When Zakia took the blindfold off, all I could do was stare and blink. She looked like an angel, surrounded by a bright aura of light in the sun. When I got past how beautiful she looked, even wearing the boy's uniform, I couldn't stop myself from blurting out about what I'd been thinking about in the closet.

When my lips finally met hers, she tasted like honey and vanilla. Her favorite tea, Honeybush Vanilla herbal.

I pressed a little closer, wanting a little more of her, and for a moment, those walls around her heart dropped. I saw just her. Her vulnerability, her pain, her hope. I smiled a little, happy that she was there, opening up to me.

Then, she closed up just as quickly, shoving me back in the grass, getting up, and running. Running where to, I didn't know. All I knew was that I had to follow.

I scrambled up and chased after her. When she got in Hikaru and I's limo, I was surprised, but kind of happy. Of course, she could have very well been trying to just get away.

I gave a note to the driver through the window so Zakia wouldn't know where we were going, and crawled in back after her.

"Zakia-"

"Don't say anything right now, Kaoru."

"Have you changed your mind? Do you not want to go, after all?"

"I'll go."

"What's wrong, Zakia?"

"Nothing."

"Then cheer up. I'm about to take you on an adventure."

"Is this part of the game, or no?"

"This is a date."

"A date? You're officially turning this into a date?"

"Yes. And you have no choice but to come along because it's part of the game."

"Fine."

"Fine."

The limo began moving, and we were off.

"Why aren't the other Host Club members trying as hard as you and Hikaru to get close to us?"

"Well, Haruhi doesn't have to do much to get you two to talk to her. Tamaki has his priorities on Haruhi, but by the weekend, he'll be trying, too. Kyoya doesn't get really close to any of the hosts, he just kind of ends up being your friend. Honey and Mori will be trying within a week."

"What about you and Kyoya? How did you two end up just kind of being friends?"

"He asked me a question about the club, and after he heard my answer, he seemed kind of surprised. After that, we talked more often and it just kind of happened."

She didn't say anything else. I took this to mean it was my turn to ask something.

"Zakia, about...about the kiss."

"It's part of the game, isn't it? I told you that."

"I know what you said it was, but was that really what it felt like to you? Or did it feel like something more?"

"Kaoru, don't tell me you've lost or quit the game already. Especially if you've lost. Even if I did believe in love, love doesn't happen in two days."

"Ever heard of love at first sight?"

"That's even more preposterous than the idea of love itself."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I can't give you an answer. I have nothing to compare it to. That was my first kiss."

"It was?"

"Yes. I told you, boys always leave me."

"You didn't hate it, did you?"

"No. It was fine, Kaoru."

Fine? Just fine? She hated it. She hates me. I screwed up, bad.

"You know, maybe if we did it again, I could tell you if I feel anything special."

"If you kiss the same person, how will you know?"

"If I feel anything special for you, I'll feel it in my heart. Because right now, there's only my sister in my heart."

"Okay."

I didn't want to kiss her in the limo, though. I wanted it to be a good moment.

"Kaoru?"

"Not here. Later, when we get there."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"Of course it is."

"Don't like surprises?"

"I don't mind them. It's just that most surprises are disappointments. Except you. You were a surprise. I didn't expect to end up talking to you, or to even look at you, really. I definitely didn't expect to find that I actually kind of like you. And the kiss was definitely a surprise."

"I can't tell if this is all good or bad."

"Good. You haven't disappointed me at all. I don't even know what to expect with you."

I smirked.

"Before we actually go anywhere, did you want to change?"

"Yes. I'd rather not be dragged back to school."

"Good, because we're at your house."

The car stopped with my words.

"How am I going to get in? I don't know if my mother is home."

"I think I figured out why you made the bed. You don't like bossing others around. You feel that you are equals with your servants, not superior. Which means, you probably have a servant that you like in your house."

"I do, but that's not the point. I'm no better than any of the servants. I'm not above them in any way. If I were to treat them badly and not ackowledge that they are human, I'd be lower than them. Much lower. I'd be trash."

"I see. Well, this special servant friend of yours, perhaps she can help you?"

"Yes. I know where the servants' entrance is. What about you? Are you going to change?"

"Yes. I should be back in about twenty minutes. Is that enough time for you?"

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Yes, fine. Now, get going. It probably won't take me long."

I smirked at her and left. When I got home, I went inside without a care. Most of the staff and any of my family that may have been home wouldn't be surprised by my early return from school. I went up to Hikaru and I's room and dug around in the closet.

Actually looking at this stuff, I didn't know what to wear. I wanted to impress Zakia, but I wanted to be myself. Should I wear something kind of like a commoner would wear, or something chic and new? What color? What would Zakia like?

I finally decided on black basketball shorts, an orange vest over a black cotton long-sleeved tee shirt, and a pair of black and orange basketball shoes. It looked alright, and I was comfortable. I got back in the limo and went to go get Zakia. It was cool enough outside that wearing long sleeves didn't bug me.

"You know they're cleaning up at the club by now, right?" Zakia asked me when I opened the door for her.

I couldn't answer. I was too busy staring. Zakia was wearing a hot black tanktop, loose grey pants, and black tennis shoes with white designs. A green bandana tied her hair back out of her face, and she had a rainbow bandana tied on her arm as a wrist band.

"Wow," I breathed.

"Do I look okay?" she asked, nervously tucking a loose piece of hair into the bandana.

"Great! You look amazing," I said, my voice catching.

She blushed and crawled in. Nice for me, but possibly somewhat unfortunate for her. I was sitting in the seat closest to the door she was crawling in, so she had to crawl right over my lap.

When she'd sat down, I closed the door, and we were moving again. Zakia stared out the window.

"You like music, right?"

"Yeah. Furukia has our MP3 and headphones, though."

"I've got Hikaru's and mine."

She seemed slightly uneasy of the device I pulled out of my pocket.

"What kind of music do you listen to?"

"Just give it a try," I said, offering her an earbud.

"Fine," she said, taking it.

"Fine," I said, smiling at her.

She glared at me for a moment before her eyes dropped to take a look at my clothes.

"You look…" she turned away, but not before I caught her blush again.

"I look?"

"You look really hot," she mumbled.

My whole face lit up with a smile. I'd managed to impress her, and I was comfortable.

"Shut up. Just play the music," she muttered.

I did as she asked and searched the MP3 for a specific song I wanted her to hear. There it was, Bewitched by Blood on the Dance Floor.

"This song describes you for me perfectly."

As the song came on, she started bobbing her head and tapping her foot.

"You're living in hell?"

"When you keep trying to push me away, yeah."

"And I'm a little witch?"

"Yes. And all the other things the song says."

"What else do you have?"

The next song was Welcome to Mystery by the Plain White T's. I let it play.

Why are there so many American songs here?

"You like songs in English better than Japanese or something?"

"Well, if you haven't noticed, even though I can read and speak Japanese, my preferred language is English."

"I've noticed that about this school. Is everything weird here?"

"Not quite," I said as the car stopped again.

"Where are we?"

I gestured to the door as the driver opened it for us.

Zakia peeked out past me, and her eyes widened. Her jaw dropped, and she would have fallen over in her shock if I hadn't put my arm around her to steady her.

"What do you think?"

"What is it?"

"It's an amusement park, called Scream."

"Scream? For a date? Wow. I'm surprised you didn't bring me to some cheesy knock off of an amusement park, made for couples."

"You don't believe in love. Besides, I figured you're the type of girl who would enjoy this place much more."

"I just can't believe you brought me to an amusement park. Isn't it expensive? I mean, that's how it was in England. That's why our foster families never took us."

"You really haven't gotten your head around the fact that you're rich and going to a private school now, have you?"

"No."

"Well, you don't have to worry about money. I'm paying anyways."

"You are?"

"It's a date, isn't it? And a gentleman always pays for his girl-...er…his company."

"Company? You're so strange, Kaoru. And really different without others around."

"Well, I was going to say something else, but thought better of it. And like I told you, I don't feel like I have to pretend, here with you."

"What makes me different then? Why am I so special?"

"Well, for one thing, you can tell Hikaru and I apart at a glance. For another, you are different. Special. Not very long ago, for a short time I thought I loved Haruhi. But I find myself realising now, that wasn't love. That was little more than a crush."

"Kaoru, if you tell me you've lost this game already, you really are a player, and I will slap you. And never speak to you again."

I wouldn't mind the slap so much, but I do care what she thinks about me. And I definitely don't want her to stop talking to me.

"How long do you think you could hold that up?" I asked in a teasing tone, deciding to play it off as smooth.

Zakia rolled her eyes and shoved me towards the open door of the limo.

"Just get out of the car."

I raised my arms in surrender and got out. She followed, the driver closing the door behind her.

"Shall I wait here young sir, or will you call for me to pick you up?"

"Take the rest of the night off. Go enjoy yourself."

The driver was surprised, but quickly hid his expression under a mask of calm.

"Of course, sir."

"How are we going to get home?" Zakia asked.

"I'm sure your sister or one of the others will come looking for us. If they aren't already trying to track us down."

"So we should enjoy our time while we have it?"

"Yes. I don't know if anyone knows where we are, but it probably won't take Kyoya long to figure it out, with his tech skills. Come on!"

I grabbed her hand, our fingers interlocking, and dragged her after me to the gate. I got us each an unlimited wristband, and let go of Zakia's hand to put my arm around her as I guided her inside.

"Any idea what kind of ride you'd like to ride first?"

"I've never ridden any rides or anything. What's your favorite?"

My favorite? I've never been asked my favorite. Everyone always asks both Hikaru's and my favorite, our favorite ride together. Or, around the other hosts, Tamaki tends to dictate.

"How about something simple? We'll save my favorite for later."

"Ok."

"Let's ride the merry-go-round."

We waited in line together. Being nearly seven, it was getting kind of dark.

The lights flicked on, and the way Zakia's face lit up, it put them to shame. She was so happy here. Here with me.

Zakia scooted a little closer under my arm. What had been a two inch gap between our bodies except for my arm on her shoulders was now a very slim space paper would have trouble getting through.

On the ride, Zakia seemed happy enough, looking out at the crowds and the lit up grounds. Every once in a while she'd turn her head to look at me and smile.

When we got off, I asked her, "What'd you think?"

"It was nice seeing everything, but kind of boring."

"That's not seeing everything. But I can take you on a ride that will let you."

Zakia just looked kind of confused as I put my arm around her again and took her to the Ferris wheel.

When it was our turn, we went up, up, and away. Zakia looked dazzled by the sights of all the rides and the lights. When we stopped to start getting off, we were working our way around again, around the middle of a side. We still had a decent view, and it smelled like cotton candy and funnel cake.

"What's that smell? It's delicious."

"I'll show you when we get off."

"When does the park close?"

"Not until late. It's one of those parks that lets you ride until around midnight. If it weren't for school tomorrow, we could stay until they closed."

"I might skip school tomorrow just so we can stay here all night."

"I can't let you do that. Tomorrow is Thursday, and we have that dinner thing that you're hosting."

She sighed next to me.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm just thinking about all the tortures I'll have to face tomorrow."

"Like?"

"My mother, for one thing. Furukia have been trying to stay outside of the house. It's part of the reason we stumbled in on the club. Plus, we'll be expected to wear dresses, and that's going to be yet another long argument about our refusal to cooperate."

"It'll be okay."

"How do you know? You haven't met my mother. Or spent enough time with me to know."

"My mom works with yours. And I know because if something isn't okay, you and Furukia will make it okay."

"What if we can't though?"

"Then you have Hikaru, me, and the rest of the club to help you."

We were almost to the top now, and Zakia leaned against me. I tightened my arm around her some.

"Thank you, Kaoru."

I stared at the top of her head for a moment. I shifted and she sat up again. I turned her towards me.

"What is it?" she asked. I could hear her voice catch in her throat.

"You said you wanted to try again and make sure, right?" I asked, my voice a little husky.

She didn't ask for me to explain what I was talking about or ask why now and not earlier. She closed her eyes. With the lights of the park glowing around us, the good smells in the air and the quiet from being so high up from everything, I leaned towards Zakia again.

Just before our lips met, I closed my eyes. Her lips were soft, like rose petals, and she still tasted like honey and vanilla. Sitting in the very top spot of the Ferris wheel, I kissed her again.

And just for the record, I definitely felt something.

Zakia didn't break the kiss, so I put my free hand against her face, keeping her close. My other hand was already gently pressed against the back of her head. I touched my tongue to her lips, and it was like everything she had was put into the kiss. The last thing I felt before she pulled away was a sense of burning desire, and lots of confusion.

I leaned my forehead against hers, breathing heavily.

"Bloody hell," Zakia muttered.

I grinned at the cute accent and infamous phrase.

"Is that good or bad?"

"Both? Good, because I figured out my feelings for you. And it was a really amazing kiss. Better than earlier. Bad, because of what the answer is."

"What's the answer?" I asked, closing my eyes against the nerves.

"I like you more than I should. Somehow, you squeezed yourself into my heart in two days, Kaoru."

"What's tha-"

She smashed her lips to mine, cutting off what I'd been about to ask. I deepened the kiss again, and she let me.

We were almost to the bottom now, so I pulled away, feeling a clinging sense of desire, like before.

When we got off, Zakia seemed distracted by the sights and sounds around her.

"Now what?" I asked her.

"Now I want you to show me a couple of reasons this place is called Scream," she said, grinning as the sound of visitors screaming reached our ears again.

An easy smile covered my face, and I took her hand and led the way. Even so, I was thinking about the Ferris wheel, and how I was really hoping for another kiss before the night ended.