Alright! Hello again, my lovelies!

I must thank my reviewers, as always! Thank you so much to Draycos, AhhMyLife, Half-Angel-Writer and Akemi Tatsuyoshi. Also, many thanks to LiviLove97 and Nova Bucker for favoriting/alerting this story. Thanks you guys!

Draycos: Yeah I'm finally on volume 16. I know that Kyoya speaks English and stuff. Thanks for the insight! And to answer your question, this story has hints of Tamaki and Tori in it, but it's not as important as Kyoya and Maria. Yes, I am pairing Haruhi with Hikaru, and I'm also tweaking the story quite a bit. I'm going by the anime as well as the manga at once, so the story is being twisted about and some things are occurring at different times. I'm making it my own and the parts of Tamaki's story and problems in the manga are happening a year later. Just as a heads up so you know. I hope you don't mind that...hehe :D

Half-Angel-Writer: Sadly, no, I am not going to have Kyoya confront John. At this point Kyoya has confront Maria's monster, and so has she, and they have moved on. It seems to me that it wouldn't make much sense for John to seek her out, especially since she's in Japan 95% of the time. It's always a possibility, though, that it might happen. I might change my mind, but at this point, no, it doesn't seem likely to happen.

With those answered, I am happy to present to you chapter 37! I hope you enjoy! :D

{Arizona, McMillan household, 3 days before Christmas}

"Maria, can you come help me? I can't reach the top of the tree..." I hear my mother call from the living room. I've just managed to assemble the new bed frame she bought from a friend a while ago. She'd thrown out my old one, which I've had since 5th grade, because it literally fell apart in the move. She'd put my mattress away until she could find a bed frame that would suit me, and now has tasked me with assembling the damn thing.

"Yeah, mama, I'm coming." I say, walking out from my bedroom and into the living room. I see that, even on a stool, my mother is still too short to reach the top of the tree. I may be the spitting image of her, but I am definitely not five foot even. She is definitely way shorter than I am.
"Here, can you put the star on the top?" She hands me the glowing object and I step up on the stool. I reach the top of the tree with ease and set the glowing star on top.

When I told my mother not to recluse herself from the festivities, I meant for her to break out the tree. But she literally went all out this Christmas. The living room is decorated to the nines. Angels, holly and poinsettia decorate the walls and tables. The tree is a sight to behold all by itself, covered in lights, ornaments, and anything else you could imagine. I see that my mother hung my spun glass ornaments, the bird that I made myself one year before Christmas. I think that was my freshman year, in all honesty. But not only are there those, but then there's the Mickey Mouse ones, the Disney ones, and, my favorites, the anime ones my mother bought for herself on year. This tree is sparkling with magnificence, tree skirt and presents included in shiny wrapping paper. Our stockings are hung on the mantle of our chimney.

A chimney in Arizona doesn't really make much sense. But you catch my drift anyway.

Along the mantle are tall figurines of miscellaneous Christmas storybook characters. There's Frosty, Rudolph, Santa in his sleigh, an assorted collection of Nutcrackers, and some snowy ballerinas. Toys are also strewn about near Santa and his sleigh, where eight reindeer are hitched. Somehow, though, the Rudolph that was on that Santa sleigh was broken by one of our cats landing on the mantle one year, I think. That or it broke in a move. Either way there is no single red-nosed reindeer leading the sleigh.

Poor Santa. He's not going to get to all those little girls and boys after all. That's just too bad.

Note my sarcasm.

As much as I love Christmas, this decorative theme kind of makes me want to throw up. And it's not just this room, either. The dining room has holly and tinsel lining the walls that are connected at the top of the inclined ceiling with a wreath, which is covered in fake snow and holly berries. The kitchen—dear Lord—is decorated with Frosty the Snowman everywhere you turn. His face is on the back-splash of the stove as a laminate sticker, his images are on the windows, and the gaudiest part of the entire thing is a Frosty Cuckoo clock hanging on the wall that, on the hour, chimes and sings the Frosty song all of the way through.

Oh, but that's not the best part. Nope, the best part comes before you even walk in the house. My mother—bless her—did not decorate our yard in the cheesy Christmas lights and singing, automated, lighted reindeer and blow up figures. No, she was tactful and hung a large wreath in the middle above the garage door. On the front door is another wreath. But the kicker to this is the doorbell. I hope Kyoya doesn't decide to show up unannounced. I want him to call me so we can avoid the doorbell.

You want to know why, of course. The reason is because when that doorbell is pressed, the song 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' is played as high-pitched, tinkly, annoying bells. This is courtesy of my father and his inability to grow up. He brought it home one night and installed it without us knowing. Lo and behold the next day would come and, of course, someone came by to wish us Merry Christmas. The look of pure shock and confusion on their face, though hysterical, was one I'd rather not have repeated for my boyfriend. He would figure out quite quickly that this house is completely crazy.

I have yet to figure out how to turn the damn thing off. I wish I wasn't so mechanically inept. I can tune a piano, dance the waltz like a pro, and cook the pants off of Santa, but for the life of me I can't disassemble a noisy doorbell. Nevertheless, the gaudiness of this house has somehow avoided my room even if every other room in the house is completely thrown up on. I have managed to, in my infinite Christmas wisdom, hang a small stock from my end table that has my cat's name on it in gold and silver glitter glue. It's for Santa to visit my little darling while she is asleep Christmas Eve. That is the extent of my decorating, since my mother has done plenty of that for me. I stay in the sanctuary of my nearly empty room for the sole reason that I will be out of it all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then I can retreat to forget about the horribly awful things thrown up on the wall.

My room looks more like it hasn't even been occupied. There is a black metal bed-frame with my mattress on it, covered with sheets my mother purchased for guests and for my youngest sister's friends to sleep in during sleepovers...but since when did girls sleep in separate rooms during sleepovers?

I don't ask my mother why she does what she does. It makes things simpler that way.

So, returning to the room, the closet is completely open and empty except for the clothes I brought with me for my stay. Tori and I are leaving the 26th for Japan to spend New Years there instead of at home. So the closet is pretty bare. Three pairs of shoes, fourteen outfits, and that's pretty much it. I brought nothing to paint or draw with me, seeing as I saw no need. I was going to be busy with God knows what with my mother. I didn't want to have my painting get in the way. And my father's at home, so that just makes for drama and ridicule from him. Tori left her violin in Japan, as well.

You may be wondering what we did with our kittens. Well, Kyoya agreed to have Ginger and Storm stay with Mika and have them taken care of by his maids. I thought that was really nice of him, and he assured me they would be pampered with the utmost attention. His words, not mine. Nevertheless it's good to come home to see my other little darling, and she's been following me around non-stop since I got here.

Speak of the devil. She comes into my room and winds around my legs, the stretches up my legs, reaching toward me. It's her sign of saying she wants to be picked up.

"Alright, Squeakers, alright. Come here." I pick her up and rub her back, scratch her chin and ears, and she purrs for me.

I've had Squeakers since I was 14. I got her after my rabbit had died in middle school from a degenerative illness. We'd put her down to end her suffering, and though it had hurt, the following summer I picked up Squeakers, and voila! All the sadness was cured. She's adorable and has rabbit-like gray fur with white paws. One of her paws has a splotch of gray on the toe, and it looks like she's got a hole in her sock. She's got huge ears and the prettiest green eyes. She's got a bib of white and a splash of white on her nose as well. I named her Squeakers because her meow is so high-pitched and, when she wants to get my attention from across the room or even the house, she sounds like she's squeaking at me. She's my baby girl who, unfortunately, can't come to Japan with me.

I carry her out into the kitchen, where my mother is busy making food for the next few days. Prepping and baking, she keeps herself busy because it's easy with my father not here. When he's at home she has trouble doing anything, since he's always in the way. So she does things ahead of time to minimize the amount of work she has to do when he is around. It's an inconvenience, but she does what she has to.

"You have your baby." She says, and I nod with a smile at the purring bundle nestled into my arms.
"I do. Do you need any help, mama?"
"No, I think I've got it, sweetie. Thanks though." I nod and migrate back into my room, where Tori sits on my bed. I put my kitty down and sit next to her.

"What's up?" She hands me her cell phone.
"I want you to keep this while we're on vacation here. It's been going off like crazy. I turned it off and everything...just keep it so I won't be tempted to answer back, okay?" I nod, taking the device from her and stuffing it into one of the drawers of my end table. She nods, then gets up and leaves me be. I sigh. She's having a tough time doing what she said she would do, but she'll pull through. Hopefully it pays off for her.

The day of Christmas Eve arrives, and I have my phone on me from the moment I wake up. I managed to slip on jeans and a red, long-sleeved turtleneck. It's almost eleven in the and I still haven't heard from Kyoya. I sent him the address in the email along with a note to make sure he calls me before he gets here. I've been pacing since lunch out of nervousness and giddiness at the same time. My father had to make an emergency run into work today, so he won't be home until this evening, giving me about six to eight hours without him there to prepare Kyoya for the onslaught I'm sure he's going to receive. I'm also nervous because my father's never been the type of person to easily accept anyone into his life. Not that I care if he likes Kyoya or not, but I'd rather he did so he wouldn't say anything stupid. My mother will love him, I already know that. Now if he would just get here already!

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, and I flip it open to see the text. I immediately get up from the couch—which I had managed to settle into during my pacing—and unlock the door. I nearly face-palm as I see the limousine parked out in front of my house, as well as the very large crowd starting to gather.
"Could you be any more obvious?" I ask myself under my breath as I see Kyoya get out of the limousine. There are three guys that are with him. He speaks with them, and then they get back in and drive off, thankfully. I see him turn toward the house as I walk outside. We got three feet of snow last night—really weird for Arizona—but nevertheless it's cold and windy but not icy on the sidewalk. We meet halfway down the sidewalk, and when I get to him he swiftly pulls me into a breathtaking kiss. It takes me a moment when he releases me for my senses to kick back into normal gear.

"So, care to explain why you wanted to meet me outside?" I shake my head.
"It's the doorbell. I'd rather it just be left alone. My dad's idea of funny is everyone else's idea of stupid and annoying." I say. He nods and then
"You should really have a coat. It's cold out here." I shrug.
"I was only going to be out here for a couple of minutes. Now let's get inside. I think my mom was making tea and hot chocolate." I say, pulling him along. He goes along with it and follows me inside, where I help him take off his coat and his scarf. I hang them up in the coat closet as Tori comes into the entryway.

"Oh, hi Kyoya!" She says. He smiles at her.
"Hello, Tori. It's good to see the both of you have made it home safely." He says. I smirk at this as I close the closet.
"Heehee, thanks!" Tori says. My mother then comes into view, along with my little sister Ana. She smiles at Kyoya, and I can tell she likes him immediately.
"Well, hello there! You must be Kyoya." She says, and he nods with a polite bow.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. McMillan. Your daughter has told me quite a bit about you." She gives me a look, and I shrug at her.
"What has she told you, exactly?" He smiles flawlessly, never skipping a beat.
"She's mentioned a couple of things about how important you are to her. She's also let me see paintings of you that she did, and they certainly did not disappoint." My mother, not used to being charmed, simply smiles and shakes her head.

"That girl, always making things up. Well, I know you just came out of the cold. How about some hot chocolate? Oh! Wait, Maria said you like tea. I made some of that as well." He nods.
"Tea is fine, thank you." He says. She then pats Kyoya on the back.
"Don't be so formal! Call me mom or mama. I answer to both much better than anything else. You can relax here, hun. We don't bite too much." She says, walking away. I blush a little bit at this. My mother is pretty forward and always has been. Though I didn't expect anything less and don't expect my mother to act any differently, it's going to be interesting how Kyoya takes this whole experience.

We end up sitting down on the couch with our mugs and chatting for a little bit about some stupid stuff Tori and Ana did the other day. But then my mother decides to bring up another topic.

"So, Kyoya...you are dating my daughter, yes?" He nods, unabashed by her forwardness. I can't say that I feel the same. It takes everything I have not to blush even though we've been dating nearly two months already.
"Alright, then tell me...how did the two of you meet? I haven't been told much about you at all. Honestly I think that when Maria informed me of your plans for Christmas, that was the first I had heard of you. I can't believe that she didn't tell me. But, anyway, back to my question." He smiles.
"Well, the meeting was certainly an interesting one. I think Maria could explain it much better than I could." I hear him say. Something sounds weird when he speaks, though...what is it that sounds so weird? I can't quite place it.

"Oh, okay. Well, we met one day this past spring. I happened to have a job—menial, but still a job—locking up the art and music hallways before I left for the day. On one particular day I wandered into the music hall and heard a piano, and I had to check it out. I listened to Tamaki—a mutual friend of mine, Tori's, and Kyoya's—for a while, kind of getting lost. Kyoya approaches me from behind, scares the crap out of me, and I tumble over a particularly expensive sofa. The landing was not fun. But our meeting was what you would expect from me. Falling over a couch, growling, grumbling, being a grouch. You get the idea. I didn't like that I had been taken unaware. But that's the gist of it." I say, looking at Kyoya. He nods in agreement. My mother laughs a little.
"Well, that does sound just like you. But you haven't been dating long...why did things happen so late?" She asks. Kyoya, again, looks at me. I shrug, because this time I am not going to be the one to explain.

"Your daughter has a way of complicating matters, if I may be frank. Trying to convince her of anything is impossible, and when it came to getting along with her, I found myself angry instead. We had our misunderstandings and our bouts of anger toward one another, but overall the result was the same. With some time I managed to convince your daughter that I would not hurt her. Of course, I had to prove that I could hurt her first, which made almost no sense in the whole spectrum of the relationship, but nevertheless proved to her that I, too, am only human. As perfect as I may try to be, I still make mistakes. Just quite a bit less than most." I almost want to laugh. He's explaining it as if it were some presentation or something. Like my mother doesn't know how complicated I can be.
"Yeah, but think about it from her point of view, Kyoya. You made her feel like you were messing with her feelings. You know that's not what you wanted to do. But you acted on poor judgment and did it anyway. You faced those consequences. And then, Lord help us, the truth about her past relationship comes out and she thinks it's the end of the world." Tori chimes in. My mother becomes interested in this.

"I was meaning to ask you what it was you managed to do to get her out of her slump! She's been much more enjoyable to be around since she went to Japan. As much as I hate to see her and Vittoria so far away, they've both been doing a lot of really good things! Still, what happened two years ago scared all of us so bad simply because of what it really did to her. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to get my daughter back." Kyoya's only happy to continue to explain.
"Well, hearing the story was enough for me to realize why it was that things went so wrong. Trust is part of a relationship, friendly or otherwise, and when someone breaks that trust to such a degree as that boy did, it was easy for someone as emotionally expressive as Maria to feel as if no one is worth trusting. I'm sure there are other things that have contributed to this feeling that had built up in the long run, but with what this boy did to her, it was easy to see that getting someone so set on being alone to trust anyone as a friend, let alone something else, was unsettling and very hard. Many times I was tempted to give up. But when there is a challenge set in front me, I'm not the kind of person to let it sit idly by or watch it walk past me. I am a man of opportunity, after all." He says. I feel so weird with him saying these things. He's told me this before, and it's no surprise, but with my family here to hear it, I feel a little out of place. Maybe just discomfort with talking about such an intimate and serious subject, or whatever, but I still feel really weird.

And I still can't figure out why it is Kyoya sounds so funny when he talks!

"It's like a fairy tale, Maria! He rescued you!" Ana says, and my faces flushes almost as red as my shirt. I hear him chuckling next to me, and it's only adding to my embarrassment.
"Well, you're a very smart boy, Kyoya. I'm impressed you ended up with Maria. After all, as smart as she is, unfortunately she is very difficult to deal with when it comes to people. But it seems you already know that. I'm glad that someone was finally able to get her out of that funk. My goodness, I swore she was going to end up a recluse. I didn't want that for her. Thank you for being so kind and thoughtful to listen to her. I hope she realizes how lucky she is." She gives me a look as she says that last bit, and I smile a little to myself. I do know how lucky I am that someone listens to me and cares about my opinion...mostly. It's more than what my mother has, which is unfortunate but true.

I've got it! I know why Kyoya sounds so funny! We're all speaking English, even him! He sounds so funny because of his Japanese accent. Why didn't I notice it until now? Man I'm a retard. I mentally slap myself for being an idiot.

Still, it's almost hysterical. I have to try really hard not to laugh. This catches his attention as my sisters and my mom talk amongst themselves.

"What's so funny?" I snicker a little.
"You sound really funny. Sorry. Your accent is amusing." He glares at me.
"I am of Japanese birth and nationality. I may sound funny to you, but think about when you are speaking Japanese. You sound equally atrocious." I cock an eyebrow. I didn't go that far!

Damn egomaniac. I'm sorry I hurt your pride! Definitely wasn't my intention. I just thought it was amusing.

"I didn't say that. I just said it sounded weird. It took me that long to place it, though." I say, and he smirks evilly.
"I see. Well, I suppose that shows your incompetence, doesn't it?" I give him a look. What's with him?
"You're a bit grouchy today. What's up with that?"
"Well, Tachibana set my alarms for very early this morning. My acquaintance kept me up very late last night and so I am not in the best of moods." I elbow him in the side, and he glares at me.
"That doesn't mean you can be a grouch. I didn't do anything." I say, and he smirks.
"No, but you did laugh at my accent." I shrug.
"Yeah, because it was funny!" I say, and he just rolls his eyes indifferently.

The rest of the morning, as well as a great majority of the afternoon, is spent with my family. Kyoya gets along with my mother really well, which doesn't surprise me. Yet I can't get this nagging from the back of my mind about my father. I just hope he keeps his mouth shut. The restless butterflies in my stomach just won't leave me alone, though.

Somehow we end up all meandering to the kitchen. Kyoya, Tori and Ana end up sitting on the bar stools at the island in the kitchen while I start to help my mother with our dinner tonight. I start to reach for something up high, but almost immediately Kyoya is there to help me. I thank him, and just as he's about to back up, my mother stops him with a question.

"So Kyoya, have you ever peeled potatoes?" My mother asks, and he shakes his head.
"I've never had to. We have chefs at my home that do those sorts of things for us." She smirks at him and tosses him a potato.
"It's never too late to learn. Maria, grab him a knife and show him how to do it while I prepare the ham." I nod and find a couple of knives, handing him a knife. He looks at me with one of those 'you can't be serious' faces.
"Just watch me. It's better if you watch than if I try to explain it to you. I'm not good at explaining myself." I say, and slowly start to peel the potato. He just stares at me as I do it.

"You're just going to peel a small strip lengthwise all the way around the potato, then peel each side individually. Then you'll quarter the potato lengthwise." I say, and he chuckles.
"I thought you said you weren't going to explain yourself." He says, and I just shake my head with a smirk.
"Sometimes I just can't help it." I say, and my mother gives me a look as Kyoya slowly starts to peel the potato in his hand. I get about four down when I notice that he's finished the first one.
"It looks good." I say, then continue as he helps. I can see Tori in my peripheral giggling silently. I can't help wanting to laugh, too.

Kyoya, peeling potatoes. Not something I thought I'd ever see. Nevertheless it's hysterical. But I think it's a good, humbling experience for him. A way to bring him down off of his high pedestal and give him a view from the masses.

Then again, it probably won't do anything for him. He's not the type to really let much get to him.

When we get done, my mother thanks him happily and then arranges the potatoes in the roaster and places it in the oven. I wash my hands, then start on the sweet potatoes.

"Oh, are you going to do those for me?" I nod silently.
"Okay. Well, how are you going to make them?" She asks me.
"I'm going to boil them, mix them with some heavy cream and butter, mash them, and then add some nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar. I might throw in some marshmallows if I feel like it." I say, and my mother laughs. She turns to Kyoya.

"Sweet potatoes are one of her favorites. She never lets anyone else make them. If I were to make them she'd complain that there wasn't enough of this or that. She's so picky." He smirks.
"I never took you as the type to be a picky eater, Maria. After all, you eat almost anything that's put in front of you." My mother laughs as I flush in embarrassment.
"She certainly does! But there are some things she can't stand to eat. Tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli and pudding, just to name a few. You don't like eggs either, do you?" I shake my head.
"I hate them. Tasteless, slimy vaginal excrement." I grumble, and Kyoya puts a hand on his chin.

"Funny. You eat things with eggs in them, surely." I nod as I finish peeling the potatoes.
"That's one thing. If they're in something and it's enough to mask the flavor and texture, that's fine. But I can't eat eggs exclusively. They upset my stomach and I just hate the little bastards." I say, starting the boil on the sweet potatoes. He chuckles along with my mother as I prepare the nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar mixture in another pan with some butter and water.

"So Kyoya, what do you do for fun? You're young and fit. Any sports you like?"
"Not particularly. I'm not partial to sports of any kind. I'm the vice president of our high school's host club. Maria is also a part-time member while Tori is...an extra." This makes Tori's jaw drop.
"An extra? That's all I am?" But she goes ignored.
"Oh, a host club! I know what that is! Isn't that a group of...but aren't you guys young for a host club?" He gives her his host club/business man smile.
"Well, we aren't at all like a regular host club. The main goal of our particular club is to entertain and amuse the young ladies at our school according to our 'types'." My mother beams.
"Oh! Well that's much for appropriate for a group of high school students. It sounds like fun, but what business does Maria have in a club like that?" I glare at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, but I also go ignored as Kyoya answers her.
"Well, Maria was more or less forced to participate by our president. She stands over in the corner by one of the many windows to paint, and many of our guests come to watch her paint and talk to her while she does it. It makes the club profit, but not nearly as much as it would if she were a full-fledged host. So we consider her a part-time member." My mother nods.

"Alright then. Well, it's good that Maria and Vittoria have found something to do. I know they're artistic and talented young girls, but sometimes they need a break. I have no complaints about them having good-looking friends to distract them." I turn to my mother suddenly.
"Mama! Don't say things like that!" I say as Kyoya chuckles.
"Well, believe me when I say we only live to please." Kyoya says as he pushes up his glasses. My mother turns back to me.
"I know you were thinking it, so don't pretend you aren't. I know your weakness for handsome Japanese men and I will exploit it!" I flush and cross my arms in embarrassment.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I say, and Tori has to chime in her two cents.
"Come on, Maria. You're the one that told me that when you first met Kyoya your mind went into the gutter. It's okay to admit that you're a complete and utter pervert. You shouldn't be such a prude about it." I huff and turn back to what I'm doing and ignore them as best as I can to allow my embarrassment to ebb.

This family will do anything and everything to embarrass me. I should know that by now, but I can't resist bringing the terror upon myself.

"Flew to the gutter how? I don't remember Maria giving any indication that she was attracted to me until summer." Kyoya asks, and Tori is only too happy to answer.
"Well, she's good at hiding that she's a pervert. But she's got a really, super dirty mind floating up there in her head. It's fun to mess with, actually. Especially when you call her out on it and she gets embarrassed." Tori says, and I just ignore her. I'm not going to let her get to me. I'll let her tell her lies.
"Really? Hmm...I suppose an experiment is in order." I hear Kyoya say, and I shake my head.
"Not now. I'm cooking." I say.
"I didn't mean now, my dear. I meant later." I flush at his reference to me.

Wait...he just used a suggestive tone with me!

"I said not now!" I say, turning to look at him with my face red as my shirt. He simply chuckles.
"You're right. She is a bit of a lech, isn't she?" My flush does not dissipate as I manage to strain the sweet potatoes. I put them in the pan and start to mash them, slowly mixing some heavy cream and butter. I've taken the brown sugar mixture off of the heat and now I have to mash the potatoes. Once I've mashed and mixed and done all of that, they're whipped and fluffy and aromatic.
"They look good, love. Good job!" My mama says, and I smile at her.

"Now why don't you all go find something to do until your father gets home? I've got a couple of things to do that you'll all be in the way of." My sisters chase each other back into Tori's room with a mutter of 'Mario Kart', and I just shake my head. Traditions never change, it seems.
"You two as well. Get out of here. Oh, and watch out for the mistletoe in the hallway. Your sister thought it would be funny to hang it there since Kyoya was coming. She told me not to tell you but...well, I thought it only fair." She says in a more hushed tone. I nod with a slight pinking to my face. I motion for Kyoya to follow me, and once we hit the hallway my eyes flit to the ceiling. But I don't see it anywhere.

"Was she pulling my leg?" I ask, wandering down the narrow hallway. Kyoya clears his throat behind me, where he's standing at the entrance of the hallway. I look up and, lo and behold, there is the mistletoe.
"How did I miss it? I don't get it..." I ask myself, but Kyoya approaches me and I see the crack in the door from my sister's room. Those two! I bet they messed with it on purpose!
"It's a bit late now, isn't it? I thought, as an artist, that your attention to detail would be higher than everyone else's. But it looks like I was mistaken." I face-palm. This is stupid...
"Yeah, you'd think so..." I say, and then there's a finger under my chin pulling me to look at Kyoya.
"Might as well get it over with, hm?" I flush a little, but then nod. He presses his lips to mine gently, then pulls away. I hear a couple of squeals in the other room.
"Those two, I swear..." I say, before turning to find the doorknob to my room.

"Well, my room's pretty empty since most of my stuff is in Japan. But here it is." I say, pushing open the door and walking in. He walks in, surveying it. It's plain and empty. Nothing special. I plop on the bed and then I'm immediately visited by a gray furry baby.
"Hey there." I say as she purrs at me and paws at my face. She then sees Kyoya and jumps down from the bed, running over and winding between his legs with a meow.
"I think she likes you." I say. He smirks, walking over to the bed and sitting down next to me.
"Yes, but she loves you." He says as she continues to rub over his legs. I giggle at it.
"She does. But she's quick to love on someone else." I say. A hand graces over my cheek, and next thing I know my lips are occupied. I let my eyes flutter closed and give in as he kisses me. It's heated, passionate...all the things I love about kissing Kyoya. As stoic as he is at times, and as cool as he acts, when he kisses me he certainly doesn't let those parts of his personality come though. It makes my heart do flips and my stomach flutter.

When he pulls away I can't help blushing and looking away. He gently kisses my cheek soon after.

"Are you embarrassed?" He asks softly. I feel my face flush even more.
"You always catch me off guard. It's not embarrassment so much as it is surprise. I'm just...flustered." I say softly. I'm not lying, I'm not really embarrassed. I'm just flustered and bashful. I'm very shy when it comes to these kinds of things, even if I am a bit of perv. I've never been intimate with anyone, so this first experience is just weird to me. I'm not used to my inner thoughts and desires coming out in real life.
"I suppose I'll believe you. For now." He says, and I flush an even deeper scarlet. Does he really have to make it that much worse?

Alright my lovelies! I hope you enjoyed the fluffiness and craziness of Maria's (and my) family.

Thank you all so much and I love you all!

~B-chan