The Sixth Test

I was sitting at my fiancés side when she showed up. I felt proud to see that my fist had left a deeper impression on her cheek than hers had on mine. Her bruise was just beginning to fade whereas mine was almost completely gone. I smirked, unable to avoid the feeling of superiority that overwhelmed me at that moment. I then forced my expression to cool as I glanced at Kyoya-san as he rose to his feet. He walked towards Seiren-kohai and everyone's attention as riveted on them. I hate to say that I feel I am a rather cruel person, as I did quite enjoy Seiren-kohai's sudden fear and realization. Kyoya-san looked at her and she politely greeted him.

He told her, in no uncertain terms that an insult to his fiancée left him with no choice but to ban her from the Host Club. He then addressed everyone in the room, reminding them of my presence and the reasoning behind it. He turned back to Seiren-kohai who was clearly trying to fight against his decision without creating a scene. The twins walked over to stand beside Kyoya-san and soon enough, the whole Host Club was standing behind him. Their silent approach and support was enough to cause her to burst out into tears and flee. I felt sad for her at the same time as I felt justified. Kyoya-san returned to my side and I reached over to grasp his hand. It was an awkward moment but it felt strangely right for the moment.

He had just helped me with his customers, and the least I could do was show some affection. I wasn't fond of it, and I knew that my face was hot. We didn't make eye contact, but his hand shifted slightly and I pulled away. It was a subtle effect and very few people noticed it. As much as I was bored by what transpired between Kyoya-san and his customers, I remained at his side for the duration of the event. I never once pulled myself away from him.

I wished that I could have spoken with Haruhi-san, but I remained with my fiancé. Oddly enough, I did it because I felt that it was what he wanted. I was doing it for him. I had complete freedom to leave and speak to any of the hosts. I remained at his side, though. I had decided that after the Host Club I would inform Kyoya-san that I was going to practice reserved behavior. I felt that the Host Club would easily be able to break me of learning that behavior. There were no doubts in my mind that this was going to be a challenge. There had to be something I could do and since this was all that I had come up with, it was all that I was going to do.

I wasn't going to try at this. No. I was going to succeed. I figured my odds of success were better if I thought of the situation in this manner. I was hopeful of that, at the very least. I wanted to do my best to become his equal. I knew that there was going to be a lot of learning ahead of me. And probably an insurmountable amount of slip-ups. But so long as I reached my goal, I would be happy. And even if the engagement fell through (for whatever reason) I would still have those skills. I wanted to improve. I was partial to that, rather worsening or remaining the same.

Change was a necessary balance, and to be balanced in this relationship, I needed to change. Becoming reserved, I feared, was just the first step. But even so, I would be willing to take the second step when it came towards me. Whether I saw it coming or not was irrelevant. Once I started this change, I could not reverse it. No matter how much I wanted to, for whatever reason, it was necessary. To hold back on what I said when in the presence of those I was accustomed to being around. I needed to think everything through, thoroughly and rapidly. I suspected that the speed would come later –I certainly hoped it would.

The Host Club ended and I said my farewells to the customers, as did my fiancé, and I felt again uncomfortable while doing so. It was slightly awkward on my part, knowing that these girls all had some semblance of crush on my fiancé. It made things rather odd, if I carefully considered and pursued the presented ideas of the topic. I preferred to avoid them, as it made accepting the situation easier for me. I inhaled lightly, once the girls had left and exhaled again, just as much. I glanced at Kyoya-san to see that he was watching me.

I had told my driver to pick me up a half hour later and not to worry if I was late. I had no idea how long the hosts stayed after they had done their events. I noticed the condition of the room, and wondered if they did any cleaning at all. Kyoya-san walked towards the others, who were all milling around Tamaki-san. I saw the twins, Honey-san and Mori-san glance towards me. I still had not accepted their apologies over the flowers yet. I winced internally –it was a priority and I supposed that I should have done something about sooner.

"Hello Ashia-san!" Tamaki-san greeted warmly.

I smiled, a little relieved by his interruption of the descending silence. "Hello again," I said, glancing at all of the hosts.

"You have a ring on now," Haruhi-san remarked. I hadn't realized that she was quite that perceptive. "Kyoya-senpai has said little about his."

I swallowed and almost glanced towards him. I stopped, trying to start my behavior ahead of my plan. "It's our engagement ring," I said softly. "The second part of the ring will be presented on our marriage date."

I glanced at him then, expecting to see a reaction of some form on his face. I saw nothing. I suspected that it would take me a while to see something more from him, than his bland, blank expression. I wondered if he wore it around me more often, or if it was how he was the majority of the time. That was a question more suited to nay of the Host Club members. It didn't matter who so much as likely any of them would know.

I looked around at the host members and saw a variant degree of surprise on all of their faces. Honey-san was the first to speak, "How long until the marriage?" his question, I felt, was directed to both me and Kyoya-san.

"We're not certain yet," he replied calmly, collectedly.

"Soon anyways," I interjected; wanting the hosts to be more prepared if they suddenly received a wedding invitation.

They nodded at this, understanding and accepting the information faster than the previous bit. Kyoya-san turned to me and then stepped away slowly, to pick up a clipboard. He began to scribble down rapidly, pausing occasionally to figure something out. I had no idea what he was doing –I glanced towards the twins who shrugged casually and responded with, "He usually does that."

I regarded Haruhi-kohai next, "He's doing the calculations for the Host Club's budget."

"Does he usually do that?" I asked, looking at Tamaki-san who was chasing after the twins. I hadn't quite heard what they had said to him. Something about Haruhi-kohai, if I was correct.

"Yes."

I frowned at this and directed my gaze towards Tamaki-san, and I was about to ask if that was something that the president should have been doing but I stopped in time before the whole question came out. I suspected it sounded a little garbled and I hoped she took for a sneeze or a cough. Unlikely, but I was hopeful of it.

"Tamaki-senpai can be a little…frivolous at times," Haruhi-kohai added after a few moments of silence between us. "Kyoya-senpai makes sure that the Host Club doesn't fall into bankruptcy. He does his best, but sometimes Tamaki-senpai manages to go over-budget."

"What happens then?" I inquired, honestly interested in the topic.

"Well Kyoya-senpai usually sells something or a challenge will come up that will generate enough profits that we're fine."

What kind of a man was my fiancé, exactly? "What does he sell?"

"Sometimes its pictures, sometimes film but our trash sells as well."

"Trash?" I questioned, puzzled by this.

"A glass we sipped from, a thrown-out water bottle. Things like that sell pretty well. For all of us."

I looked at my fiancé and knew that he would not have been the one who reclaimed those items to sell them. Nope. I could not see him being the one to do so. He might have hired someone, which I suspected was likely. I glanced towards the sudden commotion at the far end of the room where Tamaki-san had just caught the twins who were all lying in a tangled mess of limbs on the floor. I chuckled lightly and waved silently to Haruhi-kohai. I reached down and grasped the first hand and heard someone cry out. I gave it a small tug and heard one of the twins cry out. Their voices were indistinguishable to me at this time. I tugged again, a little more forcefully and Kaoru-san's head appeared to glare at me. With that, I quickly stepped back as they slowly grumbled and rose to their feet.

Kaoru-san rubbed his shoulder and Hikaru-san stepped in front of him protectively. It was almost like the uninjured twin expected that I was going to attack him. I apologized to them and went to turn away. I heard Kaoru-san call out and I turned towards him (the pain in his voice was the only reason why I was able to distinguish the two).

"Thanks for helping," he muttered grudgingly. Hikaru-san looked a little surprised by that, and he didn't step away from his twin.

"I'm sorry that it hurt you in the process," I replied sincerely.

"And I'm sorry about the flowers, earlier. I didn't know," he continued, his eyes not meeting mine at this comment.

"I know –it's alright had I cared I would have denied. I had the power to do so. Besides I could have just as easily told you as Kyoya-san could have."

Hikaru-san met my gaze, determined, "Then why didn't you?"

"I didn't think it was my place," I replied honestly, "as you are my fiancé's friend and not mine."

I didn't get a chance to observe Hikaru-san's reaction as Honey-san called me over and I went. I liked the boyish host. He was very endearing to me. As I approached where he and his cousin were standing, I noticed that his big brown eyes held tears in them and as I approached the two of them, I wondered if he was that upset because of the flower incident. Morinozuka-san was watching me as I approached and I wondered what was going through his mind, at the very least. He didn't look too concerned, whereas his cousin seemed to be highly bothered by something.

When I stood before Honey-san, he looked up at me with his big brown eyes, "Ashia-chan I'm so sorry! I never knew that you were engaged to Kyo-chan!"

I smiled and patted him on the head, wondering about his nickname for my fiancé. It was slightly unnerving to hear him referred to with a childish nickname, as he was a serious man. I wondered if he had ever been different, while growing up. "It's all right Honey-san," I said gently. "Kyoya-san or I should have told you beforehand," I glanced at Morinozuka-san as I said this, including him with my words.

"Thank you, Ashia-san," Morinozuka-san said in his deep voice.

Honey-san too beamed up at me, "You really mean it?" he asked and I nodded. "Thank you Ashia-chan!"

I smiled again, and realized that I had accepted all of the hosts apologies. I glanced towards the twins, wondering how they were and I saw them chasing Tamaki-san around again. Kaoru-san didn't show any signs of having been hurt, for which I was grateful. I wondered if maybe he had been faking it, for some reason or another. I turned to see my fiancé watching me, clipboard under his arm and glasses flashing. I bowed to the two seniors and said farewell to the others as I stopped at his side and we left the Host Club.

Strange that I had spent such a short time there. Looking out the window I noticed that I had spent an actual considerable amount of time there. I could see the sun was beginning to lower itself below the horizon. Evening would be coming soon. I glanced at Kyoya-san who was waiting patiently at the stairs. I walked towards him quickly and we descended the first several before I gently set my fingers on his shoulder to get his attention. It was quiet out here, and the softness of my movement seemed more appropriate. When he looked back, I returned my hand to his side as I began to tell him about being more reserved.

I told him that it was something that my parents had recommended. I didn't know if he believed me, as his expression was the same as ever. When I finished telling him the short lie, about my reserved behavior, he didn't provide me with an immediate answer. I felt anxiety suddenly plummet into my stomach as I waited for his response. He seemed to be considering it seriously for several minutes which only made me worry more. I didn't have a clear answer to a lie that I had told him, so that I could eventually become an equal with him.

He nodded abruptly, "Alright," he said, and took several steps onwards.

"Kyoya-san?" I called tentatively. He stopped, glancing back at me and I wondered if I ever tested his patience. He seemed more impatient than patient, to me at this moment. And others, if I thought of them. "Would you like me to come here for the Host Club or after the customers have left?"

"After," he replied almost instantly. "You didn't seem to have enjoyed sitting there and listening to the girls."

I frowned at that comment. It was hard to endure their constant flattery and demands for his attention. Was it really so bad that I had been unable to withstand it for long? It was his job, really. He did get paid for it but the Host Club never kept any of their income for personal expenditures. Their money went towards the next hosting activity that they performed. Kyoya-san made certain of that.

He walked with me down the stairs, and I was aware that it was more like he was leading. I let him stay ahead of me, aware that it was yet another example of the differences between us. I wanted to walk at his side, not trail behind him like a lost kitten. I wondered idly if I would ever stop noticing all the things that made me lesser than him. I didn't want to be tormented by the constant comparisons that I was going through. I should have been perfectly content to just view my fiancé as he was and myself as I was. But I couldn't. Something always jumped out at me and made me think of the differences in us. Even though it was only a few days ago, I was suddenly aware of why Kyoya-san had laughed at my determined response to become his equal. I was more aware of how great that chasm was now, than I was when I was in denial. I had to have been in denial to not notice the fact that the suspension bridge I had been about to cross was really fraying and that a single footstep on the wooden contraption would have broken it.

"I'll see you later, Kyoya-san," I said softly as I entered the waiting car. He closed the door behind me, and stepped back as I left. I felt strangely forlorn, as I watched through the tinted limousine window as he vanished from my sight. I sighed, and leaned my head against the window, wondering at everything.