Author's note: So after the snafu that was the FF net site upgrade this morning, I vowed I wasn't going to post until they at least fixed my damn stat tracker. Luckily for you all, they did. And so in lieu of a happy-happy dance, I'm posting another chapter. I'm assuming you'd all like that more than a dance anyway.
Even Kyoya was smiling with amusement as Hikaru – having 'reluctantly' volunteered to go first – tumbled sideways and splashed into the water for the second time.
"Hey, Ginger, don't try to stand up. Let the momentum of the boat pull you to your feet." Jess was at the back of the boat calling instructions to the elder Hitachiin as well as signaling to Cole when the man needed to slow or stop. Hikaru, determination infusing his features, struggled back into position, holding the tow line tightly and leaning back against it, using the tension of the line to assist his balance. At his curt nod the smirking woman gestured to the man at the front and the boat once more picked up speed. It seemed the host was taking her instructions to heart this time, letting the force of the craft's forward motion propel him to a crouching position before slowly rising, straightening his legs carefully. He seemed as shocked as the rest of them when he made it to an upright position, wobbling ever so slightly but nonetheless successful.
"Looks like the third time really is the charm," the female instructor called out appreciatively. The boys on the boat – well, three of them, anyway – were cheering wildly.
"Go Hika!" his brother yelled, quickly followed by Honey's gleeful "You did it, Hika-chan!" and Tamaki's "Wahoo! Go Hikaru!" As expected the two brunettes were quiet, but both applauded briefly.
Hikaru smiled, working on retaining his balance. The longer he stayed upright the easier it seemed and soon he was fully immersed in the sensation of gliding across the water behind the gradually speeding boat. After a while, though, he could feel his ankles and wrists shake a bit from the unaccustomed strain. A quick nod from him had Jess calling for Cole to slow down and a few minutes later he was being helped back into the boat and sinking into his brother's proud embrace while the energetic senior host dove into the water to take his turn.
"You were amazing, Hika," Kaoru murmured, brushing his twin's wet hair from his eyes. "What was it like?"
"Before or after I figured out how to stand up?" he asked with a snort. Kaoru chuckled. "It was...it felt like...freedom," he mused.
"Ya did good, kid," Jess said easily. "You've got a decent sense of balance once you decide to use it." Hikaru and Kaoru both laughed.
"Guess that means Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai will be awesome at this," they said, causing the stoic host to glance at them briefly before returning his attention to his cousin. The woman just smiled and went back to her spot at the rear of the boat, shouting instructions to the small blond who was quivering with excitement out in the water.
To no one's surprise Honey caught on the first time, even going so far as to try a few more advanced maneuvers like standing on one leg. Mori also did extremely well, a fact that shocked none of the hosts. Tamaki managed to stand properly on his third try as well, though he did try to push himself past the point his joints would support, but the general consensus was that he had cut the most dashing figure out there on the water – Jess going so far as to jokingly lament that she was a lesbian and therefore not interested in 'tapping that.' The 'that' in question blushed wildly and thanked her for the compliment. Kaoru, after a reassuring hug from his twin, made his way out to the tow line and after four tries and a shaky yet admittedly exhilarating ride he climbed back into the boat and his brother's arms.
"What did you think?" Hikaru asked.
"You were right. It felt like freedom."
At that point all eyes turned to the only remaining host that had not taken a turn. Kyoya regarded them all with a disdainful glare.
"Come on, Kyoya," Tamaki cajoled, receiving only a cold gaze in return.
"I put on the wetsuit. But I have no desire to take part in this activity." The blond was apparently going to say something but the female instructor beat him to the punch.
"Such a damn shame," she said, her voice regretful. Kyoya, eyes narrowed behind his glasses, fixed her with his trademark expression.
"And what would that be?" he asked in a quiet voice. The rest of the hosts froze, knowing that nothing good ever came of that voice. The redhead bombshell just shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well, you're easily one of the sexiest guys I've ever seen, but it seems even the kid -" she gestured carelessly to Honey, "- has got bigger balls than you do. It's just a shame if you ask me." She turned her full attention back to collecting the gear, ignoring the wide-eyed stares the others were wearing. She was just about to pull the tow line in when a strong, slender hand stopped her. Glancing up she saw the sunlight gleam off of his glasses.
"I'm going." Without another word he handed his glasses to Tamaki and dove gracefully from the side of the boat. Wearing a self-satisfied smile Jess just readied everything and waited for his signal.
Kyoya shocked them all. When the boat started he rose smoothly, not the slightest hint of a wobble, no glimpse of uncertainty in his bearing. His friends were stunned but their female companion just smiled and signaled Cole again. The man at the helm grinned and gunned the motor, shifting the boat into a wide, fast turn. The charcoal-clad brunette shifted with ease, looking for all the world like he'd been born on water skis. The driver and instructor worked in a couple more surprise maneuvers and each time he adapted with a casual grace that left his peers stunned and silent. Finally Jess called a halt and the surprisingly talented Shadow King made his way back to the boat, refusing assistance as he climbed aboard and returned to his seat. He held out his hand and an awestruck Tamaki handed his glasses back. Thus armored once more he turned to the redhead woman.
"Are we finished? It's nearing evening." She smiled at him, a genuine one full of warmth.
"Yep. We're heading back now." She smirked. "I guess I was wrong. You've got some pretty big balls yourself. Good job, man." He inclined his head briefly in response to the praise and then turned his attention towards the shore. The trip back was silent save for the sound of the motor and the last daytime cries of the few gulls that were still fighting sleep's deep grasp.
From her vantage point in the shade Haruhi chuckled and gasped in turn while she watched her boys make their mostly successful attempts at water skiing. Hikaru's first two failed tries had her smiling but then she saw him grasp the idea, and she gazed on with pride as he stood and gained confidence with every movement. She wished she were there to give him a congratulatory hug, and for the first time she felt genuine regret that she hadn't just openly accompanied them to begin with. It would have been annoying, yes, but she would have been able to share these triumphs with them, to laugh and joke and enjoy something new with the ones she cared so much for. Melancholy, she resumed her observations.
She wasn't in the least surprised at Honey and Mori, at their ability to pick the techniques up with apparent ease. She did laugh at Tamaki at first, but once he got the hang of it she was struck breathless by how remarkable he looked, his red suit making his hair gleam, the blues of sky and sea and the warm light of the sun giving him a near preternatural beauty that took her breath away.
Kaoru looked nervous, but seemed elated when he finally managed to rise without falling. She was so proud of him, knowing that this was less his cup of tea than it was Hikaru's and feeling her heart fill with warmth for her friend who was willing to step outside his comfort zone and try something new.
There was a break in the motion on the boat, followed by movement as the woman bent down to gather their stuff. Haruhi was about to stretch and head back to camp only to stop and gawk as Kyoya stepped up. Never would Haruhi have expected the Shadow King to join in, but then he was diving into the water with the grace of a dolphin and she couldn't do anything but stare.
Confident, poised, he seemed a dark god out there, not so much riding the skis, the water, as commanding it to carry him. Every line of his body was taut, firm, yet he was relaxed enough that the turns and maneuvers of the boat didn't even phase him. She was holding her breath as she watched the youngest Ootori glide over the rippling water with that cultured elegance that was as much a part of him as his calculating mind or his collected demeanor, yet seeing it in this setting, seeing him like this – her mind boggled at the sheer impressiveness. She was awestruck as the boat slid to a gentle stop and she watched while he climbed back into the watercraft. It made its way to shore and Haruhi sighed. She figured it was now really time to head back to camp and get something to eat before her sundown visitors showed up. Making her way through the vegetation, she idly wondered who it would be that would grace her with their presence once night fell.
As she cooked a quick meal she firmed her resolve to talk with Tamaki the next day, somehow. As much as she thought she'd wanted her solitude, she was finding the truth of it to be far less satisfactory than she'd imagined it would be. She missed them all, and it was by her own choice that she wasn't a part of them right now, so it would be up to her to end her own isolation and loneliness.
Kyoya jumped into the shallows as soon as he felt was wise and strode off to the cabin, not saying anything to anyone. Tamaki just shrugged at the questioning looks the others gave him.
"Your friend seems a bit high-strung. Helluva skier, though." Jess' voice was appreciative.
"How did you know what to say to make him get out there?" Kaoru asked. Her chuckle rippled through the air.
"He wanted to go, but I could see he had too much concern for his self-image to take a chance without a push. So I pushed." She grinned. "He reminds me a lot of my older brother James. Too serious by half, expects far more from himself than anyone should, avoids 'frivolity' because he doesn't see a gain to it." The hosts looked at each other, nodding their agreement with her description.
"That's our Kyoya," Tamaki said fondly.
"And just like James," she continued, "it seems your friend has untold depths of talent. Unless I was completely mistaken in the looks of fuck-all surprise out there?" The laughed and shook their heads.
"None of us knew he could do that," the Host King mused. By this point they'd all disembarked and the five boys were facing the older man and the woman.
"It's been fun," Cole said with a smile of his own. "I'll be honest – heard from my boss that we were hired out by a bunch of school kids, we were expecting a bunch of drunken frat boys. Glad to meet such a group of well-behaved lads as yourselves."
"You two were wonderful. Thank you so much for the opportunity and instruction," Tamaki replied with a smile, the blond once more returning handshakes, as did the rest of the hosts this time.
"A pleasure, gentlemen," Jess said with a wink. She glanced up the beach, seeing the Shadow King walk out of his cabin now clad in a white sleeveless vest and a pair of khaki shorts, a black leather belt threaded through the loops and a pair of sandals on his feet.
"Hey superstar," she called out, knowing he'd heard her. "You were great out there today. Learn to relax a bit more and you'll be great every day." With that statement she gave a final wave and headed back out to the boat where Cole was already waiting. The six hosts watched as they sped away.
"Kyoya, I didn't know you already knew how to water ski." Tamaki's voice was both impressed and surprised.
"I didn't," came the bland reply. All eyes turned to him.
"Then what the hell was that?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked, gesturing out to the sea. Kyoya pushed his glasses back up.
"That? That was the result of me actually listening to our instructor and watching all of you screw up for hours. I saw the mistakes you were making and chose not to make them myself." There was silence as they all stared at him. The brunette met their gazes with his trademark smirk.
"Kyoya," Hikaru muttered, "anyone ever tell you that you are one scary bastard?"
"Not nearly enough," came the calm reply.