Chapter 12: Friday night's alright...
"Hikaru? Hikaru!" Haruhi called, watching in bewilderment as the twin stormed away from them, back into the crowded dancehall, leaving the door flung wide open in his wake.
She glanced up at Kyoya, wondering if he might be able to offer some insight into their friend's strange behaviour, but he didn't seem to notice her attention. Instead, he was focused solely on Hikaru's retreating form, his dark eyes narrowed and brows furrowed in thought as he watched the twin disappear amongst the other party-goers. Haruhi was so caught up trying to decipher the thoughts racing behind those normally shielded grey eyes, that it took her a moment to notice just how closely together she and Kyoya were still standing. How Kyoya's arm remained gently wound about her waist and how her own hand had merely drifted from his shoulder to clutch the fabric clothing his upper arm.
Startled by their continued proximity, Haruhi snatched her hand back and attempted to move further away from him, only for the arm encircling her waist to tighten slightly, stopping her short. She glanced furtively towards the doorway wondering if anyone else had seen them so intimately entwined, but for the moment they seemed to go unobserved, the other students too caught up in the loud music and their own interactions to notice the solitary pair that remained on the balcony. A low chuckle came from beside her and she snapped her attention back to Kyoya, who gave her a pointed, knowing look. He slowly unwound his arm from around her, fingers tracing lightly yet deliberately over her lower back, sending shivers over her skin as he moved away. His eyes never left hers however, and somehow, despite the new distance between them, her heart began to race once more.
"We... I… should probably..." Haruhi stammered, unable to pull herself away from his dark, heated gaze.
Kyoya smiled gently and seemed to take pity on her, breaking their gaze and turning to gather his mask from where it lay on the railing. Haruhi took the opportunity to put some order on her thoughts, making her way slowly towards the door, eager to put some more distance between them. There were a few students loitering near the open doorway; notoriously gossip-hungry Ouran students, who, if they saw Haruhi and Kyoya together, might read too much into a situation that even Haruhi was having difficulty making sense of.
"Leaving so soon?" Kyoya asked, as she reached the door. She turned to see that he was now leaning casually against the balustrade, one ankle crossed over the other and his mask hanging from fingers that curled lightly over the lip of the railing. He was watching her with a contemplative smile.
"I should go after Hikaru. He seemed upset about something." She said distractedly, toying with the door handle and trying not to focus too long on that smiling mouth. Her imagination was all too happy to relive the sensation of those lips moving confidently over her own and she could feel her skin begin to heat at the memory. She quickly shoved the image away, trying to tamp down her body's reaction.
Kyoya's smile faded a little as he watched her, "Upset?" He said evenly, slipping the mask into his inner jacket pocket, "Perhaps he was just embarrassed that he interrupted us." Haruhi rapidly lost the battle to supress her blush as she recalled in vivid detail just what Hikaru would have seen. She hung her head in mortification, only looking up as Kyoya pushed himself away from the railing and moved to join her at the doorway.
"Or perhaps he was jealous?" He said, his grey eyes tracing her features carefully.
"Jealous? Don't be ridiculous, why would he be?" Haruhi said, embarrassed by the insinuation, only to be irritated a moment later when Kyoya snorted in barely restrained laughter.
"What?" She asked in frustration, and was startled when he sighed softly, a warm look in his eyes as he reached down to wind his fingers through hers, raising her hand to his lips.
"What sane man wouldn't be jealous of me right now?" Kyoya murmured against her skin, then kissed her hand gently, before trying to pull her closer. Haruhi yelped in surprise and quickly pulled her fingers free from his, bringing both her hands to rest on his chest; holding him at bay, while trying not to crush the lace mask she still held.
"What are you doing? People might see!" She said, skin burning with embarrassment as she glanced anxiously back into the hall.
"If you're that worried, then you really ought to close that door." He said, with a small smile, leaning even closer and bringing his own hands up to rest on her waist.
"Senpai no!" She said, giving him a slight push and Kyoya stopped short. For a moment he remained perfectly still, hovering mere centimetres from her lips, then he leaned back to regard her seriously.
"Senpai again?" He said, raising one dark eyebrow, "Seems a little redundant now, don't you think? Or do you just plan to use it whenever you're annoyed with me?"
"Well, it seems to work so far." Haruhi said, biting her lip nervously, trying to ignore the sensation of his warm skin under the crisp fabric beneath her fingers.
Kyoya's eyes darkened as they focused on her trapped lip, his hands tightening on her waist and pulling her ever so slightly closer. Haruhi's breath quickened, her fingers curling instinctively around the lapels of his jacket as he leaned in once more. Then, in a moment of sheer willpower - or idiocy - she endeavoured to distract him and asked. "Aren't you the least bit worried about what has upset Hikaru?"
Kyoya slowly exhaled, closing his eyes tightly for a second. "Right now? Not particularly," He said tersely, as he released her and stepped back beyond her reach, letting her hands fall free, "I was a little distracted telling you of my feelings, whereas you seem unduly concerned byhis."
"He's my friend, of course I'm concerned." She said, annoyed at Kyoya's disinterest, although already regretting the distance that had grown between them, "I just want to make sure that he's okay."
Kyoya remained silent, avoiding her gaze as he turned to stare out over the school grounds, his features set once more in that speculative mien that had unsettled her earlier. Haruhi came to stand beside him, waiting for a long moment, almost hearing the cogs spinning rapidly in that ebony haired head of his; but he offered no insight to where his thoughts currently lay and she sighed in frustration. She turned away, determined to deal with this scenario later, after she had found Hikaru and discovered what was bothering him. After all, she could only deal with one annoying rich bastard at a time, and right now she had no idea how to deal with Kyoya's unusual sulkiness. She had just gained the doorway when she heard him speak.
"This is ridiculous." Kyoya said quietly from behind her "I'm sorry." She paused, looking at him expectantly and he rolled his eyes at her, "I've barely asked you to be my girlfriend and we're already having our first fight. It's hardly gentlemanly of me."
"Girlfriend? Well, I -" She began, only for her racing mind to grind to a halt as it snagged on the rest of what he had just said. "Wait...what? You're actually apologizing?" Haruhi stared at him in astonishment.
Kyoya looked thrown for a moment, as if that had been the last thing he expected her to say. "It has been known to happen." He said drily,
Haruhi continued to stare at him, now somewhat sceptically.
"On occasion." He muttered.
Haruhi blinked, trying to think of a single instance where she might have heard anything resembling an apology coming from Kyoya Ootori, but she came up blank.
"It's not like I plan on making a habit of it." He said, staring pointedly back at her and Haruhi laughed.
"I'll keep that in mind," She said, smiling still, "Anyway, it's hardly a fight, Kyoya. It's not like I wouldn't want to be your girlfr-" Haruhi blushed and fell silent as she saw the smug smile that lit Kyoya's features. "I just want to make sure Hikaru's okay, and then I'll…" she was lost for words again.
"Very well." Kyoya said, pinching the bridge of his nose, seemingly resigned in the face of her determination. He waved a vague hand in the direction of Hikaru's egress. "Go and find Hikaru, and deal with whatever Hitachiin tantrum he's throwing now."
"You're not coming?" Haruhi asked in surprise.
Kyoya regarded her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "No," he said finally, "I don't think Hikaru would welcome my presence right now. Besides, you've always been better at getting through to the twins. I think I'll leave this in your capable hands." Haruhi merely shrugged in acceptance, acknowledging the fact that she had a vast amount of experience dealing with the twin's various fiascos and tantrums.
"However," Kyoya said, raising a finger and staring at her in mock seriousness, "when you return, I think you'll owe me a dance. Or three."
Haruhi raised an eyebrow at him, "Already creating new debt for me, Kyoya?"
"Well," He said, coming to stand before her, "I believe repaying this one may prove more enjoyable than the last, don't you think?"
She pondered that for a moment before grinning brightly up at him, "For me, perhaps. You're the one that will have to put up with my poor dancing."
"Somehow, I think I'll survive." Kyoya said softly. He took the mask from her hand and slipped it on over her eyes, then paused, brushing an errant strand of her hair back behind one ear as he gazed down at her for a long moment, an almost questioning look in his eyes, and Haruhi found herself unable to move.
"Didn't you have somewhere you needed to be?" He asked, smiling down at her. Haruhi blinked dazedly up at him for a moment, nodding vaguely, before shaking her head to regain rationality, annoyed at how easily he was able to distract her.
"I guess I'll find you later then." She said, sensing that he was enjoying her discomposure a little, but unwilling to meet his eyes, lest she get side-tracked again.
"I'll be waiting." He said, as she moved past him to the doorway. "Oh and Haruhi…" Kyoya's hand grasped her wrist and pulled gently, spinning her around to face him again. He stepped back, out of view of the doorway, taking her with him and wasted no time in closing the distance between them, cupping her face softly with one hand and allowing his lips to trace hers once more. This kiss was slow and sweet and indefinably better than their first. Haruhi's eyes widened for a moment before falling closed as she succumbed to the sensation of his lips drawing deeply on hers. His long fingers tilting her face up to meet his, as his thumb traced the curve of her cheek. His other hand coming to rest on her hip as he pulled her closer, their bodies melding perfectly together as the kiss deepened. After a long, drawn out moment, Kyoya pulled away, softly breaking the kiss. He ran his nose gently along the side of Haruhi's, then leaned back, sighing deeply. His hand coming up to rest lightly on her shoulder, thumb trailing down the line of her neck, his other hand still cupping her cheek and they stared at each other for a long moment.
"… Hurry back." He whispered, then released her, stepping back as if nothing had happened. Haruhi found herself rocking forward slightly, her body unconsciously trying to maintain the intimacy between them. Kyoya chuckled softly, laying a steadying hand on her arm for a moment.
"Spoiled, opportunistic, rich bastard!" She muttered under her breath, casting a nervous glance over her shoulder as she ran her hands over her dress.
"Opportunistic?" Kyoya said wryly, fixing his tie, "You say that like you're surprised." Then he flashed her an appreciative smile, "Besides, I blame that dress -" he ran his fingers along the fabric that covered her one clothed shoulder, "- you really are too fetching in it." Haruhi gave him a half-hearted glare, flicking his hand away, which, ironically, only made his smile widen. He reached into his jacket pocket, retrieving his mask and slipping it back on; adjusting in it in a way that was strangely reminiscent of how he would normally fix his glasses.
"Now," he said, clearing his throat, "wasn't there a certain Hitachiin that you had to track down and placate?"
Haruhi's glare darkened, "You could help, you know."
"No. I really don't think I could," Kyoya said, straightening his jacket, "but I'm sure you'll do fine." He offered her one last smile before turning away and stepping back into the dancehall, allowing the fingers of one hand to trail gently over hers as he went.
Haruhi stood stock still, watching as he melded back into the crowd, until she lost sight of him amongst the other dark suited men and realised that to any outside observer it would appear that she was just standing there, smiling inanely at nothing. She glanced around at the other students that remained near the door, but none of them seemed to be paying any attention to her and she raised a hand to press her fingers against the lips he had just kissed, as if the action could trap the sensation that lingered. Then she grinned. If wearing a dress like this could make Kyoya-senpai react like that, then she would have to try it again sometime. For now, she sighed, she would have to find Hikaru and make sure he was okay. Then perhaps she could get back in time for some of those dances that Kyoya had demanded. Smiling to herself, she slipped back into the dancehall, oblivious to the pair of grey eyes, now hidden amongst the crowd that continued to follow her every move.
OoOoOoO
Blending into the background, Kyoya watched Haruhi make her way slowly through the crowded hall, observing the way some of the students smiled or greeted her as she approached and stared after her as she passed. He shook his head, marvelling again at Haruhi's utter obliviousness to the effect she had on the people around her.
Her innate modesty had always been a compelling part of her charm as the 'Natural Host' and something he had always, inexcusablyhe realised now, taken for granted. After witnessing first hand her complete cluelessness as to why he would have wanted to ask her out, and her subsequent astonishment at the suggestion that Hikaru may have been jealous when he saw them together; Kyoya finally realised just how genuine that modesty was. It was almost - refreshing, he thought with a small smile, watching her delicate form slip through the crowd.
After dealing with host club princesses day after day – or worse – the girls his father habitually encouraged him to spend time with, Kyoya found it difficult to trust any appearance of normalcy or modesty. In those girls it was always feigned, a product of hours of practice under their family's meticulous coaching. All in an effort to create the perfect, unassuming, potential bride for some gullible or coerced young man; and of course, an advantageous alliance between the two families.
He and the other hosts - no matter how idiotic the others acted at times - were well aware of why they were selected as designees by the princesses who attended the club. Apart from the fleeting attraction of certain whimsical girls, who were drawn to the host's good looks or charm, there were other ladies that were driven by their parents, or their own ambition to entice the hosts into a romantic relationship. All to elevate their family's or their own standing in society or in the business world, without any thought or care of the hosts themselves. Those attempted entanglements taught the boys to be wary, to only give the exact amount of attention or esteem deserving to their designators. That amount depended on the host's own interests and the girl's family's assets or business potential, or the intimacy between their two families. They could be seen out on the town with these girls, a quiet dinner and perhaps a play or the opera, but one affectionate smile or gesture and suddenly there would be whispers of an engagement or a merger. Thus they werecareful, never crossing any line that might leave themselves compromised.
It was something that now came naturally to the boys, growing up as they had and Kyoya could admit that he had certainly used some of those situations to his own advantage in the past, as had the other hosts. Yet, Haruhi was, and always would be… different.
She had more potential, intelligence and ambition than all those other girls combined. All driven by her own abilities, rather than by opportunities offered to her on a silver platter by family wealth or influence. Yet, despite all that intelligence, Haruhi still did not notice, or at least she certainly didn't acknowledge, the power she actually wielded. She had six of the most powerful and influential boys in Japan practically wrapped around her little finger, but she would never think to use her influence with them to advance her own standing. Instead, she was resolved to achieve her goals through her own hard work and determination.
As well as that, she seemed completely unaware of how naturally attractive she was. Even now, as she moved through the crowd, she had none of the airs or graces that the other girls in the room exuded, and yet Kyoya could clearly see how almost every eye in her vicinity followed her. Some of the girls were watching her with curiosity, others with blatant envy and one or two even looked slightly disappointed, as if they missed the male Haruhi they had come to know in the host club. The boys on the other hand stared at her in open appreciation, or in some cases, Kyoya noted with annoyance, with obvious desire.
Those looks gave rise to a growing sense of… Jealousy? Surely not. An Ootori would never lower themselves to acknowledge such an emotion. Possessiveness? Quite possibly, that after all, was practically an inherent Ootori trait, although, he thought with a grimace, given how independent Haruhi was, she would never stand for it.
No, he reasoned as he caught himself glaring at one of the boys who was regarding her a little too lecherously for Kyoya's taste. No, he was merely growing more protective of Haruhi, and it was that protectiveness that was now compelling him to trail after her - surreptitiously of course - as she made her way through the crowd. Protectiveness, and the fact that he could predict that when Haruhi eventually found Hikaru, the irascible twin wouldn't hesitate to reveal his own feelings for her, and Kyoya had a vested interest in the outcome of that particular conversation.
Of course, Kyoya could have just accompanied Haruhi on her endeavour to find Hikaru, instead of resorting to clandestine measures that seemed more like something Tamaki would pull; but he could imagine quite clearly the almost nuclear emotional reaction Hikaru would have if Kyoya and Haruhi appeared, together, to talk to him right now.
No, it would be best if Haruhi spoke to Hikaru alone. She had this uncanny ability to calm both the Hitachiins, Honey and even Tamaki down, with a strange combination of her compassion and her naturally blunt way of speaking. Yet Kyoya couldn't deny that he was quite curious as to how Haruhi would react when Hikaru finally revealed his feelings. While Kyoya was confident that the attraction between Haruhi and himself was mutual, and Haruhi certainly hadn't seemed adverse to the idea of becoming his girlfriend, would Hikaru's confession change things?
After all, Hikaru had a number of things going for him. They already spent a lot of time together, both in school and on the many, many outings the Hitachiins dragged Haruhi on. They did get along very well, and despite the childish way Hikaru may act at times, he obviously did care for her; and, if anyone were to understand the close relationship between Hikaru and his twin, it would be Haruhi. So it wasn't a completely ridiculous notion that Haruhi might return Hikaru's feelings, but for once, Kyoya was not going to manipulate or prevent the situation to ensure a beneficial outcome for himself.
He wanted to know that Haruhi had made the decision between Kyoya and Hikaru herself, with full knowledge and without any undueinfluence - although - he had, possibly,already pressed his advantage with that parting kiss. He grinned as he recalled Haruhi's reaction to the sudden embrace. Opportunistic? Absolutely. He was Kyoya Ootori after all, and now he would certainly make use of this opportunity to try to witness Haruhi's reaction to Hikaru's confession, for his own peace of mind at least.
He sighed. These new found emotions were certainly playing havoc with his normally dispassionate composure, if he was resorting to these sort of tactics.
In keeping up with her slow pace through the crowd, he moved casually in a parallel path, pretending to pay avid attention to the powered off blackberry he had pulled from his pocket, ensuring that he was emitting his severest cold 'Shadow King' aura, one that would keep anyone with at least a modicum of self-preservation instinct at bay. All the while he watched Haruhi carefully from the corner of his eye. She stopped to speak to a few of the students, quite obviously asking if anyone had seen Hikaru as invariably each person would point in a different direction. Each time this happened he could see a little tick of annoyance form at the corner of her eyes. It made Kyoya grin, as he could almost guess what she was thinking; no doubt she was wondering how these people, the twin's own classmates still couldn't tell the two Hitachiins apart like she could. Well, no one was quite as observant as she was, he thought with a small laugh. A few of the students nearby startled at the sound and stared at him warily. He glared at them, until they looked away, then fixed half his attention back on his blank phone as he moved further into the hall.
Haruhi seemed to give up asking any of the people around her, and made her way to the main staircase, obviously hoping that the higher ground would give her a better vantage point, just as Kyoya had done when he had been looking for her earlier that night. As she climbed the steps, Renge came, seemingly from nowhere, and grabbed her hand, spinning the smaller girl to face her. Kyoya watched curiously as the two girls stood close together, Renge speaking rapidly and gesturing wildly, Haruhi speaking quietly and grabbing the other girl's flailing arms to calm her down. The two spoke for a moment longer, then Renge's shoulders slumped and she gestured half-heartedly back to the main door. Haruhi smiled brightly and gave the blonde girl a quick hug before making her way to the door and slipping through, leaving Renge standing alone on the steps, staring after her.
Interesting, Kyoya thought as he watched Renge's reactions, already getting an inkling of where the blonde's concerns lay from the way she was wringing her hands anxiously together and biting her lip as she stared at the exit. A moment later he saw her stiffen her shoulders, her face set in determination as she marched towards the door, pulling it open and slipping through it to follow Haruhi. Well, it looked like he wasn't the only one interested in what would happen when Haruhi found Hikaru tonight.
However, after almost two years of host club events, and the ever-present need to avoid their avid fans, Kyoya and the other hosts had garnered an unsurpassed knowledge of the school's layout. Instead of following the two girls, Kyoya turned away, quickly skirting the edge of the hall and making his way to the corridor where the cloakroom lay, recalling that it led out onto a hallway near the school's main entrance, where he suspected Hikaru was currently sulking. Either that or he had retreated to the ever compelling music room, but if that was the case, Kyoya had little chance of overhearing anything and would have to resign himself to discovering what transpired later. A thought that did not sit well with him at the moment.
Pushing that thought aside, he made his way quickly down the hallway and pulled open the door at the end, easing out into the side corridor and looking around. Luckily, there to his left, he saw Hikaru, leaning up against one of the entrance's pillars with his back to him, shoulders stiff and hands shoved deep in his pockets as he stared out over Ouran's lamp-lit entrance. Hearing the approaching click of high heels against marble, Kyoya moved back into the shadows and watched Hikaru's shoulders stiffen further as Haruhi emerged from the main corridor. She wobbled slightly for a brief moment and then pulled her dress up slightly to glare down at her high heeled shoes, as she shifted from foot to foot, trying to make them sit more comfortably.
She really was endearingly clumsy at times, so unused to high heels where other girls of his acquaintance would have practiced walking in them time and time again to ensure a perfect public persona. Something that Kyoya was sure Haruhi would never bother with and yet the thought brought a smile to his face. Would he want her, if she were any other way? She glared at her feet for a moment longer and then let go of her dress, seemingly resigned to the uncomfortable footwear as she looked up and glanced about herself, spotting Hikaru almost immediately.
"Hey Hikaru!" She called. Hikaru ignored her greeting, something that made Kyoya's brows furrow in annoyance at his rudeness. Of course Haruhi didn't seem to have the same reaction, merely looking concerned as she moved closer to the irate twin,
"Hey Hikaru, what's wrong?" She asked softly.
"What's wrong?" Hikaru growled harshly as he turned to face her.
'Well this should be interesting' Kyoya thought as he leaned back to listen…