Chapter 10

~2 weeks later~

"I know that you're a high and mighty Ootori and all, but there's no way that I'm doing it! You can't force me to go through that type of torture!" Kyouya knew that this was going to cause him a headache. His family was going to be attending a birthday party that was being thrown for a major client and his father had, again, insisted that Haruhi attend and not embarrass the family. Again Kyouya had asked why her presence was necessary; this time he'd gotten no answer. His father had simply told him that it was and left.

"Haruhi, I hate to admit it, but my sister is the best person to help you with this. I know that you don't like attending these functions, but since you've already agreed to come with us (she'd only agreed when he told her that they had a top chef catering the party) then you might as well go with my sister and let her dress you up." His argument wasn't effective enough and he knew it, but he didn't know what else to do.

"Look Kyouya; I like Fuyumi, but I can dress myself and brush my own hair and whatever else too! Honestly, the host club has picked out many of my outfits before and I always seem to come out alright, so what does it matter whether or not she picks out what I wear or if you do for that matter? I'm pretty sure that I can manage without her."

"Oh, so you're just arguing with me because you want me to pick out what you wear as opposed to my sister doing it? If that was the case then why didn't you say so earlier Haruhi? I'll be sure and let Ranka know that I'll be stopping by later then and since I'll be by then we'll just do some of the tutoring at your place today." He knew that hadn't been what she'd meant, but honestly he was too afraid that she'd take the "casual attire" to mean jeans and a shirt to care.

He'd walked away, but she hadn't run after him. Apparently, she found the idea of him coming by more palatable than his sister. He found this information a little peculiar, but he didn't question it. All he cared about was ensuring that what she wore was something that wouldn't embarrass his family. It probably meant they'd get more studying done anyway though since whenever Fuyumi was around studying was harder to accomplish.

Ranka was overjoyed to see him. "It seems like forever since we've talked." That was absolutely absurd considering the fact that he'd spoken to him earlier this week, but then again Ranka was a little bit of a drama queen. "I believe I told you about the party that we'll be attending tomorrow?" Ranka laughed behind his hand, "Oh yes, my darling little Haruhi is going to be so cute!"

They talked about the party for a bit and even ate dinner before Ranka had to leave for work. He waited for a minute or two while Haruhi tidied up before standing and walking towards the direction that he assumed her room would be in. "Um, Kyouya senpai, is it really necessary for you to pick out what I wear?" He supposed not, as long as it was appropriate he didn't really care. "I don't see why you couldn't wear whatever you wanted; provided that it works for the occasion."

She tried to convince him to stay in the living room, but he told her that he wasn't going to sit around while she played with her clothes. It kinda pissed her off, but she eventually let him in her room. She went to her closet, grabbed a blue dress that she thought would work for the party and showed it to him, but he negated it almost immediately. He went over to her closet, eyed what she had hanging there, and pulled out a short white dress, some white heels that didn't have too much of a heel, and a short white dress jacket.

"Isn't that a little too formal?" Of course, that had been what he'd been afraid of when he'd let her read the invitation and she saw that it was "casual". "Haruhi, casual attire at these affairs mean that you dress up. An invitation to a formal event would usually require a full length ball gown. I was trying to explain that to you earlier, but you didn't exactly listen.

She stuck her tongue out at him. It was such a childish gesture, but he'd never seen her do it before. She'd already started pulling out her notes though, so he didn't comment on it. She looked over at her desk, but it was small and she didn't have another chair for it. She was about to suggest that they go into the dining room, but he just opened her book and started reading over her shoulder.

They'd been reviewing for about an hour when she noticed it; he started stretching like he was stiff again. She'd finished up her problems, so she stood up. When he'd looked confused, she'd told him that he should sit while she got them something to drink. She went and made some tea for them and when she came back, she laid both glasses on the edge of the desk.

They both drank in silence for a minute while he read something in her English book that he would no doubt want to go over with her. She waited until he set the cup down before poking him in the shoulder. When he flinched, she sighed and smacked him upside the head the way she normally would Hikaru and Kaoru.

She'd just smacked him! He turned and opened his mouth to speak, but before the words left his lips she put both of her hands on his shoulders and slammed him back into the chair. "I told you that you needed a break. If your muscles are stiff or sore then you can't just ignore it or it will just get worse; now sit still!" With that, she set about trying to get his muscles to relax.

He was pretty sure that he'd never received this kind of treatment before. He turned his head to let her know that he was fine, but her hands kneading into his shoulders felt so good that the just couldn't bring himself to say it. His right shoulder, in particular, had been causing him problems lately and her hands seemed to find all the right places.

It took a minute or two for the awkwardness to kick in. She really hadn't even though about it when she'd done it. Her temper had gotten the better of her when she'd realized that he'd still been working and yet hadn't taken care of his problem. She'd thought that he was smarter than that.

Her father had done the same thing years ago. He'd go to the bar and lift boxes of alcohol in the storeroom and then he'd come home every night rubbing his shoulder and saying that he was fine. It had upset her that he couldn't just say that he was in pain; that he'd tried to hide it from her. That was probably why she'd reacted so strongly to Kyouya's problem when she'd noticed it.

She kept her hands on his shoulders, but stopped the massage. "Kyouya, promise me that you'll take care of yourself." She didn't fully expect him to keep that promise, but somehow she knew that she would worry unless he said it out loud. He turned his head so he could see her and reached for her hand, "Don't worry Haruhi, I'll be fine."

*bump bump...bump bump...bump bump*