A/N: If you're reading this, you're very special to me and I love you. If you're having a really bad day, consider this a big hug and the reassurance that everything is going to be ok. With the Dramatical Murder fic yesterday and with the Kuroshitsuji fic tomorrow, these opening author's notes have been kind of silly, but you guys are different. You guys are my precious little Faberge eggs and I want no harm to come to you, whether it be an outside influence or by your own hand (either intentional or falling victim to your own clumsiness). Not only is this entire story special to me, but so are the ones that read it. And when you little jerks come in and either tell me your personal stories or someone you know or anything of the like, it makes me want to hug you all the harder. You're not alone in this. That's basically the entire moral of this story! But before I get emotional…
If you are reading this, though, I am actually away. I told you there wouldn't be an update this week because I told you I'd be in Michigan for the week with the family. Well, I lied. Around the time I wrapped Fullmetal Alchemist last week, I had this stroke of pure brilliance that I had three days before I had to leave from last Thursday [In current time, I left yesterday (Monday)]. So, instead of using my weekends to binge the Legend of Zelda like I've been doing, I thought I'd be a little more productive and crank out this week's chapters to put in the doc manager, so I can update for you wonderful viewers of mine. I wrote two of them in one day! Normally unheard of for me anymore. But I'm quite proud of myself. I mean, it was a chapter for DmmD that I was painfully excited for and the Kuroshitsuji chapter is too precious for words, but you're not here for any of that. You're here to find out what happened when Kyoya took Lana home. I have my Powerade/Monster Punch cocktail. I have the American Idiot soundtrack on. I'm going to get to writing. You get to reading the fruits of my labor. Enjoy!
After a long, quiet walk back to my apartment, Kyoya put my kettle on and we began our process of bringing me down from a panic attack. Why did I let that Beni-bara chick get to me so hard? I was still a bit conflicted in my head. It wouldn't be the first time I had my suspicions about the host club. I had thought the same thing when I first walked in. I had a feeling that something was unholy in that room. Other than a stroke to their egos, what else would that have to gain from little old me?
"Kyoya," I spoke softly, "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Lana," he assured, bringing me my cup, "Anything."
"You're..." I rested my head on his shoulder, "You're not using me, right?"
"No," Kyoya promised, "We couldn't. If genuinely professing my love for you, not only one on one in Karuizawa, but in front of the host club today didn't do it, let this be your reassurance. I do love you, Lana. Only you. I am not using you in any way. As of right now, you pretty much consume my entire world. If I had to put it into a pie chart, you'd take up approximately 75% of it. I'm with you because I want to be. Not out of any obligation or to feed my ego. I can feed my own ego plenty. And if I had to tell you this every day for it to sink in, so be it."
"Thank you," I curled into him, taking slow sips from my teacup.
"You're welcome," he kissed my forehead, "Don't listen to anything Beni-bara has to say. She's been after the host club for ages now, preaching against us, trying to scare our clientelle away, trying to get Haruhi to transfer to Lobelia because of Beni-bara's extreme crush on her. If it wouldn't have upset the apple cart of the host club so much, I'm almost positive Tamaki would've loved to rub that in her face. I'm so sorry about today, Lana. I never wanted that to happen. If I had my way, you never would've even known that she existed. Are you alright?"
"I'm better now," I nodded.
"Good," Kyoya held me a little tighter, "I'm going home. Is that ok?"
"That's fine," I let him go.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he gave me the sweetest, most tender goodbye kiss, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
I closed and locked my door behind him and finished my tea. I didn't understand why I even let Beni-bara get to me. I really should know better. Kyoya wouldn't use me. Karuizawa was probably the first time he was ever really that open and honest with someone outside of a mental healthcare professional. Everything was fine. I put my headphones in and turned on "When It's Time". If anything would get me to settle down, it was that.
"When It's Time" was such a beautiful song. Especially the Broadway version. It was a definite favorite of mine. And a part of me thought of Kyoya now every time I heard it. This song had offered me a strange sense of comfort for so long. I didn't expect for it to ever become any more than that. Until I met him…
The first day you came into my life
Time ticks around you.
But then I need your voice
As a key to unlock all the love that's trapped in me
So tell me when it's time
To say I love you…
When I finished school the next day, I really didn't feel like going into the host club. A day away from yesterday's ground zero wouldn't be a half bad idea. But I didn't feel like going home quite yet. However, I knew of an aquarium in Shibuya that held a very special memory. I skipped the host club and hopped a bullet train to one of the busiest neighborhoods in Tokyo.
I'd be fine. I could do this by myself. I never really did this before, but how hard could it be? I should be fine. I did it with the twins that one time. I managed to muddle through with my parents. Then again, Kyoya was also right there with the entire host club on standby on practically every street corner. You can do this, Lana. You are a relatively strong, slightly independent woman. You can do whatever you want.
I navigated my way through Shibuya and found the aquarium that Kyoya and I went to the day after I found out my parents were on their way. I loved this place. I could live infinitely happy right here. Maybe Kyoya was right. Maybe I was a mermaid. I could barely swim, but I barely functioned as a human being. Perhaps it's because I wasn't meant to be a human, but a mythical creature causing shipwrecks because of how beautiful I was.
Doubtful. If anything, I'd want to be a jellyfish. Look at them. So carefree. No brain or nervous system in sight. Must be nice. I thought they were more beautiful than mermaids. Their tentacles looked like lace. Especially the moon jellyfish. Moon jellyfish reminded me of little ghosts. Adorable, little, gelatinous ghosts.
But then, there were the flower hat jellyfish. Their tentacles reminded me of beaded curtains. And when they swam in dark waters, they almost lit up. Their rarity made them extra beautiful to me. There weren't many like the flower hat jellyfish. Not surprised this particular aquarium had quite a few, though. I'm sure the southern seas around here had a lot of them.
I moved down the tanks to the spotted jellyfish. They were so cute. Like something out of a cartoon. When I saw a spotted jellyfish, they looked like little squids. When most people think of a jellyfish, their brain either goes for a moon or a spotted. But they think of something cute and squishy like these little guys. And I can't blame them. They are pretty adorable.
Last time I was here, I didn't get to see the cannonball jellyfish. Don't tell any of the other jellyfish, but if I had to pick a favorite, it was an even tie between the moon jellyfish and the cannonball. There was one in this particular tank that glowed such a pretty shade of purple in the right light. And I loved it. So round, but so perfect. If they wouldn't shock me horribly, I'd hug and squeeze every single one here. But alas. Not to mention, I'd probably end up being banned from this aquarium for jumping into the tanks.
I sat on the bench and watched their beautiful tentacles sway gently in the water. Must be nice. All they have to do is swim around in the tanks. Not a single care in the world. I'm envious. They don't have to worry about what people think of them or deal with deep seeded mental problems or worry about being a walking screw up. I'm really and truly jealous of every single one of them.
"Excuse me," a man tapped on my shoulder, "We're closing now. You need to leave."
"Ok," I didn't realize I had been here that long. I hoped the trains were still running. It had gotten pretty late. They were probably on the last one. I took off and headed home, checking my phone on the train. I had a few missed calls and a couple texts from Kyoya asking me where I was. But I was so zoned out at the aquarium, I must not have heard them.
I got home around seven and dug around in my fridge for something to eat. I hadn't had anything since noon and I was starving. One of these days, I really need to get around to restocking my fridge. I couldn't live on tea and Count Chocula. Maybe I should just call for something. But that involved actually making a phone call. I didn't call people. People called me. And even then, I was leery about answering.
But that wasn't going to ruin the post jellyfish buzz. Maybe one day I'll get a jellyfish. I wonder if any of the exotic pet shops in town had anything like that. Maybe a cute little moon jellyfish. My own little ghostie swimming in a comfortable tank. What would I name it? Well…It's a moon jellyfish. Did I really want to be cliché and name it something moon related?
Knock, knock.
Who in the hell…? I got up from my kitchen table and opened the door. Only to find my boyfriend panting on the other side, "Kyoya? Hi. What are you doing here?"
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah," I let him in, "Aces. Why?"
"You weren't at the club today," Kyoya sat at my table, "You had me worried."
"I went to the aquarium after school today," I settled him, "Everything's fine."
"But you had me worried," he shook a little, "After what happened yesterday, I thought you weren't coming back. You know I want that room to be a safe space for you, Lana. I don't want anything bad happening to you in there."
"And it is," I promised, taking his hands, "I just needed some time to myself for a bit. Don't worry, Kyoya. Everything is fine with me."
"Do you promise?" he looked deep into my eyes, nearly into my heart.
"On my life," I swore.
"And us…?"
"Perfect," I assured.
"So," Kyoya switched tangents, "What did you do at the aquarium?"
"I went to visit the jellyfish," I sighed dreamily, "I wish I could swim with them. For a minute, I started to think you were right about me being a mermaid, though."
"When did I ever call you a mermaid?" he gave me a look.
"Implications," I figured, "I'd love to be a mermaid, though. Swim around with all the jellyfish. Befriend them like I was Snow White."
"Or Ariel, in this case," Kyoya corrected me.
"Since when do you know Disney princesses?" I giggled a bit to myself.
"Because I deal with an unofficial Disney princess on a daily basis in the form of Tamaki Suoh," he teased, "And they're a guilty pleasure. But speaking of the host club, can I ask you a question?"
"You just did."
"Lana, I'm serious."
"Go ahead," I allowed, "What?"
"The host club has an event coming up," Kyoya told, "I already know that I have to go, but would you want to go with me?"
"What?" my stomach did a flip, "That wouldn't break some unspoken rule of the host club?"
"Let it," he pulled me up to my feet and held me close, "Last I checked, regardless of the host club, you're still my girlfriend. Isn't this the kind of things we'd do?"
If Kyoya hadn't been holding me up, I probably would've collapsed. Kyoya – my Kyoya! My very type A, lawful neutral Kyoya – was asking me to a host club event where all the regular clients would be there along with all the hosts. And we'd be outing ourselves? This boy was truly an enigma to me, but something came over me. I wasn't sure if it was him randomly showing up here or if it was his uncharacteristic spontaneity or the post aquarium high still in full effect, but I curled into his chest, "Ok. We can do that."
"Don't worry," Kyoya pulled me down to the couch, "It's not for another two weeks. We have plenty of time to prepare."
"Good," I sighed out. The thought of this event still threw my brain for a loop. Two weeks. Plenty of time.
"Hey, Lana…"
"Yeah?"
"Do you…" Kyoya blushed, "Do you mind if I stay with you tonight?"
I pulled his face down to mine, stealing a quick kiss, "Of course not."
A/N: I can't wait for this host club event. I really can't. I already have it half plotted in my head. I could probably do the post-its for the next three weeks for this story, but I'm already so ahead of the game that I could stand a break. And I ask your forgiveness for my spazzing over jellyfish in this chapter. They're a definite favorite of mine, too. It's all Clear's (Dramatical Murder) fault. Him and his silly notions about jellyfish dreaming and the stupid jellyfish song…It's actually pretty great. I highly suggest it. Search it on YouTube: Clear's Jellyfish Song. It's magical.
Now, to address a guest comment from Alybaba. First of all, welcome, welcome. Always lovely to get someone new in here. And I got your story request. As far as if I'm going to be able to do it or not, I have a lot on my plate right now. Whenever I wrap up Ouran and Black Butler and Dramatical Murder, I'm wiping the slate and taking a break from those particular fandoms and putting in an all new line up. So, whether or not I'll be able to get to it right now is kind of up in the air. Also, I think you may have an incorrect perception of the word yaoi. There can't be one between Kyoya and Lana, mostly because she's a girl. If I were to, say, replace her with (common pairing) Tamaki (which would never happen in a million years. I'm way too much of a TamaHaru shipper to even consider such a thing), then that would make it a yaoi. But this isn't that kind of story, sweetie. I'm sorry. I don't ever plan on making this one smut. It's too wrapped up in other things to even give that consideration. If you're looking for some smut, may I direct you to my Black Butler series (Start with Just a Simple Interview first. Read them all. They're pretty great from what I've been told.)? That's an ice cold glass of lemonade if I ever saw one. And it kind of helps that Kyoya and Sebastian might as well be the same person… (Tee hee…English dub voice actor humor…) There's even a little bit of naughty bits in my Avengers/Jessica Jones fic with Loki, too (Kilgrave's Good Little Girl, if you're looking for it.) But anyway, see you next chapter! xx