Hey everyone! Thanks for the feedback and follows. It's been a very busy beginning to the year and I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to put out this second chapter. I promise, I will get better. I'm starting a new job next week and have been trying to figure out everything between it and ending my current one. Again thank you, and I hope you enjoy as another heart enters the fray.
"Kyoya," came the sound of the Otori patriarch from the secluded office. The tone was clearly disinterested. "My assistant told me that you and the Fujioka girl dined out together tonight. I'm pleased to see you taking my advice seriously for once. Suoh and I are eager to see which of you boys might succeed first."
"Yes. I understand father." It was the same speech every night: make Haruhi his wife before Tamaki could. It was a rather annoying situation his father had placed him in. He didn't mind Haruhi as a person, perhaps even, she could be cute. It had not been his original intention to take Haruhi from Tamaki, though he had to admit that he was a little amused when Tamaki made a fool of himself for Haruhi.
"Very well. Good night son." And that was it, his dismissal. It was that simple for his father, and Kyoya had gotten used to it for a long time. He nodded and walked back up to his bedroom. After finishing dinner with Haruhi, he had dropped her off at her house, and come back home. He'd had to convince her that she could and should keep the outfit she's picked out. Once he'd finally convinced her, she went inside and that was it.
Kyoya walked to his room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Tonight was the latest he had returned home in weeks, but strangely enough, his usual exhaustion had not settled in. The evening had been rather unusual to begin with though. He hadn't originally intended on stopping the car, nor on taking Haruhi out to dinner, but it had been so late when they had left school, and so dark, it had only seemed right to help her out. Their conversation had been stimulating though. They'd talked about classes, for first years and second years, as well as club on-goings. She'd had quite a lot to add to Kyoya's perspective of the club, and had loved dinner.
"Well, I suppose I should get ready for sleep. Tamaki said we would have a special meeting tomorrow regarding the graduating hosts."
"Oh, sempai! Good afternoon." Haruhi bows to Kyoya in front of the music room which serves as their club room. "How was the rest of your night? I take it you made it home well?"
"I did. Thank you. Did you sleep well?" He asked, opening the music room door for her.
"I did. My father was very thankful for the meal you sent home with me." She smiled and walked into the room like she did every day, only difference was the slight flush to her cheeks.
The music room was as opulent as ever, and at the center table sat the rest of the club. Well, almost everyone else. Mori and Honey were not present, since the meeting was about what the club would be doing with their upcoming graduation. With Mori and Honey both about to graduate in a month, it was important to celebrate their accomplishments and remind them that they have been an amazing part of the Host Club.
"Mama, welcome! And my beautiful daughter! Now that we are all here, let's get down to business. Kyoya, do we know where Mori-sempai and Honey-sempai will be attending university?"
"We do. Honey-sempai and Mori-sempai will both be attending Keio University, here in Tokyo."
"Really? I thought that Harvard wanted Mori-sempai, and that Cambridge had its eye on Honey-sempai. They are both staying here?" The twins piped up, clear confusion written across their faces.
"Yes. Mori-sempai and Honey-sempai were accepted to all of the universities which they applied for, but Honey-sempai decided to remain here. Naturally, Mori-sempai will remain by Honey-sempai's side." Kyoya explained. Each member of the club shook their head in acceptance of this information.
"Alright then, that means we have to make sure that they know they are always welcome here if they ever want to visit." Tamaki added, firmly planting his fist in his other hand.
"Yes, but," Haruhi said, looking Tamaki in the eyes. "We have to make sure that they know that we have appreciated their support and guidance since they joined the club. We have to make sure that they know that we love them. . . Uh, right Kyoya-sempai?" She asked, finally looking away from Tamaki.
The twins shared a look, then focused their gazes on Kyoya. "Well, we think" started Hikaru.
"That we should throw a party here at the club, with the ladies as guests so that they know that we as a school appreciated them," Kaoru finished.
"Then, we can have another little party just the 7 of us!" chimed in Haruhi, clearly excited.
"We could do a happy theme for the big party, then do memories theme for the smaller one. We could each find a picture or draw a picture of something we remember for Mori-sempai, and one for Honey-sempai, then we can make books for them and give them to them." Tamaki added to the idea.
"I suppose that would work. We will need to finalize invitations by the end of this week then, so that we can send them to the ladies for timely responses of course." Kyoya said, writing things down on his list and keep track of the information going around. "We'll also need to think of-"
"Mori, I told you everyone would be in the club room." Honey said, swinging the doors open to Music Room 3. Mori's ever-present aura filled the entryway and a simple, "hm" escaped him in response.
"Honey-sempai, Mori-sempai, there you are! Our classes let out a little early today, so we figured we'd just meet you here when you got here. And here you are." Covered Tamaki poorly.
"Oh? Okay. Hi Haru-chan!" Honey ran to her and hugged her coarsely. "I missed you so much today! I wasn't sure if you got home safe yesterday or not. I'm glad you did."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Kyoya-sempai gave me a ride home." Haruhi said absent mindedly.
Tamaki and the twins of course didn't let it slip that Kyoya had been the one to give her a ride. Smoke could nearly be seen coming from their ears as they converged behind Haruhi's sofa and whispered in quiet tones about their disappointment at not being the one to take her home.
The hours dragged on, filled with the normal idle chatter, the inconvenient Tamaki-fits of ridiculousness, and the gentle aroma of tea. Despite graduation coming closer, Haruhi's mind was far from worrying about the impending break from school, or even the closing ceremonies or final exams. All she could think about was the pleasant evening she had had with Kyoya the night before. The clothes she'd worn to dinner were neatly folded in her room at home. It was odd to think that she had walked into that place in her school uniform, dressed as a boy, and come out dressed in button down blouse and a navy skirt. It was far from what she would normally wear in her time off, but after having worn the male uniform for so long, it felt weird to be in skirts and dressed these days.
"Haruhi," said Mori, gaining her attention as her eyes had drifted to the setting sun outside.
"Oh, Mori-sempai. What is it?" Her eyes scanned the room for anyone else, but everyone else seemed to have left, but Kyoya, sitting at a table in the corner working on something. "Where is everyone?" she asked.
"They all went home." He answered. Simple, concise, and to the point, Mori never wasted words and his actions always spoke volumes.
"Oh. Is it time to head home already? Alright. But, what brought you back here?" She asked, a look of curiousness gleaming in her eyes.
He lifted his school bag and shrugged. "I forgot it."
"Alright. Well, I'll be getting my things then. I'll be happy to walk out with you if you like?" It was minute, but Mori smiled, just a little, and nodded his head before stepping back so she could get up and get her things. Before leaving, she bowed to Kyoya and said, "I'm going no sempai. Thank you for today." A small wave of his hand was all she got in response before she turned her back and walked out those music doors with Mori.
As they approached the doors leading to the pick-up area, Mori asked "Is someone coming to get you, Haruhi?"
It was strange, but her heart fluttered just a little at his use of her name, but she regained her composure quickly as said, "No, my father has to work again tonight, so I'm going to catch the bus home."
It was impossible for her to see given their height difference and the sunset's light, but Mori scowled just slightly and cast his eyes to the frame of the young and slight girl standing next to him. "I'll take you." He said. It was nearly imperceptible, so Haruhi asked him to repeat himself, and when he did, she stopped walking and looked at his frame, so large and tall, just a few steps in front of her now.
"Really sempai, you don't have to. I don't mind taking the bus. Besides, it's already so late."
He stopped just steps in front of her and turned to look back at her. The light was catching her hair in just the right way that it also looked on fire, and her eyes sparkled with the way the dying light played with them. He usually wasn't one for waxing poetry or gentle brush strokes on canvas, but if her could have captured that beauty he would have. As it was, it stirred up something primal inside of him, something that wanted him to protect her. "I'll take you" he repeated, more firmly this time, ad began walking again.
He walked right past the empty pick up area, where most of the rest of the club members were picked up regularly, and walked on for a few more minutes until he came to a parked motorcycle. Pulling keys out of his pocket, he unlocked the compartment with the helmets and pulled out two, handing one to her as well. "Put it on."
She did as she was told. "Um, Mori-sempai, I thought you would picked up like the others, or maybe go home with Honey-sempai. I didn't expect a, well, a motorcycle." She stumbled through her words, gaping at the machine in front of her.
He swung his leg of the machine, spared her one look, cocked a rare smile, and turned the engine over. His machinations had made it seem as though the motorcycle was going to be intensely loud, but instead it was rather quiet, like a gentle purr. "Put your helmet on, then just swing your leg over and hold on to me." He should it so nonchalantly.