Chapter Fourteen
Relax (Take It Easy)
Kyouya was having similar thoughts the next morning, as Tamaki's hangovers were apparently astronomically horrible.
"K-Kyouya? I…I think I'm gonna…"
These were the first words he had spoken when he had woken up, and Kyouya knew immediately what he was about to do. And he wasn't doing it in the bed. Or on the floor. He rushed into the washroom, pulling the blonde with him and all but shoving him in front of the toilet, kneeling behind him and supporting him as best he could.
Tamaki finished his business and collapsed against his friend, panting and sweat-covered. "G-Gomenasai…" he said weakly, and Kyouya felt a quick stab of pity upon seeing how pathetic Tamaki looked. "It…tasted like…juice…"
"Yes, that's generally the point," Kyouya replied dryly. "How's you head?"
"I think a marching band moved in," Tamaki groaned and slumped forward, and Kyouya was forced to catch him and haul him up before he landed in the toilet.
"I'm going to murder Hikaru."
"Don't, Mom. I should have known better." Tamaki closed his eyes. "I think I'm okay now, though," He attempted to stand, gripping the vanity to prevent himself from pitching over as his legs shook.
"Here." Kyouya dug under the counter and came up with a cup of mouthwash and a painkiller. "I'm not kissing you if you're going to taste like vomit and stale alcohol."
Tamaki nodded and accepted both, glancing at himself in the mirror once he had rinsed out his mouth and swallowed the pill. His hair was knotted and messed, he had dark circles under his violet eyes, and the eyes themselves were red and blood-shot. "Kyou-ya! I'm ugly!"
"Nonsense." Kyouya pulled him from the mirror and kissed him, mussing his hair even more by tangling his fingers in it.
They eventually moved out of the washroom (what is it with that toilet and people getting sick?) and Kyouya pressed Tamaki against the wall, moving his knee between the blonde's legs and drawing it up slowly, causing Tamaki to emit a low moan.
"A-Ano…"
Kyouya pulled away and turned to the door. "Ohayou, Haruhi."
"O-Ohayou," she replied with a smile. "How are you, Tamaki?"
"I…better, now," the blonde admitted.
"Yes; for some reason people seem to like throwing up in that particular toilet. I wonder why?" Kyouya mused aloud, a rather sardonic smile on his lean features. He still had Tamaki pinned to the wall, his knee raised enough to create friction that Tamaki was obviously feeling.
Haruhi really didn't want this to go any farther with her in the room, so she decided to do something she had never really dared to do before: retort. "And for some reason you seem to like molesting people in this particular room. I wonder why?" she countered with a small smile. And really, she couldn't have done anything else; the opportunity was too perfect to pass up.
Kyouya blinked at her in surprise for a moment before letting a soft chuckle escape his lips. "Point taken." He released Tamaki and stepped back. "How's Hikaru?"
"He doesn't really get hangovers," Haruhi shrugged. "Who knew?"
"I'm sure he knew perfectly well," Kyouya replied evenly. "Or perhaps he was merely hoping that I would take advantage of Tamaki's intoxication and have my way with him? From what Kaoru has told me, he seems quite anxious for us to 'do the deed,' as it were," he said, blinking thoughtfully.
"Knowing my brother, probably," Kaoru sauntered in, a Cheshire grin firmly planted on his face. Obviously he had been watching the previous exchange for a while. "He does seem rather desperate for you two to hook up in that way."
"Or else he simply enjoys taunting us about it far more than any normal person would," Kyouya grunted. "Are the others downstairs?"
"Yeah."
"Tell them we'll be right down."
His tone signalled the end of the conversation, and Haruhi and Kaoru departed soon afterward.
000
"Ah, Tono, how are you?"
"I'm going to kill you."
"Come on, Mom! It was all…"
"Stop trying to force us into sleeping together."
The others were watching this exchange as one might watch a tennis match; their heads were swivelling back and forth from one side of the table to the other. Except for Tamaki, who had chosen to bury his head in his folded arms and plug his ears as best he could. He let out a pained groan every time the volume reached a certain level, but at the moment the two in heated argument weren't paying much attention to him.
Hikaru was leaning back in his chair; he had it tipped so that only the rear legs were touching the floor as he propped his feet up on the table. A knowing smirk was on his face; and along with his half-lidded eyes he was the very picture of a feline predator toying with its prey.
Kyouya, however, was far from defenceless. He was leaning across the table, his jaw set and annoyance visible in every line of his body.
"Tamaki, what are we doing today?"
The unexpected question from Mori; said in a soft voice so as not to strain the blonde's ears; effectively broke the tension in a way that nothing else probably could have. Tamaki glanced up and opened his eyes, pleased to see and hear that the argument had ceased, and he pondered Mori's question for a minute.
"My head still really hurts. Could we just…stay at the beach today?" he asked sheepishly.
"Yay!" Hani bounced in his chair, managing to keep his enthusiasm in check. "It'll be so much fun; ne, Takashi?"
"Aa."
"I don't suppose any of us could really object," Kyouya pulled out his clipboard and started writing. "But first, I need some breakfast; and so do you." He looked at Tamaki, who opened his mouth slightly. "Yes, I know you're not hungry, but believe me: you'll feel even worse if you leave your stomach empty."
"Yes, Mom." Tamaki said meekly, glancing down.
"He's only looking out for you, Tono," Kaoru said kindly.
"Look, Kao: just because you slept together doesn't mean you have to always defend him," Hikaru looked grumpy as he crossed his arms.
"But Hika-ru…you know I would much rather spend my nights with you." Kaoru glanced demurely down and fluttered his eyelashes, a slight blush tingeing his cheeks.
"Kaoru," Hikaru whispered as he leant forward and cupped his brother's cheek. "Oh, Kaoru, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm a horrible brother."
"Never, Hikaru!" Kaoru moved forward so that they were nearly touching.
Hikaru suddenly broke the moment by grinning and saying, "Yup, we've still got it." He kissed the tip of his brother's nose and Kaoru started laughing.
"Five years hasn't put a dent in your act, has it?" Haruhi looked rather impressed.
"Not in our act," Kaoru agreed.
"And hopefully not in our relationship either," Hikaru added hastily. "Right, Kaoru?"
"Hikaru, we've been through this! I don't have any grudges toward you," Kaoru sighed.
"Just making sure."
Kaoru shook his head and sat back, although he couldn't help smiling when Hikaru's hand found his under the table and held it tightly.
Hikaru had told him what had happened with Haruhi the morning before, but instead of being dejected about it as Kaoru had feared, he had seemed strangely relieved. Deciding that he'd figure it out in time, he picked up his fork in his free hand and continued eating his breakfast.
000
"Ne, ne, Takashi?"
"Hai, Mitsukuni?"
"Do you think Hika-chan will ever tell Kao-chan how he really feels?" Hani looked up at his tall cousin, brown eyes blinking innocently.
"When he's ready."
"Aa." Hani looked back at his sandcastle, frowning slightly as he realized that a crab had invaded while he was occupied and was perched on top of one of the unfinished turrets, clicking its front pincers in a menacing way.
Deciding to let the crab have his prize, Hani stood up and brushed his trunks off, glancing at the others.
Haruhi and Kyouya were laying on loungers, sipping fruit juices and quietly conversing, while Tamaki; whose hangover had suddenly disappeared; and the twins were involved in a rather typical water gun fight/yelling match that was moving up and down the beach.
"I think Hika-chan and Kao-chan are meant to be with each other, just like Tama-chan and Kyou-chan," he added. "What do you think, Takashi?"
Mori looked thoughtful as his calm grey eyes took in the rest of the Host Club. "Everything will end as it should," he finally replied.
And while not entirely an agreement, Hani took it regardless and glanced down, glad to note that the invader crab had scuttled off. He picked up his shovel and knelt down again. "Ne, ne, Takashi: help me with my sand castle?"
"Aa."
000
Kyouya walked down the beach carrying a tray full of drinks in one hand. Tamaki had recovered miraculously from his after-effects of the alcohol from the night before, and now he was fulfilling one of his fantasies from five years ago: sharing a romantic sunset with Haruhi on the beach.
Of course, the romance part was a little dulled; it was more like a case of two close friends watching the sunset together; and the fact that all of the members of the Host Club were present was probably not the most solitary setting that Tamaki had envisioned in his original dream.
But, nonetheless, they were watching the sunset. Kyouya balanced the tray carefully as he ascended one of the large rocks, reaching the flat surface on top and smiling at the sight that greeted him.
Haruhi was currently attempting to pry Tamaki off of her, but when it was apparent that the blonde was not going to let go anytime soon, she soon decided that it wasn't worth the trouble to fight him and relaxed into his embrace.
Kyouya reasoned that five years ago the proximity that Tamaki and Haruhi were currently sharing would have only served to make him jealous, but now he was fairly confident that there was no danger of Haruhi stealing Tamaki away from him.
He stood there and watched the other six for a few more seconds, until Kaoru; who was laying rather comfortably in his brother's arms; turned and noticed him, his golden eyes flashing in the dying sunlight.
Kyouya moved forward and served the drinks to everyone before taking one for himself and sitting close to Tamaki. Haruhi attempted to move again, but Kyouya shook his head.
"Aw, come on, Mommy! You look so lonely!" Tamaki turned with a smile and held out his hand, and Kyouya eventually accepted it and shifted closer, letting Tamaki put an arm around his shoulders.
"I'm moving," Haruhi announced. "I feel like I'm intruding on something."
"But, Haruhi…" Tamaki protested, although she ignored him and stood up.
"Ha-ru-hi…" the twins called in a sing-song way, and she regarded them carefully for a moment before going to join them, leaning against Kaoru, who was still in his brother's embrace.
"This is nice; all of us together like this," Hani sounded pleased.
"Yeah." Tamaki's eyes were still glued to the sunset, and when the last rays disappeared over the horizon, he grabbed Kyouya by the collar and kissed him. "I owe you one," he muttered against the younger man's lips, and Kyouya knew he was referring to the ferris wheel.
He rolled his eyes and pulled Tamaki close, and he continued to hold him there even after the blonde had pulled away. "You and your romantic clichés."
"Always. Because you're so unromantic that I have to work twice as hard," he winked. "And I bet you won't even deny it."
"I couldn't possibly."
"Love you."
"Tamaki, not in front of the children." Kyouya smiled wryly.
"Kyou-ya!"
"I love you too, baka."
Tamaki was content with that, and they sat in comfortable silence while the night fell around them.
So, in BregoArodShadowfax news, I START UNI ON MONDAY!! AAAH!! I took a year of College, so I don't know how different it will be, but I'm a little nervous…
Also…I SAW SIMPLE PLAN TONIGHT!! AND THEY ROCKED HARDCORE!! Honestly, it was better than I expected, and next week I'm going with my parents to…Elton John. Yes, Elton John. What can I say? My musical tastes are varied!! (As is probably proven with the chapter titles!)
Other than that, keep the awesome reviews comin'! And thank you a billion times for reviewing until now!!
The song 'Relax (Take It Easy)' is by MIKA.