Art soirée

The car parked at the entrance, and the driver opened the door. Haruhi's heart had forgotten how to beat. When Kyoya walked out and stretched his hand to help her step out of the car, she almost wished she could disappear into the thin air. The lights from lamps and cameras sparkled around the car. She was blinded by their extravagant illumination and stared at Kyoya Ootori's hand with hindered attention.

Kyoya noticed her hesitation and leaned down to grab her hand. The sudden contact with his cold skin made Haruhi exhale loudly, and she moved closer to him. Kyoya smiled at her gently, realizing her tentativeness of the attention she might get. As a reassurance the man pulled her out of the car and gently hugged her shoulders. This all must have been completely dazzling and strange to Haruhi. She wasn't used to cameras flushing in her face and attending to lavish events.

Her knees buckled when she stepped out of the car. She felt a little numb, and her skin started to prickle as the blood flew to her suspended limbs. She thought her trembling legs would betray her, and she would tumble on the tiled floor in front of many people and journalists, but Kyoya held her in place firmly and gave her another of his pleasant and reassuring smiles.

"You look absolutely beautiful," he confessed in a hushed voice when she stared at him, still bewildered and discombobulated.

She gulped as much air as she could and blinked at him. She didn't want to come to this place, but the bastard convinced her that it would be essential to her memory recovery. And not only that, but also it would be completely inappropriate to refuse an invitation and thus create a lot of problems with future possible clients. Haruhi realized that events like this were very important for young law students, and she should be nothing but happy to attend them at any given chance.

Her memory loss and her uncertain relationship with Kyoya-senpai caused her to worry and freak out. She wasn't sure she would be able to keep the appearances properly. She was also worried about attending university for the first time tomorrow and would have preferred to stay at home and prepare. Kyoya promised to keep her out of the reach and make sure she wasn't harassed with questions. She doubted it was a promise he could keep, but decided to go with him anyways.

The most difficult part was to get dressed. She had many dresses at home, but no idea what to wear. She had never attended one of these things or if she did, she didn't remember. She reasoned that the most extravagant looking dress she owned would be the most suitable one. It was better to suffer a bit than be sorry. And the dress she chose quickly grabbed everyone's attention. Haruhi was both relieved that she looked nice and terrified that now the entire population of the event were ogling her.

It was a black dress made of delicate satin. It tightly clung to her waist and demonstrated her exquisite waste-line and her feminine figure. The mermaid-style skirt of the dress swept the ground and shone brightly under the illumination. There were crystal beads all over the skirt bellow the knees. The dress was backless, and she could feel Kyoya's hands on her bare skin and judging by the way he held her, he didn't mind to show everyone who she belonged to. The light lace covered the deep cut of her chest, but she was not very plump, there and her mounds were only slightly visible.

She looked down to avoid the camera flushes and leaned against Kyoya for support. Many other people arrived, and Haruhi noticed that they all were overdressed, but it seemed her appearance caused the most attention. She walked slowly, allowing her grown-up school senpai to have his hands all over around her which made her both embarrassed and sectretly satisfied.

Her pumps were short-heeled, but she still couldn't walk fast enough because of her extravagant dress. Her bare arms covered in goosebumps as the cold air hit her. Kyoya rubbed them gently as if knowing that she felt cold. But then they walked into the building and the pleasant warmth coated her. It wasn't really cold in this time of the year, but evenings were still a little chill, and she wasn't used to wearing these type of dresses.

"I have told you that you look breathtaking, and you didn't believe me," he said when they moved to the large hall. "Now that some people forgot to breath, looking at you, do you?"

"Um..." she blushed at Kyoya's unusual compliment and scoffed irritated that he managed to make her feel so delicate.

She wasn't necessarily brutish, hard person, but not certainly the definition of femininity either. Her practical character turned her into a very neutral person. But with the grown up version of Shadow King, she suddenly felt all girlish and tingly inside. That kind of infuriated her. She didn't want to feel different because of him.

"I am worried someone might realize that I don't remember anything," she sighed, trying to act cool and change the topic.

"Just be yourself," he chuckled. "You didn't change much during these three years."

She didn't know if she was supposed to get offended or think of it as words of comfort. Did he mean she was some highschooler even when she was already a law student? Couple of people greeted them politely, but no one stopped them for a conversation. Kyoya stayed by her side like he had promised.

The event seemed interesting enough. Yamada-san, the host, had put forth his recent collection of art. He was not only a famous art-enthusiast and collector, but also an outstanding artist. His private house exhibitions were the most celebrated events of the year. Whenever he would hold such an event, the most prominent and wealthy people in society would find themselves wishing to be invited.

Yamada-san seemed like an eccentric person, and his art collection reflected that. There were many interesting pieces of contemporary art. Kyoya-senpai seemed to know a lot about it all. He kept her by his side and explained whatever painting Haruhi showed any interested in.

"You know so much about all of this," she said impressed.

He curled his lips in amusement and walked up to the next piece.

"It's so nice to see the two of you," an elegantly dressed woman spoke, approaching them.

"Fuyumi," Kyoya acknowledged her politely. "I didn't know you would be here today."

"I didn't know either," she admitted with a shrug. "But Ryota decided to come, and I have accompanied him here."

Kyoya nodded, looking around trying to spot Fuyumi's husband among the guests. He was talking to their father―Yoshio Ootori.

"Haruhi-chan, you look so adorable," Fuyumi said and then, looking at Kyoya, added with a wink, "no wonder my brother didn't leave you even for a second tonight."

"Um," Haruhi nervously smiled and looked at Kyoya for cues.

"Nobody's going to steal her," Fuyumi chuckled, seeing her brother's astonished face. "Everyone here already knows she is your girlfriend. Nobody's crazy to go after the big, scary Ootori Kyoya's love interest, so relax and let her have a bit of fun, you prudish old man."

Haruhi coughed on her drink and looked at Kyoya terrified, hoping he would find some excuse to keep her around. She didn't want to join the rest of the party.

"I just like having Haruhi by my side," Kyoya said coolly, with a smug smile that sent cold shivers down Haruhi's spine. Now it felt like she was just signing some ownership rights. "She doesn't feel comfortable away from me."

"I get it, lovebirds," Fuyumi smiled. "You two should come visit us. Your nephews want to see their uncle Kyoya and Haru-chan."

"We wanted to visit too," Haruhi suddenly said, remembering that they got presents for the nephews, and it was logical that a visit would be in the plans.

"I am sure they will be super excited to see you," Fuyumi said, clapping happily. "And I promise this time they won't try to color your hair."

Haruhi wrinkled her brows quizzically. She had no idea what Kyoya's sister was talking about. But asking questions would be suspicious, so she smiled and nodded.

"Kyoya-san, Fujioka-san," a man greeted them politely.

"Ryota-san," Kyoya bowed gracefully.

Haruhi looked confused at the exchange. This man must have been Fuyumi's husband, but she could swear Kyoya wan't exactly thrilled to see the man, even though he greeted him with utmost grace and politeness. There was some hint of disdain in Kyoya's ice-cold eyes that didn't escape Haruhi's attention. Fuyumi looked a little anxious by her husband's appearance and looked at her brother with a pleading look.

"May I have a word with you, Kyoya-san?" Fuyumi's husband asked, leaning forward.

Haruhi didn't know what was going on, and it made her nervous. She sneaked a glance at Fuyumi, and she looked very much terrified. Whatever was happening, it didn't seem to be good. Was there some kind of animosity between Kyoya and Ryota-san? If there was any, what was she supposed to do? She looked at Kyoya. He looked calm and relaxed, but his demeanor had darkened.

"Of course, Ryota-san," he smiled, but that made Haruhi even more worried, because she saw the shadow king twinkles in his grey eyes.

"Haruhi," he leaned down, and his lips brushed her bare neck, sending strange sensations to her toes, "I will be in a minute."

He walked away with Shido Ryota, and Haruhi already wanted to question Fuyumi to find out if there was anything going on when the only daughter of Ootori family without saying a word ran after her youngest brother and her husband. Being left alone made Haruhi panic. She rubbed her hands on the smooth surface of her dress nervously and tried to look calm while Kyoya was away. When the waiter passed by, she managed to grab a glass of wine. She wasn't used to drinking, but it seemed like the right moment to start.

She hardly managed to sip from the glass when someone's voice startled her.

"Fujioka, you look good," it was a young man, not older than her, but Haruhi had no idea who it was. She smiled awkwardly and curtly bowed, hoping the guy would go away.

"Your boyfriend seems the jealous type," he laughed. "I thought he was never going to leave."

Why was he talking in such familiar manner? Haruhi wasn't a person to give much thought to the formalities, but for some reason this particular guy got on her nerves.

"If I were him, I wouldn't leave either," he grinned, stepping closer.

This alarmed Haruhi and she stepped back. What was she supposed to do? Punch him in the face and solve the issue? Ignore him, hoping "her boyfriend" would come around? Or tell the guy to fuck off before she would punch him? Quite frankly, Haruhi was inclined to punch the idiot away and get on with her merry ways, but as she was contemplating this, someone put a hand on her shoulder.

"Kyoy―" it wasn't him. The bespectacled man that stared at her was the Ootori patriarch, Kyoya's father, Yoshio Ootori. Haruhi was so startled to see him that she quickly blushed and looked away.

"I am afraid Kyoya is away," the man said smoothly and then glared at the other guy for a good measure and smirked dismissively. "But I hope nobody thinks it's a reason to pester you."

Haruhi had seen Yoshio Ootori before only once. It was during the Ouran fair, and she had a go with him after he slapped Kyoya in front of everyone. So this attitude was out of place and came as a bit of a shock to Haruhi.

"Good evening, Ootori-san," the young man greeted. "I hope you are doing well. It's nice to see Fujioka-san outside the university."

"Indeed," Yoshio said. "But Fujioka-san doesn't seem to be thrilled, and I recall asking you politely to keep yourself more respectfully around her, Masuda-san."

What was going on? Haruhi was confused. Who was this Masuda guy? It seemed like she wasn't supposed to like him judging from Kyoya's father's words, on the other hand, the man could very well say those words on his own accord.

"I apologized to Fujioka-san for what happened earlier," the guy said apprehensively. "I know my behavior wasn't the best."

"It wasn't," Yoshio agreed. "I would advise to stay away. I wouldn't appreciate if you get comfortable around her again."

Woah! What was going on? Did this guy do something terrible to piss Yoshio Ootori? Where was Kyoya? It would have been good if someone spread some light on what was happening.

The guy gulped, bowed and without saying a word walked away. Yoshio stared after him with the most displeased expression on his face.

"Are you alright?" he asked, turning to the girl. "This punk doesn't learn. I will talk to his father."

Haruhi nervously nodded and took a big sip from the glass of wine she was holding. Yoshio looked at her comprehensively and shook his head.

"You look very prepossessing, Haruhi," the man said with a soft humor in his tone. "But there is little merit in a dress that doesn't keep you warm."

What?

What on earth has happened to Yoshio Ootori?

He took out his jacket and put it on her shoulders. "Kyoya has lost his mind to allow you to wander around in a dress like this," the man said grumpily. "It's too cold."

Kyoya allow her? Haha! Typical for an old man to think she didn't have her damn mind. But before she could lash out and express her protests, Yoshio dragged her away to a group of men standing in the corner.

"Miss Fuijoka," one of the men smiled at her as she walked there with the Ootori patriarch. "It's a pleasure to see you."

"Good evening," she greeted everyone uncertain how to react and behave.

"She is my best student," the man who acknowledged her said to other men who were looking at her curiously, perhaps wondering who she could be, to be brought to them by the head of the Ootori group.

So this man was her professor. She smiled pleasantly at him. It was good to meet him before going to university. Now, at least, she knew how the man looked.

"You must be Fujioka Haruhi," another man said politely, "Yoshio-san had told us all about you."

"She is brilliant," Yoshio said with a smile.

She had quite the relationship with her boyfriend's father. This man wasn't the type to praise anyone. it seemed almost surreal. But she had to act natural and keep the appearances.


A/N-I know I haven't updated for a very long while, but I hope you are still interested in the story and enjoyed this chapter. Please, tell me what you think of the chapter. Do you like this type of progression of Haruhi's and Kyoya's relationship?