Author's Note: OMG I ship Mori and Haruhi so hard. This is rated M for later chapters, but don't be expecting smut right off the bat. Mori and Haruhi are both shy people everyone, you've got to keep them in character. There will be no sexy sexy fun time right now. But please let me know what you think. I'm definitely gonna be writing more. If you catch any editing bugs, again, please let me know. Enjoy!
**Disclaimer: All characters are owned by their respective people. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter 1:
Morinozuka Takashi, or Mori for short, had a problem.
He was in love with a girl. But not just any girl… it was Fujioka Haruhi, a member of the Host Club at Ouran Academy. Due to some troubling circumstances (a large amount of debt) she was forced to become a member of the club until she had the means to return to her normal lifestyle (until she paid her debt), and because of that she had to keep her actual gender a secret. With the unfortunate situation she was in, and the fact that she was a commoner, Mori had figured it would be impossible to actually fall in love with her. He was so very wrong.
He, as well as almost the entire host club, has had his heart stolen by the gentle, young girl.
She was beautiful in a subtle way. She had soft, classic features that were slightly rounded with a slim figure instead of a striking bone structure and a bombshell body. She reminded him of a delicate flower, but not a rose, something more like a lily or sakura. She was also brilliant. She was one of the highest ranking students at Ouran. Her intelligence was what made her such a good judge of character. She was very intuitive to others feelings and temperaments. Well… most of the time.
She was, unfortunately, utterly dense when it came to how men thought of her.
Which put Mori into an incredibly awful situation.
If she couldn't figure out the feelings of the most outspoken men like Tamaki and the Hitachi twins then she definitely wouldn't figure out how Mori felt about her. He was categorized as the wild type, but he didn't feel wild at all. All he felt was resignation.
She wouldn't recognize his feelings, and he was too shy to actually tell her how he felt, so he was stuck, alone, forever.
Mori was awoken from his silent pity corner by his best friend and cousin, Haninozuka Mitskuni, or Hunny. Hunny knew how Mori felt about Haruhi. The master martial artist was also the only host not enraptured by the female's charm.
"Takashi, why don't you come sit with me and the girls?" Hunny offered, hugging his pink bunny, Usa-chan, tightly to his small chest. "You've been looking out the window and sighing for two hours now."
"Sorry, Mitskuni," Mori replied with another sigh. He tore his gaze away from the spring scenery and took a quick survey of Music Room 3. It was a busy day. Each host had at least five girls surrounding him (or in Haruhi's case, her) at one time. Kaoru and Hikaru were in the middle of their forbidden love routine, while Kyoya presented the guests with new promotional items. Tamaki was in full princely mode, charming and suave. The girls surrounding him were practically drooling. And Haruhi… she was serving tea and coffee to the guests, speaking softly, intimately, with the girls and giving them her best smile.
"Takashi." Hunny commanded his attention once again. Hunny gave him a look and then smiled again brightly. "Let's go eat cake!" Hunny spun off and Mori silently followed, along the way he cut another quick glance to the object of his turmoil and caught her smiling again. She looked up and found his eyes, and he looked away.
Coward, he thought to himself.
He took his place behind Hunny at the table. He stood because one: there were no more chairs at the table, it being filled with girls and his cousin, and two: he had sat for two hours straight and needed to stretch his legs.
"Mori-sempai, would you like a piece of cake?" a first year girl offered up a yellow cake with whipped cream and strawberries on top. He didn't particularly like strawberries, but took the sweet with a nod of thanks anyways.
Mori was about to begrudgingly eat the cake when a voice stopped him.
"Mori-sempai," Haruhi smiled to the girls but then turned her attention to him. She looked at the cake in his large hands, then to his face, then back to the cake. "Uhh… that cake looks really good…" she looked up expectantly at him, and he had to hold his breath. Too cute.
"Yeah, Takashi…" Hunny breathed. The blonde had crawled his way onto Mori's shoulder and was staring at the cake too. "Do you want to share, Haruhi?" The small boy asked her as if Mori wasn't the intended consumer of the sweet thing. Mori didn't really care, if it got him out of eating the strawberries he was fine. There was also the added bonus of giving Haruhi her favorite sweet. So with a small, minuscule smile, Mori handed her the light china plate. The girls at the table started to squeal and talk amongst themselves rather loudly.
"So kind!"
"So refreshing!"
"I love the Host Club!"
Hunny jumped from Mori's back and started twirling Haruhi around. "Haru-chan, Haru-chan! Will you share the cake? Will you, will you?"
"Hunny-sempai, please, I'm getting dizzy." Just as the words left her mouth, Hunny spun her around a little too fast, and she lost her footing. The plate went flying across the room like a Frisbee, landing with a deafening clatter. Haruhi was going to trip and fall. Mori moved on instinct, Hunny didn't move at all.
Mori grabbed Haruhi by the waist, pulling her up close to his chest in a fluid motion, stopping her fall. Her feet just barely grazed the floor as he held her up.
All was silent for a moment. Mori could only hear his and Haruhi's heavy breathing. She looked just as shocked as he felt. The intimate position they were in allowed Mori to feel all of her figure against his, and though they were slight, the womanly curves she possessed had Mori frozen. He couldn't let her go, he couldn't set her down and help clean up the mess on the floor. He just stood there, looking into her wide, beautiful, hazel eyes.
And then the noise started up once again. Girls and hosts flocked around Haruhi, asking if she was alright, if she wanted another piece of cake. Mori found the strength to let her go and walk to the back of the group, ever silent.
But through the crowd, he caught Haruhi's eye again, and this time she looked away, a slight blush on her face. The twins noticed this exchange apparently because they turned their attention from Haruhi to Mori. They slithered up to either side of Mori and took both of his arms. They dragged him from the crowd behind a pillar.
"Mori-sempai…" Hikaru deadpanned.
"Is there something you want to tell us?" Kaoru finished in the same tone as his brother. Their movements were identical. They both leaned forward toward Mori with their hands placed firmly on their hips.
Mori just looked at the two, not knowing what to say.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" a cool voice chirped from behind the twins. Kyoya emerged with his ever present black book in hand, pushing up his glasses.
"What is it, Kyoya?" Kaoru asked, turning slightly to the vice president of the host club.
"Yeah… tell us what you know." Hikaru demanded, turning slightly like his brother, but still keeping an eye on Mori.
"Why, Mori's in love with Haruhi, of course." Kyoya smiled at him, his glasses flashing menacingly.
"We knew it!" The twins said together, both slamming their fists into their open palms. "But, wait. Kyoya, how did you find out?" they said.
"Hunny told me."
Just then, the person in question appeared. "Sorry, Takashi…" Hunny whispered by Mori's knee. "Kyoya knew you were acting funny and he was threatening to call in a private detective. I didn't want you to have to worry about that, so I just told him… please forgive me." Hunny bowed his head slightly, his nose buried in Usa-chan's fluffy pink ears. Mori sighed. He knew Hunny was only thinking in Mori's best interests, so he placed his hand on Hunny's head. The boy looked up from under Mori's palm with hopeful eyes. Mori patted his head twice to confirm his forgiveness. Hunny smiled and his eyes twinkled.
"What's everyone doing over here?" Everyone looked around the pillar with plastered on smiles, except for Mori who kept his face blank. Haruhi stood by with a question mark written all over her face.
"Oh, nothing…" Hikaru began.
"Just chatting." Kaoru finished.
"Oh, well…" Haruhi looked toward Mori, smiling softly. "I just wanted to thank you for saving me back there, sempai. So, thanks." She smiled the cute smile and walked away, picking up a tea tray and cleaning up. Apparently club had ended for the day. The small group was stunned silent, except for Hunny who was playing with Usa-chan.
"Damn…" Hikaru whispered.
"She's just too cute." Kaoru declared.
"Indeed." Kyoya straightened his tie, and then his glasses.
"Ah." was all Mori contributed.
And that was how the day ended. Tamaki made a huge fuss over Haruhi's near fall, and wouldn't stop reverting back to his preferred corner of the music room to grow mushrooms when she shot down his questions and loud statements with collected, logical responses of her own.
Three days later, Hunny approached Mori after club activities let out.
"Takashi, let's take a vacation!" Hunny sang as they walked out of the south building. Well, Mori was walking, Hunny was riding on his back. Mori looked around his shoulder at his friend quizzically.
"Takashi! It will be good for you! You've been distracted lately." Hunny whined in his little voice.
"I'm fine." Mori promised. He was fine, honestly. He was just stuck in the middle of an unbearable unrequited love that was eating away at the very core of his soul and being, his mind being filled of images of her, and the sight of her so close every day yet so far away as she entertains guests and the rest of the host club which drove him mad with emotions. No biggy. He was fine, like he said.
"Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Hunny gripped Mori's shoulder, hard. Mori held back his wince. For such a small boy, Hunny was extremely powerful. Mori should be the one to remember that the most. "Takashi…" Hunny's voice lowered, a sure sign he was dead serious, and getting angry. A combo Mori was unused to being at the receiving end of. "We are taking a vacation, even if I have to tie you up and throw you on the plane myself." The small hand tightened further, and this time Mori couldn't hold back his wince. He gave up. The summer holiday was coming up anyways. Most likely, the two boys were going someplace anyways, so the point was moot. Mori nodded, and Hunny let his death grip on his collarbone go.
"That's great, Takashi!" Hunny clapped. "Let's go to the ocean! But don't tell anyone, I want you to just relax over summer, not be caught up in the Host Club's antics."
Mori smiled a little. Hunny was truly a dear friend. The small blonde seemed to know exactly what Mori needed without having to tell him.
The last days of school flew by and summer break began. Mori and Hunny decided to go to Kikugahama Kaisuiyokujo, Yamaguchi for break. It was fairly distant from the rest of the club. The twins were going to Fuji with their parents, Kyoya was going to America with Tamaki, and Haruhi was staying home.
Mori and Hunny checked into their suite and headed down for the five star dining room. They had an extensive desert list and within a space of two hours, Hunny had already eaten himself into a coma. Mori had never seen the blonde eat so much sugar in his life, and that was saying something. While Hunny did eat a fair amount of sweets everyday, the quantity he consumed at dinner caused the blonde to get violently sick. Mori rushed them to their room and was about to call for a doctor when Hunny stopped him.
"Takashi…" he said weakly. "I'm sorry, don't worry. It's just a little bug. Don't call a doctor…" Hunny proceeded to throw up into a basin Mori had brought for him. "But if you could, could you go down stairs and buy some medicine?" Mori nodded. If it was what Mitskuni wanted, Mori would get it, even if it killed him to not do more.
Mori took the stairs two at a time, not wanting to take the lift because it took too long. He reached the first floor in a matter of moments and headed for the small shop in the hotel lobby.
When he emerged from the shop with all the medication they offered, he looked up just in time to see Haruhi having an animated argument with the desk clerk.
Mori stepped closer to catch the end of the conversation.
"I'm telling you, I have a room here. See, this is the package I won at the market. A romantic get away for two, at the Umibe Resort and Spa in Kikugahama Kaisuiyokujo, Yamaguchi for a seven day, six night stay." She slammed the package deal on the counter. She was absolutely furious.
The clerk sniffed rudely at her. He pushed the package back over at her and point to something on the page.
"Yes, it's a romantic get away for two. As far as I know, you are a single party and therefore, this package is null and void. Unless you have the money to pay for a room here, leave, before I call security to escort you off the premises."
Mori didn't know why he did it. All he knew was that he was pissed for Haruhi's sake, and he had to step in.
"Haruhi, why haven't you checked in?" he asked quietly but loud enough for the man behind the desk to hear. Mori came up behind her and wrapped his hand around her shoulders while holding the plastic bag loosely at his side.
"Morinozuka-sama!" the clerk bowed formally, looking flustered by his presence.
Mori just glared at the man, hugging the confused Haruhi closer to his side. "Why is my girlfriend not checked in?" Mori blushed after using the g-word. Haruhi did too. She scratched her face and looked away, but didn't move out from under his arm.
"Oh, well… Morinozuka-sama… I thought you were already a guest here?" the clerk looked around for help, but the two other people behind the counter looked away and moved on, leaving the man stranded.
"No." Mori lied. It wasn't like the man could argue with him. His tone was cold, and he shot a glare at the squirming man like no other. Finally, the man relented, and checked them in with a shaky smile, and sincere apologies, and a free breakfast, and an offer to have a tour guide show them around Kikugahama Kaisuiyokujo, and many other useless things. Mori didn't say anything and Haruhi just stared up at him with wide, brown eyes.
Mori noticed her clothes for the first time. She looked too cute in a white dress her father no doubt forced her to wear. Her hair was brushed back with clips holding her bangs out of her face. She didn't wear any makeup, of course, so Mori got a full, unobscured view of her lovely countenance. He wanted to smile, but knew if he did, it would just make her feel awkward.
They were escorted into a suit on the third floor. It was an economy room. Small, with one bedroom, one bathroom, one balcony, one kitchen, and one living room. Mori took a look around and wasn't really impressed. The furniture wasn't very expensive, and the carpet was wool. But Haruhi… her face lit up and was dazzled. She sucked in her breath and gazed around the room in stunned silence. She stepped forward, ignoring the clerk prattling off useless facts. Mori wasn't in the mood to listen and so shooed the small man off. Mori closed the door and watched Haruhi turn about the room.
"Thank you, sempai!" She nearly shouted. She was smiling widely and he just wanted to crush her to his chest. But he didn't. She continued on. "This is too much! You didn't have to do this!" she completed that sentence by turning her back to him and walking out onto the 11x19 balcony overlooking the ocean. The sea breeze blew into his face and he stepped forward, following her. He stood behind her as she took in the fresh air and exhaled on a satisfied sigh.
"I don't know how I can repay you for this! You really helped me out back there." She looked up at him and smiled and at that moment, he would've said something quite ballsy or stupid or both, but she cut him off before he could so much as move. "Wait, Mori-sempai… is Hunny here with you?" She looked around the suit as if the small blonde was hiding behind the couch. Mori froze. Dread filled his entire body. He forgot about Hunny! How could that have happened… especially with the bag full of medicine in his hand?!
Mori didn't even explain his sudden departure, he didn't really hear her calling after him in the hallway. All he was focused on was getting back to Hunny.
He dashed up the stairs and was at their penthouse room in a matter of moments. He opened the door, rushed in, but found no sign of his cousin. His stomach dropped.
"Mitskuni!" he called out, but received no answer. He went to Hunny's room where he had left him thirty minutes ago and found the bed perfectly made, the basin cleaned out and on the bedside table, and a note on the pillow.
Mori picked up the note and saw Hunny's flowery letters littering the page with bunnies and cake drawn in the corners.
Dear Takashi,
Have fun playing with Haruhi! I hope you won't be too mad at me for setting this all up. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine for the week without you here. And don't worry about the rest of the hosts! I have them under control!
Love,
Mitskuni!
P.S. There's strawberry cake in the kitchen for Haruhi when you get the nerve to invite her up! But Usa-chan and I ate a piece…
Okay! Well, good luck!
P.P.S. Don't be a coward.
The last part is what got to Mori. Don't be a coward.
Mori eventually went back to Haruhi's room. The door was closed and he sighed and knocked softly on the wood. She immediately opened it and tilted her head far back to look him in the eye.
"Is everything alright with Hunny-sempai?" she asked while stepping back to let him into her small room. She really should be more careful. He was a guy after all. Things happened when guys and girls were alone in a room. He wasn't saying that he would try anything perverted (though he wanted to), he was just worried is all. What if she was this accepting to a bellhop or maybe the mail man? Not good. He walked in, looking down at her. She closed the door and went over to the couch sitting down at one end. He chose the other. They sat in silence before he spoke.
"Mitskuni went home." He stated with only the slightest hint of worry in his voice. Mori couldn't remember a time without Hunny by his side voluntarily.
Haruhi's eyes widened. "And you're still here?" she obviously was just as shocked as he was about the blonde's sudden departure.
Mori nodded and grimaced. "He basically ordered me to stay."
Mori rubbed his eyes, his face a blank mask.
Haruhi nodded, her face a mask as well. "Well…" she began. "You have been acting weird lately Mori-sempai. I think Hunny-sempai is only worried about you." Haruhi smiled a little, and Mori's heart skipped a beat. She'd been noticing him. "So don't feel bad about leaving him alone. He wants you to stay here and enjoy yourself, so you should do it!"
He nodded. He was too stunned to do much else, honestly.
They were quiet for a while, Mori trying to look everywhere but at her; at his fingernails, at the clock hanging on the wall, out the widow at the ocean, at a snag in the carpet next to his left foot, anywhere.
The silence was almost becoming unbearable until it was cut by a low gurgling noise.
Mori snapped his gaze to Haruhi, who sat clutching her belly and smiling sheepishly.
"I had to skip lunch today to get to the train on time." She informed him. He nodded in comprehension. They sat like that for a second before it dawned on him to invite her to dinner. He opened his mouth to speak, but was too late. Haruhi had already gotten up and grabbed her light brown bag, which she had sat down on the kitchen's granite countertop.
"Well," she said, spinning around to look at him. "Let's find a supermarket and get ingredients for dinner."
They walked down the hall to the lifts and pushed the button. As they waited patiently in silence, two girls, maybe in their twenties, walked up. They stood close to each other and giggled. They whispered but the hall was quiet and their voices carried.
"Oh, he's too cute. How tall do you think he is?"
"Never mind that, what is she doing with him?"
"Maybe she's just another guest? Like, she isn't with him, they just happened to be at the lift at the same time."
"That has to be it. He is way too hot to be with a plain girl like her."
Mori was shaking from restraint. Haruhi didn't even blink in the girls' directions. She kept her eyes forward or on him, with a content turn of her lips. If she was feeling anything she kept it well hidden.
The lift doors opened, and Haruhi stepped in first. She waited for Mori to enter then pushed the ground floor button with a smile. Mori quickly turned around and spread his arms out, blocking the two chatty twits from getting into the little lift. They looked shocked for a second, maybe about to argue, but his expression must have given away his rage because they quickly took a step back.
Mori was livid. He couldn't let those girls anywhere near Haruhi.
"Uh…" the doors closed softly. "Mori-sempai…?"
Mori took up a place near the back wall of the lift behind Haruhi. He didn't say anything to her. One, he was still angry and didn't want to frighten her, two, he was embarrassed about losing his temper in front of her, and three, he really couldn't think up an explanation without giving away his feelings.
She looked like she wanted to say something. Mori held his breath in anticipation. Suddenly, he stumbled and was thrown against the far wall, against Haruhi, when the lift shuddered to a stop. The flood lights appeared overhead.
Great. Just great. Un-frickin'-believable. Really, with his luck, Mori couldn't expect anything else.
Mori looked down. Smushed between his very large chest and the front wall was Haruhi. Her hands splayed across the shiny, lacquered wood of the wall that broke her fall, her back pressed close to his front, her hair a bit mussed.
Haruhi's eyes were wide, staring up behind her at his face in shock. Her pink lips were parted slightly, dragging in the warm air he was breathing out. That's how close they were.
Maybe his luck was changing…
Mori froze. He was overcome with powerful feelings, feelings he wasn't sure he could hide. Control was what he needed, and he lacked any form of it when this beautiful girl was around. Mori always prided himself on his self-restraint through the years, but right now, he wasn't sure he could rely on past experience to help him. This was serious.
"M-Mori-sempai!" her voice was a bit loud in the quiet of the lift. He focused on the movement of her mouth as she spoke his name and wondered what it'd feel like with those lips against his. They looked just as soft up close as they did far away. But he wanted to make sure.
His thumb reached up and rubbed against her bottom lip. Yup. Just as supple as he suspected. She gasped out when he touched her, and she pulled away suddenly. Her face was red, and her breathing shuddering.
He moved back so she could escape his arms, and then took up a position in the corner as far away from her as possible. He feigned nonchalance, but the strained bulging of his muscles as he crossed his arms over his chest and the tight, white-knuckled grip of his fists, gave him away.
Her back was to him, but even in the dim lighting he could see her shaking.
Damn it! This is not what he wanted. He didn't want to scare her, he just wanted…
Okay, he could understand why she was frightened of him… just a little bit. Didn't fix the unexpected case of blueballs he had, but he could understand… just a bit.
Mori took a deep breath to steady himself. The lift was getting hot, uncomfortable.
Someone better be there for them soon. He needed to get out and walk, shake off the heat wracking through his body.
Why did he do that? He could only think of temporary insanity as an excuse. Now Haruhi will never speak at him again. And who could blame her? With the things he was thinking about… he would be proud if she never even looked in his direction again.
Mori was staring at his feet, contemplating the pros and cons of jumping off a rooftop when she spoke.
"I guess it would help if we pushed the emergency button." She sort of laughed to herself, reaching over and pushing the red button. Nothing happened. She pushed again, harder this time. Again nothing happened. She dropped her hand and sighed. She didn't move for a minute, then started rummaging through her purse. She opened her phone and cursed. "No signal…" She looked over at him, under her long eyelashes. Her face flushed.
"I-It's okay, Mori-sempai…" she hedged. She was nervous around him now, something she had never been before. "It's… okay."
Mori didn't believe her but nodded an ascent anyways.
Then they stood there, in a completely awkward silence.
Haruhi had eventually sat down after about an hour, and Mori soon followed suit. The lift was hot. Really hot. He was sweating profusely making dark stains appear on the front and back of his shirt, his skin clammy, and his short hair pasted to his forehead. He rested his elbows on his bent knees trying, and failing, to get comfortable. Haruhi on the other hand looked utterly content.
Her head rested against the wall, her hazel eyes were closed, a comfortable sigh slipped from her dangerous lips.
Mori wished he could be that content.
He turned away, and cursed under his breath, wiping sweat from his eyes. Haruhi's eyes flipped over and stared at him in shock. Mori forgot he didn't curse in front of ladies, or in front of anyone for that matter.
Mori didn't return her stare, just pretended like he didn't notice, eyes forward.
She cleared her throat delicately. "Are you sleepy Mori-sempai?"
What? What did fatigue have to do with anything? The question was so odd he blinked at her before quietly speaking. "No…?"
He continued to stare at her, his head slightly quirked, not giving away his feelings. She obviously became flustered by his gaze. She started scratching her cheek with her index finger, and sort of laughed to herself looking away.
"Oh…" was all she said.
Mori decided to just not ask about it. It obviously was of no significance.
They stayed like that in that manner for a while more. Mori was beginning to wonder if anyone would come for them. He was contemplating the strength he would need to pry the doors to the lift open when Haruhi sighed heavily. Mori glanced over.
"Mori-sempai, I feel like I need to apologize…" she said quietly, looking at her fingers laced together. Mori tired to school his features into a faceless mask, but he couldn't control his eyebrows lifting in surprise and his mouth parting slightly with horror. What did she have to apologize for? He was the one being an ass and an idiot. She was being sweet and understanding and amazing and everything she was that had made him fall for her so hard. He wanted to tell her all this but didn't because she was still speaking. "I must have been bothering you earlier when I said we should go get groceries, now we're stuck in this hot lift and I probably screwed up all your plans." She turned her big, brown eyes toward him, her chin lifting so she could see into his eyes. "I'm sorry." She was so sincere. So good. So…
Mori didn't realize he was doing it till it was too late. He took her hand that fell between them and squeezed it while he bent down to her upturned face, his lips brushing hers in a whisper of a whisper of a kiss. She gasped, her pink mouth parting putting more pressure on his lips. It was… it was… there were no words. The love he had for this tiny, little girl swelled up inside of him, warming him from the inside out, bursting forth from his heated flesh. He wanted her to know it. He wanted her to know how much he loved her. He increased the contact.
He scooted closer to her. He laced their fingers together, his large hand engulfing her fragile fingers. She didn't pull away. Her eyes were open and staring at him with an alarmed, innocent rabbit look to them. But she didn't move.
His other hand reached up and cupped her cheek. The tips of his fingers brushed her hair away. His lips had a mind of their own and found Haruhi's again, this time with a bit more pressure. The kiss was surreal and all-consuming. There was no world, no lift, no host club, no Ouran, Hunny was even at the back of his mind. Only Haruhi. Only her lips beneath his, her cheek in his palm, her fingers entwined with his. The kiss was only a minute in time, but felt like years to him. He could kiss her forever. He really could. Her mouth was ridiculously soft, like flower petals. Her scent was intoxicating. Clean, sweet, like fresh fruit. Her breathing quickened and then… she kissed him back.
Mori's heart stopped. Her response was so tentative. Just the slightest move of her lips, an increase in the pressure. It was good. More than good. He was in heaven. His hand slid down from her cheek to the nape of her neck, pulling her closer. She squeaked at the new position. Now Mori had complete access to her mouth and cheeks and nose and eyes and neck. He kissed her harder, lips more demanding. Her free hand traveled up to his chest and rested there for a moment before sliding around his shoulders. The feel of her hand on him made him jump and in turn she jumped too, but both had a silent conversation with their quick glances and panting breath that they both liked what was happening.
And it was really happening. Something Mori thought could only happen in his wildest dreams was a reality. The love of his life was kissing him, and he her.
Haruhi was almost sitting in his lap because of their new position. Not that he cared. In fact, he wanted her to touch all of him, and he wanted to touch every last glorious part of her. She befuddled him, amused him, made him think. She was dazzling and kind, and he wanted all of her.
After a moment, he began coaxing her mouth open with his tongue, running it along the seam of her delicious lips.
Her mouth parted for an instant before she gasped and moved away from him. Her cheeks were flushed with that delicate pink she had perfected. Her breathing was jagged and short. Her lips were a tiny bit swollen from his attentions and parted ever so slightly. She gazed up at him in shock with a hint of fear and even more longing. He was stuck with a different kind of thought. He was happy he could make her look like that. He wanted that sort of expression on her face all the time, well… without the shock and fear. The longing. That's what he saw and he wanted even more of it.
"I love you." He declared on an exhale, his other hand coming up to her cheek. It was hot. "I've loved you since nearly the beginning. I don't know how I kept it in this long, but that's not gonna happen again. I love you. I love you so very much." By the end he couldn't look her in the eye and was resting his forehead on her delicate shoulder. His hands on her face. She didn't speak. She didn't move. All Mori heard from her was her breathing. He felt her body inhale and exhale. After a moment of agonizing silence, he couldn't take it anymore and lifted his head.
She was crying.
Big tears rolled off of her face in waves, leaving wet streaks in their wake. She didn't sniffle or whimper. Only cried.
Mori froze in horror, his eyes popped wide, his hands lifted off her face fluttering around her head like a bird.
He didn't know what to do. He'd seen girls cry before— a lot actually, fan girls tended to get a little extreme—but never girls he loved. Haruhi crying was the last thing he wanted. He never wanted to make her sad.
Haruhi's shaking hands lifted to her face and she touched the tears on her cheeks. She tried to laugh, but it was forced, while she wiped the wetness from her eyes.
"I—I don't know what's happening." She forced another laugh, tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Mori scooted away from her as quickly as possible and turned towards the doors of the lift once again. "Sorry." He mumbled. He was crushed. She was rejecting him and he felt bad for making her cry. A lose-lose situation. His heart seized up and then felt like it was exploding from every pore in his body. A not very fun feeling. He forced himself to speak, though his throat felt tighter than a drum, a huge rock blocking his trachea. "I won't bother you again." God, was that his voice? He sounded terrible.
Mori was mortified. He was Mortified Mori. That's what his great-grandchildren will call him. Mortified Mori. He sat there trying to think about anything that wasn't his aching heart or the crying girl next to him. It was no use. He was tangled up in her web. No way was he ever going to think about anything else for the rest of his life.
"Mori-sempai!" he was shocked by her sudden shout. She flung herself into his lap and wrapped her pale arms around his neck. "I'm happy! I think that's why I'm crying. I'm just really happy!" She seemed very excited by this idea. Mori was stunned stupid. She was smiling and looking at him with those big, brown eyes and he was utterly tongue tied.
He felt like he was going to cry now. "Happy?" he muttered. And she nodded her wet face. She was flushed, crying, and smiling. The combination killed him. He couldn't stop thinking it. Beautiful. She was beautiful.
"Happy…" He couldn't wrap his mind around it. Happy. Did that mean she returned his feelings?
Her smile was infectious. He could help but smile in return, his lips parting and a laugh escaping him. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed.
She was astonished too for she looked at him like something magical happened.
"Haruhi…" he said leaning forward, wrapping his arms around her small frame. "I love you." And he sealed the declaration with a kiss to her pink lips.
He held her tight to his body, loving the way she felt against his chest. She was silent, but she didn't move away. In fact, she burrowed deeper into his embrace, her arms circling around his shoulders, her face nestled in the crook of his neck and shoulder. He felt her breath through his shirt, felt her deep inhale, then…
"I love you too… Takashi."
All was quiet—only their combined breathing and the white-noise of the florescent flood lights overhead punctuating the silence between them.
She pulled back suddenly, the monumental moment interrupted by her stuttering, frantic words.
"I—I—uh—I m-mean—I—um—j-j-just—" her face was a cherry red, her eyes shifty, not looking at him. So cute. "Mori-sempai. That's what I meant to say…"
Mori looked down at her, his face not showing any emotion.
He got up slowly from the floor, his right leg asleep, and took the two steps needed to reach the lift doors.
He then proceeded to bang his head with force against the polished metal. The sounds reverberating around the small enclosed space.
"M-Mori-sempai! What are you doing?" she shouted over the loud banging.
Mori gave up, resting his forehead against the cool metal, his eyes closed. He turned around and slid his back down until his butt hit the floor, and his knees splayed about. He ducked his head down below his shoulders, which were hunched over due to his elbows positioned on his knees.
He took several long breaths, trying to slow down his rapid heart. His head hurt.
She didn't say anything. He was pretty sure she was looking at him with concern.
Was she waiting for an answer?
He exhaled. "I… I'm trying to wake up." He said.
"Wake up?" he risked taking a peak at her and knew he shouldn't have. She was on her knees, staring at him with worry and confusion.
"Yeah…" he mumbled, ducking his face again. "This… this only happens in my dreams…" He was happy. So happy it hurt. He was filled with joy, he wasn't sure it was real. It all seemed too good. He had to wake up, before he really let himself fall off the cliff.
"Mori-sempai…" she was right there next to him. He didn't even hear her move. Her gentle, soft hand lifted and landed onto his knee. He shifted, not breaking the contact, but slowly moving so he was facing her, he body between his spread knees.
"You're awake."
His world was shuddering.
She looked up and around, her little mouth parted in astonishment. She must feel it too. No. Wait.
His world wasn't shuddering.
The lift was. The lift was moving.
He glanced down at her, and she back at him. Her face broke out into a smile that utterly melted him.
"I guess we can go get food now!" she stood up and brushed off her dress and knees.
He stood as well, doing the same to his own clothes.
"Yeah… maybe some fancy tuna."
****Edit: Feb. 2, 2013
Hiiiiii everybody. Don't flip out if you're prone to flip outs, but I recently just scrapped most of what I had for Chapter Two in this series. *ducks under bed just in case* I just wasn't happy with the writing (I mean, almost everybody who proofed it for me [all two people] didn't like it as much as the first.) So I'm starting fresh with a fresh idea for the plot thanks to the help of my best friend. So that's why it's kind of gonna be just a teensy bit late-ish. I don't know. I set a tri-weekly release for myself for this thread so it's my own standards I'm screwing up.
Please be patient if you're prone to impatientness when it comes to fanfic.
Thanks so much! Keep up the reviews. I love 'em so much! They're my precious... hehehehehe.
