TITLE: Kinshitsuji! 金執事
SUMMARY: When Haruhi's family is murdered, she becomes the sole heir to her family's estate & legacy. Still, it's difficult for a young girl in the Victorian Era to hold her own in society against aristocratic men with knowledge & power. Thus she collects for herself some servants & uses their skills & good looks to get (basically) whatever she damn well pleases! (Kuroshitsuji inspired)
STORY PAIRINGS: Haruhi+Tamaki, Honey+Mori, Kaoru+Hikaru
PLEASE NOTE: This story is rated M. According to the FF site, that means it has to be appropriate for ages 16+ WITHOUT explicit content, which includes adult language, themes, and suggestions. This story meets those requirements.
Author's Note: I'm on a bit of a Ouran kick right now. Might as well ride it out while it's here. XP This plot is Kuroshitsuji inspired. So if you've seen that show maybe you'll like this. If you haven't, you need to. XP Anyway, this will have a darker plot than my other Ouran fics.
Unhappy Anniversary (Part 1)
In a mist covered forest not far from London, there lays a large manor. The distinguished noble family of the Fujioka's resided here. The house was once filled with the happy sounds of laughter and life. But currently, there was only one Fujioka left living there…
Early in the morning Kyoya (as the house steward of the Fujioka estate) would always be up first. Stopping at his mirror he fixed his tie and put on his white gloves for the day. Adjusting his glasses he walked outside to the barn where their Grounds Keeper and Field Hand slept, and he knocked upon the door. Mori opened the door immediately looking as stone faced as he always did, he was a tall and dark haired creature with cold eyes.
"It's time for Honey to wake up," Kyoya informed him, glad of the fact that he could redirect this task to Mori.
Mori nodded.
"I thought creatures such as yourselves didn't need sleep?" he pointed out. Asking a question that had been bugging him for some time…
"We don't," Mori stated simply but offered no more explanation as he walked over to Honey's bed falling on bending knee he slowly ran his fingers through Honey's hair in an effort to wake him slowly. Honey was small despite being rather old. He had soft blond hair and light brown eyes and was often seen as adorable, but Kyoya knew all too well that could change at any moment.
Kyoya walked back inside and down to the room to the right of his own and he knocked on it softly. When no one answered he opened to find their Housekeepers very much still asleep... He grabbed the corners of each of their blankets pulling it off them which caused the twins to fall to the floor.
"Ow!" Kaoru groaned
"Seriously?" Hikaru asked frowning.
"I would think you two wouldn't need sleep either…"Kyoya said frowning.
"You have something against us sleeping…" Kaoru asked.
"Our lives are like a constant state of sleep," Hikaru pointed out throwing his arms behind his head. The twins had brownish hair and mischievous eyes. They were always getting into trouble (that usually) Kyoya had to fix.
"I find sleeping when it's not a necessity counterproductive…" he snapped. "Now be ready in five minutes please."
With that he walked down to the door to the left of his own. This was the door of the house's Head Butler. Though admittedly, Kyoya did a lot of what was supposed to be his job… He opened the door to find Tamaki was surprisingly awake.
He raised an eyebrow, "You're up then?"
"Sure am!" Tamaki said excitedly spinning around and grinning. "Do you know what today is?"
"Of course," he smiled. "It is our Lady's Birthday."
"That means today must be perfect!" Tamaki said excitedly as he straightened his butler uniform in his mirror and ran his fingers through his blond hair. "I've already planned everything."
"What?" Kyoya said frowning…
"Don't worry about it! It's all in my head!" Tamaki assured him clapping in on the shoulder as he headed from his room.
Kyoya grabbed his arm, "No I need to worry about it…"
"Relax Kyoya! I'm telling you I got it all figured out!" he said pulling free as he started walking away.
"Tamaki I'm the one who is going to have to fix whatever you screw up, so I need to know—" Kyoya called. Too late! Tamaki was already heading up the stairs and out of sight. "Ugh…"
Ten minutes later all the servants were in the kitchen seated at the wooden table there awaiting the distributions of their daily tasks. Kyoya was leaning against the wall his usual notebook in hand and a rather annoyed frown on his face. Tamaki was looking out the Kitchen window at the garden outback…
"Alright men!" he said spinning around suddenly. "Here are today's tasks. Hikaru! Kaoru! You are to polish the floors and wash the windows! Then I want you to get out the fancy utensils and polish those too! We'll be having guests this afternoon so do this quickly."
"Guests?" the twins chimed together.
"Yes, guests," Tamaki nodded.
He turned suddenly to Mori and Honey. "As for you two!" he exclaimed pointing in their direction to emphasize his point. "Mori, see to the horses, we will be offering rides to our guests around the estate so make sure their all fed and watered and that their hooves are clean!"
"Ah," Mori answered with a nod.
"Honey, makes sure the leaves are off the front walkway and clear anything in the field that might get in the way of our guest's riding. As always keep an eye out for any unwanted guests too…"
"…"
"Uh… Honey… did you hear me?" Tamaki asked frowning slightly as Honey was currently using his toy bunny as a pillow and appeared to have fallen asleep once again. Though Kyoya noticed how he didn't speak too loudly so as not to actually wake him up.
"I'll tell him," Mori said softly.
"Alright then, Kyoya!" he suddenly spun around pointing at him. "We will need enough wine and food for at least seventy people! They'll be here by three! Make it happen!"
"Ugh," he sighed fixing his glassed. Why could he not have said anything earlier? Though he had never yet failed to complete a task on short notice and he wasn't about to start now… "So just what IS your job while we're doing all of this?"
"Isn't it obvious, I will be the distraction!" Tamaki pointed out.
"Distraction?" the twins repeated glaring up at him.
"You are all going to set up for the party while I take Haruhi into town for some shopping. It'll be the perfect distraction while the guests arrive. At three thirty we will return and all the guests can yell surprise as she enters the manor!" Tamaki said with a dream-like smile as he imagined it all playing out in his mind perfectly.
"So it's a surprise party?" Kyoya said sighing. "Haruhi doesn't seem like the surprise party type…"
"Of course she is!" Tamaki said grinning still. "What girl isn't happy to have a surprise party?"
His face suddenly went serious for a moment and he added, "Besides, this is Haruhi's first Birthday party since her parents died. I don't want her to dwell on that so… So the livelier we can make this event the better. I have extended invitations to a number of noble girls her own age (and their families) so that her party might be filled with feminine beauty and charm!"
Kyoya sighed clapping his hands together, "Alright then, if this is gonna get done we're gonna have to get to it… Come along everyone."
"And we seem to be missing someone… Is Renge up yet?" Tamaki asked.
"I saw her heading upstairs a short time ago," Kyoya pointed out.
Renge pulled back the curtains of Haruhi's room letting the light of morning glide in upon the ornate rug. Haruhi groaned turning away from the light a symbol clearly visible upon her neck…
"My Lady," she said softly. Renge was wearing a black and white maid outfit and a smile. "It's time to wake up."
Haruhi rubbed her eyes sitting up with a yawn.
"Good morning," Renge said cheerfully. "It's time to get dressed and start your day. What would you like for breakfast this morning?"
Haruhi pulled her feet over the side of the bed and stood up and Renge began to undo her night dress. "Eggs will be fine."
"Scrambled, sunny side up, or another way?"
"Scrambled…" she answered as Renge grabbed her corset and tied it around Haruhi's waist pulling the drawstrings tight.
"And what would you like to drink?" Renge asked as she tied the strings.
"Milk," Haruhi answered steadying her breathing. Renge, who had brought up a robin's egg blue gown from Haruhi's wardrobe room grabbed it and brought it over to Haruhi's bedside.
"Okay then," Renge said.
Kyoya who had been listening outside the door had wrote her breakfast requests in his book and then he headed downstairs informing Tamaki of what she wanted.
"Why do you have to make the corset so tight?" Haruhi asked as she fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Well you're so flat that it's the only way we can give you the appearance of a figure," Renge pointed out smiling.
However, Haruhi frowned at that…
Upon delivering Haruhi's breakfast order Tamaki began to get the cooking necessities, but ingredients were needed so he called to Mori to prepare some milk and gather eggs for Haruhi's breakfast.
Mori's job at their estate was tending to Haruhi's many animals. She had a large assortment of horses, four dairy cows, no less than ten chickens, some hunting dogs. But in addition to this he also obeyed and aided their other servant Honey.
Honey was the Grounds Keeper. He looked after the whole of the outside estate. This was including but not limited to farming, repairing outward architecture, gathering firewood, seeing to the construction of Lady Fujioka's carriage and manor. Though admittedly, Mori did much of this work as well, as Honey would usually get distracted by something and go play somewhere.
Thus Mori brought Tamaki everything needed for Haruhi's breakfast, and Tamaki set to work. When Haruhi came downstairs fifteen minutes later her breakfast was already waiting for her. She wore a large gown typical for her time. Her long hair was done up in a complicated set of curls and tresses. Tamaki bowed pulling out her chair. "My Lady," he said softly.
"Good morning," she said sitting down he pushed her chair in.
"I hope your breakfast is to your liking, My Lady."
She started eating, and in between bites with her mouth empty (as it was rude to speak with food in your mouth) she asked Kyoya about the day's agenda.
Kyoya who was standing against the nearby wall took a few steps forward removing a small notebook from his jacket he began to read. "As for today, your dancing lesson, French lesson, and Latin lessons were canceled. In fact, the only thing on your list today is going shopping from new clothes."
She frowned suddenly, "I don't need new clothes, what I need are my lessons. Why were they canceled?"
Thinking on his feet he pretended to read from his notes as if he had written this part down. "Lady Cloutier called in sick, Mr. Baumon had an unforeseen event to attend, and your dancing instructor… broke his ankle…" he informed her and closed his book after.
"All on the same day?" she asked raising an eyebrow with a frown.
"Afraid so," he said.
"Well, I should do something productive then. What about if I—" she began but Tamaki suddenly rushed forward.
"Buying clothes IS productive My Lady!" he said excitedly. "For you see… there was a terrible accident last night and your entire wardrobe was destroyed…"
Kyoya brought his hand to his forehead.
"What!?" Haruhi gasped. "What happened!?"
"Happened?" Tamaki repeated nervously. "Well you see my Lady… Uh… Well… it was Honey…"
"Honey?" she frowned. Great, what had he done this time?
"Yes, he was chopping down trees for firewood last night and sent one right through your wardrobe chamber… All you clothes are not either ripped or dirty beyond repair…"
"This doesn't make any sense," Haruhi said frowning and she stood up. "I'm going to check on my wardrobe chamber…"
Tamaki suddenly looked panicked he turned to Kyoya frantic. "I'll stall Haruhi, get Honey to destroy her wardrobe room! Hurry!"
With that he hurried after her, "Wait a minute! My Lady!"
Kyoya sighed, disappearing from where he stood and the next moment appearing on a tree limb outside. Honey was playing with his stuffed rabbit on top of a hay bale.
"Honey… Tamaki needs you to crash a tree into Haruhi's wardrobe room… immediately."
Honey sat up a few strands of the straw in his hair, "Why?"
"Cause the Head Servant is an idiot…" Kyoya answered opening up his notebook he began trying to figure out how much it would cost to replace all her many dresses. "Could you just do it? He's using this as a means to lure our Lady out of the House for her surprise Birthday today."
"Hhmm… okay…" Honey said jumping to his feet he took off jumping into a nearby tree and running from tree limb to tree limb until he came to the part of her manor that was dedicated to Haruhi's extra clothes. "Crash a tree he said..."
Honey looked around for the tree that would do the most damage and smiling he ran forward kicking the trunk with both his feet. The earth shook violently and the bark screamed with the pain of being split open, and the large tree crashed through the room. Dust from shattered stone billowed around and the door to the room opened. Honey could see through the gaping hole in the side of the building as Haruhi entered with Renge and Tamaki on her heels.
"Wha!" she gasped looking at the damage.
"See, didn't I tell you?" Tamaki said smiling.
"This didn't happen last night, it just happened!" Haruhi snapped.
"No it didn't," Tamaki assured her.
"There are dust clouds everywhere!" Haruhi said taking a kerchief from up in her sleeve to cover her mouth.
"I'm sure that is because the Twins haven't been doing their jobs," Tamaki assured her.
Just then the twins walked through the wall making Renge and Haruhi jump. They weren't quite used to the twins antics yet…
"We do our jobs," they chimed together annoyed at the accusation. Then noticing the mess they added, "What happened here?"
Kaoru walked through the tree coming out the other side, where he could suddenly see Honey standing on the stump the tree had once been attached to looking rather pleased with his job well done.
"Did you do this?" he asked Honey, and he smiled.
"Honey is still standing here…" Haruhi pointed out and for emphasis she actually pointed at him. "If he did this last night, why is he still standing here?"
Honey blinked. "Oh… was I supposed to hide?" he called to Tamaki.
Tamaki nervously maneuvered himself around to be in front of Haruhi, "Anyway, My Lady, I can assure you that this happened last night, and that we must go clothes shopping today…"
"Ugh," Haruhi sighed. She had a feeling she knew what all this commotion was about, and there was one sure fire way to solve it.
"Honey!" she called to him. "Get over here now! That's an order!"
Honey blinked and in two jumps had landed on the ground before her bowing. His bangs falling forward as he did so. The straps of his overalls (which he let hand at his sides) could reach the floor as his bow was so low.
Haruhi removed the choke collar on her neck revealing a symbol. "Honey, this is the symbol of our contract. As long as you are contracted to me, you cannot lie to me…"
Honey frowned, thinking he knew where this was heading...
"So Honey, did this happen today or did this happen last night?" Haruhi asked sternly looking down at him.
Honey stared up at her with his big brown eyes. Reflected in them was a frantic Tamaki shaking his head no behind her back… He couldn't lie, because their contract forbid it… He couldn't tell the truth because it would ruin Haruhi's Birthday surprise… What was there left to do? His brown eyes suddenly filled with tears and he started crying.
Haruhi blinked looking suddenly sad, "Uh… no… don't cry Honey. It's okay, you don't have to tell me after—"
Suddenly a dark figure jumped over the wall remnants landing beside Honey. He placed a hand on his head before his cold eyes turned in the direction of the crowd.
"Who made him cry?" asked Mori unemotionally.
Everyone suddenly pointed to Haruhi, and she looked around slightly panicked. "I didn't mean—" she began.
Mori closed his eyes and turning he knelt down before him. He grabbed the bunny from him holding it up in front of his own face making the arm wave, and Honey looked up at it before grabbing it tightly and hugging it, his cries turning to sniffles.
"Alright," Haruhi said spinning around. "Regardless, I know you guys are planning something for my Birthday, and I don't want you going through all the fuss alright. It's just another day."
"No, we're not!" Tamaki said frantically. "Really!"
She sighed, clearly he wasn't going to give up that easily…
"Fine," she sighed… "Let's go shopping…"
Tamaki's face lit up with joy and he grabbed her hand. "I'm going to take you and Renge-san to the best shop in London!"
"Yeah, okay…" she said dully. She knew this was a distraction, but the sooner they got it over with the sooner she could get this day over with…
And so, she let Tamaki drag her to London. The whole carriage ride Tamaki talked in length about what sort of dresses would suit a Lady as refined as herself. But this was not her idea of fun. Clothes shopping when she had already had a perfectly good wardrobe was not her idea of fun…
It seemed to be Renge's however for she was joining in the conversation enthusiastically talking about what color was her best color.
When they arrived in London Renge and Tamaki got out of the carriage bowing as Haruhi stepped down. They stood before a rather upscale clothing shop and Tamaki opened the door bowing her inside.
"Hello!" said the shop owner. "How may I help you today?"
"Hello Miss," Tamaki said turning on his inexhaustible supply of charm making the woman blush immediately. "This is my young Mistress Haruhi Fujioka. I am the head servant of the Fujioka household, and my Lady is in need of a new wardrobe…"
"Well," the woman said excitedly. "We'll have to make sure we design for her the best outfits!"
And suddenly Haruhi was swept to the back where she was measured at all angles, and when she returned from that, she found Tamaki and Renge had already picked out numerous designs from a book, and they were moving onto the colors of fabrics next…
Haruhi sighed…
"Hikaru, Kaoru, the guests are arriving…" Kyoya said. "Make sure to stay transparent and tangible while they're here. I don't need any of the guests freaking out…"
"Yeah yeah," they sighed. "We know."
Dressed in their best servant attire they headed outside to see to the guests and Kyoya (leaving them to it) headed outside to see Mori. "The guests are arriving…" he told him.
"Ah," he answered.
"Make sure to keep that thing under control while they're here," Kyoya informed him a slightly smirk on his face.
Mori's eyes shot in Kyoya's direction, but his face held the barely visible characteristics of a grin as well, "Do you really think it's smart to be calling my Master a thing in front of me…"
"You won't do anything Honey hasn't ordered you to do, and Honey can't do anything Haruhi hasn't ordered… But he's slipped up before. However, you have more self-control than he does which is why I'm telling you to keep him under control. If I end up having to stop him, I will not hesitate to hurt him, and I don't think either of us want that…" Kyoya pointed out as he straightened his glasses. This conversation between had happened before, but this time it was said in an almost friendly manner.
Mori's barely visible grin and stoic expression broke when Honey came bounding over to him. "Takashi! Look what I found!" he said happily holding up a pinecone. "Do you think its food?"
"No," he answered simply.
Kyoya's smirk widened as he turned away to head back to their guests…
Haruhi was exhausted come the ride back. They had planned in meticulous detail no less than forty gowns, which were now going to be sewn and delivered in a few weeks. They had bought a small handful of already made outfits so she'd have something to wear in the meantime.
"My Lady?" Tamaki said noticing her expression was crestfallen. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah…" she sighed as she stared out the window. "So, Tamaki…"
"Yes?" Tamaki asked smiling.
"What exactly have you planned for my return then?"
"Wha? What do you mean? There isn't anything planned…" he said laughing nervously.
"Sure…" she sighed leaning back.
When they arrived at the mansion, there seemed to be no one there, and she was just beginning to think she might be able to get through this Birthday in relative peace when (upon opening the doors) there erupted an explosion of noise.
"SURPRISE!"
Haruhi blinked. There was a load of people in her manor, all dressed for a fancy party. Some of them she knew, some of them she didn't. But it seemed all of them were of relatively high class.
"Yes! Surprise! Are you surprised?" Tamaki asked grinning.
"Yeah," she sighed.
And thus she was forced into a day of laughter (at things she didn't find funny), dancing (with people she hardly knew), chatting (about things she didn't want to discuss) and worst of all sucking up (to people who didn't deserve it).
Haruhi walked outside with a group of her guests to ride the horses (as Tamaki had planned), and she saw Honey run up to her smiling.
"Hi!" he said happily.
Haruhi felt her heart sink… From experience, Honey didn't do well around people. She looked around nervously for Mori, but he seemed distracted for he was helping one of her guests onto a horse.
"Well who is this little cutie?" said one of the women in her entourage.
"Uh… this is my Grounds Keeper, we… we affectionately call him Honey," Haruhi said nervously hoping against hope that Honey wasn't going to go all Demon on them.
"Honey!" she said. "My that's so cute!"
She reached out placing a hand on Honey's head and ruffling his hair. Mori looked up at that, and Honey grabbed her hand turning it so the back of her palm was facing him. His eyes wide, and for the briefest of seconds it flashed red. Mori jumped over the fenced in area heading their way.
"Uh, Honey, don't—," Haruhi said nervously.
He smiled and placed a kiss on her hand, "Have a good day ladies," he said cheerfully before running around them his bunny in hand.
Haruhi sighed in relief.
"Isn't he sweet!" the woman said grinning. Haruhi however felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest.
When the last guest had gone home Haruhi fell into her lounge chair exhausted, she kicked off her shoes as her feet were killing her. And then there was a knock at her study door…
"Come in," Haruhi said.
All her servants entered, and Tamaki was holding a small cake with a single candle in it.
"I've already blown out the candles," she said frowning reaching up she started pulling the pins from her hair letting the brown strands fall. Her servants were always doing silly stuff like this. They were hard to understand sometimes...
"This isn't for that," Tamaki said smiling placing it on the coffee table in front of her.
"This is the one year anniversary," Kaoru explained. "Of when we all met," Hikaru finished.
"Huh?" Haruhi blinked sitting up a little straighter as Honey jumped over the back of the sofa seat to sit beside her.
"We've held a contract for one year now," Honey said happily.
"And it's been one year since I fell from Heaven," Tamaki said sitting on her other side.
"And one year since we died," the twins pointed out.
They all glanced at Kyoya, and he sighed straightening his glasses shrugging. "Yeah yeah," he said. "A year for me as well…"
Renge was clinging to his arm. She hadn't met them the same day as everyone else, but she was still very much apart of their little group now.
"See," Honey said happily. "Your birthday is more than just a birthday; it's the anniversary of the day we all met!"
Haruhi's face suddenly fell… "And the anniversary of when my parents died…"
Tamaki suddenly looked panicked and he turned to the twins angrily as though they had brought up the sore topic.
"Why are you looking at us?" they asked frowning.
Sighing Tamaki took out a match and lit the candle, "Here Haruhi… make a wish and blow out the candles…"
She looked around at her servants. Honey at her right was a powerful demon, behind him Mori (a Demon Hound) was sent from Hell to accompany and protect him. She glanced over to the smirking twins, both were dead, and both were ghosts. Her eyes drifted along to Kyoya who had his back to them looking in his notebook. He was a Shinigami sent to monitor the deaths that occurred around her. Renge was beside him smiling brightly at her (she was the only human here aside from Haruhi herself). Her gaze continued falling on Tamaki's face, he was her fallen Angel who was given the job of keeping her pure. She could hardly believe such a strange band of creatures had come to live in her manor, and yet they had. And while this adventure had been sad and stressful, it had also been (and she had to admit it) kinda fun...
Haruhi looked into the candle's flickering flame, and she thought back to the day she had met them, and knew if she could have any wish in the world it would be…
I'm on the fence with this story, and I'm not sure if I want to continue it or not. It'll depend on how much people want to read. So leave a comment and let me know if you're interested in this being continued.
So… in case you're wondering what the hecks going on… This story is a mash up. It features Ouran Host Club characters in a Kuroshitsuji Universe though it won't follow its rules 100%. I believe (if you haven't read Kuroshitsuji) this story can still make sense on its own. However if you're still confused I've provided a small key below to the races in which characters of Ouran now are. If you have watched Kuroshitsuji then you can probably skip the below explanations as you'll already know what they are:
Kyoya is featured as a Grim Reaper a.k.a. Shinigami. It is his job to record the souls of the dead in his notebook (a notebook which is NOT like the Death Note from… well Death Note). It's simply a record keeping device. He was assigned to the Fujioka household when she contracted a demon because when a demon is around there are sure to be lots of unscheduled deaths that will need recording, and that is Kyoya's job.
Tamaki is featured as a Fallen Angel. Now in the Kuroverse, Fallen Angels can be just as bad as demons. However I don't really see Tamaki as being quite as insane as the Fallen Angel on the show. Though (like the Angel on the show) he is obsessed with purifying and keeping pure, Haruhi's soul.
The Twins, I made them ghosts. Why? The ghosts they encountered in Kuroshitsuji were both intangible and tangible, as well as mischievous (though that might have been in part to the fact they were spoiled royals).
As for Honey, I made him a demon. Why? I can take his kick butt abilities to another level with this race and it kinda just fits (in my opinion). Demons in Kuroshitsuji form a contract with a human to grant them a wish. Often taking a form that will best assist them in this wish. They can take up to the person's whole life to reach their goal and when the wish or desire had been granted the demon takes their soul as that is what they eat, and appears they can starve without a soul, but it is not clear if they can die from not eating a soul for so long. XP
Now Mori, I made him a demon hound. I'm sure everyone has heard of people that turn into animals. Well, like with wolfs rain, demon hounds are animals that turn into people. I thought this would fit Mori because of his fondness for animals, and being loyal and serving Honey suits a dog well. XP
Alright, well if you sat through that. Bless you! XP If you like this (as I said before) leave a comment as I am not entirely sure how this story will go so if you want to see more let me know, otherwise I might not keep it around.