking to become an assistant? We're in need of one stat because the old one resigned." The desk lady replied, almost too eagerly pulling one of the papers out and handing it to Haru. They must have been really desperate for one even though dozens of people must have already applied out for the position.
"Sure." Haru replied. This was the exact job posting her mom talked about earlier; it couldn't hurt to try.
"Great. Just sign the form and once we've chosen from our applicants we'll notify you whether you've got the job or not."
Haru nodded her head before grabbing a pen from a pencil holder beside the desk lady and began to fill out the form. Before she could finish, she wanted to ask another question.
"…If-if you don't mind me asking, how-how much are the wages?" The brunette gave the lady a grin, trying to ask the question in the most polite voice she could muster. She didn't want to come off as a ruthless gold digger.
"We can't disclose that information until we've selected you for the hiring process."
Haru smacked her lips in slight agitation, but continued to sign the form. After making sure she correctly filled the application with information such as her new address, her age, and her previous working experience, she handed it to the counter lady.
"You're above 18, right?"
"Yes." Haru replied, pulling her I.D out of her purse and showing it to the lady. She nodded in approval, as Haru placed her I.D back inside her bag.
"Oh yeah, I was asking earlier, do you have any carts we can carry luggage in?"
"Yes we do; the desk that specifically helps with residents can lend you some." The woman replied, pointing to another department a few feet away from her.
"Okay, thanks!" Haru bowed before scurrying off to the other desk.
She doubted she would get the job, but she had to try. She needed as much money as she could get.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
"How could you let your poor mother wait outside for soooo long?!"
Haru rolled her eyes at her mom, who was whining the entire time from when she went back outside with the carts to now. She constantly explained to her that she was signing up for the exact same job she urged her to apply for in the first place. Haru sighed as she leaned against the cart she held, the two were on an elevator going upwards to the third floor to their hotel room and new home.
"I have to call my friends soon…tell them that we've finally made it here." Haru replied, changing the subject, "I should invite them…for like a house warming party! Ahh! That's such a great idea!"
Haru's mom smiled as she shook her head. She was not surprised at all by her daughter's sudden mood change. This was the Haru she knew, not the glum and depressed one from this morning.
"Hahi! We could do it this weekend…if- if that's okay with you."
"It's fine. I'll be at work."
"Good. Good." Haru grinned, thankful that her mom was never the strict type when she lived under her roof, "Ohh, they'll love this place. So excited to boast about how I live here!"
The elevator doors opened before they pushed the carts towards a hallway. The corridor was lit with cup shaped lights that were attached to glossy brass colored walls. A pattered carpet covered the floors of the hallway. Doors were situated at either side of them, each with a specific number marked on them. Haru's mom glanced at a card she received from one of the front desks at the hotel lobby as she fumbled with a pair of keys.
"…Room C-86." She read the card.
Haru let go of her cart and glanced around several doors, making sure to read each carefully. The two were trying to find their hotel room.
"C-78…C-77…Mom! We have to go the other way!" Haru shouted from the opposite end. She ran back to her mom and grabbed her own cart before the two made their way towards the other end of the corridor. Haru almost sprinted as she pushed her cart; right now she wanted to find her room as soon as she could so she could get some shut eye.
"There it is. C-86." Haru heard her mom say. The brunette immediately stopped her cart and turned around.
Her mom used the key to open the door; she pushed it open.
Haru's lips slightly twitched.
The room was a lot smaller than she imagined. It was as big as a medium sized bedroom; two beds were situated next to each other perpendicular to the wall. Small wooden dressers were located next to each of the beds, one of them with a lamp. Across from the bed had a small flat screen T.V. For such a nice hotel, this room sure was modest and ordinary.
Haru slowly pushed her cart in after her mom was inside.
"This is…"
"You don't like it?" Haru's mom interjected, her teasing returning.
"I do!" Haru exclaimed, "It's just not as big as I imagined!"
"Well, this was a bargain compared to the other rooms. You didn't expect us to get one of those fancy hotel rooms, did you?"
"…no." Haru dejectedly replied after a pause. That would have been cool, to live in a resort-like hotel.
The brunette closed the door behind her before looking around the room some more. There was another door opposite from one of the beds; Haru opened it. She saw a small bathroom with a regular sized shower and toilet. It also included a sink with a large mirror.
Haru noticed her reflection; she nearly grimaced. Her brown hair was in tattered shape; some of the strands were coming out of place from her ponytail and the back strands falling alongside her neck. She wore an oversized t-shirt and baggy light blue jeans; she didn't realize how homely she must have looked until now.
"Hahi…I look so gross desu…" Haru muttered to herself; the stress of packing up didn't allow her to pay much attention to her appearance.
"Haru!" Her mother called from the other room.
Haru left the bathroom and saw her mom piling the suitcases and bags at the edge of the room. The brunette raised her eyebrow; she almost assumed they were going to unpack now.
"Are we going to unpack later?" Haru asked.
"Yes, right now I'm hungry. Are you hungry?"
Haru nodded her head, "I haven't eaten all day actually."
"Okay then, why don't you go downstairs and see what they have available at the food court since they didn't bother to give us our menu yet." Her mother replied as she laid back on one of the beds.
"Hey! How come I have to do it alone?!" Haru whined as she stared at her mom's resting figure. She was desperate for some sleep; seeing her mom do so got to her. The brunette childishly huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Even after all those years, Haru refused to give up her childish demeanor. She had noticeably matured over the years, but deep down inside she was still a kid; her friends made sure to constantly tell her that and occasionally tease her about it.
"Because I'm tired."
"I'm tired too!" She exclaimed, hesitated, then pursed her lips, looking away from her mom, "…Fine! I'll do it."
Haru cartoonishly yawned before closing the door behind her. She habitually rubbed her hands across her upper arms, as she quickly made her way towards the same elevator she came out from.
"Once I'm done with this I'm going straight to bed…" She muttered to herself.
She looked above the elevator and saw lit numbers in order, all numbered 1 through 7. She impatiently tapped her foot as she was waited for the elevator to come below from the upper floors. Once the light hit number three, Haru pressed a button next to the elevator doors to open them up. Her eyes widened when she saw somebody already inside the elevator once it opened; she nearly jumped back from the person's unexpected appearance.
It was an attractive and tall male who looked a few years her senior. He wore a black suit with a purple dress shirt neatly buttoned under it. He had tousled raven black hair and bluish eyes with sharp features. He had an intimidating and unapproachable aura about him, but that didn't faze Haru. The brunette was about to step inside the elevator until he spoke five words she did not want to hear right now.
"Get on the next one." He simply said.
Haru frowned, but then she snapped to her senses once the elevator doors were closing again.
"Hey, wait!" Haru exclaimed; she stepped forwards and forcefully opened the elevator doors back up before they could fully close. The male's eyes widened, surprised at her brashness. His surprised expression changed to an irate glare once Haru stepped into the elevator.
"Why? I was waiting!" The brunette exclaimed, tiredly crouching forwards from the strenuous task of pushing open the heavy elevator doors. She looked up at the formally dressed male, waiting for him to answer. Paired with his cold demeanor, there was something very arrogant and uppity about him, "It's going downwards isn't it?"
"I told you to get on the next one." Clear irritation was present in his voice; he didn't bother to look at Haru once he said that. The brunette's eyes widened; she was appalled by this guy's attitude.
"Do you own these elevators or something?" Haru immediately replied; her grouchiness was getting to her. She really needed to get some sleep. She eccentrically pointed to a number one button that was ordered numerically with a set of other buttons, "We're both going to the first floor. First floor!"
"Do you know who I am?" He said after a pause. People usually obeyed his every order without question, why was this girl so rudely speaking to him?
Haru scoffed, disgusted by his entitled question, "No, and I don't care."
The suited male frowned, giving Haru the frostiest glare he could muster. The girl was taken aback, but she regained her composure. This man wasn't going to scare her; who did he think he was anyways? A short ping came from the elevator's speaker.
"Move."
"Ehh?"
She turned around and realized the elevator just opened; it already reached the first floor. The male slightly pushed against Haru, getting her out of the way. Haru slightly stumbled a bit, but gained her balance. She watched the guy walk further at a brisk pace towards the hotel lobby. She was left surprised and slightly taken aback; she wondered if all the residents or at least the richer residents of the hotel were like this.
"…My god, what a jerk."
The elevator doors were getting ready to close again.
"Ahh! Wait, wait!" Haru exclaimed; shouting at the elevator doors. She frantically pressed the "open" button and scurried out of the elevator. She cursed herself for being so slow.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'm sorry Kyoko-chan! I couldn't call you earlier because I took a nap." Haru sighed; she propped herself on her elbows, holding her cellphone to her ear. She dragged her plastic fork across her empty Styrofoam food tray which sat beside her on the bed. She was to going to have to get off the bed and throw it away soon, if she cared enough to be organized for once. The brunette swung her lower legs back and forth as she continued to converse with her best friend.
"How is it? What's Vongola Hotel like?!" Kyoko's voice from the other line said; curiosity and excitement laced her tone of voice.
Haru grinned, "It's amazing. Well, the room we live in is pretty ordinary, but the hotel lobby and the food court are splendid! It's so beautiful here desu! I wonder how they keep it so neat all the time since it's so busy and full of people!"
Kyoko giggled at her friend's usual hyperactive and overexcited nature.
"I have to see this place for myself then."
"I'm having a small housewarming party this Friday; my mom won't be home so we don't have to worry about disturbing her." Haru replied; taking note that her mother was away at work around this time. The brunette flipped over on her back, staring at the ceiling.
"That's something I can look forward to. All week has been work and nothing else. Should I bring any snacks?"
Haru furiously shook her head, "No, no, it's okay. I'll buy my own. Bring Hana and Onii-san!"
"Will do." Kyoko replied.
There was a short silence before Haru broke it; the brunette shot up, sitting upright on her bed, "Ah, Kyoko-chan! I applied for another job…at the hotel itself. I don't know whether to be excited or not."
"What is it?"
"The hotel chairman's assistant...or his son's assistant. I don't remember. It's basically waiting hand and foot for some overly privileged executive of the hotel that everyone here seems to worship." Haru replied; she flopped back onto her bed, "I should be thankful I guess; this job might pay well, that is if I get it. I can finally save up faster for college."
Haru slightly pouted; she was 20…almost nearing 21. She had never started or been to college before. She wasn't ashamed, but it often made her feel like she was lingering behind everyone else. All her friends had either finished or were close to finishing school. Due to her family's financial problems, Haru had to prioritize that over anything else first. This delayed her schooling. She never blamed anyone else though, her family always came first.