A/N: A new chapter for you all. You may or may not like it, heh. Sorry for the break in very regular updates, it was my brother's birthday so been kept busy ^^ And so this is a little shorter than the others.
Enjoy~
Hikaru POV
It was Monday morning, the sun was already glaring down on us through the window over our bed and the covers had been kicked off of our overheating bodies at some point during the night. The buzzing and shrill tone of a phone ringing stirred us from our sleep.
Soft prodding in the side was accompanied by rough mumbling, "Hikaru. Your phone. Hikaru…" He was beginning to doze off again.
I grudgingly reach over to the device and pry one eye open to stare at the time. 7 AM. You've got to be kidding me. Dropping the offending item in between our bodies, I allow it to continue ringing. "You answer it, too sleepy."
"No way," he rolled away from the noisy device. "Don't you recognize that ringtone."
I hadn't noticed until now. It was the ringtone assigned to Tamaki, the most frequently played ringtone I might add. "You've gotta be kidding me. We've only been on vacation for three days. Can't we get a lie in?"
Flipping it open, I position it a few inches away from my head to escape any squealing or shouting that may pierce our eardrums given the chance. "Yeah, what?"
Even Kaoru could still make out his whines from where he shoved his head under his pillow to escape the wailing. He was curled up into a tight ball of sheets and skin trying to force himself back into the quiet slumber that had been rudely interrupted.
"Wait, slow down! You're making no sense. What do you mean Haruhi is gone?!" We jumped to attention at this little snippet of information.
Tamaki POV"We need to contact the police! She must've been kidnapped by gypsies or sold into slavery. My daughter wouldn't just drop off the face of the Earth!" I had finally gotten a hold of the twins, adding them to our little conference call. Kyoya was the only person I couldn't reach, but maybe that was a good thing at this hour. I'd hate to awaken the Low Blood Pressure Demon Lord.
"So Haru-chan is missing?" Honey enquired with a wavering voice.
"And her family's gone bankrupt?" Mori's deep baritone rumbled through the line.
"It's the only explanation! I've been trying to get through to her house phone and her father's work number since the holidays started and no one will answer! We must rescue our endangered little commoner friends."
I was replied with a united sigh from all of the hosts.
"Can't we just call her cell like normal people do?" Hikaru groaned down the line, muttering something along the lines of 'idiot' after it.
"Now come on, Hikaru! You can't surely believe that Haruhi could afford a cell phone. And if she did have one, as her father I would be the first to have her number."
"It doesn't matter anyway. Kaoru said she's turned it off so we can't get through." A bolt of disappointment and disbelief hit me hard. Why would she not tell me she had a cell phone? And why did those shady twins know?! Quickly regaining my cool, I kept my mind focused on saving my daughter before dealing with any incestuous demon red heads.
"Men, we must initiate 'Operation Save Haruhi from Slavery' immediately!"
Kyoya POVThe breeze tickled the back of my neck as I lazed out the back of Misuzu's pension, lemonade in hand. The garden was well kept, various flowers bordering short cut grass and stepping stone paths that criss-crossed the area. I could see Haruhi carrying around her large wooden basket, hanging out the sheets on the nylon washing lines that billowed in her direction with every gust of wind. Her frilly apron was fluttering around to her side, held to her by only a pair of ribbons.
I was lucky to have even had just one night of decent sleep, undisturbed for once and not worrying about figures and statistics that I would usually drill into my mind before I was even truly awake for the day. And the other hosts had yet to track down Haruhi, but I knew by now that Tamaki would be constructing some form of search party for her safe return. Somehow Haruhi had deluded herself into believing that the other hosts lacked the time to keep tabs on her and not swoop in regardless of whatever she may be doing. Although, I did hope that I was wrong for once.
"Oh, Kyoya-kun! How would you like another lemonade? Or some tea and cakes? You growing boys need your strength!" Misuzu cooed over my shoulder, patting me lightly on the arm that held the now empty lemonade glass, leaving the ice to slowly melt away into a small pool.
I shoot him a lazy smile, handing over the glass. "Another lemonade would be lovely, Misuzu –san. I must say your pension is most definitely as relaxing as Haruhi had described."
Absorbing up the flattery, he giddily swung around in a circle with a large smile painting his face. "I'm so glad you think so, Kyoya-kun! This is my pride and joy, you see. A refreshing atmosphere for all. Sadly I can't afford any more staff, otherwise I would have Haruhi here during all of her holidays! Such a lovely young worker. And brings along her handsome young friends!"
The dress clad man skipped away, prancing through the sliding doors and into the dining area. Left once again to the sound of bird song and wind whistling lightly beside my ear, I leant back into the deck chair and stretched out my legs as my eyes fluttered shut.
Haruhi POV
Another sheet smacked me in the face as I pegged it onto the clothes line securely, the fabric whipping around like tidal waves in the air. At least the sweet scented breeze was much more refreshing than the stuffy Tokyo air during the summer months.
Finally finished with my job, I dusted off my hands and carried my basket back towards the wooden deck area at the back of the pension. Kyoya was sprawled across a wooden deck chair, arms dangling over the sides and neck craned backwards. It still amused me each time I witnessed the small display of vulnerability on his part, the uncharacteristic serene expression a long way from the usual indifferent demeanour. I slip past him and into the building, hurrying towards the laundry room so I could get to my next task.
Isao, or Misuzu as he was more commonly known, had allowed me to work for him whilst my dad was out of town on some form of business trip. I don't really know what okama's consider a business trip but I wasn't going to ask. Misuzu used to work with my dad before starting up the pension here in Karuizawa a couple of years back. It was the perfect highland escape.
And as much as I loved the host club, I was glad to be away from it all, that is if you excluded Kyoya's silent presence. I didn't have the constant harassment and unending bidding for my undivided attention. My mind however knew it wouldn't be long before Tamaki freaked out and sent out a nationwide search party and hunted me down. He probably thought I was abducted my gypsies or some other nonsense. But for now I was simply going to enjoy myself.
Dumping the basket unceremoniously onto the floor, I set the washing machines to the correct temperatures and started the next cycle. That was most of my daily tasks done, at least until after lunch when the café's dishes needed dealt with. An early lunch break was in order. Sweeping through the corridors, humming as I went, I entered the kitchen and started preparing some fresh fruit, breads and smoked salmon to munch on in the short break I'd have before the guests came dancing down the stairs in search of tea and cakes.
I packed enough onto the plate for Kyoya as well; he might be hungry by now if he was done with his little nap out there. Placing down the china plate, I pulled up another deck chair up beside my sempai. I could tell he was stirring from his slumber but I ignored it and started digging into the melon I'd sliced up.
"You eat incredibly loudly, did you know?"
"Sorry, sempai. There's enough melon for you too." I picked up a piece and waved it in his direction to which he hesitantly accepted. "It's not too sweet, don't worry."
"I'll hold you to that." And with that, he sunk his teeth into the juicy flesh of the fruit.
"How long do you think it will take them to figure out where we are?" My eyes wander to the soft wisps of cloud overhead, idly floating across the pristine sky.
"I'm surprised they aren't here already."
"As am I. But what is the true Shadow King estimate?" He cracked open an eye and reached for some more melon, skipping through his mental database of facts and calculating a response.
"My bet is on another 24 hours before they turn up. 36 at a push, depending on how much input Mori-sempai and Honey-sempai have in this little treasure hunt of theirs."
"A treasure hunt?" An eyebrow shot up as I turned to stare at him instead of the clouds swimming across the wide expanse of sky.
He waved me off nonchalantly, stuffing a small chunk of red apple into his mouth. "Forget it. What would you bet on then, Haruhi? We could make this more interesting."
"I see. Well I'll give them two days, three tops. But I still think I'm being quite generous there."
A light chuckle escaped his lips. "Very generous indeed. How about this: if you win then I'll cut your debt in half." I shot up in my seat at that statement, eyes wide with hope.
"And what if you win, sempai?" He seemed to contemplate it, tapping his chin lightly in thought before a wicked smile crossed his face.
"If I win, then you agree to date me."
I blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. "Excuse me?"
"I'm sure you heard me clearly."
"How is that a fair exchange, sempai? I don't understand."
"It's quite simple, I assure you. You win: half your remaining debt is cleared. I win: you agree to date me. Do we have a deal?" He languidly lifted a hand out to shake on it.
My eyes darted between his pale outstretched hand and the smirk laden face. My brain wasn't really processing anything now, no real thoughts passing through. I knew what my decision was but I wasn't going to jump at it. Deep down it was near enough a win-win situation on my part, not so much on his.
Gripping his hand firmly, we shared one shake before silently going back to our small lunch selection and staring out at the endless sky.