Ugh, lame chapter title for lack of a better idea. If you have one, I'd gladly take it.
Alrighty, guys. I realize that this chapter has had a long wait (do any of you even wait? I doubt it, but if there are any of you I adore you.) If you were paying close enough attention (which would only need to be mild since I kept mentioning it and my Antonio made many comments about it) this chapter will contain a little guest appearance from four of my favorite characters in any anime ever~! I love all of them, and I think I did okay with them, so no "Why the Hell are they in here"s, alright? They are in here because Kyouya wanted it to be so, and you just don't deny Kyouya what he wants (Okay, you may, but I don't) Oh, and if this cameo isn't what you wanted, Kyouya, I apologize deeply. If it's alright, your welcome! Either way, at least I tried!
Well, this has gotten a total of ten hours tops (yes, I'm very meticulous) but that's a rather small number to me. Also, since word died on me I use my email to spell check, but it was too long to spell check the last bit so there may be mistakes there, and of course I proofread but I didn't proofread more than once, because I honestly don't really love this story anymore. I still like it, but the only reasons I finally wrote for it were because I wanna write more Hetalia and I wasn't allowing myself that until this was finished (what with Fanfiction's little screw up with Hetalia stories the next and final chapter may be out sooner than I anticipate, but don't count on it...I'm just gonna have a lot of Hetalia updates when they finally fix their mistake.) and because there were quite a few of you who reviewed, one of which I promised that I'd get this out by this Wednesday. ('tis five thirty AM and I am beat...)
Okie dokie, so my warning is this, prepare for a lot more swearing. Do you guys think that I should raise the rating for this one chapter? Also it gets kinda mushy and junk...
So without further adieu, I give you freedom to embark on this horrible travesty that is a fanfiction...commence!
I DON'T OWN OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB OR HETALIA: AXIS POWERS/WORLD SERIES (because, for one, there aren't random cameos in real anime and manga...)
Even though the cake was perfect for him, Kyouya still couldn't manage to stomach more than a few bites. He was suddenly feeling unbearably sick, and had to put forth his every effort to not stand and leave without a single word to those around him. As the time to end club neared several girls, and the few boys who had come for the special occasion, decided to say their final words, wishing him a happy birthday, handing him a small package, and leaving the school for the weekend. Just a few more hours, he reminded himself wistfully. Then he could go home, away from all of them. His father was away on business, his brothers would most likely not be there, and none of them would even consider calling. All he had to do was get through dinner with Fuyumi, and then he could be sure that no one would disturb him. This dreadful day was near its close, and then he could forget about it for another year.
He smiled to the last girl as she presented her gift to him, blushing, and stuttering out a wish of a happy birthday to him. He nodded, telling her thank you, and kissed the hand that held the present. This horrible hurdle had been cleared.
Haruhi had left the instant she was allowed, not even bothering to give her last guests a proper final farewell. The twins had done the same, Hikaru storming out, cursing Kyouya and the stupidity of the world, with Kaoru close behind, trying in vain to calm his elder brother down.
Hunny was asleep on the couch, in pure bliss from having finished half of the giant cake, while Mori stared at the window with a thoughtful look on his face, probably afraid to wake the sleeping time bomb. Hunny was a notoriously scary person to wake up.
And then there was the idiot, the stupid, senseless, amazing idiot, who just couldn't seem to cease his constant cycle of hurting and being hurt. Kyouya just wasn't sure if he could bear being in a car with him right now, especially if the damnedable blush that still colored his cheeks didn't leave within the next ten minutes. Dammit, Fuyumi. The things I do for you...
He watched as Tamaki said his adieus to his customers, wondering idly what they felt like. He wondered how many of them despised Haruhi nearly as much as he did in that moment, and how many more of them would had they known Haruhi's gender. He squinted at the girl his friend was currently speaking to. She's not that special, he speculated. Haruhi was definitely more to worry about.
By now he had stopped questioning these thoughts. There obviously was no answer, and even if there was one he probably didn't want to know what it was. He was just observing Tamaki's life, most closely his love life. Who cared what his motives were. Who really cared how the information he gathered affected him. Who cared if he may or may not have been reacting in a proper way, who fucking cared!
His nose crinkled as Tamaki leaned down, pecking the small girl on the forehead as a parting gesture. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Just...who cares?
I think you might. He chuckled softly to himself. I was wondering when you were going to speak up. It was getting pretty quiet in here. The voice didn't reply. He guessed that it was because of his suddenly lethargic state. He didn't have the energy to argue with himself anymore. He just had to make it. Just a few more hours. A few more hours...just a few...
And no more Haruhi...
He wasn't entirely sure if the thought belonged to him or the voice. All he knew is that the very concept of a day and a half with no one to bother him was the most appealing thing he'd thought of all day. No family...no host club...no Haruhi...no frivolous girls...
Yes, that would be the ultimate way to spend his birthday, by not celebrating. He needed to sleep anyway...he was so tired...the excitement of the day, of that one specific event, had drained him...now he just wanted...to forget it all...to sleep...
His eyes slid shut, and he began to feel as though he could do it all right there, leaned up against the wall. His breathing evened out, and for an instant he forgot, relinquished all of his unexplained hatred. He was able to fall into a state of bliss.
But then his phone rang.
Sighing irritably, he pulled the shrill sounding appliance out of his pocket, pressing the talk button and putting it to his ear. "Hello?" he answered, not hiding the discontent in tainting voice in the least.
"Kyouya? Tachibana and I are almost to Ouran. Are you ready to go?"
He smiled slightly. Just one dinner... "Yes, we are," he told her, hoping she would catch the key word in the statement.
"Oh, then is Suou-kun coming with us? That's marvelous!" She was definitely excited, so he would try to get by this one dinner.
"Yes. So, how long until you'll be here?" he asked, moving the subject on to a less...aggravating point.
She seemed to deliberate over it for a moment. He heard her whisper some words to Tachibana, then the phone clicked and he knew she had put it back to her face. "Umm...maybe fifteen minutes? It won't be too long. You should do everything you need to to get ready to leave. Pick up your stuff or whatever it is you do after club." She acted as though high school had changed so much in the few years it had been since she attended Ouran herself. Kyouya shook his head with a light chuckle; his sister could always make him smile.
"Alright, we'll be near the front entrance-"
"What?" he heard her say, though it obviously was away from the phone and therefore not to him. He again heard the sound of the phone being returned to her ear. "Kyouya, Tachibana wants to know if you have your umbrella," she said, her voice puzzled.
He laughed darkly, the malice being the first real emotion he'd felt in the last hour. "Tell that bastard that if he wants to keep his job he'll answer that, correctly, for himself."
Fuyumi laughed at the threat. "You guys are hilarious. We'll be there in a few, 'kay?"
Kyouya smiled. "Alright. See you then."
"See ya!" she chimed, and the next thing he heard was a beep as the line was cut off.
He hung up his cell phone, smiling to himself for a brief moment. Fuyumi and Tachibana: maybe the two people in the world he knew he could trust. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. They were all he needed, right?
And the day was almost over.
~.~.~
Ever since the incident with Haruhi, Tamaki had kept unusually silent. He wasn't quite sure of what he should say. Why did Kyouya force him to kiss a girl against his will? Of course, he would be lying to say that he didn't enjoy it in the slightest, but it was still unprecedented. Not to mention strange.
He knew that Kyouya would do unanticipated things occasionally to earn money, but this just seemed oddly timed.
And after that conversation they'd had, he'd been so sure that-
"Tamaki," Kyouya called from across the room, startling him out of his train of thought. "Come on, my sister's almost here."
With a bright smile plastered on his face, his cheeks slightly flushed from pleasure, he jogged to catch up with Kyouya, telling the other two hosts good bye. He slowed to a trot once at Kyouya's side. He walked so close beside him he could feel his body heat, their fingers almost unnoticeably brushing against each other on occasion. And yet...he wasn't pushed away.
Kyouya noticed the resulting beam on his friend's face, flushing a little himself at the fond gaze Tamaki was forcing on him. "Wh-what are you looking at, moron?" he demanded, his voice only slightly wavering.
Tamaki giggled, then moved his eyes away from Kyouya to stare straight ahead of him. He closed his eyes and hummed in contentment. "Oh, nothing~," he sang.
He couldn't dwell on every little detail, he just had to trust his instinct on this one (if anything, he prided himself in a very trustworthy sense when it came to these things.)
He just wouldn't think about Haruhi right now, or about the way Kyouya seemed intent to force him to like her in a way that he just never would! Today he wouldn't give in to the easier choice, the more logical path. It was a special day, and he wouldn't allow it to be ruined by family or friends or Kyouya's own stubborn personality.
I just can't give up.
~.~.~
Kyouya noted how happy the idiot had become since their conversation in the lab room. He was struck by the image of the kiss, shaking his head to try to dispel it but to no avail. Ruefully, he gave up, simply trying not to bear the heart wrenching memory too much mind.
Why did it hurt so bad? His friend was happy, and Haruhi was a good girl. Was it possible he was just afraid that he'd lose Tamaki?
That's preposterous. Tamaki isn't the type to simply forget his friends, even if he is in love. And dammit all if I'm not his best friend! He's...He's just not that...
That cruel.
His eyes watered, though he didn't understand why. He was so...unstable today...
Suddenly he became aware of how close Tamaki was to him. He felt his body heat emanating off of him as though in waves. Wh-what the hell? he thought, flustering again. He bit his lip, staring ahead and putting forth his best effort to ignore the pulsing heat against him, or the continual contact of their fingers as they brushed every few steps
He tried to ignore it...but...
"Dammit, you idiot, why are you so fucking close?" he shouted out suddenly, shoving Tamaki roughly away.
The blond stared at him, confused by the sudden out-burst. "Kyouya, you could have just said..." he trailed off, swept up in the frenzied look in the chocolate colored eyes as they looked everywhere-anywhere!-but into his own violet ones.
Kyouya, working with some difficulty to keep his breathing steady, continued walking, not looking at Tamaki, and sure as hell not giving Tamaki the chance to get a close look at him.
He stepped into the lobby area of the school, watching the rain fall outside through the windows in the heavy doors of the main entrance. He sighed. What was happening to him?
He heard Tamaki's footsteps as he joined him, standing slightly further away than before but still too close for Kyouya's comfort. "You're being weird today, mon ami," he said softly. He didn't even look at Kyouya as he waited for a reply. Just stared out at he pounding rain. "You know, you really should enjoy your birthday more than you allow yourself to." No reply. "And if I ruin it as much as you say I do then-"
"Don't," Kyouya mumbled, cutting him off. Tamaki looked at him, confused again. Kyouya continued staring out the window with a contemplative expression oh his face. He tried to talk again , but Kyouya wasn't having it. "What was your first clue?"
Tamaki gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
Kyouya closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, then opening them to continue staring at the dismal weather. "When did you remember that it was my birthday? When we walked into the clubroom and it was set up for a party?" His voice, though weak and hushed, had an accusatory edge to it.
Tamaki turned to face him, now completely lost. "What are you talking about? Are you implying that I forgot? Kyouya, I-"
A look of vague interest passed through the dulled brown eyes in that moment. "My sister's here. Let's go..." and with that, he pushed through the doors, leaving Tamaki dumbfounded before blinking and running to catch up to him, sliding into the car behind him.
~.~.~
Fuyumi looked back happily at the blond as he sat down and fastened his seat belt. She had a strange affection for this particular friend of Kyouya's, though she really didn't know the others so it wasn't really so odd. But maybe there was a deeper meaning to her draw to the young Suou. She really loved the way that, seldom though they were even with Tamaki there, Kyouya's smiles always seemed great deal more truthful than they did when he wasn't around. She couldn't be happier that, even though it was generally not a good thing for his friend, Kyouya tended to open up a little and dropped his professional demeanor. He allowed himself to be angry, to be moved, to be upset, and nothing was better than that because when he was eventually happy there was no doubt that it was real. Best of all, though, she loved that she didn't have to worry that he would abandon or betray her brother. If their father was away on business she felt at peace knowing that Kyouya could always go to Tamaki if he needed it.
"Hello, Suou-kun! How are you?" she greeted congenially.
Tamaki smiled at her, making Kyouya shift awkwardly. Why did that idiot have to smile that way to every girl? It was like he was in love with any pretty face that accepted him, and even those that weren't that beautiful by Kyouya's standards.
Even Haruhi...and then he started to ponder it. What if he was just acting the way to Haruhi that he did to all women? What if he wasn't truly in love with her?
He smiled wistfully at the thought. Hadn't he already gone through this? He had his proof, why was he still thinking about it?
"Salut, Fuyumi-san!" Tamaki returned excitedly. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I hope it's not too much of an annoyance."
Fuyumi looked at him in confusion. "It's no inconvenience, we may need you there..." She pondered the greeting. "What was that word? Sa-ru?"
Tamaki laughed. He had always thought that Fuyumi was so unlike the other Ootori's he had met. She was always smiling, and laughing. She was kind to anyone without really worrying about how it made her look to others. Funniest of all, she was so curious. He occasionally dropped a word of French into their conversations just so she could absorb it like an ever learning child. It was a little exchange that they shared every time they saw each other, and always proved to entertain them.
Not to mention annoying the hell out of Kyouya.
It had always irritated him the way that Tamaki and his sister seemed to engage in such enthralled conversation. He just didn't see it fit that his sister should click so easily with his best friend, and-though he would never admit it out loud-he didn't like the way that Tamaki payed so much attention to Fuyumi. He told himself that it was simply because Tamaki was so eccentric and it might offend Fuyumi's husband, but there might have been another reason that he didn't understand, or at least that he hadn't yet accepted.
Tamaki leaned forward in his seat towards the seat in front of him. Kyouya looked away, unaware of the slight pink dusting his cheeks. He's like a child...
"Salut," Tamaki repeated. "It's just an informal greeting." The pronunciation went right over Fuyumi's head, as the French words Tamaki sprung on her often did, and instead she just smiled and shook her head.
"Well, this certainly will be more fun with you there, Suou-kun. I'm glad you could come." She gave him one last grateful grin and turned around, relaxing in her seat. Tamaki instead turned to look at the driver.
"Hello Tachibana-san," he said.
Tachibana jumped at the sudden remark. "O-oh, hello Suou-san..." he said nervously. He was always set on edge by the name, never feeling that it was proper for someone of the Suou family (or of any rich family for that matter) to use an honorific in his name. His master didn't, nor did Ms. Fuyumi. In fact, he was sure no one ever had other than the commoners he knew away from work. Yet Tamaki never dropped it, and though this flattered him, he couldn't get used to it.
Suddenly Fuyumi's nose crinkled. "You guys are all wet, Kyouya, where's your umbrella?" she demanded. Kyouya didn't move his eyes from the rushing scene outside of his window.
He closed his eyes sadly, slowly taking a deep breath at the memory still glued to the back of his eyelids. He wouldn't admit to regretting it, though. Not out loud...
It was your own fault, you idiot.
He opened his eyes and shifted his attention to his sister, placing a bored expression on his features. Tamaki noted this, and smiled to himself, albeit somewhat unhappily, with the knowledge that it was fake. He was beginning to see past the illusions and deceits.
"Yes, well...we just wanted to hurry to the car, so I didn't take the time to take it out." Tachibana relaxed a little, grateful that he hadn't been wrong about his master having an umbrella. The threat on his job may have been a joke, but then again it may not have been too.
"Well, I guess we'll have to go home so you can change anyway...and it's on the way to the restaurant so it's not so inconvenient," she thought aloud.
Kyouya moved his gaze back to the window, and Tamaki fidgeted nervously. "P-perhaps you should just take me home, Fuyumi-san..." he mumbled, worried over the melancholy attitude Kyouya was showing. "I don't have a change of clothes so..." he trailed off, looking to his hands that he twiddled in his lap.
Fuyumi, oblivious to it all, puffed out her cheeks in a stubborn determination to have Kyouya's best friend there whether Kyouya said he wanted it-she knew that he did, despite what he claimed-or not. "Nonsense! You can borrow a suit of Kyouya's!" she declared, her vocal tone not giving the impression that she gave a care to how Kyouya felt about this.
Tamaki blushed violently, looking away to hide it. Kyouya, on the other hand, didn't seem to care to hide it at all. He turned to his sister rapidly, revealing the brilliant red of his cheeks. "What? Fuyumi, I didn't consent to that!" There was something about sharing clothes...it was indirect contact, right? Even if he washed it until it was tattered shreds it would still emanate Tamaki. He took an inconspicuous glance at his friend in his peripheral vision, who was tense and still looking out the window as if the world outside of the car would answer some question he needed to know, as if his life depended on it. And, with the pressure in his chest, Tamaki didn't doubt that it just may have.
Fuyumi didn't turn around. "I didn't ask for your consent, Kyouya. You're best friends, it should be okay. I always borrowed my friends clothes. Hmm, what should he wear...?" She tapped her lips in a dazed contemplation.
"What? He's not wearing-"
"I know!" she exclaimed, hitting her palm with her fist as the epiphany consumed her. "I know exactly what he should wear, and you too. Oh this will just be marvelous!" She clapped in glee.
Tamaki laughed at her, turning but hiding his burning face from Kyouya in a show of playing with his bangs. "Fuyumi-san, it's a dinner out, not a wedding," he teased, not realizing that what he said made Kyouya's flush flare once again. The raven haired boy turned to the window, his breath heaving and his heart pounding. He clutched his chest, staring wide eyed at nothing.
D-dammit, what is this? he thought, working to keep his breathing silent enough that the other three in the car wouldn't hear it. The entire day this had been happening, what was it? He tried to justify it, understand it, and in some aspects he was beginning to realize the cause, for everything he felt that day, and almost every day he saw Tamaki, seemed to happen after some thought, had some direct connection with the blond...
But, of course that couldn't be true. Thus he pushed the kneading thought to the back of his mind, not allowing it to fill his mind or press his heart for too long at any given time. Yet somehow it kept managing to snake it's way back there.
He was starting to understand all of it.
~.~.~
He stood outside of his house in his suit, staring out at the rain, now just a drizzle, as he buttoned and straightened it. Not his favorite, but this suit wasn't bad. Simple, slate colored. He preferred black, but this wasn't bad. She had, however, made a point of choosing a teal tie he refused to wear. He sighed, why couldn't it just be black? The shirt underneath was a lighter, steel color, so it was light enough to see it if it was. Oh well, not the worst she could have chosen, he accepted that, picturing the worse option...
Which Tamaki walked out in, shuffling the fabric so it didn't feel like it was suffocating him, all his labors in vain. He'd worn suits before, they weren't a problem to him. But this wasn't his suit, and with that thought his cheeks warmed again. Kyouya gave him a disgusted look, causing him to recoil with a feeling of insecurity. "W-what? It's-it's not that bad, is it?" he stuttered out.
Well, there was a reason he disliked that suit. It was an even lighter grey than his shirt, about the color of mild storm clouds, with a black shirt underneath, and a very soft lavender colored tie. It was just too...bright for him, and the black on grey killed him with the contrast. On him, it was awful. On Tamaki, he wavered, it didn't look...completely atrocious. "No. It looks...different, but I've seen you in worse." He thought about the club's many cosplays, especially the female one. Even if they hadn't looked bad they were still insane.
Tamaki took that as a compliment. He had thought the colors looked alright with his hair and eye colors. He wasn't accustomed to wearing such sombre colors, but still...
Fuyumi walked out, changed as well into a modest pine colored dress that went to her knees with simple tan, closed toe heels. It clung at the torso, but the skirt part of the dress flared out elegantly and comfortably. She wore minimal jewelry, a simple gold chain and matching earrings, and her hair was pulled up in a simple, loose bun. Kyouya shrugged: his sister really never was a very flashy person even if she could afford to be.
Tachibana handed them their umbrellas, and Tamaki blushed. "Mine's in my bag, I'll be right-"
"No," Kyouya interrupted. "Just...come on, we'll be late for our reservation." He raised his own umbrella over Tamaki's head, causing the blond to follow when he pulled it back so they were both covered. Fuyumi watched with wide eyes. Tamaki didn't know what it meant to share an umbrella in Japan, but she did, and knew well enough that Kyouya did too.
Following quickly, she pondered the relationship her brother had with his supposed best friend. She shook her head, a bit flustered by what she didn't know at the time to be a hint at something that should have been obvious from the start. Who knew that Kyouya could be so bold?
~.~.~
When they pulled up to the restaurant after a car ride of awkward silence Tamaki was the first to get out, not understanding the tense atmosphere that had suddenly crept upon them. He hoped that it wouldn't stay through dinner as he opened the umbrella he held and scurried over to open Kyouya's door so they could walk into the restaurant under the protection of the same umbrella again. This time it was his turn to blush at the action while the other two remained unaware of the etiquette rule he had displayed unintentionally.
Tachibana told them that he would return when Fuyumi texted him, and was then gone. Tamaki eyed the sign above the small, elegant little restaurant. Kyouya took note of it and looked at him puzzled. Mon Trésor. "Does it mean something?" he inquired.
Tamaki nodded. "It's, ah, My Treasure...um, I'm guessing the lighting will be dim, there will be soft music...you know, it'll be very..." but he didn't need to finish as they walked in. Romantic, enticing, and calming. Yes, it was definitely a French restaurant.
The blond looked to Fuyumi. "Why a French restaurant?" he asked.
Her eyes were full of joy. The place was magnificent, she would have to reserve a table for her anniversary. "I thought it would be a fun experience. Is it authentic?"
He threw a quick glance around. It was decorated very splendidly, just like a French palace, or the Grantaine mansion he remembered from his childhood. The memory made him smile sadly, sighing as he answered. "Yes, quite so..."
Kyouya, feeling an uncharacteristic worry at the dejected tone of Tamaki's voice, put his hand on the blond's back, shoving him in the direction of the Maitre'D. Fuyumi went and told them her name as the other two gave the greeter their coats and umbrellas to hang up in the designated room. They were led to a table next to a window. There was a small oil candle in the middle, and the plates and silverware were arranged according to the order they would use them as French culture would assume. Outside the window they could see a beautiful garden, though the flowers were starting to die with the approaching cold weather, whereas the leaves of the trees were still brightly colored and falling.
It was a very peaceful and preferable seat, but the hostess seemed rather sympathetic of them. Kyouya watched suspiciously as she walked away biting her lip.
Soon her worry was explained as a loud crash was heard from the direction of the kitchen, attracting the attention of most in the room. "Vaffanculo, I'm not your fucking slave!" a very angry brunette boy yelled in English as he was pushed through the doors to the dining room.
"Actually," a blond man with wavy hair in a chef's uniform corrected smoothly with a bit of malice, "you are, but Antonio denied my first idea as to how you could pay me back, so you ended up here. Now, go be a good waiter and take their order. Shoo!" and the man walked back into the kitchen, leaving the steaming boy who reluctantly trudged over to the table.
"Ciao. How can I help you?" he said belligerently. Somehow it sounded more like a threat than a question. They all looked at their waiter, shocked by his attitude. Not only that, but they were confused by the exchange that had gone on in front of the kitchen. The man, most likely the owner, with the rather feminine hairstyle was obviously French, but this boy...ciao? That was Italian, and his accent suggested the same.
As they pondered the strange events and people they were faced with, the doors to the kitchen opened again, and another person with light brown hair was dragged out and dropped on the floor. "Go help your brother, he fails at this," the blond man ordered, while the new addition to the hectic mix sat on the ground crying into her hands.
"B-b-big b-bro-ther, yo-ou're so m-mean," she blubbered out, but got up and walked over to the table despite her tear streaked cheeks.
Suddenly someone at the table next to their's got up hastily and took a step as if to walk over to the crying girl. Another man grabbed him, however, restraining him while snickering and pounding on the table at the sight.
As the small waitress walked up to the table, tears still falling, both Kyouya and Tamaki realized that she wasn't a she at all (they knew by now how to determine the difference). Of course, they knew plenty of people who cross dressed, but this person was a little too good at it for their comfort. He was mistakable to the untrained eye, and this was unsettling.
"N-nii-chan, you have to be nice!" he whispered to the other boy, who was about to argue when he saw him, eyes widening at the frilly maid's outfit the other was wearing, as opposed to the male uniform that he should have been sporting. "B-bienvenue~!" he chimed even though he was still sniffling from crying. "Can we get you started with some drin-"
"Feliciano, what the hell are you wearing?" the elder boy shouted, his face horribly flushed.
The younger, lighter complexioned brother looked up at him in confusion and fear. "Nii-chan, he said if I wore it we could be done sooner, and I know that you don't wanna be here so-"
"Shut the fuck up, idiota! Go change right fucking now!" he ordered.
"I c-can't!" the younger cried. "Big brother Francis won't give me a boy's uniform, he said I already agreed to this so-"
The boy stopped when a loud laughter sounded from the table from before. Kyouya turned, realizing by their hair colors that they were also foreigners, and the one laughing was albino at that, his eyes blood red. The brunette looked to the obstructive noise, his eyes taking a look of murderous intent as he lunged at the man, tackling him to the ground and making an attempt to strangle him, but the loud laughter never faltered.
The other man, blond with blue eyes, stood and took his chance to grab the younger boy, whispering fiercely to him. The auburn haired boy started to cry again, covering his face with his hands. "M-mi dispiace, I'm sorry! I used to work in a d-dress when I was y-younger! Is it really so wr-wrong?"
The taller, blond man sighed. Everyone in the restaurant could see the blush in his cheeks as he told the boy not to cry. He looked over at the albino and brunette, still tangled in a one sided fight while one continued to choke on the air. He walked over to them and ripped the boy off of his companion, meriting a very fiery glare from him. "Don't you touch me, bastardo!"
Ignoring this he pulled the red eyed man to his feet. "Come on, bruder. Go to the car."
The man gave him a disbelieving stare. "What? Come on, West, the fun just started!"
"Now, bruder!" the blond ordered. The albino huffed and walked away, stopping to flirt with the maitre'D while his acquaintance, Kyouya guessed brothers, stormed into the kitchen. Moments later he walked out looking exasperated. He again looked the younger Italian in the eyes sternly. "I couldn't afford your entire debt with what I have on me, so you'll have to finish tonight in that outfit, but I'll pick you up after your shift is over." The smaller boy nodded, jumping to wrap his arms around the blond's neck in an affectionate embrace.
"Grazie, Ludi, grazie mille~!" he sang, evoking a deep blush in the taller man's cheeks.
"Ja, ja. Just..." He pushed the boy away, causing a bell like giggle to ring from him. "Just watch what your doing next time you-"
"Hey!" the older brother yelled. "What about me, potato bastard?"
The man raised an eyebrow at him. "You should talk to Antonio about that. Otherwise, I hope you learn to serve better in the next week." He turned his head and mumbled. "It would do you some good, you damned brat."
The albino was suddenly slapped by the young hostess, whose cheeks were rather pink as she looked away and returned to the customers. The blond man sighed. "I better go before bruder gets himself sued. I can't afford you two," he complained, though the boy in the dress just laughed.
"Ciao, then~!"
The blond smiled and shook his head. "Ja. See you later."
And the other two left, leaving only the problem of the two Italians for the table to deal with. Kyouya sighed in relief, unknowing of the trouble ahead. The turbulence had just begun.
~.~.~
Kyouya was silently gathering information on the two before him: he knew that they were brothers, he could tell that the brunette was the older of the two, he assumed that the boy was always as loud as he exhibited here, he found out that the two who had left were the auburn haired boy's best friend and his brother, that the owner of the restaurant was a Frenchman to whom the boys owed money for whatever reason, that their names were Lovino and Feliciano, that they were in fact Italian, that this wasn't the first time the younger boy had worn a dress, that the elder had as well, that Lovino was quite easily provoked to blushing, that Feliciano-though the nicer of the two-was entirely klutzy and not worth more than a little entertainment and kind words when it came to waiting on others-
Basically, he was learning that Fuyumi had managed to pull them into an asylum of incompetence, and he regretted a little more passionately the instant he'd consented to it with every passing moment. Yet...his sister was smiling-she just found Feliciano to be the cutest little maid ever, and Lovino to be cute in his own demented way as well-and somehow that dimmed the flaming fury at his two useless waiters, turning his desire to kill into a dull sense of irritation behind his sick amusement at every time they embarrassed themselves.
At that moment, the table had finished their appetizers, and Fuyumi and Tamaki were engaged in a conversation about their latest discoveries in commoner's snack foods. Apparently, Fuyumi had tried for her first time a popular carbonated drink called "Ramune" and strawberry flavored pocky. What the hell is pocky? Kyouya thought, slightly repulsed. The name doesn't even sound like it would have a good flavor. Who would eat that?
As Tamaki gushed about his favorite flavor of the disgustingly named snack, Kyouya noted out of the corner of his eye the approaching waiters, the nicer one-the one dressed as a girl, what was his name?-carried a tray of something, which Tamaki explained was probably sorbet to cleanse their pallets, and Lovino brought a pitcher of water and the bottle matching the contents of Fuyumi's nearly empty glass of wine. As they neared, Kyouya noted that the younger-dammit, his name was a lot longer than his brother's!-was holding his breath and watching his feet carefully, peeking up every few steps to avoid tripping on something. Kyouya chuckled slightly. So maybe Fuyumi was right about that one being "cute". He acted like a child, but a very devoted child. He was working so hard not to mess up, and just like a young boy when his efforts failed they depressed him deeply, but he kept trying. Now he was working hard to keep the tray he held above his head from leaning and dropping one of the tiny glasses of melting sorbet. His brother, already having reached the table, looked back at him as he tentatively placed his feet one by one, slowly walking toward the table. The elder scoffed. "Veneziano, you're so fucking slow. Hurry up, dumb ass!"
As he took his final steps to the table the younger pouted at his brother. "Ve, Lovi~! Don't be so mean, and don't swear in front of our guests!" he pleaded, setting each individual glass in front of the three waiting. Lovino took to filling Kyouya and Tamaki's glasses up with water (Tamaki didn't want to order a drink because of the expense, and Kyouya just wasn't one for sweet or tart sodas and juices, so he always asked for water in a restaurant)
"Don't call me Lovi, dammit!" he shouted at his younger brother, then he turned to Fuyumi, pouring the same small amount of wine as he had the first glass. "Mi dispiace, bella. Forgive me and mio fratellino, we're not used to this sort of thing. It truly is a pleasure to serve a young woman as beautiful as you though," he purred, gingerly taking Fuyumi's hand into his own and kissing it. Kyouya's nose crinkled at this, and Tamaki's already smiling mouth twitched up less than a centimeter. As Fuyumi flushed and nodded an assurance Kyouya watched the Italian carefully. The movements he made were only slightly different than what he witnessed daily at the host club. Maybe it's just a European thing...he decided, glancing from the brunette to the blond beside him, and back.
After his brother had fulfilled his purpose at the table and began to walk away, the other-reading the name-tag pinned to the frilly dress he wore, Kyouya discovered for the second time that night that the name was Feliciano-explained the use of the sorbet, which was exactly as Tamaki had said, and that it was pineapple flavored. Finishing up by telling them that their food would be out shortly, he bowed deeply and pranced off back to the kitchen.
Kyouya gazed after the odd boy, starting when he heard his sister and friend giggle in unison.
"She's so adorable," Fuyumi gushed, taking a bite of the sorbet and humming contentedly. "I wonder if she and that blond guy were dating..."
Kyouya flushed, unsure why but knowing that the idea set him on edge. "F-Fuyumi, that's not-"
Tamaki interrupted Kyouya quickly, not allowing him to divulge to his sister their waiter's true gender. "I don't know, but it did seem like it was possible, didn't it, Kyouya?" he observed, turning to his friend who occupied himself with keeping his breathing steady and adjusting his glasses to hide his increasingly red face.
Kyouya scoffed at the assumption. "I don't think so, Tamaki. You know as well as I do that they aren't very compatible," he said, puzzling Fuyumi greatly.
"Kyouya you don't even know them, how can you say tha-"
"Well, mon ami," Tamaki argued, smirking at the color of the skin hidden by the raven colored bangs. "They did seem to have rather different personalities, but then again so do you and I, and look how close we are."
Kyouya looked at him in horror. Tamaki, what are you implying? You- He caught his thought, biting his lip to banish it. "Well, maybe personally it's possible, mon copain, but on a more skin deep level they can't-" He swallowed, realizing how dry his throat felt suddenly. "Physically they don't match up..." he said, feeling a little irritation at the wistful sound of the statement as he uttered it.
Tamaki's stare was unwavering. "Do you have a problem with that?" he murmured, so low that Fuyumi couldn't hear.
She stood from her seat. "What are you guys talking about?" she demanded, seeing the unexplainable look of...pain, almost, that flashed across her little brother's expression.
Without missing a beat Tamaki smiled up at her. Kyouya watched with an unfathomable pang of exasperation as the "Host Smile" struck again, sending Fuyumi-a married woman!-back into her seat with trembling knees. "Nothing, Fuyumi-san. Just the possibilities of the two and their relationship. Kyouya doesn't think that it's likely that they're even interested in each other." Kyouya swallowed hard. Dammit, how was he so smooth in lying?
He gasped at the thought. How does one become an impassable liar? By practice of course. He looked at the blond in horror. How often did Tamaki lie, and how many of those lies had been to him? "You don't have to see right now, I do!" Had that been a lie? Did he care, or was it just beneficial if Kyouya thought that he did.
Another pang, this time of some mixture of pain and betrayal. No...he'd believed him. Throughout their friendship, had all of the words of comfort and adoration been lies? "B-but Kyouya, I just wanna be friends!" "I wish you thought as much of me as I do of you." "I miss France, but there's one problem...I'd miss my best friend too much if I went back now." He groaned softly at the warmth that filled his cheeks as memories ran through his mind, reminding him of the affection he'd blatantly ignored or rejected time and time again. But there was more to it than that. He'd lied to Tamaki so many times, especially in the beginning. He'd fooled him into believing that they were friends, though admittedly he didn't do anything to earn such a prize (which at the time he had seen as a terrible curse). Now, did he have any right to feel hurt if Tamaki had done the same?
No! he cried inwardly. No, he's not that type! He wouldn't. He wouldn't-!
"Kyouya," Tamaki called, concern obvious in his voice. Kyouya looked at him, causing the violet eyes to widen when they captured the pain there. "Kyouya..." he sighed again, raising his hand to touch his friend's shoulder. He's...trembling...he observed sadly. Kyouya never trembled. What was going on?
Kyouya flinched away from the hand outstretched to him. No, he thought again, shaking his head slightly. If he is lying, then I choose to believe every falsehood he feeds me.
Before Tamaki could say anything he caught a flash of Feliciano prancing towards the table with a tray held above his head. "Look, look~! Doesn't it all look delicious?" he sang, setting the plates down in front of the appropriate people. Lovino came out, setting down Fuyumi's while winking at her. "Is there anything else we can do for you?"
Tamaki smiled up at the boys. "Non, merci beaucoup. It all looks wonderful!" he assured the bouncy Italian waiter, soothing the somewhat anxious look on the boy's face.
"Oh, I'm so glad! Then we'll come again if you need anything~!" and thus he giggled and danced away, taking his brother by the arm and halting his flirting. Kyouya watched, blinking when they both stopped and turned. The younger leaned over and whispered to his elder. "Hey, Lovi~. Do you think those two are innamorato?"
The brunette boy's face darkened as he promptly smacked his younger brother over the head. "Don't be stupid, idiota! They're both guys!" he hissed.
The auburn haired brother looked up at him in confusion and innocence. "So what? So are Lu-I mean...ehem, you and nii-chan."
Somehow the flaming red of the elder's cheeks got darker. "The tomato bastard's got nothing to do with this, dammit! Now stop being a fucking moron, we've got other tables to serve!" and having said that he stomped into the kitchen. Casting a quick, dream-like glance over to the table again the younger followed happily, humming a very soft song to himself.
Kyouya wasn't sure what "i-na-mo-ra-to" meant, but he really wasn't sure he wanted to find out. Shaking the thought away, he leaned and inhaled the steam rising from his fileted salmon. It did smell amazing, and Tamaki's chicken smelled just as mouthwatering. The blond caught the luxurious expression Kyouya wore as he contemplated what the amazing scent would translate into as far as taste went. He smirked and chuckled. Ah, the chance was just too tempting. "Kyouya, you look like you want a bite," he pointed out, cutting off the first piece and raising it to Kyouya's slightly parted lips, which clamped shut in reaction. He urged the food closer, causing Kyouya to cringe and push the offering away.
"Don't be so stupid, eat your food," he growled, picking up a piece of the fish on his fork and opening his mouth to take a bite. Seeing his opportunity, Tamaki grabbed Kyouya's chin and pulled gingerly so they were face to face, sliding his fork into his mouth before he had a chance to close it.
Flushing profusely Kyouya pulled away as immediately as possible, chewing the food and swallowing in shock. He was too numb to relish in how good it tasted, staring with wide eyes at his plate. Tamaki smiled happily, half in success and half at the reaction he got.
"Well, how does it taste?" he asked. Kyouya raised his eyes just in time to see the same fork that had just been on his tongue slide into Tamaki's mouth. The blond giggled. "Heheh, this really is good! Great choice Fuyumi-san!"
The second time. That was the second time! Maybe Tamaki didn't think anything of it, but Kyouya couldn't help but feel flustered at the technical contact. Dammit, why did that aggravate him so much?
It was so angering, but...he didn't really mind...did he?
Well, if Tamaki could do it, why should he be so afraid of it. He scooped another piece of his own meal onto his fork, turning to his friend who had stopped talking and taken to eating. "Hey," he called, causing Tamaki to turn and swallow his previous bite. His mouth formed to ask what, granting Kyouya access. He slid his fork onto Tamaki's tongue, smirking when both his eyes and mouth widened. "Don't just sit there like a deer in the headlights, moron. Close your mouth." Tamaki did as he was told, his cheeks flushing so red that Kyouya blinked in surprise. He didn't care about the other times, because he had been the one in control, and the only one affected, but now Kyouya would use the fork. It would be the first time the contact had been made in a way that Kyouya, too, would be considered, for lack of a better phrase, "swapping spit." He cringed at the idea as the fork slid out of his mouth, and Kyouya turned, quickly taking another bite to hide his embarrassment.
Admit it, you were lying, his subconscious ordered. He closed his eyes and nodded slowly once. I was. That's...just as...intriguing as when the girls did it. He felt odd to admit such a thing, but he couldn't deny it after that. The blush was, in it's own way...cute...and he wouldn't mind seeing it again. I won't say that out loud though!
"Well?" he asked. "How was it?" Tamaki looked at him, his eyes still wide.
"It was...um...it..." He stared at his plate. "Really something special," he answered, not entirely sure what he was talking about himself.
Kyouya smiled, but said nothing. Of course, neither of them noticed that Fuyumi was staring in awe at them. After that display she just had nothing to say. What could she really believe except the obvious? It didn't matter, though, because for once they were both happy, blissful even, and not even the most prejudiced judging or snarky comments could change that.
As for the Italians, one was left smiling like an idiot to himself after having caught a glimpse of the happenings whilst taking the orders of another table while the older brother sighed to himself, for once dropping the angry and hateful act he normally had plastered up. He pulled out the tomato ring he never wore (though secretly always keeping it on his person) while picturing the happy sunny face of the person who had given it to him. How could two idiots drooling over each other make him jealous? Well, it didn't matter, because he knew who would come to pick him up as soon as the wine-bastard let him go, and somehow that made his eternal frown perk up ever so slightly at the corners.
~.~.~
They had all finished their meals, with friendly banter resuming between Tamaki and Fuyumi as Kyouya was left to contemplate to himself. He wanted to know how to bring that spectacular color back to the pale cheeks of the boy next to him. Perhaps offer a bite of his dessert? But how unoriginal. Ugh, if only he had more time, he wasn't ready for his birthday to be over yet!
As their plates were swept away by the older Italian, who was being surprisingly quiet all of a sudden and had even ceased to flirt with Fuyumi, the younger inquired if they would be having dessert. Fuyumi smiled up at him. "Of course he will. What do you want, Kyouya?" she asked, still a little nervous over what had happened a mere twenty minutes before, in her own obvious presence no less!
He looked over the menu, then to Tamaki. "I don't..." he mumbled, leaving the thought hanging, but Tamaki understood completely.
He glanced at the dessert options, smiling and pointing to one so Feliciano could see. "I say he'd like the mixed berry chocolat brulee," he said, recieving a happy nod.
"Oh, big brother Francis made that for me once~! It's really yummy! I'll go have them get that for you!" He looked over to Fuyumi. "Is that all, then?" he asked, just to be sure.
Fuyumi nodded. Kyouya, for the first time, realized that she looked rather hazed. Two glasses of wine and a low alcohol tolerance were the combination he saw now. Oh well, at least Tachibana would be driving them. The boy skipped away, back to the kitchen. Kyouya noted inwardly how much better he had become at serving in the last hour. He took a sip of his water, smiling.
"I don't assume you wanted something painfully sweet, right?" Tamaki clarified, unsure of his choice.
Kyouya gave him a smile, probably the warmest he ever had, though it wasn't without a hint of coolness. "You assumed correctly. Thank you." Tamaki smiled back.
"Anything, anytime," he promised, making Kyouya's face warm up. Dammit, why was Tamaki the only one who could induce that?
As soon as the dessert came out, Fuyumi left to call Tachibana, wobbling a bit as she ambled away. Kyouya shook his head and looked to the plate of a warm custard filled pie-like treat, smothered in blackberries and raspberries and drizzled in a purple mixture of the juices.
Mouthing a silent "wow" he broke a piece of the dessert and scooped it up with his fork, sliding it into his mouth and gasping. It was better than Hunny's cake.
He looked over to Tamaki who was resting his cheek against his hand and gazing at him fondly. "Is it good?" he asked.
Mustering up his courage, Kyouya scooped up another bite of the food and nudged it against Tamaki's lip in an enticing offering. "I don't know, why don't you find out for yourself?" Blinking, Tamaki opened his mouth and pulled the bite off with his teeth, cheeks tinting a light pink. Kyouya grimaced. That was more of a teaser than the real thing. Oh well. He continued eating the dessert, easing into the habit of giving a bite to Tamaki every now and then until he was offering one after each that he took himself.
Suddenly, though, upon one of the offerings Tamaki declined. "Ah, Kyouya, do you think that I could...come over for the night...I have something to show you, a-and it can't wait until tomorrow," he blurted out, averting his eyes and twiddling his thumbs.
Kyouya blinked. There was the blush he wanted, but he still didn't want to decline. "Oh, fine. If it really can't wait. You can't sleep in my suit, though, you'll have to borrow some pajamas." Tamaki's cheeks flared deeper.
"O-okay!" he said, swallowing and ruffling his hair awkwardly. Kyouya shrugged and popped the last bite of the dessert into his mouth. He wiped his mouth, standing. Tamaki showed him how to arrange his fork and plate to tell the waiters that he was done, fixed Fuyumi's for her, and put five thousand yen on the table as a tip, hoping that would suffice.
Feliciano, walking out of the kitchen with another table's food just in time to see them walk away called out to them. "Signors, grazie~! Grazie mille, buona notte~!" They both looked back to the Italian, who was waving happily. Tamaki returned the wave, and Kyouya met it with a curt nod. They walked up as Fuyumi was paying, stepping aside to grab their coats and umbrella's and tipping the girl who had retrieved them.
They walked out to find Tachibana, who had been waiting for about ten minutes. He quickly got out of the car and ran under the awning. "S-Suou-san, I've brought you an umbrella!" he told Tamaki urgently and loudly over the now pouring rain.
Tamaki smiled, but graciously declined. "No thank you, Tachibana-san. You can use it. Kyouya...?" he asked hopefully. Kyouya smiled and opened his umbrella, getting unnecessarily close so they were both covered as they walked out into the roaring storm.
It was cold out, but somehow neither of them felt anything but warmth.
Ugh, is this way too long? It was to me, so weird...anyway, I hoped you liked the little cameo. I do so love Lovino, and so does my Kyouya, but I couldn't leave out Feli. Lovi just couldn't be alone in here. As an added note, would anyone read it if I wrote this chapter as a Hetalia fic that explains why they're there and a few extra details from before and after? I think it would be fun, just because I like the scenario...eh, eh? As you can see, it would imply GerIta and SpaMano, and Awesome would be there, plus I might show a little of Antonio to explain why he refuses to bail Lovi out. Anyone, anyone? I'll only write it if a few of you wanna see it, but I think it would be a good time...either way, I'm totally drawing Lovi and Feli in their uniforms, and I'll post a link of it in my deviant art on the next chapter. It's gonna be awesome, you know it is!
Okay, I'm just gonna let your mind guess at the Italian and German, because it's not that complicated and the only spoken languages in the group we're following are Japanese and French. If you wanna know what the little Italian words mean you're gonna have to read it in the seperate fic that I might write if you say you want me to, eh? (by the way, when Kyouya and Fuyumi hear words in foreign languages their minds translate them to the proper Japanese characters they would follow. Yeah, sorry if that's confusing, but I figure that's how it would happen in their heads. Also, I noticed that Tachibana doesn't use honorifics like he should. Just disregard him, he's just the help. X3
Translation and Cultural Notes:
French-Mon ami: My friend (this'll be the last time I go over it. I may not even use it again...depending on how the next chapter plays out)
French-Salut: The 't' is rather silent, thus Fuyumi's interpretation of the word as "Sa-ru" (that'd be Katakana, folks. That's how her Japanese toned ears heard the greeting)
Umbrellas and car doors: These are little quirks I just had to put in there. Apparently couples walk under the same umbrella in Japan, and it's pretty forward to ask someone to walk under your umbrella with you. If you've ever seen a drawing of an umbrella with two names written underneath it it's the same as someone in western cultures to write so and so 3 insert crush's name here (i.e. Kyouya Ootori HEART Tamaki Suou.) and then I'm sure you all got the car door thing. It's courteous on a date for the man to open his date's car door. I hit 'em both here, okay? They're just both little displays of amour, culturally diverse.
French-Bienvenue: This is French, not Italian. The Italian equivalent is Benvenuto, but Francis made them swear to use as little Italian as possible and, though Lovi clearly doesn't give a damn, Feli wants to do well so he uses the French Francis taught them. If you don't know who these characters are, you really need to go watch the first season of Hetalia. Honestly, people, you're missing out (human names are used because they're in the presence of humans. if you didn't already know Feliciano (Feli) = North Italy/Veneziano, Lovino (Lovi)/nii-chan = South Italy/Romano, Francis/nii-chan = the world's biggest pervert aka France [yeah, that's really his name people], Antonio/nii-chan = Spain/Tomato Bastard X3, Ludwig/Ludi/West/Potato Bastard number 1 = Germany, Bruder/Potato bastard number 2/Awesome = Awesome/Prussia/Gilbert)
French-Non, merci beaucoup = No, much thanks! Yeah, I just like the word beaucoup. So much fun to say!
yup, pretty sure those are the important ones...
Well, it's fricken late and I'm tired as hell. Woo, slumber party with Lovi and China tomorrow, better catch some sleep! Okie dokie, see you next time in the ever so exciting (not really) and impatiently awaited (probably even less so) conclusion of this wonderful (oh, now you just know you're stretching it!) fanfiction!
By the way, reviews definitely make me update faster, so if you wanna get this over with or just have nothing better to do and want my story to ease your boredom for an hour or however long it takes you to read it then review and remind me that you're still reading it! It would honestly make me so happy, so please? I'm not asking for a long essay, just a few words of advice or criticism! Yes, much appreciated, and to those that reviewed already, well just keep doing what you're doing! Alright guys, here goes! See you in chapter eight, hope you'll be waiting (incidentally, this will be ending on the number eight, which is Tamaki's birth date, and this particular chapter with the cameo specially included for my Kyouya is the seventh, which is her least favorite number. Ha, poor Kyouya~)
Alright, ciao, au revoir!