Pairing: KyouyaxHaruhi
Rating: eto...PG. Nothing serious in this chapter.
Written for: Nya-san's birthday! (And happy birthday, FRoP! much ai)
Dedicated to: Nya-nya...happy birthday, love! x3
Warning: Beware of OOCness and just general suckage! I did an excessive amount of research of wine and foods; however, that does NOT mean that everything in this fanfiction is accurate! If you can spot any gliches at all, please tell me so that I can change it
Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran or any of its characters. They belong only to the great Bisco Hatori-sama (and BONES)...I would own Ouran if stars would grant wishes, but hey...I can dream, can't I? xP
Kimi no Koe
By, Yue Guang Kuroneko
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Chapter Two:
When he picked her up at promptly seven Friday evening, she was dressed in a nice, modest dress—not to mention it was rather common, but what did he expect? Although she dressed simply compared to those rich women that he, unfortunately, met by means of business, she looked nothing like a commoner. He was almost speechless at her sophistication before reverting back to his cool, business mode, thickening his ice walls a notch…just in case.
"You look nice, Haruhi," He complimented her sincerely as he opened the door for her on the passenger's side of his car.
"Ah, thank you," She smiled at him politely before seating herself in the leather seats. "I wasn't sure where you'd be taking me…"
"You're dressed accordingly," He assured her once he sat down at the driver's side of his black European car. "Our reservation is at seven-thirty."
"How long will it take us to get there?" Haruhi asked him, as if trying to keep a friendly conversation.
He smiled secretly at her efforts and started the engine.
"Approximately twenty minutes," He answered, pulling from the curb of her humble apartment complex.
"I didn't know you drove, Kyouya-senpai," Haruhi said in slight awe at the sight of an expensive car. "I figured all rich people preferred to have drivers drive them around everywhere."
"Most of them do," Kyouya stated. "But I do not."
"Why?" She asked him, her eyes filled with curiosity. "You seem like the type to prefer being driven instead of driving yourself."
She's become cuter, Kyouya thought, but she's still as blunt as ever.
"There are limits to what I can take in a high society," Kyouya said, keeping his eyes on the road. "When no one's watching, it doesn't matter."
Haruhi gave a small laugh and Kyouya glanced over at her briefly.
"Did I say something funny?" He inquired, returning his eyes on the road.
"No," Haruhi gave another small laugh. "I just remembered you said something remotely similar at the mall a long time ago."
It was true, he realized as he looked back on that day. Thanks to Tamaki and his lust for commoners' knowledge, leaving him stranded at the mall without his cell phone or wallet, he spent the entire day with Haruhi and leaving his soul bare for her to inspect. 'Bare' would be an exaggeration, but no one had analyzed him that fully before and that was as bare as he got.
The rest of the ride to the restaurant was rather silent but it wasn't stifling—it was rather comfortable and refined. It was an atmosphere that only made him glad that he had asked her out to dinner in a whim, even if it was unintentional. No, it made him pleased and quite thankful that she had accepted his offer.
Her presence had a strange affect on him and for the life of him, he could not understand why. In fact, when it came to Haruhi, he didn't understand anything at all. He couldn't manipulate her or break down the wall that separated them. Even despite the relaxed sensation he felt around her, she was a mystery to him. Was it because she was a commoner?
That was it, wasn't it? She was a mere commoner and he was a part of the higher society where lineage was everything, followed closely by money. She had neither the lineage nor the money and, in addition, did not receive any training in etiquette. Yes, that's exactly why he could never understand her. There was no way someone of his high status would understand someone who was at the near bottom of society's food chain. That's right. It was impossible.
Kyouya shook his head lightly and when he focused his mind, he found that they were almost at their destination. He glimpsed over at the silent Haruhi and found her glancing out of the window with a relaxed—and was there a hint of content?—expression on her face. That was strange…has he ever seen her so peaceful before in his presence?
If Tamaki had been here, he would have fallen in love with her all over again…and then gone off on ridiculous tangents about marriage and princes and who knows what else?
"This is where we're eating?" Haruhi didn't even bother to hide the surprise in her voice.
"Yes," He answered as he killed the engine and handed his keys to the nearby valet who bowed courteously before walking over to the other side to join her as another valet opened the door for her. "Does that surprise you?"
"Somehow," Haruhi started, sweatdropping, "now that I think about it, it doesn't. Only rich places suit your taste, doesn't it?"
"You could say that," Kyouya spoke, chuckling lightly at her train of thought.
"I just wouldn't imagine you bringing me to some place so high-class," Haruhi stated as they walked into the fancy restaurant, greeted by well-dressed and groomed waiters. "It's a bit too generous coming from you, Kyouya-senpai."
"Do you still think about that debt you acquired at Ouran, Haruhi?" Kyouya gave her a small smirk as they walked up to the front desk.
"Can you blame me?" Haruhi said rather unresponsively.
"Ah, Ootori-sama," The waiter behind the front desk bowed politely as he caught sight of them. "Please, this way."
They followed the man to the nearby elevator, which was decorated lightly with a splash of light peach and a tint of gold. Silence adorned them as they slowly rode up to the top floor, Haruhi absorbed in her surroundings and he—well, he watched her. He watched her as every breath left her body and every breath that was taken in. He watched as her lips parted as she inhaled and exhaled in a soothing rhythm as if to become one with the air. A few locks of her hair fluttered as the air conditioning blew past her, making her seem even more feminine than before…
…and then suddenly, the magic died away as the elevator boy announced that they were at their floor.
"Ootori-sama," Outside, another waiter greeted them with a charming smile. "Your table is right this way."
"Do you come here often, Kyouya-senpai?" Haruhi asked once they were seated by the window, overlooking the beautiful shining city.
"Yes, this is where I usually dine with business associates," He spoke, placing the cream-colored napkin over his lap. "Why do you ask?"
"You seem well-known here," Haruhi gave a small shrug.
"Would you like anything to drink?" The waiter that had seated them was back, holding two leather bound menus.
"Water is fine," Haruhi smiled at the waiter amiably as she took his offered menu.
"Viognier," He said evenly, also taking the menu from the smiling waiter.
"Yes, of course," The waiter bowed and left them in peace.
"Viognier?" Haruhi inquired curiously. "Isn't that a rare white wine?"
"Yes," Kyouya replied, lightly surprised at her extensive knowledge about wine. "I didn't expect you to know about it."
"My father does work at a bar, you know," Haruhi pointed out as her brown eyes scanned the menu. "I know a few things about wine and alcohol of sorts."
Kyouya kept a mental note of Haruhi's knowledge of wine and alcohol before returning his attention to the menu he held in front of him. The familiar sophisticated letters printed on cream-colored parchment-like paper was popping out elegantly in front of him, but he couldn't seem to read them. He was feeling slightly uneasy, as if someone had opened the door on a winter's day and he was pulled out of the warmth of his bed into the cold.
"Are you prepared to order?" The waiter (whose smile was starting to look forced) returned, holding his pen tightly in his hand after he set down their drinks.
After they ordered, he and Haruhi sat in silence, gazing out at the night sky and city lights. She mystified him—no; her reaction towards him and any situation mystified him. She was strangely innocent, but peculiarly sharp about her surroundings. He had no doubt that she has matured during their five years apart, but that only made him uneasy. Had she become even more perceptive than before?
Their orders arrived promptly ten minutes after they've ordered and they ate quietly, making light conversation here and there whenever Haruhi began to feel uncomfortable. Kyouya couldn't help but chuckle at her slight edginess, mentally pushing away any thoughts that had the words 'Haruhi' and 'cute' in the same sentence.
Maybe Tamaki was rubbing off on him…
"You seem tired, Kyouya-senpai," Haruhi began, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed down at the lit city below them, their plates empty. "Aren't you tired of keeping up this façade of being stoic and emotionless?"
She reverted her eyes back to him and gave him one of her knowing smiles.
"What makes you think this is a façade?" He questioned her, taking a sip of his Viognier. He felt the cold, comforting, slightly sweet wine wash down his throat, cooling any unneeded heat that may have arisen due to her question.
"You aren't emotionless, Kyouya-senpai," Haruhi said, looking back out into the dark horizon once more. "You're different."
Kyouya watched her as her large eyes took in the night view. She held an air of sincerity and when she caught his gaze, she only beamed at him, lips curved into a graceful smile that would have made any normal man's heart stop, even for a second. But he was Ootori Kyouya and he was not normal. He was not going to fall in love with her.
"Good night, Kyouya-senpai," Haruhi said in her soft voice when he dropped her off at her apartment complex. "Are you sure you don't want to come in?"
"Yes," Kyouya replied politely. "I have an important meeting early tomorrow that I cannot miss."
"I see," Haruhi smiled at him. "Oh, and Kyouya-senpai…"
"Hm?" He glanced up at her.
"If you were so emotionless," She began, brown eyes twinkling from underneath her bangs as if she was teasing him and his feelings. "Then you wouldn't have protected me from Kentaro-kun and with a punch, no less. Don't you think so?" And without awaiting his reply, "Good night."
Kyouya watched her as she elegantly entered her apartment complex, never looking back at him for his reaction. He drove home and, loosening the first few buttons of his dress shirt, sat on his bed, hearing her voice echo over and over in his head. Her smile was evident from the lonesome shadows of his bedroom. He couldn't seem to shake her fragrance and her presence from his mind.
He needed another glass of wine or else he'll never be able to get to sleep tonight.
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Author's Note: I apologize for the long delay of releasing this chapter. Researching wine and foods is a longer process than you may think and I wanted to release this on Nya-san's birthday which just happened to be a long way away from when I released chapter one :sweatdrop: Please forgive me::bow:
This chapter was a bit boring--sorry about that--and a bit choppy because I was stuck in a horrible box called "writers block" and I was rushing to finish this in time for Nya-san's and FRoP's birthday. Next chapter will be better, I promise!
- I spell Kyouya with a 'u' and if you have a problem with it, I'm terribly sorry...just pretend it's not there...or something
- "Ootori-sama" The prefix -sama is used as either "master" or "king" by servants, or those of lower lineage/positions in society
- Viognier is a rare, expensive white wine known to match spicy foods
Feedback is really appreciated. Constructive criticism is also appreciated. Mean flames are retaliated with my evil dust kitties and their water furballs...so don't try them. You'll regret it. Really.
Thank you for reading!
