AN: I present the last chapter. I'm also sorry for putting this one behind my other story . It was really unfair of me. This is the end of the story by the way so I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the OHSHC members or any characters in the anime. but Keki and Kagami belongs to me.
Chapt. 7. No More Secrets.
"They're still at it?" a dumbfounded Haruhi stared at the proceedings and back to her senpai at the table.
"By it, if you're referring to the three still going on with the operation after the incident, then yes, they are." Kyouya listed their yesterday's earnings and continued. "No use teaming Honey and Mori now after the incident so we might as well try something that'll at least attract a few customers."
"Speaking of Mori, I didn't see him around."
"He took the whole afternoon off for some private business."
Haruhi made a few mental notes and added,"Kyouya-senpai seems calm today instead of being cranky. I'm sure Mori and Honey-senpai's – err— break up as a team would've done some serious reduction at the total sum normally earned; thus, making you totally grouchy, hot-headed, and unpleasant." She cocked her head to one side. "That means Kyouya-senpai has a plan up his sleeve."
The eye-glassed brunete smirked.
"Haruhiiii!! Look at this!" Hikaru and Kaoru screamed to her ears, a sheet of paper dangling in front of her. "Watcha think? It's our date plan number four! So? So? Is it great or what?"
"Umm….ano…" Haruhi surveyed the paper. There were doodles drawn and a few other things supposedly explaining the whole plan. With a lot of effort pumped into it, she deciphered the paper and concluded the following: stick people, water, and— "Is that a boat?!"
"Bingo! Correct!" they saluted together. "You see, in The Little Mermaid, the mermaid and the prince took a boat ride together and was supposed to kiss each other as a sign that they love each other." They chatted. "except the whole plan was ruined when the eels destroyed the moment so Ursula would win but—"
"So you're using the same scene to create the romantic aura that'll get them together."
The two bobbled their heads. "Yup yup…except there won't be any more naughty eels to destroy it."
Haruhi gave them curious glances. "Since when did you guys sart watching Disney movies?"
Hikaru returned with a defensive pout. "Tono lent us his collection! The Beauty and the Beast's dancing scene inspired us so much that date plan number seven is based on it."
'Uh-huh. And date plan number eight is based on Cinderella!" Kaoru said, putting an arm around his brother's shoulder.
"Ok then. So where are you going to get the enormous amount of water needed for the plan?"
'Oh, we're using the school's swimming center!" they smiled sheepishly. "There's enough water there to supply a whole lake. We just need to redecorate the place a little."
"What about the varsity team then?"
"Oh, that's not a problem. Tono's handling our reservation with the coach and team captain. They're both women so no worries! In fact, Tono should be talking to them right this minute. The location is all set and ready and the decoraions just came in from Ireland." They said, baring teeth.
Charming his way to get their permission, I bet. Women are so easily fooled these days….Damn charming zillinares who gets away with everything by simply showing teeth.
The clock on the table ticked away as the man boredly scribbled on a paper to pass the time while waiting for his client. After the third thrown piece of trash, the most anicipated knock broke the room's mute atmosphere.
"Come in."
A tall, sturdy figure emerged from behind the door. "You wanted to see me, Dr. Kagami?"
Kagami smiled. "Yes. Yes. Please, sit down, Mori-kun."
"Is something wrong? Is this about Mitsukuni?" Mori asked, not bothering to hide his concern.
"Well, yes, I suppose it is." He hesitated, but eventually handed a brown envelope to the man. "Mori-kun, I'm terribly sorry to say that there's been a mix-up."
"The lily pods will go there!" Kaoru directed the crew. "You! The willow branches should be hanged there! Hikaru, has the statues from Belgium arrive yet?"
His twin, standing on the other side of the pool nodded absent mindedly. "Yeah. Yeah. It's all in the back!" he shouted back, signing the receipt handed to him. "I want candles everywhere, got it? Set some afloat on the pool too."
The worker looked at him and briefly nodded his head. "H-hai! Young master Hikaru!"
"Oi! Tono! Make yourself useful and prepare Honey-senpai for his date!" the two barked at the blonde playing with the matchsticks on 'his' corner. He had shifted to his moody, pitiful act after breaking a very expensive statue.
"Young master Kaoru, the boats have arrive," the manager reported.
"Boats? How many was ordered order?"
"Two. A life-sized to model was FedEx-ed along with the real product, sir."
"Ok. Ok. Whatever. Place it somewhere," Kaoru answered impatiently, signing more receipts on the clip board.
"Hmmm….this was a bit extravagant than expected…" Kyouya mused, entering the room with the female freshman. "That will deduct the host club budget by a few thousand Yen."
"Kyouya! Haruhi!" Tamaki called, tottering up to them with an angelic smile on his face, his arms ready to give the two death squeezes.
"Tamaki-senpai," Haruhi greeted back not too eagerly, sidestepping to her left.
"Tamaki, aren't you supposed to fetch Honey-senpai according to the plan?" Mom reminded, sidestepping to his right so that the blonde fell into the open space between him and Haruhi.
Tamaki squatted on the floor and tried to look as sorry as possible. "Haruhi! Mom's being mean! First those two rascals and now Mom too!"
"Well, senpai, it is your plan. You know, the one you three made."
"Demoooo!! I want to help decorate!" the blonde insisted.
"Yada! Yada! Tono, no, is no. you might break something again, like you did to the statue from India!" they told him firmly. "Now go fetch Honey-senpai."
Before Tamaki had the opportunity to use his puppy eyes and work some magic, Kyouya already pushed him to the door, using a psycological tactict. "It's the most important part of the plan, baka. Timing is very important. Honey-senpai needs to be here at exactly half past five—an hour and a half from now—and not a minute later. Tomorrow can't be an option since the flowers from Bali will be dead by then. That's why we need someone good, charming, and has excellent persuation skills to draw Honey-senpai into the room with Keki-san. And no one could be better than you, Tamaki. So go and prove to us that no one is better than the king to do the job."
King. King. King….King….the word echoed in his head. "You're right, Kyouya! I'll go look for them right away! I'll—"
"Goodbye." Kyouya deadpanned, calmly brushing his hands after slamming the grand door at the king's face. He received looks mixed with amazement and horror. "What?"
The remaining hosts distanced themselves and Hikaru whispered, "The evil lord can manipulate hoplessly stubborn people to do his will…. incredible.."
Haruhi and Kaoru agreed. "Kyouya-senpai can be just as persuasive except he has something sinister about him." They all nodded and peeked at the man lost in his dark and mysterious mullings. His eyes, intense wih concentration, doubled the evil aura he normally emitted and made them sweat.
"Scary."
The women watched the three handsome figures cross the hall, whispering to one another as they passed by.
"Look! Look! Honey-senpai's with his girlfriend and Tamaki-senpai! The rumor about Honey-kun and Mori-kun's breaking up must be true."
"Don't say that! They'll get back together for sure…somehow."
"But why is Tamaki-sama with them? Does this mean he approves of them being together? Plus, why are they heading towards the sports facilities?"
"What does this mean? Are they really together now?"
"Together?! I heard that when someone asked Keki-san about Honey-senpai, she just laughed and said they were friends. The nerve of that girl. She may be cute like Honey-senpai, but breaking him up with his cousin is just going too far!"
Honey clenched his hands into a ball. Sensing the offense on a sensitive topic, Keki spoke up.
"Tamaki-kun….where are we going?"
The tall blonde checked his watch—It had been the twentieth time he did so since he found them together—and grinned. "It's a sur-prise."
Honey's suspicion level grew higher at the sudden surprise. "Demo, Tama-chan, this is leading to the swimming pool."
"Hai. Hai. I know that, honey-senpai. Like I told Keki-san. It's a sur-prise." The long corridor ended at the large, beautifully carved door and they had to stop. "5..4..3…2…1." with precise timing rare for the person, he twisted the handle and led the couple into the room.
"Welcome, our dear guests," the Hitachiins, Kyouya, and an inert Haruhi received courteously, quite similar to the way they use at the club. "It is the will of the host club to prepare this for one of our member's new girl—I mean, friend, Miss Keki-san." Hikaru and Kaoru stated. "Welcome to our Ouran Academy, we hope that you'll be comfortable with us all."
Tamaki scanned the simple room, it held no decorations whatsoever. He slipped his way to his daughter's side. "Haruhi, was the plan cancelled? Where are the beautiful decorations?"
"Ano….they moved it outdoors since it would be more romantic that way with the fresh air and setting sun." she caught the warning signs the twins made behind Honey and Keki's back. It was her turn to recite the line they had pointlessly rehearsed. "Oh -ah- umm…Let me escort you guys ouside," she recovered, giving them a sincere looking smile. This is stupid…
The rest followed her to the fresh outdoor pool—to Honey, Keki, and Tamaki's astonishment. It was flawless in every angle with willow branches hanging in the air, lovely lanerns with a lot more candles, lilies and lotuses floating serenely on the water, and a wooden boat parked on the side. The perfect scenery of the setting sun made it even more romantic.
"Now, off you two go on a ride on the pool!" The twins insised, managing to get the two guests on board.
"But Kao-chan, Hika-chan, what about—"
"There's a specially prepared food basket in the boat," they announced cheerfully, untying the rope that held the boat in tact. "So don't hurry back now and have a happy ride!" they smirked while bidding farewell to the two on board the drifting boat. "Adieu!" they snapped their fingers in unison as a signal for the hidden orchestra to start playing the slow music piece, and all was perfectly according to plan. "Yes! Now let's give those two some privacy. Now they can't possibly not fall in love, right?" the twins couldn't help but boast of the plan's success when they reached covered grounds. "So what do you think of our plan now, Ha-ru-hi?"
The petite brunette narrowed her eyes. "You really want me to answer that?"
"Hmmm….now that all the set-ups are complete, it's time for the juicy part! Eavesdropping!" both orange heads showed off their new spying gadget deluxe set. "Ta-da!" the host king was beside them in an instant, bearing the looks of a child eagerly awaiting to open a present.
Her eye twitched at something so …so like them! What happened to the 'giving them their privacy' part? Hopeless. "Well, if this is what you're going to do, I'm heading back to the dorm. Host club period has been long over now anyway."
"Oh, Haruhi, don't forget your bag in the back room," Kyoua said, not bothering to look up from his clipboard. He calmly slid the bridge of his glasses back up his nose.
"Hai. Thank you, Kyouya-senpai." She thanked, running off to the back room. "Uhmmm…" she walked past two locker rooms. 'Let's see…where did I—eh?" the queer sight of a large, wooden boat blocked her way from reaching the other side. "What's this?!"
"The host club was really nice to do all this for my sake…" Keki's voice sounded from the walkie talkie.
"It's fine. They're really like that, you know. Nice people…."
Kaoru flipped a page from the comic book he was reading and yawned; Hikaru lay on his side, picking his teeth with a tooth pick; and Tamaki sat down on the floor, turning the sides of a Rubix cube. All looked incredibly bored as two distinct voices chattered over the gadget centering them. Kyoua was more sophisticaed and was sitting on a chair, jotting down notes.
What a quick change of mood…..she speculated. "Everone!" they all looked her way, moving less muscle as possible. "Umm…..why is there a boat in the back room?"
"What are you talking about, Haruhi? How can there be a boat in the back room when there's already one outside?" said Hikaru, gsturing to the door that led outside.
"Strange, Haruhi, are you sure it's a boat?" a worried Father asked his daughter.
"Senpai, it's 15 feet in length and 6 feet in width. I'm sure I'll know whether it's a boat or not. See, I have the receipt."
Kyouya tapped a pen on the hard clipboard. "Tamaki, didin't you order two boats? A real one and a toy model?"
Kaoru inspected the receipt. "Oh, I remember a delivery guy say something about two boats. I think he said something about a fake and an original."
"Isn't it obvious? The fake is just a toy for playing made for children while the original is of superior quality made for floating on top of water." Hikaru proudly explained, snatching the receip from his brohers hand. "so then the boat in the back is…ori-gi-nal." He read.
Silence.
"EH??! SO THEN THE BOAT OUTSIDE IS……."
The boat had drifted a far distance from dry land, the two sitting quiely on board.
"This is a bit of an…exravagant surprise." Keki laughed softly. "does the host club do this often?"
"Umm…strangely, not really." Honey was reminded of a similar situation a few days ago when the twins had urged him to accompany Keki-san on the gorgeously prepared table at the garden while the rest of them enterained their own guests at the third music room. He gasped, now undersanding why they were doing these 'set-ups.' "I know why they are acting like this! Ke-chan," He grinned. "They must really like you a lot! That's it! It explains why they've been acting so strange lately. They must've been really shy to tell you how happy they are that you're here and decided instead to plan surprises for you!" (at this point, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Tamaki breathed out a possible heart attack at the near discovery.)
"But the host club's really too nice to prepare all this for my sake."
"It's fine." Honey assured. "They're really like that, you know. They're nice people who wants to make people happy."
Several fireflies darted about (it was the latest purchased addition to the insects and animals) and a fish surfaced out and dove back into the water. A thought sprang into the blonde host's mind to break the silence and quickly took the food basket into his lap. In less than a minute, a perfect slice of fruit cake on the silver platter—with a kiwi on top—was presented to the girl.
"Cake?"
She blinked a the delicacy and nodded weakly, taking the plate off his hand. With a spoon, she anxiously scooped a chunk of the spongy dessert. Just at the climax moment when the cake filled spoon was hovering inches away from her open mouth, did Honey interrupt by a sudden question.
"Ke-chan, is water supposed to be in the boat?"
Keki lowered her spoon and frowned. "No, of course not. Why?"
"Because the water's filling the boat." He said casually, the water, fast reaching their ankles.
A loud cry of distinct panic reached their ears and both looked to see small images of the host club waving their arms. "Honey-senpai!! Don't panic, we're coming!" said a voice from the speaker machine that belonged to Tamaki. From the cemented land beside the pool, some of the hosts had exceded the limit of panic.
"Whatdowedo? Whatdowedo? Honey-senpai can't swim, they'll drown! What will we say to their parents?" a frantic Tamaki wailed, "Hikaru! Kaoru! Get the floaters, quick!
"Senpai, calm down! The pool shouldn't be that deep—"
"Actually, Haruhi, here in Ouran, the pool's at least 30 feet deep." The twins informed, reaching for the emergency floaters and a long hose of sturdy rope.
"Who in the right mind would install a 30-fee deep pool?!" an incredulous Haruhi cried frustratedly. Rich basards!
She glanced at Kyouya who could only gaze at his watch intently during the enire course of the emergency while Hikaru and Kaoru tied the edge of the rope to the circular floaer in record's time. Kyouya-senpai….his cool black eyes shifted its gaze to the door, expecting and anticipating. Panic drained her instantly, and she sighed. I see…..you do have a plan.
Mori stumbled into the room, the door slamming shut behind him. "Mitsukuni!" he yelled in alarm in his baritone voice. The tall host ran to the pool, grabbing the floater in Hikaru's hand as he passed them by, and dove with the grace and speed of an Olympic competitor. Mori forced his body to swim faster, his toned arms sliced through the cold waer like swords with perfect strokes, his legs kicked with the new surge of power toward the direcion of the sinking boat.
Tamaki and the Hitachiins held their breath as they trailed Mori and the two passengers with their eyes. The tension was released when Mori reached his cousin's side, just as their heads were about to submerge under the water. With a shivering Honey and Keki clinging securely to the floater, Hikaru—with the help of the others—began pulling on the rope, reeling the two into dry land. Mori swam quietly behind.
"Honey-senpai, Keki-san, are you alright?" Tamaki said, handing the three soaked bodies each a dry towel.
Honey sputtered out the water he had drunk and stared at the floor, his face masked with indescribably deep thoughts. Kaoru helped Mori up the water, noticing the food basket he had managed to save in his hands.
Behind the scenes of a boisterous Tamaki and sidekicks, the two cousins connected with a look. Mori eyed the blonde, watching tears merge with the wet sreams of water. Honey looked past into the brunette's placid eyes, reading his silent apology.
All was cut short when Honey ran to his cousin's welcoming arms. "Takashi, I'm sorry! I don't want to fight with you anymore!" Mori responded with an "Ah" and patted Honey's golden hair.
The hosts smiled warmly to see their members reconcile with each other. Haruhi peeked at the smirking Kyouya when defeaning screams conquered their attention. At least a hundred ladies were screaming at the top of their lungs in joy from the door as they focused on the two soaking men.
Mori dug into the basket and took out the reduced fruit cake and handed it to Honey as a peace offering. And seeing how everyhing was going to be like it used to be, Honey smiled and accepted.
(the following afternoon……..at the third music room….)
"So let me get this straight…Honey-senpai wasn't sick from the beginning?!?!" the three screamed in Kyouya's ears. The afternoon was back to normal after yesterday's happy ending and the host club rendered to its original splendor.
"Yes, of course not," answered Kyouya cooly.
"And you knew this from the very beginning?!?!"
"Yes. It's seemingly impossibly for Honey to have a gum infection so I looked into it. Researching can sometimes be worthwhile, you idiots. Because of it, I was able to turn the table to our favor." The shadow king sipped his tea, enjoing the fruits of his cunning labor.
"What table?!?"
"Well, I was afraid that Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai were beginning to lose the customer's interests. Luckily, his sickness mistake came up to my favor and the plan to wedge a wall between our two members was formed, that's step number 1. Getting someone to replace Mori was harder than I thought. But then, by some twist of fate, I discovered Keki-san and pulled some strings for her transfer to Ouran. I wasn't wrong in picking her either. Her sweet, quiet nature and natural blonde hair with green eyes made it an easy acceptance among Honey-Mori fans. And that was step 2. Then you three began to set Honey up on all sorts of dates that Mori had no choice but to stay away for Honey's sake; thus, driving the wall between the two was completed. And that was the end of step 3.The sudden change in his cousin's attitude towards him would naturally break Honey's heart and he created the heart wrenching scene better than drama that only secretly captured more Honey-Mori fans and other ladies' attenion as well at the same time driving them further apart. It's like hitting two birds with one stone. That's the completion of step 4. I left the rest to you matchmakers to continue with your 'Operation: Distraction' and chose to reveal the truth when you came up with the boat idea by calling the dental clinic. I also made sure that the boat used on the pool was the fake one to create the perfect emergency situation since Honey can't swim." Kyouya received pairs of 'I-can't-believe-you-would-do-that!' stares but ignored them. "The rest lived up to my expectations. Though the fangirls were more than what I expected, it wouldn't hurt anyway. That's the reason why I sent Tamaki to lure the two into the plan—he being the most eye-catching host of us all would bound to attract more attention." the man hid both hands into his pockets. "Well, this had been fun, a little too expensive to my liking but I'm sure Honey and Mori's earnings today will cover that up easily." He said, looking over to the crowded side of the two cousins after snatching every customer and new fans for the day.
"Ne, Tono, I feel like a used guinea pig." The twins informed their lord.
"Yes, me too. I never thought our mommy was this treacherous!"
"Kyouya-senpai, your plan is flawless as usual. Wasn't there anything unexpected at all?" she praised, joining the evil lord in viewing the fruits of his labor.
"There was one thing…I never expeced Keki-san to change throughout the plan," he said scornfuly as he followed the girl's movement as she fed herself with cake. "But that doesn't change the fact that the Operaion: Distracion was a complete failure as I planned, so I don' really care."
The word 'failure' was caught by the three matchmaker's ears. Their machmnaking plan was a total flop, that'd mean…
"We're bad matchmakers!!" they wailed.
The freshman giggled. "Well, everyhing can't be perfect, Kyouya-senpai." The shadow king grunted in pure ignorance that his plan wasn't so perfect afer all.
Honey munched on a cupcake, not minding his icing stained face. "Takashi."
"Hmmm?"
"No more secrets, ne?"
"Ah," Mori promised, wiping Hony's mouth with a handkerchief.
The fangirls screamed. Who would've though that a doctor's simple mistake would result in a stronger bond between cousins and a new cake-fanatic friend for Honey?
The afternoon peacefully dragged on inside the third music room—if you would exclude the three failed matchmakers crying "we're bad machmakers!" that could be heard from the hall!
The end
Yey. Finally finished this story. I won't be writing Ouran Fics for a while, but when I do, I won't make my readers wait for a month before updating. Damn, I feel terrible…it's clawing wounds in my chest.. thanks for those who faithfully stuck through my shitty updating problems till the end. Till next time! Leave a review please.
--Gen--
