So, first of all, I am so sorry that this is late! I've had so much tweaking to do with it, and had zero computer access from Friday afternoon until Sunday night, so I had very little chance to work on this. But I guess that's no real excuse. Anyway, I just really hope that you can forgive me.
I've never been so stressed over a chapter before, ever. Since, as some of you may know from reading the notice on my profile, this is the end. The real, honest-to-goodness end of this story. And I am so sad that it's over. So I just want to take this little A/N space to give a huge THANK YOU to all of you amazing people who have read this story, and taken the time to share your opinions and helpful criticisms. This story never would have made it past chapter one if it weren't for you, really.
Just to let you know, Cantarella was originally intended to be a nine-chapter fanfic, focusing only on the twisted affection Tamaki felt for Haruhi, who he was engaged to. No twins, no Ranka, not even much of Shima really... but some how it ended up being twenty chapters long and full of all the things I said I'd never use. And you know what? I did use all of those elements, and I am glad I did.
Writing this story has been an absolute joy, from beginning to end, and I am thankful that you have stuck with me through all of it!
Hope you enjoy this final installment!
Disclaimer: Well, this is the very last time, so I might as well go through the whole thing, huh? I quite obviously do not claim to own anything mentioned in this story, such as: Ouran, Vocaloid, Cantarella, twisted and forbidden love, or cheesy banana peel gags. Yeah.
Chapter 20
Cantarella
It was like everything was standing still.
Tamaki couldn't move, couldn't even think straight. He was transfixed by the image in his mind's eye, the vivid image of Haruhi's smiling, childish face.
How could I have forgotten?
Tamaki wrung his hands together, in a state of panic.
But why was he panicking? This shouldn't change anything at all, not in the slightest.
He couldn't let the past alter the present.
Tamaki leaned in again, closer to Haruhi, only mere millimeters separating their lips.
But this was all wrong. Where he should be able to feel her breath, gentle and steady against his lips, there was only stillness; Where he should he able to run his fingers along her neck, and feel her steady pulse, there was only cold, lifeless skin.
And that was when Tamaki was sure—Nekozawa had lied to him.
For some awful reason he had fallen into the sinister trap of a madman's lie, and now Haruhi was dead. Not simply appearing to be lifeless, as Nekozawa had said she would be, but really, truly dead. Tamaki knew that there was no other answer.
And what he had been about to do, in order to make her his... Tamaki shuddered, his skin crawling as he thought about the vile being that he had allowed himself to become.
He had destroyed Haruhi... beautiful, wonderful Haruhi. She had been so innocent, so kind, and he had tried to taint her...
Tamaki stared at her, remembering the days when they were children, and he just wanted for her to wake up. So badly, he wanted her to wake up.
He was suddenly startled when he felt hot liquid running down his face. He reached up, gently resting his fingertips against one cheek, and pulled them away, to see them streaked with his own salty tears.
Once he came to the realization that he was crying, he was unable to stop himself, unable to hold back any longer.
Painful sobs ripped forth from his chest, resonating through the still night air. The mask he was wearing fell from his face, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
"Oh, Haruhi..." his voice broke as he spoke to her still form.
"I'm so sorry!" Tamaki continued, "If I'd know that this would have happened, I never would have..."
He choked on his words, unleashing another strangled sob.
"I never would have been so selfish. I never wanted to hurt you, never! Because..."
He paused again, and took a shuddering breath. Tamaki closed his eyes, hanging his head, unable to cope with the agony he was feeling.
"Because I love you!"
His shouted echoed through the maze, and when he spoke again, his voice was barely a whisper.
"I never meant to hurt you, because I love you, Haruhi..."
"I know."
Tamaki's head snapped up, and he looked at Haruhi, to see her sitting up straight, eyes open.
For a dazed, beautiful moment, the only thing that could register in Tamaki's shocked mind was that Haruhi was alive. She was really alive!
He was so relieved he almost hugged her, until he realized that he had no right to do such a thing, after what he had done to her.
However, Tamaki could see the understanding of the current situation plain on Haruhi's face. It was confusing him.
"But... h-how...? How did you figure it out...?" he asked in a shaken voice.
Haruhi smiled, and reached out to touch his tear-streaked cheek.
"I knew all along, Tamaki-senpai. It wasn't that hard to figure out."
Tamaki's eyes widened and he shook his head slightly.
"But you should be furious with me!"
"Well," replied Haruhi, moving her hand away from Tamaki's face, "I was at first, I didn't understand why you wouldn't just talk to me directly."
"I'm sorry, Haruhi. I'm so sorry," replied Tamaki, "I can't believe I did the things I did."
Haruhi smiled slightly, placing her hand against Tamaki's chest.
"It'll be okay..." she said, reaching into Tamaki's jacket pocket. She pulled out the vial of cantarella, and stared at it for a moment, "As long as you get rid of this."
Tamaki smiled and took the vial from her hand, before tossing it off into the darkness.
"Done."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaning into him, they kissed for the first time, erasing every trace of the poison that had tainted them in the past.
Ryoji stood in the estates' parlor, shuffling his feet nervously.
The day had arrived, the day he would finally meet his daughter again.
Of course, assuming she would want to see him again. And even then, there would be rules he would have to follow.
He could never let Haruhi know of the old woman's trickery, the only detail he would be allowed to share being that when she was younger, Haruhi had been arranged to stay on the estate with her best interests in the minds of all involved.
But if she managed to forgive him, it wouldn't matter what regulations he had to abide by. It would be worth it to be able to see his daughter again.
He could hear Chairman Suou talking to one of his staff in the other room, an older woman with a stern face and kind eyes.
"Shima, what do you mean you don't know where she's gone?" asked the Chairman in a frustrated tone.
The woman, Shima, replied. "I mean what I say, sir, with all-do respect. One minute, Miss Haruhi was in the ballroom, and the next she was nowhere to be seen.
This made Ryoji nervous. Where could Haruhi be? Was this another sick joke being played on him by the Suou family?
But the Chairman's worry sounded sincere.
"Where in the world might she have gone?"
Haruhi and Tamaki made their way through the maze, each tightly gripping the other's hand.
Tamaki honestly couldn't wait to get back to the ballroom; He had some apologies to make.
"You shouldn't feel like you have to forgive me," said Tamaki, his voice still nervous. He couldn't believe that all of this could possibly be forgotten so easily.
Haruhi sighed, but it wasn't an exasperated sound; Just a contented one.
"I'm not doing anything because I feel like I have to, Tamaki-senpai. I forgive you."
"Really?"
"Really."
Tamaki stopped walking. "Haruhi, can I ask you a question?"
Haruhi slowed to a halt as well, taking in the vivid nighttime scenery around them. It seemed like the world was perfectly sound, entirely peaceful, for just one short night. She nodded in response to Tamaki's request.
"Could you not call me senpai anymore?"
Haruhi scoffed at the familiar turn of conversation. "What, would you rather I called you 'daddy' instead?"
Tamaki smiled, and gave his head a slight shake. "No... Tamaki is just fine."
For a few moments everything was completely silent, like everything had just come to a stop.
"Okay then, Tamaki," said Haruhi, loving the feel of his name on her tongue, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," said Tamaki, giving a chivalrous bow, "Any question in the world."
Haruhi's face was very serious, and she looked at the ground.
Her voice was so soft, that the first time she spoke, Tamaki had to strain to hear her.
"What was that?" he asked, leaning closer to her.
Haruhi looked up at him.
"Will you be mine?" the words had barley left her mouth before Tamaki had leaned into her, kissing her strongly. Her fingers reached up to tangle in his hair.
Haruhi decided that she would have to take that as a yes.
Nekozawa walked through the garden.
Sneaking past security hadn't been difficult for him- his dark cloak made him blend in with the darkness.
He knew that this was where Suou had asked the girl to meet him, so he was simply making what he considered to be a progress report.
With a little more coaxing, surely he would be able to make Tamaki Suou see that the side of darkness was the best option.
Really, it was the only option now.
But when he came to the clearing, Nekozawa was surprised to find it devoid of any people, conscious or otherwise.
He stepped forward, and felt his foot come in contact with something solid.
Looking down, he saw the broken remains of what had been the vial he had given Tamaki, such a short time ago. Dripping from the blades of grass that surrounded the shards, was a red liquid that no longer held its former sinister appearance.
When they first entered the parlor, Tamaki and Haruhi heard the titter of slightly worried voices.
The two entered the room, to see the Chairman talking to a sandy-haired man who's back was to them. But that didn't really matter, Haruhi still recognized him, even though she couldn't see his face.
Her eyes, widened, and she took a step forward. She was unable to speak.
Chairman Yuzuru looked up, and saw Haruhi's approach.
"Haruhi, there you are," he said, "This is someone that I'm sure will want to see again..."
His voice droned off into silence, as Ryoji turned to face his daughter.
"Can you ever forgive me?" he asked, his voice shaking, stunned by how beautiful she was. He could remember her when she was only an infant, how wonderful it had been the first time he had held her.
He wanted to badly to start over.
Haruhi found herself still unable to form words, so she simply nodded and flew into her father's arms, and then it was as if she was reborn, starting all over again.
They shared the last dance of the evening, long after everyone else had gone.
The ballroom was empty, and cast in relative darkness, though dawn was beginning to break. The next day had practically arrived, but after such a night, neither Haruhi or Tamaki could manage to sleep. They were both still dressed in their formal clothes; Haruhi in her new dress, and Tamaki in his disguise costume, minus the mask and hat.
It was an ending, and a beginning, and a continuation of something that had been lost, all at once.
No music could be heard in the room, but the two danced anyway, the memory of the feverish violin music from earlier sustaining the rhythm of their movements.
"I think... that I want to go stay with my father for a while. I love it here, but I've hardly gotten a chance to know him yet. I've missed him so much," she said.
"That's understandable. I think that, put in your situation, I would make the same choice."
"Really?"
"Of course, family is the most important thing."
She tilted her head back and watched the intricately patterned ceiling swirl above her.
"You're right. But... I'll miss being here, with you."
He smiled down at her. "Just think of it this way, we'll have plenty of time to spend together, one day."
When she spoke, her voice was quiet. "Yeah."
They danced for a moment longer in silence.
"Well, I guess that we should really be more formal about this entire thing..." he said, his voice echoing in the large, empty space around them.
Haruhi looked up at Tamaki, expecting to see a goofy grin on his face, but was surprised by a serious expression.
"How did you have in mind?"
He unlaced their entwined fingers and stood before her. Without speaking another word, he knelt down before her. He took her hand in his. He was still wearing the white gloves from earlier.
"Just for a minute, pretend it hasn't already been decided..." he whispered.
Her breath caught in her throat, and Haruhi knew what was about to happen next.
"Haruhi Fujioka, will you marry me?"
He watched as she breathed in sharply. He was now fully aware of how precious each and every living breath truly was.
Their eyes locked, and when she smiled at him, it was almost like they were children again.
"Yes."
The End
Okay, first off: I ADORE YOU ALL FOR READING THIS STORY! Seriously, you have no idea how much all of your support has meant to me! (I'm crying happy tears right now, just thinking about it. Really.)
So... What did you think? I know I said that I would have a few chapters left, but everything that I really had for ideas fit snugly into this chapter, and going any farther would feel like pushing it.
I know that I left a lot open, but that is because the original story of Cantarella itself has a very open ending. You, dear reader, are free to imagine what comes next.
For a while, I pondered over writing an epilogue chapter, but then decided that I liked this one too much, and that this was the best ending I could do. I was hoping that it could be more meaningful, but I at least hope that it wasn't cheesy. Especially the last scene, which I re-wrote quite a few times to lower the cheese-factor.
On a side note... Haruhi asking Tamaki to be hers. Yeah. I know it may seem a bit OOC. but I was watching every freaking Cantarella video I could get my hands on, and out of all the phrases Miku says to Kaito after she wakes up ("Come capture me", "I love you eternally", "Be mine forever", etc.) I decided that "Will you be mine?" was the most appropriate. I know that "Come capture me" is the phrase most commonly used, but no matter how many times I typed it, I couldn't even being to picture the words leaving Haruhi's mouth.
Also, while writing this story, I think I may have had a chance to listen to almost every version of Cantarella currently available on youtube, including a beautiful off-vocal piano rendition that I could completely imagine Tamaki playing! That was so much fun, and I subscribed to so many singers who had sung such amazing covers of the song!
I'm pretty sure that "Cantarella" will always be my favorite Vocaloid song, along with "Alluring Secret ~Black Vow~", and "Magnet", both of which I recommend. (What can I say, I have a thing for Victorian outfits and forbidden love.)
So anyway, I just want to say thank you all so much for sticking with this story for so long, and kindly overlooking the fact that the person writing it is a total crazy. This story is dedicated to all of you lovely readers. So, I won't bore you by making this A/N any longer! I just wanted to say thank you for everything, and bid you farewell!
Thanks for the support. :)
-Massie