Author's note: I'm glad that I finally have the chance to update my story! Thank you for all who reviewed! Thank you for those who are reading! This is my second chapter. I hope that you will like it!
"Welcome!" The Host club opened their doors and greeted their enthusiastic costumers formally. The afternoon at the Host Club started innocently enough, with fan girls squealing from time to time. Haruhi was glad that they didn't have to dress up or anything today. She was too tired from sports class to do anything frenzied.
"My princess…wherever you go, our hearts will always find a way to connect us together…" Tamaki, or the 'king' held his costumer's hand as the girl's face turned pink. "Oh, Tamaki-kun…" As usual, Tamaki was busy dishing out compliments on his clients as another group of girls were screaming in delight at the twin's table.
"Hikaru…have you ever wondered…what will your life turn out, if you didn't have me…?" Kaoru bit his index finger as he looked away from Hikaru. They were obviously starting up the 'brotherly love' charm again. In a split second, Hikaru pulled Kaoru to his chest, embracing him, as Kaoru looked up to him with (fake) teary eyes. "Kaoru, you idiot…I'd rather die than to have you away from me…" Hikaru cupped his bother's chin dramatically as the girls almost fainted due to 'MOE'.
"Hikaru…"
"Kaoru…"
"Sigh…I still can't stand that brotherly love thing…" Haruhi murmured. "Hmm? Is something bothering you, Haruhi-kun?" One of her costumers asked. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing!" Haruhi flashed her famous, 'natural rookie' smile that made the girls all go, "Kyyaaaaaa!! So cute!!"
At Honey and Mori's table, nothing exciting is being held except from the occasional sighs and screams of 'kawaii'.
Kyouya had no costumers at that moment. He was busy typing vigorously at his laptop, calculating the day's expenses. He was relieved that Tamaki didn't came up with another idiotic cosplay that would cost thousands of yen.
"Would you like some more tea, Ayame-chan?" Haruhi smiled politely and asked her blue-eyed costumer as Ayame's face blushed heavily from the sight of her smile. "A-ah…yes…thank you, Haruhi-kun…" Ayame reached for the Victorian-style teacup from Haruhi's tray, but was startled by a scream that came from the Hitachiin's table due to more 'MOE'. Ayame jerked upfront and was about to fall until Haruhi took her hand, and stopped her from falling, but the tray that Haruhi was holding a while ago got bumped at the table, sending pieces of shattered glass on the floor. "Ayame-chan, are you okay?" Haruhi asked. "I'm so sorry, Haruhi-kun!" Before Haruhi could reply, Tamaki rushed to her side after hearing the smashing of the cups. "Haruhi!! What happened?!" He grabbed her shoulder and started to shake her continuously. "It's nothing, Tamaki-senpai! Now please let go. I don't want to be manhandled by you." Haruhi said bluntly, and upon hearing this, Tamaki went to sulk in his corner of woe.
After all the costumers and other host members left, Haruhi picked up a broom and started sweeping the broken shards at the floor.
"That's going to add up in your debt, you know." A voice behind her said. Haruhi turned around and saw the shadow king, with his signature smirk.
"I know, I know." Haruhi sighed. It seems that lately, her debt is becoming neutral. Every time that it'll decrease, Kyouya will always find ways to increase it. She was beginning to wonder if Kyouya has a grudge on her for something she did. But she ignored it.
"Kyouya-senpai, I thought you already went home with the others?" Haruhi muttered as she threw the pieces of glass in the trash bin.
"Well, I need to get something at your house, so I thought I'd wait for you." Kyouya said coolly.
"And what would that something be?" Haruhi asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
Seeing that she's done with the sweeping, Kyouya ignored her question and opened the door. "I see that you're done there. Shall we get going?"
Haruhi was miffed that Kyouya didn't answer her question, but without saying anything, she took her bag and got out of the room with Kyouya. But upon reaching the campus gates, Haruhi felt drops of rain on her head. "…Rain?"
"Sigh…I'll call for a chauffeur." Kyouya whipped out his cellphone and preceded to dial, but stiffened as his eyes twitched. "Damn it…the batteries are drained…" He grumbled. Without further hesitation, Haruhi got an umbrella from her bag and opened it. It was large enough for the two of them to fit in. "Get in here, Kyouya-senpai. You'll get wet." Haruhi commented. "Thank you. Now let's go." He carried the umbrella and the two of them continued to walk in the rain to Haruhi's house.
Kyouya glanced at Haruhi. He started to blush as a thought struck his mind,
"…Isn't this like…a lover's umbrella?"
A black limo was following them. Inside, is a small boy and a tall guy, watching the two share an umbrella in the rain.
"Sorry to drain your phone's battery, Kyou-chan. But, I knew this would happen." Honey whispered as he gobbled down a piece of chocolate cake. "Our first plan went okay, right, Takashi?" Honey looked at Mori, smiling.
"Ah."
"We've done our part for today, Takashi. Let's leave them on their own for now and start planning another strategy for tomorrow!" Honey smiled at his cousin who smiled also in return. "You're right." With that, they drove off.
The rain continued to pour down as they reached Haruhi's apartment. She rummaged for the house key in her pocket and opened the door. Kyouya followed inside as he closed the umbrella and slammed the door shut. "Kyouya-senpai, you can use our phone to call a chauffeur to pick you up from here." Haruhi said as she took off her shoes.
"That would be ineffectual, Haruhi. I just remembered that Otou-san took all of our drivers with him to his business trip," Kyouya pushed his glasses up as he continued. "so I guess I'll have to spend the night here."
There was a period of silence.
"What?! You can't spend the night here! Otou-san is coming home late and he'll throw a fit if I told him that I'm home alone with a guy." Haruhi argued. A wicked smile played on Kyouya's lips. He didn't even notice that they were alone. "You're father practically drools over me, Haruhi. So I guess that he wouldn't mind if we did something improper…" he smirked. Haruhi, being the oblivious person that she is, didn't quite get that, but she just got off the subject.
"You can borrow my umbrella so you can go home. Just give it to me tomorrow!"
"And let Tamaki and the twins pester me with questions as of why I have your umbrella? I don't think so." He countered.
Haruhi, who ran out of feedbacks, sighed. She lost. She looked at Kyouya, who had a satisfied grin plastered on his face. "Damn Rich Bastard…" She thought. Haruhi gave in. "Fine. Stay here. But don't complain on how our apartment doesn't suit your standards."
"Oh, I'm sure that I'll be just…fine." He beamed and pushed his glasses up.
The two of them ate in the kotatsu in comfortable silence. Neither of them felt the need to say anything. Well, one of them, actually.
"Come on, Kyouya Ootori, say something! She won't know how you feel if you don't show her!" His mind practically scolded him.
"Now's not the right time." He thought to himself.
"What do you mean, not the right time?! You're all alone in their house!"
"Aargh! Okay, you know what? Forget it!" He slapped himself mentally.
Haruhi looked at the window. The rain is still going on. "I hope there's no thunder…" She thought.
After the two of them finished their meal, Haruhi took the plates and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Kyouya stayed seated at the kotatsu.
At the kitchen, while Haruhi was washing the dishes, she noticed something in the window. She looked up just in time to see the flash of thunder reflect on her shocked eyes.
"Crap!" Kyouya dashed to the kitchen and kicked the door open as he heard the sound of thunder. "I forgot that she has astraphobia!" He cursed himself for not remembering that important fact. He looked around and found Haruhi, kneeling on the floor, paralyzed, her eyes filled with horror and fear. Kyouya shook her by the shoulder but she didn't budge. "Haruhi! Haruhi!" Another loud thunder erupted and Haruhi screamed, tears rolling down on her cheeks.
Kyouya shook his head. He scooped Haruhi from her arms and legs and carried her to the living room where he laid her down on the floor. Haruhi was aware of what was happening but said nothing, as if she was loss on words. She was shivering in fright, and shrieked as the lights went out. "Power outage…" Kyouya said. He looked at Haruhi, wondering what kind of comfort he should give. Plus, he was nervous at their current situation. He was rather relieved for the blackout, so she wouldn't notice his flushed face.
"Ah…Haruhi," He started. "It seems that the thunder and rain are going away. I'm going to check on the power…" He made a motion to get up, but stopped as he felt a hand tugging on his shirt. "No…" Haruhi looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Please…stay here with me…" She whispered softly. Kyouya's eyes widened. And before he even knew it, he closed his eyes, and placed his hand behind her back, drew her closer and hugged her as if never wanting to let go.
The rain had already ceased. But Kyouya still hadn't let go of her.
Haruhi was confused. Then, an idea hit her. "Anou…Kyouya-senpai?"
Kyouya, who was himself again, realized what was happening. He opened his eyes and pulled away, blushing. "Crap…I didn't mean to…" The shadow king looked away, embarrassed. Then he glanced back at Haruhi.
"Kyouya-senpai…"
"F-forgive me…" He started, but stopped as he saw Haruhi, smiling.
"I didn't know that you're also scared of thunder!" Haruhi laughed. Kyouya twitched.
"This girl really is oblivious…" He thought. But he noticed this as a perfect opportunity to make her forget what happened. He tried to revert back to his old self, and adjusted his glasses to hide his flustered face. "Not really, I was just surprised…that's all."
Haruhi just shrugged and looked out the window. "Ah, Kyouya-senpai. It stopped raining. You can go home now." She stood up, no longer paralyzed. Kyouya stood up also, and headed to the door. He wanted to stick his head in a microwave oven for losing his self-control. "I suppose so. Goodbye and thank you, Haruhi." He simply said and walked out of the door, still blushing.
After some time Kyouya left, the lights went back on, and Ranka came barging through their door. "Haruhi! I'm home!" he giddily shouted. "Welcome home, dad." Haruhi smiled. She preceded to go to the kitchen to prepare some food for her dad. But before she could reach the door, Ranka called her. "Haruhi, are you okay?" He asked.
"I am. Why do you ask, dad?"
"Well, you're blushing! Is something wrong?"
"Huh? I am? I wonder why…"
"What a strange girl…" Ranka sighed.
Back at the kitchen, while chopping some carrots, Haruhi wondered. "Why am I blushing…?"
Author's note: That concludes the second chapter! Did you liked it? I'll start on the third chapter as soon as possible! But I believe that it'll take some time…We have little homeworks, but so many projects! Waaahhh! By the way, when Kyouya said that he had something to get at Haruhi's, that was just an excuse! Okay, well, thank you for reading this and I hope you keep on reading further chapters! Oh, and please review!
