Author: Say whaaaaaat, two chapters for one story so soon? Ho snap, creative juices must be starting to flow! Only problem is, I write one story, I get ideas for about 5 more stories! I really wanted to thank all of you for your reviews/favorites/follows, and I hope you enjoy my new fanfic!
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SLAP!
The maid flinched at the sound of her mistress striking Himawari across the face.
The teen had been late returning home from school and that only seemed to anger the older woman.
" You STUPID! USELESS! BRAT!"
The woman yelled hatefully, causing the maid to flinch again as she saw Himawari place a hand weakly to her swollen cheek.
" JUST WHERE HE HELL WERE YOU!"
" I went to deliver the tea order t-"
" DO YOU REALIZE HOW WORRIED YOUR FATHER WAS!"
" But Papa was the one-"
SLAP!
" YOU WILL SPEAK WHEN ALLOWED!" The woman snapped.
" Yes stepmother, my deepest apologies." Himawari said quietly.
" I swear, that poor boy, having an idiot like you for a future bride." The woman said pressing her fingers to her well manicured brows. " That poor, poor boy."
Himawari flinched at her stepmother's words.
She really was dense.
The Morinozuka family was an ancient one.
Of course they would want their future heir's bride to be perfectly obedient.
Some that they could count on.
If she couldn't even come home on time.
How could she ever be considered good enough for Tamaki?
" God you are useless." The woman said. " Since you were late for your Bridal Training, you'll just have to make dinner and clean the upstairs! You will not have dinner tonight, either!"
" Yes stepmother…" Himawari said quietly, fighting back the tears that were starting to form in her eyes.
" My Lady, you-"
" BE SILENT!" The woman snapped at the maid causing her to tremble. " None of you will help Himawari, is that understood!"
" Yes, Mistress Yoru." The staff said in unison.
" Off with you, worthless brat!" Yoru snapped as Himawari quickly hurried off to the kitchen. " AND IT HAD BETTER BE DELICIOUS!"
" Boy, you really stepped in it this time."
Himawari glanced up to see her stepsister Kameko sitting on top of her the counter, a cherry tomato poised at her lips.
Himawari had always been jealous of Kameko.
She was always far more popular than Himawari. With her golden curls and shimmering brown eyes that held no warmth in them whatsoever.
" Mother is beyond upset and it is all because you came home late." Kameko smirked. " Don't you understand how inappropriate it is for an engaged girl like yourself to be out and about like that."
" I just went to deliver the tea that I-"
" I swear Hima, sometime you can be so dense." Kameko smirked causing the dark haired girl to look down sadly. " What kind of man would want such a wonton trollop like you?"
" I swear, it wasn't anything like that!" Himawari said, not only was her voice shaking, but her hands were as well. " I just went to drop off the tea that Takashi's friends ordered."
" Well, what would your father think? Brazenly seeking out your fiancé who seems to have all but tossed her aside for those other girls who visit him." Kameko laughed as Himawari looked away.
" I wasn't-"
" I mean really, why would someone like the Morinozuka heir want someone like you, when he has all kinds of girls from far more important bloodlines than the Hagas?"
Kameko was right.
She didn't understand why Takashi hadn't called off their engagement.
He deserved so much better-
" Excuse me, Miss Himawari."
The teens looked over to see the maid who had attempted to speak up for her standing before them.
" What Kasumi!" Kameko snapped in annoyance.
" Um…well…it's just that, well…"
" What is it, Kasumi?" Himawari asked kindly.
" It's just that...Master Morinozuka is here to see you…" Kasumi said nervously.
" Well now…maybe he's here to tell you-"
Kameko didn't have a chance to finish before Himawari had darted from the room.
With her heart fluttering, she made her way down towards the front of the mansion.
Himawari was just about to round the corner when the sound of her stepmother's voice caused her to stop dead in her tracks.
" I am sorry to tell you this Takashi, especially since you came all this way, but Himawari is busy with her Bridal Training, considering she was late this afternoon."
" That is why I am here." Mori's deep voice caused a rush of excitement to jolt through her. " It won't take but a few moments."
" Well Takashi, do you want to have a bride who is-"
" What I'd like is to speak with Himawari, Miss Yoru." Mori said, his voice slightly more firm than usual.
" Fine…" Yoru said stiffly after a long silent moment. " But only for five minutes!"
She turned to send a servant to fetch Himawari but narrowed her eyes when she saw the dark haired teen standing by with baited breathe.
" Well, it appears you won't need to wait long." She sneered before storming away.
" Takashi…what brings you by?" Himawari asked as she walked cautiously towards him.
" You dropped this earlier." Mori said calmly, handing her a small silk pouch.
" Oh…thank you." Himawari said shyly, her hand lightly brushing against his. " I don't remember putting this in my bag, though."
She glanced up to see him avoiding her gaze, a slight pink tinge to his cheeks.
" …you may have dropped it earlier than today." Mori said, not bothering to pull his hand from her's.
" Well, thank you for returning it." Himawari said shyly as she began to shift her feet nervously.
" About earlier…with the twins…"
" It's fine Takashi, really-"
" They were rude, Hima." Mori said stepping closer to her, this time, his dark grey eyes locking on her purple ones. " and they WILL apologize to you."
" That isn't necessary Takashi, really." Himawari said quickly. " I don't want to cause any conflict between you and your friends!"
" They were rude, Hima." Mori said calmly before he touched her swollen cheek causing her to wince slightly.
She prayed the the concealer she had placed on her face prior to completing her chores hid the bruise that was now forming.
" What happened?"
Stupid concealer! She thought angrily.
She was going to write them a disgruntled letter later.
" I tripped!"
" Hima…" Mori said firmly, his eyes narrowing at her discomfort.
" Yes…?" She said cautiously.
" I'm taking you to dinner." He said in a no nonsense tone.
" Oh?" Himawari said in surprise. " When?"
A loud rumbling from her stomach caused her face to flush bright red.
" Now." He said, taking her hand and leading her towards the door.
" B-But Takashi, I can't!"
" Why not?"
" I-I need to finish dinner f-"
" Why are you preparing dinner and not the chef?" Mori asked in a ton that sent an instant ripple of fear throughout the staff.
" Bridal training!" Himawari said quickly.
" We're leaving, Hima." Mori said opening the door and allowing her to go first.
" I'm not dressed to go anywhere nice, Takashi!" Himawari said.
" You look fine, Hima." Mori said as he escorted there to the car.
Screw looking fine, she wanted to look amazing for him.
" But Takashi-"
" I am not taking no for an answer." Mori said opening the cardoor for her.
" But-"
" Hima," Mori said dipping his face down to her's. " We are going to eat dinner and you're not getting out of it…" He flashed her a handsome smile that she her heart a flutter. " So stop making excuses."
" I-I'm not making excuses!"
" Good. Then the chef should earn his pay and not brush his responsibilities off onto you." Mori whispered into her ear, sending chills throughout her.
" It's not like that, Takashi!" Himawari said as he wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her towards the car.
" Hima," He said softly as he helped her into the car, his hand lightly caressing the small of her back. " You're being used as a slave…and I'm taking you away from here."
With that said, he lifted her hand into his and brought it to his lip.
Nipping her palm tauntingly.
" What?" She gasped in disbelief.
" I mean it, Hima…" He purred softly to her disbelief.
" But I-"
" You're coming to live with me from now on. You're my future bride, you can continue your Bridal Training in my home…where you will be cherished." He said before capturing her lips greedily, burying his hand deep into her dark locks.
Himawari gave a soft moan when she felt him nibble her lower lip, giving him the advantage to dominate her delicate mouth with his tongue.
" My Hima." He growled, continuously running his fingers throughout her soft locks. " My hime."
" T-Takashi?"
" Hima…" He whispered softly as she lost herself in those beautiful grey eyes of his.
" T-Takashi…"
" Hima…"
" HIMAWARI!"
Himawari jumped at the sound of her step sister's angry voice.
Glancing up, she saw Kameko glaring over at her.
" Were you even listening to me?"
" Y-Yes! I swear I was!" Himawari said quickly.
Silently she wished that her daydream had been real.
She longed for the day she'd marry Takashi and be taken away from here.
But she had to finish her training and become worthy enough for him.
But with how she screwed up today, she was starting to believe that she'd never be good enough for him.
Especially after seeing him surrounded by all of those beautiful girls at the Club.
How could she ever compete with them?
" Ah, excuse me…"
" What!" Kameko snapped at the sound of Kasumi's voice.
" It's just that…Lord Morinozuka is here to see you, Miss Himawari." Kasumi said fidgeting with her with her apron strings. She was clearly worried about the fact that she had told Himawari in-front of Kameko.
" Don't move!" Kameko snapped at the two of them. She sauntered out of the room, making her way towards the foyer.
A sultry sashay to her hips.
Himawari had long known that her step sister had eyes for Takashi…but as of late, the two rarely saw each other.
The last time had been several months back and her stepsister had made many improvements on her appearance since.
All in hopes of snatching Takashi's affections from Himawari.
Despite what her stepsister had ordered, Himawari darted from the room towards the back stairwell.
" I am sorry to tell you this Takashi, especially since you came all this way, but Himawari is busy with her Bridal Training, considering she was late this afternoon."
She could hear her stepmother's voice echoing from the front of the mansion
" That is why I am here." Mori's deep voice rumbled after a quick pause. " It won't take but a few moments."
This was just like her fantasy!
Was it really coming true?
Had Takashi finally come to rescue her from this horrible place?
" Well Takashi, do you want to have a bride who is incompetent?"
There was a long silence that followed Yoru's question.
" Well?" She asked again in a mocking tone.
" I wish to speak with Himawari." Takashi had said after another long pause.
His tone was firm but respectful.
A young lord speaking to his fiancee's guardian.
" I must decline, Takashi." Yoru said, her tone not wavering. " Himawari is busy and I would be a terrible mother to her if I interrupted her-"
" It will only be a moment."
" As I said Takashi, she is very busy!" Yoru snapped quickly. " Now I find this rather rude that you are pressing this issue."
" I would simply like to clear up a misunderstanding from earlier this afternoon." Takashi said, from his tone, it sounded as though he was having difficulty restraining his anger.
Takashi was never angry.
At least, he never showed his anger.
Especially to her.
He was always calm and collected.
Someone the Morinozuka's would be proud to call their heir.
" You can do that another time, Takashi!" Yoru said resolutely.
" Why are you so adamant that I do?"
" Why are you so adamant to speak with her?" Yoru countered. " You haven't been to see her in months, why now all of a sudden?"
" As I said previously, I want to clear up a misunderstanding from earlier."
" Ah, where you were surrounded by all those girls fawning for your attention at your little club?" Yoru scoffed. " Yes, Himawari told me when she came home today…in tears."
Himawari froze at the lie.
She wasn't crying when she had come home.
No…that had come afterwards.
After she had been made to feel like an idiot for going to see him.
Takashi was silent at her stepmother's words…no doubt he believed her.
Would he be upset?
Would he think he was the reason she had cried?
Probably not…
They had been close when they were children but they seemed to have grown apart after they started High School.
It was inevitable really.
She had started at Lobelia and he at Ouran.
He had become so involved with the Kendo team and now with the Host Club.
She had become involved with her Bridal Training…trying to become the perfect Bride for him.
" Dear sweet Himawari," Yoru said again in a sickly sympathetic voice. " She was so upset when she had come home today. She was practically inconsolable. What must have happened at Ouran today?"
Takashi remained silent.
" Were you with those girls?" Yoru asked mockingly. " Your women?"
" I do not have women!" Takashi snapped, his voice threatening.
" But you entertain young women." Yoru replied, not missing a beat. " Don't you understand what that looks like to a certain poor impressionable fiancee of yours?"
Silence.
" You know, she tries to be deserving of you and your station." Yoru sneered. " We all know what the Haga family truly is…a bunch of glorified florists."
" Stop it…" Takashi's voice was threatening again.
Himawari had never heard him like this before.
" Dear sweet Himawari tries hard to be worthy of you." Yoru repeated. " To be the perfect Bride to Be for you and your Family…but we both know that the daughter from a family of up jumped florists will never be food enough for so someone of your bloodline."
