I am not afraid, I proclaimed to the shadows in the corner. It remained infuriatingly silent, and I reasserted it louder. It was still silent.
I did not know who stood behind the swaying veils. Only a shadow was imprinted on the purple veils.
"But you are." A slow, haunting voice drifted from the veils. I flinched in surprise.
"You are afraid, Fujioka." The voice was deliberately slow, as if attempting to infuriate me to further degrees. "Why are you escaping, then?"
"What do you mean?"
"You did not need four years of separation, Fujioka. You did not need to live with your father for four years. But why did you decide to?" The voice drawled.
"I-I needed it for my studying." I stammered. The voice laughed. A slow chuckle reverberated from the veil.
"Pitiful. What made you possibly think that you could not commence on your academic endeavors inside the Suoh mansion?"
"Well, Tamaki Senpai would—"
"Do you honestly believe that Suoh Tamaki would interrupt your studying, where your true ardor lies in? Your insight is quite atrocious."
I remained silent for a while, unable to reply. It was true that Tamaki Senpai was too caring to do that. The voice was correct. I suddenly shivered. I paid closer attention to my attire. I was donned in only nightclothes.
"You are afraid."
"Me……?" I stammered. "Of what?"
"You are afraid." The voice repeated. "You should know why."
"I don't know, damn it, tell me!" I rushed forward, and ripped the veil away. Beyond the veil was a mirror, shining dully in the darkness. My own reflection was smiling eerily at me.
"But it is wrong of you to feel this way, Fujioka." The reflection's eyes glowed violet. "Let me explain why."
Her lips were moving slowly, but a sudden flash of lightening drowned out her voice. I leaped in fear. The expression eyed me with pity.
"You are afraid, Fujioka. You are afraid, Haruhi."
I stirred when the announcement that the plane would be landing blared out. I rubbed my eyes, my hazy vision slightly clearing. I squinted outside—the blinding sunlight showering my face. I gasped in wonder as the brilliance of the outside scenery revealed itself.
Azure. The sky could only be expressed as a sea of azure, reaching endlessly upwards. Below, there were vast landscapes, and in closer observation, I could observe miniscule buildings. Where were we?
A stewardess gently dropped a tray on the table. On the trays, there seemed to be pink blurs. That was all my fatigued eyes could observe.
"Thank you," I croaked. My voice was rugged from the lack of sleep. I scratched my head, and then stood up, trying to find my way through the restroom. I had to wash my face to get rid of this drowsiness. I opened the restroom door without thinking. I shuffled to the sink, and dipped my face in frigid water for a blissful moment. The sound of water running was refreshing. Why, the sound seemed like that of a shower. Wait.
It indeed sounded like a shower.
I slowly turned my head around, and with painful slowness, gazed into Tamaki Senpai. Well, Tamaki Senpai who was taking a shower. Well, to be clearer, Tamaki Senpai who was quite naked.
"Eeep!"
Uh, Tamaki Senpai, I think I should be the one who is squealing. Ah well.
"Ah, sorry. Take your time." I slowly retreated from the restroom. Why did they have the shower inside an airplane? Is it even safe?
With clearer vision, I was able to see what was on the tray. What seemed to be pink blurs were actually—
"Fresh ootoro, ma'am." The stewardess approached from the behind. I jumped in fright. "Master Tamaki specially requested the dish for you."
"Er…ah……thank you. Though I think it is too much for me……" I hesitated. There were mounds of them on the plate.
I sighed. Perhaps marrying into the Suoh family was spoiling me. I wished to retain my independent lifestyle, and that was one of the hidden reasons that I delayed our honeymoon.
I guess I should not waste valuable food, I thought. I was eating the third ootoro when Tamaki Senpai came out timorously out of the restroom. He was blushing deeply.
"Ha-Haruhi?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you for the dish, Senpai."
Even in his distressed state, he did not forget to flinch at the suffix. He hesitated, and then stammered, "What did you see?"
"What do you mean—'what did you see'?" I inquired.
"I mean…how much did you see?" he stammered.
"Oh, everything." I said blandly. He yelped at my candid response.
"Haruhi……it's not like you. You were so sensitive towards physical contact, but you seem quite blasé about this."
"As long as no physical actions are involved, I don't care that much. I am sorry, though, if you are embarrassed. I should have knocked."
"Never mind." He muttered.
We ate breakfast in silence, and as I realized that I ate too much, the plane suddenly took a steep decline. I had forgotten about my motion sickness.
Oh, no, not now.
"Haruhi? Your face is green."
"U-urp." That was the closest I could get to intelligent speech.
The next five minutes were a blur. Tamaki Senpai brought in Kyouya Senpai, and he demonstrated a few treatments that failed to improve my nausea. After a frantic moment, I was rushed inside the restroom.
As I saw the remains of the ootoro flushed down in the toilet, I was close to tears.
"Don't mind, Haruhi. You could always have ootoro when you want to." Tamaki Senpai reassured me. As I lamented on the precious delicacy, the plane's movements stopped. Tamaki Senpai patted my head.
"Look, Haruhi! We have arrived!"
"To where?"
The three of us stepped down, and when I finally exited the plane, Eiffel Tower loomed ominously in the distance.
"It took nearly a fortune to build a private airport right next to Eiffel Tower." Kyouya Senpai readjusted his glasses.
"Er……no way, Senpai." Darn rich bastards, I repeated again.
"But yes, Haruhi. We have arrived in France!" Tamaki Senpai declared dramatically. As I watched his antics, Kyouya Senpai smiled brightly.
"Well, I guess I should be on my way to England, then. A hospital there needs me. Have fun." After that, he boarded another plane, and then hurriedly left. It seemed that he was escaping rather than leaving, leaving me alone to cope with Tamaki Senpai.
"So we were headed for Paris, huh."
"Yes, Haruhi." Tamaki Senpai was smiling gently, but his hands were trembling.
"So your grandmother allowed—?" I inquired, hesitant.
"Oh yes, Haruhi. Do you know when?" As I shook my head, Tamaki Senpai patted my head gently. "Weeks after she first saw the two of us kissing. Remember the fashion show?"
"How can I not, Senpai?"
"Stop using that suffix," he pouted, and then gently smiled. "I have no idea why she suddenly approved of me, but I am sure that it has something to do with you, Haruhi."
"I don't think so, Senpai." Ignoring his expression, I continued on. "I think she saw who you truly were that day. She heard your words, that you were a human before a Suoh, right?"
He gazed blankly at me, and then smiled. He leaned forward, and gently kissed me on the forehead. I blushed.
"That is why I am truly grateful. Thank you, Haruhi, for marrying me, for helping me meet my mother, and for being yourself." He embraced me tighter.
"Ah, Sen-Tamaki? You do realize that we are in the airport, don't you?"
Crowds were forming around us, and my uneasiness escalated.
"Sorry," he blushed. We hastily separated, and I was about to apologize to the crowd when they suddenly did the unexpected. They took our luggage.
"Eh? Wa-wait!" Were they robbers?
"Thank you all." Tamaki Senpai grinned good naturedly at them. I was beginning to wonder about the limits of my husband's stupidity until I recognized someone in the crowd.
"Ah! Um, ah…"
"It's Tachibana, ma'am." He offered.
I sweated, not used to being addressed as 'ma'am'. Ah. The people were servants who were currently occupied in taking our luggage.
"Allow me to escort the two close acquaintances of my young master." He bowed deeply. He led us to the awaiting limousine.
Never have I felt as uncomfortable as I was riding the limousine. It had nothing to do with the limousine itself; on the contrary, the interior rivaled that of the plane that I had ridden. It was quite uncomfortable to be escorted by servants and protected by bodyguards and be treated as royalties. It was one of the reasons that I feared when I delayed my honeymoon.
I am afraid, I realized with a start.
"Haruhi, what's wrong?" Tamaki Senpai addressed me.
"It's nothing. Well, no, Senpai."
"Hmm?"
"I am not used to things like these……"
"What do you mean?"
"We could look perfectly after ourselves, can't we? I mean, all these servants and bodyguards……I have a feeling that we shouldn't keep them."
"What do you mean, Haruhi?" Tamaki Senpai gazed perplexedly at me. "We hired them. If we get rid of them, they would be left unemployed!"
"I know……But it does not feel right, Tamaki Senpai."
"Do you mean that the limousine is uncomfortable, Haruhi? Would you prefer to walk to Barbizon from here? Of course, if you are willing to, we could march there as a testimony of our love!"
"I would rather get run over by a truck, Senpai."
Tachibana-san narrowly managed to prevent Tamaki Senpai from jumping out of the limousine. Hmm, his tantrums are getting slightly more violent lately.
"It's not about the limousine, too. Senpai. I'm having the feeling that I am being……spoiled."
"You aren't Haruhi." Tamaki Senpai patted my head. "You are one of the most independent women I know, and I doubt that that will ever change."
"But, if your commoner's instincts are making you feel uncomfortable, Haruhi, I have a plan." He whispered some words to the driver, and suddenly, the car changed directions.
"Where are we going?" I asked the same question for the 5th time that day.
"To the nearest train station."
\"………"
It was quite impressive of him to manage to think of an idea like that. A train trip……It seemed more attractive than being surrounded by riches. I found myself smiling gently at him in new respect when the car came to a stop.
"All hail the commoner!" Tamaki Senpai screamed, attracting more attention. I found my new respect deteriorating faster than hydrogen in a sun.
20 minutes later, I found myself gazing outside a speeding train.
I contemplated about my dreams. The haunting memory of my own expression taunting me was vivid in my memories. What was I afraid of? What did my reflection signify? What was wrong with my subconscious?
I have always concluded that my reason behind my prudent decision was my need to study. However, the voice in my dream had forced me to relinquish that judgment. Then, was it fear that stopped me?
What was I afraid of?
More intimate relationships?
A sly voice suggested. I squinted in frustration as I gazed blankly at the blurred pastures.
Being forced into the Suoh family? Losing my self independence?
I massaged my temples, trying to relieve my stress.
But then, the voice had also declared that my emotions were at fault. Why would it be? Wouldn't everyone at my position be fearful of the restraints and wealth of the Suoh family? Was not everyone hesitant about physical relationships?
I could not answer my own questions.
"Haruhi, we've arrived!" Tamaki Senpai grinned delightedly. I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear my thoughts.
The outside air was bitter, the winter coldness stinging my cheeks. We walked in silence through a street. So this was the so called 'street of the artists'.
Tamaki Senpai was oddly jittery, constantly assuring himself under his breath.
"Senpai, haven't you visited this place before?"
"Eek!" He stared at me in surprise, and then recomposed himself. "Yes, about an year ago to—"
"Prepare for our marriage?"
"Yes, to prepare for our marri—" He was staring blankly at me. We were silent for a while.
"How did you know?"
"Hunny Senpai told me."
"Then, do you know….about your ring?"
"What, the fact that it is the same ring as your mother's?"
He nodded. His pace had quickened, and I, being a slow walker, found it immensely difficult to catch up with him.
"Haruhi……I just wanted to know that I love you as much as I love my mother…"
"I know, Tamaki." He hesitantly reached for my arms, holding me lightly.
"Here goes……" Tamaki Senpai suddenly stopped. We were standing beside a moderate sized house. Piano melodies drifted from within the house. He knocked on the door. The piano suddenly was muted, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed past the door, and the door opened.
A face that I only saw in pictures was smiling warmly at me.
"Ara? You two arrived earlier than I expected!"
Reviews, please. Loretta537, thank you for making such an insightful comment. Indeed, even though Haruhi had agreed on their marriage, she still had doubts of her own, and it is going to be solved within the process of the honeymoon. More information would spoil the plot, though.
Please review.