Note from the Author: I actually started this as a writing exercise, but I thought it was kind of a fun idea, so...here it is. Inspired by episode 13 of Ouran Host Club (Haruhi in Wonderland), comes the new set of fairytale stories poor Haruhi is living (or dreaming...) through, *insert semi-evil laugh*. I had a lot fun writing this, and I hope you have as much fun reading it. :) If any of you have a fairytale you want to see, just let me know! I'd be more than happy to write it!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Ouran High School Host Club or any of the characters, no matter how much I may want to.
Kotoko Fujioka had been an avid lover of fairy tales. Haruhi couldn't remember a night before her mother died when she wouldn't hear a story of a lovely heroine who ends up triumphing over some sort of fictional evil. And they almost always ended up with the prince of their dreams in the end. Haruhi had thought these stories were illogical and unrealistic. She hadn't cared for them much despite Kotoko's obsession and disappointment that her daughter didn't share her interest.
But even though Haruhi didn't care for the stories themselves, she couldn't seem to erase them from her subconscious. Years after Kotoko's death, they were still there, invading Haruhi's dreams. As much as Haruhi would have liked to get rid of the dreams based off the stories she didn't particularly care for, she couldn't. When she was younger, Haruhi wondered if she could just stop dreaming altogether, but that didn't work very well either. But the thought did still cross her mind every now and then…
In fact, it was crossing her mind right at that moment, when her eyes started getting droopy and her mind started to remember she had gotten only a couple hours of sleep that previous night. Haruhi felt her head lay itself down on the table, attempting to drown out the sounds of the ever-noisy host club. Tamaki and the twins were just fighting with each other anyway, it's not like anyone needed her around for that. And as much as Haruhi wanted to stay awake…she just couldn't.
"Oh great…" Haruhi sighed to herself, "Another one?" She looked around her in horror. Everything in the small room looked like it was made of wood and smelled like sawdust. And it was so cramped too. The ceiling was even slanted. Was she in an attic? She couldn't be…there was a bed in the corner which told her it had to be…a room…
"Get me out of here," Haruhi whined to herself, recognizing where her mother's fantasies had put her this time. She glanced down and sure enough, Haruhi was wearing patched up pieces of different colored cloths fashioned into a dress of some sort. On her head, to complete the get up, was a matching bandana. As though one couldn't work without a bandana…
"Haruhi!" coaxed a familiar voice from behind a few walls and down a few stairs. Haruhi spun around to face the exit. A broom and a bucket sat waiting for her by the door. Haruhi sighed and mechanically picked them up before walking towards the source of the call.
"Coming!" she shouted back, moving her feet as fast as they could go without tripping on the broom, or spilling the day-old contents of the bucket.
"Haruhi!" shouted two voices this time. Still familiar, but this time a little angrier- and definitely not containing the first voice she had heard.
"I said I'm coming! Geez, can't you guys wait for just a se-" Haruhi started to complain but she cut herself short when she reached the main room. Wasn't she supposed to have an evil step-mother, and two evil step-sisters? Haruhi remembered the story being that way…but…
"Now really, Haruhi, is that any way to talk to the people giving you a home, and let's not forget food, shall we?" said Haruhi's step-mother? Kyouya, "Unless I'm mistaken, we're your only providers." Haruhi felt one twitch. This was becoming a nightmare.
"Yeah, Haruhi, you could try to be a little more grateful." Haruhi's eyes slowly moved over to step-sister? number one, Kaoru.
"Yeah, no kidding," step-sister? number two, Hikaru, threw in. Haruhi couldn't move. There was no way she was going through this, dream or not. The twins shot her an equally frustrated look from over their shoulders as they leaned against the way too expensive couch.
"That's great," Haruhi said quickly, "Now what do you want, or can I go back up to my room, now?"
"So pushy," Kaoru pointed out in his defense.
"There's mail," Hikaru finally told the waiting Haruhi, "Go get it." Haruhi glanced over to the door only a few feet from the back of the couch they were sitting on.
"It's right behind you, can't you go-" Haruhi tried to ask, but she should have understood that her role doesn't get to finish many sentences and the ones that are completed are the ones no one listens to.
"Come on, we wanna read it!" the twins whined in unison.
"Don't forget, Haruhi, your father entrusted me with his possessions before he died," Kyouya reminded heartlessly. If this were the real story, Haruhi would have felt a stab of pain and nostalgia at the thought of her father's death, but this was a dream and Haruhi knew better than that. Though it still made her horribly frustrated that the strange, hidden relationship between Kyouya and Ranka still existed even in a horrible nightmare such as this one.
Haruhi sighed and took the few short steps to the door to pick up the single letter that had been slipped through the flap. The envelope felt fancy, it made Haruhi wonder what kind of fancy-ness lay beyond it. She took a quick glance at the back, only being able to catch their own name in very elegant script before she was required to hand it over to the greedy twins. Hikaru opened it while Kaoru leaned unnecessarily close to read what the letter said.
"How boring," Hikaru said, tossing the letter back to Haruhi, which she caught awkwardly.
"What does it say?" Kyouya inquired, still appearing to be off in his own world rather than in the one those surrounding him were in. They don't even change when I'm dreaming…Haruhi thought, almost remorsefully, but then again…
"It's just about some stupid party up at the palace tonight," the older twin explained.
"Thanks for nothing, Haruhi, that letter was just a waste of time," Kaoru pouted.
"It's not my fault it sucks," Haruhi snapped. Hikaru groaned.
"I'm getting really sick of all your rude comments, Haruhi, go back upstairs," he ordered, trying to contain his fury. Haruhi swore she felt a vein pop.
"My pleasure," she mumbled through gritted teeth while proceeding to turn around and walk up the creaky stairs. At the top, Haruhi looked down at the letter that had been thrown into her hands. Something this fancy couldn't be neglected…
Haruhi looked over her shoulder before walking into her room. She leaned against the door as her own lock, and unfolded the letter. Hikaru had been right. It didn't look all that interesting. Just a regular old party.
"Well, I'm gonna end up going, so I might as well like it," Haruhi grumbled miserably to herself.
"Haru-chan's not a good Cinderella!" shouted a small voice from across the room. Haruhi jumped and fumbled with the letter a moment before it lay sound in her hands again. Still calming down from the surprise, she looked to the source of the voice and noticed another sight that made her wonder if she ever really did love her mother.
Hunny was smiling in the corner practically unchanged except for the really baggy clothes and large brown ears placed on his head. Behind him, of course, was Mori, looking like a taller, quieter, less cheerful version of the barely five foot tall boy next to him.
"Sorry, Hunny-sempai, but I could really care less if I'm a good Cinderella or not. I just want to get this dream over with," Haruhi pointed out through her gradually slowing breath.
"But Haru-chan! This is fun!" Hunny bounced, leaping towards her.
"Yeah…" Mori agreed, sounding like he didn't really mean it, but Haruhi assumed he probably did.
"Not really," Haruhi tried to protest, but her poor argument was ignored.
"Can you guess who we are?" Hunny asked with anticipation. He smiled brightly, Hunny-flowers dancing around him, waiting for an answer.
"Um…well, I guess the ears kinda make you mice, right?" Haruhi played along.
"Yup! We're supposed to cheer you up! But you're only sad that you're in this dream…" Hunny thought for a minute, wondering how he could fulfill his duty as one of the mouse friends properly.
"Haruhi! We're going out!" Haruhi heard the twins shout from the first floor.
"And would you mind cleaning the house while we're gone?" she heard Kyouya command in the form of a question, "Your previous work needs improvement."
"They're going already?" Haruhi asked in wonder.
"Haru-chan, this is a dream!" Hunny reminded, "Of course the boring parts will be skipped!"
"It is a dream…" Mori repeated. Haruhi stared at the both of them, knowing they were right, but not enjoying being proved wrong in her own mind.
"I'm gonna clean now," she said quietly, opening the door and walking down the dusty steps. In all actuality, Haruhi would have much preferred the dream if she had just cleaned the rest of the evening, but that wasn't the way the story went.
On her way down, Haruhi was followed by a perfectly silent Mori and a quietly giggly Hunny, who seemed to be enjoying himself much more than he should have been.
"You guys don't need to be here," Haruhi told them, "It really won't be that interesting to watch." As she finished her sentence, Haruhi felt a chill run up and down her spine. That laugh…it couldn't be. Shrieking so clearly throughout the room came the familiar and unending laugh of none other than…
"Renge?" Haruhi was actually shocked this time seeing Renge spin up out of nowhere dressed in a very sparkly dress with a cartoony wand and wings to match.
"Haruhi, I'm disappointed!" Renge immediately shouted after the spinning and laughing ceased, "You are in the most well known and commonly used fairytale in the history of story-telling and you are playing your part horribly! You ought to be ashamed in yourself!"
"I'm sorry, I've just never really been one for-" Haruhi started apologizing and excusing, but she wasn't allowed to speak. Again.
"Cinderella is supposed to be a miserable young servant girl who only wants to meet her Prince Charming and live happily ever after," Renge sighed, fantasizing about her own story-to-be, "It's not that hard!"
"I just-" Haruhi tried again, but she gave up on her own this time, "Never mind…Can we just get this over with?" Renge only looked angrier with that comment. Haruhi knew it was dangerous to damage an otaku's dreams, but she figured it was her dream. Why not use it to her advantage?
"Fine," Renge agreed reluctantly, "I hope you have a miserable time." She waved her wand just as reluctantly, filling the room instantly with a puff of smoke. Haruhi covered her mouth, trying to stifle the fit of coughs escaping from her throat, but failing. Once the colorful smoke cleared, Haruhi looked down and was instantly reminded of her dad. The frilly yet silky look of the blue dress was something he would have begged her to wear for hours. And the white gloves to go with it? Oh yeah, it was her dad's work all right, even if it did come from Renge's magical puff of smoke.
"Aren't you guys supposed to change?" Haruhi asked, noticing an untransformed Hunny and Mori still behind her.
"No, Haru-chan, we just bought you a carriage," Hunny quickly explained, waving his hands and still smiling.
"It's outside…" Mori told Haruhi, who felt rather stupid having to pick up her dress a little in order to walk normally towards the carriage that had apparently been bought for her previously.
"See you guys later," Haruhi farewelled in sadness under her breath, stepping out the door with difficulty. She wondered how people could move around so easily in high heels. Not only was it a pain on the toes, but being forced to tip-toe everywhere was a living hell.
The ride to the palace felt abnormally short, considering Haruhi was sure she was living out in the country, but as Hunny had pointed out, it was a dream. It was better than doing nothing, right?
As Haruhi stepped out of the carriage with the assistance of some stuck up looking man, she couldn't help but think of all the miserable aspects of being here. She danced horribly. She'd rather be doing something productive. She didn't like fairytales. Anything that would keep her mind set where it was.
"Huh, seems I'm late," Haruhi said to herself, taking a look at the large clock towering above the setting, "Renge forgot to tell me about the midnight rule…Maybe it doesn't apply. Or maybe I'll just wake up." She kept mumbling away to herself while climbing the steps to the doorway and even until she stood in front of the steps down into the ballroom. Why are there so many steps? I feel bad for Cinderella, having to walk up and down all the time in these shoes, Haruhi thought, now surrounded people and not wanting to speak aloud to herself in public.
Haruhi wondered why no one in the room stopped. Wasn't that usually how Cinderella stories went? Everyone stopped to watch her and see how pretty she was? Well, she didn't look much different than she normally did, so it made sense…and it was a little relieving to have something logical happen for a change.
Haruhi began to move towards the first step when she noticed one difference among the large crowd at the bottom of the stairs. One person had stopped. Haruhi tried to ignore that fact and, with much trouble, continued to slowly make her way down the stairs. Downhill in a puffy gown and two inch heels was hard…Haruhi had to stare at her feet the whole time in order to keep her balance. She smiled in success when she at last reached the bottom step, and looked up, giving her neck a rest, only to be stopped in surprise by a figure staring back at her.
"About time you showed up," a soft voice greeted with a smile as gentle as the voice.
"Would everyone stop getting on me about how I'm messing up the story?" Haruhi shot, about ready to lose it, "I get the point. I don't…need…" She trailed off when she noticed who was obviously the prince of the story bow down with his hand extended. She felt herself blush unwillingly.
"May I have this dance?" he asked, never breaking out of his elegant character. Haruhi didn't know what compelled her to, but she took his hand and let herself be led out onto the floor.
"You know I can't dance very well, sempai," Haruhi reminded, still staring at her feet, pleading she wouldn't trip.
"Well then I suppose we need to go somewhere I can teach you," Tamaki suggested, letting go of one of Haruhi's hands and hurriedly leading her to a large set of glass doors out into the cold night. Haruhi knew it had to come eventually, but it still caused her heart to beat a little faster.
"How's this?" Tamaki asked, lifting Haruhi's hand again and sliding his free hand around her waist. Haruhi didn't notice it was getting a little more difficult to breathe, so she put her hand on his shoulder and once again let herself be let around. Her eyes went back to her feet as she did everything in her power to concentrate.
"Haruhi," Tamaki began to instruct, "The first rule about dancing is to look at your partner, not your feet." Haruhi quickly looked back up, feeling embarrassed, but seeing Tamaki wasn't actually laughing at her got rid of some of the embarrassment.
"You should dress like this more often," Tamaki begged in a voice that was so calm it almost felt like a suggestion, but it still made Haruhi roll her eyes, "You look adorable." The small, concealed squeak in his voice told Haruhi that dream or not, Tamaki was still plain old Tamaki- just much more enveloped in a different character.
"Thanks, sempai, but you should know me a little better than that," Haruhi groaned, wishing the battle between her and the world of what her preference in wardrobe should be in public would come to an end. It was her choice, right? It's not like she was opposed to more feminine clothing, she just thought it was comfier to wear bigger, baggier clothing instead.
"Haruhi," Tamaki whined, "You're dreaming…can't you call me by my name?" He did have a point. It wasn't the real Tamaki, so where was the harm or risk of being impolite?
"I…guess I could…" Haruhi quietly agreed, still unsure if it were okay or not. Tamaki beamed, waiting for Haruhi to just come out with it and say his name- free of titles. Haruhi felt a smile cross her face, seeing his ridiculous anticipation. She couldn't hold back a small laugh.
Haruhi felt herself turn an even brighter shade of pink when she saw Tamaki just smiling back at her, his eyes just soaking her in.
"See, Haruhi?" he began to say, stopping his feet, "You've been dancing this whole time and you did just fine."
"I guess…" Haruhi agreed, "Um…thanks."
And that's when it clicked.
Tamaki had stopped, but he hadn't let go of Haruhi. She had hardly noticed, but it was clear now. Her heart was about to break her ribs. The hand around her waist tightened and Haruhi felt herself be laid back on the thin air- with Tamaki as her support from falling to the ground. Only one high heeled foot remained on the ground. It would've been a little more frightening had it not been Tamaki and had her nerves not been occupied with the fact that Tamaki was barely an inch away from her face. She felt her eyes close mechanically, accepting her Cinderella fate. She could feel Tamaki's lips…when the clock chimed once. Haruhi's eyes shot open but not to her dream world. She was back in the club room, looking out the window to see a bright pink and orange sunset.
"You okay, Haruhi?" she heard Hikaru ask from down the table.
"Yeah, you're shaking," Kaoru added, "Did you have a nightmare or something?"
"It's all your fault she's awake!" Tamaki shouted in melodramatic misery, "If you hadn't been so noisy, my lovely daughter would still be sound asleep!"
"You're just mad cuz you liked watching her sleep," Kaoru fought.
"Pervert," both twins finished together. Haruhi didn't pay any further attention when Tamaki joined in. The sight or sound of him made her jolt. Had she really just been dreaming…that?
"You didn't miss out on anything important, so I'll let it slide this time," Kyouya began, scribbling away in his notebook, "but I'd prefer if you didn't fall asleep during club meetings again, Haruhi."
"Oh…yeah, sorry," Haruhi apologized, still a little shaken, "I just…had a late night I guess…"
"Late night?!" Tamaki repeated, "You must be exhausted! Go home right now and rest!" He pointed out the door, running to where Haruhi was seated. Haruhi felt herself tense up.
"Y-you're right, s-sempai, I should probably be going," she stuttered through an obviously fake laugh, scrambling from her chair to move away from Tamaki, "See you guys tomorrow!"
Listening to all of them say goodbye back, Haruhi left the clubroom, unable to stop shaking and unable to understand what her dream was trying to tell her.