Seeing the approaching guys, Haruhi's heart twisted uncomfortably. Elke's brother made her feel anxious and fraught. She pressed the ice cream bowl against her chest as if making an invisible barrier between him and herself. She couldn't tell what was agitating her about the man, but her mind was edgy from his presence. Maybe it was all her imagination.
"Hello girls!" Alex greeted them cheerfully, "nice to see you all."
Everyone chuckled and greeted back. Haruhi noticed how the young man's eyes fell on her. She looked back at him and forced a small smile on her face. He took a seat in front of her. She could feel he was staring and instantly regretted that she came to hang out with the girls.
"So, have you visited any places so far?" he asked looking straight into her eyes.
"We went around" Elke answered instead, excitedly hugging Haruhi's shoulder.
She was grateful, she didn't have to speak with him. Maybe it was just Kyoya's unjustified attitude made her feel that way about Alex, maybe it was just her mood from the morning but she didn't exactly fancy his company. Moreover, she was counting the seconds wishing him to leave as soon as possible. But he wasn't planning to do it any time soon. On the contrary, he was going to spend the time with them and even ordered ice cream for everyone.
Initial discomfort soon disappeared when they all started to cheerfully chat with each other, make funny jokes and discuss random nonsense. Alex still gave her an uneasy feeling but he didn't seem dangerous anyhow. So it was somehow strange she didn't like his presence. But that was an undeniable fact that the man made her feel uneasy.
It was already getting late. Kyoya was most likely going to murder her. She didn't care though. He treated her horribly and she didn't have the nerve to stand him any longer. But today in the morning she was very rude and didn't even wait for his response on her going out with Elke and the girls. He must be mad now. The idea of a very angry Kyoya Ootori made her nervous. She really needed to head back home. There was no meaning in making the already furious Shadow King more irritated.
Haruhi looked at the laughing girls and turned her head to Alex who was practically fawning over her without hiding it. She swallowed hard and chewing her lips stood up. Everyone's attention turned to her.
"It was so nice to spent time with you guys" she mumbled somewhat apologetically "But it's already late and I need to go back home."
"Oh come on!" one of the girls protested pouting girlishly "It's not that late. We are having fun."
Haruhi smiled politely and quickly tried to find a good excuse
"I am afraid, my husband will be worried, if I don't get home soon," she said looking at the girl shrugging her hands, "I forgot to tell him I went out with you."
"Well, I am sure she has better stuff to do with her husband than she has with us," Elke gave her a knowing look and chuckled softly.
The girls responded with a cheerful noise winking at Haruhi. She felt embarrassed. She knew what all the fuss and winking was about. What really made her feel uncomfortable was Elke's brother sitting next to her scanning her reddening face. This girls had no sense of keeping other people's privacy.
"I will take you to your adorable husband" one of the girls said grabbing her purse.
"No need Gretchen" Alex stopped her quickly "I am sure I can take Haruhi to her hotel. You guys just continue with your fun."
Haruhi's face froze momentarily and she blinked her eyes confused. She didn't know how exactly to feel about going back to hotel with this guy. How Kyoya would react? Well, she decided it really didn't matter how Kyoya would react as he was too busy to ignoring her. Haruhi noticed how Elke shifted nervously in her seat at Alex's suggestion.
"Alex" she said "I think it's better if I take Haruhi back."
"Why are you so worried, sis? I will not drive fast" he said cheerfully as if it was what bothered Elke.
"Let me check the weather forecast" she said sternly and grabbed her cellphone.
This seemed so peculiar to Haruhi. What was the connection between those things at all? She scanned her face while she was using her cellphone.
"Oh, well, you can take Haruhi" she mumbled putting the phone down and smiling softly "Haruhi call me as soon as you get back."
"I will" Haruhi smiled.
She didn't really feel like going with her creepy brother. Just what was wrong with the guy. He seemed nice, somewhat straightforward but still Haruhi couldn't quite catch what was so off-putting about the guy. When he stood up and walked to the car, Haruhi wished the girls a good time and followed Alex to the car.
This guy was surprisingly silent for the first few minutes of the drive which seriously bugged Haruhi to death but then he became talkative. Asking questions on how she liked Berlin, or where she has been so far. Haruhi's awkward answers met his cheerful chuckling and the girl didn't know how to feel about it.
"So, would you want to go somewhere fun with me?" he asked shifting the cars direction right.
"I don't know" Haruhi answered trying to sound unfazed and polite "I think my husband wouldn't really like the idea."
"Of course he won't" snorted the guy "If I were him, I wouldn't like my beautiful wife away from me."
"Then why are you suggesting such a thing?" she asked bluntly ignoring his stares.
"Well, trying my luck" he said sweetly.
Haruhi wanted to roll her eyes at this kind of cheap and cheesy nonsense this guy was throwing at her. God, how could this brainless brat be related to the sweet girl she so much enjoyed to spend her day with. Elke was the female friend she never had and even one day of hanging out together proved to be rather entertaining.
"How long until we get to the hotel?" she asked with indifferent voice.
"Well, actually, I have decided to show you something before I take you to the hotel" he said with a wide grin.
What the ... ? He wasn't taking her to the hotel. She wanted to turn and murder him.
"So, I assume, you are not taking me back to the hotel" she spat angrily.
He didn't respond. This made Haruhi panic. What did this moron have in his mind? Why did she agree to go with him. She shouldn't have.
"Stop the car" she said her voice was even and she found it surprising "Stop the car, right now!"
When she practically yelled, he stop the car and looked at her confused.
"What's wrong?" said Alex looking at her worried.
She opened the door of the car and got out. He quickly followed her.
"Did I do something to upset you?" he asked confused.
'Now he pretends to be utterly stupid' Haruhi thought.
Without answering him, she walked a few steps away before he sprang forth and caught her arm.
"Wait! Where are you going?" he yelled.
Haruhi wanted to jerk away her hand but then a bright light that suddenly came to be there blinded her. It was a car that stopped not far away from them. They both looked confused and wondered why the car was there. But Haruhi felt hopeful that she would be able to get away from Alex. Soon a person came out of the car. He was tall and had a bulky build.
"Let go of her hand" he said calmly and walked closer.
It was Tachibana. Haruhi couldn't even describe how happy and grateful she was to see the man there. Alex's hand froze and he loosened his grip on her wrist. He looked at the man surprised and somewhat confused.
"Are you alright Mrs Ootori?" Tachibana spoke walking closer to them and Haruhi could swear he deliberately emphasized Mrs Ootori part.
"I am fine" she mumbled unsure of how to behave.
If Tachibana was there, then Kyoya was somewhere close. How was he going to react seeing her with Alex. He didn't particularly liked him when they met at the gathering. The thought of Kyoya interfering with whatever this was, made Haruhi slightly scared.
Tachibana delicately held her hand and pushed her to his side glaring at the man narrowing his eyes with suspicion. And then he made a call.
"What should I do?" he asked and Haruhi silently scanned his face looking for changes as he spoke to the phone "Alright, sir!" he mumbled "We will return, if there are no further instructions."
She guessed he was talking to Kyoya. Most likely he ordered Tachibana to follow her, how else would he find her. That made Haruhi relieved and anxious at the same time. The contradiction of her feelings was too much to bear and she was still confused on what was wrong with she snorted loudly and walked to Tachiabana's car.
Tachibana stood for a moment and then giving a warning glare to the young man went to the car.
"Are you alright Haruhi-san?" he asked taking his seat and starting the engine.
"Yes, I am fine. Dont worry." Haruhi tried to smile.
They didn't talk on the way back home. All the tension that she felt started to disappear as the car slowly went forward. Haruhi knew that she'd have to face Kyoya and he, perhaps, will make her pay for the little stunt in the morning. She didn't want to see him. She couldn't see him, be so close with him, smell him and at the same time experience his cold indifference. It hurt. It was painful and Haruhi knew, she wasn't ready yet.
Soon the car stopped and Haruhi found herself at the backyard of the hotel. Tachibana opened the door for her and helped her out of the car. When Haruhi got to her hotel room, she found Kyoya sitting on the sofa so sternly as if he was a marble statue. He immediately jumped up and walked up to her in big hasty steps.
"Where have you been all this time?" he whispered in a low and dangerous voice standing very close to her.
She could feel his body heat and smell his masculine, fresh, sweet smell. Haruhi only blinked her eyes and without saying anything walked to the bedroom. This apparently made Kyoya even angrier. He strode in after her, shutting the door behind him ungracefully. The noise of the closing door startled Haruhi, but she only sighed frustrated and didn't turn to face him.
"Are you trying my patience?" he asked keeping his voice low.
"I believe you know where I was and what I was doing." she said without looking at him "don't act so innocent, Kyoya."
He didn't answer. But she felt his approaching footsteps and abruptly turned to look at him. This confused him, because he stood and looked at her surprise. That was what took her to remember the horrible morning they had and how he left her yesterday. Her heart sank and she closed her eyes. Maybe it was her light, cheerful day with girls and their stupid, funny girlish remarks and words forced her do what she did, or maybe the aftereffects of being scared after that crazy guy drove her to a different place, Haruhi couldn't tell, but what she did, surprised not only Kyoya but herself, too.
She took off her pink dress and threw it on the floor. Kyoya's eyes widened in shock but she didn't stood there for long and just went to the bathroom closing the door behind her. What did she just do? She just got nearly naked in front of him, telling him straight on his face, she didn't care what he thought and didn't care about the conversation he wanted to have. It was so unlike her. She wasn't like this. But then, how could she stay the way she was after all of the stress, she went through.
I am playing with a fire.
Haruhi are you out of your mind? What did you just do? Are you provoking him? He is not taking that kinds of games easy.
She sighed frustrated and taking a deep breath hurried to run the shower. She was scared of him before, and now she was sure he was absolutely pissed off. Had she really needed to get naked in front of him? What was she thinking? Elke was a great girl, but those pieces of advice she gave her was an absolute disaster to use against Kyoya.
She stripped, getting rid of the last articles of clothing that she had on and stepped into the shower. God, it was heaven. Her aching nerves started to calm down and the hard pressure in her chest started to wear off. The warm water was working a miracle, her tense nerves were calming in a soothing bliss. Dealing with Kyoya Ootori was seriously damaging her nervous system. She couldn't any longer be around him, feel his coldness towards her and act as if it was all normal.
She walked out of the shower and wrapped herself in the light pink towel. God, why was she so stupid?! She went to the shower without taking her clothes with her and now she was supposed to come out like this. And if initially, she was angry with Kyoya and took off her dress in front of him, now she was ashamed and scared of his reaction.
Collecting all the courage she had and taking a deep breath, Haruhi walked out of the bathroom. Kyoya was sitting on the bed, his hands in his hair. The crack of the closing door startled him and he jumped up. Seeing Haruhi dripped with water and wrapped in nothing but a towel, perplexed him. But that lasted only a second. Because then he strode to her in big hasty steps and grabbed her shoulders. He lowered his face and looked into her eyes. She could feel his warm breaths on her face.
"Listen carefully because I am not going to warn you twice. You are married, so act accordingly. What are you trying to achieve, get yourself fucking raped? That asshole dragged you to unknown place and if not Tachibana I don't even want to say what could happen to you." he yelled at her.
"What is your problem anyway?" she spat back angrily "This is not even a real marriage and you know it."
Kyoya didn't actually expect her to yell back, because he tentatively pushed her away.
"You are married to me" he said lowering his voice "Do I need to remind you?"
"Maybe" she snorted and pushed his hands away "I have memory problems when it comes being married to you."
He glared at her. She could see anger boiling in his stormy grey eyes. She sighed and walked to the suitcase. God, why didn't she just arrange everything into the wardrobe already!? She knelt down and started to search for something appropriate and comfortable. Next time she will not let any of those idiots close to her suitcases. God, this people stuffed her baggage with evening gowns as if she was going to run from one ball to the other during the stupid honeymoon. She needed to find underwear, while Kyoya wasn't looking. He was pissed and she felt she crossed a line, she shouldn't have.
She should have been more careful when dealing with him. He was insane, manipulative sociopath, wasn't he?
Her eyes wandered over the clothes and she sighed frustrated. What the heck did they think? Fuyumi, was no better, she was the one who packed her underwear and no way in million years she would wear those embarrassing silky, lacy underwear with beads and embroidery.
She felt someone grabbing her roughly under her arms and swinging her up. She screamed automatically and her face came close with the person who pulled her up; Kyoya. He was glaring at her... angrily. He pushed her to the nearby wall and grabbed her chin, his eyes staring into hers intensely. Haruhi felt her heart jump in crazy beats and then his lips came close to hers and he captured them. It was not a soft gentle kiss. It was not even like the one they shared a night before. It was a crazy kiss. One you give, when you think your life depends on it. Her lips were crushed by his. She was so shocked she gaped and he took advantage of the fact to deepen the kiss even more. His lips were bruising her soft skin. It was a demanding, rough, kiss. Then he stopped and looked at her. They both were panting.
"I hope this will fix your memory" he spat and, letting go of her, left the room.