----
"Follow me. You'd probably get lost. You wouldn't know this neighborhood that well." she ordered, standing up and stretching her arms out over her head. "C'mon."
"C-Coming." he muttered, tagging after her once she started to walk away. Phew, Tamaki said to himself, as he hoped that she didn't notice his distant gaze and deep blush that was quickly spreading across his cheeks.
---
After walking about five minutes (which would have been shorter if Tamaki had not lagged behind, still deep in thought), they reached Tsukiko Park's closed gates. It was a little after 8 PM, but the sun had already set.
"I guess they close early?"
"Nonsense." Tamaki rattled the gates handles. "The streetlights are still on." he smiled as the doors swung upon slowly, gracefully, and with a quiet squeaking.
It was true, the lamposts that adorned the sidewalks winding through the darkened park were indeed on, lighting the paths. The park was quite large, but not enormous. Just long enough for a sunny afternoon stroll. Or a moonlit, night stroll, for this matter.
"Wouldn't this be trespassing? I think it is." Haruhi said, standing outside the gates while he was at least 10 steps inside.
"If we're caught, then yes. But there's plenty of places to hide. Just close the gate behind you and there's nothing suspicious for people to worry about."
Regretting her decision, she followed her "orders" and walked beside him. Why did he have to be so damn persuasive?
In the moonlight, the trees were a faded shade of lavender, while the grass was a darker purple color. The sidewalks seemed like a blue-violet and in sections lit the lampposts, a very bright, beautiful blue light framed the paths. The full moon gave everything a more beautiful tint, as did the stars in the midnight blue night sky. A very romantic evening if she had been here with the man she loved. Oh...wait...she forgot. There was no real special man in her life. Instead, she was here with him. Him is not empasized in a happy sense. She was annoyed, rather than sparked by the nights whimsical feeling. ...Or was she?
Now thinking about it, Tamaki was a very good person. A little eccentric, but nonetheless, good. The boy who believed he was perfect did have some flaws that were invisible to him, but she didn't want to change him. He was who he was. He was also passionate about the things he cared for and protected them dearly. Maybe...maybe he wasn't so annoying anymore...
She didn't even notice she had been staring up at him until he looked back, nervously smiling. "Is something wrong?"
Quickly diverting her attention, she looked the oppisite direcion. "Nothing. ...Ah! Look at those roses. They're so pretty!" Hopefully, he was ditracted too.
"They are. Did...W-Would you want one?" he asked quietly.
"I was just admiring."
"Oh...well..." Tamaki gulped, swallowing his pride and his fear as the death grip in his balled fist grew tighter. "Will you come over here for a minute?" he asked, extending a hand towards her, motioning to a spot near some cherry trees. He was lucky enough to manage that as his throat tightened with every breath. Tonight was the night. He had no choice, no planning, not even an idea of what to say. This was his only chance to be alone with her and if he made a fool of himself, well...he'd just have to walk her home.
"...Yeah, sure." She followed his heavy footsteps, wondering what on earth could be wrong with him. Unless... no...that's not possible. Something was definitely bothering him...was it...her? No, no, no. Never possible. Haruhi shook her head. But then again...
Once they reached the destination, they both stopped as they fidgetted with their hands.
"What have I gotten myself into..." Tamaki muttered under his breath and her ears happened to hear him mumble.
"Did you say something?"
"N-N-No! I didn't say a word. Haruhi, I think this fresh air is getting to you, you must be going crazy." he blurted out, trying to cover up, though his mistake only made things worse.
"Thanks."
"I-I didn't mean it like that!" he protested pathetically, raising his hand, he grabbed her own. "You gotta believe me!"
Her eyes darted from their hands clapsed together to his eyes. "Relax..."
"I am relaxed!" Tamaki shouted. His hand was trembling so badly that both of theirs shook.
"Okay...What's wrong?" she asked, cocking her head curiously.
Oh no. Tamaki's grave was dug much too deep and he was tottering and balancing on the edge. He was soon to fall if he didn't say something now. He tightened his grip and loosened it at the same time.
"Haruhi..." he finally muttered. "I don't know what to say in a situation like this. So...I'll say whatever comes to mind." He struggled to keep his voice clear
He took a deep breath as if he were about to plunge into the abyss of death, and pulled her closer into a hug somewhat.
"N-now I'm worried. There's something wrong." she stammered, with her hands on his chest, trying to push away. Her wishful thinking was starting to come true. Her attempts her futile as he only held her tighter.
"I...really...I really, really like you." Tamaki buried his face into her neck as he mumbled shyly, like a little kid meeting someone for the very first time. "...I always have."
Haruhi's body fell rigid but melted at the same time. She felt slightly guilty for not being able to completely return his feelings. Yes, it's true. The infamously boring, bland Haruhi Fujioka had started to indeed fall for the obnoxious, loud-mouth Tamaki Suoh. At that moment, her heart was racing and it seemed like every inch of her body was on fire. And he could say the same. Feeling her neck grow warm against his already hot face, he pulled away, blushing more so (if that was even possible). He grinned when he saw her face.
"You're blushing." he announced, with a devil's smirk, similar to his best friend's.
"Y-You are, too!"
He looked away for a moment. "Good point." As if he was hit with a brick to the face, he whipped around, clutching her shoulders. "W-wait, you wouldn't be blushing if you didn't have some sort of feelings for me! Do you! Do you!"
"Do I what?" she muttered, now looking away herself. She desperately wanted to avoid this question. She couldn't openly admit it, she'd never live it down.
"Do you like me!" he said, grinning wider and wider with every word.
There was a long silence. A long silence.
"You just mouthed something..."
"I did no such thing."
"Yes you did!" he said happily arguing with her. "And I know what you said too! C'mon, there's no one else around. It's just you and me! I won't tell!"
"...Yes." she hardly whispered. Tamaki cupped his hand behind his ear.
"I can't hear youuu."
She growled, which had a striking resembolence to "Yes."
"Hmm? What was that? Did you say something, Haruhi?"
Haruhi fell off the ledge that which was her breaking point. "Fine! I like you! I like you too! Now, please shut up! You got what you wanted out of me!" she grumbled, storming off once again.
But she hardly stormed.
Before her thrid step could even be processed in her mind to be taken, she was scopped up from behind and was held bridal style in Tamaki's arms.
"Not yet." he said nose to nose with her, the smile still apparent on his still blushing face. "I'm not putting you down. Not yet."
-----
Hey again.
1) I would like to apologize to L4dymercury for the walk-scene. They are simillair in the situation (nightly walk love confession) , but I had this idea about 3 days ago and I hadn't been on since around Wednesday, the 7th because we're having a family crisis, which was brought to an end yesterday. So I swear to you, I didn't steal your idea. I strive to be orginal, so I would never intentionally try to be similar no matter how good. I'm very sorry, but I will continue with my own idea, because I really liked it. Great minds think alike, I guess.
2) I thought I had this whole love confession planned out. But now I'm messed up. ;; And now I realize I'm not very good with them either. Now writing it, it's not going out the way a planned, but it's slowlying molding into what I wanted. I wanted to reach this point for now. Taking a break, I'm writing a oneshot which shouldn't be long and should be up tonight. (6-11-06)
3) Check it out later. It'll probably be called Frenchie. And a TamakixHaruhi fic because I simply can't get enough of that couple. :D
