Chapter 37:

Chapter 37, Some Girl Time and New Outfits

Haruhi stretched and sat up. It was another day in the Sanctuary and there were several more to come until it was time for her to go to school. Her discussions with the members of her extended family still rung in her mind, as well as the meeting with the upper members of their own covens but she was glad that the only people that she now had to physically meet were Trekiva's family and the Arch-Mage. She had been shocked to learn that the Arch-Mage was considered part of the elder vampire's family.

Asuda had explained that Kayon was already titled as the Arch-Mage and had carried the title for a good half millennia before he married Satsuki, Trekiva's only daughter and her aunt. When she asked how he had lived for so long, Asuda told her that some mages had found means of using their magic to extend their lives beyond what was their norm but, in Kayon's case, it was because of what he was rather than what he could do. Kayon was an Elemental, a living manifestation of the aspects of power.

"An Elemental lives so long as their element does," Asuda explained. "And Kayon is tied to the Eternal Elements."

"What are the Eternal Elements?" Haruhi asked.

"There are technically five Eternal Elements," Trekiva interjected. "Life, Death, Time, Etherium and Knowledge."

"Etherium?"

"Arcana, magic," Alyona detailed. "Life, Death, Time and the Etherium are the ones more spoken as the Eternal Elements. Many do not count Knowledge as an Eternal Element, although they should. Without knowledge, there is nothing but vast emptiness and even then, we wouldn't even know that."

"So, Kayon is tied to all five of those?" Haruhi asked.

"Yes," Asuda nodded. "He is an immensely powerful sorcerer, so much so that they can't really give him a classification title but many whisper that he could potentially have the power of a god. It goes without saying that he hates to be compared to such."

"Wouldn't that be considered a compliment?"

"To the Arch-Mage," Alyona explained. "It is an insult to the gods, claiming that the he, a being with the ability to die, is equal to beings that cannot. Although Elementals, vampires and the others are called immortal, they are not. They can still be killed under the right circumstances. Gods are indefinite. Immortal doesn't mean unkillable."

Haruhi nodded slowly as she took in the knowledge. It made sense that Kayon would be upset at the comparison rather than take it as a compliment but she couldn't really comprehend how much power than meant the Arch-Mage carried. Alyona smiled softly to her and helped get Haruhi back on the topic they were working on before the small familial lesson. She was teaching Haruhi how to work on another potential aspect of power for her, the affinity of Light Magic. She was proud that her student was able to branch out into another field of magic, which solidified her thoughts that, if Haruhi had the right teachers, she could learn any and all forms of magic she chose to learn.

*~*0o0o0o0o0*~*

Shortly after Alyona left, Hannah went towards the study she knew Trekiva frequented with her brother and the others. She was curious if she could borrow Haruhi for a few hours. She wanted to get to know her niece while there was still time and help the girl come to better terms with everything that was being placed in front of her. Hannah believed that although she hid it well, Haruhi was slightly overwhelmed with everything. The woman could sympathize with the younger female and wanted to let the girl know that she had people she could talk to. She also wanted to let Haruhi see what had been prepared as ideas for her ceremony.

Hannah was fairly certain that the males knew that Sayuki and Ranka had arrived during Alyona's lessons with Haruhi and that Michiko had remained to watch as well but she wanted to inform the men that her niece would be unavailable for training for the next few days so that the women and her father could spend some time with her. She had already managed to catch Mori and let him know about the requests. The stoic child more than willing to let her spend time with her father and his family. He had actually apologized about taking so much of it from them, to which Ranka just brushed off and said that he was proud his baby girl was getting along so well with her soon-to-be husband. Sayuki had just patted her son's cheek and smiled softly while Michiko had giggled lightly.

Apparently the women had brought their husbands and the other missing members of the family so Mori was going to spend time with them as well to get prepared for his upcoming union, as well as spend some time catching up with each other.

Hannah paused in front of the dark oak doors and knocked gently. After a few moments, the door opened and she smiled in greeting to her brother.

"Good morn, Hannah," Trekiva smiled.

"Good morn, everyone," she replied. "I was wondering if I could borrow my niece for the next few days."

"You do know that you needn't have asked, nire ahizpa goxoa," Fernando chuckled.

She glared at him for a moment before turning her gaze back to Trekiva. She saw an amused smile cross his face before he nodded. Hannah gave a gentle curtsy before swatting her brother's arm as she left, causing him to laugh a bit harder. Although he tended to get on her nerves, as brothers tended to do, she loved him regardless and wouldn't change a thing about him. Well, maybe one thing, she mused. Brother needs to find his pair and begin his family. Father loves him dearly but his indecision on a bride is getting a little irritating. Father wants him to make his own choice but he will choose for Fernando if it comes down to it.

She walked up to Haruhi's room and could faintly hear her niece getting up. With a soft knock on the door, she waited.

Haruhi sat up and stretched but before she could slide out of bed, there was a knock on her door. She looked over and closed her eyes, letting her awareness and aura swirl around her. A smile crossed her face as she felt Hannah's aura on the other side. Sliding out of bed, moving her pajamas slightly, Haruhi went to open the door.

"Morning, aunt Hannah," Haruhi smiled when the door opened.

"Good morning, Haruhi," Hannah greeted. "I was wondering if you would like to spend some time with the others and I this morning. I have already spoken with the others and they agreed."

Haruhi nodded softly, somewhat excited about spending time with her aunt and the rest of her soon-to-be family. Hannah waited patiently as Haruhi went to change into some day clothes before leading her to a large sitting room where she saw Sayuki, Michiko and her dad. She quickly went over to hug Ranka tightly, which he returned. She had missed him and, looking over her dad, she noticed that his hair was a bit shorter than she remembered.

"When did you get a hair cut?" she asked bluntly.

"Recently," Ranka said calmly. "I thought that it would be a nice change and I needed to get rid of the split ends anyways."

Giving him a look that said she didn't quite believe him, she just shook her head and greeted the others with a polite bow. Hannah joined them at the table and all five of them began to catch up with Haruhi. Well, it was more Sayuki, Michiko and Ranka rather than Hannah. When they were all caught up, Sayuki brought up part of the reason for their visit.

"Haruhi," she started. "You are aware how close your ceremony is, don't you?"

"Yes," she replied. "Just over a week from now. Why?"

"Well, we need to get you ready for it. There are some steps that need to be practiced as well as your dress and Kimono to be fitted."

"I thought Yuzuha-san was going to make them. I know that I was going to wear the dress that okaa-san wore when she married otou-san but I'm not sure about a kimono."

"Thanks to her sons," Michiko smiled. "And the picture Satoshi was able to show of your resent dress up, we were able to make the changes ourselves. We have your mother's dress with us, as well as a few options from a traditional designer that Sayuki likes to get her designs from."

Haruhi nodded and was shown to a partitioned off area of the room so that she could change into the dress and kimonos. When she stepped behind the screen, she saw four clear clothing bags. Inside one was a light peach colored dress which she instantly recognized as her mothers wedding gown, a kimono set that looked remarkably similar to the one she wore during the cosplay on Wednesday with a couple notable changes, a light cream and peach set that was decorated with small pearls and diamonds, and one that was light pinks and golds with some small topaz gems along what she assumed was the lower hem of the sleeves.

She carefully opened the one holding her mother's dress and reverently took it out. She let her hands glide over the soft satin fabric before slipping out of her clothes and sliding it on. She heard someone tap on the frame of the screen.

"Haruhi," Sayuki spoke softly. "Would you like some help?"

"Yes, please," Haruhi answered.

Sayuki stepped around the curtain and smiled softly. She motioned for Haruhi to turn around and gently zipped up the dress. She stepped back and took in the sight of her soon-to-be daughter and felt tears sting her eyes. Haruhi looked beautiful in the dress. She helped the young teen step around the screen and the resounding silence of the room was palpable. Michiko smiled brightly and got up to walk around Haruhi and see if they needed to make any alterations. As it was, the dress hadn't been touched other than to get it dry cleaned. As she moved around, she noticed that other than maybe taking off a few inches to make it so that the dress didn't drag as much, there wouldn't need to be much that needed to be altered.

Haruhi looked towards her dad and frowned as she saw tears sliding down his face. Ever so carefully, Ranka stood and slowly moved to his daughter. He shakily raised his hand and cupped her cheek.

"You look just like your mother," he whispered softly, tears sliding down his cheeks..

Haruhi's eyes widened slightly before a few tears slid down her face as well. Ranka carefully pulled her into a hug and just held her there, the memories of his small wedding with Kotoko moving through his mind. He gently let go of his daughter and spun her slowly.

"The only change I can see," Michiko offered. "Is shortening the train slightly so that it doesn't drag too much. We can get it hemmed so that it can be lengthened in the future."

Ranka nodded. "That would be wonderful."

Michiko and Sayuki nodded before helping Haruhi back behind the screen so she could get out of the dress. She carefully took it off and put it back on the hanger of the clothing bag it came from. She then looked that the three kimono options. With a soft smile, she gabbed the one she wore for the cosplay. Qurdox gently guided her through the steps of putting it on. Once everything was secured, she chuckled softly as she looked it over. She noted the faint embroidery that showed the marks of Othil and the Bloodbond. She stepped out from the screen and smiled softly.

"Although I do like this one," Haruhi chuckled. "I don't think it is right for a wedding."

"I would have to agree," Sayuki smiled. "We could use it for the reception of the larger gathering though."

"The larger reception?"

"The ceremony you will be going through with Takashi is meant only for immediate family and a small collection of witnesses. There will have to be a large ceremony for allies and associates to attend, however."

"When will that be?"

"Not until you are done with high school at the earliest," Michiko assured. "We were under the assumption that you would want to keep your privacy as much as possible until you had a better understanding of everything. So we have planned for things to be announced when both you and Takashi are ready for them to be announced."

"Planning this far ahead will make it so that if anything unexpected comes up," Sayuki added. "We are prepared for it and we won't be blindsided."

Haruhi nodded in understanding. Sayuki and Michiko weren't expecting the larger ceremony to happen for at least a year, so she didn't have to worry about it too much, but it did bring up a conversation that she and Mori had a few times in the past.

"There was something that Takashi and I had planned on doing at the Gala," she stated softly.

"And that would be?" Hannah probed.

"We were going to announce that we were together. Those at Ouran would more than likely assume that were meant that we started dating each other, while in actuality we would be married. Neither of us would try to correct them and, we could set the date for the larger ceremony for after we were ready for the rest of the world to know about us being married."

The gathered adults sat in thought for a moment, each one having roughly the same thoughts in mind. It was actually a good plan, many of the male students had taken an interest in Haruhi when it was openly stated that she was in fact a female. In stating that they were together at the Gala, or making it look like Mori was publicly asking for her to be in a relationship with him, a majority of the silent advances made towards her might stop. They could make it seem like the two of them were going on courtship outings and spending time together, deepening their relationship, and getting closer. Which would be true, they would be getting closer together, they just would be doing so as a married pair rather than a courting pair. When both were ready for the larger ceremony for business associated and allies, they could make it seem like the two of them were getting married instead of deepening their vows with a more public display.

"It's a good plan," Ranka smiled. "And one that wouldn't be too far from the truth. Those that don't know the truth would be none-the-wiser and those that had thoughts about trying to beforehand but lacked the courage would be put in their places."

Haruhi nearly face palmed at the last bit of her dad's statement knowing that he was referring to several people that had attempted to ask her out in middle school and since she joined Ouran but had been brushed aside by her obliviousness. Hannah covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to hold back a laugh at the all too serious face Ranka made as he spoke. Michiko and Sauki just shook their heads.

"Why don't you try the other two," Michiko offered. "Then we can join the men for breakfast."

Haruhu nodded and went back to changed behind the screen. The other two kimonos were nice but Haruhi felt that they were still not quite right. As she looked at them, a small idea began to form. She took the outer kimono that had the small pearls and diamonds on as well as one of the light peach under kimono and placed them over the light gold kimono that was the third visible of the set she was currently wearing. Once she had traded the top two for the new ones, she looked at the mirror she had looked at a few times before stepping out and paused. In her minds eye, she pictured what she would look like with the proper makeup up and felt her breath hitch as the image solidified around her.

I need to remember that I can do that, Haruhi sighed as she looked over the faint makeup that had formed.

She heard Qurdox rumble softly in her mind as he laughed and shook her head. She had to admit, it was kind of funny, and a bit scary, that she forgot how much subconscious control over her magic. Looking at the picture she made, she gently stepped from around the curtain. To say that the rest of them were shock would have been an understatement. Haruhi blushed softly as she noticed that Trekiva, Fernando and Asuda had come by to help escort everyone to the dinning room.

Fernando had been in mid sentence with Hannah when his niece stepped out in a set of light colored clothes. He slowly stood and tried to speak but no words came out. His niece looked breath taking. The soft hues of blush, eye shadow and the light peach on her lips brought out all of her natural beauty, drawing attention to her facial features and her bright chocolate eyes.

"You look so beautiful," Trekiva smiled.

Haruhi's blush deepened slightly as he walked over and gently moved a stray lock of hair from her face. As his hand gently traced her face, Trekiva smiled softly.

"It seems as though you developed a habit of projecting your thoughts," he teased slightly. "A helpful thing to know when in a bind or to get a better understanding of a situation but a bit of a hassle with little control."

"I forgot that I could," Haruhi stated sheepishly.

"It's alright. You just need a bit more practice in controlling your power. Now then, why don't you change back into something a bit more relaxing and join us for breakfast."

Haruhi nodded and went back to change into her clothes.

"I guess we found the kimono she will wear for the ceremony," Sayuki smiled. "And it was one she came up with by herself."

*~*0o0o0o0o0*~*

The next few days passed with Haruhi spending equal time between practices with Hannah, Michiko and Sayuki as she did with Fernando, Abraham, Asuda, Trekiva and Mori. She grew closer to the female members of her growing family and had even been able to relay some of the fears she didn't really know she had about her upcoming union and everything that had been happening in the last several days. Hannah had been a wonderful confidant when it came to her worries about her upcoming union as Haruhi learned that Hannah had recently been set to enter her own in the coming year, she was just waiting for him to be able to return to Spain from being out at sea due to his occupation in the military. Michiko and Sayuki had been able to help her gain a deeper understanding of how things worked in the Coven Council when it pertained to them and their families. They had even been able to explain how she would be viewed by the rest of the coven.

The coven itself would be open with her and, by edict set when the council was formed, would always show honesty and truth. The ruling members would meet her shortly after the ceremony between her and Mori due to the fact that their initial ceremony was only meant for family, a historian and at most ten external witnesses or a total of about 40 people. It was more of a tradition to have it so small, as it meant that there was less of a chance for the ceremony to be attacked by any who had issues with the union outside their particular circles or against either the groom or bride.

As Haruhi's ceremony would consist of herself, her father, the four members of the Morinozuka family and the members of the Haninozuka, there would be little chance of someone being foolish enough to attack. Add to the fact that Fernando, Hannah, Trekiva and Asuda would be there as well, the chances were knocked down even further as no one would want to spark an intercontinental war with either the Spanish Coven or the Emperor of the Orient. Abraham would more than likely take the role of Historian despite the fact he was technically family to her mostly due to the fact he carried the higher title in the Archive of the gathered members. The list of her witnesses was also quite small and each member was of significant power in their own right.

Tamaki, although a little exuberant, was a powerful user of defensive magic and was also well known in the mortal public; Kyoya was a well known user of Dark Magic and had a strong affinity with Void Magic, there was also the fact that his last name carried a heavy weight in human society; Hikaru and Kaoru were acknowledged Cuubi and their unique circumstance made them a closely protected pair by their own people, topped of with the fact that their parents had control over most of the import of certain technological software needed by most of the nation to keep a good bulk of things running, they weren't a family you wanted to mess with either. The most terrifying group that would be present, second only to Trekiva and his children, would by Alyona and Katsuro Nekozawa.

Both of them were the only level four sorcerers in the whole of Japan and together, they had control over all three classifications of magic. When Haruhi did the math in her head, she realized that there were quite a few slots still open, meaning that the other two members of the Japanese Coven could attend if they so chose to. Michiko had shook her head and explained that she and Sayuki had already given the invitation since they had come up with the same answer but had declined stating that they would wait for the ceremony in which the whole of the public would be present.

Hannah had added that it wasn't out of any kind of disgust or meant as a disgrace that any member of a coven council refusing such an invitation, but more to be fair to the rest of the council. It was only different with Haruhi since the family she was marrying into was part of the council and was already tied as family to another part of the council. As for the extra places, they didn't have to be filled, the number was just set as a maximum so that there wouldn't be such a large target for any enemies any of the gathered guests might have. Haruhi was quickly assured that since everything was being panned so meticulously, there would be little option for anything bad to happen, especially since their small ceremony would be conducted in the Sanctuary with Kyoya's permission.

Haruhi had relaxed considerably at the news that everything would be safe and that there was little chance of things going wrong and spent the rest of her time learning more about the females of her family and building strong ties to them as well.

A/N: Language translation

nire ahizpa goxoa : my sweet sister