Chapter XI

He sat typing away on his laptop. She sat across, immersed in her study notes. Their relationship was hard to define, though they never went back to the topic of defining it anyway. At school, they continued on their daily routine, attracting no attention from anyone. It was just something they both knew, attracting attention to themselves did no good.

Kaori looked up from her notes.

"Why aren't you studying?" she asked.

"No need," he replied continuing to type away on his laptop.

Kaori rolled her eyes and sighed. Sometimes she wished she had natural intelligence like Kyouya, even though she knew he worked hard at home. Physics was her worst subject. Science mixed in with math was something she couldn't handle too well. She pouted and went back to her notes for the millionth time, trying to make sense of the formula in front of her.

Kyouya glanced up from his laptop. He smirked at how she bit her lip and how her head tilted to the side as she got confused. He pushed up his glasses and offered to help. She refused, as usual. Kaori didn't like accepting help. She was stubborn and she liked figuring things out by herself, it made things more satisfying.

Kaori's phone vibrated. Her slim hands turned on the phone and answered the call.

"This weekend? Umm…" she hesitated. "No, I don't think- do I have to? I don't need anything… can't we just… I don't know, do something else?" Kaori groaned. She sighed and agreed to whoever was on the other line and put her phone away.

Kyouya looked at her expectantly.

"Michi wants to go shopping." She shuddered. "But somehow she managed to let it go if I come to the Host Club today."

He nodded and went back to work. He offered to walk her there later and she accepted.

She didn't have anything against the Host Club. In fact if anything, she envied Kyouya for having such a wonderful group of friends. She just didn't like being put into situations with new people or relatively new people that she had only met once.

They made their way down to the Third Music Room eventually, with Kaori feeling a little anxious.

"Nervous?" his deep voice asked. It was odd how he could tell. Kaori didn't think it showed through.

"A little," she admitted. "It feels a little weird being by people you're unfamiliar with…" Kaori had two close friends. It was difficult to make friends for her. Tamaki's flamboyant attitude always made Kaori shy away from him. As for the rest of the Host Club, she had only met once, with the exception of Haruhi which she was rather comfortable but not entirely close with.

They walked into the empty Victorian styled room, with Kaori still fascinated by the beautiful interior design. She looked around, mesmerized by how spacious it actually was. She explored a little, while Kyouya setting himself back up with his laptop and his own table. A little kitchen with a stockpile of instant coffee was behind a few curtains, and a grand piano hidden behind as well. A few instruments were left scattered in a corner hidden away from the rest of the room. Tables were placed methodically so it would have been easy to manoeuvre around, with couches that came along with them. She looked around some more, finding vases and paintings that were placed clearly in places that would be easy to knock them over with.

"Are you always early?" Kaori asked as she made her way towards Kyouya and looked at what he was doing on his laptop. He was speculating stocks, with graphs showing his losses and gains. Kaori tried to comprehend the numbers, with only some of them making sense to her. Business was definitely not her thing. He moved onto the profits of the Host Club and the agenda.

She chuckled a little, noting the cosplay schedule. She was glad she didn't come often to the Host Club. Cosplay was one of the only things that Kaori couldn't quite understand the concept of when she came to Japan. Surely, she found it interesting but she still couldn't wrap her head around the trend.

A brunette poked her head through the doors, surprised to see someone beside the Shadow King as he worked. She observed them a little, noting how they did seem to look rather nice together.

"Nakamoto-san?" Haruhi chirped.

The girl looked up from the numbers on the laptop and saw the short-haired girl standing by the door. She gave a small smile and waved. Two redheads followed shortly after, surprised by her presence as well.

"Who is this we see?" one of the twins mischievously said while the other walked around Kaori, eyeing her from head to toe.

"Still plain, hm…" the other commented. Kaori shrugged it off, knowing she was rather plain in the first place.

"What brings you here?" they both asked curiously and a little too close to Kaori's face.

"Meeting my cousin," she replied, distancing herself a little.

"Ah, that Nakamoto girl in our class, no?" Kaoru remembered while his brother was still observing her. They both smiled at her for feeling uncomfortable with the attention they gave.

"Still remember the difference between us?" Hikaru asked.

"I remember the difference, yet I can't quite remember your names…" Kaori honestly replied. She never really gave the Hosts much thought besides Tamaki and Kyouya since they were in her homeroom class.

The twins entertained themselves by playing the "Who's Hikaru" game with Kaori, who easily picked out the difference between the two. One of their voices had a slightly lower pitch; there was no use in picking out the physical difference when it was easier to just listen to their voices. The twins moved onto a different topic.

"What is it between you and our Shadow King?"

Kaori didn't see that coming. In fact, she didn't think anyone knew about their relationship, if that was what it would be called. Were they friends? Were they more than that? Were they anything?

"Nothing," she shrugged. She didn't want to sneak a glance at Kyouya, knowing that she'd give it away, unsure of what 'it' really was.

Tamaki entered the music room, delighted to see Kaori.

"Mademoiselle!" he exclaimed.

Kaori suddenly felt the need to shy away from his flamboyancy. He made his way towards the girl and took her hand. She tried to courteously take it away, careful not to offend him like she did on the first day of school.

"It's nice to see you too, Suoh-san," Kaori politely said.

"Make some tea for our guest here, daughter!" he called for Haruhi.

"There is no need, but thank you," Kaori didn't want people to go through the trouble to make her feel comfortable. In fact, having everyone take care of her only made her feel more uncomfortable.

"She does it for the guests anyway," Hikaru shrugged.

"Well in that case, I suppose I'll go help," Kaori followed Haruhi behind the curtains. She felt awkward with everyone having her eyes on her all curious, wondering about what was between Kyouya and her.

"I'll boil the water," Kaori offered, heading towards the boiler while Haruhi went to the cupboard and grabbed some instant coffee.

"Meeting your cousin again, huh…" Haruhi tried to make conversation.

"Yeah," she shrugged. "I'm surprised at the amount of profit you guys make," Kaori commented after a few seconds.

"Oh? None of us are actually aware of the amount of money we make. It's surprising that Kyouya-senpai would let you see. Is there… anything between you two?" Haruhi asked, as usual being the blunt one.

"No, not really," Kaori shrugged it off again.

"Not…really?" Haruhi questioned.

"We're friends, remember?" Kaori thought back to the time they met at the subway.

Haruhi nodded, a little sceptical. She thought they matched well together when she walked into the room. Haruhi carried out the trays despite Kaori offering to carry it instead. They noticed Tamaki and the Twins hovering over in a corner of the room, whispering and murmuring.

"Do you think so…?" Tamaki asked in a hushed tone.

"Nah, our Shadow King isn't capable of..." Hikaru drifted off after seeing Kaori eyeing the group suspiciously.

Kaori never liked the feeling of someone speaking about her. That eerie feeling that haunted her and the look that people gave after they realized that the other party knew about them talking. She tried not to let it get to her, but sometimes she couldn't help but to remember how it felt when others did that to her mother and during those high-class parties where she was ostracized.

Haruhi noticed Kaori's uneasiness.

"They're not saying anything bad," Haruhi reassured. "They're immature and like planning odd gimmicks and such. They don't mean harm at all, if anything they're probably curious about you and Kyouya-senpai."

"Oh, that's… interesting," Kaori wasn't sure how to reply. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she reached to grab it. Michi texted her, saying that she was outside of the music room. Kaori excused herself from the group and opened the doors.

"Hey," her cousin greeted standing outside of the music room.

"Hi," Kaori gave a small smile and stepped out of the room, closing the doors behind her.

"Didn't know you were in there," Michi commented.

"Well you said at the 3rd Music Room so I just figured…" she drifted off.

"How've you been?"

"Alright, I guess." They continued talking for a bit, with Michi bringing up new topics every so often. She was always easy to get along with, always the more social one. Kaori smiled a bit realizing how great of an heiress Michi would become. Michi was never judgemental, perhaps something she got from her own father.

"You know the other day…" Michi didn't know how to put it. Lucky for her, Kaori knew that she was going to mention it.

"Being stripped off of the family name?"

"Yeah… you're not… serious about that, are you?" her voice hinted her sadness. Michi didn't have anyone in her family that she was close with. Her father loved her, but he had things to do and places to travel. Her grandmother didn't give much thought about her, but she accepted her more than she accepted Kaori. It was when Kaori was able to visit as a child that made Michi excited to spend time with her cousin, her only family member that she was relatively close with.

Kaori sighed. She had to admit, the speech she gave at the meeting was in the spur of the moment. She couldn't help but to be angry at her grandmother. On the inside, she wanted to please her father by keeping her name, and she knew keeping the name wouldn't hurt if it kept her father happy. Yet staying tied to the Nakamoto family meant dealing with being called trash every few minutes. She wanted to be selfish to make herself happy.

"I don't know, maybe," her answer was vague but it was enough for Michi to feel optimistic.

"You free this weekend?" her cousin changed the topic with a smile on her face.

"We're not shopping if that's what you're asking," Kaori knew that Michi would end up paying for everything in the end. Michi wore designer brands (like many of the people at the school) which were ridiculously overpriced for Kaori's liking. She was rather stingy, even though she had the money to splurge on things.

"Relax," Michi rolled her eyes, knowing that her cousin wouldn't want to come shopping with her and her friends. "Dad wants to know if you'd be okay having a meal with us, he's coming back tonight from Paris. Huge architecture project there… anyway, I'll send someone to pick you up?"

At this point Kaori wasn't given much of a choice even though Michi knew that Kaori wouldn't say no. A meal with her uncle was obligatory. Besides, Kaori knew that her uncle and cousin meant no harm. It was only…

"I don't think your mother would be happy about me," Kaori realized. She had forgotten about her aunt. Michi wasn't close with her mother, but nonetheless she was still part of the family. Kaori's uncle had an arranged marriage to a woman that her grandmother deemed "acceptable". Michi's mother was more or less the younger version of their grandmother.

"She won't be invited," Michi reassured. She never liked her own mother either, it was a terrible thing to say but it was true. Kaori's mother treated both Michi and Kaori like her own daughters, making Michi more attached to her aunt instead.

"She's still family, isn't she?" Kaori didn't like the thought of her aunt making a scene while having a dinner with her family members.

"She's in Paris, probably with some other housewives of other CEOs. She's staying behind a few days, don't worry about it."

Kaori nodded showing her agreement to the event.

"Look nice," her cousin advised.

Kaori sighed and shook her head at the thought of dressing up again.

"Alright then. Are you heading in there?" Kaori pointed to the music room.

"No, actually I have a date," Michi's face brightened when she mentioned the word 'date'.

"Oh? On a weekday too… Michi, remember you priorities," Kaori lectured, hinting that her schoolwork should come first. "Who is the guy anyway?"

"You'll meet him on the weekend," her cousin said and waved goodbye as she walked down the halls.

Kaori turned to open the doors to the Music Room to grab her bag. Two redheads and a blonde had their face pinned on the door, clearly indicating their eavesdropping. Kaori watched as they scrambled to their proper positions. She eyed them, hoping they'd confess what they had heard. It wasn't anything important, but it was surely disrespectful and Kaori didn't appreciate that.

"We… didn't hear much," Tamaki started.

"The only thing we caught onto was Michi going on a date," Kaoru murmured as he looked to the ground. They looked up to Kaori who was still waiting for them to continue.

"And your dinner," Hikaru added.

"That was it, honest," Tamaki wailed.

"We're sorry!" the three bowed down to show their guilt.

Kaori silently walked passed the three, towards Kyouya and grabbed her bag. She glanced at him, though he didn't acknowledge her presence. She didn't mind. He was probably too busy anyway.

Haruhi stopped and told her that the three eavesdroppers were just curious.

"As are many people," Kaori replied as she rolled her eyes and shrugged. Kaori knew that the three weren't terrible people, all she wanted was an apology and she got it. She knew them well enough to know that they meant no harm, if anything the three were just a little mischievous.

Kaori reached the door and grabbed the handle to exit.

Haruhi caught up. "I think they would genuinely like to get to know you," she gestured towards the three who still felt ashamed. "Come by sometime," Haruhi offered.

"Thanks," Kaori smiled and walked out of the room sneaking a quick glance at Kyouya and heading her way home.

It was nearly midnight and Kyouya had something on his mind. He sat at his desk, distracted by his thoughts.

Nothing, was what she said was between him and her.

Something made him feel as though they had… at least something. Those smiles that she gave that made his stomach churn and his heart beat. Those embraces that they shared and their hands intertwined… what did that all mean?

Putting a label on their relationship was something that didn't feel right to the both of them. Describing them as 'us' to others wasn't entirely comprehendible to the rest of the world. Yet he felt the need to call her his. It was that selfish factor of his that made him possessive, to let everyone know that she was his. His ego couldn't help but to feel damaged.

He noticed the glances that Kaori had given him as she grabbed her bag and before she left the Host Club. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

He was overthinking.

Somehow logic wasn't working for him when it came to love.

"I'm going to go out for a walk," Kaori declared as she closed up her physics textbook. She had enough. She needed a break.

They spent too much time being cooped up in a library, even though Kyouya didn't mind too much. Kaori needed breaks to keep herself sane.

Kaori looked at Kyouya expectantly, hoping that maybe he'd join her. Their relationship never went any further, after all both were busy with school and public affection wasn't something Kaori was too fond about in a place where rumours could easily spread and being surrounded by the crowds of the rich and famous.

He closed his laptop and slipped it under his arm. Something was off, and Kaori knew it.

They reached the courtyard both keeping a good friendly distance between themselves. Kaori took a deep breath of the chilly autumn air. The leaves had fallen off the trees and it was getting windier. It was a little cloudy, but still dry. They walked around, reaching the gazebo where they shared a kiss at one point.

Kaori stepped into the gazebo and took a seat. She patted the space beside her and gestured for him to sit. He gladly took it.

They spent a few minutes in silence. Kaori leaned back casually.

"What's wrong?" she asked. She didn't expect him to say much. Both were the type of people that liked to deal with their own problems without the help of others. They cooped up their emotions and didn't let them out. Kaori wanted to make it clear that she was there if he wanted to talk.

He exhaled. Perhaps getting it off his chest would make him feel better.

"The other day when you mentioned there was nothing between us…" he was confused.

"What did you want me to say?" Kaori wondered.

Kyouya stayed silent for a moment.

"Something," he answered.

"You wanted them to know? About… whatever we are?" Kaori didn't think he would. But even if he did, Kaori surely didn't.

He stared aimlessly into space, wondering what made him feel so troubled over the topic.

"We both know this… thing of ours can't be known," it was always difficult for her to spit out the word 'relationship'. "But your friends will find out eventually, and when it happens… it'll happen," she shrugged.

Having his friends know wasn't the issue, they probably already knew. Kyouya just didn't know how to voice that he had this strange captivation by her. How she was his. He wanted to know if she felt the same way. If they really did have something.

Kaori chuckled a little realizing that they were so new to this whole thing. To emotions, to love, to each other. They were both shy, probably Kaori more than Kyouya. They didn't know how to express themselves. They were two very confused individuals that didn't know what they were getting into. They just knew that… it felt right.

Kyouya however, was still contemplating. He never felt so insecure in his life. He wondered if she thought about him like he thought about her. If she ever had this strange feeling that drew her towards him. If she ever felt like she was going insane because of him. If she ever felt like a fool for her feelings for him like he did with her.

"You… okay?" she asked.

He wasn't sure how to word it. What could he do to possibly confirm their mutual feelings? He couldn't just blatantly ask if she liked him, it wasn't like him to do so. His pride didn't allow for it. He stayed there silent, still not knowing what to reply with.

"Stop thinking," she demanded. It was getting a little worrisome.

He couldn't stop; it was a disease that consumed him. All his thoughts revolved around her.

Kaori felt a little frustrated, though she did understand it when he didn't want to say anything. She was the type to keep things to herself. Yet with him, she felt like she could trust him. Pouring out her thoughts and feelings came naturally, like there was no need to feel scared to do so.

She sighed, looking at the time.

"We need to get to class, get up," she ordered.

His behaviour that day baffled Kaori. She wondered if he was actually thinking about the fact that maybe… they couldn't work, at all. In a way, she didn't expect reality to hit… so soon. Kaori didn't want reality to happen, she immersed herself too much into… them. It just didn't feel right without each other anymore.

Kaori wanted to blame it on the hormones, or stupid teenage love. Perhaps it was true, teenage love is truly the best love. She wanted to last, she felt like it could last. She oddly found hope in the field where she felt absolutely irrelevant to her.

Her mind replayed those kisses, the feeling of the warmth around her hands and finger tips. A wide dorky grin danced on her lips as she remembered those tight embraces and his laughter.

Surely, they didn't act like normal couples. Nor were they even a 'normal couple', but their attraction was undeniable.

She felt scared. Like their time together was ticking, she didn't want to tell herself the truth.

That perhaps, they would never last.

She couldn't help but to feel like they would.

The two had two different things on their minds, but were too prideful or frightened to voice them. They didn't want to tell one another about their insecurities. The two drowned themselves in piles and piles of work to distract themselves from the thought at the back of their heads.

They spent their days as usual in silence appreciating each other's company filling a strange void for one another.

"This way, Miss," the waiter led her to a reserved table in a high-class restaurant overlooking the view of Tokyo.

The ambiance of the restaurant was spectacular. The warm lighting, with candles placed on each table along with the cozy atmosphere of the guests talking to one another made Kaori feel more welcome to the beautiful restaurant. There was nothing too fancy, it wasn't strewn with chandeliers every few metres, there were no crowds, the interior design was chic and modern with a touch of the Victorian era placed here and there. Kaori fell in love with the restaurant and smiled as she walked towards the table with her uncle conversing with what seemed to be Michi's date.

Michi waved her cousin over after spotting her walking. She introduced her boyfriend, and Kaori courteously shook hands with the boy. She greeted her uncle and bowed a little to show her respect. The four continued on with some small talk over their meal.

Michi's boyfriend excused himself from the Nakamoto family to go to the restroom.

"What do you think?" Michi eagerly asked.

"Too early to judge," Kaori replied.

"Seems like a decent young man," Ryuuchi, Kaori's uncle put in his two cents as well.

"That's it?" Michi pouted. She hoped for a better response.

"He hasn't quite impressed me yet," Kaori shrugged. The boy seemed like an average gentleman who also happened to be the heir to a hotel chain. Perhaps it would be a good investment for the two companies to join if they decided to get married. Either way, Kaori wasn't particularly swayed by the boy. As long as he made her cousin happy, she had no complaints.

"Have you happened to find a fine young man yet?" her uncle said, half-jokingly. Part of him was curious about his niece.

"No," she replied. It became a reflex to say no, to be honest she was just embarrassed to admit things like that.

Her uncle made a clicking noise with his tongue while shaking his head. "That's a shame…"

Kaori assumed that Michi's boyfriend was the figure approaching the table she saw from the corner of her eye so she gave no attention to it.

"Ah, Nakamoto-san. What a pleasure to see you here," a deep baritone voice that sounded oddly familiar ringed through her ears. She turned to look at the figure.

"And to see you lovely ladies as well," Kyouya acknowledged the other two Nakamotos. He smirked at Kaori and went back to his conversation with the CEO.

The two men ended their conversation with a firm handshake and plastered smiles over their faces. Kyouya gave a nod to Kaori before he went back to his respective table.

Kaori craned her neck to see the table Kyouya walked back to. A woman, maybe in her mid to late twenties sat across from him, giving him a smile. They looked alike. They both had the same nose, and their eyes were of the same colour. She wondered if they were siblings. From afar she could tell the difference in personalities. Kyouya, always being the stoic man with a few chuckles here and there sat across from the mysterious woman who grinned brightly and immersed herself in her stories that she told.

Kaori turned her head back, finding Michi giving her a small smile.

"You like him?" she teased.

"Curious, that's all," Kaori curtly said.

"He's in your class, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Kaori answered while taking a sip of water. She hoped that the conversation wouldn't go any deeper.

"I can see you two together," Michi hinted. They did look nice.

Her uncle nodded in agreement and glanced at Kaori to hear her opinion.

"Hm," she shrugged it off and turned her head only to find that Michi's boyfriend was coming back to the table. He held out his hand whisked her cousin to the dance floor. Smooth jazzy music was playing. Kaori smiled as she saw the bright smiles on the couples on the floor. She was happy for her cousin whose face was buried in his chest. She turned back to her Uncle who yawned.

"You must be jet lagged. You should go, I'm sure Michi will find her way home," Kaori reassured. Her uncle worked quite a bit and it was difficult to find a time where he was free to even share a decent meal with his family members. He tried to suppress another yawn, but he couldn't hide his fatigue.

"I apologize, Vivienne. I wish I could keep you company," Ryuuchi said hoping that he could talk with his niece some more.

"It's fine, get some rest. I understand," Kaori gave a small smile.

"Just know you're always welcome in my household," Ryuuchi was referring to the meeting. Kaori sighed and nodded her head in understanding.

"I appreciate that, thank you," she was genuinely glad to know that she still had family members who accepted her. She helped him get up from his chair and walked him to the exit of the restaurant. Kaori told him to take care as he got into the car and was placed in the care of his driver.

Her heels clacked every time she made a step. She slowly walked back to her table, careful not to fall. She borrowed a pen from the front counter and decided to write on a napkin to let Michi know that her father went home early. A woman approached her and sat across the table from Kaori.

Kaori looked up to see who it was. Her hair was obviously dyed a light brown, but it suited her. It flowed beautifully down her shoulders, with a light red coloured dress that hugged her figure. She looked familiar. The woman held her hand out as she introduced herself.

"Fuyumi Ootori," her voice was kind and gentle hearted. She grinned.

Kaori was surprised. She did the polite thing and introduced herself too while shaking her hand.

"Kaori Nakamoto," she said and bowed a little to show her respect.

"I know," the older woman chimed. "My brother mentioned you earlier," she commented.

Kaori realized that she was probably the older sister of Kyouya. She looked around trying to find him, wondering where he went to leave his sister unaccompanied.

"He went to talk to another business associate," Fuyumi answered her question.

"Oh…" Kaori really wasn't sure what to say.

"He's been glancing at you all night, you know," she said with a playful tone to her voice.

"He's been glancing at my Uncle, the CEO all night," Kaori corrected.

"I know my brother well enough. It was definitely you," the woman grinned, knowing that something was between the two.

Kaori looked away, a little embarrassed. She didn't want to seem disrespectful but she didn't know what else to say to the important figure.

"He seems happier…" Fuyumi's tone became serious. It made Kaori look up, worrying if his sister would look down on her like everyone else. "Rather dazed sometimes though. Nonetheless, I'm glad he found you."

"There really isn't… much between us," Kaori didn't know what it was that made her feel the need to deny their relationship. It became a reflex that she couldn't help.

"Really?" the woman gave her an incredulous look. "If you say so," she said while rolling her eyes and shaking her head. It was so obvious.

"Anyway," Fuyumi felt like she needed to go. "It was interesting to meet you today. We should have lunch some time," she offered.

"Um…" Kaori wasn't sure how to politely turn that down. "That… really shouldn't be necessary, I'm sure you have a busy schedule. I really am… not someone that people would want to be associated with," Kaori tried to piece her words together carefully.

"Well if Kyouya surely does, then I'm more than willing to be associated with you," the woman was rather insistent, somewhat carefree and something about her made Kaori feel that she was a brave woman. Fuyumi smiled and waved someone over.

"Over here, Kyouya!" she called her brother over who didn't expect his sister to be engaging in a conversation with Kaori.

"Fuyumi, what are you doing?" Kyouya calmly asked.

"Getting ready to leave, little brother. Escort the young lady home, would you?" she got up from her seat and swiftly walked passed the raven haired boy.

"Good night," she chimed.

She left the two clueless teenagers at the restaurant. Kaori finished up her note on the napkin and left it on the table.

"I'm… going to go," Kaori stood up and grabbed her jacket. "You… have fun talking with other business associates." She grabbed her bag as well and put on her jacket. Kaori walked passed Kyouya only to have his warm hand grab her arm.

"Let me… walk you there," he said. She waited as he got his jacket, and the two walked out of the restaurant.

"Where are you headed?" he asked as Kaori blindly walked around the street. The Tokyo night life was surely energetic and never boring. She wanted to walk around for a while, in the cool air. Take some time to relax.

She shrugged. "Somewhere," she answered.

They found themselves in a quiet park, away from the busy night life. She sat down on the bench, looking up to the sky. She couldn't find any stars, which was a shame. Tokyo was too brightly lit to see any. She looked around, silently thinking.

"You look beautiful tonight," he whispered in her ear. She snuck a glance at him, and looked away feeling embarrassed. She felt herself blushing, which solved the problem of her cold cheeks against the chilly autumn night.

"Thank you," she shyly said.

Silence ensued for the next few minutes as they drowned themselves in their thoughts.

"I've been thinking…" Kaori spoke first. "About us," she specified.

He was thinking about them too.

"Will we…" she didn't know how to say it. "Can we…" she murmured. She stopped talking for a moment.

"Can we… stay like this?" She wanted to be caught in this moment forever. With her heart beating fast and the sensation of feeling excited to be right beside someone she had feelings for.

He didn't know. She didn't know.

"Maybe," he said. He took her hands out of her pockets and wrapped his hands around hers. She smiled a smile that made his stomach flip.

"Do you…" he couldn't express it in words. He didn't know how to ask if she felt the same way as he did for her. He leaned in and kissed her lips, covered in a pale pink lipstick. It wasn't the same, but it was still her. She didn't taste sweet as she usually did, but he shrugged it off anyway. She responded by placing her arms around his neck pulling him closer. He felt her lips curve in a smile, just a little before she pulled away. They leaned in with their foreheads together for a while until Kaori couldn't take it anymore and pulled away giggling.

"That felt so cliché but…" she didn't want to say the next part because she felt so ridiculously cheesy. Her heart fluttered as she looked back to Kyouya, expectantly waiting for an answer.

"Never mind," she said.

The way she never finished her sentences always left him wondering.

"Tell me," he ordered. "How you feel… about me," he started off authoritative but lost his confidence after looking in her eyes, speaking softer near the end.

She raised her eyebrows.

"If I told you how I feel, I'm afraid it'll boost your ego too much," she teased. But honestly, she couldn't describe the way he made her feel safe and accepted. How she put such an odd amount of trust in him for no particular reason. When his hand wrapped around hers, the warmth made her feel so relieved to be with him.

She looked at him, reading his expression. He needed reassurance too, like in any relationship they both wanted to know what the other party wanted or felt like. She could tell he seemed a tad bit disappointed.

"If it makes you feel any better…" she saw how his eyes lit up just a little behind those frames. "I've never felt this way with anyone else before," she concluded. He was her first… everything. It didn't feel like this feeling could be replicated with anyone else.

"Of course," he replied. She was glad that his ego came back. A smirk played upon his lips.

It didn't matter if they didn't last. She didn't want to think about them like that. Kaori just wanted to live in the moment.

"So what do we say?" she asked.

They walked together around the streets of Tokyo, not really knowing where to go. They looked like a normal couple, despite looking a little too dressed up for a casual date. They didn't look like teenagers. Kaori's hair was in an updo with her bangs swept to the side and makeup that only made her look much too mature for her age. Nonetheless, she looked beautiful beside the taller man that wore a suit under his heavy jacket. Some people stared in envy, while most minded their own business.

"Say to what?" Kyouya replied.

"To when people ask what's between us," she knew that he didn't seem to like it when she said nothing was between them the other day. Kaori wanted to make it up to him, even though he didn't feel angry over it. Kaori wondered what would satisfy him, just because.

"Whatever you like," he shrugged. Her reassurance earlier made him forget about the topic.

"What would you say?" she was curious. No one ever really asked him, not that many people knew about them.

He stayed silent. He wasn't sure what to say.

"Let them wonder?" Kaori suggested.

He looked at her and nodded. That seemed like an acceptable answer.

"We're not… letting anyone else know, right?" Kaori didn't think either of them wanted to make their relationship public. The most that would know would probably be his group of friends. It was difficult to keep things away from them.

"No," he simply said.

"Good," she gladly accepted his answer.

They had their own surreptitious relationship, closed off from the public. They liked it that way, being the private people they were.

She grabbed a hold of his warm hands, swaying their arms a little as they walked.

"Your hands are always cold," he noted.

"Yours are always warm," she said. She liked his warm hands. Her small hands were easily enclosed by his large ones, reminding her of her father that used to hold her hand when she was little. He never did that anymore and she missed it.

"You should get a pair of gloves for yourself."

"And not hold your hands?" she pouted.

He didn't answer her as he tried to hide a smile. Kyouya turned away from her, shy to show his foolish behaviour when he saw her expression.

He turned back when he felt a jolt in his arm. Kaori nearly tripped over her heels falling forward. Kyouya pulled her back to her feet, having a good chuckle at it.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "Still not used to heels, my feet are getting tired." Kaori saw him trying to silently chuckle.

She shook her head, embarrassed by her clumsy behaviour.

"Wipe that silly grin off your face," she ordered. It only made her feel more embarrassed at herself.

He pulled her closer by the waist, his firm grip making her relax into his body. She looked up towards him, observing his face. Her eyes moved from his long neck to his square jaw, his flawless skin up to his deep orbs behind his glasses. Something made her feel the need to plant a kiss on his cheek and thanks to her heels that gave her a little more height she was easily able to do so. She looked back down, also shy with her behaviour.

Kyouya grinned and kissed her forehead.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" his deep voice resonated into her ears.

She thought for a moment. "Studying for our physics test, and finishing up a German assignment. Do the laundry, maybe go grocery shopping," she listed. Kaori probably had more chores to do around the home. She should probably make some time for cleaning she thought.

"Why do you ask…?" she wondered.

"Wanted to take you out," he coolly said.

"Hmm, too bad. You should stay home and study too," she suggested. Although she was tempted to spend time with him, she always had her priorities straight. Something her father always taught her.

"Or I can join you," he offered.

"Stay home, Kyouya," she ushered.

Kyouya found her peculiar. Most girls would jump on the opportunity to go on a date with him, he didn't think so much of it as he got used to her strange decisions. He smirked a little at the thought of having a smart girl like her, who would put off going on a date to study instead.

"Your birthday is coming up, isn't it?" Kaori wondered what he wanted to do to celebrate.

"Is it?" To him, birthdays never meant much. Another day, another year. Tamaki threw parties every now and then but stopped after Kyouya threatened to sue him for bothering him on his own birthday. The Host Club gave their wishes, and a gift here and there, but it wasn't anything special.

"Hmm…" she thought to herself. He definitely wouldn't appreciate a cake when he wouldn't eat anything sweet. She wondered if he'd be happy if she played a song on the piano for him. Kaori wanted to return the favour for him making her birthday the least bit bearable.

"It's getting late, you should head home," Kyouya advised as he looked at his watch.

"What time is it?" she curiously asked.

"Half past ten," he answered.

"Hmm… I guess," she felt a little disappointed to have their time end. It wasn't every day there were able to be so physically close together.

They stopped walking and faced one another. She looked down at their intertwined hands, not really wanting to say goodbye. He didn't want to depart either, he lifted their intertwined hands and he kissed hers. A smile grew on her face.

"I'll see you… sometime," she took away her hand and stepped back. Kaori waved and turned around to walk towards the subway station, careful not to trip again.

He watched her as she carefully held onto the rail and disappeared down into the ground.

A/N:I wrote this right after I finished my last exam. :) If it seems overly... OOC, I do apologize. I need to stop apologizing actually, just know I'm sorry for any flaws or whatever doesn't seem right. I'll be hitting writer's block soon enough, so please bare with me. I haven't planned this out at all really, and I've been writing whatever comes to mind.

Anyway, I really appreciate you all reading this. It means a lot when someone favourites or puts me on their story alert. And also when someone writes a review. :) Any constructive criticism is fine, in fact I'm really looking for that stuff... I always find that my writing will never be on par haha.