An year passed since Tamaki Senpai's proposal. My graduation had gone fantastically, and my wedding had passed by before I could have fully comprehended its wonder. However, I decided to be more prudent. Much to Tamaki Senpai's dismay, I had decided to postpone our honeymoon and live in my father's house for now. Most of all, I needed to attend law school to become a lawyer. As always, being prudent is the best option, right?
At first, Tamaki Senpai was welling in despair. However, unsurprisingly, he understood my needs, and agreed that we would wait for another four years. Personally, I felt that four years were too short, but I believed that Tamaki Senpai would commit suicide if I insisted to lengthen our separation. And thus, I have seldom seen Tamaki Senpai except on our occasional dates.
However, he was next to me right now.
More precisely, he abducted me to this plane.
I have never considered curiosity as a virtue; even if the most outrageous event occurs, I would probably ignore it as always. However, when I was sitting inside the airplane, bound for a god-forsaken destination-who knows where, I felt the strong need to ask something.
"Ah, Tamaki Senpai?" I hesitated.
"Yes, my dear daugh-wife?" Tamaki Senpai hastily corrected his mistake and stared at me. He was more energetic than I expected-I was cowering in his zeal and fervor.
"Can I ask two questions, Senpai?"
"As long as you don't call me Senpai," he pouted. I sighed. His personality seemed to last even after years. I hesitated, wondering if it would be an impertinent question to ask. I finally opened my mouth.
"Where are we headed?"
The plane's interior shook gently, and I flinched. Plane rides were never for me-I would never become accustomed to those frightening jolts and tremors of the plane. Besides, what if the plane crashed?
"Ahaha," he nervously chuckled, and then stayed silent. Senpai, that is not an adequate response.
"It would be a pleasant surprise for you, Haruhi."
"It's not fair that you won't even tell me the destination after all you have put me through," I complained. I was dragged from my sleep, roughly forced inside a limousine, and somehow getting dressed at the same time. Then, I found myself riding an airplane for the first time in my life, with the most zealous Tamaki Senpai that I had ever met.
"Just wait for-" he glanced at his watch. "Another 6 hours, Haruhi. You would find out yourself."
"As for the second question, Senpai," I looked around me before continuing.
"How does this thing stay up?"
The interior of the plane was separated into three parts, and we were aboard the third section. There were only two seats there, and there was a miniature cinema. I had no idea why there should be a tub in an airplane. I felt that aerodynamics have surpassed the scope of my understanding.
"Hoho, I have no idea, Haruhi. Why not find out?"
"I politely refuse, Senpai." I sighed, massaging my eyes. Deprived of sleep, I tried to rest, but a sudden thought surfaced.
"Ah," I suddenly uttered.
"Could this be our honeymoon, Senpai?" I managed to say. Tamaki Senpai gazed at me silently for a few agonizing minutes. His face was suddenly pale, and his lips began to shake.
"Ha-Haruhi, does it mean…does it mean that you did not know?"
"What, Senpai?"
"Until now?"
"Senpai, unless you produce more coherent sentences, I would not be able to understand what you are saying." I shook my head.
"I mean……" he wildly tossed his arms around, trying to express his thoughts. "You did not know that we were going on a honeymoon?"
"How could I know, Senpai?"
He slowly reclined in his chair, and then suddenly flipped on his seat. He began to draw swirls and figures on the chair. What have I done wrong?
"But," he sniffled, "isn't it obvious? We are married and all……"
"We talked about this a year ago, Senpai." I sighed. "You must know that our marriage was a bit hurried, wasn't it?"
"Yes, but—"
"You promised to let me attend law school, Senpai."
"I know, but—"
"We promised that I would move into the Suoh mansion after my graduation, Senpai." I felt my annoyance mounting.
"Sure, but—"
"That would be the reasonable choice, we agreed, didn't we?"
"But—"
"You told me that you thought that my dream as a lawyer should be respected, am I wrong?"
"Never, Haruhi, but—"
"Besides, my father felt the need to 'protect' me from your physical lust for a few years, until I grow more mature." I sighed.
"Lu-lust?" he spluttered. "I-I don't think 'lust' would be the right word—"
"So basically, Senpai," I interrupted him, "you have arranged our honeymoon without my permission and knowledge."
"Tha-that's not true, Haruhi."
"Ho? Is that so?" I felt cold radiation of fury sparkling inside my veins. For a few seconds, I seriously contemplated the option of throwing him out of the plane.
"Well, you know what, Senpai?" I glared at him. He flinched, and rapidly scuttled back. "I had enough of this. I want to return to Japan immediately. I have a report to finish until next week."
"But, you are mistaken, Haruhi…" he murmured.
"I have no time to listen to your pathetic excuses, my dear husband," I spat out. "I thought you were responsible. The honeymoon and our life together can wait. I need to become a lawyer, and therefore I must concentrate on the goal. You have been patient for a year, so why couldn't you wait for 4 more?"
I gave another jolt as a minor turbulence shook the plane. The sooner I get out of this plane, the better, I thought.
"There's something that you don't know Haruhi," Tamaki Senpai hesitated.
"Oh, what might that be?"
"Well, about the part that I have arranged our honeymoon without your knowledge……"
"Yes?"
"Well, you see…" he mumbled something. I was growing more irritated. I was about to shake more information out of him when—
The door opened.
"We were in the plan, too, Fujioka." I was staring into the smiling face of Kyouya Senpai.
"……"
"Eh!" Tamaki Senpai yelled out. I believe I am the one who should be surprised, Tamaki Senpai, not you.
"Oh, and concerning your report, I have specifically requested to your professors that any assignments should be postponed for three days." His smile was even more dazzling, and I felt myself sinking in the chair in utter despair.
"Kyo-Kyouya, I never-we never planned that you would accompany us in our honeymoon!"
"A slight change of plans," he coolly intercepted. "I promise that I would not become a liability to your, ah, plans."
He watched our blushing faces with controlled amusement.
"So, it's up to you now, Haruhi." He raised his hands lightly. "Whether you chose to return to Japan and waste your three days or not-it's completely up to you."
I sighed. If Kyouya Senpai was not in the host club, the host club would be bound to be bankrupt. His plans were completely waterproof, and I found myself succumbing to his logic.
"……fine, then." I sighed.
Tamaki Senpai danced around the plane in glee, while Kyouya Senpai jotted more notes.
"But, Senpai," I said, "I can't say that I am grateful."
Kyouya Senpai glanced at me inquisitively.
"I know that you are trying to make me happier, but just remember that manipulating my life would not ensure my satisfaction. I want to act by my decision, Senpai."
He was silent for a moment. Tamaki Senpai was still in a euphoric state, completely ignorant towards our silence. Kyouya Senpai finally chuckled.
"You are an interesting woman, Fujioka Haruhi." He bowed in respect. "I would keep that in mind."
"I would be returning to Japan. Enjoy your honeymoon." He announced.
"Eh?" Both of us yelled.
"I felt no need to persuade you further. After all," his black eyes twinkled behind his glasses, "you just chose to have your honeymoon now, right? Additionally, I just received a call that the hospital urgently needs me."
"Besides, do I look like a person who would interrupt you two's love life?"
Uhm, yes, Senpai. However, I was prudent enough to keep my silence. He walked out silently. An awkward silence hung in the room.
"Uh……Haruhi, so is that settled, now?" Tamaki Senpai hesitantly spoke. I glared at him. He flinched, strongly reminding me of an abused puppy. I stared at him for a moment, restraining an uncomfortable lightness inside my stomach. Finally, I gave in—
I chuckled. Tamaki Senpai gazed in relief as more laughter broke out of my restraint. I was hunched forwards, doubling in laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"No-nothing……" I gasped. "Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
"How long have you planned on this?"
"For a month or more." He simply replied.
"Did the fact ever occur to you……" I paused as another wave of laughter drowned out my speech. "That you could have just asked me?"
"But you would have refused."
"Yes."
"Well, that's why."
"I was just joking. I could have spared at least three days." I chuckled softly. Tamaki Senpai eyed me indignantly.
"Then, why did you scold me like that!"
"It's about principle, Senpai." He flinched as he heard the suffix. "The fact that you ignored my opinions bothered me."
Suddenly, another jolt shook the plane. I gasped. The sensation was similar to that of a lightening. Tamaki Senpai leaned forward, and hugged me tightly.
"Se-Senpai?" I gasped.
"Sorry, Haruhi."
Both of us were silent for a while, and I blushed, sincerely thankful that Kyouya Senpai was in the other room. It was getting quite uncomfortable in his arms, and I felt dizzy from accumulating nausea. Well—what—ugh. I gave up producing coherent thoughts.
"Senpai?"
"Yes, Haruhi?" he gazed at me, his eyes sparkling with pride.
"Could you get off me?"
He instantly sulked in his chair, mumbling something in the lines of 'my wife wants no physical contact with me…' I felt the temperature returning to normal as I sighed with relief. It was quite queer, and I could not understand why his physical contacts caused so much nervousness. It was somewhat different from that of other members of the previous host club.
We sat in silence again. Is physical contact the only method of communication between us? I hesitated, and then decided that I should apologize.
"Uhm, Senpai?"
He flinched in his seat, and then peeked past his folded legs.
"Sorry…… You have to understand. I am not accustomed to all this…hugging and everything." I was telling a lie, but at least I needed to do something.
"Haha, it's okay." He smiled hastily. "No wonder your father said you needed protection for 4 more years."
"Eh, what do you mean?"
His face instantly turned the shade of the darkest crimson, and then he suddenly blurted out, "nothing!"
I could never understand how his mind works.
"Haruhi……" Tamaki Senpai murmured after a long silence.
"Yes, Senp-, ah, Tamaki?"
"Did you like the ring I gave you last year, in my proposal?"
I smiled at him. It was typical of Tamaki Senpai—hesitating on such trivial matters. What did he think? Did he think that my actions were based on mere trinkets? Nonetheless, I could not deny that the ring had influenced my decisions. Not because it was expensive—I could not tell that from merely observing it either—but because it resembled his mother's ring. Perhaps I have over-interpreted the meaning, but I was nonetheless moved by the resemblance.
Instead of replying, I gazed at him for a while. He was still peering at me nervously. I sighed. When will he finally learn, I would never know.
I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. As I was quickly pulling back in embarrassment, another turbulence of the plane tipped me off balance—
And I fell on top of him.
Mother in heaven.
The door opened.
"Tamaki, the cook is asking whether you would prefer beef or—" Kyouya Senpai, as always, entered at the worst timing. His lips curled into a smirk. "Ah, I see that you two are currently 'preoccupied'. I'll just say beef, then."
His shoulders were shaking from a repressed snigger, and he was caring enough to shut the door properly.
When I finally awoke from my daze, I saw, for the first time, the expression of Tamaki Senpai. I worried that his blood pressure would kill him. His face was dark red, and his eyes were directed lower—lower than my face—
Pervert.
Pervert, indeed.
"Ha-Ha-Haruhi," he stammered, "P-p-please forgive me. You must have mistook my inten-"
"Lust indeed, Senpai." I stood up, and tried to walk out of the room, when—
The blasted plane shook again. I tripped spectacularly, and then rolled forwards. I whispered a string of expletives, some of them carefully directed at Tamaki Senpai. He trembled in his seat, and then sighed. He lifted me up.
"Haruhi, we are married. You must be more understanding, right? Especially if we were in that kind of a position."
"Bu-but, we haven't done—that yet. It doesn't feel right." I whispered.
"Of course not." He smiled, and then dropped me on my seat. "I want the experience to be special, and I am never intending to speed things up," he kissed me in the forehead, "if you do not want to do so, Haruhi."
"But I never want to do that. It's weird." I had never thought that talking about the subject would be this embarrassing.
"Perhaps." Tamaki Senpai patted my head. "Sleep for now, Haruhi. That way, you wouldn't feel the tremors, right?"
True, I thought. The lack of sleep came splashing through my blurred thoughts, and I closed my eyes.
"But Senpai," I mumbled, "where are we going? Tell me." I was intoxicated by the will to sleep, my eyelids fluttering down.
His low chuckle was the last thing I heard.
Finally, the first chapter of the long-planned sequel. I am intending to have at least 11 chapters in this one. The story continues throughout the honeymoon, and after the honeymoon, too.
Reviews are always welcome. Ah, let me rephrase that. Please review.