Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for my own characters.
A/N: This is my first story so please be nice :) My English is not the best so there might be some mistakes. This is not going to be an incredibly fast-paced story, and I'm not going to rush this to catch up with the anime story-line. (I've watched the anime only.) Proverbs will be added instead of titles.
Please rest assured, the rests of the Ouran Highschool Host Club will definitely be in this story. I needed to flesh out a few things about my OC, Takashi, Mitsukuni and a few other members to make things flow better than simply putting my OC in high school.
Description of this story: The birth of Maeda Sousuke was a blasphemy done by his mother. Under the traditions and rules of the Maeda Family, he should have been aborted before his birth but Haruka-sama, the Head of Maeda Family, refuses to do so and allowed Sousuke to live.
All his life Sousuke has served his siblings and the elders in the main house. Living was a foreign concept to him until he met Takashi, who brought a whole new world into his life.
All his life, Takashi knew that Mitsukuni must be that first priority. Friends were a foreign word on his tongue until he met Sousuke, who broke through his walls and brought a best friend into his life.
Their friendship brought each other joy and experiences that were once foreign to them but… Takashi wondered, would it have been different if he had not met Sousuke? Would it have prevented the heartache and regrets that haunted him for years?
Chapter 01
"Life is a flame that is always burning itself out, but it catches fire again every time a child is born" - George Bernard Shaw
A tall black-haired young man in his mid-twenties sat on a typical plastic chair in a hospital room. His long fringe fell and obscured his vision when he tilted his head down. An audible sigh left his mouth as he swiped it behind his ears.
"How many times are you going to do that?" An amused voice tickled his ears and as expected, he straightened his back at that voice. He threw that book beside him before setting his worried blue eyes at a heavily pregnant woman on the hospital bed.
Black long hair flowed down over her shoulders as she laid on the inclined bed. Despite the heaviness on her stomach, she laid majestically on the bed like a lioness waiting at its den. Her amused brown eyes stared at him.
"It's about time." She whispered as she caressed her stomach lovingly.
He stood up from the chair and dragged himself towards her. He rubbed his trembling hands together and took a few deep breaths. The slumped shoulders and hunched back tugged her heart but she refused to give in.
"Haruka-sama, are you ready?" He choked out those words as he bowed towards her before taking a seat beside her bed.
Haruka gave a dismissive wave of her hand, clenched her fist on the blanket and nodded her head. She then lifted her chin towards him and smirked. "Sou, don't forget our bet."
Sou pinched the bridge of his nose and massaged his temples from the impending headache he was about to receive. "Haruka-sama I - "
The sliding of doors behind him interrupted his words, and a feminine clinical voice filled the room. "Maeda Haruka-sama? The doctors will be here soon. All guests are to leave this room until the labour is over."
Before anyone could do anything, the nurse slid the door back and left hastily to her next patient. Sou slouched even further and placed his hands on her fist before massaging his temples again. He clenched his eyes and whispered.
"Haruka-sama, if the elders were to know about this…"
Haruka lifted her hand to stop him from going further and shrugged her shoulders. She smirked even wider. "I am the Head of this Family, and my words are absolute. You should know this better than anyone."
The underlying threat in her voice caused Sou to straightened his back. He twirled his long fringe and swallowed nervously. "Of course. Haruka-sama."
Haruka stared at Sou when she heard the resignation in his voice. The teary worried blue eyes tugged her heart once more. A sigh left her mouth, and she placed her hands on his shoulder.
"Sou. No - " She shook her head and addressed him in a way that will have her titles stripped and beheaded if the elders were to hear about this.
"Nii-san. There is no other way."
Sou took a deep breath, placed his head on his hands and sniffed. "It's… been years since you called me that." He wiped his tears, and the determination in his eyes satisfied her.
"I'll leave him in your care. Remember, 14 years from now."
Sou bowed again in response and left the room. Haruka looked out of the window at the colorful skies and smiled. She caressed her stomach lovingly with trembling hands before a tear slipped from her eyes.
For once, Haruka lowered her guard down and wept for the pain her child will go through. "-ousuke. Forgive me." She wiped her tears when the nurse came back with the doctors and a long 8 hours labour began.
.
.
.
.
.
"It-it's a boy!"
Next: Sousuke paused and gaped at his Uncle. "Training session!? Why wasn't I aware of it?" He then snatched the paper out of Haruhi's hand and glanced through it…