Chapter 19: Different Circumstances

Hana opened the door to the school gym, only to be greeted by the sight of busy bodies scuttling from here to there, readying lights and decorations for the Halloween ball. And in the middle of it all, of all the organized orchestra, was the regal conductor, the Prince Yuki.

"Yuki-sempai, where should we put this?" a young boy asked, holding up a pair of skeletons in wedding robes. Yuki was quick to give precise directions with a patient smile. The boy bowed his gratitude and respect before leaving Yuki to check his lists. Hana went inside and walked towards Yuki, schooling her features so that no one will notice the change in her; the sudden feeling of wanting to please, to make someone happy. Someone in particular.

Yuki heard her light footsteps despite the noise echoing in the gym and turned to her with a surprised look on his face. "Hana-chan? Shouldn't you be on your way home by now?"

Hana simply looked at him blankly and said, "I want to help."

Yuki blinked dumbly for a few moments. It was a rare occasion when one actually gets to witness a dumbfounded Yuki, but then again it was also a rare occasion when Hana would volunteer to do something that didn't involve Tohru.

"Ah—H-Hai! Um…alright. Uh—you can start with helping Choyushi-san with the banner. She's there at the stage." Hana nodded and turned to go to the stage when Yuki called to her. She turned and saw him smiling that ever charming smile at her. "Thank you for helping. We appreciate it."

A small smile appeared on Hana's face at that and she quickly banished it, nodding then leaving with satisfaction.

"Yuki-sempai, question."

"Uh, hai, Shuichi-kun?"

"Will we be wearing uniforms or costumes?"

"Oh, well the student body has decided that students want to wear costumes so…"

"I see…I wonder what my costume will be. What do you think, Yuki-sempai?"

"Um…maybe you should be Sherlock Holmes?" Yuki suggested with a kind smile.

"Oh, you really think so? Thanks, Yuki-sempai!" Shuichi said, bounding off to talk to his girlfriend.

Yuki turned back to Hana and found her staring blankly at a paintbrush as Choyushi busied herself with painting almost half of the banner. She raised her brow at Choyushi who worked diligently and tried her best to ignore the gothic teen. Yuki chuckled to himself, finding her adorable.

"Ah, Hana-chan?" she looked at him then and he smiled apologetically at her, "Would you look to do something else?"

Momiji and Haru walked along the quiet halls, Momiji talking cheerfully while Haru only half listened.

"Hey, Haru?" Haru looked down at Momiji only to see a worried look on his face.

"Are you okay? It's just that, you seem a little…off ever since…"

Suddenly, the little rabbit was slammed to the wall, a hard grip on his shoulders. He looked up at his companion, Black Haru, and was surprised to see such…sadness in his eyes.

"Shut up. I don't want to hear about it." He said sullenly.

"But Haru, Kagura said—"

"Shut up!"

Silence ensued. Then Momiji looked down so that his eyes would be shadowed. "I'm sorry." Instantly, Haru turned back to white and stepped away from the rabbit. Momiji looked up at him, watching his features return to its neutral expression.

"Gomen." But then his eyes sparkled as it caught a glimpse of something above Momiji's head. Momiji's eyebrows furrowed as a worried expression came over Haru's face. Momiji turned around to look up at the announcement on the bulletin board. His eyes widened and two words escaped his lips.

"Oh, Yuki…"

Yuki and Hana left the gym together, Hana brushing her arms off of staple bullets. "Thanks again for the help, Hana-chan." Yuki said.

"Yuki." She said, turning back to him. "Stop thanking me." Yuki just smiled brightly at her, bringing a small smile to her own lips.

"Would you like me to take you home?" he asked.

Hana was just about to answer when the gym door opened again and a student from inside called to the Prince.

"Yuki-sempai, please help. I think a few things are missing."

"I'll be right there." He answered. He turned back to Hana with an apologetic smile and Hana gave a small smile of her own.

"Go."

As Hana was about to leave the campus, someone called her name. She turned around and found that it was Momiji and Haru. Momiji had a very worried expression on her face, making Hana wonder why.

"You might want to see this." Haru said.

Hana stood in front of the bulletin board, finding herself staring at a large announcement in print covering almost the whole board and a picture of Yuki and her walking together along the hall set at the top of the bulletin. It read…

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CAMPUS IS FAMILIAR WTH THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN IN THE PICTURE. HE IS NONE OTHER THAN OUR BELOVED PRINCE YUKI. BUT DO YOU KNOW THIS CREEPY NOBODY BESIDE OUR GREAT PRINCE? THIS GIRL IS HANAJIMA, SAKI. SHE IS A WITCH AND HAS CAST A SPELL UPON OUR WONDERFUL, KIND PRINCE. IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE IS USING HIM AND TRYING TO GET HIM TO THE DARK SIDE. IF YOU SEE THEM TOGETHER, AND IF YOU LOVE OUR PRINCE YUKI, DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO KEEP THEM FROM EACH OTHER. HELP US KEEP THE EVIL AWAY FROM OUR KIND-HEARTED PRINCE YUKI! LONG LIVE PRINCE YUKI!

Momiji watched with anticipation as Hana read the announcement, seeing no change in the girl's blank expression. But if someone would look closer, they would see something glimmering in those dark orbs of hers.

Wordlessly, Hana turned to leave. "Hanajima." Haru called.

Hana stopped and craned her neck to look back at them, her eyes shadowed by her bangs. "Take care tonight. I heard it might rain." With that, she left.

Yuki came home late in the afternoon; the sky had a roseate hue when he entered the humble home. A small smile adorned his face as he entered his room and absently set his back down at his desk.

"You know, I really think you should add some curtains to your room." Yuki turned sharply to the all too familiar voice, the smile quickly vanishing from his face. He glared daggers at the annoying man sitting on his bed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked warily, obviously the presence of his quest was unwelcome.

"Why, Yuki, you should be kinder to your loving brother!" Ayame exclaimed, standing up and flipping his hair arrogantly.

"Get out."

"I heard your Halloween ball's coming soon."

"What about it?"

"Are you gonna have costumes?"

"Yes, wh—" before he could ask why, he had already regretted ever saying anything. Ayame had a certain gleam in his eyes at that and he quickly laughed onto the back of his hand.

"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! Oh, Yuki-kun, you didn't have to ask! I'd be glad to make you a costume! Oh, I wonder what I'll make you into."

"I didn't ask you."

"Yuki, Yuki, Yuki, no need to be shy. I'm your brother after all!"

"Who told you about this?"

"Why, Ha'ri, of course! Oh, is Hana-chan gonna come as well?"

"What? Maybe. Why?"

"OH! I'll make her a costume to! Yuki-kun, be a dear and send me her measurements okay?"

"What the—! I am not sending you her measurements!"

"Oh, well then I guess I'll just have Shigure get them for me."

"Through my dead body!"

"Wow, Yuki-kun, you can be really possessive about your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Then why are you blushing?"

"SHUT UP AND GET OUT!"

Ayame blinked as Yuki kicked him, not so gently, out of his room, slamming the door angrily behind him. A small smile appeared on his lips as he flipped his hair again. Yuki was so predictable.