Two Roses for One Princess

Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club belongs to Bisco Hatori. The only things I own are my original characters and the ideas in this story.

Chapter One: This Changes Everything

"Hello? Yes, this is him…yes…really? Oh, wow…yes, that would be very kind of you…Yes, I'll discuss all that with you once my daughter and I get there…You're welcome, goodbye."

I could only hear my dad's end of the conversation as I stood in the small kitchen of our one-story house. I frowned in curiosity as I listened, it must have been something major because my dad looked really happy about something, but at the same time a little taken aback. "What's going on, Dad?" I asked after he hung up.

"You know how I showcased that phone design at that event in Sacramento last March?"

I nodded. My dad had come up with a new cell phone that allowed the users to communicate with each other by live video, with excellent sound and picture quality. He went to this event in Sacramento that gave him the chance to present the phone to potential buyers from all over the world, and from what he'd told me they seemed really impressed by it.

"I got a call from one of the buyers from Japan. He thought that this was something that the Japanese would be interested in buying, so he got the word out on his website about what the phone did. He was calling me to give me a report on how the idea was received over there."

"And? How did it go?" I pressed.

My dad smiled. "Even better than I'd hoped. It really caught on and it's in really high demand now. He said that practically everyone there wants to place an order for one of these."

"That's great! Why do you seem so hesitant, though?"

"Well, since it's so popular there…the buyer who just called is the owner of one of the biggest electronics manufacturing companies in Japan, and he's set up my own company and factory there. The company's in business and they're going to start making the phones because I just gave them permission to when they called, and all the money the phones earn is going to go directly to us."

"He's not patenting the phone?"

Dad shook his head. "No, he said that since this was my invention I should get all the money for it. Also…I've decided to move us to Japan so that I can oversee the company."

I was stunned. Just that morning my dad was a computer programmer who designed electronics as a hobby in upstate New York, where I'd lived for most of my life. Now, he was a heartbeat away from striking it rich with a phone he created, and I was supposed to pack up my things and move to Japan. I gave my dad a hug. "Dad, don't worry about me, I'm not that bummed about moving. There's really nothing here for me anyway."

"You're sure?"

"Positive." I nodded. "I'm going to go hang out over at Katie's for a little bit, is that okay? I need to tell her this sooner or later."

"Of course it is. Just don't stay too late."

"I won't." With that I went outside and made the short walk to my best friend Katie's house. When I knocked on the door it was instantly opened by her.

"Hey, Valerie!" Katie smiled and hugged me. She studied my face. "What's wrong? You seem really on edge about something."

"Yeah, um, there's something I need to tell you." I said as we walked into her basement. I sat down on the couch and put my head in my hands, unsure of how to tell her. When I finally came up with the right words to say, I explained the opportunity that had just been presented to my dad, and how he had the extremely high chance of making a fortune with it. "Where I'm going with this is…" I sighed. "I'm moving to Japan with my dad in a few weeks."

"Wait, back up. Japan? Wow, Valerie, that's amazing!" Katie exclaimed. "It's a little depressing to know that you're moving halfway across the world, but it's still amazing that you get to live there."

"I know, but it's just going to be hard to be away from you and the States."

"Think of it this way, this will be a chance for you to start over, which is something you've wanted for a while." Katie reasoned.

"I know, but…I admit it, I'm scared."

"About what?"

"Everything, I guess, like living in a new country, and going to a new school and not knowing anybody there."

"Can I give you a piece of advice?" Katie asked, and I nodded. "Don't be scared. If you think about it, you really have nothing to worry about. Nobody will know you over there, so who you were back home won't matter to anyone. Besides," She smiled. "This gives you an excuse to finally go to Japan."

"Yeah, you've got a point there." I laughed. Thanks to a class project back in grade school I'd wanted to go to Japan ever since I was eight, so I wasn't going to pass it up now that I had the chance.

0000

Before I knew it, moving day had arrived. At least, it had for me. Dad ended up having to leave a week earlier than planned because he'd been asked to come inspect the factory, and there had been a few events planned in his honor to celebrate the phone becoming such a success. I'd received an unbelievably excited call from Dad a day after he'd left, saying that from the minute the phone was officially put on the market, he had in fact made a fortune. During that call he also told me that he'd already bought us a new house and that he was starting the process of finding a new school for me to go to. I couldn't believe just how quickly things were happening, but at the same time I couldn't have been happier for him.

My uncle had been staying with me for my last week in New York, so he picked me up early from school on my last day so that I could do any last-minute packing if I needed to before we went to the airport (even though most of the house had already been emptied so that the new owners could move in after I'd left). At that point the whole school knew that I was moving to Japan, so throughout the school day I was greeted with looks of curiosity and the sight of people whispering things with their eyes glued to me when they thought I wasn't looking. When I was dismissed, I left the building and didn't look back, determined to focus on what I'd be gaining rather than what I'd be leaving behind.

Even though Katie had met up with us at the airport to see me off, saying goodbye to her was the hardest part of that day. I tried to keep myself calm as we hugged each other goodbye, but I ended up crying anyway. She'd been my best friend for years, helping me through some of the worst times of my life. I knew it would probably be difficult to say goodbye to her, but I hadn't expected it to be as hard as it turned out to be.

"Email me, call me, and always remember I love you best." Katie said before I boarded the plane. "You're going to be fine, I promise."

"What, you can tell the future?" I managed a small smile.

She laughed. "No, but I have a hunch."

As the plane took off, I realized I was going to miss my simple lifestyle back in the States, but something told me something so much better was waiting for me in Japan. Whether or not that would actually happen remained to be seen, but I was definitely ready to start over.

Author's Note: Just so you all know, Ouran characters will be introduced around chapter three; I just wanted to explain my original characters' backgrounds during the first chapter. This is my first Ouran fanfic, so constructive criticism is fine, but NO FLAMES. Please review, as it's the only way for me to know whether or not to continue this.