A/N: *is still reeling from Endgame trauma last night*
After everything we had done today (especially me) and all of the work Kyoya and I put in with the kitchen, I think we all deserved a little nap. Not only did we get it done before Misuzu's party, but we have time to spare. And after four hundred bento boxes of assorted treats, my ass had been sufficiently kicked. I balled up in the dead center of our bed and went right to sleep. Was it a dick move to take up the whole bed? A little. But I had been going steady since five. I earned the bed.
When I woke up, it was almost time for the party to start. Since it is New Year's Eve, I suppose I can stand some glitter. I did have a dress that had some sparkle to it. As I let my long, blonde and blue hair down over my shoulders, I had come to a sudden realization. Some days, I look pretty damn good. It's nice when I can look in a mirror and not be repulsed. Good for you, Lana. Slowly, but surely, you're gaining a semblance of self-esteem.
"Hello," Kyoya came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"What kind of brownie points are you trying to score here?" I teased, squirming under him with a smile on my face.
"All I did was say hi," he kissed my cheek, "I know better than to work the host charms on you anymore."
"Do you?" I had a feeling he was lying, but I'll take it.
"I promise I don't," Kyoya swore, giving me a spin around, "You really are something, Lana. Did you know that?"
"Not until recently," I admitted, "But thank you."
"Are you ready for tonight?" he asked, taking a seat on the edge of our bed.
I ran through my mental checklist, "I am well-rested. I've eaten today. I'm medicated. And to top it all off, I look cute as hell. You're damn right, I'm ready for tonight!"
"That's my girl," Kyoya smiled, "Where did this come from?"
"Where did what come from?" I asked, putting a new pair of earrings in.
"Your sudden burst of confidence," he pointed out, "It's kind of cute on you."
"I'm not sure," I shrugged, "It comes and goes in waves. But it is nice."
"In that case," Kyoya pulled me into his lap, "Before you and I don't leave this room tonight, let's go downstairs, yeah?"
"Yes, please," I think I like him. Don't tell anyone, but he might be the one.
Regardless of what I thought of him, Kyoya and I made our way downstairs and into the main lounge. Damn, the twins did a nice job down here. Everything was either sparkling, shimmering, or covered in some kind of chiffon or twinkle lights. I liked it. Like Aladdin's wet dreams. Either way, I was here for it. By the looks of it, Tamaki and Haruhi did a good job, too. As did Honey and Mori. Word definitely got out.
And there are a lot of people here…
I wasn't anticipating this. I thought it'd be more like it was last year when we had nine people in a hotel room and I knew every single one of them. Hell, I shared blood with one of them. Two, if we're counting the little one that had just started growing inside of her. But this? This was a little extreme. This was an easy five hundred people in one room. And I don't think I like it. To think I was ready to punch a hole in the wall before Kyoya and I came downstairs. Now…Definitely a change of tune.
Maybe I could hide this one out. I'm sure there's a potted plant somewhere that's big enough to shield me from the world. Or maybe I could steal a work uniform? No one thinks to look at the caterers. No. I'll be ok. I can try this. I can manage. It's just a few hundred people. It's not the end of the world. I can do this.
Or I'm lying through my damn teeth. I lasted half an hour before I had to go back upstairs. Once I knew I was out of Kyoya's eyeshot, I kicked my heels off and ran for the stairs. However, I didn't expect to run into a brick wall of a human being. In more ways than one. Dammit. Just when I was hoping that I wouldn't get caught. Here I am…Getting caught.
"You ok, Lana?" Mori recovered, making sure to catch me to keep me from falling down the stairs.
"Yeah," I shook him off, "I'm good."
I started running up the stairs again, "Lana…"
"What?" I turned around, "I just need to get something. I'll be right back."
"Lana…" Mori knew better. I hated more than anything that Mori knew better. That made it harder to lie to him. And I had to get more creative.
"I do," I tried not to sound defensive, "I have a…"
"Lana…" He wasn't having it. He knew better. Dammit, Mori. He took my hands, "Are you sure you're ok?"
I merely shook my head, not having much of the energy to do anything else. Although, I could feel the tears bubbling in the back of my throat. Why do I have to be the type to cry when I'm upset? Why couldn't I have gotten lucky and been the type to internalize everything? Why do I have to wear my stupid heart on my sleeve? I hated it, "I'm just going up to the room."
"Mind if I join you?" Mori wasn't going to let me deal with that alone. No matter how badly I wanted to. I'd probably thank him for it later, but for now, I wanted to push him down the stairs.
"No," I allowed, "Not at all."
"Alright," he and I went the rest of the way up the stairs and we made ourselves comfortable on the floor. The bed was more than available, but that was where I slept with my fiancé. Mori wasn't going to taint that. Instead, he let me come down in his lap on our balcony. Even though it was a little cold outside, Mori's body heat took care of that. I laid my head on his shoulder and damn near fell asleep, but something kept me awake.
"Hey, Mori…"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you…" I shut my eyes for a moment or two, "For not letting me do this alone. And I didn't mean to be such a bitch to you."
"I understand," Mori hushed me, "You weren't ok. Do you still need to get out of your head?"
"Maybe." Honestly, at this point, I wasn't sure. Better for me to get out of my head than stay in it and drown.
"Do you have any New Year's resolutions?" he wondered.
"It's funny you mention that," I chuckled a bit under my breath.
"And why's that?"
"Because," I explained, "New Year's resolutions are the biggest lies we tell ourselves. They're just an excuse for people to make unfulfilled promises to themselves that they can tell other people. Chances are, they're never going to do it."
"That's a cynical way of looking at it," Mori pointed out.
"It's based on fact," I went on, "Four years ago, Rhiannon bought a gym membership on New Year's Day. On January 2nd, I watched her clean Chipotle off a white t-shirt with her gym membership card while she was sitting on her couch, watching cartoons in sweatpants. Tell me New Year's resolutions aren't hooey and I'll call you a liar."
"Maybe not," Mori thought, "But it's nice to think of it as a blank slate. You don't have to worry about last year. All that's left is what's in front of you."
"I guess that's one way of looking at it." He had a hell of a way to see the world. Better than my cynical ass.
"Lana…?" Kyoya stuck his head in our room.
"Outside, baby," I called back.
"Hey," he didn't even flinch at Mori being there. Because Kyoya knew better, "Are you ok?"
"I've been better," I nodded, "But I think I'll be alright."
"Let me guess," Kyoya took me out of Mori's lap, "Tonight was too much to handle, wasn't it?"
"Kind of," I nuzzled my face in his chest, completely drained.
"Thank you, Mori-senpai," he ran his hand down my back, "I'm sorry you had to, but I appreciate it."
"It's no problem," Mori assured, "Happy to help."
"It's almost midnight, sweetheart," Kyoya pulled me onto my feet, "Do you want me to bring everyone in here or do you want to go back downstairs?"
"I think I can go back downstairs," I decided, "I'm too tired to care at this point, so why not go celebrate with my friends and forget about everyone else?"
"There you are," he kissed my forehead, "You had me worried, Lana. I thought you weren't in there anymore."
"Nope," I hid a smile in his shoulder, "You're not getting rid of me that easily. You'll have to try harder than that."
"Who said I'd want to get rid of you?"
Mori, Kyoya, and I headed back downstairs into the lounge where half the people had already left, so the crowd wasn't nearly as huge as what it was. Thank God. This I could handle. But with a couple minutes to midnight, I had one person that there was no way in hell I'd be able to leave out of this night. Mostly because she'd never let me live it down. It's only a couple minutes before eleven o'clock in the morning in New York. I know damn well she's awake. Possibly even at work. I pulled my phone out of my bra and scrolled through my contacts.
"Hi, sweetie!" my sister chimed on the other end. Someone's gotten sleep recently, "How are you? How's Japan?"
"It's almost midnight," I told her, "And I can't leave you out of our New Year's celebration."
"Lana," Rhiannon awed, "Flattered! Lucky bitch. I wish I was in Tokyo, too, but…"
"We're not in Tokyo," I corrected her, "Kyoya took me to Karuizawa for week two. I didn't know he'd be inviting the rest of the family along, too, but here they all are."
"Hi, guys!"
"We're at a party, Rhiannon. They can't hear you."
"Aww…" she pouted, "Send them my love any…"
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" the room screeched. Kyoya pulled my face closer to his, giving me a sweet, gentle kiss.
"What the hell was that?" Rhiannon squeaked.
"It's New Year's Day now," I beamed, surrendering to my fiancé's embrace, "Congratulations, Rhi. We're officially in two different years."
"And what's the future look like, my dear sister?"
It was hard for me to tell. Because I had almost everything I wanted in one room. And I couldn't be happier, "I can't tell you. Space-time continuum. You're breaking up."
"Yeah, yeah," Rhiannon chuckled to herself, "I know when I'm not wanted. Go on. Go suck your fiancé's face off."
"My pleasure."
"Gross."
Click.
"Can we try that again?" I requested.
"My pleasure," Kyoya full on dipped me, making sure not to drop me. Someone has improved since last New Year's kiss. And I think I like it, "I love you, Lana."
"I love you more," I cuddled into him. Yeah. I keep this one.
"Now that we have that out of the way," he suggested, "Do you think I could maybe have a dance with you?"
"Please."
A/N: These two are so damn cute, aren't they? Look. I'm sorry it's up late. Quit looking at me like that. But it's up late. Better late than next week. That was the Fairy Tail fic a couple weeks ago. I was too beat to do it. Much like I was today. I ran some errands this morning that kicked my ass and I couldn't get with it. I'm sorry, but here we are. And Happy New Year! But we all remember what happens after New Year's, right…? See you next chapter! xx
