The red drapes hung low from a four post bed that was pressed up against the walls. A halo like glow emerged around it making her eyes widen. It was like stepping into a fairy tale, except instead of a beautiful Princess, it was a beautiful Prince. Haruhi quietly stepped slowly toward it, gently pulling back the curtain. Next to his bed was a chair, worn and withered, sticking out like a sore thumb against the lovely scenery. Haruhi slowly sat down in it, in a daze as she gazed at the boy's face.

"…Hikaru…?"

Her voice was shaking but she didn't know why. She looked down at her hands, which twitched lightly against the bed spread as she took in a deep breath to calm herself down. There was nothing to be scared of here. With another long breath she glanced around her once more. Nothing in sight but the dull lifeless body of the boy before her.

Haruhi scooted into her chair a bit more before running her hand softly down the cold hands that laid before her. This wasn't Hikaru, that much was for certain, at least, not the Hikaru she had been introduced to. Too many things were running through her mind to make sense of any of them but it all didn't add up.

If Hikaru was downstairs then who is this boy right here?

"Having fun?"

Haruhi jumped at the cold voice and turned around quickly, grabbing onto the chair tightly with her hands as she braced herself to be thrown or hit for interrupting the young boys slumber. She looked around quickly before catching the glinting pair of glasses looking at her. She gulped gently knowing that the eyes behind them weren't happy.

"I'm sorry I just…" Haruhi trailed off some before moving back towards the bed a bit more. Once she felt her knees hit against the railing she looked behind her settling a bit.

"…I was just...curious…" She whispered. Kyouya laughed softly under his breath but it wasn't a natural one, it was forced, cold, for show. Haruhi shivered not liking the air around him as she followed his body with her eyes while he walked around the room slowly.

"Don't worry I'm not here to get you in trouble." Kyouya answered under his breath.

"Then why are you here…" Haruhi whispered gently.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing?" Kyouya asked looking over his shoulder at her. Haruhi flinched before looking back down at the ground. She shifted uneasily as he stepped toward her. Moving his hand easily to hold onto the chair beside her he loomed over her small frame.

"You are a curious one…" Kyouya whispered before leaning back from her to his original position. Haruhi let out a soft sigh of relief as her body relaxed.

"People have been dying ever since you came here you know." Kyouya whispered picking up a flower petal off the ground as he held it up for inspection. Haruhi's eyes widened a bit as she clenched at the bed.

"How can you say such a thing so easily…" She whispered half fearfully.

"You'll have to excuse my candidness Miss Haruhi…the curse has affected us all in quite different ways, even if I did feel sadness for the others I couldn't show it." Kyouya blew the petal from his hand as Haruhi slowly sat down.

"I…I thought the people were just sleeping." Haruhi whispered testily.

"Well so far they have been…however ever since you're first night here they've been dying in larger escalations each night. As for Kaoru here-" He pointed to the boy that lay behind her "his lifeline has been shooting down quickly."

"At first glance it would seem you've been a bad influence on this castle" Kyouya answered to the girl's curious glance as he stopped walking to stare back at her seriously.

"But for the first time someone's woken up when you and the master started interacting." Kyouya whispered as Haruhi looked away quickly.

"My theory is that it's because he is unaware of your true identity that the curse has been acting up so suddenly…you see the young master has many obligations he has to keep at bay for the curse to stay under control. You're the only thing he can't seem to keep under his finger…" Kyouya's eyes shut in thought as he pressed his glasses up on his face.

"But no matter, you'll soon fall into the pattern of fate just as everyone else here has." Haruhi blinked a bit before standing up quickly with a small huff.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" She asked stomping down her foot. Kyouya sent her a quick glare before nodding his head towards Kaoru.

"That means that if you don't learn how things work here you'll soon find his death on your hands…and trust me…you're not going to enjoy that. I'll make sure of it." Kyouya answered before opening the door to the brightly lit room.

"Wait!" Haruhi called quickly running after him. He turned to her as a response. She took in a deep breath before pressing back her hair nervously.

"…What…what happened here? Who is Kaoru? What fate is it I am exactly supposed to follow?" Haruhi asked looking around, bewildered by everything being thrown at her. Kyouya merely smiled blankly before heading back down the stairs.

"If you wish to visit Kaoru I suggest you only do so during the day. It's the only time the young master is not in that chair." Kyouya whispered waving a hand at her as he disappeared from sight.

"Uh…Kyouya….Hikaru…Hikaru needs a towel….I came up to find one…" Haruhi whispered looking down at the ground as he snickered under his breath.

"They're in the next door to your left…I will be seeing you for dinner will I not?" He asked looking back up at her. She blinked some before slowly nodding.

"…I…I suppose." She whispered.

"Good…very good…well…I suppose I will be seeing you then. Please wear something formal. I will send my sister along to help you get dressed." He answered walking slower now.

".Goodbye miss Haruhi" He laughed softly under his breath opening the large door that led back to the cold and dark castle before closing it back behind him. Haruhi let out a long breath of relief and fell back against the wall rubbing her temple.

"Wait…did he say Miss?" Haruhi blinked some before turning red and groaning underneath her breath. This was going to be a long stay here.

()()()()()()()()()()()()

"I just don't understand it Tamaki" A few hours had passed since the Kyouya incident and Tamaki and Haruhi had been assigned to clean up the kitchen before tonight's banquet. She stood atop the ladder while dusting at the panels over the kitchen as Tamaki swept below her. Since everyone else was cooking or cleaning in the other rooms it was a good time for the two to talk.

"Well it's a very complicated situation Haruhi." Tamaki answered as he let out a soft breath, pushing his long blonde locks out of his face while he pushed the broom harshly against the floor. Haruhi coughed as the dust entered her lungs.

"Careful" She yelled down coughing again as Tamaki laughed softly. He whispered a few apologies before continuing. Haruhi absent mindedly rubbed down the long edge of the ceiling, her mind in a daze as she glanced down at the boy below her, he was singing now under his breath which made her laugh softly. Her eyes closed some, her mind going in a daze as she watched his muscles twitch after a certain push, or the way his face looked down at the floor in determination With only his working clothes on it was a completely different sight than in his 'royal attire'. He was simpler, his skin was showing itself through the white cloth that draped over his chest- he was simply… more reachable…

"Something wrong Haruhi?" Tamaki asked glancing back up at her. Haruhi blinked for a moment before shaking her head quickly, turning away to continue cleaning. She was a soft pink now, and her hands were shaking with nerves as she brushed harder at the dusty panels.

"No..no I'm fine thank you." Haruhi whispered catching eyes with his own. His purple orbs suddenly lit as she smiled down at him, causing his lips to turn into a gallant grin as well. Haruhi giggled gently at that, turning her head a bit to watch him. He blushed softly before continuing his work, his hands tapping nervously against the broom as if suddenly catching himself.

"Why are you blushing?" Haruhi asked gently, her soft feminine like tone ringing throughout the empty kitchen. Tamaki merely scratched his head chuckling nervously.

"I'm not. It's just hot in here." He answered. Haruhi rested her head on her hand before giggling again.

"You're such an odd man Tamaki" Haruhi laughed out. Tamaki merely smiled to himself before continuing with his chores.

"…You know I never did thank you for being so kind to me this past week. It's..it's weird I know but I feel like I've known you for years….you just make me feel so happy and relaxed…" Haruhi whispered pushing her hair out of her face as she smiled softly to herself.

"Yea…I feel like that too…" Tamaki answered softly. There was a gentle silence between them where words need not be.

"Ah Tamaki-" Haruhi suddenly perked up, feeling the courage to continue her confirmation as Tamaki looked up at her just as quickly as she had said his name.

"Yes Haruhi?" He asked earnestly. Haruhi blushed at the happy and nervous boy before looking down at the floor.

"Uh… Tamaki….yes um" Haruhi cleared her throat some before looking back up. "Are Hikaru's parents sleeping too?"

Tamaki stopped sweeping for a moment, his body frozen, his eyes turning stone dead for a moment as he merely shook his head. She had only seen him like this once before and that was when he was recollecting the night of the curse.

"The master…and mistress are no longer with us…" Tamaki answered before slowly pushing the broom back and forth on an already clean spot. Haruhi figured to drop the subject but couldn't help but feel something in her stomach drop. She wanted to hug him and make him smile again…It was something she'd never felt before, only read about.

"…oh…" Haruhi merely stated as she grabbed onto the ladder tightly. She was so tired…so hungry. Her eyes closed gently before she snapped them open. This was no time to take a snooze. The girl took in a long breath before resting against the top.

"I didn't…I mean, did I-" Haruhi bit her lip thinking about what Kyouya had said earlier. All of those people who had fallen asleep thinking they would be reunited with their loved ones…dead, and all because of her.

"No…no they passed on when the young master was but a child." Tamaki whispered. Haruhi took in a soft breath before going on carefully.

"You mean the young masters…?" Haruhi whispered.

Tamaki dropped the broom that he had been holding and grabbed onto the ladder quickly with large and fearful eyes. Haruhi gasped as she felt it move due to his passionate grab and looked down at the boy fearfully.

"What did you say?" he commanded.

"I-I saw." Haruhi whispered holding onto the ladders edges as tightly as she could. "I saw Kaoru…" Tamaki looked down, still wide eyed like a deer caught in the headlights. Haruhi glanced around before shaking her head.

"I don't understand! Why isn't anyone willing to talk to me about this?!" Haruhi yelped out. Tamaki sighed before slowly shaking his head.

"It's more complicated than you can imagine Haruhi….even if I wanted to tell you…even if I could….something would stop me every time and I-" he stopped taking in a deep breath. "I just don't think you're ready to hear that part of the story yet. Not now…"

"When? When will someone tell me what's going on then?" Haruhi snapped out angrily. Tamaki sighed before letting go of the ladder.

"Soon…" Tamaki grabbed the broom before nipping at his lip. "You should really get ready for dinner now…it's essential that you and the young master get along well tonight…" Tamaki whispered, almost to himself as he walked to go put the cleaning supplies away.

"Wait!" Haruhi reached out quickly for him, her eyes somewhat dazed now as she felt her body shut down one limb at a time. She was so tired…she hadn't had nearly anything to eat that was sufficient for the amount of work she had been doing and the dusty quarters she had been living in kept her awake and drained.

"Nn…" her knees buckled as her eyes closed, her body falling piece by piece off of the ladder and into the air. Her head fall back, her arms moving above her as Tamaki turned around.

"HARUHI!" He yelled out dropping the supplies in his hands quickly. They rattled across the floor as he sprinted toward her falling body. It seemed like he couldn't run fast enough to keep up with her falling body and at the closest range he could get he thrust out his arms and brought her to his chest, rolling forward onto the floor because of the force.

"Haruhi…Haruhi?!" Tamaki yelled out as he moved his arm up a bit so that he could see her head. She groaned at the movement but squinted her eyes open. His concerned face, his shaking arms, the bruise already forming on his arm- were those all for her?

Haruhi leaned back into his arms, not able to keep herself up as much as she'd like. Nothing was broken but her limbs had gone into mere dead weight at the shock of falling and hitting against the tile. Tamaki gasped grabbing onto her tighter as she did, shaking harder than ever. Haruhi moved her arm enough to pat his cheek as she sighed relaxing.

"I'm ok…stop looking at me like that." Haruhi whispered letting out a slow breath. Tamaki looked down at her, gripping her arms tighter as she leaned back into them. With a short breath he suddenly pulled her into him, grasping onto her back as he leaned his head into her shoulder, still wide eyed and shocked.

"Are you ok? Are you sure you're ok?" Tamaki whispered. Haruhi blushed softly before slowly nodding closing her eyes again. He smelled so nice…and he was so warm.

"…Tamaki…" she whispered into him. He closed his eyes at her voice and pressed his lips into her cheek softly. Tamaki slowly dug his hands a bit harder into her at the whisper. His lips trailed dangerously down her neck as he flinched pulling himself away. It sent shivers down his spine and he didn't enjoy this new discovery. He felt Haruhi move her hands up his spine holding him to her as tightly as he had held onto her.

"Tamaki I lov-" she was stopped by Tamaki as he pressed her head harder into him, cradling her in his body as he kissed down her cheek again.

"Don't say it…please…don't say that Haruhi...." Tamaki whispered.

"But Tamaki I-"

There was a large bell that broke them out of their thoughts. Tamaki looked up quickly as Haruhi followed with his gaze. He looked down at her, his hands moving off of her body as quickly as they had held her.

"…dinner…" He merely whispered before rushing off. Haruhi sat in the middle of the floor, hurt, embarrassed, but most of all confused about the actions of the men around her. She slowly stood and walked back over to the door. There was nothing left to do now then get ready…

()()()()()()()()()()()

"Why am I dressed like this again?" Haruhi whispered in an annoyed tone as Fuyumi sat behind her, braiding at the long brown hair they had placed upon her head. At Kyouya's orders she was supposed to be a practice date for the Prince but she knew this was all just a large taunt on their part. Haruhi sighed brushing the newly grown bangs out of her face as she pushed the large ball gown to the side. Fiddling with her fingers she looked back at Fuyumi as another bell sounded.

"Can we just get this over with please?"She whispered gazing off a bit.

"Why so anxious?" Fuyumi asked placing the small box of clips on her belly as she giggled combing through Haruhi's hair.

"I'm just…tired…" Haruhi whispered as she closed her eyes. That wasn't the whole truth. Her body was still sore from falling but even more so she wanted nothing more at that moment then to go and clear things up with Tamaki. She didn't understand his thinking and wanted to know what it was running through his brain.

"Miss-"

"Call me Fuyumi." She interrupted. Haruhi sighed before nodding.

"Fuyumi…can I ask you a personal question?" Haruhi whispered. Fuyumi merely nodded before popping out a small butterfly clip from the box to pin the braid into her hair.

"Did you…I mean…when you met your husband…what was it like? Was it love at first sight like they say in the storybooks?" Haruhi whispered as she looked in the mirror to see Fuyumi's face. She looked up quickly something in her eyes showing that she was torn. Haruhi guessed it was between telling the truth and telling her what she wanted to hear.

"Well…that's a hard question to answer" Fuyumi whispered. She continued to braid down Haruhi's hair as she tugged at the large blue dress. Haruhi fidgeted in it some as Fuyumi debated what to say. On one hand it was obvious that she hadn't fallen for her husband at first sight, no one did. The first time she had seen the man she would later marry he was cooking in the kitchen and handed her a plate. Love wasn't something so shallow. She wanted to say this to Haruhi however if the person she was referring to was Hikaru…

"…yes…yes I felt that way when I first saw my husband. It was like an electric jolt. Fated almost to be more specific."Fuyumi whispered. Haruhi giggled happily before nodding.

"I knew it! I knew that this was love." Haruhi whispered placing her hand over her heart. Fuyumi smiled happily before grabbing onto Haruhi's shoulders to turn her back to face her.

"Ne, Haruhi, you've fallen in love have you?" She asked happily. It was a wise choice to have such a young girl in the house; love was easier to come by than that of a fully matured woman. If all went well the curse would be broken tonight!

"Yes…yes I have" Haruhi whispered almost girlishly as she held tight to the dress. She was in love. It was such an interesting concept. She'd never felt this way before, it was almost too much for her little heart to handle. She'd only read about girls in her position, and now that she had confirmed it wasn't just a flutter of the heart she was going to be relentless in getting what she wanted.

"Well goodness. Is it someone in this castle? Someone I know?" Fuyumi asked playfully, already knowing the answer as she giggled playing with the girl around a bit more.

"Yes…" Haruhi answered happily. She was getting anxious now, her hormones and adrenaline starting to kick in.

"Well then you should hurry and confess to him!" Fuyumi yelped out. Haruhi nodded quickly grabbing the hems of her dress as to not trip before nodding in a determined stance.

"I am!" She hurried off towards the door, her long hair flowing behind her as the small heels clicked against the marble floor. Fuyumi waved her off with a good luck as Haruhi threw open the door.

"Tell Hikaru I'm sorry! I'll have dinner with him some other time!" Haruhi yelled behind her as she ran as fast as she could down the long corridor. Fuyumi nodded with a smile still on her face before realization came over her.

"….Huh?"