Chapter 11
"Otherwise called, Haruhi Goes For a Dip"
I like beaches, but that could be because I love the sea. I hate sand though, it really frustrates me because it gets everywhere. Like seriously, I once had sex on a beach in Magaluf and it's one of my biggest regrets, right behind letting Quinn borrow a dress to go to dinner with her ex. I ended up throwing it away.
But yeah, beach time.
I wore the same swimsuit as yesterday, yes yesterday because today is Saturday and the hosts decided that today was perfect for the beach, but this time I had no plans of drowning.
Admittedly, few people plan to drown but you catch my drift.
Anyway, Honey was a little concerned about me being near water so soon, especially after the whole drowning incident but other than that he was pretty distant. It was weird, and I reckon that he was coming to terms with a close friend of his nearly dying but that didn't mean it hurt any less. Honey is the most affectionate person I've ever met and then all of a sudden he's pulling away from me? Something was going on, and I was determined to find out what.
But first, it was tanning time!
I lay on a sun lounger by Kyoya, wearing thick rimmed Chanel sunglasses, and attempted to get some rest. Honestly, I didn't really want to go to close to the water, not after yesterday.
"How are you feeling now, senpai?" Kyoya asked me, looking over the rim of his glasses.
I shot a smile at him, "Better for your company, sweetie." I winked.
Kyoya's smile dropped, "I'm serious, Genie, you've had a pretty tough time lately."
Leaning further back into the lounger, I adjusted my cover up, "Truthfully? I'm exhausted. The police are no closer to finding my stalker, even with a blood sample, and I nearly died yesterday. I'm running on thin luck, just waiting for it to run out."
Kyoya looked at his notebook, "Speaking of which, that man at your mother's party, Mr Edward Jackson I believe?" I nodded, "There are no records of him until three years ago."
Now that got my attention.
I sat up straight, removing my sunglasses and leaning into the shade of the parasol over Kyoya, "What?" I said incredulously.
Kyoya continued, "I have personally done extensive research on the man and my data has proved that he didn't exist until three years ago, when-"
"When Angelina went missing." I finished for him, leaning back into my lounger and replacing my sunglasses on my face, "Do you think he's connected?" I asked.
Kyoya sighed minutely, almost imperceptible to anyone not engaged in our conversation, "Perhaps, there's no evidence linking him to your sister's case but he's still suspicious, especially now that he has turned up around the same time as your stalker."
I nodded, "Yeah, I agree, can you look into him more please?" I implored, well aware that I'd probably owe Kyoya a personal favour after this, "The police have done jackshit, and honestly I trust you more."
Kyoya smirked, "You trust me?"
I smiled at him genuinely, "Of course, you're my friend." I sat up again, fiddling with my wristwatch, "Besides, I'm the heir to Archer Enterprises, I'm a beneficial person to have in your life, but that's not all," I giggled, well aware that I was about to throw Kyoya off guard, "you care about me."
And off guard did I throw him. Kyoya's eyes had widened significantly, a light blush dusted his cheeks and he coughed softly, "What gives you the idea that I do?"
I smiled, "What gives you the idea that you don't?" I sipped my apple juice, the ice cubes rattling against the glass, "I'm very good at reading people, Kyoya, and I know for a fact that our friendship is more than just a farce, something to please your father." I giggled, "But, I won't say anything to anyone, I promise."
Kyoya smiled pleasantly again, regaining control of himself it appeared, "You are remarkably observant, Genie."
"Genie-senpai!" I heard someone shout.
Aiko was waving at me dramatically, a large grin on her pretty face.
"Duty calls," Kyoya said, "now off with you, go and make some money." I stuck my tongue out at him but did as he said.
I ran over to Aiko.
"What's up?" I asked casually, smiling at her.
She grinned up at me, "Would you like to swim with us?" She gestured to Miwa, "We noticed that you haven't been in the water once."
My grin faltered slightly, "Um, I think I'll pass ladies, I hate the way sand sticks to wet skin." Which is true but I didn't want the girls to know the real reason why I wouldn't swim. So far, only the Host Club knew that I nearly drowned and I wasn't ready for others to find out. I only told mum because Kyoya mentioned it to her in their weekly phone call sessions, which by the way is really weird. Who just talks to their friend's parent so frequently?
But I digress, truthfully the thought of entering water deeper than my bath now scared me. There was no guarantee that I wouldn't potentially drown again so it was better just to stay safe than sorry.
The girls were here with us of course, Kyoya was never one to turn down the prospect of making a profit. And I'd already attempted to bench press Haruhi, who had to wear boys' clothes again, and flirted naturally without realising it.
Tamaki was regaling me with his Haruhi fantasies, which by the way are far more innocent than I previously thought, I mean he's a sixteen year old so I assumed they'd be naughty, but no, Tamaki is vanilla as fuck.
I also spent a bit of time shellfish hunting with Honey, Haruhi, and Mori. We found a full fuckton of shellfish, courtesy of Kyoya's private police force.
"Tell me, Haruhi," Tamaki said, holding a crab, "isn't this crab crabtivating?"
Haruhi giggled, "Oh yeah!"
I snorted in laughter, covering my nose, "That was brilliant, Tamaki!" I fucking love puns.
Tamaki blushed, "You're so cute…" he said to Haruhi, before noticing the centipede which caused all the ladies to cry and run off screaming.
What the fuck? It's just an insect.
Haruhi picked it up delicately and was going to walk off before I grasped her wrist.
"Let me see!" I said, grinning at her. Haruhi smiled and delicately opened her hand, resting the centipede on her palm and let me poke it.
The little guy was soft and squishy, his legs tickled Haruhi's hand and my finger as I poked him gently, making him do a little dance.
"I'mma name him Bee!" I said, stroking the centipede.
"Bee? Why Bee?" Haruhi asked.
I giggled, "He's got yellow and black stripes and if he tried hard enough then maybe he can make honey!"
Haruhi frowned, "I doubt a centipede could ever make honey, Genie, anyway, this little guy needs to go back to his natural habitat."
Haruhi turned around and walked off a little, throwing Bee past some rocks and into the bushes on the other side. I pouted, she could have hurt him!
I walked up to her, quickly intercept by the twins who leaned on Haruhi and tried to lean on me but instead settled with wrapping their arms around my waist.
"Hey girls," they said.
Hikary spoke first, "Now I know most girls aren't the bug loving type, and I certainly didn't think that you were but,"
"Don't you think you could have been easier on that little guy?" Kaoru finished.
I nodded, "Yeah, Bee doesn't deserve to get thrown around."
"Oh, c'mon it's not dead, it takes a lot more than that to kill a bug." HAruhi said, then turned her brown eyes to me, "And Genie, I'm pretty sure Bee doesn't mind.
"Bee?" Kaoru asked.
I grinned, "Yeah, Bee, that's what I named him."
Hikaru raised a brow, "You're weird, senpai, you know that?"
The ladies walked over like a horde of zombies, "Haruhi is so brave and manly!" one called, "he's so sweet." Said another.
Aiko came to stand by me, "You like bugs, senpai?" The other ladies turned to look at me.
I shrugged, "They're okay, I'm the eldest so I have the task of getting rid of insects in my siblings' rooms. Also," I smirked, crossing my arms, "Cassi has a pet snake, her name is Emily Spinach after Alice Roosevelt's snake."
"Eww!" I heard a girl screech, and saw Momoko.
I scrunched my nose, "It's not gross, snakes are pretty cool."
Momoko shook her head, "They're disgusting! And all slimy and green and dangerous! A lady should not have a pet snake!"
I frowned, "Emily belongs to my brother, who may as well be my sister I suppose, but none of those things about snakes are true!" I defended Emily Spinach, "She really gentle, and likes to hide in bags and stuff." It was then I smirked, a wonderful memory hatching in my head, "In fact, she once climbed into my bag and I brought her to school." I grinned evilly at Momoko, "I sat by you that day with Honey, Momoko-chan."
Momoko screeched and ran off to find Honey, probably to complain about the heartless white bitch named Genie.
I looked over Haruhi's head at the see and noticed the boys looked like they were conspiring something. Frowning, I waved by to Haruhi and the ladies, walking over to the boys and intending to find out what exactly they were planning.
"Boys?" I said with a frown, "What are you doing?"
Tamaki bolted upright, "Nothing, senpai." He was sweating and shaking, taking deep breaths to hide whatever they were discussing.
I snorted, "Liar. Come now, dears, tell Genie the truth and I may give you a reward?" I crowed with a smirk.
Kyoya pushed his glasses up his nose again, "They're playing a game, to find out Haruhi's weakness, do you wish to play?"
I eyed him slyly, "I'll play any game with you, Kyoya, but not this one." I glanced at Haruhi, "I think it's bad taste personally."
"Bad taste?" Hikaru said.
Kaoru frowned, "How?"
I folded my arms, "If Haruhi wants to tell you her weakness, a secret one no less, then you should let her tell you in her own time. Besides," I smirked, "I already know it."
"What?!" Tamaki screeched, "How?!"
I grinned, "She told me."
"Why would she tell you? What have you done?" Tamaki wailed.
I shrugged again, "I'm her friend and she trusts me. I don't know how Haruhi's mind works so that's all I can say, really."
Kyoya eyed me, "You really don't want to play? I'll throw in more pictures and up the stakes."
I shook my head, "Nope, I can't stop you though."
My bespectacled friend wrote something down quickly in that black book of his, "How interesting…" he muttered.
I smirked, "Whatcha writing in there, sweetie? Naughty things?" I flirted.
Kyoya smirked back, "No, and I'm not going to tell you."
I giggled, toying with my ponytail, "I bet it's a list of your kinks, or fetishes?" I gasped, "Kyoya are you writing smut?"
The dark haired boy continued smirking but didn't flinch or seem surprised at my suggestions, "Why don't you try and find out?" He said.
I raised a brow, a hand on my hip and a coy smile on my mouth, "That seems awfully daring, I shudder to think of the consequences should I fail." I grinned slyly, "Or succeed."
Kyoya chuckled lightly, "I'm sure you'll think of something, Genie."
I winked at him, "I always do, anyway, from which sources did you get Haruhi's pictures from?"
He smiled politely, "I'm afraid I can't reveal that, senpai."
I pouted, "Even to me?"
"Even to you." Kyoya said, and together we watched the other boys walk off around the beach, each of them planning on a way to find Haruhi's weakness.
"Who do you think will win?" I asked Kyoya quietly. A rare calm moment fell over us and I could almost feel Kyoya look at me.
"Honestly?" He asked and for a second I truly believe that Kyoya dropped the usual mask he wore and finally let himself talk to a friend freely, "I think you've already won."
"What?" I asked, confused.
Kyoya turned to look at me and it was then I noticed that he had grey eyes, "Haruhi willing admitted her greatest fear to you. And you refuse to tell the rest of us, even if it would benefit you personally I doubt that you'd tell anyone." Kyoya then smiled, a genuine true smile that I'd never seen before, "You are a remarkable woman, Genie, you have a presence about you that sets everyone, including myself at ease. And that was how you won this little game."
Kyoya walked off to go and sit underneath his parasol again and I watched him go, deep in thought. I never thought myself to be remarkable, sure, I'm vain and slightly self-absorbed but I didn't realise just how deeply others saw me. Especially someone like Kyoya, who wore a mask of marble at all times and supposedly only did things if they benefitted him. But I didn't believe that anymore, not after the conversation we just had.
I smiled at him.
I watched the boys run around with Haruhi, all trying different things to scare her and admit her weakness. With a sigh, I turned my blue eyes to the sky, seeing white fluffy clouds on their blue backdrop. The sky was calm and peaceful, the boys weren't going to find out Haruhi's weakness today.
Though, I did discover that Honey has claustrophobia, he tried to trap Haruhi in the dark lorry of Kyoya's police force with him but only scared himself. Poor Honeybun.
I was still searching for shellfish with Haruhi.
"Hey! Haruhi! Genie-senpai, look up here!" Said one of Haruhi's customers.
Haruhi looked at me and then turned her head skyward, I copied her and spied three of Haruhi's customers waving at us from the top of a large rock.
The brunette frowned, calling back, "It's dangerous be careful!"
We carried on for a bit until I thought I heard a noise.
I strained my ears, "Hey, Haruhi?" She looked at me inquisitively, "Can you hear that?"
Haruhi stopped what she was doing and stayed very still, listening with me to hear whatever it was I thought I heard.
And then, my eyes went wide.
"The girls!" I shouted, "They're being harassed!"
Haruhi's eyes narrowed and with one hand she clutched her bucket tightly, with other wrapped around my wrist and she took off in a sprint, dragging me behind her.
"C'mon!" She shouted, determined to intervene.
When we got to the cliff top Haruhi didn't even hesitate, she launched her bucket of shellfish at one of the guys, there were three of them, and was breathing heavily.
"Why don't you quit bothering them!?" She shouted, preparing to throw my bucket of shellfish at them too, "Weren't you jerks listening!?" Haruhi was pissed.
To be fair, so was I. But the one thought that ran through my head was this; whenever something happens, why is it always me and Haruhi? Are we the young adult protagonists in a dreadful book that have to choose between two equally boring boys?
But I digress, that wasn't important at the moment.
"You better just leave them alone!" Haruhi said firmly.
"Haruhi!" One of the girls shouted in relief.
I nodded, clenching my fist, "Yeah! Piss off, ya twats!"
"Why you little runt!" The ringleader of the guys shouted, "And who the fuck do you think you are, you wide-eyed freak!"
The girls, including Haruhi, collectively gasped at the racist statement.
I stalked up to the guy, watching him waver as he realised I was about a foot taller than him. I glared down at him fiercely.
"You see," I began, feigning politeness, "there are two ways this could go about." Please, Genie, don't do it, no, don't do the thing!
I held a finger up, "One; I do the respectable thing and talk about this, you leave and no one gets hurt." I grinned dangerously, "Or, I could do the fun thing."
"Oh yeah, what's the fun thing?" The guy sneered.
I smirked evilly and did the thing.
The next few things that happened were mostly a blur, I was running on adrenaline and rage, and I smashed my fist into the guy's face, causing him to stumble to the ground.
"You bitch! You'll pay for that!" He sneered, cradling his jaw.
The other two guys rushed forward, grabbing my arm and twisting it behind my back. But I did what was needed to, I caused a distraction for the girls to get away.
"Haruhi!" I shouted, "Go get help! I'll be fine!" I kicked one of the guys in the stomach hard, and he let go of me, allowing me to fall back and wrench myself out of his friend's grip.
"No way, Genie," She shouted, running forward, "I'm not leaving you!"
I was kicked in the back of my knee and fell to the ground painfully, the two guys pinning my there whilst I saw the first one grab Haruhi by the scruff of her shirt. He yanked her up and started walking to the cliff side.
"Haruhi!" I screamed, worried for my friend. "Let me go!" I started thrashing and could only watch in horror as the ringleader threw him over the edge.
"HARUHI!" I'm pretty sure the scream I let out was loud enough to wake all of Okinawa.
It was then that Tamaki burst through, calling her name and jumping in after Haruhi. They both went over the edge and I heard the splash, I winced.
The rest of the Host Club came running at the guys, Hikaru and Kaoru full on body slammed the two holding me and while they went to town landing punch after punch on them, Honey jumped in and started beating the other one who threw Haruhi in the water.
Mori knelt by me, I was still sitting and didn't realise I'd been crying until now, and gently helped me stand.
Kyoya dealt with the three thugs, his police force took them away, and we all sprinted down to the beach to meet up with Tamaki and Haruhi.
He was carrying her bridal style through the shallow water, Haruhi's eyes were closed and my heart skipped a beat, worry gnawing at me.
"Haru-chan!" Honey shouted from beside me, tightly squeezing my hand.
Hikaru exclaimed, "Boss!"
Tamaki stopped in front of us and let Kyoya place his shirt over Haruhi's wet body, "Where'd they go?"
Kyoya replied, "We took their ID cards and respectably asked them to leave." No, we really didn't. We forced them to go, "The girls all went back to the hotel and I called a doctor. He should be arriving here any minute now."
"Thank you." Tamaki said, oddly calm.
HAruhi rubbed her eyes, "I'm fine, you guys, I don't need a doctor."
"H-Haruhi?" I stuttered, hiccupping and gently placing a hand on her own.
She turned her warm brown eyes to me and smiled gently, "Hey, Genie, you doing alright?" I nodded, continuing to stroke her hand.
"You?" I asked as Tamaki set her down.
"What were you thinking?" Tamaki asked, "You know, you're not like Honey-senpai. You're not a martial arts master."
Haruhi looked at Tamaki with wide eyes, he grasped her shoulders lightly.
"Why did you confront them?" He asked imploringly, "What made you think you would stand a chance?" Haruhi was frowning now, "You against three boys?"
Haruhi didn't like that, "It doesn't matter that they're boys and I'm a girl, I was there I had to do something. Besides," she said, eyes flickering to me briefly, "I wasn't alone, Genie was there too. And there wasn't any time to think-"
"-That's no excuse, you idiot!" Tamaki shouted, "Don't forget, you're a girl!" Tamaki then whirled on me, anger clearly visible on his face, "And you! You should've known better! You're older and you nearly drowned yesterday, Genie, or did you forget that!?"
I scoffed, crossing my arms, "It's not easy forgetting that you nearly died, Tamaki, but what were we supposed to do?! Just let those guys do whatever the fuck they wanted?!"
Haruhi was getting defensive, "Look, I'm sorry you had to save me, senpai, but I don't understand why you're so mad at me right now." She raised her voice, "I don't think I did anything wrong!"
Tamaki sighed, disappointed, "You don't think so?" He looked at me, "And you, senpai? Do you think you didn't do anything wrong?" I shook my head.
He frowned, "Fine," he said coldly, walking past Haruhi, "whatever you say but I'm not speaking to you until you can admit that you were wrong!"
Don't hold your fucking breath then, Tamaki.
Later that evening we were sitting in Kyoya's family's beach mansion and eating the shellfish we caught.
By the way, Honey is a fantastic cook.
"It's awfully gloomy out there, huh?" Honey said, his high voice cutting through the suffocating silence, "It looks like it's gonna rain.
I frowned at the clouds, I hope there's no thunder…
"It's not just gloomy outside," Hikaru started.
"It's pretty gloomy in here too, just look at senpai." Kaoru finished.
I leaned forward in the chair I was slouching on, past the twins and I could see Tamaki sulking behind a pillar near a window.
"C'mon, quit moping boss," Hikaru said.
Kaoru continued, "You shouldn't have picked a fight with her in the first place." He then looked at me, "What about you, Genie? You still mad?"
I shrugged, "You've met my siblings, so I'm used to petty fights."
Hikaru frowned, "You didn't answer the question."
"I know." I said vaguely.
The double doors leading to the dining room opened and in stepped Haruhi, Mori was a silent sentinel behind her.
She looked lovely, wearing a salmon coloured dress.
The boys seemed to think so too.
"Woah!" Honey said, I internally frowned, he never says that to me…
"Haruhi! Where did you get that dress?" The twins asked.
Haruhi rolled her eyes, "From my dad, he must've repacked my bags when I wasn't looking." She fiddled with the lace collar, "He's always trying to get me to wear this frilly stuff."
"That's awesome!" The twins said, giving her double thumbs up, "Way to go dad!"
Haruhi smiled, "I like your dress, Genie." She said, fingering the material.
I was wearing a long black maxi dress with cross straps and a cut out near the ribs.
"Thanks, maxi dresses are the only dresses I can buy without altering." I said, gently stroking her collar, "But this really suits you."
She grinned at me, "Thanks, Genie."
"Yeah!" Honey said, "You look so cute, Haru-chan!"
It was six o'clock and we were all seated at the table, Kyoya was writing in his notebook again and I could see the reflection of his writing in his glasses but reading backwards katakana was not a skill I possessed.
It was unbearably awkward.
No one was talking to each other, until Honey suggested we eat.
Haruhi devoured her crabs' legs with an appetite I'd never seen on a human before, except when Honey sees a cake bigger than himself. Speaking of which, I really needed to talk to that little guys.
I was so stuck in my internal monologue that I didn't hear with the guys were discussing, only noticing when Tamaki pushed his chair back and stood, asking Kyoya to show him to his room. They walked off.
It was then that I noticed Haruhi seemed a little less excited with her meal, not even breaking the next crab's leg. She stared at her plate, deep in thought.
"Maybe he's right…" she began, "maybe I do need to learn away to protect myself…"
The twins were leaning on their hands, propped up by their elbows, "So that's, he got to you, huh?" They said.
Hikaru started, "Well, it wouldn't hurt you to learn martial arts or something,"
"but it's not like we're going to force you to learn it." Kaoru finished.
They tilted their head, "Besides that's not the real issue here."
Hikaru blinked, "To be honest, we were all a little worried, about how recklessly you acted." He then eyed me, "Both of you."
"What do you mean?" Haruhi asked softly, "We didn't mean to cause you guys any trouble or anything."
The twins sighed, shrugging to each other.
"That's not true, Haru-chan, I think you and Genie-chan should apologise." He grinned cutely, "Okay? You made us all worried, especially Tama-chan," he turned his gaze to Haruhi and I had a feeling that he wasn't talking to me anymore, "I think you should apologise to him the most."
"So," she seemed confused, "you were worried about me? But why?"
I smiled at her softly, "Why do you think I stepped in?"
Haruhi turned her head to look at me, "You wouldn't have otherwise?"
I shook my head, "No, I still would have, but after you threw your bucket at that guy I needed to divert his attention." I smiled at her, looking at the boys around me, "You're small, Haruhi, and I'm not. He could've done you a lot more harm in less time than with me."
"I still don't get it." Haruhi said, "Why were you guys worried?" She looked around at our friends.
The twins sighed, "You're hopeless."
She looked down sadly, "Guys, I'm really sorry." Then she looked up at me.
I laughed lightly, "Me too, we should've been more careful."
The twins and Honey trapped us in a hug sandwich, Mori flung his arm around my shoulder and I easily wrapped my arm around his middle in a side hug. He was still munching on a crab.
Haruhi then ran off to throw up in a loo somewhere, she didn't want any of us to come with her to I went to find Tamaki.
I knocked on his bedroom door lightly, not really nervous.
"Tamaki? It's Genie, can I come in?" I waited for a bit until I heard the lock unclick and Tamaki opened the door.
He was glaring lightly at me, "What is it, Genie?"
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck, "I'm really sorry, Tama, really I am." I sighed, looking to the left, unable to meet his eyes, "It's just…if Haruhi and I hadn't intervened then those girls could've been really hurt. It's not an excuse, and I know we should've been more careful but I need you to understand that we were the only ones in the immediate area who could've helped." I finally looked at him, "You get that, right?"
Tamaki lightly laughed, breathing out heavily, "I get that, just promise me you won't be so reckless again?"
I grinned at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and feeling his circle my waist, "I promise, thanks, Tama-chan." Tamaki smiled into my hair and held me tightly.
"I should get going," I said, "I have things to do." I waved Tamaki goodbye and headed off to Honey's room.
Honey was sitting in his room, towel drying his hair from his shower when he heard the knock on his door.
He went to open it.
I knocked again, three times, before finally Honey opened. I gulped down my nerves, talking to Honey about this felt different than talking to Tamaki but I couldn't place why. I cared about both of them equally, they were my friends after all, but there was a distinct difference in the feeling, and I couldn't place it.
It was frustrating to say the least.
"Genie-chan?" Honey said, surprise evident on his face.
"Hi," I said, lightly scratching my arm behind me, "mind if I come in?"
Honey smiled and moved aside, letting me stride into his room. He shut the door gently and it was then I noticed that the light was dimmed significantly.
"Everything okay?" He asked me, walking past my tall frame to sit on his bed and swinging his legs lightly.
I leaned against the wall opposite him, looking out of the window.
"Yeah, I just wanted to apologise for everything that's happened lately." I said bashfully, a light blush on my cheeks, "My life has taken a very dramatic turn and I'm starting to believe that I'm, like, living an opera or something," I frowned, "but minus the singing, no one has sang yet and honestly-"
"My best friend nearly died yesterday." Honey said, interrupting my rambling.
I froze, staring at him with wide eyes. I didn't know he considered me his best friend, or at least one of them, it made a warm feeling rise in my chest but it was accompanied by a strange sharp point too, like icicles or a cold knife. I didn't understand it.
He carried on, gazing out of the window calmly, "That's never happened to me before, Takashi has never been in danger like that but, Genie," he turned his soft eyes back to me, sparkling with unshed tears, "when I thought you died, and I mean really, genuinely thought you were dead, I couldn't feel anything."
The tears fell but Honey didn't sniffle, or sob, not like he did at the time, these tears were silent ones and they felt so much more painful to watch, "It was terrifying, I've never been so scared in my life. Not even when I told my father that I was quitting the karate club or when I fought him for the first time." He looked at me again, "The fear I felt was unreal. I never want to feel that again."
I was still shocked, frozen in place and I still didn't move when Honey slipped from the bed and slowly walked to me.
"When those guys held you today, I remembered that fear." He looked up at me, never breaking eye contact once, even when he dragged the desk chair with one arm and climbed on it, finally eye level with me.
He gently cupped my face in his hands again, biting his lip, "You have to promise me, Evangeline," I shivered when he used my real name, my breath coming his short gasps, "promise me that you'll never let me feel that again?"
The air was so still, Honey's eyes were hooded beneath long blonde eyelashes and I could see his breath coming out of his mouth. It smelled sweet, like strawberries, and I was overcome with the strong desire to close that gap between us and kiss him.
But I didn't.
"I promise." I breathed against him.
The smile that stretched across Honey's face was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen and I firmly believe that there was no star in the universe and no flower in the world that could ever match the beauty and wonder of Mitsukuni Haninozuka.
When we all went to check on Tamaki and Haruhi, the brunette was sitting on the floor blindfolded and earplugged.
"You nasty pervert." Hikaru said, frowing.
Kaoru was wearing an identical expression to his twin's, "What kind of foreplay is that?"
I snorted, "Well, if you're into that then you're into that." I smirked at Tamaki, leaning forward, "So, Tama," I cocked my head, "are you into that?"
Tamaki struggled for words, "No! It's not like that!"
"You better watch your back, Haruhi," Hikaru said, leaning on the car, ready to go.
"I never would have pegged the boss for an S&M pervert." Kaoru said.
I grinned at the twins cheekily, "Nothing wrong with experimentation."
Tamaki was going crazy, "I told you it wasn't like that at all!"
Haruhi deadpanned, "I see, well now I know what S&M is." She rolled her window up.
I cackled, "So long as it's practised in a safe environment!"
