The longest chapter so far! And the one I worked on the most (it was actually meant to be two chapters, but I think you had enough of interludes)! Review please!
Chapter Nine – Hematite
"Hunny-senpai, look!" Kaname showed Hunny her shiny black earrings "it's hematite! Can you believe it turns red when ground?"
She could still do that cheerfully, for Reiko didn't show up… yet. Exactly three minutes later she entered, freezing nearly everyone's blood.
"Hello, Haninozuka."
"Oh, hi, Reiko!" Hunny smiled at her happily "here, have some cake!"
Reiko took some, looking at it suspiciously.
"Don't worry" said Kaname cynically "it wasn't made by me."
Reiko dared to take a bite only upon hearing this.
Hunny and the girl seemed so happy together.
Are they dating or not?
Though Hunny told Kaname they were "just friends", there was a lot of space for development, the girl thought. Hunny's kiss was still burning her lips; was it serious?
"Oh, Kinishi-san" Reiko said spectrally, looking at her. Most of Kaname's black hair was thrown back, except for two locks dangling before her ears, as usual.
"What?" she asked, trying not to sound scared, even as Reiko began searching in her bag, without breaking eye contact.
"Those black jewels look like curse stones to me… maybe something that will mature over time" Kaname's blood froze as she heard the jar open "but as I have said earlier, I'll have patience…"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! Getawaygetaway… ahhh…"
"Excuse me, Kanazuki-san, but this is not allowed!" Kyoya grabbed Reiko's shoulder firmly "no dangerous animals inside the Host Club, without talking about the great distress you're causing!"
As many customers ran screaming to their host of choice and Kaname fell to the floor fainted, the Shadow King led Reiko out, along with her huge black widow she had taken to school once again.
"Phew. I can't believe this happened again!" Kaname passed a hand through her hair, as she woke up in the nurse's office like the first time, with Bun-bun tucked under her arm.
But this time, Hunny was not in the bed next to hers.
"Let's have some fresh air first, what do you say?" she caressed Bun-bun's ear.
Luckily the nurse's office opened directly outside, and, since there was plenty of time to return the precious stuffed animal to its rightful owner, Kaname sat on the steps, enjoying the soft breeze.
Too bad soon along came the second to last person (last being Reiko, of course) she would want to see, ever.
"Kaname-saaan!"
"Dear God, not again!" she tried to hide back inside, but it was too late. Satoshi Morinozuka came running, smiling at her.
"Hello!"
"What the hell do you want?!" she tried to throw him her most killer stare, until now reserved to Reiko. Too bad it didn't seem to work on the boy.
"Um, just passing by. Karate club will start soon, and I was just waiting for Yasuchika."
Then wait for him somewhere else, fool!
"Kaname-san, are you hurt? And doesn't that toy belong to Mitsukuni-senpai?"
Is it any of your business, idiot?!
"Saw a spider and felt sick, but I'm okay now. And yes, I was just about to return it to him, so I gotta go! Bye!" she stood up.
"Don't fear spiders, next time I will protect you!"
"What, you?!" Kaname had to laugh at this "You? Protecting me? Now that was funny!"
She knew she had been cruel, but Reiko had caused enough distress to make her feel the need to let it out somehow. She turned her heels and headed back to the Host Club.
"What, Satoshi?" Chika arrived about ten seconds later "was that silly fangirl holding my brother's stupid bunny?"
His answer was a punch.
"That's no way to talk about ladies, Yasuchika!"
"I have an announcement to make to you, beautiful ladies" said Kyoya, a short while after Kaname had returned, and Hunny had told her Reiko had been banished for the day "as you may know, it's spring, which means graduation day is approaching for two of our beloved members."
The fangirls all turned teary-eyed to Hunny and Mori. Kaname's eyes widened; she seemed to be realizing it only now.
"Of course there will be a regular graduation day's celebration. But before" Kyoya smiled cryptically "thanks also to Princess Kamimae, we will be holding a special ball, a week before the official one… which means, next week, on Friday."
Almost everybody ran to Kyoya asking him to sign them up.
"Hunny-senpai! You're…"
"Leaving, yes." Hunny smiled at Kaname "but you knew this! Let's enjoy cake now!"
Later, Hunny and Kaname walked to the Kinishi family's limousine together. Nearing it, and fairly out of sight, Kaname suddenly grabbed both Hunny's hands and looked into his eyes.
"Kana-chan?"
"Mitsukuni…" she touched his cheek, but then just couldn't do it.
"Kana-chan?" he asked again, looking up at her.
She blushed, and leant closer to give him a quick peck on the lips.
"Sorry!" she had no idea why she apologized, but jumped into the car as fast as she could.
I must be in love!
She's nice. Hunny touched his lips, and held Bun-bun tighter.
At home, Kaname swiftly opened the first romance novel she found lying around and searched through the pages frantically. The girl in it found out her love was to leave the country soon, but she loved him, and had to confess and show him…
Kaname's fingers whitened as she grasped the book harder and harder, almost ripping some pages out. The lovers began to make out, then soon ended up in the bedroom…
"Oh, dear!" she threw herself on her back, then began picking at her earrings.
Hematite. Black as the night, red as passion.
That has to be the solution!
Next week, Kaname, sitting with her cheerful group of friends, noticed Hunny having lunch in the company of Mori and a bunch of fangirls, with Reiko occupying the chair right next to him.
"Hello? Kaname?" Aki waved a hand in front of her face.
"Uh? What?" she awoke suddenly.
"You've already destroyed your sushi rolls to tiny pieces, shouldn't you eat them finally?"
Black as the night, red as passion, black as the night, red as passion…
She kept on repeating it as a mantra. Seeing how Reiko and Hunny smiled at each other… something definitely had to be done. Quickly.
The only thing she achieved, the next day, however, was splashing miso soup all over the tablecloth, as her frustration just grew.
The afternoons at the Host Club went relatively quietly, as Reiko decided to keep her curses down after the scolding from Kyoya, and Kaname, nervous as she was, preparing for the big event, preferred not to pick fights.
"Coming to the ball tonight, Kana-chan?" Hunny asked cheerfully, as the Host Club was closing.
"Yes" she sighed.
Oh dear! It's tonight! Black as the night, red as passion, black as the night…
"Kana-chan, are you okay?"
"What? Oh, sure! I'm fine!"
She squeezed his hand before speeding away.
That evening, Kaname put on her most elegant wampy red dress, with black shoes. To make perfect harmony with her also black hair, she picked black jewelry: hematite, of course. All hematite.
Hematite also helps me make the right decision… black as the night, red as passion… I'm coming, Mitsukuni!
"Kana-chaaan!" Hunny jumped at her just as she entered the ballroom "I was wondering where you were, you're late!"
As Hunny took her on their first dance together that night, Kaname noticed her friends, all there from the beginning, dancing or just talking with their favourite hosts. Tamaki was leading a fainting and teary-eyed Riyoka, Orimi was in Hikaru's arms, and Itsuko right beside the buffet table, talking to Haruhi about all the different fancy foods.
But even if there were ootoro (sadly, there wasn't), Haruhi's attention would still be focused on a rather odd couple. Kyoya and Aki, who was clad in a light purple, quite revealing dress, were dancing together, which was weird considering the spoilt girl still hadn't danced with Tamaki, her favourite host, that evening. And a short time earlier she arrived in Kyoya's limo.
"Haruhi-kun?" asked her customer, suddenly worried "are you listening to me?"
"Oh! Sorry… I got distracted… by all these beautiful decorations."
The orchestra began playing a new tune.
"Haruhi-kun, shouldn't we dance now?"
Haruhi smiled and offered her arm to Itsuko, who joyously accepted.
"Kaname!" Aki noticed her best friend after a few minutes "sorry, Kyoya!"
"Hi, Aki!" she was just helping herself to some food from the buffet table.
"Leave it to me, you'll end up dirtying your dress, or, even worse, mine" Aki took her plate, since Kaname's hands were shaking so badly she dropped nearly everything she took "and why are you so nervous?"
Kaname threw a hesitant look at Hunny, laughing with a few other girls (luckily, Reiko had declined the invitation to the ball), then blushed.
Aki understood.
"That won't help, trust me."
"But I won't see him for… months and maybe…"
"That doesn't matter. Here" Aki handed her the now full plate "oh, Tamaki-sama! Have you forgotten about me?!"
"I could never, Princess Kamimae!"
At midnight past, Kaname's nerves were about to wreck. Most customers had already left, but the hosts still seemed pretty lively. But she soon saw Hunny, leaning against a column with Bun-bun in his arms, yawning.
"Hunny-senpai! Are you tired?"
"Quite…" he replied. He had already tasted each single cake, and danced with almost all the fangirls.
"Me too" Kaname stretched a little.
Come on! Now or never!
"Um, Mitsukuni…" his name came only in a whisper "may I… take you home?"
Hunny looked up at her.
He'll say no…
"Thank you, Kana-chan!" he smiled brightly "if I call my home now, it'll take long! I can go home faster now!"
"Kyoyaaaaaaaaa!!!" Aki shouted "we're leaving, too! Oh, Kaname, I hope you haven't forgotten you're all invited to my home at night. I mean, the girls."
"I…" she looked at Hunny.
"Just know what you're doing" Aki whispered to her, then waved goodbye.
"Takashi!" Hunny walked to Mori "Kana-chan will take me home now. Don't worry."
"Just know what you're doing, Mitsukuni."
"Huh?" Hunny tilted his head, looking adorable as ever. But Mori noticed his slight blush.
"Where's the limousine?" asked Hunny.
"Forget it! We'll be going home in this!" Kaname proudly showed Hunny her bright red Porsche.
"What if it rains?" the sky was getting darker.
"I wonder if there'll be thunder…" Haruhi walked past them, hoping to catch the night bus to get home.
"Never mind, Mistukuni, the softtop can be extended any minute… we won't get wet."
Hunny laughed and sat beside Kaname.
"Now, show me the way."
Black as the night, red as passion… we'll stop somewhere and… but why should we stop??? Oh dear, oh dear…
"Rain!" Hunny shivered feeling the first drops. They were just driving by the side of a wooded area, on a deserted road.
"Let me stop…" Kaname pulled up and stopped the car, then pressed a button to activate the softtop "it'll take about a minute…"
She looked at Hunny. His beautiful dark brown eyes looked back at her; Bun-bun was not in the way, as he was safely sitting on the backseat.
Kaname's hand touched the boy's soft hair, as he slowly undid his safety belt. The girl soon did so too.
With a soft click, the softtop and the windows closed around them as rain began to pour. They were cut off from the real world. The flash of a lightning and the crack of the first thunder seemed to be the signal: they hugged each other tightly and shared a passionate kiss. Their first one, but definitely not their last for that night, black as hematite.
"Mitsukuni…" Kaname gasped, both of them flushing deeply as their lips parted. But soon they met again, and their hands began roaming over each other's body. Kaname tugged at Hunny's tie, then unbuttoned his jacket. Hunny, a bit nervous, made a shy attempt to pull down the zipper on the back of her dress. She fumbled with his jacket, until he released her from his embrace and finally pulled it off. She sighed as she slowly began to fall backwards on the seat, pulling Hunny with her, then…
Toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot.
They both blinked as if awoken from a dream, as Kaname accidentally pressed the horn with her elbow. But along, she thought she heard a slight, faint cracking sound as well: the magic of the moment, gone, broken forever.
"Um… what are we doing?"
Hunny's blush deepened.
"But mostly… why are we doing this?" Kaname sat up and pulled her zipper back up.
Hunny recovered his jacket from the floor and adjusted his tie.
"Kana-chan…"
"I'm sorry, Mitsukuni."
She placed her shaking hands on the steering wheel.
"I can't drive yet… sorry…"
Hunny nodded. They looked at each other, confused and slightly sad. Neither of them was ready for it. Perhaps it was better this way.
Kaname, in the end, just embraced Hunny one last time, burying her face in his soft blonde hair. It smelt slightly of strawberry, probably from the baby shampoo he used.
After ten minutes of deep silence, she trusted her body again, and drove Hunny home. Neither of them said a single word.
"What took you so long?" Yasuchika was still awake, along with some of the family servants "it takes about ten minutes to get here!"
True, 45 minutes had passed from when Hunny called home, saying he was coming.
"Nothing… nothing at all!" he said, then waved goodbye to Kaname.
No way! Yasuchika's gaze darkened.
The girls were already murmuring when Kaname finally reached Aki's mansion.
"What did you…?"
"Nothing!" she said, and ran to her designated bedroom "I'm tired, okay?!"
She buried her face in her pillow and silently cried. She fell into a disturbed sleep only when the first lights of dawn appeared, and the rainclouds cleared. The hematite night was over.