"You can be the princess and I'll be the king who saves you, okay?" Tamaki smiles warmly at me as he holds out his hand for me to take.
I look up at him from my sitting position in the sandbox. "Why do I have to be the princess? And kings don't save princesses, that's what knights are for!"
"Cause you're the girl, that's why silly!" Tamaki laughs, "Besides, technically you are a princess." He completely ignores my king comment.
"Why can't we pretend there's a princess? I want to be the dragon! And my mom isn't even a queen anymore, she chose my pathetic dad over her kingdom anyway. So, I am NOT a princess."
"You can't be the dragon! I don't want to fight you!" Tamaki sits back down and continues, "besides, technically you still are a princess. The princess of your father's kingdom." He frowns at me as I laugh. "What's so funny?"
"You're funny when you pout," I laugh even harder, falling on my back and rolling in the sand.
"Anna! Tamaki! Come inside now, it's getting dark!" My mother calls from the back patio. Tamaki and I stand up and he helps dust off my clothes. We walk hand in hand to my house. When we get inside I see both of our parents, along with my aunt, sitting on the couches with solemn looks on their faces. My mother has her mid-length hair tied in a tight bun, her brown eyes looking very sad in contrast to her bright blue shirt and white suede skirt. "Anna, come here please. We need to talk to you. To both of you." My mother addresses Tamaki and me formally, which she only ever does when I'm in trouble.
"I didn't do anything this time! Honest!" I exclaim as I walk to my mother's arms, and Tamaki to his.
"I know you didn't dear, but-" my mom pauses and looks at my clothes, "You've gotten your pants full of holes and dirt."
"We were playing in the sandbox, you see and-"
"That is quite enough!" My aunt interrupts, her red hair looking like blood - along with her red blouse with black skirt - her brown eyes so dark they could match her skirt, "This is exactly what I have been talking about! Anna needs to be a proper lady, and she can't do that here!" Looking at my mom she adds, "She will come with me to America. Get her passport ready. We leave at Dawn."
"Aunty no!" I cry out, but am ignored as my aunt walks upstairs to the guest room.
"Darling, she's only 8 years old. Surely there's time?" My father sits beside my mother and rests a hand on my shoulder.
"There is no arguing with my sister. She is right, after all. Our daughter must learn to act like a true princess if she is to take over your business someday, as our only heir." My mother smooths down my hair. "Say goodbye to Tamaki, Anna."
I get off my mother's lap and face Tamaki who, for once, looks vulnerable. I run to him and tightly wrap my arms around him, as he lets his arm hang around my shoulders and places his hands on the small of my back. "Bye, Tamaki," I whisper, "Don't forget me." Before he can respond, I run upstairs to my room.
As I step out of the plane, I'm greeted with a warm spring breeze. I inhale, and feel the wind blow my bangs back from my face as it carries my skirt back with it. My usually long, dark hair is swept in a bun. I'm glad I decided to wear my ankle-length, lavender silk, spring dress. I would trip on the hem if I weren't wearing the silver heels my aunt bought for me as a gift for excellent training. When I leave my family's private airport, I see my mother and father waiting for me.
"It is a pleasure to see you both again." I say as I walk closer to my parents. "I see you haven't aged a day. Although, I wonder why you decided to move to Japan. I enjoyed our estate in France." I've claimed an American accent since I've left with my aunt.
My mother and father embrace me without saying a word. When they let go of me, I see tears swelling in my mother's eyes. "We've missed you so much, Anna. Look how you've grown! And you got glasses! Come on, we promised your aunt we wouldn't let you be late for school." School. I almost forgot I was going to begin my first day at Ouran Academy. I haven't been to a public school since before I left with my aunt. She not only taught me etiquette and grace, she taught me everything I needed to know academically; including the world's economic factors, business trade, and government societies.
As I walk into the admins office, I note the casual yellow dress attire for the ladies and the blue suit attire for the gentlemen. 'I wonder if I will be retrieving my uniform today, as well.' I think to myself. After my parents and I fill out papers and I am assigned my first-year class, I am handed a uniform to change into before my parents leave. The school principal said it was necessary for my parents to take my clothing home with me and to wear my uniform to school everyday. "I'll have someone show you to where your class is for the week. When the week is over, you will need to know how to get to your class and when you need to be in it."
I nod in response and wait, holding my books, for whoever was to show me around. A minute later, a tall blonde with gentle blue eyes greets me. "Hello, Princess. I'm Tamaki Suoh and I will be your guide for the week." Tamaki smiles and offers his hand for me to take. 'Tamaki?' I think to myself, 'he doesn't seem to recognize me. Then again, I was 8 and he was 10.' I take his hand and he walks me out of the administrative office and through the great halls of the school. "Please don't mind me for saying this, Princess, but you have the most beautiful green eyes. They're like emeralds, glittering in the ocean."
"Thank you, Tamaki."
"There is no need to thank me for only speaking the truth, Princess."
"I've told you before I am not a Princess, Tamaki Suoh. I still would very much like to be the dragon." Tamaki stops in his tracks, and pauses for a minute to compose himself. I get a glimpse of the surprise in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." I look up at him and apologize. I have to tilt my head up quite a bit to look at him directly. I'm half an inch over 5'2" and he stands at about 6' even.
"What did you say your last name was?"
"I-" I'm interrupted as a guy who looks the same age as Tamaki comes up to us. The glare from his glasses refrain me from seeing his eyes, but he has black, neatly-combed hair. I notice he's an inch shorter than Tamaki.
"There you are, Tamaki. I needed to discuss tomorrow's re-decorations. Oh," he regards me as if he just noticed me, "I'm Kyoya Ootori, please excuse us." Kyoya bows and offers, "Welcome to Ouran Academy," before dragging Tamaki away from me.
I look after them, seeing Tamaki glance back towards me before they turn a corner. I begin to walk and continue to find my way to my class. Everyone is already in their seats and the teacher is explaining some sort of mathematical equation as I walk into Class 1A. "Young lady, are you lost?" The teacher pauses his lecture and looks at me. The students begin to whisper.
"I do apologize for being late, I seem to have gotten lost. This is Class 1A, correct?"
"Yes, this is. You must be Anna Michiko. Have a seat in the back, there's one next to Kaoru Hitachiin."
"He's Kaoru, I'm Hikaru." The orange haired boy calls to the teacher, pointing to a boy who looks exactly the same on the opposite side of the dark haired boy stuck in between them.
"Sorry, Kaoru and Hikaru." The teacher continues with his lecture when I take a seat next to the window.
When I open my math book a paper airplane lands on my desk. I look around to see who threw it, and my eyes land on Hikaru mouthing 'Open it.' When I open it, it reads: Why're you late, new girl?" I set the paper off to the side and look at the teacher, following his notes. After a few examples, he begins calling some students to write the order of equations written on the board. "Miss Michiko, can you come up here and solve the order for dy over dx plus y squared times 2 equaling 2x?"
"The order is 1," I say as I finish the last of my notes. I look up towards the teacher and add, "I also noticed the equation Hikaru did, d cubed times y over dx cubed minus 2 times d squared times y over dx squared plus dx over dy equaling 2sin x isn't non linear, it is linear."
"How do you know your answers are correct if you didn't even do the work?" Hikaru snaps, obviously upset at me for correcting him.
"I've done similar equations when I was 10. But if you want a full explanation: the terms d cubed times y over dx cubed, d squared times y over dx squared and dy over dx are all linear. As for the order of the equation you originally asked: the highest derivative is dy over dx, the first derivative of y." I look up with challenging eyes at the teacher, who in return looks through his answer book. He clears his throat then continues with his lecture. The students continue to whisper, until the bell finally rings.
I pick up my books and head for the door. I feel two arms wrap over my shoulders. Both Hitachiin twins stand on either side of me. "Banana, right?" The one on my left asks.
"My name is Anna. And you're Hikaru, right?"
"No he's Hikaru, I'm Kaoru."
"Actually," I stop in my tracks and close my eyes smiling, "I know for a fact you're Hikaru." I take a step forward and turn myself around to look at the boys' faces. "I may have only spoken with you briefly for less than a minute, but I've noticed how you tend to take the lead." Both of them look at me with narrowed eyes. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to find the music room."
"Anna, you're heading the wrong way," Kaoru says.
"We'll take you to Music Room 3." Hikaru adds, with a wink at his brother.
"Why Music Room 3? Isn't there a Music Room 1 or 2?" I look back at them with confusion.
"No, those two are always so crowded. Music Room 3 is empty.
Kaoru chimes in to say unison with his brother, "Come on," as they both wrap their arms over my shoulders again and lead me to Music Room 3. We walk in silence for awhile until we're standing in front of very large doors. "Here we are, and welcome." The Hitachiin twins open the door and I'm momentarily blinded by bright white lights.
I shield my eyes for a moment and blink a couple of times for my eyes to adjust. I peer into Music Room 3 to find a group of guys placed in the middle of the room. Tamaki is sitting on a throne in the center, Kyoya behind him. A boy - I recognize from my class earlier - sitting on the left armchair of the throne. A tall dark haired boy carrying a young-looking blonde boy stands to Kyoya's Hitachiin brothers lean against the pillars by the door frame.
"Welcome, Princess to the Ouran High School Host Club." Tamaki says, smiling at me.
I stand frozen at the door, taking in their outfits. They all look as if they've stepped out of a medieval movie. Tamaki posing as the king, Kyoya as the jester, and the others dressed as knights. Once I've noticed I still haven't said anything for a few minutes, I clear my throat and say, "I'm sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong room. Please excuse me." I turn around, but before my hand reaches the door knob, I'm turned around and guided to a plush chair near a window in the back of the room.
"Would you like some tea?" The brown haired boy from my class smiles at me and offers a tray in my direction. "I'm Haruhi, you're Anna right? We're in the same class."
"Yes, I recognized you. Tea would be lovely, thank you."
"One lump or two?"
"Two, if you don't mind."
"Not at all!" Haruhi smiles at me as he puts in the sugar and hands me the teacup. "Here you go, it's hot."
"Thank you." I gladly take the cup and lightly blow on it as Haruhi takes a seat across from me. I glance at him as I take a sip from the tea. "Chamomile?"
"Yes, it is."
"Wonderful," I smile at him then look out the window. "This is a very interesting endeavor, don't you believe so?"
I look at Haruhi's reaction from the corner of my eye, and I see his expression change from happy to confused, "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Never mind, I apologize for speaking up."
"It's my job to listen to you, Miss Michiko. You're my guest." Haruhi gives me a reassuring smile.
"I am afraid what I would say will be rude and uncaring of me, but if you insist." I pause and look Haruhi straight in the eyes, "I just meant I didn't realize schools actually had host clubs. Especially for a female to be a host. Do you prefer to be addressed as Miss Fujioka or Sir Fujioka, considering the circumstances?" Haruhi's expression turns to shock. I notice there are no other guests as the room falls in complete silence. It's just the hosts and me in Music Room 3. "I told you it was rude and uncaring, I apologize. You don't have to answer that." I push up my glasses and look out the window again.
"Yeah, I'm a girl." Haruhi finally speaks up. "How I got here is kind of a long story."
Before she can add on to what she was saying, Tamaki comes over. "Hey! What did you say your name was?" He gets close to my face and points at me, his finger nearly about to poke my shoulder.
"My name is Anna, Anna Michiko." I look at him with a blank expression on my face. I notice his face pales and takes a few steps back.
He stares at me for a while until the twins come up. "What's the matter boss?" They notice Tamaki looks as though he has seen a ghost as he stares at me; then they look to me. I continue to watch Tamaki's face.
The young-looking blonde comes skipping over to me and holds out a plate with a piece of cake on it. "Do you want some cake Anna-chan?" He gives me a huge smile as he holds up the plate.
I face him to properly respond. "No, thank you. I appreciate the offer though." I offer a small smile, the first smile I've had since I've been at this school.
"Okay." He looks down and begins to walk away, but then he turns around with a huge smile on his face, "I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Honey! 'Kay?" With that said, Honey skips away.
"Not too fast Mitsukuni, you can trip and fall." The tall dark haired boy - who was carrying Honey earlier - says as he follows the shorter boy.
"It's okay Takashi!" Honey calls back to Takashi.
"Takashi?" I wonder aloud, almost muttering to myself.
"Takashi Morinozuka, he goes by Mori." Kyoya pushes up his glasses as he calmly walks over to us, particularly standing next to Tamaki.
"I see. Yes, I believe I have heard of the Morinozuka family." I turn my attention to Kyoya and Tamaki, noticing Tamaki is still staring at me. "Mr. Suoh, are you okay?"
Tamaki's eyes widen before he closes them, regaining his posture, "I am perfectly fine, Princess. I apologize for worrying you. Please, call me Tamaki. Mr. Suoh is my father."
I tilt my head to the side, studying him. I stand up, taking him by surprise, and begin circling him to take in his measures and see what has changed about him. "I hope you realize, Tamaki, that you don't have to call me 'princess'. No matter whether it's what you call your quote un-quote guests here. J'ai manqué vous, vieux ami." Leaving them all speechless, I head to the door. Before I leave the room, I say, "That's French for 'I have missed you, old friend.'"