A/N: dinner is served. bon apetit.
Chapter 3: Awkward Dinner
Silence. Deafening silence. The only sound that could even be heard was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall outside the dining room and perhaps, the soft sounds of the silverware on the dishes once in a while. No one made conversation. The only interactions made were slight glances between Hitomi and Keiji, glances from Hitomi to Kyouya and slight looks from Jiro at Hitomi and Kyouya.
It stayed silent for a few more moments before Jiro had enough of waiting for Hitomi to say something to Kyouya or vice-versa, and he cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"So, Kyouya, Hitomi told me you were part of a club," he smiled and Hitomi shot a wide-eyed look of anger at her oldest brother as Keiji nearly choked on his food, making Jiro frown at the two. "She didn't tell me what it was about though. How long has it been open now?"
"Two years," Kyouya replied, ignoring what was going on between the siblings. "It's a Host Club."
"A successful Host Club, I might add," Hitomi suddenly chimed in and all eyes shot to her as she took a bite of her food. "They're one of the most popular clubs in Ouran Academy."
"Is that so?" Jiro smiled as Keiji frowned at Hitomi's tone. "Well, what exactly does this Host Club do for the fine young ladies of Ouran?"
"Why don't I let Hitomi tell you about it?" Kyouya smiled back, looking straight at her with his cold smile as she stared back at him with wide eyes. "She's been there before. In fact, she was there today."
Jiro nearly choked on the sip of wine he'd taken from his glass and looked at Hitomi with wide eyes as Keiji glanced at her as well, wondering if he would have to save her.
"Hitomi?" Jiro urged and she looked at him, her eyes still wide. "Well?"
"Well, what?" she wondered, sincerely.
"What is the Host Club like?" he asked and Hitomi translated that as, "We'll talk about you being at the Host Club later."
She swallowed and looked back at Kyouya, hoping that he would save her. Surely he wasn't so that cold, right? She got her answer when he only stared back at her, and her anger rose as she continued staring at him, and that anger turned to quick resolve as she took a deep breath and gave a sly smile.
"Well, a lot of the girls at Ouran seem to enjoy it," she finally replied, sitting up a little straighter. "They basically sit around a room for a few hours and tell girls what they want to hear. There is of course profit. I think you two know that Kyouya would never get into anything that didn't have some profit for the members…himself especially."
She had looked him right in the eye when she said that.
"Of course there's profit," Kyouya replied with a sly smile of his own. "But our purpose is to make the girls happy."
"Happy?" Hitomi smiled slightly in return, perking a brow in intrigue. "I'm surprised that word is even in your vocabulary, Kyouya."
"Hitomi!" Jiro scolded and Keiji nearly spit out his sip of water at Hitomi's comment.
"Unless of course, you mean its definition in some cases, including this one, is 'profit'," she continued, ignoring her oldest brother's glare and her older brother's stare of shock at her.
"On the contrary," Kyouya replied, calmly. "I mean it the way I say it."
"Another shocker: You've actually said what you mean," Hitomi shot back, and her brothers stared at her, speechless at her behavior.
"There have been plenty of times where I've said what I mean," Kyouya replied, still calm.
"Oh sure," Hitomi nodded skeptically, taking a sip of water then continuing, "I'm sure I can count the number of times on one hand."
"You're not going to make me angry, Hitomi," he reported.
"Of course not," she shrugged. "How can one make a person that is devoid of feeling, upset at all, let alone angry?"
"Hitomi! That is enough!" Jiro snapped. "What is the matter with you?!"
Hitomi stood from her chair, not looking at anyone at the table and muttered, "I've lost my appetite. I'll be in the sitting room."
"Hitomi, you've barely touched your food," Keiji said, gently as she walked toward the door.
"Not only that, but it's rude to leave the table in the middle of dinner when we have a guest!" Jiro shot after her as she still walked away and Keiji glared at his brother. Hitomi only kept walking as a servant opened the door for her and she walked out of the room, taking a turn down the hall. Jiro sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Kyouya," he groaned.
"I'm not," Keiji muttered into his glass of water as he took a sip and Jiro glared at him but quickly turned back to Kyouya.
"She's been in a weird mood since she got home from school," Jiro explained.
"It's quite alright, Jiro," Kyouya assured him and the three were silent for a moment until Jiro perked up a bit with a thought.
"Kyouya," he called, drawing the boy's attention. "Would you mind talking to her? Maybe if she talked to someone other than us, she might be a little more…open about things."
Keiji nearly choked on his water and stared at Jiro with wide eyes as he coughed, "Jiro---!" Cough. "Don't impose on the poor boy like that. Let him eat his dinner."
"No, it's quite alright, Keiji," Kyouya replied, wiping his mouth with his napkin then standing. "I'll see if she'll allow me to sit with her awhile."
"Thank you, Kyouya," Jiro smiled as the boy headed to the door, his hands in his pockets and after the door shut, Keiji shot a glare at his brother as he took a drink of wine. Jiro caught his brother's gaze and turned to him questioningly.
"What?" he wondered.
"'What'?!" Keiji hissed back. "What do you mean, 'What?'! Did you completely miss what just happened?!"
Jiro shrugged, taking another sip of wine then said, "Lover's quarrel. Nothing more."
"Love?!" Keiji retorted. "Hitomi was right, that kid doesn't know love! He only sees her as a way to get our clinic! It's all business to him!"
"Maybe," Jiro shrugged again, starting at his food again. "But as far as I see it, if he didn't feel anything for her, he wouldn't have tolerated her speaking to him like that, and he wouldn't have gone after her either."
Keiji glanced at his older brother and sighed with a set jaw, gritting his teeth in irritation at the whole situation then shook his head and muttered, "I hope you're right."
Kyouya strolled down the hall, knowing where the sitting room was, his hands in his pockets. He knew she wouldn't want to see him, but after seeing her at the Host Club and the little 'discussion' they'd just had at the dinner table, he was even more intrigued by her. He'd spent plenty of time with her before, but she'd never been this…interesting.
He'd seen her almost like a female version of Tamaki, which really didn't appeal to him. The last thing he needed was a wife that was just like his best friend. But after her little outburst in the Host Club, and her witty comments she'd given him at dinner, she was showing a different side of her that he'd never even been hinted at. He wondered what else she had in store for him. He wanted to know what he was getting into before the marriage.
Finally coming to a stop in front of one of the doors in the hall he peeked inside and saw a couch in front of a TV which was propped on the wall above a fireplace. He heard small shudders and sniffles and sighed, realizing it was Hitomi who he saw sitting on the couch. He stepped into the room, silently so she wouldn't notice him until he was right next to her.
"Stupid," she shuddered, making him stop, standing directly behind the couch; directly behind her. "Stupid, idiot…stupid!" She pounded a fist onto the couch cushion next to the one she was sitting on. "You know he's doing an amazing job with the Host Club! And you know the Host Club itself is great! Why would you be such a bitch?! Why would you say all those horrible things to him if you---?!"
She cut herself off and sighed, leaning forward and holding her head in her hands to give a few more silent sobs. Instead of revealing his presence, Kyouya walked around the couch and sat next to her, silently. To his surprise, Hitomi didn't even look up to see who it was before she scooted closer and leaned on his shoulder, still staring ahead.
"Why am I an idiot, Keiji?" she shuddered, assuming who it was. "Why did I say all those things? Why would I be so horrible to him like that? This is so out of character for me."
"I'll say," Kyouya finally said and she gasped, shooting her head from his shoulder to stare watery blue eyes at him, dry tears on her cheeks.
"Kyouya?!" she breathed in utter shock. "I…I thought you were…"
"I know," he replied when she trailed off and she scooted away from him a bit.
"Why didn't you tell me it was you?!" she demanded.
"I was enjoying your indirect apology," he smirked. "I accept it, by the way."
Hitomi glared at him with a set jaw then asked through clenched teeth, "Why are you here?"
"Jiro asked me to talk to you," he shrugged, leaning back on the couch.
"And you actually came?" she retorted. "What's the merit in you talking to me?"
Kyouya lifted a brow in amusement and she sighed at herself, clapping a hand over her mouth because she was unbelieving of what she'd said.
"I'm…sorry," she muttered, lowering her hand and shaking her head. "I have no idea what's gotten into me."
"I noticed," he smirked and they sat in silence for a moment before she looked up at him.
"Why did you come here, though?" she finally wondered.
"I told you," he replied. "Your brother asked me."
"That's it?" she asked. "You didn't have any other reason?"
"I have a feeling my answer will make you give me another out of character remark," he replied, leaning on the arm on the couch.
"Oh, does it have something to do with merit, or profit, or something like that?" Hitomi shot back, then growled at herself and planted the heel of her hand to her forehead. "Dammit! It's like I can't control my mouth!"
"It looks like you lose your tact in my presence," Kyouya noticed and she stared at him in wonder. "I wonder when that happened."
"I-It must have been, after the Host Club," she guessed, that being the last time she remembered having an outburst in front of him. "I-I don't know why, though."
"Why don't we talk about that?" Kyouya suggested, shifting to face her and she frowned at him in wonder. "What exactly did you want to accomplish by going to the Host Club today?"
Hitomi's eyes shot wide again as she replied, "I already told you. Mika dragged me there, and I wanted to see you."
"But, I was coming here for dinner, so you saw me anyway," he shrugged.
"But I didn't know you were coming for dinner!" Hitomi replied. "Jiro told me we were having a guest, but he refused to tell me who it was! He didn't tell me about it until I came home!"
"I see," Kyouya smiled and looked up at her. "Then the question remains; why did you wish to see me?"
Hitomi looked up at him with wide eyes and opened her mouth to answer, but quickly shut it, afraid of what might come out, but Kyouya only lifted a brow and smirked in amusement.
"Refraining from speaking at all now, are you?" he wondered but Hitomi only glared back at him and set her jaw. "Believe me, if I had a problem with the way you spoke to me I would have said something at the dinner table, or even at the Host Club when you yelled at me the way you did."
She blinked a few times in surprise then gently chewing on her lower-lip in thought. She could see him getting angry if he, in fact, did have a problem with the way she spoke to him. But what she couldn't wrap her head around was why he wasn't upset with her.
"Well, Hitomi?" Kyouya urged, jolting her from her thoughts. "Why did you wish to see me?"
"I---" she choked, then swallowed, still staring at him, and now blushing slightly. "I simply…" She trailed off for a moment, trying to think of something to say, but she couldn't. She couldn't even think of the true reason she had wanted to see him.
"A girlish whim, I suppose?" Kyouya guessed when she couldn't finish "Curiosity? In any case, I believe we spoke about you attending the Host Club." He shot a cold look at her from his dark, onyx eyes. "It wouldn't be appropriate to have you attending a Host Club when we are engaged, especially a Host Club I am apart of."
Hitomi nodded mutely, casting her eyes down into her lap as she twiddling her fingers. She suddenly perked up with an idea but kept her eyes cast down as she meekly asked, "What if I designated you as my host?"
Kyouya snapped a wide-eyed gaze of shock at her, but she only kept her eyes in her lap. Had she really just asked him that?! He quickly collected himself and leaned his chin on his hand, staring ahead.
"That would be even worse," he replied and that made Hitomi shoot her gaze to him. "You would only be a distraction. If anyone found out we were engaged, the girls would be angry, and the quota on my customers, maybe even all the club members, would be reduced until we were to dissolve the club."
"What if I promised not to tell anyone?" Hitomi wondered in a tone that came out a bit more desperate than she intended. "What if I promised not to be a distraction? I understand what being a host means, and that you can't spend too much time with me alone. I could even sit in a corner and study in a corner if you wish!"
"No," Kyouya sighed. "I couldn't ask you to do that. If you were to attend the Host Club you would be a customer, not a wall flower. But, that doesn't matter, because you're not going to come back."
"Kyouya, please?" Hitomi nearly begged. "I won't make trouble for you of the other members."
"Why your sudden change of heart?" he wondered, looking at her again. "I thought you didn't want to have anything to do with the Host Club?"
"The Host Club, perhaps, but not you," she replied and his eyes widened slightly at that. She slapped a hand over her mouth and looked away from his gaze. She had done it again! She had spoken without thinking! What had gotten into her?! She lowered her hand and sputtered, "I-I mean…I only want to see you a little more. I know I said we shouldn't until we were ready to start courting, but…we do go to the same school, so it's not as though we're really courting. There are other people there, and because of your position as a host we won't be able to sneak away without anyone being noticed, if you even wanted to…"
"Hitomi."
"Yes?"
"You're rambling," he smirked and she swallowed as she looked up at him.
"A-Am I?" she breathed. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," he replied, glancing at his watch and she noticed it.
"Am I keeping you from something?" she wondered with only a slight bite to her tone which Kyouya didn't fail to notice, and it made him smirk a little more.
"No," he answered. "I was only curious to see how long you'd rambled on for."
"Are you trying to make me say something awful to you again?" she snapped.
"Perhaps," Kyouya smirked. "To tell you the truth, I rather like seeing that side of you."
Hitomi's eyes widened in surprise and she breathed, "R-Really?"
"Yes," he hummed. "When I first met you, it seemed too good to be true that one girl could be so bubbly and full of life. You never really showed me anything other than that side of you. It was getting to be annoying."
"If that why you seemed so unhappy when we were together?" she wondered in awe, fitting the pieces together in her mind.
"Partially," he confirmed then grumbled, "You reminded me of Tamaki a little too much."
Hitomi snickered and smiled, "Really?"
"I wouldn't take that as a compliment," he warned.
"I thought you liked him," she recalled with a slight frown.
"I do, but I don't need a wife who acts like him," he replied, sharply and Hitomi nodded in understanding.
The two were silent for a moment as Kyouya stared ahead and Hitomi stared at her lap, twiddling her fingers. He looked as though he was in deep thought, and she didn't want to disturb him. She knew he had a lot on his mind pretty much all the time.
"Perhaps…" he suddenly broke in, causing her to shoot a wide-eyed gaze at him in wonder. "Perhaps it wouldn't be entirely horrible to have you attend the Host Club as one of my customers?"
Hitomi gave a wide smile, lighting her face and she sat forward a bit, but when he turned to her she quickly shrunk back and lowered her grin to a small smile as she cast her eyes down again.
"However, there will be some conditions," he continued.
"Yes, I know," she nodded, glancing up at him.
"You will not stay later than any of the other customers," he listed, and she only nodded. "You will not be given special treatment by me, or any of the other club members. You will not designate any other host except me, and if you become a distraction, I'll ask you to leave. I don't want an argument from you about that either, am I understood?"
"Yes, Kyouya," she nodded quickly, still staring down at her lap but her smile growing with every word he spoke.
"And one more thing," he resumed and suddenly shifted toward her, but she didn't look up at him as her eyes widened in wonder. He sat directly next to her and placed a hand under her chin to lift her face up so their gazes locked and he saw the slight blush that came to her cheeks. "I want you to set your brothers straight about the Host Club, since I now know you think so highly of it. Will that be a problem?"
Hitomi only shook her head, not daring to speak out of fear her reply would come out in a whimper or even a moan. Kyouya nodded and lowered his hand from her chin but neither one of them moved. She swallowed, audibly and he gave a split-second frown but said nothing.
"I-Is that all?" Hitomi chanced to ask and it took Kyouya a moment to reply.
"Yes," he finally answered and she nodded, but their eyes were still locked. She suddenly realized she was frozen, and couldn't move away, try as she might.
Her heart started pounding when he leaned a little closer to her and she closed her eyes, but all she felt was his face next to hers as he whispered into her ear, "You understand why I want you to clear the Host Club's name with your brothers, don't you? It's because we all care about it. The members of the Host Club, especially Tamaki and Haruhi, we all enjoy being there. It's our refuge from the troubles we face. We're accepted there, and we strive to make sure that everyone is accepted as well. That's why I've decided you can come now, because I want to uphold our reputation. Be honored, Hitomi."
"I am," she breathed back, and he had to fight the shiver threatening to run up his spine from her breath fanning his neck. "Thank you, Kyouya. I'm deeply honored to be accepted to attend the Host Club by your will."
He swallowed, silently and pulled away to adjust his glasses. What was wrong with him, he wondered? He'd never felt uneasy like this with a girl. He felt he was going to lose it at any moment if he stayed here with her for too long. With that thought, he stood from the couch as she stared up at him in wonder.
"I should be going now," he said, turning to walk away. "I'll see you tomorrow, I suppose."
"Wait, Kyouya!" Hitomi called just as he was rounding the couch. She shot to her feet as he stopped and turned to look at her, shoving his hands into his pockets as she stood in front of him and smiled, "Thank you for coming in here and talking to me. You really didn't have to, but I'm very glad you did."
"You're welcome," he smiled charmingly, though he felt his hands shaking in his pockets. He had to get away from her.
"And I'm sorry for being so rude," she continued. "I know I already apologized for it, but I felt I should do so again."
"I told you, it didn't upset me," he assured her. "But I accept your apology."
"Thank you for coming to dinner, Kyouya," she smiled, and he wanted to just tell her to stop thanking and apologizing to him and let him go. He was losing his signature cool rapidly, he could tell.
"I'll thank your brother for inviting me," he replied, instead.
"I can walk you to the door, if you'd like," Hitomi offered, still smiling.
"No," he replied quickly. "No thank you. I'll just let myself out."
"But I wouldn't be a very good hostess if I didn't walk you to the door," she smiled widely, slipping her arm through his and pulling him toward the doorway and into the hall. "Besides, it'll make my brother feel better to see us getting along now, don't you think?"
"Yes," he replied, slowly. "After the little spat we had at the table, I'm sure it would."
The two made their way down the hall and back into the dining room to find Jiro and Keiji still there, now at an empty table talking to each other. When Jiro caught sight of the couple entering he smiled widely and Keiji started at them in shock.
"Good, you too made up," Jiro nodded. "That's very good. I suspect you apologized to him for your rudeness, Hitomi?"
"Twice," Kyouya confirmed, not failing to notice that Hitomi had yet to let go of his arm. "I'm sorry, Jiro, but I should be getting home now."
"Of course," Jiro said and Keiji shot to his feet as Jiro rose from his chair as well. "It's getting a bit late, isn't it? We'll walk you to the door."
Jiro and Keiji led the way out of the room toward the front door as Kyouya and Hitomi trailed behind. Kyouya glanced at the girl a few times, hoping she would let go of his arm, and when she didn't, he prayed she would. When they finally reached the front door, she detached herself from him and stood next to Keiji who wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.
"Thank you for the wonderful meal," Kyouya said, bowing and the three siblings bowed in return. "I hope to invite the three of you to dinner sometime soon."
"That would be wonderful," Jiro smiled. "Please, say hello to your family for the three of us?"
"Of course," Kyouya nodded, smiling charmingly. "Good night."
"Good night!" Hitomi smiled, cutely as he turned to head for the car waiting for him and her brother's looked at her with amused frowns over their brows. She looked up at them in wonder, glancing between them then shrugged, "What?"
"What was that about?" Jiro wondered, shutting the front door.
"What was what about?" Hitomi asked again with a frown of her own.
"'Good night!'" Keiji imitated her cute tone with a dramatic wave for emphasis as he let his arm fall from her shoulders and Hitomi glared at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, turning her nose up and starting toward the stairs to go to her room but her brothers quickly followed.
"Oh, Kyouya," Jiro mimicked a high, girlish voice as the three continued walking. "Your eyes are so dreamy! Your arms are so strong! Take me into those arms and hold me! Let me be lost in your eyes!"
"Shut up, you dork," Hitomi muttered, a slight blush coming to her cheeks as she shoved her brother away by the face with her hand.
"Did he sweet talk you like he does the other girls in the Host Club?" Keiji teased, although he was a bit serious at the same time. This made Hitomi stop as they were headed up the stairs and the boys stopped a step behind her as she turned to them with a serious face.
"I have to set you guys straight on the Host Club," she began.
Kyouya scrambled into the car and nearly slammed the door shut.
"Home," he gasped, holding a hand to his chest as he breathed heavily.
"Are you alright, Young Master?" the driver asked, concerned.
"I'm alright, just drive," he ordered and the car started rolling out of the Sasaki driveway.
He couldn't understand it. What was wrong with him? His heart was pounding as if he'd just run a marathon. His knees were shaking a bit, and his palms were a little clammy. What in the world was happening to him?!
No, he denied himself silently, almost immediately coming to a conclusion. It's all business. Nothing more. Business. If emotion is involved it becomes personal. You cannot allow that to happen, Kyouya Ootori, do you understand me? You cannot let it happen! It'll cloud your brain if you let it get personal. Then you'll really be distracted.
He clenched his fists at his sides, willing his reactions to Hitomi away.
It's all business. Not personal. Business.
A/N: wow. long. well, now, isn't this an interesting development? hee hee hee. and wow, Hitomi's got a bite to her. (believe me, i didn't see that coming either) ow, my hand has a cramp from typing so much. did i warm Kyouya up a little bit? reviews?
