A/N: Hello my little cupcakes~ Have a new chapter! Back to being stuck in bed for me :( despite being unable to sleep. So if there are more mistakes than usual just put that down to super drowsiness.

Enjoy!~

I slipped into the gown that the twins had picked out for me. The pale lilac colour complimented my pale complexion and clung to my waist in a way that accentuated what little figure I had available. All in all, they had done an immaculate job which helped calm my nerves just that little bit as I waited for Kyoya to come pick me up on the Sunday night. At exactly six o'clock there was a light knock on the door. The Shadow King was never a minute late.

"About time you got here," I jested, tapping my foot impatiently as I opened the door for him.

"I'd hate to think you're insinuating that I have poor time management skills."

My eyes trailed up and down his body, admiring the dark suit he was wearing until I looked up and noticed the obvious difference, "Are you wearing contacts?"

"My sister stole my glasses earlier and refuses to return them. I had little choice in the matter," he sighed. Exasperation radiated from him as he trailed his slender fingers along the shelves of the bookcase he was browsing.

"I like the sound of your sister." I took a seat on the couch and began strapping on the small heeled sandals that the twins had offered me. They were the only ones I had been able to walk in safely out of the dozens they forced me to try on that evening.

"Just you wait; she'll have a field day with you. You look lovely, by the way. I take it that the twins enjoyed playing dress-up with you," an evil glint shone in his obsidian depths. Without his glasses his emotions were much easier to read as though his defences had been stripped away.

He came to join me on the couch, wrapping an arm around me, expression still smug. "Wipe that smirk off your face, Kyo. Or I'll go change into jeans and t-shirt. I'm sure that'll go down well with your dinner guests."

"Perhaps not, but I wouldn't complain about helping you out of that dress by any means," his breath against my neck sent small shivers through my body and I could feel the deep rumble in his chest as he chuckled at my reaction.

"You would be so lucky," I shot back. He left a small trail of kisses up my neck until he pressed against my lips eagerly and I fought the temptation to give in to him right there and then.

"And what if I was to push my luck?" his words made it through to my hazy mind in between searing kisses that took my breath away.

I fell onto my back with his strong body pressing down on my own. It was only when his lips left to journey down to my collarbone and continued on a downward path that I managed to snap back to reality for a moment and remind him that we had somewhere to be. "We'll never know, because we have a dinner to be attending, remember?"

"Wouldn't you rather stay here?" Kyoya groaned against my skin. He began nipping at my neck and sliding his fingers up the length of my legs.

"God, yes. But I don't want any member of the Ootori private police force breaking down my door just because we never turned up."

He huffed but pulled away, "I hate it when you're right."

"Come on. Let's get this dinner out the way and maybe I'll just decide to stay the night," I pulled him to his feet and gave him one last teasing kiss.

We straightened out our clothes and hurried down to the limousine where Tachibana was waiting for us patiently. The car ride there seemed to drag out for hours, consisting mainly of Kyoya rubbing small circles into my back in a soothing motion. I clutched tightly at his knee as I tried to force my anxiety down and compose myself for the long night ahead.

The Ootori mansion looked more daunting in the evening light. Several other couples were making their way up to the huge building as we sidled past the security guards with Tachibana in tow. It looked as though there were a dozen different business owners attending tonight with varying numbers of guests. They stuck together in packs, schmoozing and exchanging the usual formalities as they waited for their host to join them in the festivities. I clung to Kyoya's arm as we made our way towards a dark haired woman sitting at the back of the room, sipping elegantly on a glass of wine and discreetly observing the other guests.

When she noticed us approaching, she jumped up and stamped over to Kyoya with a fire in her eyes and began scolding him in hushed tones, "Kyoya! Where have you been?! I was looking all over for you. Akito was called out to the hospital and – Oh! Who's this little gem?"

The girl eyed me curiously. Kyoya cleared his throat and spared me an amused smirk. "Fuyumi, this is Haruhi Fujioka. Haruhi, this is my sister."

"I think I get why you get on with Tamaki so well now," I muttered.

Fuyumi squealed and grabbed me into a hug. "Are you my baby brother's date tonight!? Oh, you are too cute! Is that a Hitachiin dress? It's gorgeous! Haruhi, Haruhi, Haruhi… I've heard that name before. You're in the host club right?"

Kyoya watched on, enjoying watching me get smothered by his sister's affections. I silently pleaded with him to save me and eventually he caved and pried the enthusiastic woman off me with ease.

"Yes, Haruhi works in the host club. She is my date for the evening. And you need to calm down before father sees you making a scene," he informed her with an icy tone.

"Oh, Kyoya, don't go ruining my fun!" Fuyumi whined, hands planted firmly on her hips. "But I guess I have the whole night to pick Haruhi's brain. It'll be nice to have someone to talk to that isn't obsessed with business."

Soft chuckling signalled the arrival of another person and nimble fingers tapped Kyoya gently on the shoulder, "About time you came to join the party, Kyoya. Couldn't hide forever, hm?"

"I had other business to attend to," Kyoya replied to the man who towered behind us. I assumed that he was a relative of Kyoya's due to the very obvious resemblance, especially by the stormy grey eyes.

Fuyumi rounded on the man, eyes wide and hopeful, "Yuuichi, has Akito returned from the hospital yet? Father should be joining us any minute now."

"Not to my knowledge. Getting the time off for myself in order to attend was stressful enough. Now, I shan't continue neglecting our guests as such, I suggest you both do the same." He sauntered off, weaving between the guests and greeting them warmly quite unlike how he had spoken to Kyoya and Fuyumi. The fact that he had ignored my existence only irritated me slightly but I let it slide for the time being.

"Who was that?"

"That's just Yuuichi, don't worry about him my dear. He can be rude but he means nothing by it!" The black haired beauty cooed as each of the Ootori's took me by the arm and began to lead me around the room, greeting each of the guests as we went and exchanging brief small talk.

"He's my eldest brother. Akito is the second oldest and by the looks of it, he may not show up until later if at all," Kyoya muttered, glancing at his watch with scrutinising eyes.

A sudden ripple of whispered conversation caught my attention. Descending down the stairs was Kyoya's father and the Ootori children stood to attention, waiting patiently at the bottom of the staircase in silence. I held on tightly to Kyoya's arm and watched as the man passed us without a second glance and ushered his guests into the dining room.

We followed closely behind and took our allocated seats near the head of the table. Kyoya and Fuyumi sat on either side of me, casually observing and analysing their guests and competition like true businessmen they were bred to be. I tried not to fidget in my seat at the uncomfortable situation and sipped slowly on my glass of water. Such formal events were out of my comfort zone even after a year at Ouran Academy. Dealing with the heirs to huge enterprises was a completely different game to impressing their parents.

I suddenly felt the weight of a heavy gaze fall upon me. My eyes flickered up and scanned the room to discover it was the eldest Ootori, his critical brown eyes burning holes in the side of my head from behind thin framed glasses. It took all my courage to meet his gaze full on and attempt to feign indifference and push away any visible sign of intimidation. Eventually he gave a discreet nod in my direction and turned to speak to Yuuichi as though nothing had just happened. Exhaling the breath I'd only just realised I had been holding, I allowed the ache in my lungs to fade away along with my pent up anxiety just as the starter was served up and the long evening began.