"Tales of the Stars"

Book 1 : Homecoming

Chapter 20

Lusion looked out over the ballroom from a second floor balcony. To his disappointment the event had been a masquerade. It would take more effort to identify the reincarnation of his wife. He had hoped to spot her first and then make his move, but at this rate he would need to mingle more among the people. Seiki wasn't too thrilled about it at all and was sulking in a corner.

"This is stupid." the taller man grumbled. "You don't even know if she looks the same in this life. Hell she could still be a baby for all we know."

"She is not a baby. The oracle picked up on her because her powers are being awakened. I'll know her when I see her."

"Cause you're an obsessive freak."

"Seiki if you weren't my cousin I would have had your tongue removed a hundred years ago."

"And if you weren't such an obsessive freak you would have ended this curse a millennium ago and we could all be resting in peace right now. But no you're keeping us all in this frozen limbo because of a woman who left you." Seiki fumed. "She didn't love you Lusion. She never did. Even Lyra knew that."

"You're wrong. She wouldn't have agreed to the marriage if she wasn't at least willing to learn to love me. Also I've asked you time and time again to please not bring up my sister." Lusion leaned on the balcony railing. Lyra's name still made his blood run cold. He closed his eyes trying to chase away the unwanted memories.

Lusion stood over his sleeping princess. Tranquility's transport had arrived that afternoon, and she was still peacefully in her state of sleep. He wanted nothing more than to embrace her, but wasn't allowed to yet. His sister had to be the first person to come in contact with the Earth princess or the power transfer would fail. So he would have to wait a while longer.

He was ecstatic when she finally agreed to the engagement. He'd been sending proposals for years only to be rejected time and time again. He'd fallen in love with her at first sight. His parents had made him attend her sixteenth birthday, which at twenty two he'd felt a little silly doing. But all the same he was enchanted by the princess and vowed that he'd make her his wife. Just shy of four years later he was about to give up, and move onto another prospect.

Lyra's body was failing her. Whoever he married would gain her powers and pillar status for their world. The over throwing of the Golden Kingdom had been the final push that got him his wish. Tranquility was out of options, and even if he was a last choice he'd still take her any way he could.

The prince was brought out of his thoughts as a pair of frail arms wrapped around his shoulders. Lyra pressed herself against his back, easily curling her six foot frame around his slightly shorter stature. Her once lush an beautiful figure had withered away to not much more than skin and bone, hidden away beneath thick cloaks. Even her pale teal hair, that had once been long and full was thinning and brittle. What made it harsher to look at, was just that morning, she'd taken a dagger to it, cropping it painfully short. It's uneven ends looked like they belonged to a wreck less young boy, not a princess in her mid thirties.

"Not much longer my dear brother, you can touch her soon." Lyra's low seductive voice had become raspy in the last month. Her time was growing very short.

"Lyra please get off me." Lusion stiffened under his elder sister's touch, but he didn't dare pull away.

"I know you want to gobble her up." she ignored him and purred in his ear before biting it gently.

Lusion tried to keep his temper. Lyra had been sick for a long time. Her mind had failed her first, and the family had worked very hard to keep her insanity hidden. Lusion ended up being the one to sacrifice the most. Despite mental short comings as long as the pillar was kept happy their world stayed in balance.

The prince had been playing to his sisters whims since he was fourteen. Twelve years of suffering and keeping quiet, to keep their world safe. Tranquility had become his obsession, an escape from the fact that he was his sister's obsession. He'd still awaken to nightmares of the first time she'd come to his room late at night bare as the day she was born and shackles hanging in one hand.

"She'll soon bring you the joys I can't." Lyra ran her hands slowly down his chest. "Then you'll forget about me, but I can't let that happen my pet. I'll make her understand my love for you first."

"Do not corrupt her Lyra. Our world will be in her hands."

"Tisk tisk Lusion. Love is not corrupt, it just pushes us to do things we might not normally do. When she get's my powers my soul and hers will join temporarily. If I wish, I can control her for a few days. I can do things again that this body hasn't allowed me the joys of in quite some time." The prince closed his eyes in distaste as his sister continued to grope his body. He knew what she was hinting at.

She'd make his wedding night her own and forever burn her feelings into his mind, body and soul. Lrya was beyond sick and he was ready to be rid of her. Tranquility probably saw him as a villain in her own tragedy but he would rather be that in her eyes than the tragic pathetic man he felt like.

"She will come to love me on her own. She could have refused as always but didn't. She's willing to learn to love me. I can live with that."

"But dear brother I can simply make her love you."

"No that will still be you Lyra, aren't you ready to be free of your suffering?" He tried to change the subject.

"Suffering? But pet being apart from you in my only pain." she stroked his hair, "If it weren't for this damn body of mine we could stay together forever. No you shall be the one to suffer when you realize the truth."

"And what would that be?" He didn't want to listen to her, but despite her short comings Lrya was almost never wrong on reading other people's motives.

"She will use you. She needs power to save her home. She will beg you to let her save it and then you will never see her again."

"You don't have the ability to tell the future Lrya. You never did. Only the oracles can do that." There was still doubt in his mind, despite his own argument.

"Then go consort with them Lusion, my dear." She let go of him, a bit disappointed. " I have a date with your obsession."

Tachibana cleared his throat to get his young master's attention. The boy and his date had been making out for most of the ride and they were about to arrive.

"What is it?" Kyoya pulled away long enough to ask.

"We're about there Master Kyoya. Should I park inside the garage so you can tidy up first?"

Kyoya saw his reflection in the rear view mirror. His hair was disheveled and a good amount of Staria's lipstick was now painted on his own lips. "That would be a good idea."

"There's still a room reserved in you family's name if you wish to wash up there sir."

"That would be best I think."

Staria fixed her hair and make up the best she could in the room's bathroom. She was embarrassed with herself for getting carried away. She promised herself to not let it happen again that night. Especially with them having a room available to them.

That was just screaming trouble.

She kept reminding herself she was not easy, but kept doubting herself on the same matter. She gathered her confidence as she put her mask on. After making a few last minor adjustments she went back out into the main room. Kyoya was fixing his tie in the mirror over the dresser.

"Ready to join the party?" He asked glancing at her reflection in the mirror.

"Yeah, I'm presentable again."

Kyoya smiled, "As am I." he put his own mask on and turned to her. "Let's go enjoy the evening."

Staria pouted a bit as she took a glass of water. It'd been over an hour already without a single dance. She knew Kyoya had certain obligations but she was feeling selfish. She twirled the stem of the glass between her fingers after taking a drink and scanned the dance floor. She hadn't spotted her brother at all so far.

Either he hadn't made it or he was just blending in very well. She hoped it was the later since he had a mission for that night. She stayed by the table for a while, taking her time with her drink, and scanning over all the different styles of dresses the ladies that night were wearing. As she finished off her glass a young blond girl in a pale pink gown with roses decorating it passed by her.

Staria did a double take. The girl had the same hair style as Mamoru's princess. She needed to get a better look at her face though. She started to follow the girl when Kyoya grabbed her hand and pulled her around to face him.

"I'm sorry." He apologized and kissed the back of her hand. "I got a bit carried away chatting."

"No it's ok, I knew it was gonna be like that tonight. It's not big deal." she looked behind her trying to see where the girl went but she was already lost in the crowd.

"Something catch your interest?" Kyoya asked, since she was obviously distracted.

"Oh!" she turned back to him with a smile. "Um nothing really just saw a dress I liked, I was going to ask the girl where she got it, but she's blended back in already."

"I see." he didn't fully believe her but wasn't going to press the issue. "Well then would you care to dance? I really didn't mean to keep you waiting this long."

"I would love to dance. Though I think you own me quite a few in a row before you go back to chatting."

Kyoya smiled and lead her out onto the dance floor, "It's a deal."

Mamoru had escorted Misa into the ball, but once she and the other musicians began to play he was free for a while. He waited until things were well under way and then snuck back out into the hallway. Misa's dressing room had been near a well guarded door. He figured that was where the royal family was and with them would be the jewel. He just needed a way past the guards.

"Oh great, now I'm lost….which was the way back?" he overheard a girl muttering to herself as she wondered past him. He looked, more out of habit than anything, and froze. He didn't really get a good look at her face, but she reminded him of his dreams.

The hair, the cut of the dress, it all matched very well to his princess. He wondered if it could be her. The crystal temporarily forgotten he followed the blond back to the party, staying close enough to not loose her, but far enough back to remain unseen.

Staria smiled brightly, enjoying herself, as Kyoya twirled her around the dance floor.

"Now isn't this more fun than talking up old rich people?" she asked playfully.

"True, and that's why I invited you along remember." he pulled her close to him as the music changed. "I will admit we should have done this first though. Sorry I made you wait so long."

"It's alright Kyoya. I was just being selfish before. I know tonight's not just about having fun." She gave him a wink.

"I'd say it can be from now on, but I know as soon as I make that promise I'll run into someone with important ties to my family's business or something."

"I think you just jinxed yourself already." she laughed, "But they'll have to wait at least till this dance is over. There is one promise you can make me though."

"And what would that be princess?" Kyoya was amused with her open attitude at the moment.

"If on the off chance they play the 'Sleeping Beauty waltz' you have to stop what you're doing and dance with me again."

The raven haired boy smiled, "You really like that song don't you."

Staria nodded and grinned. "Love it."

"Tamaki must be rubbing off on you. I wouldn't have picked you as the classical music type."

"It's growing on me, but I am the fairy tale type and 'Sleeping Beauty' is one of my favorites, so naturally I love anything attached to it."

"You are such a strange girl."

"How so?"

"You say you love fairy tales, and your life has been playing out as one if you think about it, and yet you just want a normal life."

"I guess I am kind of contradicting myself."

"A dreamer rooted in the mundane? No that's not what I see."

"And what do you see Mr. Ohtori?" Staria was a bit curious at his answer.

"I see a girl who has been thrown out of her element, into what many would call a dream world, but as much as she loves to dream she knows that life is always hard, no matter what form it takes. So she's just a bit scared to let this new dream suck her in. In her heart she knows her old life will never be as it was."

"You are too damn smart for your own good. You know that?" She closed her eyes for a moment and let out sigh, "But it's true, my life does seem like a bad shoujo manga plot." she let out a little laugh. "Think it would sell if I wrote it?"

Kyoya thought about it, "You'd have as good a shot as any, but do you want to put yourself out there? If it did become popular it'd come out sooner or later that it was based on your own life."

"It won't happen. I don't have the focus to be a comic artist. It'd be fun but I stray from projects to easily."

"So you won't spoil the story for me then?"

"What do you mean?"

He leaned in close to her as the song came to the end, "Does my character get the girl in the end?" Staria blushed as he pulled back and lead her off the dance floor. The musicians were taking a short break. She liked his forwardness, but it still threw her off every time.

"Probably…" she muttered, holding onto his arm.

Lusion wandered the dance hall, smiling to himself. He had yet to spot the object of his love, but several other interesting face were appearing. The Earth prince and the Moon princess were both in attendance, though he'd yet to see them together at any point. He could care less about them really, other than it was interesting that one of men who betrayed the Golden Kingdom was in attendance too. He couldn't remember the general's name but he knew the brunet had been one of the prince's close friends and guards. He also seemed oblivious to the other two's presence and was busy chatting up a young red haired girl.

It all amused Lusion to no end. Chaos could drop at any moment, and he was curious as to what might happen. He would have spoken to Seiki about it, but the grouchy man had decided to stay in the balcony where he could see the whole room and watch over his king. Or so he said. Lusion knew his cousin just wanted as little contact with the Earthlings as possible.

Then he felt it, the familiar presence he was waiting for. His princess was close. He let his own magic abilities take over and reached the power out to find her. His eyes were brought to a girl in a green dress he knew he'd seen before. She was younger than he had hoped she'd be, but it was her. Despite the mask blocking the view of her whole face, his Tranquility looked just as she had when he first met her.

His senses went numb for a moment. He'd finally found her, but there was another problem. Ignoring the fact that she was hanging on another man's arm, he was guessing she was about sixteen again. If he approached her one of two things would happen. Best case she'd be thrilled a hansom older man was talking to her, or two she'd think he was a creepy pervert. If the world had been the same as in the past it wouldn't have mattered, but the people's views on age gaps had changed over the years. He'd been six years older than her during the Silver Millennium and there had been no questioning it. He'd used his abilities to freeze time for himself and his people. So as far as everyone on Earth was concerned he was twenty-six, minus a millennium or so. Whether it be six or ten years, in the present time it wouldn't be taken lightly. If he could just manage to make a good impression he could sweep her off her feet.

"Why couldn't she at least have been twenty, like when I married her…" he thought to himself. He watched the couple as they started to talk to an older gentleman who seemed to know Tranquility's escort. He'd found her, now he was going to keep an eye on her at the very least.

"Staria, I'd like you to meet Mr. Akira Toriyama." Kyoya introduced her to a short man who's dark black hair was starting to go gray, and was carrying a few extra pounds than he probably should have been. "He's the owner of a pharmaceutical company my family does business with."

"Nice to meet you sir." Staria bowed to him.

"Your date's quite pretty Kyoya my boy." Mr. Toriyama complimented.

"Yes, she is. How's your family?" Kyoya made small talk with the man. Staria kept getting chills and a weird feeling that she was being watched.

"Quite well. Quite well. My daughter Onika is actually here tonight, but she's run off somewhere. She's been wanting to meet you."

"She's in her third year of middle school, isn't she?" Kyoya dug the trivia of the Toriyama's family out of his head, though he didn't like where the subject might lead.

"Yes, she's thinking about transferring from St. Blossom Academy to Ouran next year, though her mother and I would rather she finish at the all girl's school."

"That's understandable, though Ouran is a very safe environment for it's students." Kyoya looked at Staria when she grabbed onto his jacket sleeve. "Is everything alright Star?"

"Um, yeah sorry. I'm gonna go get something to drink, would you like anything?" she smiled, but he could tell something was off.

"No, thank you, but I'll join you there shortly if you want to wait for me."

"Ok, nice meeting you Mr. Toriyama."

"As you my dear." the older man waited until she'd left thinking she was a bit odd, "Any way, if possible Kyoya, could you ask Onika to dance once tonight? It would make her evening."

"I would sir, but I…." Before he could properly refuse a tiny stick of a girl came gliding up to them. Onika Toriyama was the very definition of petite. She was about five foot tall with long wavy raven hair. She was dressed in a pale lavender gown complete with puffy sleeves and full skirt. Chic but still very stereotypical princess like. Unlike the other guest she wasn't wearing a mask and her large brown eyes were wide with excitement. She was already a radiant beauty, but still gave off a strong child like attitude.

"Daddy! They have the most beautiful flowers in the main hall." She gushed to her father. Kyoya could tell just from her speech pattern that she was spoiled beyond belief.

"Onika we were just taking about you. I'd like you to meet Kyoya Ohtori, he's Yoshio's youngest son."

"You're Kyo-kun?" Se beamed.

"Nice to meet you Miss Toriyama." Kyoya tried to ignore her rudeness.

"Can I see you without your mask? Please? Just so I know for sure it's you?" She begged in a high pitched whine, reaching at his face. Just to shut her up he removed his mask.

"Wow! You are just as hot in person as in your photos." she gushed. He slipped the mask back on, thinking ironically that his own face was masking his true feelings of disgust. "It's nice to meet you finally, but if you'll excuse me…."

"Oh! Kyo-kun will you dance with me when they start to play again." Onika grabbed his hand. "Please?"

"I suppose one dance would be alright, but I need to go check on my date first. If you'll excuse me a moment please." He pulled away and went to go find Staria. Onika watched him as he went.

"So that's really him." she mused. "Daddy I want to marry him someday."

"That would be just fine my dear, but you need to shape yourself into a woman worthy of the Ohtori family or Yoshio will have nothing of it. It's a good move to join our families from a business stand point too. I believe your mother is in a flower arranging class with his sister. You should start joining them."

"Good idea. If I can make the family like me I'm a shoe in."