I'd like to dedicate this chapter to a girl named; Kat . She had died on 6/4 2012 by a sudden heart attack. She was only 13 years old, and I hope she's resting peacefully wherever she may be.
She had cancer.
The world can be cruel, but if we continue to send our support to those in need, then perhaps it'll be nicer.
Kat wasn't my friend, but I know she had loved Ouran Host Club High School. And so I dedicate this chapter to her. In honor of her memory and to show my support.
Chapter 3 – To be a king (part 2)
"Excuse me." Called a deep voice from the doorway to the balcony. "Have you seen Prince Mitsukuni Haninozuka? Of the Willow Kingdom."
Haruhi turned around from her place beside the balcony railing, her hand jostling the goblet she held. There stood a dashing knight, equipped with heavy armor and a sword sheathed and tied to his belt. His black hair spiked in different directions with stunning gray eyes. He could have passed as a prince if he wanted to...
If it wasn't for the rabid look in his eye.
"I'm sorry, I haven't." Haruhi said with a apologetic smile. She then began to approach the tall, frantic knight. "But if you want I could help you look. I'm sure he's in there somewhere."
The knight's eyes grew wide when he realized exactly who it was he was talking to. He hurried down onto one knee and placed a fist above his heart with his head bowed. "I'm sorry, your majesty. I didn't mean to bother you."
Haruhi groaned and shook her head. "Not another one. Please stand up, knight. I really do not see the need in formalities."
The knight's head shot up and his eyes locked with hers. It was unexpected and Haruhi felt defenseless against his gaze. Her heat beat quickened and, for once, she was in a situation she couldn't analyze.
"Ah." He said as he slowly stood up. His body language oozed with confidence and skill, but his eyes were helpless. Perhaps it was due to the person he was looking for.
This person must mean a lot to him.
Haruhi shook her head and raised her chin slightly. "Well, standing here won't help in searching for Prince Mitsukuni. I'll assists in looking for him, come on."
The knight shook his head and stepped into her way, successfully blocking the doorway. Haruhi gave him an incredulous look and he quickly responded with one word. "Responsibility."
Haruhi stepped back and looked at the man with an eyebrow raised. Slowly the puzzle began to piece itself together. His frantic state, refusal to allow her to help and 'responsibility'. "I've heard of your family." She said as she met his his gaze, ignoring the goosebumps his emotional eyes gave her. "You're from the Morinozuka family, aren't you?"
The knight nodded his head, his eyebrow furrowed in confusion.
"Ah, I thought so." She said with a smile. "Prince Mitsukuni must be you responsibility to protect. I've read that your family has protected theirs for generations and have a very strong bond with them." Haruhi held her chin and squinted her eyes slightly in thought. "There was a merge somewhere down the line as well, I believe, which now makes you cousins, correct?"
The knight nodded again.
Haruhi smiled. "You're a man of few words, I see. What's your name?" She asked, leaning slightly towards him with a her head tilted innocently to the side. She wasn't aware of her actions, but her curiosity got the better of her judgments.
"Takashi, Morinozuka Takashi." He then bowed, his hand over his heart. "It's an honor to meet you, Princess Haruhi."
Haruhi waved her hand. "Please, the honor's all mine. I must admit, I've admired your family for a long time. You're strong loyalty is just... magnificent." Haruhi said with a small smile.
Takashi rose from his bowed position and looked at her. He stared at her as if trying to figure her out, and she allowed it. She knew that her character wasn't like the others in the royal court and she tood pride in keeping it that way. If he found her puzzling, then it's alright.
He opened his mouth to respond when a child-like voice called out from behind him.
"Takashi? What are you doing?"
Takashi spun around and practically ran towards the newly revealed boy. The boy was so small, clutching onto some kind of fabricated bunny in one hand and holding a plate of desert in the other. He had big honey-colored eyes too, innocent and childish.
Mitsukuni Huninozuka.
That must be him... But from what Haruhi had read Mitsukuni, heir to the throne, was her senior by 18 years. The boy here must be at least 10 years of age, unless she was just imagining things.
She rubbed her eyes and looked at the boy again, now chatting happily with Takashi who nodded along to the things he said. He still looked the same. She then glanced down to the goblet in her hand.
This is water, isn't it?
"Princess Haruhi." Haruhi looked up to see Takashi standing by the balcony doorway next to him was the small, blonde boy. "Prince Mitsukuni Haninozuka." He introduced.
Haruhi was about to bow when suddenly the small boy came hurling towards her with his arms wide open. "Haru-chaan!" The boy shrieked.
Haruhi dropped the goblet and caught the boy, spinning around in circles while he started to giggle in delight. She was beginning to feel very dizzy and queasy when her back collided with something hard and arms reached out to support her. The small boy in her arms jumped off and she felt herself falling. She closed her eyes, preparing for the worse when she felt the arms tighten around her.
She opened her eyes and met the familiar gray eyes of Takashi. It was his arms that were around her, causing his face to be so close to hers. Her heart beat quickened and she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Faintly she could see a slight blush on his cheeks, but he quickly stood up and balanced her onto her own feet. Face still flushed she turned away from the charming knight and met the sad gaze of Mitsukuni.
"Mitsukuni. Apologize." Takashi ordered as he stepped up beside her. She then noticed how tall he was, and how short she was compared to him. She barely reached his shoulder, for Kami's sake!
Mitsukuni kicked at the ground and pouted. "I'm sorry, Haru-chan. You just looked so cute in your gown... I can't help myself when it comes to cute things."
Haruhi's eyebrow twitched. Chan? She thought as she studied the small boy. He was so... tiny. She had read that his family, along with the Morinozuka's were experts in martial arts and that the new heir was a true prodigy. This boy couldn't possible be an martial arts master.
"Uh, it's a pleasure to meet you, my lord." Haruhi curtsied, realizing that she should have already done that from the beginning.
"You don't have to be so formal, Haru-chan! You can call me Honey! Or Honey-senpai if you must add the honorific."
A small tick formed at the back of Haruhi's head. There was no way he was her senior. There must be some sort of mistake. He's holding a bunny-doll for Christ's sake!
Her eyes trailed down to the doll. It was a strange doll, formed to look like a rabbit with black beady eyes and pink skin. It was most likely stuffed with wool of down feathers. Yet, there was an uneasy feeling around the thing... it seemed almost sinister.
Mitsukuni, or Honey, seemed to have noticed what held her captive and held the evil looking bunny up to her nose. "And this is Usa-chan! I got him from Takashi as a gift a few years ago! Isn't he cute?"
Haruhi blinked as she stared into the bunny's beady black gaze. She didn't know if it was just her imagination or not, but she could have sworn that the bunny blushed. Blushed!
"Uhm, I suppose it is." She answered in an awkward tone, not fully comprehending her situation.
The bunny was lowered and Mitsukuni peered over the top of the bunny's head with wide eyes. "Really?"
Haruhi nodded, her gaze locked with the bunny's dark mesmerizing eyes. Suddenly the bunny was yanked out of her view and she stepped back in a daze. Blinking rapidly she noticed that Mitsukuni had taken the bunny back and was spinning around with it while shouting something about getting a brand new friend.
Haruhi glanced at Takashi with a raised eyebrow. He was stoic, but his eyes held a hint of amusement. He must really enjoy Mitsukuni antics to allow such feeling show through his eyes.
Haruhi turned back to the small prince and then crouched, balancing herself on her toes. "Prin-, I mean Honey-senpai, May I say that it is an honor to meet the prodigy of the Huninozuka family." She said with a wide smile.
She may not have believed that he was the prodigy, but tonight she was the hostess and every hostess must compliment and entertain their guests.
Honey stopped swirling around with her bunny and turned towards her. He smiled brightly at her and then leaped into the air. "Haru-chan!" He then latched himself onto her small frame.
Haruhi lost her balanced and fell backwards onto her rear-end, her arms encircled the small boy and she found herself clutching to him while her tailbone shot a jab of pain through her body.
"Haru-chan! You're so cute!" Honey shouted while squeezing her into a deadly hug. Her breathing was cut off and she groaned silently at the expense of her wounded tailbone.
Why am I always surrounded by people who loves to hug me? She thought with a deadpanned expression.
Haruhi groaned as the night wore on. It was well passed midnight and it seemed her guests were persistent on staying. She had run into many princes and had also managed to make a few allies and friends. The ball seemed to have served a good purpose by bringing all these kingdoms together.
Just not the right purpose she needed.
She sighed as she sat down on a bench. Her dress felt uncomfortable and the damned corset dug into her skin. She winced at the thought of how sensitive she will be in the days that will follow. Her feet ached terribly from all the dancing and her head spun slightly.
The chatter of the ballroom made her head ached with exhaustion, but the worse part was when she danced with Prince Mitsukuni, who seemed content with just spinning her around as If she was his Usa-chan. She thanked whatever kami that rested in heaven for sleeping in the other day. She needed every minute of it to keep up with this retched ball.
She looked out over the crowd of swirling people. Her eyes were drawn to her father, who was graciously chatting away with a pair of kings. He was making dramatic gestures while grinning widely. Haruhi had a feeling that he was talking about her.
She rolled her neck and closed her eyes. She brought a hand up and rubbed her neck gently, kneading the pressure points with a strong force. She groaned and leaned back.
"My, my, what do we have here, Kaoru?"
"I do believe that this is the beautiful Princess, Hikaru."
"She seems tired, Kaoru. We shouldn't have that, now should we?"
"Of course not, Hikaru. We haven't had our chance to dance yet."
Haruhi cracked an eye open and was met by a pair of mischievous looking twins with their arms around the other. They were smirking at her with a playful look in their amber colored eyes.
"Look at that! She's awake." Called one of them as they both stepped forward and leaned into her, intruding her personal bubble.
"Indeed she is."
Haruhi straightened her spine and opened both eyes, ignoring the nagging exhaustion, she darted her eyes between the siblings. "Excuse me, I didn't know anyone was watching." She said with an embarrassed blush staining her cheeks.
The twins laughed. "Poor girl." They said together while turning towards the other. "She must be so embarrassed, being caught in exhaustion."
Haruhi glared at them and stood from her seat on the bench. She didn't like the way they taunted her. She didn't like it one bit. "Don't talk about me as if I'm not here." She said, her eyes narrowing.
The twins grinned as they positioned themselves on either side of her, their hands on their hips. "I do believe she's getting annoyed with us, Hikaru."
"Yeah, Kaoru. It looks like she has a nasty temper."
"Not a good quality in a princess."
"Not a good one at all."
Haruhi's hand curled into a fist and she felt her body shake slightly. Her title was being question, that wasn't acceptable. Absolutely not.
She drew in a deep breath through her nose and stepped forward; away from the twins looming bodies. She held her chin up high and relaxed her shoulders and fingers. She forced a natural smile to stretch itself across her face. She turned towards the twins and curtsied.
"I am sorry, my lords, for ignoring your presence. I am Princess Haruhi and I welcome you to my ball. I apologize for not meeting you when the night was young."
She stood up and nearly smirked at the bewildered faces of the red-headed twins. They quickly shook their heads and bowed in greeting. "We are Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, princes of the orchard kingdom." They smirked at her while they stood.
"Oh, I've heard of your kingdom. It's infamous for their fashionable clothing and fabric. In fact this dress has been costumed made in your kingdom."
"We know that." Said the one on the right.
"Our seamstress had sewn it." continued the one on the left.
"Our mother had designed it. She adores your father's free spirit and wanted to gift him with something of her own." They finished together with a shrug. "Though we had our doubt about the design, you really pull it off."
Haruhi smiled and bowed in thanks. "Really now? Do thank the seamstress for me, I will seek out your mother on my own."
The twins nodded and then one of the offered his hand. "Would you do me the honor of a dance, Princess Haruhi?" The other one seemed shocked by his brother's actions, but quickly masked it with an unconvincing smirk.
Haruhi glanced at the dance floor and mentally sighed before placing her hand in his and walking with him out on the dance floor.
The twin intertwined his fingers in hers and then wrapped a hand around her waist while she rested her hand on his shoulder. Without a word, they began to dance in tact with the music.
Haruhi felt a bit uneasy, not knowing where to look; his eyes, the people around them, their hands? Her eyes darted between them and it made the prince amused to watch her distress.
He leaned in by her ear and whispered. "Relax, you look like you're searching desperately for an escape route."
When he leaned back he locked his amber eyes with hers and smirked, proceeding their dance without missing a beat.
Haruhi calmed and did as he said. She relaxed and allowed the music and his hands to lead her. Her eyes locked with his.
"Which one are you, Hikaru or Kaoru?" She said with a small smile.
The twin chuckled and shook his head. "I could tell you that I'm Kaoru, but then later on you will only forget and think I'm Hikaru. So does it really make a difference?"
Haruhi pursed her lips and studied the boy in front of her. A mental image of his twin popped into her mind as she silently tried to find differences in the way they looked and acted.
"It does." She stated after a moments silence. "You're more calmer than your brother. Though I can see you are unaware of this, but you're face is a little rounder then Hikaru's." She deadpanned with a shrug. "It's not that hard to see the slight differences. You mar be and act alike, but you are still individuals."
Kaoru stopped, halting their dance, and stared at the princess with wide-eyes. His hands shook ever so slightly.
"I'm sorry, did I say something upsetting?" Haruhi asked as she tilted her head to the side with curiosity.
"N-no, it's just that... No one, not even our mother, is able to tell us apart." He lowered his head, his bangs shadowing his eyes. "We've asked so many people; servants, knights, princesses and princes... to tell us apart. No guessing, no assuming. There had to be a reason."
Haruhi opened her mouth in a silent gasp. She hadn't known that that was the case... She worried that now she had just unconsciously triggered a landslide.
Kaoru then lifted his head and locked his gaze with hers once more, speaking in a thoughtful whisper. "And now here you stand, not only deciphering me between my brother, but doing so with a cute unknowing smile. If Hikaru were here, he'd most likely freak out." He chuckled softly and then glanced around the room. His eyes stopping on a lone figure in the corner of the large room. "Hikaru..."
Haruhi smiled at the red-head prince and stepped back. "Thank you for the dance, Prince Kaoru. I do hope to see more of you and your brother in the days that follow." She said with a curtsy.
Kaoru's eyes were back on her. He stared at her in confusion, silently asking her why the sudden change. Haruhi grinned and nodded her head towards his brother.
"I do believe someone is waiting for you."
Kaoru understood and nodded. He gave her a small smirk as he bowed, raising his hand in the process. Haruhi placed her hand in his and he gave it a light kiss. "We will see more of each other. Perhaps you will be able to find more differences between Hikaru and I."
"Challenge accepted." She answered with a smirk of her own.
Kaoru chuckled and stood up. He walked away from the strange princess with a smile on his lips.
Haruhi sighed as she too walked away, weaving through the crowd like a mouse. Greeting royalty as she went along. She waved at her new friends she had gotten during the ball; Takashi and Mitsukuni, Tamaki and even to the ever so mysterious Kyoya.
She had faith that perhaps there was someone among 5 handsome princes will somehow steal her heart. Though she was unsure rather or not she should rule out a dashing knight...
She shook her head and finally reached the staircase. She walked up the stairs with her head high and back straight. Once on the top she turned towards the ballroom and cleared her throat.
The knights around her stomped and gathered the attention of all that was in the room.
"Thank you all who has come to my coming out ball. I am so pleased to have met so many new and old friends. You have all made quiet the impression on me and I thank Prince Tamaki Souh once again for that lovely song he played."
The crowd clapped and she saw the before-mentioned prince redden with a blush.
"Allies and friends, I wish you all good nig- err, Good morning to be more precise." The crowd chuckled and she smiled. "Those who plan on staying over night will be guided into a room by one of our servants. Please enjoy the rest of the ball. I'm afraid that I must retire to my own personal chambers."
The crowd clapped as she curtsied and exited the room. Kasanoda stood waiting on the other side and the two of them made their way to her rooms in silence.
AN/ There you have it, part 2! There will be a part 3, since I had to cut it into three parts... Yes it was just that long... (And no "That's what she said" jokes!)
Again, I must ask you all to pray for Kat. She was an otaku, just like us. Her favorite character was Mori-senpai and so I thought this chapter would be perfect for her. After all... this is Mori-senpai's introduction.
If there are any spelling mistakes or errors, please be so kind as to tell me. My beta has no idea what Ouran High School Host Club is and I see no reason to ask him to correct this for me. Don't want to confuse him, ya know.
R&R