Where Am I?

...My pads have shown red from where I had walked; but still, they refused to turn black…

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Cold… so cold, it has been on one winter's eve night as Yachiru Hinamari travelled on foot to the neighboring town of Himigato. Staggering in weight, she treads through the snow leaving a trail of uneven footprints behind her. "It's s-so c-c-cold," Yachiru said to herself and pulled her blanket tighter over her face, "b-but Ta-kun's family is waiting for me. I cannot give up now." Yachiru kept moving forward as the sudden snowfall began to pick up.

It felt as if hours had passed since Yachiru first set out in this storm before she finally reached the entrance. ‘Welcome to Himigato’ read the sign as Yachiru swayed into the sleeping city. "131… 127… 123 Todoka Road," she said in her head as she smiled a frozen relief, "I-I-I've finally made it… the Ouran Family Mansio—" A chilled wind swept away Yachiru's blanket, blowing right through her long, blonde hair just as the cold gust entered her now exposed body.

"I'm here, Ta-kun… I'm her—" she gasped as her body began to collapse from winter's shock. In an instant, Yachiru's stiffened frame crashed onto the snowbed—her eyes; became a glassy white as they began to slowly darken into a blank gaze. Yachiru laid there staring up into the openness of the gray sky...

She fainted.

* * * *

"How is Yaya-chan? Is she going to be alright?"

"I do not know. But right now, Miss Hinamari needs her rest," said the family's doctor as he looked at Yachiru and then motioned towards the door, "Try to relax. I have done all that I could for her. Anyone who is brave enough to cross the Odachi Valley in the heart of a winter's storm—" The doctor looked down and took a long stare at Yachiru's feet and his eyes widened, "—with only a pullover blanket…" he stopped.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine," replied the doctor. "If you would excuse me," he opened the door, "I must take my leave now. Goodnight to the both of you." The doctor left the room, but he stood behind the shut door. "That girl is truly a mystery." He thought to himself, "her feet… why was she barefooted? But more importantly, why was she traveling out in a snowstorm across the Odachi Valley; and yet… not dying along the way from hypothermia through the bare soles of her feet?" The doctor began to walk again. "Well, whatever the case may be," he said aloud and sighed, "that girl definitely has the Spirits on her side, that is for sure." The doctor continued walking back towards his room on the family's property.

Back in the open room, Yachiru's unconscious body still rests on the prepared floor mat.

"Oh, Yaya-chan," said the other guy left in the room as he stroked the wet strands of her blonde hair. He sighed, "Don't you scare me like that, you idiot." He leaned down and kiss the top of her forehead. "Rest up, Yachiru Hinamari." He turned to leave the room.

"…Ta-Ta-Tatako."

He turned back around surprised and looked at Yachiru. "Did you call my name?" He stared at her paled face, hoping and waiting for a response back from Yachiru.

"S-Stay with m-me… Tatako Ouran-kun." Yachiru feigned a smile at Tatako, then returned back asleep.

Tatako smirked, "You're such a brat, Yaya-chan." He looked around the vacant room in hopes that there was an extra mat left behind. After having rummaged through the entire area, Tatako gave up searching and went back over to Yachiru. "Just this one night." He kneeled down next to her head. "I'll stay. Just this one night."

"…Th-Thank y-you, Ta-Tatako," Yachiru mumbled.

"She must be talking in her sleep." Tatako stared a little closer at Yachiru's sleeping face. He blushed, "…stupid girl." Tatako rolled over and laid alongside her floor mat. "You're welcome," Tatako mumbled back as he started dosing off to sleep himself.

* * * *

Sunlight rose high over the mountains of Himigato; and within minutes, began to fill throughout the Ouran household. Just over the river, a rooster started his morning caws.

"…I guess it's morning now." Tatako got up and stretched.

"How can you see with your bangs always in your face?" mumbled Yachiru as she peeked open one eye.

Tatako smirked, "I can't." He bent down and picked up his glasses.

"I did not know that you wore glasses, Ta-kun." Yachiru sat up and looked around the room.

"I haven't seen you in thirteen years, Yachiru." He put on his glasses and adjusted them, "There is a lot that you don't know about me anymore." Tatako went over to Yachiru and laid her back down onto the mat. "Now you rest up, and I will send someone to bring your breakfast." Tatako rose up and left Yachiru's room.

A few minutes later one of the maids visited Yachiru's room with the breakfast that Tatako had promised her. She was dressed in a traditional black and white French maid's uniform dress with a black frilled hat to match. She wore white knee-high socks and black heels to complete the outfit. "Good morning," said the maid as she bowed to Yachiru and then bent down to lay out her food. She had a slight French accent that Yachiru noticed right away, but her fluency in Japanese made Yachiru believe that the young maid was brought here to Japan as a little child.

"Thank you." Yachiru sat up, "Everything looks wonderful," Yachiru said as she admired the homemade cooking.

"You are welcome." The maid smiled, "I shall send your regards to our chef Hatsu, Minari-san."

"Thank you." Yachiru smiled back.

"Enjoy, Miss Hinamari-san," said the maid as she bowed again to Yachiru before leaving her room.

"That was amazing," thought Yachiru as she finished her food. She looked around the room, then down at herself. "I wonder if I can stand?" she said aloud. Yachiru wobbly propped herself up to her feet. "I wonder what happened last night to me?" Yachiru began walking around the room several times to test her balance, "I feel fine." She started hopping around before alternating back and forth with short jogs.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh!" Yachiru fell down, "Ta-Tatako, I didn't hear you come in," Yachiru said in a surprised voice.

"I thought I laid you back down," Tatako said in an annoyed tone, "So why were you just up moving around?"

"Yes, I know; but… I-I-I just thought I could—"

"Don't you ever listen, you stupid girl!", Tatako yelled at Yachiru as he reached out to grab her.

"—Don't touch me!" Yachiru yelled back and moved away from him. "I'm fine, Tatako!" she glared at him, "So what is your problem?"

Tatako went silent.

"Well?" Yachiru demanded an answer.

Tatako turned away from Yachiru, "There are towels down the hall. The guest bath is the next door on the right."

"What?" Yachiru said puzzled.

Tatako sighed, "Just look at you. You're a mess, Yachiru." Tatako sighed again and adjusted his glasses, "You have been wandering out all the night before. You're covered in mud and snow from head to toe. You're an eyesore."

Yachiru looked down at herself. "Tatako's right." Yachiru examined her tattered shirt and pants and her wet hair. She looked even closer at all the mud and wet grass stains she had all over her body. She looked down at her feet, "My pads have shown red from where I had walked; but still, they refused to turn black," she pondered the thought in her head.

I shall have the maids lay out a fresh wardrobe for you," said Tatako still not facing Yachiru.

She sighed, "If this is Ta-kun's way of caring," Yachiru closed her eyes, "he could've at least said it in a kinder way." Her eyes dropped a tear. When Yachiru opened her eyes again, Tatako had already left the room. "Right…" she whispered. Yachiru allowed herself to fall back and lie on the floor, "—a bath it is then."

* * * *

...to be continued.