Life in an orphanage is dark and lonely. I've been in one since I was born. I didn't understand it, because I'd been so young. One moment, in the arms of a warm woman, white surrounding my vision, the next in a crib that could barely stand my weight.
For two years, I was raised amongst children who shared my situation, kids of different ages who all understood the feeling of betrayal, the sadness of being abandoned.
Of course, we all hoped to be adopted. Sometimes we'd see one of our comrades leave us, hand in hand with new parents, or sometimes just a parent. But anything was better than nothing. Everyone envied them, everyone except me.
I was quite happy where I was, content passing my days playing with the other children. When they moped, I'd entertain myself. Maybe it was my youth that had made me innocent, but I was happy enough to be alive and surrounded by others.
On a chilly October day, as I was gaily jumping into leaf piles with the other young children while the older ones remade the piles with rakes, a young couple came to watch us. The woman was blonde and pretty, but leaned a little too heavily on the man, who had light brown hair. They watched us all play with smiles on their faces.
I grew curious, because none of the adults had actually come to see us before picking. I boldly walked up to the two and stared up at them. Whether or not the man grew uncomfortable, I couldn't tell, but the woman smiled and crouched down.
"Hello."
I waggled my fingers at her, then let my hand fall to my side. She looked at me for a good few seconds before I laughed it off and turned to rejoin my companions.
They ended up disappearing from sight, but I wasn't too concerned. For the next hour, I played joyously with my friends, right up until lunch time.
When everyone ran in to eat, the woman in charge took me by the hand and led me away. I was confused, until I met the couple from before in the main lobby.
My new life started from that moment on. I met Tamaki, who was a year older than me, and we turned into partners of crime. We were good, but very mischievous. We loved to play and laugh. We even learned to play the piano together.
Of course, though, nothing seems to last, and our happiness didn't. It started when the man I'd come to know as a father left, because he wasn't married to mother, but to another woman. The day he left, I'd ended up inadvertedly meeting my grandmother. She had scared me badly, if by nothing else but the cold glare in her eyes.
After my sixth birthday, the woman returned, and took me from all I'd know. I was to live in the house of another wealthy family. She thought she could use me to connect the ties between the Suoh's and the Ootori's.
I met Kyouya, who was the same age as Tamaki.
At first, I didn't want anything to do with them. I slowly grew accustomed, to the point where Kyouya decided to get me a present for Christmas, just so I wouldn't feel out of place throughout the merry holiday. At least, that was his excuse.
I went home a year later, and after another good five years, it was Tamaki's turn to leave. Father had gotten to see me and mother one more time. He hugged me, and mother hugged Tamaki. They turned, crossed paths, and waited as I ran into my brother's arms and refused to let go.
Mother ended up getting a job as a maid. She decided it wouldn't do well for me to be a part of that kind of atmosphere, so she sent me to Japan to live with a friend of hers.
The man and his daughter had met me at the airport. I've lived with them since, and to be completely honest, I feel more at home than ever. But I don't know how long it'll last.
That has been my story up to this point. My name is Miyako Suoh. I have long pink hair that reaches past my waist and turquoise colored eyes. I play the piano, violin, flute, harp, guitar and drums. I can sing, and prefer songs that reflect my innermost feelings and thoughts.
And along with Haruhi Fujioka, I'll be starting my high school life at Ouran High. Because of my advanced skills, I've been put into the second year class.
My high school life begins tomorrow.