~Chapter Fifty Nine~
You Are My Sunshine
Here comes the rain again,
Falling on my head like a memory,
Falling on my head like a new emotion.
I want to walk in the open wind.
I want to talk like lovers do…
Here comes the rain again,
Raining in my head like a tragedy,
Tearing me apart like a new emotion.
Is it raining with you?
~Here Comes the Rain Again, by Eurythmics
Disclaimer: Me No Own; You No Sue.
"What is it, Tama-chan?" I asked him, turning back around to face the younger man. My head to the side, I examined his serious expression and strong countenance. Tamaki, like Kyoya or me, was a person with several masks. And I could not help but wonder: Is this the real Tamaki?
"You ask that I don't hurt her. I cannot promise that I will not hurt her because I do not make promises that I cannot keep." My friend set his face in stone, making his boyishly handsome face look fierce. Think: Rabid Chihuahua. "But I will treat her like the princess I believe her to be," Tamaki strongly vowed, "…and that I promise!"
"Good," I laughingly exclaimed, before teasingly lifting two fingers to point from my eyes and to him, "because I have my eyes on you!"
Walking off to the sound of his laughter, I stuck both hands in my pockets and smirked.
Mischief Managed!
Sammy's P.O.V.
For the last hour, Mitsukuni and I had listened to Tamaki mumble beneath his breath in French and in Japanese, alternating between fretting about Haruhi and complaining about Arai, the nice teenage boy that arrived earlier with two shipments of fruit for the Pension. We had only wanted to get snacks and chillax like homeskillets, but Haruhi recognized Arai from middle school, and thus, the Host Club managed to get pulled into the middle of yet another crazy scene – per our norm. Why should Summer Break be different? Not like this was a vacation or anything…
In the sunlight, Mitsukuni and I reclined in the porch swing, drinking in the white and yellow beams of sunshine like water. Everyone else had stayed inside the Pension. When Tamaki had left the dining hall in a panic, however, Mitsukuni and I wandered back outside to find him. The French Fry was now pacing beside a section of the white picket fence, his slender hand under his chin and fist to his hip. It escaped him at the moment, but Tamaki appeared to be summoning some courage.
Sleepily, I observed Tamaki and imagined the golden Triforce burning brightly in the middle of his forehead, turning him into Link. Wonder if I could convince him to wear a green tunic and hat and white leggings? Hmm…
"Takashi paces, too," Mitsukuni hummed, with amusement in his soft brown eyes. He continued to swing his legs back and forth, prompting the porch swing to sway. A creaking of wood filled the silence after those words left his mouth.
My eyes, once on the fluffy clouds, blinked and flickered to the side to stare at him. "What do you mean?" I asked the older teenager, finding it hard to follow his train of thought. We had been observing the clouds and Tamaki. Now Mitsukuni wanted to talk about his cousin?
"He has always been quiet and reserved, but to the people closest to him, Takashi is easy enough to read. Pacing relieves his nerves," Mitsukuni explained while staring down at his hands, before turning his attention to me. A bright smile claimed his lips. "Tama-chan is pacing, so…"
"...Tamaki-kun is nervous," I finished for him, and although I had already guessed that much, the comparison between Takashi and Tamaki served its purpose – my conscience reared its head. I groaned, "Dammit, Mitsukuni-kun…"
The Ninja kicked his short legs, waited for the porch swing to move again, and then leapt into the air. Upon landing, Mitsukuni lifted his hands like a gymnast and then turned to wink at me as a saucy smile claimed his lips. "What's the matter, Sammy-chan? Feeling guilty about messing with Tama-chan?"
Ignoring his cheerful laughter, I climbed out of the comfortable cushions lining the porch swing and made my way over as our younger classmate continued to stride back and forth in front of the fence. I made the comparison at the zoo, and I made it again: Tamaki looked like a caged lion. Simba wanted Nala, but did Nala want Simba? Let's ask the wise Rafiki!
Wait…
Blink, blink.
Does that make me the monkey?
As I blinked these stray thoughts away and tried to match strides with the taller teenager, finding it difficult because of his height and longer legs, Tamaki flicked his eyes over me and slowed down. He began to wring his hands together and whined, "Arai-san gets on my nerves!"
Gratefully, I slowed down again and relaxed to a more serene pace, my sweat cooling in the soft breeze. "Mitsukuni-kun gets on mine," I offered, not knowing what else to add at the moment, but Tamaki did not hear me as a wave of ranting escaped shortly after his last exclamation.
"Arai-san is nice – too nice! His hair is soft, and brown, and girls like brown hair, and why do I have blonde hair? Father has brown hair. Is it because I'm French? Why me? Why does his shy smile make her laugh? My smile is beautiful! She only glares at me. Do I make her that mad? How –?"
Eventually, I lost patience with him, and with being ignored. I stuck two fingers into my pocket, wiggling them around and removing the iPhone stuffed into the pocket of the denim shorts. I swiped the unlock button, pushed the little envelope button, and tapped his picture, which showed him smiling and wearing a crown. Texted him: FRENCH FRY! LOOK ME!
Blinking, Tamaki checked his phone as a song started to play, the words in French. He checked the text, flushed lightly, and then turned around to see me glaring at him. "Sorry, Big Sister," Tamaki sheepishly said while rubbing the tips of his pink ears.
"…What's the matter with you?" I finally asked him, the soft tone of voice at odds with the exasperated words. Tamaki sniffled pathetically in response. So, I turned to stare at him in surprise, only to find him in tears. Verdammt. I think I broke him…
His lips trembled violently, but Tamaki still managed to fall down to his knees, curl into the fetal position, and wail his despair at me. "WHAT IF I MESS IT UP? BIG SISTER! HELP ME~!"
Never mind! Tamaki-kun is still in working order! No need to panic, I dryly thought. Rubbing my cheeks, I sighed softly and simply followed the plan that I had concocted at the beginning of this little plan. Phone gallery already active, I crouched down, showed him the picture I had taken of Haruhi earlier, and – "Awww…!"
"Duh," I deadpanned while Tamaki cooed in delight at the sight of Haruhi, startled and blinking adorably at the camera. She had flour in her bangs and dusted down her left cheek, like white sand. Flecks of blue and red frosting were smeared under her right eye. Cue: Fanboys.
"I shall ask her out now!" Tamaki cried, leaping up as courage roared inside of his chest. The Frenchman was so eager to find Haruhi that the idea of dusting himself off had been forgotten. Tamaki left to find his crush with leaves in his hair, grass staining his designer pants, and his shirt collar all rumpled. Cue: Fangirls.
Speaking of nutcases, I had not seen my younger siblings in almost two hours. I hurried off to find the Twins, knowing that Hikaru and Kaoru were very quiet earlier, which likely meant the redheads had been plotting and scheming. So I searched high and low for them, running around outside in the vast front and backyards before checking inside the Pension. I glanced around the front hall. Two beautiful, skinny ladies walked by me, arm in arm, and called out for assistance. My Spidey Senses tingled. Beep!
"We booked ourselves a room…?" Skinny Mini Number One said, although her words were more a question than anything else. Skinny Mini Number Two patted her arm and quietly agreed, "Room 15."
My brothers appeared from the second floor, at the top of the stairs, and then whirled down them like identical tornadoes, all red hair and beautiful smiles and expensive clothes. They swept the two girls – Dorothy and Toto – away. "Yes!" The Twins cried while leading them to Room 15. "We will show you your room!"
Eyes narrowed at their mischievous smiles, I followed behind the four of them, quietly and with the stealth of the Black Cat. I slipped in before the bedroom door closed all the way and ducked into the adjoining bathroom to spy on my younger siblings. Kaoru, I noticed, distracted the girls by chatting ninety miles a minute, whereas Hikaru slipped to the side to open up a window, supposedly pointing out the view, and –
Ah, I sagely thought, Hika-chan and Ru-chan have decided against pranking the girls and have chosen somebody else, like Tama-chan. A Light Bulb started to shine. Or Haruhi-chan…!
"We hope you enjoy staying here at the Pension!" The Twins chorused together as one person, one entity, and bowed politely to the two ladies. Hikaru ducked out of the bedroom with his hands out to the side, Kaoru following closely and quietly shutting the door behind them.
"Thank you," Dorothy and Toto called together, also as one. They paused, glanced at each other, and then burst into giggles, before yelping loudly as my presence was made known by a slap. Yeah, I could not resist facepalming at the two (obviously fan) girls…
"Hello!" I brightly said to them and left the bathroom, while carrying the previously empty trash bag – filled with extra towels – to make it look like I was a maid. "Don't mind me! Just tidying the bedrooms! I need to open your windows and check the locks, and then I will be out of your way."
"Thanks," Toto said, and Dorothy smiled at me, and I smiled back, all the while eyeing the flower pot on a once empty window sill. I stealthily removed the superglue that I – if anybody asked – borrowed from Haruhi. It had been taken to glue Kyoya's iPad to the table, but oh well! I shiftily glanced at Dorothy and Toto. Lifted the flower pot, coated the clay bottom with glue, and put it back down. What does the fox say? Dunno! But Sammy cackles: Hehehehe…!
A smug smile emerged, but I shoved it aside and closed the window, checking the old locks for show. "All good to go," I confirmed, bending down to hoist the trash over my shoulder and walking off with a wave. Dorothy and Toto obliviously waved back. Airheads!
Humming to the tune of Centuries, by Fallout Boy, I meandered down the stairs, through the storage room, and into the hallway, searching for the laundry room. It was not in the inn; however, I eventually found it – outside, in the shed, and right beside Takashi. Shit…
My fiancé, being clever, waited until I had nearly slipped by him to reach out, curl his arm over my waist, and lift me up. I struggled in his hold and kicked uselessly, all the while trying not to drop the bag in my arms. Takashi kissed under my ear and chuckled, "What are you doing, Sweetheart?"
Squirming, I dropped the bag and pulled at his hands, which steadily traveled lower and lower, until his fingers brushed against the bare skin peeking out from between my shirt and shorts. I hesitantly said, "Laundry…?" It sounded like a question, though, and made him laugh.
"'Laundry,'" Takashi repeated the single word while setting me on my own, sounding amused – and disbelieving. Gray eyes were on me as my own nervously flickered back to the bag waiting in the grass. "…Why?"
"Old habits die hard for us commoners!" I explained, smiling brightly at him – too brightly, if the tightening of the skin under my eyes was any indication – and inched closer to the only evidence (excluding the empty thing of superglue I tossed in the trash can) that I had done anything to prank anyone. "Just trying to help…"
"Ah," Takashi sagely responded, before smirking slyly down at me. I blanched and hastily tried to scramble for the trash bag, but Takashi beat me, a gigantic hand snapping out and reaching it quicker than lightning.
Loudly, I protested, bouncing up and down, attempting to recapture the evidence from the Not-So-Silent Giant. He merely lifted it higher in the air and stared down at me. Eventually, Takashi cleared his throat, silver eyes moving from mine to the traitorous breasts that had nearly bounced out of their restraints. I flushed, whirling around to fix the two twisted bra straps, but I could not straighten one. I hunched down in mortification and red hot embarrassment roared through me. My fiancé leaned down, lifted the back of the shirt, and gently untangled the strap as a small squeak left me. Takashi made soft hushing noises and pulled the shirt back down, standing again, eyes on me. Embarrassed beyond words, I could not meet his eyes. Kill me now…
"You are nothing but trouble, Koi," Takashi softly accused, though with humor dancing in his gentle eyes. He brushed his knuckles over my pink cheeks and smiled crookedly down at me. "But I love you anyway."
A distant memory sang, 'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You never know, dear, how much I…'
"Love you, too," I whispered back to him.
Leaning back, I stared at him, the curious gaze soon turning appreciative when I noticed his lack of shirt. My fiancé stepped closer, slinking forward like an eager and hungry predator, all sleek and lean muscles. Long fingers trailed down my arm. I licked bone dry lips, wetting them, and fidgeted restlessly. Having discarded his sleeveless white shirt earlier to fix the lopsided table behind him, by the carriage house, Takashi was now wearing only his jeans. A small trail of black hair wound down from his belly button to his groin. Sweat trickled down his belly.
Heart hammering, I found myself reaching out to touch him, fingers barely brushing his toned, muscular stomach. My lover hooked his finger under my chin. We leaned closer, lips softly brushing, when –
"LUNCH IS READY!"
We jumped, torn apart by the sound of Misuzu calling – screaming, really – for the Host Club. Takashi grumbled quietly, and I smiled shyly at his quiet frustration, before darting forward to hug him around his stomach, burying my nose in his chest. My lover relaxed into the hug and kissed the lips I raised to his. Another call for lunch sounded, and Takashi and I pulled apart, albeit reluctantly. We were starting to have trouble (MORE trouble, I mean) staying apart without touching, hugging, and kissing. Sexual tension, Mitsukuni called it. Me?
'Please don't take my sunshine away.'
…I called it Hell.
When Takashi moved to enter the Pension, however, I stepped back to bounce nervously from toe to heel, and heel to toe. "Are you not coming to lunch, Sammy-chan?" Takashi asked, concerned that I had not eaten since breakfast. Of course, Takashi didn't know about the cookies, and the bread, and the cupcake…
"No, I kinda wanted to visit the town and explore…" I trailed off in the hopes of Takashi losing interest and leaving me on my own. Yeah. No such luck. Takashi would not willingly let me wander into town without somebody coming with me.
Damn Samurai, I fondly thought, lips pulling up, even as my overprotective fiancé frowned lightly and crossed his muscular arms.
"Wait for a moment, and I will walk there with you," Takashi gently commanded, before turning around to pull his shirt on. Flushed, I observed his back as a series of taut muscles stretched and contracted, rippling like water beneath his olive skin. Disappointment hit me as my incredibly handsome lover tugged his shirt down. I grumbled.
My grumbles quickly turned to yelps of panic when Takashi turned around, gestured to the street, and started walking in the direction of the town. I'd wanted to sneak out and do this myself for a reason! Takashi could NOT be there! "WAIT!"
Curiously, Takashi inclined his head. He would listen – Takashi always listened – but I doubted that the overprotective teenager would consent to what I wanted this time. "Could I, uh, head into town…alone?" I hesitantly asked him without looking him in the face. My lover neared, and I swallowed nervously, feeling colder because his shadow blocked out the sun.
Glancing into his face, I noticed that Takashi actually appeared to feel hurt. I stared into his sad silver eyes and immediately blurted, "Not that I don't want to spend time with you! I wanted to buy something for you! A courting gift! Since you…" Realization smacked into me as my secret bubbled to the surface, and I cursed, "…Verdammt."
My lover had to bite the inside of his cheek to hide his smile, but it did not do much good. I could still tell that Takashi wanted to laugh because his face had lightened considerably, sadness morphing into amusement. It teasingly pulled at his lips. Facepalming, I let both shoulders fall and grumbled to myself: "Puppy Dog Eyes will be the death of me…"
Thankfully, Takashi had the same weakness and could not handle the pleading expression I adopted while hugging him. A soft sigh whistled out from between his lips, and Takashi mockingly instructed, "Be careful, and behave."
Hand straight, I saluted him and playfully purred, "Sir! Yes, Sir!"
My fiancé smirked and swatted at my rear. "…Tease."
"Maybe, but maybe not…"
Takashi gaped at me.
I grinned.
Thus, I (evilly) decided to scamper away and leave him with that food for thought. I headed to town after depositing the clean towels with the rest of the laundry, like I had originally planned. I bypassed both the limousines, preferring the chance to walk in the peace and quiet, and made my way into the busier part of the shopping district – the section used by tourists, mainly – by foot. For nearly two hours, I browsed through the shops and stalls, buying little snacks and presents for family and friends, including the Hosts.
A few items, like the box of condoms I blushingly bought from a small health shop, were crammed into the backpack I had decided to bring with me. I tucked them beneath the pink package of pads I had bought for myself because, if I guessed correctly, Hikaru and Kaoru would likely leave those alone. The Twins might rifle through my underwear drawer and play around with makeup, but feminine hygiene products scared them to tears. Learned that when I turned thirteen.
…Don't ask.
Stepping closer to another jewelry display, I saw a collection of beautiful pieces, with pieces for men, women, and children, teenagers and adults, prim, classic, and eccentric styles. A variety of them were made with sequins, rhinestones, or gems. In the corner of the display, I found several little amulets, each meant for something in particular. One was meant to ward off evil, whereas another offered protection against spirits. Several had characters for words like love, devotion, and warmth. Some white, pink, blue…
One of the less colorful pieces, however, caught my eye. A single black stone, made of agate, dangled from two cords. I reached out to touch the larger of the black cords; it had been tied to the other with a small, black bead. A hum of thought escaped, and I examined the black amulet closely. Adjusting the length of the necklace would be simple because moving the bead would loosen and lengthen the cord. My finger hovered above the bead, trailing down until it neared the stone amulet. Smack in the middle of the stone was a very small but beautiful image in white…
A wolf lifted his head back and howled at the moon.
My Takashi.
"It is an amulet that shows the bravery of the wearer. It gifts them, and those they love, with the protection of the wolf spirit," A voice, though hoarse, was warm in its statement, but that still did not prevent it from startling me. He chuckled, "Apologies, child. I did not intend to startle you…"
"Apology accepted," I softly but politely replied to him because although I had been raised in the States, I had learned to respect the elderly. Still, I couldn't resist and reached for the amulet, touching it with gentle fingertips. "It's beautiful…"
"Love is beautiful," The Japanese man cryptically returned, smiling absently into the distance, at something – or somebody – that I couldn't see. He abruptly returned to the conversation and, almost mischievously, asked, "How long until the wedding, then?"
Blushing, I reared back, nearly into the street, with wide eyes. I clutched at the straps over my shoulders, remembering the little box hidden inside the backpack, and stammered, "Um, I – I don't know what you mean…"
"Come, child," He laughed, the sound rough but gentle all the same, and playfully asked, "Do you really think I have lived this long and not learned to tell the difference between who is in love and who is not?" A small smile pulled at his lips. "When are you and this boy getting married?"
"How…?" I asked, still baffled that this stranger could tell that much from a glance. How could it be possible that somebody could tell Takashi and I were engaged to be married? My ring was on, yeah, but I had that hand in my pocket!
…X-Ray Vision?!
Soft golden eyes were warm and twinkling with good humor. "You smiled after picking the amulet up, and whispered his name," He gently explained while gesturing that I return to the stall.
Oh…
A sheepish smile burst to life, and after I stepped closer again, I shyly explained, "My fiancé and I head back to school next week, at the start of September, to finish the last year. He and I plan to get married sometime in May, after the graduation ceremony, and after his birthday and mine."
"May weddings are always nice," The Japanese man said warmly, carefully taking the amulet from my open palm, holding it strongly within his fingers. I could not believe that something that beautiful could be that strong. And then I thought of Takashi. "Should I wrap your gift?"
"Please," I responded, while watching the older man move a stack of boxes to reach the box that matched the amulet – white with black swirls. I thanked him the moment I had the small white box in my grasp. "Thank you so much!"
"You are very welcome, dear," He reassured and accepted the small pile of bills and coins I put in his old, wrinkled hand. I had already turned around and crossed the street by the time that it occurred to him that I had given him too much money. "Wait…! You gave me too much!"
"Please keep it," I called back to him and bowed, letting blonde hair fall down in front of me. Talking to the shop owner, a man with kindness and wisdom in his heart, was a welcome surprise. "It was nice speaking with you!"
"You, too…!"
Distantly, I heard thunder clapping like symbols, the beating of the instruments drowning out his response. I glanced from the stall to the skies, face turned to the darkening skies with worry. No one mentioned it raining. Weather in Japan was sometimes hard to predict, though; I hurriedly darted off, heading for the nearest restaurant, the Ume Internet Café. I waited for better phone signal and checked for messages. One missed call from Tamaki. I frowned. Only one…?
"Sammy-chan," Tamaki immediately answered the other line, the relief in his voice tangible enough that I decided to drop into the nearest booth. My Spidey Senses were once again tingling. Something was wrong…
"Hey, Tama-chan," I greeted with barely disguised fear and reached forward to play with the salt shaker that had been placed in the middle of the table, fingers shaking as my voice stayed calm, even. "You called?"
"Yes! I called! Nobody has seen you in hours! We wanted to check on you as well!" Tamaki explained with concern, and because I could practically hear the exclamation points, I totally missed the last part of that sentence – as well.
"Oh, Takashi-kun and I discussed earlier that I wanted to head into the town," I said in surprise, before checking my messages and reading through the worried texts sent by the Hosts. …Even Kyoya. "He wanted to tag along, but I wanted to get him something special, and I couldn't do that with him here, so…"
Before I could finish the sentence, though, Tamaki blurted, "What? You are still in town? Have you seen any signs of Haruhi-chan while in the shopping district? It is the busiest part of the town!"
"What?" I questioned him, face scrunched in confusion because, last I checked, Haruhi should have been with Tamaki. "Aren't you and Haruhi-chan supposed to be together? You did take her out for the first date, right?" I scowled into the phone. "You promised!"
"As I said, I keep my promises! We went to get ice cream, but w-well, uh, you s-see…" Tamaki trailed off but, hearing the silent fury at the other end of the line, cleared his throat and finished, "She and I argued – about something silly, too – and I returned to the Pension. Haruhi-chan is still out there somewhere…"
Eyes wide, I stared, horrified, out the big glass windows lining the front wall of the little café. Rain slithered likes snakes down the glass, weaving back and forth in little rivulets. It streaked the glass and made it hard to see. Outside, I could barely tell the difference between the men or women and children running around in search of shelter from the storm – the thunderstorm.
'Please don't take my sunshine away.'
"…in the rain?"
"Yes."
***Author's Note***
Sorry for the delay! As I mentioned to readers of Dear Hothead, I have little free time outside of class, lesson planning, and student teaching this semester. I finally managed to complete this chapter, though, so yay! I continued with the funny stuff, added fluffy AND sexy scenes, and put foreshadowing in here for you. Evil Grin.
Also: See the Amulet at Amazon! Type in 'Black Wolf Amulet.' It is the second in the list. :)
Friendship, Relationships, and Fluffy Times Ahead!
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Update = 820ish Reviews