A/N: To spare you from having to read over five thousand words as one story, I'm cutting the story up into chapters. I'll probably release every day, or every other day. Anyways, the story's already been finished. I hope you like it!

Reviews Appreciated

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club, or the story of Rapunzel.

"A long time ago, a husband and wife lived in a small cottage near the edge of a forest. They were happily married for around five years, and were expecting children. However, the wife grew ill, and feared that if a small herb called "rapunzel" were not brought from their neighbor's garden, she would die. This herb was said to have magical healing powers that prolonged life and cured all illnesses."

The announcer stood at the foot of the stage, speaking each word cautiously, so as to not slip up. He told it slow, but not in a boring manner. He had the eyes of the entire city on him. More importantly, he'd caught the attention of a young, handsome boy who was known as the prince. He'd hoped to do so.

King Yuzuru of the kingdom of Ouran was a kind man, but his days were thinning. His son had often attended the local plays, he knew. So, he told the owner of the theatre to tell a story of love, so that his son may become interested and try finding a love of his own. When he married a woman, he would finally be able to claim his spot as King, and Yuzuru could retire.

"The husband had heard rumors that this garden was owned by a wicked witch, so rather than ask for this herb, he stole it. The witch soon found out, and caught him in the act. She offered to give him the herb, in exchange for his first-born child. Loving his wife over all, the husband agreed to this trade..."

Prince Tamaki was absorbing every word. His best friend, who had sort of been adopted by the family, stood next to him in the balcony they watched from.

"Hey, Kyoya," Tamaki whispered. "It's strange, isn't it? How he'd trade his wife's life for his kid's."

"Well, not really. You see, he didn't have a kid yet. I'm sure if that had been the case, the wife wouldn't have let him do it."

"Hm. He must have really loved his wife to make a trade with a witch, though."

Kyoya looked at him.

"They say this story is based on something that actually happened, you know?"

Tamaki laughed.

"Yeah, but they say that about everything."

The show pressed onwards. Happy, sad, happy, sad, until finally, the finale.

The prince was wandering through the woods. After being thrown from Rapunzel's tower by the witch, he had landed in thorn bushes, and his eyes were scratched so that he could not see.

"Rapunzel," he whimpered. "Rapunzel..."

He continued walking until he bumped into his girl, and cried out.

The kiss, the reunited princess with her parents, the marriage, the banishing of the witch.

"What did you think?" Kyoya asked.

Tamaki smiled.

"It was cool. I think I get it now."

.

.

Tamaki took a daily horse ride out into the woods. He had since he was little. It was peaceful, and always calm around this time of day.

"Oh, Antoinette," he said to his horse, patting her on the face. "If only the kingdom were so peaceful. You know, father's been nagging me again, about finding a woman."

The horse trotted around in its familiar circle around the woods.

"I don't really feel the need to have a woman, though. I want an adventure with a girl, not some easy girl who only knows me for my father. I want a Snow White. I want a Sleeping Beauty. I want a Rapunzel."

The horse must have been startled by a mouse, because out-of-nowhere, it reared up on its hind legs, knocking a surprised Tamaki off of its back.

"Hey, Antoinette!" he yelled, angrily. "What on earth was that...for..."

He looked into the direction he had landed, and found a cave. He smirked.

"I'll be right back," he said, tying his horse up to a tree and running to the cave.

He walked through it, absorbing every last detail. Even small things like cave exploring were adventures for him - for he wasn't even supposed to leave Ouran, let alone walk in the forest outside of it.

Singing.

He heard singing.

He looked around. It was faint. He wasn't sure how he was even hearing it. He continued forward, and the singing grew louder. He closed his eyes, and let his ears guide him.

Light.

He opened them and found himself in a field surrounded by forest, and in the middle - a large tower. He fell to his knees.

"A...a tower..."

He felt foolish, but he approached the tower anyways. The singing continued, and he was intrigued.

That is, until the singer suddenly messed up her song by getting off key. He heard a little bit of self-aimed cursing, and then the singing started over. He laughed, and looked up.

"Tamaki, you old fool. You're imagining things," he told himself.

But he didn't believe his words, truth be told.

"Rapunzel!" he yelled to the tower. "Rapunzel! Let down your long...hair...yeah! Let down your long hair!"

It didn't sound as good when he yelled it as when the actor did.

Unexpectedly, hair was tossed out of the tower. Long, beautiful, brown hair.

He caught it in his arms, and blushed. Was Rapunzel truly there?

Then, the hair kept landing in his arms. And falling. And landing. And falling. Until eventually, the hair ran out and was all piled in his arms. It was slightly heavy.

Princes aren't taught to lift anything, so he fell over.

The girl looked out of her window.

"H-hey! Are you Rapunzel?" Tamaki cried out. "What's with all this random hair? Aren't you supposed to let yours down?"

She stared at him, with her left eyebrow raised.

"Hey," she stated bluntly. "You're not the hairman."

"The what?"

She smiled. "Sorry I tossed all of that at you. It was supposed to be picked up today. I just got it all trimmed."

He laughed, thinking this to be some sort of strange joke.

"Erm, it's fine."

They stared at each other awkwardly.

"Lady Rapunzel," he said, trying to keep himself calm. She was beautiful. "Would you please let down your hair, so that I may climb it and meet you?"

She laughed at him.

"I just did. It knocked you down, I believe."

He was confused. He decided to pretend he didn't hear that, and ask again. He got down on one knee.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel! Let down your long hair!"

"I'm telling you, whoever you are - that was my hair! I just got it cut off! And my name is not Rapunzel!"

"Well, why on earth would you do such a thing?"

"What, cut my hair?"

"Yes! Why would you cut it? I'm sure it looked fine before!"

"Because my dad's a crossdresser, who locked me up in a tower, so that I could learn basic housewifing skills! I'm pretty screwed up!"

"What on Earth is a crossdresser?"

The girl shook her head and mumbled to herself, "And I thought I was socially slow."

Tamaki waited patiently, but then decided she wasn't going to give an answer.

"Hey, what is your name?"

She looked back down at him.

"Haruhi."

"Full name?"

"Just Haruhi. I'm not rich enough for a last name."

Could people really be that poor? Tamaki thought.

"Why are you in a tower?"

"How many times are you going to make me repeat this? My crossdressing father-"

"Locked you up so you could learn basic housewifing skills. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Why on Earth would he do that?"

She mulled it over.

"Because then I'd have to learn them. Doesn't matter if I'm in a tower or not, though. I hear from father that the women in the kingdoms have to have an escort to leave their homes. So do I. So it's even."

"Have you ever been to Ouran?"

"Nope. I've only been in the forests - I'm not allowed to leave the tower for the city until I'm older and ready to marry."

He sighed.

"So you're not ready to marry anyone?"

"No way! I have yet to master singing, and cooking. I can't marry without singing and cooking! Father says that's all women are allowed to do!"

"That's not true!"

"Then what can they do?"

Tamaki mulled this over. He didn't reply.

"Thought so."

There was another awkward silence.

"Would you be ready to marry if I returned tomorrow?"

"Do you really think women are that simple?"

"They are when you're a prince."

"Well, not when the only male figure they've ever spoken to was a crossdresser!"

She shut the window.

"Rapunzel?"

"IT'S HARUHI!"

"Haruhi? Will you be here tomorrow?"

"Yes. Because I was totally lying about being locked up in this tower."

"Great. I'll see you then."

He was coming back. Totally.

.

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End-of-Chapter Notes: I wrote this whole story in English class, because the teacher never seems to be paying attention to me. (When I say "whole thing", I mean all five chapters to be posted.