Hinge Factor Part 2: Forget Me Not: Prayers for the Posey Ring

Chapter 3: Flying the Unfriendly Skies

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High or the characters therein

The next months were a whirlwind of activity during which Kyou and I saw little of each other. My father actually threatened to kill Kyou for dumping me so harshly. It took a great amount of explaining for him to understand that Kyou's father hadn't given us consent to date per se. In fact had warned us that, if we were ever seen in public together acting as anything other than good friends he would immediately prohibit us from seeing each other. He was clearly waiting for me to get my law degree, at which point I would become useful. Or perhaps he was waiting for Kyou to get bored with me so that he could find him a proper wife. However, we were hesitantly optimistic that he would eventually give us his blessings. For, at the beginning of that December the Ootori zaibotsu presented me with a scholarship to Ouran's intensive language program at Trinity College, Oxford, England. (Well, present is probably a strong word as it was given to me under the greatest secrecy. Only Kyou and I knew who my benefactor was. )

I was to spend Hilary Term, January to March, studying English

When I informed the club of my news, Tamaki-senpai was so proud of his "daughter."

"Mother!" He cried! "Our beautiful daughter is growing up!" We must of course celebrate! We will spend Christmas at my family's beach house in Fiji!"

While normally I would have considered the offering up of his family's house as one of his grand gestures the look that slid from the corner of his eyes told me differently. "Well played Tamaki," I muttered under my breath. He had neatly placed himself in between Haruhi and myself as good manners dictated that guests did not act in a manner counter to the wishes of their host. This assuredly meant that life had just gotten even more difficult that it had already been. Joy. The Twins were nearly hysterical in their frenzied congratulations, as was Renge, a very strange combination indeed. I still meant to ask them what the hell they were doing. Their enthusiasm was off-putting.

As I had already sent in my paperwork for my passport, green card, and student visa, (all of which had been expedited by Kyou's father) I was all set to travel to Fiji by the week before Christmas. We had the entire month of December off as so many of Ouran's students traveled to foreign countries during the holidays. My father was ecstatic that I was flying to Fiji to spend Christmas with Kyou.

"Oh Haruhi!" He exclaimed, "Perhaps he'll give you a ring! Picture it. You're walking on the beach. The waves are crashing! The sun is sinking into the waves, setting the sky on fire! He takes your hand gently, kneels down in the sand and asks you..."

I interrupted his blissful imagination with harsh reality. "Dad, you know he can't give me a diamond yet, and I can't imagine Kyou kneeling down in anything that would damage his clothes or would get him dirty."

He looked at me wistfully saying, "He may surprise you yet."

I hoped so, but I didn't show it, as I was pretty positive that Kyou wouldn't go against his father's wishes to keep our relationship secret. I saw no sense in raising my father's hopes when in all likelihood I would get a book or some other impersonal gift.

To further make his point Tamaki invited all of the Club's regulars to Fiji for a gigantic going away party. I was greatly concerned for Haruhi as she had never flown. However, I could not risk showing her untoward affection, as this would cause all hell to break loose. Instead, I had to watch countless young women comfort Haruhi. It took a great amount of will to keep my cool. This was achieved mostly by keeping my face tucked firmly in a book. But I also took courage from the small box that sat in the pocket of my coat.

The flight was horrible. Even though we were served a gorgeous crab dinner I felt sick. The flurry of attention that buzzed around me didn't help. And Kyou ignored me completely. Although I was assured that Tamaki's father's jet was extremely spacious I felt like a sardine flying through the air in a tin can that could plummet from the sky at any moment. The Twins and Renge had been very careful to tell me about all of the horrible crashes that had occurred in the last few months. And then the turbulence began. Already green, the bumps and tumbles threw me over the edge. My one thought was to get to the bathroom without anything or anyone getting in my way.

I saw her barreling towards my position in the back of the jet (I wanted to separate myself as far as possible from the crowd lest I couldn't contain my anger.) Ignoring the "fasten your seatbelt" signs completely she was determined to get to the bathroom. A turbulent bump sent her crashing into me, causing her to lose her lunch. Everyone looked horrified. However I saw it as an opportunity.

Faking disgust (which actually wasn't that hard) I said stonily, "Okinawa all over again eh Haruhi? Although this time you most assuredly missed your mark. Well, now we will both have to get cleaned up thanks to your clumsiness. I will of course bill you for my dry cleaning!" I hated the look of hurt that crossed her face but I needed to put on a show. And if there was anything I was good at it was putting on facades.

Pulling her into the spacious bathroom I locked the door. Turning to her I found that she had knelt on the floor and was sobbing. Wetting a towel I knelt down next to her and began washing her face with the cool water.

Filled with fury and fright, Haruhi hissed, "What about your precious clothes Ootori-senpai?"

Taking her face in my hands I said,

"Haruhi, that was an act! I have been going out of my mind watching your terror. I would have done anything to comfort you but every one of those girls has a connection with Father or knows someone who is connected. Daughters or friends of business partners, customers, and trustees every one of them would have reported seeing Ootori-kun comforting a boy! And don't think for a moment that Tamaki wouldn't have taken advantage of the situation. Please trust me that I love you and that while I would love to shout it to the world we're going to have to wait a bit longer. Father is not one to mince words. When he said that it would be the end of us should we defy his wishes, he meant it."

Continuing with a slight smile I added, "I almost welcome this predicament as it gives me the opportunity to tell you once again that I love you. But forgive me for not holding you close as I'm somewhat besmirched here. I hope you don't mind if I take off my shirt as I think that's where the worst of it is?"

Somewhat mollified I turned around to give him some privacy. In a few minutes I felt strong arms around me. Letting the comfort of sitting encircled in his embrace radiate through me, my anger and fright ebbed away. Craning my neck towards Kyou, I saw worry, weariness and sadness in his eyes. He was trying to operate in the narrow confines of his familial obligations and my outbursts were not making it any easier on him. Upon reflection I realized that it would have looked most peculiar for Kyou, who came across as a cool headed man, to hold me close during the turbulence. It really would have been better to rely on the Twins as their image would accommodate such actions. (However, they were being less than useful at the time!)

As he bent his head towards mine, eyes closed, air crackling with the anticipation of a kiss there was a slight knock on the door and the Twins asked if we needed anything. (They were truly becoming ubiquitous!) Furrowing his eyebrows in frustration Kyou answered, "Clothes would be nice." Once they left, he continued, "Now, Haruhi, am I forgiven?"

"Mostly. I just wish you hadn't been so convincing. And if you ever try a stunt like that again I will have to seriously reconsider the merit of this relationship. "

Reasonably sure that that was a joke as her spine still remained relaxed against my chest I indulged in the quiet moment of simply sitting with Haruhi, something that had become increasingly difficult. But the moment was brief indeed for there was a knock on the door again. Sighing, I gave her a quick kiss, whispered that there would be more where that came from and rose. Opening the door I was rewarded by a pile of clothes being thrown at me. Tamaki was not at all pleased. Stalking off he muttered,

"Why don't you just carve a notch into the bathroom door now? It will match the one in your bedpost in Okinawa!" Fortunately Haruhi didn't hear his lewd remark or I'm sure she would have knocked his block off. I was considering it but decided that that was not the time for a fistfight.

After we had both washed and changed (the bathroom included a small powder room that gave me privacy), we made our way back to our seats. The captain was announcing that we were approaching Viti Levu, the main island of the Fijian archipelago and that we should all fasten our seatbelts. The girls held my hands and shoulders and amazingly I survived the landing. Kyou and Tamaki-senpai were stiff but cordial as we rode in his family's limo to the Souou resort, for it was much more than just a house. The main house, a bright white colonial mansion complete with Grecian columns and a balcony cantilevered over the South Pacific, was ringed by smaller hut-like guesthouses.

A/N: Hope you're still entertained! R and R as always. Now for chapter 4!