Mural in White
By: MissaSolemnis
A.N. Thank you to those who were kind enough to review me, I really do appreciate it.
Now let me go back to my coffee.
Disclaimer: I don't and never will own OHSHC. Blood sweat and tears spent, I still can't.
XXX The Deal XXX
How come of all the foods served in the gourmet cafeteria of Ouran, I find that I can't taste anything properly?
I usually love tastes and textures, but now, everything tasted like salt, rice and water? Honestly, was I really that nervous?
Well, there was no reason to be, for the people actually took no notice of me, which was fine but left me infinitely bored and infinitely... empty.
"Kanna-chan! Kanna-chan!" An ecstatic, almost sugar-high voice called out to me.
I turned around, and then narrowed my eyes to adjust to the distance. Hunny was walking along the tall guy I've seen in our class. What was his name? What did Hunny call him?
Ta... Tamaki? No...that was the blond boy who came to our classroom. Ta... Takashi.
Yes, that sounded right.
I stood up from my seat as they approached me.
"Ah, Kanna-chan, don't let us bother you, eat!" Hunny said, hurrying towards me.
"It's okay Hunny-san. I was finished anyway." I tried to smile. Failed again.
Hunny looked doubtfully at my unfinished meal and towards Takashi-san who was also approaching.
"T-Takashi-san..." I stammered.
There was some sort of flick of his eyes that I didn't understand until Hunny laughed delightedly.
"See, Kanna-chan is our friend! She even called you by your first name, Takashi!"Hunny said, all the while hugging me.
I submitted unknowingly.
"Ah! I'm really sorry! I thought that was your surname since that was what Hunny-san called you." I bowed, and made myself a little light headed.
"Mori." He said in a very low voice.
"Huh?"
"He said, call him Mori." Hunny said cheerfully.
I raised my head and looked at him fully. He was the epitome of a modern Japanese samurai. His body looked strong and lean, his hair, the traditional Japanese black, his skin fair but not too pale. And his eyes... they were clear and black, like seeing through a well with the sun shining above it.
"H-hai Mori-san." I bowed and he bowed in return.
"Neh, neh, Kanna-chan, do you want to go to the gardens with us?" Hunny asked.
"Uh... sure." I said uncertainly. It was a bit chilly outside, but no matter. The sun would do me good every once in a while.
Hunny kept on talking about many amusing things, and well, I can't help it, I like cute things. I can't help but stare and restrain myself from strangling him. Mori, on the other hand was quite another matter. Yes, tall, handsome and heroic, he was. But... it was hard to come near him. Like a mosquito repellent repelling a... well, a mosquito.
Whatever came into my mind to pick shoes that had soft soles? The tiny pebbles along the way dug into my feet and by the time Hunny decided to stop by a tree, my feet were literally blistered.
"Kanna-chan, are you limping?" Hunny-asked, eyes shining with worry.
"N-no." I lied. It was easier that way. I know by experience how embarrassing it is to have people fuss over you. "So why did you decide to go here?" I asked, changing the topic.
"It's refreshing here." Hunny said simply. I looked at Mori and he nodded.
Refreshing? More like freezing.
Or was it just me?
It's a good thing the walking warded of the cold somehow. I should do that at home to get warm or something.
"Kanna-chan, I know you're uncomfortable. But there's a reason why I asked you to come." Hunny started, all the while pouting adorably which disarmed me quite a bit.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Well, can you join our club?" Hunny asked imploringly with an overdose of cuteness assaulting me.
"What is your club?" I asked Mori.
"Host club." He said shortly.
That low voice again. It sounded as if it came deep from the earth sprouting up like water from a well.
Drat. Back to the subject.
"You want me to join the host club?"
Like host, host club? With men, entertaining women in... various things...
"Wait... no... I- I'm sorry... no. I can't." I said, to the extent of crossing my arms in front of my chest.
Do I look manly now, that I deserve to be recruited by a host club?
"Well, you'll not be a host, exactly." Hunny continued.
I cocked my head. "Then why are you asking me to join?"
"Well...we heard that Kanna-chan was very good in painting." Hunny said, beaming brightly as if the information made his day. "And...
"And?"
Oh dear. I almost regret urging him to continue.
"We want you to do murals for us."
Murals... The very thing my father abhorred was my art... Why would these people want them then?
I watched this show on MTV a few months ago when I skimmed the 600 channels of my tv, almost like...
"Am I being punk'd?" I blurted.
The two sincerely looked at me with blank uncomprehending expressions.
"Is that tasty, Kanna-chan?" Hunny broke the silence.
I wanted to laugh hysterically. I also wanted to tear my hair with frustration. Why?
"Why?" I voiced out. I felt my hand automatically come to my cheek like an almost defensive gesture.
"Because it's beautiful, Kanna-chan." Hunny said earnestly.
I don't believe him. I don't think I ever will. The art that they mention were dark murals made in utter frustration and defeat that I feel every single day. Surely no one would like to have such abomination hanging around them. Now, having them ask me to do such for them was like asking me to bear my tattered soul for the critical world to see.
"Have you seen any of it, to say it's beautiful?" I know I was rude and harsh, but I also knew that what I was saying was the truth.
"No." Hunny smiled gently, now seeming his age. "But we believe in you."
This is... this is just too much. These people they didn't know what they were talking about. I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted. What, did they really put in faith that easily on someone, or was my art that cheap to be asked of so easily?
But they were rich people, so affronted would be a better word.
"I'm sorry... Excuse me." I turned swiftly and tried to walk away.
Suddenly, a strong, firm hand caught my elbow.
XXX
"It looks like it's not going very well." Kyouya muttered as he watched from the tall French windows of the 3rd music room.
There seemed to be a heated discussion between the three. Well, two, discounting Mori-sempai, who looked like he was just a spectator. An attentive one albeit.
"What are you planning, Kyouya-sempai?" Haruhi appeared beside him, holding a cup of coffee and handing it to him.
"I'm planning an art themed event for the host club. You'll be Van Gogh." He replied curtly and took the cup of coffee.
Haruhi raised her brow, and then shrugged.
The natural host seemed to be more tolerant than before. What was wrong with her? Was she planning to poison them all, bit by bit with these cups of coffee? Or perhaps only him?
He didn't even bother to conceal his calculating stare as she offered him cream and sugar, which he refused.
"Van Gogh? Tamaki-sempai is?"
"Da Vinci." He answered.
"You?"
"Picasso."
"Mori-sempai?"
Kyouya caught a scene. Mori-sempai actually reached out to catch Tatsuhiko Kanna's arm.
"Hmnn... Interesting indeed."
XXX
Hunny threw an imploring look at Mori. But it appeared as though he didn't need any more persuasion for he had automatically reached out and caught Kanna's elbow, effectively stopping her without using too much force.
"Tatsuhiko-san." He said.
Kanna halted unwillingly and turned to face them again.
"I... I'll think about it." Kanna said with a feebly quivering voice.
Well, vague was better than nothing at all right?
XXX
It's been three days since they asked me that absurd request and still, I didn't know what to answer. I almost dreaded going to school for I might be confronted by another meeting with Hunny and Mori-san. But thankfully, they seemed to understand and distanced themselves from me.
"Oujo-sama... You must eat something." Shizuka-san, the housekeeper said, worry lines etched deeply on her elderly face.
I slowly took a sip of weak tea, as I liked it and replied, "I'm already full, Shizuka-san."
"But you haven't been eating anything for almost three days. You scarcely touch your food." She said.
"I'm usually this way." I said with an air of finality and stood up.
I don't know whether the concern they were showing me was for real or for show. But... I think it's better if I didn't know.
The house is very quiet especially during weekends. I once requested Hayes to play classical music on all parts of the house so it won't feel as dreary as it already was. The music only turned off when my parents were here or if I was sick or something.
The morning was warm enough for me to bask in the gardens and play with the barn cat. I firmly put the hat on my head and strolled to where the small brook was located.
Due to the rain yesterday, the path to the brook was all muddy and wet, so I decided to take a short cut.
Not a good idea.
It seemed that the 'small' woods that was entailed in our family's mansion was definitely immense.
I thought the path looked familiar enough... but...
"What should I do now, Neko-san?" I asked the fat orange cat in my arms.
It just looked at me unblinkingly and purred.
"Can you lead me the way?" I asked. And put it down on the ground.
I knew that it was ridiculous to put your faith on a cat, a fat one with no instincts at that, but to follow it when you're in the woods?
Not the best idea I've come to so far.
But heck, I followed it anyways.
I found that I went deeper and deeper into the woods that my feet already hurt from too much walking.
"Neko-san, I guess we should just go back." I scooped up the cat in my arms and turned around.
Suddenly, I heard a swooshing sound. And then it came again.
And again.
I followed the rhythmic sound and the closer I got, the louder and sharper the sound seemed.
About ten meters away, I saw a clearing. I screwed my eyes so I can see clearer (I have a slightly poor eyesight, you see) there appeared to be some straw dummies stuck to the ground in a neat circle and in the middle was a person.
A tall person.
When I got near enough to see clearly, the wind suddenly blew so strong and swift that I was physically thrown back against the tree trunk behind me.
I opened my eyes blearily and saw the shiny point of a samurai sword.
I distinctly heard myself whimper and closed my eyes again tightly.
"Please don't kill me." I said shakily and carefully dropped Neko-chan, away from the 'line of fire'.
As fear coursed through my chest an every muscle in my body persisted to tremble, I heard shifting of the blades and the sound of sheathing.
I blinked and opened my eyes fully. Mori-san was standing in front of me and suddenly bent down to scoop the spitting Neko-san.
"M-Mori-san?" I breathed with relief.
"Gomen." He bowed slightly.
"I-It's fine." I waved my hands even though my knees were obviously trembling.
Still stunned, I was unable to utter another word. I stared at him to the point of rudeness.
"Are you alright?" He inquired quietly.
Snapping from my semi-petrified state, I nodded. Well, I was okay in an unhurt sense but my muscles seemed to have turned into blancmange.
He appeared unconvinced in his usual stoic facade for he had clasped his hand gently around my arm and led me to the opposite direction from whence I came.
"Where are we going?" I asked warily.
"My house." He replied.
I had to stop dead in my tracks.
His house?
"I'll have the driver take you home." He looked at me as if he read my mind.
I blushed furiously as we continued walking. As the rocky path became rockier still, my soft-soled shoes (I never learn) were penetrated by every stone I stepped on.
And frankly, it slowed the process of getting to Mori-san's place.
I practically stumbled when I stepped on a slightly jagged rock and it felt as if the Rottweiler at our house decided to sink his teeth into my foot.
Unable to recover from that, I cursed inwardly and rubbed my foot.
Suddenly, strong arms came under my knees and behind my back and I was lifted up high against something warm and firm.
What the he—,
"M-Mori-san... That—isn't – necessary!" I tried to wriggle off.
Goodness gracious, it was so embarrassing!
"I'm too heavy, Mori-san... Please put me down." I looked at his stoic face again but he was looking ahead.
I turned to where he was looking and saw that there was some sort of gap on the ground ahead, probably two meters wide.
Don't tell me...
"No—Mori-san! Don--,"
Too late, as I tried to stop him, he already jumped powerfully and we landed on the other edge smoothly and lightly.
My voice didn't even come out properly. I was petrified once again.
What's this place? An obstacle course or something? Why were there too many rocks considering that it was a forest and a cliff for crying out loud? What's next? Avoid flaming arrows?
Mori-san was really strong considering that he managed to jump and him carrying me to boot.
"Not heavy."
He startled me with his voice. This time, I felt it as it vibrated through the walls of his chest reminding me of a cello when being played.
"I'm sorry?" I asked then I realized what he said. He was referring to my weight.
Well, I knew that I wasn't really that heavy but I wasn't feather weight either. His being able to carry me accounted to his strength not my weight, thank you very much.
"Not heavy at all." He clarified. Again, the vibration startled me.
I chose silence, since it's what he clearly preferred. And besides, what could I possibly say to such person? Hey, you really look good in samurai clothes? No. Freaking. Way.
Then, in my warm dazed state, I realized something. I realized I forgot something.
"Mori-san... I think I forgot my cat." I mumbled, not even sure if my soft voice carried through.
"He's here." He said, and carefully shrugged his other shoulder, the one away from my head.
I craned my neck to see what he meant, only to be met by staring, green feline eyes.
My cat. The barn cat. Neko-san was perched, or to be precise, draped oh-so-casually on Mori's shoulder. And quite frankly, it looked at home there.
The little traitor.
Wait.
"Mori-san, how did it stay on place when you jumped?" I asked, awed. I didn't know to which I should express my amazement, the cat or Mori?
"It has claws." He said.
And then, I realized, Neko-san's claws were embedded on Mori's clothes. Snagging on the obviously expensive material.
"Oh! I'm sorry. My cat ruined your clothes! Did he hurt you?" I reached my hands out to the cat and pulled it off his shoulder.
"It's fine." He said listlessly.
All of a sudden, we were facing this looming Japanese mansion.
I'm not talking about the Hollywood-ish, Japanese mansion. I'm talking about 300-year-old Japanese samurai mansion. The one that you'd believe to be present and lived in by nobility in the Tokugawa era.
"How come I never knew of this place?" I murmured to myself.
"You don't leave your house." He explained for me.
Heck, I never had an inkling of an idea that he was my neighbour! How much did I pass on life?
In that moment, I suddenly hated my weak body that has imprisoned me to my house.
"Did you know I was your neighbour?" I asked cautiously.
I would have felt better if he said no.
He nodded.
My heart sank. I felt guilty. How come he cared enough to know, whilst I, I who stayed at home all the time, never knew?
I stroked Neko-san and remained silent.
As he strode towards the main gate, I suddenly remembered that he still carried me.
"Uh... Mori-san, you can put me down now, please." I added, for effect.
He complied and gently lowered me to my feet. Wow, he was so tall that when I staggered on my feet I felt so... miniscule.
As we made our way, the gates majestically opened. Standing erect, a man, with the aura of a samurai lord decked in western suit, bowed to us.
I bowed as gracefully as I could, cat and all.
"Takashi-sama, Tatsuhiko-sama." He greeted in a voice that would have done BBC proud.
I flinched inwardly. Even the butler knew me.
"Tea, please." Mori told the man.
"Shall I lead you to the tea room?"
"Excuse me. I'll be back." Mori stalked away, leaving me to follow the butler.
The house was so vast that the Shinsengumi could have presided in here with rooms to spare. But the Japanese opulence, splendour, history was there. Imprinted. Lingering. The wood planks on the floor fairly shouted nobility at me.
I need not inspect the other furniture for I was quite sure from the beginning that they were quite savvy with money.
I was left alone in the immense tea room where there was another door opened to view the traditionally lovely Japanese garden. I went out to the garden, of course. How many times would I ever get the chance to come here?
The smell of the garden was so subtle yet at the same time heady. It smelled of summer and autumn. The koi pond was almost as large as the tea room itself. The fishes swam calmly in an infusion of rich golden colours.
The wind suddenly blew hard, flurrying my skirts and my hair and with it carried the scent of bergamot. I turned around swiftly for I felt a presence other than my own.
I felt my face conjure warmth that rarely occurred. The source?
Mori was standing in the tea room in another traditional garb, yet a bit more luxurious that his training clothes. His hair lay a little softer than his previous spiky everyday doo.
There was a tea set in the middle of the room, but I didn't notice. Would anyone else notice if they had THIS to look at?
How could I articulate this in plain language?
He's HOT. No man ever looked better in a yukata than Mori.
Flesh, blood, bone and sinew all together belonged in this kind of standpoint. I could have easily believed that I was in a Samurai era and he was a Samurai lord. Those dark eyes were so compelling to look at that I didn't feel like I had enough strength to break away.
I didn't know how long we've been standing like that but I finally blinked away my reverie before he thought I was a gaping loony.
"Mori-san..." I said, unable to relinquish the breathy quality of my voice. I sounded like a shrill schoolgirl.
"Please, have tea with me." He said calmly, gesturing to the tea set.
I could have easily blurted out 'with pleasure' but then something in my throat got stuck and I was once again speechless. So I settled for nodding and sat on the cushions provided on the floor.
The tea set was sublime. Even the gold leaf designs on each cup betrayed the sense of richness that this clan surely enjoyed.
Dazed as I was, I never did realize that he intended to perform the tea ceremony for me. Imagine that?
I never had anyone else do the tea ceremony for me, except for my teacher who taught me the art itself. Oh yes, I knew I was all clumsy but after a few more years, I grew adept to it.
But oh my, oh my, oh my. This man, performing such a feminine task with ease, dexterity and effortless grace was a sight to behold.
On with the gaping loony role.
I only sputtered back to reality when he pushed the cup of excellently brewed tea to me. I only had to look at the rich colour to know that it was indeed an excellent kind of tea.
I sipped with the most ladylike gesture I could possibly cultivate and found that it wasn't hard at all. Being with a person resembling a samurai, it wasn't even an effort to derive a certain grace that had been bred into my bones.
Yes, I know I don't look it, but believe me, it has been force fed to me like a French duck force fed to cultivate foie gras.
I may not be of robust health, but at least I have something to take pride on.
Wait, wait. What am I saying? What have I been thinking?
I'm not usually like this. I am just a sickly girl with a matchstick for a backbone!
Is he the reason?
Is his strength so overwhelming that it flowed even to me?
Such a fancy thought.
I realized too late that my fingers were hurting for gripping the cup too hard. Thank goodness for its superior quality that it didn't shatter in my hands.
"Are you alright?" Mori suddenly asked.
I blinked hard and answered, "I'm fine."
He was studying me that I immediately felt uncomfortable. Would he see me for the wimp that I am? Would he be disgusted with the utter contrast that I presented him?
"I- I should be going now, Mori-san." I mumbled, not even sure if he heard me.
"Ah." He said and stood up.
I followed suit, not daring to look at him.
At the front of their house, there was a limo waiting, complete with a chauffeur and another attendant.
Mori opened the door for me.
"Th- thank you." I stammered.
I waited for him to close the door when I slid in, but then, he stuck his head inside and said,
"I'll see you home." He said.
I dumbly nodded and slid farther to give him space. He was so calm. Everything about him radiated calm. Even the veins in his arms and hand radiated calm.
I looked, transfixed on those bold tracery of veins. It was too late when I realized that he was also looking at me, looking at his forearms.
Heat radiated all over my face. It was so intense that I even felt it on my neck and chest.
It was a relief that when we reached my house...erm... mansion and Hayes opened the door for us.
Imagine, a ten minute drive, and we consider ourselves 'closest' neighbours. How many miles did 'closest' mean?
"Morinozuka-sama!" Hayes' eyes widened when he saw Mori.
Imagine that. Hayes actually had another reaction other than 'no reaction'.
Morinozuka? Oh.
Mori nodded to him and said, "I brought Miss Kanna home."
Kanna...
He called me Kanna.
I didn't know why I was so moved by that, even though Hunny called me Kanna all the time.
It seemed that my entire household forgot my given name, that I wasn't used to being called by it.
But still...
Neko-san made an irritated sound and plopped from my arms to go back to the barn from whence it came.
"Oujo-sama, we were so worried about you." Hayes said, his butler's voice so difficult to decipher.
Yeah right... I scoffed. In my mind of course.
"Please have some tea and cakes ready in the back porch." I said, for all the world sounding like a displaced little girl ordering the Prime Minister of Japan to wipe the table.
Hayes bowed to us and went to do my bidding, thank goodness.
"Would you like to come in, Mori-san?" I asked, eyeing him uncertainly.
He nodded and followed me into the house. Unlike him, I didn't change my clothes, for I had no intention of performing a tea ceremony, being as clumsy as I was.
When we arrived at the porch, it was all set out for us on the French table.
Shizuka-san looked at me with concerned eyes, "I was so worry when I wasn't able to find you, oujo-sama."
"I'm sorry." I murmured and sat on the chair.
Shizuka-san's eyes automatically widened when she saw Mori.
"Morinozuka-sama!"
Again... these people...
"Shizuka-san." He said.
Odd, how did he know our housekeeper's name?
Even Hayes seemed to know him.
Am I the only one ignorant in this house?
Shizuka-san left us discreetly and Mori took a seat in front of me.
I served the tea, thankfully not spilling anything on him. When I offered him cake, he shook his head.
"Mori-san, I— that is... you—," I didn't know how to go about it. "I- I'm sorry if I had no idea we're neighbours."
Clumsy, I know. But that's the only thing I can blurt out at the moment.
"It's alright." He answered.
I peered at him uncertainly. He was gazing back calmly at me that I looked down once again. I can't bear to look at him straight. It was like trying to look at the sun.
"I don't really think I'm good enough to paint your murals." I whispered.
Someone like me? Something that I did, not even my own father would take the time to look at them?
Suddenly, something very warm engulfed my hand. When I looked up, Mori-san was holding it and examining it critically.
"Something made by this hand can't be incompetent." He said softly.
I was so transfixed by that, that I forgot to breathe, forgot to blink, and forgot everything but him.
This was just too much. These people... are they toying with me?
I am in so much doubt but in the tiniest corner of my heart, I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe that I really can do it, that someone actually believed that I could.
Gently, I disengaged my hand. He let it go almost instantly.
Should I do it?
For once in my miserable life, should I bet on something? Should I really do it?
I have nothing to lose do I?
With a tremulous smile which failed, I said,
"Alright. I'll do it."
Something flashed on Mori's face. Was that a smile?
"But I have one condition."
XXX
They were gathered in Kyouya's room, the inhabitant of the said room still bundled in thick quilts, sleeping with only his hair peeking out.
"Nah, Kyouya... Let's go somewhere fun!" Tamaki whined.
The twins sat on a corner with Haruhi ready to take cover in case the Shadow King went berserk.
Tamaki went as far as sitting on the side of the bed.
"Oi... Kyouya. Come on, it's nearly noon. Let's get going." He plucked at the quilts. "Why are you so covered with thick blankets anyway?"
Coughing came from within the blankets.
"Kyouya?"
"Kyouya-sempai?" Haruhi stood from where she sat and approached the mass on the bed.
"Voices..." The dark voice from the quilts rasped.
"Voices?" Tamaki repeated.
"Make my head hurt." He said with a sigh. "Out. Now. One. Two..."
The counting didn't have to come to three for the members of the host club to scurry out of the room.
"Fujioka." He rasped again.
Haruhi stopped dead on her tracks, Tamaki and the others proceeded to go out.
"Yes, sempai?"
"Stay."
XXX End of Chapter XXX
A.N. Hope you liked it. PLEASE REVIEW ME. Reviews are much appreciated. Thank you!!
That's the end of another peculiar chapter. I hope to hear from you! Stay tuned!