Chapter 21

He was starting to feel like maybe he shouldn't have done this. She didn't respond at first, which had made him feel worried that perhaps she didn't have those kinds of feelings for him. He was disappointed, but he told himself that it was for the best. He was just about to end their kiss when he felt her start to kiss him back.

It was just a slight pressure, but it gave him the answer that deep down he'd been hoping for. Haruhi wasn't the type of girl to let just anybody kiss her. While it made him happy that he'd found his answer, it also posed another problem. He didn't want to let her go. He'd never felt this wild desire before. He felt like he HAD to kiss her; that he'd go mad if he stopped.

He shifted a bit on the seat and brought her closer to him. She made a slight squeaky noise, but didn't protest. He slanted his mouth more fully over hers and licked at her lips. To his delight, and terror, she allowed him the entrance that he so desired. As his tongue met hers pure fire ran through his veins and he wondered if he was the only man to ever be so affected by a woman.

He couldn't think anymore...and apparently neither could she, because neither one of them noticed that they had long since reached their destination. The overly-loud clearing of the driver's throat was the only reason he'd noticed at all. As he looked in that direction, he noticed that the driver was facing forward, but that the window was rolled down the entire way. "We're here sir."

He looked out the window and saw exactly what he'd expected to see; not a single light was on in the apartment. "Come on Haruhi, let's go up." She didn't meet his gaze, but she nodded and started to scoot towards the car door. The driver was already around the side of the car and within seconds opened it for them.

Haruhi must have been too distracted by her thoughts to have noticed the lack of life coming from the apartment, because when she opened the door she was completely shocked to find it empty. "Father? Are you here?" She went to each room, but he didn't help her search; he already knew what she'd find.

"Perhaps we should try his work?" He didn't want to tell her that he'd already tried calling, but he didn't seem to have much choice if he wanted her cooperation. "Haruhi, just as I had tried calling my family earlier I also tried getting in touch with your father...there was no answer." Now she looked worried and it made him want to throw his arms around her and tell her it would all be okay; she generally looked defiant and proud, but right now she just looked vulnerable.

"I have a feeling that my driver knows a thing or two about what is going on here. Should we go down and demand some answers?" He couldn't help but smile when she glared in the direction of the door. Of course she'd be pissed off if he knew anything about this. He was surprised that she automatically took his word for it though. Normally Haruhi would be skeptical and wonder whether or not the driver could possibility know anything about any of this, but apparently this time, she was willing to take his word for it.

They walked back down to the car and the driver was standing there waiting for them. "Is anything the matter sir?" He smiled one of his hosting smiles at the man, "Could you take us to where my father is please?" The driver then opened the door for them and proceeded to get into the car and drive off. Damn the bastard anyhow! What was the point in this mad goose chase?

Haruhi had tried to question the driver on the way, but it was useless; his father must have directed him not to say anything about the situation. His head hurt, but he still continued to try to figure out what his father was up to. However, just like an expert go player looking at the board, he could tell that he'd been skillfully defeated. His father had outmaneuvered him at every turn. He'd been confused the entire time and honestly he'd had quite enough of this. He was tempted to tell his father this when they met, but at the same time he wasn't sure he'd be able to bring himself to do it! Ootori's were supposed to be proud and were never supposed to admit defeat! What the hell was his father's aim?

"Kyouya, what's going on? You have to know more about this than I do." He looked over to her and knew that he'd have to tell her something, but what could be possibly say? There were many possibilities involved and he hadn't quite been able to sort through it all yet. Plus there was the fact that he didn't want to hurt her. How would see feel when she found out that his father was just toying with them for his own amusement! At least, he was assuming it was just for the old man's amusement.

He sighed but knew he didn't have a choice in the matter; he was going to have to tell her what he thought was going on even if she was hurt by it. "I'm still not completely sure myself. My father is a very cunning man and it's generally very difficult to figure out that he's playing a game with you until it's too late. It's the reason he's done so well for himself in the past."

He looked her in the eyes before continuing, "I think my agreeing to tutor you was what started it all. My father couldn't figure out what had prompted me to agree to such a thing. We've always been told that friendships weren't needed or required unless they could benefit us in some way or another. We've also been taught to be very shrewd businessmen ourselves and since he couldn't think of any way for you to be able to repay me, he must have assumed that there was something else on the table. The only conclusion he could draw was that I was in love with you."

She looked like she was going to protest, but he silenced her before she could do so. He wanted her to hear everything that he'd thought of before she jumped to any conclusions. "My sister verified as much to me. She said that the reason that she'd come down to visit was because she heard from my father that he was worried that we were secretly dating and using the tutoring as an excuse to see each other more often. She knew my father would never allow us to be together, so she came to be our ally."

She looked as confused as he felt and it made him smile. "Why didn't you just confront your father about this?" He was so distracted that he didn't even realize that he'd grabbed her hand and had started to rub his thumb back and forward across the back of her hand. "There was something that didn't seem to fit you see. If my father was truly concerned that the two of us were dating then my sister would be the last person he'd want to confide in. He knows my sister's beliefs in love because she gave him hell about her own wedding. Plus, my father isn't the type to let my sister visit the house because he knows the public would wonder why she's not with her husband. So why tell my sister when he knew what she'd do?"

She frowned in thought and he continued to tell her everything. He told her about the conversation he'd had about her attendance at the first party and why his father said her presence was mandatory. He even mentioned the fact that the driver wouldn't have given him his clothes like that unless ordered to do so by his father. Her eyes bulged at that comment, but she seemed to understand what he was saying. "So you see, none of this makes any sense."

He looked to her for a moment and waited for her to say something, but the look in her eyes made him dread what she was going to say next.