**Eye Twitches** I ...cant....believe...I....finally finished this. **dies** This has been by far my longest chapter yet. WARNING for those who do not like long chapters, please do not hate me for this story, I prefer to writ elonger stories then a million short ones. But I want to thank those who do read my story you trully are my inspiration to keep this going. This chapter was inspired by the fight scenes in both Pride and Prejudice and The Notebook. This chapter focuses more on Haruhi, Alienor, and Kyouya. I felt bad because I wasnt really putting Haruhi in there. In other news I am currently writing chappie 12 so who knows how long it will be till I update.
This story is dedicated to JkawaiiNeko in appreciation for writing A Matter Of Time a one shot fanfic of HaruhixKyouya **my special request** d-^^-b with that said I hope you enjoy my latest chappie
Okay the way I see it, I got three choices. One, I can shoot him. Two I can Kick the crap out of him, or three I leave You.
Well all that's no good. You see, cause' none of those options get me you.
-Lon, the Notebook
Ch.11 And So It Begins
Day after the Zola Dinner
Haruhi sat in the third music room and observed everyone present. In front of her was a catalog of Hikaru and Kaoru mother's latest ball gown designs. She would much rather go in a Tux, but Hikaru refused to go with Haruhi dressed as a boy. She felt bad; Ever since Hikaru had asked her to the ball, she had not paid attention to him as much as she used to. The past month had been taxing on her, especially when it came to her studies.
But oddly, today things seemed to be returning to normal. At least where the Host club was involved. She figured something bad was going on with the Hostess club, and that was the reason why the clients were returning. However, Akira had not mentioned anything to her prior to the club time or the day before. Her cousin always kept her in the loop. The things she found out. Haruhi rolled her eyes at the great lengths Aliénor-Ohime Sama went to get "revenge" on Kyouya-Senpai for wounding her pride.
So therefore, she had chalked up the day's earlier success during lunch to be Kyouya's doing. What did you do Kyouya-Senpai? He is so evil. Haruhi thought to herself. Just the thought of Kyouya sent chills up her spine. It had to be the movie he had sold. She honestly thought he was just going along with the previous day's events. But she should have known better, that Ootori Kyouya would have taken every advantage of the Mori and Evelyn kiss. Matter of fact it was because of that movie he made that Kyouya approached her about twenty added clients to her list for the club. When approached about it by fans she lied and said it was strictly for certain host occasions. She groaned at this, they would never leave her alone.
Haruhi watched the hosts bicker as they finally settled into their costumes. After a long argument about who Haruhi would play, Kyouya finally said that the twins would both play the same role, as Haruhi played yet another female role. The role of Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The twins played Quasimodo, Hunny and Mori-Senpai both played jesters and gypsies while, Kyouya played Frollo the villain and Tamaki played the Disney version of Phoebus.
As the hosts bickered about their parts, Haruhi contemplated whether she would make smoked salmon or shrimp and chicken with lemon. She had smiled at the thought of cooking new dishes. She reminded herself to thank Tamaki once again for doing something she had asked him not to do. As she thought about this, her mind drifted to the previous day.
The kiss between Mori-Senpai and Evelyn-Ohime Sama plagued her mind. She could not understand the sadness she felt in her stomach, nor could she understand why at that very moment Tamaki had once again popped into her head. Haruhi continued to daydream about the other day, oblivious to everything around her. That night, Haruhi had also had the privilege of meeting Tamaki's mother, Angélite Grantaine. She laughed inwardly as she remembered how she pestered Tamaki into explaining how his family and the Zola family were related. From what she remembered from his incoherent rambling, Tamaki's grandmother on his mother's side and the Zola twin's grandfather on their father's side were siblings. Therefore, making Tamaki's mother and the Zola twin's father cousins.
Angélite Grantaine was everything Tamaki had promised her to be. Beautiful. Haruhi thought Lady Zola was beautiful as well, but she had the vibe of an ice princess. A woman that did not know the warmth of happiness, unlike Tamaki's mother, who had been warm. Lady Zola was all look but don't you dare touch.
"Haruhi you're daydreaming again!" Hikaru whined hotly, growing even more annoyed with her. She had completely forgotten that he had been sitting with her. She had forgotten that she was in the 3rd music room all together. She was sorry of course, but she just could not get Tamaki out of her mind. She frowned at this as Hikaru glared deeper at her. "You haven't listened to a word I've said have you?" Hikaru puffed.
"I'm sorry Hikaru." She looked at her watch, "Look I have to get dressed, we'll talk later okay?"
Hikaru watched as Haruhi ran off to the dressing room. He grew more annoyed. What was with everyone today? He didn't like being ignored by Haruhi. He wanted to know why Haruhi was always daydreaming, more importantly, why she ignored him. They used to always play with each other, but ever since he asked her to the ball, she had become more distant. His frown deepened at this thought and he sensed Kaoru looking at him with concern in his eyes as he practiced his humpback walk.
Kaoru had said something about her behavior around Tamaki and thinking back on it now, it enraged him. "I'm going to kill the baka." Hikaru hissed as he stomped towards Tamaki, followed by his twin.
Spotting the blonde immediately, the twins ganged up on him and jabbed their fingers into Tamaki's chest, "Oi! Tono! What did you do to Haruhi?!" The twins said in unison.
"You pervert, you tried to make her do S&M again didn't you?" Kaoru accused.
"Evil dopplegangers! I am not a pervert!" Tamaki shouted, "And what do you mean what did I do to Haruhi? I would never hurt my poor daughter."
"Liar. Look Kaoru, he's a pervert and a liar." Hikaru whispered in his brother's ear. Tamaki was taken back. Then horror struck Tamaki's face like the twins often saw before.
"My poor daughter! Where is she is she okay? What have you done to my poor Haruhi?! Oh no, you have sold her to some deranged group of gypsies haven't you? You idiots she is pretending to be a gypsy! She's not a realgypsy!" Tamaki began running around in a circle as he pulled on his blonde locks. Hikaru stared as he began to laugh at the frantic sight that was Tamaki. Then he laughed even harder as Tamaki went looking everywhere for Haruhi, finally being thrown out by Haruhi herself from the changing room.
"Senpai I'm changing!" Haruhi shouted angrily, and then turned her head towards Hikaru and his brother and glared at them as she continued to scold Tamaki. "Our guests will be here any minute and you're running around like a stupid idiot! Go get changed!" Hikaru applauded as Haruhi yelled at the host king. Big mistake because she turned her fury on Hikaru, "You too! Stop making Senpai do stupid crap! Get ready!" Hikaru remained silent as she scolded him and then stifled laughter as he heard Haruhi mutter something about rich bastards and no good for nothings. It didn't work, because five seconds later both he and Kaoru were bursting with laughter.
The Day Before
Takashi was in a blissful moment; with his girl back in his arms, he felt whole. He kissed her like he had never kissed her before. All the pent up need, want and desire poured out in the kiss they were sharing now. And she returned his passion with equal fervor. All the days he had dreamed of this moment had not gone by in vain. He wrapped his right arm around her waist, and his left hand cradled the back of her nape. His lips met hers with such ardent need that even he had been surprised. His tongue teased at her own and he nipped her bottom lip playful as he continued to kiss her. She was his, and he was sure to leave his mark this time. If he were not in the most public of places, he would have ravaged her without delay.
In this world of Evelyn's warmth, Takashi had forgotten it all. He didn't have a care in the world. He forgot his friends, her friends, everything. He hadn't noticed the large group of Moe Fan girls stampede towards him and Evelyn. Nor did he see Tamaki save Haruhi from almost being trampled over. He didn't notice the attention of paparazzi growing more and more intense as their cameras flashed. As far as Takashi knew, he was utterly and completely happy in this world of passion. He had returned to Evelyn's warmth; a most coveted and heavenly abyss.
Aliénor looked over to Hunny, who also held the same look in his eyes. As happy as they were for the two, this was definitely not a good thing. Usually the two would have bet to see how long it would have taken for the kiss to take place, but they had not. Aliénor watched the splendor around the group. This was definitely not a good thing.
Aliénor had prided herself for staying clean out of the tabloids. She had prided herself even more, for making sure her sister did too. Now, because of this kiss, it was all shot to hell. Aliénor looked at her watch; the kiss was going on a minute and a half. Finally, the kiss had broken and her sister held the look of a woman who had just been thoroughly kissed long and good. Aliénor groaned, too many things were already trying to ruin her sister's reputation, now she had this to look forward to. She could see it now: Princess caught in love affair; Young Princess in scandal; Noble Love Triangle; Royal Scandal! Aliénor would not hear the end of this from their mother and grandmothers. It was her responsibility to keep Evelyn out of trouble, and she had failed. The worst part was, you could not bribe paparazzi. This would definitely cause conflict between three countries.
Aliénor decided to take things into her own hands. Quickly she went to the host and hostess members and told them to pretend that Evelyn was her and cheer. Tamaki had gone overboard and went up to onlookers to say, "I can't believe this is Aliénor-Ohime Sama's first kiss!" and things like that. Kyouya went up to the reporters to say that the scene was an act for the host club's movie that they were making. Going on to say that the fans of the host club had originally wanted to see Evelyn-Ohime Sama and Morinozuka Takashi kiss, but due to Evelyn-Ohime Sama's status, Aliénor gladly substituted the part. This was definitely not for Aliénor's sake. She knew Kyouya had secretly been filming the entire day with his microscopic camera connected to his glasses. She frowned, she should know better than anyone, that Ootori Kyouya did not do things to satisfy other people's needs other then his father.
Tamaki fidgeted, he never had felt so nervous. After everyone had decided to leave, which wasn't too long after the kiss, Tamaki pulled Haruhi to the side before leaving with Hikaru and Kaoru.
"Senpai hurry, I don't want the twins waiting for me too long." Tamaki pouted at that. She was always thinking of them before him. His confidence surely was not with him at the moment.
"Haruhi, I have a favor to ask." He said in a tone he knew she would listen to. This was an important matter and he could not ruin this.
"Ano, sure Senpai what is it?" Haruhi asked.
Tamaki hesitated and then said, "HARUHIMYMOTHERANDIWOULDLIKETOINVITEYOUTOJOINUSFORDINNERWITHTHEZOLASATTHEZOLAMANSION!"
Haruhi blinked once and then she blinked again trying to comprehend what he had just said, "Huh?" Was all she replied.
Tamaki took a deep breath and then exhaled and tried again, "Haruhi, my Uncle, Lord Zola-"
"Oh yeah that's right Aliénor did mention that you two were related." Haruhi said interrupting him in mid-sentence.
"Uh . . . Yes. Haruhi, they are inviting mother and me over for dinner; to see my mother of course. My Uncle and his mother Lady Princess Isabella haven't seen her in awhile and would very much like to see her." he tried to continue to explain.
"So how is it the two of you are related?" Haruhi said, pretty much ignoring what he had just said.
For the first time ever, Tamaki found himself growing somewhat impatient with Haruhi, "My mother's mother and Lord Zola's father are siblings. That makes my mother and Lord Zola cousins. Haruhi, my mother had personally asked me to invite you along with us because she would very much like to meet you. She hopes that you will accept our offer and join us for dinner." He displayed puppy eyes that would only be suited on the face of Hunny-Senpai but he had to try.
He had expected her to say no, matter of fact he had already developed a speech he would tell his mother once he returned to the second mansion. But five minutes later he was sitting in his limo calling up everyone he could, Hitachiin Twins excluded, telling them the news. All the shouting he produced had not mussed even a single hair on his driver due to the fact he had already prepared his earplugs. But Tamaki didn't care; Haruhi had said yes to him.
"Kaoru." Kaoru looked up from his video game that he was playing and met the gaze of his older twin as he lay on their bed and stared at the ceiling.
"If you're wondering what's wrong with Haru, there is nothing to be worried about; she's probably just really tired from studying so hard." Kaoru replied returning to his game. Still the unease in Hikaru was still present.
Hikaru and Kaoru had worked things out between them when it came to Sayomi. Hikaru had agreed to stop being jealous and Kaoru agreed to not talk about her so much.
"She hasn't talked about any of the ball plans with me. Do you think she changed her mind?" Kaoru wished he had the answers Hikaru sought but to be honest he was unsure too.
The lack of understanding on Hikaru's end was driving his older brother crazy. Kaoru felt bad for not being able to help him. Truth was he saw it too. Haruhi hadn't been paying much attention to anything lately. In class she was struggling to stay awake and keep up, which wasn't like her at all. He hoped she wasn't getting sick.
"Lets call her." Kaoru said pulling out his phone.
They listened as her phone rang three times on their loud speaker. She finally answered and sounded as if nothing had been wrong.
"Hey guys what's up?" They could hear her doing the dishes, she was always cleaning something.
"What are you doing?" The boys asked in singsong unison. They knew what she was doing, but they always asked anyway.
"Cleaning up before I get ready to leave." Haruhi answered, Kaoru could imagine her in her mother's old apron and a bandanna covering her hair.
"Where are you going?" Hikaru almost shouted in obvious jealousy.
"Can we come too?" Kaoru asked as he tried to get Hikaru to calm down.
"Eh, if its okay with Tamaki-Senpai. He asked if I could come to dinner with his mother, he said she asked to meet me personally." She replied easily.
"Tono?!" The twins questioned at the same time.
"Why just you?" Kaoru asked.
"He probably told you that so he can get you alone and do something perverted." Hikaru grumbled.
Haruhi laughed, "Well look guys, I have to go pretty soon. Is there a reason why you called?" They always called her. Today was no different. Yet she always asked that same very question. They had always answered no and that they didn't need a reason to call their toy. But today was different, if Hikaru didn't ask, Kaoru sure as hell was.
"Hikaru wants to know if you're having second thoughts about going to the ball with him." Kaoru replied when he saw that his brother wasn't going to ask.
Haruhi laughed again over the phone, "Of course not you idiots. I've just been so busy trying to catch up with schoolwork." Hikaru remained speechless as Kaoru mouthed the words 'I told you so'.
"Well since we're on the topic what color did you want to wear?" Kaoru asked for his brother.
"Meh, its up to Hikaru. I honestly think we should go in white. Hikaru looks good in white." Haruhi replied.
"Hai . . ." Was all Hikaru said.
"Well I have to go. We'll talk more later. Bye Kaoru, bye Hikaru." Then she hung up.
Kaoru looked over at his brother; Hikaru was still not convinced. Kaoru sighed and placed a hand on his brother's left shoulder and pulled him closer in a brotherly hug.
"Let it go Hikaru, you'll only make her mad if you keep pushing the issue."
"Yeah. . ." Hikaru replied moving away from Kaoru to lie down and sleep, his face facing the wall.
Hunny couldn't stop talking about the kiss that conspired between Evy and Takashi. He was so excited that Takashi had finally done it.
"This is definitely a time for cake, ne Takashi? I want chocolate-no wait strawberry puree with vanilla and lemon! Or how about marble?" Hunny held bun-bun in front of him facing the plush bunny's face to his own. "What do you think bun-bun? Which one would be best? This is a very serious issue." The Lolita character said in serious thought.
"Mitsukuni." Takashi spoke, but Hunny went onward with his discussion with bun-bun.
"Or how about all three? What do you think bun-bun?" Hunny nodded in high approval of this idea. "What do you think Takashi? Hai, there can never be too much sweets. Tama-Chan and Kyo-Chan were geniuses ne, ne? Of course, Ally-Chan came up with the idea. By the way, I should call Kyo-Chan and tell him what Ally-Chan said to me earlier about the bruise on her face. Takashi, can you believe that Lord Zola actually hit Ally-Chan. That was a very cowardly thing to do. And she was very pleased that Kyo-Chan was concerned bun-bun. She really likes him ne Takashi? Anyway, I think we should also get some pies! To celebrate today! Takashi, do you think I should tell Kyo-Chan about Ally-Chan's father hitting her? She asked me not to because she did not want him hating her father, but I think he should know. What do you think Takashi?" Hunny said in one breath.
"Ah." Was all that his younger cousin replied. He was right, he should tell Kyouya.
Hunny looked from his bun-bun over to Takashi, and sensing his troubles he frowned.
"Takashi, what's wrong? Aren't you happy that you and Evy-Chan kissed?" The lovely senior plastered large watery milk-chocolate puppy eyes on his face.
"Ah." Hunny began to smile widely at his stoic cousin, "But she is getting married." Hunny understood Takashi's dilemma. But from the corner of his eye, he could see Takashi smiling. Takashi had won this round. Hunny knew that his cousin had a plan, that was enough for the small senior.
"Takashi, bun-bun wants cocoa with our sweets. Can we have cocoa with our sweets Takashi?"
"Ah." He replied, his smile never fading.
Maia-Moira Manor: Forty-five minutes before dinner
"Evelyn, mon chérie, I'm back! How was the rest of your day with your sister?" Evelyn turned soft eyes to her unfamiliar fiancé. (A/N: my first author comment in the story. There is a big difference between fiancée and fiancé; the former referring to women and the latter referring to men. Sorry about that!!) He gave her a soft kiss on her cheek and hugged her lightly; refraining from being too intimate with her. His touch was incredibly different then that of Takashi's.
"Fine." She replied to him softly, then going back to her painting.
The canvas consisted of hues that displayed a rising sun over a calm ocean below a cliff. On the cliff were two lovers caught in a frozen kiss. But there was sadness on their faces and beside the man's legs were a few bags. The woman had been pressed close to the man and seemed to not want to let him go. Below the cliff, along the shore, you could see a busy town getting ready for an early start in the day.
"Tell me," She said softly, not taking her eyes off her artwork. She was so careful to not get paint on her, "What do you see?"
He looked at her, momentarily confused; he didn't even know she could paint. She could tell just by reading it in his eyes.
"A love that will never die. I see two young lovers trying to get away from it all. Sharing a moment that will never be shared between them again. Because he is leaving and he knows he will never come back. But like the rising sun for a new day, she keeps hope for another day; another chance to see him. This is a love that is rare to find; you have your father's French heart Princess Evelyn." He smiled at her, placing his hands on her shoulders from behind.
She smiled at that, she had always thought so too. Takashi had teased her, telling her that was why she would never own the throne of Spain. She had always told him, why be the Queen of Spain . . . When I am already the Queen of your heart?
"What troubles you?" Rafael asked feeling her hesitance.
"I am not a liar Lord Rafael." She replied randomly. Confusion once again swept into his gaze. Yet he was capable of still smiling. "I will not lie to you I promise you that much. So I will start by being honest with you today. I am scared Lord Rafael. Scared of marrying you because I cannot give you the love you deserve." She finally said with the softest of tunes.
He laughed at that, "I believe that is the most you have said to me since I have met you. Do not fret petite. Love takes time, no?" He took her chin in his fingers and softly brushed his nose lightly on hers and inched close to her to give her a kiss.
"Not if my love already belongs to another." She said in French, no longer speaking in English like they had been since he had arrived in her room.
He stilled at that statement and pulled away, his smile slowly turning to a frown. "I let another man kiss me today shortly after you left." She told him truthfully. She watched as his sapphire blue eyes turned to a stormy ocean blue.
Rafael took a step back from her and deepened his frown, "I presume it was the boy who hit me today?"
Her silence had given her away. She felt her words once again forming only in her throat with no means of escaping. His eyes turned to a calmer blue, but not a good calm. More like the calm that hit before the storm did. She knew this calm all too well.
"I love Takashi." She said with finality.
"Don't you dare speak his name to me! I will not allow my future wife get caught up in such scandalous affairs!" He shouted in continuous French. "I will not be looked at as the fool who can not control his wife!"
"You cannot stop me from loving him." She replied calmly, biting her tongue down. She could feel herself growing angry. He had no right to try to control her like some kind of obedient pet.
"You will if you intend to make this marriage work! I demand that you stop seeing that boy!" Who does he think he is? She thought to herself. Her family couldn't keep her from seeing Takashi, what made him think he was special? Sensing what was on her mind he took her into his arms in an embrace, "I do not wish to lock you away in a tower Princess. I only wish that you stopped seeing this Takashi. I know that you do not love me, but its not to much to ask that you think of our families, no?" He asked softly in English.
He was right. She had to think of her family. As a daughter of nobility and propriety, duty came first. She nodded to him in silent agreement. "You may not love me now; you may not love me ever. However, there is more then one kind of love, and who knows what will happen. I'm trying. I will never replace this love of yours. But I am willing to give you the world just as he would. I only ask that you stop seeing him." She agreed to his terms, but she had to tell Takashi why she had to let him go again.
Rafael left her alone shortly after and she noticed that she had twenty minutes before dinner. This was a perfect time to speak to her mother. No doubt, she would have found out the truth by now.
As she walked through the halls of Maia-Moira manor, she reminisced of times her and sister would run and hide from the maids when they were younger. How they would take up for each other when the other was in need of help. How they teased, played and worked like one. She remembered all the times they would hold hands walking down the halls of their almost empty home. A noble life was a lonely one and all they had was each other, especially when Takashi and Mitsukuni were not around.
Coming into the hall of where her mother's office was she listened to the soft mumbles coming from a room with the door slightly ajar. She looked at the dark brown wooden oak door and smiled, thinking of the times they would sneak into their mother's private office and work at her desk. Competing to see who was more like mother. Aliénor always won.
She could hear her mother's tone turn harsh like her icy gaze. She regretted not telling her sister her plans, leaving her to her mother's wrath. Of course Aliénor had known about the Grand Tonnerre Group, that was her job, but what she did not know was that Evelyn had been the source of it all.
"Aliénor I would like to speak to our mother . . . Alone." Aliénor did not question her, and Evy had been grateful for that.
"Close the door Evelyn." Her mother replied in her familiar business-like tone. Evelyn did as she was told and braced herself for the storm that would soon follow.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?!" Setsuka Zola roared at her youngest daughter.
Her mother rarely treated her daughters like daughters, but more like her protégées. One of her workers. Still, undaunted by her mother's rage she replied, "Yes mother, and frankly I don't care?"
Her mother had reached across her desk and slapped her daughter in the face. The slap was not hard and she did not care. Her mother leaned back in her chair and frowned, "You will turn everything over to me as soon as I can pull up the paperwork for you to sign do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal mother. But you're not getting the Tonnerre group." Setsuka Zola did not react to this, just leaned back in her large chair her left hand massaging her forehead as her right arm crossed across her chest. "Really mother, did you think I'd forgive you for what you had done?"
Setsuka propped her arms on her desk and rested her chin on her hands. She raised her right eyebrow in a fashion that Aliénor had loved to copy a multiple of times.
"What I have done? All I have ever done was dedicate my entire life just to do right by you and your sister." She hissed venomously.
"Please mother, save me the speech. You have taken away everything that was the world to me. You ruined everything not me." Evelyn replied in her soft tone.
"How dare you disrespect me. Evelyn Abrielle Zola, as long as I live you will show me respect!"
"Respect you?" Evelyn almost laughed, "I loathe my very existence because of you. You have made our lives living hell since before the age of five. Constantly working us to the ground with things we had no care in the world for. And then, you interfere with my relationship with Takashi." Evelyn hissed in a tone fit only for her mother.
Setsuka leaned back in her chair, her left arm now propped on her armrest, as her chin remained resting atop it, "Takashi?" She questioned in a deadly tone, "He chose to stay away." That much was true; it was this fact alone that puzzled Evelyn most.
"Yes, he did indeed. But you drove him to it." Evelyn tossed back at her mother in a relaxed tone. She would not lose her cool in front of her mother.
"It doesn't matter now. He is your past; Lord Rafael is your future." Setsuka reminded.
"Then you keep him. I want nothing of him. I never asked for anything as a child, but now you've gone too far. You have taken away what was mine, and now . . . I have taken what should have been yours." Evelyn softly smiled in satisfaction as her mother's frown deepened.
There was a knock on the door, "WHAT?!" Her mother barked as she continued to stare at Evelyn.
Used to his mistress's foul temper, their head butler Jacques entered the room. "Mademoiselle," He bowed.
"What is it Jacques?" Her mother bit back annoyed at the interruption.
"Your guests have arrived." He said then turned and left.
Her mother made a sound in the back of her throat and threw her an icy look, "Keep the Tonnerre Group. That still won't change the fact that he left you." She hissed standing to go and greet her guests. "Go and change out of those clothes." She said leaving Evelyn to her thoughts. She had come with every intention of gloating to her mother what she had done. But her mother had flipped it on her. And the truth of the matter was, she was right. No matter what she did, it still did not change the fact that Takashi had chose to leave her. But why?
Evelyn returned to her room and changed into a simple black evening dress with her skirt reaching mid-thigh. The solid black long-sleeve turtleneck was elegant but casual at the same time. She added her 3-inch black heels and pinned her hair back from her face. After adding just a light touch of make-up, she picked up the large package beside her door and knocked on the door that joined her room and her sister's together.
Aliénor opened up the door for Evelyn only to see her own reflection. Her sister wore the exact same thing down to hairstyle and make-up. Her bruise was slowly fading and she was able to cover it up with some make-up. But in Aliénor's eyes was confusion about her feelings towards Kyouya. That had made Evelyn want to laugh. Evelyn handed her sister the package and she watched as Ally quickly tore it open. Evelyn had recreated a drawing that Aliénor had done years ago when they were younger, making it into a larger painting. Evelyn and Aliénor were both equal in talent, but Aliénor hated drawing or painting and stuck with dancing. The painting was of the two girls with their backs against each other, their hair hiding their semi-exposed flesh as they stared at the artist. Evelyn had save d the original before Aliénor could destroy it and decided to remake it as a gift for her sister the day before.
Evelyn turned to leave but did not anticipate the hug her sister would give her from behind. "Thank you." She whispered in her ear, took Evelyn's arm, and linked it with her own. Smiling at her older twin, they walked to the entrance of their home together.
"Mon chéries!" A loud obnoxious cry lifted in the air. Tamaki ran up to the girls and embraced them both as they kissed each other on the cheeks. "Doesn't my daughter look so cute?" He asked hoping for approval. Evelyn and Aliénor craned their necks around Tamaki to see Fujioka Haruhi dressed in a burgundy evening dress that went to her knees. Her long sleeves flaring out at the ends and the top of the dress was very much like a button up shirt with its collar and three small buttons in front to show the diamond necklace Tamaki had given her. Her sandals were burgundy as well.
Evelyn smiled as she watched Haruhi hide shyly behind her aunt. It seems Aliénor isn't the only one in love.
Haruhi sat across from Evelyn, who sat beside her sister. The table was long and from what she counted, could hold up to about fifty people. It was an awkward feeling for her. Haruhi observed the scene. At the head of the table was Lady-Princess Isabella. To her right was Lady Zola and to her left was Lord Zola. On Lord Zola's side of the table was Lord Zola, Tamaki's mother Angélite, Tamaki, herself and Lady Zola's assistant Cameron Donnelly. On the opposite side of the table were Lady Zola, Aliénor and Evelyn, and Lord Rafael. The only ones out of the group not chatting enthusiastically were the twins, their mother, Haruhi and the assistant. Damn rich bastards.
"Ms. Fujioka," Lady-Princess Isabella said in polite Japanese, "Do tell us how it is you met Tamaki." Haruhi tried to remain choice with her words, not wanting to mention her part in the host club.
"We attend the same school milady." She had wished Hikaru and Kaoru were with her, and then maybe she wouldn't feel so out of place. The aura bouncing off the twins and their mother reminded Haruhi of Kyouya, chills once again going up her spine.
"That's not what I asked young lady." The woman's politeness had been temporary.
"Mother!" Lord Zola scolded, "Forgive her; she tends to forget he manners. If I'm not mistaken, we were told that you both take part in the host club, is that true?"
"Yes sir. We have mutual friends in the Hitachiin twins." Haruhi replied, half-truthfully. She noticed Aliénor in hesitation, trying to keep a straight face in front of her parents.
"KAWAII!!! She is so polite! Isn't she cute mother?" Tamaki beamed.
"You're being annoying Senpai." Haruhi muttered under her breath.
Tamaki quickly pouted and right when he was about to go to his corner of woe, his mother stopped him; "You're so mean to daddy." He whined.
"Exactly, how is it that you are her father?" Lord Rafael questioned curiously.
"I take care of Haruhi! Is it wrong for me to be her father if I take care of her and love her like my own? In the host club, I am the father of our wonderful family while Kyouya is mother. We are one big family!" Everyone who had been in the conversation had went silent and then burst with laughter.
"What a charming son you have Angélite. Maybe I should have arranged Aliénor and Tamaki to wed." Lady Princess Isabella joked. But to Haruhi it did something unfamiliar to her. It made her jealous. Haruhi looked over to the twins and their mother, how they would fit so much better with the Ootori family.
"So mother do you enjoy staying in Japan?" Haruhi looked from son to mother. Angélite Grantaine definitely was the source of all Tamaki's looks. Her thick golden hair flowed like silk in waves like the ocean.
"Yes very much!" Personality as well, Haruhi added as she compared the two.
As the main course to an end, the servants began to bring out desert. As her plate was revealed, she thought of her father. She would have loved to share this with him. The desserts consisted of French styled crepes, and other dishes she was very unfamiliar with. She turned to the servant who had served her, "Excuse me, what kind of desserts are these?" But to her dismay, he did not understand. Therefore, she tried in English, but he still did not understand. Haruhi sweat dropped and was about to change her mind when Tamaki turned to her. Seeing her struggle, Tamaki translated for her. The servant smiled widely and began explaining everything to her in a fast pace. And as he explained, Tamaki translated.
"Sorry, Lord Zola and Lady Zola hire servants who sometimes only speak one language, sometimes they travel along with the Zola family if their stay in another place is going to be awhile." Tamaki explained.
"Do you think I could get the recipes from the chef later?" She whispered softly.
"I don't know, let me ask."
"No Senpai its okay, I don't want to be a burden." Haruhi said sweat dropping more.
"Nonsense Haruhi. Uncle, I was wondering, is it possible that Haruhi get a copy of your chef's recipes? She loves to cook that's why." Tamaki asked loudly for everyone to hear.
"Baka." Haruhi mumbled as the whole table froze once again all attention on Haruhi.
"Is that so Ms. Fujioka? Leo makes an excellent fillet mignon and garlic lemon chicken. Of course you can. If you would like, you may also visit on your free time and learn with him." Lafayette Zola smiled and turned to the servant standing beside him, "Francois, please make sure that Ms. Fujioka gets a copy of all of Leo's recipes. Make sure it is prepared for her before she leaves tonight. Anything you want Ms. Fujioka, please ask." Then turning back to Haruhi he said, "Leo was trained by Chef Gordon Ramsay himself and worked with him for ten years. Leo is skilled at cooking a variety of international delicacies, impressive no?"
Haruhi only nodded, still amazed at the kindness Lord Lafayette had shown her. This is definitely where the Twin of Dreams got their charm and personality. As the dinner progressed, a maid walked up to the table and turned to Lady Setsuka's assistant, Ms. Donnelly.
"Mademoiselle, there is someone on the phone." Haruhi heard the maid whisper.
"Remember, the Zolas are not to be disturbed. I will take the call." The woman beside Haruhi got up and left, Lady Setsuka's eyes slowly following the younger woman and then returning to her food.
Thirty-Five minutes ago
Kyouya sat in front of his laptop once again, ordering tomorrow's cosplay costumes and equipment. His sister Fuyumi, once again, "was rearranging" his dresser. Sometimes Kyouya wondered if she did that just to spend time with him. Of course he dismissed that idea and went back to his work.
"Kyouya! Is this your girlfriend?" She asked, giggling excitedly. He peered over to where his sister was sitting to see what she was talking about, "My, my, my she is very pretty. I heard the stories about how pretty she was but now that I see her, I'm in awe."
"That is the Princess of Spain, Fuyumi you know that. And she is not my girlfriend." He replied going back to work, but the thought of that teased the corner of his lip into a slight smile.
He didn't have to look up to see the frown on his older sister's face, "So why do you keep her picture?" He paused in his typing and looked up at her.
"Fuyumi, what are you doing here?" He questioned her as he pulled out the day's footage he captured at the mall. He had to do some editing of course, he had to hide Haruhi's secret. Then he stopped what he was doing and placed his hand on his chin. How could I use this to my advantage? He decided to turn the documentary into a "what if" reality show of the hosts. He emailed the footage to a friend of his father and sent in his requests for the video attached to it. The editor wrote back quickly stating that it would be ready for him in hundreds of copies and arrive first thing in the morning at the Ouran Host Club 3rd Music Room.
"Kyouya, have you been listening to a word I've been saying?" He inwardly smiled at his sister; he loved her deeply and only wished she didn't live so far away from him.
"No." He lied, her frown deepened.
"I said I think you should ask her to the ball." Fuyumi repeated.
The thought of asking Aliénor had not left him; he just wasn't sure how to go about it. He was still sorting out his thoughts. He was running out of time, and the bloody girl confused him more and more each day. Ootoris were never confused.
"Fuyumi stop "fixing" my clothes, they were fine before you touched them. And please be quiet I'm trying to work."
"Always working." She replied continuing with his clothes, "You're just like father."
"I have to be better then father." Fuyumi sighed, got up behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"You think too much like him, relax little brother." She smiled down at him as she hugged his neck while he typed.
"And you don't think at all." He snapped now irritated. She recoiled from him as if he had burned her.
"Kyouya that's mean. I do think and right now I think you should ask her out to the ball."
"She is the Princess of Spain, and the cause of my sleep deprivation. Why would I want to go with a stuck up princess who ruined all the hard work I've done?" Kyouya questioned.
"Princess or not, you should still ask her to the ball. What should it matter if she is stuck up or not? From what I remember about Ouran, that school is filled with stuck up girls." She messed up his perfectly combed hair, "Just ask her, its not like you like her or anything. You're just asking her to a dance." Fuyumi said with a bit of a hint in her tone, and then she winked at him before leaving.
Kyouya growled in the back of his throat as he fixed his hair back to it's perfection. He didn't understand women and he didn't want to. He understood one thing though, they were an enigma to his very being. Always pestering him for attention, even if they weren't present. Now, it was no longer a mere commoner haunting his very thoughts, but a royal businesswoman. She vexed him every nanosecond of the day. Even in his precious sleep. She was conniving, manipulating, smart, beautiful, funny, richer then him and damn it a damn good businesswoman! She was his very desire but at the same time he wanted nothing to do with her. She was his rival. No doubt even years later he would never cease to be haunted by her. He was on the verge of becoming heir to his father's business and she would inherit both of her parents' work. And with her sister also owning the Grand Tonnerre Group, a fact he had known since he first heard about the buy out, the twins of dreams would be at every function he would attend. He would never be rid of her.
Kyouya continued to type nonsense into his computer, when instead he felt like banging his head against it. He thought hard about calling her, and then decided against it. He had nothing to say to her. He looked at his watch, it was 9PM. He remembered Tamaki briefly shouting something about dinner at the Maia-Moira manor and he thought briefly about calling him. But when Kyouya had called, to his surprise, Tamaki's phone was off.
Bored, Kyouya decided to play a good game of Chess Titans on his computer. But after beating it within less then ten minutes he grew angry. He was extremely bored. His mood went from bad to dark and he hated not having anything to do.
"I guess I'll go to sleep early." He said to himself. Kyouya went and took a shower and ten minutes later he was looking at the photo his sister had been giggling over earlier. It was a picture of Aliénor and himself laughing at something. What were we doing that day? Ah yes, the Circus. He kicked himself for forgetting that day. He had fun that day, feeling relaxed and free for the first time in awhile. But she was the enemy. He had to force his thoughts away from her. She had ruined his hard work and she could not get away with it. He decided he was going to do to her, what she was doing to him. Drive her completely and utterly insane. He smiled evilly at that idea. Yes, that was exactly what he was going to do.
Still, his hand returned to his iPhone and he pushed up his glasses. He quickly scanned his contacts and pushed dial. He waited as the ringing continued n his ear.
"Kyo-Chan?" Hani-Senpai questioned with a muffled tone.
He was eating cake. Kyouya had no idea why he had called the Lolita character at the last moment, and this annoyed him more.
"Ah, Hani-Senpai." Kyouya had to come up with an excuse and quick.
"Kyouya can you guess what I'm eating?" Kyouya imagined dancing flowers showering the small senior as he said this.
"Very expensive cake?" Kyouya replied, going along with the conversation.
"Very expensive, delicious marble cake." Hani corrected.
"I see. Hani-Senpai, I was wondering if you knew why Tamaki's phone was off." Kyouya already knew why, but he couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Tama-Chan and Haru-Chan are having dinner at the Zola estate. He said that they would be with his mother and asked if we did not disturb his precious family time." Hani replied cheerfully, seeing that he was finally able to help Kyouya in some way.
"Thank you Hani-Senpai. I seem to remember him shouting about something of the sort. But you know Tamaki." Kyouya said trying to hurry and end the conversation.
"Your welcome! By the way Kyo-Chan, I wanted to tell you about-"
"I'm sorry Senpai, but I really must be getting back to work. Tell me about it tomorrow okay?" Kyouya said, hoping the small senior would forget within the hour.
"Okay Kyo-Chan. Bye!" Hani-Senpai said shoving another forkful of cake into his mouth as he hung up on the Shadow King. Kyouya was once again left annoyed and bored.
He was tempted to call the Hitachiin twins but he thought against it. Trying to start a conversation, especially with them was something he was not in the mood for. He didn't even bother to think about calling Mori-Senpai because he knew that would be like trying to talk to a turtle. Pointless. Instead, he decided to check his AIM, Yahoo, and MSN. Nothing. His myspace, nothing. His IM . . . Zip. Finally giving up he decided to retire to bed. After five minutes of tossing and turning, he found himself listening to yet another telephone ringing.
After the fourth ring, a maid answered the phone. It had taken her long enough and he highly thought of getting her fired, "Bonsoir, Zola residence. Comment allez-vous?" She said in French, You've got to be kidding me! Kyouya thought to himself.
They went back and forth trying to understand each other but it was not working. "Parlez-vous franҫais? Je ne comprends pas, désolé monsieur." Kyouya felt the dark aura of his annoyance growing larger with every word she spoke. Finally, he heard her speaking to someone else and then the passing of the phone.
"Zola Residence." A woman said in Japanese.
"Took them long enough." He muttered to himself, his patience running thin. "May I please speak to Aliénor-Ohime Sama?" Kyouya asked trying to sound polite.
"One moment please." Once again, he was on hold. Kyouya's right eye twitched behind glinted glasses. He was going to kill somebody if he had to wait another moment. Irritated he decided to hang up, but right as he was about to press the end button,
"This is Cameron Donnelly, Mrs. Zola's assistant how can I help you sir?" He couldn't believe it; he was being passed around like a game of hot potato. It was like an annoying game of monkey in the middle Host club style.
"I politely asked to speak to Aliénor-Ohime Sama." He half-snapped.
"I'm sorry sir, but all calls are directed to me by orders of Lady Zola. She wishes not to be disturbed. May I leave a message?" Kyouya thought he heard the glass in his glasses break. He had spent a good forty-five minutes debating whether he should talk to her or not, and going through a million maids just to have an assistant tell him that the damned girl couldn't be bothered.
"No, that's fine." Kyouya hissed, his low blood pressure side revealing itself halfway.
"May I ask who has called so I can let them know?"
"Ootori Kyouya." He replied.
"Mr. Ootori? Why didn't you say so sir? She has been expecting your call all night. One moment so I can put her on the phone for you." That . . .was odd. He had no intention of calling her in the first place, nor did he tell her he would ever call. So how was it she was expecting him?
Aliénor sat silently as the mindless chatter of her family consumed the remainder of the dinner. She looked over at Haruhi. The girl who pretended to be a boy, who was in love with a man but did not see it yet. How Twelfth Night -ish. She turned to Evelyn who was also watching the out of place Haruhi, and smiled at Aliénor. As the twins continued to sip on their beverages with their eyes closed, Aliénor had wine and Evy had tea, Aliénor could feel Haruhi's eyes on her.
"If you're wondering why we do not indulge in their conversation, its simply because they talk of things we do not care for." Aliénor spoke to Haruhi as she continued to savor the lingering taste of her wine. She was talking about those chattering away in French, "They speak of France and rumors of the French society. The latest gossip being Madam Éclair Tonnerre running off with a merchant's son and getting married. But of course that isn't true because I have spoken with Madam Tonnerre recently. She is now in Bolivia with her aunt and uncle." Aliénor continued bored already with her family's conversation.
Still Haruhi remained silent, "Haruhi . . ." Aliénor opened her eyes and shot a look to the commoner's direction, "Its rude to stare like that." She lowered her eyelashes slightly and peered at Haruhi's milk chocolate eyes with a sly smile. Haruhi blushed and averted her gaze back down to her plate. Aliénor smiled and took another sip of her wine as she closed her eyes once again.
"Gomen-nasai Ohime-Sama, its just . . ." Aliénor's eyes snapped open and she looked at Haruhi with an inquiring brow and a small smile.
"Just what Ms. Fujioka?" Aliénor beckoned her to continue.
But before Haruhi could answer, Cameron, her mother's assistant walked up beside her and whispered in her left ear, "Princess Aliénor, a Mr. Kyouya Ootori is on the private line for you." She said in a heavily Irish accented whisper.
Aliénor almost choked on her wine at that statement. How does he even know my home number? She had no idea why in the Lord's name he was calling.
"Are you sure its him?" Aliénor questioned suspiciously, throwing a sideward glance at her sister who was still enjoying her tea with her eyes closed.
"Yes ma'am. He has asked to speak with you specifically." Aliénor remained cautious but decided to see what this was all about all the same.
"I see. I wasn't expecting any calls, especially not from him. Oh well it would be best not to keep him waiting. The last thing we need is for him to complain at how rude I am for making him wait so long." Aliénor said as she stood and excused herself from the table. She half ran to her room in a flurry to see what it was the great Ootori Kyouya wanted from her.
Haruhi watched as Aliénor left the table and thought to herself how ironic it was that Kyouya-Senpai had thought to call right when she was in the middle of comparing Aliénor-Ohime Sama to the Shadow King himself. They were so evil. Similar in almost everyway. Haruhi turned her attention to Ms. Donnelly and noticed a smile on the assistance face as if she had something to hide, a look fit only for a sly cat. Brushing it off, she went back to eating her delicious deserts. But it wasn't until she spotted Evelyn-Ohime Sama wearing the same look that Ms. Donnelly was. You wouldn't have noticed it behind her teacup that she was drinking out of, but the smile was there.
"Ano . . . Pardon me Evelyn-Ohime Sama." Both Evelyn and Tamaki, who had been speaking to her about something, looked over at the honor student. "Demo, did you know that Kyouya-Senpai would call tonight?" Evelyn only smiled and gave a slight nodded as she still drank her White Peach tea. "I don't understand, Lady Zola had asked for the dinner to not be disturbed, why would she go against her mother's wishes to go and talk to him when she clearly does not like him." Wasn't that why she was getting her revenge? Because he had wounded her pride and hurt her feelings? Akira had told her how Aliénor was bitter over the whole ordeal about the Host club and that was why she wanted revenge. From what the girls had told Haruhi, Aliénor had a small crush on him and he had crushed her feelings in just a matter of minutes.
"Because Haruhi, she wanted to talk to him. I'll let you in on a little secret that only me and her sister know; Aliénor is deeply in love with our dear friend Kyouya and has been since she was a little girl." The bit of information shouldn't have surprised her but it did. Looking over at Evelyn, she saw that he spoke the truth.
Tamaki continued, "And I'll let you in on another secret about Kyouya that not even he knows," He said as he leaned into her ear; his breath softly brushing the small spot below her ear causing her to blush brightly. "He's in love with her too."
This had literally surprised Haruhi into a small gasp. She had always noticed Kyouya's awkward behavior but she had brushed it off as not getting any sleep at all. But Kyouya-Senpai had too much pried to even admit to that. That's when it dawned on her, "Evelyn-Ohime Sama did you plan on having your sister receive the call?" She asked, knowing that no one except for Lady Setsuka's daughters would have the nerve to disobey her orders. Evelyn only smiled softly.
"Evelyn has known all along of her sister's growing love. She feels it. So when I told her of Kyouya's feelings she and I both asked Ms. Donnelly to allow any calls from him to go through." Haruhi turned to the conspirators and then looked over at Lady Setsuka, who now was engaging in a small conversation with Tamaki's mother not paying any attention to what was going on with the rest of the table.
Haruhi had taken in all of this new information and smiled too, now fully understanding everything that was going on. "You know Senpai; you're not as stupid as you look." Tamaki frowned and then smiled too. And as everyone began to finish their deserts, Haruhi felt Tamaki's hand brush his hand on hers by accident under the table, causing her to blush brighter then the strawberries on her crepe. What's going on with me?
"Ootori-Kun, thank you for being so patient." Aliénor greeted as she picked up the private phone line in her room, butterflies fluttering in her stomach around thousands of little knots.
"Believe me princess, if I known I was going to have to wait so long, I would have not called. Might I also suggest that you hire servants who can actually speak Japanese while you live here in Japan." His shadow king aura reverberating through the phone meaning to intimidate her, but she carelessly brushed it off. Every time she had hoped he would come to her nicely, he shot those hopes right down the drain. She was getting tired of it.
"Honestly, you really didn't have to stay on the phone. You could have hung up." She replied.
"Trust me I thought about it." He replied hotly.
"So why did you call me?" Aliénor questioned.
"I was bored. To be more specific, I had no other means to occupy my time and since I am so used to not sleeping, I decided to call someone. Everyone else I know is either sleeping or busy. You were the last person to cross my mind." He said half truthfully.
"Aww, Ootori-Kun-"
"Kyouya." He corrected.
"I find it sweet that you even thought to call me, but I assure you, if I knew you were going to call, especially out of boredom, I would have never taken your call."
"Funny you should say that princess, I thought you were expecting my call." This statement had her cursing her sister under her breath.
"You think too highly of yourself Ootori-Kun. I wasn't expecting your call at all. I wasn't even aware that you had my home number." She replied truthfully.
"Oh? Interesting." He paused, "So if that's the case, why did you take my call?" He questioned. She could picture his glasses glinting in the darkness of his room as he smiled like the devil he was.
"Seeing how you acquired my private home number through some form of connection and actually called me, I assumed the call was of great importance. Why else would you call?" All butterflies and knots disappearing from her body.
"Did it ever occur to you that I might have wanted to talk to you?" She laughed flirtatiously at that,
"Then you are a liar Ootori-Kun. There is definitely no gain for you to call me other then to discuss some form of business. Frankly, we both know that there is no need for this conversation." There was a pause and immediately she regretted her words.
"You're absolutely right. I would be lying if I had told you that, and Ootoris do not like making a habit of lying. Forgive me for intruding on your dinner with your family." His words had once again found a way to hurt her, and without even a goodbye, he hung up the phone.
Aliénor had walked back to the grand parlor where everyone gathered. The same place where she had heard Evelyn laugh the night they first met Lord Rafael.
"Haruhi!" She heard Tamaki shout as he walked over to the commoner not too far from him. Me and the adults will be going into the grand study come and join us!" He demanded excitedly, "I, The Host King and your father, wish to spend father and daughter quality time with you." He expressed with conviction.
Aliénor nodded goodnight to her sister, who decided to leave to her own matters, and sensed Haruhi's hesitation.
"But mon ami, I wanted to give Haruhi a tour of our lovely home." She purred with a slight pout. "Couldn't I just borrow her for a few moments?" She asked forming small tears.
Tamaki, unable to resist sed look, gave in without a fight. "Of course you can chérie!" He cried as he held both Haruhi and Aliénor tightly, "We can all go together!"
"But Senpai, your mother." Haruhi reminded him.
Aliénor watched the torn look on Tamaki's face. He saw Haruhi everyday, but it had been years since he saw his mother.
"KAWAII!" The blond shouted, his blue-lavender eyes wide like those of a Mitsukuni. "She is so kind to think of mother! I'll go and see if she would like to join us." He said joyfully getting ready to leave.
"René." Tamaki stopped as soon as he heard Aliénor speak his first name. "Spend some time with your mother, she misses you." Tamaki's smile slowly faded and he nodded with some seriousness in his eyes. He knew she was right. It would have been rude to abandon his mother.
Aliénor took thirty minutes showing Haruhi the East and North wings of the mansion, and another fifteen showing her the west wing and Garden. That did not include how long it took to go from one wing to the other. The Maia-Moira manor consisted of over a hundred rooms. It was large indeed. The west wing was where the servants stayed; the East was where the library and entertainment rooms were: for games, training, etc. As for the North Wing, that consisted of their private quarters and her parent's offices as well as Evelyn and her own. There were also spare rooms that remained completely furnished but empty like a five star hotel. The halls were all decorated with either statues or paintings and priceless artifacts. Although the outside of the estate looked very much like old Victorian, it was indeed that of a royal European home on the inside. On the way to the South Wing, Haruhi stopped in front of a large glass window over looking the beautiful garden and stables. The garden consisted of roses, lilies, orchids, and a multitude of many other type of flowers in different colors. Some flowers found in only Japan, while others were rarer or found in places that are more common. Along the perimeter of the backyard, were cherry blossom trees working like a wall to keep out intruders and highlighting the mountain trail.
In the center of the garden was a large porcelain statue of twin angels holding small bowls above their heads in front of them as they faced each other. Both slightly dipped their bowls as if to pour out the water that flowed into a small elegant waterfall that fell into a surrounding pool around the angels feet and then down yet another waterfall into an even bigger pool. The second waterfall flowing into the last and largest waterfall that flowed like a stream, like those seen in traditional Japanese gardens, throughout the garden and acres of free land used for the horses to roam. Not too far from the garden was a large stable that held twelve horses. Six of them belonged to Aliénor. They were her favorites, all purebred four stallions and two mares. Their names were Mercédès, Thanatos, Zeus, Monte Cristo, Athena, and Philippe. No doubt they were sleeping deeply in their peaceful dreams. She loved horses. They were one of her pride and joys. She thought of each horse individually. Athena and her older sister Mercédès were both black purebred Arabian mares and they had the personality of free independant goddesses. Monte Cristo was her eldest stallion, a gray Andalusian that stood 16 hands high he had a regal air to him and was very territorial when it came to Mercédès. She smiled at that, yes she had named the two after characters out of her favorite book. Zues, a calm Thoroughbred Stallion stood at 17 hands high. His chestnut color reminding her of chocolate. Philippe, her youngest stallion, was a playfull Nokota the color of blue dun. Thanatos, was her most prized stallion; and wildest. As a thoroughbred he was built for speed. But he refused to let others ride him, she and him had a mutual understanding of each other. She rode him whenever she felt the need to just get away and be free. How she was able to convince her father to buy her the 17hh animal at the age of eleven was beyond her. But she loved him the most. She loved all her horses.
"Do you ride Haruhi?" She asked turning to her guest.
"To be honest I've only seen a horse up close once and that was the day of the festival I've never ridden though." Haruhi admitted truthfully.
"Well then, I'll be more then happy to invite you to come and ride with me and my sister sometime. How does tomorrow sound?" Haruhi only nodded and then turned to look at the open lands.
"I never knew Japan had so much free land still." Haruhi said at the breathtaking view.
"My mother's ancestors were extremely wealthy. A very honorable family. They had bought this land long ago. No one but her family was to touch it. Father had extended the land to preserve its beauty. He did so before we were born. Its lovely in both spring and winter, you should really come by and visit. It was his love of horses that drove him to it. He would never build a track, he felt horses should be as they were born to be: Free. If it weren't for his work all he would do is ride." Aliénor smiled at the memories and continued down the hall. As they walked, Aliénor went into discussion about her families many attributes to society and history.
"Which reminds me, is it true your family founded Ouran and the scholorship given to me?" Haruhi asked turning to face the princess.
"Why yes. You see long ago, Ouran was built. The scholorship was created to honor my uncle long ago who had been the youngest to graduate at the highest level of education. But he had been killed in an accident, leaving his parents to mourn him. He had succeeded all six eldest brothers and sisters at the age of fifteen." She explained to the younger girl.
"This whole time I thought it was Tamaki's family that owned Ouran." Haruhi said.
"They do. A few years after the death of his youngest son, the founder of Ouran, my ancestor died as well of a heart attack. The Suoh family had come to my family's aide and as a token of their appreciation, they sold the school and all its assets to the Suoh family. But they continued to distribute the scholorship as tradition and honor to my family." Aliénor explained, suprised that her family's history had been washed away by current Ouran generations.
"Your family has done many things that will keep them remembered. I'm positive so will you." Haruhi voiced thoughtfully. This had stopped Aliénor in her tracks in front of two large double doors at the end of the hall. On the opposite side of the glass doors were two large azure colored curtains blocking your view from the outside. Beside the doors on the left as a lone door made of simple designs in a dark brown color.
"If I am remembered Ms. Fujioka, I hope that it is through my work." Aliénor opened the door and revealed walls decorated with paintings of all sizes. Many of herself dancing.
From the look on Haruhi's face, Aliénor could tell she did not know what she meant. So she took Haruhi's hand and placed it on her arm leading her to two large paintings, one a portrait of Aliénor dancing and the other of landscapes and mythical beings. "I am not as good as my sister is, but the passion is there. The ones you see of a girl dancing or studying are the ones Evelyn had done of me while I wasn't watching. We have very photographic memories and can remember a single moment clearly." Haruhi began to wander the room and she came across a miniature statue of one of the twins dancing. "Evelyn." Aliénor answered Haruhi's unspoken question. "I had finished that last week. She used to dance along time ago when love still filled her heart. She danced, sang and painted all the time. But then she stopped about a year ago and I had no one to share my art with." Aliénor explained.
"The storm." Haruhi said, understanding what caused it all to stop. Aliénor nodded and continued,
"That's the real reason why we were named the twin of dreams. We did everything we could think of. Then she lost her spirit. That was at least until last week. She thinks I do not see her, but she dances again. And today I found out that she has begun to draw and paint again." Aliénor looked over at Haruhi. Her face held that of a girl confused about why she was being told such personal things. "If you're wondering why I'm telling you all this, its quite simple. Evelyn only did things out of love. When she still had hope. I assume you know why she is the way she is by now." Haruhi nodded knowing that Aliénor spoke of Takashi. "You're quite fortunate Haruhi. You may live your life peacefully, no pressure or scrutiny. You can love whomever you choose and marry them if you so wished it. For my sister and me duty must come first. Evelyn loved Takashi dearly. After he walked out on her, she felt she had lost everything. That was until you walked into the hostess club and she saw him again. Look at the art Haruhi, she has hope that love will find its way back to her. That's why she dances, that's why she paints. Do you have a love like that Haruhi? A love that keeps you going?"
Haruhi remained silent to Aliénor's words. Sighing, she gave up. She knew she wasn't getting anywhere with her. She was so blind to Tamaki's love for her and her own love for him. So in conclusion to their tour Aliénor said, "In order to really see the passion in the art, one must open their heart and mind. Not just their eyes." Akira was right, when it came to love, Haruhi was just not that smart. "Come mon ami, its getting late and Tamaki is probably worried by now." Haruhi nodded and followed her, stealing one look at the dancing statue of Evelyn. With a smile, she blushed and thought of Tamaki.
Sure enough, Aliénor had been right. Haruhi and everyone else watched as Tamaki ran around in a circle crying and wailing about his "once-again-missing-daughter". And once he found her, he squeezed her tightly refusing to let her go. Aliénor grabbed Tamaki by his ear and dragged him off the poor girl. With a smile she said, "Its time I retired to my own thoughts. Goodnight Haruhi, it was a pleasure seeing you again, remember to come by tomorrow and I will take you riding with me. Aunt Angélite, Grandmamma, je vous aime (I love you). Bon nuit everyone and au revoir! Oh and René please allow poor Haruhi to breath and don't forget to tell Kyouya how incredibly happy I am that we did not agree to my first proposal." She said blowing kisses as she left.
Lord Lafayette walked over to Haruhi, "Before I forget Ms. Fujioka, here are the recipes I had Leo prepare for you. Feel free to come over whenever you like." She held the large and thick book containing recipes from around the world. She thanked the family for inviting her and then proceeded to leave. Still lost in her thoughts from her conversation with Haruhi, she grew confused. She had a feeling Aliénor was trying to hint at something but she did not know what. Unable to concentrate, Haruhi missed the step in front her and tripped over it.
"HARUHI!" Tamaki cried dramatically, as Lord Lafayette and Lord Rafael both rushed to help her up. "Haruhi, are you okay? Does it hurt? Tell daddy where it hurts!" He said worrying over her. "Oh no my poor Haruhi will have to go to the hospital! Call the hospital, call the lifeguard, and call the police! Get me the world's best surgeon!" Haruhi got up during his dramatic outburst and dusted herself off. The fall would leave a bruise on her knee and a bump on her forehead. But other then that she was fine. After thanking the two older men, she turned to Tamaki who was still crying over Haruhi's "tragic" fall.
"Senpai calm down, its not that serious! Honestly, it isn't that big of a deal I'm fine." She tried to assure, but when he would not listen she shouted, "Senpai you're being annoying!" He calmed a little and with a saddened look, he actually picked her up like he did when he had saved her from falling off the cliff, and carried her back to the limo behind his mother. Strangely though, Haruhi had enjoyed it. She rested her head on his shoulder with a smile and held a soft blush on her face. She didn't understand why she did that, but she kept it nonetheless, watching the twins watch her from their windows.
On the way home, not too far from the Zola Estate, Haruhi saw an elegant black limo going towards the direction they had come from. No doubt to pick up lady-Princess Isabella. With Aliénor's words replaying in her head, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
"Are you sure young master?" Tachiban had asked Kyouya as they drove to nowhere.
"I'm positive. Take a left here and then keep going straight." Kyouya replied. He was going to regret this decision he knew, but it had to be done.
3rd Music Room present day
"Welcome to Notre Dame!" Kyouya heard the Hitachiin twins greet to the new set of customers.
"Hikaru and Kaoru-Kun! Y-you're hunchbacked!" One of the clients squealed mortified at the drastic change.
"Yes a sad fate indeed that Kaoru had to go through, but I made myself hunchbacked as well so that he would not suffer alone." Hikaru said dramatically holding both of Kaoru's hands in his own as his body was pressed close to Hikaru's.
"Oh Hikaru!" Kaoru gasped with a blush on his face. The girls squealed with delight at the brotherly love display. Kyouya rolled his eyes and spotted Haruhi walking around dressed up like Esmeralda. She had been quiet popular today, more then usual. She had almost as much clients as Tamaki did. Maybe they should have her dress like a girl more often.
"Fujioka-Kun, my you could really pass for a girl!" One of the clients commented.
"You are really brave Fujioka-Kun, especially in the movie! You really did look like a girl, are you sure you really aren't one?" Another said.
"I assure you I am not. Even if I was a girl, I still wouldn't look as cute as all of you." Haruhi replied half-lying as she handed them their instant coffee.
"I honestly wouldn't mind it if you were a girl. You wouldn't mind if I had some private time with you, would you Fujioka-Kun? You know just to see if you really aren't a girl." Another girl flirted.
Taken back, Haruhi sweat dropped and giggled nervously, "As much as I would love to take your offer Yoko-Chan I must clean and cook before my father returns from his two day shift at work."
"My gypsy princess!" Tamaki walked over to her and her group, his arms out wide, "Let me kiss your hand, just this once!" Tamaki pleaded as he placed a hand over his heart and another on her own hand kneeling before her. The girls swooned over the scene.
"Can it Senpai! I'm not interested!" Haruhi growled as she face palmed Tamaki into his corner of woe.
Bored, Kyouya returned to his laptop. Then remembered he had clients. Glancing up he saw the girls looking nervously at him and he placed a soft smile on for them. "I apologize ladies, for not giving you the attention you deserve."
"We understand Kyouya-Kun, you are very busy." The first girl said. He couldn't recall what her name was.
"No please, allow me to make it up to you by selling you the new Host Club Movie, What If at a discounted price and throw in a bonus magazine filled with new photos of the host members and special limited edition photos of Fujioka-Kun dressed as a girl for one of our photo shoots." He suggested, plastering the biggest and fakest "sincere" smile on his face.
Once the girls had made their purchases and left him alone, his mind traveled to a certain princess who would not let him be. The night before had been confusing and he kicked himself in the ass for it. All the while, he smiled at it's end result.
West Wing Ballroom That same exact moment
"My love, who else could my mind other then you" Aliénor asked, softly leaning against her third client of the day. Today's them was Moulin Rouge and their theme song Garden by Mirah played softly throughout the room.
"You just seem distracted princess." The boy replied as he cupped her face gently. Aliénor paused but then lowered her eyelashes in that familiar mesmerizing way.
"My mind remains on you mon chéri. On you and only you." She lied as she caressed his chin softly.
Akira watched the scene from over the top of her newspaper. Looking around the room, she sighed. It was practically empty. Ever since Kyouya had sold new the videos and new merchandise of the host club, they had a steady decline of female clients. Akira once again looked at the front page of her newspaper and threw it down in disgust. In large bold letters it read: Princesses and Japanese heirs lie to cover up scandal! The vultures! Akira looked up as Sayomi joined her along with Hayase. Sayomi was playing her violin as Hayase gathered the dishes that were left. They had all noticed Aliénor hosting half-heartedly and wondered what it was that had happened after they had all left the mall. It wasn't only Aliénor in an off state. Evelyn-Ohime Sama was in an extremely dark mood. Although that did not bother her clients, she seemed a bit more tense and irritated then usual. Akira went back to her books when she saw Miyu walking over to speak of the latest gossip. The latest being Mori-Senpai avoiding Evelyn every time he saw her. Then she listened as Miyu spoke about boredom and not having any attention at all from Tamaki or anyone else for that matter. Rolling her eyes, she tuned her out like she did every other time.
"Evelyn-Ohime Sama?" A client spoke with concern. Akira reverted her gaze back to their silent leader as she walked over to her friend Kazami who was "learning" how to speak Japanese. They all watched as Evelyn whispered in her best friend's ear.
Akira wasn't positive, but she had a feeling she knew what was said between the two. From what Haruhi had told her in class, Kyouya was acting weird too, and she suspected something had happened that night when he called her. It was like watching two titans clash with each other. Akira turned back to Aliénor, who's third and last client finally left. Aliénor had retired to her couch by the fireplace.
"May I have your attention please?" Kazami said in "practiced" Japanese. Everyone turned to stare at the red head as she smiled regrettably, "It has come to my attention that the Hostess Club will be closing early today. Gomen-nasai!"
Akira knew it. With a smile, she congratulated Kyouya. He had succeeded in knocking the Prideful princess right off her pretty feet. She mentally applauded him, whatever he had done; he had really gotten a hold on Aliénor. Kazami continued to apologize to the remaining clients and offered private sessions and dates with the hostess of their choice free of charge. She also refunded the clients' money knowing that the Hostess club didn't in fact need it. All of a sudden, a dark cloud lingered over Akira's thoughts. Something bad was going to happen, and from the look on Evelyn's face as she stood in front of the moody Aliénor, she felt it too.
A/n: Whew! That was a long one. Well I hoped you enjoyed it. It seems spring trully is the season of love. Will haruhi finally wake up and see what is going on between her and Tamaki? Will Hikaru be able to hold onto Haru for long? With Evy and Tamaki taking one step forward and two steps back will they ever find their way back to each other? As for Kyouya and Ally....WHEN THE HELL ARE THEY GOING TO STOP BEING SO STUBBORN?! And where exactly is Kyouya going and what in the world is he planning to do? Well if you review maybe Ill quickly update and reveal all the answers to you. I need the motivation to keep me going!!!!!!! Thanks for reading dont forget to hit that little button that says review!!!