Author's note: Welcome, Dear Reader, to chapter 37! Wow, can you believe it? I never thought I'd get this far! It's really all thanks to you, Dear Reader! I've gotten so much positive feedback on this story, it's truly amazing. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who reads, reviews, follows, and/or favorites! You're all beautiful and amazing and wonderful! (Also, I'm sooo sorry about the long wait! My newest character, Puck, has been demanding more of my attention lately. And their bunnies keep lighting fires that scare away Sky's bunnies!)
Triggers: Sex! No, not really, I've stated repeatedly that there will be no lemons in this story. But it IS briefly talked about! And Sky's aquaphobia makes a small appearance. That's all.
As always, I own only my own OCs and related plots/places/scenarios. Enjoy the latest chapter!
-Saturday, midday-
Sky groaned softly and eyed the dock apprehensively. A slight tremor rushed through her, causing Takashi to cast a worried gaze down at her. Catching the questioning arch of his eyebrow, she hitched her good shoulder up in a little shrug.
"I, uh... It never really dawned on me that...um...that we'd need to get on a boat to get to the island."
She whimpered quietly and huffed out a little nervous laugh before tucking her lip between her teeth. Takashi tapped her mouth with the tip of one finger, a silent plea to stop her worrying.
"How did you think we'd get there, silly Pixie?"
"But isn't that your parents' boat?"
She ran her free hand through her hair with a little sigh, then turned slightly to answer the twins.
"Yeah, that's their boat. Father's assistant must have set everything up. And I just...didn't think about it at all, apparently. I totally spaced on it; guess my subconscious didn't want me to freak out about being on the water."
"Aww, poor Pixie-chan!"
Honey reached down from his perch atop Takashi's shoulders and patted Sky's head gently. She offered him a tiny smile and shook her head lightly.
"I'll be alright, precious. No need for anyone to worry. I'm only kind of nervous, not really panicking or anything. Honest."
Kyoya laid a hand on her arm for just a moment, a small, reassuring smile gracing his lips when she turned to look. She caught his hand and gave it a little squeeze in thanks as he spoke.
"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Your parents are aware of your aquaphobia, of course, so I'm certain that they've taken every precaution. Once you're actually on board, you'll likely forget all about the water."
"Yeah, you're right. It's just...getting on the verdammt thing that's the problem. I, um... Can't seem to move my feet all of a sudden."
In the blink of an eye, Takashi had gathered Sky in his arms, causing a startled little squeal to fall from her lips. Honey nimbly leapt from his cousin's shoulders and raced ahead, clutching Usa-chan and giggling madly. Before Sky could even begin to process what was happening, the twins had grabbed Miko and were hurrying after Honey, cackling hysterically and completely ignoring the petite girl's laughter-filled protests. Tamaki, caught up in the sudden hyper atmosphere, grabbed Kyoya's hand and dragged him after the others. A sigh of resignation could be heard by all, but Tamaki's excitement refused to be dampened.
Sky curled her arms around her wolf and laid her head against his shoulder, giggling a little at everyone's silliness. She was already feeling better, but she closed her eyes anyway, just to be safe. She kept them closed tightly until she could clearly hear her tribe's voices again. She glanced around as Takashi settled them onto one of the plush sofas in what appeared to be a small den or game room.
There was a large television set up, complete with game consoles and movie choices. A highly polished bar took up one corner, glassware shining like crystal in the cabinet behind it. Sky briefly wondered if the staff had remembered to stock non-alcoholic drinks, then shook the thought off and decided to stop thinking and just try to relax. She shifted to a more comfortable position in her wolf's arms and closed her eyes again, nuzzling against his neck softly. Takashi sighed contentedly and wrapped his arms a little tighter around her, relieved that she had remained calm.
"Here, Pixie-chan. You can hold Usa-chan, he'll help keep you calm and safe! 'Kay?"
Sky turned her head and cracked one eye open just long enough to see Honey's bright grin as he tucked the plush into her arms. She smiled back lightly and held the bunny to her heart, warmed by the incredibly sweet gesture.
"Thank you, a dhlúthchara."
Honey's smile grew radiant at the whispered endearment, and he gave her a swift peck on the cheek before bouncing across the room. Sky stifled a small yawn and turned back to snuggle closer to Takashi. She clutched Usa-chan between them and rested her head once again on his broad shoulder. A quiet hum of satisfaction reached her ears, and she sighed softly, perfectly at ease.
She didn't think she was that tired, but the next thing she knew, their boat ride was over. Takashi was rubbing her back gently, and he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Wake up, mo anamchara. We're here."
She groaned softly and kept her face hidden against his neck. His quiet laughter was the only sound, so she assumed everyone else had already departed. She nuzzled his neck, basking in his warmth and intoxicating scent. After a moment, she finally pulled away and smiled up at him before rising to stretch. She blinked repeatedly against the sudden light and wrinkled her nose in distate, not noticing the grin that flashed across his face at her cuteness.
"Sorry I fell asleep, a ghrá. I didn't realize I was that tired still."
He shook his head slightly and stroked her hair tenderly. She smiled sweetly and, after a quick glance around, leaned up to brush her lips ever so briefly over his own. His lips turned up at the corner in reply, and he caressed her cheek lightly for just a moment before trailing his hand down her arm to lace their fingers together. She gave his hand a little squeeze as they left the room.
When they made it to the deck, she paused. He glanced down, worry darkening his eyes. She took a deep breath and shook her head defiantly, then grinned up at him. He studied his beloved for a few seconds, breathing a relieved little sigh at the determination in her eyes.
"I'm ok. Really, I'm alright. It's just a few steps to get off the boat, and another handful to get off the dock, and then I don't have to worry about it for a whole week. I can do this. Just...don't let go of my hand, ok?"
"I won't."
He brought their joined hands up and placed a light kiss on her trembling knuckles. True to his word, his grip didn't falter in the slightest as they made their way to where their tribe waited on the beach. She whimpered quietly once or twice, and her legs were just a little unsteady. But she held her head high, determined not to give in to the fear that scratched at her mind.
When they were a safe distance from the water, Sky huffed out a little sigh of relief. Then burst into startled laughter as nearly everyone burst into applause. Honey and the twins cheered and whooped loudly. Even Kyoya was grinning broadly; everyone was proud of their unicorn for her not-so-small act of bravery in the face of her fear. Takashi finally let go of her hand and curled his arm around her waist, giving her a gentle squeeze. She smiled sweetly up at him before turning back to the others.
"God, I love you dorks. Bunch of damn psychos."
She couldn't stop giggling, especially when she was pounced on by Tamaki and spun around wildly. When he finally let up, she kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair with a little grin. She took a couple of wobbly steps, head still spinning, then fell to her knees in the sand before even Takashi could stop her.
"Ick. Sand's a lot harder than I thought it'd be."
Takashi helped her gingerly to her feet with a slightly worried look. She gave him a reassuring smile as she hastily wiped the sand from the knees of her jeans. She tucked her hand back in his and laced their fingers together.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go check out the house, guys!"
Several voices loudly agreed, and most of the group took off running for the large mansion. Sky laughed and watched her pack with a fond smile, which only grew as she felt Honey take her free hand. He gave her a little tug, grinning up at her.
"Come on, slow-pokes! Let's go!"
She glanced between Honey and Takashi, then gave a little shrug. Takashi made a soft, amused sound and nodded slightly. With that, the trio took off after the others, quickly catching up to the laughing group. She was happy to see that even Kyoya had already loosened up and was joining in the merriment.
Before anything could be said, the huge double doors opened, and the teens were greeted by the head housekeeper. She introduced herself and the small staff on duty, then personally took them on a tour of the mansion.
There was an enormous eat-in kitchen, as well as the formal dining room. They wandered through several rooms, including a library, entertainment room, gaming parlor, and a small ballroom, of all things. Sky just shook her head at that and kept her mouth shut. They were all a little shocked to see a small dojo and meditation room, but she felt certain that Takashi and Honey were pleased by the rooms.
The housekeeper showed them the various bedrooms, and claims were staked. Tamaki insisted on the room that connected to Kyoya's, causing the raven-haired teen to roll his eyes. Sky wondered if anyone else caught the tiniest glint of pleasure flash in his eyes. She grinned to herself, which turned into full-blown laughter as the twins tried to convince Miko to share their room.
"Aw, come on, Mi-mi, look at the size of that bed! It's huge; we could probably fit at least five people!"
The little brunette shook her head emphatically, blushing and giggling wildly. She gave both redheads a playful -but surprisingly strong- shove into the room, then closed the door on them. Shocked grunts were followed by hysterical laughter. Sky caught the housekeeper's confused, almost-distraught look, and let out a little snort of laughter.
"Don't mind them, they do this kind of thing all the time. We're all a bit crazy in our own ways. They're mostly harmless, really."
The distinguished lady finally calmed down and showed them to the rest of the bedrooms, despite looking a bit flustered still. Miko picked a room a good distance away from the twins. Sky wondered if the girl's blush would ever go away. Honey claimed the bedroom closest to the master suite, saying that Usa-chan wanted to be close enough to protect Pixie-chan from nightmares. She grinned at that and leaned down to nuzzle the blonde's cheek.
"Thank you, precious. And thank you too, Usa-chan."
"Anything for our Pixie-chan!"
The housekeeper couldn't help cooing at Honey's sweetness. Neither, it seemed, could Tamaki or the twins. Even Miko seemed to melt at the utterly adorable scene. Sky shared an amused little smile with Takashi before clearing her throat quietly.
"Well, now that the rooms are decided, how about we unpack and get settled? The sun's already setting, so it's a bit late to play on the beach."
There was a small amount of grumbling, but everyone agreed eventually. The housekeeper let them know when supper would be finished, bowed, and left them to themselves. Sky waited until everyone else had closed themselves in their respective rooms, then hoisted her own suitcase. She slid her free hand into Takashi's as they walked into the master suite, neither noticing the other's slight blush.
The room was large, even larger than her bedroom at home. Hikaru hadn't been kidding; the beds in this place were huge. She got lost in a little daydream where everyone tried to fit on top of the one bed before her, and broke into happy giggles. That vision dissolved swiftly, however, to be replaced by one that dried the giggles immediately. Instead of her whole tribe, laughing and shoving each other playfully in the bright sunlight, the new scene her imagination supplied was much darker, sending tremors and goosebumps racing along her skin.
Shadows danced along the walls, and the large bed was bathed in silver moonlight. Mountains of fluffy pillows were piled upon soft, silken sheets. The slightest breeze drifted through the open sliding door, bringing with it the salty-sweet scent of the ocean. A soft sigh could be heard from the depths of the pillows, then a quiet murmur in a different voice. Another sigh, and the whisper of soft fabric gliding over smooth skin.
Sky shook her head fiercely, dispelling the imagine with as much force as she could. She would definitely not be thinking about that! Her cheeks felt like they were on fire, and she just knew she was red as a tomato. She pointedly ignored the quiet chuckle from her beloved and stalked over to one of the closets, trying desperately to calm her racing heart. She flung her suitcase on a convient chair and opened it, then just blinked in shock for a moment. The hell? Who put that in there? She picked up the mysterious item and read the sticky-note attached to it, then peeked beneath the paper in confusion.
A quiet thump from the other closet had Takashi rushing in immediately. A suddenly pale Sky sat crumpled on the floor, holding a small box in her hands and staring blankly at the paper stuck to it. He knelt beside her and automatically gathered her into his arms, worry gripping him tightly.
"Sky?"
"I... She... This is... I don't..."
She whimpered softly, unable to form a coherent sentence. He held her close and stroked her hair gently, unsure of how to proceed. He was immensely relieved when her breathing quickly returned to normal, and an aggravated groan replaced the whimpering. She sat up quickly, and he noticed that her blush was back, and more fierce than ever. She looked...mortified. He was even more confused now.
Sky swallowed thickly and refused to meet his eyes as she scooted off of his lap to kneel before him instead. Silently, she handed him the little box, now slightly crushed from her death-grip. Her fingers twisted tightly around each other as he read the small note.
"Have fun, but be careful! I'm too young to be a grandmother!"
Takashi blanched, then flushed brightly as the note's meaning sank in. Grandmother? Then this is.. He risked a tiny glance under the slip of paper, and nearly face-palmed. It is... His eyes darted around the small room, frantically trying to think of a way to reassure his beloved. He didn't get the chance.
"Oh, I'm so going to murder her! This is...this is..."
She clenched her rainbow locks in her fists and tugged, issuing a frustrated little scream. With a huff, she got to her feet and exited the closet to pace the bedroom. Striding back and forth, cursing under her breath in a variety of languages, making faces and gesturing wildly with her hands. Takashi stood and leaned against the doorway, watching with fascination, his shock and bewilderment giving way to amusement.
Halfway across the room, she stopped cold, then turned to him with wide, glistening eyes. She seemed paralyzed for just a second, then rushed to him and grasped the front of his shirt tightly. Her normally vibrant eyes where bright with fear and unshed tears. Without a moment's thought, he dropped the box of condoms and wrapped his arms around her trembling frame.
"I didn't know, I swear I didn't! I didn't have anything to do with that! She must've snuck into my room after I packed, that's all I can think. I didn't know, Takashi, I swear!"
"Shh... It's alright, Sky. It's alright."
Sky hid her face against his chest, sniffling. Her tremors increased at first, but he held her close and rubbed soothing circles on her back, resting his cheek against her head and murmuring quietly. After a minute, she finally forced her aching hands to release his shirt, and she curled her arms firmly around him. Her breathing slowed, her heart settled back into a normal pace, and her sniffles tapered off into one last uneasy whimper. Another moment, and she stepped back just far enough to scrub her hands over her eyes before looking up at him.
Takashi cradled one heated cheek in his palm, brushing away the last stray tear with a gentle swipe of his thumb. The entire situation still embarrassed him, but he shoved that to the back of his mind. His Sky was worried and hurting, and that was more important. He brought his free hand up to her other cheek and held her carefully, keeping his eyes locked on hers.
"I have no expectations for this trip, Sky. I plan on sleeping in this bed, that's all. Nothing else is going to happen here; that box isn't going to change anything."
Her eyes glistened again, but there was no fear this time. She reached up with both hands and mirrored his gentle grasp. The sweetest little smile appeared on her lips, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes for a moment, letting his own heart settle. Hopefully the rest of the week would be less...eventful.
