[Fanfiction] [Crossover] Why Did I Fall in Love with you?
Title: Why did I fall in love with you?
Author: Dark Hooded Eriol the Magician
Series: Ouran High School Host Club / Cardcaptor Sakura
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/ Angst
Status: In-progress
Disclaimer: The song is by DBSK and the characters are made by CLAMP and Hatori Bisco. Support them, please!
Summary: Some of us seek second chances. Will we be brave or will we be cowards again? There is only a choice to do what is right and what is true. Why did I fall in love with you? -KyouyaxTomoyo-
Chapter II
+0+0+
Why wasn't I able to convey to you?
My feelings that were growing every day and night
the words begin to overflow
But I know they won't reach you now
+0+0+
Tomoyo walked out of her mother's office with the manila envelope in her hand. It contained all of the information that the matchmaker sent about her prospective husband. Though she had expertly expressed her enthusiasm for her mother's plans, her heart wasn't in it. Another glance reminded her of her "date" next Tuesday.
She wanted to laugh because it looked like a curriculum vitae for all of its businesslike and professional description. It included his pedigree (his family was very old and noble), his wealth (he was extremely rich and affluent, both from family coffers and surprisingly his own) and his accomplishments (he was named as the most promising businessman of the decade) - the things that mattered to the upper class. There was no picture included so she imagined a man who looked severe because of constant work. It was her first marriage interview and it looked like it won't be a success.
The dark-haired girl proceeded to her private wing in their spacious mansion in Tomoeda. There was a mini-theater, library, walk-in wardrobe and music room to amuse her but she preferred her bedroom for now. She smiled at the maids who were cleaning as she walked by. They all smiled and curtsied at their young mistress, noting the envelope on her hand and the brittle expression on her eyes. All of them worried about her constantly because they simply adored her. Nobody could spend two minutes in her presence without respecting her quiet confidence and easy grace. So they were quite affected by their mistress's current situation.
Tomoyo walked inside the sophisticated bedroom and locked the door behind her. She flung herself down on her queen-sized bed face-down, crumpling the envelope. For a few moments, she didn't move. Her heartbeats slowed and her mind calmed.
Her mother was right. There was no sense in moping around, pining for her lost love. She was beautiful, talented, rich and kind-hearted. Although she preferred to ignore it, she was aware of the keen interest of the men who surrounded her. She never ran out of suitors and proposals. That should show him what a prize she was.
Perhaps it was time to step out of her self-imposed isolation. Since that incident five years ago, she had stopped showing interest in men and marriage. She chose to focus on her career, family and herself. So far, she had been successful. She had been good at ignoring the pain that gnawed at her insides every day. But she was running out of excuses now.
Sakura was right. It had to stop someday. She had to face herself.
The dark-haired heiress reached for her mobile phone and pressed the speed-dial. It immediately connected her. The cheerful voice of her cousin's son greeted her. A smile blossomed on her face. "Hello, Kimihiro-chan, where's your Mama? Can you give the phone to her so we can talk?"
"Mama," the little boy babbled on the other line. "Mama!"
She giggled when she heard Keroberos's amused voice on the background, scolding the little one lightly for taking his mother's phone without permission. It assured her that Sakura was coming and that she should stay put. Then Kimihiro dropped the phone and she heard more footsteps, a laughing baby and then finally her cousin's voice answering with a breathy, "hello?"
"Am I interrupting something?" Tomoyo laughed. It was obviously a testament of her best friend's domestic bliss. "You sound so busy!"
"I was loading the washer and I didn't realize that Kimihiro-chan took this. What's up?" Sakura smiled too. She was very glad to hear from Tomoyo after a while. The news had shattered her best friend so she was compassionate enough to give her some space.
"I'm going to a marriage interview," the heiress said tartly. "It's Mother's great idea. What do you think?"
"Go for it," Sakura said promptly. She plopped down on an easy chair in the living room and drew up her legs. On her peripheral vision, she could see Keroberos summoning two of her Sakura Cards- the Flower and the Float- to amuse Sayuri and Kimihiro. The Cards curtseyed towards her direction, waiting for her approval. She nodded, smiling, and the Cards immediately went to play with her children.
Although she looked like a happy homemaker, she was also the greatest mage in the world. She was the proud owner of the Sakura Cards since she was twelve years old. Nobody knew except her family and closest friends like Tomoyo. Magic was inevitable in their family life. The Cards were as attached to her children as were her Guardians.
"You shouldn't shut yourself off from the rest of the world," Sakura said gently. "You're a good girl, Tomoyo-chan. You deserve to meet someone new."
"But the guy that they're trying to set up for me sounds like a total bore. There wasn't even a picture included. He might be rich and powerful but that doesn't mean much to me," said the dark-haired young woman. "You're my fortune-teller. Tell me what to do. Do I Google him?"
The Card Mistress laughed heartily at that. "I suggest leaving it up to fate. You have to trust the unknown."
"That's nice to hear from someone who sees the future on a regular basis," Tomoyo retorted, giggling. "But it's good advice nonetheless. If it doesn't work out, promise you will call me at my SOS so I can get away. Or ride out in Fly and save me from his clutches!"
"You're overreacting," Sakura admonished. "You should give other guys a chance you know. There's no sense in closing off the rest of the universe. If you keep clinging to your past then there's no future."
"That's easy for you to say," her cousin murmured.
The brown-haired woman felt her chest constrict. She felt Tomoyo's pain through her voice. There was no denying how much it had hurt her. If only she possessed enough magic to remove such difficult memories…
Summoning her most optimistic voice, she said, "Everything will be fine."
"Everything will be fine," Tomoyo repeated her friend's magic spell. How many times had she heard Sakura say that to herself over the years that they were together? How many times was it proven right? There was a certainty in her friend as she persevered over her own challenges with only a mantra in her hand and a smile on her face. Perhaps she should try it for herself.
"Yes, it will be. You'll see," Sakura said mysteriously. She was staring at her children while she talked on the phone. They were laughing as they were showered with petals from every flower and levitated in the air. Keroberos was flying around in his small form, laughing. They were very blessed indeed.
Tomoyo wished that she possessed the same certainty. She wished that she was as strong as her best friend. Sakura had endured a long distance relationship until after college then Syaoran promptly married her. She knew that Sakura had honed an iron will and an unwavering desire.
Although she had everything she could ever want, she still lacked one thing which Sakura had in abundance. Her best friend understood that; Sakura was generous in sharing her life with her. But she knew that the time that she had to create a life of her own was fast approaching. It was inevitable. The marriage interview might be a step towards the right direction.
"Tomoyo-chan, trust me on this one. Everything happens for a reason. There is no coincidence. There is only hitsuzen," Sakura said seriously. "Don't forget the guy in glasses. I really have a strong feeling about him…"
"Did you have a dream?" the dark-haired young lady asked, intrigued.
Sakura was about to answer when she heard her husband call out for her. She giggled. "Just trust me. Everything will be okay."
+0+0+
The first Ouran High School Host Club held weekly dinner meetings in a charming French restaurant every Saturday. Six handsome young men and one young woman would take the best table in the corner with the best view. There would be a five-meal course, a bottle of champagne and lots of laughter.
They've been friends for many years that weekly rituals were cherished and treasured. Even after the graduation of each one, they maintained communication with each other. They had rejoiced with every victory and shared loss when it came. They considered each other as the pillars of their world so living without each other was unheard of.
Tamaki and Haruhi Suoh sat at the head of the table, glowingly in love. The blond Host Club King had triumphed in the end over his struggles with his grandmother years ago and got the girl everyone wanted. Now he was the sole heir to the family fortunes and married to a wife whom he adored to the point of insanity. His lovely wife, on the other hand, worked as a top human rights lawyer since she couldn't be expected to be a stay-home wife. They didn't have any children yet.
Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin had ventured further into the fashion industry, gathering raves and reviews along the way. They were leaders of the fashion revolution. They charmed and flirted their way into the top of the world with their unbreakable brand. They still worked together but they maintained different labels and managed different stores. Everyone was mad for the Hitachiin touch.
Mitsukuni Haninozuka, or Honey as he was popularly known, had settled down early to everyone's surprise. He had married a charming young woman who was a pastry chef at his early twenties and had one little son. They owned and managed a chain of recognized cafes and pastry shops.
Takashi Morinozuka (or Mori as he preferred to be called) became a martial arts specialist. He was the head of a successful dojo and was often abroad. To the disappointment of many young ladies, he still refused to settle down because he was still intent on honing his skills in combat. So that he could protect his cousin and his family better, of course.
Kyouya sat at the middle of it, listening and making mental notes. He was aware of everything that was happening to all of them but he preferred to be on top of things. Although they were still a bunch of noisy idiots, they were his friends and he was fiercely loyal to them.
Conversation usually began with business. Everyone would share their news to argue, to debate and to talk about it. Nobody made a move without consulting Kyouya. They all respected his expertise so all of their businesses grew from it. Then it would move on to mundane topics like gossip and the like.
Usually they talked about their marriages, their old friends and other things. Kyouya wouldn't participate because he disliked the topic. Nobody would notice and the evening will end with new plans for their next pet project or their next business meeting. But tonight, they seemed to be eager to focus the spotlight on him. It was all Tamaki's fault.
"So, Kyouya," the blond said warmly "I heard from your brother that your father is setting you up on a date."
Kyouya's eyebrow twitched. He would deal with his annoying older brother later. "Yes, that's true. But I prefer to think of it as a marriage interview. It's nothing serious."
The others exchanged mischievous looks. That was new. Kyouya was being defensive so that meant something. They never had the chance to tease him so they grabbed it immediately.
"Oh?" Hikaru said nonchalantly "Who's the lucky girl?"
"Or maybe unlucky," Kaoru piped up, chuckling.
Kyouya glared at them. But they've all had a little wine on their veins so they ignored it.
"What's she like?" Honey asked, curious. He was worried about his friend for years because Kyouya never had any serious relationships. "Do you know anything about her?"
"I honestly don't know," he answered simply.
Everyone stared, flabbergasted at this piece of information.
Kyouya, getting irritated by their ogling, snapped, "I'm too busy for this nonsense."
Tamaki smiled uneasily. His best friend was a double-edged sword so he was best handled carefully. "We know that, Kyouya. We're your friends. Perhaps we deserve to know what's going on."
The blond man quailed under his best friend's fierce glare. His wife, unperturbed, turned to him with an easy grin. "I'm glad for you. She must be somebody really worthy to pass your standard."
"What do you know about my standard?" Kyouya asked, surprised.
All of the men turned to the only woman in their table. She wiped her lips gently with her napkin before putting it down. Large brown eyes were laughing at them all. "Enough to know that you don't waste time on useless people, correct?"
It was stated with such blunt honesty that they all smiled in spite of themselves. That was Haruhi for them. There was no sense in wasting time or words. They only had to go straight to the matter.
Kyouya adjusted his glasses. He sighed and gave himself up to the inevitable. "Her name's Tomoyo Daidouji. She's 25 and she's looking for a husband."
"You made it sound like an ad," Honey giggled like a little boy. He did look like one though with his large brown eyes, chubby cheeks and perpetual smile. As the loli-shota mascot of the group, he had the right to act childlike whenever he felt like it. "Kyou-chan is so mean. You should be nice to the poor girl."
"She sounds familiar," Hikaru said, chewing on a bite of chocolate cake. "Where have I heard her name before?"
Kaoru glanced at his brother with an amused smile. "You've heard of her. She was with us on a contest years ago."
"What?" The dark-haired twin looked surprised. "Why didn't I remember that?"
"She was at the Young Artist of the Century fashion contest three years ago. We were semifinalists for the award of being the newest designers to watch. She won though." Kaoru smiled fondly at the memory. "She was very talented. Most of her clothes were beautiful."
"They were like battle costumes," his brother retorted, still stung. He recalled their defeat to the petite young woman clearly now. He wanted that award. "Her clothes were like a magical girl's costume parade."
"But she disappeared right after that," Kaoru added, nodding vigorously. "She was very mysterious."
That's interesting, Kyouya thought, his mind working fast.
"I think I know her," Honey piped up with a grin. "She ordered dozens of cupcakes and cakes from our pastry shop for a birthday party before. That was a couple of years ago too. It was her nephew's birthday. We had to get two trucks to transport the cupcakes."
Mori nodded. "Ah."
Tamaki tapped his chin thoughtfully. He'd heard that name before as well. There was something very familiar…
Haruhi beat him to it. "She's a singer. She performed for one of your company parties, senpai."
Kyouya rubbed his temples. He wished that he bothered to dig up more information about his prospective date. Since he received the news a week ago, he put it off because he was far too busy to deal with it. Something would have to be done to confirm all of their stories.
"She might not be familiar to any of us because she never went to business with us. And she didn't go to Ouran either." Kaoru said thoughtfully.
"That's a factor," Honey agreed.
"True. I don't forget a pretty face either." Tamaki nodded. His wife promptly pummeled him.
They erupted into laughter. Kyouya was left looking at his plate, deep in contemplation. As his friends resumed their conversation and moved on to the news of their schoolmate Umehito Nekozawa's wedding to Renge Hoshakuji, he wondered why he failed.
He was the shadow king, the puppet master. How come he didn't do the usual routine of getting a background check, an internet search or simply hiring a private investigator to find the matchmaker's suggestion? He was slacking off already. Then he realized with a sinking feeling that his marriage interview was actually tomorrow. "Shit," he said suddenly.
"Are you okay?" Kaoru asked since he was sitting next to him. The red-haired Hitachiin was probably the most level-headed and sensible of the group. He had long established himself as the best listener since all of them were loud talkers.
"I'm really screwed," the Ohtori said frankly.
His friend looked surprised at his admission. Hazel eyes glittered. "It's your first date, right? Don't tell me you're nervous."
Actually my first date was with Haruhi, Kyouya thought involuntarily. We got lost in the mall because of you idiots and that traumatized me. "No, I'm not. I think my father is going to be there."
Kaoru winced. Now he understood what got Kyouya bothered. That wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. If his father was there then it was doomed before it even started.
"Here's a tip," the twin murmured in a sly tone "don't forget you're a host."
+0+0+
There was nothing to wear in her closet or in several of them.
Tomoyo sighed in exasperation. She possessed enough clothes to put up a clothing store yet she had nothing to wear for her marriage interview that afternoon. Ever since she resumed her activities and duties as Daidouji Company's president of sales and marketing, she became too busy to even go shopping.
The dark-haired girl rummaged in one of her closets, looking for something to wear. She forgot all about the marriage interview until her secretary reminded her that morning. Her mother was away in a business meeting in another continent so she wasn't coming with her. So she canceled her meeting with her sales team that morning and went straight to her home to prepare.
She knew that she had to look beautiful, elegant and demure. Most businessmen that she knew preferred a woman who possessed style and class. Although she didn't care about her prospective date's opinion, she was still a woman to care about her personal appearance.
As she went through her well-organized closet, she stumbled onto something that she thought she would never see again.
Tomoyo's eyes shook as she took out a sapphire sheath dress, still encased in plastic. It used to drape on her every curve with its daring neckline with its large crystal pendant on the center to draw the eyes to her perfect breasts and its modest knee-length hem made her feel like a princess.
She knew this dress well. It brought back too many memories. She used to wear this dress to very special occasions. He always told her that she was beautiful in this was what she was wearing when they met again after their high school graduation. It was what she wore to their several anniversaries because he requested her to be just as she was when he first fell in love. It was what she was wearing when he ended everything…
The sapphire frock fell to the floor. She stared at it, biting her lip. The deep sapphire blue was the exact same color of his eyes. Oh, how she loved his eyes. She could drown in their depths forever. There was nothing that could make her forget how it felt when she stared up at his gaze as they danced. When she swirled like water on his arms, she believed that they would be in love for as long as they lived.
Tomoyo picked it up and brushed it off carefully. Her heart was beating fast and her fingers were shaking. It's been some years since she'd worn this dress and it still elicited the same reaction. She was pathetic.
The dark-haired young woman pushed it inside her closet and found to her horror that it was the closet that contained all of the clothes from the same decade. She looked towards her left in the brightly lit room and counted three closets. This was the last one. She should have known that this was where she stuffed all of the clothes that she didn't use and for the things that she didn't need.
Since she owned so many clothes, she never realized that she hadn't seen these for some time. There was the prom dress from junior high, the stained white dress from a school festival and the ratty old t shirt that he accidentally left on her theater's couch when he slept over. In spite of her mind's protests, she reached for it and grabbed it.
His scent swept over her. It was so strong that her knees knocked together. The shirt was blue like everything he owned. It smelled of soap, mint and a bit of cologne. It was fragrant with the scent of her first love.
Tomoyo looked into the closet again and found a single photograph wedged into the back of the closet door. It was their first picture together. They were very young, only sixteen. She was smiling as she stared up at him but he was smiling at the camera. Any psychologist could interpret the body language that meant that she was more in love than he was.
I really loved you, didn't I? She thought as she took the picture and wedged it further into the clothes at the bottom of the closet. I loved you since I was in fifth grade. I was foolish to let you go. I'm still a fool for loving you though you already love another woman.
She realized that she was crying. The dark-haired girl shut the closet door and made up her mind to tell her maids to get what they liked. Perhaps it was time for spring cleaning, even though it wasn't spring. Tomoyo decided that she was going to wear that lovely white dress that she bought from Paris. She was going to be late.
+0+0+
The marriage interview was scheduled at two o'clock in the afternoon at a restaurant in a first-class hotel in the city.
Kyouya was wearing a casual but elegant suit with a blue shirt and a navy blue tie. He was also wearing his best Italian shoes. To his intense relief, his father had an important meeting scheduled so he wasn't going to be present.
Everyone knew that arranged marriages started with meetings with the matchmaker, the parents of both parties and the candidates themselves. So he was quite glad that his parents were out of the picture. It meant that he could still refuse politely if he didn't like her.
He was early by ten minutes because he wanted to meet the matchmaker that his father had hired. Kyouya was very glad that he was. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have had time to recover from his shock.
Sitting on the table in front of the window was a familiar red ribbon on luxurious brown curls. He would know that anywhere. As he approached, his suspicions were confirmed.
Renge Hoshakuji, engaged to Umehito Nekozawa, was their matchmaker.
+0+0+
To be continued!
Author: Dark Hooded Eriol the Magician
Series: Ouran High School Host Club / Cardcaptor Sakura
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/ Angst
Status: In-progress
Disclaimer: The song is by DBSK and the characters are made by CLAMP and Hatori Bisco. Support them, please!
Summary: Some of us seek second chances. Will we be brave or will we be cowards again? There is only a choice to do what is right and what is true. Why did I fall in love with you? -KyouyaxTomoyo-
Chapter II
+0+0+
Why wasn't I able to convey to you?
My feelings that were growing every day and night
the words begin to overflow
But I know they won't reach you now
+0+0+
Tomoyo walked out of her mother's office with the manila envelope in her hand. It contained all of the information that the matchmaker sent about her prospective husband. Though she had expertly expressed her enthusiasm for her mother's plans, her heart wasn't in it. Another glance reminded her of her "date" next Tuesday.
She wanted to laugh because it looked like a curriculum vitae for all of its businesslike and professional description. It included his pedigree (his family was very old and noble), his wealth (he was extremely rich and affluent, both from family coffers and surprisingly his own) and his accomplishments (he was named as the most promising businessman of the decade) - the things that mattered to the upper class. There was no picture included so she imagined a man who looked severe because of constant work. It was her first marriage interview and it looked like it won't be a success.
The dark-haired girl proceeded to her private wing in their spacious mansion in Tomoeda. There was a mini-theater, library, walk-in wardrobe and music room to amuse her but she preferred her bedroom for now. She smiled at the maids who were cleaning as she walked by. They all smiled and curtsied at their young mistress, noting the envelope on her hand and the brittle expression on her eyes. All of them worried about her constantly because they simply adored her. Nobody could spend two minutes in her presence without respecting her quiet confidence and easy grace. So they were quite affected by their mistress's current situation.
Tomoyo walked inside the sophisticated bedroom and locked the door behind her. She flung herself down on her queen-sized bed face-down, crumpling the envelope. For a few moments, she didn't move. Her heartbeats slowed and her mind calmed.
Her mother was right. There was no sense in moping around, pining for her lost love. She was beautiful, talented, rich and kind-hearted. Although she preferred to ignore it, she was aware of the keen interest of the men who surrounded her. She never ran out of suitors and proposals. That should show him what a prize she was.
Perhaps it was time to step out of her self-imposed isolation. Since that incident five years ago, she had stopped showing interest in men and marriage. She chose to focus on her career, family and herself. So far, she had been successful. She had been good at ignoring the pain that gnawed at her insides every day. But she was running out of excuses now.
Sakura was right. It had to stop someday. She had to face herself.
The dark-haired heiress reached for her mobile phone and pressed the speed-dial. It immediately connected her. The cheerful voice of her cousin's son greeted her. A smile blossomed on her face. "Hello, Kimihiro-chan, where's your Mama? Can you give the phone to her so we can talk?"
"Mama," the little boy babbled on the other line. "Mama!"
She giggled when she heard Keroberos's amused voice on the background, scolding the little one lightly for taking his mother's phone without permission. It assured her that Sakura was coming and that she should stay put. Then Kimihiro dropped the phone and she heard more footsteps, a laughing baby and then finally her cousin's voice answering with a breathy, "hello?"
"Am I interrupting something?" Tomoyo laughed. It was obviously a testament of her best friend's domestic bliss. "You sound so busy!"
"I was loading the washer and I didn't realize that Kimihiro-chan took this. What's up?" Sakura smiled too. She was very glad to hear from Tomoyo after a while. The news had shattered her best friend so she was compassionate enough to give her some space.
"I'm going to a marriage interview," the heiress said tartly. "It's Mother's great idea. What do you think?"
"Go for it," Sakura said promptly. She plopped down on an easy chair in the living room and drew up her legs. On her peripheral vision, she could see Keroberos summoning two of her Sakura Cards- the Flower and the Float- to amuse Sayuri and Kimihiro. The Cards curtseyed towards her direction, waiting for her approval. She nodded, smiling, and the Cards immediately went to play with her children.
Although she looked like a happy homemaker, she was also the greatest mage in the world. She was the proud owner of the Sakura Cards since she was twelve years old. Nobody knew except her family and closest friends like Tomoyo. Magic was inevitable in their family life. The Cards were as attached to her children as were her Guardians.
"You shouldn't shut yourself off from the rest of the world," Sakura said gently. "You're a good girl, Tomoyo-chan. You deserve to meet someone new."
"But the guy that they're trying to set up for me sounds like a total bore. There wasn't even a picture included. He might be rich and powerful but that doesn't mean much to me," said the dark-haired young woman. "You're my fortune-teller. Tell me what to do. Do I Google him?"
The Card Mistress laughed heartily at that. "I suggest leaving it up to fate. You have to trust the unknown."
"That's nice to hear from someone who sees the future on a regular basis," Tomoyo retorted, giggling. "But it's good advice nonetheless. If it doesn't work out, promise you will call me at my SOS so I can get away. Or ride out in Fly and save me from his clutches!"
"You're overreacting," Sakura admonished. "You should give other guys a chance you know. There's no sense in closing off the rest of the universe. If you keep clinging to your past then there's no future."
"That's easy for you to say," her cousin murmured.
The brown-haired woman felt her chest constrict. She felt Tomoyo's pain through her voice. There was no denying how much it had hurt her. If only she possessed enough magic to remove such difficult memories…
Summoning her most optimistic voice, she said, "Everything will be fine."
"Everything will be fine," Tomoyo repeated her friend's magic spell. How many times had she heard Sakura say that to herself over the years that they were together? How many times was it proven right? There was a certainty in her friend as she persevered over her own challenges with only a mantra in her hand and a smile on her face. Perhaps she should try it for herself.
"Yes, it will be. You'll see," Sakura said mysteriously. She was staring at her children while she talked on the phone. They were laughing as they were showered with petals from every flower and levitated in the air. Keroberos was flying around in his small form, laughing. They were very blessed indeed.
Tomoyo wished that she possessed the same certainty. She wished that she was as strong as her best friend. Sakura had endured a long distance relationship until after college then Syaoran promptly married her. She knew that Sakura had honed an iron will and an unwavering desire.
Although she had everything she could ever want, she still lacked one thing which Sakura had in abundance. Her best friend understood that; Sakura was generous in sharing her life with her. But she knew that the time that she had to create a life of her own was fast approaching. It was inevitable. The marriage interview might be a step towards the right direction.
"Tomoyo-chan, trust me on this one. Everything happens for a reason. There is no coincidence. There is only hitsuzen," Sakura said seriously. "Don't forget the guy in glasses. I really have a strong feeling about him…"
"Did you have a dream?" the dark-haired young lady asked, intrigued.
Sakura was about to answer when she heard her husband call out for her. She giggled. "Just trust me. Everything will be okay."
+0+0+
The first Ouran High School Host Club held weekly dinner meetings in a charming French restaurant every Saturday. Six handsome young men and one young woman would take the best table in the corner with the best view. There would be a five-meal course, a bottle of champagne and lots of laughter.
They've been friends for many years that weekly rituals were cherished and treasured. Even after the graduation of each one, they maintained communication with each other. They had rejoiced with every victory and shared loss when it came. They considered each other as the pillars of their world so living without each other was unheard of.
Tamaki and Haruhi Suoh sat at the head of the table, glowingly in love. The blond Host Club King had triumphed in the end over his struggles with his grandmother years ago and got the girl everyone wanted. Now he was the sole heir to the family fortunes and married to a wife whom he adored to the point of insanity. His lovely wife, on the other hand, worked as a top human rights lawyer since she couldn't be expected to be a stay-home wife. They didn't have any children yet.
Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin had ventured further into the fashion industry, gathering raves and reviews along the way. They were leaders of the fashion revolution. They charmed and flirted their way into the top of the world with their unbreakable brand. They still worked together but they maintained different labels and managed different stores. Everyone was mad for the Hitachiin touch.
Mitsukuni Haninozuka, or Honey as he was popularly known, had settled down early to everyone's surprise. He had married a charming young woman who was a pastry chef at his early twenties and had one little son. They owned and managed a chain of recognized cafes and pastry shops.
Takashi Morinozuka (or Mori as he preferred to be called) became a martial arts specialist. He was the head of a successful dojo and was often abroad. To the disappointment of many young ladies, he still refused to settle down because he was still intent on honing his skills in combat. So that he could protect his cousin and his family better, of course.
Kyouya sat at the middle of it, listening and making mental notes. He was aware of everything that was happening to all of them but he preferred to be on top of things. Although they were still a bunch of noisy idiots, they were his friends and he was fiercely loyal to them.
Conversation usually began with business. Everyone would share their news to argue, to debate and to talk about it. Nobody made a move without consulting Kyouya. They all respected his expertise so all of their businesses grew from it. Then it would move on to mundane topics like gossip and the like.
Usually they talked about their marriages, their old friends and other things. Kyouya wouldn't participate because he disliked the topic. Nobody would notice and the evening will end with new plans for their next pet project or their next business meeting. But tonight, they seemed to be eager to focus the spotlight on him. It was all Tamaki's fault.
"So, Kyouya," the blond said warmly "I heard from your brother that your father is setting you up on a date."
Kyouya's eyebrow twitched. He would deal with his annoying older brother later. "Yes, that's true. But I prefer to think of it as a marriage interview. It's nothing serious."
The others exchanged mischievous looks. That was new. Kyouya was being defensive so that meant something. They never had the chance to tease him so they grabbed it immediately.
"Oh?" Hikaru said nonchalantly "Who's the lucky girl?"
"Or maybe unlucky," Kaoru piped up, chuckling.
Kyouya glared at them. But they've all had a little wine on their veins so they ignored it.
"What's she like?" Honey asked, curious. He was worried about his friend for years because Kyouya never had any serious relationships. "Do you know anything about her?"
"I honestly don't know," he answered simply.
Everyone stared, flabbergasted at this piece of information.
Kyouya, getting irritated by their ogling, snapped, "I'm too busy for this nonsense."
Tamaki smiled uneasily. His best friend was a double-edged sword so he was best handled carefully. "We know that, Kyouya. We're your friends. Perhaps we deserve to know what's going on."
The blond man quailed under his best friend's fierce glare. His wife, unperturbed, turned to him with an easy grin. "I'm glad for you. She must be somebody really worthy to pass your standard."
"What do you know about my standard?" Kyouya asked, surprised.
All of the men turned to the only woman in their table. She wiped her lips gently with her napkin before putting it down. Large brown eyes were laughing at them all. "Enough to know that you don't waste time on useless people, correct?"
It was stated with such blunt honesty that they all smiled in spite of themselves. That was Haruhi for them. There was no sense in wasting time or words. They only had to go straight to the matter.
Kyouya adjusted his glasses. He sighed and gave himself up to the inevitable. "Her name's Tomoyo Daidouji. She's 25 and she's looking for a husband."
"You made it sound like an ad," Honey giggled like a little boy. He did look like one though with his large brown eyes, chubby cheeks and perpetual smile. As the loli-shota mascot of the group, he had the right to act childlike whenever he felt like it. "Kyou-chan is so mean. You should be nice to the poor girl."
"She sounds familiar," Hikaru said, chewing on a bite of chocolate cake. "Where have I heard her name before?"
Kaoru glanced at his brother with an amused smile. "You've heard of her. She was with us on a contest years ago."
"What?" The dark-haired twin looked surprised. "Why didn't I remember that?"
"She was at the Young Artist of the Century fashion contest three years ago. We were semifinalists for the award of being the newest designers to watch. She won though." Kaoru smiled fondly at the memory. "She was very talented. Most of her clothes were beautiful."
"They were like battle costumes," his brother retorted, still stung. He recalled their defeat to the petite young woman clearly now. He wanted that award. "Her clothes were like a magical girl's costume parade."
"But she disappeared right after that," Kaoru added, nodding vigorously. "She was very mysterious."
That's interesting, Kyouya thought, his mind working fast.
"I think I know her," Honey piped up with a grin. "She ordered dozens of cupcakes and cakes from our pastry shop for a birthday party before. That was a couple of years ago too. It was her nephew's birthday. We had to get two trucks to transport the cupcakes."
Mori nodded. "Ah."
Tamaki tapped his chin thoughtfully. He'd heard that name before as well. There was something very familiar…
Haruhi beat him to it. "She's a singer. She performed for one of your company parties, senpai."
Kyouya rubbed his temples. He wished that he bothered to dig up more information about his prospective date. Since he received the news a week ago, he put it off because he was far too busy to deal with it. Something would have to be done to confirm all of their stories.
"She might not be familiar to any of us because she never went to business with us. And she didn't go to Ouran either." Kaoru said thoughtfully.
"That's a factor," Honey agreed.
"True. I don't forget a pretty face either." Tamaki nodded. His wife promptly pummeled him.
They erupted into laughter. Kyouya was left looking at his plate, deep in contemplation. As his friends resumed their conversation and moved on to the news of their schoolmate Umehito Nekozawa's wedding to Renge Hoshakuji, he wondered why he failed.
He was the shadow king, the puppet master. How come he didn't do the usual routine of getting a background check, an internet search or simply hiring a private investigator to find the matchmaker's suggestion? He was slacking off already. Then he realized with a sinking feeling that his marriage interview was actually tomorrow. "Shit," he said suddenly.
"Are you okay?" Kaoru asked since he was sitting next to him. The red-haired Hitachiin was probably the most level-headed and sensible of the group. He had long established himself as the best listener since all of them were loud talkers.
"I'm really screwed," the Ohtori said frankly.
His friend looked surprised at his admission. Hazel eyes glittered. "It's your first date, right? Don't tell me you're nervous."
Actually my first date was with Haruhi, Kyouya thought involuntarily. We got lost in the mall because of you idiots and that traumatized me. "No, I'm not. I think my father is going to be there."
Kaoru winced. Now he understood what got Kyouya bothered. That wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. If his father was there then it was doomed before it even started.
"Here's a tip," the twin murmured in a sly tone "don't forget you're a host."
+0+0+
There was nothing to wear in her closet or in several of them.
Tomoyo sighed in exasperation. She possessed enough clothes to put up a clothing store yet she had nothing to wear for her marriage interview that afternoon. Ever since she resumed her activities and duties as Daidouji Company's president of sales and marketing, she became too busy to even go shopping.
The dark-haired girl rummaged in one of her closets, looking for something to wear. She forgot all about the marriage interview until her secretary reminded her that morning. Her mother was away in a business meeting in another continent so she wasn't coming with her. So she canceled her meeting with her sales team that morning and went straight to her home to prepare.
She knew that she had to look beautiful, elegant and demure. Most businessmen that she knew preferred a woman who possessed style and class. Although she didn't care about her prospective date's opinion, she was still a woman to care about her personal appearance.
As she went through her well-organized closet, she stumbled onto something that she thought she would never see again.
Tomoyo's eyes shook as she took out a sapphire sheath dress, still encased in plastic. It used to drape on her every curve with its daring neckline with its large crystal pendant on the center to draw the eyes to her perfect breasts and its modest knee-length hem made her feel like a princess.
She knew this dress well. It brought back too many memories. She used to wear this dress to very special occasions. He always told her that she was beautiful in this was what she was wearing when they met again after their high school graduation. It was what she wore to their several anniversaries because he requested her to be just as she was when he first fell in love. It was what she was wearing when he ended everything…
The sapphire frock fell to the floor. She stared at it, biting her lip. The deep sapphire blue was the exact same color of his eyes. Oh, how she loved his eyes. She could drown in their depths forever. There was nothing that could make her forget how it felt when she stared up at his gaze as they danced. When she swirled like water on his arms, she believed that they would be in love for as long as they lived.
Tomoyo picked it up and brushed it off carefully. Her heart was beating fast and her fingers were shaking. It's been some years since she'd worn this dress and it still elicited the same reaction. She was pathetic.
The dark-haired young woman pushed it inside her closet and found to her horror that it was the closet that contained all of the clothes from the same decade. She looked towards her left in the brightly lit room and counted three closets. This was the last one. She should have known that this was where she stuffed all of the clothes that she didn't use and for the things that she didn't need.
Since she owned so many clothes, she never realized that she hadn't seen these for some time. There was the prom dress from junior high, the stained white dress from a school festival and the ratty old t shirt that he accidentally left on her theater's couch when he slept over. In spite of her mind's protests, she reached for it and grabbed it.
His scent swept over her. It was so strong that her knees knocked together. The shirt was blue like everything he owned. It smelled of soap, mint and a bit of cologne. It was fragrant with the scent of her first love.
Tomoyo looked into the closet again and found a single photograph wedged into the back of the closet door. It was their first picture together. They were very young, only sixteen. She was smiling as she stared up at him but he was smiling at the camera. Any psychologist could interpret the body language that meant that she was more in love than he was.
I really loved you, didn't I? She thought as she took the picture and wedged it further into the clothes at the bottom of the closet. I loved you since I was in fifth grade. I was foolish to let you go. I'm still a fool for loving you though you already love another woman.
She realized that she was crying. The dark-haired girl shut the closet door and made up her mind to tell her maids to get what they liked. Perhaps it was time for spring cleaning, even though it wasn't spring. Tomoyo decided that she was going to wear that lovely white dress that she bought from Paris. She was going to be late.
+0+0+
The marriage interview was scheduled at two o'clock in the afternoon at a restaurant in a first-class hotel in the city.
Kyouya was wearing a casual but elegant suit with a blue shirt and a navy blue tie. He was also wearing his best Italian shoes. To his intense relief, his father had an important meeting scheduled so he wasn't going to be present.
Everyone knew that arranged marriages started with meetings with the matchmaker, the parents of both parties and the candidates themselves. So he was quite glad that his parents were out of the picture. It meant that he could still refuse politely if he didn't like her.
He was early by ten minutes because he wanted to meet the matchmaker that his father had hired. Kyouya was very glad that he was. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have had time to recover from his shock.
Sitting on the table in front of the window was a familiar red ribbon on luxurious brown curls. He would know that anywhere. As he approached, his suspicions were confirmed.
Renge Hoshakuji, engaged to Umehito Nekozawa, was their matchmaker.
+0+0+
To be continued!