Lost in the Dark
By E.M. Megs
Chapter 16 – Spreading Secrets
Haruhi woke rather early to her father's excited squealing. She glanced angrily at the window and groaned. "Dad! It's hardly even an hour past sun-up! Go back to sleep!"
Ranka persisted in nagging her awake. "Haruhi!" he whined, "Jousting's today! You know it's my favorite! It's the only thing that I go to during the festival every year!"
"You know I can't watch with you," she grumbled, "I have military duties. So go on by yourself."
"But that's why I'm waking you up! You have to get the Narian royals there! Come oooooon! It starts in an hour!" She sat up a bit at the mention of it being in an hour. Dammit, that meant she had to get up. Who knew how long it would take to wake Kyoya. Not to mention she was down a team member since Mori was participating in the jousting. She mumbled incoherently under her breath and she unwillingly pulled herself from bed.
–
She arrived at Kyoya's bedroom 30 minutes later, yawning like crazy. She knocked once before allowing herself in. He didn't even stir. She sighed. And so the fun began. "Kyoya," she murmured, shaking his shoulder from where she stood next to the bed.
Nothing.
"Kyoya. You have to get up." More shakes.
Nothing.
"I know it's early, Kyoya. But you have to get up. Royal families are required to attend." She heard something like an intelligible grunt come from his mouth but he didn't stir much. "Kyoya, you ha–!" Haruhi was cut off abruptly by her wrist being snatched, cold onyx eyes stared straight into hers.
"Haruhi," he growled, "If you value your life. You'll leave. Now."
"I value my life," she murmured, "But it might be threatened by more than just you if you don't get out of bed right now. The jousting tournament starts in 30 minutes. You're King. As King you have responsibilities to attend to."
"Don't lecture me," he grunted.
"Seems like I must since your father isn't in the right state to do so."
That seemed to be a low blow. Hell, what was she thinking, it was a low blow. His lips pursed in anger, eyes tearing away from hers. "I'm sorry," she muttered quickly, "That... just came out." Silence overtook them as the elder stared at the other with eyes burning like fire. Oh how she hated getting on his bad side early in the morning. "Kyoya, you need to get up. You're expected down in the arena stands in 25 minutes now."
A frustrated growl emitted from his lips as he rolled out of bed finally. "Tie your hair back," he commanded, still sounding angry from being woken at such an ungodly hour of the morning. Of course, she'd forgotten all about her hair, so the reminder was quite welcome as he pushed her toward the door. She stood outside the door waiting for him, tugging her hair lightly into a neat but loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. While she was standing there she let her head fall back to rest on the wall behind her, letting go of her worries for a few minutes like leaves on the wind.
Her relaxation was interrupted by a certain Narian Prince's voice. "Well? Are we going or not?" he asked sourly, scowling at her. He was wearing a white dress shirt with black trousers and dark purple tailcoat, she noted subconsciously. He didn't really seem like a robe-wearing kind of King anyway. Haruhi rolled her eyes and led the way, noticing two Narian guards take the rear.
"What're their names?" she asked him quietly.
He glowered at her before replying a bit offhandedly, "Bincapt Ritsu Kasanoda and Korma Umehito Nekozawa. My guards." She'd never seen or personally met his guards before. She thought she recognized the red head from the two times she'd been to the dungeon before. But the other she was sure she'd never met. "Yes, Kasanoda is one from your last trip to the dungeon. And he doesn't speak Kiran." He read her mind. Again. Sometimes she really wondered if he'd ever stop doing that.
–
"Will you be participating in any of the events Your Majesty?" Haruhi asked as she stood by Kyoya's side, watching the opening ceremony commence only about 50 yards away.
They lit the six sacred torches – one for each country – which would burn with the colored fire of each separate nation for the entire week until the closing ceremony at the end. They then told the condensed version of the ancient tale of The Exodus, which was sure to be reenacted later in detailed form both between professional actors and as a child's play for the entertainment of the many people attending.
"One," the Narian King replied, more focused on Yuki's bouncing form in the seat next to him than the actual events happening. "Yuiichi and Nekozawa are both participating in magical combat. Kasanoda in fencing. Akito would be doing jousting if he weren't paralyzed. As it is, Fuyumi's husband is jousting for Pait while someone else takes over Akito's place for Nari." He licked his lips as if to emphasis his distaste in his brother's condition. "You?"
"One as well. Care to guess which? I lose one member of my team to every event it seems."
"Hand-to-hand Combat perhaps for yourself?" She nodded, noticing his smirk immediately. "We may just be paired then." She swallowed subconsciously, knowing that her gender could easily make her lose if she were to be paired with him.
"Don't suppose you'd go easy on me if we were."
"Not a chance," Kyoya murmured, applauding with the rest as the tale-teller retreated out of center-arena. The arena – which wasn't really an arena but a large old horse corral that had been rebuilt – had a short wall that the average grown adult could easily see over while standing, closing in where the participants would do their events. A wrought-iron gate stood at either side of the corral as the only entrances and exits to the center. Around the wall were a multitude of wooden benches, raised in platforms that proceeded upward gradually and held up by the magic of Kiran magicians.
Each nation had a specific area for seating, but no one was obligated to sit in that area if they didn't wish to. As Haruhi observed her surroundings she noticed that very few were sitting outside of their country's seating. She also noticed that Girplush's royal seating had two extra people from the last time she'd been to a festival – 6 years ago when Kira had hosted the last time, she'd been 14.
She also saw a certain blonde idiot heading straight for her. "Dammit," she whispered under her breath as he bounced up in front of her. "Tamaki! You're supposed to be sitting with your family!" she scolded.
"But Namahi!" he whined, "I wanted to watch with you!"
She sighed exasperatedly. "If you're here how are your guards going to watch you?"
"But, they're right over there!" he exclaimed, pointing at his two semi-frazzled looking guards – one of which happening to be Romesa. She noticed Kyoya smirk out of the corner of her eye and resisted the urge to glare at him.
"I can keep an eye on him Romesa!" she called to calm the slightly older guards nerves.
"'Re ye sure, Namahi?" he asked back.
"Positive!" She sighed again and muttered a quick introduction, "Tamaki, King Kyoya. Your Majesty, Prince Tamaki."
"And I'm Yuki!" the 5-year-old cheered from her seat next to Kyoya, though her wide-eyed expression showed something more akin to anxiousness and fear.
Her uncle glanced at her and murmured, "Stop fidgeting or I'll make you go sit with your father." Then he turned his gaze to Haruhi's best friend. "Pleasure. We've met before on several occasions though, Corporal. Introductions are not necessary."
"Last time we met though you were still a Prince," Tamaki muttered. He didn't seem the happiest he'd ever been. And she could feel something tense between the two. Of course, they were also princes of two rival countries. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Having these two meet was either the best or worst thing that had ever happened to her. Tamaki wasn't distracted by the Narian King for very long. As his father stood to announce the beginning of the jousting tournament, he exclaimed, "Namahi! It's starting!"
It was almost ridiculous how child-like he was even after attending 20 festivals. "Tamaki. It isn't like you haven't seen a festival before," she said, clearly unamused by his behavior.
"But it's different every year! And Mori's participating this year!"
"It's the same concepts!" She pursed her lips, never having cared much for the games. "People practically trying to kill each other without actually doing it. Like the war. Except without actually murdering anyone."
"If you disagree so wholeheartedly on the war and the festival events then why are you a soldier and why partake in them?" Kyoya asked coolly, smirking at her from his seat.
She again resisted the urge to glare at him and mumbled, "That is not up for debate, Your Majesty. Nor is it any of your business, with all due respect." He already knew perfectly well why. Or at least he should have figured it out by now. She had to remind herself that they had to pretend as though they didn't know each other. "Tamaki." She turned and found that he had disappeared. "Damn that boy."
"He'll drive his guards mad I'm sure," Kyoya murmured in amusement, glancing in his niece's direction to find her missing as well. "Dammit, Yuki." Great. That was just what Haruhi needed. A missing 5-year-old Princess. Who knew what trouble she could get herself in.
"I'll go find her," she muttered, vaguely wondering where his brothers were along with the twins and Hunny. She slipped away from Kyoya's side, hearing the cheers from the crowd as the first joust commenced. Thinking the logical place for the 5-year-old to have run off to was outside of the arena she exited quickly, hurrying along while trying to look over the heads of passing people.
"Yuki!" she called, cursing to herself in her mind. She caught sight of red-hair, as familiar as it was bright. "Hikaru!" He turned and waited for her to catch up with him. "Have you seen Yuki? She snuck away from her Uncle when we weren't looking. And where the hell are Kaoru and Hunny with the other two?"
Hikaru replied heavily, "Kaoru and Prince Yuiichi are around somewhere. Same with Hunny and Prince Akito. Haven't seen Yuki. Been looking for her actually. She was with you?" He scratched the top of his head while she nodded. "She ran off when I was on my way down to the arena with her."
"She must've been looking for Kyoya." He stiffened at how easily she said his name without a title attached. Then she saw her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Yuki, staring at them wide-eyed. "Yuki!" she yelled, pushing through the crowd toward her. The 5-year-old took off.
"I'll get h–."
"No, just find Kaoru and Hunny and tell them to get the Princes to the Narian Royal seating. I'll get Yuki." She full-out ran after the small head of dark hair that was flowing away from her.
They were nearly outside of the palace gates by the time Haruhi caught up to the little girl, taking hold of her arm. "Yuki." To her surprise Yuki started yelling and crying.
"No! No, I won't go back! No! Let go!" She struggled fiercely as well until the brunette managed to her her turned around to face her.
"Yuki. Yuki! Calm down!" Yuki was quickly drawing the stares and whispers of people around her. Haruhi quickly pulled her off to the side, still holding her arms tightly. She'd stopped wailing now and was just sniffling and sobbing. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" she asked softly, brushing her hair out of her face. The 5-year-old just shook her head and tried to pull herself out of her grasp.
She sighed, an idea flitting slightly into her head. She smiled a bit and pulled off her cap, tugging her hair down. "Au-Auntie Haru?"
Haruhi nodded a little and murmured, "What's the matter?"
She pointed behind her, wrapping her arms around the 20-year-old's neck. "He was the one that killed mommy," she whispered, her eyes tearing up. The brunette slid her arms around the girl's tiny waist, knowing Hikaru was behind her by the intensity of Yuki's shaking.
"I see," Haruhi replied softly. "He's not going to hurt you. We're under the festival peace remember?"
"Tamaki's scary too."
This time she almost laughed right out loud. Tamaki? Scary? Really? Sure, his exuberance was discontenting sometimes but scary? She managed only to chuckle. "Tamaki's harmless. Really he is. Wouldn't hurt a fly." Yuki giggled a little as the older tickled her. "No one's going to hurt you here, Yuki." She stood and held out her hand. "Let's head back to Kyoya, hmm? And you can't tell your Uncle Aki I'm here, alright?"
Yuki tilted her head a bit. "Why?"
"I just... don't want him to know I'm here. It's not a good idea."
"Okay, Auntie Haru," she said softly, still confused but excepting the excuse given to her. Haruhi pulled her hair back again, replacing her cap on her head and took Yuki's hand. They brushed past a slightly stunned Hikaru who muttered a quick report on the whereabouts of the rest of her team.
–
The rest of the jousting tournament went on without problem. Meals were served during breaks. Yuki glanced between her uncle and Haruhi constantly as if expecting something to happen between the two. Akito glared at her every chance he got while Yuiichi ignored her for the most part. The finalists from each country lined up proudly center-arena. King Yuzuru stood once again, ready to announce them before breaking for supper.
"We've seen amazing athletes here today! But these are the 8 champions who will compete after dinner! From Charton, Prince Gregory Grantaine! Girplush's Hamo Espel! Jed Parle for Muttpitt! Kastor Gargon and Hiso Charlote from Nari! Pait's own King Fuko Shido! And for Kira, Private Takashi Morinazuka and Charlie Weston!"
Hunny and Tamaki both cheered loudly at the announcement of Mori's name. Haruhi clapped with a smirk on her face. Akito was in a foul mood since he thought that he should have been down there. "Blasted legs," he muttered under his breath.
A few more words with the pairings and they were on their way to dinner.
The Narian royal family decided to take dinner with the Paitet one. Out of politeness, Kyoya invited Tamaki to join them. Haruhi, of course, ate with them as well, assuming the position of their monitor so the rest of her squadron could have a break.
Yuki still looked apprehensive of Tamaki but quickly warmed up to him as he sat next to her during dinner. Romesa and the Kiran Prince's other guard looked apprehensive of the Narian and Paitet royal families.
Tamaki, of course, being the one that always had to butt into other people's private lives turned to Kyoya and asked, "Are you planning on marrying soon?"
Both he and Haruhi stiffened. Without glancing at her, the Narian King replied with a vague, "Perhaps."
Fuyumi barely held in a snort while Akito muttered, "If Haruhi will take him, he means." Haruhi herself felt like crawling into a hole somewhere and dying as half the table glanced at her when her name was mentioned.
"Haruhi?" Tamaki inquired, the ever curious idiot and thankfully oblivious to the glances at his best friend. Kyoya didn't seem to keen on sharing details from his personal life.
"His lover," Fuyumi offered, earning her a glare from her youngest brother.
"Ohhh! I have to know now! How long has it been?"
The Narian King gritted his teeth but managed to get out, "4 months." Then, predicting the next question of the idiotic blonde he added, "And yes. I care about her deeply." Silence met this statement. Yuiichi's jaw tightened in the slightest. Akito gripped his fork tighter. Tamaki stared at him both in awe and slight fright. Fuyumi and Yuki both suppressed giggles. And Fuyumi's husband, Fuko, remained indifferent. But Haruhi's heart yanked so hard in her chest that her hand shot to the front of her shirt while she stood abruptly, leaving the room with a quickly muttered, "Excuse me. Restroom."
Tamaki frowned as he looked after her. Kyoya kept a straight face, though he knew it was because of him that she had left. "I'll be right back," Tamaki murmured, leaving his place at the table as well. He found her just down the hall, leaning against the wall trying to breathe correctly.
"That bastard's going to be the death of me," she whispered under her breath as he approached.
"Namahi?" he asked softly, cautiously stepping closer like he might startle her so badly that she'd shatter into a million delicate pieces.
"Tamaki," she sighed, really wishing that he had just stayed back at the dinner table.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine. Just not feeling all that great." No sooner had the words left her mouth than his arms were pulling her into his embrace. She sucked in a gasp of pain as her chest wrenched yet again. But for some reason she still felt compelled to lean into him, head resting on his chest. Her entire chest ached terribly, causing a slight shudder to run through her.
Her hands shook ever so slightly as they clutched the front of her best friend's shirt, willing herself – her curse – not to murder him right there. She hated this. She hated this retched curse that kept her from the people she cared about most. She hated being on edge all the time like the next comment someone made was going to be the deciding one on her curse.
Neither of them kept track of how long they stood there in the hall outside of the Narians' dining room. But eventually, Haruhi's hands loosened until they completely fell back to her sides. Tamaki removed his arms. "Better?" he asked softly. She drew in a deep breath and nodded, unaware of the significance of the event that had just occurred.
–
Haruhi stood between and slightly behind Kyoya and Tamaki. The two talked occasionally, seeming to get along just fine despite being the royalty of warring countries. They didn't really pay attention to the competition below them until Mori stood at one end while his opponent, Narian Kastor Gargon, stood at the other.
Akito sat up a little higher in his wheelchair, eyes directed exactly on the man who had replaced him in the event he was supposed to participate in.
The horses seemed restless and tired from all the work they'd had to do with the jousting tournament, thus making it a bit harder for the people riding them to make them charge. They waited impatiently on either end of the arena until the flag went down. Spurred on by the heels of their riders, they ran forward at full speed, jousting sticks lowering gradually.
Kastor's stick grazed Mori's arm but didn't budge him at all on the seat of his horse while Mori's just missed hitting his opponent's chest full on. Haruhi tried to remain indifferent even though she really wanted her friend to win.
A second charge found Kastor jabbed halfway off his horse while Mori rode firm. The Narian quickly readjusted himself before the third charge. Akito would have jumped up if he could have, thinking that the Kiran champion had fallen but instead Kastor did while Mori toppled only a bit.
Tamaki jumped to his feet instead, squealing in hers and Kyoya's ears. "HE WON. HE WON. NAMAHI, KYOYA, HE WON."
Kyoya rubbed his temples while Haruhi tried hard not to smack him. She was honestly ready to go home. Hell, she'd been ready to go home before she'd even left.
–
"If Uncle Gregory hadn't off-balanced Mori with that second whack then he would have gone on the the finals!" Tamaki exclaimed, scowling as Kyoya, Haruhi, and he all stood outside of Tamaki's bedroom.
"Gregory had too much of an edge on him," Kyoya muttered, "He knew where Private Morinazuka's weakness was." He seemed very smug that the Narian champion, Hiso Charlote had come through to first defeat Girplushin Hamo Espel and then the Charton Prince in perfect sequence.
The blonde opened his mouth to object again but Haruhi cut him off. "Go to bed Tamaki. Another long day tomorrow. Archery. And I know you'll be screaming when Kaoru wins like we all know he's capable of."
Tamaki sighed heavily, like a child told to go to bed when they didn't want to, and sauntered into his bedroom with hung head. He loosely hugged Haruhi on the way past before bidding them both goodnight and shutting the door behind him. Kyoya and Haruhi turned and headed toward the Narian King's temporary room.
"The Witch," he informed softly, "Is arriving tomorrow and will be gone again by the hand-to-hand combat tournament." She'd almost forgotten all about her grandmother. Now she stared at him. "You didn't forget did you?"
"Um," she mumbled, scratching the back of her head, "I was more worried about your brother."
He snorted. "Haruhi, if my brother recognizes you he'll just think I'm a moron for loving someone like you. And saving you." Her heart twisted and twinged violently, eliciting a large gasp from her until he amended his statement, "Supposedly loving. He and everyone else but Yuiichi are convinced I am." She relaxed a bit as the pain in her chest did. "Your grandmother, however," he continued as if nothing had happened, "Will kill you if she recognizes you. Because she will know that you're the Moradian Princess right off the bat."
"I understand that, Kyoya," she muttered crossly, annoyed with being lectured by him. "I didn't really think much about her though since she isn't here as of yet."
"She will be tomorrow. And she'll be sitting with us. Warn your father not to go to the games tomorrow and see if you can get someone to cover for you as well. I don't want you anywhere near that arena while she's there."
She thought he was being a bit too overprotective but didn't dare say a single word against him, seeing the look in his eye that was sharper than an eagle telling her not to object. "Alright, alright," she conceded, "I'll try to see if I can wrangle one of the Paitet guards or Romesa into it." Coming up with the excuse as to why she couldn't attend though would be difficult. She rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "Goodnight, Kyoya." He returned the farewell with a slight smile on his lips.
–
Haruhi was very delighted to be able to sleep in the next morning, even if it was only for a short while. And even so she still had to brief her team and show up for part of the archery games that day. She'd managed to coerce Romesa into taking her place without much trouble, provided that she'd find someone else trustworthy enough to watch after the Kiran Prince.
Now, she was walking along the hall toward Kyoya's bedroom so Romesa wouldn't have to discover the horrors of waking the Narian King in the middle of his slumber. Right when she got outside the door she heard voices. Male and female.
She recognized the male one as Kyoya. But the female one was unfamiliar, though she felt like she should know it from somewhere.
"I don't want anything to do with you this week, Witch," she just barely heard the Narian growl from inside the room. She covered her mouth to hold in a gasp. "And I won't have you meeting her. She's mine and you will not corrupt her."
"Oh, but Your Majesty you know that your father would rather have me meet her and approve. Besides, she's named after my dead granddaughter. That just makes me more interested!" Haruhi closed her eyes, drawing from the conversation that they were talking about her.
"No! I don't care what yours or Father's opinions are on Haruhi! If I care to marry her than I will! Now get out."
Her chest wretched with that same ache it always got. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, willing it away. Then she heard footsteps and hurriedly ducked into the room next door. She waited until her grandmother's footsteps had passed and were far down the hall until she ventured back out. "Kyoya?" she called softly, knocking lightly with one knuckle.
"Yes, Haruhi?" he asked, sounding slightly weary as he spoke.
"I... Thank you."
"For?"
"Standing up to her..."
"She has too much power within Filandria. Thinks she can get anything and everything she wants, needs, or even thinks she needs. And besides, someone needs to do it when you aren't able to." She smiled at this. He was quiet, gazing at her with the oddest look in his eye. As if he'd just realized who she was and that she was standing in his bedroom. "What're you doing here? I told you to stay away from the palace today."
"I got Romesa to cover for me... But I need to get you there and back to your room. That was the deal."
"Fair enough," he murmured, eyes sharp behind his glasses, "However... If The Witch shows up unexpectedly, don't be alarmed if I do something that could save your life."
"I think I'd actually be grateful if you did something like that," she replied drily, chuckling a bit. His infamous smirk appeared on his face when she laughed. "Come along." She led the way out the door. They decided to take the less crowded routes to the arena, meaning alleyways and side-paths. Yes, it would be easier for The Witch to spot them, but it would also be easier to see her and cover up Haruhi's identity this way as well.
She was tense the entire way down. Like her grandmother might just show up at any moment. "Relax," Kyoya murmured from next to her without even sparing her a glance. He too was alert though. Not tense, exactly, but alert. She tried to do as he said, but was met face-to-face with the fact that she just couldn't. As long as he was so alert, she couldn't stop being tense.
Then, when they were walking down an alley between two buildings, almost to the end, Kyoya tensed to the same degree she was at. This was followed by him swiftly pressing her back to the wall and his mouth colliding with hers.
"Kyo- Wha-?" she mumbled, voice muffled by his lips.
"Shh," he growled, positioning himself closer to her with one arm around her waist and the other supporting her neck. Her heart wrenched and twisted till she felt like she was about to cry and then it kept going. When he closed his eyes, she felt that it was best if she copied him, her own arms snaking around his neck without her control. She didn't even notice how methodically he seemed to be moving his lips over hers because of the sharp ache in her chest. All she could really do was stand there and wait for it to come to an end.
Someone made a scoffing noise as they passed by them, but neither saw who it was. Several moments later and Kyoya withdrew slightly, breathing just as heavily as she was with his face only a few centimeters from her own. Both pairs of eyes opened slowly and stared at each other.
Haruhi was confused. And it didn't help that her heart was both aching and fluttering at the same time. "You really... Need to stop doing that," she managed to gasp out between breaths, "Going to get us both killed."
"We'd both be dead if I didn't do it, Haruhi," he replied, onyx eyes intensely dark as he glanced down the alleyway in the direction the person had gone. "That," he jerked his head in the direction, "was your grandmother. And because of what I did, she didn't recognize either of us."
She nodded and closed her eyes, tilting her head forward a bit to lean her forehead against his while she tried to catch her breath. "If I never have to do that again, it'll be too soon," she muttered under her breath, though he still caught it and chuckled wryly. She swallowed, pulling back from the Narian King just in time to see the form of a blonde male, retreating backward down the alley. Her eyes widened with horror when she realized who it was. "Tamaki," she breathed, "Shit..."
"What?" Kyoya asked, withdrawing from her fully.
She bit her bottom lip, mind racing. "Tamaki... Just... Shemt!" she swore in Moradian, "Tamaki saw us. Shemt. Ware et ie alino sha?" She pounded the wall behind her with her fist, letting her head fall back against it.
Her companion seemed rather amused by her reversion to her native tongue. Haruhi glared at him. "Do you have any clue what's going through his head right now?"
"I can guess."
"He just saw his best friend who he just recently found out is a girl KISSING the man who's supposed to be one of his mortal enemies."
"Why aren't you going after him then?"
"The Witch. Isn't that obvious?" she snapped, banging her fist against the wall again.
"I'll explain then. Just get me where you're supposed to and go home. He'll come to you."
"But-!"
"Go."
She growled under her breath with frustration and took off toward their destination once more to where Romesa was waiting for them. She followed Kyoya's order and, after thanking Romesa, hurried home with careful watchful eyes.
–
She waited in the kitchen, impatient, worried, and at one point questioning her sanity until she finally heard a knock on the door and a quietly mumbled, "Haruhi, open the door." She did so slowly, finding Kyoya and Tamaki standing there. Tamaki looked something between distraught and absolute despair.
"Why is he calling you Haruhi?"
She cut off his starting flow of questions with a look and a request, "Please let me explain before you start asking questions." Her best friend's pursed lips brought some sort of guilt to her. She glanced at Kyoya and murmured, "Where should I start?"
"I'd start with... How we became... colleagues, let's call it." The word colleague made Tamaki's eyes narrow at her to the size of pins. She could have groaned at the Narian's word choice. Now the Kiran Prince was going to think that she had betrayed him.
"Do you remember... When we were 12... And you, me, and the twins used to stage pretend wars where I was the double spy, Hikaru was the evil king, you were the heroin who saved the day with my information, and Kaoru was the evil henchman?" She paused, looking him in the eye, "It's kind of like that, except... More complicated... And it isn't a game."
Tamaki crossed his arms over his chest. "Continue."
And she did. She told him all about how she had ended up in the dungeon and convinced Kyoya not to kill her. How she had persuaded him to use her as a spy for the Narian cause. How she'd realized that she could start to end the war – or at least cause a decline in death. How she had become the fake lover of the Third Narian Prince so he would have a way of protecting her from his family. How she had lied to him so many times and he'd forgiven her.
And finally, she told him about how, by throwing himself on her, Kyoya had saved her life in the alley. She didn't say anything about why The Witch wanted to kill her, but she didn't need to. Tamaki accepted it.
She swallowed as she finally finished. Tamaki just stared at her. "You're..."
"On neither side," Haruhi finished.
"But... Why does he call you Haruhi?"
Kyoya decided to speak up to answer this one for her. "Because, that's the name that my family knows her by and it's also the name I've become accustomed to calling her." The brunette cast her eyes to the ground. More lies. She was telling more lies to her best friend. The man she'd known since she was eight. Then, at if giving her his forgiveness, the blonde wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"No one will ever get this out of me!"
She smiled, thankful that he wasn't mad at her. But when she looked in his eyes again, there seemed to be something dark and hurt lingering there. Guilt panged within her again. She had to stop lying to him or she might just drive him to insanity.
Or worse. Murder her.
–
Kyoya and Tamaki left her to return to the arena, with Tamaki promising that he'd inform her of the current positioning of the archery competition as it adjusted itself. Haruhi could only breathe a sigh of relief as she shut the door once more, only to find her father glaring at her.
"You... lied to your papa?" he asked, eyes brimming with unshed tears and glittering with the puppy dog look that made her feel so incredibly guilty on numerous occasions.
"What? No! What're you-?"
"You lied to me!" he wailed without the slightest bit of shame.
"How?" she asked, now frantic to get her father to stop crying. She hated making him cry. It made her feel so guilty. Guilty to the point that she might just do anything he asked to make her stop.
"When you were 16 you swore to me that you'd never be involved with anyone!" Her face paled. So he'd overheard that part of the conversation. "You can't be involved with anyone! You know why!"
She sighed and rubbed her neck. "Dad, I'm not involved with Kyoya."
"But he just said-!"
"That doesn't mean we're actually involved. It's called acting for my protection." She was trying to explain, but he wouldn't hear anything of it. "I told you myself that he already knew I was a girl!"
"I didn't think that meant this!"
She gripped him by the shoulders and made him look her in the eyes as much as he didn't want to. "Kyoya and I are not involved in any way romantically," she stated clearly and sharply, making sure it broke through to his conscious, "He and I fake it when we're over in Nari so that his family doesn't suspect me of treachery."
Still, her father sniffled dramatically. She sighed and threw her hand in the air, storming out of the room promptly.
–
"Namahi!" Tamaki screamed, bouncing in front of her. The games had ended for the day just minutes earlier and somehow the blonde had evaded his guards and was already bouncing up and down in her doorway. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, noticing that Kyoya was trudging a bit slower behind her best friend.
She glanced at him then back at Tamaki. They were getting along quite well and for some reason that was odd to her. The way Tamaki talked about Kyoya, she would have thought that they hated each other. And Tamaki's overactive imagination and theatrics were so tiresome sometimes that she thought it would have been annoying to him.
"What do you want now, Tamaki?"
"KAORU WON!" he yelled throwing his hands in the air and jumping even more excitedly – if that was possible.
"Big surprise there," she muttered. The younger twin was practically an archery prodigy.
"He was too much for Princess Jules!"
Haruhi rolled her eyes and retreated back into her house, leaving the door open for the two to let themselves in. "How many females participated?"
"About one for every four men," Kyoya answered, sounding disinterested, "Three of them ended up being finalists though. Muttpitt's got a pretty skilled Princess though. Heard Jules is also going for Fencing."
"Was I the only one that noticed that the Girplushin royal family grew by two since four years ago?" Haruhi frowned, counting how many people she'd seen in the royal section of the country's seating. "At least a dozen of them were sitting over there. I counted 10 last time I attended a festival."
"Jerald III was born in 982 and William four years ago. King's 50 and he's still reproducing."
"Isn't his current wife like... 38?" Tamaki questioned, looking at Kyoya. The bespectacled man nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was starting to get a headache. "Ex-Queen Lina's 53...?" Another nod.
"Jerald II divorced Lina because she wasn't producing male heirs and she was getting to that age where females stop having children," Haruhi muttered from the wood stove where she was trying to light the fire so she could start dinner for her father and herself. Kyoya and Tamaki seemed to make themselves at home at her dining room table. "Dammit," she hissed as she burned herself. She scowled and snapped her fingers over the wood instead with a whispered, "Incendia." Her hand pulled back quickly as the fire jumped to life.
She examined her burned hand with a frown. "Just when I thought I was done with this injury thing," she grumbled just as Kyoya took her hand in his.
"Frigus." The burn instantly cooled a bit. She shot him a thankful smile. He merely nodded in return. Tamaki watched the entire exchange with a strange look in his eyes. Haruhi rolled her eyes at him, recognizing it as the mischievous glint that he usually got when they were at balls at the palace and he was about to try and set her up with some girl that she didn't really care about nor would if she were a male.
"Don't even think about it," she growled, pointing a kitchen knife at him threateningly before returning to her vegetable chopping. The blonde feigned complete innocence – which to him was stuttering and carrying on. "You're both welcome to stay for dinner."
Tamaki cheered but Kyoya declined with utter politeness, "Fuyumi wouldn't be pleased. Not to mention my family would wonder why I was having dinner at my guard's house."
She nodded in consent and murmured, "Right. Tamaki, watch that for me will you?" she pointed at the pot of boiling water on the stove while she slipped on her army cap. She led the Narian King in the direction of his chambers while keeping her eyes open for her grandmother. Thankfully, they reached the room without incident. "Goodnight, Your Majesty. Enjoy the meal with your family." She bowed a bit mockingly and turned on her heel to retreat back to her house.
Only four days of this edgy torture left to go before she'd be able to relax for awhile again.
–
A/N: Yes... Kasanoda and Nekozawa finally make their appearances (even if their parts are really minor). I'm... Just going to revert to calling Haruhi, Haruhi in narration parts. Just remember that she's known as Namahi by some.
Trying to break the Exodus Festival down into three chapters. So far... They'll looking to be very long chapters.
Random note: Am I the only one that feels the overwhelming urge to 'like' a chapter that I'm reading on FF. net like I would on Facebook? Even when I know that there absolutely is NO LIKE BUTTON? AM I THE ONLY ONE?
Tried oh so desperately to finish this before NaNoWriMo started... Obviously that was a failed attempt since this is practically twice as long as a chapter I write normally is. AND it's a freaking MONTH after NaNoWriMo... Happy New Year?
I got sick at the end of November... For three weeks. SO ALL I'VE BEEN DOING IS SCHOOLWORK ALL BREAK. ARGH.
In short, I apologize for this being so late. I've been going through the repeated stress-cycle of school, sick, catch up, school, sick again, for the entire damn year. Chronic bronchitis sucks ass. So does Monopoly (which my sister got for Christmas... Thus ANOTHER distraction.)
This also isn't my best chapter. As I finish writing it it's past midnight when I've only been running on a cup of coffee from this morning and six hours of sleep (my norm is 9-10). Soooo, it could be better but I really want to get it finished with. (Two months. ARGH.)
Thanks to everyone who looked at Guardians of Less and reviewed: Enigmaticrose4, Cactus2008, they-call-me-Squire, Mikame15, and KyouyaOotori17. You make me feel like my book could actually become a best seller if I ever finish it/it ever gets published.
Kudos go to: Enigmaticrose4, XxNightShroudxX, JUCHKO, Jengurl24, Yami Asakura, Mikame15, The Phantom Devil, Mrs. Ootori43ver, Person (I seriously lol'd at the anonymous name... Thanks for that.), hanna-Chan (You reviewed like... The ONE DAY that my internet was out and the email on my phone wasn't working lol...), and Koharu Veddette!
Some of this chapter is rambling and filler. I apologize for that as well (what else is supposed to take up that stupid space?) my brain's only half functional. And I felt that the other royal families should be semi-introduced.
Tamaki's calls the Chartonian King 'Uncle Gregory' because he's his mother's half-brother. But Tamaki's mother isn't legitimate Chartonian royalty because of the way she was born and a bunch of other confusing stuff. Bleh. Half-functional brain sucks right now. Just thought I'd clear that up a bit.
Sorry again for the wait... -cringe- You can eat me if you must. But I'd really prefer to live for a while longer... At least until I get through my junior year.
And... I also apologize for the PAGE LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE. YEESH! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? RAMBLE-MOUTH MUCH? (If you read all of this, I commend you greatly. Triple Kudos for you...)