Authors Note: Beware of foreshadowing.
I rush into my house and up to my room. That day, I didn't bother making small talk with the maids. They could probably conclude my mood due to my speed.
It needed to leave, those murky feelings, those filthy lies. Water washed it all away, but not for long. Something else always came along. But these lies were like falling face first into deep mud. Every single time you tried to get free, it held you down and got deep into everything on you. Sometimes it would claim your shoes which you might dig to get back. Other times it got under your nails and into your skin so it was hard to get out. This was both.
My school uniform lay in a heap in the corner of my bathroom. I hadn't even bothered to grab a hanger to put it up on later.
The hot water felt relaxing like nothing else. It was washing it away. The lies which I was determined to forget. Like dirty water going down the drain, I told myself. All I had to do was use enough soap, and it was like the dirt never existed. Too often, I was reminded the hard way that there was plenty of dirt in the world.
Once I was mostly dry, I slipped into my pajamas, which was a tank top and shorts with rubber ducks on them; to adorable for my mood. I looked at the uniform and sighed. Carefully, I picked it up and left the bathroom.
"Mi- I mean Riku?"
I went to the railing and looked over. "Yes?"
The maid smiled softly. "I brought your dinner. Would you like me to wash that uniform for you?"
I nodded and went down to her. "Thank you very much."
"It's my job," she said as she took the dress from me. She nodded at my black shoes I kicked off by the door. "I'll have your shoes polished while I'm at it."
"Thank you again." She smiled and began to leave. "Wait," I said as she reached the door. She looked over her shoulder. "You look pretty today. Just thought you'd want to know."
She smiled brighter than she had ever before. "Thank you, Riku." With that, she disappeared down the stairs.
I went back up to my bathroom. Carefully, I released my hair from the towel and let it fall down to the bottom of my shoulder blades. The window was fogged from my shower, so I took a towel and swiped it clear. I plucked the hairdryer from my supply of hair styling tools and my brush.
Once my hair was dry, I looked at myself. My hair spilled over my shoulder as I turned my head this way and that.
"I don't see it," I muttered to myself as I kept looking at myself. On their own accord, my hands reached up and pulled my hair back behind my head so it couldn't be seen. My throat went dry. "Now I do
In my reflection, I saw not only myself, but Tamaki Suou.
….Before the first day at Ouran….
I went to school like any other day. My hair was tied up with a satin ribbon that went perfectly with my uniform. Lobelia Academy was nice enough for an all-girls academy. My only possible complaint could be the Zuka club with all of its fans.
Lady Benibara would commonly bask in the screams and giggles that most girls showered them with at their presence. I would be the only one wanting to get out of the crowd. Almost always it turned into a mosh pit or something of that style. Apparently you stick out when you are the only one leaving as everybody tries to get closer.
One day, as I was sitting at lunch, she approached me. That day, I was eating chocolate cake. "Hello," she said with a soft smirk.
"Hello," I replied, talking as if she were just another student. I took a bite of my desert.
She stooped down to one knee and took my hand. "Lady Riku, I have a question to ask."
I gave her an annoyed look. "Release my hand and we talk. And it's Satoshi to you."
She looked slightly angered, but moved on, following my request. "Why do you not watch us like everybody else does? You seem indifferent to our actions."
I shrugged. "I'm straight. I see no purpose in oogling over people just because everybody else is. If I truly think somebody is attractive, I won't be drooling."
"If you loved me, why didn't you just say so? I should have known you hide your love."
I slid the fork out of my mouth. "But I don't love you. I actually find you quite annoying. Now if you don't mind, I just want to eat my cake in peace."
…That afternoon…..…..
I got up just like I did every other day of the year. The Zuka girls were having some sort of event where all their fans could watch, which meant, everybody but me was going. The hall ways were mostly empty, except a few teachers out talking.
As I reached the front gates, I heard my name being called. "Satoshi! Miss Satoshi!" Benio was running out to me, a big smile on her face.
How I should've run. How my feet stayed in place and I turned.
"What?"
She finally caught up to me. "I wanted to apologize for earlier. It was very unlady like of me."
I shrugged. "We have our moments." I turned and began to walk away, but she caught me by my wrist.
"I have something to make up for it. An apology gift."
"You can give it to me tomorrow. I know you have a big event today. You should get going to that."
She shook her head. "No, you need to get it now, before something happens to it. Somebody is bound to claim it if you don't."
"Then let somebody else have it. I don't mind."
"But it is life changing!" She began pulling me along to it. With her strength compared to mine, I stood no chance. The second she took my wrist it was so.
"You made something life changing appear between lunch and now?"
"Well we are going to do something, first. WE were going to use it for something else, but we decided on this."
I began asking her what it was, but she refused to answer. She lead me somewhere as we talked. On our way, we saw people, all of them heading to the event they were hosting.
"Benio, I have somewhere to be today," I lied. "Can we make this quick?"
She released my wrist. "Fine, fine. Just wait here. I'll be back in a minute." She walked off, and I felt a knot of dread slowly grow.
Run, run, run!
But I didn't. All I did was widen my eyes as my head got lighter. Much lighter. I felt my hands numbly reach up and feel the back of my head.
No ribbon.
Benio appeared from behind me. "So you're straight?" My throat was dry, and I could think of no reply. "Everybody in this school appreciates the work the Zuka club puts into their work. All maidens understand the beauty and care put into every bit we do; appearances, our shows. Except for you. So that means you are a male."
I whipped around and glared at her. In one hand, she held silver scissors. In the other, she had my hair, still in the bow. An evil smirk lined her face.
"I'll leave you alone to finish your cake." She turned on her heel and walked off.
From four different sides, cake slammed into me on plates. It smothered me until I couldn't breathe. Somebody worked it into my now short hair.
When the plates finally fell, I took deep breaths and tried cleaning off my face. Hands grabbed me and drug me to the door. The only reason I knew was because some light got through the frosting.
"This is why you never offend Lady Benibara," somebody hissed in my ear just before I was literally thrown out of Lobelia Academy.
I shifted so I was kneeling and began franticly wiping at my eyes. My bag flew through the air and nailed me on my spine. I went toppling forward, out of breath. Through tears and frosting, I rummaged through it and found my phone. Dialing in a number, I got myself under control.
"Hello? Riku?" said my father's voice on the other line.
"Hello, Dad."
"Is this important? I'm in the middle of finalizing things for a major movie."
I stifled a sniffle and said, "I just wanted to say that this academy isn't working out well with me. I'd like to be transferred somewhere else as soon as possible."
He sighed. "That doesn't sound very important. I'll just ask my secretary to work a few things out and I'll get you transferred somewhere else."
"Thank you, Dad."
"Riku?"
"Yeah?" I bit my lip, hoping he'd ask what was wrong or why I wanted to transfer.
"Make sure it is important before you call me next time. My time is valuable."
The line went dead.