The Color of the Passionate and Passionless

Chapter 2, Buttons, Scapegoats, and Girlfriends?

What a sight to behold, and a sight it was. The Prince of Hearts might have thought he had seen it all that day, but Haruhi was sure she had. Being the astute, diligent girl she was, her little quibble with the man in yellow did not sidetrack for all that long. With her package in hand and her yellow gift tucked away securely she had set out to finish the delivery she started. That was until she found Renge. She was not sure whether it was just a character trait of the royalty of Hearts, or maybe just that of their children, but the scene unfolding before her reminded her all too well of her first meeting with Tamaki. And quite frankly, it made her uncomfortable.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

Renge was barking. At air no less. Haruhi had been so taken aback that she actually had to do a double take, which only confirmed that it was indeed Renge. The young woman with light brown hair and dark amber eyes, no older than Haruhi herself, pivoted about the hallway making sure to bark in each direction. That included Haruhi's, which only confused her all the more why Renge had not acknowledged her much less stopped. Another thing that made the movement that much more confusing was Renge's clothing. The woman was known for her eccentric wardrobe which she insisted was the epitome of femininity, but that is all the more reason that they were known for restricting her movement. Haruhi's father had even explained to her exactly how tight a dress of the quality he had made hers was and that it was perfect for looking slim. As the wealthy heiress she was she was not expected to do any sort of physical labor, but even beyond that she partook in nothing athletic. From what Haruhi understood, she did not even exercise and Renge's lack of athletic wear was prime evidence. Despite that Renge was one of the most energetic people that Haruhi had ever met, which she showed in her personality and speech. She had assumed that was because Renge built up all her energy from not moving a finger, but as Haruhi watched her twist and turn like a flailing fish she was convinced it was innate to her. Now all Haruhi could wonder was why that pretty, constricting dress of hers was not busting at the seams. Until a red button shot her way like an arrow that is. Haruhi's heart skipped a beat as Renge's eyes trailed after it and landed firmly on her, the button seemingly long forgotten.

"I expect you to fix that," Renge hissed, not missing a beat, "And to forget you ever saw this."

"You never barked like a dog, got it." Haruhi confirmed, already dreading looking for the camouflaged button that landed somewhere behind her.

Renge froze at the words before launching herself inches away from Haruhi's face, "Not that, peasant, my button! You are supposed to forget about my button!"

"Your button?" Haruhi repeated in disbelief, "What about your button?"

"That it came off, of course." Renge insisted like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "What would I do if it got out that I was in public in such a state of undress, and seen no less? Me, more unkempt than the common rabble. Just the thought chills my heart. Why I might as well be naked without my button! The indecency for such an esteemed woman like myself."

All of this for a button? Haruhi still could not quite wrap her head around it.

"Oh, forget it!" Renge fussed, "You clearly do not get it so I will just have a royal tailor fix my dress."

Better than Haruhi having to do it herself she supposed. She might actually get out of the castle early today, with Renge in a mood and no sight of Tamaki. There was just one thing she had to do.

"I will forget everything and be out of your way after you accept your delivery." Haruhi assured, holding the package out for the noble woman that was finally giving her a little space.

Renge's eyes lit up, "No."

"No?" Haruhi echoed, starting to feel the least bit of frustration, "I thought you did not want me to fix your button?"

"I don't." Renge continued, her finger now swiftly pointing, "But I do want you to do something. I will even go ahead and take the dress, I clearly need something else to wear after all, but you have to find Antoinette."

It is a little sad to say, but the strangest thing about that answer was not that Haruhi had no clue who Antoinette was. It was the fact that she practically said that she was going to put on the dress in Haruhi's package. After all the deliveries to the castle that Haruhi had endured she had never once seen Renge or Tamaki wear a thing she had brought. She may have not always known the exact clothing in her packages but she could always recognize her father's work. In fact, she would not have been surprised if they threw away the clothes. Angry, yes; surprised, no. And now here was Renge saying she was taking the dress because she needed something to wear. It might have been worth sticking around just to see that. Might, of course, since Haruhi highly doubted.

"Okay." Haruhi entertained, "And who exactly is Antoinette?"

"She is blonde, has brown eyes, a nice if not too nice personality, and is as close as Tamaki is ever going to get to a girlfriend." Renge listed, counting each detail off on her fingers.

Haruhi just had to ask, "We aren't talking about a rose bush here, right?"

"Of course not," Renge huffed, "Antoinette is his dog."

Well that figured.

"Are you sure she is lost? I mean, she has to be in the castle, right? She does live here so she cannot technically be missing if she is where she is supposed to be." Haruhi deduced.

Renge crossed her arms, "You don't get it, she isn't supposed to be here. She is supposed to be in his room. I went in there to—It doesn't matter, actually! I opened the door and she got out. Now I have looked for her all over and was even calling to her in her doggie language. If she isn't back in Tamaki's room before him someone is going to be in trouble and there is no way that is going to be me. So if you don't get her back in time I am going to say I saw you taking her."

Haruhi blinked a few times. Just how crazy was this girl?

"How exactly am I supposed to do that? I have no clue how to navigate this place, much less know where his room is."

Renge's triumphant, cocky smile nearly shattered on the floor, "Th-that doesn't matter, either! Just take her to the guards outside when you leave and say you found her wandering around outside. They will take her back."

"But that doesn't solve anything." Haruhi explained, "Let's say that I even find Antoinette and then actually find my way out of this madhouse, both of which is impossible on its own. Let's not forget that this dog doesn't know me and is a lot faster than me. For that matter, while she knows her way around this place for her own benefit she is also not a guide dog that will help me find my way, which is what you guys do whenever I leave. Now, disregarding all this, for Antoinette to be wandering around in the first place she has to have gotten out. That means that someone has to explain how she got out of his room."

Renge visibly grappled with this for a moment before Haruhi practically saw a lightbulb glow above her head, "I will just say it had to be a servant. I mean, they clean in there. There is no reason one of them did not let her out."

"What if they get in trouble?" Haruhi pushed, expecting an answer she did not want to hear.

"So what? It is not like anyone can prove it one way or the other."

Haruhi almost wanted to leave and take the wrap herself after hearing this, "So you don't care that you are scapegoating people who spend their lives making your life just that much better and might even be fired for this?"

"Oh come on." Renge rolled her eyes, "It won't be nearly as bad as long as you find Antoinette. Good luck."

Renge snatched the package from Haruhi and walked away, pausing once to grab her button. On the other hand, Haruhi herself was frozen. In the back of her mind she knew that Renge was not a bad person, but things like this made it all the harder to believe it. What was worse is that now it became apparent to Haruhi that it was all on her. Whether Renge would actually say she saw Haruhi taking Antoinette, which she did not doubt she would, or not, it was still going to be a servant's fault that Antoinette got out in the first place. That meant it was up to Haruhi to make sure that the punishment was going to be as light as possible. Her conscience would not let leave without at least looking for the dog. Now she could only hope that Antoinette surprised her and was actually a guide dog.

Haruhi sighed, "Oh Antoinette."