A/N: Hey everyone, sorry it took a few days to upload this chapter. It took me a little while to figure out the correct path between two for the next part of the story and that path was deeply ingrained in this chapter. I hope this chapter was worth the buildup. As always, I appreciate all of you readers and reviewers.
The Christmas Party
"Nakurosa-san, I'd like to introduce you to my youngest son, Kyouya. Son, this is Nakurosa Suro. He is the head owner of Nakurosa Pharmaceuticals. The Ootori Corporation works closely with his company to develop most of the drugs that are currently still labeled as experimental."
"An honor, Nakurosa-san," the raven-haired teen bowed in respect, bored out of his mind and anxious for his girlfriend's arrival. When he'd received the text from her that she wanted to arrive alone, he'd panicked, worried that she was going to back out and not show. They'd gotten closer, sure, but this was an event the size of which would be overwhelming to most. His father had been making subtle remarks about her continued absence since the party started a half hour ago. He finished the civilities of his conversation with the owner of the company he'd already bought two months ago and moved on to a potential investor he had an interest in networking with.
It was while forcing out a laugh at some imbecilic 'joke' the investor made when he noticed the attention of those around him being diverted to a singular point. His conversation partner also noted the change and the two craned their necks to pinpoint the distraction of the room. Kyouya glimpsed the breathtaking woman standing by herself in the foyer of his home, the sudden object of every eye at the party, and his jaw nearly hit the floor.
Her shoulder-length brown hair curled gently away from her face, showing off every inch of the exquisite bone structure she was graced with. A shy blush sprinkled across her delicate cheekbones, the most incredible shade of pink he'd ever witnessed though not nearly as alluring as the pale touch of pink that colored her lips. Her blush may have indicated shyness but her intense, wide, brown eyes held a steady, intelligent, confident gaze. A slender neck encased in a thin, silver collar necklace with a single drop tear diamond led the eye of the beholder in a straight line across pale, temptingly bare shoulders.
A white fur trim covered the top half of her arms and led into a deep, forest green, velvet gown that clung to her every curve, subtle and pronounced. From the base of the trim to the center of her chest was a splattering of crystals set randomly, and yet carefully patterned, glistening snowflakes against the vivid color. The shimmer of the gown highlighted the woman's petite frame while the mermaid silhouette made her appear taller. Her hands were coated in white, silken gloves that reached just below her elbows.
Whispers abounded. 'Who is she?' the most prominent among them. Everyone wanted to know the identity of the brunette beauty who'd just arrived. Her eyes scanned the crowd, sharp and clear. When they spotted the one she'd been searching for, her face visibly brightened and an entrancing smile spread across her face. The crowd parted with every step she took towards her goal until she stood facing Kyouya and bowed.
"Good evening, Kyouya," she said softly. Now that she was close, he could see details in her makeup that were invisible from further away. Subtle streaks of glitter swirled away from the outer edges of her eyes, like snow blowing in the wind. Her bare skin shimmered slightly under the lights of the chandeliers that hung from the high ceilings. After a few moments of silence during which a pin drop could be heard throughout the room, she continued, looking at the man beside him. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt your conversation?" She bowed to the investor. "Please forgive me, sir."
He smiled kindly. "There's nothing to forgive, child. It does not follow that the interruption is undesired. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Hitoshi Rikuto, of Hitoshi and Sons Enterprises. Who might I have the honor of speaking with?"
"My name is Fujioka Haruhi," she said, bowing again. Out of the corner of her eye, Kyouya remained wordless and still. His continued silence was starting to unnerve her. Was he angry? She hadn't meant to cause such a spectacle when she entered the room. "I understand you make your business by investing in young, up-in-coming companies, is that correct?"
"That is one of our dealings, yes. Why, do you have a proposition for me as well?" Haruhi laughed softly.
"No sir, I only wanted to thank you for giving new businesses a chance in the world. There's not a lot who would, thinking it too high-risk an investment with no guarantee of pay-out and I'm sure you've helped make many a small dream a reality."
"You flatter me, Miss Fujioka. What I do is not so grand as all that. I merely scope out the pool while it's shallow, so to speak."
"I'm sure it may seem that way to you, but I believe those fledgling companies you've given a leg to stand on have a different attitude. I'm sure their gratefulness is the main reason for the high return rate you see from your investments."
"I'm impressed, young miss. You take an interest in stocks?"
"I do my research. When Kyouya told me he was interested in making your acquaintance, I made sure to learn more about you. Though he doesn't seem to be too keen on talking now." She glanced at him again. His glasses were glared over. It was not a good sign.
"How do you know young Ootori, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Oh, of course not. I'm his girlfriend. We met in school." She threw Kyouya a dazzling smile which fell when she still incited no reaction from him. "Though I fear he may be upset with me at the moment." She gave Hitoshi a disconcerted smile.
"My dear, I am sure he is simply taken with your beauty," he replied kindly. "You have captured the attention of every person in this room just by entering."
She chuckled good-naturedly. "More likely because I was late."
"You are too modest. Look, someone is arriving now and no one has batted an eye. I am sure he is eagerly waiting my departure so that he might convey his feelings to you." He took her hand to kiss her knuckles as was customary of a gentleman and both were surprised to hear a deep, almost guttural, growl emanate from the raven-haired teen.
Hitoshi laughed. "Calm down, son. You've got nothing to worry about. I'll be looking into your ventures from now on and you can thank this little lady right here. If you managed to capture the heart of someone as humble and astute as her, I'm sure it had little to do with just your family name. I'll be seeing more of you in the future, I think. Good evening to you both." He bowed once more and walked away.
"Kyouya, what's the matter? You haven't sa-" She was interrupted by another couple who sought their conversation.
Since Kyouya was still uninterested in speaking, Haruhi called upon every hosting skill she had acquired in the eight months since she broke the vase. No sooner had that couple had left after pledging their security technologies to Ootori Medical than another man approached and struck a conversation with her. For the next hour, Kyouya stood in silence while Haruhi charmed every man and woman who came up to them. They streamed in groups of two or three and she entertained them all. None of them left without offering some olive branch with Kyouya's family's business.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, dinner is served. If you will please come into the dining room, you will be shown to your seats," a butler called from the doors to the same hall Haruhi had soaked in a Frenchman's blood only a month ago.
"Kyouya, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Haruhi whispered to her escort who had still not said a word all night. Her concern was evident in her eyes.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen," Yoshio started, tapping his knife on a glass. Haruhi cursed her luck. Her attempts to find out what was bothering Kyouya had been foiled by yet another interruption. "I trust everyone is enjoying themselves here this evening." Murmurs and nods circled around the long table. "I hope you all have found this event to be an enlightening one and I anticipate a prosperous next quarter for each of us. As many of you know, I have three extraordinary sons, each a credit to his lineage. However, only one may be named my heir and I standing before you tonight to name him.
"Yuuichi, my eldest son, you have set the bar very high for your brothers. Graduate of Ouran Academy and Tokyo University at the top of your class and you excel as the country's top pediatric surgeon, however, I am afraid that you lack the business knowledge it takes to run a company. I believe you are best suited exactly as you are: overseeing the care of Japan's future." Yuuichi nodded, accepting his father's decision. He hadn't wanted the position anyway. He saw more value in his work as a children's surgeon. His wife squeezed his hand under the table. She knew how he felt and was relieved her husband would not be away from her day and night.
"Akito, you are my second son. You have met every expectation I have ever had of you and are well on your way to following your elder brother's footprints, nearly to the letter, with the only exception being your field of study. I have a strong belief that you will do your family proud in the world of medicinal development, but you lack the creativity it takes to run a corporation. Your mind is better suited to the exact, the numbers and figures that developing drugs requires." Akito was floored and more than a little pissed. He was furious. He and his elder brother had done everything that was expected of them and they were passed over for the patriarchy?!
"Kyouya, my youngest son, I have placed more upon your shoulders than those of your brothers. You, in turn, rebelled. In recent years, you have rebuffed, even shirked your responsibility, you've turned your nose up at all reasonable options for clubs and indulged in your fancies to the utmost. You snubbed the demands I have made of you only to follow your own pursuits as you willed. You've maintained your brothers' positions as the top of your class, as expected, but you have accomplished much more. You have forged your own path in the world as only a second year in high school. You have proven yourself worthy. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I hereby announce my third son, Ootori Kyouya, to be the next patriarch of our family, my successor, upon my departure from this plane."
Polite applause followed the announcement from everyone in attendance. Haruhi took a keen glance around the room at those she had spoken with and most of them were sitting a little straighter than they had been only moments ago with several leaning forward with interest. Kyouya sat next to her, still unmoving, his eyes shielded from her. She slammed her heel on his toes under the table while grinning excitedly at him.
"Thank you, father. I hope to continue earning the position you have so graciously bestowed upon me." He spoke stiffly and through a voice that was slightly raspy after almost two hours of disuse. Thankfully most of the guests attributed it to being choked up with emotion. Haruhi, unable to contain her excitement, threw her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly, not a care in the world that there were over 150 pairs of eyes on them. Goodhearted laughter rolled around the table at her display.
"I'm so proud of you, Kyouya," she whispered into his ear. She felt him hesitantly pat her back. Pulling back smiling at him, she finally saw past the glare of his glasses.
The depth of expression in his eyes was enough to almost knock the wind out of her. Excitement, love, lust, his struggling desire to control that lust, his pride, his joy, all swirled around in the storm of his steel grey eyes. They captivated her.
"I see someone is very excited for you," Yoshio smirked, hunger in his eyes, staring at Haruhi, a look he had been giving her all night as she dazzled the room, bringing in more deals on her own than his three sons combined. "I am glad, for what is a man without a good woman at his side, am I right gentlemen?" A deep chorus of 'cheers' followed his statement while the ladies all exchanged knowing grins with each other. Haruhi allowed a blush to come to her cheeks and she shrugged her shoulders, appearing endearingly embarrassed. In truth, she was really unnerved by the way he looked over her as if she were a prize deer. She felt like a deer caught in headlights. Yoshio sat and the meal commenced. Conversation picked up around the long, rectangular table, and Haruhi finally saw her chance to get to the bottom of her 'boyfriend's' taciturn attitude.
"Kyouya," she started for a third time, casually glancing around in fear of being interrupted again. "Why have you been so silent tonight? You know I don't know anything about business deals and yet you're making me talk to everybody."
"I…I'm sorry, love. I have been wracking my brain all evening, trying to find the words to convey just how bewitching you are. I'm sorry to have put you in such an uncomfortable position but you have had me completely spellbound, mind and body. I haven't spoken because I couldn't. My sincerest apologies if you took it to mean anything less."
Haruhi blinked, not expecting an answer of that depth. Ootori Kyouya almost never apologized and he certainly never apologized three times at once. The true power of his emotions, the longing in his voice, caused her heart to flutter in her chest.
"I see," she replied, stunned. "And what about that growl you made when Hitoshi-san kissed the back of my hand?" A faint sprinkling of pink dusted his cheeks. So light that if one were not looking for it, they would miss it. But it was there all the same and it shocked her. Had she ever seen the Shadow King embarrassed before?
"Ah, yes, well, I'll admit, that was a rather barbaric reaction to something so mundane and I do apologize for it. But perhaps now you finally see what you do to me, Fujioka Haruhi. You alone cause me to lose all sense of self, to react on my most base instincts. You see, I am a very jealous sort of man, especially when I have a woman worth holding on to." He squeezed her hand under the table. She gave him another beaming smile. "However, I might be persuaded to let go of my jealousy for one night, if the price is right." He smirked.
"Oh? And what price might that be?" She asked innocently, glad her own plans seemed to be back on track. She'd worried they might have to be put off if Kyouya was angry and she figured if they had to be postponed, she'd chicken out.
"Dance with me, hime." Her smile grew soft.
"Any time, Kyouya." She squeezed his hand in return and they attended to their multi-course meals. Haruhi had never seen such a vast array of cutlery but she kept up by being only a half second behind her partner in silverware selection. No one suspected a thing, not even Kyouya himself. When the final course had been digested and couples were heading over to the ballroom, the guests were informed that there would be a dessert buffet displayed for their pleasure to replenish their energy while dancing.
"Shall we mesmerize the room, hime?" Kyouya asked, guiding her onto the dancefloor as the hired orchestra began the first waltz.
"Let's," she replied, her smile already captivating the heart of the raven-haired teen all over again. The two took to the center of the room and began the dance. They flowed together, perfectly in synch, spinning, gliding, twirling, Kyouya even lifting the petite woman to show her off in every respect. By the time the music ended and he was leading her away, they had every eye riveted.
"Brother, you shouldn't keep the gem of the ball to yourself. Let someone else occupy her time, will you?" Akito suggested, approaching the pair. Kyouya narrowed his eyes.
"If she wishes the company of another, she is free to do so. I will, of course, not prevent her from making her own choices."
"What do you say, my dear? Would you care for a dance with me?"
"Akito-san, you do me honor by asking," she replied, bowing. She really didn't want to stand with Kyouya's second brother and she really didn't like the pet name he used, but she knew it would be rude to decline a request from anyone.
He would have been a tolerable partner at best, but his hands kept straying where they shouldn't, and she had to keep discreetly replacing them. He also kept leering at her in a way that made her incredibly uncomfortable, while making backhanded comments.
"My brother is very lucky to have such an engaging young woman by his side. I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you, though. If Father really has made him the heir, then he'll already have an omiai set up and probably two or three besides." 'Ha! You have no idea how in the dark you really are.' Haruhi thought to herself. "Now, me on the other hand, it won't matter who I marry anymore, and I believe you'll find I can be a lot more entertaining than my youngest brother." He spun her out and slid his arm up her waist as she came back in to prove his point.
"Akito-san, aren't you already engaged?" She asked, casually bringing his hand back to what was considered appropriate. "What about Chizue-san?"
"Her? Just some air-head daughter of a corporate executive. I would be rid of her tonight if I thought it would give me the chance at you. You're fun, exciting, wild, unpredictable. Aside from your pedigree, you're everything I could ever wish for in a woman." His nonchalant attitude and wandering hands were starting to piss her off.
"I am flattered by your attention, Akito-san, but I would ask that while I am still with your brother, you respect that boundary," she retorted icily, once again shifting a traveling hand.
"That kind of spunk is exactly what I'm talking about. Surely you must be teasing me on purpose. No one is that naïve."
"I can assure you, sir, I mean no disrespect by spurning your advances, but my loyalties lie with your brother. While Kyouya still holds my regard, I will not betray him. He is my friend first and foremost." When the music ended, she let him guide her back to Kyouya without a fuss but her eyes were burning in fury.
"You have quite a woman, little brother, don't let her go." Akito warned. He kissed the back of her knuckles and she allowed it for society's sake, but the second she though no one was looking, she furiously wiped her gloved hand on her gown. Kyouya chuckled in amusement.
"Didn't enjoy yourself with my older brother?" He had been watching them like a hawk, noting every time his Haruhi had needed to reposition a hand, practically feeling the waves of anger emanating from her, and already had a plan in mind for his brother's graduation in May. A very third-rate hospital was about to get a very first-rate developmental pharmaceutical expert.
"Oh yeah, my time with your brother was absolutely fucking peachy," she mumbled. "I can't decide the best part, his sexual assault or his insistence that you're going to drop me at the first omiai or that he'd make a more exciting partner." She knew that no one could hear her but the raven-haired teen but she still zipped her lips quickly when they were approached by the eldest brother.
"Miss Fujioka, would you do me the honor of taking a turn around the dancefloor?" She smiled.
"Of course, Yuuichi-san." He took her hand and led her to the center of the room. This brother was perfectly respectful, congratulating her on her skills with entertaining the other guests, asking about her father. In turn, she wished him luck in his career. She left the ballroom floor feeling in much better spirits than with the previous brother.
"Miss Fujioka, may I intrude upon your time for the next waltz?" More than ever, she wanted to stay by Kyouya's side, or even go home early and forget her plans with the Shadow King. She slowly turned around and faced her 'boyfriend's' father.
"Ootori-sama, you do me great honor." She bowed to him before taking his arm.
"I am impressed, Miss Fujioka. You have managed to secure business relations with nearly every prominent owner in attendance," he said, curtly.
"What can I say, sir, I learned a lot participating in that useless club of Kyouya's. The art of conversation and networking is one of the most important things we do in the Host Club."
"Perhaps I may have misjudged Kyouya's endeavors. There seems to have been more thought put in than its initial appearance suggests. However, such frivolities will no longer be tolerated now that he has been named my heir. I will harbor no distractions from his learning his way around the position."
"With all due respect, Ootori-sama, do you really think you can prevent him from attending to the club he has built from the ground up with Tamaki-senpai? Kyouya is a very determined individual, who will not be deterred by anything he does not see merit to." He spun her out and back in, their waltz more of a tango of wit.
"I am well aware of his attachment to the club and the Suoh boy, having encouraged the connection to the Suohs from the start. But it will not matter in the end. Kyouya will turn his head away from the fantasies of that boy and towards his future one way or another. If he had only let the boy go with Tonnerre back to France, it would have been easier, but such is life. I'm still not sure why you kids went after him. Perhaps you could enlighten me?"
"Simple. He is our friend and catering to his grandmother's wishes like that would have led to his misery. We couldn't let that happen, so we stopped it."
"He wouldn't have been miserable, he could have been with his mother again. You and your friends ripped him away from that chance." Haruhi, already thinking about how she could use that information, smiled.
"I'm sure it may seem that way, but as you said, it was only a chance. We would rather have kept him away from that chance than for him to find himself married and lied to. We took the risk, as none of us trusted Eclaire. And for good reason it seems, as evidenced by that family's attempt on your lives. Tamaki is our friend and we would protect him from heartbreak. Just as we would protect any of our club from similar fates." Her subtle threat was not lost on Yoshio who narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Take care, Miss Fujioka, your friends may be too powerful to be easily manipulated. But you are not. It would be nothing to buy out your father's irreputable business and your apartment building and make your life a living hell. I could do it before we left the dancefloor."
"You could, that's true, but if you do, control will not fall to you, but rather, to Kyouya, whom you've just publicly named your heir. If you believe, for a second, he would allow any misfortune to befall us, you couldn't be more mistaken. What would it say to the public that Kyouya let his commoner girlfriend become homeless? That wouldn't look good, would it?"
"I can simply order him to break up with you under the threat of losing his position." Haruhi shook her head, grinning like the cat who ate the canary.
"Wrong again, Ootori-sama. The business with Tonnerre should have told you this much, but Kyouya couldn't care less for what you give him. He took what he wanted and still owns the company, even if you run it. So, unless you want to give him grounds to fire you, causing another publicity scandal, you will do nothing. Besides, if you decided to change your mind after publicly announcing your intent to make Kyouya your successor, you'd look indecisive and weak, two things you really don't want to look right after the Tonnerre fiasco.
"So, you see, you don't have a leg to stand on, do you? You can't touch our Club without creating the biggest business scandal Japan has ever seen. Do you know what you're going to do, Ootori-sama? You're going to drop all this nonsense about Kyouya focusing on business 'one way or another', you're going to never suggest or order him to leave the Club, and you're going to appreciate your son's efforts, because you can be damned sure he doesn't make them for you anymore."
The music faded, and the brunette bowed to her partner before talking his arm to be guided back to the raven-haired teen, her head held high. She could feel the frustration and fury rolling off Yoshio in waves, though only those who knew him would see his anger and knowing he could do nothing about it gave her a level of satisfaction and pride she thought she wouldn't achieve until her graduation from Law School. She had just completely emasculated the head of the largest zaibatsu in the country! And it felt good. Until he leaned in to whisper something into her ear. Something that made her blood freeze, that made her want to turn and run.
For the next two hours, she danced and charmed every executive and son of executive who requested her hand. Kyouya became increasingly frustrated, watching the display. Yes, he knew she was her own person who could take care of herself and she was currently making a huge splash in the business world, all for his sake, and yes, he'd promised to relinquish his jealousy, but damnit, he wanted her! He wanted to know what had been said between her and his father. He wanted to solicit her time exclusively. Thankfully, she came back to him for the final dance of the evening where they dazzled the audience once more with the beauty of their movements. She was the bell of the ball, and he was the dark prince who was only light for her. The guests loved that analogy and the Christmas Party ended in high spirits.