I do not own Ouran
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"I can't believe I let you talk me into this. It's never going to work." Haruhi grumbled, fingering the ends of her now short hair and looking out the carriage window at the flashing scenery.
Yuki grinned. "It's totally going to work. Dad still drinks day in and day out, so he won't notice anything. And I explained everything to Yuto, dad's steward guy. He agrees. He thinks you'll make a great knight. And he'll take care of everything here. Plus..." With a small smile, Yuki pulled an envelope out of her bag. "He wrote a letter and had dad sign it. Dad probably though it was fief business, so he went right ahead. It's to give to the training master, talking about how his son is going to start training soon." She winked. "And I asked Rei –"
"Our cousin?"
"The very same – what living arrangements were like there, and he says that everyone gets their own room. So changing and bathing shouldn't be an issue, if you don't object to a little extra effort."
Haru sighed. Maybe her sister had thought this crazy plan all the way through. Perhaps it could actually work. Haruhi had two years ahead of her pretending to be a boy as a trainee and then a squire. After she was knighted, she could travel to stay out from under the crown's eye. And she could be a benefit to her family. Help her father in a way she didn't think she'd be able to.
Maybe this was for the best.
The carriage jolted to a stop. Haru jumped, realizing she had been lost in her own thoughts for quite some time now, and once again looked out the window.
"The palace…" Yuki breathed, stepping out as a coachman opened the door for her. Haru followed suit and found herself looking around in wonder, impressed despite herself. Shining parapets and high towers, courtyards, fountains… there was so much to take in. And she'd barely seen any of it yet.
She felt a tug on her arm. It was Yuki; having flagged down what looked like a stable boy, she had asked where the training master's offices were to be found. Haru listened, mentally memorizing the instructions. After he'd left, Yuki sighed, handed her their 'father's' letter, and before she knew it, Haruhi was being pulled into a tight hug.
"Good luck." Yukiko whispered and pulled back, turning and following her maid to her new rooms.
Haruhi swallowed and looked down at the letter. "I'll need it." She muttered, before taking a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, and starting off.