Do You Dance, Mister Darcy?
I'm Going on an Adventure
(All Standard Disclaimers Apply)
Chapter Two
"I do not find it easy to talk to people I don't know." - Fitwilliam Darcy
The weeks following Sonomi Sinclair's birthday gala were a whirlwind of emotions and preparations. After Sonomi made the resolve to travel to Japan and meet her biological father, Lady Sinclair busied her daughter with various lessons and lectures to familiarize herself with Japan's high society and the Suoh family. The "courses" ranged from practicing proper Japanese etiquette in social settings to memorizing important names and families to learning the history of Yuzuru Suoh and his prominent family.
After Lady Sinclair shared the identity of Yuzuru Suoh with Sonomi, it was as though a burden was lifted from her shoulders. Without the constraints and shame of secrecy, Lady Sinclair burst with all of her life's details that were once locked away. The new energy in her mother surprised Sonomi at first, but she quickly came to appreciate their new level of intimacy. For the first time she knew the love, loss, and pain of Yuki Sinclair's past, and Sonomi relished every shared memory.
"Many members of Japan's high society are still frustratingly old-fashioned. I understand that Japan holds tradition to a high standard, but some of the customs are simply outdated."
Sonomi and her mother were currently sitting in the large sunroom that extended outwards from the back of the Sinclair estate. The manor's expansive grounds stretched out before them, both sides lined with two precise rows of trees. In the middle of the neatly-groomed lawn was a large fountain surrounded by well-tended floral arrangements and shrubbery. Lord Sinclair and little Andrew were standing between the fountain and the sun room tossing a ball back and forth in fits of laughter. The afternoon was extraordinarily bright and cheerful for the English countryside, driving the Sinclair family out of their home and into the sunshine.
While the two Sinclair men ran around the grounds, Lady Sinclair and her daughter entertained high afternoon tea in the serenity of the sunroom. It was at this time Sonomi's mother decided to carry on with one of the topics she had touched upon at breakfast earlier that day: her likes and dislikes regarding Japanese high society.
"I suppose much like any other elite society, it's all about pedigree," her mother continued. "Excellent breeding is a priority for elite families."
Sonomi felt herself grow disheartened at the word "breeding". It was a crude term to describe a person's lineage but she found it to be disappointingly applicable to her situation. "Is that why arranged marriages are still relevant?" asked Sonomi, alluding to her mother's first marriage.
"Absolutely," her mother said sharply, jabbing her small fork into one of the cakes that had been abandoned on her plate. "It's an archaic custom… but if a family wants to guarantee the exclusivity of their legacy, marriage becomes more like a business contract than a declaration of love."
"So you never loved Yuzuru Suoh?" It was a bold question. For the most part Lady Sinclair had been very direct and informative about Sonomi's father, Yuzuru. But Sonomi noticed she dodged any topic or theme that alluded to any of her emotions towards Yuki Sinclair's first husband. Sonomi suspected it was a painful topic and her mother did not want to discuss something that in the grand scheme of things did not quite matter anymore.
But Lady Sinclair surprised her daughter. "No," she said thoughtfully. Her dark eyes looked past Sonomi at her husband chasing their young son through the trees. Sonomi could see the warmth in her expression and regretted prompting her mother to dig up old emotions. "I did not love your father. I respected him, though; he was a very successful man from a good family. There was not much to… dislike…"
"But you couldn't find anything to love, either," finished Sonomi.
Surprised by her daughter's insightfulness, Lady Sinclair smiled. "No, I guess not. But in the end, that's what makes a marriage last no matter the title or obligation. When your father and I fell in love, it was for other people."
Sonomi nodded. Her mother did not need to finish her statement for Sonomi to understand their love for other people was ultimately what caused the divorce; but there was one other topic that she did want her mother to address… albeit its scandalous nature. "Mother…" Sonomi said hesitantly, twirling her tea cup around in its saucer, "What can you tell me about my half-brother?"
Her mother's expression hardened. Sonomi realized it was a sensitive topic, but curiosity had finally overwhelmed her sense of propriety. "His name, I believe," began Lady Sinclair, "is Tamaki…"
…-X-…
At that very moment, on the other side of the world, Tamaki Suoh felt his ears burn. The young, bright-eyed teenager was sprawled across his bed, his gaze directed up into its canopy. He was in the middle of sharing a rambling story with his stoic companion seated at the desk across from him, when a curious sensation at the tips of his ears distracted him.
The young man seated at Tamaki's desk noticed the lull in his friend's longwinded saga and lifted his gaze. He had been furiously typing away at his computer, the harsh glare of the monitor refracting off of his rimless glasses, when Tamaki's abrupt pause tore him from his concentration. "Is something the matter?"
Tamaki quickly sat up. "I don't know," he said, tugging at his earlobes, "my ears just grew hot all of a sudden! What could that mean, Kyouya?"
"I'm sure it doesn't mean anything," Kyouya replied sharply. Unimpressed by Tamaki's suddenly "hot ears", he returned his attention to his laptop.
Tamaki frowned and tried to recall something about when your ears burn… "Doesn't that mean someone, somewhere is talking about you?" he thought aloud.
Although the day of Sonomi's departure had been known in advance for several weeks, she wasn't able to prepare herself for the heartbreak of leaving home. After the enormous wardrobe her mother ambitiously purchased in addition to the collections of jewelry, tech, books, vitamins, medicines, cosmetics, toiletries, as well as any other odd and end she could think of was securely packed away, the morning of Sonomi's flight had begrudgingly arrived and it was time to say goodbye.
The Sinclair family stood in front of the black town car that was to whisk Sonomi away to Heathrow in the hazy glow of early morning. Andrew was crying loudly into his father's shoulder, unable to understand if he was sad or angry (or both) that his sister was leaving. Lord Sinclair, while trying to balance the hysterical child in his arms, pulled Sonomi into a strong hug and kissed her head. "I know you'll do great things," he mumbled into her hair.
Sonomi had been trying to fight down her tears all morning, but her father's fond words threatened to bring them to the surface. Biting her lip, she gave him a tight hug before pulling away to kiss her brother's cheek. Andrew refused to offer her his face, so she settled on kissing his ear and whispering "I'm sorry. I love you, Andrew."
Lady Sinclair wore a mixed expression of pride and sorrow. She saw the hidden strength and ambition that glowed in her daughter's eyes, even if Sonomi couldn't. Although she was a blossoming, young woman that was growing beautifully into her soft features and slender limbs, Lady Sinclair could still see the spritely little girl that used to climb into trees with her books and look for fairies in the estate's gardens. It was a very special sort of sad pride that only a mother could experience by having to bid her daughter farewell.
"Promise me you'll call?" It sounded more like a question than a request, but Sonomi agreed. Sensing it was time for her daughter to be on her way, she pulled Sonomi in for one last hug. "I know this is going to be a difficult time, but I am absolutely sure you will stay strong. When the time comes, you'll know what your decision will be."
"Thank you, mother," Sonomi whispered into her mother's hair. Swallowing thickly, she kept her emotions down. "I love you so much."
Lady Sinclair pulled away from her daughter, silent tears running down her face. It was time for Sonomi to go. Sliding into the leather seat of the town car, she continued to wave to her family. Even as the chauffer pulled ahead, she rolled down the car window to recklessly stick her head outside to watch everything shrink from sight. It was ominously metaphorical to see the Sinclair estate disappear from view. Sonomi felt like a piece of her heart was still there, and from that point on she would never be whole again.
That was when Sonomi started to cry.
She sniffled and hiccupped for most of the journey. If her chauffer was bothered by the young girl's broken sobbing, he never showed it. In fact, as he was helping Sonomi bring her suitcases to the curbside counter for them to be checked and tagged, he gave her a sympathetic smile. "Have a safe flight," he said.
Sonomi nodded, but couldn't find the words to thank him. Her voice was too wrapped up in strangled cries for her to trust it would work properly.
Sonomi Sinclair felt as though her body was moving of its own accordance. She felt as though everything was a dream and at any moment the chaos of Heathrow Airport would disappear and she would find herself back in her room. Alas, the boarding pass grasped tightly in her hand was very, very real and there was no waking up from this. What would Elizabeth Bennet do? She found herself asking. Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy were tucked away in her carry-on, safe in the literary confines of the early edition her father bought her on Sonomi's thirteenth birthday. Imagining herself as the bold Bennet daughter gave Sonomi some confidence. She would be fearless.
Once she was settled and buckled in her plush first-class seat, Sonomi quickly pulled the book out of her bag to hold it securely in her lap. There was an odd sense of comfort she derived from running her fingers along the book's soft leather spine. Pride & Prejudice glittered in a golden script along the front of the book with a detailed etching of an artist's rendition of Elizabeth Bennet looking up from the cover. Sonomi caught herself returning the portrait's smile. "Do not give way to useless alarm" Sonomi quoted, "though it is right to be prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain…"
…-X-…
While Sonomi Sinclair was flying through the air contemplating her future, Tamaki Suoh was flying through his room in a state of panic. His morning had begun normally enough: He was awoken by several of the mansions servants, presented with a crisply pressed Ouran school uniform, and a freshly brewed latte to help him along. After he had finished dressing, one of the butlers returned to the young master's room to fetch the empty porcelain mug, and left with a startling piece of news.
"Your father is waiting for you downstairs," the butler droned, as if the presence of his father in the mansion was as mundane as the empty coffee mug he held in his hand.
Before the butler had a chance to escape, Tamaki exploded into a fit of panic and confusion. "What do you mean he's downstairs?" Tamaki demanded. He had leapt up from the lounging couch at the foot of his bed and began pacing the extravagant room.
The butler could only respond by repeating himself. He couldn't word it more simply than, "Your father is waiting for you downstairs."
No, no, no, bemoaned Tamaki, looking at his distraught reflection in his bedroom mirror, father's visits are never good. I don't recall doing anything exceedingly naughty… he doesn't really pay much mind. His thoughts trailed off to consider detailed "worst-case scenarios" and Tamaki felt himself grow cold. Only when the butler cleared his throat in annoyance did Tamaki return his attention to the present situation. After giving his uniform blazer one last tug, Tamaki hurried past the butler and towards his father's study.
Yuzuru Suoh rarely paid his lesser mansion a visit. For the most part, Tamaki served as the manor's young master while his father went about his business. If the older Suoh were to ever grace the estate with his brooding presence, he would keep his time confined to work in his study. Unsurprisingly, the room itself reflected the cold and precise nature of its occupant. Tamaki always considered the dark wooden wall panels and long, heavy window drapery too depressing and avoided the study whenever he could.
However, avoiding the study was not an option that morning. Standing timidly in front of the room's closed doors, Tamaki nervously tapped his knuckles against the cold wood. He unconsciously held his breath as he strained to listen for his father's voice. Perhaps the butler was mistaken, he thought hopefully, maybe he just imagined he saw father.
The impatient "come in" that was heard from the depths of the study proved otherwise. Taking one last nervous deep breath, Tamaki slowly opened the door.
"Good morning, father."
Yuzuru Suoh ignored his son's pleasantries and ushered him into the study. The dark window drapes were only slightly pulled apart, allowing a minimal amount of morning sunlight to illuminate the office. The brightest source of light was the ornate desk lamp sitting on the corner of Yuzuru Suoh's desk at which the man himself sat in unnerving silence. Adhering to his father's wordless command, Tamaki quickly seated himself in one of the low-back chairs placed across the large wooden desk. His blues eyes looked expectantly up at his father with quiet urgency.
The two Suoh men sat in momentary silence before Yuzuru addressed his unexpected visit. "I couldn't decide on whether or not to tell you this sooner, but I eventually decided the less time you had to dwell on this, the better…" The surprisingly tired edge in his father's voice unnerved Tamaki even more. "En route to Japan, specifically en route to this estate, is a young lady by the name of Lady Sonomi Sinclair."
Tamaki remained silent.
"The short, blunt explanation for the reason she is coming is that she is my daughter from my previous marriage."
Tamaki felt his self-restraint slip away. "Daughter?" he cried, nearly leaping from his seat.
Yuzuru impatiently motioned for his son to stay quiet so that he might continue. "Yes, she is my biological daughter from my marriage with who is now Lady Sinclair. She and I divorced early in the marriage when she was newly pregnant with our child. The original plan was for her to marry another Japanese man and pass along our daughter as his legitimate child." Yuzuru ignored his son's horrified expression. "The divorce was scandalous enough without the addition of a newborn child. The hope was that my ex-wife would be able to save as much of her reputation as she could… but that turned to naught when she fell in love with an English Lord…"
Yuzuru Suoh scoffed at the memory. The moment English media caught wind that Lord Edward Sinclair was engaged to a pregnant Japanese woman, the headlines were littered with the words "scandal", "affair", as well as the outdated phrase "out of wedlock". After their divorce, Yuki kept her word that she wouldn't reveal her previous marriage with Yuzuru Suoh. Their time together had been so short and uneventful, that it shouldn't have been difficult for the two of them to disappear into obscurity. Well, for Yuzuru anyway. When their daughter was born and it was evident both of her parents were Japanese, the international media went on a witch hunt to find the father. But when you had as much power and influence as Yuzuru Suoh had, it wasn't too difficult to keep people quiet.
"The issue at hand," said Yuzuru, tiredly rubbing the ends of his fingers up and down his temple, "Is that notable members of both Japan's and England's high societies have begun to realize Lord Sonomi's daughter's relationship to me. If continued to remain unaddressed, the general public will begin formulating ideas and theories that will, eventually, hurt business. Rumors can overthrow kings, Tamaki, remember that. So to prevent this from happening, Lady Sinclair and I have agreed that Sonomi will live in Japan until she is eighteen. This way she is properly introduced to the Japanese high society she originated from and she grows up as a respectable young woman as opposed to a daughter born out of secrets and scandal. It's for everyone's benefit."
When Yuzuru Suoh had finished, Tamaki felt himself grow faint. This was entirely too much to process before breakfast. Without considering the finer details of the situation, he found himself almost excited about a sister; especially one with the title of Lady Sinclair. Although there were many questions swirling around in Tamaki's head, he knew that the only information his father was willing to share was exactly what he had divulged during this visit. If there was anything else to say, it wasn't anything Yuzuru Suoh was willing to share with his flamboyant son.
As Yuzuru Suoh stood to leave, he informed Tamaki of one last thing. "She will be moving into the mansion, tonight."
And that was their final exchange before Yuzuru strode out of his study and out of the mansion. This left Tamaki standing numb in the middle of his father's now abandoned office, mindlessly staring out one of the partially open window curtains.
"Excuse me, Master Tamaki?" interrupted a voice.
Tamaki whirled around to see the mansion's housekeeper, Shima, standing in the study's threshold. Her long, crooked finger was pointed towards the time piece that swung around her neck. "You will be late for school if you don't leave now," she warned.
"Of course!" chirped Tamaki, jumping to life at the thought of seeing his friends. Equipped with the extraordinary news of a sister, he was giddy with excitement. As he sauntered out of the office, he was sure to throw Shima one last request, "I have one thing that needs to be done before tonight."
Shima nodded.
"Have the servants prepare a room for Lady Sonomi Sinclair! She is arriving, tonight, and is going to live with us for a while!"
…-X-…
The lessons and lectures of the day were lost on Tamaki as his school schedule dragged on at a sluggish pace. He was too animated by his father's announcement that morning for him to pay attention to his teachers. His abnormally exhilarated state (well, more exhilarated than usual) was not lost on his friend, Kyouya, who confronted Tamaki about it after the day's final class.
"I have the most unbelievable news!" Tamaki insisted, "We need to hurry and gather the Host Club… I need to tell everyone!"
Before Kyouya could respond, he found himself being dragged down the lavish corridor in a whirlwind of Tamaki's impatience and excitement. It took the stoic Ootori a long time before he was able to even tolerate Tamaki Suoh's antics, but now it hardly fazed him. So although he was being forcibly tugged along in an impromptu sprint, he calmly humored the young blonde and followed along.
The rest of the members that made up Ouran High School's Host Club were already conveniently congregating in their reserved classroom, waiting for their leader to make his appearance. Although they anticipated he would arrive in some sort of "typical flourish", they were surprised by a winded Tamaki and Kyouya suddenly leaning against the room's doorway.
"You alright there, boss?" asked a slender boy with unusual red hair. A smug expression pulled at his features and his eyes glinted with mischief. His twin brother was lounging in the seat across from him, chin resting on his palm. The two eyed the new Host Club arrivals with quiet amusement.
Close by, a spritely blonde-haired boy was cradling a pink rabbit doll in his arms. His large, bright eyes studied the breathless two boys pressed against the door's threshold. He frowned in concern. "What happened?"
A tall, brawny young man was seated faithfully beside the doe-eyed boy. He nodded in agreement at his companion's words, but declined to voice his own opinion.
The remaining member of the eclectic group was a curiously feminine young man with cropped brown hair and large, dark eyes. He was seated at a table further away from the group, a textbook open in front of him. While he was surprised by Tamaki and Kyouya's abrupt arrival, his voice didn't offer much sympathy. "Oh, hello, sempais."
Kyouya was the first to recover from their sprint. Pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, he straightened and made his way towards the group. Similar to the dark-eyed boy, he opted to sit apart at his own table and gently placed his laptop in front of him. With the entire group looking expectantly at their blonde leader, Tamaki began with his fantastic news.
"It started with my father paying a visit…" A noticeable chill swept through the room. The very mention of Yuzuru Suoh was disheartening. But Tamaki ignored his companions' tense expressions and continued with his announcement. "He came to tell me that my sister is arriving in Japan, tonight."
That certainly roused a response from the group.
The twins had leapt from where they had been sitting, their faces a mixture a shock and anger. It was difficult to know exactly how to react to the appearance of a secret sibling… especially one that was arriving in such a short time frame. As the pair of redheads began to rave their disbelief, the small, childlike boy that had been coddling his doll when Tamaki and Kyouya arrived, began bouncing around the room. With his blonde hair flopping endearingly over his eyes as he skipped around his friends, he began chanting, "Tama-chan has a sister! Tama-chan has a sister!"
The blonde's curiously stoic companion betrayed little evidence of shock. He remained seated in his chair, his dark eyes carefully observing the small chaos that had erupted. The brown-haired boy, who had been flipping through his text book, mirrored the stunned expressions on the twins' faces, although to a lesser degree. Kyouya also uncharacteristically wore a face of surprise. However, his expression was limited to piqued eyebrows and a slight scowl.
"What do you mean you have a sister?" demanded the twins in eerie unison. Their golden eyes glowed with misplaced anger as they leaned close to the leader, urging him to explain.
The wide grin on Tamaki's face didn't falter, even when his friends' responses were not as positive as he had hoped. But he understood his motley crew was wildly diverse in terms of personality, so he was grateful he had some kind of reaction. "She's my half-sister," he clarified. "Father said that her mother was his first wife. They divorced before their daughter was born and was raised by her mother and her mother's second husband in England."
Something clicked in Kyouya's mind. Maintaining his attention on Tamaki's story, he flipped opened his laptop and began typing away. His long, nimble fingers flew across the keyboard with decisive purpose as his dark eyes glinted with concentration. The shift in the young Ootori's composure evaded the notice of everyone in the classroom; everyone except the brown-haired boy sitting nearby.
The feminine young man leaned towards his suddenly motivated companion, straining to get a look at the pages that had been pulled up on his laptop's monitor. "What's the matter, Kyouya-sempai?" he asked.
"I had my suspicions," Kyouya muttered, half to the young man, half to himself. His eyes remained fixated on his computer as he began to pull up old newspaper articles and carefully hidden records. He paused a moment to process all of the information he had retrieved. I was right, he thought coldly. Normally, he enjoyed being right… but this was a rare exception.
"Is her name Lady Sonomi Anne Sinclair?"
Tamaki suddenly drooped with disappointment. "Aw, Kyouya! You ruined my story!" he pouted. With his momentum ruined, Tamaki fell into a chair across from his bespectacled cohort.
The rest of the young men - the twins, the small blonde, and even his brooding companion - gathered around the table Tamaki, Kyouya, and the quiet brown-haired boy were seated. With their dramatic prince childishly fuming across from the Ootori, the rest of the group encouraged Kyouya to continue.
"Is she a princess?" the small blonde asked, his eyes glowing with wonder. He clutched his pink rabbit close to his chest and began bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Kyouya tilted his head. "Not exactly… Although, she is technically a member of the royal family. Her parentage has always been a mysterious topic in British media seeing she is entirely Japanese albeit Lord Sinclair being a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Englishman. Normally adoption isn't really a topic of contention in England's high society; however, Lady Sonomi's mother was pregnant before she married the English lord." Kyouya laced his fingers together, elbows resting on the table's surface. "But what really fueled tabloids was the fact nobody knew who the young lady's biological father was. He was curiously kept in the shadows…" But these were the kinds of things the Shadow King knew best.
"Kept in the shadows… until now," mused the brown-haired boy, his large eyes blinking with fascination. The drama and intrigue of the rich sometimes could be interesting… when they weren't being so annoyingly frivolous.
Kyouya nodded. "I had been doing research once rumors started to resurface about this young woman's lineage, especially since she will be eighteen in a few years. I had theorized that Yuzuru Suoh could be her biological father… My family and the Sinclair's are actually close acquaintances; I had more access to information about her family than most."
This piqued Tamaki's attention. Visibly energized by the Shadow King's revelation, he directed his excited gaze towards the composed Ootori. "Have you met her!?" he implored.
"Yes," Kyouya replied calmly, "I met her a few months ago at her sixteenth birthday."
A brief pause settled on the group waiting for him to expand on his encounter with the mysterious half-sister. But when Kyouya failed to interpret their silent curiosity, one of the twins voiced his impatience. "So? Tell us about her!"
Kyouya's gaze shifted elsewhere, trying to recall details about his small encounter with the young English royal. "She's… odd," he began, "She was quietly reading a book in a corner during her own birthday celebration. I can't imagine that is appropriate behavior for an English royal… but she was well-spoken… poised…"
But this didn't satisfy the twins. "What does she look like?" the other redhead interjected.
Kyouya shrugged. "I suppose she can be considered pretty."
Tamaki began to laugh loudly. "Leave the Shadow King to be so… cynical," he teased. He remained quiet for the majority of Kyouya's explanation of Lady Sinclair's identity. Much of his information matched what his father had mentioned earlier that day, but he was excited to hear that the Ootori had actually met the mysterious young woman; and that his family and the Sinclair's were amicably acquainted. Suddenly Lady Sonomi began to turn into an actual person in Tamaki's mind instead of an idea. She started to adopt a face, a personality, and a strange familiarity… as though Tamaki suspected her existence along and just now realized it.
The twins were only slightly satisfied with Kyouya's revelation about Lady Sonomi being pretty. "I guess if Kyouya-sempai thinks she's pretty, she must be at least somewhat good looking," one of them mused.
"Yes," returned the other, "Kyouya-sempai never says that any girl is pretty."
Kyouya ignored the shallow remarks the twins were sharing about the speculated prettiness of Lady Sonomi. He hadn't even mentioned his real concerns about the sudden revelation of Lady Sonomi Sinclair being the legitimate daughter of Yuzuru Suoh. It wasn't lost on him that her return to Japanese society and the Suoh estate brought the line of succession for the Suoh fortune into intense speculation. That was one of the reasons he began researching Lady Sonomi's relationship to Yuzuru Suoh the moment he caught wind of rumors swirling around in his family's circles. The loss of Tamaki's legitimacy as heir to his father's fortune wasn't lost on him.
Kyouya sighed before enlightening the blonde prince of the reality the arrival of his half-sister created for him. "Unfortunately, her arrival isn't necessarily good," he said, meeting Tamaki's eyes, "She is the daughter from Yuzuru Suoh's legitimate marriage. In the eyes of our world, she is the ideal heir to the Suoh name."
Tamaki felt his world begin to crumble.
…-X-…
By the time Sonomi Sinclair landed in Japan and disembarked the plane, the day had melted well into the late afternoon. Exhausted from her international flight and its early departure time, Sonomi slowly made her way to the airport's baggage claim. Japanese and international travelers pushed past her with distracted urgency, overwhelming her as she tried to maneuver through the terminals.
Once she had finally located the airport's baggage claim, she spotted a sharply dressed man holding a sign with her name written in bold English letters. This is it, she thought as she crossed over to him. "Lady Sonomi?" he asked in heavily accented English.
Sonomi nodded. "That's me," she replied, exercising her Japanese. Although Lady Sinclair raised her daughter with the familiarity of her native language, it was noticeably accented by her upbringing in the United Kingdom. It felt odd to be speaking Japanese with someone who wasn't her mother, but Sonomi understood this would be the norm from here on out.
The uniformed driver graced her with a polite smile before following his charge towards the baggage claim belt. Once Sonomi's conspicuous luggage had been collected and accounted for, the driver and several other airport staff worked to fit everything into the black SUV parked at the street curb. Sonomi watched them in a slight daze. The extensive international flight and the disorienting effects of jetlag and begun to take its toll. I need to freshen up and compose myself, she thought irritably.
Once all of her bags and been snuggly fit into the back of the vehicle, the driver hurried around to open the backdoor and usher Sonomi inside. "We'll be going straight to the Suoh manor," he informed her as he slid into the driver's seat.
Sonomi nodded. Her mother had told her that she would be staying in the Suoh estate and that Yuzuru Suoh had arranged quarters for her. Although Lady Sinclair had insisted with her ex-husband that Sonomi live with her extended family in Japan, Yuzuru stubbornly refused. "He needs you to look as much like his legitimate daughter as you can," Lady Sinclair had explained. She was visibly angered by her ex-husband's innumerable demands. One would think after sixteen years of silence, they would be able to speak affably.
"But your father is set in his ways," her mother had informed Sonomi, "Remember that. He will never place himself in your shoes. He much prefers his own." Sonomi pondered her father's traits and personalities. From what she had gathered by reading magazine articles and listening to her mother's own recollections, he was an incredibly driven man with almost no sense of apathy. By dedicating hours to studying various published photographs, she tried to discern physical likenesses between the two of them. His features were severer and longer than hers, but there was an odd similarity to their eyes; while his eyes had hardened with age, there was a dark softness that Sonomi could see in her own.
The drive to the Suoh manor was excruciatingly long. The estate had been constructed well apart from the nearest town to ensure privacy and exclusivity. Only when the surrounding greenery began to appear more manicured and carefully maintained did Sonomi realize the driver had pulled on to the estate grounds and was ambling along a narrow drive. Sonomi's heart began to flutter. This is actually happening, she thought nervously, sitting straighter in the car's leather seat.
She hadn't noticed that she was holding her breath until a sprawling lavish mansion came into view and she sharply exhaled out of astonishment. The design and ornamentation of the multi-level manor spared no expense or ounce of modesty. Although the Sinclair estate was beautiful in its own right, its age and decline in upkeep gave the stone walls and weathered columns a tired appearance. Lord Sinclair had invested a small fortune into the estate's refurbishment, but there was still a slight shadow of a long life etched firmly in the mansion's cracked moldings and worn marble floors.
The Suoh manor, however, glittered with modern wealth and smug ambition. Although its design served as a tribute to the tall columned facades of European manors, there was something distinctly Japanese in the way the grounds were arranged. As the car pulled around the curved drive, Sonomi began to panic. This was a mistake, she realized, her wide eyes scanning the length of the mansion. This isn't my world. I don't belong here. Suddenly she felt very much like Elizabeth Bennet, trapped in the company of the Bingley's and Mr. Darcy when visiting her sick sister at Netherfield Park. She was a stranger in their world and was doomed to endure the silent judgements of smug Miss Bingley and the curt remarks Mr. Darcy would make in her company. This is my Netherfield Park.
Sonomi wasn't given too much time to fret when the driver rolled to a stop. Wordlessly hopping out of the driver's seat, he strode around to the other side of the car and promptly pulled open Sonomi's car door. She hesitated for a moment before obligingly stepping down out of the SUV. At the sight of the car pulling up to the front of the house, a flurry of uniformed servants flooded out the double doors of the manor to begin retrieving the young woman's luggage. They deftly stepped around Sonomi and hurried up the steps, disappearing into the depths of the mansion.
"You are expected inside," prompted the driver, bowing slightly.
Sonomi snapped out of her reverie and thanked him. After the servants had unloaded her bags and brought them to, what Sonomi assumed, was her designated quarters, they lined the two sides of the marble staircase that led up to the large double doors in a silent greeting. At the top of the stairs was a grim-faced woman standing squarely in the threshold. She bowed stiffly and motioned for Sonomi to come inside. No turning back now, realized Sonomi, her feet almost moving on their own accord.
"Welcome to the lesser Suoh manor," greeted the old woman, her expression firm and impassive, "My name is Shima, I am the head housekeeper of this estate."
Sonomi became confused. "Lesser Suoh manor?"
Shima nodded curtly as she ushered Sonomi inside, the servants brushing past them as they filed back into the manor. "Your father's wish is that you remain here for the duration of your time in Japan. It is more suitable for a young woman being introduced to the society surrounding the Suoh family. You would be too much in the public eye if you were to stay in the primary property."
"I suppose that makes sense…" muttered Sonomi. She was too distracted by the lavish interior of the foyer to pay much attention to Shima's clarification. An incredibly elaborate crystal chandelier dangled from the painted ceilings above them, and the brightly paneled walls were lined with antique paintings and furniture. Their feet was cushioned by a plush, oriental rug rolled out over the sparkling marble floors. It was overwhelmingly opulent compared to the hushed, discreet tastes of England's high society.
The brusque housekeeper impatiently cleared her throat, pulling Sonomi out of her thoughts. "Master Tamaki Suoh also resides in the mansion. Your father feels that it would be beneficial for you to meet and coexist, especially since you will be joining him at Ouran Academy."
As though the mention of the name was enough to magically summon the young Suoh, Tamaki appeared at the top of the wide marble staircase that extended up to a lofted second story. He had changed out of his school uniform, opting to wear a simple outfit consisting of a crisp designer shirt and pressed dress trousers. His lush blonde hair had been lightly combed so that it curled purposefully mussed over his forehead. His blue eyes studied Sonomi in obvious fascination, his thin lips stretching into a warm smile.
"Welcome, sister!"
Sonomi was overcome with emotions. She was still physically weary from the long journey and the jetlag was becoming more evident by the hour. Although her limbs ached and she was uncomfortable in the clothes she felt she had been wearing for days, the manifestation of her half-brother suddenly inspired her. For months, her life as a Suoh had been confined to journals, magazines, and her mother's memory. Now, it had become a physical reality: she was standing in a Suoh mansion staring up into the eyes of her Suoh sibling.
"Hello…" Sonomi said. Her already weak voice was now even more breathless due to the rush of emotion that overwhelmed her.
Tamaki didn't know how he'd react when he saw his half-sister. When he first learned of her existence, it was all new and exciting. He pictured a bright young girl that he could commiserate with and adore. But when his dear friend, Kyouya, revealed the disheartening reality that the revelation of Lady Sonomi Sinclair as his father's legitimate daughter threw his right of inheritance into question, Tamaki was dismayed.
But looking down at the dark-haired girl standing nervously in the middle of the foyer, he suddenly felt sorry for her. Sonomi's warm brown eyes were rimmed by long, dark lashes and her brown hair, glinting with auburn lowlights, had been twisted back in a messy bun. Her travel clothes - which were dark to mask any filth or stains that might accumulate during a long journey - hung loosely from her shoulders and slight hips, hiding her feminine curves. What struck Tamaki most was the lost expression on the girl's face. She didn't exude the determination of a scheming sibling nor did she hold the expected haughty composure of English royalty. Lady Sonomi Sinclair looked like a frightened girl that suddenly found herself in foreign land surrounded by complete strangers. Which she is, Tamaki realized, she's just a girl far from home.
Softened by pity, Tamaki motioned for her to follow him upstairs. "I'll show you to your room. I'm sure you're tired."
Sonomi nodded dumbly. After quickly thanking Shima, she grabbed the bag she had been toting since she landed in Japan, Sonomi slowly met Tamaki at the top of the staircase. The half-siblings shared a serene moment, silently studying each other. The brother towered over the girl so she needed to slightly crane her neck to get a good look at him. He's handsome, she thought. His blonde hair and blue eyes must have been inherited from his French mother. The only traits Sonomi could discern that they shared were the shape of their noses and the curvature of their mouths.
Tamaki was the one to interrupt the moment, turning slightly to gesture towards the right wing of the mansion. "Your room is in the private residences, a few doors down from mine. I think you'll like it. Shima and I tried to make it as English as we could so you'd be comfortable."
"Oh, thank you," said Sonomi, struck by his efforts to make her feel at home. He certainly isn't obligated to have anything to do with me, she thought, let alone actually be kind.
She timidly followed the tall blonde as he slowly began to make his towards her room. The long corridor they followed along matched the design and color palate of the brightly hued foyer. A rich, maroon carpet stretched out in front of them and out of sight around a sharp corner. The high paneled walls and sparkling chandeliers payed tribute to the careful care of the manor's large staff. Shima clearly takes pride in this mansion, mused Sonomi, studying the corridors detailed moldings and opulent wall hangings.
After turning the corner and passing by a few more closed doors, Tamaki and Sonomi stopped in front of a pair of large white double doors. "This is your room," said the tall blonde, reaching out to grasp one of the door's handles.
Sonomi gasped when he pushed open the door revealing one of the most beautiful bedrooms she had ever seen. The tall doors opened into a small sitting area containing fine parlor furniture that looked remarkably like the antiques that sat in the Sinclair manor. The wall paper that stretched upwards from the tall dark wall panels were a subtle floral pattern that was reminiscent of décor Sonomi had seen in old English halls. A large, square entry way led into the main part of the bedroom, acting as a divider between the room's reception space and the main sleeping area.
Sonomi gasped. "It's beautiful." The bedroom was an overwhelming size with a massive king-sized bed pushed up against the wall on their right, and a beautiful study area was placed between two French doors on the wall directly across from them. The doors were framed by long, heavy curtains tied back by thick golden ropes. A large, opulent vanity was set up against the wall to the left next to a smaller set of double doors that opened up into, what Sonomi assumed, was the washroom. In the middle of the room was another small sitting area with larger, more comfortable couches and chairs gathered around a low, round table.
But what really stole Sonomi's breath were the small, familiar details Tamaki had invested in the room. The room's wallpaper, light fixtures, draperies, and furniture were all of English design and paid a tribute to her adopted home. Patriotic bunting was strung all along the walls, intertwining with small, charming fairy lights. Vintage posters and photos covered the dark, striped wallpaper, instilling a deep sense of nostalgia in Sonomi. The plush furniture gathered in the middle of her room was purposefully mismatched and covered with soft, patterned pillows. Even the canopy that hung above her bed was lined with small, golden tassels in accordance to old English taste.
Sonomi felt tears begin to gather in the corner of her eyes. "It's so lovely… thank you."
Tamaki was touched by Sonomi's genuine reaction to her special room. She clearly didn't have any expectations for anyone to accommodate her during her time in Japan. Tamaki could sense the feeling of obligation that radiated from her stiff composure and timid expression. She regarded Tamaki with careful propriety rather than the cold ambition Kyouya Ootori was wary of. I think we'll become good friends, Tamaki decided.
Sonomi slowly moved about her room; her fingers grazing the polished wood of her bed's banister and her eyes gazing up at the candlelit chandelier hanging from the middle of the tall ceiling. Tamaki gave her a moment to wander before drawing her attention to the pair of French doors built into the far wall. "I think you'll like this most of all," he assured her.
With Sonomi following his lead, Tamaki gracefully threw open one of the pair of doors. The two of them were greeted by the warm glow and cool breeze of late evening. Sonomi gasped as she was ushered out onto a beautiful, sprawling veranda. The shape of the balcony curved into a U-shape out from her room and was decorated with beautiful outdoor furniture and exotic potted plants. The view from the veranda was the entirety of the Suoh property which looked as though it stretched on forever. The grounds were carefully manicured and maintained, with a small fountain in the distance, glinting in the evening light.
"This is all so amazing," Sonomi said quietly. She was leaning up against the low, columned railing that lined the perimeter of the balcony. Her dark eyes peered out in wonder at the beautiful greenery that stretched out beneath them and she smiled. Tamaki, leaning against the rail beside Sonomi, studied her with quiet admiration.
"It's difficult to be so far from home. I understand how you must feel. You must also have been as nervous to meet me as I was to meet you…" Tamaki's voice was calm and encouraging, prompting Sonomi to turn towards him.
Tamaki's presence was oddly comforting; certainly the opposite from what Sonomi expected. She had braced herself for him to hate her. My existence contests his right to our father's fortune. He has every right to despise me. But the genuine kindness in her brother's deep blue eyes convinced Sonomi otherwise. Suddenly, she felt very close to him. He must be a kindred spirit, Sonomi thought.
"I'm sorry that I'm so nervous… I find it difficult to talk to people I just met," Sonomi explained, smiling shyly. "I don't know what's going to happen… I don't even know if coming to Japan was truly the right decision. But I felt in my heart that this was something I needed to do. All my life I never knew the identity of my birth-father; I felt like a piece of me was kept in the dark. When I learned that Yuzuru Suoh was… my father," Sonomi struggled to say the words, thinking of her adoptive father back in England. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I felt like I understood myself for the first time. Believe me; I'm not here for title or fortune. I just… I just want to know where I came from."
Tamaki sympathized with his sister. Half of his own parentage was locked away in his father's stubborn silence. If I found out about my mother and where she was, I would want to be part of that world, as well, he thought. Suddenly the two siblings were more similar than they ever expected. They were two spirits trying to navigate a complicated and treacherous world, when all they wanted was the chance to be themselves. But when the reputation of a prominent family is at stake, you can never truly be free.
"I want to get to know you," said Tamaki. His composure had brightened considerably, gracing Sonomi with a wide smile. "And the members of the Ouran Host Club can't wait to meet you!"
Sonomi recoiled. "Host Club?"
"Hunny-sempai will love you instantly, I'm sure," rambled Tamaki, oblivious to Sonomi's unsure frown, "And if Hunny-sempai loves you, Mori-sempai will like you, too. The devilish twins might be slow to warm up to you, though. I think they're secretly worried for my sake. But since you're so pretty, they'll definitely want to dress you in their mother's clothes. And Haruhi will like you since you act a little like a commoner… I think she would appreciate that. The only one who might be hard to impress is Kyouya… but he's always hard to impress, so I'm not too worried."
Sonomi perked up at the sound of Kyouya's name. "Kyouya? Kyouya Ootori?"
Tamaki's grin widened. "Oh, yes, I forgot you two have already met! He was impressed with you… even though he would never admit it. But I could tell."
Sonomi blushed. She didn't think she made much of an impression on the impassive young man. That's good, I guess, she thought, her mind dwelling on their small conversation during her birthday party a few months prior.
Tamaki felt invigorated by his decision to graciously adopt Sonomi as his sister and introduce her to his closest friends. He was convinced that she would be a wonderful addition to their group. His thoughts avoided the more serious topics of inheritance and legitimacy. Lady Sonomi Sinclair had only just arrived and she assured him she wasn't chasing the Suoh fortune. She's family, he thought blissfully, and she just wants to understand her place in the world.
"Mother is so excited that he has another little girl!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around his flustered sister.
Sonomi flailed in his vice-like grip, her face pressed up against Tamaki's chest. Fighting his hold, she slowly processed her brother's bizarre declaration. "Did you just call yourself, mother!?"
But Tamaki ignored her as he began to ramble excitedly about how amazing her life in Japan was going to be. Giving up on trying to escape his embrace, Sonomi leaned against her brother. He's very odd, she decided, but he's very kind. Things certainly could be worse. For a moment Sonomi didn't think about her family on the other side of the world; she also didn't think about the mysterious Yuzuru Suoh she had yet to meet. Instead, she concentrated on the excited blonde twirling her around the veranda and the exciting adventures that were in store for her.
Author's Note:
Woah, that was a long time and took forever... I wanted to move the plot along at least a little bit more. I certainly can't promise that my updates will be so close together as these two were. But I'm feeling very inspired, so who knows. (But I think I'll need to rewatch the anime first before I write too much more).
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you continue to do so! Certainly love any comments with any questions or critiques you might have. I'm hoping the whole concept of Sonomi being a Suoh isn't too convoluted... but I apologize if it's a little wordy.
Much love.
- I'm Going on an Adventure (formally known as the Irish Baroness)
