...
Blank Horizon
Chapter 3:
Overwhelmed Sadness
"A Dance Session Masquerade Ball!" Tamaki rose from his seat at the brink of his new idea.
"A Dance…what?" the other hosts asked.
"A Dance Session Masquerade Ball," Tamaki repeated, his face fresh.
"It would be perfect!"
Haruhi raised her brow,
"How would that work?"
…
"All we have to do is pair up each host with Ruka and dance with her." Tamaki explained, rubbing his chin for more ideas to pop.
"And, we're gonna dim in the lights for extra effect."
"So, how exactly is that gonna make Ruka happy again?" Haruhi asked once more.
"Ruka is an ace ballroom dancer," Kyouya answered. Tamaki was too busy thinking about his newly planned project.
"She started dancing when she was 4 but stopped when her parents left them at 10. She hasn't been dancing for 5 years already."
"But, we believe that when she dance with somebody," Tamaki said, smiling. He clearly hopes this plan will work.
"That'll lessen her sadness."
"We also figured out that abrupt pushing of happiness would just shock her," Hikaru responded.
"So, it's better to do it slowly and surely." Kaoru added as the two of them nodded their heads.
"Have you informed Rina and Shina about this?" Tamaki looked at Kyouya.
"Do you want me to?" Kyouya immediately got his phone.
"No. Let's make all of this a surprise." Tamaki replied as Kyouya flipped back his phone. Tamaki was grinning, all of a sudden.
"Highness is plotting again, Kaoru." Hikaru whispered at his twin.
"Let him do what he wants, Hikaru."
…
"Okay!" Tamaki announced,
"Let's start!" But then..
"Wait!" Honey blurted out as he held his teddy bear, face serious.
"Tomorrow's the ball, right?"
"Yes, so-"
"So, let's just decorate tomorrow morning, Tama-chan!" he smiled innocently at Tamaki as Honey clung on to Takashi's neck.
"Yeah, there's still classes tomorrow." Kaoru and Hikaru pulled Haruhi to the door.
"Let's go home, Haruhi!" Hikaru added, basically to annoy Tamaki.
"Wait a second!" the Host Club president managed to say but..
"Let's go eat mango cake this time, Takashi!" Honey rejoiced as the two of them went outside the Club Room.
"Kyouya!" Tamaki called out to his last line of resources,
"Help me~"
…
"I'm selling Haruhi's notebook online," Kyouya replied as he typed in something on his laptop.
"Don't bother my solitude."
And with that, Tamaki's face fell on the floor.
-Friday Night-
"Where did you get this dress?" Ruka asked as she looked at herself in the mirror. It was a red, wavy dress that was down to her knees. It has small and light ruffles on its short sleeves and the redness on her dress complements her dark hair and black eyes. She was wearing gold sandals, with an inch of heels and a few laces to support her feet. Her straight hair was tied into a gorgeous bun and was curled a little bit more. The other short hairs she had, fell down on her cheekbone, framing her pale face. A few touches of lip gloss and a mask, she was ready to enter the Third Music Room. Looks like the twins discovered a thing or two about the Dance Session.
"It's for a school party, nee-chan!" Rina and Shina replied with a smile. Rina was wearing all blue; a half ponytail for her hair, a red bow to finish it off, a blue-laced dress and blue glittery shoes to match it. Shina was wearing the same, except she had pink.
"School party? How come I don't know about it?" Ruka raised her brow.
"Secret members only." Rina hushed as she looked around, as if somebody was listening to their conversation.
"Okay..?" Ruka said with total confusion. Then, Shina reached out to Ruka and wrapped a black blindfold around Ruka's eyes.
"Uhm, what now?" Ruka asked as she held on to Shina's hand along with Rina's.
"Just follow us, nee-chan." the two of them said. Ruka nodded half-heartedly as they led Ruka outside their house. The 3 siblings looked perfect, they were all in their best appearances.
But still, there was something missing.
"H-How did you know..?" Tamaki asked the twin girls. Rina and Shina grinned.
"Se-cret!" the two of them replied. The Miroshiro Sisters already arrived and the twin girls let Ruka sit somewhere hidden. Plus, Ruka still had her blindf0ld on.
"Okay, here's the plan.." Tamaki whispered.
"Nah. We already figured this one out." Rina shrugged as Tamaki gaped.
"Shina? Rina?" Ruka mumbled. She was told by the twins to sit down and now she's being left out. But, she still didn't dare to move and stand up, all because she has this blindfold on. Ruka sighed,
"Where are they?"
Suddenly, a hand held hers. She flinched but the hand that held her had a warm and assuring feeling. So, she didn't resist, and instead, she felt doubt.
"Who… are you?" she spoke as the hand pulled her away from where the twins left her.
"Just come with me." A cold, blank voice replied. It reminded Ruka of someone. Her cheeks flushed white as she answered with a slight nod. After a few steps, she was passed on to another pair of arms. She can guess that it was a boy, but his hands were too soft to be one. Ruka undeniably touched his hair and let her hand run down to his face and chin. She almost smirked as her partner held her two hands, arms extended in front.
"For this session's dance," a voice announced, a rather childish one.
"Swing!"
Ruka cringed. Swing. Dance. Someone's making her dance again. She almost smiled, smiled because of relief. But, she still wasn't so sure.
Because, she thought that, dancing was another "normal" thing.
The music eventually started, a really funky-techno tune along with a few lyrics. Her partner then swung her some basics and some switching also. The chorus entered, and from that moment, she finally danced along. Knowing and accepting the truth that..
She was dancing again.
Haruhi was the first one to dance Ruka. She learned how to do swing with Hikaru and Kaoru, since swing was a really easy and fun dance to perform. Kyouya was definitely right; Ruka was a dancer and she looks like she wanted, needed to dance. When the song was nearly over, Ruka was wrapped around Haruhi's arms. Ruka was going to smile, the hosts knew it. But, then again, she didn't.
Still, a small smile painted her face.
Applauses rang in the Club Room as Haruhi and Ruka went back to their original position. Haruhi immediately led Ruka into another host but before the bubbly announcer got to announce the next dance session…
"Hey, Haruhi," Ruka started as she turned around,
"Thanks for the dance."
Haruhi replied with a smile, even though she knows that Ruka won't be able to see her face. Ruka nodded, as if she knew, then faced her new partner.
"Our next dance session is," the announcer began,
"Tango!"
Ruka furrowed her brows,
"Tango?" she said,
"Was it your choice, Tamaki?"
"M-Mo." Tamaki mumbled out. But, let's just translate it to 'no'. He had a freshly picked rose flower in his mouth, and its quite clear he's ready to do tango. Then, as if an orchestra appeared behind them, the music started with a violin to lead.
Well, an orchestra REALLY appeared though.
Tamaki led Ruka through the smooth floor, swinging and playing with her. Ruka footwork was perfect, almost exact with Tamaki and their timing with the steps and music was also good. It looked like they danced with each other before, but, they really didn't.
The finale was unexpected, but at the same time, astonishing; Ruka wrapped her leg around Tamaki's as Tamaki brought her down, their faces an inch away from each other. And, for the first time in Ouran Host Club history, Ruka had a wide smile on her face.
"They did it!" Rina and Shina shrieked happily, hugging each other. Tamaki can't help but smile back as he brought Ruka up and led her to two young hosts, Hikaru and Kaoru. The twins held each of Ruka's hand, guiding her into another dance. But, Ruka already knew what they're planning.
"Next dance session," the voice announced, with much energy as possible.
"Cha-Cha!"
Ruka displayed another smile on her face, and she was clearly enjoying this night. The hosts never knew that dancing could really move her that easily. Well, dancing was her favorite, according to Shina and Rina.
Hikaru and Kaoru were like tossing Ruka back and forth while maintaining the basic steps of the dance. Hikaru would occasionally lead Ruka to Kaoru, Kaoru doing the same, or sometimes they would even share her. And when their little game was over, Ruka gave the giggle. It was like morning chimes ringing, something so fresh and so pure.
Ruka signaled a "thank you" to the twin boys as she was led into another set of hands. She was quite thankful that the dancing part didn't stop, yet.
"And for the last dance session," the announcer said as Ruka felt the lights dim down a little bit,
"The Final Waltz."
"Final Waltz?" Ruka murmured to herself as her partner led her to some basic waltz. Ruka relaxed her muscles as the music started with a calm tune of a grand piano. She then began to guess on who's her partner now..
Eventually, she felt it; her partner's steps were a little bit uneasy, the rhythm of his movement was blending into the melody and her partner's hold on her was absolute and unmoving. In short, it was his whole personality through dancing.
"Why dance, when you don't even know how to?" Ruka asked him. Her partner replied with his silent breathing.
"Answer me, Takashi."
…
"They told me to." he then answered.
"Why did you still do it, then?" she asked, one more time.
"Hey, Tamaki-senpai." Shina tugged Tamaki's shirt. He was watching Ruka and Takashi from afar, and he was proud that it was another job done, another heart healed.
"This is Ruka's past boyfriend," Rina said as she handed Tamaki a picture.
"It was about a year ago, I guess." Shina added as Tamaki looked at the picture closer. It was a photo of a boy with black hair and slightly squinty eyes. The boy had his Ouran uniform on and also had a small smile on his face. A girl with the same black hair was clinging on to the boy's arm and she was smiling at him, although, she had a different uniform on. That girl was clearly Ruka, while the boy really resembles Takashi. It was as if they were close, as if they knew each other for a long time.
"See?" Rina said.
"Takashi-senpai looks like him right?" she pointed the black haired guy on the photo. Tamaki stared at where Rina's finger landed; It may be Takashi, but, he never saw Takashi smile like that before.
"Actually," Kyouya said as he browsed his notebook, staring in deep.
"The name of Ruka's past boyfriend was recorded in her biography when we interviewed her back then."
…
"So, what's his name?" Kaoru peeked over Kyouya's shoulder.
"Come on, spill." Hikaru did the same.
"Let's see…" Kyouya gazed at the sheet of paper,
"Takashi Morinozuka, it says."
…
"WHAT?" the other hosts blurted out. Well, except for Honey who was busy eating a slice of strawberry cake somewhere beside his bunny companion.
(After a few moments..)
"B-But… h-how… w-why?" Tamaki managed to speak words out of his mouth. The pieces can actually fit, but, some just aren't the same size.
"I knew it.." Shina and Rina sighed,
"But, not so suspicious."
"Y-You didn't know either?" Haruhi asked the twin girls.
"Yeah," Rina replied, her arms on her chest.
"Ruka-nee never talked about it."
"And we just found that picture in her room." Shina added.
"You found that there?" Haruhi wondered,
…
"Maybe she still likes him."
"I wanted to help, that's all." Takashi replied as they continued dancing. The music was recognizable, from its tune and rhythm. It was 'Moonlight Sonata' by Beethoven being played by a silver haired teen on a black grand piano.
"Why help, anyway?" Ruka snapped. Her face looks irritated, slightly angered. But, somehow…pink.
"Would you just dance?" Takashi mumbled as he swung Ruka around the fully varnished floor. They were in exact sync with each other; Ruka and Takashi were perfect and the moment also was. But,
Almost too perfect, I suppose.
- To be continued.
(A.N.)
Okay. First of all, I'm sorry for the 'slow' update on chapter three because I got so caught up in our school activities. Anyway, summer's already here and I'm looking forward to being more 'available'. *chuckles* Next, I think some aspects were too surprising that it was somehow...unlikable? Well, tell me what you think by reviewing and I'll be glad to reply satisfying answers, I suppose. See you in the next chapter~
…
And oh, the fourth chapter will be the last one and it'll be like an aftermath or something. So, it's somewhat short. Sorry for that. *tries to smile* Thanks for reading!
