Quick Note: Extra Long Chapter... couldn't quite shorten or split this scene up... enjoy!
Disclaimer: None of the hosts belong to me... :-(
A lifetime of experience acting perfectly impassive in difficult situations was about all that was keeping me together at this point. Even though I had been the one initiating all the physical contact, acting like sitting there with my arm around her was no big deal… my heart was racing and despite the chill in the air, my skin was on fire where it touched hers.
Even though I had been touching her all day, my focus had been on the other hosts, my contact being more territorial… now that my motives were purely to be close to her, I felt my nerve wavering. She seemed completely engrossed in the conversation she was having with Honey and Tamaki about s'mores and commoner camping, but I found I could only concentrate on her body leaning slightly against mine, how every time she leaned in to accept an ingredient, she'd leave my arm, cold and longing, only to sink back against it returning me to my overheated state.
Without considering her possible interpretations, I had suggested that we share… thinking it was obvious I meant the skewer to make our s'mores… but with Haruhi, I was finding assumptions to be dangerous at best. I realized my error as she turned to me with a slight chocolate smear across her lips, "Kyoya, would you like a taste?"
My heart just about stopped in my chest as I eyed her lips greedily, only to see that she was holding the rest of her s'more up to me so I could take a bite. She must do that on purpose! There is no one way someone could be such a naïve temptress! Letting out a breath I didn't realized I was holding and forcing my eyes away from her lips, I paused slightly before leaning in towards the messy treat and taking a bite from it still in her hand. Her eyes widened, licking her lips slightly as she watched me close the gap.
I had never been much for sweets, but as I savored the sloppy snack, my mind kept wandering back to the idea of bittersweet chocolate kisses with the petite brunette sitting dangerously close to me. I tried to think about my company, school, profits, anything… desperately trying to reign in my tortured mind… while also attempting to subtly adjust my posture to hide the evidence belying the darker nature of my true thoughts. Not an easy task with five pairs of scrutinizing eyes bearing down on you…
"Haruhi…" Kaoru purred from the seat next to hers, "You have a little bit of chocolate on your face… want me to help you with that?" Did they have the memory of a goldfish? I had almost felt bad for bullying them earlier, but in less than an hour, they had clearly already gotten over it…
Ignoring his offer, Haruhi turned up to face me, the picture of innocence, "Is there really chocolate on my face? Could you help me get it?" All my earlier attempts to control my thoughts were rendered completely futile as my gaze once again moved hungrily down to her mouth. I felt my control slipping as I slowly began leaning towards the object of my desire. Just as I was about to lose myself completely and smash my lips against hers to quench this fervent need… Honey came skipping over and began to gently wipe Haruhi's mouth with a napkin…
"There you go, Haru-chan! All better…" I pulled back sitting straight in my seat again… my emotions were in a chaotic whirlwind… was I happy he stopped me? Was I almost angry for the interruption? How could I have so easily lost all shreds of self control? And still despite the derailed attempt, the urgent feeling to lay claim to her lips remained. Is this insane inner turmoil typical of love?
Fortunately, I did not have time to continue my musings as the twins proposed we play a game… and for once, I welcomed the distraction…
Tamaki's eyes lit up shining at the thought, "Haruhi, what are some commoner games you might play around a fire?" He waited with bated breath, yet still managing to let out a small slightly girlish squeal.
After rolling her eyes at the blond Host King's ever obnoxious behavior, she lifted her hand to her chin in contemplation… "Well… there are games like 'I Never' or 'Truth or Dare'…"
"Those are perfect! Let's play those!"He declared without even letting her finish. Completely unperturbed, she simply shrugged in noncommittal agreement and began explaining the rules.
"'I Never' is usually played as a drinking game, where each person takes a turn declaring something that they have never done, and then everyone around the fire who has done that thing must drink. Well… it doesn't have to be drinking, it can be pretty much any indicator…"
Her words trailed off as the twins had come bounding back to the fire pit with a tray of frozen drinks… Sighing slightly as they began distributing the beverages, she continued her explanation, "You want to try and name things that you think someone else in the group has done, but you know you haven't… for example, I could say that I've never been to a hot springs… and you would probably all have to drink"
Tamaki's eye's filled with tears like he'd been slapped, "My poor neglected daughter! Kyoya! Next weekend book us at the best onsen Japan has to offer!" Always totally missing the point… though, a weekend at the hot springs with Haruhi wasn't his worst idea…
Shaking her head and ignoring the antics, she continued, "Also, if you do get everyone but you to drink, you get to go again… If everyone understands, then I'll start… I've never been outside the country"
Everyone but Haruhi began sipping from the drinks forced on us by the twins. "Okay, maybe I'll go with something a little more specific… I've never worn red silk boxers"
Did she really just say that? She couldn't possibly understand the connotations… Having made the masochistic mistake of wearing silk boxers in the past, I simply sat there grateful that they were never red, while Hikaru and Tamaki both took a long gulp at their drink… she looked around the group, "Are you starting to understand the game? Kaoru, you're next…"
"Okay…" his face lit up with an evil grin "I've never made out with Kyoya!" If looks could kill, I'd be a mass murderer tonight… Haruhi nonchalantly began drinking while Tamaki jumped up from his seat pointing to the younger twin, "No! There will be no targeting of my precious daughter!"
Kaoru's smile spread even further across his face, "Actually, Tono, it was targeted at you… we figured the whole 'Mother', 'Father' thing had to come from somewhere…" I felt my blood boiling, but did not let it seep to my outward appearance… after all, their turn would come…
Tamaki continued ranting about how terrible and idiotic could those to devils be, but was quickly cut off as Hikaru took his turn, "I've never kissed a girl" He said a little nervous with a fleeting glance over at Haruhi, I noticed… but with that, everyone but the twins was drinking…
Hikaru's face flushed, "Seriously? Everyone?" I couldn't help myself but prolong his embarrassment, "Hmmm, it seems even Haruhi has more luck with women than you two…" He huffed and turned away clearly frustrated… That's right… point for me…
A rare playful smile appeared on Mori's face, "I've never eaten cake off of another person" Honey promptly picked up his glass and began guzzling the daiquiri… my jaw hung loosely in awe, along with all of the other hosts around the table. How did I not know about this?
As soon as his attention was turned back from his drink, Honey piped up, "Oh yeah? Well, I've never dressed up like a French maid!" I felt myself go numb with a combination of shame and fear… of all the damn things he could say!
I tried to subtly take a sip of my drink along with Haruhi and Tamaki, but I wasn't discreet enough… I could ignore the other disbelieving stares, but I was stuck when Haruhi lowered her glass and turned to me wide-eyed, waiting for an explanation. Signing, knowing there was no way out but the truth, "You know those stories with the overbearing sisters who feel the need to treat their younger siblings like dolls… Well, mine's ten times worse."
Even though she let a cute smile show, she seemed satisfied with that answer and turned to face Tamaki expectantly, "You're up sempai!" I let out a strained sigh, happy to have the attention so easily diverted from me. After a few seconds of silence, I looked over to see what was taking him so long. He sat there with his brow furrowed in concentration, mimicking the statue of the Thinker…
"Oh, come on Tono, if it's too hard for you to come up with something, just say something easy like… I've never kissed a boy!"
More silence… only this was quickly covered over with frantic rambling, "This game isn't fair! Have you noticed that I have to drink just about every time! As King, I officially ban this game from the host club! Haruhi! Let's move onto commoner game number two!"
Wow… It's rare, for me anyways, to discover so many interesting facts all in one night…
They should really just name this game, 'Let's Pick on Tamaki'… I tried to skirt the unspoken question hanging in the air by moving the group onto the next game. As I finished my rant about the injustice of it all, Haruhi just shook her head and let out an exasperated breath, "Fine, Truth or Dare… I assume everyone knows how to play? You pick Truth or Dare and if you refuse to answer the question or perform the challenge, you get to be punished by the person asking you…"
Punished? I tried not to get sucked up into my mind's eye where I could see my dearest Haruhi in shackles at the mercy of the two devils across from me… barely able to lift her trembling hands to serve them a frozen drink on the silver platter only to have them carelessly knock it away, "No! My poor Haruhi!"
I was snapped out of my daydream by a firm and rather unpleasant smack to the back of my head from Kyoya next to me… How could he be so cruel when all I wanted was to protect her!
Seemingly completely unaware or unaffected by my plight, Hikaru jumped up from his chair, insisting he go first, "Haruhi! Truth or Dare?"
I noticed Kyoya tense, sitting a little straighter, but maintaining the same stoic mask he had long since defaulted to… Haruhi sat thoughtful for a moment before her resolve washed across her face… looking back to Hikaru, with hesitation, she spoke in almost a defiant manner, "Dare."
Almost as if he expected this turn of events Hikaru began to gloat as he declared, "Sit in Tamaki's lap for the remainder of the game!" I had to do a double take, not fully registering what the sadistic twin was saying… He didn't really just say that, did he? I looked over to Kyoya whose calm mask was beginning to crack noticeably and then down to Haruhi next to him, who seemed to bristle a little at the notion, "And my punishment if I don't?"
The twins leaned in with matching maniacal Cheshire grins, and cooed, "Well then you get to share our bed tonight…" Just as I was about to jump up protesting such a violation of my sweetest Haruhi's purity, Kyoya snapped first… " Absolutely not! She will be staying in my room… Tamaki, you can sleep on the couch downstairs."
I balked at this declaration, leaping to my feet, an expression of horror twisting my features, "No! No! No! We will not have a repeat of last week! Mother and Father will both be there! You will not spend another unsupervised night in the same bed with my precious daughter again!" Striking a pose and pointing an accusatory finger toward my best friend for emphasis.
"Again?" This time it was Mori who chimed into the conversation, his face waning between hurt and perplexed. The group quickly fell silent, except for a few slight giggles from the demon twins.
Feeling like an idiot for coming out and announcing that, I began turning a bright red… Only to just as quickly have all the blood drain from my face as Haruhi rose from her seat with a look of determination as she stepped over to me and settled into my lap, punctuating her movements. I froze letting out an audible gulp…
I lost all train of thought. And at the same time, couldn't stop my mind from reeling… Was this really happening? Can I really survive this for the whole game? I chanced a glance over towards Kyoya… I am so going to die! Damn those twins! That was their plan the whole time!
My eyes widened in terror as a realization hit me… "S-sorry Haruhi… C-could you please stand up for a s-second?" I tried to adjust discreetly before letting her sit back down, but still managed to infuriate Kyoya as his eyes narrowed on me. The Hell did he expect me to do!
Completely oblivious to my awkward situation, Haruhi took her turn in the game, "Honey-sempai! Truth or Dare?" She shifted slightly, to gain a better purchase on my lap…
Without even a moment's hesitation, Honey shouted back, "Truth!" His eye's gleaming and brimming with excited innocent tears… Haruhi paused for a moment, and then asked, "Who was it that you ate cake off of?"
His innocent glee shifted into a knowing smirk, "And if I don't want to say?" Haruhi lifted her delicate finger to her dainty chin… only inches from mine. My back stiffened slightly as she leaned back against me with a challenging smile playing across her tempting features, "Then no more sweets for the rest of the game, and that includes s'mores!"
I hardly even noticed as Honey began flailing and crying, "Wah! Takashi! Haru-chan is so mean! She knows I can't kiss and tell! But I want more s'mores!" His eyes watered innocently as he gaze up to the gentle giant beside him. He reached down a reassuring hand to pat his cousin's head, "We'll have more after the game."
The littlest host seemed somewhat placated with this thought and attempted to stifle his sniffles as he turned expectantly to Kyoya, "Kyoya, Truth or Dare?"
I couldn't help but think it was a silly question… in my mind it was perfectly obvious what he would pick, this being Kyoya and all… information was practically his trade, "Truth" He stated flatly, taking no time to weigh the choice.
Honey's remaining sobs trailed off abruptly and the innocent gleam in his eye was replaced with something quite different, "In that case, what base have you hit with Haruhi?"
The frozen drink Kyoya had been sipping was soon being coughed up, "E-excuse me?" He muttered between coughs looking surprise at the loli-shota… "I said what base have you gotten to with Haruhi?" He reiterated as if he were asking for the time or his name…
I could feel Haruhi tense against me, her small skirt riding up slightly as she leaned forward in anticipation to his response… I gulped heavily once again trying to force my focus and gaze back on the game, neither was completely successful…
Despite the momentary lapse in his cool exterior, Kyoya had already fully recovered and feigning disinterest, replied to the little antagonist, "I believe we've qualified for second base… and I might add that you were there."
What? At this revelation I nearly jumped to my feet, only just realizing in time that to do so would have sent a displaced Haruhi sprawling towards the fire… instead it became more of me bouncing on my seat in annoyance, "What has Mother been doing to my precious daughter! How could you violate her innocence, destroy her purity!"
"Shut up, Tamaki!" Kyoya snapped and I calmed myself back down, adjusting Haruhi's dainty frame in to a more secured and protected position on my lap. I may no longer be ranting, but I'll be damned if he's going to lay another hand on her tonight!
Pinching the bridge of his nose and buying time to weigh his options, Kyoya turned his focus over to Mori, "Mori, Truth or Dare?"
Without breaking his gaze and with little hesitation, Mori curtly replied, "Dare."
With a tone far too serious and stern for a mere commoner game, Kyoya narrowed his eyes and growled, "Don't touch Haruhi for the rest of the trip." Returning his glare and not backing down from the unspoken challenge, Mori's low voice returned, "Or else what?"
A rather demonic grin distorted Kyoya's cool features as he leaned back triumphantly in his chair as if it were his throne, "Or else… go skinny dipping in the ocean immediately"
In a flash, the tall teen was already barreling towards the shore stripping his tank top off as he ran, leaving behind a rather shocked Shadow King whose plan had obviously failed him… Even though between the darkness and the low stone wall of the patio, it was unlikely she would see anything, I gingerly shielded Haruhi's eyes as I murmured… "Wild Type, remember?"
Kyoya's surprise soon morphed into sheer displeasure as he watched with fury as the sopping wet man with his dry clothes clinging to him ran back onto the patio and resumed his place between Hikaru and Honey. Wild or not… I still can't believe he just did that…
With a victorious smile pulling at one corner of his mouth, Mori turned to me as I slowly lowered my hand from its protective position over Haruhi's angelic face… "Tamaki, Truth or Dare?" I tried to swallow to get the knot out of my throat, but to no avail… After the last game, there was no way I could pick Truth…
"Dare?" I tried not to squeak out, as I nervously and unwittingly tightened my grip on Haruhi's arms…she squirmed uncomfortably in my grasp drawing my attention back down to her. Realizing that I was unintentionally hurting her, I quickly released my hold before turning back to Mori's patient façade.
"Act like Kyoya for the rest of the night." Could I even do that if I wanted to? Did I really want to? I glanced over to the passive face of the Demon Lord, clearly annoyed but refusing to let it show, lest he grant his tormentor some form of victory… The punishment Mori came up with couldn't possibly be as bad as Kyoya's wrath if I were to do this…
"Any other options?" I meekly implored Mori… hoping for mercy… and not getting it. "Spend the night with the twins." Two outraged voices chimed from across the fire whining about how unfair that they would get punished for me being too chicken…
Instead of joining the chorus of futile arguments, I fell silent and began weighing my options… There was simply no way I could survive a night of abuse with the twins… one of us surely wouldn't survive, and them having the advantage of numbers wasn't very encouraging…
On the other hand, if I acted like Kyoya… there was always the chance that he would correctly direct his anger at Mori since it was his fault anyways… either that or the twins were bound to do something else stupid tonight and draw away his wrath…
I had just about sold myself on the idea when my thoughts shifted to the slender form pressed against me… Second Base, huh? Well acting like him with his recent clingy behavior would be the perfect excuse to keep his hands off of her… the corner of my mouth perking up slightly at the notion.
Straightening my posture, wiping all emotion from my face, and pulling Haruhi back against me with a possessive arm around her waist, I coolly stated, "Fine, then I accept your challenge."
I turned a steely glare towards Kaoru, ignoring the surprised expressions all around me, "Kaoru. Truth or Dare…" I announced, giving nothing away to indicate which was preferable… This acting like Kyoya thing was a lot harder than I thought…
With clear trepidation, unsure at how best to handle me now… he cleared his throat lightly and spoke, "Dare?" I slowly allowed a controlled and intimidating smile pull at my lips, "I mean Truth, Truth!"
A false expression of concern was now painted skillfully on my face, "Are you sure, Kaoru?" I purred hoping to further unnerve him… and succeeding. He merely swallowed hard and began nodding slightly… my evil smile returning quickly to my face. "Very well then, it has come to my attention that earlier today you and your brother were slapped by Haruhi. I want to know what you did to deserve it"
His eyes widened as his eyes flitted between his brother and Kyoya before coming back to meet mine, "And my alternative?" My joyless smile fell as I neutrally announced, "You will simply be responsible for waking Kyoya tomorrow…"
"Do I really come off so frightening?" Kyoya muttered to no one in particular…Kaoru's nervous glance flying back to Kyoya again, he announced, "I'll take that one…" Fighting the urge to throw a fit over what they could have possibly done… and now won't admit… I tighten my lips as I nearly growled out, "Interesting…"
Kyoya on the other hand, who was clearly too incensed to behave like himself, had stood and was moving threateningly towards the twins when I called out, "Kyoya, sit down. I am to act like you, not vice versa."
Opening his mouth to retort, but just as quickly closing it, his eyes briefly conveyed to me his malcontent as he stalked back to his seat. I am so going to get my ass kicked later…
The mood had noticeably darkened and Kaoru made no attempt at taking a turn… so I did what I thought Kyoya would do in this situation… if he were in his right mind anyway…
I stood, setting Haruhi down lightly on the ground next to me, moving my arm that was around her waist down to hold her hand instead, "If everyone has already tired of this game, I recommend we get ready for bed…" Haruhi let out a small bewildered noise as she looked from our entwined hands back up to my face.
I began pulling her gently to the stairs as Honey came bouncing over… "Hey Tama-chan, where are you going with Haru-chan?" he asked looking up wide-eyed to us. I let a confident smirk return to my face as I declared, "Well it had already been established that Haruhi would share my room…" another unintelligible sound escaped Haruhi's delicious lips, while my very disgruntled vice president less than subtly cleared his throat behind me to draw my gaze…
"Yes, Kyoya?" I quipped with mock interest… he huffed as he grabbed Haruhi's other hand and proceeded up the stairs dragging her mercilessly up after him with not so much as a good night to the rest of the hosts.
I followed coolly up behind them, brimming over with a well-controlled amusement… This was going to be a fun night…