DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.
AUTHOR'S NOTE/WARNING: Yukiko's love of cursing. Yup, defnitely watch out for that.
one
The Beginning/Some Professional-Looking Bunch Came to Get Me
The orphanage was the place I've grown up. In fifteen years, I lived as an orphan girl who has a life like Cinderella. I don't have two evil stepsisters though.
I have lots of younger brats to be bothered.
I was the oldest one of the house, being fifteen yet still not adopted, while the younger ones were whisked away by other people to be their kid/s.
I always wonder why. Why I am still here, why no one adopted me. In fifteen years, people come and by at this place. And yet, no one was able to take me.
I wonder why.
Sighing heavily, I looked down at the foamed water swirling down to the pipe. I just finished washing the dishes and before that, I cleaned some rooms. I think it was twenty, more or less. And before that, I cooked breakfast. Which is hard, you know. I have to cook for fifty-plus kids, excluding the people who watch after us. Thank God some kids helped me, bless their good hearts.
"Yukiko! Where is Yukiko?!"
"I'm here." I raised my hand while turning, my other one rubbing against my clothes to dry.
"Clean the stables! Hurry up!"
Why the hell this orphanage even have stables anyway? Oh right, we also run a farm. Awesome.
The one who had called me is the evil 'stepmother', Miss Hamada. She grew old without having a husband nor a child, I guess that why she's so evil and bitter. Ha-ha.
"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled before walking past her. I can't stay with her in the same room for long, I think I might die.
Even though I didn't do anything rude, she still sent me an evil eye. What did I even do to her? Whatever, like I care. "Don't slouch, Yukiko! It's not ladylike!"
Ladylike—she treats me like the other kids as slaves, working day and night, and I can't even slouch?! Fuck being ladylike, I am not some Cinderella who is still pretty even though she's a maid!
Making my way to the stables outside, kids greeted me. Some were carrying brooms, some mops and some vases. Anyway, all of the kids here know to do housework. One must know how to at least fry an egg, how to wash clothes and clean a room. Even though we all do the housework here, we also go to school. Kids from 7 to 15 – I'm the oldest, by the way, if I haven't mentioned for the second time – go to elementary school and middle school. Toshiya – my young grasshopper – is two years younger than me, who is one of the only two guys who are in the age passing ten. Shiro is the other one – the sensitive crybaby – who is at the same age as Toshiya. They argue a lot though, goodness.
Speaking of, Toshiya and Shiro's figures could be seen from afar. As usual, they are arguing. Toshiya is your usual boy who is stubborn and rebellious. That's why he never gets adopted. Shiro, on the other hand, always refuses. He told me that he doesn't want to leave yet. He's sensitive and easily cries. He tells what he feels, unlike Toshiya that only expresses himself if he's angry or hungry. Or both.
"I already told you, Shiro! You could've punched him in the fucking face!"
"Don't yell, Toshiya! And I don't want to hurt someone, no matter what they did to me!"
As expected from the good one and the bad one. Always clashing.
"He bullies you, Shiro! At least learn to defend yourself!" Toshiya exclaims. "If I were you, I'd punch that guy in the face! So I won't be sporting a bruise on my cheek later!"
"Hush, Toshiya! Someone might hear you!"
"Oh, I hear you guys alright." I cut in, making my way towards them. I only raised a brow when both of them looked away. Now they're being quite? What good boys they are.
"Toshiya, what is this about?" I ask the bad-tempered boy. If I ask Shiro, he surely won't tell me so I can't be 'bothered'. The boy I asked made a 'tch' noise.
"Our classmate wanted to copy Shiro's assignment. Lucky for the bastard, I was at the restroom that time. Shiro refused and told him all that 'being a good student' shits. That earned him a punch. That's why he was wearing a mask earlier, onee-chan. He's covering it."
"Toshiya!" Shiro turns his head, and an ugly bruise on his left cheek greeted me. I felt rage spreading into my system, making the two younger boys look at me.
"O-Onee-chan…!" Shiro stammered. "I was about to tell you—"
"When your bruise disappear? Fuck that, who's the kid?"
"You don't need to know—"
"Fujiwara, onee-chan." Toshiya informed, ignoring Shiro's warning look. "I can't remember his ugly first name, but I call him by his surname. He's the only one who has a surname like that in our class."
"Your class is 1-B, right?" I asked. "I'll go there if I have time."
"Onee-chan!"
"Come on, I'll help you clean the stables," I said, but Toshiya shook his head.
"Nah, we finished already. I know the old hag will probably make you go here, so Shiro and I sped up."
The corner of my lips tug upwards, "I'm impressed. You guys are getting better and better."
"Nah, we're learning from the best." Toshiya grinned. "So let's just rest. I know you're exhausted, onee-chan. Dinner is coming, and I know you have to cook again."
At that, I sighed. "Yeap, this is so painful."
"You've been doing this ever since you're seven, onee-chan." Shiro smiled. "But I agree that this is too exhausting."
"And tomorrow's Saturday, right?" Toshiya bitterly asked. "Damn, another lesson."
I shook my head, amused.
This orphanage isn't like others. Only people who have money and fame go here. The orphanage has lots of sponsors, and that's why we're staying in a manor-like house. Every weekend, some teachers will teach us how to be a noble kid, since it's usually noble people who adopt kids from the orphanage.
What boys study are different from the girls. Since Toshiya and Shiro are into it longer than the others, there was the only two of them being taught how to talk to someone about business.
Toshiya comments it was 'boring' while Shiro thinks it's 'interesting'.
In my case, being the oldest, I was taught alone. The next oldest girl in the orphanage was only ten. The orphanage in this area doesn't accept many children, that's why. Thank God this town aren't full of irresponsible bastards. The teacher I was with told me that we'll continue doing flower arranging the next time we meet, and I dread the day to come.
Excuse me, but I don't like my fingers bleeding once again because of the fucking thorns. That's why I hate it sometimes.
"Onee-chan…"
"Hmm." I tilt my head towards him.
"Miss Hamada told me something."
"Adoption," Toshiya says, his chin in his palm. "It's always adoption, Shiro. What's new about that? You always refuse."
"It's different this time." Shiro shakes his head. "She tells me that it's time, and soon, it'll be your turn."
I frown, "But Toshiya's pretty much hated by the visitors you know. He always ditches when it's Donation Day and the old hags come by."
"Speaking about that," Toshiya laughed. "I already know what you felt when Miss Evil-Hamada punished you years ago. You also slept in the stables for a few nights, right?" he asks me.
I nodded, chuckling. "Yeah. It's because I brought a snake and put it into her bed. Got me a few laughs before she found out it was me."
"I'm going to leave in a week."
"That was so hila—what?" Toshiya turns his head to Shiro, who was looking down at his lap. His hands were curled into fists, clutching the hem of his cargo shorts.
"Miss Hamada didn't give me a choice. I'll be leaving with the Yoshidas next week."
"But…" I stood up. "How come? Why?"
"It's because I'm getting older." Shiro sobs. "Miss Hamada says that most people don't adopt teenagers. I'm only thirteen years old, and some people want to adopt me."
"What?" I exclaim. "But I'm fifteen and yet no one took me away! How come you got to—"
"I'm sorry, onee-chan. Miss Hamada told me there's a reason why you're still here yet…" Shiro sniffs. Toshiya frowned and looked away, a hurt expression on his face. "But she didn't tell me."
"That's not the point!" I yelled. "The point is—why now?! Why not later?! Just not now!"
"We'll only delay it then, onee-chan." I looked at Toshiya who stood up, looking down so I can't see his face. "It's better this way."
He turns and walks away, not even looking back as I call him.
"Toshiya!"
"Hey, I'm calling you!"
"The fuck, Toshiya! Come back!"
I felt a hand touching my arm. I looked and saw Shiro, "Shiro, I—"
"It's okay, onee-chan." He softly said. "Toshiya's just mad. I'll talk to him later."
I sighed.
Why the hell is this happening now?
"Yukiko,"
I looked up and then bowed my head in apology. The teacher in front of me was giving me a disapproving look.
"You're being distracted, why is that?" she asks, settling her hands again to her lap. I did the same. My legs feel burning because of the way I sit, but this is the traditional and formal way. I'm so thankful that I'm used to pain already.
"One of my friends is leaving, Sensei." I softly said. "I just can't help but think of him."
She sighed, "Adoption?"
I snorted, earning a look from her. I pursued my lips, "Yes, Sensei. What else?"
"Yukiko." She started to arrange the flowers again, snipping here and there. I started to do the same, already thinking of where and how I would do it. "Sometimes, friends need to leave us too."
SNIP!
She sighed, giving me that disapproving look again. She stood up slowly and went to the cabinet at the corner of the room, taking out a small first-aid kit.
I looked down at my bleeding index finger.
Friends need to leave us too.
Toshiya was to be next to leave. So I'll be alone?
Don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm not that good with the others, but Toshiya and Shiro are the only who are close to my age. Conversing to them makes all of the things easier. The other kids look up at me as their oldest sister, even Toshiya and Shiro, but we also think of ourselves as friends.
It's always sad to see someone leaving.
"I know," I looked up and saw Sensei cleaning my cut. I realized I was thinking out loud. "It is sad to see someone leaving. Thinking they won't come back in the future. And that you'll be alone in the end."
"However," she looked at me. "You can't sulk around, Yukiko. That is not the right thing to do."
"Yes, Sensei." I mumbled, nodding my head.
"You are now free to leave." She said, wrapping my finger with a band-aid. "We'll continue tomorrow."
When Shiro was set to leave, Toshiya can't be found. I figured he was in the forest again, sulking. Shiro was sad when I told him about it, but I assured him that he will get a scolding from me later.
"The Yoshidas are nice, onee-chan." He says, carrying his bag. I was carrying his luggage. "Mrs. Yoshida can't have a child because she's sterile, but she always smiles and makes good cookies."
"Even better than mine?" I raised a brow. Shiro only gave me a toothy smile.
The giving of goodbyes was painful. But fleeting.
I saw how Mrs. Yoshida's face brightens when Shiro called her Mom. I saw Mr. Yoshida's smile when he made Shiro laugh. At that moment, I knew Shiro will be in good hands.
A part of me doesn't want him to go, but another says that this is for his own good. The orphanage might be full of children, but Shiro won't be able to experience how it is to have a family. It is one thing he wishes than everything.
It is one thing Toshiya and I can't give him.
Giving Toshiya the talk, he grumbles as we made our way towards the orphanage. I rolled my eyes and punched him in the arm.
"What the—?! Onee-chan, your punches are deadly! Don't direct them to me!"
"Then don't be such a woeful bitch and help me at the kitchen. The last one to get there is a wimpy kid!" I said after I went full-speed.
"THAT'S CHEATING!"
Hey, sometimes you need to cheat to win.
When I arrived at the kitchen with Toshiya following after a few good minutes, I quickly tied my hair and took my apron on. Toshiya grunts and did the same, but he only tied his long fringes up because I told him to.
"You look stupid," I commented as I look at him. He rolled his eyes. "Ha-ha, funny." He dryly answered.
"Where's Yukiko?" a voice could be heard outside. Toshiya turns beside me, a brow raised.
"What does the old hag needs now?" he asked before shaking his head and continued peeling the potatoes.
When the kitchen's doors opened, Miss Hamada entered with the grace of a stiff queen. "Yukiko, come with me. Some people want to meet you."
"But we're getting ready for dinner—"
"Silence, Toshiya. I am not talking to you." Miss Hamada looked at him pointedly. "That's not a future son of a rich man would do."
"Oh yeah? Well—"
"I'll come." I cut in. She curtly nodded and gave Toshiya the evil eye before looking at me. "I'll be waiting at the hall."
I nodded and she went out. When the door clicked, indicating that it's closed, I punched Toshiya's arm, making him yelp loudly in pain. "If you don't want to sleep in stables for a few more nights then don't piss her off. You might be staying in the basement next time."
"But—"
"Toshiya."
"Oh goddamn it, fine!" he huffed. I smiled and ruffled his hair, taking off my apron next and stuffing it into his face. He yelled in protest.
"I'm out!" I said before closing the door.
I sighed. What is it this time?
"Seriously, girl, couldn't you be more messier?"
No shit, I haven't taken a bath after making breakfast, cleaning rooms, washing hundreds of dishes and then cleaning the stables. I was about to do dinner, but hey, someone wants to meet me. If they're willing to wait a little bit more, then I'm willing to hit the showers.
But instead, I just rolled my eyes and fixed my ponytail. Straightened some wrinkles in my shirt and I'm good as shit.
She eyed me with intense scrutiny. And then made a disapproving noise. Man, it's so hard not being perfect. "Oh well, you'll be leaving soon anyway."
I frowned, "Wait, what? Leaving? Me?"
"Why, yes." she tilted her head slightly. If she thought it made a good angle to look at her – nope, still horrible-looking as ever. "Didn't you want to leave?"
"But—"
"In you go." she pushed me when the door opened, and then slammed it close after.
People in formal suits looked at me. Altogether, they stood and bowed.
"Good evening, Yukiko-hime."
Wait, what?!