-Chapter 11-

Heartstrings

"So this is a beach. I've never been to one."

"Really Cai-chan? You've never been to a beach before?" I looked down to see Honey staring up at me.

"No. Where I lived at in America there weren't any beaches nearby."

"Well then," Kyoya came up to stand next to me. "Hopefully this will be an enjoyable experience for you."

We had arrived at Kyoya's private beach house just a few minutes ago. I had to say that it was very beautiful. The clear blue ocean and the sunny sky above of us were perfect for a day at the beach. The girls were already starting to spread out with their designated host. I wonder how much Kyoya is charging them for this.

I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do so I decided to join Haruhi under her umbrella.

"Hi." She said when I sat down.

"Hello. Not a fan of swimming." I noted that she didn't have any swim trunks on. Of course, I also knew that she was a girl. I just thought it would be good to be polite.

She shook her head. "No. I'd rather watch everyone." She turned to look at me. "You're not going to swim?"

Unlike Haruhi I did have swimming trunks on, but they were just for show. "No. I'm the same as you."

"I see."

It was nice talking to Haruhi. She didn't pester me and the silences weren't awkward.

"Actually," I looked away from Haruhi, "I can't swim."

"Really?" She didn't sound surprised, just curious.

"Yeah. I never bothered to learn." That wasn't true. I have tried to swim, but I sank like a rock and my dad had to save me.

"Haruhi, Caven?" We both turned around to see a few girls behind us. "Are you guys not going to swim?"

"No." I answered for both of us. "Haruhi and I find that watching the water is more refreshing. The way the water gleams in the bright sunlight as it moves ever so quickly, flowing together. It's absolutely radiant." I turned back to the girls. "Just like those beautiful smiles of yours."

I could almost see the hearts in their eyes.

"Well, okay then." A girl in a red bathing suit said.

"We'll see you guys later then." Another girl said.

As the girls were about to run off I suddenly called out to them. "Be careful ladies, the tide is strong today."

"Don't worry Caven." One of the girls said blushing.

"We'll be careful." The girls ran off and I was left with Haruhi again to sit out in the shade. It was a really beautiful day out. Kyoya had planned well.

Haruhi smirked at me. "You're good."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "It's true."

"That was a bit shallow."

"I meant that they had pretty smiles." I said laughing.

"Oh." Haruhi looked down and noticed my guitar case. "Are you going to play something, Caven?"

"I was thinking about it." I had brought my guitar because I didn't know if this place had a piano or not. I liked to practice everyday, even if it was on a different instrument.

"Would you? I'd like to hear it." Haruhi had a smile on her face. I was really starting to like Haruhi. The way she spoke was kind and sensible. She could also be very shrewd though. I found that out when she turned down Tamaki who had tried to get her to wear a ridiculous bunny outfit.

"Stop flirting with Haruhi!" Tamaki was running up to us with a frightening expression on his face. "You're not supposed to be hosting each other!"

"Senpai, shut up." Haruhi said bluntly. That' what I was talking about.

"But Haruhi," Tamaki whined. "Daddy just wants you to be safe. And this hooligan," Tamaki pointed to me, "is going to try to steal you away!"

I think the sun was going to his head.

"I think you've been in the sun too long, senpai." So I wasn't the only one thinking that. "Caven is probably safer to be around than someone like you."

Tamaki made a strange noise then went to mope by a rock.

"So," Haruhi turned back to me. "Will you play?"

"I guess I could." I unlocked the guitar case and pulled out one of my older guitars. I didn't want any of my newer ones getting messed up by the salty air.

I sat there for a minute and closed eyes. Letting a song come to me.

I started out slowly as I worked my way into the music. This song was one of I had recently heard, and I really felt attached to it.

My mind was drifted as I played. I kept thinking about how I would sit on Caven's bed and listen to him play the guitar. Just like I was doing now. He liked to play the guitar with it flat, instead of the instrument on a strap. It was an unusual way to play, but it worked for him.

I thought about my life now. I was doing that a lot. Why did this all have to happen to me? Why did I have to have everything taken away? Why did this happen? I clamped my eyes shut, trying to block the tears that were threatening to fall. I had never cried over this before. So why now? Why so many why's?

I finished the song and knew I was crying. I could feel them run down my face and see them land on my guitar.

Why?

"Caven, that was amazing!" I looked up to see Tamaki standing over me, along with many of the girls and Host Club members. Apparently my playing had attracted some attention. Everybody was clapping and had smiles on their faces. Except for Tamaki. His face instantly turned to one of concern as he saw the tears in my eyes.

"Are you okay Caven?"

"Yeah." I said cheerfully with a grin on my face. "I just pinched one of my fingers on the guitar strings is all." I lied.

"Oh. Okay then." He perked back up a turned to face everybody. "Let's give a round of applause for our little muse." Everybody clapped again.

"That was really good Caven. It seemed like you put a lot of emotion into it."

"Thank you Haruhi."

If only you knew.

Disclaimer- I do not own OHSHC or its characters.

Okay, that was freakishly short compared to everything else. Sorry. I just need to get a few things in, so I guess it was a filler chapter.

Review if you want! I'll be posting soon because this chapter wasn't good enough for all you readers. Hee hee.