The Dance, Chapter 10: The Words

"Oh, Kyoya…"

"It's quite beautiful, isn't it?"

"It reminds me of ours, except-"

"-quieter." Haruhi laughed lightly.

"Almost too quiet." There was a pause as Haruhi took in the Music Room, sitting on one of the chairs. It was much smaller than Music Room #3, but it was breathtaking, still. She supposed that it was more likely the company that was breathtaking, rather than the room. Kyoya had taken her here in such a rush, and had still given no specific indication as to why.

But Haruhi knew exactly why she wanted to be here, and strangely enough, she wasn't scared. After what she'd just done, after everything they'd done together, it didn't feel scary anymore. Just… inevitable. Then, into the silence, Kyoya spoke.

"Hikaru and Kaoru did a lovely job, didn't they?" She blushed, but trying to cover it up, replied,

"You think it's just Hikaru and Kaoru?"

"On the contrary. Honey, Mori, and Zuka's additions were very nice as well," he said, unable to hide the smirk on his face. He watched the indignance on her face culminate before it dissolved in an instant, and she burst into laughter.

"Kyoya Otori, you're impossible!" He smiled at her mirth, and his voice was low as he came towards her.

"Oh, is that what you think?" She began to recover from her laughter.

"That is most definitely what I think," she said, smile still wide on her face.

"Well, then, I'll tell you what I think," Kyoya replied, taking her hand and bringing it up so she stood next to him. He leaned in dangerously close to her, so close that she could feel his breath on her lips. But then, he moved suddenly, his nose tracing like a ghost up her cheek until he reached her ear.

"I think you are the most intelligent, driven, outspoken woman I've ever met. I think that as much as your stubbornness gets you into trouble, it is one of the most amusing and satisfying things about you. And I do believe I'm beginning to need you more than I ever needed that infernal company." He drew back and looked her in the eyes with such a fire that Haruhi felt the breath go out of her. If there had ever been a doubt about what exactly it was the youngest Otori son felt for her, it vanished in that moment.

"I think you, Haruhi Fujioka, are the most beautiful girl in the world, and to hell with any fool who thinks otherwise."

He'd barely finished when she pushed herself up on her tiptoes and her lips met his. Her arms were almost immediately around his neck and his simultaneously wrapped around her waist.

Neither of them needed to hold back. They knew- had known for some time- what they felt for each other, though they'd each had troubles of their own in accepting it.

Despite how passionate that first kiss was, it remained sweet and almost tentative, as though the two were still trying to get a feel for each other. Kyoya didn't want to rush a single, perfect moment of this. She was just as he always thought she would be, and he was overwhelmed by her. Haruhi was completely lost in her own observations: how her hand felt tangled up in his hair, how his lips were just barely chapped but still somehow so soft, and how absolutely perfect his arms felt settled around her waist, as though they had been fashioned to fit together.

As much as the two craved one another, eventually they found themselves breaking away to breathe. Funnily, they'd spent so much time reading each other and had gotten so good at it that there was no need to speak. Haruhi's face shifted several times in the seconds that followed; first, she looked surprised, then relieved, before she finally let out a breathy laugh and settled into happiness.

Kyoya just smiled at her, something on his face she'd never seen before, and it delighted her.

"Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, what would you like to do next?" he asked her simply. Haruhi almost couldn't believe that that kiss had just happened, but Kyoya managed to make her laugh despite her wonder. She placed a hand on his cheek gently and kissed him once more, quickly, before she pulled away.

"Oh, I don't know. I have a book to go home and finish." Kyoya knew immediately what she was talking about.

"I'm surprised you haven't finished it already." Haruhi blushed.

"I'm on the last page."

"Ah, I see. Reluctant to give it up?"

"I know I can always read it again, but there's just something special and kind of sad about finishing a book for the first time."

"I agree completely. But let me assure you, reading it for the second time is just as satisfying in its own right," he murmured. Haruhi's face was taken over by surprise.

"You read it again?"

"Let's just say a lovely girl convinced me to revisit it." Haruhi grinned.

"That's pretty sentimental of you."

"You have me there. You seem to do strange things to me." His tone of voice made her breath catch, but she pushed past it.

"It seems that the feeling is mutual." This banter was the most natural thing between them, and their words were filled with unspoken passions. After a moment, Kyoya said,

"Would you like to go back downstairs and continue to impress my father's colleagues?"

"I'm not sure I have anything impressing left to say, to be honest." At this, Kyoya just smirked and led her back to the table in the main dining hall. The change that the two have them had undergone in such a short time in that small room must have shown through, because they were met with knowing glances and a few smiles.

As for Otori Yoshio, he had yet to decide just what his next move would be. Of course, his intentions for Fujioka Haruhi and his son's future had been clear in his mind since the Ouran Fair. But thanks to Yuzuru, he had a much clearer picture of who she was and who she helped Kyoya to be. She had proven her worth, and Kyoya had proven he was willing to fight the obstacles Yoshio may throw at him. There would be more to come, certainly. For now, though, he'd let the two have their moment.

Understandably, Kyoya was also going to fight him. It was in his nature, but the boy would come to realize that Yoshio was only trying to help him along. That was the whole point of making him choose a date. It did help, obviously, that Kyoya had chosen his love wisely. It helped that the girl had not fallen for Suoh's son instead, and that this opportunity came along for them when it did.

In fact, the whole thing had fallen into place rather neatly, like a well-choreographed dance. If Yoshio Otori had believed in such things, he may have even dared say it was written in the stars.

The remainder of the evening passed by quickly, with stolen glances exchanged between a new couple and more talk of business that felt empty compared to what they had shared. As the event started to wind to a close, so did all of the dealings that came with it. People began to stand from their tables and speak to one another as they had at the outset. There were polite well-wishes and promises to stay in contact.

Kyoya and Haruhi stood as well, preparing to say a few goodbyes around the room when none other than Yukimura Katsu approached them. He'd spent the past hour carefully weighing his options; it was clear- now more than ever- that the commoner girl was Otori's. This did not surprise Katsu in the slightest (Kyoya did have a reputation for getting what he wanted, after all) nor did it particularly disappoint him.

Fujioka may have been an interesting little study, and she was no doubt smart, but there was no removing that 'commoner' label from her pedigree. Otori could have her if he wanted her. He'd been watching Kyoya as well, though not with the same intentness as with Haruhi. It was clear that he was brilliant, and despite being the third son, deserved to be the heir. Katsu would think Yoshio a fool if he gave that position to either of his other sons- both of whom he'd met. Neither impressed quite like Kyoya did, and it certainly helped that he had Fujioka- who was impressive in her own right- on his arm the whole evening.

Yes, this evening had just been one good move after another from the Otori zaibatsu.

"Otori," Katsu said with a smile. "It's good to see your company has remained in such high standing. "

"Arigato, Yukimura san. No doubt the Research Facilities are still heading up the best and brightest."

"On the whole, yes. Though, I would say we are missing one company in our team," Katsu said, letting the statement hang in the air. How Kyoya reacted to this would be a very important factor.

"Well, I'm sure you of all people can rectify that," Kyoya replied offhandedly, not missing a beat. Katsu smiled just slightly.

"Yes, I'm sure I can. And I will be, quite soon, if not in such a formal setting."

"I look forward to it."

Just like that, an arrangement had been made, and neither men said another word to each other as they parted separate ways.

"So, what was that?" Haruhi asked when they were out of hearing range.

"That was an opportunity for a business deal with one of the most powerful companies in the world," he replied, letting the barest hint of emotion through. Haruhi just smiled.

"Yukimura's smart, coming to you." Kyoya glanced at her.

"Why is that?"

"This way, by the time you're heading up a company, you will have already had business dealings together. I'm sure it'll make things easier, in the long run."

Kyoya had to smile. There was so much that lay ahead of them, so much to look forward to. It was clear she had faith in his abilities, just as he had in hers. They had spent a lot of time just discovering each other, and there were still so many new things to uncover. Still, even with all these thoughts running through his head, he couldn't help but tease her,

"Careful, you're starting to sound like Tamaki."

"Strong words, coming from the man who took me to a Music Room to show me how he felt about me."

Kyoya's smile only grew. The future was bright.

It was 11 o'clock when Kyoya left Haruhi in front of her front door with a lingering kiss. She slipped inside the apartment, feeling suddenly more awake than she had all day. Because she had braced herself for her father's onslaught of hugs and words and inquisitory demands, the silence that met her was unsettling.

"Dad?" she whispered into the darkness. Flicking on a light, she ventured further into the room. A cursory glance brought a white piece of paper sitting on the coffee table to her attention. She picked it up curiously and unfolded it.

Haruhi,

You must be exhausted! I'm sure you had a wonderful night, but I don't want to keep you up. You can tell me all about it tomorrow.

Love,

Dad

Haruhi felt a smile split across her face.

Always thinking of me, she thought fondly as she placed the letter on the table. As she brought her hand back up, it brushed against something else on the table.

Waiting patiently to be opened, as though it had been anticipating this exact moment, was The Count of Monte Cristo. Deciding there would truly be no other better way to end the night, Haruhi grabbed it and slipped into her room. Quickly, she kicked off her shoes, replaced her dress and accessories with a PJ shirt, and wiped the makeup off her face.

She found the spot she thought most comfortable on the bed and, taking a deep breath, opened to the last page of the book. The letter tied up all the loose ends neatly, just as Haruhi thought it would, but it went beyond that. It spoke of the appreciation of life; it seemed to represent all that Edward had learned and endured and become, and how Maximilian could learn from what the Count had not.

And, reaching the last words of this novel she had come to love and identify with so much, Haruhi's eyes filled with tears as she read them. It was though Dumas had written them just for her, knowing what she was going to go through and all the mountains of obstacles she'd had to fight against. And for the Host Club, her family. She brushed the words with her thumb and whispered them to herself, holding on to them in her heart so that she'd never forget:

"'Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope.'"

And that, kiddos, is how it happened. This tenth Thursday- March 5th, 2015- marks the last chapter of this journey you have undergone with me. Can you believe we've reached it? Do you remember just ten weeks ago when we began the year and this fanfiction? Now, no tears yet. I'll be back with an epilogue in a week. But this, Chapter 10, is indeed the last full chapter of The Dance. I sincerely hope you've enjoyed it just as much as I have. Applaud yourselves, for you've been an absolutely wonderful audience and it has been a pleasure to write for you. Thanks for everything!

Thanks for staying at the Fluff Factory, and I'll see ya next time!

Much love,

The Fluff Machine