Hello :D Last instalment of the big race! Who's going to win? Read and find out! I'm not going to spoil it for you! Haha! It's all or nothing for the Host Club so please enjoy!
This would have been up sooner-except my computer was having problems...major tantrum throwing etc etc.
Disclaimer: Perhaps for the final time… I don't own Ouran…
Chapter 20- Finale
(Somewhere in the maze...)
Still hesitating at the fork in the maze, Haruhi paused to think. Right or left? Right could lead her to a dead end…then again, so could the left. One might lead her to the centre. She turned her back on the fork. "Maybe I just came the wrong way?" she wondered, looking back down the path she had originally come. "Time's ticking on…"
The routes both looked identical, apart from branching off in two different directions. "Sort of like life," Haruhi mused to herself. Being with Kyoya-senpai and being without Kyoya-senpai a voice suggested in her head. Haruhi started. "No! Not what I was thinking of at all!" There was a pause. "Was it?"
"I'll end up doing ip-dip-do in a minute," Haruhi sighed, with a shake of her head. "Oh for goodness sake, I'll just take the right one." Purposely she strode towards the right fork. Now is this the one for Kyoya? Her brain asked, before the thought was quashed by the more realistic side of her brain.
Pleasantly surprised that she had not come to a dead end, Haruhi continued onwards, picking up the pace to a fast trot. She took a left, another right, the middle path of a three way junction, blindly moving forwards. "Something tells me, there's a right hand rule about mazes…" Haruhi remembered, looking at her right hand. "Or is that for getting out?"
There was a sudden rustling to her left and Haruhi froze. Was it another participant? From the Host Club or another team? She waited, half hidden in the overgrown shrubbery.
Out of the greenery, emerged a familiar figure, but not one she was hoping to run into. It was a member of the Ouran Orages, the Ouran Football team. Studying him from her hiding place, she placed the name Hayoto Tarumi with the body. Taking a step backwards to hide herself further, Haruhi cursed as a twig snapped beneath her foot.
Hayoto swung around immediately, scanning the area for any other movement or sound. "Is someone there?" he asked, sounding rather nervous.
Haruhi remained very still, the only movement her eyes as they watched the young man. She couldn't afford to move and alert him to her presence. I feel like some crazy, undercover agent! Haruhi thought, rolling her eyes. I can't believe I'm taking it this seriously…
On hearing nothing else, Hayoto continued down the green avenue, continuously glancing over his shoulder to check if anyone was behind him. Haruhi waited, counting slowly to ten, before easing out of the bushes. She watched Hayoto disappear round a bend and then continued in the opposite direction, away from him. I hope I'm going in the right direction!
Taking another right, Haruhi reached a dead end. "Damn. I can't have been this way before," Haruhi muttered to herself. "Maybe if I backtrack slightly…" turning around she took a few steps back the path she had come and saw a small passage to the left.
"Haven't been down there," she said, pushing the overhanging hedges out of her way. This path was narrower than the others she had previously been done and at first she was unsure whether to follow it. "Stop being so silly Haruhi!" she scolded herself. Pushing herself through, glad she was quite small in stature; she saw something at the end of it and determinedly moved onwards.
Suddenly, the dark, narrow green avenue opened out into a wide square open area. Stepping out of the dark, cool maze, the sunlight made Haruhi's eyes water and she blinked rapidly, putting up a hand to shield her eyes. Looking around she saw, positioned near a potted tree placed in the centre of the quad, a deckchair, it's occupant leisurely relaxing, iced drink on a small table, laptop on lap, butler in black standing just behind.
Approaching, Haruhi recognized the young man immediately. "Kyoya-senpai?" The right route after all…
"Come over Haruhi," Kyoya beckoned from his chair. "Reynaldo, another chair and drink please," he instructed the butler.
Out of nowhere, another deckchair was produced along with a tall glass, several different coloured straws for her to choose and Reynaldo waiting for Haruhi to name a drink.
"Sit down," Kyoya indicated to the chair.
Nervously, Haruhi sank into it, surprised at how comfortable it was. Silence settled on the pair as Reynaldo stood a little way off, allowing the two some privacy. Haruhi felt the urge to fidget. Maybe I should have brought that Geography essay I needed to do…Describe and Explain the Nutrient Cycling and Energy Profiles of a Temperate Deciduous Biome…don't we have anything to talk about?
Kyoya's fingers hovered over the keyboard, waiting to type. This is slightly awkward, nothing that I didn't foresee…I at least thought we were past the stage of awkward silences…
"Is this the centre of the maze?" Haruhi asked suddenly. "We've won?"
"In answer to your first question, yes. I'm surprised you reached here first, though maybe I shouldn't be. Secondly, no we haven't won- yet. The team who wins is the first team to have all of its members in the centre by this tree."
"Oh, I see. So now we wait," Haruhi said, exhaling slowly. "With a pretty good advantage."
"You were with the twins?" Kyoya asked, picking up his glass, the ice cubes swirling around and clinking gently against the glass. The leaves on the tree rustled softly in the light breeze, casting a cooling shade over the two students.
"I was, but I lost them," Haruhi explained.
"They took a left while you carried straight on," Kyoya said casually.
"Did they? Wait- how do you know?" Haruhi asked, sitting up straight in the deckchair.
Kyoya indicated to the laptop, swivelling it around for Haruhi to see. On the screen was the layout of the whole maze, spread out like a computer game, with flashing lights indicating the different people moving about. Two dots were steady in the centre.
"Isn't that cheating?" Haruhi asked sceptically, looking at the blueprints.
"I call it being prepared," Kyoya brushed her comment aside. "With Tamaki and the twins we need to have certain plans laid down." He pointed out a dot near the outside of the maze that was currently going round in hopeless circles.
"You seem prepared for everything," said Haruhi, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of her drink from a purple straw. "Poor Tamaki-senpai." She could just imagine the Host Club King spiralling round, completely at a loss in some corner of the maze. That would be just like him.
"For most things," Kyoya admitted, glancing at her. Not all maybe. But that was something he would only admit to himself- and very reluctantly at that. "I make it one of my mottos."
"Like the boys scouts?" Haruhi smiled.
Kyoya raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe not then…" Haruhi trailed off, averting her eyes and looking around the open courtyard. Silence drifted over the pair again. She thought back to the restaurant that Kyoya had taken her to, remembering that she really needed to thank him properly for that at some point.
What is she thinking about? Why does Haruhi have to be so difficult to read? Kyoya thought as he watched her gazing around. I never really did say how attractive she did look in that dress…now is not the best time though…
"When will everyone else be here?" Haruhi asked, looking back at Kyoya, missing his head snapping back to look at his laptop.
So she doesn't enjoy my company? Kyoya thought, raising an eyebrow.
Haruhi seemed to understand his silent thought and blushed slightly, protesting immediately. "Not that I don't like being here…with you, it's just tense wondering who's going to get here first," she explained.
"That is difficult to predict. Some stumble in the right direction and then go off again," Kyoya said. "Though it looks like we have company, and not the sort that would favour us."
He looked over his shoulder and indeed someone had just walked bemusedly out of the maze and into the centre quad, stumbling towards the two hosts. It was Hayoto Tarumi of the Football Club and another member of the club, of which Haruhi did not know the name of. Their confused looks disappeared as they whooped in delight and high-fived.
Haruhi groaned. "That's not good."
"There is still time," Kyoya said, shutting his laptop and sliding it back into its case. "Reynaldo you can pack everything up now. Thank you." He stood up and Haruhi followed his example.
Reynaldo bowed and with a flourish the chairs, table, laptop, drinks and butler all vanished. There was no trace that the butler had even been there at all. Haruhi was beginning to think that she had imagined it all. She blinked and looked around.
"Where did he go?"
"Only the best butlers are able to do that," Kyoya pushed up his glasses, looking quite smug. "And only the best are employed by the Ootoris."
"Figures," Haruhi agreed. "But now you can't see who will arrive next." The laptop with the blueprints of the maze was gone.
"It may level the playing field slightly for the others," Kyoya pushed his glasses up his nose. "But I am still prepared." I just hope it does not have to end with THAT plan...
"Haru-chan!" a familiar piping voice hailed the two from the Host Club. Even as she turned around, Haruhi had a beaming smile on her face, Honey skipping towards her with Mori walking behind him.
"Honey-senpai! Mori-senpai! You made it!" Haruhi exclaimed.
"I smelt something cake like!" Honey said proudly. "So I followed my nose here!" He turned around anxiously. "Where is it?"
Haruhi looked to her left and saw Kyoya retrieving a sticky looking bun from a bag that Reynaldo had left him. "Honey-senpai, this is yours," he handed the small senior the sweet cake.
Honey clapped in delight as he received the cake off of Kyoya and immediately began to tuck in, though not before Mori had whipped out a napkin from his pocket and tucked it into Honey's shirt neck to catch any crumbs.
Haruhi raised an eyebrow as Kyoya brushed crumbs off of his hands. "This is what you meant? By being prepared?"
"Perhaps," Kyoya would not reveal anything more.
Haruhi smiled as Honey licked his lips, squeaking "delicious" in his high pitched voice.
"Now we just have to wait for Hikaru and Kaoru and Tamaki-senpai," Haruhi ticked the names off on her fingers as members of various other teams, still not complete filtered into the grassy square. "I hope they get here soon."
"Makoto Togholiin," Mori said suddenly, making Haruhi jump.
"Yes, it looks as though three more of the Football Club have found there way here," Kyoya observed coolly.
"Well, well, looks like the Host Club look to be lacking in numbers," Makoto said, swaggering over to where the four hosts were standing, missing three. "This is in the bag for the Ouran Orages! We're only missing one member of our team, Captain Kuze, and I'm sure he's on his way here as we speak."
"So are the members of our team," Kyoya said nonchalantly.
Makoto hesitated. "Our Captain will be here before that! Be prepared to lose!" With that he left the hosts, walking back to where his team were standing, almost complete in numbers.
"No one else has a full team yet do they?" Honey asked tentatively.
"No, everyone is without a member of two. In some cases three or four," Kyoya informed the Host Club.
"More are still arriving though," Haruhi pointed out as a couple more boys entered, enthusiastically welcomed by their teams. "Where are those twins and Tamaki-senpai?"
Five tense minutes passed and Haruhi had to fight the urge to pace. Honey, having over-exerted himself, was atop Mori's back, blearily acting as a sentry to any promising figures that might belong to the Host Club. Kyoya was very still.
"They're here!" Honey suddenly sat bolt up right, pointing over Mori's right ear. Haruhi whipped around and saw a dishevelled looking Hikaru and Kaoru making their way over. Both brightened considerably as they spotted the four hosts who had already arrived.
"We thought we would be here first!" Hikaru complained.
"Though knowing Kyoya-senpai, maybe second and third," Kaoru relented.
"I'm just glad you're both here," Haruhi said. "Now we're just waiting for Tamaki-senpai."
"Aw Haruhi- that's the nicest thing you've said to us in a while!" the twins beamed ecstatically, throwing themselves on Haruhi and hugging her tightly.
"Get off me!" Haruhi squirmed away as the twins reluctantly released her.
"So, who are we waiting for?" Hikaru asked, rubbing his hands together.
"Seeing as there is no blonde, bouncing, bumbling lord, I'm guessing we are missing one Tamaki Suoh," Kaoru deduced calmly. Hikaru blinked and then grinned crookedly as Kaoru playfully hit him round the back of his head.
"I hope Tama-chan hurries up- we're now level with the Ouran Orages- the first leader to get here wins the whole thing!" Honey said.
Another few minutes crawled painfully slowly past and there was still no sign of Tamaki or Kuze. Both Host Club and Football Club were on edge, Hikaru and Kaoru taunting the football players, Hayoto and Makoto taunting the hosts.
"Losers! Football Club is full of losers!" Hikaru and Kaoru crowed, sticking out their tongues and dancing out of reach as the footballers lunged at them, cursing and grumbling as the bouncy twins scampered away, still teasing.
"They're giving me a headache," Haruhi complained rubbing her forehead.
"They're just trying to release tension," said Kyoya, pushing up his glasses. "They would probably explode if they stood still."
Haruhi looked at her watch as the second hand moved slowly round. Glancing up she scanned both entrances to the centre of the maze. Neither Tamaki nor Kuze were anywhere to be seen.
"When I get my hands on him…" Haruhi muttered.
Kyoya glanced at her. "Right back at the beginning of all this I wouldn't have taken you for being someone this keen to win Haruhi," he observed.
Haruhi flushed. "We've come this far, why can't we win?"
All the teams were gathered by the tree. First team to be fully assembled by it would win, holding the Ouran crest, which had been hanging from the tree, swinging gently in the breeze that rocked the branches.
"Look!" one voice suddenly shouted.
Heads snapped around in excitement.
"Tamaki!"
"Kuze!"
Both leaders had arrived, breathing heavily and standing at opposite ends of the entrance to the centre of the maze. The first to reach the tree would be the winner. Their eyes meeting across the chasm that seemed to separate them, a silent challenge was issued between the two young men.
"Kyoya-senpai do something!" Haruhi hissed as neither leader moved. "Why aren't they moving?"
"Tamaki knows he can't reach here first, Kuze is teasing him," Kaoru said quietly.
"Then do something!"
Kyoya took a deep breath. There was only one thing that he could do. One of his predictions had boiled down to this, though he had rigidly tried to deny it. He could feel Haruhi shaking with suppressed tension beside him. There is only one way to make Tamaki run faster than he has ever run before. And unfortunately, it's now or never…he thought to himself, resigning himself to what was going to occur. You're a host after all...
In one smooth, controlled movement, he whirled Haruhi towards him, into his arms and dipped her down, lowering her so she was resting safely in his arms, blinking with amazement and surprise up at him. There faces were very close, eyes locked. His arm was curled around her back, holding her tightly, the other clasped in her hand.
"Oops," Kaoru muttered lightly, having seen what Kyoya was doing. Ever so slyly, he bumped into the back of Kyoya, sending the Shadow King tipping forwards ever so slightly.
Both male and female's eyes widened in shock as their lips touched, Kyoya's pressing down softly against Haruhi's.
The world around seemed to freeze as there was a collective intake of breath.
Kaoru looked pleased.
Hikaru looked stunned.
Honey smiled sweetly as Mori's face twitched slightly into a half smile.
The rest of the boys stared, not quite close enough to see the kiss, just enough to see Haruhi supported in Kyoya Ootori's arms.
A loud rumbling noise suddenly erupted from the courtyard. If you had been there and looked around, you might have seen Tamaki Suoh's face resemble that of a beetroot. A very red and angry beetroot.
"HARUHI!"
Like an enraged bull, Tamaki charged towards where Kyoya and Haruhi were, legs pumping round so fast they were almost a blur. "Get away from my Haruhi!"
Kuze, startled that Tamaki had suddenly taken off like that, began racing towards the tree, drawing on all his football training to run faster.
"Who's going to make it?" Hikaru yelped.
Barrelling into the midst of the Host Club, Tamaki bowled in, ears spouting steam as he noticed Kyoya and Haruhi parting, blushes on both their cheeks, Haruhi's more heavy.
"Tamaki- just get here now!" Kaoru yelled, dragging the seething Suoh over to the rest of the Host Club.
Blinded with animalistic rage, Tamaki allowed himself to be manoeuvred into position with the rest of the Host Club, Honey clutching their Ouran crest just as Kuze skidded into his team.
The courtyard exploded with noise and cheering as the Host Club stood there, the first complete team.
"Congratulations Host Club!" squealed a familiar female voice over the loud speakers that had been placed on stands in the four corners at the centre of the maze. "They are declared Ouran's 2009 sporting champions! Please can everyone exit the maze by the marked routes indicated! Thank you all for participating!"
"We won!" Hikaru and Kaoru screamed at each other in delight, hugging each other and dancing round in a circle.
"Takashi we won!" Honey giggled, jumping up and down with excitement.
"We won?" Tamaki said, slowly coming out of his rage. "We won! My darling family we won!" he began to whoop, dancing with the twins as they celebrated.
Only Haruhi and Kyoya stood very still as the rest of their team celebrated around them.
That was NOT what I intended!
Kyoya…Ootori…just…kissed…me…
"Haruhi we won!" Hikaru cheered, dancing around the stunned girl, Kaoru on the other side as they spun her around. Dazed Haruhi managed to nod in agreement. They had won, Tamaki had reached the tree first, Kyoya had kissed her…
"Kyoya-senpai kissed me!" Haruhi yelled, her hands clapped to her face.
Very fortunately, everybody was cheering and celebrating so loudly and boisterously that nobody heard her comment.
"Kyoya how could you?" Tamaki screeched at the slightly ruffled Ootori, who was straightening his tie. "You stole our daughter's kiss! Without permission!"
"We won the Sports Championship Tamaki. Aren't you satisfied?" Kyoya asked, regaining his composure. "If that helped, then it did what it was intended to do."
"You intended to kiss our daughter?!" Tamaki asked horrified. "But we won…we won the championship- Kyoya I am so happy, it is all I have ever wanted, all I have ever wanted to achieve, you have helped me achieve- if through foul means- thank you!"
Kyoya suddenly found himself engulfed in a sobbing hug as Tamaki threw his arms around the Shadow King.
"Haruhi are you alright?" Kaoru asked, waving a hand in front of the young woman's face.
"Yes…just give me a minute…" Haruhi muttered, feeling her mind going into overdrive. Kyoya-senpai kissed me…Kyoya-senpai kissed me…oh my god!!!!
"Come on, let's get out of here," Hikaru tugged on Kaoru's arm as the other teams began to leave the maze, following the marked route out onto the sunny lawns of Ouran Academy where the girls were anxiously waiting for their arrival, having watched much of the race on giant plasma televisions, provided with footage by tiny cameras dotted around the maze.
"Cake time, cake time!" Honey sang merrily as he and Mori followed the twins out of the maze.
"Oi Suoh!" a voice called. Kuze and his team were approaching the remainder of the Host Club. "I guess you won. Though I don't know how."
Tamaki drew himself up tall. "That's just the superior Host Club for you. We are simply the best!" he declared.
"I would like to hear you say that again!" Kuze growled.
"The Host Club is the best!" Tamaki shot back.
"A third time I dare you before I beat you up!" Kuze threatened. The two of them had gradually moved towards the exit, bickering loudly with each other.
Soon, the only people left at the centre of the maze was Kyoya and Haruhi again.
This time the silence was several times more awkward.
"Haruhi-"
"Kyoya-senpai-"
Haruhi gulped as Kyoya pushed his glasses up his nose.
"I'll go first," Kyoya said at length.
Haruhi nodded weakly.
"First, it was not my intention to kiss you," Kyoya cut straight to the chase. "My actions were merely a ploy to get Tamaki's attention and allow him to reach us first, before Kuze."
Haruhi stared at him. "What if it hadn't of and Tamaki had frozen?" she asked suddenly.
"Then I would have kissed you for nothing," Kyoya said eventually.
Is that the same as kissing me because he wanted to? Haruhi thought. "So it might not have worked and you still would have kissed me?"
Kyoya looked away. "It worked. I intended it to work and it did."
Haruhi nodded. "It did. And we won."
"Tamaki is most pleased. As is the rest of the team." Kyoya said. "We should join them. Shall we?" he indicated to the exit of the maze.
Nodding again, unable to find any words, Haruhi followed Kyoya out of the maze, to where the rest of the Host Club would be waiting for them, triumphantly celebrating their victory.
Does Kyoya-senpai regret kissing me? Haruhi wondered as she kept her eyes on the grassy floor, not daring to look up at the third Ootori son.
Would I have minded kissing her even if it hadn't have worked? Kyoya wondered, concentrating on leaving the maze and not glancing over his shoulder to check if the female member of the Host Club was still behind him.
It could have been worse…
I sort of enjoyed it…
Both concluded together as they exited the maze and saw Ouran Academy looming up in front of them, the rest of the Host Club descending on them as girls screamed in delight.
*Stunned* Yay I finished the races and put in a kiss scene! Go me! I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I have! :D thank you for sticking with me through 20 chapters- I never thought I would write that much!!! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and read this story- I feel honoured! =)
Please review :D thank you as always,
AldabaranFox