A/N: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club. And to let you know, this might be the next to last chapter of this story. Actually, I know it will be. But fear not! I have a few story ideas in my head and I'll share a couple: The Suou's son and Ootori's daughter both attend Ouran High School, Kaoru and Hikaru find love, and someone in Kyoya's past comes back and makes Kyoya do something to hurt Rizu. I won't promise that I'll do these (or not do them). But I will try.
Thirty minutes had passed before Rizu got the call to meet the gang at the diner down the street. Kyoya kept an emotionless tone during the call as Rizu figured he was trying to not let anyone think anything was up. He didn't even answer her back when she ended the call with "I love you." She ran down the stairs as fast as her navy skirt would let her. She straightened out her ivory blouse and tied her hair back into a ponytail. She tripped once at the bottom flight.
"Rizu, are you ok?" A familiar voice asked. Rizu looked up to see Kaoru standing there, dressed in a black shirt and blue jeans. He offered his hand to help her up and she took it.
"Thank you, Kaoru. I was just rushing to meet you guys at the diner." Rizu replied, leaving out that it was killing her to not be around Kyoya. I feel like a silly schoolgirl obsessed with some guy, Rizu mused. But he isn't just some guy...
"Is that so? Where did you and Kyoya go last night?" Kaoru asked. He wanted to confront her about her note which is why he had excused himself from the table. No one seemed to think twice about it and Hikaru offered to go with him. But Kaoru told him that he wanted to do this alone.
"We got the rooms paid for and then we headed to find the bar you guys were at. I gave up after an hour and went back to bed." Rizu lied, hoping that he wouldn't catch on. She didn't know what Kyoya told them and she was getting nervous.
"Oh... Alright. Rizu, I do still like you. I know what you told me before about how you felt." Kaoru stated, putting his finger to her lips when she started to speak up. "I know what the note read. Just let me know what Kyoya did to upset you and I promise, I won't let him do it ever again." Rizu glanced at him and removed his finger. Sighing, she started to tell him that Kyoya did nothing wrong. In fact, he did the best thing possible. But before the words could come out, she felt Kaoru's lips on hers. Struggling to push him away, he drew her closer. Tears welled up as he overpowered her, taking one hand to cradle her head as he kissed her.
Kyoya got that feeling that something was up when Rizu still hadn't arrived. He called the room back and got no answer. Trying to not show how panicked he was, Kyoya got up from the table. Haruhi noticed this and told Tamaki that she was going with Kyoya. Tamaki protested a little until Haruhi kissed his forehead. Kyoya scowled to see he had company.
"Haruhi, there's no reason to tag along. I think I'm perfectly capable of going back to my room. Alone." Kyoya coolly remarked.
"Senpai... You've been acting strange all morning. Do you want to talk about it?" Haruhi asked, hoping he would open up just a little. He sighed as he stopped and turned towards her.
"Fine, I tell you this in the strictest of confidences. One word to anyone, and this includes Tamaki, and your debt will be tenfold. Understand?" Kyoya demanded. Haruhi nodded quickly. "Last night... didn't really go like I told you guys. Rizu was with me the whole time."
"So... You lied to Tamaki this morning?" Haruhi asked, trying to make sure she understood it all. He nodded. "What did you guys do last night?"
"We did get the rooms as I said. In short, I did something very foolish. Surprisingly, I don't even care about what it will do for my chances of getting the company." Kyoya said, removing his glasses. "I thought about all the advice you gave some of the guests. And even the questioning about if I liked her. I can honestly say that I don't like her. I love her." Haruhi was taken aback by his admission. Never had she expected the Shadow King to fall in love, or even admit to it. She smiled and congratulated him when he told her about marrying Rizu. Haruhi suggested that they keep looking for her and Kyoya nodded. They made it closer to the stairway where Kaoru had Rizu. When they made it to the spot, they had just missed the encounter. Rizu was slouched down against the wall, her face hidden by her hands. Kaoru was leaning against the other wall, sporting a red hand print across his left cheek. Kyoya rushed to her.
"What happened here?" Kyoya demanded, as he tried consoling the emotional girl. Kaoru looked at them and then at Haruhi. Sighing heavily, he went to speak up.
"Nothing happened." Rizu replied before Kaoru could get the first word out. "I... tripped.... Oh, Kyo-sama!" She buried her face into his chest. He glared at Kaoru, who just shrugged and walked off. Haruhi ran off after him.
"Kaoru! Wait up." Haruhi huffed, when she got in step with him. "What happened back there?" Kaoru stopped and looked straight in her eyes.
"I got what I deserved." Kaoru said, showing her the mark that was slowly fading away. "This whole time, I was so sure he did something wrong which was why she left home. I didn't know she actually loves the guy! I didn't see where he ever acted like he cared about her... I told her that I'd take care of him so he wouldn't hurt her again. Feh, she tried stopping me from kissing her. But Haruhi, you know... I didn't want to think she could want to be with someone else."
"Kaoru... You didn't see the pain he was going through on the plane because you were too busy thinking about your own. It was there." Haruhi sighed, as she stumbled to figure out how to explain it to him. Rizu called for both of them to come back, her voice sounding a little weak. They turned around and headed back. Rizu was now standing up, drying her tears with a white handkerchief. Kyoya looked off into the distance.
"Rizu-chan? Are you alright?" Haruhi asked. Rizu nodded.
"I'm fine. I told Kyoya what happened..." She said to Kaoru. He looked over at Kyoya, who looked back at him.
"Kaoru, you don't know how bad I want to hit you right now. But I've told Rizu I wouldn't do so. I do expect you to never kiss her again." Kyoya coldly stated. Kaoru nodded, a little bit relieved that the smack across the face was the worst he was going to get.
"But we don't want anyone to know about this. I'm not sure how I'm going to break this to everyone. Not even my family." Rizu removed the ring from her right hand to her left hand. Kyoya looked over at her. "Actually, I think we need to tell them."
"Tell us what, Rizu?" Tamaki replied, walking up with the rest of the Host Club. Looking at the ring on her finger and then at Kaoru, steam started to pour from Tamaki's ears.
"You. Married. My. Cousin?! Kaoru!" Tamaki yelled. Hikaru looked over at his twin in shock and mouthed to him, Is that true? Daggers started to shoot out of Tamaki's eyes when Haruhi walked over to him and patted his shoulder.
"Kaoru didn't marry Rizu, Tamaki-sama." She said trying to calm the explosive Tamaki. The daggers stopped as he looked down at her.
"No? Then why is she wearing a wedding ring on her left hand, hmm? Unless..." Tamaki's mind theater started rolling the events he was imagining: Rizu tricking someone into letting her marry herself to avoid marrying a tall dark Ootori figure. Kyoya groaned and smacked Tamaki upside the head.
"Moron, there is no way she'd be able to pull that off. And my brother isn't 20 feet tall." Kyoya stated. Hunni walked up to Rizu and tugged on her skirt.
"Rizu-chan, you can marry me or Usa-chan if you don't want to marry Kyoya-san's brother." He offered. She smiled as she declined.
"Mommy, who could she have married if she didn't marry herself? The only person she was with was..." Tamaki put two and two together and soon the daggers started flying again, in Kyoya's direction. "Mommy, how could you marry her?! You guys haven't even went on a date!"
"I agree. It was a bit sudden and unorthodox. But it happened nonetheless." Kyoya said as he shielded himself from the daggers. Haruhi whispered in Tamaki's ear and a smile slowly appeared on his face as the daggers disappeared.
"Haru-sama, what a splendid idea! Guys, we must head back to Japan! Lots of work to do and no time to do it!" Tamaki was bursting with excitement.
The entire trip back to Japan was filled with unanswered questions towards Haruhi and Tamaki. And once they arrived back at the School, Tamaki and Haruhi both took off. Kyoya and Rizu walked down to the spot where she first ran into his arms.
"I'm sorry, Kyo-sama..." Rizu said. "I feel like I've caused a lot of trouble for everyone."
"Trouble? I don't see any trouble made by you. Kaoru, yes. But then again, he's one of the devil types so it's in his nature." Kyoya reassured her. Rizu took his glasses off and kissed him from his forehead to his lips.
"Ah, brother... I see you found the runaway." A voice remarked from behind them. Kyoya turned around to see his brother and father standing before him.
"Father. Brother." Kyoya greeted, taking his glasses from Rizu and sliding them back on. "What brings you here?"
"You're not the only one with tabs on your family." The elder Ootori replied. "Evening, Mrs. Ootori." He flashed Rizu a smile and she wasn't sure how to interpret it. "My, how fast you work Kyoya. Marrying your brother's wife-to-be before he even had the chance to meet her."
"I must say, you are creative in the ways of getting what you want." Tomi said. "That's the only reason I could think of why you would take her to some all-nighter chapel and bribe the justice of peace to let you get married despite your ages and lack of marriage license."
"No. He didn't marry me to get the upper foot." Rizu argued. "He loves me." Tomi smirked at her.
"I'll assume that's what he told you. Fool, Kyoya Ootori has never once show interest in falling in love with someone." He remarked. Rizu looked down at her feet. She thought to herself, If anyone would know Kyo-sama, his family would be the closest. I must be a fool, he never loved-
"Enough, Tomi. I will not have you putting the wrong thoughts into her head!" Kyoya growled. He clenched his fist tightly to prevent himself from doing something stupid. It was never like Kyoya to resort to violence but whenever someone started getting in the way of him being with Rizu, his fists were aching to do the talking. I can't let him hurt her like this, his mind thought.
"Tomi, Kyoya... I think that this discussion is over. Tomi, we will discuss this all later back at home. Kyoya, may I speak to Rizu alone?" The senior spoke. Tomi turned and walked off, a displeased look on his face. Kyoya was torn between letting her go with his father alone or demanding to go too. "No, Kyoya. I know you want to protect her but trust me, I have no ill intent towards this lovely young lady."
Rizu walked with the man, looking back at Kyoya. Kyoya looked so miserable that she wanted to run back to him until he turned towards the buildings. She didn't notice the tears he was shedding because he was afraid he was going to lose her. He had no doubt that his father was going to persuade her into annulling the marriage and marrying Tomi.
"Rizu, dear. Could you explain to this old man what happened to my youngest son?" He stopped to take a seat on a bench once they were out of Kyoya's sight. He offered the spot next to him to Rizu.
"Sir... I don't understand what you mean." Rizu stammered. Nervously, she toyed with the ring on her finger. He saw this and asked to see it. She obliged.
"Beautiful ring. I can assume you choose it, right?" Rizu nodded. "Kyoya-san used to buy small trinkets for his mother when he was younger. They... never were the things a woman liked but they did make her happy. I was afraid that Kyoya was going to lead a lonely life. The family company, as I'm sure you can guess from the attitudes of my sons, is important to an Ootori. But I only hope they find something more important than it."
"Kyo-sama... I mean, Kyoya... used to mention the merits he was after." Rizu replied. The man laughed softly as he informed her that those merits were mainly Kyoya's idea. Rizu frowned until he patted her hand.
"I think my son found something more important than his merits. Kyoya always was the calm calculated one in the family. And seeing him fight the urge to hit his brother today made me think that it just might be possible that Kyoya could find someone he'd fight for. Welcome to the family, my dear." He hugged the stunned Rizu. She smiled brightly at him as she asked if she could go back to Kyoya. He nodded and told her to let Kyoya know that he was proud of his son.
Rizu never ran so fast before in her life. She found Kyoya in the same spot that they left him. He turned to see her and ran to meet her. Once together, he kissed her passionately and whispered that he loved her into her ear. She told him about the conversation she had.
"I was afraid he was going to talk you into marrying Tomi." Kyoya said. Rizu lowered her head.
"I don't think it's legal to be married to two people at one time. He had me thinking that maybe I was foolish in thinking you loved me." Kyoya frowned.
"You were foolish. For believing that I would use you. I refuse to use any person, regardless of what merits it would bring." He stated. The stars were glinting in the night sky as they walked back to the Music Room.
A/N: I'm not too sure if I like how this chapter turned out. Next chapter is the last one for this story. I do plan on starting a new one soon so keep an eye out for it.