Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Ouran or Cinderella or anything to do with their copyrights. I'm just practicing my English! Ha (:

Special thanks to everyone who has given this piece of work a chance. I will do my best. Please continue to give me constructive criticisms and support. Cheers! (:

P.S. If the previous chapter was a question from Kyouya, this is a reply from Haruhi.

Her 'Glass' Sneakers

When they had 'convinced' her to narrate that silly fairy tale, she was less than happy. All she wanted was to get through hosting hours in one piece then get home to her chores and homework. Not sit on a high stool with a glaring spotlight on her and a bunch of over-enthusiastic fan girls drooling at her every word. But with the unpredictable rich bastards, she was once again compromised.

Haruhi never understood why the Host Club settled for a music room. She guessed that explained the mystery of the Third Music Room having no semblance of one being used for musical activities. There were too many doors that appear and vanish at whim, instruments that never show their face in a room for music while equipment that have nothing to do with music call the Third Music Room home.

On her better days, Haruhi's mind was filled with random questions (like the above) and lists of things to do. But today was different, yet she couldn't put a finger to why.

Ever since the self-declared 'lonely' prince had proclaimed her to be Ouran's Cinderella, she was sceptical. She could see why they saw a little of Cinderella in her but the title bothered her still. Haruhi went through the 'CHECK-LIST' she compiled.

Cinderella was a commoner.

Check.

Cinderella lost her mother when she was little.

Check.

Cinderella had a dysfunctional family and was treated like a slave.

Haruhi paused.

Sure she wasn't ill treated at home by some deranged stepfamily, though her okama father combined with Tamaki would probably give the evil trio a run for their money.

But Haruhi did have her fair share of 'misfortune' - breaking the ridiculous vase was the first of many which explained her current cross-dressing state.

'So Cinderella was pretty unlucky,' Haruhi thought. The brunette had to admit she wasn't very lucky herself. When she met the hosts, they thought of her as an amusement and later as a dog. Throwing and fetching became her normal routine. And considering the fact that the blonde always fancied himself as her father, implies that the Shadow King was her mother. The thought alone was pretty disturbing.

So, check. She did have a dysfunctional family all right.

Cinderella had a fairy godmother that could turn pumpkins into carriages, mice into horses and footmen, rags into gowns, complete with glass slippers and all.

But having a fairy godmother wasn't the only way to change one's destiny, or so it seemed for the brunette. Six annoyingly attractive boys were enough to turn her world upside down. Haruhi was grateful for the lack of pumpkins, mice and magic. You see, she didn't like surprises much, even if they were the pleasant sort. And she definitely didn't need another dress. The twins seemed to have closets full of them in her size.

Further more in many hosting events, she was always forced into frilly costumes that threaten to reveal her true gender. The hosts seem to enjoy playing the role of her fairy godmother every possible time. And if it were possible to magick her male school uniform into that of a female, Haruhi was certain the boys will try.

As much as she didn't want to, Haruhi checked that off her list.

Cinderella outshone all the other rich and beautiful girls at the ball and danced the night away with her Prince Charming. They found love in each other's arms.

Haruhi propped the book she borrowed from Tamaki-senpai before her and pondered.

As the only girl cross-dressing as a boy in a club that lived to please girls, it was undeniable. She stood out like a sore thumb. And truly, in every sense of the word, the six other hosts were Prince Charmings in the eyes of their customers.

Yet for Haruhi, meeting the Prince Charmings was far from love at first sight. She was a simple girl who believed in fate. It was pre-destined that she was to stumble so ungracefully into their presence and become a regular fixture in their opulent lives.

She wasn't sure if it was anything more than platonic friendship that she shared with the six boys. But Haruhi knew she didn't regret becoming part of their world. The moments they had with her, she was truly happy. Perhaps with time, she might understand her feelings for these six boys and who knows what fate has planned.

With a whimsical smile, Haruhi checked it off her list as well.

Cinderella lost everything at the strike of midnight. Her dream crashed down to earth and the only thing that proved it ever happened was her lone glass slipper.

Haruhi knew how that felt. Without a doubt, she crossed that off her list. She hadn't lost anything.

Yet.

It was reality check for all of them that fateful day. When Tamaki-senpai almost left for France with Éclair. Haruhi never knew what she had until she almost lost it.

Becoming a host wasn't exactly what Haruhi envisioned her high school life to be. And just like how Cinderella had never thought she would make it to the ball, much less find the love of her life; neither did Haruhi dream that she would become part of this clique of beautiful people who genuinely adore her and all of her commonality.

To be loved and cared for like a real princess was something she might never get used to, but Haruhi was sure she never wanted to lose this feeling. Warm and tender, with a touch of sarcasm and irony. Even if it was for a moment longer, Haruhi knew from the bottom of her heart that she would do everything in her power to keep them together. For they were the dream she never wanted to wake up from.

"Cinderella and her Prince Charming lived happily ever after," Kyouya read out loud. And with a flick of his wrist, he ticked it off the checklist.

Haruhi jolted out of her daydream to see the Shadow King beside her, reading from her scrap of paper. With an indignant glare and a flush rising to her cheeks, she snatched it back and stuffed it between the pages of the book. She had thought all the hosts had left but of course, Kyouya-senpai was as unpredictable as the wind.

"I thought everyone was gone for the day," Haruhi scrambled off the ledge and packed the book in her bag. While Kyouya watched with much amusement.

"You thought wrong." It was a rare moment that he caught the girl so flustered.

"Cinderella," Kyouya added as an after-thought.

Haruhi stopped dead in her tracks.

Owari

Reviews will be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance. Cheers (:

Author's Note: Epilogue coming up! I intended this to be a one-shot but I'm a terrible one-shot writer. And I'm sorry if the characters are a little OOC. I was watching the Prince of Tennis Musicals as I did this. My inner PoT fan girl is itching to write. Any TeniMyu Hyotei fans here?