While You Were Sleeping

Kyoya looked at Haruhi's sleeping form. Who even slept at this time? He glanced at the clock, it was 2:34. He'd been permitted to leave class early as he was trusted be the teachers and had finished all his work.

Hypocrite, you'd be asleep right now too if you could.

He supposed they were kindred spirits in that sense. When you did as much working as he did, sleep was a rarity. Kyoya supposed Haruhi must study quite hard to maintain her scholarship.

So that's how it's going to be.

He sighed.

Yes, yes he supposed it was.

He whipped out his cellphone and sent a text to Tamaki

K: Do you remember my condition when I agreed to start the club with you?

K: Well I'm calling in, I'll make sure to alert the others.

Sending out a group message informing the others that club was cancelled today, he snapped the phone shut and stuck it in his pocket. Haruhi rolled partially on the blush settee, which had recently replaced one which Tamaki had permanently disfigured with commoner's coffee stains after a particularly passionate speech in which he had forgotten the cup in hand.

He pulled out his laptop and reviewed club finances for about twenty minutes before class ended and Tamaki, predictably, came rushing into the music room.

Thankfully, the back of Haruhi's makeshift bed was facing here the stood, and the host's king was far too frenzied to notice her.

"Kyoya! Why w-"

"Quiet Tamaki, I have a migraine." For added effect, he put a hand on his forehead in a manner that looked as is he wished to block the world from his eyes and rub his temples all at once.

"Mother used to get those as well, I understand." Surprisingly enough, the blonde's next words were much calmer sounding, though clearly tinged with concern and confusion "This is the first time you've ever used your club cancelling power without consulting me, you didn't even say why. Is there something wrong with you?"

"I suppose you could say I'm not feeling up to par."

"WHAT?!"

"Tamaki, my head."

I really should give up these ridiculous games already, they're thoroughly pointless.

"Do you need a hospital?!"

"I'm fine. i simply worry my mood might make the ladies uncomfortable. Besides, it's about time I took a day off."

The words felt like blasphemy to him, he didn't 'take days off'.

"Are you sure?" Tamaki's violet eyes were openly worried

"Entirely so. You may leave, I will as well once I finish this report."

"Are you sure you should be doing that Mon ami? You wouldn't want to aggravate your condition."

Goodness gracious, he wasn't dying.

"Tamaki."

"Does our daughter at least know not to come?"

I doubt she knows very much of anything right now...

"I've alerted everyone of the situation."

"Alright... and you made sure to tell her that I'll give her a ride if she'd like?"

"She denied your generous offer."

"Mother will insure she gets home safe?"

"...fine."

"Do feel better, I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

"Goodbye Tamaki."

"Bye Kyoya."

Once he had left, Kyoya relaxed from where he sat. He loosened his tie and shed his coat neatly onto the chair's back. He had gotten all that needed to be completed done, and his promise to Tamaki still stood.

...Even if he hadn't exactly meant it in the moment.

He walked to the small loveseat across from Haruhi and sat himself down once more, observing her.

He imagined she had found herself out of class early, just as he had been. He did have to wonder why she would come to the club and sleep instead of going to the library though. It was simply so unlike her.

Does it even really matter?

No, no it doesn't.

Then no need to consider it any further, she likely didn't even mean to sleep.

He realised that he coat was still on, and the book on the table before them had the book mark splayed across the pages, as Haruhi moved the bookmark every time she flipped the page. Her shoes were still on as well.

Definitely not premeditated.

He's not sure how he didn't notice it before, considering there is even a pencil on the ground before her, implying she had dropped it when her hand relaxed it's grip.

Her bangs were always clipped back when studying, and the brown strands were indeed out of the way, leaving her face on full display.

A small scar on her upper right forehead, just next to the hairline.

It was practically faded, almost definitely with time.

Six years old, bike incident. Ranka showed you the photos. He had been terrified by all the blood, while Haruhi simply stood up and handled the cut as if nothing had happened.

Yes, that did seem like Haruhi, independent to a fault.

Left hand, near the proximal commissural ligament. Signs of light burns, including a blister.

He had heard her telling the twins about a cooking incident just before hosting yesterday. She'd tried studying for a test while cooking the day before, and it had not worked out.

The test was today. How did she do?

The twins had been complaining about club hours and the overwhelming amount that was to be covered on the upcoming test. Haruhi had told them they needed to learn to balance better, and that even she managed to do it all just fine.

Is she? She fell asleep during what was still technically the school day.

He supposed she had, but she hadn't showed any signs of wear during the time he saw her, besides the usual exasperation at the others antics.

Then again, neither do you. You're plenty tired though, aren't you?

Perhaps Haruhi was not as awful an actor as they all believed.

Or perhaps she's just like you.

He supposed the two of them were far more similar then either cared to admit.

(He awoke later to see Haruhi picking up her things to walk home, and despite being somewhat eggy still, gave her a ride home.)

(Any and all protests on her part were ignored.)

A/N: It started somewhere and went into an entirely different place.

I like to think Kyoya has these little arguments with himself sometimes, and his thoughts are somewhat, shall we say, divided.

See what I did with the title? Originally it was 'While Mothers Sleep' and it was going to be all the host bugging Kyoya while he tried to keep them from bothering Haruhi, who had stayed up ridiculously late that night studying, and then all the another scene where Haruhi talks the others out of waking Kyoya. Kinda like when you're one parent is asleep and the other is trying to figure out how to make breakfast (the one that usually doesn't cook).

As the story diverged, the title lost meaning and became strange.

ALSO, how would anyone feel about an aged up 'family Christmas'? I'm not very good at anything involving Holidays, but I'd love to try. It would be some extra work, but Tamaki does come from France, which is is very much christian if we're talking statistics. He probably misses his Christmas with his mother.

Any takers?

Suggestions always appreciated.

Story word count at 1,069

-Lucas_Gilbert