Disclaimer I do NOT own Ouran High School Host Club or its characters/places/etc., Bisco Hatori does.

Chapter 10:

"Umehito," Shinsetsuna stood from his seat behind the stormy stone-topped burnished desk, sweeping a pale wrinkled hand to point to the chair at the front of his mahogany workspace. The soft light had done nothing to make his skin look warmer and his lack of sleep mixed with stress was blaringly obvious. Standing looked as if took a great effort as he swayed, arm shaking in its placement. "Come, sit down."

Upon a glance at his face, Umehito had been shocked at the dark bruises beneath the dull granite eyes of his grandfather. Strong and fervently respected, this man stood before him broken. A mere shadow of the reckoning force that he once was. Bowing, the blonde paid his respects, ambling across the floorboards he took his seat, sitting with his head held higher than it had been even before the last he had been there. But seeing the man he'd always looked up to like this, he felt a pang in his heart and a wave of nausea pit itself in his stomach.

"Grandfather, are you feeling alright? You aren't looking so well." Laced with concern, his voice came out almost an accusatory rumble. He hadn't meant for the way it sounded to be so rough, though underlying feelings had spurred him to be a little irked that the man obviously hadn't been taking care of himself. The elder man braced to sit, lowering himself with care as he batted of the question with a raised palm.

"Don't worry yourself over me, dear boy. I'm just getting old is all." Forcing a raspy chuckle, he turned to straighten his seat, facing his aristocratic grandson, bathed in ebony cloth and striking with his intense oceanic gaze framed with golden locks, looking every bit the confident future high priest of Coven Nekozawa. Wrinkled and chapped, his thin lips spread into the first real smile he'd given in weeks and he let out a small sigh of satisfaction. "But you! How are you, Umehito? You are looking pretty thin, but good! Has something happened?"

Bereznoff was trembling in his pocket and Umehito could hear snickers filtering through his mind as a small flood of heat rose from the nape of his neck and into his cheeks. He raised an hand to scratch at the back of his head as a nervous chuckle escaped his face wide unintentional grin.

"You could say that..." He commented airily, noticing the small spark of life chasing the dullness from his grandfather's eyes, he gave a vague elaboration, ignoring the way his heart swelled warmly with even the tiniest mention of Haruhi. "Fujioka-san has chosen to reclaim her memories. Oddly enough, I hadn't even provoked it... She," His smile fell a little as if something had just dawned on him, "She reinstated her memories herself... does that mean..." His mumured words were seemingly only for himself, trailing into nothing as he set it aside to ponder at a later time. "Anyway, long story short, she has established her desire for me to stay in her life." He was smiling again and not the only one.

Exultant and immersed, the lovesick goofy simper that had pleasantly plagued the future successor was infectious. Shinsetsuna felt a heat surge his brittle bones and a tickle in his chest, pulling at his lips in a jubilant curl. These kids had been through so much and they deserved to find a sense of prosperity, especially together. But something else had intrigued him, something that could prove to be far larger than just he and her. So, she was able to break the spell herself, you say? The elder high priest cleared his throat, steepling his fingers at his chin as he looked on.

"There were no issues with her recollection then? How did the young lady take the rush of news?" He was genuinely curious, though he didn't fault either for his grandson's joyous behavior, it was actually quite a welcome turn, Shinsetsuna could not quite piece the horrors and happiness together. It seemed odd, unless there was something deeper behind it all. Could they be...? A rosy tint creeped across the face of the boy and he diverted his eyes while trying to in vain to fend off the smile, coughing dryly into the crook of his elbow. The elderly patriach gave a wheezy chuckle. I suppose the possibility is high, then.

"She's showing no sign of trauma, from what I've seen." Umehito uttered meekly, still looking at the polished shine of the floorboards, ignoring the violent jolting in his pocket, jibes at his masculinity and cackles filling his mentality.

"Very good." Dropping his wrinkled hands to lay flat against the cool, smooth granite surface, Shinsetsuna took on an heavy air with a deep sigh and knitted brows. "As you know, your aunt and uncle are said to be arriving within the month." Azure once again caught his steely gaze, filled with a grim understanding offering a short nod. "They are said to be arriving this week."

"Then, I shall ready my condolences and reasonings." Umehito stated, trying not to let his content for the dead man overtake his reply, moreso not to lay blame on his living, grieving family. "As should be expected of me, I will take full responsibility, Grandfather."

"You will do no such thing." Shaking his silver streaked head, Shinsetsuna declared with a drawling bite. "The entirety will not be placed soley onto your shoulders, son." Letting his vision drop, he stared wistfully at the collection of framed memories, speaking in a strained whisper. "Isourou has been one of my charges since the day of his birth. It is with my carelessness that his actions and mindset escalated to such a point."

~O~O~

Managing to complete her housework and charge ahead with future class assignments, she had been less annoyed with the barrage of tones and insolent buzzing that came from her phone than usual.

'R U OK?!' Haruhi groaned at the eighth duplicated message within the minute, surpressing a disbelieving giggle with a grunt. The guy was a dramatic idiot, but he was quite the caring imbecile. Sighing, she resolved that typing a message would be impossible with the amount of interruption that had been exhibited as she laid on her bedding, pressing the 'call' button and pressing the phone to her ear.

"HARUHI! OH THANK GOODNESS YOU CALLED ME, PRINCESS! I WAS SO AFRAID THAT YOU WERE HURT AND ALONE! DO YOU NEED ME? I CAN BE OVER IN FIVE MINUTES!" With the first word, the girl pulled the phone a foot away from her head, a precaution against injury to her poor eardrum.

"Tamaki-senpai."

"DID YOU NEED ME TO BRING YOU FOOD? CLOTHES?"

Uh, and how did I lose my wardrobe in the duration of the school day? "Senpai, seriously..."

"I CAN GET YOU A PUPPY TO WARD OFF DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS! IT WILL GROW TO BECOME A LOYAL PROTECTOR!"

"SENPAI!" Her snap had seemingly caught his attention, and she couldn't help but let out a relieved puff as she brought the device back to her ear. "I'm fine," she chuckled lightly. "Really."

"So," taking on a tender tone, he spoke. "Do you, uh... Remember anything, Haruhi?" In truth, he was afraid of her answer. But, now that he knew that she was okay and didn't seem to be in hysterics, it was a question that needed an answer.

"I do." Short and bluntly, Haruhi didn't feel she needed to say much more, but the dejected sigh on the line raised her awareness as she recalled that they hadn't been on such pleasant terms before... the incident. "Senpai... I never got the chance to say it before, because no one was at the music room that day, but I forgive you. All of you have your reasons for the way you acted, and in some cases I can't really blame you."

"I'm so glad! Then I will be over-" The host king was cut off before he could make any plans for the girl and himself as Haruhi continued on.

"Actually, since that day, I have really enjoyed the company but it's getting to be a bit much. I'm a big girl, Tamaki-senpai, and my own person. I am capable of my own decisions, and I'm telling you right now, Umehito is one of them. Please, respect me enough not to interfere with my relationships and to at least call before you decide to visit. As for tonight, I am going to be enjoying some time with Umehito. But could you do me a favor?" Haruhi gripped the white cotton of her pillowcase, pulling the fluffy pad into her lap as she ran her fingertips along the seams.

Tamaki absently stroked the soft fur of a sleeping Antionette, the tail of the large pup patting at the comforter in muffled thumps as the princely-type stared out at the far window with the ghost of a smile gracing his lips. A fluttering warmth filled his chest and calm tranquility relaxed his tense body, even if he had to accept that he was not the one she had chosen, he was happy that she picked someone who felt strongly enough to let her go so freely when her well-being had been threatened. An admirable quality, selfless and thoughtful, truly loving.

"Anything, my darling enchantress. I shall grant you what ever you desire." It was true, even as just a friend, he was determined to scour the ends of the Earth to bring her wishes into being. If anything, as an everlong apology that he felt she deserved from not only him, but all the hosts.

Haruhi rolled her eyes with a grin firmly in place at his flowery petname. At least he had the decency to stop with the 'daddy' act upon the loss of her real father. A twinge in her chest made her simper falter slightly.

"Could you let everyone else know that we're all okay?"

"But of course."

"Thanks, Senpai."

~O~O~

"Did you get everything I requested, Kadomatsu?" Nekozawa questioned as he tucked the inky material beneath him, sliding into the cool seat and shooting the bald man a look of boyish hope. From the top of his towering form, he tipped his head in affirmation.

"Everything is to your specifications, young master." Offering a smile to the interior of the car at the shadow-ensconced teen, he closed the door following a nod from Umehito.

As the vehicle set to motion, he let his eyes wander the darkness streaked with the faint blur of passing streetlights, azure crystal looking past the gloomy shade surrounding him at every side, focusing solely at the luminosity cutting through the night as they sped through the bustling roads. His lips curled into a reflective grin, knowing that the many trials and tribulations he were to face, he, much like the darkened sidestreets had a shining beacon to chase away the enormity of calignostic abyss. No longer left to wander alone.

"Please, visit the park near our destination first. I would like to prepare everything beforehand."

"Yes, Nekozawa-sama."

~O~O~

"Tamaki," Pushing his glasses up the slipped length of his nose, Kyoya growled into the phone, turning his chair from the bright monitor to cradle an arm against his chest and fold a leg over the other as he sunk into the leather cushion gripping the device harshly as it sat at his ear. "I hardly believe that was an invitation to intrude."

"Yeah, milord" Hikaru chimed in from his perch in Kaoru's lap, speakerphone enabled as the cell sat nestled in the crumpled powder blue sheets. The younger twin sat, leaning against the wall trying to wake enough to contribute.

"Not to mention that we were sleeping, Tono." He managed to croak in a whining timbre as he rubbed at his drooping face, shutting out the pale moonlight filtering through their bedroom window.

"I don't think Haru-chan will appreciate this, even if she's not mad at us Tama-chan." Hani sat at his diningroom table behind a generous helping of German chocolate cake, Usa-chan was tucked under his arm and his finger tapping the side of his mobile. Small backlights brought a glow to his polished table, shining against the gold-rimmed china and silver utensils. He let out a small sigh, inaudible to his conference call comrades, as he leaned his head back, glaring blindly at the ceiling.

"They're right." A velvet rumble cut through the multiple devices as Mori spoke into his. Holding the phone delicately, tiny in his large hand, he sat with legs crossed beneath him among the sweet fragrant flora wafting about his senses, cool grass tickling at his bare feet and lunar brilliance burnishing the land, bathing his tawny skin with a faint silvery luster. With his eye closed, he attempted to gain his clear mind, yet still listen in to the conversation in order to give what was needed of him.

"I'm disappointed in you, men!" Ashen browns knit in a determined line, he jumped from his mattress in an instant, waking a very groggy golden lab long enough to earn a whine and a short beady stare, as he pointed toward an empty wall. Each member held a specific place in stance within his mind and he used that to charge forth with his steamrolling declaration. "Fine! If you all will not assist me in bringing cheer to Haruhi's impending dreary evening, then I will be forced to be the sole purpose of her doting entertainment!"

Groans of every magnitude clamored through every involved callee resulting in a static hiss. Every face, with exception to the beaming resolute Frenchman, was cradled within a palm silently knowing that it was either damage control or wrecked relations. None would get a good night's sleep this night.

Muting his device, the shadow king let a smirk slant his mouth and a snicker escape his throat. Looks like the baka forgot one very important detail... This could prove to be... interesting. Sobering from his thoughts, he pressed the button that allowed him to be heard, a very serious question tumbling past near-sneering lips.

"Leather pants will not be involved on this excursion,... correct?"

"MEN! TO YOUR CARS!" Tamaki exclaimed with triumphant gusto before leaving dead air and disconnection beeps in his wake.

~O~O~

Stepping out of the bathroom had been a cool shock to her heated skin, steam rolled from the exposed patches of flesh as she vigorously rubbed at damp chestnut locks with a thick grey towel. Taking in a refreshing deep breath, stifling hot had been replaced with crisp chill as she let her hands fall from the soft folds at her head, rolling her shoulders as she sauntered through the darkened hall to her room in order to finish dressing. There was no way she was going anywhere or doing anything in just a tank and boyshorts, no matter who her company was.

Digging through her closet proved to be a bit of a pain, shuffling through hangers of rejected floofy ensembles among clinks and growls, she settled with a simple green pullover dress and stretchy black crop pants while shaking the fluffy absorbent cloth from her person. Ah, this should do. Simple, acceptable, but most importantly it was comfortable. Nodding at herself with a self-satisfied smirk, she ran delicate fingers through her tangles, smoothing it down with her palms and walking to the kitchen to finish her tea, determined not to look at the clock, not to stare at her phone or glare at the door.

Haruhi couldn't help the giddy nerves that took over her stomach, flipping it in ticklish knots or the jitters that shook her fingers and caused her pulse to race. She had been spending every night dreaming of a man that she couldn't remember, pushed away then reunited. It was a need to have him back in her life, drawn to him like rain to the Earth, pulled with such force, continuously coming back. At this point, she wanted to make sure it was real, that he had truly returned and that it just wasn;t some cruel trick of the brain.

Her shower had been a cleansing contemplation; reliving the angry wounds, terror, humiliation though none of it had taken on a deeper level of trauma. She knew it happened, every single detail with such vivid clarity it had made her nauseous. But that was it. Alive and unscathed as she was, it almost seemed that her subconscious would not allow her to dwell on a past that had died with her, reborn to rise above the pain like a phoenix from it's ashes. Sipping on her cool tea, her nails tapped an off-beat as she gazed at the varnish stroked along the grain of the small table, polished to perfection.

Sweet sakura and the calming musk of sandalwood drifted through the open door into the modest dining area, slowly filtering through the house and she closed her eyes alowing her mind to wander. What would mom and dad think of Umehito? A curt snicker escaped her. Well, mom would probably like him. Dad on the other hand... He might have hid in his room or hung crucifixes and garlic around the place stuffing me away to safety in the storage room.

A faint rapping at the door shook her from her thoughts and she scrambled to get up, trying to slow her frantic movements. Haruhi attempted to walk in measured steps across the prickling matted floor, in vain. As soon as she opened the door her face creeped to the crack, smiling largely as he came into view.

He had to stifle a gasp and chuckle at the sight before him. Umehito never once, outside of his own sister, had someone so eager to see him. The flush staining her rounded cheeks only enhanced the beauty of her captivating smile and kind eyes; it both stunned and amused him.

"Good evening, Haruhi." He greeted in a honeyed drawl as she further opened the door. Lifting a warm palm to her jaw, he pressed downy kiss to her forehead, letting his lips linger as she pressed into his body, wrapping her arms securely around his waist, letting the flowing ebony material engulf her. "I hope I haven't kept you too long."

"Hi." Haruhi sighed, the heat of her words caressing his neckline, sending pleasant tremors to dance along the length of his spine. She stepped back, letting her arms fall, hands and fingers dragging lazily along Nekozawa's belted hips as she backed into the house, molten chocolate eyes locked with cerulean. "Not at all. I just need to get my bag, okay?" She tilted her head before turning to retrieve her purse from the table next to her abandoned porcelain cup.

'Umehito, you two certainly have this 'relationship' business backwards, don't you think?' Haughtily through the minds of both, the feline puppet purred as Haruhi approached, shrugging with a quirked brow and a pointed stare at the gesturing creamy felt poking out from the sea of inky black.

"Who's to say it has to go in any specific order?" Without missing a beat, the petite brunette fired off a question of her own, behind an innocent looking smirk. Umehito bit his grinning lip at the comment, feeling the heat crawl up his neck and cheeks at the answered insinuation. "Besides, I'm fairly comfortable with where we are. If things happen, they happen. It's not like we can't make our own decisions, or have to read a manual." The balcony passage had come to an end with her calm tirade, and they began descending the steps, Nekozawa gripping her small hand in his own with supporting guidance.

'Fair enough. As long as you keep this odd creature,' a stumpy paw motioned in quick waves toward the cloak-clad teen, 'from skipping and spinning in the nude while I'm trying to enjoy my offerings.' Umehito gave an indignant squeal, a wide-eyed scowl smouldered, burning holes in the back of the puppet as he paused at the foot of the steps.

"I was wearing a towel!" The blonde forcefully whispered before catching the gawking face of the pixie-haired crossdresser. Opening and shutting his mouth a few tries, he finally managed a defeated sentence. "I was wearing a towel."

"Uh... what?" A few moments passed, filled with staring, silence and blinking as she bit at her lips to keep them shut before she was really able to react. Haruhi allowed her lungs the spasms she had been fighting off, giving time for him to elaborate, they shook her tiny frame with violent spilling laughter and cackles, reducing her to a painful doubled-over mass, clutching at her jerking ribs with one hand, the other using his strong hold to keep her standing, noisily gasping for air. "Oh! Oh... please, do explain!"

He shrugged, the glow in his cheeks near blazing, he attempted to hide them with his downed hood, mumbling incoherently as they ambled across the cool grass with light crunches. Pale effulgence of the moon and the warm golden glow of the nearby lampposts cascaded down upon the lawn, fence, street and city backdrop like something straight out of a movie. Though, her set mahogany gaze was not on her surroundings. Rather, reserved for the tall, robed, flaxen-haired aristocrat beside her, flushed with embarrassment and uttering an illegible answer for her under his breath while he aimlessy stroked at her knuckles with his thumb.

'What was that? I'm not quite sure the lady can hear you~!' Bereznoff taunted in mirthful songlike mewls, clawless paws rubbing at it's felt ears to exacerbate the matter. Snickering when the couples feet hit the concrete walk and the dark prince not-so-gracefully stumbled over his feet. 'Aww, is the powerful Nekozawa Umehito flustered? That's cute. She's still waiting~!'

"Gods, silence rag!" He growled in a lighthearted huff, darting his eyes from the posts, trees and down at the sidewalk that lined the street. "It happened when you kissed me the first time... I-It made me happy that you liked me enough to do so." Speaking out to the passing inanimate objects above a whisper, he hadn't noticed her wide smile or the adoration in shining in her crinkled eyes, but the squeeze of his hand assured him and the fondness of her voice chased the awkward hesitationg from his stiffened limbs. "That's all..."

"I'm glad I made you that happy." The sentiment carried on the wind, wrapping around him, filling him with a sense of goofy accomplishment, telling her of his childish antics. They came upon a break in the gated wall splashed in waxy leaves among twisted wire polygons glittering dusky emerald between the blaring bulbs and lunar glow, strolling into the deserted park, past the massive tree arching the entrance elegantly with it's volumous branches through the path in the middle of hefty trunk and chipped sage bench to the open field set with Nekozawa's small furnishings.

Haruhi gasped at the simple beauty pictured before her. A rich crimson blanket covered soft blades of jade, topped with covered glass bowls of fresh fruits in front of what looked to be an antique hand-weaved basket, long necked condesation-frosted bottle of some sort of amber liquid sitting in ice and a silvery bucket with two crystal glasses shining in the forefront. Long white candles were stuck to a stand to one side of the small picnic, unlit within the grass. Basked in the luminousity of the clear night sky, Haruhi's feet followed Umehito to the quaint area, sitting on the luxurious fabric among the foods and wares.

It was something she could fully appreciate; a moonlit rendezvous, intimate and centered around two people that just wanted to spend what time they could with each other. Money had not been flaunted, aside from the cloth they sat upon, and even then, he had not pointed it out. He did not go on about how the silk had been woven by enchanted spiders and set to dye by Indian local Buddhists, or any other far-fetched story one of the hosts may have gone on with. No, here he was, gaze fixed on her own breathless visage, adoring her with tender azure and gentle smile. Her heart swelled and she bit at her lip before she tested her voice.

"This... This is amazing."

~O~O~

"Tama-chan, I don't like this. It's itchy!" Sunshine-cinnamon eyes narrowed with a grimace and pout as the whine rushed past Hani's lips. "Can't I just wear my clothes? They're much cuter and comfy, too!" Tucking his pink bunny under the ebony cashmere folds into the waistband of the lycra tights, he watched the twins exit the vehicle unchanged, and readied to strip.

"Don't you all value uniformity within mission?!" Incredulous and loud, he questioned the group with hard eyes and an accusatory finger.

"This is-" Throwing the articles at the posing host king, Hikaru began in a disgusted sneer.

"-beyond atrocious." Kaoru finished, turning his nose up as the tights draped the tall blonde's head, dangling aside each ear as the 'tunics' hung in folds over Tamaki's outstretched arm.

"We're not wearing that."

Kyoya smirked from his poised position against the polished black vehicle, satisfied that he had offered to change last, therefore the 'clothing' had remained in neat folds in his hand as he leaned in casual comfort, grey sleeveless sweater jacket and slacks to remain in place. Mori had been lucky enough not to fit in anything that was brought, so he remained in his own fitted longsleeve and cargo shorts. The twins, having just taken a look and downright refused, stayed in their custom slogan tanks and netted over-the-shoulder shirts wrapped at the hips with multi-patterned scarf belts and couture jeans looking every bit the part of immaculate, daring, modern designers.

Hani had not even been patient enough to wait before he was shirtless with his petite cut muscles being accentuated with the star-dappled night sky. Carefully shoving the pink mass off to his cousin for safe keeping, he stripped from the stretchy leggings down to magenta boxers. Black printed bunnies danced with the swishining of the satiny fabric as he hastily hopped back into his shorts and sandals, throwing his baggy tee over his torso in a whirlwind of hasty movement, discarded piles and astonished owlish onlookers.

"Ah! Much better!" Giving a leisurely stretch and a thumbs up to the stone-faced stoic, he plucked the plush from the wild-type's grasp. "Thanks, Takashi!" A faint smile flickered across Mori's features as he ruffled the golden tresses with his newly-freed hand.

"Ah." Mori regarded the cherubic teen with a fond eye. You are quite welcome, Mitsukuni. Hani shook his mane back into place with a bubbling giggle as the rack-for-unwanted-clothes dejected prince-type gripped at his knees, sniveling and flicking loose gravel at the surface of the open side-street, the tiny pebbles stung and he fliched anew with each poorly placed assault.

"It's not fair." Tamaki mumured from behind jutted lips and shadow-casting ashen tresses. "I just wanted to match with my friends. But, they don't like it. They never like my ideas. Now I'm all alone. A castaway, like these fine fabrics that I have brought into being from the very depth of my personal ingenuity." Sniffling, with a shuddering exhale he continued, nasalized and whining. "I didn't even bring a change of clothes. I'm worthless, a joke."

Stalking over to the depressed hunched form matted with murky clumps of rejected material, Kyoya sat his own neatly folded stack to the leveled nape of his French friend, gingerly patting at the center of the lush rectangular cockles.

"It will be alright, Tamaki." The shadow king allowed his voice to drone, his willingness to intterupt Haruhi's night, whatever she may be doing or not, non-existant. Though, as much as he did not want to test her patience, his own was wearing thin and the only way to get this ridiculous charade over and done with was to stroke the boy's fickle ego. "Think of it this way: if you are the only one to wear it, you'll stand out more than any one of us." In that monstrosity, it would be rather difficult to see anything but you, moron. He pasted on his best host-smile as he waited for the boisterous rebound. Three... Two... One...

"You're absolutely right, Kyoya, my friend! With me leading the charge in 'Operation: Haruhi's Most Jubilant Night Ever!', wearing such fabulous garment, our very own secret princess will have no choice but to admire my royal finesse at every fun-filled turn!" Tamaki raised a flat palm to the heavens as the other crossed his puffed torso covering the beating place of his heart, each skyward finger curling in slow succession as if to pull the twinkling specks from the sky to capture them for the very girl in which he spoke, 'clothes' falling to the ground all around his quickly ascended body with a muted plop.

"Takashi?" Without diverting his warm honey orbs, Hani spoke in a hush behind the back of his hand. "Do you think Tama-chan realizes that it's late, and a school night?" A minor shake of the head had not been an encouraging answer and his hand fell limply while the amped up Frenchman rambled on in an oblivious ostentatious demonstration of poses; Ranging from upward fist to wide-armed kneeling, littered with unnecessary pirouettes.

"She will squeal with girlish delight upon entering..." His inflectious declarations continued on as the convened hosts tuned him out, hoping that he would lose steam. Kyoya adjusted his frames, glaring briefly with juggled trajectory. Mori looked on at the flapping blonde with a tick in his brow, Hani yawned, scurrying lazily up to the stoic's broad shoulders and the twins busied themselves with a suspicious game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors.'

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" Both fists, from elder and younger fire-haired twin showed 'rock', they groaned, resetting the game. Curled fingers beating lightly against cupped palms sounded in faint slaps among the small fleet of vehicles, the gravelly road and the obnoxious ramblings of an overzealous prince-type, seemingly spouting off a verbal recount of his newest inner mind imagery. Narrowed onyx behind flawless lenses observed quietly, intrigued.

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" 'Paper' overlapping 'paper' had obviously not gotten the two anywhere, they set up again.

"Damn. One more time! If it happens again, we'll both do it... Agreed?" Hikaru feigned irritation, yet the mischievous smirk never left his face, nor did the sparkle in either set of golden amber beneath furrowed brows.

"You've got it, Hika!"

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"