Chapter 20

Dressed to Kill

Kyouya paced back and forth in his hotel room. On the small wood desk besides his bed his cell phone light finally dimmed out as it went into hibernation. He finally paced himself towards the window and looked out on to the busy city. Car lights streamed by making bright blurs of red and white light. Tall sky scrapers and small business lights were like stars lay against the ground while the sky was illuminated with the light pollution.

"Damn it." He pounded his fist against the window surprised he didn't break it and let his hand streak down till it fell to the window sill, it was cold and smooth against his heated palms. Tamaki had just called refusing yet again to let Kyouya come over and see Haruhi.

Kyouya had been respectful of the space she probably would have wanted but it had been nearly two weeks and Tamaki continued to relay the message that she didn't want to see him. Kyouya could hardly stand it any longer. After all he'd said to Tamaki, after all he'd convinced himself of…..he just had to see Haruhi. He had to do something, he felt like he wasting time away sitting in his hotel feeling sorry for himself, and for Haruhi. For ever thing he'd done to them both and the entire host club. The club hadn't met in weeks, the twins and Mori and Hunny were never around, except to see Haruhi. None of them seemed to know the history of what had happened; only that Haruhi had taken some medication on accident when trying to rid herself of a headache. Kyouya chuckled; he couldn't have covered it up better himself.

The twins had come to see him once when they found out he was back, and that meeting could have gone better. They screamed at him for leaving without warning, then screamed some more about how he never went to visit Haruhi. It took all his energy to hold back his anger and just shove them out the door within the first five minutes of them being here.

Collapsing on to his bed he stared at the ceiling. He lifted his left hand up and traced the scar with his eyes. The scar he'd gotten from the broken glasses and plates that he'd smashed in the backroom on the night he left. He could still hear Haruhi's low moan when she discovered him. The look in her eyes, the reflection of him in her tears.

God he hated himself so much for all that he'd done. He threw his face into the sheets and balled a pillow in his fist. He would go see Haruhi, and he'd go now.

::

Haruhi laughed lightly, not warm, but lightly as Tamaki pranced around her room showing him a whole new wardrobe he'd picked out for her to wear during her stay. It mostly consisted of big frilly dresses that she'd never wear in a million years, but a few of the selections did appeal to her. A few spring looking dresses that reminded her of the night at the beach house they'd spent. The night Kyouya had tried to back Tamaki up on punishment about her being just a girl, too weak to do more then call for help.

"I like this one most." She stood and directed Tamaki's attention to a pair of black caprice and a black top that showed some of her stomach and most of her shoulders it had to inner straps that were thin and gave the illusion it was a bra strap. Tamaki stared a little surprised at the selection but smiled like the sun and ran to it.

"Then you shall wear this tonight when we go out." Haruhi shrank back from the outfit immediately.

"But Tamaki I don't want…." The tears crept dramatically, as always, into the tall boys eyes and Haruhi sighed. She'd promised him she'd go to the Twins favorite night club with him tonight. He promised it wouldn't be as huge a party as she was thinking.

"Ok, fine, fine I'll go." She sighed and started to finger the soft fabric of the top. It sparkled in the light of her room a little and she smiled. It was a lovely set and she felt like she could be herself, and….even sexy in it. Something she'd adopted from dating Kyouya for all those months. She wanted to be cute but sexy as well. She wanted to please him….Kyouya. Her heart sank and she pulled away from the outfit going back to the edge of the bed where she sank depressed.

"Haruhi? My dear?" Tamaki joined her slinging a comforting arm around her shoulders. Haruhi sighed heavily but turned and smiled at him.

"I'm fine, maybe this "party" will be something good for me. Go out and have a little fun with my best friends." She watched his eyes sparkle and shine in excitement at her words.

"That's the attitude my dear. Here I'll leave you to change and then send someone in to do your hair and makeup." Tamaki danced off in pure bliss ignoring the low groan from Haruhi.

::

"Someone's here to see the young lady, sir." Tamaki looked down at the maid who was half his size. She had big bifocals that covered most of her face and two pig tails braided down to her shoulders.

"Thank you, send him in please." Tamaki turned and walked to the other side of the room, knowing that it was Kyouya who'd come. Finally, he thought with a touch of bitterness. Haruhi hadn't known of Kyouya's request to see her, Tamaki didn't have the heart to tell her about them. He was so happy at all the progress she'd been making it would be like setting her back to square one to let Kyouya back into her life right now. He just couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt again. He wouldn't let Kyouya do it again.

"Where is she Tamaki? I came to see her, not you." Kyouya's voice was ice cold and full of reproach. Tamaki just sighed shaking his head at the other boy; he definitely wasn't ready to be introduced into Haruhi's life again.

"Why did you come here Kyouya, you know she doesn't want to see you." Tamaki turned folding his arms over his chest like he was speaking to a small, naughty, child. Kyouya looked like a mess at best. His hair was uncombed, his glasses looked dirty and his clothes were wrinkled.

"No, I think you're trying to keep her away from me." Kyouya's eyes changed, sagged under sadness but that wasn't enough to deture Tamaki.

"And I have every right to. Did you even consider the consequences of seeing her again?" Tamaki all but yelled. "What do you plan on doing? Winning her back, but then what? Going back to American to run your business? You can't do that to her, not again Kyouya." Kyouya's shoulders sagged guiltily. He was still confused, but determined.

"I have to try Tamaki, I have to try and fix things between us. I….I don't know what I'll do till I can fix this." Kyouya looked so broken and Tamaki barely had the patience to deal with him.

"And that indecision is exactly why I want you to stay away from her." Tamaki growled shoving his finger through the air in Kyouya's direction. Kyouya sensed right away the possessiveness of Tamaki's voice and his heart grew colder. Tamaki wouldn't dare try and take Haruhi from him?

"What exactly do you plan to do with her then Tamaki? Sweep her off her feet and drive her away from me?" Kyouya whispered. His whisper was more powerful than any shout he could muster. Tamaki's eyes narrowed.

"You drove her away yourself." He spat. "I think it's past time you left here, Kyouya. Haruhi and I have places to go tonight."

Kyouya felt the urge to punch the teen in the face, but that would on exasperate things here. He needed to retreat and rethink his strategy. That's what he was good at wasn't? Making things turn out in favor of him? This was nothing more but another game…..

But that stakes were so much higher than any other.