Hello! I do NOT own Ouran or any of its characters! Enjoy!
"Oh my," I breathed, taking in the beautiful image in front of me. Nestled in between a vast array of trees sat a three story traditional mansion. I was wonderfully surprised by the winding path that led to the front door, and the care and love in each of the decorative shrubs along the road was amazing. Sakura trees arched over the pebble walkway and I daresay I spotted a few early buds. I stepped forward, the soft crunch beneath me was the only sound marking my passage. I followed the path, entranced by the artfully cultivated garden around me, and was a bit confused when I found myself at the door. I hesitated only slightly before I knocked.
It swung open and a short woman of about thirty appeared behind it. Her hair was a light brown -sandy almost- in color, and her eyes were dark brown. She was pretty, her cheekbones high and her lips full, but what struck me most was her almost orange skin. I tried not to stare, and distracted myself with the intricate patterns on her yukata. "Welcome, I assume that you are Hisakawa Keiko-sama?"
I nodded politely and she gestured for me to follow her. I stepped out of my zori and handed them to another woman, who bowed and left. The interior was not as flamboyant as the grand gardens, but it was elegant in a simple way. Tatami mats were everywhere and paintings of trees and the mountainside cover the walls, every once in awhile I saw a orchid blooming under a window as well. I soon got lost in all the twists and turns, and silently cursed my sense of direction -or lack thereof.
Finally we reached a paper door and the woman turned to me. "Hisakawa-sama and his wife are in there," she said, her voice sounding bored and I suspected if she didn't have to be so stiff she might be picking at her nails.
"Thank you, um," I paused, not knowing what to call her.
"Ayame."
"Ayame-san," I smiled. She didn't return it and simply walked past me. I was confused, and a bit miffed by her attitude. I sighed and let it go, instantly forgiving the small slight, and went to open the door. Before I could, it slammed open, taking me by surprise. I stood there as a figure rushed at me and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Kei-chan!" he cried, spinning in a circle with me in his arms. "It has been too long, tell Oji-chan how you've been!"
"Hiroki-san," I gasped, trying to get oxygen into my lungs. "Too tight." He instantly released me, placing my feet back onto the ground. He held me at arms length and stared at me with an excited glint in his eye. "It is a pleasure to see you again Oji-san."
"Oh, enough with all this formality! Call me Hi-chan!" he cried, a big smile plastered on his face. "Anyway, you've met Chi haven't you?"
"Yes, Chiharu-san and I have met on several occasions," I tried to resist the urge to tease him, but failed. "Your memory is failing you Oji-san."
He huffed, frowning at me with mock hurt. "Didn't I teach you to be kinder to your elders?"
"No Oji-san, you taught me to fly a kite."
He laughed, reaching forward to muss my hair. I let him, happy to see my uncle after so long. "Alright, alright, come in." We stepped into the large room, Hiroki leading me to a leather couch. I spied Chiharu sitting on it, reading, and a little girl that I guessed to be my cousin nearby. I smiled, happy to have finally seen my baby cousin. Chiharu turned when she heard us enter, closing her book and setting it aside.
"Kei-chan," she greeted, her voice warm and welcoming. I saw Chika perk up and stare at me, her face lighting up at my presence.
"Chiharu-san, you look lovely," I complimented, noticing her light blue yukata. She waved me off, running her other hand through her stark blonde hair. "I'm guessing this is Chika-chan?"
Chiharu nodded, her curls bouncing with her. "Chika, say hello."
The little girl ran up to me, the spitting image of her mother. She wrapped her arms around my legs and smiled up at me. "You're Kei right? You're gonna live with me and Oto-san and Okaa-san? Are we gonna play together? What's your favorite color?" She shot off question after question and I couldn't help but immediately love her.
"Yes, I'm Kei, and yes, I'll be living here from now on. Of course we'll play together, and my favorite color is green," I answered the first ones I heard and tried to remember the rest. I failed, but she looked at me like she didn't need any more answers.
"Just like your eyes?" she asked. I nodded, hardly surprised she noticed my odd eye color. "I have green eyes too! Just like Oto-san and you!"
"Yes, yes, Chika, now why don't you go back to coloring while I talk to Kei-chan?" Chika nodded and Hiroki turned to me. "Kei-chan, your room is right next to Chika's, but you won't have to worry about her too much until September. For the first few weeks, just relax and get used to the house and the yard, and once school gets closer, we'll worry about that. You've already been enrolled and we have your uniform, and your schedule should be coming any day now." I nodded again and waited for him to continue. "You can eat whenever, but we always eat as a family at seven in the diningroom, and if you get lost," he nudged me and smirked, knowing me all too well. "then just ask one of our lovely staff members."
"Thank you, Oji-san."
"Nonsense, thank you," he insisted, but I knew he was just glad I was here. "Now, I'll take you to your room, and then you can go lose yourself on the property."
My room was obviously carefully placed, it was indeed next to Chika's room, but it was also right next to the stairwell where I couldn't get lost in all the hallways. Inside it was huge, roomy even with the large and raised futon taking up space. Sections were cut off from one another by beautiful folding screens to create the illusion of different sections. I saw a desk poking out from behind one of them, and dressers behind another. It was wonderful, and, like me, traditional. Hiroki left after a while and let me sort through my stuff, packing things where I wanted them and moving things around.
After a while I tired myself out, and sat on the futon. I stared out the the large window above it and memorized the dense forest behind the house. I curiously took note of a pebbled path that led into the woods, instantly deciding that after a snack, I was going exploring.
I was lost.
Hopelessly, irrevocably, shamefully, lost. At some point I had lost the path, instead looking for the areas with the least amount of foliage and trying to circle back. The trees were dense and I couldn't find the direction of the sun, and for all I knew I was coming back to the same trees over and over again. For the second time today, I cursed my sense of direction.
I sighed, carefully picking my way across the forest floor on my sore feet. My traditionally zori were killing me, and I was getting warm in my multitude of layers. By some divine luck my hair and clothes managed not to get stuck on anything, and there were no random twigs sticking off of me. I wanted to break down and cry, shout to the heavens how ridiculous this is, but I couldn't. We were in the middle of Tokyo, for goodness sake! How can a forest be this large and be in the middle of such a big city? I was about to sit on the ground and accept my fate, waiting until I withered away and died, when I saw it. Like the light at the end of a tunnel, it was a clearing. I let out a silent cheer and picked up the pace, careful not to lose sight of my saving grace.
Once I exited the edge of the trees I saw it, a mansion not unlike Hiroki's. It was indubitably larger, but similar in style. I smiled, pleased by the sign of civilization. By the position of the sun it had been hours that I was lost, and I hoped I didn't worry Hiroki at all. As I approached it I saw a boy, younger than me by a few years from the looks of him, and turned to him.
"Excuse me," I called, my voice meek and a bit shy. He whipped around so fast he stumbled, and I paused, unsure. He was tall, but his face betrayed his youth. He had spiky black hair and grey eyes, and was quite handsome. He looked surprised but ran towards me. I was still uneasy but he looked friendly. "I'm so sorry, but I'm lost."
"Really?" he asked, smiling at me in mirth. "What were you doing back there anyway?"
"Exploring," I mumbled quietly, but he heard it.
He threw his head back in laughter and I had to suppress an embarrassed blush. I was upset to see that he was taller than me, though not by much. "Why don't you come in?" he offered, and I nodded. He led my to the house, chatting and asking questions the whole way. "So who are you, anyhow?"
I gasped, appalled by my rudeness. I stopped in my tracks and he turned to see what was wrong. I dropped into a deep bow, apologizing quickly for my behavior. "Oh dear, I am so very sorry. How completely improper of me! I am Hisakawa Keiko, oh my, I am sorry."
"Hey, its okay!" he laughed. "No need to apologize! I'm Morinozuka Satoshi, but you can call me Satoshi!"
"Thank you Satoshi-kun, I'm pleased to meet you," I giggled slightly, relieved that I hadn't offended him. I rose from my bow to see him scratching his neck.
"You too, now c'mon Keiko." My jaw dropped a little at his complete lack of honorific, but brushed it aside as his nature. He seemed easy-going and cheerful, a genuinely nice person. We continued on and he continued talking, completely unphased by my quiet responses. It wasn't that I didn't like him, I was just a quiet person. Eventually he opened the door to a kitchen and had me sit in the breakfast nook, leaving to get the phone. When he came back I thanked him again and dialed the number I had just recently memorised.
"Moshi moshi," he answered, and I sighed in relief.
"Oji-san, thank goodness."
"Kei-chan? Where have you been? I've been worried sick!"
"I'm sorry Oji-san, I got lost."
"Of course you did, where are you?"
I turned to Satoshi and held my hand over the receiver of the phone. "Satoshi-kun, where are we?"
"Haninozuka mansion," he replied. I, once again, thanked him.
"Haninozuka mansion," I parroted back and Hiroki sighed in relief.
"Well, you're not far. I'll be there soon."
"Thank you Oji-san, and I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it kid, see ya soon." He hung up and I handed the phone back to Satoshi.
"Thank you so much Satoshi-kun, I don't know what I would've done without you."
"You thank people a lot," he observed, smiling at me. "Let me make you some tea."
I waited while he busied himself in the kitchen. He was talking again, about the weather and the city and his school, whatever came to his mind I suppose. I spoke at the appropriate moments but otherwise was silent. We were waiting for the water to boil when the door opened.
An older version of Satoshi stared back at me, and I immediately jumped to my feet and bowed. "My apologies, I'm Hisakawa Keiko, I don't mean to intrude."
"Geez, quit apologizing about everything Keiko!" Satoshi scolded. He turned to his future self and beamed. "Taka-kun, are you done with practice?"
I stood there, unsure what to do with myself, and watched the two. The 'Taka-kun' didn't say anything and Satoshi practically doted on him. I couldn't help but notice how attractive he was, and how much taller than myself. He had the same dark and spiked hair as Satoshi, along with the same grey eyes. His face was more angular, and his mouth was set in a firm line. He met my eyes and I desperately fought off a blush. Satoshi followed his line of sight and remembered me.
"Oh, right! Keiko, this is Takashi, my brother."
Takashi nodded at me in greeting and I smiled and bowed low in return. "Nice to meet you." I straightened and took my seat, trying not to stare at Satoshi's older brother. It took me a moment to realise Satoshi was talking to me.
"-attending Ouran?"
"Yes, starting this year I am a student at Ouran." I prayed that properly answered his question.
"Cool! Just like Taka-kun and Mitsukuni! Yasuchika and I go to the middle school."
I smiled, at least I might know someone. "Wonderful, now I will at least know someone!" I smiled shyly, the change of schools made me nervous. I turned my attention to Takashi, "Have you received your class information yet?"
"No," he replied, his voice deep and monotone. I decided I liked it.
"Oh good, I was worried I was the only one who didn't get theirs." Satoshi returned to the kitchen and finished the tea, leaving Takashi and I somewhat alone. He sat at the table across from me, though there were only four seats in the breakfast nook so there wasn't much choice. I wondered if I needed to make conversation, but thought against it. He seemed like a person who believed more in actions rather than words. There was silence, but it wasn't awkward and I didn't fidget. I glanced at both him and Satoshi, trying not to stare, but once in a while one of them would meet my gaze.
"What do you want in your tea Keiko?" Satoshi asked.
"Oh, anything is fine." Takashi seemed to perk up at that, staring at his brother. "Is something wrong Takashi-san?" I asked, wondering at his change in stoic attitude. He shook his head and I dropped the topic when Satoshi came back. He set steaming cups of tea in front of Takashi and myself, and I nodded my thanks. I brought the tea to my lips and looked up before I took a sip. Satoshi and Takashi were both watching me, and my brow furrowed in confusion. I took a sip and had to force myself not to spit it right back out. It was horribly spicy and tasted awful. I swallowed and blinked rapidly, tears trying to fall. Satoshi grinned and took a big drink of his own and Takashi shook his head. "What's in this?" I squeaked.
"Hot sauce," Satoshi boasted.
"Oh." I took another drink and swallowed quickly. I fought back my natural reaction and drank as much as I could, it wouldn't be proper to be rude after their hospitality. "Its," I paused, not sure if they were messing with me or not. Satoshi looked excited for my response and I gulped. "unique." Satoshi smiled but Takashi frowned, or at least more than before.
"You don't have to drink it," Takashi told me. I nodded and took another sip, only wincing slightly at the taste. He stared at me, not touching his own tea, when a lady came into the kitchen.
"Morinozuka-sama," she said, gaining all of our attention. "a car is out front for a Hisakawa Keiko."
I stood up and was prepared to leave with the woman when Satoshi called out. "Wait, me 'n Taka-kun will walk you out!"
I blinked in surprise but agreed, thanking them for the hospitality. Once we got to the door I bowed to them both and thanked them again. I walked out of their house and down the path to see Hiroki leaning against a limo. I walked over to him but before we entered the car I turned and waved at the boys, bowing my head once again.
"I like her, she's pretty, ne Takashi?" Satoshi looked over to his older brother as he watched Keiko get into her car. Satoshi wasn't sure if he was seeing things, but he swore that Takashi was watching the girl a bit intensely.
Takashi turned back to his brother when Keiko's limo pulled out of view. "Ah," was all he said before walking back into the house. Satoshi followed him and watched him carefully.
"She's in your year too, I wonder if she'll be in your class," Satoshi pressed, but his brother gave no reaction. "I'm going to invite her over later, I think she needs a friend that'll be at school, and you and Mitsukuni would be perfect." This time Takashi looked at him, but only nodded in agreement. "What do you think she'll think of the Host Club? Do you think she likes Kendo? I wonder why she was wearing a kimono while exploring the back forest. Did you know she is our neighbor?" Satoshi glanced at his older brother, still not getting a reaction from the giant. He sighed and gave up, sure in his assessment that Takashi didn't care.
Unbeknownst to him, Takashi was interested.
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