Haruhi peeked through the peephole and saw Kyouya. Suddenly, a guilty feeling raced through her veins and she tensed. Shit. She totally forgot that Kyouya was taking her out. She turned to look at Takashi. She didn't know who she felt guilty about, the fact that Takashi was here, or the fact that she was about to go out on a date with Kyouya.
Not a date. We are just going out as friends. She reminded herself. He wanted it to be a date. You didn't.
When she hurried quietly back over to Takashi she chewed her lips. "It's Kyouya," she whispered quietly, trying to seem casual. Takashi rose his eyebrow. "Uh..." she didn't know how to say it without feeling horrible, so she just came out and said it. "We kinda have a date."
"Oh," that was all he said. He stood up and placed his plate in the fridge. Haruhi placed her hand on his arm.
"You can stay after I leave and finish it," Haruhi spoke quickly, looking up at him. Takashi paused before nodding. "My apartment is open to you until I get back...if you want to stay," she explained. She noticed he was looking around; he picked up his wine glass and hide in the closet. Haruhi paused before nodding. She walked over to the door and answered it. She smiled at Kyouya.
Takashi downed the rest of his wine, steeling his nerves. He wanted to go out and make Kyouya think that Haruhi was off limits. She wasn't. They weren't dating anymore. She could date whomever she pleased. Therefore, why did it make him angry that he was handing her flowers and giving her a sickly sweet smile.
Haruhi took the flowers with a smile before opening the closet, hiding him from Kyouya, and grabbed a vase from a shelf. When her eyes met his, she nearly turned to Kyouya and told him she wasn't really feeling well, and they'd have to reschedule. Instead, she closed the door, filled the vase with water, and placed the flowers in them. She grabbed her shoes from upstairs, and he stood by the door waiting for her.
"Let me just get my coat," she explained with a smile before heading to the closet once again. She opened it and her hand brushed past Takashi to grab a jacket, and as she took it off the hanger, their eyes met again. She quickly shut the door and pulled her jacket over her arms. She followed Kyouya out the door with a brief glance at the closet.
Takashi waited for a minute or so before he left the closet. He stood there, staring at her empty apartment. He brushed his mouth with his thumb in thought before heading over to the fridge, got out his unfinished supper, and ate silently. He didn't take anything else and stood awkwardly in the center of her apartment. His eyes noticed something under the couch, and curiosity got the better of him. He bent down and brushed it out. Staring up at him was a photo album. He settled down and began flipping through them.
Haruhi sat beside Kyouya in the car, her eyes trained outside. Suddenly, she felt like this was a bad idea. She pushed the feeling back and stayed silent as the car continued onwards. Kyouya helped her out as the car pulled to a stop in front of a fancy restaurant. Her eyes flashed to her outfit. Okay, it's a Hitachiin piece, an original. She was good then. Kyouya guided her in, his hand firmly holding hers, and they were guided to a table. Haruhi recognized the man already sitting there and her hand tightened around Kyouya's to the point where she knew it was hurting him. The man rose and the three bowed to each other.
Kyouya pulled out her chair and as she sat down, he whispered, "Don't start anything."
Haruhi was going to let it slid for now, but the moment they were in the car. She would blow up at him. She smiled at Yoshio Ootori as Kyouya sat down. The old man didn't smile back, and Haruhi's smile faded from her lips. After a moment of silence, the waitress hurried over and took their orders. Then Yoshio spoke finally.
"Fujioka-san, you are the woman my son has chosen to wed?" Yoshio asked, looking crisp and clean, not moving to appear more relaxed. Causing Haruhi to match his posture, but her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Not enough for the older man to notice, but the younger one saw it and noted it down for later.
"Yes, father," Kyouya spoke up before Haruhi could retort harshly to him. "Haruhi is a promising lawyer, and not only is she very smart; she is also a beautiful woman. Appropriate for marrying into the Ootori family."
"She is a commoner," Yoshio spoke up, speaking about Haruhi as if she was a piece of meat. Haruhi stayed silent, knowing that if she commented, nothing good would come from it.
"A lot of the woman who you have introduced me too were recently wealthy," Kyouya retorted politely, "Haruhi has never relied on anyone else to support her financial and would easily raise her status to that of the rich. Especially if she accepts the job position in the Ootori Law division, I have been offering her. Still, she refuses because she would rather get there by her own doing than-"
"Why are you interested in her joining the law division?" Yoshio interrupted, before the waitress returned with their drinks. Haruhi waited until the man drank before lifting her own cup up and drinking.
"You know that the law division is not doing too well, with Morinozuka-san's firm and the firm Haruhi is working at. We are not as high up in the ranks as we should be," Kyouya explained waving towards Haruhi, "If Haruhi were to get a position in our law firm, we'll be easily able to surpass Morinozuka-san's law firm and get more clientele that way."
Yoshio sat thinking quietly for a moment. Haruhi noticed by small movements that he didn't want to admit his son was right and was trying to figure out a way to say he was right, without making it obvious. Finally, he replied, "We could just as easily procure both firms and make them sub-divisions under the Ootori name. Getting both the money and the reputation."
"Ootori-san," Haruhi spoke up before Kyouya could reply, she was already sick of the conversation and being ignored. "If you take over Morinozuka-san's company, then you won't have a rival. If you don't have a high reputable law firm to fight against, you are going after mediocre law firms, and therefore your reputation wouldn't be as high."
Yoshio looked between wanting to take what Haruhi said seriously, and reprimanding her for speaking without being spoken to. Haruhi felt highly insulted, but made no comment on the matter. She waited until he either ignored her or commented back, the former would've taken the entire dinner south. Yoshio seemed to notice that by the look on his son's face. Just subtle, but it was enough.
A look that said, She's the kind that doesn't take being ignored lightly.
Kyouya knew with this information about Haruhi being good for their law division, a smart woman and 'beautiful', as well as actually knowing a thing or two about business. There was no way his father could say no to the fact that Kyouya wanted her as his bride. There was a break as the three ate the dinner that was brought to them. In silence, to be respectful of each other.
"Having competition is boring after a while," Yoshio spoke up after a while, "I gather that is why Kyouya has wanted you as his wife. Eliminate the others interest in you by marrying you."
"You have such a way with talking to woman," Haruhi spoke up, becoming more casual to show that she wasn't impressed with Yoshio's behaviour. "Treat them like a piece of meat that you can buy and sell. If I were to marry someone, I wouldn't want my father-in-law to be so rude to me."
"Haruhi," Kyouya snapped suddenly, looking down at her. Yoshio was silent, showing no emotion in his grey eyes. Haruhi held her breath, waiting for him to snap at her. Threaten her passive aggressively like his son always did. Something. Anything. When he did something, it didn't disappoint her. He stood up, paid the bill and excused himself from the table. Then left.
Kyouya was silent before looking over at her. "I bet you are pleased with yourself," he muttered under his breath, adjusting his glasses. Haruhi finished her wine before standing up and lifting her coat up.
"Are you still taking me to the movie? Or are we done with this charade?" Haruhi questioned, irritation thick in her voice. She pulled her coat on and followed him out of the restaurant. He stopped her before she got into the car. "Don't try to woo me like one of your customers to do whatever you want," she hissed at him, surprising him. "I may not be rich and famous like the Hosts or the girls from Ouran, but at times I think that is a good thing. Then I won't have to be bought like something in a store!"
He stayed silent then shook his head, "I wasn't trying to buy you, Haruhi-" He stepped aside, a dark look had crossed her face, allowing her to get into the car. He climbed in afterwards and turned to look at her. "If I was trying to buy you, I would've gone to Ranka-san and asked him for permission, bribing him to allow it. Rather than going to you."
"Don't you dare," Haruhi whispered, looking out the window, avoiding giving him the slightest indication that she was about to kick him where the sun doesn't shine. Kyouya let out a sigh and adjusted his glasses.
"I could woo you like one of my customers," Kyouya spoke up, "Have I ever treated you falsely like that? Offered you false compliments, touched you in a way that I would a customer?" When she stayed silent Kyouya smirked, "I also wish you to think back, I never said that the marriage was official, just something that I want."
Haruhi felt her cheeks heated, was that his way of saying that he liked her? She shook her head, "Then maybe you should ask me out on a proper date before you jump straight to marriage?" she questioned as the car pulled up to her apartment. He stepped out and helped her out. She looked at him as he rose her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
"If that is what you wish, then I would like to formally ask you to be my date for the Host Club Reunion dance," Kyouya murmured, his lips brushing her hand. Haruhi stood firmly. Not saying that yes, but not saying no.
"I'll think about it," she replied removing her hand from his and heading up towards her apartment.
