Haruhi

After I left the parlour, I made sure to make a run for it to the garden just in case Princess Fuyumi tried to catch up with me. I ran around into a secluded corner of bushes and immediately squatted down while folding my arms around my stomach. Then I slowly nestled my head into my knees as I took in a deep breath to ease my panting.

"Say, maybe you like him... in a way more than a friend?"

Fuyumi's words were relentlessly playing through my mind. Maybe... maybe what Fuyumi said was true- that I liked Kyouya more than what I thought. I sighed as I looked up again, running my hand through my hair and then sat on the ground.

… What does it mean to fall in love?

I can't remember how long I sat there, trying to think of answers to that question but nothing good came out of it. When the sun finally started to set, I heard my name being called in the distance. It was about time for dinner and if I was away too long, Father would be worried.

I stood up from the ground and as my legs stretched out, the muscle pain under my knees made it hard to stay standing. I pushed through the pain and walked back to the palace, quietly sneaking in. I swiftly made my way towards the dining hall and met with a couple of the butlers in charge of overlooking dinner.

"Good evening Princess." The butlers said in unison as they bowed. I smiled at them and entered the dining hall to see it was empty. The butler with the short blonde hair guided me to my seat and pulled out the chair for me. "You are a bit early. Would you like me to get you some water?"

"Yes, thank you Simon." I smiled up at him while I placed the white napkin cloth over my lap.

"Right away, Princess. Dinner will begin shortly after everyone arrives." Simon bowed and then walked off into the kitchen. I folded my hands under the table and patiently waited. When Simon came back with a pitcher of water and filled my glass, Kyouya and Fuyumi had arrived together. They had stopped talking among themselves when they noticed I was sitting in the room. Simon helped Fuyumi into her chair and once Kyouya had settled in, Simon filled their glasses with water as well.

Kyouya and Fuyumi were sitting across from me. My father was to be at the right end of the table while King Yoshio was to be at the left end. All three of us were silent and every once in a while, Fuyumi would catch my wandering gaze and we would exchange awkward smiles. I would glace over to Kyouya but I could never see into his eyes. Either his glasses would glare in the light or he would purposely avoid looking at me.

Once my father and King Yoshio had arrived and settled down into their chairs, Simon announced what would be served while pouring the water and once he finished talking, he excused himself and went into the kitchen again.

It was rather quiet among us and the tension in the air could have been sliced with a butter knife. I could only imagine my father dying a little inside or maybe just really confused. "So. Haruhi. Were you and Princess Fuyumi able to talk and get to know each other?" My father smiled trying to lift the mood.

I was hesitant to answer. Flashbacks of my conversation with Fuyumi made my heart start to pound again and I could feel my cheeks tense slightly.

"Yes we talked." Fuyumi smiled. "Princess Haruhi is very kind."

Father smiled at Fuyumi. "I'm glad to hear that."

For the rest of dinner, it was like this... my father was constantly trying to get everybody to engage in conversation and loosen the tension and Fuyumi would play along. King Yoshio was the same as always: only speaking when a question was directed to him and Kyouya... he used to participate in conversation but now he was acting like his father.

I wanted to what Kyouya was thinking, why he was acting out but would I ever get the chance to talk to him...?

After we finished dinner, we all went our separate ways. I didn't feel like doing anything else but getting some rest. When I got into my bedroom, I shut the door behind me and changed into my sleep ware. I pulled back the sheet covers, slipped into the bed and I just laid there in dimly lit room staring at the ceiling.

"Haruhi? May I come in?"

I lifted my head to see that my father had opened the door. "Hello Father." I told him. He had a gentle smile on his face. He walked over to my bed and sat down next to my stomach. He stared lovingly into my eyes as he placed his hand on my cheek, caressing my skin with his thumb.

"You were rather quiet at dinner... is something bothering you?" Father asked.

I smiled back at him. "I'm fine, Father."

It was obvious that he knew something was wrong but who wouldn't? "Are you sure? I mean the tension in the air was almost suffocating." Father tried to make a joke of it.

When he realized that I wasn't laughing, his smiled faded. I shifted my body so that I was laying on my side and facing away from my father. "... Do feel like Kyouya and King Yoshio are different somehow?"

"What do you mean?"

I wasn't quite so sure myself. "They just seem more stubborn than normal."

"Hm... well, I haven't spent that much time with King Yoshio today so I can't say..." Father stood up from the bed and smoothed his hand over my hair and he bent down to kiss my head. "It's getting late, my dear. Tomorrow is a new day and I'm positive Kyouya will the charming prince he always has been."

As my father left my room, turning off the lights for me, I shifted in my bed again to stare up at the ceiling. I folded my hands over my chest and I closed my eyes.

Until sleep took over me, thoughts of Kyouya were filling up my mind... and for a moment, I could feel my eyes begin to water and a sudden jolt of sadness stab my heart.

Has Haruhi finally taken notice to her feelings for Kyouya? It seems as though separation between them is the only way for her to realize this. Will Haruhi be able to act quick enough before it's too late?

a/n: And done! This chapter wasn't all that great to me but I do consider this as a sort of filler chapter. So I hope it's okay and sorry if there are some errors... Next chapter will be up in a few days because I know how it's going to go :D

Thank you all for your continued support and thank you for those who are stumbling upon this story as new fans! Let me know your thoughts! See you all soon!

~Bliss