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Disclaimer I do not own Ouran Host Club.
Back in our world
By Alimackatjac
Chapter 29 Unsealed lips and planned reunions.
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Hikaru's POV…Japan
"Hikaru, I know about London."
What the hell? Does he actually know ….I inwardly question. Except for my fingers momentarily tightening around my tablet's edge, my outward appearance remains indifferent. "London, you say, hmm." I lift a hand to my stubbled chin, appearing to give the impression of entering deep thought, when it really couldn't be further from the truth. "I'm afraid you've got me." I drop my hand, and casually lean back in my chair with a devilish smirk emerging on my confident face, "As you well know, someone of my position is a man of the world. I'm often traveling to London, for this or that. So I'm not really sure what you're eluding to?
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The Shadow King smugly mirrors my outward behavior, "Really, I find that rather interesting, my sources tell me. You only occasionally leave Japan….for pleasure."
Damn it! He must referring to-, well so much of it remaining private, between family .Pull it together Hikaru, you knew if anyone found out, it would be him. Besides, that's years ago in the past. Ah, Damn, I just want to reach over this table and wipe that freaking knowing smirk right off his smug face.
"Really?" I lightly set my tablet down next to me, before gracefully swinging out an arm, resting it on the back of my chair, as an amused chuckle rumbles out of my quirked lips. "Well, Ootori, I can't speak to the validity of your so called sources, but you're somewhat correct. I've recently flown to London, on business. "I firmly hold my well-practiced mask of my good natured twin firmly in place. Something I mastered long ago, and I frequently use for occasions, such as these. "What's this about? "
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"Why explain it." The Shadow King chuckles, before gracefully reaching under his arm for a folded up newspaper. He arrogantly tosses it to the center of the table. "When a picture is evidently worth so much more." With the paper's pages, landing squarely in front of me, a dark smile creeps on my old schoolmate's lips.
My golden eyes casually peek down to a rather large black and white photo of two elegantly dressed women. The photo was taken at some highly regarded charity event.
"It's seems you and your twin are once more expanding your social circles…..You know Hitachiin, if you were trying to conceal your little reunion, might I suggest refraining from dressing the wives of former members in Hitachiin originals," The Shadow King motions his long fingers to the newspaper. "It's bound to make the society pages."
So that's what this is about… I was only fulfilling my brother's request, sending a little something as a thank you, for our old friends' rather forceful, and persistent assistance, in dealing with our Brunette Beauty. So he actually doesn't know anything about finding Haru, well at least that's how he's coming across. I had no idea the Shadow King would use it as an excuse to confront me.
Now that I knew the damn Shadow King was just trying to worm information out of me, a mischievous grin slowly emerges, as I leaned forward , tenting my fingers. "So." I smugly shrug my shoulders, "Many women of class, around the world, prefer our various brands. Besides, who said were hiding anything?" My hand gracefully swings out to the busy restaurant. "I'm sitting out in the open, waiting for some old friends, who I recently bumped into overseas ….As for the originals, it's like you said, 'it's bound to be in the society pages'….where new trends begin." I tap my index finger down on the paper. "Do you have any idea how quickly these type of articles influence others. I'm just being a smart businessman…something you should appreciate."
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"Do you have any idea how Tamaki felt, after seeing this picture?" My old schoolmate sharply motions to the newspaper, "He's not stupid, he surmised there was some kind of reunion held without him." With a frustrated sigh the Shadow King's true feelings suddenly break through his well-crafted façade, "He's been inundating my private line, blathering on about missed opportunities, for days!"
Of course, after the Shadow King has the audacity to confront me about the bubblehead's feelings something inside of me snaps. What the hell, who does he think he's taking to …after the two of them caused so much pain, my true self unleashes from my brother's borrowed mask.
"Why the hell should I care anything about him…..or for that matter, you." Leaning over the table, while I angrily hiss out my words. "Do you honestly think I'll keep up this façade and pretend to even remotely care about him, while we banter about the weather, or the finer points of business? I'm sorry, but you've mistaken me for my twin!" With escalating frustration weighing down on me, I flop back into my chair, ignoring years of forced etiquette instruction. "You two were the ones who turned everything upside down, not us."
The soft restaurant lighting shines in his glasses, concealing his normal stone cold eyes, "If your referring to the club, events were set in motion long before, to what your imprudently implying to."
I was about to bluster out a heated response when my eyes lifted, causing a smirk to appear on my sealed lips.
"Ootori, it's been a long time…I do believe you're in my seat."
As a pair of sharp brown eyes burn towards the man, seated across from me.
End of Hikaru's POV
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Kaoru's POV.
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Italy ….morning …
With my fingers laced around a fresh cup of coffee, my tired eyes stare at the door before me…Although a mischievous smile is firmly molded to my lips.
"All right Miss Fujioka, it's time to get ready." Two familiar voices partially sing out simultaneously behind the olivewood door.
"Oh, not you two again! Where the hell did you come from?" Just before my cobalt blue coffee cup touches my lips, a small chuckle slips out. After hearing the brunette beauty's voice belt out behind the door.
With my golden eyes peeking over my coffee cup, I catch sight of my approaching blonde driver. The top half of his hair is messily pulled back into a short ponytail. He casually strolls up to stand next to me, holding his own steaming cup of coffee. For an agonizing moment, I actually glanced over to my driver and the sight caused me to roll my eyes, and suppress a burst of laughter. Somewhat surprised to where the heck my driver dug up his sleeping attire, as he strolled up in a loosely tied black, kimono like robe,…a woman's silk like kimono that barely covers his butt and other things .
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The kind of robe meant to be unwrapped as gift, behind closed doors. The thin material barely covers the fact he wasn't wearing anything else besides the short robe. "Ah Boss, do you really think this is such a good idea? I mean, she's already pissed to begin with …this just seems like it's going to set her off, even more….I could just slip in and lay out her clothes? It be better than her suffering through that." Jake motions to the boisterous door, practically waning under the struggling pressure, behind it.
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I quickly pull the steaming cup of coffee, from my gaping lips. "Dressed like that?!"
Jake proudly guides his free hand over his chest and arm, "Pretty swank right, one of the maids was ordered to clean out some of rooms, by some woman, over the phone, and found this." He proudly throws his bent arm out, causing the ill-sized garment to ride up his upper thigh. "Dude, take a feel, it's like real silk,"
"Ah no, that's ok, I believe you." I awkwardly push his arm away with the tip of my finger.
"Hey Boss, this is something you need. Do you want me to look and see if there's another one? The maid brought out a whole box of the stuff?"
Knowing the staff always clears out the guestrooms after their departure, and my room was untouched that only left, a few places the silky garments could have actually originated from. …and I'm pretty sure it wasn't my twin's bedroom…. Leaving…oh damn!
The rather unappealing thought causes me to take a wide awkward step away from him, while almost violently rubbing my offended hand on the leg of my jeans. My stomach nauseously flips, knowing exactly who last wrapped herself in the skimpy cover, and it's something a son, just shouldn't be privy to.
Knowing there's absolutely no chance of clearing the disturbing image from my head, when my surfer like driver proudly, and more importantly visually reminds me, daily over morning coffee. I decide to offer a more suitable, and male substitute….well longer anyway .I really didn't care if my blonde driver ended up being a cross dresser .Hell, more power to him …..But donning that particular garment was altogether another matter entirely for me, and doubtingly, Hika as well.
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"You want to put that where? Yeah right, when pigs fly …. Whoa, watch those hands!" Haru's irritated words, call our attention back to the closed door.
"Uh Boss?" My ill-dressed driver motions to the door.
I lift a hand to my neck to anxiously rub the back of it, "Yeah you're probably right, but you did ask for help." I shrug my shoulders before motioning to the now loud crashing sound, emanating from the room. So this is your help. Haruhi, and our personal maids go way back. She puts up a huge fuss at first, but usually after it's all said and done, she's somewhat accepts it." I lift the cup of coffee to my mouth and begin to walk to my bedroom. "Besides, you'll be too busy helping me prepare."
"Uh boss, no doubt this has to do with you, being naked, yet again, am I correct?" My driver anxiously calls out.
"Of course, most people take a bath before going out." I blindly respond, leaving my ill-dressed driver behind. After almost spending the entire night fretting over the perfect destination, I woke up, hunched over my desk. Finding a list of carefully considered options scribbled out on paper, and stuck to my exhausted face…That's when I realized I was dooming this, so called "date" to failure.
I had worn myself into an exhausted frazzle by worrying….by expecting perfection. So much so, I doubt I'd be awake enough to coherently argue my case. Let alone show the Brunet Beauty the breathtaking sights of Italy. So after stumbling back to bed, for a few missed hours I decided to brush off all the pressure weighing heavily on my shoulders and just treat Haru to day out….Being content, albeit still somewhat nervous, to let everything unfold naturally. After all, wasn't Haru considered the natural type?
"Miss Fujioka, it's time for your bath."
Ever since the two maids were introduced to us, they've been determined to accomplish whatever Hika or I would set before them…and a lot of that had to do with our old friend. Once we came back to the Bunkyo estate, to finish up our third year, we immediately assigned them to another estate….. We just couldn't take the reminder. Of course, once we finally left the Bunkyo estate the twins were allowed back. "See, case in point. People do get naked and take baths, before going out. " I call back to Jake, without looking back.
The distinct sound of glass shattering comes from the room, "What is it with these damn rich bastards, I can take a bath myself! Thank you very much! Now back off!"
"But, we've been ordered to help you get ready!" The two maids adamantly speak out.
Uh oh, maybe they're a little too determined.
"Wait, what, but I still have some clothes- AHHHGGG! "The sound of a giant wave of water splattering against a floor followed Haru's surprised screen, and some occasional gurgling.
Haru's scream causes my head to whip back to the door. "Yep, I probably should have said something to them about violently attacking her." I speak to myself with a concerned voice.
"Boss, did you say something?" My driver tries to catch up.
"Uh no," I shrug my shoulders, "Besides, it's too late now. What's done is done, and I guess I'll just suffer the ramifications later." I once more speak to myself in a distracted tone as I turn back, and head for my room.
My blonde driver awkwardly blinks back at me. "Uh boss your talking to yourself again."
"I'm sorry Jake. You were you saying something?" I pretend not to have heard my driver's last rude comment.
"Uh, never mind… Anyway, Boss, you really do need one of these. I wouldn't mind your constant nakedness if you were wearing one of these. I'm telling you, it's so silky against my skin, I could wear this all day, if need be. "
"All day?! Uh yeah, about that …. Maybe it's time we start talking about what kind of uniform looks best on you."
End of Kaoru's POV
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Honey's POV
"Ootori, it's been a long time…I do believe you're in my seat."
The Shadow King gracefully turns to the side, with a polite smile. "Aw, Haninozuka, Morinozuka it's been awhile." Kyoya lifts his hand to adjust his glasses, a sure sign he isn't being completely honest. "I was just telling Hitachiin, here, how Tamaki, is rather interested in a reunion of sorts. It's been ages since we all got together."
My dark eyes glance over to Hika-chan, who looked like he wanted nothing more than to leap over the table, and violently attack our old friend. It was hard for me to swallow the last word, with the bile it caused to bubble up from my nauseous stomach.
When Takashi and I first flew through the etched glass doors of the restaurant, I actually had to look twice at our ginger friend. Sure, he still stood out in the crowd with his striking model like features, and strapping exterior, but he looked simply worn out …..In fact, I hate to even think this …but he's beginning to look like he was sliding back into his hopeless days.
My blonde head quickly turns back, keeping my expression serious, "Ootori-san, if Tomo-chan, wants some kind of reunion then he can personal come and ask me." I tilt my head and force a bubbly smile to be polite. "Kay?"
"Excellent, Honey-sempi, I'm sure something can be arranged. Perhaps we could all meet over drinks?" A smug smirk appears on his face, after his icy eyes slide over to our irritated ginger friend. Something tells me it's the exact opposite of what Hika-chan told him.
"Oh, and while he's there, he can personally explain to me about the club." My smile instantly falls, as I squeeze my fists at my side, "and this time….. I want the truth." My threating dark tone wipes that smirk clean off his face. I don't blame the hot headed twin in the slightest, as I was finding it difficult to restrain myself …especially after what I found tonight.
"But Honey- sempi, be reasonable, it's been such a long time. Besides, there's simply nothing else to explain." He lifts his hand to his face, quickly adjusting his glasses, allowing the glare on his glasses, to conceal his cold lying eyes. "I've told you everything,"
I cross my arms at my chest, and shake my head, "No, I must disagree, theirs one topic of discussion you continuously remain vague on, and I'm sure the others would agree to a club reunion, if Tomo-chan finally clears up the matter, when we next meet." I quickly add, without even peeling my eyes away from the lying man. "Isn't that right, Takashi?"
"Yeah," I can hear the volcanic anger struggling in Takashi's single word.
Keeping my lethal brown eyes sharply trained on our deceptive friend. "Hika-chan?"
"Oh yeah. I know Kao, and I would have no problem showing up, for that. " I didn't have to be looking at the devilish twin to know his golden cat like eyes are shining brightly as he lets out a small amused chuckle. "Hell, we'll even bring the cake and the instant coffee."
"See Ootori, were all willing to meet, providing this time…. we get the truth." I instantly flash another bubbly smile on my face, "Kay?"
"I'm sorry, I cannot condone Tamaki being hurt, and opening up this matter will only upset him further." He lets out a defeated sigh, reaching out to the newspaper on the table, "Unfortunately, I see we once again have arrived at impasse. I was rather hopefully we could finally work past this." My brown eyes glance down, to quickly see a familiar picture and a sharp burning feeling boils inside of me. I roughly slap down on the corner of the paper, causing the silverware and filled water glasses to rattle under the shaken table.
"Mitsukuni." Takashi firmly grabs my shoulder.
Kyoya gracefully stands from my chair, "Well, I've postponed your dinner long enough, please keep the paper, and give my regards to your lovely wife. He politely nods his head, "Good Evening." He only waits for my returning nod, and casually walking away. However, his steps were a little bit quicker than his usual.
Feeling Takashi hand lift from my shoulder I carefully pick up the paper, causing a tender smile to appear on my face, momentary lost in my Reiko's delicate impression.
"Mitsukuni." Takashi's voice breaks my attention, I can tell he wants the picture. Although, I greedily decide to fold the paper up, and slide it into my inside breast pocket, of my tan overcoat. Once carefully tucked away I happily take my seat, across from the ginger.
My exhausted ginger friend is dressed in a sharp navy-blue suit, with starched white button up. The suit jacket was of course unbuttoned, as it fit my friends rather laid back style. He casually pulls a stemmed glass of water from his lips, "Hey, Honey-sempi what took you so-"
"Shhh," I quickly cut off my ginger friend's words, while throwing a finger to my lips. After dropping my hand, I turn to my cousin, giving him a sharp nod of my blond head. "Takashi. "
"Right." Takashi pulls a small handheld device from his grey coat.
"Hey, what's going on?" An impatient Hika-chan briskly asks, as his golden catlike eyes curiously follow my cousin.
"Shhh." My serious brown eyes glance over to my cousin, who nods his head, before peeking under the table. "I thought so, anything else?"
Takashi lifts his head from under the table. "All clear."
Takashi hands me a small metal object, about the fourth of the size of a watch battery…leaving me to drop the object in my water glass. "Good, let's eat!" I smile towards the confused ginger.
Mori-sempi snaps his fingers. "Waiter."
The ginger man leans closer to my glass, studying the small devious device, before his stunned golden eyes peek over the edge of my water glass. "Now, wait just a damn minute, Honey –sempi, was that some kind of bug?" He points to my glass.
A smartly unformed college student hurries to the table. "Yes, sir."
"Please bring us a fresh glass of water." Mori slides my glass to the oblivious waiter. "The usual, all around." Mori's hand motions around the table, as he takes a seat, next to me "Mitsukuni, the car."
"Right away, sir." The working college student quickly picks up the water and walks off.
I lean back in my chair, with my fingers thoughtfully rubbing my chin, "Sorry, now that we know who were actually dealing with, it's just a well-founded precaution." A heavy sigh blows pass my lips, "It wasn't long before we figured out the Black Onion Squad was behind the traffic jam that was causing us to be late. At this time of night, it didn't make much sense."
"That's when we knew, Ootori was on to us." My cousin adds.
"Your right Takashi, I'm glad you said something." I happily smile towards my cousin, I could tell, keeping the photo for myself, was bothering him. "Anyway, knowing a little something about the squad's strict training regimen, caused us to scan my car and found the little guy's twin."
The irradiated ginger's arms crossed, "And here I thought I had figured him out, that he was only fishing for information." Hika-chan hisses out in a self-hated tone. "Damn, it's not like I don't know a little something about digital devices. I should have expected something like this, especially from him." With the spoken thought, the ginger reaches for his inside breast pocket, pulling out his phone.
Takashi looks up from his phone, "Mitsukuni, all clear."
"Thanks, Takashi." Nodding to my cousin, before glancing back to, the once more confused ginger, "Oh sorry Hika-chan, Takashi was just informing me of our offices being cleared."
The waiter quickly returns with a whiskey double for our ginger friend, and a small bottle of sake for Takashi, and a cup of tea for myself…. I find consuming alcohol, tends to make the company I'm keeping more than a little uneasy. Normally, it would be rude to refuse to participate in alcohol induced comradery. A guy can't cut loose one single night without the entire country permanently excusing you from never having another drink again…I mean what are they worried about, even though I can't remember a shred of that night I paid back for all the damages I was accused of ….. Heck, I even think they finally finished construction on that last building.
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Hika-chan's fingers freeze at his phone as he lifts his eyes, "Wait, he bugged your office? That means-" The stunned ginger turns white as he trails off in his disturbing thoughts.
I chuckled at the ginger man's clearly worried expression, "Relax Hika-chan you're clear as well, now let's have some cake." I excitedly clapped my hand together, happily glancing around the room for a waiter.
"You searched my office?!"Hika-chan's angry eyes flash in my direction.
I innocently blink back at the ginger while I picked up my menu. "Well yeah, as well as Koa-chan's, just in case. Don't worry, nothing was found …it seems his plan was circling around this particular meeting…. although now, we should be extra vigilant. I thoughtfully speak to myself. "He's up to something."
"Wait, how could you? The company checks every-" The concerned ginger trails off to himself.
"Yeah, yeah, we know. You check for any previous Host club ties, but that's easy enough, to work around." I waved a dismissive hand towards my shocked friend, "Oh, don't worry Hika-chan, my people only observe at the office. Your private life, remains private."
Hikaru hisses out "You've been spying on us! The ginger leans forward, glaring across the table "For how long?"
Seeing the hot headed twin's reaction caused me to nervously lean back, "Uh, well, it's like..." It's times like these I really hated the fact my cousin had talked me into leaving Usa-chan in the car.
A sudden thought shadowed across his face, causing him to shake his head, "It couldn't possibly have been this entire-"
"We were worried." Mori bluntly cuts off the sputtering ginger.
Completely outraged by what we were confessing the angry ginger quickly leaps from his seat. "I can't believe you've been spying on us, this entire time! Did you honestly think I would just brush this to the side, because our shared past friendship?" He lifts his agitated hand, sliding his shaking figures through his think mussed hair with frustration. "You know what, all of sudden, I've lost my appetite." He raises a hand sharply buttoning his jacket. "Please enjoy yourself, on me. Consider my debt paid." Our friend's tone turns cold as he reaches for his tablet to leave.
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My hand sweeps across the table, grabbing his wrist. "Hika-chan, wait," My pleading emotional eyes slowly crawl up his exhausted body, until I'm looking him straight in his narrowed eyes. "Even though you two cut ties with us, we still thought of you… as close friends."
The ginger takes in a quick breath after hearing my heart felt words. "Honey-sempi, Mori-sempi," He blows out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head "No, that still doesn't' change things …I'm sorry, I just can't do this." His disappointed eyes drop to our hands, attempting to pull away.
"Hika-chan, Takashi, and I are just trying to be up front and honest, you use to appreciate that."
"Let go." Our struggling friend's voice comes out low and strained as his arm shakes.
"Mitsukuni."
"Alright Takashi." I begin to loosen my fingers. "Sorry, Hika-chan" A sharp feeling tears at my chest ….because I know.
I know once my hand lets go ….we would no longer be friends, but strangers.
"Mitsukuni "My large tear filled eyes peel away from my releasing hand to shakily look at my cousin. "Door."
Hika-chan jerks his wrist out my fingers, coolly tucks a hand in his pocket, and begins to callously walk off. "See ya."
"She knows!" I leap from my chair and desperately call back to the ginger's retreating back….Causing him to stop in the wide aisle. "Hika-chan, the reason I keep asking if her behavior changed that morning, is because most likely…. she knows."
The ginger whips his body around, hastily making his way back to the table, causing the glasses of iced water to clink against the glass. His fiery eyes glance around the table, forcing a polite smile to the other disturbed diners, until they awkwardly smile back. While crouched over our table he sharply whips his head back to me. "What the hell, do you think she knows?" His words hiss out.
I avoid looking at the golden daggers piercing through me, as I cautiously spill their long kept secret. "About how you really feel for Kaoru….about how you've always felt about your twin."
His fierce face melted in confusion, "Wait, what," He shakes his head, before a sudden torrid wave of anger rolls across his feature. "How…how does she know?!"
"The door." My cousin bluntly adds.
I turned my head and nodded to my cousin "That's right, Takashi."
With our vague reply the ginger's face only grows more intense, "Door, what door?" Hika-chan furiously hovers over me ,as he stands at the table with his arms out in front of him, "What the hell are you two talking about? "
"Well, Hika-chan, before we left, we kind of," I nervously look away, before admitting the truth. "Left the adjoining door, uh… open."
His fierce features quickly smooth out, as he lifts a hand to his thick ginger head, "What?!" Stunned by my abrupt confession the exhausted twin flops down in his seat, and quickly reaches out a shaky hand for his glass. He blindly lifts it to his lips, jerking his head back. He wipes his lips with the hand holding the glass. Before roughly resting it down on the table. All the while lost in a daze, dropping his shocked eyes.
"Hika-chan," I cautiously call out to my shocked friend, it takes a long moment before he lifts his eyes from the table. "She's torn."
"She's needlessly suffering. " Takashi adds.
"Hika-chan, we can tell she really does love you both, for different qualities, and reasons." I let out a heavy sigh before continuing , "She simply can't choose…so this entire time she's been relentlessly fighting her own heart, refusing to come between you and Koa-chan …All these years she's been denying herself what all humans crave …so we decided to show her …. She doesn't have to."
"We been silent for too long." My cousin firmly grips his water glass. "And we're sorry."
"Takishi is right, back then, we didn't think it was our place. So we purposely left things unsaid. …..if we had just spoken up she would have never picked him …..I'm so sorry, Hika-chan, you've lived through so much pain because us...so much so, we couldn't help but feel responsible…and watch over you, from a distance. " Tears begin to threaten my emotional eyes.
The exhausted ginger solemnly takes a large drink from his glass tumbler. "Don't blame yourself Honey-sempi, we should have said something, there were plenty times we hinted to her, but we never really just came out and told her…we were afraid we'd lose her…..and unfortunately that's just what happened, by not telling her…..Kao, and I recently figured this much out, but then the damn pictures happened and she's been fighting with us ever since."
"So Hika-chan, did she um, have the chance to um…"My eyes never leave the table as I awkwardly ask the rather personal question. ", see for herself?"
"What?" I begrudgingly lift my head, to show him my burning cheeks, "oh, oh uh, yeah," Hika –chan drops his eyes to his fidgeting hand, next to his chilled class of water. "She might have seen…. Something, before I left."
"Okay, well uh, that's uh ….good then." The three of us couldn't look at each other and I for one am praying for a swift change of topic.
My exhausted friend roughly coughs, "Of course, there no telling how she'll react…..I guess we'll know soon enough…although, at the moment, even if it had a positive effect on the situation, I'm indefinitely stuck here on business."
Seeing my uncomfortable friend suffer my concerned eyes pan over to my silent cousin, giving me a sharp nod. "Well actually, Takashi and I have been talking …"
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End of Honey POV
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Kaoru's POV.
I anxiously starred down to the glass screen of my stainless steel phone, reflecting my concerned golden eyes back at me. "Keep her safe, Kao. The Shadow King is close. HH "With a frustrated sigh I slide my phone back into my aged retro brown leather jacket. Lifting my beanie covered head to the sparkling blue waters of Lake Como. Patiently sitting at a small table for two, on an elegant stone patio.
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The so called "date" was going as well as expected, that is…. silent and awkward. After a couple failed attempts of breaking the ice with a few nervous jokes, only resulting in some small humorless pity chuckles from the Brunet Beauty .I thought a scenic lunch might rescue this desired, and most sought after time. So I headed for a small out of the way restaurant with a gorgeous fall view of Como Lake. The sparkling lake is surrounded by blazing fall foliage of deep rustic oranges and fiery reds. Add the early dusting of white, on the distant summits of Grigna's twin rugged peaks, and the unyielding beauty is bound to enlist some kind of verbal response. Even if it's about the mundane topic of the absolute gorgeous fall weather….anything would be better than utter silence.
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"Sorry, for keeping you, um waiting." Haru glances down, as she slides her cascading waves of glossy chestnut hair behind her ear. She awkwardly stands at the pristine white table, wearing a suede camel colored waist duster, over an ivory cowl neck sweater. The simple, yet eye-catching ensemble was paired with a pair of black skinny jeans, and a pair of spiked ankle boots. Even though I've repeatedly seen the Brunet Beauty since the start of our "date," I couldn't help but openly gawk in her direction.
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"Oh, sorry." I abruptly shake my head clear, as I quickly stand from my seat, to offer her assistance. However, she lifts a hand and waves off the gentlemanly gesture, and takes her own seat. Her wide chocolate eyes glance around the table, noticing the leather backed menus were missing.
"Oh, I uh, knew you were hungry, so I took the liberty for ordering for you." I raised my hand, nervously tugging the side of my tan beanie, over my ginger hair. "If you would like something else we could order-" I nervously trail off.
"No, I'm fine." Her large chocolate eyes flutter around the crowded patio. I managed to arrange a somewhat private table, however for a fall day the busy patio, is nearly at capacity.
"Are you warm enough?" I reach over with a shaky hand to take a sip of my water, "I can arrange for something more private, if you wish?"
Her eyes glance back to the table, "Koa, I'm fine. Except for the heels your twin tormentors were pretty much on mark, I'm toasty warm. …really I am" She reaches up to scratch her eyebrow, "Um by the way, Koa, how long will they be in town?" She swallows, "Or do they permanently work at the Italian estate?" She hopefully questions.
Seeing her uncomfortable expression causes me to turn my head, hiding my small amused chuckle for the moment. However, I left her inquiry unanswered. I didn't have the heart to explain to her that the two 'tormentors,' as the Brunet Beauty so candidly named them, are now, assigned to her, for the unforeseeable future, by myself and my twin.
Feeling the conversation awkwardly die I quickly change the subject. I hastily reach out for the elegant arrangement resting out, in front of me. Trapping a velvety soft sunburst petal in between my fingers. "Look Haru, don't you think the flowers our lovey? I uh especially like the tangerine Gerbera daisies." I inwardly cringe to my sudden choice of topic, knowing, it's almost as bad as bringing up the weather. "The flower itself means cheerfulness. However, this color in particular means, sunshine of life."
"Yeah, I think I read that somewhere." She speaks with a distracted tone as her eyes glance around the patio.
"Oh." I awkwardly pull my hand away from the arrangement to nervously fidget with my folded napkin. "Uh, Haru is there something wrong?"
"No, I just have this odd feeling." She turns back to our table, "Sorry. I don't mean to -"
I quickly cut off the brunet "Okay, this is ridiculous." I roughly toss my napkin on the table, "Haru, you know how I feel." I lean over the table, with warming cheeks, and a shy smile, "and I now, know how you feel about me."
"Kao, that's not what –"
I quickly cut her off, shaking my head. "We spent the entire drive here in uncomfortable silence, not to mention the window shopping. We can't spend the rest of day awkwardly avoiding the issue, so out with it, let's work pass this." I nervously swallow, "Just ask me."
"Okay, but I need to tell you I wasn't avoiding anything, I've just been having this odd feeling, ever since we left the estate's gates."
"An odd feeling, what kind of feeling?"
"I'm not really sure." The brunet speaks in a distracted tone while glancing around patio. After reading Hika's warning, I decide to take her odd feeling seriously and carefully scan the busy patio .My golden eyes causally fall on the nearest table some distance away from us. Seeing an older couple brazenly wrapped around each other, practical falling out of their chairs, and headed for under the table. …Showing a little too much heated PDA, as the older woman sexually assaulted her unsuspecting husband while he madly flailed his arms.
"I don't really see anything out of the ordinary," Shrugging my shoulders, decideing to say nothing about Hika's text.
"Anyway, if you wish to discuss your prior actions then go ahead and explain," She turns away, hiding her blushed cheeks, "I however, have decided to remain ignorant of your past escapades."
"Nothing… you don't want to know anything at all?" I was stunned. "Nothing about my uh, "My eyes anxiously slide away from the brunet. "About my uh guilty pleasures?"
She blindly waves a dismissive hand, "Uh no, I think its best left in the past," She awkwardly clears her throat, "Along with the rest of those painful photographs. Besides, I think it's pretty self-explanatory."
"Haru, it's just this-"
She holds a firm hand towards me, cutting me off. "Look, Kao I really don't need to know." She lets out a frustrated sigh, asking in an overly sharp tone. "But what I would like to know, is how long you plan on holding me here, against my will?!" She raises her voice.
"Here you go," A waiter places a large bowl in front of me, causing me to pullback in my chair, however I still questionably stare in disbelief at my determined companion. The air grows tense and silent as the waiter diligently tends to our table with only the serving spoon occasional clinking with our bowls.
Once the waiter excuses himself, I lean in closer, quietly hissing out in confusion "I'm sorry, I'm afraid there must be some kind of misunderstanding, it's true, earlier I've been…. somewhat stubborn in the fact of you leaving. I believe your best choice of recovery is to remain here with us, for the time being. However, I thought you had been convinced of this already...I mean after the three of us talked."
"How could you say that?" She leans over the table, pointing to her boisterous lips, "It's the only thing that came out this mouth …to your damn blonde henchman. Hell, I even begged Honey –sempi" She lets out a frustrated sigh, flopping back in her seat, with her arms crossed at her chest, "ever since those damn Pictures."
"Wait a minute," I defensively holds up my flattened palms to my friend, "By my understanding, you stopped requesting-"I trailed off, leaning in closer, "Honey didn't say a word to me about it." I'm somewhat bewildered by the abrupt turn of conversation.
"Okay, I'll admit that both Honey, and Mori probably wouldn't have said anything to you." She awkwardly clears her throat, "Uh, since they believe the same as you."
"Wait, they believe….the same as I do ." Pointing a finger, to my chest, somewhat shocked. "They think you should be here?"
"Yeah, they think I should start trusting people. Uh, starting with you and Hika. But that doesn't excuse your pushy henchman, he should have said something to you. It's his obligation to you, as your employee."
My eyes continue to stare down at my hands, "So ah, Haru, do you um …..Still want to leave?"
End of Kaoru's POV
End of chapter 29
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I've been killing myself trying to finish this monster chapter, while falling further and further behind in my self-implied deadline. Of course, I foolishly realized at around the end of the update, I should just release the first half of this chapter. So here it is, and as I mentioned the second half is on the very cusp of being finished. So look forward to another chapter in the coming days. Again, sorry about the delay. Alimackatjac. Thanks for taking a peek ;)
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