One week prior

I glared at Mori. Stubborn Mori why won't you listen!

"Mori i don't care if they are the princes! We shouldn't have to….well you know!" I rolled over onto my back on the grassy hilltop instead choosing to glare up at the cloudy sky. "Mori we are blossoming men and women who should be allowed to choose what we want to do with our lives. I for one don't want to see you get dragged into the golden prince's harem because you were nice to him a few times as a child. You're practically royalty yourself! Does no one else in this freaking country find the whole relationships with your family relations disturbing?"

I sat up. "You are the golden child's cousin and yet you are going to be crowned the head of his harem and his closest confidant just because you helped him up when he scraped his knee." Mori let out a long sigh signaling he didn't approve of my ranting.

"Careful."

My already feisty temper flared and burned with passion at that one word and i leapt to my feet charging forward to look down at the capital city, Ouran, from our high vantage point.

"No, no, no, NO." I whispered it at first but my voice slowly grew stronger till i was shouting and screaming at the empty plains between us and the grand city. "IT'S NOT FAIR! LEAVE US ALONE! YOU TAKE EVERYTHING YOU WANT BUT DO YOU EVER CARE WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT!? NO YOU FANCY SPOILED PRINCELY BASTARDS! YOU THINK I'M GOING TO BE CAREFUL? WELL YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE ALL WRONG! I'LL SCREAM FROM THE HIGHEST BUILDING IN THE DAMN CAPITAL IF I WANT! YOU CAN ALL ROT FOR ALL I CARE! YOU'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME AND NOW…" I trailed off as the sobs started, and collapsed to my knees. "Now you want me? N-no." I brushed angrily at the tears, feeling Mori's presence behind me as he came and knelt at my side resting his hands on my shoulders.

"Kana." His voice was low, deep, comforting. "You can do this. Be strong." I looked up into his face as the tears came faster blinding me.

"But what about you Mori? I don't want to lose you! You're one of my only friends in the world! You know they don't normally let the harems intermix! I-I can't lose you." I fell into his arms and sobbed harder.

"Is there room for three here?" A hollow voice asked from behind them. Pulling out of Mori's arms I turned to face our other friend Tora Tomoka. She smiled brokenly at me, and we stood there for a moment just staring at each other. Her silver eyes were red rimmed and puffy, her long, usually brushed out white hair was knotted and tangled horribly. I knew my own green eyes and golden hair were in similar condition, but the sight of my best friend woke something up in me that hadn't been there a moment before. A fierce protectiveness washed over me, i saw it glimmer in her eyes to, and we both dashed forward to pull the other into a hug.

"Oh Tora." She just held me tighter.

"It's gonna be pretty lonely here without you two. Think i could come up some time to visit? I think family is allowed to come see you." More tears trickled out and i felt my shoulder growing damp with Moka's own tears as her body shook from the silent sobs. We held each other like that for i don't even know how long, before Mori joined us to. Pulling us both into his strong arms. We, the three of us, were a true family. Maybe not through blood, but we could never be pulled apart, because we shared bonds deep enough that to be ripped apart like this was tearing us apart. Just for a moment on that hilltop, I think the very skies felt our agony, because they joined our crying with their own as the clouds above us released a torrential downpour to mingle with the tears falling from our eyes.

Current time

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The maids had pinned my blond hair up into such intricately delicate curls and braids i was afraid that if i moved it would all fall apart.

"It is stronger than it looks my lady." I glanced at the court lady who had helped me and smiled weakly at her.

"Thank you…."

"Renge." She supplied with a smile. "I'm one of the prince's distant relations and am here to help the female candidates discover themselves and who they belong to." I had no more emotions left to give out then otherwise i'd have bristled at the words 'who they belong to'.

"It's not like i had a choice." I muttered the words softly, but her keen ears picked up on them.

"You're not excited?" I jerked not thinking she'd heard and truly startled now. I may not want to be here, but i didn't want to be put to death for badmouthing the kingdom royalty.

"I, um, well, er…." She laughed heartily.

"Don't worry i know you're nervous but they won't hurt you. Trust me they're a lot different than you're expecting. I guarantee it. Here." She pulled out the kimono i was to wear. A rich deep purple, shot through with embroidery of gold and a springtime green that matched my eyes. This is one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen.

Upon voicing my thoughts Renge merely giggled and winked. "This? It's not much at all! Trust me this is one of the more simple ones in the castle. Just wait till you see what the other whores...I mean would be candidates will come in." I stared blankly at her for a moment, feeling the heavy weight of many more years than my mere 16 lying on my shoulders. I straightened and smiled softly at Renge.

"Thank you for the help Renge-san. You took something horrid and turned it into something truly beautiful. For that i thank you. Also for your kind words. They've helped far more than you could imagine." Renge furrowed her brows at me for a moment and scrutinized my face before a bright smile covered hers.

"You're welcome Kana Mei. I like you, if you ever need help or advice come to me. You're not like the other girls i've seen here. I hope one of my brothers gets lucky enough to pick you." I shuddered.

She laughed again softly. "Don't be afraid. They're not all that bad you'll see. The rumors spread outside of the castle are exaggerated." I can only hope so Renge-san, i can only hope. I was jerked out of my thoughts by the sound of a trumpet. "Ahh that would be the gathering call. You and the other candidates are supposed to gather in the courtroom before the princes arrive." I trembled and for a moment feared i'd be unable to get up off the seat. However Renge noticed and took pity on me by gently grasping my arm and pulling me up. She not so gently pushed me out of the room though and with another wink exclaimed, "I'll see you there! The best of luck to you Kana!" and slammed the door shut. I was left blinking uhh what direction do i go? Well like Tora says, when nothings going right go left! So left i go! I turned left and headed down the hall. I got lucky though, because halfway down the hall Mori stepped out of a room.

"Mori!" His head jerked to the side and he saw me, a small smile crossed his face at the sight of mine. I ran forward and hugged him hard, because we'd been separated since we'd arrived at the castle the day before. Mori had been escorted to the men's area, I'd been taken to the girl's section, and Tora? Well she hadn't even been allowed in the castle. The guard had roughly pushed her away and told her she couldn't enter since she wasn't summoned for the choosing, and at her protests told her she'd see us again after if we left and weren't picked. She'd glared at the guard with the ferocity of a tigress, embraced us both, promised to see us again, bowed in deferention of the order as sarcastically as she could before stalking away and we hadn't seen her since. "I'm scared." My voice was muffled against Mori's shoulder.

"I know."

"I hope Tora doesn't do anything stupid."

"She will." I winced at his absolute words. We both knew our friend was an exceedingly intelligent girl and often calm, but being raised how she had been, and coming from where she'd come from, she could get exceedingly rash when it came to her sense of loyalty to Mori and i. I knew however that she was less worried about Mori than she was for me from a conversation we'd had while traveling here.

*Flashback*

"You're quieter than normal Tor." She'd jumped and spun when i'd spoken not having noticed me walk up behind her. With a shrug she turned back to face the lake we were camping by for the night.

"I'm worried about you Kana." I laughed nervously.

"What and not about Mori to?" She turned away from the moonlit lake to face me her face hidden in shadows.

"Not as much so Kana. Mori...he can handle himself. I've seen the golden prince before, and he's not too intimidating so Mori will be fine. But compared to his brothers? Unless you get chosen by him as well, you don't have a chance." Lit by the moon behind her her hair glowed almost radiantly, with her face shrouded in shadows, voice fierce and low she sounded and looked every bit the tiger she was named for.

"Why do you say that?" She turned back to face the lake, looking for a peace that only water carries to calm her worried soul and heart.

"I have seen all the princes before Kan. First there is Mori's chooser, the golden lolita prince and heir to the throne Mitsukuni. Then after him there is the first half brother the sun prince Tamaki. Similar looks from the father, blond hair for both and same attitudes from what i've heard, if you have any choice at all and can't go with Prince Mitsukuni go with Prince Tamaki. After him are the truly dangerous ones. The shadow prince, Kyoya another half brother. Although many in the city slums and underworld areas call him the shadow king. He's not someone to fuck with." I winced at her crude language but she ignored my expression. "I've heard that while Mitsukuni is taking over the throne, Prince Kyoya is running the details from the background. Hell he's already in charge of the security for the castle and his father. So watch out for him. After him are the twins. Again same father as the other princes, but different mother. I've heard that they...are a bit...sadistic might be the word. They're known throughout the court as the devil princes so you don't want anything to do with them. They'll mess with your head." I blinked, and then blinked again.

"Tor how'd you learn all this!?" She shrugged, tipping her head back to look up at the starry sky.

"I've picked up information here and there. I gain most of it from acquaintances who i've met in trips to the capital." I'd forgotten she'd gone to the capital before. It was hard to remember sometimes, because after the incident none of us mentioned anything of her first thirteen years and as far as i knew she hadn't been there for several years. The memories it brought back were too painful, for all of us. I chose to ignore the disturbing amount of information she carried, instead i stepped closer and wrapped my arms around her.

"Ya know," I rested my head on her shoulder. "Many years ago, the Old Man of the Moon decided to visit the Earth. He disguised himself as a beggar and asked Fox, Monkey, and Rabbit for some food. .Monkey climbed a tree and brought him some fruit. Fox went to a stream, caught a fish, and brought it back to him. But Rabbit had nothing to offer him but some grass. So he asked the beggar to build a fire. After the beggar started the fire, Rabbit jumped into it and offered himself as a meal for the beggar to eat. Quickly the beggar changed back into the Old Man of the Moon and pulled Rabbit from the fire. He said 'You are most kind, Rabbit, but don't do anything to harm yourself. Since you were the kindest of all to me, I'll take you back to the moon to live with me.' The Old Man carried Rabbit in his arms back to the moon and he is still there to this very day exactly where the Old Man left him. Just look at the moon in the night sky and the rabbit is there! Whenever you see that rabbit remember that i'm looking out for you. My spirit is always watching out for you from the moon. Who knows maybe it was put up there just for this purpose." She giggled a little.

"I've never thought of it like that. I forgot you were born in the year of the rabbit." She sighed, "You're right Kana, you're going to be watching out for me no matter where you are. I love you sister rabbit." I smiled at the childhood nickname she and Mori had given me.

"I love you too little tiger. Now lets head back to our wise old snake before he starts to worry." She slid her hand into mine as we walked.

"I'm still worried though sister of mine. I'll watch out for you." She murmured the next words so quietly i almost missed them. "I'll be your rabbit in the sky."

"We can only hope she doesn't do anything too noticeable." He hummed in response. "Say do you know where we're going?" He nodded and releasing me from the hug, silently started down the hall with me on his heels. Entering the courtroom was a nightmare. Several other girls and boys our age turned to stare, and i knew what Renge meant by their outfits. They didn't wear a kimono like Mori's or mine, no they were clad from everything from revealing outfits from the far east, to dresses that seemed woven from gold itself. I shivered slightly from sheer nervousness, and the girls in the room narrowed their eyes like hawks. A guard came over frowning heavily, and forced Mori and i to separate to different sections of the room. I was forced into the crowd of girls. They shied away from me, wrinkling their noses in disgust at my seemingly plain kimono.

"Ignore them. They're always like this." I jumped from fear at the sudden voice behind me and spun to find myself facing a short, boyish looking girl, with her hair cut short almost as if she was a young boy.

"I...Hello it's nice to meet you…..I'm Kana Mei" She smiled softly at me, and i saw a realness in her eyes that didn't exist in the eyes of the girls surrounding us.

"Likewise. I'm Haruhi Fujioka. Consort of Prince Tamaki." My jaw dropped. A consort!? I started freaking out and went to bow but she stopped me. "Please don't. Tamaki and i are making it official today, and he wanted to be the one to drop the surprise so i don't want other girls asking me questions." I furrowed my brow, but straightened.

"If it's alright of me to ask then Fujioka-san, why did you tell me?" She smiled again, her big doe eyes sparkling.

"Because you seem like a real person. Not like these other girls here who just want to be able to say they were consorts to the princes." I looked away awkwardly.

"I, um, I'm not here of my own choice. I received a summons." Her eyes sharpened.

"A summons? Wow that's unusual. Are you one of the court ladies?" I shook my head in horror.

"Far far from it! I grew up in the Chiba province, in a little out of the way town." Her eyes widened.

"You're like me then!" I cocked my head.

"How so?" She smiled widely.

"I grew up as a poor working girl in the capital. It was by accident that i ran into Tamaki at all, but we kinda met and then after that he became interested in me and now here we are like this." I smiled softly back at her.

"That's very romantic Fujioka-san."

"Please call me Haruhi." I grinned widely at that.

"Alright! Then by all means call me Kana." We grinned at each other, but before we could talk anymore the doors across the room swung open and in walked the princes.