Chapter 8!
WOO!
I own Rose, those affiliated with her life before Ouran and nothing more.
Enjoy :D
-
Wondering how on earth Rose had convinced him to join her in the private Hotel pool (indoors, thank god. It was freezing outside.), Hikaru lowered himself into the water, the only swimming costume he had being the one for the beachwear shoot. Then he kicked himself.
Rose had, of course, the string red bikini. Which she wore as she walked into the pool room, a towel flung over her shoulder and her hair scraped back in a ponytail.
"W-wow..." Hikaru inadvertently murmured, and pulled himself underwater for a version of a cold shower. He regained confidence in his willpower, and allowed himself to rise above the water level, soaking wet. He shook the hair from his face, and looked at her again. She was sat on the edge of the pool, her feet submerged, leaning forward and watching him with a bemused expression.
"You alright?" she smirked. Oh she so knew.
In revenge, she was slashed with the cold water by an embarrassed Hikaru.
"Hika!" she cried in anguish, pushing herself into the water, and threw herself on him, fully submerging him under the bitter cold water.
The camera man thought it was quite funny.
-
After drying off, Hikaru lounged in his room while Rose showered the chlorine from her hair; now the time was getting later and later, it now getting to six o clock. Yuzuha paraded into her son's room, tossing dress pants, a white shirt, white bowtie and coat tail, with a white vest jacket at him giddily.
"Change. Get Rose to do the same, and be ready for a big party at seven o clock." She was beaming at him – and he knew that was a sign not to ask.
"What's Rose wearing?"
"She'll know what to wear."
Yuzuha left without any more information to relay, and Hikaru left Rose a note. She was in the shower after all.
He changed, combed his hair, and filled the jacket pockets with essentials such as his phone and wallet. It was nearing seven, so he headed to the lobby alone, and reclined on the sofa, letting him mind wander.
He saw his mother surrounded by beauticians, making sure she looked just right, as usual.
He reclined more, if possible, and continued his text marathon with Kaoru.
So where's Rose?
He tapped out a quick reply.
Getting ready I guess.
It wasn't long before his phone buzzed again.
She kissed you yet?
Hikaru blushed.
On the cheek. It was for a photo, so it doesn't count.
Kaoru had gotten far too quick at texting.
Sure...
KAORU!
His thoughts were caught by the girl- no woman, descending the stairs from the elevator. Her wild dark hair was sleek and shiny, pinned up into a beautiful up do, with a rose red ribbon fastening it, along with an actual faux rose stuck in her hair. Her dress was a beautiful shade of red, sleeveless, and dotted on the princess skirt were diamantes that bunched the material. More of these diamantes were covering the area at the top of the dress. She had matching red gloves, and black heelless shoes to give her a little less height. With the red wrap pulled firmly around her, she glided down the remaining steps. Hikaru jumped to his feet.
"Hey Hika." She smiled shyly. Her eyes were framed by perfected black eyeliner, her lips a beautiful ruby red.
"... You look..." He stumbled over his words. "I mean you look... Um... wow."
"I'll take that as a compliment." She visibly relaxed, his obvious approval calming her. "And you don't look so bad yourself Hika!" Rose giggled, straightening his bowtie, her – guess the colour – red clutch purse neatly under her arm.
"I've noticed the new nickname." He finally managed to speak properly.
"Meh. I like it." Rose giggled, patting his cheek in a playful manner, slightly flushed from the positive reaction to her attire. "It suits you, Hika." She stressed his name carefully, as if trying it in her lips, despite the fact she had called him so many times before now.
"I suppose it does." He had let the initial shock wear off now, and offered his arm to the beautiful girl.
-
They entered the ballroom, having being briefed by Yuzuha that it was a Japanese English relations ball, to ensure each side are suitably happy. The ambassador couldn't be here, but he sent his heir to oversee things.
Those words sent a chill up Rose's spine.
"Why are we required to attend?" She asked slowly, her eyes widening.
"We, well, you in particular Rose, were requested. Your father is the ambassador, and as your guardian for this week, Hikaru and I were extended invitations." She looked over her employee slowly. "Is everything alright?"
"Just dandy." Rose's breathing had become hitched.
He offered his arm as they were to make their entrance down the stairwell. She took it gratefully, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" he muttered softly, so only she could hear.
"Oh I'm fine. Just keep me as far away from the heir as possible." Her returned smile was not reassuring as she wanted, but instead forced and nervous. He nodded, and squeezed her arm again as they finished the descent.
"Miss Cooper?" a body guard caught her attention in English, and the two froze.
"Yes?" Her reply was shaky.
"The heir wishes to have an audience with you. He is not to be declined." The fluid response made the hairs on the back of Hikaru's neck stand up. He held her arm tighter.
"Y-yes. Very well." She agreed. "Forewarn him I will have my escort with me. I will find my own way across."
"Very well Ma'am. Nice to see your return to England."
"I depart on the Friday."
"Shame. Well, it is good to see your return, however brief."
"Thank you." Rose hurriedly turned to Hikaru. "He wants to see me... I knew he would, but... oh god, Hikaru, please come with me!"
"Sure." He furrowed his eyebrows. "The heir is... um... I know this..."
Rose laughed, despite her panic.
"My Ex Fiancée." She filled in. His eyes widened in understanding, and he nodded. "If anyone asks, you are my escort."
"Of course." He grinned. "I was this afternoon, so it's not that much of a change..."
She hit him with her purse playfully. Again. It was becoming a habit.
"Come along Hika." She smiled, stressing his name again for the fun of it, relieved of having him with her, and the two made their way to the back room where the body guard previously disappeared too.
-
"Alexander. Why would you want to see me?" her voice was cold and hard, Hikaru was slightly shocked – she usually had a much warmer tone. No matter how upset or angry.
"Ahh, Rosemarie. How is Japan treating you?"
"Far better than you ever did."
Hikaru looked over whoever it was talking to Rose so patronizingly. Short black hair. Jet black eyes. A long, thin pale face – he was the definition of 'tall dark and handsome' – but Hikaru wasn't fooled. He was obviously too obsessed with himself to ever love someone else.
"Do you speak Japanese?" Hikaru intervened. The two English Natives looked at him. Alexander cleared his throat.
"Yes." He replied, perfect pronunciation. "I do. I studied everything I could to take over as the Japanese Ambassador. I am Alexander Knife. I assume you are Rosemarie's new Fiancée?"
"Escort. We aren't engaged. We choose to keep each other's company." Rose snapped. "We're close friends."
"From the way you hang to him arm, I doubt that." Alexander scoffed. "Either way, it makes things easier for me. I request your engagement once more. I still have the ring, and-"
"No." She turned to leave, but Hikaru pulled her back.
"What happened?" He muttered to Rose. "I'm confused."
"So he doesn't know Rose?" Alexander came closer, a satisfied smirk stretched across his lips. "How Kelly and I were intimate? One of your best friends betraying you?"
"Stop." She hissed in English. His smirk only grew.
"What about hitting you and your father did nothing to stop me?"
"Stop." There were tears in her eyes now. Hikaru flung an arm around her, and brought her into his chest. She was shaking.
"How about the fact that it led to your sister being the only one left who cared, and you'll never see her again?"
"STOP!"
This time Hikaru yelled, and his fist made contact with Alexander's face, and a sickening crack filled their ears. Blood began to drip from the heir's nose, as he recoiled and fell backwards, before scrambling back to his feet, his hand over his nose.
"You bastard... you broke my nose!" He took tissues from a bodyguard, while others surrounded Hikaru and Rose, ordering their leave. They happily complied. Alexander called after them to expect a call from his lawyer. This bodyguard told him it was provoked, and he didn't have much of a case.
"Sir, unless you want what you did to that girl to go public, you can't sue."
There was a silence in the room when they left. Hikaru guided her out the back of the building, so they were outside. She burst into tears, crying on his shoulder with his arms wrapped around her protectively.
"I'm so sorry..." he whispered, leaning against the wall with her cradled in his arms. "I'm just so, so sorry."
She continued to cry, and cry, and cry.
-
She finally quietened. Hikaru had a look at her, her makeup was ruined. He laughed, and stole her purse, taking the makeup from within, and fixing her facial blunder. She blushed and protested, but he smiled sweetly, and told her to ruin Alexander's life by looking gorgeous as usual. That just made her blush more. Soon, she was returned to her former glory, and the two returned to the ballroom.
"Where've you been?" Yuzuha power walked over, hissing. Her face was contorted and angry – Hikaru checked his watch. They'd been outside for a good half hour.
"Sorry Mom. Rose was catching up with an old acquaintance." Hikaru wasn't exactly lying. Yuzuha accepted it, and ordered them to stay inside the ball room. Numerous people were waltzing around the room in pair, and Hikaru felt an increasing urge to ask Rose to dance, as the two of them leant against the wall in a comfortable silence, Rose's eyes unfocused as Alexander came in, a new suit after this previous one became covered in his own blood, and a white strip across his nose.
"Um... Rose?" 'Just ask her Hikaru, ask.'
"Yeah?" Her voice was quiet and mouse like, watching him take a seat at the head of the room, watching the dancers.
"You... " 'want to dance WANT TO DANCE' "...okay? You seem..."
"Alexander came through." She replied softly, and looked downward, a look of unsafeness sweeping over her facial featured.
"Oh."
The silence resumed.
"'..."
"What?" Rose stared at Hikaru as he continued to babble.
"becausehetotallyisn''snotworthyourtimeorconcernand..."
"Hika?"
"Yes?"
"What the hell did you just say?"
"... Wanna dance?"
Rose froze for a second, before a flushed look came over her, which pleased Hikaru to no end.
Once upon a broken heart
I was walking alone in the dark
Looking for a way to start again
What I wouldn't give for a friend
There was no love in my life
There was no light in my eyes
All the tears that I had cried and cried
Seemed like they'd never end
"... I'd love too!" She smiled – and for the first time that evening it was a genuine smile. Relaxing, her offered her his arm and led her out to the polished wooden floor, before taking her hand and her waist, and leading er around the room in a perfect waltz. Rose listened to the lyrics intently, the English words washing over her, as she noticed the song had been rearranged to 3:4 for the waltz dance.
And I never believed fairytales came true
But now I know that they really do
Now that I found you, now that I'm here with you
Just look at the sunshine, and you
Showed me a world
That I'd never seen
I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time
Once upon this broken heart of mine
Hikaru lead her round expertly, and she followed his lead, careful not to meet his eyes, glad he couldn't understand the lyrics. Subconsciously, she hummed along to the familiar tune that she had sung along to so many times at home – it had been her guilty pleasure of a favourite song.
Long ago and far away
I could never dream of the day
that your love would come my way and stay
And sweep me away and I
"Translate?" Hikaru smiled pleadingly, and Rose looked away pointedly again, an undeniable blush now on her face.
She sang along in Japanese.
Never believed fairytales came true
But now I know that they really do
Now that I found you, now that I'm here with you
Just look at the sunshine, and you
Showed me a world
That I'd never seen
I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time
Once upon this broken heart of mine
Hikaru span her outward, and into his arms again, as they continued to circle the dance floor. Alexander watched them, a passive, patient look on his face. He stood, and made his way across towards them.
This is the way a fairytale feels
this is the way I know it's real
'Cause this is the way a broken heart heals
He tapped on Hikaru's shoulder and bowed. The two understood – and as he was heir, he couldn't really decline. So, he also bowed, giving Rose a look of 'I'll be here in a flash if there is any trouble' and moved away.
Rose and Alexander began to dance.
"Funny. I never thought you would be the type to fall for a common teenager." He snorted, spinning her.
Rose looked across at Hikaru and smiled to herself.
"Oh, Hika is far from common." She said in a snide tone. "He's the son of a famous fashion designer – I model for the company now."
"Hnn. I'm not surprised. You are fairly beautiful." He continued, spinning her out in a similar fashion to how Hikaru had done previously, but she didn't spin back into his arms.
"Too bad you lost any chance we could have had Alexander." She curtsied. "Excuse me. Your presence repulses me."
And I never believed fairytales came true
But now I know that they really do
Now that I found you, now that I'm here with you
Just look at the sunshine, and you
Showed me a world
That I'd never seen
I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time
Once upon this broken heart of mine
"Rose, what happened?" Hikaru was by her side immediately. Rose smiled, and hugged him gently, wrapping her arms around his neck and nestling her face into his shoulder. Hikaru turned a crimson shade and wrapped his arms around her back in reply. She pulled back a little, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Thank you for everything. Today has been wonderful, and it's thanks to you." She murmured with a faint blush on her face. Hikaru blinked, still red faced. "You're a true friend."
She rolled her feet onto her tiptoes, and pecked his forehead with her rosy red lips.
He blushed.
"You really are, a great friend. And you always will be."
He didn't know why, but those words made his heart ache.
-
Chapter 8 is done :D
WOOO
I'm totally rolling with this one.