Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club, or any other referenced animes.
Ch. 8 A Surprising Discovery!
The next day unfurled into sunrise as the two boys roused from their dreams. Kyoya allowed a wave of disorientation roll over him as his settings sunk in. An untold number of years of existence led to some confusion sometimes. He cracked an eye open, and a digital display came fuzzily into focus: 10:25.
Tamaki had been up since sunrise. On more than one occasion, he'd thought that Kyoya would awaken, having observed the intermittent stirring and sleepy murmurs. Meanwhile, he lingered in their shared suite, enjoying the sensation of the sunlight against his skin, evaporating the remaining water from his recent shower. His hair dried into soft wisps, forming a lazy halo against the light.
"Ta...ma..ki."
A zombie! An aura of evil and purpleness swarmed towards him, and he scuttled back in immediate alarm. Upon the second inspection, Tamaki spotted familiar glasses behind the ivory towel that was vigorously tousling dark locks. Relief washed over him. He was, like any sane man, healthily afraid of zombies. In the wake of the relief came jubilation, which translated into an unabashed show of affection for his revived friend.
Bounding up with a smile that stretched from side to side, he wrapped his arms around Kyoya's shoulders, hanging off of him with his chin resting on his shoulder.
"Good morning, mon ami. There's breakfast over there - I've already eaten, and it was pretty tasty."
Kyoya turned towards the table. Tamaki's face was in the way.
"Do you mind allowing me to approach the food, or do you plan on staying there while I eat? While you do smell nice, I'd really prefer something a bit more edible."
Laughing, Tamaki unlaced his fingers and released Kyoya. "It's the vanilla - I'm guessing you chose the eucalyptus?" he asked, referring to the various options in bathing supplies. He leaned in to check before stepping away. "It's nice - and it complements me perfectly! We'll make a nice smell together."
Kyoya decided to ignore him. Though smells were a sense that was often neglected. Maybe the Club could do a special on specfic scents, since memories and odors were so strongly linked in human consciousness. Kyoya sighed. Maybe the prince had something there, again.
His fork broke the delicate skin of the egg as he absently ate. Not to mention, the idea of harmonizing scents would work extremely well with the members of the club, since there were low notes and high notes, and warm middles. The yolk poured over the rest of his fare. Sunny side up, just like him. God, he was turning into a sap. Somewhere, his demonic sister was laughing at him, the swiftly changing, almost formerly calculating, cold bastard who traded in souls.
Tamaki was observing him curiously. "Do you actually need to eat? I thought that souls were your nourishment. I mean, why eat my soul unless you have to? Can't you just eat...eggs instead?"
"I eat eggs because my human body has the same needs as yours. And who says I eat souls? How would I even eat a soul, Tamaki?" He dabbed his lips with a napkin, waiting for a response.
"Well, I guess you'd just -" Tamaki mimed reaching into Kyoya's chest and pulling out a ball-like soul. "Then open wide," he took the soul-ball and and pretended to chew it before gulping, "and swallow." He looked pleased with his pantomime. "How else would you do it?"
The demon laughed. "No, we don't do that. In our world, the soul is a form of currency. There are many forms a soul can take, but the most important thing to remember is that they are primarily composed of energy. That energy can be drained from the soul, which adds to the power of the demon, or it can be kept in the soul, which retains the form of its former owner. Both forms can be traded; as soul energy, or as a person, for the owner to do with as they please." He began spreading jam on his toast.
"What? How can you be so blase about what is essentially human trafficking?" Tamaki's eyes were huge, and Kyoya could see the disturbance swirling within them.
Unaffected, Kyoya elaborated. "You forget, Tamaki, everyone has a choice when they agree to a deal with a demon. Even you, you said you would pay the price, didn't you?" Not meeting his eyes, he bit into the crunchy confection and continued after receiving a reluctant nod. "It's not all bad, you know. Fuyumi keeps one of her souls around to serve her. " And to play with him, but Tamaki didn't have to know about the other services he provided. "I think she really likes the seaweed haired kid, actually. She's kept him for almost as long as I've been alive, after all."
"So they're in love? How wonderful!" Tamaki swooped in and stole the remaining piece of bread from Kyoya's fingers, popping it into his mouth victoriously. "I'd love to meet her sometime, do you think we could do that?"
"Ah. Sure." Kyoya shook his head. "Anyway, it's not like that. They're not in love, she just bought him to keep her company. He was apparently in love with his young master when he was alive, and made the deal to save him."
Tamaki made a face. "What? Well, there's still hope, since he fell for a master before, maybe he'll do it again." Tamaki suddenly fell down, to Kyoya's consternation.
Wait, what just happened? He shifted to check on Tamaki's status, sitting back when it was apparent that the blond was picking himself up.
"Did you just say "master" ? But that's impossible..." Tamaki levered himself into the adjacent chair, where he looked increasingly bewildered. "But a man and man... how can that be?"
"Ah." Kyoya remembered:
Tamaki landed on the floor. His mouth gaped as he pointed vigorously at Haruhi and the Lobellians.
"What could be gained in a relationship between two women? If that's the case, then why did God create Adam and Eve?"
It wasn't possible, was it? That the prince had led such a sheltered existence that he didn't know that same sex pairings were feasible?
"But what about Hikaru and Kaoru, Tamaki? You obviously picked up on them." Kyoya readjusted his glasses habitually.
"Yeah, but it's not even physically possible. I mean, sure they're brothers, but more importantly, they have the wrong parts."
The demon was sure that his eyes had turned into swirling animations. He restrained himself from letting his jaw drop and just alternately gaping and pointing spasmodically at Tamaki. Then, he smiled.
Letting his eyes come back into focus, he fastened them on Tamaki's, and chuckled. Ignoring Tamaki's intuitive alarm at the change in behavior, he replied, in a low voice.
"Well then, my prince, it seems that I have something to show you."
OMAKE
Haruhi: Has anyone noticed that I haven't shown up for a while? Aren't I supposed to be the primary love interest in this story?
Tamaki: You've got it all wrong! Kyoya and I are clearly the main characters in this slash fic, which means that you - *pointing for emphasis* - are the heterosexual supporting cast!
Kyoya: Yes, kindly step behind that line, and we'll get to you when we need a plot device.
AN: Agh I didn't update and you guys were all nice enough to review! Thank you ^.^If you haven't already (or even if you have,) go ahead and click review, pretty please?
Haruhi: Next time, Ch. 9. Remedial Lessons for the Prince!
Twins: Can we help?
