Author's note: Welcome to chapter 25, dear Reader! We finally arrive at the dance this chapter! This chapter took a bit longer than I wanted, sorry about that. I had too many plot bunnies attacking my poor little brain. But here it is, at long last!
Triggers: Nope! This chapter is mostly kind of fluffy. Sky's knee is annoying, and that's the extent of the "bad" in this chapter.
As always, I don't own the Hosts, or Ouran. If I did, the Academy certainly wouldn't be so...pastel-y.
Reviews feed my muses, which in turn means more chapters for dear Reader! PMs are always welcome, as well. Now, sit back and enjoy the dance!
-Afternoon/ Early evening-
Sky closed the front door with a little sigh. She loved her boys, but occasionally thought that they would be the death of her one day. Shuffling into the kitchen, she thought longingly of her soft, comfortable bed upstairs. But there was no time for a nap, no matter how much she would like one. She yawned as she grabbed a soda from the fridge, then just stood there, debating.
She knew she would need the extra protein tonight. She muttered to herself for a moment, then decided that an omelet should do the trick. Not that she had any appetite. But she was not going to risk fainting in front of the whole bloody school. She quickly pulled ingredients and got to work.
After eating, she rushed upstairs to shower. She had contemplated wearing one of her nicer wigs, but had ultimately decided against it. Takashi liked her real hair, so she just styled it a little differently. The short black locks in the back were fluffed and just a little spiky, while the rainbow section held a slight wave, covering her right cheek and ear. Above her left ear, she added a silver comb with turquoise accents.
She did her nails next. After filing and shaping them, she painted them black, then added a sheer iridescent rainbow topcoat. Now they matched the sheer wrap she would add to the dress later. She grinned to herself, only just noticing that the nails and wrap also matched the ribbons on her boys' medals.
While waiting for her nails to dry completely, she lounged on her bed with her knee slightly propped up on a stack of pillows. She had promised to rest it as much as possible, and she was determined to follow through. She was just grateful that the dress was full-length. If she'd been forced to wear something short, she would never hear the end of the fussing over her stupid knee.
She checked the time. No worries there. Her hands itched to pick up the new book she'd started earlier in the week, but she didn't dare. She knew she would lose all track of time that way, and one of those silly boys would end up walking in on her in nothing but a robe. That just wouldn't do.
Instead, she got up and stretched carefully, flexing her knee gingerly. It was a good thing she had decided against wearing high heels; she would probably end up breaking any number of bones that way. She padded over to her desk, which was, surprisingly, strewn with make-up.
Now came the hard part. Sky hardly ever wore make-up on a day-to-day basis. She didn't have anything against wearing it, she just didn't have time most mornings. Usually, make-up was reserved for cosplay, when she actually had the time to do it properly. But this was an important occasion, she wanted to look as good as possible. She carefully applied eye shadow in the same smoky, silvery gray as her dress, a thin stripe of jet black eyeliner, and a light coat of matte lipstick in a warm burgundy that accentuated her full, sensual lips. Her eyelashes were already long and thick, so she just went with a little clear mascara to brighten them a bit.
She stared at her reflection for a moment. Since she was alone, she could admit to herself that she had finally grown out of that gangly, lanky stage she had felt stuck in. She didn't see that too-tall, awkward girl in the mirror anymore. This new young woman was actually...pretty. She saw more of Mommy's features in her own face than she used to.
Before she could dwell on that thought, a soft knock sounded at the door. She stood, securing her robe tightly before she walked over to answer it. To her surprise, Kyoya was standing on the other side. She stepped aside to let him in.
"What's up, little owl?"
"Mori-senpai told me about your knee. Since I'm the only one who's seen your dress already, I thought I would see if you needed any help. It wouldn't do to have you fall down the stairs or something."
"Aww. That's sweet, thank you, precious. That's actually not a bad idea, either. I haven't tried maneuvering down the stairs in that blasted dress."
Kyoya chuckled quietly at her obvious discomfort. Sky waved a hand in the general direction of her bed and desk.
"Have a seat, I'll just be a few minutes."
She grabbed the clear garment bag from her open closet and dashed into the bathroom, lightly kicking the door closed behind her. Once she had the dress on, she took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. A small grimace appeared, and she almost wished she had chosen something with sleeves. The scars on her left shoulder were...obscene, to her mind. But it was too late now, so she just shook her head and slipped the black lace fingerless gloves on. At least her wrists were covered.
Taking another deep breath, she turned and opened the door. Kyoya wore a small smile as she strode out of the bathroom. He stood and crossed to her, taking both of her hands lightly in his.
"You look lovely, Pixie, dear. Absolutely stunning."
A slight blush crawled up her cheeks at his compliment. She shook her head with a little smile.
"You look pretty fabulous yourself, little owl."
"Naturally."
Sky burst into bright giggles at his matter-of-fact tone. She pulled her friend into a tight hug, then released him to snatch up her silky wrap and the frilly little bag Mother had given her to match the dress. She slipped her feet into the simple black ballet flats she had decided on, and then took Kyoya's offered arm.
Downstairs, the rest of the lads waited, gathered by the front door. No one noticed the duo approaching. When they reached the top of the main staircase, Kyoya cleared his throat just loud enough to catch their attention. Five jaws dropped, five sets of eyes widened in shock, and five hearts leapt into five throats.
The tall young woman clinging lightly to Kyoya's arm barely resembled the Pixie they knew and loved. The corseted dress clung to all of her curves perfectly, accentuating her full bust and slender waist. The storm-clouds-and-moonlight color made her skin gleam like porcelain. She descended the staircase with an aura of royalty, a faerie princess from some long-lost pagan mythology. All she needed was a pair of iridescent wings.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Sky blushed deeply at the awed looks her boys were giving her. She released Kyoya's arm and took a few steps toward the group. Before she could say anything, Tamaki grabbed her hands and twirled her around with a little squeal.
"Ma cherie, you look radiant! You really are a princess, after all!"
Sky giggled and hugged the silly blonde, grateful again for deciding against heels. The moment she pulled away from the hug, she was grabbed again. Kaoru spun her away from Tamaki and kissed her cheek.
"You're beautiful, Pixie."
She blushed lightly, but didn't have time to say anything, because Hikaru ripped her from his twin's arms. He hugged her tightly and whirled her around, causing her to squeak and giggle.
"You should wear corsets more often, you look fantastic."
She had just enough time to smack his arm for the suggestive look he gave her. Then she was spinning again, this time in Honey's arms. He grinned radiantly up at his tall friend as they stopped their manic whirl.
"You really do look amazing, Pixie-chan."
He gave her hand a squeeze, then nudged her into a little twirl away from him. And right into the arms of her beloved wolf. His hands grasped her bare upper arms gently as he took in the sight before him. She trembled and her blush deepened, and then her eyes landed on his chest. Or rather, the medal pinned to his dark cobalt suit jacket. Neither noticed Kyoya quietly herding the others outside.
Sky brushed her fingertips over Takashi's medal, and tears threatened to fill her eyes. She blinked them away quickly, then slipped her arms around his neck as she looked up into his eyes. His hands traveled lightly down her sides to her waist, and he pulled her just a little closer. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, and not altogether steady.
"You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life."
He brought one hand up to cradle her cheek, his other hand sliding around to her back. Her eyes shone brightly, and he leaned down to capture her lips in a soft, tender kiss. When they parted, she sighed quietly and rested her forehead against his. After a long moment, she tucked her hand in his, and they walked outside to join the others.
-At the dance-
Sky spent the first three songs held securely in her wolf's embrace. She could barely hear the music over her own pounding heart, but she didn't care. All she cared about in that moment was the way her hand felt in his, the gentle, steady pressure of his hand on her hip, and the blush-inducing way he looked at her as they twirled around the crowded dance floor.
After the third song, Takashi finally relinquished his hold, allowing the others to dance with Sky. Tamaki took her hand gently, pulling her into a graceful turn around the floor. He smiled and spoke lightly.
"If I were in Host Club mode right now, I would have to make a grand speech about how much you outshine the other ladies tonight. Perhaps something comparing you to a rose among faded wildflowers, or the single star in a dark, cloudy night."
Sky grinned and laughed softly, giving his hand a little squeeze.
"Oh God, please don't. Save the flowery prose and poetical nonsense for the harpies."
Tamaki's smile was genuine and radiant as he spun his friend around.
"Of course. I must tell you, however, that even the other ladies have noticed how lovely you look tonight. I've noticed several staring at you with rather jealous looks."
"Yeah, I've seen them, too. It's because they can't figure out how I managed to 'steal' Takashi from them."
"I don't think so, ma cherie. Oh, I'm sure that's part of it. But they can see now what we've seen from the beginning. You are beautiful, and they're intimidated."
Sky shook her head, giggling at the thought. She didn't get a chance to argue though, because the song had ended, and she was pulled from his grip. She was spun around and turned into a dip before she could even squeal in shock. She stood with another little laugh and grinned at Hikaru.
"You're crazy, you know that?"
The redhead smirked at her as a new song started up. He could feel the eyes of her ever-protective wolf, and behaved like a perfect gentleman. They kept up a light banter during their dance, but when it was over, he leaned in with a serious look. He kissed her cheek, and kept his words quiet.
"Go easy on Kaoru tonight, ok?"
Sky nodded silently. Despite her preoccupation, she had noticed that the other redhead wasn't quite himself. Judging by Hikaru's words, she figured that he hadn't completely shaken the deeper feelings for his friend. She made a mental note to give Kaoru a big hug later.
But now a new song was starting, and she found herself in Kyoya's arms. She smiled prettily at her favorite little owl. He was a graceful dancer, and Sky marveled for just a moment at his lithe movements.
"You dance divinely, little owl."
His indifferent mask slipped just a little, and he flashed her a genuine smile. Then of course, the mask was back in place, and he wore a little smirk.
"Natural talent, combined with years of practice. But tell me, my dear, when did you learn to move so lightly?"
Sky grinned and laughed softly, then tried to adopt a nonchalant, matter-of-fact air.
"Natural talent, combined with a month of practice."
"A month? You dance this well after only a month?"
"Well, of course. I just couldn't bear the thought of embarrassing my boys. I started taking lessons the day after the announcement."
Kyoya looked stunned, then let out a small laugh.
"You really are amazing, Pixie. Is there anything you can't accomplish, once you put your mind to it?"
"Hmm...Probably not."
Her reply was delivered with a flippant tone and a giggle. Kyoya just smirked and shook his head. Their dance was coming to an end, and he spun her in a pretty little twirl, her skirt rippling and flowing like silver water.
When the song ended, he took her hand and led her away from the dance floor. They walked out onto the balcony, which was surprisingly empty. Kyoya gave her a little nudge, gesturing to a pretty stone bench. Sky sighed gratefully and sat with a quiet groan.
"I thought you could use a little break. Forgive me for saying so, but you were starting to look a bit too pale."
"You're right, as usual. It's even more crowded in there than I'd thought it would be. And my knee is really starting to ache. Don't tell Takashi I said that, though. He'd make me go home."
"Naturally. He's very protective of you, as are we all."
"I know, little owl. But I'm alright, really. I just need to sit for a minute or two, that's all."
Kyoya looked at his friend closely, then nodded slightly. He patted her shoulder and offered to get her a drink, which she accepted readily. He was loathe to leave her out there all alone, but luckily, he spotted one of the twins coming, and waved him over.
Kaoru stepped outside and sat beside Sky as Kyoya left. Sky curled an arm around the redhead's waist, and laid her head on his shoulder for just a second.
"Are you ok, Pixie? You're even paler than usual."
"Aw, I'm fine, precious. I just needed to sit for a moment, it's awfully crowded in there."
"Yeah. I think almost everyone in school showed up."
"I believe it. While I do enjoy dancing with my boys, I don't think I like dances like this."
"Oh... Does that mean you're leaving?"
Sky heard the disappointment in his voice, and shook her head, giving her friend a little squeeze.
"Not yet. I haven't gotten to dance with Honey yet. And I haven't danced with my favorite little monkey yet, either."
Kaoru made a small noise, and Sky raised her eyebrow at him. He was staring down at his hands, twisting together in his lap. A faint blush stained his cheeks. Sky sighed softly and bumped her head affectionately against his.
"Hey. Come on, quit acting all shy."
"I'm sorry. It's just... I..."
"It's ok, you don't have to say anything. I know."
"That obvious, huh?"
"Not really, don't worry. I thought you were over that, though."
"So did I. But then I saw you in that dress, and I just..."
He sighed and put his head in his hands. Sky frowned a little, then wrapped her arms lightly around him and hugged him gently. This just wouldn't do. She poked him in the shoulder, grinning a little when he looked up.
"Hey, it's just the Cinderella effect, that's all. Once midnight comes around, the princess disappears and I'm just the same plain, boring Pixie I always was. Nothing to worry about after tonight, yeah?"
Kaoru laughed softly, but didn't get a chance to say anything. Kyoya walked back outside at that moment, carrying a glass of punch for Sky. She took it with a little smile of thanks and took a small sip. The trio chatted for a moment, then Sky stood, turned to Kaoru, and held out one lace-covered hand.
"How about it, little monkey? Will you dance with me?"
She was thrilled to see his usual cheeky grin light up his face as he nodded. He stood and took her hand, and they went inside just as a new song was starting up. They kept the conversation light as they twirled around the dance floor. By the time the song ended, Kaoru was back to his usual self, and Sky internally breathed a sigh of relief.
The moment the song was over, a certain blonde whirlwind landed in front of them. Honey grinned radiantly, and Sky couldn't help her own broad smile in return. Kaoru kissed her cheek and handed her over to the older teen. He flashed another cheeky smile before walking away.
"Are you having a good time, Pixie-chan?"
"Of course I am, precious. Getting to dance with my boys is so much fun. And you all look so handsome tonight. The harpies are so jealous."
Honey giggled as they twirled around. Sky had thought dancing with the shorter boy would be awkward, and was thrilled to be wrong. It was delightfully easy to dance with her best friend, despite being roughly a foot taller. They grinned happily at each other, and she gave his hand a little squeeze.
By the time the song ended, Sky's knee was really aggravating. She saw Takashi striding toward them, and sincerely hoped that he wouldn't notice. She smiled prettily at her wolf as he approached. Honey gave them both a quick hug and bounded off to find another dance partner.
Takashi reached up to brush the back of his knuckles along Sky's cheek, and she slipped her arms around his neck. He lightly grasped her hip with his free hand and pulled her closer as a new song started up. Sky took one wrong step, and that was all it took. The tiniest whimper escaped as she stumbled, but Takashi's arms were around her in a flash, holding her steady.
"Why didn't you tell me you were in pain?"
"It honestly wasn't that bad until I tripped just now. It only ached a little bit, and everyone's been looking forward to tonight all month. I wasn't about to bow out early for just a little ache."
He made a small, disapproving sound and shook his head lightly. He wanted to pick her up and carry her out of the ballroom, but he wasn't about to embarrass her that way. Instead, he gave her a pointed look and wrapped one arm firmly around her waist.
"It's not a little ache now. I'm taking you home."
