Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club; the rights go to Bisco Hatori-sama. I do, however, own the plot of this story. This work is purely fictional and does not happen in the real plot of OHSHC, except maybe for a few flashback scenes.

Chapter 25 – Checkmate

More than a week had passed since they stayed at Kyouya's summer villa and there are only a couple of days left until school reopens, indicating that summer break was almost over. Haruhi had become more knowledgeable about the history of Kendo and martial arts, thanks to Takashi and Mitsukuni for providing the details to her. In truth, she really could not wait to start training for her self-defense lessons, she had a feeling she would need it in the near future.

Hikaru and Tamaki were in okay terms with Haruhi now, to the point that they could converse with each other without feeling too awkward due to what had happened last week. She did not really care as much anymore since it was her life and it was herchoice to be with Takashi. As her friends, they should have supported her, not try to separate her from the man she loves and cares about.

Throughout the previous 'kidnapping Haruhi' scheme made by Tamaki and Hikaru, Mitsukuni was always there to support her. After all, (Mitsukuni would like to think) she would be his cousin-in-law once Takashi and Haruhi get married in the future. He would do anything for his precious imouto which also included protecting her from anything dangerous or anything that threatens to jeopardize her relationship with Takashi. Even though he has cherubic features and a small stature, he could be intimidating and deadly when need to.

During breakfast this morning, Kyouya proposed an agenda. He proposed that they should go to the summer festival held in the nearby town; he heard of it from the maids when they were conversing during their break the previous day.

(Flashback)

He happened to be passing by and could not help but asked them when the festival will be held. The maids were taken aback by his sudden presence since he never usually talked to them before, except for wanting things to be done. One of the maids, who were slightly older than the rest of their group, told him that it would be held tomorrow night.

Kyouya thanked her and walked off as if the conversation did not happen at all. The maids were confused at his sudden change of behavior but left it at that. It seemed like the shadow king has a heart after all.

(End of flashback)

Tamaki and the twins perked up at the mention of the festival when Kyouya announced it. They looked really eager to go there, even Mitsukuni was excited. The loli-shota kept bouncing on his seat and would not keep still.

"Summer Festival?" Haruhi asked nonchalantly. "Should we really go?" she added as she munched on a warm blueberry muffin.

The glare on Kyouya's glasses reflected in the light, "If you go Haruhi, I'll decrease your debt by 5%," he said, as he took a sip of his morning coffee.

"15," she said as she sipped her chamomile tea calmly.

Tamaki and the twins froze and paled on the spot, they became slowly horrified when Haruhi dared to go against Kyouya. They were cowering in fear at the corner of the dining room. Even little Mitsu was hiding at Takashi's side, he was not really necessarily afraid of Kyouya but he knew the shadow king can be intimidating sometimes. Takashi stirred the contents in his tea cup, he was slightly amused by this ordeal but he did not let it show.

"7," Kyouya smiled that 'you-dare-to-go-against-me?' smile and puts his cup on the table with a soft clink.

"13."

"9."

"11."

"10," Kyouya said finally.

Haruhi gave it a thought for a minute, pausing on munching her muffin for a dramatic effect. Kyouya was getting slightly miffed about this whole negotiation, and he nevernegotiates with anyone. "Fine," she said, giving in. "It's better than five anyway," she smirked lightly and continued to eat the muffin in her hand happily.

Kyouya twitched slightly, since when did he become this lenient? Maybe the fact that Haruhi could see right through his mask most of the time, made him become this way. It felt like he was not as intimidating as previously anymore. However, he was still glad that that idiot best friend of his and the twins were still afraid of him. After all, he was not called the shadow king for nothing.

"To continue on with the agenda at hand," he started and leaned back in his chair comfortably, his fingers intertwining with each other as he placed his elbows on the arm rest, "All of you are required to wear a yukata. Hikaru and Kaoru, you two will be in charge on the yukata," the twins swiftly got up from the corner and saluted him before dashing to their room to start picking on the designs, "Tamaki, you'll be in charge of the program for tomorrow night," Kyouya stated and Tamaki leaped up from his corner of woe and began to pace around while thinking of what they should do during the festival. Then he dashed inside his room to do some research about commoner's summer festival.

Mitsukuni watched as they dashed from the dining room and then continued to eat his cakes. Takashi sipped his apple tea and nibbled on a blueberry muffin. Haruhi was already at her fourth muffin, it tasted really good as she could not stop eating it. Usually, she was not really a fan of sweets, but this one was an exception. She made a mental note to ask the chef for the recipe later, so she could try and make them for the host club in the future.

Once breakfast was over, Kyouya, followed by Takashi, Haruhi and Mitsukuni wandered over to one of the living rooms. Since Mitsukuni did not wish to go out anywhere today, they decided that they should take this opportunity to really take a rest ever since they stayed at Kyouya's place from day one of summer break.

Takashi was sitting in between Haruhi and Mitsukuni on one of the long luxurious sofas. There was a small wooden round table placed in front of Mitsukuni, the table was laden with different kinds of cakes you could ever imagine. Haruhi was currently reading a literature book, one of Shakespeare's best plays, Romeo and Juliet.

"Mori-senpai, would you care for a game of chess?" Kyouya asked from behind his laptop, his elegant fingers hovering over the keyboard and his eyes were hidden behind the glare of his glasses.

"Sure," Takashi replied simply. He moved from the sofa he was sitting at and sat across from Kyouya, who was just about to move his laptop to the side. Takashi had played chess back at his home for several times and his usual opponent was his father, Morinozuka Akira. So he was rather familiar with the game. Moreover, chess helps to train the mind especially on thinking skills. To be able to think during a difficult situation is needed for the likes of a Morinozuka, and it goes for any other man in the world as well.

Haruhi watched with Mitsukuni as the game commenced between the host club's Shadow King and its Silent Guardian. She brought her legs up and tucked them sideways and leaned back comfortably. She placed the literature book on her lap. Mitsukuni stopped eating his cakes mid-way when the game was getting interesting. He could see the close competition between the two men.

So far, Kyouya was leading and Takashi was not far behind with only one piece difference. Two of Kyouya's pawns, as well as his knight and bishop were defeated, while three of Takashi's pawns were taken down, that included two of his best knights.

Kyouya smiled amusedly as he looked at his defeated subordinate pieces. "You're very good at this, Mori-senpai," he mused and leaned back casually.

"Same goes to you," Takashi replied and placed his left arm on the armrest as he pondered on the next move he was about to make. He gazed boringly at his defeated chess pieces. Then he moved his castle three steps forward and took down Kyouya's other knight. "Check," Takashi muttered quietly and something flickered in his gray eyes, you have to really see it to notice it. Fortunately, Haruhi and Mitsukuni noticed it, the latter chuckled softly. Was that… amusement in Takashi's eyes?

Kyouya quirked up an eyebrow and smiled amusingly. How did he not see that predictable move? He should have predicted it earlier, or was he too arrogant to think that he would win this game in the end?

Perhaps, there is something more to Mori-senpai than what I had expected, he thought to himself and chuckled inwardly. "Checkmate, Senpai," he announced as he made his final move. Maybe that 'something more' is not enough…

"Good game, Kyouya," Takashi congratulated him.

"It was all because I had a good opponent, Mori-senpai," Kyouya replied back, "We should do this again another time."

Takashi nodded to indicate his agreement. "Of course," he said.

He got up and went back towards Haruhi and Mitsukuni; the former stood up and congratulated him on the game. "You played great, Takashi," she said and beamed proudly up at him.

Takashi smiled and placed his palm on her head and ruffled her hair softly.

"Do you always play chess?" she inquired.

Mitsukuni chose to answer her question, "Yup! Takashi always played with Uncle, but it was more like Uncle forced Takashi to play with him. Most of the time, they would play Shogi, since they like to keep things traditional. The same goes with my family," he said and continued to munch on his cakes happily, Usa-chan placed beside him.

(Time jump to the summer festival night)

By the time the summer festival arrived, Hikaru and Kaoru had already finished designing and tailoring the yukata the host club will be wearing.

Tamaki was wearing a pale cream-ish, white yukata with large, golden intricate flower designs. The flowers start to bloom from the bottom of his yukata, then winds up to the chest area and around to his back. The accompanied obi sash was golden in color.

Kyouya's yukata was lilac in color with black as midnight twin dragons at the back that faced away from each other, then the dragons' bodies wind up to the front and down to the bottom of the yukata. His obi sash was black in color.

The twins' yukatas were orange and light blue, Hikaru's orange and Kaoru's light blue. Hikaru's yukata has green stripes going vertical and there were yellow bamboos amidst the stripes that gathered at the bottom that went up to just below his waist. Kaoru's yukata has red stripes going vertical with brown bamboos amidst the stripes. Just like Hikaru's, the bamboo gathered at the bottom of Kaoru's yukata that went up to just below his waist.

For little Mitsu, his yukata was light pink. His yukata pattern consisted of outlines of irregular waves in darker pink at the bottom and was sewn a quarter ways up from the bottom. Silhouettes of seagulls were scattered around his chest area and there was a setting sun on his back.

Takashi's was in dark blue, with a pair of silver koi fishes sewn at the back of his yukata amidst a garden of silver water lilies. He tied it loosely with a silver obi, so that a third of his chest was seen.

Finally, Haruhi's yukata, it was blood red in color with light pink to almost white cherry blossoms and ivory branches. The cherry blossom design covered the whole of her yukata. The obi sash she wore was a crimson red in color and it was tied up into a huge bow. She thought that it was beautiful but at the same time a little too extravagant. She did not complain and just went on with the flow, she knew Hikaru was the one who designed her yukata, and she knew that this was one of his ways to patch his friendship back with her.

Once the limousine that drove them to the festival arrived in front of the temple, all of them stepped out elegantly and posed like the rich boys they were brought up as, with Haruhi still inside the limousine. Takashi, with Mitsukuni in front of him, and Kyouya to his left stood in front of the limousine at the right side. Tamaki, who stood in front of Hikaru and Kaoru, stood together in the front of the limousine at the left side. The boys made a pathway on either side of the current opened door of their limousine.

All the passersby stared in awe at the sight of six handsome guys and their jaws dropped to the floor as a beautiful, petite girl clad in a dark red kimono stepped out from the expensive vehicle. All around, people were beginning to whisper excitedly with each other and the girls were quite envious to see the one (and only) girl that was surrounded by six bishounens.

Takashi held out his hand to Haruhi who took it gracefully and a warm smile spread across her flushed, pretty face.

Author's note:

Translations:

Imouto – little sister

Shogi – Japanese chess

Bishounens – Beautiful males

[Edited: 15th December 2013]

[Edited: 23rd July 2014]

[Final Edit: 27th May 2015]