A/N: All I'm gunna say is be sure to let me know what you think :D
They were one day into their stay in Karuizawa and Hoshiko went to do some shopping while Haruhi did chores around the bed and breakfast. She walked in the door of Pension Misuzu and noticed the whole host club in the lobby and sighed, "I swear it's like you have six stalkers that travel in a pack."
"Tell me about it." Haruhi rolled her eyes, "What all did you get?"
"Just some new clothes, and a few things for Kimiko and you of course." She smiled at her friend, "Let me go put these up and I'll help you fold those sheets, they should be dry by now."
"Alright."
After placing the bags in her room she headed back down to the side of the house and helped her friend as they rolled their eyes at Tamaki as he tried to fix a fence and was losing refresher points for it. Haruhi grinned at her though, "I'm sure you like having Takashi around though."
"I don't know. What he said to me was so cryptic, I have no clue what he mean about there being someone else he cared about. Like yes, I feel like it was directed at me, there would be no other reason to tell me if it weren't, but saying it then walking out the door like he did made it seem like perhaps it was a sisterly thing. We have known each other for a while, so it would make sense." She sighed bringing two corners together.
"Yeah but look at the couple that we helped get together your first week here, they had been engaged their whole life and were in love so that doesn't really mean anything." Haruhi shrugged.
"I guess." She walked towards her friend with the sheet corners in her hands, "I guess I was hoping that maybe some time apart would give me time to think about it without seeing him every day, we're in the same class, and then the club, I'm always going to be foggy if he's around so I was hoping for some clarity."
"And that he would miss you no doubt." She smirked.
"Shut up." Hoshiko laughed. "So I have a question…"
"Yes?"
"I need a 'girl' opinion on an outfit because I'm horrible at stuff like that." Hoshiko blushed.
"I'm not much better but you can go change?" Haruhi smiled at her and she headed up stairs.
She pulled the dress out of the box and groaned, speaking to herself, "You are just appeasing her so that she will leave you alone."
She changed and did her hair and headed back down stairs, avoiding any of the guys at all costs. When she saw Haruhi she cursed since she was talking to Kyoya, if he saw her she would never hear the end of it. She snuck over by the door that was behind him and tried to signal to Haruhi but she was too busy talking, so she opened the door slightly, "Ruhi, come here."
They both looked over and Haruhi froze at the sight of the Hoshiko in a dress and Kyoya couldn't help himself. He spoke loud enough so everyone outside could hear him, "Oh my, Delany-senpai is that a dress?"
"Damn it Kyoya!" She opened the door and walked out once every one of the members was looking at her now. Takashi looked up from his wood chopping and couldn't help but blush looking at her, she wore a mint green dress that was just above her knee and synced at the waist with a halter top. Her hair was also down and she had lip gloss and eyeliner on, she looked stunning and her black strappy stilettos made her legs look amazing. He knew he had to make a move soon, even if he wasn't sure how she felt, someone would come along and take her away if he didn't. Haruhi was finally coming out of shock when Hoshiko asked, "How stupid does it look?"
"Not at all, you look great Shiko." She had never seen her best friend look this dressed up, or even in a dress, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was for Takashi, "What's the occasion?"
"My mother has set me up on a date with a potential suitor." She leaned on the table but her head turned towards the loud thump that came from her left and everyone saw that Takashi had missed the piece of wood he had been trying to chop. Their eyes connected for a moment and she felt sad, it was one of the reasons she hasn't wanted anyone to see her dressed up, they weren't even supposed to be there in the first place. She looked away from his beautiful face and steel grey eyes and instead looked at the wood beneath her feet, "He wouldn't agree to an engagement before meeting me so she told me that I had to look my best, she never told me I had to act my best."
"But what if you really like him?" Haruhi asked.
"I doubt I will but if I do and he actually likes me and isn't just after my money then he'll be willing to wait until after I'm eighteen." She shrugged.
"Where are you guys going?" Her best friend asked.
"I don't know. He just said he would be picking me up in about an hour." She said but then Haruhi got called over by Misuzu and Hoshiko looked down at Kyoya, "Do me a favor?"
"Of course." He smiled at her, "If you're sure to owe me one."
"Of course." She grinned back and leaned over the table, "Dig up what you can on the Nakamura's, that's the surname of the boy I'm going out with tonight."
"What's his first name?" Kyoya said writing it down.
"Katashi. Text me whatever you find. I'd like to know why they are trying to do business with my mother." She stood back up straight. He nodded and she took her leave heading back upstairs to finish getting ready. Hoshiko bumped into someone while she was deep in thought and looked up to see Takashi, "Oh, sorry."
"It's alright." He smiled at her, having bumped into her on purpose when he could see that she was distracted by something, "You look amazing."
"Oh, thank you." She couldn't help but blush and a lock of hair fell in her face. He reached up and moved it, tucking it behind her ear.
"I hope tonight goes how you want it to." She wasn't sure if she heard sadness in his voice or not.
"I'm hoping he finds me completely unattractive." She smiled sadly.
"That'd be impossible." He put his arms around her and she was frozen in shock. She was beginning to think that it wasn't the sisterly way that he cared about her and that made her heart beat fast and her face flush. He didn't have to bend down much to speak in her ear, "Be careful tonight, please."
"I will Mori." She hugged him back and finished walking down the hallway to her room. She sat down on the bed and thought about what had just happened, his scent was in her nose and his warmth was still wrapped around her but she had to forget all of it soon to appease her mother.
Takashi was still at Pension Misuzu when she left. He didn't even pick her up in a car, which meant he was going to make her walk and this angered him more than it should. Haruhis words echoed in his mind, about what if she liked him, and he didn't want to stomach the thought. The sun began to go down and by the time he dropped Hunny at his cottage and arrived at his own home it was barely light out, but he couldn't sit still. His maid came over to where he had been pacing, wondering about whether to text her or not, "Sir, are you alright?"
"I'm going for a walk." He said heading for the door, he didn't want them worrying or being bothered anymore and outside he could walk in peace.
It was completely dark by the time he decided he should head back to the cottage. When he rounded a corner he saw her there in the arms of the man she had left the bed and breakfast with. He froze when he saw the man's lips on hers and felt his heart stop beating. He instantly felt a rage come over him though when he saw her knee hit his chest and her trying to pull away. He moved faster than he ever had before and ripped the man off of her, slamming him into the fence and growled at him, "Reject the marriage proposal and never contact her again unless you want to deal with the Morinozukas."
The boy's eyes widened, and Hoshiko was a little shocked hearing him say that much to someone that wasn't her or Hunny. The boy quickly tried to get out of Takashis grasp but his anger wouldn't let him go just yet, until he remembered Hoshiko and pushed the boy away from where they were. He looked to see Hoshiko on her knees in shock and he bent down to her, and gently grabbed her shoulders, "Are you alright?"
"I-I think so." She looked up at him, shaking slightly and he pulled her into his arms and she just curled up into him.
"What happened?" He held her tight, never wanting to let her go.
"He proposed to me." She muttered and he went stiff, "I said no of course and I don't know what happened, he got either angry or desperate, Kyoya texted me saying that his family was on the verge of losing everything from a law suit. He said he was going to make sure that I said yes. I wasn't expecting it, he caught me off guard and that's about when you showed up."
Takashi knew that she couldn't go home like this that she needed time to recover and so he put his arm under her legs and picked her up. She clutched his shirt at first but as his scent and warmth washed over her she relaxed and curled up into his body. When they reached his cottage he set her down on the ground and she followed him inside and his maid welcomed him home, "Ah you brought a friend, do either of you need anything?"
"Would you like to change?" He asked her knowing she probably wanted to get out of that dress.
"Yes, but I shouldn't so no thank you." She gave him a small smile.
"Tea with mint, please." He told the maid and she left. He offered Hoshiko his hand and she took it as he led her to the back porch of the home when he motioned as to where she wanted to sit she blushed.
"The stairs would be nice, we can get a good view of the stars from there." He nodded and they both sat down. He reached over, not even thinking and put the hair that was in her face behind her ear, "I guess I should put it up, shouldn't I?"
"You look beautiful with it down." He smiled his face flushing slightly, "You always look beautiful, but more so when it's down."
"Mori-" She started, but he interrupted her, which he had never done before.
"Takashi." He looked forward still embarrassed from his previous statement, "I liked it when you called me Takashi."
"Oh, okay. Takashi, thank you." She looked down at her knees which were angled towards him so she could see his long legs extended down the stairs, "You always look out for me and are always there when I need you somehow and I don't know how or why you do it but thank you."
"You don't need to thank me." He looked up at the stars, after tonight he didn't want to wait any longer, "I care about you, I'll always be there."
"But how." She looked up at him, "In what way do you care?"
His head snapped to look at her and saw the confusion and struggle in her eyes, she hadn't understood what he had meant when he told her about that other girl? He had never been good being able to tell people how he felt. Takashi decided that this time he would let his actions speak for him and wrapped an arm around her waist and the other around her upper back, cradling her head as he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers.
At first she was so shocked by his sudden movement that she didn't respond but once she realized that it had finally happened, that she had an answer to the weeks of wondering and couldn't help but smile as she kissed him back. He had pulled most of her weight onto him so she clung to his shirt and her other hand was on his neck, and she could feel his pulse was just as fast as hers. When he broke this kiss, but didn't let her go she couldn't help but let out a laugh, "Ah, so that way."
"Mmhmm." He smiled too and cupped her face, she felt perfect in his arms, she didn't belong anywhere else. He nuzzled his nose to hers and placed another soft kiss on her lips, his voice was low and soft as he asked, "Hoshiko, be mine?"
"Takashi." Was all she could respond as her face erupted in red and she looked away so he couldn't see.
"I don't say much and spend most of my time with Mitsukuni, but I've felt this way for a long time." He brought her face back to look at him, "Will you give me the chance to fall in love with you?"
"Yes." She said as a smile broke out across her face, "I don't care how much you say, I say enough for the both of us honestly, and as for Hunny I think it's sweet you guys are as close as you are, you and he are like Haruhi and I, and I would never want you to change that for me. But I do want you to promise that you'll never try and punish yourself if something ever happens to me like a cavity."
He couldn't help but to return her smile with a light laugh, "Promise."
This time when he kissed her she could feel the happiness in it. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her as close to him as he could. As they sat there locked together the world around them disappeared, they didn't even hear when the maid came out through the back door, "Oh, my apologies, I didn't mean to interrupt."
Takashi sadly let her go, "It's fine. You can set the tea down here."
The maid did as she was told and he handed Hoshiko a cup before taking one for himself. She scooted to where she was sitting right next to him and he couldn't stop himself from giving her a kiss on her temple. Letting out a happy sigh she leaned her head on his shoulder, "So are you and Hunny planning on going to the same college?"
"I don't think so." He said taking a sip of tea, "I was thinking of law, Mitsukuni hasn't decided yet."
"You would do very well with law I think." She smiled, "You have the brain for it and you care about people."
"I assume you aren't going to college." He set his tea down and put his arm behind her, letting her have his chest to lean on instead of his shoulder.
"I don't know yet. I'd like to go to learn more about music, the science and emotion of it. Plus it might be good to have at least a few business classes since I'm going to be running a company." She nuzzled closer to him, "But I'll be around that's for sure."
He looked down and saw her smiling up at him, "Good."
Takashi pressed his lips to hers again once she finished her tea and felt her suppress a yawn, "Come on, I'll take you back."
"Okay, I know that if she's still up, Haruhi is probably worried about me." She said accepting his help up and once she was she was in his arms and his lips pressed against hers.
"That'll never get old." He put the lock of hair back behind her ear again and she couldn't help but smile at him as he took her hand and led her through the house.
He kissed her one last time before she got out of the car and she went inside the bed and breakfast to find Haruhi waiting up for her, "You were out late."
"Yeah sorry, I didn't keep you up did I?" She smiled at her friend who had a cup of tea waiting for her.
"Technically yes, but I don't mind." Haruhi grinned at her, "So did your date go the way you wanted."
Hoshiko thought about all that had happened, and her mind lingered on Takashi's lips on hers and she let a small smile grace her lips, "Better."