Fanfiction by Ann Callihan
I do not own the characters of Ouran High School Host Club.
Only Marissa do I own.
"I always listen to movie soundtracks while writing. Let's out the best in us all." –Ann Callihan
First Meeting
Mellow chatter clacked through the out-door market area around the underclass neighborhood. Different sort of farmers, housewives, and even children yelled out attention of their pottery, knickknacks, and foods stuff. Sways of gentle breezes gusted from north, a sign of rain to come. Dogs padded around feet nipping at bare legs begging for scraps of meat. Amidst the atmosphere was a sweet sort of sound echoing from the kind soul strumming away. Tanned faces wore genuine smiles as they walked about.
I walked in my set rhythm observing the strangely decorated glass from one particularly obscure booth. Mister who manned the station kept close watch of me, checking my simple clothes for a chance of elegance. I chuckled pulling up the black and blue kitten cup. Such a strange fetish. Placing the object down and waving farewell to the man I turned. Instead of a simple step forward a wall of white warmth met me. Blinking quietly in response, while forgetting my language, I recollected myself.
Once I could turn my head upward another expression met mine. Though this one lacked apology and rather overpowered in the terrifying market. The redheaded boy just parted his lips as adrenaline blurted out an excuse. "Pardon, I am rushed." Though I was far from just. With a quick turn of heel I was away from the stern glare and now briskly rushing towards my destination of the day. I would be an hour early at this rate. No bother on my end however, I held a great dislike of grand entrances.
: : :
"Whoa…" I let out a small gasp at the grand building before me. Hidden behind a grove of pink sakura trees a large traditional structure sat against the mountain side. The building appeared several stories high with multiple beautifully stained windows. Tiled roof tops curved up on the corners, a large grand gate at the front entrance. With my breath officially taken away I began my trek up to the door, short in distant, but miles in mind. Shakily I lifted my fist to pull on the door handle. Could my father really had trained in a place such as this?
After a moment the door swings open by a young looking man with long blond hair up in a ponytail. With little explanation I entered the mansion. "Princess Marissa!" Following me, the servant who opened the door, called out in a mixture of dismay and confusion. "We were not expecting you for another hour at least!" Hoping to calm the nerves of the male I mumbled out my response quickly.
"No worries, I dislike royal entrances." This however seem to lack in effectiveness as the male rushed after me. Other servants- all male may I add- turned from their current activities at the commotion. Awkward gasps followed me as I walked with the flabbergasted man. He continued on with his stammering explaining how my room was not finished. "Then I shall train." I turned to face the servant- to his surprise.
"B-But Young Master has yet to have returned from his school. Today he had a club activity and he was going to walk home afterwards." Standing stone still I once again forgot my language and merely looked straight forward. With a quick breath of air I swooped my torso down while pulling my arms up behind me. An expression usually reserved for apologies to the highest of respects. More heads turned starring at the scene before them. A princess, bowing strangely to a most lowly servant, something none knew how to react to.
Only the gentle hand on my shoulder pulled me from my fearful stance. "Mari…" Another male, older than all the rest, spoke my name sweetly. "No need for such displays around here. You are the eldest of Soma, practically family." Quickly I glanced around myself seeing the other servants listening with the utmost respect. This man, he must be the Hard Master, Big Brother as they called him, according to my father. "Here you shall be called as a sister, Sister Marissa."
A light breath escaped my lips as I became more relieved with this situation. Perhaps father had explained my strong dislike of formality. Hard Master smiled, his short stature meeting mine almost exactly. Another man walked up behind the master, much taller and redheaded. "Ah! Young master, we apologize for the lack of your entrance! You see, Princess- I mean Sister Marissa has arrived early." Everyone was so busy listening to hard master speak to me, and about me, that they had all left their jobs, including the welcoming of the young master.
A curly smile twisted onto Hard Master's face as he pulled me towards his heir, and pushed his heir towards me. In the moment of things I had lost balance, as the carpet beneath my feet shifted, and I fell forward against the redheaded male. I yelped out, embarrassingly really, and anticipated the next moment of harsh contact. Only none came. Fluttering my eyes open I noticed the grip on my wrist and shoulder. And his eyes, locked with my own.
The hazel orbs stared into mine annoyingly, but hints of curiosity and embarrassment shown through his thick shell. A light crimson flushed onto his cheeks as we assorted ourselves. Only silence could be heard, and I may be wrong, but I believe I saw the servants and Hard Master watch wide-eyed at our encounter. "Kasanoda, this is Marissa." Eventually Hard Master stepped in to introduce us. I bowed shortly with my fists closed together, another moment of language forgotten. Taking a short step back I glanced up at the male before me, and couldn't help but to laugh at the obscurity.
Taken aback by my reaction Kasanoda-senpai's expression lacked, becoming softer than a plush bathrobe. One of his strong hands lifted to his head brushing back his red bangs in perplexed astonishment. The curiosity I had sensed earlier appeared stronger, even to the point of his scowl receding into a stern stare. Staring up at the tall male, as he was another head higher than me, I smile and greet him. "Seems like déjà vu." I grin while gripping onto the strap of my shoulder bag.
At first Kasanoda-senpai remained non-reactive. After a moments time he chuckled softly nodding his head to my words. "I meant to apologize, for earlier I mean." Now his gaze was completely soft, a small sheepish smile curved his thin lips upwards as he spoke with me. Again the heavy weight of the servants stares pounding into my back returns to my shoulders as I hear a small gasp escape one of them. What was with this clan?
I waved my hand curtly and tilted my head down-ways. Remembering my language I spoke up softly. "Ah, it is fine, I was merely shocked. Nothing to feel sorry for." Another smile, more outgoing appears on his lips as he bends down slightly to take my free hand. Gently the red-head brings my hand into both of his own, clasping my skin against his own warm hands. To another the gesture would appear simplistic at best. For me, however, a great sense of relief and serenity engulfed my being. Even I could feel my eyes lighten, my shoulders stand straighter, my chin lift. "You…" I couldn't finish my words I was so impressed and surprised.
"Don't give me credit, my father thought I should learn a bit about your history." Shyly he glanced down another light crimson covering his cheeks. Another laugh escaped me as I nodded my head at his words. Feeling accomplished with my response, the male continued on. "Really interesting, a few of the books I read explained how the wild plants there can't be found naturally anywhere else. Is that true? And the plants, some can change your eye color through ingestion!" His tone picked up at the thought of the plants on my home island. With his increased excitement the redhead gripped my hands with a quick squeeze reminding me of his skin against mine.
With a clear of my throat Kasanoda realized his presence and released me with a bashful chuckle. Before I could speak to assure no harm a voice came from behind us amidst the crowd leering over us. "Kasanoda! How can you be so rude as to not show her where her room is! Now go, child, go!" A firm palm forced me forward in sync with Kasanoda-senpai as we sprawled forward a few feet. Behind us I could make out the sound of quick shuffling and others shushing someone.
Together we walked quietly, the tall redhead keeping his gaze far from my eyes. With each step through the different hallways and up the stairs I was even more in awe with the architecture of the building. Really, I felt as if I was a princess! Suddenly the boy came to a stop and pointed towards a small sliding door. With little words he opened the entrance into a lavish bedroom. "This is your bedroom, I am just down the hall if you need anything." Avoiding my gaze Kasanoda-senpai explained the place I would be sleeping in. Equipped with a kings bed and all the clothes I would need for school, including a full bath that had mirrors along all the walls, even the most stingy would fall for this room.
After he had finished his duty Kasanoda-senpai turned to leave the room, but stopped at my call. "Kasanoda-senpai, that is what I should address you as, correct?" Unsure with what to do with my hands I grabbed hold of my side braid following the weaved strands with my index finger. The black strands felt like silk under my nervous hands.
"Yes?" He answered without turning around. His hand rested against the door handle anticipating the turn for escape. His body remained stiff as he stood awaiting my request.
Unsure how to explain I puffed my cheeks out and narrowed my eyebrows down. Finally I came up with a jumbled mess of words. "I can take you, you know. The Island isn't that big to me, I probably know the exact location of everything. If you want." Anxiety crawled up my spine as I turn my head sideways looking aloof.
His feet shuffled against the wooden flooring as he turned to face me. "You're nervous. And not sure what to say." At the movement of my head sharply turning to face his own the redhead chuckled. "I read a lot about your country." His eyes fell to the ground as another blush formed on his cheeks.
"And you are unconfident with yourself, embarrassed for your overexcitement from before. Is this the first time you've met a princess? No, this is the first time that you've had to actually deal with a person of high importance so much. And you're expression, something you are unsure how to control. Don't worry, I was frightened at first. But the curiosity in your eyes shines too bright for me." I smiled, took a step forward, and grabbed hold of both his hands. I held his left in my right, then placed his right over my right and my left over his left.
"Another greeting?" His eyes focused down on our intertwined hands, perplexed by my actions. A shake of my head answered him no before I explained further.
"A blessing of care, or rather wish of good life, something that is difficult to explain with words, in a way that you want to help the person. But when there are no words…" I squeezed his hands gently and smiled slightly. "We are now like siblings, Kasanoda-senpai, I do not wish for you to be intimidated by me. I am nothing like the rich here, no, not at all."
In that moment we both became natural around each other. Slowly, with time, Kasanoda-senpai's terrible glare became softer, to the point of a blank stare forward, that only I could really interpret. Of course his extreme expressions always were somewhat frightful. But, that didn't matter. We understood how we were. Not how our class was, or our clothes or home, but how we were.