Chapter Seven:
Hikaru watched her with patient eyes, a type of patience he hadn't been aware he possessed. She moved with such fluidly graceful movements, balancing on the balls of her feet as if she were floating on air. She babbled and twirled with excitement as she pointed out statues and plants and the cherry blossoms to her father.
The elderly man followed behind her, effortlessly keeping pace with his energetic child. He nodded when it was appropriate and spoke when needed, but for the most part Renge's father just let her speak. He was content to hear all about her life in Japan and the craziness she had gotten herself into. Hikaru moved slowly, just six or seven steps behind them.
"Sweetheart?"
His eyes snapped up to hers, his heart stuttering in his chest. His body had been reacting strangely to her from the moment he decided to kiss her cheek. What the hell was wrong with him?
"You're falling behind." Renge pouted, holding her hand out to him.
He gazed at her small, soft, well-manicured hand for a half a moment before placing his own hand in her grasp. Their fingers laced, his heart hammered.
"You're clearly very much in love with her." Renge's father smiled.
"Papa!" Renge groaned, clearly mortified. "We don't use the 'L' word yet!"
Her father smiled sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders. "I just call them as I see them."
You're clearly very much in love with her.
Was he?
Xxx Later xxX
Renge sat upon the porch, her knees pulled up to her chest as she watched the fireflies dance in the yard.
"There you are."
Her eyes lifted slowly, meeting the warm gaze of her houseguest as Hikaru held out a cup of hot tea to her. She took it graciously, lifting it to her lips and taking a small sip. "I'm hiding."
"From your father?" He asked, lowering himself down onto the porch beside her.
She didn't miss how his shirt lifted, exposing the smooth white skin of his stomach or how his natural scent washed over her. She merely nodded.
"Do you think he believes our story?" Hikaru asked, staring out into the yard. He seemed oblivious to the way Renge was watching him out of the corner of her eye.
I almost believe it. She thought, brushing her fingers through her bangs. "He's pretty gullible. I once tricked him into believing every single one of my classmates had an elephant… he bought me an elephant." She chuckled.
"You sure know how to make unrealistic requests." Hikaru snorted.
"Unrealistic?! What do you mean? An elephant is very realistic." She pouted.
"Kyoya is my fiancé. I'm marrying Kyoya. I'm the Host Club's manager. Make me a movie. Take me to the beach. Be my fake boyfriend." He smirked, forcing his voice to be as high pitched and irritating than he had meant for it to be.
"I do not sound like that!" She whined, swatting playfully at his arm.
"Oh yeah, you do." He grinned, bracing his arms behind him as he looked up at the moon.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" She asked, following his gaze. "There's just something about the night that makes everything seem like it's going to be okay."
Hikaru said nothing, he merely hummed a low response in the back of his throat.
For a few moments they sat like that, listening to the sounds of the night and wrapped in the darkness together. So much pain, so much suffering… From Haruhi's kidnapping, to Kyoya's lost memory and finally loosing Kaoru. The Host Club had been through so much. But if there was one thing Renge knew… it was that at the end of it all they would come out stronger for it.
Slowly she scooted herself over, nestling at his side and placing her head upon his shoulder. "It is going to be okay, Hikaru. I promise."
"Yeah…" He breathed, bracing his cheek gently upon the top of her head. "Thanks, Renge."
Thanks for giving me hope.
