A/N I am sorry for a late update. I am feeling disconnected with this story, but rest assured it will be finished like any other story I have started here.
She was very tired when they stepped into the private airplane. It was still dark outside, and Haruhi wasn't sure she had rested at all during the night. Strange dreams didn't let her relax and the fact that she woke up too early for the flight wasn't comforting either. Kyoya's behavior towards her had changed so much that it was a bit unsettling in the beginning. She was worried that any moment he would go back to his former-self and make her feel miserable as if everything that happened to them was her fault. It was strange to have his affections in that way.
She couldn't tell if he was a warm person during her time in the club, because he clearly wasn't very friendly with her. He wasn't a necessarily a cold person either, Haruhi reasoned. They were just two people from different worlds and different perspectives, often not understanding how the other person viewed the things. Now, sitting next to him in the luxury of the private jet, she realized what made him, in a way, detached. His relationship with others was strictly business―with the exception of Tamaki, and it made her feel bad for the young man that now was her husband.
What a ridiculous notion!
She leaned against him and feeling his warmth, relaxed. The Ootori staff wasn't around, and Kyoya didn't seem to mind the affection she had shown in private. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned closer towards her.
"You must be tired," he said, "take a nap. When we get there I will wake you up. You know it will be a while."
"I am fine," she said, "worried we would fall under some thunderstorm while travelling."
"Don't worry," he petted her hair softly, and when she looked up at her he smiled, "I have taken care of everything so that it wouldn't happen. We will avoid it and even if we don't, we are not certain anything bad will happen, now are we?"
She nodded even though she was sure something bad would happen if they, in fact, encountered a thunderstorm. But she didn't want to upset him by further voicing her fears. Soon she had fallen asleep. Apparently, she was more tired than she thought she was.
When she woke up, they had already arrived. Kyoya was staring at her impatiently, and she smiled, realizing that he didn't wake her up but was quite frustrated that she overslept.
"You could have woken me up," she laughed getting up. "I didn't know we arrived."
"You were too tired," he explained quickly as if feeling awkward about being so silly.
"Thank you, Kyoya," she smiled. "It was sweet of you."
He glared at her. Haruhi smiled even wider. She got the feeling she was going to enjoy poking fun of his weirdly stiff personality shield, until he would drop it with her and be himself.
"Kyoya-sama," Tachibana spoke, curtly bowing, "I have already send the luggage home, "your father had called me, and he wants you to be present with Haruhi-sama at the family dinner."
Kyoya rolled his eyes. "Doesn't he know after such a long flight normal people rest? Haruhi seems very tired."
"I am fine," she assured him, "I wouldn't mind the dinner with your family."
"Are yous sure?" he asked, carefully scanning her face.
"Of course," she smiled, "I am hungry anyways."
If only she knew that Ootori family dinners were rarely about the food. Kyoya sighed and nodded. "We will first go our new home, and then we will go to the family estate."
Tachibana nodded.
It was the house that Kyoya brought her twice before their wedding. Haruhi had found the house very comfortable back then, but she never thought she would live there alone with Kyoya. Although, it made her feel a little more secure. She definitely would have stressed more if she lived with the rest of Ootoris and had them scrutinize her every action. There must have been a reason why Kyoya was so grumpy, and she suspected the reason was lying somewhere in Ootori family's inner workings.
"I will be waiting outside, sir," Tachibana bowed.
"I will call you, Tachibana-san," Kyoya said, "I am sure you need to go home and see your family."
"Thank you, Kyoya-sama," the man smiled.
After he left, Kyoya awkwardly stared at Haruhi. Haruhi smiled and walked towards him. "What now?" she asked cheekily.
"Nothing," he shook his head, "go get ready for the dinner. I need to prepare the documents concerning the Biotech for my father."
"I see," Haruhi pouted.
She could feel the smile forming on the bastard's face, that he so masterfully concealed. Did he find something funny? She rolled her eyes and walked away. She hoped they would rest after getting back. But now she knew what was waiting for them in the future.
When she took a quick shower and exited the room to get dressed, she was shocked to find Kyoya wandering in the halls having only a towel wrapped around his hips, while he was looking at pile of documents. She shook her head, complaining that the temperature in summer got way too high, and it was beyond her tolerance level.
Kyoya didn't notice her pointed stares and if he did, he was very good at hiding it. She thought long on how to dress up for the dinner with the Ootoris and eventually decided not to torture herself with odd thoughts and just wear whatever she would feel the most comfortable in. One of the dresses Elke had chosen for her seemed very beautiful and comfortable at the same time. It was a knee length black dress with beautiful lace turtle collar. She tried it on and it looked very nice on her. She even appeared to be a very fashionable judge if anything, and that warmed Haruhi's heart a bit.
"Are you ready to leave?" Kyoya asked, startling her.
She turned to look at her husband and was surprised to find him already properly dressed and ready. His black bangs were brushed back, and she liked to see him like this. It allowed her to gaze into his deep silver eyes with ease. She gasped, seeing those beautiful eyes behind the glasses, and looked away to hide her blush. She heard his chuckle though and was sure, the flash on her face didn't escape the overseeing eyes of Ootori Kyoya.
"Yes," she mumbled. "I hope your family isn't going to care much about the way I look."
"If they do," he said with an abstracted and detached voice that sent shivers down Haruhi's back, " too bad that's none of their business."
"You don't seem very happy," she noticed.
"I am happy," he assured her and grabbed her arm, "it's time to leave. I don't like being late."
Tachibana was already waiting when they left the house. Kyoya must have give him a call. He gave her a small, bright smile and opened the door for her. She could tell something exhausting was awaiting for them. She could feel that in Kyoya's tense shoulders and grim face. His expression had grown colder, and he looked like he was preparing for something unpleasant. She started to absentmindedly toy with the collar of her dress. She still was confused about everything and didn't want to jump into conclusions.
She knew very little about Ootori family. She had met his father and to be honest he was an absolute jerk. Fuyumi was a great woman and an amazing person. She was a little too over-the-top for Haruhi's taste, but she couldn't deny the fact that Kyoya's sister was a lighthearted, kind, friendly woman and in many aspects the exact opposite of Kyoya. She actually found it quite amusing. Now she didn't know much about his brothers or mother. She could tell he wasn't exactly too close with the other Ootori men.
When the car stopped and the door was opened for her, she felt almost nauseous, and the fear that what happened to them was growing even worse, crept into the back of her mind. She was scared to think that something like that could happen during the dinner. She felt Kyoya's hand on her shoulder, and she turned towards him and smiled at him.
"You seem abstracted he noted," raising one eyebrow.
"I was wondering," she said slowly, "if that thing wouldn't just start in the middle of the dinner."
"Don't worry," he said, but this time he sounded annoyed, "I have made sure no such thing would happen."
The Ootori estate was cold, almost glacial. She felt like she entered a place people didn't live at all, and it made her feel uncomfortable. The maids were all so identical, Haruhi thought for a moment they were not even real but were actually mechanical dolls. When she was still looking around mesmerized, staring at the lush decorations and trying to place the smell of fresh flowers in her head, she was distracted by someone jumping on her face and wrapping their hands around her neck.
She looked up startled to find Fuyumi smiling down at her.
"Haruhi-chan," she beamed, "I am so excited you are back. I was looking forward seeing you. How was the trip? Although, knowing Kyoya, I think it wasn't as fun as it could have been."
She eyed Kyoya warily and then gave him a big smile and went to hug him. Kyoya responded to her hug awkwardly, like a person who never hugs and physical contact with others is not a norm.
"You seem a bit too excited," he commented dryly, but his sister wasn't put off by that, she just shook her head and turned to Haruhi.
"You must tell me every detail of this trip," she said, biting her lips and clapping in anticipation.
"Stop prying, Fuyumi," his brother complained, but she didn't pay any attention to him and grabbing his wife's hand, dragged her away.
She just look back at her brother's scowling face and smiled cheekily. Haruhi looked terrified, but she went away with Fuyumi willingly. Being in the host club has trained Haruhi already in dealing with extra eccentric people. Kyoya knew she would manage. But he just didn't like his sister being so intrusive.
"Hello, little brother," Kyoya turned stiffly, hearing Akito's voice.
"Akito-san," he greeted with a short tight bow. "How are you doing?"
He gave him a curious smile, but then suddenly the smile faltered. "You are..." he started raising his eyebrows with confusion, "you look different."
His comment made Kyoya bleach. He stared back at his brother, but with iron will controlled any facial expression, giving any indication of him being affected by his words.
"I have brought the documents we have signed with the Biotech with me," he said, changing his tone, "I think it would be better if we discussed this before the dinner."
"Aren't you tired?" his brother suddenly asked, "you had just had a long trip. I understand that our father is a little unsympathetic to these kind of things, but I am sure that doesn't change the fact that you are a human and you are tired."
Since when did he care? Kyoya gave him a cold glare.
"I am not tired at all," he said, "I can handle myself."
Akito nodded taken aback but didn't push him any further. Kyoya seemed not to be the kind of person who would admit fatigue, after all. He was arrogant and proud. Akito hoped to catch his brother's little new wife and get to know her, but Fuyumi must have taken her somewhere already. Pity, he would have to wait. He was very curious about this entire marriage thing and couldn't wrap his head around the fact that their father didn't mind the marriage at all.
"How was the honeymoon?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Splendid," his brother replied without having any emotion playing on his face.
Akito sighed. It was hard to understand him. And that's why he wanted to get hold of the girl.
"I can tell," he sniggered, "I have seen some of the photos. They were quite dashing."
"I didn't know you were reading gossip tabloids," Kyoya frowned, but then smiled and got up. "Can we take this contract matter to father. I want to take care of this now."
"Of course," Akito nodded.
Yoshio Ootori looked quite pleased to see him. He didn't show that in any way. But Kyoya could tell from his general demeanor, after all emotions were not a thing in the family. He stared down at the signed contract with an appreciative scrutiny, and then he gave one of those approving nods.
"I hope since you will start going to university," he said, putting the papers in his drawer, "you will have time working in the company. It would be best to start early."
Kyoya nodded. He was glad everything worked out this way with his father. It was going to be amusing in a way, now that he was out of the school. He had a lot of things in mind. Haruhi, of course, was not part of his plans, but now he didn't think he would want her not to be there.
"And how is your wife?" Yoshio suddenly mused.
Kyoya stared at his father. He was smiling. The entire notion of him being married made the older man looked intrigued and a little humoured.
"I would hope she is good after Fuyumi dragged her away."
She was good, and he saw her when they went to the dining room to have dinner. She was smiling, and her smiled filled his heart with warmth. Kyoya had a feeling he was far gone beyond any point of return, but now he wasn't afraid of it at all anymore. He was glad to have her here at his side, and he had a feeling it was mutual. The dinner wasn't as rigid as he would expect. When their father was pleased, nobody dared to spoil his mood.
Haruhi was very tired afterwards, and he had to pick her up and take her to the car. He had a feeling his sister was staring down at them in an awe, but Fuyumi was just like that. He hoped only Akito wasn't near anywhere at least.
"You smell so good," she spoke in the car as she was leaning against his chest, her head tucked under his chin. He could smell her too, and he had to concentrate on something different not to snap right there and pull her up into a crazy kiss.
A/N- I know it has been a while. I am sorry. Work and travels didn't leave me any spare time.