Makoto fidgeted, tugging gently at her expert styled ponytail that now had soft ringlets wove in, and strands of jades threading in and out. While the term dress to kill normally meant, dressed in the finest threads for a grand night out, Makoto was literally dressed to kill. She may have had the elegant twist of hair forayed in a fetching fashion, she may have had the opera gloves slipped up to her elbow, and the silk sheen dress accented her curves very well, it was all a very elaborate illusion. She was to be the courtesan and the envoy to the budding dimensions that her princess to be queen was fated to cross. However, none of the dimensions were safe, at least not yet, and so the subtle fall of the dress around her hips hid her knives, and though she hated the thought of it, a gun. Her senshi pen was set in her space pocket, which was maneuvered to hover just below the natural fall of her hand when at rest. She was meeting with kings, emperors, gods, and spirits; each was a ruler of their dimension, but like most beings with power possibly corrupted by said power and the possible gain by allying with the up and coming kingdom. Makoto's future job was to assess them, and if they failed and she could come out unharmed, to kill them.
Long ago when they read about the European history, 'for king and country,' had been a very popular quote and reason to do anything, but now it was 'for queen and country.' Makoto mused that the past of a senshi had matured much more than some of the others, most assumed that Mars had been second in command to Venus, they couldn't have been more wrong. Jupiter had been, and though her princess had fought beside her in this lifetime, her hands had never been stained by the fallen warriors, monsters didn't count, and even then it was a nice clean dusting, the human hosts had survived unblemished. The senshi had worked extremely hard not to let Usagi know there had been victims caught in the cross-fire that never survived, they wanted to keep their princess, their light, pure and happy, even if they had to shoulder more of the burden. It came down to the fact that if they could have prevented Usagi from dying for their sakes they would have, and even now they prevent her from knowing the true past memories of the senshi, the one were they fought in the wars before peace, where the red, red blood drained the lives by the knives, powers, or skills at their disposal for peace. Her senshi, her sisters, would keep her naïve even now from the grittier things that were to be done in her name; Makoto would make sure Usagi would never come to find out, not even in the darkest of nights. After all, the mere thought of brainwashing made her princess recoil in shock; taking lives would cause her fragile sister to break and her heart to fall to pieces. So they sent her away to learn the skills the outer senshi might have been able to teach easily, but also, to lessen the dependency Usagi had on them and the reverse. Usagi was the miracle possibility and they had grown far too dependent on the miracles she had preformed on sheer will. Makoto would not fail her soul sister, her princess, her soul; she would do well and prepare the way of safe passage for her queen to ascend. So, she slipped a few more sharpened nail files in her gloved fingers, and threaded poisoned beads through her chocolate locks with an eased grimace. The emerald silk scarf hid chloroformed drenched pads that rested coldly around her neck, and stitched delicately into the heels of her heels were two last ditched knives. These were insurance, because sometimes magic failed because sometimes the other universes were strong against their magic and therefore them. All their weapons were blessed by the old holy priests and priestess of the old reign and the priest and priestess of the new religious orders; they had covered their bases just in case, because failure was not an option. Makoto reached up and rubbed one rose earring fondly knowing the reason she had been chosen for this job is because she was most in tune with nature, and therefore another fail safe. Straightening her gloves one last time and checking the poisoned needles lining her bracelets she nodded and disappeared to the center of the core of magic. Makoto bypassed the cauldron, nodding to the see-through guardian and approaching the impressive onyx doors that practically oozed out magic, and things beyond comprehension, kneeled down and began to chant words that had been taught to the original senshi ancestors, which was time long before the gods and goddess had govern this universe. This knowledge would eventually come to her princess, by process of Cosmos, but not at this time. The gates began to crack and a color not defined began to shine through, swimming around the determined guardian, teasing her being with whispers of power and possibility, but was ignored for the guardians of this gate would not have one of the loyal to become the lost, not when her princess was relying on her.
Usagi was sitting in a commoner's position cross-legged on the floor looking balefully up at her dance partner. She had tried very hard not to cause problems for her dance partner and she knew that one dance lesson wasn't going to revive skills she just didn't seem to have. Yet, her old incarnation, the princess had been taking over for speeches and politics, why couldn't the same be done for dancing. None the less, it was a part of her and that knowledge should be buried within, perhaps it was buried very, very deeply and she hadn't reached it yet. Wherever it might have been in her conscious it definitely was showing itself at the moment, she really wished it would though, she wasn't completely sure how much time she had before the throne was demanded to be taken. Galaxia and Pluto had said when she was eighteen, but did that mean immediately as the day started on her eighteenth birthday, or the exact time she turns eighteen? Once again the questions she needed to have asked at the time only come later when they are unnecessary and therefore make her look uninformed. She really wasn't though, she just thought in the moment, not looking deeper into the subject, willing more to feel through her emotions than cool logic. So lost in her thoughts that she missed Haruhi trying to cheer her up because it was that she pouted when she thought, not to mention the fact she had fallen to her knees in distress for stepping on Hunny's toes for the thirty-second time in the last four minutes. Eventually though Haruhi's soft prodding and Hunny's concern managed to draw her from her thoughts and she grinned benignly at them trying to show that she was fine if not just a little frustrated.
Hunny glanced down at the woman who was actually girl with a puzzled expression on his child like face. The girl was an actual conundrum of pieces that didn't quite fit, a high-born, without the ability to dance, yet easily able to get along with Haruhi in commoner practice, but yet her breeding did show through, it made his head hurt. She just didn't fit at all, being schooled like a tutor practice in a high-class academy, but not having a stand-offish personality. She might have reminded him of Tamaki, at least on the surface, but she had something he just couldn't pin point, and few times when they were trying to dance she had a sense of urgency. This is why he rather loose himself in cakes, cuteness, and kindness, because when he had time to stop and think he always found more things to question. Sighing he grinned, bounced up to her and easily lifted her up to her feet; maybe it might be time to bring in the rest of the club if he could convince her.
Haruhi wondered about her newfound friend as Hunny lifted her to her feet, she had seen the few flashes in her eyes that was the foray into her soul. There had been several unguarded emotions in those few seconds that left plenty of her mind to chew on, normally the high-born guarded their emotions, but she didn't not really, but there was more than what she had been telling. Then again, she hadn't really been telling her anything, instead, she just seemed to actively wanted to be her friend. She began to giggle as Hunny gave up actually leading her through practice steps as was just swinging her through the motions of the music, it actually seemed to work better. The musing came to an end when the music did, of course helped by the fact that Hunny accidentally slid into the radio thereby naturally ending the music. Hunny began to cry in his comedic position, causing Usagi endless worry as Haruhi just shook her head and withdrew a cake slice from her bag. Slightly taunting she waved in front of the blond boy and was amused as another blond head began to bob and weave, following the motions of the cake. Haruhi couldn't be sure but she was fairly certain she heard snickering coming from the guard Haruka's direction. Her minute distraction was all that was needed to be sprawled out on the floor by a body leaping onto her and then the thud of the doors following inward made her sigh, the cavalry had arrived. The image that was seen must have been quite a sight because the entire room went deathly quiet, until the mental chink of a sword exiting its sheath ran through the room.
Mori paced a little more as he kept flicking worried glances at the shut door, resolved he strode toward the door and tapped it lightly with a knuckle testing the durability. The wood was soft and gave a bit under the tap making up his mind, with a quick and heavy punch the doors heaved inward, but his follow-up kick made the hinges scream in protest as the doors proceeded to fall inward. Luck was on the guardian senshi sides as they had stepped forward to retrieve their princess off of the girl who wanted to be seen as a boy and therefore was not reduced to battling a door. It was only the speedy reflexes of a senshi that saved Usagi's appearance once more as she flipped the cloak on and up with nary a problem. However, the glint in two eyes was enough to inform her she hadn't been quite quick enough; she turned her shadowed orbs onto the one that had destroyed the door and knew he would be a good confidant once this mess was straightened out. He nodded to her before he hurried over to check on Hunny, meanwhile the rest of the surprised club tried to process, Haruhi on the floor with a piece of cake raised tauntingly high, pinned by the cloaked female who rested with her knees on either side of Haruhi's hips, and Hunny balancing against the shoulders of the cloak female reaching for the just out of reach cake. Finally they all started laughing, and the host club joined in as Haruhi still teased the pair with the cake though she was pinned to the ground. The remaining host club let out a breath of relief, Haruhi looked happy, happier than they seen in a long time or when she was only in their company, some had the feeling of jealousy in their stomach. The laughter continued even with those sobering thoughts, well until the twins stepped forward with twin smirks.
"Well, Tono, looks like Haruhi has been claimed by the 'dark queen." They stated and the laughter stopped as an angry guard appeared in front of them.
"Koneko is pure and never imply otherwise if you want to keep yourselves useful Hitachiin-sans, or you'll become very intimate with my blade, blood noble or not." Haruka growled, and Haruhi rolled her eyes before nudging the pair on her with an elbow. The blonds shook themselves out of a sugar-induced haze and turned their attention to what was going on, on the other side of the room.
"Tennousei you will withdraw you threat, and apologize to the Hitachiin brothers." Usagi ordered from her position, and though Haruka pouted at her, she knew what was at stake and recoiled her defensive position, but she still glared with the same promise. The Hitachiin twins merely smirked in their superior way and bowed mockingly toward the heated guard. Haruhi was finally freed from her position on the floor, as the two blonds achieved grasping the taunting piece of cake, voted to share it and then split it, indulging in the rich flavor that was its sweet taste. They were joined by Haruhi at the table they had retreated to, and now Mori who sat beside Hunny glancing occasionally toward the covered face of Usagi. It had been a few minutes since he had seen the face of the covered one, but such a flash had been hard to capture, even now the image fuzzed in his mind playing hide and seek with precious details. Again the fountain of blond hair sprouted from within shadowing the facial structure, but Mori was pretty sure it was heart-shaped, but what had surprised him most was the crystal clear clarity of the eyes, not haunted by the pressures of their lifestyle. He was not to say she did not suffer, for her eyes had shadows, but there was a purity he had not seen in a long while with those surrounded by money, it was refreshing like Haruhi who cared not for the six 'princes,' of Ouran High School Host Club. However, the eye color was retreating from his mind, and Mori knew in order to cement what he had seen in the brief instant their eyes had locked, he would have to see them again. He instead focused on Hunny, his family, his charge, and observed how settled he looked; it was a good marker to understand the girl who hides beneath the cloak of shadows. Hunny was happy and relaxed, like within the host club, but even more there wasn't the brief calculations that occasionally flared in his eyes when he might have thought about what made him most cute in the eyes of their guests. All in all it settled Mori's protective instincts for Hunny, but sparked his long simmering curiosity; it had been a good while since Mori fathomed another's reasons besides his family, including the Host Club, though they were fairly easy to read. Leaning his lanky form across the table to hand Hunny a napkin, he observed as the female paused for just a second, as though her instincts had scream to defend, she had been trained for fighting it seemed. That was unusual unless in a yakuza family that the female be trained, or if she was common, but in a school like Ouran, if you were common everybody knew, so what was the mystery that inlaid in those depths he had only glanced? His senses sharpened, and he locked his fathomless black eyes onto the interaction going on and began to watch, wait, and understand.
Hotaru picked at the lint she could see lingering on her shoulder as she sat waiting patiently on her bedroom bed for the ever distant Pluto. The orders she had gotten did not confuse her, surprisingly enough she was to be sent to Makoto once Makoto was settled, but she did not understand why they just didn't travel together now. It was a simple rule of two heads being better than one, but Pluto had said later, no instead Hotaru was to be sent to other schools in succession to set up the protection for her princesses arrival. After all, it had been said and agreed upon that her princess had a lot to learn if she was even going to be close to being ready to become Queen of Earth and Terra. The thing is the had not told Usagi that there were bigger reasons she was to take the crown, Earth, their Earth was actually the Terra Core of all Earths, meaning they were the balance of the other Earths. Usagi was all ready more of a balance then she knew that is why when she died she never passed on, because this Earth needed her and therefore all the Earths did. Gaia, the spirit of this planet had admitted that she had tried to trust her descendents with the protection of the core, but they always faltered and thereby making it fall on Selene's line had been the only decision. Eternity had laughed as Selene's descendents took up the duty with heavy hearts, until Queen Serenity had been born and with her Nehelenia and it came to be known whichever queen had an heir first would be the balance of the Terrain Core. It had been close and tense, as both queens had been pregnant at the same time, but at the very end, her princess had been born first and the purity her soul carried caused a whiplash making Nehelenia loose her child for it had been poisoned by the great power.
Hotaru could only assume that was the truth for she had been sleeping through the majority of the Silver Millennium, but sometimes she wondered if their might have been a darker accident, for two days after that the king had never returned. Serenity never got to know her father, just like she never got to know her Millennium parents, instead she had slept until it was time to bring down her glaive for the fall of the Millennium. Crossing her legs she looked over her lamps and pondered the fate that had been the Silver Millennium and what the fate might be of the Golden Millennium. Her musing was interrupted by the presence of magic and she didn't even blink as Pluto walked forward, Garnet Rod in hand, and peerless wisdom dominating all that she was and would be until the end of her days. Hotaru didn't think too deeply on the subject as she uncrossed her legs and instead pulled them into a kneeling position. Pluto's eyes were twinkling with a playful knowledge through her expression had not changed and it made Hotaru a little unsettled, because whatever amused the more emotionless guardian was never a good thing for others in the long run. The ageless senshi sat beside her, one hand holding a strange vanilla colored envelope the other grasping her rod, she then took to tapping the envelope against her lips making Hotaru twitch with curiosity. Still a child growing though her soul was over several centuries old she arched over and practically ripped the vanilla enveloped from one of her mother-type people, the thought hadn't even cross her mind that the envelope might not be for her. Noting Pluto's brief amused smile Hotaru shrugged innocently at her before shredding the envelope's pasted flap and yanking out the letters, seconds later they fell to the ground from shock and Hotaru steadied her thoughts. She was being sent to a private academy like Mugen Academy, or the one her princess was currently residing at, glancing at one of her mother-figures her questions appeared silently.
"You are needed to go there an assess a few people and make sure the princess will be able to interact and fit in." Pluto explained while picking the letters back up. "Ouran is not the only academy she will have to go to in order to interact with the more influential families, especially since almost every prefecture has an elite academy, so you will be sent to evaluate the top seven students as ironically enough, except for one they are all of influential backgrounds." She added while straightening the papers. "Afterwards you will be sent to their rival academy, assess a few students there then join Rei at another school, we are to become active socialites in help for our princess." She finished handed the papers over to Hotaru and then hugged the slightly overwhelmed girl. "I know it's overwhelming, but it's our prerogative and nobody will know of your past or powers, not to mention your role is one of the more important ones, you are the safety net for our princess." Pluto stated brushing back a few strands of the extremely quiet girl. "Do well for all of our sakes, and just think soon you'll be going on grand adventures." She ended, hugging Hotaru once more before standing and leaving the girl to her thoughts. Hotaru blinked once or twice at the empty space before allowing her eyes to fall once more on the acceptance notice in her hands. A soft smile crossed her face before a short chuckle escaped her; it had been a long while since she was active elsewhere besides her home town with the senshi.
There was an active hush in the room where the host club and the mysterious student resided. Kyoya had returned a little later after the door had been busted in and was now in a stare-off with the back of the student's cloaked head. Usagi was fruitlessly ignoring the eyes burning embers in the back of her head as she played with the fork that had seen the last of the cake. She laid the fork down and began to tap nervously on her left thigh, she had never been surrounded by so many good-looking guys in a hostile environment, and she wished silently that Haruka or Mamoru would come to her rescue. Fleetingly her thoughts must have been felt because Haruka shifted as was now standing beside her a hand resting warningly on her sword. The twins took insults at this and leered a little closer to the cloaked female, choking out her personal space. "Maa, poor princess must be uglier than a roach to be hiding constantly, such a pity all the power and money in the world can't fixed destroyed beauty." They said as one, and Usagi winced unseen, she had always been insecure about the way she looks compared to her senshi and Mamoru. Haruhi had caught the wince though and glared reprovingly at the twins, even if they were protecting her in their own way.
"It must be true Kaoru, because she didn't speak up, the ugly duckling dare to try to fly with swans." Hikaru informed his brother while Kaoru leaned closer trying to peer within the shadowed confines of the cloak's hood. The girl turned her head to the two twins, raised a pale hand and rested it on her hood, fingers clenched tight around the fabric and glared fiercely from beneath the shadows. Her first thought was to strike out because their words had hurt, but her heart had stemmed the thought and instead sought to mellow her out.
"What for am I to trust to you, my physical appearance when you judge so quickly and I have do you no harm or trouble?" She questioned her voice soft and lilting with kindness and pain. The twins stepped back in surprise before grinning and leaning forward as one, a toy, their thoughts exclaimed, a new toy. It had become far too boring lately with the girls of the club and Haruhi never really reacted to them so they had been quite bored. "Why have I earn such harsh judgment from you Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin?" She inquired dropping her hand from the hood and turning away from the pair, ignoring them as it were. The twins were slightly stumped at this for they hadn't been ignored right off the bat before; even Haruhi had reacted a little. "We are done for now and wish to returned to our home for the lunch hour." She spoke to her two tutors and rose from the table while nodding to the rest in the room. "It has been an interesting pleasure in your company and we are please to have granted interaction." She finished and then walked out leaving the Host Club in slight confusion. Immediately Haruka and Michiru came to her sides offering comfort from their closeness, they didn't say anything, because they knew the words to be untrue, but their princess would not believe them.
White rose petals drifted passed them and a high pitch hum echoed in their ears while the hallway filled with perfumed wind. Three silhouettes' filled out the hallway light that was the noon sun, and the trio stopped to observed the spinning shadows. Suddenly a husky tenor took form from the high pitch hum, and words descended on their ears. "Lobelia." The middle shadow sung out, a hand careening forward in a proud gesture, the husky tenor was joined by another. "Lobelia." Came the chant as two voices rung out in harmony, as the one on the right also gestured forward. "Lobelia." Three voices now filled the air with harmony as it crescendo with purpose, then all the shadows were vanquished by sunlight as once more the three sung out. "Lobelia." They twirled as one, and three different perfumes of flowers drifted lazily and hauntingly by their noses. Standing before Usagi and her senshi were three oddly dressed females in formal dresses as they posed gallantly in front of the three. The tallest female stepped forward, lifting Michiru's hand in a masculine grip causing Haruka to growl and Usagi to blink. "Fairest maiden, I Benio, beseeched you; do you happen to know where the dastardly Host Club might be?" She asked with charm, and Michiru smiled gently at the girl, Haruka growled louder and Usagi chiming laugh was finally heard in the halls of Ouran. Everyone turned as one to the smallest cloaked female that was Usagi and blinked for various reasons.
"Please would you release my guard, we are on our way to lunch and have very little time, but for your curiosity the Host Club is back that way." Usagi spoke while waving behind her to the room she had left. White lilies fluttered down around them, and childishly Usagi raised her hands to catch them gently, she had always been enamored by flowers. A gasp of shock escaped the girl on the left as just for a second a vision of young innocence dashed across her eyes. The Zuka Club, for that is who they were, turned curiously to their youngest member. However, Hinako only kept her eyes on Usagi who practically danced beneath the flowers as she tried to catch them to her breast.
"Fairest Hinako, has the beauty of love struck your maiden heart at last, here in this devilish domain?" Benio inquired, but her eyes strayed to the one cloaked. Hinako did not respond to her leader, her idol, because it was not love that had struck her maiden heart it was curiosity, and curiosity could be strong. However, because of the shock and curiosity the flowers no longer fell, and Usagi now undistracted returned her mind to the track it had before, retrieve food. So bowing lightly to the three formally dressed females she shifted by them with her senshi in tow. Then the trio vanished from the confines of Ouran to a more relaxing place, as their powers situated them outside the familiar café that Motoki owned. Haruka immediately asked for a chocolate milkshake for all three of them along with a chocolate sundae for her princess. Michiru instead sat beside her princess, one hand resting comfortingly on Usagi's the twins words had hurt their princess more then even the twins could know. Usagi had always been insecure about her looks, but it had been a silent insecurity, but her soul sisters knew her better then she knew herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by a chocolate milkshake appearing in front of her face as Haruka gazed down at her in concern, Usagi was overwhelmed by the love that her senshi had for her and she for them and the sadness didn't melt away but burned heatedly to ash from the concern they offered her. Usagi shouldn't dwell on the Hitachiin brothers' words she did not know them, and they did not know her, but still it lingered even after she smiled thankfully at her soul sisters. Without further thought she delved into her chocolate treat and tried to bury the insecurity once more away from her forethought.
The Host Club was silent even though they had returned to the Third Music Room and changed into their daily costume for this day. Normally there would be chatter abounds, but Haruhi ignored all but Hunny and Mori, and glared frighteningly at the twins. The silence also stretched to the Zuka club who stood just beside the doors smiling in triumph that Haruhi may see the light and retreat to Saint Roberia instead of Ouran. Silence shattered however, when Tamaki wailed and clutched tightly to Haruhi begging her to come out from the bewitchment that the dark queen had set upon her. Haruhi's glare slipped briefly from the twins to the Host King, before stepping out from his clutching embrace. The atmosphere was cursed even more as Kyoya cleared his throat drawing all the members' attention to him. "I'm assured that these personal spats will be put aside for the benefit of the host club and our impending guests." Kyoya declared, and he was now the target of Haruhi's unforgiving glare even as she nodded in agreement. For once the Host Club felt unsettled with their commoner princess, because they had come to a wall that she had never put up before, normally it was Haruhi who always try to scale theirs. The Zuka club, ever graceful winners, retreated from the Ouran Academy to their own, respecting the wishes of the females that dwelled from within Ouran toward their taste in clubs. They took their places of greeting as the clock chimed the noon hour and therefore the lunch rush of starred and heart-eyed girls who clamored for their favorite host. Haruhi's glare fell and her face smiled out at all the anxious females, who sat at her table believing him to be a feminine guy, but her heart wasn't in it, she had seen the flash of pain in Usagi's eyes at the twins words, and knew the beauty that was hidden by that cloak. Gently she set out the tea with sandwiches and began to listen to the questions and statements the girls had for her, answering and smiling when needed. Absently her eyes sought out Renge, who had been surprisingly silent throughout the small interaction before host hours. Her eyes fell on the Host King who stared pleadingly at her, but she bypassed his glance, ignoring the switching gazes of the twins at her, and didn't even give Kyoya a second thought as his glasses shimmered in reproach. Locking eyes with Hunny she gave a soft smile as she assess the same knowledge in his eyes, and gave a side nod to Mori. Turning attention back to the girls she continued as she normally did unaware of the turbulent thoughts that were the Host Club Princes.