I have to warn you now: there is another sad part to this chapter. I hope that the happiness makes up for that. I do not own OHSHC.
Sunny's POV
I kept dozing off in between photo shoots. The makeup girls let me take small naps as they kept changing my hair and makeup. They made sure to make my face not look tired and irritated. Kyoya-senpai kept coming over whenever my eyes were closed for a few minutes and poked my arm with his pen. Kept saying that we were on a schedule and that we just had to finish today.
A shot him a dirty look and said my repeated excuse for me being in a bad mood and exhausted: no sleep for more than twenty hours. After once again getting his blank stare in return I got up out of my chair and went to the dressing room to disrobe and put the next outfit on. This time around I was being paired up with Honey-senpai in elaborate pink Lolita dresses with golden bows.
We both sat on a pink rocking chair, with him sitting on my lap and putting his ear over my heart and staring at the camera with his chocolaty-amber eyes. In other photos I held him up with his legs circling my waist, the both of us smiling into the camera. There was a photo where Honey-senpai had my red lipstick mark on his cheek, I was laughing and he had this adorably embarrassed blush on his face.
I had already been paired up with Mori-senpai, dressing in deep blue Chinese dresses, accented with golden dragons. We stood side by side, with him on a panel to make him look taller. Kyoya-senpai said that it made me look smaller and would add more to Mori-senpai's Host Type. Most of the time Mori-senpai would wrap his arm around my waist, have me engulfed in his arms, or hold me up bridal-style.
The shots I had with Kyoya-senpai were with me in short, lavender dresses with a few golden spirals along the skirt. It was extremely uncomfortable during all this. He managed to pull off a few smiles and grins but most of the time it was just me smiling and him serious. I had to drape myself over him, my arms encircling his neck and tilting my body to the side as he had his hands stuffed in his pockets. The entire time my heart was pounding and racing, but he always had this look of cool and sereneness on his face.
With Haruhi I wore red dresses that went to my knees, the stiches in the dress and the spaghetti traps were all golden. I was only mildly shocked when I found out the there were some guests that paired me and my cousin up, after all, they openly think that Hikaru and Koaru should hook up. It was very easy to pose with Haruhi, in some photos both me and her would hold hands and jump high in the air, creating a perfect mid-air shot. The last one was of me kissing her on the cheek.
I was then paired up with Tamaki-senpai. We were both decked out in all white outfits, the only color was the 24 karat golden jewelry around my neck and wrists. The long, white dresses were clinging on my newly formed curves and the bust was padded. The pictures with Tamaki-senpai had more of a Prom night feel to them, I held onto his arm, but instead of looking back at the camera Kyoya-senpai said to look at Tamaki-senpai. He said that this would create a more loving air to it if I was to look at Tamaki-senpai's face with a downplayed shyness and possession. I had to concentrate on keeping my eyes trained on Tamaki-senpai when the flash went off behind me, he had his arm around my waist. The last shot was of his finger raising my chin and him looking down at me.
I was at my last Host pairing of the day, with the twins. I was nervous to see how it would turn out and what kind of directions Kyoya-senapai would give me when I was with them both. I was wearing a sunset orange summer dress and golden bangles around my wrists, this first dress was focused around Kaoru. It was nerve wracking posing with them both, my palms were starting to sweat. My arms were around Kaoru's neck with Hikaru draped along my back, I was acutely aware of his hands on my waist.
A few poses and a lot of smiles with Kaoru later, I was slipping on a light blue dress that tied behind my neck, a blue rose in my hair. As the woman was securing the rose in my curly hair, it occurred to me the my newly died blue highlights and the rose were the exact same shade. I wondered if Kyoya-senpai planned that, thinking that it would be funny to mess with me. I tied the golden strip of gold around my waist and tied it in a bow behind my back.
This time around, my arms were around Hikaru's neck with Kaoru behind me. It was strange, being this close to him. I was all smiles on the outside but I was a nervous wreck on the inside. There were a few times the photographer would snap a picture of me and Hikaru looking at each other in the eye with searching glances. There was uneasy tension between the two of us and I felt Kaoru take his hands off my waist and stood behind me posing by himself. He was only a few inches away but I had the sneaking suspicion that he was excluding himself on purpose, so that his brother and I would be the only ones touching.
When the pictures were done I was tugged away by a makeup girl to get ready for my individual shots. I gave a glance at Hikaru over my shoulder, seeing him give me a nervous smile before getting dragged away to change into his next outfit.
I tugged the rose out of my hair and set it down on the my vanity as the women were taking my makeup off and redoing my hair. I stared at the flower, wide awake at this point. I thought about Hikaru and how his and Kaoru's mother was the one that designed the clothes we were all wearing for this photo shoot. On the limo ride here Kyoya-senpai said that she was more than happy to lend us the clothes and that we could use the big studio at her mansion to do the calendar shots.
I was surprised to hear that their father, when he and their mother were married, he took on his wife's surname. It's a rare thing to hear of in America and I had no idea that something like that could happen here in Japan. I heard that their father is an executive at a computer software development company and their mother was the president of her own fashion company.
I then heard that their grandmother, from their mother's side, travels frequently and rides a motorcycle. I was impressed that a woman of high society in her 50s could be so free spirited in taking off without any warning with her husband, that the only way that their family knows where exactly she was would be by spotting her in magazines. She is very talented in the art of flower arrangement and that her Ikebana company is in its seventh generation.
Once my hair and makeup was done I got up out of my chair and went over to my dressing room. It was a fringe Latin lemon salsa dress with spaghetti straps, the underwear and bra sewn into it. I was almost positive that this piece was either specially made for me by Hikaru and Kaoru's mother or was specially ordered from another country. The dress moved with me, literally, because the loose fringe on the dress went all over the place when I twisted and twirled. I pulled on my smoky stockings and black dance heels and left to find the dance instructor.
Kyoya-senpai stated that he wanted my dress to be more than just a decoration and that the pictures would be better if I was in motion. So he got a salsa dancer to teach me a short routine while the rest of the host's were being photographed. The dance instructor didn't speak either English or Japanese, but was actually fresh from Spain. Being already able to speak Spanish, I had an easy time picking up the dance. He showed me a few moves for my solo and wished me good luck. I thanked him and ran over to where my designated vanity was located. I picked up the blue rose on the table and asked the hair girl to secure it.
I was called over by the photographer, saying that it was my turn again. I quickly went over in front of the camera and started the dance. It was easy enough to smile as I dance, since I already had enough experience performing. The golden fringe moved with me, the photographer managed to take pictures of different times in the dance when I started over with the solo.
By the time I finished the dance a fourth time the photographer was done with me. I was a little out of breath by that time and went back over to my hair and makeup team. Every time I sat in that chair I would be attacked by makeup remover and hands undoing my hair style but this time the space was empty. After a few minutes of confusion I started to undo my hair myself. I started by pulling the rose out and as I reached to take it out, a woman appeared in the mirror.
She had short ginger hair, and the most familiar bright eyes, wearing dangling earrings. She was wearing a navy skirt suit and strappy heels. I was still stuck on the eyes, they had a familiar mischievous gleam to them. It hit me then, it was Yuzuha Hitachiin. I practically tripped over myself as I scrambled out of my chair and bowed my head at her.
"Hitachiin-sama," I greeted. When she didn't say anything I slowly raised my head and straightened my back. She was about my height, but the dancing heels made me a few inches taller. She was looking me up and down, sizing me up to see if I was worthy to wear her clothes, I think. "Um, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"You have very good posture and the biggest green eyes I've ever seen," she exclaimed, beginning to circle me. "You're hair is simply adorable, but the rose is a bit off center. Would you mind bending down a bit, please?" I was frazzled by this, but was too stunned to do anything else but to do as she asked. She raised her hands and after a few movements she pulled her hands back. Then she straightened her suit out and looked up at me. "It is so nice to meet you, Sunlight. I can see why me son raves so much about you." My face ignited at her words, especially in finding out that Hikaru has taken his fascination with me home to his family. "I've been watching you for while from up in the balcony," she said.
I looked up to where she pointed, seeing a balcony overlooking the entire studio in the corner of the room. "I can't believe I never noticed that until now," I said. I found myself wondering why there was a balcony on the inside of the mansion. "Do you know where the women that were here earlier went, by any chance?"
"Oh, them," she said, sounding as if she had completely forgotten about them. "I sent them away to give me a chance to talk to you alone. But it looks as if they are about ready to start the group portion of the photos now, so I'll leave you to get ready now. It was so good to talk to you, Sunlight. I'll be back to show you the dress I had specially made for your birthday month when they get to November." She kissed me on my cheeks and walked off, leaving me very much confused.
Seconds after she left the room, the team of woman were launching their next round of hair pins and eyes shadow. For the month of January we were dressed in the colors of red and yellow, looking sort of like burning fire, there was even a bit of cinder and soot at our feet. Kyoya-senpai said that it was a metaphor, something about burning the old and the new coming from the ashes, like a Phoenix. I didn't wish to question it and have it turned into a lecture, I just wanted to move on to the next month. What made me the most uncomfortable was that we were standing in our regular positions whenever the guests started to come in, leaving me to stand next to the twins, with Hikaru standing to my left.
February was technically Honey-senpai's birth month, at least every four years, but even though it wasn't a leap year we still dressed up in various shades of pink and red, since it was also Haruhi's birth month as well. We surrounded both Honey-senpai with his bunny and Haruhi, with us a bit in the background. There was a giant white cake in front of them on a low table, so that the cake was the only thing that could be seen with no table, with the words "Happy Birthday" written out in black frosting, Honey-senpai's name written out in pink frosting right below with Haruhi's name in red.
We were then forced to wear the color green for the month of March, something about the grass being vibrant this time around. I had the idea of wearing a clover necklace, with a single shamrock in my hair.
Tamaki-senpai had his birthday in the month of April, having each and every one of us dressed up in ivory, surrounding him with the cake similar to Honey-senpai's with his name.
May was Mori-senpai's birth month, we were all dressed in dark blue, his name written out in similar hued frosting, with Honey-senpai hugging him. June was the twin's birth month, making us wear blue and orange colored clothing, their cake covered in the two different types of frosting. They had their backs to one another and leaned back, making sure to support the other up.
The rest of the months were average and they decided to leave my month, October, until the end. So we proceeded to Kyoya-senpai's month: November. We were then dressed in different shades of lavender.
December was pretty predictable since we were all dressed like we were at the Christmas party. Kyoya-senpai said that since I had no more use of the red gown that he would auction it off to the highest bidder. I didn't put up much of a fight for that dress, sure it was pretty but it wasn't something that I was keen to put on any time soon. I went over to the dressing room to disrobe and put the dress in a zip up bag for Kyoya-senpai, leaving it hanging on the hook for one of the assistants to give it to him. I went over to my vanity station in my robe and got attacked by my team again.
They left my hair down this time, making sure that none of my blue highlights were hidden. My lipstick was a mild pale pink and my eyes were accented with light colors, making my jade-green eyes pop. True to her word, Hitachiin-sama came to me with my next dress. She said that a bit of assistance would be required so she followed me into the dressing room. I disrobed and pulled the dress over myself. It was strapless and golden, not very surprising considering that that was the color that continued to follow me during all my photos.
The dress had many layers to it, making it puff out a bit. The front of the dress went to my knees and continued to gradually get longer at the back, the back of the skirt grazing the back of my shins. It was held together at the back by corset belts. I held the bust of the dress against me while she tightened the stings at the back. It was only a couple of days ago that Hikaru and I were in the exact same position, his fingers tracing the faint scars on my back. I came back to myself when she asked if it was too tight.
"It's perfect," I assured. "Thank you, Hitachin-sama." I turned and bowed my head in thanks to her.
"No need to be so formal," she said. "Call me Yuzuha. It would be a good idea to be acquainted right about now." I didn't know where to start. By saying that it was very improper to address her by her first name so soon or to ask her why exactly it was a good idea to do so at this moment. I didn't want to get into it just before the last pictures of the day so instead I decided to take the easy way out.
"Then, would it be too inappropriate for me to ask you to call me4 Sunny?" I asked shyly. Her eyes were the same amber of her sons. Looking at her made me realize how much they take up after her. All I could pick up right now was that the three of them were artistic.
"That would be just fine, Sunny," she said, stroking my cheek and giving me an encouraging smile. "Now, go out there and finish this off with a bang!" I smiled back at her, thinking that she was just as energetic as the twins.
We both exited the changing room and I walked back over to the group, all of them dressed in gold. It was finally my turn to be at the front with my name written out in golden frosting. My stomach felt very empty when I looked over at the cake, wondering if it was real or a very elaborate and convincing prop. But I squashed my hunger down and smiled for the camera.
At the very end, when I thought that the photographer was finished, I swiped my finger in the white sheets of the cake and stuck it in my mouth. I sighed happily taking a few more swipes. I felt a bit of frosting on my bottom lip and smiled at the familiar feel to it all. When I was younger, I remember my face being pushed into my cake by an eleven-year-old A.J. After I verified that the cake was chocolate I swiped at the cake on my face and threw at him. It was a good birthday and turned out great in the pictures. So good in fact that that day continues to follow me to this day, because when I wasn't paying attention the photographer snapped a final picture, my lips covered in golden frosting.
It was around ten in the morning that January first, Haruhi and I were finally heading back to the apartments. I was halfway asleep when the limousine suddenly came to an abrupt stop, jerking me forward with only my seat beat to stop my momentum.
I screamed, curling my body up into a panicked ball on the seat. This was exactly why I didn't like to be in vehicles and why that night will forever be with me. There were tears streaming from my eyes and my fingers dug into my skin, I felt my nails break past the barriers of my clothes. I knew that we hadn't crashed but the fear kicked my logic into the further recesses of my mind. That same fear made it impossible for me to answer back to the worried voices of my friends. My body was frozen and my mind went back to that night.
I remember that my mother's voice was singing along to the music on the radio, me backing her up. My father was smiling at our antics. My mother was dressed in her black skirt suit, the ear piece still in. She was an event planner and we had just left the remnants of her most recent wedding ceremony. I was there that night serving tables and my father came later that night to pick the two of us up, coming fresh from his job at the police station. I can still see the shininess of the badge on his chest.
Since I had spent the entire night in the most uncomfortable, toe pinching waitress shoes, I was barefoot in the car. I remember beginning to say that I was doing well in my psychology class when my dad asked how school was going, but a pair of head lights in my eyes stopped my words. The lights never swerved, the driver had this cold and deadly stare in his eyes right before the cars crashed into each other.
I think I was knocked out for a while after that, but I remember hanging upside down, my hair floating above me. There was a sickening sticky substance running upwards, not downwards. My mother's chocolate hair was like mine, a line of blood running into her hair. My father, so strong and unstoppable, was faintly breathing.
There was nothing that I could do and it wasn't long until I blacked out.
"Sunlight!" yelled a voice. I was slowly coming back to myself. I let the air in and out of my lungs, slowly uncurling my head from my stomach. I found myself melting into amber eyes, the calm slowly coming to me. I pulled Hikaru towards me, needing to feel myself in the present. For the second time in a matter of hours he let me ruin another one of his shirts with my tears, wrapping his arms around me, giving me all the time in the world."It's alright," he whispered. But it wasn't! Nothing would ever be alright! "You're safe now. I won't let anything hurt you."
My sobs were slowly quieting, but I didn't dare let go of him, not wanting to go back to the past. But I felt his words click together in my head. These were the words that he would soon come to regret far down along the road. But I let myself believe the words. I let myself believe that I was safe in his arms.
I was having fun and was happy up until the last part of the chapter. There was a point where I felt myself tearing up.