Enchantment

By: Guiltshow

Disclaimer: I only own my cold. D;

Chapter One: Protectorate

Silence was all that a young girl wanted. She wanted to sit in the forest in silence.

She felt at peace, and at home. She had felt safe, as if nothing would attack her because of her hidden protector. A hidden protector certainly did sound insanely idiotic, but she knew that he was there - just watching in the same silence that she had enjoyed. Sometimes she would talk to him, this ominous being, and leave food for him. She never stayed to see if he was there; she simply thought that he was a forest spirit, and needed respect.

The relationship between the girl and the thing had been nothing to speak of. No one cared to ask what she was doing, after all she was a girl. Girls, ladies, women - whatever category you put them did not change the fact that they were female. Females were nothing to look forward to or respect unless you wanted to have heirs to your family. Somehow no one noticed that from the time she could walk to her current age of seventeen, she had spent hours in the woods. Those woods...

The woods had a certain alluring quality to them. They held a mysterious aura that was emitted from every living and nonliving thing. Some would believe that this was no more special than any other forest. Others had been forewarned due to folklore. How many young, beautiful demons would sit there and wait for the fairest maidens, and handsome, young men. They sat there and waited until one day they would confront them. The demonic creatures would lure them in with their heart's desires...and then they would never be seen again.

At first, people were concerned for the young Fujioka; however, she kept coming back after each escapade in the forest. Many were curious, but as time went by, the rumors slowly subsided.

She loved the spring - it meant the smell of all the flora and the fauna. The bright colors, and the dew residing on the grass made it seem simply peaceful and wonderful.

She thought the summer wasn't the best, but loved the shade the trees had provided. She loved to sit near a flowing, soft-spoken stream in her summer yukata and read her newest novel.

She thought the autumn was beautiful, with the leaves changing and falling on the dirt paths.

Even though she thought favoritism was wrong, she couldn't help but love winter the most. The cold chilled her bones, and kept her on her feet. She was more alert, yet she still reveled in the wild breeze. It was much better than in town.

Where she lived, the influences of far off countries had been incorporated into her town. Even though they kept most traditions, you slowly saw the automobiles parade in the street, and the new styles of the west were crept in. Soon, she had to literally count the seconds before she got into the clean air of the forest. More factories were being built, and she had seen many girls begining to wear the newest, revealing fashions.

Determined to keep away from the new trends, and her over-concerned father she cut her hair. She deliberately tried to be the opposite of what was currently in fashion. She would work on a farm, and she would wear men's apparel. All this was a scandel. Once the villagers noticed that she simply didn't care, the less scandalous it became.

Returning from a hard day of herding cows, Fujioka changed to a simple, cotton dress and put an apron on to manage her father's bar. She would know how and what customers wanted, and everyone was attracted to her simpleness.

"My daughter...I wish you would become more feminine."

"By feminine, I suppose you mean to become a trollop. I believe this better. Plus, if I were to become more lady-like, wouldn't you think I would be defiled by most men?"

"AH! You are so right, my little daughter. Daddy will make sure none of those good-for-nothing men step near you. As your father I shall protect you!"

"I'm perfectly fine by myself. I can't find myself needing help from a father who can't even remember to pick up after himself."

"Oh, daughter. Daddy still loves you."

"Hm..."

As she tried not to be suffocated by her over-bearing, adoring, cross-dresser of a father, her mind began to wander off to the events that happened earlier that morning...when she finally had met him.

"Daughter, dearest...you smell like wood chips and cinnamon and...what is that other smell...hmm..."

"Father," the young Fujioka briskly stated. "I'm tired. Can I go take a bath?"

"Sure. DARLING, oh dear. You aren't getting sick, are you? You go ahead and go upstairs. I'll go get someone to start some food."

"Really, father, I just need a shower." She hugged him lightly, and made her way upstairs.

"I'll never get how strange she is..." The reigning Fujioka sighed, and quickly fixed his corset. "Back to business." Thus he began to treat customers at his owned bar.

Upstairs, the brown-haired girl sat on her bed, inhaling her jacket. Sure there were rips and tears, but the smell wasn't gone. His only proof of existence was that jacket, and his wonderful aroma. She placed it in a secluded part of her small closet, and grabbed her things to go outside. Stepping out in her bare feet, the sensation of the cold was sent through her feet and into her veins. It was as cold as his hand against her cheek. She sighed, shaking her head. She made her way to the small, private spring that was unoccupied. Slipping into the closed area, she stripped down, and slowly lowered herself so that the warmth would engulf her whole body and soul.

Sinking into the small bath, her eyes shut as she tried to remember him...

'Stepping into the woods, she felt no harm...but she felt no comfort. Where was he? He wasn't there to protect her. Not seeing him, she could have felt incredibly silly. How did she even know he was real?

Sitting on a vacant log, she opened up to the next chapter of her book. Being sucked into another realm, she didn't hear the disturbed rustle of the bushes, nor did she realize that it had become extremely quiet. She shifted her position on the rock, and simply glanced up to see some thing not very welcoming. Stumbling onto her back, she let out a small 'oof' of surprise. The large, gray wolf stalked closer as it bore it's fangs. She tried to get up, and turned to run away. She felt faint, because she knew that she was now surrounded by a pack of hungry, and quite unfriendly looking wolves.

'Never...judge a book by it's cover,' she thought weakly, as she smiled softly at the hunched over wolf to her left. 'They are probably nice...hopefully they just want your food...Listen to yourself! You think they are here to have a tea party? They aren't here just to say hello and ask how the weather is...' She frowned at her realistic, pessimistic side began to talk to her. As one lunged towards her, she knew that the realistic side had one again. Bracing herself on a conveniently located placed tree, she covered her face in her palms and turned to collide with a tall, cold figure. 'I didn't even have to ask...for help.' She stared in awe at the dark figure, as he shoved her away, barely missing her back and instead shredded the back of her jacket. Had she been in a more confident mood, she would have reprimanded herself for crying at a time like this.

Her shadowy protector moved strong and silent like the trees on a stormy day. His whole appearance made her shiver, and she fell to her knees, shutting her eyes in a swift moment. When she heard the growling and squeals of agony subside, she looked up to see him there. Blood smeared his face, more of it around his mouth than anywhere else. For that moment only, his eyes burned through her - their blood red color penetrating her defenses. He looked at her shocked face, and his beautiful face frowned.

Even when he looked utterly morbid and sad, his eerie beauty was still there. The more he stood there, with a stoic face and frown, the more she could tell how handsome and unreal he looked.

Not exactly matching an Angel of Death but certainly coming close, her eyes couldn't tear off of him. She felt as if she wanted to trace his high cheek bones, and his long neck. His pale skin and jet black hair seemed lifeless, but he was still...enchanting.


Managing to stand up, she wobbled before falling forward. She didn't even see him move, but he was there to catch her. A wave of cold was sent down her spine as he wrapped one arm around her small waist and effortlessly pulled her to her feet. Both stared at each other; the young tomboy felt less scared as she stared mindlessly into his abyss-like brown eyes. She cocked her head to the side, and blinked. As she smiled weakly when the back of his hand brushed away the dirt on her cheek. Opening her mouth to thank him, he suddenly disappeared, leaving her alone in the woods like before. Only she heard his voice. She heard the velvet smooth voice, with a soothing ring to it when this man...this creature simply said: You are welcome, Haruhi...'

"Haruhi..."

Fujioka Haruhi's eyes tore away from the yellow moon, and turned to a girl her own age.

"Good evening, Renge-san. I'm almost done." She quickly hoisted herself out of the bath and changed with speed. With a towel drying her hair, she bowed to her classmate. "Sorry it took me so long."

"Ohoho!" Renge giggled, her hand covering her mouth. "It is no problem. After all, only a woman spends her time in a bath because she has been with a man. Haruhi, I never took you for the type. OHOHO! Such love and deceit. Your poor, cross-dressing father doesn't even know that a man has stolen your heart! Ohoho!"

"Renge-san, you got all that because I took slightly longer in the bath?"

"Why, yes, my dear Haruhi." She put her hands on her hips, and leaned in towards Haruhi. "You smell like wood chips, cinnamon...and mint." The polar opposite of Haruhi rose a delicate eyebrow and tsked. "Just tell me if you need any help, Haruhi! I would be glad to help you and your forbidden love. OHOHOHO!"

Before Haruhi could object, Renge pushed her out and closed the door. Haruhi sighed. She wasn't with a man...she was with - She didn't know what to think.

"I give up..." She sighed, and continued to her small room in the attic of the bar. Turning on an oil lamp, she laid out her futon. She then put away her book with the rest of her collection on a wall full of shelving; She proceded to lay down on her bedding, and sighed yet again for good measure. Just who was this man? How did he know her? Why couldn't she just stop thinking about him?

In her heart built only for one, Haruhi was just beginning to bloom into her adulthood. With so many inexperienced situations to experience, she didn't know how to cope with the first out of many. Fujioka Haruhi had one thing that could stop her from searching for him again tomorrow. One thing that she thought was deplorable. That one thing was a new school her father had enrolled her into. She loved that it had a library, and thought she was there to learn. She quickly found out that it wasn't for that at all. This school was clearly to torture her. She could hear her father laughing his wig off as he told her the great news.

"Starting on the weekends my little darling, you shall be attending school: A school for young girls to grow into marvelous ladies. It's a new thing for Japan. It is called adequate school! My little Haruhi will become a lady!"

This sounded simply demonic, in Haruhi's opinion; she knew tomorrow would be the worst day of her life...

A/N - Done! The first chapter of Enchantment! Woooooohoooo! I hope you enjoyed. This is the prologue in away, but I hate confusing myself so it is chapter one. Yes. This is in Japan, but with Western influences. I refuse to say which era it is, because then I will have to research it to make sure the story is accurate. Yes. Aha. And the lines FINALLY WORK AGAIN!

I meant to be vague on her guardian's description. Yep.

Please read and review at the bottom. No need for insightful things(though they are loved); Just type 'That was cool!' or something. Tell me beautiful lies. I need to hear them.

Stay tuned for next week when Haruhi 'mistakens' a teacher for somebody else, and meet most of the Host Club.

Ja ne, Jordan.